Company Ends Year with Cash and Investments of $65.0 Million
RICHMOND, Calif., Feb. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Sangamo BioSciences, Inc. today reported fourth quarter and full year 2008 financial results and accomplishments and provided an outlook for 2009.
For the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2008, Sangamo reported a consolidated net loss of $2.6 million, or $0.06 per share, compared to a net loss of $6.7 million, or $0.17 per share, for the same period in 2007. As of December 31, 2008, the company had cash, cash equivalents marketable securities and interest receivable of $65.0 million.
Revenues for the fourth quarter of 2008 were $6.8 million, compared to $2.8 million for the same period in 2007. Fourth quarter 2008 revenues were primarily from Sangamo’s enabling technology agreements in cell line engineering for protein production including $3.0 million related to a fully-paid non-exclusive license agreement with Pfizer Inc and revenues from Sangamo’s agreement with Genentech, Inc., as well as Sangamo’s agreements with Dow AgroSciences (DAS) and Sigma-Aldrich Corporation.
Research and development expenses were $6.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2008, compared to $7.9 million for the same period in 2007. The decrease in research and development expenses for the fourth quarter of 2008 was primarily due to reduced expenses related to clinical trials as studies of our drug SB-509 progressed. Non-cash stock-based compensation included in research and development expenses totaled $605,000 and $409,000 in the fourth quarter of 2008 and 2007, respectively.
General and administrative expenses were $2.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2008, compared to $2.5 million for the same period in 2007. Non-cash stock-based compensation included in general and administrative expenses totaled $864,000 and $388,000 in the fourth quarter of 2008 and 2007, respectively.
Total operating expenses for the fourth quarter of 2008 were $9.0 million, compared to $10.4 million for the same period in 2007.
Net interest income (expense) was ($375,000) for the fourth quarter of 2008, compared to $935,000 for the same period in 2007. The decrease was due to lower average investment balances and lower interest rates as well as a foreign currency translation loss during the quarter.
Full Year Results
For the year ended December 31, 2008, the consolidated net loss was $24.3 million, or $0.60 per share, compared to a net loss of $21.5 million, or $0.58 per share, for the year ended December 31, 2007. Revenues were $16.2 million for 2008, compared to $9.1 million in 2007. The increase in revenues for 2008 was primarily attributable to the exercise by DAS of its option for a commercial license to Sangamo’s technology in plant agriculture, Sangamo’s enabling technology agreements in protein production and its agreement with Sigma-Aldrich for research reagents. Total operating expenses were $41.6 million in 2008 and $33.9 million in 2007. The increase in operating expenses for 2008 was primarily associated with Sangamo’s clinical development programs in diabetic neuropathy (DN) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and pre-IND programs to develop ZFP Therapeutics for the treatment of HIV/AIDS and glioblastoma, as well as increased research and development personnel costs.
2008 Highlights
2009 Objectives
In today’s conference call members of Sangamo’s management team will discuss the company’s plans and objectives for 2009 that include:
Therapeutic Programs
Business - Strategic Collaborations & Enabling Technology Agreements
Financials and Operations
Conference Call
Sangamo will host a conference call today at 5:00 p.m. ET, which will be open to the public. The call will also be webcast live and can be accessed via a link on the Sangamo BioSciences website in the Investor Relations section under “Events and Presentations” http://investor.sangamo.com/events.cfm. The webcast replay will also be available for two weeks after the call. During the conference call, the company will review these results, discuss other business matters, and provide guidance with respect to 2009.
The conference call dial-in numbers are 877-681-3378 for domestic callers and 719-325-4765 for international callers. The passcode for the call is 6408611. For those unable to listen in at the designated time, a conference call replay will be available for one week following the conference call, from approximately 8:00 p.m. ET on February 4, 2009 to 11:59 p.m. ET on February 11, 2009. The conference call replay numbers for domestic and international callers are 888-203-1112 and 719-457-0820 respectively. The conference ID number for the replay is 6408611.
About Sangamo
Sangamo BioSciences, Inc. is focused on the research and development of novel DNA-binding proteins for therapeutic gene regulation and modification. The most advanced ZFP Therapeutic(TM) development program is currently in Phase 2 clinical trials for evaluation of safety and clinical effect in patients with diabetic neuropathy and ALS. Sangamo also has a Phase 1 clinical trial to evaluate safety and clinical effect of a ZFP Therapeutic for the treatment of HIV/AIDS. Other therapeutic development programs are focused on cancer, neuropathic pain, nerve regeneration, Parkinson’s disease and monogenic diseases. Sangamo’s core competencies enable the engineering of a class of DNA-binding proteins known as zinc finger DNA-binding proteins (ZFPs). By engineering ZFPs that recognize a specific DNA sequence Sangamo has created ZFP transcription factors (ZFP TF(TM)) that can control gene expression and, consequently, cell function. Sangamo is also developing sequence-specific ZFP Nucleases (ZFN(TM)) for gene modification. Sangamo has established strategic partnerships with companies in non-therapeutic applications of its technology including Dow AgroSciences, Sigma-Aldrich Corporation and several companies applying its ZFP technology to engineer cell lines for the production of protein pharmaceuticals. For more information about Sangamo, visit the company’s web site at www.sangamo.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding Sangamo’s current expectations. These forward looking statements include, without limitation, references to the research and development of ZFP TFs and ZFNs, clinical trials and therapeutic applications of Sangamo’s ZFP technology platform, achievement of research milestones and objectives, strategic partnership and commercial license agreements with collaborators, presentation of data from research collaborations and anticipated cash and investments balance. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Factors that could cause actual results to differ include, but are not limited to, the early stage of ZFP Therapeutic development, uncertainties related to the timing of initiation and completion of clinical trials, whether clinical trial results will validate and support the safety and efficacy of ZFP Therapeutics, and the ability to establish strategic partnerships. Further, there can be no assurance that the necessary regulatory approvals will be obtained or that Sangamo will be able to develop commercially viable gene based therapeutics. Actual results may differ from those projected in forward-looking statements due to risks and uncertainties that exist in the company’s operations and business environments. These risks and uncertainties are described more fully in the company’s Annual Reports on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are made as of this date and will not be updated.
CONTACT: Elizabeth Wolffe, Ph.D., of Sangamo BioSciences, Inc. ,
+1-510-970-6000, ext. 271
Web site: http://www.sangamo.com/
