DUBLIN, Calif., March 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- SuperGen Inc., , a pharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, rapid development and commercialization of therapies for solid tumors and hematological malignancies, today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2007.
The Company reported net income for the 2007 fourth quarter of $5.1 million, or $0.09 per fully diluted share, compared with a net loss of $6.3 million, or $0.11 per fully diluted share, for the same prior year period. The Company reported net income for the year ended December 31, 2007 of $13.1 million, or $0.23 per fully diluted share, compared with a net loss of $16.5 million, or $0.31 per fully diluted share, for the same prior year period.
“SuperGen has again achieved several significant milestones during 2007 including the start of Phase 1 and Phase 1b clinical trials of MP470, a novel, oral, multi-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI),” said Dr. James Manuso, President and Chief Executive Officer. “We entered 2008 with a strong financial position. Our license agreement with MGI PHARMA, now an Eisai company, is expected to yield increasing royalty revenues. Our financial position and revenue prospects will be used to fund the development of a rich pipeline that will ultimately enhance overall stockholder value.”
2007 Fourth Quarter Results
Total revenues for the 2007 fourth quarter were $7.8 million, compared with $2.9 million for the same prior year period. Royalty revenue for the 2007 fourth quarter was $7.8 million, compared with $2.4 million for the same prior year period. Royalty revenue is earned pursuant to the license agreement entered into with MGI PHARMA during 2004, which granted MGI PHARMA exclusive rights to the development, manufacture, commercialization and distribution of Dacogen(R) (decitabine) for Injection. The Company recognizes royalty revenue on a cash basis when it is received. There was no net product revenue for the 2007 fourth quarter compared with net product revenue of $467,000 for the same prior year period. The decrease in net product revenue during the 2007 fourth quarter was primarily due to the sale of the Company’s worldwide rights for Nipent and Surface Safe to Mayne Pharma (acquired by Hospira, Inc. in February 2007).
Excluding the gain on sale of products, total costs and operating expenses for the 2007 fourth quarter were $9.4 million, compared with $10.6 million for the same prior year period. The primary reasons for the decrease in total costs and operating expenses for the 2007 fourth quarter were reductions in cost of product revenue and sales and marketing expenses resulting from the sale of the Company’s worldwide rights for Nipent and Surface Safe to Mayne Pharma, offset in part by higher research and development costs related to product development activities and an increase in the non-cash charge for stock-based compensation expense. Included in the gain on sale of products for the 2007 fourth quarter was the receipt of additional milestones earned on the sale of products to Mayne Pharma. There were no similar milestone payments for the same prior year period.
The Company reported net income for the 2007 fourth quarter of $5.1 million, or $0.09 per fully diluted share, compared with a net loss of $6.3 million, or $0.11 per fully diluted share, for the same prior year period. Included in net income for the 2007 fourth quarter is the gain on sale of products for additional milestone payments earned of $6.0 million, a non-cash charge of $1.1 million for stock-based compensation expense and an income tax provision of $175,000 resulting primarily from the tax impact of recognizing various milestone payments received from the sale of products to Mayne Pharma. Included in the 2006 fourth quarter net loss is a non-cash gain for a change in valuation of derivatives of $490,000. There was no similar non-cash gain during the 2007 fourth quarter because the related derivatives expired at the end of 2006.
2007 Year-End Financial Results
Total revenues for 2007 were $23.0 million, compared with $38.1 million for the same prior year period. Royalty revenue for 2007 was $22.3 million, compared with $3.4 million for the same prior year period. Royalty revenue is earned pursuant to the license agreement previously entered into with MGI PHARMA. The Company recognizes royalty revenue on a cash basis when it is received. Total revenues for 2006 included $25.1 million of primarily milestone payments included in development and license revenue pursuant to the license agreement with MGI PHARMA. There was no similar development and license revenue for 2007. Net product revenue for 2007 was $621,000, compared to $9.6 million for the same prior year period. The reduction in net product revenue for 2007 was primarily due to the sale of the Company’s worldwide rights for Nipent and Surface Safe to Mayne Pharma.
Excluding the gain on sale of products, total costs and operating expenses for 2007 were $47.1 million, compared with $59.6 million for the same prior year period. The primary reasons for the decrease in total costs and operating expenses for 2007 were a lower net non-cash operating charge relating to acquired in-process research and development associated with the acquisition of Montigen Pharmaceuticals and reductions in the cost of product revenue and sales and marketing expenses resulting primarily from the sale of the Company’s worldwide rights for Nipent and Surface Safe offset in part by higher research and development costs related to increased product development activities and an increase in the non-cash charge for stock-based compensation expense. Included in the gain on sale of products for 2007 was the recognition of the deferred gain and additional gains recognized on the sale of products to Mayne Pharma as well as the recognition of gains on the sale of other products to Intas Pharmaceuticals.
The Company reported net income for 2007 of $13.1 million, or $0.23 per fully diluted share, compared with a net loss of $16.5 million, or $0.31 per fully diluted share, for the same prior year period. Included in net income for 2007 is a gain on sale of products of $33.7 million offset in part by a non-cash operating charge relating to acquired in-process research and development of approximately $10.0 million, a non-cash charge of $4.3 million for stock-based compensation expense and an income tax provision of $411,000 resulting primarily from the tax impact of recognizing various milestone payments received from the sale of products to third parties. Included in the net loss for 2006 was a non-cash gain for a change in valuation of derivatives of $1.8 million. There was no similar non-cash gain during 2007 because the related derivatives expired at the end of 2006.
As of December 31, 2007, the Company had approximately $91 million in unrestricted cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities.
2008 Financial Guidance
The Company expects to report royalty revenue for 2008 in a range from $32 million to $35 million. The Company’s royalty revenue is initially based on the annual end user guidance of approximately $157 million for 2008 provided by Eisai Co., Ltd. (which acquired MGI PHARMA in January 2008) in its quarterly conference call in early February 2008. The Company recognizes royalty revenue on a cash basis when it is received. The Company also expects to record additional milestones that relate to the prior sale of products to Mayne Pharma that are estimated to range from $1.6 million to $2.6 million. No other cash flows resulting from business development transactions are currently reflected in the 2008 financial guidance. Research and development expenses for 2008 are expected to total approximately $34 million to $36 million with the growth over 2007 influenced by increasing costs related to clinical trial programs such as MP470, ongoing product development efforts with the product pipeline and increasing investment in the discovery, pre- clinical, regulatory and clinical areas of the Company. The Company expects to record a non-cash charge during 2008 of approximately $5.2 million for acquired in-process research and development which relates to a milestone payment to the former Montigen stockholders for the filing of a second Investigational New Drug application with the Food and Drug Administration. Selling, general and administrative expenses for 2008 are expected to total approximately $14 million. Included in the 2008 total operating expenses are non-cash stock-based compensation expenses of approximately $4.3 million. Based on the elements of the 2008 financial guidance the Company is estimating a loss from operations in a range from $18 million to $20 million. The Company expects average shares outstanding for 2008 will be approximately 58 million common shares.
Conference Call Information
SuperGen will host a conference call to discuss the results of the 2007 fourth quarter and annual financial results today at 1:30 p.m. PT / 4:30 p.m. ET. A live webcast of the conference call is accessible via the investor relations section of the Company’s web site at http://ir.supergen.com. A webcast replay of the conference call will be available for 90 days.
About SuperGen
Based in Dublin, California, SuperGen, Inc. is a pharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, rapid development and commercialization of therapies for solid tumors and hematological malignancies. SuperGen is developing a number of therapeutic anticancer products focused on kinase and cell signaling inhibitors and DNA methyltransferase inhibitors. For more information about SuperGen, please visit http://www.supergen.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of Section 21A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and is subject to the safe harbor created thereby. The actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements include statements regarding SuperGen’s expectation that it will receive the balance of the purchase price for Nipent from Mayne Pharma, expectations regarding the multi- arm Phase 1b clinical trial of MP470, a novel oral multi-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), expectations about revenue, gains from sales of non- core assets and operating expenses, as well as SuperGen’s expectations and successful development of all its pipeline products. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties related to the achievement of developmental milestones with respect to the compounds acquired in the Montigen acquisition, the research and development of MP470, the satisfaction of the contingencies related to the sale of the worldwide rights to Nipent and Surface Safe to Mayne Pharma, and the ability of MGI to generate global sales of Dacogen. In general, our future success is dependent upon numerous factors, including our ability to generate pre-clinical development candidates for selection into clinical testing, obtaining regulatory approval of product development programs, conducting and completing clinical trials and obtaining regulatory approval of our products and product candidates, and creating opportunities for future commercialization of compounds. Our future revenue and operating and net income or loss could be worse than anticipated if demand for our products is less than expected, or if the introduction of new products is delayed, for any reason, including regulatory delay. References made to the discussion of risk factors are detailed in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including reports on its most recently filed Form 10-K and Form 10-Q. These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date hereof, and we disclaim any obligation to update or revise the information contained in any such forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
tenns@supergen.com E-mail: mary.vegh@supergen.com
CONTACT: Timothy L. Enns, SVP, Corporate, Communications & Business
Development, +1-925-560-0100 x111, tenns@supergen.com, or Mary M. Vegh,
Manager, Investor Relations, +1-925-560-2845, mary.vegh@supergen.com, both
of SuperGen, Inc.
Web site: http://www.supergen.com/
http://ir.supergen.com/
