SAN DIEGO - Kintara Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: KTRA), a biopharmaceutical company, today retracted its previous announcement from Monday regarding the issuance of Contingent Value Rights (CVRs) to its stockholders. The company clarified that CVRs will be distributed to stockholders of record immediately before the reverse stock split, which is scheduled to occur just before Kintara's impending merger with TuHURA Biosciences, Inc.
The initial statement, dated October 14, 2024, had set the record date for the CVRs for October 17, 2024, which has been corrected. The correction is not expected to change who receives CVRs or the quantity distributed.
Kintara's shareholders had approved a reverse stock split ranging from 1-for-20 to 1-for-40 at a special meeting on October 4, 2024. The company plans to effectuate a reverse stock split at a ratio of 1-for-35 before finalizing the merger with TuHURA Biosciences, expected to close on October 18, 2024, pending regulatory approval and other closing conditions.
Under the CVR Agreement, Kintara stockholders will be entitled to an aggregate of 53,897,125 shares of Kintara's common stock after adjustments due to the reverse stock split. Stockholders at the time of the reverse stock split will receive one CVR for each share of common stock owned. The CVRs will be issued immediately before the reverse stock split and the merger's completion. Equiniti Trust Company, LLC will serve as the rights agent for the CVRs.
TuHURA Biosciences, a Phase 3 immuno-oncology company, is developing technologies to combat resistance to cancer immunotherapy. Its lead vaccine candidate, IFx-2.0, aims to address primary resistance to checkpoint inhibitors and is poised for a Phase 3 trial as an adjunct therapy for advanced Merkel Cell Carcinoma.
This news follows Kintara's ongoing development of cancer therapies, including REM-001 Therapy for cutaneous metastatic breast cancer, which has shown an 80% complete response rate in evaluable lesions.
The information in this article is based on a press release statement from Kintara Therapeutics.
In other recent news, Kintara Therapeutics has been making significant strides towards a merger with TuHURA Biosciences. The shareholders of Kintara have approved the issuance of common stock related to the merger and a reverse stock split. However, proposals to increase authorized shares and reincorporate from Nevada to Delaware did not pass. The merger is expected to result in TuHURA becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kintara.
Kintara has also made amendments to the merger agreement, waiving certain prerequisites to expedite the process. The revised terms allow the merger to proceed without Kintara's stockholders' approval for the company's reincorporation from Nevada to Delaware, and the increase in authorized shares of Kintara's common stock.
In other developments, Kintara's REM-001 therapy for cutaneous metastatic breast cancer is currently under study with positive results reported so far. Similarly, TuHURA Biosciences has secured exclusive rights to an advanced immunotherapy asset, KVA12123, currently in clinical trials. The company has also reported positive results from a Phase 1b trial of its leading cancer vaccine candidate, IFx-2.0, conducted in collaboration with Kintara Therapeutics.
At Kintara's recent Annual Meeting of Stockholders, four directors were elected, the compensation of the company's executive officers was approved, and the appointment of Marcum LLP as Kintara's independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, was ratified. These are the latest developments in the ongoing activities within Kintara Therapeutics and TuHURA Biosciences.
InvestingPro Insights
As Kintara Therapeutics (NASDAQ: KTRA) prepares for its merger with TuHURA Biosciences and implements a reverse stock split, investors should be aware of some key financial metrics and insights provided by InvestingPro.
According to InvestingPro data, Kintara's market capitalization stands at $12.57 million, reflecting its current position as a small-cap biopharmaceutical company. This relatively small size aligns with the company's developmental stage and its focus on advancing cancer therapies like REM-001.
InvestingPro Tips highlight that Kintara holds more cash than debt on its balance sheet, which could be crucial for funding its ongoing research and development efforts. This is particularly important given that the company is quickly burning through cash, a common characteristic of biotech firms in the development phase.
It's worth noting that Kintara has seen a strong return over the last month, with a 18.93% price total return. This recent uptick could be related to investor anticipation surrounding the merger and potential future developments.
However, potential investors should be aware that analysts do not anticipate the company will be profitable this year, which is not uncommon for early-stage biopharmaceutical companies. Additionally, Kintara suffers from weak gross profit margins and has not been profitable over the last twelve months.
For those interested in a more comprehensive analysis, InvestingPro offers 11 additional tips for Kintara Therapeutics, providing a deeper understanding of the company's financial health and market position as it navigates this significant corporate transition.
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