- LymphoStat-B(R) Phase 3 trial BLISS-52 completes enrollment ahead of
previous fall 2008 projection -
- Albuferon(R) Phase 3 trial in genotypes 2 and 3 hepatitis C completes
treatment phase -
- Rights to TRAIL receptor antibodies reacquired -
- GlaxoSmithKline announces plan to advance darapladib to Phase 3
development for the treatment of atherosclerosis -
ROCKVILLE, Md., May 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Human Genome Sciences,
Inc. (Nasdaq: HGSI) today announced financial results and key developments
for the quarter ended March 31, 2008.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20010612/HGSLOGO )
"We have continued to make substantial progress toward the
commercialization of our lead products since the beginning of 2008," said
H. Thomas Watkins, President and Chief Executive Officer, HGS. "In April,
we completed the enrollment of BLISS-52, one of our two Phase 3 trials of
LymphoStat-B. We now expect to have our first Phase 3 data for LymphoStat-B
available by mid-2009. We have completed the treatment phase in ACHIEVE
2/3, one of our two Phase 3 trials of Albuferon, and are on track to have
our first Phase 3 data available for Albuferon late this year. We are also
investing strategically in our oncology program, a potential key driver of
future growth beyond our late-stage products. In April, we reacquired
rights to our TRAIL receptor antibodies and announced plans to begin our
third randomized chemotherapy combination trial of HGS-ETR1. In addition,
darapladib, a product in the GlaxoSmithKline clinical pipeline to which we
have substantial financial rights, moved forward with GSK's announcement of
plans to advance darapladib to Phase 3 development for the treatment of
atherosclerosis."
FINANCIAL RESULTS
HGS reported increased revenues for the quarter ended March 31, 2008 of
$12.3 million, compared with revenues of $9.3 million for the same period
in 2007. Revenues included $8.9 million recognized from the Albuferon
agreement with Novartis, and $1.6 million in revenue recognized from the
LymphoStat-B agreement with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK).
The Company reported a net loss for the quarter ended March 31, 2008 of
$46.9 million ($0.35 per share), compared with a net loss for the first
quarter of 2007 of $51.0 million ($0.38 per share).
Net cash burn for the three months ended March 31, 2008 totaled $36.1
million, net of $47.3 million received from Teva Pharmaceutical Industries
Ltd., in partial payment for CoGenesys, Inc. stock previously owned by HGS.
As of March 31, 2008, cash and investments totaled $591.3 million, of
which $519.0 million is unrestricted and available for operations. This
compares with cash and investments totaling $603.8 million, of which $532.9
million was unrestricted and available for operations, as of December 31,
2007.
"Our cash position remains strong and our 2008 net cash burn is on
track for $135-155 million as previously guided," said Tim Barabe, Senior
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, HGS.
HIGHLIGHTS OF RECENT PROGRESS
LymphoStat-B(R): Phase 3 Enrollment for BLISS-52 Completed; First Phase
3 Data Expected by Mid-2009
In April 2008, HGS announced the completion of enrollment and initial
dosing in BLISS-52, one of two pivotal Phase 3 clinical trials of
LymphoStat-B (belimumab) in patients with active systemic lupus
erythematosus (SLE). Completion of enrollment for the other pivotal Phase 3
trial, BLISS-76, is expected by the end of summer 2008. HGS now expects to
have the first Phase 3 data for LymphoStat-B available by mid-2009 and all
Phase 3 data available in fall 2009. LymphoStat-B is being developed by HGS
and GSK under a co-development and commercialization agreement entered into
in August 2006.
Albuferon(R): Treatment Phase of ACHIEVE 2/3 Completed; On Track with
Timeline to Phase 3 Data and Filing of Marketing Applications
In April 2008, HGS completed the treatment phase of ACHIEVE 2/3, one of
two Phase 3 trials of Albuferon (albinterferon alfa-2b) in combination with
ribavirin in treatment-naive patients with chronic hepatitis C. The Company
expects to complete the treatment phase of ACHIEVE 1 in July 2008. HGS is
on track to have ACHIEVE 2/3 data available before the end of 2008, ACHIEVE
1 data by spring 2009 and the filing of global marketing authorizations by
fall 2009. Albuferon is being developed by HGS and Novartis under an
exclusive worldwide co-development and commercialization agreement entered
into in June 2006.
Data were presented in April in Milan at the 43rd Annual Meeting of the
European Association for the Study of the Liver, which showed that
Albuferon's pharmacodynamic characteristics and ability to maintain
effective blood levels for a longer period of time than is seen with other
long-acting interferons may make it an effective component of future
combination treatment with novel antivirals for the treatment of chronic
hepatitis C.
Oncology Portfolio Advances: Rights Reacquired to TRAIL Receptor
Antibodies; Chemotherapy Combination Trial of HGS-ETR1 to Begin in
Hepatocellular Cancer
In April, HGS reacquired rights to its TRAIL receptor antibodies
HGS-ETR1 (mapatumumab) and HGS-ETR2 (lexatumumab) from GSK in return for a
reduction in royalties due to HGS if Syncria(R) (albiglutide) is
commercialized. The fees and milestone payments due to HGS under the
original Syncria agreement, some of which have already been received, could
amount to as much as $183 million and remain unchanged in the amended
agreement.
The Company also announced plans to initiate its third randomized
chemotherapy combination trial of HGS-ETR1 by mid-2008 in patients with
hepatocellular cancer, which accounts for 80-90% of all liver cancers.
Preclinical data that support the hepatocellular cancer study were
presented at the American Association for Cancer Research annual meeting in
April.
Darapladib Advanced by GSK to Phase 3 Development as a Potential
Treatment for Atherosclerosis
In its first quarter financial results press release on April 23, 2008,
GSK announced that it intends to advance darapladib to Phase 3 clinical
trials as a potential treatment for atherosclerosis and will shortly start
discussions with regulators regarding the structure of the darapladib Phase
3 program.
At the American College of Cardiology's 57th Annual Scientific Session
in March, GSK presented data from a randomized Phase 2 dose-ranging trial
of darapladib in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). The study
showed that darapladib produced sustained, dose-dependent inhibition of
plasma lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) activity in
patients receiving intensive atorvastatin (cholesterol-lowering) therapy.
Lp-PLA2 is an enzyme associated with the formation of atherosclerotic
plaques and identified in clinical trials as an independent risk factor for
CHD and ischemic stroke. Changes in biomarkers suggested a possible
reduction in systemic inflammatory burden. In addition, GSK stated in
February 2008 that the results of its randomized Phase 2/3 imaging trial of
darapladib in coronary artery disease have been submitted to a major
medical journal.
Darapladib, a small-molecule inhibitor of Lp-PLA2, was discovered by
GSK based on HGS technology. HGS will receive a 10% royalty on worldwide
sales of darapladib if it is commercialized, and also has a co-promotion
option in North America and Europe under which it will pay 20% of
commercialization costs in exchange for 20% of darapladib profits.
Syncria(R) Also Progressing Well
Syncria (albiglutide) is a novel long-acting form of GLP-1
(glucagon-like peptide 1) created by HGS using its proprietary
albumin-fusion technology, and licensed to GSK in 2004. Syncria is
generated from the genetic fusion of human albumin and GLP-1, a peptide
hormone that acts throughout the body to help maintain normal blood-sugar
levels and to control appetite. GSK is developing Syncria as a treatment
for type 2 diabetes mellitus, and initiated a randomized Phase 2b
dose-ranging clinical trial of Syncria in May 2007 in patients with type 2
diabetes. As a comparison, one group of patients is receiving Byetta
(exenatide).
HGS is entitled to fees and milestone payments, some of which have
already been received, that could amount to as much as $183 million, in
addition to single-digit royalties on worldwide sales if Syncria is
commercialized. HGS believes it is possible that GSK will reach a decision
in 2008 regarding whether to advance Syncria to Phase 3 development.
CONFERENCE CALL
HGS management will hold a conference call to discuss this announcement
today at 5 PM Eastern time. Investors may listen to the call by dialing
888-684-1277 or 913-312-1467, passcode 5043586, five to 10 minutes before
the start of the call. A replay of the conference call will be available
within a few hours after the call ends. Investors may listen to the replay
by dialing 888-203-1112 or 719-457-0820, confirmation code 5043586. Today's
conference call also will be webcast and can be accessed at http://www.hgsi.com.
Investors interested in listening to the live webcast should log on before
the conference call begins to download any software required. Both the
audio replay and the archive of the conference call webcast will remain
available for several days.
ABOUT HUMAN GENOME SCIENCES
The mission of HGS is to apply great science and great medicine to
bring innovative drugs to patients with unmet medical needs.
The HGS clinical development pipeline includes novel drugs to treat
hepatitis C, lupus, inhalation anthrax, cancer and other immune-mediated
diseases. The Company's primary focus is rapid progress toward the
commercialization of its two key lead drugs, Albuferon(R) for hepatitis C
and LymphoStat-B(R) (belimumab) for lupus. Phase 3 clinical trials of both
drugs are ongoing.
ABthrax(TM) (raxibacumab) is in late-stage development for the
treatment of inhalation anthrax, and the Company is on track to begin the
delivery in fall 2008 of 20,000 doses of ABthrax to the Strategic National
Stockpile under a contract entered into with the U.S. Government in June
2006. Other HGS drugs in clinical development include two TRAIL receptor
antibodies for the treatment of cancer. HGS1029, a small-molecule
antagonist of IAP (inhibitor of apoptosis) proteins, is expected to enter
Phase 1 clinical trials for the treatment of cancer by mid-2008. In
addition, HGS has substantial financial rights to three products in the
GlaxoSmithKline clinical development pipeline.
For more information about HGS, please visit the Company's web site at
http://www.hgsi.com. Health professionals and patients interested in clinical
trials of HGS products may inquire via e-mail to clinical_trials@hgsi.com
or by calling HGS at (301) 610-5790, extension 3550.
HGS, Human Genome Sciences, ABthrax, Albuferon and LymphoStat-B are
trademarks of Human Genome Sciences, Inc.
SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT
This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the
meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and
Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The
forward-looking statements are based on Human Genome Sciences' current
intent, belief and expectations. These statements are not guarantees of
future performance and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that
are difficult to predict. Actual results may differ materially from these
forward-looking statements because of the Company's unproven business
model, its dependence on new technologies, the uncertainty and timing of
clinical trials, the Company's ability to develop and commercialize
products, its dependence on collaborators for services and revenue, its
substantial indebtedness and lease obligations, its changing requirements
and costs associated with facilities, intense competition, the uncertainty
of patent and intellectual property protection, the Company's dependence on
key management and key suppliers, the uncertainty of regulation of
products, the impact of future alliances or transactions and other risks
described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. In addition, the Company will continue to face risks related to
animal and human testing, to the manufacture of ABthrax and to FDA
concurrence that ABthrax meets the requirements of the ABthrax contract. If
the Company is unable to meet the product requirements associated with the
ABthrax contract, the U.S. government will not be required to reimburse the
Company for the costs incurred or to purchase any ABthrax doses, and we
will not receive any of the expected revenues relative to ABthrax. Existing
and prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on
these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of today's date.
Human Genome Sciences undertakes no obligation to update or revise the
information contained in this announcement whether as a result of new
information, future events or circumstances or otherwise.
(See selected financial data on following pages)
HUMAN GENOME SCIENCES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
Three Months Ended March 31,
2008 2007
(dollars in thousands, except share
and per share amounts)
Revenue - R&D contracts $12,275 $9,262
Costs and expenses:
Research and development (a) 72,554 47,179
General and administrative (b) 16,011 11,969
Total costs and expenses 88,565 59,148
Income (loss) from operations (76,290) (49,886)
Net investment income (expense) (3,144) (1,143)
Gain on sale of equity investment 32,518 -
Income (loss) before taxes (46,916) (51,029)
Provision for income taxes - -
Net income (loss) $ (46,916) $ (51,029)
Net income (loss) per share,
basic and diluted $(0.35) $(0.38)
Weighted average shares
outstanding, basic & diluted 135,284,778 134,031,371
(a) Includes stock-based compensation expense of $2,501 ($0.02 per share)
and $2,970 ($0.02 per share) for the three months ended March 31, 2008
and 2007, respectively.
(b) Includes stock-based compensation expense of $1,962 ($0.02 per share)
and $2,049 ($0.02 per share) for the three months ended March 31, 2008
and 2007, respectively.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET DATA:
As of As of
March 31, December 31,
2008 2007
(dollars in thousands)
Cash, cash equivalents and investments ( c ) $591,265 $603,840
Total assets ( c ) 913,815 949,105
Total debt and lease financing 754,737 754,099
Total stockholders' equity (deficit) (48,532) (11,902)
( c ) Includes $72,248 and $70,931 in restricted investments at March 31,
2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively.
SOURCE Human Genome Sciences, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.hgsi.com
Photo Notes:
NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20010612/HGSLOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/121115.html /
CONTACT:
Jerry Parrott, Vice President, Corporate
Communications, +1-301-315-2777, or Kate de Santis, Director,
Investor Relations, +1-301-251-6003, both of Human Genome
Sciences, Inc.
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