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Exicure, Inc. Reports First Quarter 2023 Financial Results and Provides Corporate Update
CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Exicure, Inc. (Nasdaq: XCUR), has historically been an early-stage biotechnology company focused on developing nucleic acid

About this update from Exicure, Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":" CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--\nExicure, Inc. (Nasdaq: XCUR), has historically been an early-stage biotechnology company focused on developing nucleic acid therapies targeting ribonucleic acid against validated targets. In September 2022, the Company announced a significant reduction in force, suspension of preclinical activities and halting of all research and development, and that the Company was exploring strategic alternatives to maximize stockholder value.\n\n\nCorporate Update\n\n\nRecent highlights include:\n\n\n\nOn February 24, 2023, the Company received gross proceeds of $5.44 million from the September 2022 PIPE (net proceeds of $4.6 million after transaction expenses). As a result of the closing of the September 2022 PIPE, CBI USA is the beneficial owner of approximately 50.4% of the Company's outstanding shares. Pursuant to the board designation rights of CBI USA, CBI USA designated three members to the Company's board of directors.\n\n\n\n\nIn May, the Company entered into two separate subscription agreements (“Subscription Agreements”) with Cyworld Z Co., Ltd., (“Cyworld Z”). Pursuant to the Subscription Agreements, the Company purchased non-guaranteed private placement convertible bonds (“Bonds”) of Cyworld Z for a subscription amount of $1 million each. The Bonds mature in May 2026 and the yield to maturity is 4.5% per annum.\n\n\n\nFirst Quarter 2023 Financial Results\n\n\nCash Position: Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash were $11.2 million as of March 31, 2023, as compared to $9.8 million as of December 31, 2022. The Company expects that its cash and cash equivalents will fund its current operations into the fourth quarter of 2023.\n\n\nResearch and Development (R&D) Expense: Research and development expenses were $2.0 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2023, as compared to $7.1 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2022. The decrease in R&D expense for the three months ended March 31, 2023 of $5.2 million reflects the suspension of clinical, preclinical, and discovery program activities and a reduction in employee headcount and fewer discovery, preclinical, and clinical program activities resulting from the restructuring activities that the Company announced in September 2022 and in December 2021.\n\n\nGeneral and Administrative (G&A) Expense: General and administrative expenses were $2.6 million ...