WARRINGTON, Pa., March 31, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Windtree Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: WINT), a biotechnology company focused on developing aerosolized KL4 surfactant therapies for respiratory diseases, today reported financial results for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2016 and provided key business updates. 

Key Business and Financial Updates

• Enrollment in the AEROSURF® phase 2b clinical trial in up to 240 premature infants 28 to 32 week gestational age for respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is progressing and the Company reaffirms its plan to announce top-line results from this study in mid-year 2017.
• Enrollment in the third dose group of the AEROSURF phase 2a clinical trial in 48 premature infants 26 to 28 week gestational age for RDS is progressing. This study is designed to evaluate safety and tolerability of AEROSURF.  Due to a lower number of premature infants who are eligible for enrollment  in this age range, enrollment  has required additional time  and the Company  now expects to complete enrollment and announce top-line results in mid-second quarter of 2017.
• The Company previously reported positive results from two NIH funded preclinical studies evaluating (i) KL4 surfactant as a possible countermeasure to mitigate acute and chronic/late-phase radiation induced lung injury; and, (ii) as a potential medical intervention to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with both seasonal and pandemic influenza pneumonia.  
• As of December 31, 2016, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $5.6 million. In February 2017, the Company completed a private placement offering of 7,049 Series A Convertible Preferred Stock units for net proceeds of approximately $10.5 million, including $1.6 million of non-cash consideration in the form of a reduction in amounts due for current development services that otherwise would have become payable in cash in the first and second quarters of 2017.
• The Company anticipates that, before any additional financings, its currently existing cash resources are sufficient to fund its operations through the planned completion of the AEROSURF phase 2b clinical trial and announcement of results in mid-year 2017.

"The fourth quarter of 2016 was one of meaningful progress for Windtree and our AEROSURF phase 2 program," commented Craig Fraser, President and Chief Executive Officer. "The expansion of our phase 2b clinical trial to select sites in Europe and Latin America resulted in an increased rate of patient screening and enrollments. We have enrolled patients from all regions and active sites and are on track with previously stated guidance to release top-line data by mid-year 2017. In addition, with the successful completion of the $10.5 million private placement in February, we have met our previously stated goal of securing the additional capital necessary to adequately fund our operations through announcement of top line phase 2b data."

Select Financial Results for the Fourth Quarter ended December 31, 2016

For the quarter ended December 31, 2016, the Company reported an operating loss of $6.4 million, compared to $9.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2015.

Grant revenue for the fourth quarter of 2016 was $0.9 million compared to $0.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2015. Grant revenue for 2016 primarily represents funds received and expended under Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to study the Company's aerosolized KL4 surfactant as (i) a medical countermeasure to mitigate acute and chronic/late-phase radiation-induced lung injury; and, (ii) to provide support for the AEROSURF phase 2b clinical trial in premature infants 28 to 32 week gestational age with RDS. The 2015 grant revenue was from a SBIR Grant from the NIH to study the Company's aerosolized KL4 surfactant as a medical countermeasure to mitigate acute and chronic/late-phase radiation-induced lung injury. 

Research and development expenses were $5.9 million for the fourth quarter of 2016, compared to $8.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2015. The decrease was due to reductions in (i) development costs under the Battelle collaboration agreement for the next generation  aerosol delivery system for use in our remaining AEROSURF development activities and, if approved, initial commercial activities;  and, (ii) the technology transfer of our lyophilized surfactant manufacturing process to a new facility at our CMO to conserve our cash resources and better align the manufacture of our clinical drug supply with our expected revised clinical time lines.

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the fourth quarter of 2016 were $1.3 million, compared to $2.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2015. The decrease was primarily due to cost reduction initiative initiated in the second quarter of 2016 as we focus our limited resources on advancing the AEROSURF clinical development program.

Interest expense for the fourth quarter of 2016 and 2015 was $0.6 million.

The Company reported a net loss of $6.6 million ($0.77 per basic share) on 8.5 million weighted-average common shares outstanding for the quarter ended December 31, 2016, compared to a net loss of $10.1 million ($1.26 per basic share) on 8.1 million weighted average common shares outstanding for the comparable period in 2015.

Net cash outflows before financing activities for the fourth quarter of 2016 were $6.9 million.

As of December 31, 2016, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $5.6 million.  In February 2017, the Company completed a private placement offering which generated net proceeds of approximately $10.5 million, including $1.6 million of non-cash consideration in the form of a reduction in amounts due for current development services that otherwise would have become payable in cash in the first and second quarters of 2017.  In addition, from January 1, 2017 through March 23, 2017, we completed registered offerings under our at-the-market equity sales program resulting in net proceeds to us of $0.9 million.  Based on current projections and development timelines, the Company anticipates that it has sufficient cash to support its operations through the planned completion of the AEROSURF phase 2b clinical trial and the release of top line results, which is expected in mid-year 2017.

In addition, as of December 31, 2016, the Company reported current liabilities of $13.4 million and long-term debt of $25 million. The debt is payable in two equal installments of $12.5 million in each of February 2018 and 2019. The payment due in February 2018 may be deferred if certain conditions are satisfied.

Readers are referred to, and encouraged to read in its entirety, the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 which is expected to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 31, 2017, which includes discussion about the Company's business plans and operations, financial condition and results of operations.

About AEROSURF®
Windtree's lead product candidate is AEROSURF®, a novel, investigational drug/device combination product that combines the Company's proprietary KL4 surfactant and aerosolization technologies.  AEROSURF is being developed to potentially reduce or eliminate the need for endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation in the treatment of premature infants with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS).  Enrollment is ongoing in a phase 2b clinical trial in up to 240 premature infants 28 to 32-week gestational age receiving nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) for RDS, comparing AEROSURF to infants receiving nCPAP alone.  The phase 2b trial is a global trial with clinical sites in North America, Europe and Latin America.

About Windtree Therapeutics
Windtree Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing novel surfactant therapies for respiratory diseases and other potential applications. Windtree's proprietary technology platform includes a synthetic, peptide-containing surfactant (KL4 surfactant) that is structurally similar to endogenous pulmonary surfactant and novel drug-delivery technologies being developed to enable noninvasive administration of aerosolized KL4 surfactant. Windtree is focused initially on improving the management of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in premature infants and believes that its proprietary technology may make it possible, over time, to develop a pipeline of KL4 surfactant product candidates to address a variety of respiratory diseases for which there are few or no approved therapies.

For more information, please visit the Company's website at www.windtreetx.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
To the extent that statements in this press release are not strictly historical, all such statements are forward-looking, and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, including projections of future cash balances and anticipated cash outflows, to differ materially from the statements made.  Examples of such risks and uncertainties include: the risk that, as a development company, with limited resources and no operating revenues, the Company's ability to continue as a going concern in the near term is highly dependent upon the successful completion of the AEROSURF phase 2b clinical trial in mid-2017 and obtaining results sufficient to support a strategic or financing transaction; risks that Windtree will be unable to secure significant additional capital as needed, and may be unable in a timely manner, if at all, to identify potential strategic transactions (including strategic partnerships and other transactions) that would provide funding and support product development, regulatory and, if approved, commercialize our products, or to access debt or equity financings, which could result in substantial equity dilution; risks related to Windtree's  AEROSURF development program and other development programs in the future, which may involve time-consuming and expensive pre-clinical studies and clinical trials and which may be subject to potentially significant delays or regulatory holds, or fail; risks related to the Company's receipt of a deficiency notification from The NASDAQ Stock Market concerning its failure to comply with The Nasdaq Capital Market listing requirements and the Company's ability to regain compliance in a timely manner, if at all; risks related to technology transfers to contract manufacturers and problems or delays encountered by Windtree, contract manufacturers or suppliers in manufacturing drug products, drug substances, aerosol delivery systems (ADS) and other materials on a timely basis and in sufficient amounts; risks relating to rigorous regulatory requirements, including that: (i) the FDA or other regulatory authorities may not agree with Windtree on matters raised during regulatory reviews, may require significant additional activities, or may not accept or may withhold or delay consideration of applications, or may not approve or may limit approval of Windtree's products, and (ii) changes in the national or international political and regulatory environment may make it more difficult to gain regulatory approvals; risks related to Windtree's efforts to maintain and protect the patents and licenses related to its products; and other risks and uncertainties described in Windtree's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including the most recent reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K, and any amendments thereto.

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/windtree-therapeutics-reports-fourth-quarter-2016-financial-results-and-provides-key-business-updates-300432457.html

SOURCE Windtree Therapeutics, Inc.