BOCA RATON, Fla., Oct. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Nabi Biopharmaceuticals announced today that revenues, including revenues from PhosLo(R) (calcium acetate) which will be reported as discontinued operations beginning in the third quarter of 2006, were $26.4 million for the third quarter of 2006 compared to $30.5 million in the third quarter of 2005. Nabi-HB(R) [Hepatitis B Immune Globulin (Human)] revenues were lower as the company continues to negotiate the terms of a supply contract with one of its product distributors. Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities were $64.9 million at the end of the third quarter of 2006. During the third quarter of 2006, cash used in operating activities was $4.3 million compared to $18.4 million used in operating activities during the comparable 2005 quarter. Importantly, this represents a 63% improvement from the second quarter of 2006 and an 81% improvement from the 2006 first quarter as the company continues to focus on reducing its cash burn rate.
The company also announced today that in light of current public company focus on stock option practices, as well as questions raised by certain shareholders about its 2006 equity grants, the audit committee of the board of directors initiated a voluntary review of its historical and current year equity grant programs and the accounting for these programs. The audit committee has engaged an independent outside law firm to assist in this review. The governance review for 2006 equity grants has been completed and no fraud, back dating or spring loading issues were identified. The governance review for years prior to 2006 and the accounting review for all periods are ongoing and the company is working toward completing the review shortly. The company's complete third quarter financial results will be issued after completion of these reviews.
"We are extremely pleased at the value-building events we have been able to achieve for our shareholders in recent months," said Thomas H. McLain, chairman, chief executive officer and president, Nabi Biopharmaceuticals. "The agreement to sell PhosLo to Fresenius is expected to provide us with a significant cash infusion in the fourth quarter. At closing we will receive $65 million. We also expect to receive up to $10 million in milestone payments during the fourth quarter. During the third quarter we have continued to significantly reduce our cash burn rate. The sale of PhosLo will allow us to make further reductions in selling, general and administration expenses. When these accomplishments are combined with a successful partnering of our vaccine development programs which we are pursuing, we will be well positioned to focus our resources and energies on advancing our most promising pipeline programs. The recent completion of enrollment for the NicVAX Phase IIB "proof-of-concept" clinical trial three months ahead of schedule is a demonstration of our ability to execute on the key milestones we have established for these programs."
"We continue taking actions to build value in our core business. In the third quarter, we announced that we acquired exclusive world-wide rights to a novel hyperimmune immunoglobulin extraction technology [yield-enhancing plasma purification technology] from ProMetic Life Sciences for its use in the production of our hyperimmune products under development, including Civacir and Altastaph. This and other efforts will advance in 2007. Clearly, the last 12 months have been some of the most challenging in our history. Working together, the board of directors, management and our outside advisors are committed to executing on a business plan that is sustainable and will advance the development of important new product opportunities. These efforts are expected to create value for our shareholders either directly or in the context of a strategic transaction. We will continue to work diligently toward executing on this plan, while we also pursue and evaluate other strategic alternatives," stated Mr. McLain.
Advancing Strategic Initiatives
On September 27, 2006, Nabi Biopharmaceuticals announced it had retained Banc of America Securities LLC to assist with its exploration of the full range of strategic alternatives available to the company to further enhance shareholder value. While the company continues to focus on executing its business plan to create shareholder value, management and the board of directors are also moving forward with the exploration of strategic alternatives. If these efforts determine that greater shareholder value can be achieved through the implementation of one or more strategic alternatives, including joint ventures, strategic alliances, and the sale or merger of all or part of the company, the company will pursue those alternatives. There can be no assurance that the exploration of strategic alternatives will result in any agreements or transactions.
Earlier this year, Nabi Biopharmaceuticals established three strategic objectives -- optimizing value from operations, building incremental value through partnerships and alliances and developing proof-of-concept evidence for our key pipeline programs. Listed below are recent accomplishments and future milestones directly aligned with these objectives:
Strategic Goal Review Accomplishment Related Strategic Significance Objective Agreement to sell PhosLo Optimizes value Strengthens balance to Fresenius from operations. sheet, allows greater focus on core business and reduces ongoing SG&A expenses. Completion of enrollment Develops proof- Data early Q2 2007. of Phase IIB "proof-of- of-concept Trial will identify concept" clinical trial evidence for optimal formulation of for NicVAX(R) (Nicotine key pipeline NicVAX and allow us to Conjugate Vaccine) programs. attract a strategic partner with more favorable financial terms. Blood Products Advisory Optimizes value Supports approval of Committee's from indication for a key recommendation to Food operations. marketed product that and Drug Administration has been granted for approval of Nabi-HB(R) Orphan Drug Intravenous [Hepatitis B Designation. Immune Globulin (Human) Intravenous] in the U.S. Acquisition of exclusive Optimizes value Expected to reduce rights to novel plasma from manufacturing costs fractionation technology operations. while increasing the from ProMetic Life production capacity Sciences and margin for promising product candidates. Milestone Update Product/Product Upcoming Expected Timing Candidate Milestone(s) PhosLo Close PhosLo Q4 2006 sale transaction Nabi-HB Intravenous for U.S. approval Q4 2006* liver transplant indication Civacir(R) [Hepatitis C Initiate Phase Q4 2006 Immune Globulin (Human)] II proof-of- concept trial NicVAX Execute Phase Data expected in early IIB proof-of- Q2 2007 concept trial NicVAX Development H1 2007 partnership and/or external funding HEBIG(TM) [Hepatitis B European 2007* Immune Globulin (Human) Approval Intravenous] Multi-Valent StaphVAX(R) With partner, 2007 (Staphylococcus aureus initiate Phase Polysaccharide Conjugate II or Phase III Vaccine) study Multi-Valent Altastaph(R) With outside 2007 [Staphylococcus aureus funding, Immune Globulin initiate Phase Intravenous (Human)] II "proof-of- concept" study ATG-Fresenius S in solid Data from Phase H2 2008 organ transplant III trial patients
*expected timing based on regulatory approval which is beyond company control
Review of Operations Revenue Biopharmaceutical Sales
PhosLo(R) (calcium acetate). During the third quarter of 2006, PhosLo revenues were $6.8 million compared to $8.1 million for the third quarter of 2005. The decrease in revenues was due to the deferral of $1.9 million of third quarter 2006 revenues associated with the announced divestiture of this product. Revenues from PhosLo will be reported as discontinued operations beginning in the third quarter of 2006.
Nabi-HB(R) [Hepatitis B Immune Globulin (Human)]. Sales of Nabi-HB were $6.8 million for the third quarter of 2006 compared to $10.8 million for the third quarter of 2005. During the third quarter of 2006, patient demand for Nabi-HB remained above prior year levels. However, Nabi-HB revenue decreased from prior year levels because of inventory reductions at a significant customer while supply contract negotiations are concluded. As a result, we shipped a minimal amount of Nabi-HB to that customer.
Other biopharmaceutical products. Other biopharmaceutical products primarily include Aloprim(TM) (allopurinol sodium) for Injection and intermediate products manufactured in our plant. We also perform contract manufacturing for others. Other biopharmaceutical products sales for the third quarter of 2006 were $0.6 million, compared to $1.0 million in the third quarter of 2005.
Antibody Sales
Total antibody sales for the third quarter of 2006 were $12.2 million compared to $10.6 million for the third quarter of 2005.
Specialty antibody sales. Specialty antibody sales totaled $6.3 million in the third quarter of 2006 compared to $4.2 million in the third quarter of 2005, primarily reflecting increased sales of anti-HBs antibodies.
Non-specific antibody sales. Sales of non-specific antibodies for the third quarter of 2006 totaled $5.9 million compared to $6.4 million for the third quarter of 2005. Sales of non-specific antibodies decreased as a result of a shift in production to our higher margin specialty antibodies.
Cash and Cash Flow from Operating Activities
As of September 30, 2006, cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities totaled $64.9 million compared to $106.9 million at December 31, 2005. Cash used by operating activities for the three months ended September 30, 2006 was $4.3 million compared to $18.4 million in the third quarter of 2005. The company has focused on reducing its cash burn rate throughout 2006. Cash used in operating activities improved 63% when compared to second quarter of 2006 and 81% from the 2006 first quarter.
Call and Webcast Information
The live webcast can be accessed today at 4:30 p.m. ET at: http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?p=irol- eventDetails&c=100445&eventID=1399547 (due to url length, please copy and paste into browser) or via the Nabi Biopharmaceuticals website at http://www.nabi.com . If you do not have Internet access, the U.S./Canada call-in number is 866-277-1182 conference code 73651534, and the international call-in number is 617-597-5359 conference code 73651534. An audio replay will be available for U.S./Canada callers at 888-286-8010 conference code 57282531, and for international callers at 617-801-6888 conference code 57282531.
An archived version of the webcast will be available at the same Internet address through November 1, 2006. The audio replay will also be available through November 1, 2006. The press release will be available on the company's website at http://www.nabi.com .
About Nabi Biopharmaceuticals
Nabi Biopharmaceuticals leverages its experience and knowledge in powering the immune system to develop and market products that fight serious medical conditions. The company has three products on the market today: PhosLo(R) (calcium acetate), Nabi-HB(R) [Hepatitis B Immune Globulin (Human)], and Aloprim(TM) (allopurinol sodium) for Injection. Nabi Biopharmaceuticals is focused on developing products that address unmet medical needs and offer commercial opportunities in our core business areas: hepatitis and transplant, kidney disease (nephrology), Gram-positive bacterial infections and nicotine addiction. For a complete list of pipeline products, please go to: http://www.nabi.com/pipeline/index.php . The company is headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida. For additional information about Nabi Biopharmaceuticals, please visit our website:http://www.nabi.com .
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this press release about the company that are not strictly historical are forward-looking statements and include statements related to our plans to explore strategic alternatives and prospects. You can identify these forward-looking statements because they involve our expectations, beliefs, intentions, plans, projections, or other characterizations of future events or circumstances. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of any number of factors. These factors include, but are not limited to, risks relating to the company's ability to advance the development of products currently in the pipeline or in clinical trials; maintain the human and financial resources to commercialize current products and bring to market products in development; obtain regulatory approval for its products in the U.S., Europe or other markets; successfully develop, manufacture and market its products; successfully partner with other companies; realize future sales growth for its biopharmaceutical products; maintain sufficient intellectual property protection or positions; raise additional capital on acceptable terms; re-pay its outstanding convertible senior notes when due; and identify and complete transactions that represent strategic alternatives and opportunities. Many of these factors are more fully discussed, as are other factors, in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the Quarter ended July 1, 2006 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
RECONCILIATION OF REVENUE: For the Three Months Ended September 30, September 24, 2006 2005 Revenue from Continuing Operations Biopharmaceutical Products $7,424 $11,821 Antibody Products: Specialty antibodies 6,257 4,143 Non-specific antibodies 5,953 6,410 Total antibodies 12,210 10,553 Total revenue from Continuing Operations 19,634 22,374 Revenue from Discontinued Operations 6,789 8,117 Total revenue $26,423 $30,491
Nabi BiopharmaceuticalsCONTACT: Thomas E. Rathjen, Vice President, Investor Relations of NabiBiopharmaceuticals, +1-561-989-5800
Web site: http://www.nabi.com//
