Trius Therapeutics Reports 2010 Second Quarter Results

SAN DIEGO, Aug. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Trius Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: TSRX), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative antibiotics for serious, life-threatening infections, announced today its financial results for the three months ended June 30, 2010.

Revenues from federal research contracts for the three months ended June 30, 2010 increased to $2.1 million as compared to $1.2 million for the same period in 2009. For the six months ended June 30, 2010, total revenues were $3.6 million, as compared to $2.3 million for the same period in 2009. The increase in revenues during the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 was largely due to the award of the company’s second federal research contract, a $29.5 million, four and a half-year contract from the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA). Trius’ first federal contract was a $27.7 million, five-year contract from the National Institutes for Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Total operating expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2010 were $4.5 million, as compared to $6.5 million for the same period in 2009. For the six months ended June 30, 2010, total operating expenses were $9.9 million, as compared to $14.2 million for the same period in 2009. The decrease in operating expenses during the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 was primarily the result of lower clinical trial expenses during the periods as the company finalized the Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Trius ended the second quarter of 2010 with cash and cash equivalents totaling $10.4 million. On a pro forma basis, accounting for the net cash proceeds of its Initial Public Offering (IPO) which closed in August 2010 as of June 30, 2010, the company had cash and cash equivalents of $56.0 million. As of August 16, 2010, Trius had 23,554,766 shares outstanding.

“With the proceeds from our recent IPO and in accordance with the SPA recently granted to Trius by the FDA, Trius is poised to move torezolid phosphate into its first Phase 3 study for the treatment of acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI),” said Jeffrey Stein, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Trius.

About Trius Therapeutics

Trius Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative antibiotics for serious, life-threatening infections. The company’s first product candidate, torezolid phosphate, is an IV and orally administered second generation oxazolidinone being developed for the treatment of serious gram-positive infections, including those caused by MRSA. In addition to the company’s torezolid phosphate clinical program, it is currently conducting two preclinical programs using its proprietary discovery platform to develop antibiotics to treat infections caused by gram-negative bacteria. For more information, visit www.triusrx.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this press release regarding matters that are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Because such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding Trius’ planned activities under the Phase 3 clinical trial for the oral dosage form of torezolid phosphate. Risks that contribute to the uncertain nature of the forward-looking statements include: Trius’ ability to obtain additional financing; Trius’ use of the net proceeds from the IPO; the accuracy of the company’s estimates regarding expenses, future revenues and capital requirements; the success and timing of Trius’ preclinical studies and clinical trials; regulatory developments in the United States and foreign countries; the performance of third-party manufacturers; changes in Trius’ plans to develop and commercialize its product candidates; Trius’ ability to obtain and maintain intellectual property protection for its product candidates; and the loss of key scientific or management personnel. These and other risks and uncertainties are described more fully in Trius’ most recently filed SEC documents, including its Registration Statement on Form S-1 that was originally filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission on November 6, 2009, and the amendments thereto, including those factors discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” in such filings. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made. Trius undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made.