Form 8-K - Current report

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): August 14, 2024 (August 14, 2024)

 

 

 

Ensysce Biosciences, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware		001-38306		82-2755287
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		(Commission File Number)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

 

7946 Ivanhoe Avenue, Suite 201 La Jolla, California		92037
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip Code)

 

[phone]

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code

 

N/A

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation to the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

☐	Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
☐	Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
☐	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
☐	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class		Trading Symbol(s)		Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share		ENSC		The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

 

Emerging growth company ☐

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

 

 

 

 

Item 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

 

On August 14, 2024, Ensysce Biosciences, Inc. (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing its financial results for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2024. A copy of the press release is included as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

 

The information in this Item 2.02, including Exhibit 99.1 attached hereto, shall not be deemed to be “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, nor will they be deemed to be incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, except as will be expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

This report contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements may be made directly in this report. Some of the forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words. Statements that are not historical in nature, including the words “anticipate,” “expect,” “suggests,” “plan,” “believe,” “intend,” “estimates,” “targets,” “projects,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “may,” “will,” “forecast” and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are based upon management estimates and forecasts and reflect the views, assumptions, expectations, and opinions of the Company as of the date of this report, and may include, without limitation, changes in general economic and political conditions, all of which are accordingly subject to change. Any such estimates, assumptions, expectations, forecasts, views or opinions set forth in this report constitute the Company’s judgments and should be regarded as indicative, preliminary and for illustrative purposes only. The forward-looking statements and projections contained in this report are subject to a number of factors, risks and uncertainties, some of which are not currently known to the Company, that may cause the Company’s actual results, performance or financial condition to be materially different from the expectations of future results, performance of financial condition. Although such forward-looking statements have been made in good faith and are based on assumptions that the Company believes to be reasonable, there is no assurance that the expected results will be achieved. The Company’s actual results may differ materially from the results discussed in forward-looking statements. Additional information on factors that may cause actual results and the Company’s performance to differ materially is included in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Copies of such filings with the SEC are available publicly on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov or may be obtained by contacting the Company. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date hereof, and the Company does not undertake any obligations to update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit Number		Description
99.1		Press Release, dated August 14, 2024
104		Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

 

 

SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

Dated: August 14, 2024	Ensysce Biosciences, Inc.
	By:	/s/ Lynn Kirkpatrick
	Name:	Dr. Lynn Kirkpatrick
	Title:	President and Chief Executive Officer
		(Principal Executive Officer)

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

Ensysce Biosciences Reports Second Quarter 2024 Financial Results

 

PF614-MPAR Progressing to Phase 1b Study to Verify Both Overdose Protection and Effective Delivery of Oxycodone

 

Opioid Use Disorder Program Advances with Selection of PF9001 as Lead Drug Candidate

 

PF614 Phase 3 Protocol Being Finalized for Submission to FDA

 

SAN DIEGO, CA / August 14, 2024 / Ensysce Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: ENSC) (“Ensysce” or the “Company”), a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing innovative solutions for severe pain relief while reducing the potential for opioid abuse and overdose, today reported financial and operational results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2024.

 

Dr. Lynn Kirkpatrick, Chief Executive Officer of Ensysce, commented, “Our FDA-designated Breakthrough Therapy product candidate, PF614-MPAR, is a game-changer for Ensysce as we progress to a second clinical trial, PF614-MPAR-102. We have re-engaged Quotient Sciences to prepare our Phase 1b protocol which will utilize their Translational Pharmaceutics® platform to manufacture and test the PF614-MPAR drug product to expedite the completion of this clinical study.

 

Additionally, an important breakthrough emerged in our opioid use disorder (OUD) program with the identification of our lead candidate, PF9001. Our OUD program is designed to provide a safer product for those suffering from OUD and is supported by an ongoing multi-year National Institutes of Health (NIH) award.”

 

Dr. Kirkpatrick concluded, “Looking ahead, with our PF614 Phase 3 clinical trial on track to initiate in the second half of this year, we are finalizing the Phase 3 protocol design and preparing for site selection in the coming months. The favorable data generated from our prior PF614 clinical studies verified that PF614 delivers oxycodone in a manner equivalent to a commercially available opioid and provides pain relief with reduced abuse potential. Our goal is to provide safe and effective TAAP^TM and MPAR^® products and differentiate PF614 and PF614-MPAR from the current slate of extended-release opioid analgesics, as evidenced from the data we have generated over the last year.”

 

 

TAAP^TM (Opioid Abuse Deterrent Program) Update

 

Our lead product, PF614, is a Trypsin-Activated Abuse Protection (TAAP^TM) extended-release oxycodone and a potential “next generation” analgesic for severe pain. The Company’s TAAP^TM technology is designed to control release, be highly resistant to tampering, and reduce abuse through a unique chemical modification. PF614’s TAAP^TM modification makes it inactive until it is swallowed, following which it is activated or “turned on” to release oxycodone by the body’s own trypsin, an enzyme in the small intestine. Regulatory submissions and meetings were held in early 2024 and a Phase 3 trial is planned to initiate in the second half of 2024.

 

MPAR^® (Opioid Abuse Deterrent and Overdose Protection Program) Update

 

PF614-MPAR is a combination product of the TAAP^TM prodrug PF614 with a trypsin inhibitor, designed to treat severe pain while providing overdose protection. MPAR^® (Multi-Pill Abuse Resistance) reduces or “turns off” the release of the opioid to prevent an overdose, providing an additional layer of protection to Ensysce’s TAAP™ medications. Over the past year, clinical data demonstrated that the MPAR^® technology reduces release and absorption of oxycodone from PF614 when consumed in more than a prescribed dose, leading to the FDA’s recognition and Breakthrough Therapy designation. The Company’s upcoming Phase 1b study, PF614-MPAR-102, will test multiple PF614-MPAR drug products to verify both overdose protection and effective delivery of oxycodone across a dosage range.

 

Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) Program Update

 

In June, the Company achieved a critical milestone in the OUD program with the selection of lead drug candidate PF9001, designed to provide a safer and more effective way to help those suffering from the effects of opioid use. PF9001, designed with the application of Ensysce’s TAAP^TM platform to reduce the abuse profile, has demonstrated a lower potential for cardiovascular side effects associated with traditional methadone OUD treatments. The program is continuing to advance to Investigational New Drug (IND) enabling studies. In coordination with advancement of the OUD program, the Company announced an agreement with Purisys LLC to scale the manufacture of PF9001. This OUD work has been supported by a multi-year Helping to End Addiction Long-Term (HEAL) award of up to $15 million granted by the NIH and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).

 

 

Q2 2024 Financial Results

 

Cash – Cash and cash equivalents were $1.0 million as of June 30, 2024, compared to $1.1 million as of December 31, 2023.

 

Federal Grants – Funding under federal grants totaled to $0.2 million for the second quarter of 2024 compared to $0.5 million in the comparable year ago quarter. The difference is due to the completion of funding under the MPAR grant in December 2023.

 

Research & Development Expenses – R&D expenses were $0.9 million for the second quarter of 2024 compared to $1.6 million for the same period in 2023. The decrease of $0.7 million was primarily due to reduced external research and development costs related to clinical and pre-clinical programs for PF614 and PF614-MPAR.

 

General & Administrative Expenses – G&A expenses were $1.2 million in the second quarter of 2024, generally in line with $1.1 million for the second quarter of 2023.

 

Other Income (Expense) – Total other income (expense), net, was an expense of approximately $12,000 for the second quarter of 2024 compared to income of approximately $55,000 for the same period of 2023. The changes in other expenses were primarily due to interest expense and non-cash fair value adjustments for warrants.

 

Net Loss – Net loss attributable to common stockholders for the second quarter of 2024 was $2.0 million compared to $2.2 million for the second quarter of 2023. As a clinical stage biotech company, our continued research and development efforts toward regulatory approvals for our product candidates are expected to result in losses for the foreseeable future.

 

About Ensysce Biosciences

 

Ensysce Biosciences is a clinical-stage company using its proprietary technology platforms to develop safer prescription drugs. Leveraging its Trypsin-Activated Abuse Protection (TAAP™) and Multi-Pill Abuse Resistance (MPAR®) platforms, the Company is developing unique, tamper-proof treatment options for pain that minimize the risk of both drug abuse and overdose. Ensysce’s products are anticipated to provide safer options to treat patients suffering from severe pain and assist in preventing deaths caused by medication abuse. The platforms are covered by an extensive worldwide intellectual property portfolio for a wide array of prescription drug compositions. For more information, please visit www.ensysce.com.

 

Definitions

 

TAAP: trypsin activated abuse protection - designed to protect against prescription drug abuse.

 

MPAR: multi-pill abuse resistance - designed to protect against abuse and accidental overdose.

 

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

Statements contained in this press release that are not purely historical may be deemed to be forward-looking statements for the purposes of the safe harbor provisions under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other federal securities laws. Without limiting the foregoing, the use of words such as “may,” “intends,” “can,” “might,” “will,” “expect,” “plan,” “possible,” “believe” and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The product candidates discussed are in clinic and not approved and there can be no assurance that the clinical programs will be successful in demonstrating safety and/or efficacy, that Ensysce will not encounter problems or delays in clinical development, or that any product candidate will ever receive regulatory approval or be successfully commercialized. All forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions by Ensysce’s management that, although Ensysce believes to be reasonable, are inherently uncertain. All forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those that Ensysce expected. In addition, Ensysce’s business is subject to additional risks and uncertainties, including among others, possible NASDAQ delisting, the initiation and conduct of preclinical studies and clinical trials; the timing and availability of data from preclinical studies and clinical trials; expectations for regulatory submissions and approvals; potential safety concerns related to, or efficacy of, Ensysce’s product candidates; the availability or commercial potential of product candidates; the ability of Ensysce to fund its continued operations, including its planned clinical trials; the dilutive effect of stock issuances from our fundraising; and Ensysce’s and its partners’ ability to perform under their license, collaboration and manufacturing arrangements. These statements are also subject to a number of material risks and uncertainties that are described in Ensysce’s most recent quarterly report on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K, which are available, free of charge, at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it was made. Ensysce undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable law.

 

Ensysce Biosciences Company Contact:

 

Lynn Kirkpatrick, Ph.D.

Chief Executive Officer

[phone]

 

Ensysce Biosciences Investor Relations Contact:

 

Shannon Devine

MZ North America

Main: 203-741-8811

[e-mail]

 

 

Ensysce Biosciences, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

(Unaudited)

 

		Three Months Ended June 30,								Six Months Ended June 30,
		2024				2023				2024				2023
Federal grants		$	181,797			$	490,472			$	487,519			$	1,280,107
Operating expenses:
Research and development			947,229				1,643,726				1,726,133				3,349,742
General and administrative			1,190,010				1,140,700				2,559,791				2,695,553
Total operating expenses			2,137,239				2,784,426				4,285,924				6,135,295
Loss from operations			(1,955,442	)			(2,293,954	)			(3,798,405	)			(4,855,188	)
Total other income (expense), net			(12,351	)			54,652				(1,285,951	)			424,080
Net loss		$	(1,967,793	)		$	(2,239,302	)		$	(5,084,356	)		$	(4,431,108	)
Adjustments to net loss			—				3,331				(216	)			(1,037	)
Net loss attributable to common stockholders		$	(1,967,793	)		$	(2,235,971	)		$	(5,084,572	)		$	(4,432,145	)
Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted		$	(0.22	)		$	(0.98	)		$	(0.67	)		$	(2.66	)

 

 

Ensysce Biosciences, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Unaudited)

 

		Six Months Ended June 30,
		2024				2023
Net cash used in operating activities		$	(5,718,294	)		$	(6,715,461	)
Net cash provided by financing activities			5,637,921				7,397,241
Change in cash and cash equivalents			(80,373	)			681,780
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period			1,123,604				3,147,702
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period		$	1,043,231			$	3,829,482

 

 

Ensysce Biosciences, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Unaudited)

 

		June 30,				December 31,
		2024				2023
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$	1,043,231			$	1,123,604
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			1,416,506				1,165,264
Total current assets			2,459,737				2,288,868
Other assets			335,883				419,217
Total assets		$	2,795,620			$	2,708,085
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity (deficit)
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable		$	481,971			$	1,936,007
Accrued expenses and other liabilities			370,186				542,260
Notes payable and accrued interest			454,463				854,697
Total current liabilities			1,306,620				3,332,964
Long-term liabilities			9,615				26,388
Total liabilities			1,316,235				3,359,352
Stockholders’ equity (deficit)			1,479,385				(651,267	)
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity (deficit)		$	2,795,620			$	2,708,085

 

 

Cover	Aug. 14, 2024
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	8-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Aug. 14, 2024
Entity File Number	001-38306
Entity Registrant Name	Ensysce Biosciences, Inc.
Entity Central Index Key	0001716947
Entity Tax Identification Number	82-2755287
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Address, Address Line One	7946 Ivanhoe Avenue
Entity Address, Address Line Two	Suite 201
Entity Address, City or Town	La Jolla
Entity Address, State or Province	CA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	92037
City Area Code	(858)
Local Phone Number	263-4196
Written Communications	false
Soliciting Material	false
Pre-commencement Tender Offer	false
Pre-commencement Issuer Tender Offer	false
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share
Trading Symbol	ENSC
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false

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