Discovery Laboratories Reports Fourth Quarter 2014 Financial Results And Provides Update On SURFAXIN (lucinactant) Intratracheal Suspension And AEROSURF Program
WARRINGTON, Pa., March 16, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Discovery Laboratories, Inc. (Nasdaq: DSCO), a specialty biotechnology Company dedicated to advancing a new standard in respiratory critical care, today announced financial results for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2014, as well as recent business updates. The Company will host a conference call on Tuesday,March 17, 2015 at 8:30 AM ET. Conference call details are below.
Key Financial and Business Updates
The Company reported a net loss of $10.6 million ($0.12 per basic share) on 85.4 million weighted-average common shares outstanding for the quarter ended December 31, 2014, compared to a net loss of $11.7 million ($0.16 per basic share) on 73.1 million weighted-average common shares outstanding for the comparable period in 2013. Included in the net loss is the change in fair value of certain common stock warrants that are classified as derivative liabilities, resulting in non-cash income of $1.8 million and non-cash expense of $0.9 million for the quarters ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. For the quarter ended December 31, 2014, the Company reported an operating loss of $11.2 million compared to $10.3 million for the comparable period in 2013.
Net cash outflows for the quarter ended December 31, 2014 were $10.2 million. As of December 31, 2014, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $44.7 million.
The Company is planning to restructure its business to focus on the development of aerosolized KL4 surfactant for respiratory diseases beginning with AEROSURF® for respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in premature infants. With respect to SURFAXIN® (lucinactant) intratracheal suspension, the Company has made significant cash investments to support manufacturing, quality systems, supply chain and distribution, marketing, medical and commercial activities. In 2014, cash outflows in support of such operating activities for SURFAXIN were approximately $19.0 million. The Company now believes that more of its capital and resources than previously anticipated would have to be allocated to SURFAXIN to achieve broad market acceptance within an acceptable period. Therefore, the Company is actively pursuing, with the intention of promptly implementing, a strategic alternative for SURFAXIN. The preferred alternative would be a potential strategic alliance or collaboration arrangement, but if an alliance or collaboration arrangement cannot be implemented promptly, the Company would plan to cease the commercialization of SURFAXIN.
Enrollment in the ongoing AEROSURF phase 2a open label trial in 29 to 34 week GA infants (n=48) with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is proceeding in the third and final dose group. Enrollment in this phase 2a study is expected to be completed by the end of the first quarter of 2015 or early second quarter of 2015 with results communicated shortly thereafter. The goal of this study is to assess: (1) the safety and tolerability of AEROSURF, (2) physiological evidence of delivery of aerosolized KL4 surfactant in the lung, and (3) performance of the Company's proprietary aerosolization technology. Based on results to date in safety and tolerability, evidence suggesting delivery of surfactant to the lung, and performance of the aerosolization technology, the Company has initiated work to prepare to advance to the next phase of clinical evaluation to include 26 to 28 week GA infants, and has initiated startup activities, site selection and investments in devices and infrastructure to prepare for the planned phase 2b study in 26 to 32 week GA infants. The phase 2b study is expected to be a multicenter trial conducted in select medical centers both within and outside the U.S. The primary objective of this trial will be to determine the optimal dose(s) and define the expected efficacy margin. The Company expects the phase 2b study to conclude in 2Q 2016.
"Although we continue to believe that SURFAXIN has the potential to become the market-leading surfactant, we believe our existing capital is best used for the development of AEROSURF, which has the potential to revolutionize the management of RDS and generate the greatest value for our stakeholders," commented John G. Cooper, Discovery Labs' President and Chief Executive Officer. "If successful with AEROSURF, we believe that we may be able to develop a pipeline of other aerosolized KL4 surfactant products, potentially to address other respiratory diseases where there are currently significant unmet medical needs."
Select Additional Financial Results for the Fourth Quarter ended December 31, 2014
During the fourth quarter of 2014, the Company recognized $1.0 million in grant revenue - $0.7 million of a $1.0 million award under a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for up to $3.0 million to support the development of the Company's aerosolized KL4 surfactant as a medical countermeasure to mitigate acute and chronic/late-phase radiation-induced lung injury, and $0.3 million under a $1.9 million Fast Track SBIR Grant from the NIH to support for the ongoing AEROSURF phase 2a clinical trial. Additionally, for the fourth quarter of 2014, the Company recognized $136,000 in revenue for sales of SURFAXIN, compared to $106,000 in recognized revenue in the third quarter of 2014.
Operating expenses for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2014 were $12.4 million. Approximately $4.5 million of this amount were expenditures to support manufacturing, quality, medical affairs and commercialization activities to support SURFAXIN. Included in research and development costs were: (1) activities to conduct our AEROSURF phase 2a clinical program and manufacture of capillary aerosol generator (CAG) devices and related components for preparation for the AEROSURF phase 2b clinical program; (2) investments associated with the Battelle collaboration to prepare our CAG and related aerosol technologies for AEROSURF phase 3 studies and, if successful, commercialization; (3) investments in clinical, medical, and aerosolization device expertise to manage the AEROSURF clinical program and pipeline development; and (4) activities to support the NIH-funded study using aerosolized KL4 surfactant in radiation-induced lung injury.
Other expense for the quarter ended December 31, 2014 was $1.2 million which represents interest expense related to long-term debt. Of the $1.2 million, $0.7 million is cash interest expense and $0.5 million is non-cash amortization of the debt discount.
As of December 31, 2014, the Company had $30 million of long-term debt with principal payable in three equal annual installments beginning in February 2017, subject to a potential one-year deferral of all amounts due in each of 2017 and 2018 if certain financial milestones are achieved.
As of December 31, 2014, the Company reported common stock warrant liability of $1.3 million, related to five-year warrants issued in February 2011.These warrants are not subject to cash settlement, but they have been classified as derivative liabilities in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles because they contain anti-dilution provisions that adjust the exercise price of the warrants in certain circumstances.
The Company had 85.6 million and 84.6 million shares of common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively.
Readers are referred to, and encouraged to read in their entirety, the Forms 8-K regarding the matters referred to herein, including any exhibits attached thereto, and the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2014 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 16, 2015, which include discussions about the Company's business plans and operations, financial condition and results of operations.
Conference Call and Audio Webcast Details
The Company will host a live teleconference and webcast at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday,March 17, 2015. During the conference call, Discovery Labs' management will discuss the 2014 fourth quarter financial results along with other business updates.
The press release and the live webcast of the conference call will be available via Discovery Labs' corporate website at www.discoverylabs.com. The webcast will be made available on the events page. An archive will be available after the call at the same address until Tuesday,March 31, 2015.
To participate in the live conference call, please dial (888) 346-0767 (domestic) or (412) 902-4251 (international). After placing the call, please ask to be joined into the Discovery Labs conference call. The conference call replay number is (877) 344-7529 (domestic) or (412) 317-0088 (international); please use 10061701 as the replay passcode.
About SURFAXIN®
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved SURFAXIN® (lucinactant) Intratracheal Suspension for the prevention of RDS in premature infants who are at high risk for RDS. SURFAXIN is the first synthetic, peptide-containing surfactant approved by the FDA and the only alternative to animal derived surfactants.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
SURFAXIN is intended for intratracheal use only. The administration of exogenous surfactants, including SURFAXIN, can rapidly affect oxygenation and lung compliance. SURFAXIN should be administered only by clinicians trained and experienced with intubation, ventilator management, and general care of premature infants in a highly supervised clinical setting. Infants receiving SURFAXIN should receive frequent clinical assessments so that oxygen and ventilatory support can be modified to respond to changes in respiratory status.
Most common adverse reactions associated with the use of SURFAXIN are endotracheal tube reflux, pallor, endotracheal tube obstruction, and need for dose interruption. During SURFAXIN administration, if bradycardia, oxygen desaturation, endotracheal tube reflux, or airway obstruction occurs, administration should be interrupted and the infant's clinical condition assessed and stabilized.
SURFAXIN is not indicated for use in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).
For more information about SURFAXIN, please visit www.surfaxin.com.
About AEROSURF®
AEROSURF is a novel investigational drug-device combination product being developed to deliver Discovery Labs' KL4 surfactant in aerosolized form to premature infants with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). AEROSURF could potentially allow for the administration of KL4 surfactant to premature infants without invasive endotracheal intubation, and may enable the treatment of a significantly greater number of premature infants who could benefit from surfactant therapy but currently are not treated. Discovery Labs is conducting a phase 2a clinical trial to evaluate the safety and tolerability of aerosolized KL4 surfactant drug product administered in escalating inhaled doses in premature infants 29 to 34 weeks gestational age who are receiving nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) for respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), compared to infants receiving nCPAP alone.
About Discovery Labs
Discovery Laboratories, Inc. is a specialty biotechnology Company focused on advancing a new standard in respiratory critical care. Discovery Labs' technology platform includes its novel proprietary KL4 surfactant, a synthetic, peptide-containing surfactant that is structurally similar to pulmonary surfactant, and its proprietary drug delivery technologies being developed to enable efficient delivery of aerosolized KL4 surfactant. Discovery Labs' strategy is initially focused on neonatology and improving the management of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in premature infants. Discovery Labs believes that its RDS product portfolio, including AEROSURF®, if approved, has the potential to become the new standard of care for RDS and, over time, enable the treatment of a significantly greater number of premature infants who could benefit from surfactant therapy but are currently not treated. SURFAXIN® (lucinactant) Intratracheal Suspension, Discovery Labs' first synthetic KL4 surfactant, is the only available non-animal derived surfactant approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Full prescribing information can be found at http://www.surfaxin.com.
For more information, please visit the Company's website at www.Discoverylabs.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
To the extent that statements in this press release are not strictly historical, all such statements are forward-looking, and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, including projections of future cash balances and anticipated cash outflows, to differ materially from the statements made.
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