Rigel Announces First Quarter 2008 Financial Results
Tuesday May 6, 7:30 am ET
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., May 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: RIGL - News) today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2008.
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During the first quarter of 2008, Rigel reported a net loss of $27.3 million, or $0.79 per share, compared to a net loss of $17.1 million, or $0.68 per share, in the first quarter of 2007. Weighted average shares outstanding for the first quarters of 2008 and 2007 were 34.4 million and 25.2 million, respectively.
Rigel reported no revenues from collaborations in the first quarter of 2008, compared to $2.6 million reported in the first quarter of 2007. Collaboration revenue in the first quarter of 2007 included research reimbursement from Merck and amortization of an upfront payment from Pfizer. Our collaboration with Merck is focused on research in oncology while our collaboration with Pfizer is focused on the development of R343, which is currently in Phase 1 clinical testing for allergic asthma via intrapulmonary delivery.
Rigel reported operating expenses of $28.7 million in the first quarter of 2008, compared to $20.9 million in the first quarter of 2007. The increase in operating expenses was primarily due to increases in clinical expenses and stock-based compensation expense. The increase in clinical expenses was mainly due to an increase in costs associated with our planned Phase 2b clinical trials of R788 in rheumatoid arthritis, including costs related to manufacturing of R788 material to be used in the trials. Stock-based compensation expense increased from $2.6 million in the first quarter of 2007 to $5.8 million in the first quarter of 2008 due mainly to higher valuation of options granted in the first quarter of 2008.
As of March 31, 2008, Rigel had cash, cash equivalents and available-for-sale securities of $209.7 million compared to $108.3 million at December 31, 2007. In February 2008, Rigel completed a public offering in which it sold 5,000,000 shares of common stock at a public offering price of $27 per share. The aggregate net proceeds of the offering were approximately $127.5 million after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses. Rigel expects to end 2008 with greater than $140.0 million in cash, cash equivalents and available-for-sale securities.
"We finished the first quarter of 2008 with a strong cash position that will be used to fuel our product development programs, including our two upcoming Phase 2b clinical trials of R788 in rheumatoid arthritis," said James M. Gower, chairman and chief executive officer of Rigel. "We expect to begin enrollment for both these clinical trials this quarter."
About Rigel (http://www.rigel.com)
Rigel is a clinical-stage drug development company that discovers and develops novel, small-molecule drugs for the treatment of inflammatory diseases and cancer, as well as viral and metabolic diseases. Our goal is to file one new investigational new drug (IND) application in a significant indication each year. Rigel has achieved this goal every year since 2002. Our pioneering research focuses on intracellular signaling pathways and related targets that are critical to disease mechanisms. Rigel's productivity has resulted in strategic collaborations with large pharmaceutical partners to develop and market our product candidates. Rigel has product development programs in inflammatory/autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, thrombocytopenia and asthma, as well as in cancer. |
