ROCKVILLE, Md. and CHESTERBROOK, Pa., Nov. 09, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cerecor Inc. (NASDAQ : CERC), a biopharmaceutical company focused on becoming a leader in development and commercialization of treatments for rare and orphan diseases, today announced recent business progress and third quarter results for 2020.

“We are very pleased with the progress we have made in the third quarter,” said Mike Cola, Chief Executive Officer of Cerecor. “We anticipate completion of the trial of our novel anti-LIGHT mAb, CERC-002, for the treatment of COVID-19 induced acute respiratory distress syndrome, by year end. We are excited to welcome Dr. Gilla Kaplan to our Board, who brings with her a strong track record and expertise in immunology and rare diseases. The timing of her involvement is ideal as we prepare for multiple clinical data readouts in 2021 that we believe represent key inflection points for Cerecor.”

Third Quarter Highlights and Program Updates

• Strengthened leadership team with the appointment of Gilla Kaplan, Ph.D., to the Board of Directors. Dr. Kaplan brings with her over 30 years of academic and industry experience specializing in various aspects of the host immune response to mycobacterial pathogens, including the causative agents of leprosy and tuberculosis.
• The Company’s pipeline of novel, first-in-class compounds remains on track with all clinical development timelines and anticipates the following milestones:
  
  - CERC-002: Anti-LIGHT monoclonal antibody in clinical studies for COVID-19 ARDS and severe pediatric onset Crohn’s disease.
  - Completion of the multi-center, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled Phase 1 proof-of-concept study of CERC-002 in cytokine storm-induced COVID-19 ARDS is anticipated by year end 2020.
  - Initial data from the open-label Phase 1b clinical study designed to assess the safety, tolerability and short-term efficacy of CERC-002 in anti-TNF refractory adult subjects with moderate-to-severe Crohn’s disease is anticipated in the first quarter of 2021.

• CERC-007: Anti-IL-18 monoclonal antibody for the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM) and Adult-onset Still's Disease (AOSD).
  - Initial data anticipated from proof-of-concept studies for multiple myeloma in the first quarter of 2021 and in Adult-onset Still’s disease in the second quarter of 2021.

• CERC-006: Dual mTORC1 and mTORC2 small molecule inhibitor for complex lymphatic malformations.
  - Initial data anticipated from proof-of-concept study in the first half of 2021.

• CERC-800 programs (CERC-801, CERC-802, and CERC-803): Restorative monosaccharide therapies for congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDGs).
  - CERC-801 – data anticipated from the pivotal trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of CERC-801 in patients suffering from Phosphoglucomutase-1 deficiency related congenital disorders of glycosylation (PGM1-CDG) in 2021.
  - CERC-802 – data anticipated from the pivotal trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of CERC-802 in patients suffering from Mannose phosphate isomerase deficiency related CDG (MPI-CDG) in 2021.
  - CERC-803 – clearance to proceed on the Investigational New Drug Application from the FDA anticipated in the fourth quarter 2020.

Third Quarter Financial Update

Cerecor reported a cash balance of $33.4 million as of September 30, 2020, representing a $12 million decrease as compared to June 30, 2020. The decrease was primarily due to operational spend.

Cerecor recognized $8.9 million of research and development expenses and $4.6 million of general and administrative expenses during the quarter, which were the primary reasons for the increase in operating expenses, net loss and net loss per share as compared to the same period in 2019. The $7.1 million increase in research and development expenses as compared to the same period in 2019 primarily resulted from Cerecor’s continuing advancement of its expanded pipeline, including costs related to the ongoing clinical trial for COVID-19 ARDS and other programs acquired in the merger with Aevi Genomic Medicine, Inc.

About Cerecor

Cerecor is a biopharmaceutical company focused on becoming a leader in development and commercialization of treatments for rare and orphan diseases. The company is advancing its clinical-stage pipeline of innovative therapies that address unmet patient needs within rare and orphan diseases. The company's rare disease pipeline includes CERC-801, CERC-802 and CERC-803 ("CERC-800 compounds"), which are therapies for inherited metabolic disorders known as congenital disorders of glycosylation. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") granted Rare Pediatric Disease Designation (“RPDD”) and Orphan Drug Designation ("ODD") to all three CERC-800 compounds, thus potentially qualifying the Company to receive a Priority Review Voucher ("PRV") upon approval of each new drug application ("NDA"). The company is also developing CERC-002, CERC-006 and CERC-007. CERC-002 is an anti-LIGHT monoclonal antibody being developed for the treatment of COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome and for severe pediatric-onset Crohn's disease. CERC-006 is a dual mTOR inhibitor being developed for the treatment of complex lymphatic malformations and has been granted ODD and RPDD by the FDA, thus potentially qualifying the company to receive a fourth PRV upon approval of an NDA. CERC-007 is an anti-IL-18 monoclonal antibody being developed for the treatment of autoimmune inflammatory diseases such as adult onset Stills disease, and multiple myeloma.

For more information about Cerecor, please visit Cerecor.com