EX-99.1 2 exhibit_99-1.htm EXHIBIT 99.1

Exhibit 99.1
 
 
Check-Cap Reports First Quarter 2019 Financial Results
 
Initiates U.S. pilot study of C-Scan® at NYU School of Medicine and Mayo Clinic
 
ISFIYA, Israel, May 13, 2019 -- Check-Cap Ltd. (the "Company" or "Check-Cap") (NASDAQ: CHEK) (NASDAQ: CHEKW), (NASDAQ: CHEKZ), a clinical stage medical diagnostics company advancing the development of C-Scan®, the first and only preparation-free ingestible capsule for the prevention of colorectal cancer through the detection of precancerous polyps, today announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2019.
 
Recent Highlights:
 
·
Announced the initiation of the U.S. pilot study of C-Scan®, and also announced that the first patients have ingested the capsule at the NYU School of Medicine
 
·
Announced that Mayo Clinic is the second trial site participating in the ongoing U.S. pilot study of C-Scan®  
 
·
Appointed Ms. Mira Rosenzweig to the position of Chief Financial Officer, bringing nearly 20 years of executive financial management experience to the Check-Cap team
 
·
Received an extension from the Israeli Ministry of Health, Medical Device Division (known as AMAR) to commence commercial sales of C-Scan® in Israel, valid until March 31, 2020
 
·
Completed a registered direct offering that raised gross proceeds of $7.5 million that provides additional funding to advance clinical development of C-Scan® in the U.S.
 
“During the first quarter, we achieved a significant milestone for our Company with the initiation of our U.S. pilot study of C-Scan® and subsequent successful ingestions of the capsule by patients at NYU School of Medicine and Mayo Clinic, two world-renowned healthcare institutions,” said Alex Ovadia, chief executive officer of Check-Cap. “As we seek to advance development of C-Scan® in the U.S., we look forward to data from this important study to enable the design of our U.S. pivotal trial, which we expect to initiate during 2020. Obtaining regulatory approval in the U.S. remains our highest corporate priority.”

“We believe the availability of a patient-friendly, preparation-free colon cancer screening alternative such as C-Scan® can fundamentally alter the screening and prevention paradigm and significantly increase screening rates globally, leading to improved outcomes for patients while creating long-term value for our shareholders,” Mr. Ovadia concluded.

Financial Results for the First Quarter Ended March 31, 2019
 
Research and development expenses net, were $2.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, compared to $1.6 million for the same period in 2018. The increase was primarily due to the Company’s ongoing post-CE Mark clinical study and expanded preparations for the U.S. pilot study.  This increase was partially offset by a $58,000 grant received from the Israel Innovation Authority.
 
General and administrative expenses were $825,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2019, compared to $485,000 for the same period in 2018. The increase was primarily due to a $408,000 increase in share based compensation expense. In addition, professional services fees were $92,000 higher in the three months ended March 31, 2019, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2018. This increase was partially offset by a $245,000 decrease in salaries and related expenses.
 
Operating loss was $3.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, compared to an operating loss of $2.1 million for the same period in 2018.
 
Financial income, net was $14,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2019, compared to $21,000 of financial expenses, net for the same period in 2018.
 
Net loss was $3.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, compared to $2.1 million for the same period in 2018.
 
Cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and short-term bank deposits totaled $17.3 million as of March 31, 2019, compared with $14.6 million as of December 31, 2018.
 
Net cash used in operating activities was $3.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, compared to $2.3 million for the same period in 2018.
 
In February 2019, we completed a registered direct offering for net proceeds of $6.5 million.
 
[Financial Tables to Follow]
 
About Check-Cap
 
Check-Cap is advancing the development of C-Scan®, the first and only preparation-free ingestible scanning capsule for the prevention of colorectal cancer (CRC) through the detection of precancerous polyps. The patient-friendly test has the potential to increase screening adherence and reduce the overall incidence of CRC. The C-Scan® system utilizes an ultra-low dose X-ray capsule, an integrated positioning, control, and recording system, as well as proprietary software to generate a 3D map of the inner lining of the colon. C-Scan® is non-invasive and requires no preparation or sedation, allowing the patient to continue their daily routine with no interruption as the capsule is propelled through the gastrointestinal tract by natural motility.

Legal Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
 
This press release contains "forward-looking statements." Words such as "may," "should," "could," "would," "predicts," "potential," "continue," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," and similar expressions, as well as statements in future tense, often signify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results and may not be accurate indications of when such performance or results will be achieved. Forward-looking statements are based on information that the Company has when those statements are made or management's good faith belief as of that time with respect to future events, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. For a discussion of these and other risks that could cause such differences and that may affect the realization of forward-looking statements, please refer to the "Forward-looking Statements" and "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2018 and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Investors and security holders are urged to read these documents free of charge on the SEC's web site at http://www.sec.gov. The Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
 
Investor Contacts
 
Jeremy Feffer
LifeSci Advisors, LLC
212.915.2568
jeremy@lifesciadvisors.com
 
Meirav Gomeh-Bauer
LifeSci Advisors, LLC
+972(0)-54-476-4979
Meirav@lifesciadvisors.com

CHECK CAP LTD
CONSOLIDATED UNAUDITED BALANCE SHEETS
 (U.S. dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)
 
 
 
March 31,
   
December 31,
 
 
 
2019
   
2018
 
Assets
           
Current assets
           
Cash and cash equivalents
   
7,974
     
8,572
 
Restricted cash
   
350
     
350
 
Short-term bank deposit
   
9,000
     
5,643
 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
   
535
     
419
 
Total current assets
   
17,859
     
14,984
 
 
               
Non-current assets
               
Property and equipment, net
   
432
     
452
 
Total non-current assets
   
432
     
452
 
Total assets
   
18,291
     
15,436
 
 
               
Liabilities and shareholders' equity
               
Current liabilities
               
Accounts payable and accruals
               
  Trade
   
645
     
1,113
 
  Other
   
318
     
214
 
Other current liabilities
   
12
     
35
 
Employees and payroll accruals
   
619
     
859
 
Total current liabilities
   
1,594
     
2,221
 
 
               
Non-current liabilities
               
Royalties provision
   
206
     
185
 
Total non-current liabilities
   
206
     
185
 
 
               
Shareholders' equity
               
Share capital
   
5,384
     
3,456
 
Additional paid-in capital
   
77,554
     
72,888
 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
   
4
     
(13
)
Accumulated deficit
   
(66,451
)
   
(63,301
)
Total shareholders' equity
   
16,491
     
13,030
 
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity
   
18,291
     
15,436
 
 

CHECK-CAP LTD.
CONSOLIDATED UNAUDITED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(U.S. dollars in thousands, except per share data)

   
Three months ended
March 31,
 
   
2019
   
2018
 
       
Research and development expenses, net
   
2,339
     
1,620
 
General and administrative expenses
   
825
     
485
 
Operating loss
   
3,164
     
2,105
 
                 
Financial income (expenses), net
   
14
     
(21
)
Loss before tax
   
3,150
     
2,126
 
Taxes on income
   
-
     
1
 
Net loss
   
3,150
     
2,127
 
                 
Comprehensive loss:
               
Net loss
   
3,150
     
2,127
 
Change in fair value of cash flow hedge
   
(4
)
   
-
 
Comprehensive loss
   
3,146
     
2,127
 
                 
Net loss per ordinary share (in USD) basic and diluted
   
0.44
     
1.27
 
                 
Weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding - basic and diluted (in thousands)
   
7,114
     
1,674
 
 

CHECK-CAP LTD.
CONSOLIDATED UNAUDITED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(U.S. dollars in thousands, except per share data)
 
 
 
Three months ended
March 31,
 
 
 
2019
   
2018
 
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
     
Net loss for the period
   
(3,150
)
   
(2,127
)
Adjustments required to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
               
Depreciation and amortization
   
28
     
43
 
Share-based compensation
   
83
     
(436
)
Financial expense (income), net
   
(27
)
   
14
 
Changes in assets and liabilities items:
               
Decrease (increase) in prepaid and other current assets and non-current assets
   
(116
)
   
8
 
Decrease in trade accounts payable, accruals and other current liabilities
   
(375
)
   
(19
)
Increase (decrease) in employees and payroll accruals
   
(240
)
   
161
 
Increase in royalties provision
   
21
     
18
 
Net cash used in operating activities
   
(3,776
)
   
(2,338
)
 
               
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
               
Purchase of property and equipment
   
(3
)
   
(1
)
Investment in short-term investments/bank deposit
   
(3,357
)
   
-
 
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
   
(3,360
)
   
(1
)
 
               
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
               
Issuance of ordinary shares in the 2019 registered direct Offering
   
6,511
     
-
 
Net cash provided by financing activities
   
6,511
     
-
 
 
               
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
   
27
     
(14
)
Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
   
(598
)
   
(2,353
)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at the beginning of the period
   
8,922
     
6,997
 
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at the end of the period
   
8,324
     
4,644