DUSA Pharmaceuticals Reports Full Year 2009 Corporate Highlights and Financial Results

WILMINGTON, Mass., March 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- DUSA Pharmaceuticals, Inc.((R)) , a dermatology company that is developing and marketing Levulan((R)) Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) and other products focused on patients with common skin conditions, reported today its corporate highlights and financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2009.

Fourth quarter and full year financial highlights include:

Management Comments:

“We are extremely excited to report our fourth quarter and full year 2009 financial results. Record revenues, fueled by strong domestic PDT revenue growth, combined with reductions in our overall spending, allowed us to deliver on our goals to become cash flow positive and profitable during the fourth quarter of 2009,” stated Robert Doman, President and CEO.

“Our ability to reach these unprecedented Company milestones drove significant bottom line financial improvement in 2009. The achievement of record PDT revenues in the fourth quarter also serves as further evidence that PDT is becoming increasingly more accepted by the medical dermatology community for the treatment of actinic keratoses (AKs),” continued Doman.

“As we head into 2010, we intend to build upon the many achievements and momentum of 2009 by increasing PDT penetration into the AK market, while at the same time advancing our research and development endeavors,” concluded Doman.

Fourth Quarter 2009 Financial Results:

Total product revenues were $8.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2009, an increase of $1.0 million or 13% from $7.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2008. PDT revenues totaled $8.5 million, an increase of $1.0 million or 13% from $7.5 million for the comparable 2008 period. The increase in PDT revenues was attributable to a $1.2 million increase in Kerastick((R)) revenues, which was partially offset by a $0.2 million decrease in BLU-U((R)) revenues. The Kerastick((R) )revenue improvement was driven by a 6% increase in our domestic Kerastick((R)) volume and a 12% increase in our average selling price. Kerastick((R)) sales volumes increased to 64,904 in the fourth quarter of 2009 from 62,260 units sold in the comparable 2008 period. Domestic Kerastick((R)) sales volumes increased by 3,216 units or 6% and were partially offset by a 572 unit decrease in our international sales volumes. The BLU-U((R)) revenue decrease was due to lower sales volumes. There were 54 units sold during the quarter, as compared to the 75 units sold in the prior year. Non-PDT revenues totaled $0.3 million and were relatively flat versus the comparable 2008 period.

DUSA’s net income on a GAAP basis for the fourth quarter of 2009 was $0.4 million, or $0.02 per common share, compared to a net loss of $2.0 million, or $0.08 per common share, in the fourth quarter of 2008.

Please refer to the section entitled “Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” and the accompanying financial table included at the end of this release for a reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP results for the three and twelve-month periods ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

DUSA’s non-GAAP net income for the fourth quarter of 2009 was $0.9 million, or $0.04 per common share, compared to a net loss of $1.4 million, or $0.06 per common share, in the prior year period. The improvement in the Company’s profitability was primarily the result of the year-over-year increase in our PDT revenues as well as lower operating costs.

Full Year 2009 Financial Results:

Total product revenues for the year ended December 31, 2009 were $29.8 million, an increase of $0.3 million or 1% from $29.5 million in 2008. PDT revenues totaled $28.3 million, an increase of $4.4 million or 18% from $23.9 million for 2008. The increase in PDT revenues was attributable to a $4.3 million increase in Kerastick((R)) revenues and a $0.1 million increase in BLU-U((R)) revenues. The Kerastick((R) )revenue improvement was driven by an 11% increase in our domestic Kerastick((R)) volume and an overall 12% increase in our average selling price. Kerastick((R)) sales volumes increased to 220,288 units in 2009 from 207,516 units sold in 2008. Domestic Kerastick((R)) sales volumes increased by 19,182 units or 11% and were partially offset by a 6,410 decrease in our international sales volumes. The BLU-U((R)) revenue increase was driven by a 10% increase in sales volume. There were 252 units sold during 2009, representing a 23 unit increase over the prior year total of 229 units. Non-PDT revenues totaled $1.5 million versus $5.6 million for the comparable 2008 period. Non-PDT revenues were adversely impacted by the absence of Nicomide((R) )sales in 2009. In response to discussions with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding our marketing of certain products considered by the FDA to be marketed unapproved drugs, the Company stopped shipping Nicomide((R) )into the wholesale channel in June of 2008.

DUSA’s net loss on a GAAP basis for the twelve months ended December 31, 2009 was $2.5 million or $0.10 per common share, compared to a net loss of $6.3 million or $0.26 per common share in 2008.

DUSA’s non-GAAP net loss for the twelve months ending December 31, 2009 was $1.0 million or $0.04 per common share in 2009, compared to $3.9 million or $0.16 per common share in 2008. The decrease in our net loss was primarily the result of the year-over-year increase in our PDT revenues as well as a decrease in our operating costs due mainly to the absence of spending on our Phase IIb acne clinical trial which concluded in 2008, and a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) charge accrued in the prior year period.

As of December 31, 2009, total cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities were $16.7 million, compared to $18.9 million at December 31, 2008. Annual cash burn improved by $1.9 million from $4.1 million in 2008 to $2.2 million in 2009. The Company generated $1.6 million in positive cash flow during the fourth quarter of 2009.

Other Highlights:

Conference Call Details and Dial-in Information:

In conjunction with this announcement, DUSA will host a conference call today:

Wednesday, March 3rd - 8:30 a.m. Eastern

If calling from the U.S. or Canada use the following toll-free number:

800.647.4314

Password - DUSA

For international callers use

502.498.8422

Password - DUSA

A recorded replay of the call will be available approximately 15 minutes following the call.

U.S. or Canada callers use 877.863.0350

International callers use 858.244.1268

The call will be accessible on our web site approximately six hours following the call at www.dusapharma.com.

Revenues Table, Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations and GAAP to Non-GAAP reconciliation follow:

Revenues for the three-month and twelve-month periods were comprised of the following:

DUSA Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

DUSA Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Consolidated Statement of Operations

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to reporting financial results in accordance with GAAP, DUSA has provided in the table below non-GAAP financial measures adjusted to exclude stock-based compensation expense, a contingent payment on an acquisition, consideration provided to the former Sirius shareholders, and the non-cash change in fair value of warrants. The Company believes that this presentation is useful to help investors better understand DUSA’s financial performance, competitive position and prospects for the future. Management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures assist in providing a more complete understanding of the Company’s underlying operational results and trends, and in allowing for a more comparable presentation of results. Management uses these measures along with their corresponding GAAP financial measures to help manage the Company’s business and to help evaluate DUSA’s performance compared to the marketplace. However, the presentation of non-GAAP financial measures is not meant to be considered in isolation or as superior to or as a substitute for financial information provided in accordance with GAAP. The non-GAAP financial measures used by the Company may be calculated differently from, and, therefore, may not be comparable to, similarly titled measures used by other companies.

Investors are encouraged to review the reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to the comparable GAAP results, contained in the table below.

(a) Stock-based compensation expense resulting from the application of SFAS 123(R).

(b) Milestone payment related to Sirius Laboratories acquisition.

(c) Payment of $100,000 and accrual of $214,000 related to the release, consent and the fourth amendment to the merger agreement between DUSA and the former Sirius shareholders.

(d) Non-cash gain/loss on change in fair value of warrants.

About DUSA Pharmaceuticals

DUSA Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is an integrated dermatology pharmaceutical company focused primarily on the development and marketing of its Levulan((R)) Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) technology platform, and complementary dermatology products. Levulan((R)) PDT is currently approved for the treatment of Grade 1 and 2 actinic keratoses of the face or scalp. DUSA also markets other dermatology products, including ClindaReach((R)). DUSA is researching the use of broad area Levulan((R)) PDT to treat AKs and prevent squamous cell carcinomas in immunosuppressed solid organ transplant recipients and is supporting research related to oral leukoplakia in collaboration with the National Institutes of Health (NIH). DUSA is based in Wilmington, Mass. Please visit our web site at www.dusapharma.com.

Except for historical information, this news release contains certain forward-looking statements that represent our current expectations and beliefs concerning future events, and involve certain known and unknown risk and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements relate to the intention to increase market penetration and advance research and development endeavors, the conduct of its Phase II SOTR clinical study and expectations for enrollment and timing of results of the study, belief concerning the FDA approved reduced dissolution time, expectations for submission of formal amended Orphan Drug Designation application and management’s beliefs concerning non-GAAP financial measures. These forward-looking statements are further qualified by important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by those in the forward-looking statements made in this release. These factors include, without limitation, launch of competitive products, actions by health regulatory authorities, the clinical trial process and results thereof, changing economic conditions, the status of our patent portfolio, reliance on third parties, sufficient funding, and other risks and uncertainties identified in DUSA’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.

CONTACT: Robert F. Doman, +1-978-909-2216, or Richard Christopher,
+1-978-909-2211, both of DUSA Pharmaceuticals, Inc., or Chad Rubin,
Investor Relations Contact, +1-646-378-2947, for DUSA Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Web site: http://www.dusapharma.com/

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