8-K
false000170364700017036472023-05-122023-05-12

 

 

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): May 12, 2023

 

FREQUENCY THERAPEUTICS, INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

Delaware

001-39062

47-2324450

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

(Commission File Number)

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

75 Hayden Avenue, Suite 300

Lexington, MA 02421

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

(781) 315-4600

(Registrant’s telephone number, include 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 of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instructions A.2 below):

 

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 $0.001 per share

 

FREQ

 

The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (The Nasdaq Global Select Market)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

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 May 12, 2023, Frequency Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company”) announced its financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2023 and provided operational updates. The full text of the press release issued in connection with the announcement is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

The information in this Item 2.02 of this Form 8-K (including Exhibit 99.1) shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as expressly provided by specific reference in such a filing.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

The following exhibits relate to Item 2.02, which shall be deemed to be furnished, and not filed:

 

Exhibit

No.

 

Description

 

 

 

99.1

 

Press Release issued on May 12, 2023

104

 

Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

 

 


 

SIGNATURES

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

 

 

FREQUENCY THERAPEUTICS, INC.

 

 

Date: May 12, 2023

By:

/s/ David L. Lucchino

 

 

 

 

 

Name: David L. Lucchino

 

 

Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 


EX-99.1

 

https://cdn.kscope.io/2131b36a686080cef00177e623f5b0fe-img198726637_0.jpg

Exhibit 99.1

 

Frequency Therapeutics Provides Business Updates and First Quarter 2023 Financial Results

 

LEXINGTON, Mass., May 12, 2023 – Frequency Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: FREQ), a regenerative medicine company focused on developing therapeutics to activate a person’s innate potential to restore function, today announced business updates and financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2023.

“We are pleased with the team’s progress in advancing our program for remyelination in multiple sclerosis and we remain on track to commence our clinical program in the first half of 2024. We have now shown that Frequency’s novel compounds can drive oligodendrocyte differentiation in evolutionarily distinct species, furthering our ability to predict human doses, and have independently conducted preclinical studies demonstrating statistical improvements in MRI measurements of white matter volume, an important clinical endpoint. Having outperformed prior published approaches in head-to-head in vivo studies, we believe our work can result in a best-in-class treatment to complement existing disease modifying therapies and provide significant benefit to patients,” said David L. Lucchino, Frequency’s chief executive officer.

Lucchino continued: “We are highly encouraged by the level of interest in our approach and the enthusiasm for a potential remyelinating agent as well as the transformative impact it could have on the current standard of care for this debilitating disease. Our focus remains on advancing the MS program through clinical studies and beyond, while working to maximize returns for our shareholders.”

Recent Program and Business Updates

The Company’s discovery efforts are focused on its program to induce remyelination for individuals living with multiple sclerosis (MS), an area where there currently are no restorative options for patients. MS is characterized by demyelination, the stripping of axons of the myelin sheaths that support neuronal signal conduction and axonal survival. Frequency has identified a novel target relevant for remyelination and has shown that modulation of this target induced robust oligodendrocyte differentiation and expression of myelin proteins in vitro, as well as multiple new chemical entities (NCEs) that induce robust remyelination following demyelination in an adult in vivo animal model.

These novel agents substantially outperform other clinically studied remyelination agents, with a single oral dose yielding significantly more remyelination than up to 10 doses of comparator compounds. The Company believes there is a well-defined clinical path for the program, with functional outcomes such as visual acuity, and objective biomarkers such as visual evoked potential (VEP) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), for studying the performance of remyelination therapies in MS patients.

As the Company advances the program through toxicology studies, it has shown:

Its NCEs drive oligodendrocyte differentiation in evolutionarily distinct species including mice, rats, and pigs, improving the ability to predict human doses.

Statistical improvements in MRI measurements of white matter volume, a potentially important clinical endpoint, in independently conducted preclinical studies.
Substantial remyelination occurs in both white matter, which underlies sensory and motor function, and gray matter, which mediates cognition. Cognitive deficits are commonly observed early in disease progression and gray matter remyelination could drive significant patient benefit.

Following its recent restructuring, the Company has funding into 2025, which will allow it to complete an initial clinical study for its remyelination in MS program. In February, the Company announced that it would be exploring strategic options and evaluating all opportunities that can create value for shareholders.

First Quarter 2023 Financial Results

Cash Position: As of March 31, 2023, Frequency had cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities of $66.7 million (excluding restricted cash), or $55.0 million net of debt. In April, the Company prepaid all outstanding loans, eliminating its debt burden.

Frequency believes that the restructuring activities will generate sufficient cost savings to extend its runway into 2025 and enable it to complete a first clinical trial of its MS Program.

Research and Development Expenses: Research and development expenses were $11.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023, as compared to $13.8 million for the comparable period of 2022. Excluding stock-based compensation expense of $0.8 million, research and development expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2023 were $10.6 million.

General and Administrative Expenses: General and administrative expenses were $9.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023, as compared to $9.5 million for the comparable period of 2022. Excluding stock-based compensation expense of $2.6 million, general and administrative expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2023 were $6.6 million.

Net Loss: Net loss was $19.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023, as compared to $23.4 million for the comparable period of 2022.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements contained in this press release that do not relate to matters of historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements, including without limitation statements regarding the treatment potential and timing of the Company‘s remyelination program in MS (MS Program), including the timing of clinical development, the existence of a well-defined clinical path for the MS Program, potential application of the regenerative medicine platform to other diseases, the ability of our regenerative medicine platform to provide patient benefit, and the sufficiency of the Company’s capital resources, including having sufficient resources to complete a first clinical trial in its MS Program.

These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking


statements, including, but not limited to, the following: the impact of COVID-19 on the Company’s planned clinical trials, research and development and manufacturing activities, the Company’s business and financial markets; the Company has incurred and will continue to incur significant losses and is not and may never be profitable; the Company’s need for additional funding to complete development and commercialization of any product candidate; the unproven approach of the PCA platform and the inability to identify additional potential product candidates; the lengthy, expensive and uncertain process of clinical drug development and regulatory approval; the Company’s limited experience successfully obtaining marketing approval for and commercializing product candidates; the results of pre-clinical studies not being indicative of the results from clinical trials; adverse events or undesirable side effects; disruptions at the FDA and other regulatory agencies; failure to identify additional product candidates; new or changed legislation; costly and damaging litigation, including related to product liability or intellectual property or brought by stockholders; misconduct by employees or independent contractors; reliance on third parties, including to conduct clinical trials and manufacture product candidates; compliance with changing laws and regulations, including healthcare and environmental, health, data privacy and safety laws and regulations; failure to obtain, maintain and enforce protection of patents and other intellectual property rights covering product candidates; security breaches or failure to protect private personal information; attracting and retaining key personnel; and the Company’s ability to manage growth.

These and other important factors discussed under the caption “Risk factors” in the Company’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on March 10, 2023, and its other reports filed with the SEC could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements made in this press release. Any such forward-looking statements represent management’s estimates as of the date of this press release. While the Company may elect to update such forward-looking statements at some point in the future, it disclaims any obligation to do so, even if subsequent events cause its views to change. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company’s views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.

About Frequency Therapeutics

Headquartered in Lexington, Mass., Frequency Therapeutics is pioneering a new category in regenerative medicine that aims to restore human function by developing therapeutics that activate a person’s innate regenerative potential within the body through the activation of progenitor cells. The Company’s lead preclinical program is designed to activate oligodendrocyte precursor cells with the goal of driving remyelination and potential functional recovery for individuals living with multiple sclerosis. For more information, visit www.frequencytx.com and follow Frequency on Twitter @Frequencytx.

 

 


Frequency Therapeutics, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Research and development

 

 

11,355

 

 

 

13,781

 

General and administrative

 

 

9,156

 

 

 

9,477

 

Total operating expenses

 

 

20,511

 

 

 

23,258

 

Loss from operations

 

 

(20,511

)

 

 

(23,258

)

Interest income

 

 

523

 

 

 

95

 

Interest expense

 

 

(284

)

 

 

(178

)

Other income (expense), net

 

 

753

 

 

 

(33

)

Loss before income taxes

 

 

(19,519

)

 

 

(23,374

)

Income tax provision

 

 

(24

)

 

 

(12

)

Net loss

 

$

(19,543

)

 

$

(23,386

)

Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders-basic and diluted

 

$

(0.55

)

 

$

(0.67

)

Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding-basic and diluted

 

 

35,324,053

 

 

 

34,810,676

 

 

Frequency Therapeutics, Inc.

Consolidated Balance Sheet Data

(in thousands)

 

 

March 31, 2023

 

 

December 31, 2022

 

Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities

 

 

66,650

 

 

 

83,097

 

Working capital

 

 

47,256

 

 

 

66,467

 

Total assets

 

 

101,501

 

 

 

121,238

 

Total liabilities

 

 

48,252

 

 

 

52,043

 

Accumulated deficit

 

 

(281,208

)

 

 

(261,665

)

Total stockholders' equity

 

 

53,249

 

 

 

69,195

 

 

 

Contacts:

Investor and Media Contact:

Frequency Therapeutics

Email: investors@frequencytx.com