| Biocryst Reports Third Quarter 1999 Financial Results 
 BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Oct. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
 (Nasdaq: BCRX) today announced financial results for the third quarter ended
 September 30, 1999.  The Company reported revenues for the third quarter of
 $335,000, compared to $6,249,000 in the third quarter of 1998.  The net loss
 for the quarter ended September 30, 1999 was $2,206,000, or $0.15 per share,
 compared to net income of $2,667,000, or $0.19 per share, for the same period
 last year.
 
 Revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 1999 were $3,376,000,
 compared to $6,920,000 in the nine months ended September 30, 1998.  The net
 loss for the nine months ended September 30, 1999 was $4,857,000, or $0.32 per
 share, compared to a net loss of $3,320,000, or $0.24 per share, for the same
 period last year.  As of September 30, 1999, the Company had cash, cash
 equivalents and investments of $23.9 million.
 
 Revenues decreased in the third quarter of 1999 over the comparable period
 in 1998, primarily due to the $6.0 million license fee during the third
 quarter of 1998 from Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical, Inc.  The decline in total
 expenses for the 1999 third quarter compared to the comparable period in 1998
 was generally due to a decline in clinical trial expenses, a reduction in
 outside contract research, and a decrease in general and administrative
 expenses, primarily due to one-time expenses incurred in the third quarter
 1998 in connection with the license agreement signed in the third quarter.
 These items tend to fluctuate from quarter to quarter depending on the status
 of the Company's research programs and collaborative efforts.
 
 The decrease in revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 1999 from
 the nine months ended September 30, 1998 is primarily due to the Company
 receiving a $2.0 million milestone payment from Ortho-McNeil in
 June 1999, compared to the $6.0 million license fee from Ortho-McNeil in
 September 1998.  Both amounts were pursuant to the Company's worldwide license
 agreement with Ortho-McNeil and The R. W. Johnson Pharmaceutical Research
 Institute, or PRI, both Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) companies, for the
 development and commercialization of BioCryst's influenza neuraminidase
 inhibitor.
 
 During the quarter, BioCryst announced preliminary results from a Phase II
 clinical study of RWJ-270201, an influenza neuraminidase inhibitor which was
 licensed by BioCryst in 1998 to Ortho-McNeil and PRI.  PRI conducted a Phase
 II placebo-controlled randomized study of healthy volunteers infected with a
 susceptible strain of Influenza A and provided preliminary results to
 BioCryst.  The primary efficacy endpoint was the reduction in viral titers in
 infected subjects.  Preliminary results showed a statistically significant
 result for the primary endpoint and evaluation of safety showed that the drug
 was well-tolerated at all dosage levels.  These results are preliminary only
 and subject to further analysis.
 
 Founded in 1986, BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. focuses on the design and
 development of small-molecule pharmaceuticals for the treatment of infectious,
 T-cell mediated and cardiovascular diseases and disorders using structure-
 based drug design, an approach to drug discovery that integrates advanced
 biology, biophysics and medicinal chemistry.
 
 This press release contains projections or other forward-looking
 statements regarding future events or the future financial performance of the
 Company.  These statements are only predictions and the actual events or
 results may differ materially.  Some of the factors that could affect the
 forward-looking statements contained herein include, without limitation, that
 either the Company's or its collaborative partners' research or product
 development efforts as to any particular compound may not be successfully
 completed, that the agreements with the Company's collaborative partners may
 be breached or otherwise terminated, that research and testing may not result
 in milestone or royalty payments under the agreements with collaborative
 partners, and products may not be cleared for marketing in a timely fashion or
 at all, the compounds currently under development may not be safe or
 effective, or that required regulatory clearances may not be obtained from the
 U.S. Food and Drug Administration.  Please refer to the documents BioCryst
 files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
 specifically BioCryst's most recent Form 10-K and Form 10-Q.  These documents
 contain and identify important factors that could cause the actual results to
 differ materially from those contained in projections or forward-looking
 statements.
 
 BIOCRYST PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
 
 FINANCIAL SUMMARY
 
 Statement of operations data  (in thousands, except per share)
 
 Three Months Ended      Nine Months Ended
 
 September 30,           September 30,
 
 1999        1998       1999       1998
 
 Revenues:
 
 Collaborative and other research
 
 and development                $48      $6,000      $2,456     $6,000
 
 Interest income and other        287         249         920        920
 
 Total revenues                 335       6,249       3,376      6,920
 
 Expenses:
 
 Research and development       1,889       2,353       5,895      7,706
 
 General and administrative       651       1,226       2,334      2,521
 
 Interest                           1           3           4         13
 
 Total expenses               2,541       3,582       8,233     10,240
 
 Net (loss)/income           $(2,206)      $2,667     $(4,857)   $(3,320)
 
 Net (loss)/income per share:
 
 Basic                       $(.15)        $.19       $(.32)     $(.24)
 
 Diluted                      (.15)         .19        (.32)      (.24)
 
 Weighted average shares
 
 Outstanding:
 
 Basic                       15,119      13,952      15,028     13,932
 
 Diluted                     15,119      14,303      15,028     13,932
 
 Balance sheet data (September 30, 1999 and December 31, 1998) (in thousands)
 
 1999              1998
 
 (Unaudited)       (Audited)
 
 Cash, cash equivalents and securities      $23,864          $27,012
 
 Total assets                                26,391           29,100
 
 Accumulated deficit                        (58,027)         (53,170)
 
 Stockholders' equity                        24,872           27,682
 
 SOURCE  BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
 
 CO:  BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical, Inc;
 The R. W. Johnson Pharmaceutical Research Institute; Johnson & Johnson
 
 ST:  Alabama
 
 IN:  MTC
 
 SU:  ERN
 
 10/21/1999 13:48 EDT prnewswire.com
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