Sareum Holdings — Fund raising to cushion pipeline risk

Sareum Holdings (AIM: SAR)

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Research: Healthcare

Sareum Holdings — Fund raising to cushion pipeline risk

Sareum released a trading update on 19 August ahead of its full-year results (financial year end 30 June 2021) expected in October 2021. Final pre-clinical studies on the lead asset, TYK2/JAK1 inhibitor SDC-1801, are now expected to commence in Q421 (previously Q321) due to COVID-19 induced supply disruptions. The timeline for the clinical trial application (CTA) and Phase I clinical trials, however, remains unchanged (end Q421 and early 2022 respectively). Short-term liquidity issues have been alleviated following two subscriptions to high net-worth individuals raising £2.37m in June and a further c £2.18m in July and August 2021. Although increased R&D expenses widened the FY21 net loss to £1.6m (versus £0.96m in FY20), the cash balance has improved (£2.7m at the end of June 2021 versus £1.3m at the end of December 2020).

Jyoti Prakash

Written by

Jyoti Prakash

Analyst, Healthcare

Healthcare

Sareum Holdings

Fund raising to cushion pipeline risk

Trading update

Healthcare

20 August 2021

Price

7.65p

Market cap

£258m

Net cash (£m) at 30 June 2021

2.7

Shares in issue

3.37bn

Free float

96.7%

Code

SAR

Primary exchange

AIM

Secondary exchange

N/A

Share price performance

Business description

Sareum is a UK-based drug development company, specialising in small molecule kinase inhibitors. Its flagship programmes are its pre-clinical TYK2/JAK1 inhibitors, SDC-1801 for autoimmune diseases and SDC-1802 for cancer. SDC-1801 is undergoing advanced dose finding and toxicology studies with a target to file a CTA in end-2021. Other programmes include the CHK1 inhibitor SRA737, out licensed to Sierra Oncology (Sareum holds a 27.5% stake of the economics of the licence agreement) and the deprioritised FLT3+Aurora kinase.

Analyst

Jyoti Prakash

+91 981 880 0393

Sareum Holdings is a research client of Edison Investment Research Limited

Sareum released a trading update on 19 August ahead of its full-year results (financial year end 30 June 2021) expected in October 2021. Final pre-clinical studies on the lead asset, TYK2/JAK1 inhibitor SDC-1801, are now expected to commence in Q421 (previously Q321) due to COVID-19 induced supply disruptions. The timeline for the clinical trial application (CTA) and Phase I clinical trials, however, remains unchanged (end Q421 and early 2022 respectively). Short-term liquidity issues have been alleviated following two subscriptions to high net-worth individuals raising £2.37m in June and a further c £2.18m in July and August 2021. Although increased R&D expenses widened the FY21 net loss to £1.6m (versus £0.96m in FY20), the cash balance has improved (£2.7m at the end of June 2021 versus £1.3m at the end of December 2020).

Year end

Revenue (£m)

PBT

(£m)

EPS
(p)

DPS
(p)

P/E
(x)

Yield
(%)

06/17

0.0

0.4*

0.02

0.0

0.0

N/A

06/18

0.0

(1.5)

(0.06)

0.0

0.0

N/A

06/19

0.0

(1.5)

(0.05)

0.0

0.0

N/A

06/20

0.04

(1.0)

(0.03)

0.0

0.0

N/A

Note: *PBT includes £1.8m from share of profit of associates.

Given that the CTA filing for the flagship programme SDC-1801 has been in the works for a while (previously mid-2021, now expected in Q421), another delay in completion of the final pre-clinical study may concern the market, though supply constraints due to the pandemic remain a genuine issue. Importantly, the recent rounds of capital raising (c £4.5m raised over four rounds since June 2021) mean that the company has sufficient cash to act as a buffer in case of any further delays in progressing the developmental pipeline (the company has maintained its early 2022 target for the Phase I clinical trial).

In terms of the remaining pipeline, Sareum is continuing to work on the study design to identify an optimal cancer indication and patient population for SDC-1802 before undertaking further toxicology studies. The toxicology studies were planned for late 2021 but are now likely to get pushed out to early 2022, in our opinion. On the positive side, the UK Research and Innovation funded COVID-19 research project for SDC-1801 was completed in July 2021, with the company reporting a profile superior to dexamethasone and similar to baricitinib, a JAK1/JAK2 inhibitor, in terms of cytokine activity related to acute respiratory distress syndrome.

With regard to its out-licensed asset, the CHK1 inhibitor SRA737 (targeting solid cancers), while Sierra continues to assess options for the drug (in-house development versus sub-licensing), no update has been forthcoming in terms of timelines. However, the recent in-licensing by Sierra of BET inhibitor AZD5153 from AstraZeneca and its potential combinations with SRA737 can be taken as an early indication of Sierra’s revived interest in SRA737, which would be a positive for Sareum.

General disclaimer and copyright

This report has been commissioned by Sareum Holdings and prepared and issued by Edison, in consideration of a fee payable by Sareum Holdings. Edison Investment Research standard fees are £49,500 pa for the production and broad dissemination of a detailed note (Outlook) following by regular (typically quarterly) update notes. Fees are paid upfront in cash without recourse. Edison may seek additional fees for the provision of roadshows and related IR services for the client but does not get remunerated for any investment banking services. We never take payment in stock, options or warrants for any of our services.

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Frankfurt +49 (0)69 78 8076 960

Schumannstrasse 34b

60325 Frankfurt

Germany

London +44 (0)20 3077 5700

280 High Holborn

London, WC1V 7EE

United Kingdom

New York +1 646 653 7026

1185 Avenue of the Americas

3rd Floor, New York, NY 10036

United States of America

Sydney +61 (0)2 8249 8342

Level 4, Office 1205

95 Pitt Street, Sydney

NSW 2000, Australia

General disclaimer and copyright

This report has been commissioned by Sareum Holdings and prepared and issued by Edison, in consideration of a fee payable by Sareum Holdings. Edison Investment Research standard fees are £49,500 pa for the production and broad dissemination of a detailed note (Outlook) following by regular (typically quarterly) update notes. Fees are paid upfront in cash without recourse. Edison may seek additional fees for the provision of roadshows and related IR services for the client but does not get remunerated for any investment banking services. We never take payment in stock, options or warrants for any of our services.

Accuracy of content: All information used in the publication of this report has been compiled from publicly available sources that are believed to be reliable, however we do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this report and have not sought for this information to be independently verified. Opinions contained in this report represent those of the research department of Edison at the time of publication. Forward-looking information or statements in this report contain information that is based on assumptions, forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable, and therefore involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of their subject matter to be materially different from current expectations.

Exclusion of Liability: To the fullest extent allowed by law, Edison shall not be liable for any direct, indirect or consequential losses, loss of profits, damages, costs or expenses incurred or suffered by you arising out or in connection with the access to, use of or reliance on any information contained on this note.

No personalised advice: The information that we provide should not be construed in any manner whatsoever as, personalised advice. Also, the information provided by us should not be construed by any subscriber or prospective subscriber as Edison’s solicitation to effect, or attempt to effect, any transaction in a security. The securities described in the report may not be eligible for sale in all jurisdictions or to certain categories of investors.

Investment in securities mentioned: Edison has a restrictive policy relating to personal dealing and conflicts of interest. Edison Group does not conduct any investment business and, accordingly, does not itself hold any positions in the securities mentioned in this report. However, the respective directors, officers, employees and contractors of Edison may have a position in any or related securities mentioned in this report, subject to Edison's policies on personal dealing and conflicts of interest.

Copyright: Copyright 2021 Edison Investment Research Limited (Edison).

Australia

Edison Investment Research Pty Ltd (Edison AU) is the Australian subsidiary of Edison. Edison AU is a Corporate Authorised Representative (1252501) of Crown Wealth Group Pty Ltd who holds an Australian Financial Services Licence (Number: 494274). This research is issued in Australia by Edison AU and any access to it, is intended only for "wholesale clients" within the meaning of the Corporations Act 2001 of Australia. Any advice given by Edison AU is general advice only and does not take into account your personal circumstances, needs or objectives. You should, before acting on this advice, consider the appropriateness of the advice, having regard to your objectives, financial situation and needs. If our advice relates to the acquisition, or possible acquisition, of a particular financial product you should read any relevant Product Disclosure Statement or like instrument.

New Zealand

The research in this document is intended for New Zealand resident professional financial advisers or brokers (for use in their roles as financial advisers or brokers) and habitual investors who are “wholesale clients” for the purpose of the Financial Advisers Act 2008 (FAA) (as described in sections 5(c) (1)(a), (b) and (c) of the FAA). This is not a solicitation or inducement to buy, sell, subscribe, or underwrite any securities mentioned or in the topic of this document. For the purpose of the FAA, the content of this report is of a general nature, is intended as a source of general information only and is not intended to constitute a recommendation or opinion in relation to acquiring or disposing (including refraining from acquiring or disposing) of securities. The distribution of this document is not a “personalised service” and, to the extent that it contains any financial advice, is intended only as a “class service” provided by Edison within the meaning of the FAA (i.e. without taking into account the particular financial situation or goals of any person). As such, it should not be relied upon in making an investment decision.

United Kingdom

This document is prepared and provided by Edison for information purposes only and should not be construed as an offer or solicitation for investment in any securities mentioned or in the topic of this document. A marketing communication under FCA Rules, this document has not been prepared in accordance with the legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and is not subject to any prohibition on dealing ahead of the dissemination of investment research.

This Communication is being distributed in the United Kingdom and is directed only at (i) persons having professional experience in matters relating to investments, i.e. investment professionals within the meaning of Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the "FPO") (ii) high net-worth companies, unincorporated associations or other bodies within the meaning of Article 49 of the FPO and (iii) persons to whom it is otherwise lawful to distribute it. The investment or investment activity to which this document relates is available only to such persons. It is not intended that this document be distributed or passed on, directly or indirectly, to any other class of persons and in any event and under no circumstances should persons of any other description rely on or act upon the contents of this document.

This Communication is being supplied to you solely for your information and may not be reproduced by, further distributed to or published in whole or in part by, any other person.

United States

Edison relies upon the "publishers' exclusion" from the definition of investment adviser under Section 202(a)(11) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and corresponding state securities laws. This report is a bona fide publication of general and regular circulation offering impersonal investment-related advice, not tailored to a specific investment portfolio or the needs of current and/or prospective subscribers. As such, Edison does not offer or provide personal advice and the research provided is for informational purposes only. No mention of a particular security in this report constitutes a recommendation to buy, sell or hold that or any security, or that any particular security, portfolio of securities, transaction or investment strategy is suitable for any specific person.

Frankfurt +49 (0)69 78 8076 960

Schumannstrasse 34b

60325 Frankfurt

Germany

London +44 (0)20 3077 5700

280 High Holborn

London, WC1V 7EE

United Kingdom

New York +1 646 653 7026

1185 Avenue of the Americas

3rd Floor, New York, NY 10036

United States of America

Sydney +61 (0)2 8249 8342

Level 4, Office 1205

95 Pitt Street, Sydney

NSW 2000, Australia

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