DOV Pharmaceutical, Inc. Announces Fourth Quarter and 2005 Year-End Results and Provides Program Updates for Product Candidates and DOV Pipeline
Wednesday March 8, 4:15 pm ET
HACKENSACK, N.J., March 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- DOV Pharmaceutical, Inc. (Nasdaq: DOVP - News) announced today results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2005. The Company also provided an update of its key programs, including its chronic and acute pain programs for bicifadine, DOV's novel analgesic.
Fourth Quarter and Year-End 2005 Performance
For the fourth quarter of 2005, the Company reported a net loss attributable to common stockholders of $16.9 million, or $0.73 per share, as compared with $4.9 million, or $0.23 per share, for the comparable period last year. For the year ended December 31, 2005, the Company reported a net loss attributable to common stockholders of $53.0 million, or $2.32 per share, compared with $32.9 million, or $1.67 per share, for the comparable period last year. At December 31, 2005, cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities totaled $97.6 million compared to $132.2 million at December 31, 2004.
Operating Expenses. Operating expenses include license expense, research and development expense and general and administrative expense. Operating expenses in the fourth quarter of 2005 and for the year ended December 31, 2005 increased $11.1 million and $29.5 million, respectively, from the comparable periods last year. This increase is primarily attributable to the increased research and development activities surrounding bicifadine.
Research and Development Expense. Research and development expense in the fourth quarter of 2005 and for the year ended December 31, 2005 increased $10.3 million and $29.2 million, respectively, from the comparable periods last year. For the full year 2005, the increase in research and development expense was primarily associated with increased external development costs of $23.4 million, compensation and related expenses of $3.7 million and associated overhead of $2.1 million as we increased our personnel to support our expanded programs. The primary driver for this increase in external development costs is an increase of $20.1 million for bicifadine.
General and Administrative Expense. General and administrative expense for the fourth quarter of 2005 and for the year ended December 31, 2005 increased $805,000 and $2.7 million, respectively, from the comparable periods last year. The increase was primarily attributable to the Company's increase in personnel as it expanded operations. In addition the Company incurred $790,000 in severance expense related to the termination of employment of our co-founder Dr. Arnold Lippa and $809,000 in non-cash compensation expense related to the amortization of the restricted stock granted to Dr. Leslie Hudson upon his appointment as Chief Executive Officer in July 2005 and to Dr. Lippa, our former Chief Executive Officer, in May 2005.
Revenue. Revenue in the fourth quarter of 2005 and for the year ended December 31, 2005 decreased $821,000 and increased $6.1 million, respectively, from the comparable periods last year. In 2005 and 2004, our revenue was comprised of $6.6 million and $2.4 million, respectively, of amortization of the $35.0 million fee we received on the signing of the license, research and development agreement with Merck, entered into in August 2004 and amended in August 2005. In addition, in 2005 we recorded $2.0 million for the achievement of a milestone under our existing agreement with Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. In 2004, we recorded $140,000 of contract services revenue associated with work we performed under the Merck collaboration.
Program Updates
Bicifadine, the Company's Novel Analgesic
FDA Receptive to Potential Broad Label Chronic Pain Indication and Provides Guidance for Acute Pain Program
DOV held two meetings early in 2006 with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding DOV's chronic and acute pain programs for bicifadine. Today, the Company announced that the FDA has agreed to review an NDA for a broad label chronic pain indication for bicifadine based upon the future successful outcome of two Phase III chronic low back pain clinical trials, currently ongoing, provided that DOV fulfills a Phase IV commitment to study osteoarthritis and neuropathic pain. The Company intends to give that commitment.
From its recently held acute pain meeting, DOV believes that the FDA is receptive to an NDA for a broad label acute pain indication for bicifadine based on a successful outcome from two Phase III clinical trials in repeat dose acute pain models. This is fewer trials than were previously required and there was agreement that one of these trials may be in a non-surgical pain model. This FDA guidance marks a significant clarification of the bicifadine acute pain program in terms of the regulatory path, and the Company will have further communication with the FDA to better understand the optimal acute pain models to pursue as part of an acute pain NDA package.
DOV will discontinue the conduct of its ongoing vaginal hysterectomy Phase III trial as the Company believes that this more severe post-surgical pain model is unlikely to support the repeat dosing analysis of bicifadine required for registration. In addition, although the recently completed positive efficacy bunionectomy Phase III trial provides compelling evidence that bicifadine is an effective analgesic in a severe post-surgical pain model, the high rate of "rescue" medication use confounds the repeat dosing analysis required by the FDA.
DOV also announced today that the "in life" portion of the two year carcinogenicity studies of bicifadine in rats and in mice has been completed with no apparent signals of concern. A full analysis of the study results including the outcome of tissue histopathology will be completed in the second quarter of 2006.
DOV 21,947, the Company's Triple Reuptake Inhibitor and Novel Antidepressant
Phase II Clinical Trial to be Initiated in the Third Quarter of 2006
DOV recently completed a Phase Ib clinical trial of repeat doses of DOV 21,947. At the highest dose levels explored -- well separated from what is believed to be the therapeutic range -- rashes were noted in some subjects. In the third quarter of 2006, DOV intends to initiate a Phase II double-blind clinical trial of DOV 21,947 vs. placebo in depressed outpatients.
Indiplon
PDUFA Date for FDA Action is May 15, 2006
Earlier this year, DOV's partner Neurocrine announced that the FDA requested submission of and received the results from the driving study completed by Neurocrine in late 2005. Based on feedback from the FDA, Neurocrine anticipates product labeling that includes data from this study, which show no impairment in next-day driving performance. Neurocrine also announced that the FDA stated its intent to issue a combined package insert in lieu of individual package inserts for each of the indiplon IR (immediate release capsule) and MR (modified release tablet) NDA filings and advised Neurocrine that the PDUFA dates for the IR and MR NDAs have been adapted to May 15, 2006 and June 27, 2006, respectively. Neurocrine expects FDA action by May 15, 2006 for both NDAs.
"This past year has been marked by the achievement of key corporate milestones and encouraging advancements made by our key product candidates toward the marketplace," said Dr. Leslie Hudson, CEO and President of DOV. "The current year will present DOV with the opportunity for growth that would be unparalleled in the Company's history. In 2006 we look forward to the potential launch of indiplon, analyzing the data for bicifadine's chronic pain NDA filing, and initiating the Phase II trial of DOV 21,947. Consequently, DOV is taking the steps needed to expand its capabilities to realize all of these opportunities and we look forward to a year of important events for the Company."
Financial Guidance for 2006
The Company provides the following financial guidance for the full year 2006:
Research and Development Expense. The Company's R&D expense is expected to be $62 million to $68 million during 2006 as we complete the majority of bicifadine's chronic pain clinical development program and manufacturing preparations in anticipation of the NDA filing in the first half of 2007. In addition, the Company recently initiated two Phase II clinical trials for bicifadine and intends to initiate a Phase II clinical trial for DOV 21,947. Included in this guidance is approximately $3 million to $4 million of non- cash equity compensation expense.
General and Administrative Expense. The Company's G&A expense is expected to be $14 million to $17 million during 2006 as we expand our capability base to support the late-stage clinical development and commercialization program for bicifadine. Included in this guidance is approximately $5 million to $6 million of non-cash equity compensation expense.
Revenue. The Company expects to report a total of $7.0 million in revenue in 2006 comprised of the $5.5 million in further amortization of the $35.0 million fee the Company received on the signing of the license, research and development agreement for the collaboration with Merck and $1.5 million for a potential milestone payment anticipated for the achievement of an NDA approval under the Neurocrine agreement.
Actual results may vary significantly from the stated expectations depending upon a number of factors completely or partially outside the Company's control, including the timing and enrollment of clinical trials. In addition, the Company is exploring, and from time to time may take, actions to strengthen further its financial position including a capital raise or out- licensing of one or more of its product candidates. This guidance is furthermore subject to the Cautionary Note below. The Company assumes no obligation to update the foregoing guidance or make corrections, if any, as they come to light... |
