SAN DIEGO, April 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc.
(Nasdaq: NBIX) today announced its financial results for the quarter ended
March 31, 2008. For the first quarter of 2008, the Company reported a net loss
of $21.1 million, or $(0.55) per share compared with a net loss of $25.7
million, or $(0.68) per share, for the same period in 2007.
Revenues for the first quarter of 2008 were $1.8 million compared with
$0.1 million for the same period last year. The increase in revenues is
primarily due to revenues recognized in 2008 under collaboration agreements
with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma Co. Ltd (DSP). During
the first quarter of 2008, the Company recognized $1.0 million in milestone
revenue from GSK for clinical advancements relating to the company's CRF drug
candidate and $0.7 million in license fee revenue from DSP for Japanese rights
to indiplon.
Research and development expenses decreased to $14.2 million during the
first quarter of 2008 compared with $19.1 million for the same period in 2007.
The decrease in research and development expenses is primarily due to cost
savings related to our restructuring in the fourth quarter of 2007.
General and administrative expenses were $8.3 million for the first
quarter of 2008 and $8.3 million during the same period last year. The Company
incurred $2.2 million in restructuring charges during the first quarter of
2008. This cost was offset by cost savings related to the restructuring that
was enacted in the fourth quarter of 2007.
The Company's balance sheet on March 31, 2008 reflected total assets of
$243.9 million, including cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities of
$149.7 million compared with balances at December 31, 2007 of $276.7 million
and $179.4 million, respectively. The Company expects to end 2008 with in
excess of $100 million in cash and marketable securities.
"We have made significant strides in moving our GnRH program forward with
three active Phase II clinical trials underway, a substantially complete
preclinical package, as well as completing a commercial manufacturing and
formulation process. To date we have treated approximately 500 subjects in our
GnRH trials with elagolix. Elagolix has been generally safe and well tolerated
with clinically meaningful reduction in endometriosis symptoms, such as
dysmenorrhea, in most study participants. On the GnRH partnering front, we
continue in collaboration discussions with multiple pharmaceutical companies.
We will not speculate on a timeline for the completion of this deal," said
Kevin Gorman, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Neurocrine
Biosciences. "Our goals for the GnRH program are to continue building value
through our clinical trials and to secure the very best partner to fully
develop this important asset. On the financial front, we continue to
effectively manage our cash burn by prioritizing spending while advancing our
pipeline."
R & D Pipeline Update
Neurocrine's clinical development group and corporate partners have five
programs in clinical development and will report on R & D progress throughout
2008. Neurocrine scientists continue to supply Neurocrine's pipeline to meet
the Company-wide goal of bringing one new compound into development each year.
GnRH Antagonists for endometriosis
Elagolix in Three Phase II Clinical Trials for Endometriosis
Below is a summary of the current ongoing randomized placebo controlled
Phase II trials for elagolix:
Topline
Trial Study Design Endpoints n Status Results
0603 Six-month treatment 1. Impact of 252 Fully Q3 08
period with elagolix elagolix on bone enrolled
and DMPA active mineral density
comparator plus using DXA scan
additional long-term 2. Dysmenorrhea and
safety assessments pelvic pain
post treatment
0702 Placebo-controlled Dysmenorrhea and 150 Enrolling 1H 09
trial with 2 doses pelvic pain
of optimized assessed with
formulation tablet modified endpoints
0703 Placebo-controlled Dysmenorrhea and 180 Initiated 1H 09
trial with 2 doses pelvic pain
of elagolix and assessed with
leuprolide depot modified endpoints
comparator
The Company completed enrollment in December 2007 of a Phase IIb study in
which patients with endometriosis will be treated over a 6-month period. This
multi-center, randomized, double-blind, study includes three treatment groups,
with two doses of elagolix, 150 mg once a day and 75 mg twice daily, and an
active comparator, Depo-Provera(R). In addition to confirming the effect of
elagolix on endometriosis symptoms, this study is designed primarily to assess
the impact of longer term treatment on bone mineral density as measured by DXA
scan at the conclusion of dosing and at 6-months and 12-months post-treatment.
Topline results from the 6-month treatment period are expected in the third
quarter of 2008. The study will continue after the treatment period for DXA
scans and safety assessments. The 6-month results, together with data from the
other Phase II studies, will be the basis for securing agreement on a
registration plan with the FDA.
The Company is also currently conducting two additional randomized placebo
controlled Phase II clinical trials. The clinical endpoints for both of these
trials are a reduction in pelvic pain associated with endometriosis, utilizing
a scale proposed by the FDA. The first Phase II trial will include our
selected commercial formulation tablet in two doses, (150 mg and 250 mg); this
trial is actively enrolling approximately 150 patients. The Company expects
topline results from the first three months of treatment in early 2009. The
second trial is a four arm comparator trial of two doses of elagolix, placebo
or Leuprolide Depot. This trial is being conducted in Central and Eastern
Europe. Topline data from this 3-month double-blind trial of approximately
180 patients should be available in the first half of 2009.
Neurocrine is also investigating the potential of certain GnRH antagonists
in treating other hormone-dependent diseases in Men's and Women's Health.
Corticotropin Releasing Factor (CRF1) Receptor Antagonists for
Anxiety/Depression and IBS
The CRF collaboration between Neurocrine and GSK has identified multiple
unique high affinity and selective antagonists for the CRF1 receptor that are
currently in clinical development for mood disorders and irritable bowel
syndrome (IBS). There are currently three distinct CRF compounds in clinical
development that have arisen out of the GSK collaboration. The first lead
compound (876008) is in a Phase II "proof of concept" trial to evaluate its
safety and efficacy in patients with IBS. Approximately 130 patients meeting
established diagnostic criteria for IBS have been entered into this cross-over
design trial. Standard assessments of safety, tolerability and
pharmacokinetics will be conducted. The clinical endpoints reflect change in
symptom frequency and severity via validated scales for IBS and the data
should be available in the second half of 2008.
GSK is also advancing the second lead CRF1 receptor antagonist, 561679,
into a Phase II major depression disorder study in the middle of this year.
GSK has also moved a third CRF1 compound, 586529, into a Phase I single
dose escalating clinical trial.
Urocortin 2 for Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) Continues Preclinical
Evaluation
Initiation of longer term (up to 72 hours in duration) Phase II clinical
trials of urocortin 2 are awaiting additional preclinical data. The Company
has identified a preclinical formulation that is currently undergoing safety
and toxicology testing necessary for continuing the longer-term clinical
studies. Neurocrine anticipates topline data from these preclinical studies
late 2008 which will allow further Phase II clinical studies to progress.
Indiplon Update
The Company was scheduled to meet with the FDA for an end of review
meeting following the December 12, 2007 approvable letter for indiplon
capsules. The FDA requested a rescheduling of this meeting due to internal FDA
scheduling conflicts. The end of review meeting has been rescheduled by the
FDA to July 2008. The Company will provide an update of the results after the
end of this review meeting.
Conference Call and Webcast Today at 5:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time
Neurocrine will hold a live conference call and webcast today at 5:00 p.m.
Eastern Daylight Time (2:00 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time). Participants can
access the live conference call by dialing 1-800-895-1715 (US) or 785-424-1059
(International) using the conference passcode 7NBIX1. The call can also be
accessed via the webcast through the Company's website at
http://www.neurocrine.com
If you are unable to attend the Webcast and would like further information
on this announcement please contact the Investor Relations Department at
Neurocrine Biosciences at (858) 617-7600. A replay of the Conference Call will
be available approximately one hour after the conclusion of the call by
dialing 1-800-753-9146 (US) or 402-220-2705 (International) using the passcode
7NBIX1. The call will be archived for two weeks.
Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on
neurological and endocrine diseases and disorders. Our product candidates
address some of the largest pharmaceutical markets in the world including
endometriosis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), anxiety, depression, pain,
diabetes, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and other neurological and
endocrine related diseases and disorders. Indiplon was licensed from DOV
Pharmaceuticals in 1998. Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. news releases are
available through the Company's website via the internet at
http://www.neurocrine.com
In addition to historical facts, this press release may contain
forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties.
Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from
those indicated in the forward-looking statements are risks and uncertainties
associated with Neurocrine's business and finances in general, as well as
risks and uncertainties associated with the Company's GnRH program and R & D
pipeline and Company overall. Specifically, the risks and uncertainties the
Company faces with respect to the Company's GnRH program include, but are not
limited to, risk that the Company's elagolix Phase II clinical trials will
fail to demonstrate that elagolix is safe and effective; risk that elagolix
will not proceed to later stage clinical trials; risk associated with the
Company's dependence on corporate collaborators for development, commercial
manufacturing and marketing and sales activities. In addition, the Company
faces risks and uncertainties with respect to the Company's R & D pipeline
including risk that the Company's research stage GnRH receptor antagonists,
urocortin 2, and CRF1 receptor antagonist will not proceed to later stage
clinical trials. Risks associated with the Company's indiplon program
include, but are not limited to risk that indiplon approval and subsequent
commercialization may be indefinitely delayed or never accomplished. With
respect to its pipeline overall, the Company faces risk that it will be unable
to raise additional funding required to complete development of all of its
product candidates; risk relating to the Company's dependence on contract
manufacturers for clinical drug supply; risks associated with the Company's
dependence on corporate collaborators for commercial manufacturing and
marketing and sales activities; uncertainties relating to patent protection
and intellectual property rights of third parties; risks and uncertainties
relating to competitive products and technological changes that may limit
demand for the Company's products; and the other risks described in the
Company's report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007. Neurocrine
undertakes no obligation to update the statements contained in this press
release after the date hereof.
NEUROCRINE BIOSCIENCES, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in thousands, except for loss per share data)
Three Months Ended
March 31,
2008 2007
(unaudited) (unaudited)
Revenues:
Sponsored research and development $12 $86
License fees and milestones 1,730 -
Grant revenue 9 18
Total revenues 1,751 104
Operating expenses:
Research and development 14,227 19,061
General and administrative 8,286 8,317
Total operating expenses 22,513 27,378
Loss from operations (20,762) (27,274)
Other income and (expenses):
Interest income and other income 1,606 2,424
Interest expense (1,921) (870)
Total other income (315) 1,554
Net loss $(21,077) $(25,720)
Net loss per common share:
Basic and Diluted $(0.55) $(0.68)
Shares used in the calculation of net loss per
common share:
Basic and Diluted 38,330 37,908
NEUROCRINE BIOSCIENCES, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands)
March 31, December 31,
2008 2007
(unaudited)
Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities $149,745 $179,385
Other current assets 2,458 3,563
Total current assets 152,203 182,948
Property and equipment, net 80,672 82,598
Restricted cash 6,415 6,399
Other non-current assets 4,594 4,709
Total assets $243,884 $276,654
Current liabilities $17,972 $29,907
Long-term liabilities 127,246 128,050
Stockholders' equity 98,666 118,697
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $243,884 $276,654
SOURCE Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc.
CONTACT: Claudia Woodworth of Neurocrine Biosciences, +1-858-617-7600
Web site: http://www.neurocrine.com