SAN DIEGO, March 12, 2010 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2009.
Arena reported a lower net loss allocable to common stockholders in the fourth quarter of 2009 of $29.8 million, or $0.32 per share, compared to a net loss allocable to common stockholders in the fourth quarter of 2008 of $62.5 million, or $0.84 per share, and a net loss allocable to common stockholders in the full year ended December 31, 2009 of $153.2 million, or $1.82 per share, compared to a net loss allocable to common stockholders in the full year ended December 31, 2008 of $239.5 million, or $3.24 per share.
“We are pleased with the timely execution and significant progress made in our lorcaserin program,” stated Jack Lief, Arena’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “As we continue efforts to reach a commercial agreement for lorcaserin, we are building a strong foundation for a successful launch upon potential approval.”
As expected, research and development expenses declined significantly to $21.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2009 from $53.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2008. Research and development expenses declined to $110.2 million in the full year ended December 31, 2009 from $204.4 million in the full year ended December 31, 2008. This decrease is due primarily to the completion of the BLOOM (Behavioral modification and Lorcaserin for Overweight and Obesity Management) and BLOSSOM (Behavioral modification and LOrcaserin Second Study for Obesity Management) Phase 3 clinical trials evaluating the safety and efficacy of lorcaserin for weight management, and prioritizing spending towards activities that supported the December 2009 submission of a New Drug Application, or NDA, for lorcaserin. Arena expects its research and development expenses to continue to decline in 2010 due to the completion of the BLOOM and BLOSSOM clinical trials, expected cost savings related to the second-quarter 2009 workforce reduction and other cost-containment measures. Research and development expenses for all of 2009 included $4.1 million in non-cash, share-based compensation expense, compared to $5.0 million in 2008. General and administrative expenses totaled $6.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2009, compared to $8.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2008, and $25.2 million in full year ended December 31, 2009, compared to $30.5 million in the full year ended December 31, 2008. General and administrative expenses in the full year ended December 31, 2009 included $2.8 million in non-cash, share-based compensation expense, compared to $3.5 million in 2008.
Total interest and other expense increased to $14.8 million in the full year ended December 31, 2009 from $1.6 million in 2008, due to a $13.3 million increase in interest expense primarily related to the loan Arena received in July 2009.
At December 31, 2009, cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments totaled $115.4 million and approximately 92.8 million shares of common stock were outstanding. On March 9, 2010, Arena received net proceeds of approximately $24.2 million from the sale of approximately 8.3 million shares under an equity financing commitment it entered into with Azimuth Opportunity Ltd., or Azimuth, in March 2009.
Arena’s Recent Developments
Lorcaserin
Other Developments
Outlook for 2010
Arena expects to use cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of approximately $97 to $107 million for its operating activities and interest expense in 2010, and approximately $7 million for capital expenditures primarily for the manufacturing facility in Switzerland. This assumes that Arena, and not another pharmaceutical company, pays for the lorcaserin pre-commercial launch activities.
“Our primary objectives in 2010 are getting lorcaserin approved by the FDA and optimizing the value of lorcaserin in a commercial agreement,” stated Mr. Lief. “We are active in several areas to meet these objectives and to ensure the success of the anticipated lorcaserin launch. We are manufacturing lorcaserin at our Swiss facility and completing the build-out of our commercial supply chain. We are taking important steps to more fully understand the weight management market to be in a position to increase market awareness of the potential medical benefits of adding pharmacotherapy to a weight loss program. We are also engaged in other commercial-readiness activities. Our intention remains to establish an agreement with a pharmaceutical company to commercialize lorcaserin, and we believe that these foundation-building efforts are prudent to prepare for lorcaserin’s anticipated entry into a large and currently underdeveloped market.”
Scheduled Earnings Call
Arena will host both a conference call and webcast to discuss the fourth quarter and full year 2009 financial results and to provide a business and financial update today, Friday, March 12, 2010, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time (5:30 a.m. Pacific Time). Jack Lief, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Robert E. Hoffman, Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer, will host the conference call.
The conference call may be accessed by dialing 877.643.7155 for domestic callers and 914.495.8552 for international callers. Please specify to the operator that you would like to join the “Arena Pharmaceuticals’ Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2009 Financial Results Call.” The conference call will be webcast live under the investor relations section of Arena’s website at www.arenapharm.com, and will be archived there for 30 days following the call. Please connect to Arena’s website several minutes prior to the start of the broadcast to ensure adequate time for any software download that may be necessary.
Upcoming Corporate Presentations
Arena is planning to present at upcoming investment and industry conferences, including:
About Arena Pharmaceuticals
Arena is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing oral drugs that target G protein-coupled receptors, an important class of validated drug targets, in four major therapeutic areas: cardiovascular, central nervous system, inflammatory and metabolic diseases. Arena’s most advanced drug candidate, lorcaserin, is intended for weight management, including weight loss and maintenance of weight loss, and has completed a pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial program. Arena has filed an NDA for lorcaserin, and the FDA has assigned a PDUFA date of October 22, 2010 for the review of the application.
Arena Pharmaceuticals(R) and Arena(R) are registered service marks of the company.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements include statements about the development, advancement, therapeutic indication and use, tolerability, safety, selectivity, efficacy and regulatory review and approval of lorcaserin; the potential timing for the FDA to complete its review of the lorcaserin NDA; future activities and events relating to lorcaserin, including entering into a potential commercial agreement for lorcaserin, the commercialization of lorcaserin, current and expected efforts related to such commercialization, and submitting the BLOOM-DM results as a supplement to the NDA; financial guidance, including expected cost savings and decline in research and development expenses; Arena’s agreements with Deerfield and rights and future activities thereunder; and Arena’s objectives, strategy, research and development programs, and ability to develop compounds and commercialize drugs. For such statements, Arena claims the protection of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual events or results may differ materially from Arena’s expectations. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, regulatory authorities may not find data from Arena’s clinical trials and other studies sufficient for regulatory approval; the timing and ability of Arena to receive regulatory approval for its drug candidates; the timing, success and cost of Arena’s lorcaserin program and other of its research and development programs; results of clinical trials and other studies are subject to different interpretations and may not be predictive of future results; clinical trials and other studies may not proceed at the time or in the manner Arena expects or at all; Arena’s ability to partner or commercialize lorcaserin or other of its compounds or programs; Arena’s ability to obtain adequate funds; Arena’s ability to obtain and defend its patents; and the timing and receipt of payments and fees, if any, from Arena’s collaborators. Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those stated or implied by Arena’s forward-looking statements are disclosed in Arena’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements represent Arena’s judgment as of the time of this release. Arena disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements, other than as may be required under applicable law.
CONTACT: Jack Lief, President and CEO, or Cindy McGee, Manager, IR and
Corporate Communications, +1-858-453-7200, ext. 1479,
cmcgee@arenapharm.com, both of Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; or media, David
Schull, President, +1-858-717-2310, david.schull@russopartnersllc.com, or
Anthony J. Russo, Ph.D., CEO, +1-212-845-4251,
tony.russo@russopartnersllc.com, both of Russo Partners for Arena
Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Web site: http://www.arenapharm.com/
