Novos to provide fully integrated commercial function for Evoke and non-dilutive financing for the
commercialization of Gimoti, extending cash runway into 2020
Evoke will retain greater than 80% of product profits following approval
SOLANA BEACH, Calif., Jan. 07, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Evoke Pharma, Inc. (NASDAQ: EVOK), a specialty
pharmaceutical company focused on treatments for gastrointestinal (GI) diseases, today announced a partnership with Novos Growth
Partners (NGP) to commercialize Gimoti™, the Company’s nasal spray product candidate for the relief of symptoms in adult women with
acute and recurrent diabetic gastroparesis. NGP will manage the commercial operations for a dedicated sales team to market Gimoti
to gastroenterologists and other targeted health care providers, if approved. NGP will also provide non-dilutive working capital
for commercialization costs prior to and following product launch. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has set a target
goal date under the Pharmaceutical Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) of April 1, 2019.
“This is a landmark agreement for Evoke and leverages NGP’s fully integrated commercialization platform and
experienced management team for the commercialization of Gimoti. The combination of NGP’s commercial capabilities and financial
resources address several of our corporate interests while allowing us to retain product ownership, a significant percentage of
sales revenue and additional strategic flexibilities. We are working closely with NGP in preparation for Gimoti’s potential product
launch this year,” commented Dave Gonyer, President and CEO.
Under the terms of the agreement, Evoke maintains ownership of the Gimoti New Drug Application (NDA). In
addition, Evoke will maintain legal, regulatory, and manufacturing responsibilities. Evoke will also retain a contract sales
organization, which would be managed by NGP and who will finance the working capital for launch. Evoke will record sales for Gimoti
and retain more than 80% of product profits. NGP will receive a percentage of product profits in the mid to high teens
as a service fee once Gimoti net sales surpass commercialization costs. In addition to the non-dilutive working capital, NGP has
agreed to provide up to $5.0 million to Evoke in a line of credit following NDA approval. Evoke and NGP retain the right to
terminate the agreement upon certain events, including any change of control of Evoke. The term of the agreement is five years,
after which Evoke will recapture 100% of product sales and corresponding responsibilities.
As of December 31, 2018, Evoke had approximately $5.3 million in cash. Evoke believes this cash, the NGP working
capital to cover commercialization costs and the NGP credit line, extend its cash runway into 2020 without considering any future
Gimoti product revenue.
Gimoti is expected to be launched in the United States during 2019, if approved by the FDA. Gimoti is
under patent protection in the United States until 2030 and would be the only non-oral out-patient treatment for women suffering
from diabetic gastroparesis in the United States. Gastroparesis is a condition that affects the normal spontaneous movement
of the muscles in the stomach and can cause the stomach to slow down or stop completely. It is most often associated with
diabetes. Gimoti allows patients to nasally deliver effective drug therapy while bypassing the stomach, which in patients
with gastroparesis, oral treatments can be unpredictably absorbed. Today, patients receive millions of prescriptions each year for
oral medications to treat this debilitating disease.
Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated acted as exclusive financial advisor to Evoke in this transaction.
About Gastroparesis
Gastroparesis is a debilitating, episodic condition that disproportionately affects adult women and is
characterized by slow or delayed gastric emptying of the stomach’s contents after meals, often resulting in flares of symptoms that
include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and bloating. Vomiting and gastric emptying delays can cause unpredictable absorption of
food and oral medications, which complicate glucose control and can lead to dehydration and malnutrition. These clinical
manifestations of gastroparesis also potentially render existing oral drug treatment options ineffective. If approved, Gimoti would
be the first non-oral drug treatment for symptoms associated with acute and recurrent diabetic gastroparesis in adult women and
would represent the first significant advancement in the treatment of gastroparesis in 40 years.
About Evoke Pharma, Inc.
Evoke is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused primarily on the development of drugs to treat GI disorders
and diseases. The Company is developing Gimoti, a nasal spray formulation of metoclopramide, for the relief of symptoms associated
with acute and recurrent diabetic gastroparesis in adult women.
Diabetic gastroparesis is a GI disorder affecting millions of patients worldwide, in which the stomach takes too
long to empty its contents resulting in serious digestive system symptoms. The gastric delay caused by gastroparesis can compromise
absorption of orally administered medications. Metoclopramide is currently available only in oral and injectable formulations and
is the only drug currently approved in the United States to treat gastroparesis. Visit www.EvokePharma.com for more
information.
Safe Harbor Statement
Evoke cautions you that statements included in this press release that are not a description of historical facts
are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “may,” “will,”
“should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “could,” “intend,” “target,” “project,” “contemplates,” “believes,” “estimates,”
“predicts,” “potential” or “continue” or the negatives of these terms or other similar expressions. These statements are based on
the company’s current beliefs and expectations. These forward-looking statements include statements regarding: the potential timing
of FDA action on the NDA and potential approval and product launch for Gimoti; NGP’s use of its commercialization platform and team
for the commercialization of Gimoti; Evoke’s retention of a contract sales organization; NGP providing a working capital loan and
line of credit and Evoke’s projected cash runway; Evoke’s expectations on future Gimoti product sales; and expected duration of
patent protection for Gimoti. The inclusion of forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation by Evoke that
any of its plans will be achieved. Actual results may differ from those set forth in this press release due to the risks and
uncertainties inherent in Evoke’s business, including, without limitation: the potential for FDA to delay the PDUFA target action
date due to FDA’s internal resource constraints or other reasons; FDA may disagree that the existing safety database and efficacy
data is sufficient to allow approval of the NDA, including as a result of the potential review issues identified by FDA in the
Day-74 Letter such as, among others, Cmax falling below the bioequivalence range in the comparative exposure PK trial,
the proposed duration of use for Gimoti being shorter as compared to the maximum approved dosing duration for the referenced listed
drug, Reglan Tablets, and the available safety database supporting such duration, the adequacy of the proposed REMS included in the
NDA, and the existing data supporting a female-only indication; FDA may not agree with Evoke’s interpretation of the results of
clinical trials of Gimoti; later developments with FDA that may be inconsistent with the already completed pre-NDA meetings; the
possibility of an advisory committee meeting related to the NDA; the inherent risks of clinical development of Gimoti; Evoke’s
reliance on a third party, NGP, for critical aspects of the commercialization of Gimoti; the performance of NGP and its adherence
to the terms of the agreement with Evoke; Evoke’s ability to timely secure a contract sale organization; Evoke could face
unexpected costs due to additional regulatory requests, litigation or other events; Evoke is entirely dependent on the success of
Gimoti, and Evoke cannot be certain that FDA will approve the NDA for Gimoti or that Evoke and NGP will successfully commercialize
Gimoti; Evoke may require substantial additional funding, and may be unable to raise capital or obtain funds under the working
capital loan or line of credit when needed, including to fund ongoing operations; Evoke may not be able to obtain, maintain and
enforce its patents and other intellectual property rights, and the scope of patent protection may not provide the protections
Evoke expects; and other risks detailed in Evoke’s prior press releases and in the periodic reports it files with the Securities
and Exchange Commission. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of
the date hereof, and Evoke undertakes no obligation to revise or update this press release to reflect events or circumstances after
the date hereof. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. This caution is made
under the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
