CRANBURY, N.J., Jan. 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Amicus Therapeutics , a biopharmaceutical company developing small molecule, orally- active pharmacological chaperones for the treatment of human genetic diseases, today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and full year of 2007. On a reported basis calculated in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Amicus announced a net loss attributable to common stockholders of $0.53 per share ($0.48 per share on a non-GAAP basis) for the three months ended December 31, 2007. For the year ended December 31, 2007, on a GAAP basis, the net loss attributable to common stockholders was $3.14 per share ($2.80 per share on a non-GAAP basis). As of December 31, 2007, cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities totaled $161.5 million. Amicus Chief Financial Officer James Dentzer noted that: "We have ended 2007 in a strong financial position. We have several years of cash on hand, and this is further enhanced by the cost sharing and expected milestones from our partnership with Shire Human Genetic Therapies. As a result, we do not expect to raise cash from any equity financings in 2008."
In November 2007, Amicus entered into a strategic collaboration with Shire Human Genetic Therapies, a business unit of Shire plc, to jointly develop Amicus' three lead pharmacological chaperone compounds for lysosomal storage disorders. Shire licensed the rights to commercialize these products outside of the United States and Amicus retained all rights to commercialize these products in the United States.
Program Advancements:
Fabry Disease:
In December 2007, Amicus announced positive results from its Phase 2 clinical trials of Amigal(TM) for Fabry disease. 26 patients completed the study, which was designed to evaluate safety and preliminary efficacy of multiple doses and regimens of Amigal in a broad range of Fabry disease patients. A majority of patients in these studies discontinued their enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) prior to enrollment in the Amigal protocols.
The Phase 2 Amigal study results will be presented to the scientific and medical community at the American College of Medical Genetics (ACMG) Annual Meeting on March 12-16, 2008, in Phoenix, Arizona.
Gaucher Disease:
Amicus also recently announced positive interim results from its first Phase 2 clinical trial for Gaucher disease in patients who switched from enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) with Cerezyme(R) (imiglucerase) to the pharmacological chaperone Plicera(TM). Thirty patients were enrolled in this trial, which was designed to demonstrate safety and to evaluate various doses and dose regimens of Plicera. The study subjects on average were on ERT with Cerezyme(R) for ten years prior to entering this study.
Preliminary data are available for the first twenty study subjects. Key findings include the following:
"As the Gaucher program at Amicus advances, it has increasing significance and value for our company. Plicera has the potential to address the needs of the vast majority of people living with Gaucher disease and may offer a new standard of care in the treatment and maintenance of their disease. We expect to move forward aggressively in 2008 with additional studies as we explore the full potential of switching Gaucher patients from Cerezyme(R) to Plicera," said John F. Crowley, Amicus President & CEO.
Amicus expects that the results for all thirty patients enrolled in the first Plicera Phase 2 study to be presented at the ACMG meeting in March.
Pompe Disease:
During the fourth quarter of 2007, Amicus successfully completed a series of Phase I clinical studies of AT2220 in healthy volunteers. AT2220 is an orally available small-molecule pharmacological chaperone targeting the enzyme deficient in people living with Pompe disease. These studies demonstrated that AT2220 was generally safe and well-tolerated at all doses tested and that there were no drug-related serious adverse events. Amicus expects to report on these data at the ACMG conference in March along with the results of an additional clinical ex vivo response study designed to test the responsiveness of various Pompe mutations to AT2220.
"The data from these Phase 2 trials of Amigal and Plicera are part of an expanding body of scientific and clinical evidence that we are building through rigorous studies to demonstrate that many patients with Fabry, Gaucher and Pompe disease may be successfully switched from ERT to a pharmacological chaperone," noted John Crowley.
Other Protein Folding and Stabilization Programs:
In 2008, Amicus expects to accelerate its investments in research and development to better understand the potential for using pharmacological chaperones to treat a range of human genetic diseases that could benefit from improved protein folding and stabilization.
The company's advanced pre-clinical program in Parkinson's disease, funded in part by a grant from the Michael J. Fox Foundation, will continue with the potential to initiate clinical studies in 2008. In the fourth quarter of 2007, the company announced pre-clinical results which further support a biochemical link between the GCase enzyme and the accumulation of alpha- synuclein, a protein believed to play a key role in Parkinson's disease. Furthermore, in an animal model Amicus showed preliminary pre-clinical results that for the first time demonstrated that administration of a pharmacological chaperone can lead to reduction of alpha-synuclein aggregates in the brain. These results were first presented in November 2007 at the Annual Meeting for the Society for Neuroscience.
"In 2008, we plan to apply our knowledge and expertise in the fields of protein folding, genetic disease and pharmacological chaperones to the development of treatments for other human genetic diseases beyond lysosomal storage disorders. We will continue to invest heavily in our current programs while also advancing new research efforts against additional disease targets in areas such as metabolic disorders, neurodegenerative diseases and cancer," said David J. Lockhart, Amicus' Chief Scientific Officer.
Additional Financial Results & Notes
On a reported basis, the net loss attributable to common stockholders for the three months ended December 31, 2007 was $11.8 million as compared to $17.8 million for the same period in 2006. On a non-GAAP basis, the net loss for the three months ended December 31, 2007 was $10.7 million as compared to $16.8 million and the same period in 2006.
Amicus recorded revenue during the fourth quarter of 2007 that represents two different revenue streams from the Shire agreement. Upon signing the agreement, Amicus received an upfront payment of $50 million that will be recognized as revenue on a straight-line basis over 18 years from the date of the agreement. The upfront payment for the period of November 7 to December 31, or $0.4 million, was recognized in the fourth quarter of 2007. The remainder of the upfront payment was recorded as deferred revenue. Additionally, Amicus recognized $1.4 million of Research Revenue on reimbursed research and developments costs for the period of November 7 to December 31, in the fourth quarter of 2007.
The differences between U.S. GAAP and non U.S. GAAP financial results are itemized in tables 2 through 5, and are primarily due to:
Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Amicus' "non-GAAP net loss" and "non-GAAP diluted net loss per common share" financial measures are defined as reported, or GAAP net loss and diluted net loss per common share excluding certain items further discussed below. Amicus' management uses these non-GAAP financial measures to establish financial goals and to gain an understanding of the comparative financial performance of Amicus from year to year and quarter to quarter. Accordingly, Amicus believes investors' understanding of Amicus' financial performance is enhanced as a result of disclosing these non-GAAP financial measures. Non-GAAP net loss and diluted net loss per common share should not be viewed in isolation or as a substitute for reported, or GAAP net loss and diluted net loss per common share.
About Amicus Therapeutics
Amicus Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company developing novel, oral therapeutics known as pharmacological chaperones for the treatment of a range of human genetic diseases. Pharmacological chaperone technology involves the use of small molecules that selectively bind to and stabilize proteins in cells, leading to improved protein folding and trafficking, and increased activity. Amicus is initially targeting lysosomal storage disorders, which are severe, chronic genetic diseases with unmet medical needs. Amicus has completed Phase 2 clinical trials of Amigal(TM) for the treatment of Fabry disease and is conducting Phase 2 clinical trials of Plicera(TM) for the treatment of Gaucher disease. The Company recently completed Phase I clinical trials of AT2220 for the treatment of Pompe disease.
Forward-Looking Statements
Amicus cautions you that statements included in this press release that are not a description of historical facts are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as, but not limited to, "look forward to," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "targets," "likely," "will," "would," "should" and "could," and similar expressions or words identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based upon current expectations that involve risks, changes in circumstances, assumptions and uncertainties. The inclusion of forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation by Amicus that any of its plans will be achieved. Any or all of the forward-looking statements in this press release may turn out to be wrong. They can be affected by inaccurate assumptions Amicus might make or by known or unknown risks and uncertainties. For example, with respect to statements regarding the potential progress and results of clinical trials, actual results may differ materially from those set forth in this release due to the risks and uncertainties inherent in the business of Amicus, including, without limitation: the effect of the completion of the Phase 2 clinical trial for Amigal(TM) for the treatment of Fabry disease, the plans for the Phase 3 clinical trial for Amigal(TM), the Phase 2 clinical trials for Plicera(TM) for the treatment of Gaucher disease and the effect of the completion of the Phase 1 clinical trials for AT2220 for the treatment of Pompe disease. In addition, the amount and impact of stock- based compensation charges, royalty fees, and pre-tax charges for preferred stock accretion and warrant liability and Amicus' definition of "non-GAAP net income" and/or "non-GAAP net income per share" do not constitute guarantees of future performance and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties that could cause its actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. Further, the results of earlier clinical trials may not be predictive of future results; Amicus and its licensors may not be able to obtain, maintain and successfully enforce adequate patent and other intellectual property protection of its product candidates; and other risks detailed in the public filings of Amicus with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward- looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. All forward- looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement and Amicus undertakes no obligation to revise or update this news release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. This caution is made under the safe harbor provisions of Section 21E of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Statement of Operations Information for Three Months Ended December 31, 2007
Statement of Operations Information for Three Months Ended December 31, 2006
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