RADNOR, Pa. - NRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:NRXP), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, has received a $5 million milestone payment as part of its partnership with Alvogen, Inc. and Lotus Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. (1975.TW), marking a significant step in the development of its drug candidate NRX-101.
The payment, announced today, is the first tranche of a milestone under the updated agreement with Alvogen and Lotus. The funds will support the continued development of NRX-101 through a phase 2 meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In exchange for the accelerated milestone payment, Alvogen and Lotus will receive 4.1 million warrants to purchase NRx Pharmaceuticals' common stock at a strike price of $0.40, valid for three years. An additional $4 million is set to follow upon a positive outcome from the planned end of phase 2 meeting with the FDA.
NRX-101 is currently being developed as a treatment for bipolar depression with suicidality and has been designated as an investigational Breakthrough Therapy by the FDA. Beyond the immediate milestone, NRx is poised to receive up to $320 million in future development and sales milestones, as well as escalating royalty payments on net sales, contingent upon achieving certain sales thresholds.
Alvogen and Lotus will also shoulder future development and commercialization costs for NRX-101. NRx Pharmaceuticals' CEO, Stephen Willard, expressed gratitude for the partners' confidence in the potential of NMDA-antagonist drugs to treat bipolar depression with suicidality.
NRx Pharmaceuticals is also working on NRX-100 (IV ketamine) for the treatment of suicidal depression, which is set to be submitted for a New Drug Application based on clinical trials and data from various health authorities. The company has been granted Fast Track Designation by the FDA for the development of ketamine in treating acute suicidality.
The advancement of NRX-101 represents a crucial financial and strategic milestone for NRx Pharmaceuticals, as it continues to navigate the challenging biotech funding landscape.
This news is based on a press release statement from NRx Pharmaceuticals.
InvestingPro Insights
As NRx Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:NRXP) celebrates the receipt of a $5 million milestone payment for its drug candidate NRX-101, the company's financial health and market performance provide additional context for investors. With a market capitalization of $44.79 million and a negative price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of -1.05, reflecting its current lack of profitability, NRx faces significant financial challenges. The company's operating income shows a loss of $33.07 million over the last twelve months as of Q3 2023, which underlines the importance of successful drug development and potential FDA approvals for its financial turnaround.
Investors may find encouragement in the company's recent stock performance, with a significant return of 55.2% over the last three months and a 28.32% return in just the past week. These gains suggest growing investor confidence, possibly fueled by the company's clinical advancements and partnership milestones.
Nevertheless, there are critical considerations highlighted by InvestingPro Tips for those closely monitoring NRx Pharmaceuticals. Analysts have flagged the company's rapid cash burn and have noted that short-term obligations exceed its liquid assets, which could present liquidity challenges. Furthermore, analysts do not expect the company to turn a profit this year, emphasizing the speculative nature of this investment.
For investors seeking a more in-depth analysis, InvestingPro offers additional insights on NRx Pharmaceuticals. There are 11 more InvestingPro Tips available, which could help investors make a more informed decision about their investment in NRx. To explore these further, visit https://www.investing.com/pro/NRXP and consider using the coupon code PRONEWS24 to get an additional 10% off a yearly or biyearly Pro and Pro+ subscription.
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