• Phase 2b ODYSSEY Trial in Wet AMD Remains on Track with Topline Data Expected in Late Q3 2024 
  
• ODYSSEY Safety Review Committee Recommends Trial Continue as Planned with no Serious Adverse Events Observed 
  
• Recent Key Opinion Leader Webinar Highlighted the Broad Applicability and Real-World Experience of Suprachoroidal Drug Delivery 

ALPHARETTA, Ga., Aug. 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Clearside Biomedical, Inc. (Nasdaq: CLSD), a biopharmaceutical company revolutionizing the delivery of therapies to the back of the eye through the suprachoroidal space (SCS^®), today reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2024, and provided a corporate update.

“Our Phase 2b ODYSSEY clinical trial utilizing CLS-AX (axitinib injectable suspension) in patients with wet AMD continues to advance on track and on time with topline data expected in late Q3 2024,” said George Lasezkay, PharmD, JD, President and Chief Executive Officer. “In July, the Safety Review Committee reviewed masked safety data and noted that there have been no drug-related Serious Adverse Events (SAEs), including no endophthalmitis or retinal vasculitis, and recommended the trial continue as planned without modifying the protocol. Both arms of the ODYSSEY trial have completed six months of treatment, with CLS-AX being re-dosed per protocol in the CLS-AX arm. Re-dosing with CLS-AX is an important and differentiating feature of the ODYSSEY trial, and the re-dosing data will be valuable as we evaluate the effects of CLS-AX in this chronic disease and plan our Phase 3 clinical development program.”

Dr. Lasezkay continued, “Several noteworthy events have also occurred featuring our commercial product, XIPERE^®1, for the treatment of patients with macular edema associated with uveitis. Most importantly, our Asia-Pacific partner, Arctic Vision, reported positive results from their Phase 3 trial for XIPERE, known as ARCATUS in China, and announced that new drug applications (NDAs) for ARCATUS have been accepted for review in Australia and Singapore. In addition, data presented on the real-world use of XIPERE in the United States has shown the product has excellent durability as 87.7% of eyes did not require an injected or implanted corticosteroid for 6 months after a single dose of XIPERE².”

“In May 2024, consensus guidelines for drug delivery by suprachoroidal administration, co-authored by 16 practicing retinal physicians, were published in the prominent journal, RETINA^®. The article describes the physicians’ best practices for injection into the suprachoroidal space. These valuable guidelines, combined with our progress with CLS-AX and the promising real-world and Phase 3 data from XIPERE continue to demonstrate the advantages of suprachoroidal administration utilizing our proprietary SCS Microinjector^® to deliver therapies to the back of the eye for the treatment of a variety of retinal diseases,” concluded, Dr. Lasezkay,

Key Highlights

• Topline data expected in late third quarter of 2024 from Phase 2b ODYSSEY clinical trial of CLS-AX using suprachoroidal delivery in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD).
• Clearside’s Asia-Pacific partner, Arctic Vision, reported positive topline results from its Phase 3 clinical trial of ARCATUS^® for the treatment of uveitic macular edema in China and announced that NDAs for ARCATUS have been officially accepted in Australia and Singapore.
• Clearside hosted its Suprachoroidal Delivery Key Opinion Leader webinar highlighting broad applicability and real-world experience with suprachoroidal drug delivery and SCS development opportunities, including wet AMD and geographic atrophy. The replay of this event is available on the Clearside website under the Investors section: Events and Presentations.
• Ophthalmology Science published an article summarizing safety and tolerability data from OASIS, Clearside’s Phase 1/2a Open-Label, Dose-Escalation trial of CLS-AX (axitinib injectable suspension) in wet AMD. The full publication can be accessed here.
• RETINA^®, The Journal of Retinal and Vitreous Diseases published consensus guidelines for drug delivery via Suprachoroidal Space (SCS^®) injection. The full publication can be accessed here.
• Clearside’s gene therapy partner, REGENXBIO, reported progress on their ABBV-RGX-314 programs delivered via suprachoroidal injection with Clearside’s SCS Microinjector^®. REGENEXBIO announced that they expect to initiate a global pivotal trial in the first half of 2025 for the treatment of diabetic retinopathy, and that their Phase 2 ALTITUDE^® trial is now enrolling a new cohort of patients with center-involved diabetic macular edema (DME). In addition, REGENEXBIO announced their AAVIATE^® Phase 2 trial in wet AMD is initiating enrollment in a new cohort at dose level 4.³
• Multiple data presentations on the use of Clearside’s suprachoroidal delivery platform were featured at prominent medical meetings, including the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO), Clinical Trials at the Summit and Retinal Imaging Biomarkers and Endpoints Summit.
• Glenn Yiu, MD, PhD, Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of California, Davis, was appointed to Clearside’s Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) in July 2024. Dr. Yiu, a board-certified vitreoretinal surgeon, leads the translational research program at UC Davis studying AMD and other retinal diseases, with focus on ocular imaging technologies, gene editing and delivery, and animal models of retinal disease.
• Tony Gibney was appointed to Clearside’s Board of Directors in April 2024. Mr. Gibney is an experienced biotechnology executive and former investment banker who brings over 25 years of experience dedicated to advising biotechnology companies on business strategy, collaborations, financings, and mergers and acquisitions.

Second Quarter 2024 Financial Results

• License and other revenue for the second quarter of 2024 was $90,000, compared to $1.0 million for the second quarter of 2023. The revenue primarily related to payments pursuant to Clearside’s license agreements and revenue for services and the sales of SCS Microinjector kits to licensees.
• Research and development expenses for the second quarter of 2024 were $4.6 million, compared to $4.9 million for the second quarter of 2023. The decrease was primarily related to the CLS-AX program ($0.2 million), development of the SCS Microinjector ($0.2 million), and preclinical work ($0.1 million). This was partially offset by a $0.2 million increase in employee related costs.
• General and administrative expenses remained constant at $3.1 million in the second quarter of 2024 and 2023.
• Interest income for the second quarter of 2024 was $0.4 million compared to $0.5 million for the second quarter of 2023. The decrease was due to the lower balance of cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments.
• Other income for the second quarter of 2024 was $1.9 million, compared to $0 for the second quarter of 2023. Other income for the second quarter of 2024 was due to the change in fair value of the warrant liabilities from the prior March 31, 2024 valuation date.
• Non-cash interest expense remained constant at $2.3 million in the second quarter of 2024 and 2023. Non-cash interest expense was comprised of imputed interest on the liability related to the sales of future royalties and the amortization of the associated issuance costs.
• Net loss for the second quarter of 2024 was $7.6 million, or $0.10 per share of common stock, compared to net loss of $9.1 million, or $0.15 per share of common stock, for the second quarter of 2023.
• As of June 30, 2024, Clearside’s cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments totaled $29.4 million. The Company believes it will have sufficient resources to fund its planned operations into the third quarter of 2025.

Additional Information

In lieu of a second quarter 2024 conference call, the Company hosted a Suprachoroidal Delivery Key Opinion Leader Webinar on Wednesday, July 24, 2024. The replay of this event is available on the Clearside website under the Investors section: Events and Presentations. Quarterly earnings conference calls are expected to resume with the third quarter 2024 financial results.

About Clearside Biomedical, Inc.

Clearside Biomedical, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company revolutionizing the delivery of therapies to the back of the eye through the suprachoroidal space (SCS^®). Clearside’s SCS injection platform, utilizing the Company’s patented SCS Microinjector^®, enables an in-office, repeatable, non-surgical procedure for the targeted and compartmentalized delivery of a wide variety of therapies to the macula, retina, or choroid to potentially preserve and improve vision in patients with sight-threatening eye diseases. Clearside is developing its own pipeline of small molecule product candidates for administration via its SCS Microinjector. The Company’s lead program, CLS-AX (axitinib injectable suspension), for the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD), is in Phase 2b clinical testing. Clearside developed and gained approval for its first product, XIPERE® (triamcinolone acetonide injectable suspension) for suprachoroidal use, which is available in the U.S. through a commercial partner. Clearside also strategically partners its SCS injection platform with companies utilizing other ophthalmic therapeutic innovations. For more information, please visit clearsidebio.com and follow us on LinkedIn and X.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Any statements contained in this press release that do not describe historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be identified by words such as “believe”, “expect”, “may”, “plan”, “potential”, “will”, and similar expressions, and are based on Clearside’s current beliefs and expectations. These forward-looking statements include statements regarding the clinical development of CLS-AX, the expected timing of topline results from the ODYSSEY clinical trial, the potential benefits of CLS-AX, Clearside’s suprachoroidal delivery technology and Clearside’s SCS Microinjector^® and Clearside’s ability to fund its operations into the third quarter of 2025. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in such statements. Risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially include uncertainties inherent in the conduct of clinical trials, Clearside’s reliance on third parties over which it may not always have full control and other risks and uncertainties that are described in Clearside’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on March 12, 2024 and Clearside’s other Periodic Reports filed with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and are based on information available to Clearside as of the date of this release, and Clearside assumes no obligation to, and does not intend to, update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

¹XIPERE^® (triamcinolone acetonide injectable suspension) for suprachoroidal use is being commercialized by Bausch + Lomb who has the exclusive license for the commercialization and development of XIPERE in the United States and Canada. Arctic Vision has the exclusive license for the commercialization and development of XIPERE, in Greater China, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, India and the ASEAN Countries. XIPERE was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in October 2021 and is commercially available in the U.S. A link to the full prescribing information is available at https://www.xipere.com/hcp/#isi.

²Yiu, Glen, “Suprachoroidal Drug Delivery in the Real World”, Clinical Trials at the Summit Meeting, June 2024

³ALTITUDE^® and AAVIATE^® are registered trademarks of REGENXBIO, Inc.

Investor and Media Contacts:

Jenny Kobin
Remy Bernarda
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(678) 430-8206

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