Conatus (CNAT) Posts Narrower Q2 Loss, Emricasan In Focus

Conatus Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:CNAT) reported a second-quarter 2016 loss of 30 cents per share, significantly narrower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 37 cents. The reported loss was a penny narrower than the year-ago loss.

With no approved product in Conatus’ portfolio at the moment, the company does not generate revenues yet.

In the second quarter of 2016, research and development expenses were $4.2 million, up 4.3% from the year-ago quarter, reflecting higher external clinical trial and manufacturing costs related to emricasan. General and administrative were $2.2 million, up 12.2% from the year-ago quarter mainly due to higher personnel costs and consulting fees.

Focus on Emricasan

Conatus’ lead candidate, emricasan, a first-in-class, orally active pan-caspase protease inhibitor, is being developed for the treatment of patients suffering from chronic liver disease.

During the second quarter, Conatus announced positive top-line results from the three-month, open-label, second-stage phase II liver cirrhosis (LC) study on emricasan, evaluating potential improvements in model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score and Child-Pugh-Turcotte status in patients with LC and baseline MELD scores of 11 to 18.

Meanwhile, two phase IIb studies on emricasan are currently underway. This includes the POLT-HCV-SVR study evaluating potential improvements in Ishak fibrosis score in post-orthotropic liver transplant (POLT) recipients with liver fibrosis or cirrhosis post-transplant caused by recurrent hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in those who have successfully achieved a sustained viral response (SVR) following HCV antiviral therapy. Data following two years of twice-daily treatment with emricasan or placebo are expected in the first half of 2018.

The other is the ENCORE-NF study (initiated in Jan 2016) evaluating potential improvements in fibrosis and steatohepatitis in patients with fibrosis caused by nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Results following 18 months of twice-daily treatment with emricasan or placebo are anticipated in 2018.

ENCORE-NF is the first phase IIb study to be initiated under the ENCORE program. The company also plans to initiate additional studies (ENCORE-PH, ENCORE-LF and ENCORE-XT) on emricasan under the ENCORE program through early 2017 as resources permit. Top-line data from these studies are expected to be out periodically beginning 2018. While the ENCORE-PH study is expected to commence in the second half of 2016, the ENCORE-LF study is anticipated to start in the first half of 2017.

Meanwhile, the company expects that its current financial resources will be sufficient to maintain operations and ongoing development activities associated with emricasan for at least the next 12 months. However, the company would need additional capital to fully implement its development plans. It expects to achieve this through opportunistic financings, strategic partnerships or a combination of both.

We are encouraged by the company’s progress with emricasan. Investor focus should remain on updates pertaining to its development.

Conatus is a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock. Some better-ranked stocks in the health care sector include ANI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:ANIP) , Anika Therapeutics (NASDAQ:ANIK) and Fibrocell Science, Inc. (NASDAQ:FCSC) . All three stocks sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).