GlobeNewswire Inc | Mar 31, 2021 04:05PM EDT

March 31, 2021

Enrollment complete for Saturn-1, first TP-03 pivotal trial for the treatment of Demodex blepharitis; initiation of Saturn-2 expected in Q2 2021

Strategic partnership with LianBio in March 2021 for TP-03 in Greater China provides Tarsus with $70 million expected during next 12 months and up to $130 million in future years, plus double-digit royalties and equity in LianBio

Cash and cash equivalents of $168 million as of December 31, 2020

IRVINE, Calif., March 31, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tarsus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: TARS), a late clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company whose mission is to focus on unmet needs and apply proven science and new technology to revolutionize treatment for patients, starting with eye care, today announced financial results and certain business and clinical updates for the year ended December 31, 2020.

Since completing our successful IPO in October of last year, we continue to make important clinical progress with our lead program, TP-03, which is currently being evaluated in the Saturn-1 pivotal Phase 2b/3 trial for Demodex blepharitis, a disease for which there are currently no FDA-approved treatments, said Bobak Azamian, MD, PhD, CEO, Tarsus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Our recent strategic partnership with LianBio for TP-03 in Greater China also expands our global reach to the second largest healthcare market in the world, while also providing significant non-dilutive funding. This will further allow for our advancement of pipeline, including TP-04 and TP-05, each focused on areas of high unmet medical need in MGD, rosacea, Lyme disease, and malaria.

Recent Business Highlights and Corporate Update:

-- In March 2021, Tarsus announced its strategic partnership to develop and commercialize TP-03 in Greater China (PRC, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Macau) for the treatment of Demodex blepharitis and Meibomian Gland Disease (MGD), eye conditions with significant unmet treatment needs. In this arrangement, LianBio obtained exclusive TP-03 development and commercialization rights to Greater China. In return, LianBio will (i) pay Tarsus $25 million by June 30, 2021 and up to $175 million in clinical, regulatory, and sales milestones, (ii) pay Tarsus tiered low double-digit royalties on sales of TP-03 in Greater China, and (iii) grant Tarsus a minority equity stake in LianBio Ophthalmology.Tarsus expects to receive $70 million from these contractual milestones during the next 12 months.

-- In December 2020, Tarsus had a Type C meeting with the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for TP-03 in the treatment of Demodex blepharitis. This meeting confirmed the planned new drug application (NDA) pathway with respect to the data and information required in the NDA filing. -- In December 2020, Tarsus announced that it was added to the broad-market Russell 3000 Index and the small-cap Russell 2000 Index as part of its periodic rebalancing.Appointed Bryan Wahl, M.D., J.D. as General Counsel. Dr. Wahl has over 15 years of broad legal experience, including significant intellectual property (IP), corporate, and transactional expertise.Appointed Dianne Whitfield as Chief Human Resources Officer. Ms. Whitfield has more than 20 years of experience in human resources, including over a decade of management and leadership experience in the life sciences industry.Appointed Wendy L. Yarno to the Board of Directors and its Audit Committee. Ms. Yarno has more than 30 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, both as a public company director and product commercialization leader, including 26 years at Merck & Co. Inc.Beginning in the fourth quarter of 2020, Tarsus further expanded its management team and expertise of its Board of Directors:

Full-Year 2020 Financial Results:

-- Full year net loss for 2020 was $26.8 million, compared to $4.7 million in 2019. -- Full year research and development expenses for 2020 were $18.8 million, compared to $3.2 million in 2019. -- Full year general and administrative expenses for 2020 were $8.2 million, compared to $1.1 million in 2019. -- As of December 31, 2020, cash and cash equivalents were $168.1 million.

About Tarsus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.Tarsus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a late clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that applies proven science and new technology to revolutionize treatment for patients, starting with eye care. It is advancing its pipeline to address several diseases with high unmet need across a range of therapeutic categories, including eye care, dermatology, and infectious disease prevention. Its lead product candidate, TP-03, is a novel therapeutic in Phase 2b/3 that is being developed for the treatment of Demodex blepharitis and Meibomian Gland Disease.

Forward-Looking StatementsStatements in this press release about future expectations, plans and prospects, as well as any other statements regarding matters that are not historical facts, may constitute forward-looking statements. These statements include statements regarding the receipt by Tarsus of payments and achievement and timing of milestones under the terms of the collaboration, the ability of LianBio to commercialize TP-03 in the Greater China territory, the market size for TP-03, future events and Tarsus plans for and the anticipated benefits of its product candidates including TP-03, the timing, objectives and results of the clinical studies and anticipated regulatory and development milestones and the quotations of Tarsus management. The words, without limitation, believe, contemplate, continue, could, estimate, expect, intend, may, might, plan, potential, predict, project, should, target, will or would or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these or similar identifying words. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include: Tarsus has incurred significant losses and negative cash flows from operations since inception and anticipates that it will continue to incur significant expenses and losses for the foreseeable future; Tarsus may need to obtain additional funding to complete the development and any commercialization of its product candidates, if approved; Tarsus is heavily dependent on the success of its lead product candidate, TP-03 for the treatment of Demodex blepharitis; the COVID-19 pandemic may affect Tarsus ability to initiate and complete preclinical studies and clinical trials, disrupt regulatory activities, disrupt manufacturing and supply chain or have other adverse effects on Tarsus business and operations; even if TP-03 or any other product candidate that Tarsus develops receives marketing approval, Tarsus may not be successful in educating eye care physician and the market about the need for treatments specifically for Demodex blepharitis and or other diseases or conditions targeted by Tarsus products; the development and commercialization of Tarsus products is dependent on intellectual property it licenses from Elanco Tiergesundheit AG; Tarsus will need to develop and expand the company and Tarsus may encounter difficulties in managing its growth, which could disrupt its operations; the sizes of the market opportunity for Tarsus product candidates, particularly TP-03 for the treatment of Demodex blepharitis and MGD, have not been established with precision and may be smaller than estimated; the results of Tarsus earlier studies and trials may not be predictive of future results; any termination or suspension of, or delays in the commencement or completion of, Tarsus planned clinical trials could result in increased costs, delay or limit its ability to generate revenue and adversely affect its commercial prospects; and if Tarsus is unable to obtain and maintain sufficient intellectual property protection for its product candidates, or if the scope of the intellectual property protection is not sufficiently broad, Tarsus competitors could develop and commercialize products similar or identical Tarsus product. Further, there are other risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statement and they are detailed from time to time in the reports Tarsus files with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Tarsus Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 filed with the SEC on March 31, 2021, which Tarsus incorporates by reference into this press release, copies of which are posted on its website and are available from Tarsus without charge. However, new risk factors and uncertainties may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible to predict all risk factors and uncertainties. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on the current expectations of Tarsus management team and speak only as of the date hereof, and Tarsus specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Media Contact: SuJin Oh Shop PR (917) 841-5213 soh@shop-pr.com Investor Contact: Patti Bank Westwicke Partners, an ICR company (415) 513-1284 IR@tarsusrx.com

TARSUS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

Year Ended December 31, 2020 2019Operating expenses: Research and development $ 18,826 $ 3,162 General and administrative 8,172 1,136 Total operating expenses 26,998 4,298 Loss from operations before other income (26,998 ) (4,298 ) (expense) and income taxesOther income (expense): Interest income (expense), net 188 (40 ) Loss on extinguishment of convertible notes ? (255 ) Change in fair value of derivative liabilities ? (76 ) Total other income (expense) 188 (371 ) Provision for income taxes (1 ) (1 ) Net loss and comprehensive loss $ (26,811 ) $ (4,670 ) Net loss per share attributable to common $ (4.32 ) $ (1.98 ) stockholders, basic and dilutedWeighted-average shares outstanding used incomputing net loss per share attributable to 6,207,367 2,362,768 common stockholders, basic and diluted

TARSUS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

BALANCE SHEETS(In thousands, except share and par value amounts)

December 31, 2020 2019ASSETS Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 168,129 $ 57,952 Restricted cash 20 20 Other receivables 20 36 Prepaid expenses 2,486 22 Total current assets 170,655 58,030 Property and equipment, net 548 154 Operating lease right-of-use assets 688 126 Other assets 81 6 Total assets $ 171,972 $ 58,316 LIABILITIES, PREFERRED STOCK AND STOCKHOLDERS? EQUITY (DEFICIT)Current liabilities: Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities $ 4,347 $ 520 Accrued payroll and benefits 1,040 299 Total current liabilities 5,387 819 Other long-term liabilities 605 100 Total liabilities 5,992 919 Commitments and contingencies Series A Preferred Stock, $0.0001 par value; noshares authorized, issued and outstanding atDecember 31, 2020; 1,575,030 shares authorized, ? 3,564 issued and outstanding at December31, 2019;liquidation preference of $3,650 at December31,2019Series B Preferred Stock, $0.0001 par value; noshares authorized, issued and outstanding atDecember 31, 2020; 6,731,649 shares authorized and ? 59,838 6,674,909 shares issued and outstanding atDecember31, 2019; liquidation preference of$60,010 at December31, 2019Stockholders? equity (deficit): Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value; 10,000,000 andno shares authorized at December 31, 2020 andDecember 31, 2019, respectively; no shares issued ? ? and outstanding at December 31, 2020 and December31, 2019Common stock, $0.0001 par value; 200,000,000shares authorized; 20,502,576 shares issued and20,323,201 outstanding, which excludes 179,375shares subject to repurchase at December31, 2020; 4 2 2,650,919 shares issued and 2,646,619 outstanding,which excludes 4,300 shares subject to repurchaseat December31, 2019Additional paid-in capital 198,821 27 Accumulated deficit (32,845 ) (6,034 ) Total stockholders? equity (deficit) 165,980 (6,005 ) Total liabilities, preferred stock and $ 171,972 $ 58,316 stockholders? equity (deficit)