ANNAPOLIS, Md., May 3, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- PharmAthene, Inc. (NYSE MKT: PIP), a biodefense company developing medical countermeasures against anthrax, today reported its financial and operational results for the first quarter of 2017.
First quarter and subsequent highlights include:
- On February 3, 2017, PharmAthene paid a one-time special cash dividend of $2.91 per share of PharmAthene common stock. The special dividend, totaling an aggregate payment of approximately $200 million, represents approximately 98% of the after tax net cash proceeds, received from SIGA Technologies, Inc. in satisfaction of a judgment owed to PharmAthene by SIGA.
- On March 13, 2017, PharmAthene established a record date and meeting date for a special meeting of stockholder to vote upon, among other things, the proposal to adopt the agreement and plan of merger and reorganization involving PharmAthene and Altimmune, Inc. PharmAthene stockholders of record at the close of business on March 22, 2017, will be entitled to receive the notice of, and to vote at, the PharmAthene special meeting which will be held on May 4, 2017.
For the three months ended March 31, 2017, PharmAthene recognized revenue of $0.8 million compared to $1.0 million for the corresponding period in 2016. Revenue was derived from an existing contract with National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) for the development of SparVax-L, a next generation lyophilized anthrax vaccine. Revenue recognized to date under this contract is $10.3 million.
Research and development expenses in the first quarter of 2017 were $0.7 million compared to $1.0 million for the corresponding period in 2016. The decrease was primarily due to efforts associated with a stability program related to the NIAID program which were no longer active during the same period in 2017. Similarly, research and development expenses for a tech transfer and the preparation of an engineering batch were at a point of high activity during the first quarter of 2016.
Expenses associated with general and administrative functions were $3.2 million in the first quarter of 2017 compared to $1.2 million in the first quarter of 2016. The increase was primarily due to transaction costs relating to the proposed merger transaction involving Altimmune, Inc., professional fees, and labor costs.
For the first quarter of 2017, the Company’s net loss was $2.2 million, or $(0.03) per share, compared to a net loss of $1.2 million, or $(0.02) per share, for the corresponding period in 2016.
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the first quarter of 2017 were $15.8 million compared to $154.0 at the end of fiscal year 2016.
On September 9, 2014, PharmAthene entered into an incrementally funded contract with the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (“NIAID”) for the development of a next generation lyophilized anthrax vaccine (“SparVax-L”) which provided for potential aggregate funding of up to approximately $28.1 million, if all technical milestones were met and all eight contract options were exercised by NIAID. NIAID has exercised four options under this agreement providing for performance through December 31, 2017. PharmAthene has been informed by NIAID that it will exercise only one of the additional remaining options under the contract to provide funding for a non-human primate challenge study which PharmAthene believes may be used to support an advanced development funding proposal to the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (“BARDA”). Work under all exercised options will continue bringing total committed and final funding under the NIAID contract to $15.1 million.
About PharmAthene
PharmAthene is engaged in the development of a next generation anthrax vaccine that is intended to improve protection and safety while having favorable dosage and storage requirements compared to other anthrax vaccines.
The Proposed Merger
On January 18, 2017, PharmAthene entered into an agreement and plan of merger and reorganization pursuant to which its wholly-owned subsidiary, Mustang Merger Sub, Inc., will be merged with and into Altimmune, Inc., with Altimmune as the surviving subsidiary, and immediately thereafter, Altimmune will be merged with and into Mustang Merger Sub LLC, with Mustang Merger Sub LLC as the surviving entity in such merger. Following the consummation of the mergers, PharmAthene will change its name to “Altimmune, Inc.” PharmAthene’s Board of Directors has established a record date of March 22, 2017 for a Special Meeting of Stockholders scheduled for May 4, 2017 at which stockholders of PharmAthene will have an opportunity to approve the proposals relating to the mergers.
Forward-Looking Statement Disclaimer
Except for the historical information presented herein, matters discussed may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements preceded by, followed by, or that include the words “potential"; “believe"; “anticipate"; “intend"; “plan"; “expect"; “estimate"; “could"; “may"; “should"; “will"; “project"; or similar statements are forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties include risks associated with our ability to consummate the mergers with Altimmune, our ability to advance our next generation anthrax vaccine programs; and other risks detailed from time to time in PharmAthene’s Forms 10-K and 10-Q under the caption “Risk Factors”, its Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on February 3, 2017 (File No. 333-215891) and in its other reports and registration statements filed with the SEC. PharmAthene disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements other than as required by law.
Additional Information and Where to Find It
In connection with the proposed mergers involving PharmAthene, Inc. and Altimmune, Inc., PharmAthene has filed with the SEC a current report on Form 8-K, which included the merger agreement and related documents. In addition, PharmAthene has filed a registration statement on Form S-4 with the SEC, which contains a final proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation and other relevant materials, and may file with the SEC other documents regarding the proposed transaction. The final proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation has been sent to the stockholders of PharmAthene and Altimmune. The final proxy statement/prospectus contains information about PharmAthene, Altimmune, the proposed merger and related matters. STOCKHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE FINAL PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS/CONSENT SOLICITATION (INCLUDING ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO) AND OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY IN THEIR ENTIRETY, AS THEY CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION THAT STOCKHOLDERS SHOULD CONSIDER BEFORE MAKING A DECISION ABOUT THE MERGERS AND RELATED MATTERS. In addition to having received the proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation and proxy card by mail, stockholders may also obtain the final proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation, as well as other filings containing information about PharmAthene, without charge, from the SEC’s website (http://www.sec.gov) or, without charge, by directing a written request to: PharmAthene, Inc., One Park Place, Suite 450, Annapolis, Maryland 21401, Attention: Investor Relations.
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