Capricor Therapeutics Reports Second Quarter 2016 Financial Results and Provides Clinical Update

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Capricor Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: CAPR), a biotechnology company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of first-in-class therapeutics, today provided an update on its clinical development programs directed toward the treatment of heart disease, including that associated with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), as well as defined the initial development path for its proprietary exosomes technology. Capricor also announced financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2016.

Linda Marbán, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of Capricor said, "Later this quarter, we expect to announce the completion of enrollment in our two ongoing clinical trials of CAP-1002 (allogeneic cardiosphere-derived cells, or CDCs): the HOPE trial in boys with Duchenne heart disease and the ALLSTAR trial in adults with cardiac dysfunction following a large heart attack. These are important milestones as we look toward reporting top-line six-month data from HOPE in the first quarter of 2017 as well as delivering six-month ALLSTAR data to Janssen. These readouts follow our recent report of positive 12-month results from our DYNAMIC study of CAP-1002 data, which show persistent improvement in patients with advanced heart failure out to one year post-treatment. We believe the DYNAMIC data support the potential of CAP-1002 to address the heart disease associated with DMD, the number one cause of death in boys afflicted with DMD."

"As we advance our exosome-based candidate CAP-2003 toward the clinic, we are building on the unique properties of Capricor's proprietary CDC technology outside of cardiovascular areas. We have identified ocular graft-versus-host disease as the first clinical development opportunity for CAP-2003. This selection is supported by compelling pre-clinical results in relevant models and the need for effective treatment options for this debilitating condition of the eye. We look forward to submitting an IND application for CAP-2003 in the first of 2017," added Dr. Marbán.

Anticipated Milestones

• Complete enrollment in the randomized Phase I/II HOPE-Duchenne clinical trial of CAP-1002 in the third quarter of 2016.
• Complete enrollment in the Phase II ALLSTAR clinical trial of CAP-1002 in the third quarter of 2016.
• Report top-line six-month data from HOPE-Duchenne in the first quarter of 2017.
• Janssen decision on license option for CAP-1002 in the first half of 2017.
• Submit an Investigational New Drug application for CAP-2003 for the treatment of ocular graft-versus-host disease in the first half of 2017.

Second Quarter and Recent Operational Highlights

• Announced in June that enrollment in the randomized HOPE-Duchenne clinical trial, which had begun in February 2016, had exceeded 50% of its 24-patient goal.
• Reported positive top-line 12-month data from the open-label DYNAMIC clinical trial of CAP-1002 in 14 patients with advanced heart failure. The data demonstrated directional improvements from baseline in key efficacy measures, including assessments of functional status, cardiac function and dimensions, and quality-of-life. As had been shown at six months, left ventricular ejection fraction, a general measure of cardiac function, had significantly improved as compared to baseline (p=0.02).
• Reported pre-clinical data demonstrating the ability of CAP-2003 to significantly improve clinically-meaningful measures of ocular injury and inflammation following alkali chemical burns.

Second Quarter Results
The Company reported a net loss of approximately $4.7 million, or $0.26 per share, for the second quarter of 2016, compared to a net loss of approximately $3.1 million, or $0.19 per share, for the second quarter of 2015. At June 30, 2016, the Company's cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities totaled approximately $11.4 million compared to $13.6 million at December 31, 2015.

Financial Outlook
Based on its current operating plans, Capricor expects that its existing cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities will fund its research and development programs and other operations through the first quarter of 2017.

Conference Call and Webcast
Capricor management will hold a conference call and slide presentation at 4:30 p.m. EDT today. The live call may be accessed by dialing (800) 862-7924 for domestic callers and (785) 424-1047 for international callers, and by using "CAPRICOR" as the conference ID. Access to the live webcast as well as the link to the replay of the call can be found at http://capricor.com/news/events/. The webcast will be archived for approximately 30 days.

About CAP-2003 (CDC Exosomes)
Exosomes are nano-sized, membrane-enclosed vesicles, or "bubbles" that are secreted by cells and contain bioactive molecules, including proteins, RNAs and microRNAs. They act as messengers to regulate the functions of neighboring cells, and pre-clinical research has shown that exogenously-administered exosomes can direct or, in some cases, re-direct cellular activity, supporting their therapeutic potential. Their size, ease of crossing cell membranes, and ability to communicate in native cellular language makes them an exciting class of potential therapeutic agents. CAP-2003 consists of exosomes secreted by CDCs, and is believed to mediate many of the effects that are observed with these cells, including anti-inflammatory, anti-angiogenic, anti-apoptotic, and anti-fibrotic effects. Capricor is currently conducting pre-clinical studies to explore the possible therapeutic benefits that exosomes may possess, with a focus on ophthalmologic, dermatologic and oncologic disease. Capricor expects to submit an Investigational New Drug application for CAP-2003 in the first half of 2017 and to initiate clinical development in ocular graft-versus-host disease in 2017.

About Capricor Therapeutics
Capricor Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: CAPR) is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of first-in-class therapeutic products. Capricor's lead candidate, CAP-1002, is a cardiac cell therapy that is currently being evaluated for the treatment of heart disease associated with Duchenne muscular dystrophy and myocardial infarction (heart attack). Capricor is advancing its proprietary exosome product candidate, CAP-2003, for the treatment of ophthalmic disorders and exploring other therapeutic areas. Capricor's portfolio also features Cenderitide, a dual natriuretic peptide receptor agonist, which may have application for the outpatient treatment of advanced heart failure and other potential indications. For additional information, visit www.capricor.com.

ALLSTAR and HOPE-Duchenne are funded in part by the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine. DYNAMIC was funded in part by the National Institutes of Health.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this press release regarding the efficacy, safety, and intended utilization of Capricor's product candidates; the initiation, conduct, size, timing and results of discovery efforts and clinical trials; the pace of enrollment of clinical trials; plans regarding regulatory filings, future research and clinical trials; plans regarding current and future collaborative activities and the ownership of commercial rights; scope, duration, validity and enforceability of intellectual property rights; future royalty streams, expectations with respect to the expected use of proceeds from the recently completed offering and the anticipated effects of the offering, and any other statements about Capricor's management team's future expectations, beliefs, goals, plans or prospects constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements that are not statements of historical fact (including statements containing the words "believes," "plans," "could," "anticipates," "expects," "estimates," "should," "target," "will," "would" and similar expressions) should also be considered to be forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements. More information about these and other risks that may impact Capricor's business are set forth in Capricor's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 30, 2016, in its Registration Statement on Form S-3, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 28, 2015, and in its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2016, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 13, 2016. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to Capricor as of the date hereof, and Capricor assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

CAP-1002 and Cenderitide are Investigational New Drugs and are not approved for any indications. Capricor's exosomes technology has not yet been investigated in any clinical trial.

For more information, please contact:

Corporate
Capricor Therapeutics, Inc.
AJ Bergmann, Vice President of Finance
+1-310-358-3200
abergmann@capricor.com

Investor Relations
Argot Partners
Kimberly Minarovich
+1-212-600-1902
kimberly@argotpartners.com

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SOURCE Capricor Therapeutics, Inc.