SEATTLE and VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 12, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Achieve Life Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: ACHV), a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company committed to the global development and commercialization of cytisinicline for smoking cessation and nicotine addiction, today announced first quarter 2022 financial results and provided an update on the cytisinicline clinical development program.

Recent Events & Highlights

• Reported clinically robust and statistically significant Phase 3 topline results from the ORCA-2 clinical trial of cytisinicline in adult smokers
• Following positive ORCA-2 results, Achieve updated its agreements with Silicon Valley Bank, providing access to an additional $10.0 million of capital
• Cytisinicline development program overview presented at Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco (SRNT) Annual Meeting
• Appointed Dr. Vaughn Himes to Achieve’s Board of Directors

“Cytisinicline exceeded our expectations in the ORCA-2 trial by delivering impressive efficacy and tolerability in a difficult-to-treat population of smokers, who had lengthy and intense smoking histories, but who courageously attempted to quit smoking in the height of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said John Bencich, Chief Executive Officer of Achieve. “We are delighted for those who were successful in ORCA-2 and inspired to continue our efforts to bring this important cytisinicline treatment to the FDA for review and potential approval as a new cessation option for the millions of people battling nicotine addiction.”

Positive Phase 3 ORCA-2 Topline Results



The Phase 3 ORCA-2 trial of cytisinicline achieved statistically significant results in primary and secondary endpoints for both 6- and 12-week cytisinicline treatment compared to placebo, and was very well tolerated with single-digit rates of adverse events observed.

Subjects who received 12 weeks of cytisinicline treatment had 6.3 times higher odds, or likelihood, to have quit smoking during the last 4 weeks of treatment compared to subjects who received placebo (p<0.0001). The abstinence rate during weeks 9-12 was 32.6% for cytisinicline compared to 7.0% for placebo.

Subjects who received 6 weeks of cytisinicline treatment had 8 times higher odds, or likelihood, to have quit smoking during the last 4 weeks of treatment compared to subjects who received placebo (p<0.0001). The abstinence rate during weeks 3-6 was 25.3% for cytisinicline compared to 4.4% for placebo.

Updated Debt Facility Agreement with SVB



In connection with the positive ORCA-2 trial results, Achieve received approval from Silicon Valley Bank to access the remaining capital available under its $25.0 million debt facility put in place in December 2021. Per the terms of the agreement, the remaining $10.0 million of commitments are being made available to the Company through April 30, 2023. Amounts drawn under the remaining commitments will incur interest at the greater of 3.50% and the WSJ prime rate, and will be subject to interest only payments through April 30, 2024, and then amortize fully over the following 24 months. No amounts have been drawn to date and the Company will have the discretion to make draws under the facility through April 30, 2023.

Cytisinicline Development Program Presented at SRNT Annual Meeting



An overview of the cytisinicline development program was included in the “Promising New Smoking Cessation Pharmacotherapies” Symposium during the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco (SRNT) Annual Meeting on March 16, 2022.

Dr. Vaughn Himes Appointed to the Board of Directors



In March, Achieve announced the appointment of Vaughn B. Himes, PhD, to Achieve’s Board of Directors. Dr. Himes currently serves as the Chief Technology Officer at Seagen, where he leads the manufacturing, supply chain, process sciences, and quality functions. He has more than 30 years of experience in product development and commercialization in the pharmaceutical and biotech industry, including previous roles as Senior Vice President of Technical Operations at ZymoGenetics, and Vice President of Worldwide Manufacturing Operations at Corixa Corporation.

Financial Results



As of March 31, 2022, the company’s cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash was $36.4 million. Total operating expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2022 was $7.2 million. Total net loss for the three months ended March 31, 2022 was $7.6 million. As of May 12, 2022, Achieve had 9,681,855 shares outstanding.

Conference Call Details


Achieve will host a conference call at 4:30 PM EDT, Thursday, May 12, 2022. To access the webcast, please use the following link


1Q22 Earnings Webcast


. Alternatively, you may access the live conference call by dialing (877) 472-9809 (U.S. & Canada) or (629) 228-0791 (International) and referencing conference ID 3887417. A webcast replay will be available approximately two hours after the call and will be archived on the website for 90 days.

About Achieve and Cytisinicline


Tobacco use is currently the leading cause of preventable death that is responsible for more than eight million deaths worldwide and nearly half a million deaths in the United States annually.

^1,2

More than 87% of lung cancer deaths, 61% of all pulmonary disease deaths, and 32% of all deaths from coronary heart disease are attributable to smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke.

²

Achieve’s focus is to address the global smoking health and nicotine addiction epidemic through the development and commercialization of cytisinicline.

Cytisinicline is a plant-based alkaloid with a high binding affinity to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. It is believed to aid in smoking cessation by interacting with nicotine receptors in the brain by reducing the severity of nicotine withdrawal symptoms and by reducing the reward and satisfaction associated with smoking.

Cytisinicline is an investigational product candidate being developed for treatment of nicotine addiction and has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for any indication in the United States. For more information on cytisinicline and Achieve visit


www.achievelifesciences.com


.

Forward Looking Statements


This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, statements regarding the timing and nature of cytisinicline clinical development, data results and commercialization activities, the potential market size for cytisinicline, the potential benefits, safety and tolerability of cytisinicline, the ability to discover and develop new uses for cytisinicline, including but not limited to as an e-cigarette cessation product, the development and effectiveness of new treatments, and the intention to submit cytisinicline to the FDA for approval. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements. Achieve may not actually achieve its plans or product development goals in a timely manner, if at all, or otherwise carry out its intentions or meet its expectations or projections disclosed in these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on management’s current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements, including, among others, the risk that cytisinicline may not demonstrate the hypothesized or expected benefits; the risk that Achieve may not be able to obtain additional financing to fund the development of cytisinicline; the risk that cytisinicline will not receive regulatory approval or be successfully commercialized; the risk that new developments in the smoking cessation landscape require changes in business strategy or clinical development plans; the risk that Achieve’s intellectual property may not be adequately protected; general business and economic conditions; risks related to the impact on our business of the Russian military action in Ukraine; risks related to the impact on our business of the COVID-19 pandemic or similar public health crises and the other factors described in the risk factors set forth in Achieve’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time, including Achieve’s Annual Reports on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Achieve undertakes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements contained herein or to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date hereof, other than as may be required by applicable.

Investor Relations Contact


Rich Cockrell



[email protected]



(404) 736-3838

Media Contact


Glenn Silver



[email protected]



(646) 871-8485

References



¹

World Health Organization. WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic, 2019. Geneva: World Health Organization, 2017.


²

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Health Consequences of Smoking – 50 Years of Progress. A Report of the Surgeon General, 2014.