iCo Therapeutics Announces Second Quarter 2013 Financial Results

VANCOUVER, Aug. 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ - iCo Therapeutics (TSX-V: ICO), today reported financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2013. Amounts, unless specified otherwise, are expressed in Canadian dollars and presented under International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS").

"The quarter was strong both operationally and financially," said Andrew Rae, iCo's President & CEO.  "We completed the enrollment of the phase two iDEAL study initiating the countdown to our primary endpoint for the study - eight month visual acuity as compared to baseline.  This is a very large phase two study in diabetic macular edema and to date has demonstrated a strong safety profile, with no drug-related serious adverse events. In support of this study we also strengthened our balance sheet through an overnight marketed equity offering for gross proceeds of three million eight hundred thousand dollars."

First Quarter 2013 Financial & Operational Highlights

• Completed enrollment of the Phase 2 iDEAL study evaluating the efficacy and safety after repeated injections of iCo-007 in patients with Diabetic Macular Edema (DME).  The study to date has demonstrated a strong safety profile with no drug-related serious adverse events.
• Completed overnight marketed offering of 9,655,771 units for aggregate gross proceeds of $3,379,519.90.

Summary First Quarter 2013 Results
iCo incurred a net and comprehensive loss of $2,886,831 for the six months ended June 30, 2013, compared to a net and comprehensive loss of $1,431,634 for the same period last year.  The increase was driven primarily by costs associated with the Phase 2 clinical trial, as well as share based compensation. This was partially offset by the gain on the IMMUNE shares in other investments.

Research and development expenses were $2,189,830 for the six months ended June 30, 2013 compared to $739,081 for the same period last year, representing an increase of $1,450,749. This increase in research and development expenses is due to higher costs relating to the iDEAL Phase 2 clinical trial.

General and administrative expenses primarily comprise salaries, stock based compensation and benefits for company employees not involved in research and development, professional fees such as legal and accounting expenses, and expenses related to office overheads. For the six months ended June 30, 2013 general and administrative expenses were $1,166,480 compared to $681,293 for the six months ending June 30, 2012, representing an increase of $485,187.  The higher expenses are due to increased stock based compensation and professional fees.

We believe the Company has sufficient personnel to manage both its research and development and public company activities and do not anticipate any increase in staffing in the foreseeable future.  Accordingly, we believe that general and administrative expenses should remain at current levels in the foreseeable future.

Liquidity and Outstanding Share Capital
As at June 30, 2013, we had cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments of $3,198,196 compared to $1,260,196 as at December 31, 2012.

As at August 26, 2013, we had an unlimited number of authorized common shares with 64,514,230 common shares issued and outstanding and 20,038,118 warrants outstanding with exercise prices ranging between $0.30 and $0.60 and expiry dates ranging from November 2, 2013 to May 17, 2018.

As at August 26, 2013, we had 2,925,000 options outstanding. Each option entitles the holder to purchase one additional common share at exercise prices ranging from $0.18 to $0.73 and expiry dates ranging from February 14, 2014 to January 21, 2018.

For complete financial results, please see our filings at www.sedar.com.

About iCo Therapeutics
iCo Therapeutics in-licenses and redefines existing drug candidates or generics by employing reformulation and delivery technologies for new or expanded use indications. The company has exclusive worldwide rights to two drug candidates - iCo-007 for Diabetic Macular Edema (DME) and iCo-008 for other sight-threatening diseases. iCo-007 is in Phase 2 clinical studies for DME. With Phase 2 clinical history, iCo-008 is targeted for the treatment of keratoconjunctivitis and wet age-related macular degeneration. In addition, iCo holds worldwide rights to an oral drug delivery platform. The first platform candidate is the Oral Amp B Delivery system, utilizing a known anti-fungal drug to treat life-threatening infectious diseases.  iCo trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "ICO".  For more information, visit the Company website at: www.icotherapeutics.com.

No regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the content of this release.  The TSX Venture Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.   

Forward Looking Statements
Certain statements included in this press release may be considered forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as: "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "goal," "seek," "believe," "project," "estimate," "expect," "strategy," "future," "likely," "may," "should," "will," and similar references to future periods. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those implied by such statements, and therefore these statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. All forward-looking statements are based on iCo's current beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to iCo and relate to, among other things, anticipated financial performance, business prospects, strategies, regulatory developments, market acceptance and future commitments. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are based only on information currently available to iCo and speak only as of the date of this press release. Due to risks and uncertainties, including the risks and uncertainties identified by iCo in its public securities filings and on its website, actual events may differ materially from current expectations. iCo disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE iCo Therapeutics Inc.