NEW YORK, Sept. 22, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Avenue Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATXI), a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of therapies for the treatment of central nervous system diseases, today announced that it will effect a 1-for-15 reverse split of its common stock, which will be effective for trading purposes on the Nasdaq Capital Market as of the commencement of trading on September 23, 2022, and also provided a regulatory update related to its intravenous (“IV”) Tramadol product candidate.
Reverse Stock Split
The reverse stock split was approved on July 25, 2022 by stockholders representing approximately 73% of the voting power of the outstanding voting stock of the Company, with authorization to determine the final ratio having been granted to the Company’s Board of Directors.
Avenue’s common stock will continue to trade on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “ATXI” following the reverse stock split, with a new CUSIP number of 05360L304. After the effectiveness of the reverse stock split, we expect that the number of outstanding shares of common stock will be reduced from approximately 22.7 million to approximately 1.5 million, subject to adjustment to give effect to the treatment of any fractional shares that stockholders would have received in the reverse stock split. No fractional shares will be issued in connection with the reverse stock split and stockholders who would otherwise be entitled to a fractional share will receive a proportional cash payment.
The reverse stock split is primarily intended to bring the Company into compliance with Nasdaq’s $1.00 per share minimum bid price requirement for continued listing. The Company is simultaneously effecting a reduction in the number of authorized shares of common stock from 50,000,000 to 20,000,000.
Avenue’s transfer agent, VStock Transfer, LLC, which is also acting as the exchange and paying agent for the reverse stock split, will provide instructions to stockholders regarding the process for exchanging physical share certificates. We do not expect that stockholders holding their shares in book-entry form or through a bank, broker or other nominee need to take any action in connection with the reverse stock split. Beneficial holders are encouraged to contact their bank, broker or other nominee with any procedural questions. Additional information concerning the reverse stock split can be found in the Company’s definitive Information Statement on Schedule 14C filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 22, 2022.
IV Tramadol Regulatory Update
Avenue received the official meeting minutes from the FDA regarding a meeting conducted on August 9, 2022, for IV Tramadol. Avenue submitted the Type A Meeting Request and related briefing documents to the FDA on June 17, 2022, and included a proposed study design to address the concerns around the safety risk of IV Tramadol in combination with other opioid analgesics for the management of moderate-to-moderately-severe pain in adults in a medically supervised healthcare setting that was discussed in detail at the previously disclosed Advisory Committee meeting on February 15, 2022 and in the Appeal Denied letter received on March 18, 2022.
At the meeting, Avenue presented a study design for a single safety clinical trial that the Company believes could address the concerns regarding risks related to opioid stacking. The FDA stated that the proposed study design appears reasonable and agreed on various study design aspects with the expectation that additional feedback would be provided to Avenue upon review of a more detailed study protocol. The Company intends to incorporate the FDA’s suggestions from the meeting minutes and submit a detailed study protocol that could form the basis for the submission of a complete response to the second Complete Response Letter for IV Tramadol.
About Avenue Therapeutics
Avenue Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATXI) is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of therapies for the treatment of central nervous system diseases. Avenue is headquartered in New York City. For more information, visit www.avenuetx.com.
