- CAPACITY shows potential for pirfenidone role in treatment of patients with IPF -
- Ground-breaking data from INFORM-1 study; first all-oral combination in HCV -
- Strong data from 14-day triple combination study of ITMN-191 in HCV -
BRISBANE, Calif., April 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- InterMune, Inc. today announced results from operations for the first quarter ended March 31, 2009. InterMune reported a net loss for the first quarter of 2009 of $42.0 million, or $1.03 per share, compared with a net loss of $29.1 million, or $0.75 per share, in the first quarter of 2008.
Dan Welch, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of InterMune, said, “The first months of 2009 were an exceptionally productive period for InterMune. We began the year by reporting strong data from our triple combination study of ITMN-191 (R7227) in hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients and shortly thereafter reported results from our Phase 3 CAPACITY program of pirfenidone in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). In April, we reported with Roche and Pharmasset exciting new data from INFORM-1, the first-ever combination of a nucleoside polymerase inhibitor and protease inhibitor in the absence of interferon in patients infected with HCV. We also recently strengthened our balance sheet by raising $63 million in cash and by exchanging $32 million in convertible debt for shares of our common stock. The remainder of 2009 is expected to be as productive for pirfenidone and ITMN-191 and we look forward to sharing those results as they develop.”
InterMune reported total revenue in the first quarter of 2009 of $6.9 million, compared with total revenue of $9.3 million in the first quarter of 2008. Total revenue in the first quarter of 2009 primarily consisted of Actimmune(R) (interferon gamma-1b) revenue of $6.0 million, compared with $8.5 million in the same quarter of 2008, a decrease of approximately 29%, reflecting lower off-label physician prescriptions of Actimmune for the treatment of IPF, which InterMune does not promote.
Research and development (R&D) expenses in the first quarter of 2009 were $24.4 million compared with $27.2 million in the first quarter of 2008, a decrease of approximately 10%, reflecting completion of the CAPACITY clinical trials in late 2008. General and administrative (G&A) expenses were $8.5 million in the first quarter of 2009, compared with $7.5 million in the same period a year earlier, an increase of approximately 13%, attributed to legal fees associated with a Department of Justice (DOJ) action against a former InterMune executive covered by an indemnification agreement, and costs related to preparation for the anticipated commercialization of pirfenidone.
InterMune additionally reported that first quarter 2009 expenses included a milestone payment of $13.5 million for pirfenidone that was expensed as Acquired Research and Development Milestone. The milestone payment was made in accordance with the pirfenidone purchase agreement and InterMune’s decision to submit NDA and MAA filings for pirfenidone.
InterMune also reported expenses of $0.6 million recorded as Restructuring Charges related to a reduction in force in February 2009.
As of March 31, 2009, InterMune had cash, cash equivalents and available-for-sale securities of approximately $175.2 million, compared with $154.7 million at December 31, 2008. The March 31, 2009 balance includes net proceeds of approximately $63.4 million from a follow-on public offering of 4,025,000 shares of common stock completed on February 19, 2009. InterMune made an accelerated payment in the quarter to the DOJ of $4.4 million related to the company’s recent financing event. The March 31, 2009 balance also includes approximately $6.0 million received in the first quarter of 2009 from the acquisition by The Medicines Company of InterMune’s approximately 3.0 million shares of Targanta Therapeutics Corporation.
On January 1, 2009, the company adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board Staff Position APB 14-1, “Accounting for Convertible Debt Instruments That May Be Settled In Cash Upon Conversion (Including Partial Cash Settlement)” (FSP APB 14-1) and recorded additional interest expense for the first quarter of 2009 of $1.5 million. FSP APB 14-1 requires retrospective application upon adoption; therefore, net loss attributable to InterMune for the first quarter of 2008 has been adjusted from that which was previously reported to reflect additional interest expense of $2.8 million.
First Quarter and Recent Business Highlights
Pirfenidone:
ITMN-191:
Financial; Further Strengthening the Balance Sheet
2009 Key Project Guidance
The company provided the following guidance on its key development projects, pirfenidone and ITMN-191.
Guidance for 2009 Revenue and Expenses
The company reiterated its 2009 financial guidance for revenue and operating expenses initially provided on February 26, 2009.
Revenue
Revenue for 2009, including Actimmune(R) and anticipated milestone payments from Roche, is expected to be in a range of approximately $40 to $50 million. Actimmune revenue represents approximately 50% of this revenue range.
Operating Expenses
R&D expense is anticipated to be in a range of approximately $90 to $100 million, net of development cost reimbursements under the Roche collaboration. Of this amount, approximately 60% is attributed to pirfenidone which includes expenses for CAPACITY, RECAP, the preparation and support of NDA and MAA submissions and manufacturing.
Approximately 35% of the R&D expense is attributed to the company’s one-third share of all development expenses incurred by the collaboration with Roche on ITMN-191. The balance of 2009 R&D expense is related to the advancement of a named pirfenidone analog compound, ITMN-520, toward an expected IND filing in mid-2010.
G&A expense is anticipated to be in a range of approximately $35 to $40 million. The G&A guidance range includes approximately $5.0 million of various pirfenidone pre-marketing costs and a similar amount in legal fees associated with a DOJ action against a former InterMune executive covered by an indemnification agreement.
Conference Call and Webcast Details
InterMune will host a conference call today at 4:30 p.m. EDT to discuss its financial results for the first quarter 2009, its forward-looking financial guidance and its clinical development programs. Interested investors and others may participate in the conference call by dialing 888-799-0528 (U.S.) or 973-200-3372 (international), conference ID# 95970767. A replay of the webcast and teleconference will be available approximately three hours after the call.
To access the webcast, please log on to the company’s website at www.intermune.com at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the call to ensure adequate time for any software downloads that may be required.
The teleconference replay will be available approximately three hours after the call. The teleconference replay will be available for 10 business days following the call and can be accessed by dialing 800-642-1687 (U.S.) or 706-645-9291 (international), and entering the conference ID# 95970767. The webcast will remain available on the company’s website until the next earnings call.
About InterMune
InterMune is a biotechnology company focused on the research, development and commercialization of innovative therapies in pulmonology and hepatology. InterMune has an R&D portfolio addressing idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections. The pulmonology portfolio includes pirfenidone for which a Phase 3 program in patients with IPF (CAPACITY) has been completed and the compound is currently in the pre-registration stage. The company also has a research program focused on a pirfenidone analog named ITMN-520. The hepatology portfolio includes the HCV protease inhibitor compound ITMN-191 (referred to as R7227 at Roche) expected to enter Phase 2b in the summer of 2009 and a second-generation HCV protease inhibitor research program. For additional information about InterMune and its R&D pipeline, please visit www.intermune.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that reflect InterMune’s judgment and involve risks and uncertainties as of the date of this release, including without limitation the statements related to anticipated product development timelines and the likelihood of regulatory success. All forward-looking statements and other information included in this press release are based on information available to InterMune as of the date hereof, and InterMune assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements or information. InterMune’s actual results could differ materially from those described in InterMune’s forward-looking statements. The top-line efficacy, safety and tolerability data for pirfenidone reported in this press release are from analyses of the highest areas of interest to the company based on the prior clinical experience with pirfenidone in IPF patients. Pirfenidone failed to achieve statistical significance on the primary endpoint in one of its two pivotal clinical trials and there can be no assurance that the regulatory authorities in either the United States or Europe will grant regulatory approval based upon this data, in combination with the other efficacy and safety results the company currently intends to submit in support of its NDA and MAA filings. Further analyses of the CAPACITY results will be conducted in the future and additional observations may be made which may lead to material change in the company’s current regulatory strategy for pirfenidone, including a decision by the company not to proceed with either or both of its regulatory submissions in the United States and Europe. These analyses and observations will be included in a presentation of the CAPACITY data that the company expects to make at the American Thoracic Society (ATS) in the second quarter of 2009, and/or in a scientific publication.
Other factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed in detail under the heading “Risk Factors” in InterMune’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 16, 2009 (the “Form 10-K”) and other periodic reports filed with the SEC, including the following: (i) the fact that physician prescriptions of Actimmune for the treatment of IPF, an indication for which Actimmune has not been approved by the FDA, have declined significantly following the March 2007 termination of the Phase 3 INSPIRE trial of Actimmune in IPF and the risk that InterMune’s revenue will continue to decline as expected; (ii) risks related to regulation by the FDA and other agencies with respect to InterMune’s communications with physicians concerning Actimmune for the treatment of IPF; (iii) reimbursement risks associated with third-party payors; (iv) risks related to whether InterMune is able to obtain, maintain and enforce patents and other intellectual property; (v) risks related to significant regulatory, supply and competitive barriers to entry; (vi) risks related to the uncertain, lengthy and expensive clinical development and regulatory process, including having no unexpected safety, toxicology, clinical or other issues; (vii) risks related to achieving positive clinical trial results; (viii) risks related to timely patient enrollment and retention in clinical trials; (ix) the results of the InterMune CAPACITY trials of pirfenidone differ in some respects from those of the Shionogi & Co., Ltd. Phase 3 trial of pirfenidone and there can be no assurance that the U.S. or European regulatory authorities will approve the use of pirfenidone for the treatment of IPF; (x) the results as reported by Shionogi concerning their Phase 3 trial may differ from those published or presented in a peer-reviewed forum; and (xi) risks related to the company’s manufacturing strategy, which relies on third-party manufacturers and which exposes InterMune to additional risks where it may lose potential revenue. The risks and other factors discussed above should be considered only in connection with the fully discussed risks and other factors discussed in detail in the Form 10-K and InterMune’s other periodic reports filed with the SEC, all of which are available via InterMune’s web site at www.intermune.com.
Actimmune(R) is a registered trademark of InterMune, Inc. Pegasys(R) and Copegus(R) are registered trademarks of Roche.
Financial tables follow
CONTACT: Jim Goff of InterMune, Inc., +1-415-466-2228, jgoff@intermune.com
Web site: http://www.intermune.com/
