CUPERTINO, Calif., Feb 24, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — DURECT Corporation (Nasdaq: DRRX) announced today financial results for the three months and year ended December 31, 2009. Total revenues were $4.9 million for the three months ended December 31, 2009 and $7.7 million for the three months ended December 31, 2008. Net loss for the three months ended December 31, 2009 was $9.0 million, compared to a net loss of $18.4 million for the same period in 2008 which included a $13.5 million non-cash write-down associated with a research and development program (Chronogesic(R)) that we are no longer actively pursuing.
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For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, total revenues were $24.3 million, compared to $27.1 million for the same period in 2008. Net loss for the year ended December 31, 2009 was $30.7 million, compared to a net loss of $43.9 million for the same period in 2008 (including the $13.5 million write-down described above).
At December 31, 2009, we had cash and investments of $41.6 million, compared to cash and investments of $52.7 million at December 31, 2008.
“We advanced our late stage pipeline in 2009, most notably through the recent initiation of BESST, our pivotal U.S. Phase III clinical study for POSIDUR(TM), and through work by King Pharmaceuticals to prepare the NDA resubmission for REMOXY(TM),” stated James E. Brown, D.V.M., President and CEO of DURECT. “Our goals for 2010 include enrolling patients in POSIDUR’s Phase III program, assisting King with aspects of the REMOXY NDA resubmission, advancing our other development programs, and establishing favorable licensing collaborations.”
Highlights for DURECT in Fiscal Year 2009 and Major Potential Milestones over the Next 12-18 Months:
— REMOXY. In March 2009, King Pharmaceuticals assumed responsibility for
the REMOXY New Drug Application (NDA) from Pain Therapeutics. In July
2009, King met with the FDA to discuss the Complete Response Letter
received in December 2008 regarding the REMOXY NDA. According to King,
it anticipates that it will resubmit the NDA for REMOXY intended to
address all FDA comments in the Complete Response Letter in 2010.
During the third quarter of 2009, we entered into an exclusive long
term excipient supply agreement with King. This agreement stipulates
the terms and conditions under which we will supply to King two key
excipients used in the manufacture of REMOXY, based on DURECT’s
manufacturing cost plus a specified percentage mark-up.
REMOXY, an investigational drug, is a unique long acting oral
formulation of oxycodone intended to treat moderate to severe pain.
Based on DURECT’s ORADUR(R) technology, which is covered by issued
patents and pending patent applications owned by us, REMOXY is designed
to resist common methods of prescription drug misuse and abuse.
POSIDUR (SABER(TM)-Bupivacaine) Post-Operative Pain Relief Depot. In
December 2009, we reported positive top-line results from our Phase IIb
clinical study in shoulder surgery of 60 patients. In addition,
Nycomed continued enrollment in a Phase IIb study in hysterectomy
patients and a Phase IIb study in shoulder surgery patients.
In January 2010, we announced that we had commenced our U.S. pivotal
Phase III clinical study known as BESST (Bupivacaine Effectiveness and
Safety in SABER(TM) Trial). We expect to complete enrollment of BESST,
comprising approximately 300 patients, in the first half of 2011. In
Europe, we expect to have top-line data in 2010 from the Phase IIb
hysterectomy study being conducted by Nycomed and, depending on the
pace of enrollment, potentially from the Phase IIb study in shoulder
surgery.
POSIDUR is our post-operative pain relief depot that utilizes our
patented SABER technology to deliver bupivacaine to provide up to three
days of pain relief after surgery. POSIDUR is licensed to Nycomed for
commercialization in Europe and other defined countries, and we have
retained commercialization rights in the U.S., Canada, Japan and all
other countries. In February 2010, we amended our agreement with
Nycomed to separate funding and control of the U.S. and European
clinical programs and to expand the territory licensed to Nycomed.
The parties are not altering the final decision making authority and
financial responsibility for the remainder of the development
activities, such as the non-clinical and CMC (Chemistry,
Manufacturing and Control) activities, which will continue to be
jointly managed and funded by Nycomed and us. We are in active
discussions with multiple potential partners regarding licensing of
the U.S./Canadian and Japanese rights to this program.
— ELADUR (TRANSDUR(TM)-Bupivacaine). In October 2008, worldwide rights
to this program were licensed to Alpharma, which was acquired by King
Pharmaceuticals in December 2008. During 2009, we and King focused
on details associated with next steps in the clinical program, a Phase
IIb study which King expects to initiate in the first half of 2010.
ELADUR is our proprietary transdermal patch intended to deliver
bupivacaine for a period of up to three days from a single application.
— TRANSDUR-Sufentanil. In February 2009, a successful end-of-Phase II
meeting with the FDA was conducted for this program outlining a
potential regulatory pathway for the Phase III program and NDA
submission. During 2009, we transitioned the program back to our
control. We are in active discussions with multiple potential
partners regarding licensing development and commercialization rights
to this program to which we hold worldwide rights. Pending licensing
of this drug candidate or other programs, the next step would be the
commencement of Phase III for this drug candidate.
TRANSDUR-Sufentanil is our proprietary transdermal patch intended to
deliver sufentanil to chronic pain sufferers for a period of up to
seven days from a single application.
— ORADUR-ADHD Program. In August 2009, we signed a development and
license agreement with Orient Pharma related to a drug candidate based
on our ORADUR Technology and one specified active pharmaceutical
ingredient for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity
disorder (ADHD). Under this agreement, the parties will collaborate to
perform a clinical development program through a Phase II study
intended to produce a data package that will support later stage
development of the drug candidate and subsequent licensing by DURECT.
We will be responsible for formulation and study design of the
pre-defined clinical program, which Orient Pharma will fund and
execute. We expect to commence Phase I studies during 2010 with this
program.
— Feasibility Projects. During 2009, we signed multiple new feasibility
projects with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies whereby we
will apply our SABER and DURIN(TM) technologies to both small molecule
and biologic agents of interest to our collaborators. We undertake
these feasibility projects as a means of demonstrating that our
technologies can achieve the drug delivery objectives set forth by our
collaborators and are worthy of further development. During 2010, we
anticipate establishing and commencing additional feasibility projects
with biotechnology and pharmaceutical company collaborators utilizing
our drug delivery technologies.
— Financial Guidance. Our net cash consumption is heavily influenced by
the timing and structure of new corporate collaborations, as well as
the achievement of milestones under existing collaborations. While we
anticipate entering into new collaborations in 2010 and beyond,
assuming no new collaborations, no milestone payments and aggressive
funding of our R&D programs, many of which are in clinical development,
we anticipate our net cash consumption in 2010 will be approximately
$23-27 million.
— Business Development Activities. We have multiple late stage programs
that may potentially be partnered over the next 12-18 months. These
include TRANSDUR-Sufentanil worldwide rights, POSIDUR for the United
States/Canada and Japan, as well as various internal programs which we
have not described publicly in detail.
Earnings Conference Call
A live audio webcast of a conference call to discuss 2009 results will be broadcast live over the internet at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time on February 24 and is available by accessing DURECT’s homepage at http://www.www.durect.com/ and clicking “Investor Relations.” If you are unable to participate during the live webcast, the call will be archived on DURECT’s website under Audio Archive in the “Investor Relations” section.
About DURECT Corporation
DURECT is an emerging specialty pharmaceutical company developing innovative drugs for pain and other chronic diseases, with late-stage development programs including REMOXY(R), POSIDUR(TM), ELADUR(TM), and TRANSDUR(TM)-Sufentanil. DURECT’s proprietary oral, transdermal and injectable depot delivery technologies enable new indications and superior clinical/commercial attributes such as abuse deterrence, improved convenience, compliance, efficacy and safety for small molecule and biologic drugs. For more information, please visit http://www.www.durect.com/.
NOTE: POSIDUR(TM), SABER(TM), ORADUR(R), TRANSDUR(TM), ELADUR(TM), and DURIN(TM) are trademarks of DURECT Corporation. Other referenced trademarks belong to their respective owners. REMOXY, POSIDUR, ELADUR and TRANSDUR-Sufentanil are drug candidates under development and have not been approved for commercialization by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or other health authorities.
DURECT Forward-Looking Statement
The statements in this press release regarding our anticipated net cash consumption, the anticipated resubmission of the REMOXY NDA, anticipated clinical trials (including timing and results) for POSIDUR, TRANSDUR-Sufentanil, ELADUR, ORADUR-ADHD and our other drug candidates, the potential benefits and uses of our drug candidates and potential collaborations with third parties are forward-looking statements involving risks and uncertainties that can cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, delays and additional costs due to requirements imposed by regulatory agencies, DURECT’s (and that of its third party collaborators where applicable) difficulty or failure to obtain approvals from regulatory agencies with respect to its development activities and products,
design, enroll, conduct and complete clinical trials, complete the design, development, and manufacturing process development of the referenced product candidates, consummate collaborative agreements relating to our product candidates and technologies, manufacture and commercialize the referenced product candidates, obtain marketplace acceptance of the referenced product candidates, avoid infringing patents held by other parties and secure and defend patents of our own, and manage and obtain capital to fund its growth, operations and expenses. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in DURECT’s Form 10-Q on November 2, 2009 under the heading “Risk Factors.”
DURECT CORPORATION
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
(unaudited)
Three months ended Year ended
------------------ ----------
December 31, December 31,
-------------- --------------
2009 2008 2009 2008
---- ---- ---- ----
Collaborative research
and development and
other revenue $2,802 $5,859 $12,180 $18,336
Product revenue, net 2,076 1,867 12,113 8,765
----- ----- ------ -----
Total revenues 4,878 7,726 24,293 27,101
----- ----- ------ ------
Operating expenses:
Cost of revenues (1) 848 691 5,343 3,365
Research and
development (1) 9,546 8,456 34,913 39,411
Selling, general and
administrative (1) 3,548 3,697 15,136 15,510
Write down of deferred
royalties and
commercial rights - 13,480 - 13,480
--- ------ --- ------
Total operating
expenses 13,942 26,324 55,392 71,766
------ ------ ------ ------
Loss from operations (9,064) (18,598) (31,099) (44,665)
Other income (expense):
Interest and other
income 53 262 420 1,547
Interest and other
expense (5) (16) (36) (789)
--- --- --- ----
Net other income 48 246 384 758
------- -------- -------- --------
Net loss $(9,016) $(18,352) $(30,715) $(43,907)
======= ======== ======== ========
Net loss per share,
basic and diluted $(0.10) $(0.22) $(0.37) $(0.56)
====== ====== ====== ======
Shares used in computing
basic and diluted net
loss per share 86,720 81,927 83,427 78,332
====== ====== ====== ======
---------------
(1) Includes stock-based
compensation related
to the following:
Cost of revenues $96 $25 $382 $135
Research and development 1,104 1,308 6,377 5,575
Selling, general and
administrative 656 722 3,476 2,790
--- --- ----- -----
Total stock-based
compensation $1,856 $2,055 $10,235 $8,500
====== ====== ======= ======
DURECT CORPORATION
Condensed Balance Sheet
(in thousands)
As of As of
December 31, 2009 December 31, 2008 (1)
----------------- ---------------------
(unaudited)
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $8,287 $29,445
Short-term investments 32,834 20,836
Short-term restricted
investments - 624
Accounts receivable 1,700 4,055
Inventories 2,799 3,474
Prepaid expenses and other
current assets 1,433 1,850
----- -----
Total current assets 47,053 60,284
Property and equipment, net 3,808 5,971
Goodwill 6,399 6,399
Intangible assets, net 108 157
Long-term investments - 1,362
Long-term restricted
Investments 431 425
Other long-term assets 352 276
--- ---
Total assets $58,151 $74,874
======= =======
LIABILITIES AND
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable $1,019 $1,018
Accrued liabilities 5,764 5,204
Contract research liability 990 995
Deferred revenue,
current portion 4,703 9,235
Other short-term
liabilities 208 431
--- ---
Total current liabilities 12,684 16,883
Deferred revenue,
noncurrent portion 17,543 19,771
Other long-term liabilities 508 656
Stockholders' equity 27,416 37,564
------ ------
Total liabilities and
stockholders' equity $58,151 $74,874
======= =======
(1) Derived from audited financial statements.
SOURCE DURECT Corporation