RICHMOND, Calif., Nov. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Sangamo BioSciences, Inc. today reported third quarter 2009 financial results and accomplishments.
For the third quarter ended September 30, 2009, Sangamo reported a consolidated net loss of $4.9 million, or $0.12 per share, compared to a consolidated net loss of $6.3 million, or $0.15 per share, for the same period in 2008. As of September 30, 2009, the company had cash, cash equivalents, marketable securities and interest receivable of $47.9 million. In October 2009, Sangamo completed an underwritten public offering that resulted in net proceeds of $20.9 million to the company and entered into an expanded agreement with Sigma-Aldrich Corporation under the terms of which Sigma made initial payments of $20.0 million to Sangamo.
Revenues for the third quarter of 2009 were $4.1 million, compared to $3.7 million for the same period in 2008. Third quarter 2009 revenues were from the Company’s collaboration agreements with Dow AgroSciences and Sigma-Aldrich Corporation, enabling technology agreements in protein production and research grants. The revenue recognized for the third quarter of 2009 consisted of $4.0 million in collaboration agreements and $51,000 in research grants.
Research and development expenses were $6.2 million for the third quarter of 2009, compared to $7.6 million for the same period in 2008. The decrease in research and development expenses for the third quarter of 2009 was primarily due to decreased manufacturing, preclinical, licensing and consulting expenses partially offset by increased stock based compensation expenses. Non-cash employee stock-based compensation included in research and development expenses totaled $0.8 million for the third quarter of 2009 compared to $0.6 million for the same period in 2008.
General and administrative expenses were $2.7 million for the third quarter of 2009, compared to $2.6 million for the same period in 2008. The increase in general and administrative expenses was primarily due to increased personnel costs, including non-cash employee stock-based compensation, which totaled $0.9 million in the third quarter of 2009 compared to $0.7 million in the same period in 2008.
Total operating expenses for the third quarter of 2009 were $8.9 million, compared to $10.1 million for the same period in 2008.
Net interest and other income (loss) were recorded as a net loss of $47,000 for the third quarter of 2009 compared to income of $42,000 for the same period in 2008.
Nine Month Results
For the nine months ended September 30, 2009, the consolidated net loss was $16.2 million, or $0.39 per share, compared to a consolidated net loss of $21.7 million, or $0.53 per share, for the nine-months ended September 30, 2008. Revenues were $11.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009, compared to $9.4 million for the same period in 2008. Total operating expenses were $28.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009, compared to $32.5 million for the same period in 2008. The decrease in operating expenses for 2009 was primarily associated with decreased manufacturing, preclinical, consulting and lab supply expenses.
Recent Highlights
Conference Call
Sangamo will host a conference call today, November 4, 2009 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 and accomplishments, discuss other business matters, and provide forward-looking guidance with respect to the remainder of 2009.
The conference call dial-in numbers are 877-879-6209 for domestic callers and 719-325-4830 for international callers. The passcode for the call is 4978837. 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 November 4, 2009 to midnight ET on November 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 4978837.
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 two Phase 1 clinical trials 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) that can control gene expression and, consequently, cell function. Sangamo is also developing sequence-specific ZFP Nucleases (ZFN) for gene modification. Sangamo has established strategic partnerships with companies in non-therapeutic applications of its technology including Dow AgroSciences and Sigma-Aldrich Corporation. For more information about Sangamo, visit the company’s web site at http://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 of SB-509 and SB-728-T, therapeutic and non-therapeutic applications of Sangamo’s ZFP technology platform, eligibility to receive royalty and milestone payments under the Sigma agreement, strategic partnership with collaborators and anticipated amount of cash and cash equivalents. 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 ZFP-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 Sangamo’s Annual Report 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/
