TEL AVIV, Israel, June 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Galmed Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (NASDAQ: GLMD) ("Galmed" or the "Company"), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company for liver and fibro-inflammatory diseases reports financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and recent developments

Recent Developments

• Initiated a new clinical program to evaluate its lead compound, Aramchol meglumine for the treatment of Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC), a rare disease for which there is no approved treatment;
• Phase 2 proof of concept PSC study to be conducted in collaboration with the Stravitz–Sanyal Institute for Liver Disease and Metabolic Health Virginia Commonwealth University;
• Formed a strategic partnership with Onkai, Inc., leading an investment round of $6 million in Onkai, an AI-powered digital platform that facilitates health equity in underserved communities across the US, Enabling faster and diverse enrollment to clinical trials;
• The Company is discontinuing its evaluation of strategic alternatives; and
• Nasdaq notified the Company that it regained compliance with the Nasdaq minimum bid price rule.

Financial Summary – First Quarter 2023 vs. First Quarter 2022:

• Cash and cash equivalents, short term deposit, restricted cash and marketable debt securities totaled $12.2 million as of March 31, 2023, compared to $13.8 million at December 31, 2022.
• Net loss amounted to $1.8 million, or $1.09 per share, for the three months ended March 31, 2023, compared to a net loss of $6.1 million, or $3.67 per share, for the three months ended March 31, 2022.
• Research and development expenses amounted to approximately $1.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023, compared to approximately $4.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022. The decrease resulted primarily from a decrease in clinical trial expenses.
• General and administrative expenses amounted to approximately $0.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023, compared to approximately $1.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022. The decrease resulted primarily from a decrease in share based compensation and professional services expenses.
• Financial income, net amounted to approximately $0.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023, compared to financial expense of $0.05 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022.

About Galmed Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

We are a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of Aramchol for liver and fibro-inflammatory diseases. We have focused almost exclusively on developing Aramchol for the treatment of NASH and are currently developing Aramchol for PSC and exploring the feasibility of developing Aramchol for other fibro-inflammatory indications outside of liver disease. We are also collaborating with the Hebrew University in the development of Amilo-5MER, a 5 amino acid synthetic peptide.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may include forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements relating to Galmed's objectives, plans and strategies, as well as statements, other than historical facts, that address activities, events or developments that Galmed intends, expects, projects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future. These statements are often characterized by terminology such as "believes," "hopes," "may," "anticipates," "should," "intends," "plans," "will," "expects," "estimates," "projects," "positioned," "strategy" and similar expressions and are based on assumptions and assessments made in light of management's experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors believed to be appropriate. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Many factors could cause Galmed's actual activities or results to differ materially from the activities and results anticipated in forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the following: the timing and cost of Galmed's planned PSC clinical trial and our pivotal Phase 3 ARMOR trial, or the ARMOR Study (if re-initated) or any other pre-clinical or clinical trials; completion and receiving favorable results of our planned PSC clinical trial and our the ARMOR Study for Aramchol (if re-initiated) or any other pre-clinical or clinical trial; the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; regulatory action with respect to Aramchol or any other product candidate by the FDA or the EMA; the commercial launch and future sales of Aramchol or any other future products or product candidates; Galmed's ability to comply with all applicable post-market regulatory requirements for Aramchol or any other product candidate in the countries in which it seeks to market the product; Galmed's ability to achieve favorable pricing for Aramchol or any other product candidate; Galmed's expectations regarding the commercial market for NASH patients or any other indication; third-party payor reimbursement for Aramchol or any other product candidate; Galmed's estimates regarding anticipated capital requirements and Galmed's needs for additional financing; market adoption of Aramchol or any other product candidate by physicians and patients; the timing, cost or other aspects of the commercial launch of Aramchol or any other product candidate; the development and approval of the use of Aramchol or any other product candidate for additional indications or in combination therapy; and Galmed's expectations regarding licensing, acquisitions and strategic operations/. More detailed information about the risks and uncertainties affecting Galmed is contained under the heading "Risk Factors" included in Galmed's most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC on March 29, 2023, and in other filings that Galmed has made and may make with the SEC in the future. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release and reflect Galmed's current views with respect to future events, and Galmed does not undertake and specifically disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.