GlobeNewswire Inc | Jul 28, 2021 08:00AM EDT

July 28, 2021

- Transformative year included multiple corporate, clinical, and financial milestones, positioning Portage to accelerate development of first-in-class immuno-oncology assets- Additional clinical milestones and company progress anticipated throughout 2H 2021 and 2022

WESTPORT, Conn., July 28, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Portage Biotech Inc. (NASDAQ: PRTG) (Portage or the Company) a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company focused on the development of therapies and treatments targeting cancer treatment resistance, today announced financial results for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021.

Over the past year, weve transformed Portage, positioning the Company to capitalize on our promising portfolio of immuno-oncology platforms and assets as well as leverage our innovative drug development engine, said Dr. Ian Walters, chief executive officer of Portage Biotech. Throughout this transformation, weve maintained efficiency in our capital expenditures and operations to maximize value for shareholders thanks to the support of our lean, experienced team. Our efficiency coupled with our recent financing provides us with sufficient cash runway to complete Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical trials for our lead invariant natural killer T cell (iNKT) agonists and is our first with formal biotech institutional support. We believe iNKTs have the potential to re-sensitize PD-1 tumors and could significantly expand the PD-1 market opportunity. With sufficient resources now in place, we are poised to advance our iNKT agonists and other assets through multiple data milestones and other value-driving catalysts in the coming year.

Financial & Business Highlights from FY 2021 (April 2020 March 2021) and Recent Weeks

-- Increased financial resources with over $29 million raised since fiscal year end: Successful public offering of 1,150,000 ordinary shares with gross proceeds of $26.5 million, securing a 2-year cash runway sufficient to advance programs and enable achievement of numerous milestones.Generation of an additional $2.6 million through the sale of approximately 91,000 shares via the Companys At-the-Market offering as of June 7, 2021. -- Improved stock liquidity: Listing of common shares on the NASDAQ exchange and subsequent voluntary delisting from the Canadian Securities Exchange.Inclusion in the Russell 2000 Index, bringing added visibility to the Companys robust immuno-oncology pipeline. -- Immuno-oncology focused: Divestiture of three legacy businesses (Portage Pharmaceuticals Limited, including subsidiaries Portage Glasgow Ltd. and EyGen Ltd) to Juvenescence Ltd. Through this divestiture, Portage may be entitled to share in revenues upon the achievement of certain milestones based on specified development criteria and may be eligible to receive potential royalties on net sales of products developed utilizing legacy intellectual property.

Clinical Highlights from FY 2021 (April 2020 March 2021) and Recent Weeks

-- Acceleration of development programs from the Companys first-in-class immuno-oncology asset portfolio, including milestones related to lead iNKT agonists PORT-2 and PORT-3 and intratumoral amphiphilic therapy PORT-1. Key milestones included: Initiation of the PRECIOUS-01 Study of PORT-3 for the treatment of NY-ESO-1 positive solid tumors, the first in a comprehensive clinical development plan to evaluate the Companys iNKT agonists (PORT-2 and PORT-3) to improve outcomes in a variety of solid tumors.Initiation of the INVINCIBLE Trial, a Phase 2 early-stage breast cancer study of INT230-6 (PORT-1) conducted by Intensity Therapeutics.Presentation of interim data at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) conference from the IT-01 Phase 2 trial conducted by Intensity Therapeutics demonstrating strong safety and survival data for INT230-6 (PORT-1) as both a monotherapy and in combination with pembrolizumab or ipilimumab in solid tumors.

Financial Results FY 2021 (April 2020 March 2021)

The Company generated a net loss of $17.2 million in fiscal year 2021, compared to a net loss of $7.2 million in fiscal year 2020, an increase in net loss of $10.0 million year over year. Operating expenses, which include research and development and general and administrative expenses, were $12.4 million in fiscal year 2021, compared to $6.0 million in fiscal year 2020, an increase of $6.4 million. Operating expenses included $8.8 million of non-cash stock-based compensation expense in fiscal year 2021, compared to $2.1 million in fiscal year 2020.

Research and development ("R&D") costs increased by $3.2 million, or approximately 78%, from $4.1 million in fiscal year 2020, to $7.3 million in fiscal year 2021. The increase was attributable to non-cash stock-based compensation expense associated with grants made under the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan of $5.1 million, partially offset by a decrease in iOx related stock-based compensation expense of $0.8 million. Finally, fiscal 2021 development was slowed by the impact of the pandemic.

General and administrative ("G&A") expenses increased by $3.2 million, from $1.9 million in fiscal year 2020, to $5.1 million in fiscal year 2021. The principal reason for the increase was the $2.8 million of non-cash stock-based compensation expense associated with the Companys 2021 Equity Incentive Plan in fiscal 2021. Additionally, the Company incurred approximately $0.2 million relating to initiatives associated with a corporate restructuring and business development.

Other items of income and expense were substantially non-operating in nature and were $2.5 million net expense in fiscal year 2021, compared to $0.5 million net expense in fiscal year 2020. $2.0 million of the net expense in fiscal year 2021 was non-cash. Other items of income and expense included:

-- A loss on equity issued at a discount of $1.3 million in fiscal year 2021, representing the difference between the market price and the contractual exercise price, relating to the settlement of the SalvaRx Notes and warrants; -- A loss from our equity investment in Stimunity of $0.5 million, compared to a small gain in fiscal year 2020; -- A loss of $0.8 million representing the change in the fair value of the warrants issued with respect to the SalvaRx settlement; -- A non-cash gain relating to the settlement of related liabilities on the disposition of PPL of $0.4 million, of which $0.2 million was recorded in operations in fiscal year 2021; and -- Interest expense of $0.2 million is fiscal year 2021, compared to $0.6 million in fiscal year 2020 due to the settlement of the SalvaRx Notes. The Company also recorded a loss of $0.2 million on the early extinguishment of the SalvaRx Notes in fiscal year 2021.

Additionally, the Company reflected net deferred income tax provisions of $2.3 million and $0.7 million in the fiscal years 2021 and 2020, respectively.

As of June 30, 2021, the Company had approximately $28.6 million of cash on hand.

About Portage Biotech Inc.Portage is a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company advancing first-in-class therapies that target known checkpoint resistance pathways to improve long-term treatment response and quality of life in patients with evasive cancers. The Companys access to next-generation technologies coupled with a deep understanding of biological mechanisms enables the identification of the most promising clinical therapies and product development strategies that accelerate these medicines through the translational pipeline. Portages portfolio consists of five diverse platforms, leveraging delivery by intratumorals, nanoparticles, liposomes, aptamers, and virus-like particles. Within these five platforms, Portage has 10 products currently in development with multiple clinical readouts expected over the next 12-24 months. For more information, please visit www.portagebiotech.com, follow us on Twitter at @PortageBiotech or find us on LinkedIn at Portage Biotech Inc.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains statements about the Companys information that are forward-looking in nature and, as a result, are subject to certain risks and uncertainties. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them as actual results may differ materially from the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, except as required by law.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Investor RelationsChuck Padalachuck@lifesciadvisors.com

Media RelationsKate Caruso-Sharpe kcaruso-sharpe@lifescicomms.com

-tables to follow-

PORTAGE BIOTECH INC.Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss)(U.S. Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Years Ended March 31, 2021 2020 2019 Expenses Research and development $ 7,312 $ 4,108 $ 1,907 General and administrative expenses 5,128 1,870 857 Loss from operations (12,440 ) (5,978 ) (2,764 )Gain on sale of marketable equity 72 ? ? securitiesForeign exchange transaction gain (loss) ? 6 (691 )Change in fair value of warrant liability (790 ) 24 ? (Loss) on equity issued at a discount (1,256 ) ? ? Loss on extinguishment of notes payable (223 ) (33 ) ? Share of (loss) income in associate (490 ) 18 (162 )accounted for using equity method Gain on disposition of subsidiaries 412 ? ? Interest income ? 11 111 Interest expense (177 ) (557 ) (88 )Loss before provision for income taxes (14,892 ) (6,509 ) (3,594 ) Income tax (expense) (2,297 ) (740 ) ? Net (loss) (17,189 ) (7,249 ) (3,594 ) Other comprehensive income (loss) Net unrealized gain on investments ? 876 50 Total comprehensive (loss) for year $ (17,189 ) $ (6,373 ) $ (3,544 ) Net (loss) attributable to: Owners of the Company $ (15,833 ) $ (5,333 ) $ (2,635 ) Non-controlling interest (1,356 ) (1,916 ) (959 ) $ (17,189 ) $ (7,249 ) $ (3,594 ) Comprehensive (loss) attributable to: Owners of the Company $ (15,833 ) $ (4,457 ) $ (2,585 ) Non-controlling interest (1,356 ) (1,916 ) (959 ) $ (17,189 ) $ (6,373 ) $ (3,544 ) (Loss) per share Basic and diluted $ (1.35 ) $ (0.49 ) $ (0.55 ) Weighted average shares outstanding Basic and diluted 11,733 10,952 4,820

PORTAGE BIOTECH INC.Consolidated Statements of Financial Position(U.S. Dollars in thousands)

March 31, 2021 2020 Assets Current assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 2,770 $ 3,152 Prepaid expenses and other receivables 2,176 574 Investments in marketable equity securities ? 68 4,946 3,794 Long-term assets Long-term portion of other receivables 22 34 Investment in associates 1,735 1,225 Investment in private companies 7,409 7,409 Goodwill 43,324 43,324 In-process research and development 117,388 117,388 Other assets 36 ? Total assets $ 174,860 $ 173,174 Liabilities and Equity Current liabilities Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ 1,938 $ 1,268 Warrant liabilities 1,120 ? Unsecured notes payable 150 300 Advance from related party ? 1,000 3,208 2,568 Non-current liabilities Unsecured notes payable ? 3,361 Deferred tax 24,050 21,604 24,050 24,965 Total liabilities 27,258 27,533 Shareholders? Equity Capital stock 130,649 117,817 Stock option reserve 7,977 58 Accumulated other comprehensive income 958 958 Accumulated deficit (38,135 ) (22,302 )Total equity attributed to owners of the Company 101,449 96,531 Non-controlling interest 46,153 49,110 Total equity 147,602 145,641 Total liabilities and equity $ 174,860 $ 173,174 Commitments and Contingent Liabilities (Note 20)