REDWOOD CITY, Calif., May 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Threshold Pharmaceuticals, Inc. , today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2006.
The net loss for the first quarter of 2006 was $13.8 million compared to $7.5 million for the first quarter of 2005. Research and development expenses were $11.4 million for the first quarter of 2006 versus $5.3 million for the first quarter of 2005. The increase in research and development expenses primarily reflects increased costs of advancing the Company’s product pipeline, including Phase 2 and Phase 3 multi-center clinical trials of TH-070 for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), an ongoing Phase 3 trial of glufosfamide for the second-line treatment of patients with pancreatic cancer and a Phase 2 trial of glufosfamide in combination with gemcitabine for the first-line treatment of pancreatic cancer. General and administrative expenses were $3.8 million for the first quarter of 2006 versus $2.6 million for the same quarter last year. The increase in general and administrative expenses primarily reflects increased costs associated with being a public company and stock compensation expense recognized under FAS 123(R). Total non-cash stock compensation expense for the Company was $3.0 million for the first quarter of 2006 versus $1.6 million for the first quarter of 2005. Approximately $1.3 million of the increase in non-cash stock compensation is a direct result of adopting FAS 123(R) on January 1, 2006 which requires public companies to expense employee stock awards based on a fair value. The Company recognized revenue of $0.4 million in the first quarter of 2006.
As of March 31, 2006, Threshold had $87.4 million in cash and marketable securities.
“We continued to achieve our clinical milestones with the completion of enrollment in both the Phase 2 and Phase 3 trials of TH-070 in BPH, and we expect to report the results of these trials around the beginning of the fourth quarter,” said Barry Selick, Threshold’s chief executive officer. “We are also on track to report results from the Phase 3 glufosfamide trial in second-line pancreatic cancer patients by the end of this year as well.”
Recent Highlights -- Completed enrollment of Phase 3 trial of TH-070 in BPH patients; -- Completed enrollment of Phase 2 trial of TH-070 in BPH patients; -- Presented positive Phase 1 data on glufosfamide plus gemcitabine in the first-line treatment of advanced solid tumors, including pancreatic cancer, at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2006 Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium; -- Continued to enroll patients in a Phase 3 trial of single-agent glufosfamide for second-line treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer; and -- Received important patents related to TH-070 and 2DG from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The Company anticipates the following clinical milestones in 2006: -- Report results from ongoing Phase 2 and Phase 3 trials of TH-070 in BPH around the beginning of the fourth quarter of 2006; -- Report results from a Phase 3 trial of single-agent glufosfamide for second-line treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer by end of 2006; -- Commence three supportive trials with TH-070; and -- Commence at least one additional trial of glufosfamide in a new cancer indication. About Threshold Pharmaceuticals
Threshold is a biotechnology company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of small molecule therapeutics in mid- and late-stage clinical trials for the potential treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a disease afflicting tens of millions of men worldwide and cancer. By selectively targeting abnormally-proliferating tumor cells, the Company’s drug candidates are designed to be potentially more effective and less toxic to healthy tissues than conventional treatments. For additional information, please visit our website (www.thresholdpharm.com).
Forward-Looking Statements
Except for statements of historical fact, the statements in this press release are forward-looking statements, including statements regarding Threshold’s product candidates, clinical trial progress and results, and potential therapeutic uses and benefits of our product candidates. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that can cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, Threshold’s ability to complete its anticipated clinical trials, the time and expense required to conduct such clinical trials, and the results of such clinical trials (including product safety issues and efficacy results). Further information regarding these and other risks is included under the heading “Risk Factors” in Threshold’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, which was filed with the Securities Exchange Commission on March 28, 2006 and is available from the SEC’s website (www.sec.gov) and on our website (www.thresholdpharm.com) under the heading “Investors.” We undertake no duty to update any forward-looking statement made in this news release.
Contact: Denise T. Powell Carolyn Bumgardner Wang Sr. Director, Corporate Communications WeissComm Partners, Inc. Threshold Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 415-946-1065 650-474-8206 carolyn@weisscommpartners.comdpowell@thresholdpharm.com THRESHOLD PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. (A Development Stage Enterprise) CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (in thousands, except per share amounts) (Unaudited) Three Months Ended March 31, 2006 2005 Revenue $359 $-- Operating expenses Research and development 11,438 5,251 General and administrative 3,813 2,565 Total Operating Expenses 15,251 7,816 Loss from operations (14,892) (7,816) Interest and other income 1,072 284 Interest expense (6) (8) Net Loss $(13,826) $(7,540) Net loss per basic and diluted loss per common share $(0.38) $(0.46) Weighted-average shares used in computing basic and diluted loss per common share 35,949 16,340 THRESHOLD PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. (A Development Stage Enterprise) CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in thousands) March 31, December 31, 2006 2005 (unaudited) (1) Assets Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities $87,447 $99,654 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 1,092 563 Property and equipment, net 2,389 1,667 Other assets 509 217 Total assets $91,437 $102,101 Liabilities and stockholders’ equity Total current liabilities $9,846 $9,562 Long-term liabilities (2) 2,781 3,171 Stockholders’ equity 78,810 89,368 Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $91,437 $102,101 (1) Derived from audited financial statements (2) Includes $2.5 million deferred revenue related to the development agreement with MedBIC Co. Ltd.
Threshold Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
CONTACT: Denise T. Powell, Sr. Director, Corporate Communications, ofThreshold Pharmaceuticals, Inc., +1-650-474-8206 ordpowell@thresholdpharm.com; or Carolyn Bumgardner Wang of WeissCommPartners, Inc., +1-415-946-1065 or carolyn@weisscommpartners.com, forThreshold Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Web site: http://www.thresholdpharm.com//
