– Resumed patient enrollment in adaptive pivotal trial of I.V. CR845 in post-operative pain –

– Initiated adaptive Phase 2/3 trial for I.V. CR845 in dialysis patients with uremic pruritus –

– Initiation of Phase 2b trial of Oral CR845 in osteoarthritis patients expected in Q3, 2016 –

– Conference call today at 4:30 p.m. ET –

STAMFORD, Conn., Aug. 04, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cara Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:CARA), a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing and commercializing new chemical entities designed to alleviate pain and pruritus by selectively targeting peripheral kappa opioid receptors, today announced financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2016.

“This quarter we were pleased to resume enrollment in the adaptive pivotal trial of I.V. CR845 for postoperative pain, as well as initiate our adaptive Phase 2/3 trial in dialysis patients suffering from moderate-to-severe uremic pruritus,” said Derek Chalmers, Ph.D., D.Sc., President and Chief Executive Officer of Cara Therapeutics. “With both studies enrolling on schedule and our Phase 2b trial of Oral CR845 in osteoarthritis expected to begin in the third quarter of this year, Cara will soon have three ongoing late-stage studies addressing distinct clinical populations.”

Second Quarter and Recent Business Highlights

• In June 2016, resumed patient enrollment for the adaptive Phase 3 trial of I.V. CR845 in postoperative pain. The trial continues as a three-arm trial testing two doses of CR845 (1.0 ug/kg and 0.5 ug/kg) versus placebo.

• In June 2016, initiated an adaptive Phase 2/3 trial of I.V. CR845 for the treatment of chronic kidney disease-associated, or uremic pruritus, for which there are no approved therapies in the United States.

• Presented positive data from the Phase 2a study of the oral formulation of CR845 in osteoarthritis patients, as well as data from the human abuse liability study of I.V. CR845 showing low potential for human abuse at the 2016 International Conference on Opioids.

 Expected Upcoming Milestones

• Initiation of a Phase 2b trial of Oral CR845 in osteoarthritis patients during the third quarter of 2016:
  • The trial will be a double-blind, multiple-dose Phase 2b trial with twice-daily doses of Oral CR845 administered over an eight-week treatment period in patients with moderate-to-severe osteoarthritis pain.
  • The trial will include 15 trial sites across the United States, with 330 patients randomized across three CR845 tablet strengths and a placebo arm.      

• Initiation of a pharmacokinetic safety trial of multiple doses of Oral CR845 in hemodialysis patients to define bioequivalent tablet strengths to inform our ability to develop an oral tablet formulation for moderate-to-severe uremic pruritus.

Second Quarter 2016 Financial Results

Net Loss: The Company reported a net loss of $13.1 million, or $0.48 per basic and diluted share, for the second quarter of 2016 compared to a net loss of $5.7 million, or $0.25 per basic and diluted share, for the same period of 2015.

Revenues: The Company recognized $79,000 of clinical compound revenue during the second quarter of 2016 from the sale of clinical compound to Maruishi Pharmaceutical Company Ltd. (“Maruishi”). For the second quarter of 2015, collaborative revenue was $874,000, comprising revenue that had been deferred upon entry into the license agreement with Maruishi.

Research and Development (R&D) Expenses: R&D expenses were $10.8 million in the second quarter of 2016 compared to $4.7 million in the same period of 2015. The higher R&D expenses in the second quarter of 2016 were principally due to a net increase in direct preclinical studies and clinical trial costs, consultant services in support of preclinical studies and clinical trials, an increase in payroll and related costs for R&D personnel, the acceleration of amortization of the leasehold improvements at the Company’s Shelton, Connecticut facility prior to the relocation of the Company’s corporate headquarters to Stamford, Connecticut in May 2016 and increased rent, including rent expense for the Stamford lease for the second quarter of 2016 and the remaining rent payments due for the Shelton lease through its term.

General and Administrative (G&A) Expenses: G&A expenses were $2.6 million in the second quarter of 2016 compared to $1.9 million in the same period of 2015. The increase in the second quarter of 2016 was primarily due to increases in payroll and related costs, in franchise taxes and in rent and the acceleration of amortization of the leasehold improvements, as noted above.

Other Income: Other income was $172,000 of interest income and dividends earned on cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities during the second quarter of 2016 compared to $13,000 of interest income during the same period in 2015. The increase in the second quarter ended June 30, 2016 was primarily due to our investments in marketable securities in the 2016 period but not in the 2015 period, as well as higher interest rates on a higher average balance of cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities in 2016 as a result of the Company’s follow-on offering of common stock, which closed in August 2015. 

Cash and Cash Equivalents and Marketable Securities Position: As of June 30, 2016, cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities totaled $84.8 million compared to $106.7 million at December 31, 2015. The decrease in the balance of cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities primarily resulted from $21.3 million of cash used in operating activities.

Financial Guidance

Based on timing expectations and projected costs for current clinical development plans, Cara expects that its existing cash and cash equivalents and available-for-sale marketable securities as of June 30, 2016 will be sufficient for the Company to fund its operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements through the end of the first quarter of 2018, without giving effect to any potential milestone payments under existing collaborations. 

Conference Call

Cara management will host a conference call today at 4:30 p.m. ET to discuss its second quarter 2016 financial results and provide a business update.

To participate in the conference call, please dial 855-445-2816 (domestic) or 484-756-4300 (international) and refer to conference ID 50082596. A live webcast of the call can be accessed under "Events and Presentations" in the News & Investors section of the Company's website at www.CaraTherapeutics.com.

An archived webcast recording will be available on the Cara website beginning approximately two hours after the call.

About Cara Therapeutics

Cara Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing and commercializing new chemical entities designed to alleviate pain and pruritus by selectively targeting peripheral kappa opioid receptors. Cara is developing a novel and proprietary class of product candidates that target the body's peripheral nervous system and have demonstrated initial efficacy in patients with moderate-to-severe pain without inducing many of the undesirable side effects typically associated with currently available pain therapeutics.

Forward-looking Statements

Statements contained in this press release regarding matters that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Examples of these forward-looking statements include statements concerning the expected timing and trial designs of the Company’s planned clinical trials, the potential results of ongoing and planned clinical trials, future development milestones for the Company’s product candidates and the Company’s expected cash reach. Because such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Risks are described more fully in Cara Therapeutics’ filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 and its other documents subsequently filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made. Cara Therapeutics undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made.

Financial tables follow

CARA THERAPEUTICS, INC.
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
(unaudited)
			Three Months Ended June 30,								Six Months Ended June 30,
				2016				2015				2016				2015
Revenue:
	Collaborative revenue		$	-			$	874			$	-			$	1,363
	Clinical compound revenue			79				-				86				-
Total revenue				79				874				86				1,363
Operating expenses:
	Research and development			10,760				4,684				19,305				8,069
	General and administrative			2,645				1,922				5,092				3,744
Total operating expenses				13,405				6,606				24,397				11,813
Operating loss				(13,326	)			(5,732	)			(24,311	)			(10,450	)
Interest income				172				13				321				27
Loss before benefit from income taxes				(13,154	)			(5,719	)			(23,990	)			(10,423	)
Benefit from income taxes				79				35				224				50
Net loss			$	(13,075	)		$	(5,684	)		$	(23,766	)		$	(10,373	)
Net loss per share:
Basic and Diluted			$	(0.48	)		$	(0.25	)		$	(0.87	)		$	(0.45	)
Weighted average shares:
Basic and Diluted				27,282,863				22,828,612				27,271,226				22,818,601

CARA THERAPEUTICS, INC.
CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
			June 30,				December 31,
				2016				2015
Assets
Current assets:
	Cash and cash equivalents		$	3,545			$	15,101
	Marketable securities			81,219				91,640
	Income tax receivable			608				384
	Other receivables			373				80
	Prepaid expenses			3,398				1,729
Total current assets				89,143				108,934
Property and equipment, net				1,433				1,263
Restricted cash				1,469				700
Total assets			$	92,045			$	110,897
Liabilities and stockholders’  equity
Current liabilities:
	Accounts payable and accrued expenses		$	8,168			$	5,268
Total current liabilities				8,168				5,268
Deferred lease obligation				1,289				585
Commitments and contingencies				-				-
Stockholders’ equity:
	Preferred stock			-				-
	Common stock			27				27
	Additional paid-in capital			211,177				209,943
	Accumulated deficit			(128,657	)			(104,891	)
	Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)			41				(35	)
Total stockholders’ equity				82,588				105,044
Total liabilities and stockholders’  equity			$	92,045			$	110,897

INVESTOR CONTACT:
Jesse Baumgartner
Stern Investor Relations, Inc.
212-362-1200 
Jesse@sternir.com

MEDIA CONTACT:
Annie Starr
6 Degrees
973-415-8838 
astarr@6degreespr.com