Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Provides Clinical Pipeline Update and Reports 2010 Third Quarter Financial Results

THE WOODLANDS, Texas, Nov. 5, 2010 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: LXRX), a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering breakthrough treatments for human disease, today updated the progress of its drug development programs and reported financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010.

"Having established proof-of-concept for two new mechanisms of action in irritable bowel syndrome and diabetes, we are now preparing our drug candidates for the next phase of development, with a focus on formulation and dose selection in order to optimize the ultimate commercial product opportunity for these programs," said Dr. Arthur T. Sands, president and chief executive officer of Lexicon. "Over the coming months, we are also looking forward to two more proof-of-concept results in rheumatoid arthritis and carcinoid syndrome."

Key Progress in Clinical Pipeline

  • Diabetes: Lexicon continues to progress its dual sodium-glucose cotransporter 1 (SGLT1) and SGLT2 inhibitor, LX4211, in patients with type 2 diabetes. In preparation for a 12-week Phase 2b study that is anticipated to initiate around mid-year 2011, a 13-week toxicology study was completed, a prototype tablet has been formulated, and a pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic study in humans has been initiated to evaluate the bioequivalence of the solid oral formulation compared to the liquid formulation that was used in the previous studies and to further evaluate various measures of glucose control and GLP-1 signaling.
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Reformulation of LX1031 has progressed with the goal of achieving a lower and less frequent dosing regimen that will provide a similar safety and efficacy profile to that observed with the original formulation. In addition, LX1033, a back-up compound that is approximately 10-fold more potent than LX1031, has completed IND-enabling studies. It is anticipated that LX1033 will commence Phase 1 testing in the first quarter of 2011.
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis: Lexicon completed dosing in the expanded Phase 2a clinical trial of its drug candidate for rheumatoid arthritis, LX2931, an inhibitor of sphingosine-1-phosphate lyase. Top-line data from the study, which enrolled 208 patients and was conducted at multiple centers in the United States and Eastern Europe, are expected to be available by the end of the year.
  • Carcinoid Syndrome: Enrollment in both the United States and Europe is continuing in the Phase 2a trials for LX1032, an inhibitor of tryptophan hydroxylase that reduces peripheral serotonin production without affecting brain serotonin levels. Preliminary data from both trials are expected to be available in the first half of 2011.

Financial Results and Events

On July 30, 2010, Lexicon exercised a restructured purchase option under its drug development financing collaboration with Symphony Icon Holdings LLC and acquired all the equity of Symphony Icon, Inc., thereby reacquiring all rights to LX1031, LX1032, LX1033 and the other drug programs subject to the collaboration. Pursuant to the amended terms of the purchase option, Lexicon paid Symphony Icon Holdings LLC $10 million and agreed to make up to $80 million in additional base and contingent payments.

Revenues: Lexicon's revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2010 decreased 63 percent to $0.8 million from $2.1 million for the corresponding period in 2009. The decrease for the three months ended September 30, 2010 was primarily attributable to reduced revenues under Lexicon's alliance agreements with Taconic Farms and Bristol-Myers Squibb Company. For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, revenues decreased 61 percent to $3.7 million from $9.3 million for the corresponding period in 2009.

Research and Development Expenses: Research and development expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2010 increased four percent to $20.1 million from $19.3 million for the corresponding period in 2009. For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, research and development expenses decreased two percent to $61.4 million from $62.4 million for the corresponding period in 2009.

General and Administrative Expenses: General and administrative expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2010 increased eight percent to $4.9 million from $4.6 million for the corresponding period in 2009. The increase was primarily attributable to increases in salary and benefit costs. For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, general and administrative expenses increased four percent to $15.5 million from $15.0 million for the corresponding period in 2009.

Net Loss Attributable to Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Net loss for the three months ended September 30, 2010 was $27.5 million, or $0.08 per share, compared to a net loss of $19.1 million, or $0.14 per share, in the corresponding period in 2009. Net loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 was $78.8 million, or $0.27 per share, compared to a net loss of $60.8 million, or $0.44 per share, for the corresponding period in 2009. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, net loss included non-cash, stock-based compensation expense of $1.3 million and $4.0 million, respectively. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, net loss included non-cash, stock-based compensation expense of $1.3 million and $4.1 million, respectively.

Cash and Investments: As of September 30, 2010, Lexicon had $231.0 million in cash and investments, as compared to cash and investments, net of its obligations under the credit line secured by its auction rate securities, of $255.8 million as of June 30, 2010 and $125.1 million as of December 31, 2009. On June 30, 2010, Lexicon exercised its rights to require UBS AG to purchase its remaining auction rate securities, and UBS purchased the auction rate securities at par value on July 1, 2010.

Lexicon Conference Call:

Lexicon management will hold a conference call to discuss its clinical development progress and financial results for the third quarter of 2010 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on November 5, 2010. The dial-in number for the conference call is 888-220-1244 (within the US/Canada) or 706-679-5615 (international). The conference ID for all callers is 20791091. Investors can access a live webcast of the call at www.lexpharma.com. An archived version of the webcast will be available on the website through November 12, 2010.

About Lexicon

Lexicon is a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering breakthrough treatments for human disease. Lexicon currently has four drug candidates in mid-stage development for diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome, carcinoid syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis, all of which were discovered by Lexicon's research team. Lexicon has used its proprietary gene knockout technology to identify more than 100 promising drug targets. Lexicon has focused drug discovery efforts on these biologically-validated targets to create its extensive pipeline of clinical and preclinical programs. For additional information about Lexicon and its programs, please visit www.lexpharma.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains "forward-looking statements," including statements relating to Lexicon's clinical development of LX1031, LX1032, LX1033, LX2931, and LX4211, including characterizations of the results of and projected timing of clinical trials of such compounds, and the potential therapeutic and commercial potential of LX1031, LX1032, LX1033, LX2931, and LX4211. This press release also contains forward-looking statements relating to Lexicon's growth and future operating results, discovery and development of products, strategic alliances and intellectual property, as well as other matters that are not historical facts or information. All forward-looking statements are based on management's current assumptions and expectations and involve risks, uncertainties and other important factors, specifically including those relating to Lexicon's ability to successfully conduct clinical development of LX1031, LX1032, LX1033, LX2931, and LX4211 and preclinical and clinical development of its other potential drug candidates, advance additional candidates into preclinical and clinical development, obtain necessary regulatory approvals, achieve its operational objectives, obtain patent protection for its discoveries and establish strategic alliances, as well as additional factors relating to manufacturing, intellectual property rights, and the therapeutic or commercial value of its drug candidates, that may cause Lexicon's actual results to be materially different from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Unless specifically indicated otherwise, results reported as trends were not statistically significant. Information identifying such important factors is contained under "Factors Affecting Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors" in Lexicon's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Lexicon undertakes no obligation to update or revise any such forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc.


Selected Financial Data


Consolidated Statements of Operations Data


Three Months Ended

September 30,


Nine Months Ended

September 30,

(In thousands, except per share data)


2010


2009


2010


2009



(unaudited)


(unaudited)

Revenues:









Collaborative research


$ 632


$ 1,650


$ 3,437


$ 8,042

Subscription and license fees


149


481


218


1,246

Total revenues


781


2,131


3,655


9,288

Operating expenses:









Research and development, including stock-based compensation

of $751, $733, $2,366 and $2,328, respectively


20,086


19,320


61,413


62,404

General and administrative, including stock-based compensation

of $582, $547, $1,592 and $1,750, respectively


4,948


4,568


15,535


14,993

Total operating expenses


25,034


23,888


76,948


77,397

Loss from operations


(24,253)


(21,757)


(73,293)


(68,109)

Gain on investments, net


-


185


141


1,008

Interest income


51


103


468


669

Interest expense


(637)


(785)


(2,093)


(2,180)

Other expense, net


(2,700)


(516)


(4,025)


(2,037)

Consolidated loss before taxes


(27,539)


(22,770)


(78,802)


(70,649)

Income tax benefit


26


102


26


102

Back to news