Portage reports third quarter financial results and provides updates

TORONTO, Feb. 25, 2014 /CNW/ - Portage Biotech Inc. ("Portage") (OTCQB: PTGEF, CNSX: PBT.U), today filed its unaudited consolidated financials and related management discussion & analysis for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2013. These can be viewed on our website, www.portagebiotech.com.

Portage reported a net loss of approximately $4.6 million of which approximately $3.9 million related to non-cash expenses. Cash on hand at December 31, 2013 was approximately $3.1 million and shareholders' equity at $4.3 million. Portage had approximately 180 million common shares issued and outstanding as at December 31, 2013, of which approximately 90 million are held in escrow and will be released over the next three-year period as per the requirement of the Canadian Securities Exchange.

About Portage

Portage is engaged in researching and developing pharmaceutical and biotech products through to clinical "proof of concept" with an initial focus on unmet clinical needs. Following proof of concept, Portage will look to sell or license the products to large pharmaceutical companies for further development and commercialization.

Portage is seeking discovery and co-development partners in areas such as cancer, infectious disease, neurology and psychiatry developing novel targeted therapies, stem cell therapy and even older marketed products that have been found to have novel patentable characteristics that bring new value to patients.

Portage seeks to work with a wide range of partners, in all phases of development through in-licensing or other types of alliances. The collaboration may include direct funding or investing human capital from our extensive pool of talented scientists and physicians. Specifically, Portage will invest sweat equity as well as, or instead of, capital. This internal pool of drug developers, financiers, scientists and physicians will provide unique value-added for our partners, including but not limited to mitigating risks, clinical trial design, regulatory expertise and maximizing the rewards.

Portage has two operating subsidiaries - Portage Pharmaceuticals Limited ("PPL") which is wholly owned by Portage and Biohaven Pharmaceutical Holding Company Limited ("Biohaven") in which Portage holds 54% equity.

PPL - Antennapedia delivery platform

PPL holds an exclusive licence in non-oncology fields under patents granted in the USA, Australia, Israel and New Zealand and patents applied for in Japan and Canada, and an exclusive worldwide licence in non-oncology fields and the know-how relating to the Antennapedia protein (ANTP) transduction technology developed by Trojantec for non-oncology products, treatments or medications.

PPL is currently engaged in the following research and development activities:

Cell permeable peptide fusion proteins are in preclinical development for the following indications:

1. COPD
2. Inflammatory eye diseases
3. Inflammatory skin diseases

In addition PPL has filed composition of matter and use patents and is exploring opportunities for cell permeable fusion proteins that address the following indications:

1. Congenital blindness
2. Polycystic kidney disease
3. Huntington's disease

Research and development costs for the nine months to December 31, 2013 were approximately $0.4 million incurred by PPL, Portage's wholly owned subsidiary. Further development work included in-vitro studies at Columbia University to evaluate properties of the Antennapedia delivery platform and to determine how robust and viable it is and which drugs/peptides best lend themselves to delivery using this platform. The results of the studies are still being analyzed and further experiments are on-going. Other costs also involve third party charges for manufacturing peptides and their storage for pre-clinical research purposes.

Biohaven - Pioneering the use of glutamatergic agents in neuropsychiatric disorders

As reported in our press release of January 6, 2014, Portage acquired approximately 54% equity in Biohaven Pharmaceutical Holding Company Limited, ("Biohaven") a private corporation formed under the laws of the British Virgin Islands.

Biohaven is engaged in the identification and development of clinical stage neuroscience compounds targeting the glutamatergic system. The company obtained a license from Yale University regarding intellectual property for the use of certain glutamate modulating agents in the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders. Biohaven's first drug candidate is being developed for treatment-resistant mood and anxiety disorders.

Biohaven has assembled a team of experts in the glutamatergic system and is also comprised of the originators at Yale University who discovered the therapeutic potential of glutamate modulation in anxiety and depression. Team members have designed and executed successful development programs testing a variety of agents in affective disorders, leading to first-cycle FDA approvals and successful commercialization.

Biohaven - Product & market

Treatment resistant depression and anxiety remain large unmet medical needs. Typically, there are only 30% remission rates with current first line antidepressant/anxiolytic treatments which leave a majority of patients with partial response or resistant depression/anxiety. The antidepressant market in the US is over $14 billion per year.

Glutamate modulating agents represent potential novel, first-in-class treatments for neuropsychiatric disorders. As first described at Yale, the non-specific glutamate antagonist ketamine conferred a rapid and robust antidepressant response within two days. Since then, multiple groups have replicated this finding and confirmed the efficacy of ketamine. There are significant limitations to the use of ketamine complicated by the need to dose by the intravenous route, its abuse potential and psychotomimetic adverse effects. Based on the Yale licence, the company has the potential to have first to market oral next generation treatments without the limitations of ketamine and with advantages over currently marketed treatments such as rapid onset of effect, superior efficacy in certain depressed patients and a different tolerability and safety profile.

The lead drug candidate is a Phase 2 ready compound and will enter clinical testing for treatment-resistant mood or anxiety disorders next year. A second unique drug candidate, also targeting the glutamatergic system, has a well-established safety profile and will begin optimization of its formulation in 2014.

For further information, contact Greg Bailey, the Chairman at [email protected] or Kam Shah, Chief Financial Officer, at [phone] or [email protected], or visit our website at www.portagebiotech.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. federal and Canadian securities laws.  Any such statements reflect Portage's current views and assumptions about future events and financial performance.  Portage cannot assure that future events or performance will occur. Important risks and factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those indicated in our forward-looking statements.

Portage assumes no obligation and expressly disclaims any duty to update the information in this News Release.

SOURCE: Portage Biotech Inc.