Marina Biotech, Inc. Announces Third Quarter 2014 Financial Results

BOTHELL, WA--(Marketwired - November 17, 2014) - Marina Biotech, Inc. (OTCQB: MRNA), a leading nucleic acid-based drug discovery and development company focused on rare diseases, today reported financial results for the three months ended September 30, 2014.

Key corporate accomplishments during 2014:

  • Presented human clinical data on the use of SMARTICLES for the delivery of single and double-stranded oligonucleotides at two therapeutic conferences
  • Established a strategic alliance with Rosetta Genomics focused on identification of novel microRNA targets for neuromuscular disease
  • Made significant progress in restarting our Phase 1 program in Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP)
  • Engaged former employees and consultants to assist us in expanding R&D and business development operations
  • Broadened our patent portfolio with issuances across our delivery technologies -- SMARTICLES®, tkRNAi and DiLA2 -- in key domestic and international markets
  • Regained compliance with our reporting obligations under the Exchange Act by filing our outstanding 10Ks and 10Qs
  • Transitioned our listing from the OTC Pink to the OTCQB tier of the OTC Markets

"We continue to rebuild the company by focusing on three key areas: clinical pipeline, partnering and financials and at this point, we believe that we have taken significant steps to establish a solid foundation upon which to build shareholder value," stated J. Michael French, president & CEO of Marina Biotech. "The company's improved condition and outlook has helped us build momentum in our partnering discussions and over the next several months we will continue our efforts to enter into one or more licenses involving our delivery technologies. In addition, we expect to start in vivo proof-of-concept work for our myotonic dystrophy program. Finally, I would like to emphasize to our shareholders that we remain committed to efficiently utilizing our resources to accomplish as much as possible with the least expenditure, an approach we believe is essential at this point to realizing significant value from our assets," French added.

FINANCIAL RESULTS

Cash and Assets
At September 30, 2014, we had cash of $3.2 million and assets totaling $10.0 million compared to cash of $0.9 million and assets totaling $7.7 million at September 30, 2013.

Net loss
Net loss for the three months ended September 30, 2014 was $7.1 million compared to net loss of $1.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013. This change was due primarily to changes in the fair value of certain liabilities and derivatives, changes in other income and expenses related to debt extinguishment accounting and increased operating expenses related to 2014 resumption of business operations.

Revenue
No revenue was recorded for the three months ended September 30, 2014 compared to revenues of $0.8 million for the sale of assets to Arcturus Therapeutics during the three months ended September 30, 2013.

Operating Expenses
R&D expense increased from $0.10 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013 to $0.17 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014. Increases in R&D expenses were primarily related to CEQ508 product development. G&A costs increased from $0.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013 to $1.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014. G&A increases were primarily due to tasks related to regaining SEC compliance, conducting the Annual Shareholder Meeting and director and officer compensation. R&D and G&A expense increases were partially offset by reversal of compensation charges associated with staff reductions.

Other Income and Expense
Net other expense increased from $1.1 million in the three months ended September 30, 2013 to $5.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014. Changes in fair value measurements of certain liabilities and derivatives resulted in a loss of $0.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013 compared to a loss of $5.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014. This change in fair value is related to stock price increases in each period increasing the fair value of certain liabilities and derivatives. Other expenses related to interest, fair value adjustments of debt features, and debt extinguishment accounting totaled $0.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013 compared to an immaterial amount for the three months ended September 30, 2014. Additionally, we recorded a gain of $0.02 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014 due to vendor payables credits.

About Marina Biotech, Inc.
Marina Biotech is an oligonucleotide therapeutics company with broad drug discovery technologies providing the ability to develop proprietary single and double-stranded nucleic acid therapeutics including siRNAs, microRNA mimics, antagomirs, and antisense compounds, including messengerRNA therapeutics. These technologies were built via a roll-up strategy to discover and develop different types of nucleic acid therapeutics in order to modulate (up or down) a specific protein(s) which is either being produced too much or too little thereby causing a particular disease. We believe that the Marina Biotech technologies have unique strengths as a drug discovery engine for the development of nucleic acid-based therapeutics for rare and orphan diseases. Further, we believe Marina Biotech is the only company in the sector that has a delivery technology in human clinical trials with differentiated classes of payloads, through licensees ProNAi Therapeutics and Mirna Therapeutics, delivering single-stranded and double-stranded nucleic acid payloads, respectively. Our novel chemistries and other delivery technologies have been validated through license agreements with Roche, Novartis, Monsanto, and Tekmira. The Marina Biotech pipeline currently includes a clinical program in Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (a precancerous syndrome) and a preclinical program in myotonic dystrophy. Marina Biotech's goal is to improve human health through the development of RNAi- and oligonucleotide-based compounds and drug delivery technologies that together provide superior therapeutic options for patients. Additional information about Marina Biotech is available at www.marinabio.com.

Marina Biotech Forward-Looking Statements
Statements made in this news release may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of Federal Securities laws that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties and involve factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or suggested. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: (i) the ability of Marina Biotech to obtain additional funding; (ii) the ability of Marina Biotech to attract and/or maintain manufacturing, research, development and commercialization partners; (iii) the ability of Marina Biotech and/or a partner to successfully complete product research and development, including preclinical and clinical studies and commercialization; (iv) the ability of Marina Biotech and/or a partner to obtain required governmental approvals; and (v) the ability of Marina Biotech and/or a partner to develop and commercialize products prior to, and that can compete favorably with those of, competitors. Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or suggested in any forward-looking statements are contained in Marina Biotech's most recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Marina Biotech assumes no obligation to update or supplement forward-looking statements because of subsequent events.

                                                                            
                   MARINA BIOTECH, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES                    
                                                                            
                   CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS                    
                                (Unaudited)                                 
                                                                            
                                                December 31,  September 30, 
(In thousands, except share data)                   2013           2014     
                                               -------------  ------------- 
                                   ASSETS                                   
Current assets:                                                             
  Cash                                         $         909  $       3,203 
  Accounts receivable                                      5              - 
  Prepaid expenses and other current assets              128             55 
                                               -------------  ------------- 
    Total current assets                               1,042          3,258 
  Intangible assets                                    6,700          6,700 
                                               -------------  ------------- 
    Total assets                               $       7,742  $       9,958 
                                               =============  ============= 
                                                                            
                   LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIT                    
Current liabilities:                                                        
  Accounts payable                             $       1,614  $       1,238 
  Accrued payroll and employee benefits                1,505            165 
  Accrued interest and other accrued                                        
   liabilities                                         1,462            877 
  Accrued restructuring                                   12              - 
  Notes payable and other debt                         1,623              - 
                                               -------------  ------------- 
    Total current liabilities                          6,216          2,280 
Fair value liability for price adjustable                                   
 warrants                                              5,226         15,495 
Fair value of stock to be issued to settle                                  
 liabilities                                           1,019             25 
Deferred tax liabilities                               2,345          2,345 
                                               -------------  ------------- 
    Total liabilities                                 14,806         20,145 
                                               -------------  ------------- 
Commitments and contingencies                                               
Stockholders' deficit:                                                      
  Series C convertible preferred stock, $.01                                
   par value; none and 1,200 shares                                         
   authorized, issued and outstanding at                                    
   December 31, 2013 and September 30, 2014,               -              - 
   respectively (preference in liquidation of                               
   $6,000,000)                                                              
  Common stock, $0.006 par value; 180,000,000                               
   shares authorized, 16,937,661 and                                        
   25,748,521 shares issued and outstanding at           102            155 
   December 31, 2013 and September 30, 2014,                                
   respectively                                                             
  Additional paid-in capital                         324,145        333,249 
  Accumulated deficit                               (331,311)      (343,591)
                                               -------------  ------------- 
    Total stockholders' deficit                       (7,064)       (10,187)
                                               -------------  ------------- 
    Total liabilities and stockholders'                                     
     deficit                                   $       7,742  $       9,958 
                                               =============  ============= 
                                                                            
                                                                            
                   MARINA BIOTECH, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES                    
                                                                            
              CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS               
                                (Unaudited)                                 
                                                                            
                                  Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
                                     September 30,         September 30,    
                                 --------------------  -------------------- 
(In thousands, except per share                                             
 data)                              2013       2014       2013       2014   
                                 ---------  ---------  ---------  --------- 
License and other revenue        $     800  $       -  $   1,115  $       - 
                                 ---------  ---------  ---------  --------- 
Operating expenses:                                                         
  Research and development             103        173        318        268 
  General and administrative           573      1,434      1,185      2,573 
                                 ---------  ---------  ---------  --------- 
Total operating expenses               676      1,607      1,503      2,841 
                                 ---------  ---------  ---------  --------- 
Income (loss) from operations          124     (1,607)      (388)    (2,841)
                                 ---------  ---------  ---------  --------- 
Other income (expense):                                                     
Change in fair value liability                                              
 for price adjustable warrants        (149)    (5,487)     1,832     (6,256)
Change in fair value of stock                                               
 reserved for issuance to settle                                            
 liabilities                           (22)       (48)       313     (2,503)
Interest and other expense             (64)         -       (186)    (1,007)
Change in fair value of embedded                                            
 features in notes and                                                      
 amendments to notes                   242          -        829          - 
Gain on sale of equipment                -          -         30          - 
Gain (loss) on foreign exchange          -         (1)         -          1 
Gain (loss) on debt                                                         
 extinguishment                     (1,107)         1     (2,037)         5 
Gain on settlement of                                                       
 liabilities                             -         19          -        321 
                                 ---------  ---------  ---------  --------- 
Total other income (expense),                                               
 net                                (1,100)    (5,516)       781     (9,439)
                                 ---------  ---------  ---------  --------- 
Net income (loss)                     (976)    (7,123)       393    (12,280)
Deemed dividend related to                                                  
 beneficial conversion feature                                              
 in Series C convertible                                                    
 preferred shares                        -          -          -     (6,000)
                                 ---------  ---------  ---------  --------- 
Net income (loss) applicable to                                             
 common stockholders             $    (976) $  (7,123) $     393  $ (18,280)
                                 =========  =========  =========  ========= 
                                                                            
Net income (loss) per common                                                
 share                                                                      
  Basic                          $   (0.06) $   (0.28) $    0.02  $   (0.75)
                                 =========  =========  =========  ========= 
  Diluted                        $   (0.06) $   (0.28) $    0.02  $   (0.75)
                                 =========  =========  =========  ========= 
                                                                            
Shares used in computing net                                                
 income (loss) per share                                                    
  Basic                             16,938     25,668     16,938     24,248 
                                 =========  =========  =========  ========= 
  Diluted                           16,938     25,668     17,228     24,248 
                                 =========  =========  =========  ========= 
                                                                            
                                                                            
                   MARINA BIOTECH, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES                    
                                                                            
              CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS               
                                (Unaudited)                                 
                                                                            
                                                         Nine Months Ended  
                                                           September 30,    
                                                       -------------------- 
(In thousands)                                            2013       2014   
                                                       ---------  --------- 
Operating activities:                                                       
  Net income (loss)                                    $     393  $ (12,280)
  Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net                         
   cash used in operating activities:                                       
  Non-cash (gain)/loss on debt extinguishment              2,037         (5)
  Non-cash interest expense                                  186      1,007 
  Non-cash gain on settlement of liabilities                   -       (321)
  Compensation related to stock options, restricted                         
   stock and employee stock purchase plan                     93        260 
  Gain on disposition of property and equipment              (30)         - 
  Gain on foreign exchange transactions                        -         (1)
  Changes in fair market value of liabilities                               
    Stock reserved for issuance to settle liabilities       (313)     2,503 
    Debt Features                                           (829)         - 
    Price adjustable warrants                             (1,832)     6,256 
  Changes in assets and liabilities                                         
      Accounts receivable                                      2          5 
      Prepaid expenses and other current assets              128         73 
      Accounts payable                                      (102)      (361)
      Deferred revenue                                      (115)         - 
      Accrued interest and other accrued liabilities         587       (501)
      Accrued restructuring                                 (380)       (12)
                                                       ---------  --------- 
    Net cash used in operating activities                   (175)    (3,377)
                                                       ---------  --------- 
                                                                            
                                                                            
Investing activities:                                                       
  Change in restricted cash                                  380          - 
  Proceeds from the sale of property and equipment            30          - 
                                                       ---------  --------- 
    Net cash provided by investing activities                410          - 
                                                       ---------  --------- 
                                                                            
Financing activities:                                                       
  Proceeds from sales of Series C preferred shares and                      
   warrants, net                                               -      5,929 
  Cash payments of notes payable                               -       (250)
  Insurance financing                                        (10)        (8)
                                                       ---------  --------- 
    Net cash provided (used) by financing activities         (10)     5,671 
                                                       ---------  --------- 
Net increase (decrease) in cash                              225      2,294 
Cash and cash equivalents - Beginning of period              216        909 
                                                       ---------  --------- 
Cash and cash equivalents - End of period              $     441  $   3,203 
                                                       =========  ========= 
Non-cash financing activities:                                              
      Cash paid for interest                           $       -  $      83 
                                                       =========  ========= 
      Reclassification of fair value liability for                          
       price adjustable warrants exercised             $       -  $   1,916 
                                                       =========  ========= 
      Issuance of common stock to settle liabilities   $       -  $   3,517 
                                                       =========  ========= 
      Debt conversion to common shares                 $       -  $   1,479 
                                                       =========  ========= 
      Deemed dividend to Series C convertible                               
       preferred stockholders                          $       -  $   6,000 
                                                       =========  ========= 
                                                                            

For media inquiries:
Ryan Ferrell
ryan.ferrell@hdmz.com
Desk/Mobile: (312) 506-5202

For partnership inquires:
J. Michael French
President and CEO
Marina Biotech, Inc.
admin@marinabio.com
(425) 892-4322



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