MISSISSAUGA, ON, Sept. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - YM BioSciences Inc. , a life sciences product development company that identifies and advances a diverse portfolio of promising cancer-related products at various stages of development, today reported operational and financial results for its fiscal year end, ended June 30, 2009.
"Just weeks ago we received clearance from the US Treasury Department to extend our US clinical program for nimotuzumab, permitting us to conduct trials in any cancer indication. Obtaining this clearance will be a transformative event for nimotuzumab and highlights the significant efforts made by YM staff in fiscal 2009 to advance our lead drug in an aligned effort with our licensees," said David Allan, Chairman and CEO of YM BioSciences. "Although encouraging data was presented at ASCO 2009 describing the efficacy of nimotuzumab but without advanced toxicities, we anticipate that, once a broader group of key US oncologists gain experience investigating nimotuzumab in their patients, the benefits of our drug and its potential for best-in-class status will be more fully appreciated by this community, as well as by potential partners and investors."
Nimotuzumab is being advanced globally on multiple fronts supported by a network of cooperative relationships. In total, 32 Phase II and III clinical trials are currently ongoing, 11 of which are being conducted by YM's majority owned subsidiary, CIMYM BioSciences Inc., or its licensees.
YM continues to prepare its second late-stage product, AeroLEF(R), for further development internationally. After consulting with regulatory bodies in Europe and Canada, the Company is now determining the optimal clinical path forward and conducting discussions with prospective partners around the Phase III strategy.
The Company continues to evaluate opportunities to amplify and diversify its development portfolio through potential licensing, acquisition or M A activity. YM filed and received clearance for a "shelf" prospectus in Canada and the USA subsequent to the end of the fiscal year. A "shelf" facilitates financing by a company, reduces the time period during which a company must otherwise wait for a prospectus to be cleared, permits the sale to investors of shares without a "hold period" (thus significantly reducing the cost of capital) and permits the use of freely traded shares in the case of another acquisition by YM, again significantly reducing the prospective cost of capital. The "shelf" registration covers any financing during the forthcoming 25 months.
Cancellation of AIM Listing
YM also announces that trading of the Company's Common Shares on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange ("AIM") will be cancelled on October 26, 2009. YM shares have traded on AIM since 2002, however the majority of its shareholder base and liquidity now result from its Canadian and US listings. Therefore YM has concluded that the additional costs associated with maintaining a listing on AIM were not justifiable given its North American focused shareholder base. The cancellation of trading of its common shares on AIM will be effective from 7:00 a.m. (GMT) on Monday, October 26, 2009 (the "Cancellation Date").
Following the cancellation of the Company's Common Shares on AIM, shareholders may continue to hold their shares and continue to trade such shares on either the TSX under the symbol 'YM' or the NYSE Amex under the symbol 'YMI'. YM does not expect the liquidity or marketability of its common shares to be materially affected by the AIM delisting.
Financial Results (CDN dollars)
Total revenue for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2009 was $5.6 million compared with $7.4 million for fiscal 2008. Total revenue for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009 was $0.8 million compared with $2.0 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008. Revenue from out-licensing was $4.5 million for fiscal 2009 compared with $4.9 million for fiscal 2008. The decrease is mainly attributable to the 12 month extension of the revenue recognition period for the initial payment from Daiichi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, as a result of a revision to the estimated period of the collaboration. The majority of YM's out-licensing revenue comes from five out-licensing agreements with third party licensees. YM also began receiving royalty payments from a limited sales program in Europe in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008.
Licensing and product development expenses were $14.2 million for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2009 compared with $15.6 million for fiscal 2008. Licensing and product development expenses were $2.6 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009 compared with $3.6 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008.
Costs associated with development activities for nimotuzumab were $6.0 million for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2009 compared to $5.2 million for the previous year. Costs associated with development activities for nimotuzumab were $1.4 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009, which is comparable to $1.5 million for the same quarter of the previous year. The increase was mainly due to two new clinical trials, one for brain metastases from NSCLC and the other for NSCLC patients ineligible for radical chemotherapy, which were initiated during fiscal 2009.
Costs associated with development activities for AeroLEF(TM) were $1.7 million for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2009 compared to $2.0 million for the previous year. Costs associated with development activities for AeroLEF(TM) were $0.2 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009, compared to $0.4 million the previous year. The decrease was primarily due to the shift from clinical activity in fiscal 2008, to new marketing and out-licensing initiatives, as well as clarifying our regulatory position in Europe, in fiscal 2009.
General and administrative expenses were $4.8 million for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2009 compared with $6.8 million for the previous year. General and administrative expenses for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009 were $1.3 million which is comparable to $1.3 million for the same quarter in the prior year.
Net losses for the fiscal year and fourth quarter ended June 30, 2009 were $13.1 million ($0.23 per share) and $3.3 million ($0.06 per share) respectively, compared to $14.9 million ($0.27 per share) and $3.0 million ($0.05 per share) for the same periods last year.
The Company received an audit opinion for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2009 which included an explanatory paragraph referencing note 1 to the consolidated financial statements of the Company's fiscal 2009 annual report which discusses substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern as the Company has no net earnings, minimal revenue and negative operating cash flows. YM had net cash of more than $41 million at June 30, 2009 which it believes is sufficient to continue its development activity well beyond the 2010 fiscal year. The disclosure in note 1 is consistent with YM's disclosure in previous financial reports and is intended to alert readers to the risks inherent to the industry in which it operates, which include the reliance on the capital markets and uncertain partnership revenues. As at June 30, 2009 the net cash consisted of cash and cash equivalents and short-term deposits totaling $42.1 million and payables and accrued liabilities totaling $0.9 million compared to $58.1 million and $2.0 million respectively at June 30, 2008.
As at June 30, 2009 the Company had 58,216,309 common shares outstanding, of which 2,380,953 common shares held in escrow to be released contingent upon the completion of certain milestones.
The Company's annual financial statements and management's discussion and analysis will be available on www.sedar.com, www.edgar.com and at www.ymbiosciences.com.
AGM Announcement
YM BioSciences' Annual Meeting of Shareholders will be held on November 19th, 2009 at 4:00 p.m. at the Gallery of the TSX Broadcast Conference Centre, The Exchange Tower, 130 King Street West, Toronto, Ontario.
About YM BioSciences
YM BioSciences Inc. is a life sciences product development company that identifies and advances a portfolio of promising cancer-related products at various stages of development. The Company is currently developing two late-stage products: nimotuzumab, an EGFR-targeting Affinity-Optimized Antibody(TM), and AeroLEF(R), a proprietary, inhaled-delivery composition of free and liposome-encapsulated fentanyl. YM has proven regulatory and clinical trial expertise and a diversified business model designed to reduce risk while advancing clinical products toward international approval, marketing and commercialization.
Nimotuzumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody in development worldwide, targeting multiple tumor types primarily in combination with radiation and chemoradiation. It is significantly differentiated from all other currently marketed EGFR-targeting agents due to its remarkably benign side-effect profile. Nimotuzumab's anti-tumor activity has led to its approval for marketing in more than 20 countries. In more than 5,000 patients reported as having been treated with nimotuzumab worldwide to date, no Grade IV incidents of radiation dermatitis have been described, severe rash has not been observed and reports of the other severe side-effects that are typical of EGFR-targeting molecules have been rare. Nimotuzumab is licensed to YM's majority-owned subsidiary, CIMYM BioSciences Inc., by CIMAB S.A., and was developed at the Center of Molecular Immunology. YM is developing AeroLEF for the treatment of moderate to severe acute pain. The product is differentiated from other approaches using fentanyl because patients can individually control the analgesia required for their differing intensities of pain. AeroLEF met all endpoints in a randomized Phase II trial and is currently being prepared for late-stage development internationally.
This press release may contain forward-looking statements, which reflect the Company's current expectation regarding future events. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, events or developments to be materially different from any future results, events or developments expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to, changing market conditions, the successful and timely completion of clinical studies, the establishment of corporate alliances, the impact of competitive products and pricing, new product development, uncertainties related to the regulatory approval process and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's ongoing quarterly and annual reporting. Certain of the assumptions made in preparing forward-looking statements include but are not limited to the following: that nimotuzumab will continue to demonstrate a competitive safety profile in ongoing and future clinical trials; that AeroLEF(R) will continue to generate positive efficacy and safety data in future clinical trials; and that YM and its various partners will complete their respective clinical trials within the timelines communicated in this release. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
SOURCE YM BioSciences Inc.
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