Press release from Business Wire
ARIAD Reports First Quarter 2012 Financial Results and Development Progress
<p class='bwalignc'> <i><b>Ponatinib On Track for PACE Trial Data Presentation at ASCO and Regulatory Filings in 3Q 2012 for Marketing Approval</b></i> </p> <p class='bwalignc'> <i><b>AP26113 Moving Through Dosing Cohorts in Phase 1/2 Trial</b></i> </p> <p class='bwalignc'> <i><b>Conference Call Scheduled Today at 8:30 a.m. ET</b></i> </p>
Wednesday, May 09, 2012
ARIAD Reports First Quarter 2012 Financial Results and Development Progress07:35 EDT Wednesday, May 09, 2012
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (Business Wire) -- ARIAD
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ARIA) today reported financial
results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2012 and provided an
update on corporate developments.
“We had a very productive start to the year with uniform progress taking
place throughout our organization,” stated Harvey
J. Berger, M.D., chairman and chief executive officer of ARIAD. “Our
clinical development programs and preparations for the global
commercialization of ponatinib are advancing on schedule, and AP26113 is
moving through the dose-escalation portion of the Phase 1/2 clinical
trial. Initial data from this clinical study of AP26113 are being
submitted this month for presentation at a major medical meeting early
in the fall.”
Development ProgressAdvancing Ponatinib to Potential U.S. Commercialization by 1Q of
2013
Updated clinical data from the pivotal PACE trial of ponatinib,
our investigational pan-BCR-ABL inhibitor in patients with chronic
myeloid leukemia (CML) and Philadelphia-chromosome positive acute
lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ALL), will be presented at the annual
meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) on Monday,
June 4, 2012. The ASCO presentation will include at least six months
of available response data from all patients enrolled in the trial and
will form the basis of our regulatory filings for marketing approval
of ponatinib in the U.S., Europe and other geographies.
Regulatory filings for ponatinib in the U.S. and in Europe are
proceeding as planned for submission in 3Q 2012.
A randomized Phase 3 clinical trial of ponatinib in patients with
newly diagnosed CML is also scheduled to start in the 3Q 2012. The
global trial will have the following features:
Approximately 500 patients randomized 1:1
Ponatinib vs. imatinib, each given at standard doses
Primary endpoint of major molecular response rate at 12 months
An investigator-sponsored Phase 2 trial of ponatinib in newly
diagnosed patients with CML is now enrolling patients at the M.D.
Anderson Cancer Center. Other investigator-sponsored trials of
ponatinib include:
A Phase 2 trial in patients with Ph+ALL is underway at M.D.
Anderson Cancer Center.
A Phase 2 trial in patients with CML who have failed imatinib is
in advanced planning.
Multiple other investigator-sponsored trials in patients with
hematologic malignancies and solid tumors are planned to start
later in this year.
An investigational clinical trial application (equivalent to an IND in
the United States) for ponatinib in Japan has been filed, and a Phase
1/2 clinical trial is anticipated to begin in 3Q 2012.
More than 100 patients with CML and Ph+ALL are now receiving ponatinib
through an investigator-sponsored IND program in the U.S. and a
named-patient program in Europe. An expanded access program is now
underway in the U.S. and a broader international program will begin in
2Q 2012.
Advancing AP26113 Through Clinical Development
The Phase 1/2 clinical trial of AP26113,
our investigational dual inhibitor of EGFR and ALK in patients with
solid tumors, especially non-small cell lung cancer, is proceeding
well with clinical investigators enrolling patients at six sites in
the U.S. Sites in Europe are scheduled to open by mid-year 2012.
We have now completed enrollment in the first three dose cohorts of
AP26113 and are enrolling patients in the fourth cohort. The Phase 1
portion of this trial has a dose-escalation design to determine the
maximal tolerated dose of ponatinib and other parameters, as well as
to provide initial clinical proof of concept.
ALK-positive and EGFR-positive lung cancer patients are being enrolled
in the trial. We expect to move into the Phase 2 portion of the Phase
1/2 trial at approximately mid-year 2012.
A clinical abstract on the Phase 1 portion of the trial will be
submitted this month for presentation at the annual meeting of the
European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) that will be held from
September 28 to October 2, 2012 in Vienna, Austria.
Preparing for Global Commercial Launch of Ponatinib
We are close to finalizing the formation our European headquarters in
Switzerland and expect to hire the General Manager of our European
business by 3Q 2012 along with other key European staff.
Our key senior commercial leadership team is in place, and our launch
strategy and commercial manufacturing of ponatinib established.
Our medical affairs leadership is setting up global capabilities.
Our commercial team is on track to launch ponatinib in the U.S. and
Europe at the times of anticipated regulatory approvals.
Financial HighlightsCash Position
As of March 31, 2012, cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities
totaled $287.8 million, compared to $306.3 million at December 31, 2011.
Net Income/Loss
Net loss for the first quarter ended March 31, 2012, was $55.9 million,
or $0.35 per share, compared to a net loss of $37.9 million, or $0.29
per share, for the same period in 2011.
Research and development expenses increased by $14.2 million from the
first quarter of 2011 to the first quarter of 2012 reflecting expansion
of development activities for ponatinib, including an increase in
personnel expenses to support those activities.
General and administrative expenses increased by $6.4 million from the
first quarter of 2011 to the first quarter of 2012 due to growth in
commercial operations and supporting activities in anticipation of
potential regulatory approval and commercial launch of ponatinib.
Our net loss for the first quarter of 2012 also reflects a charge of
$15.9 million related to the revaluation of our warrant liability,
compared to a charge of $18.6 million for the same period in 2011, due
to increases in the market price of our common stock during those
periods. All warrants that remained outstanding at December 31, 2011
were exercised in the first quarter of 2012 for proceeds to the Company
of $12.5 million.
Upcoming Medical Meeting and Investor and Analyst Briefing at ASCO
2012 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology
(ASCO), Chicago, IL, June 1 to 5, 2012.
Investor and Analyst Briefing at ASCO, Chicago Hilton, June 4 at 12
p.m. (CT).
Upcoming Investor Meetings
ARIAD management will be making corporate presentations at the following
investor conferences:
Bank of America Merrill Lynch 2012 Healthcare Conference, Las Vegas,
NV, May 15 to 17, 2011.
Jefferies 2012 Global Life Sciences Conference, New York, NY, June 4
to 7, 2012.
Goldman Sachs Global Healthcare Conference, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA,
June 5 to 7, 2012
BMO Capital Markets Biotech Corporate Access Day, Boston, MA, July 31,
2012.
Today's Conference Call Reminder
ARIAD will hold a live webcast of its quarterly conference call today,
May 9, 2012 at 8:30 a.m. (ET). The live webcast can be accessed by
visiting the investor relations section of the Company's website at http://investor.ariad.com.
The call can be accessed by dialing 800-260-8140 (domestic) or
617-614-3672 (international) five minutes prior to the start time and
providing the pass code 33704570. A replay of the call will be available
on the ARIAD website approximately two hours after completion of the
call and will be archived for three weeks.
About ARIAD
ARIAD Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is an emerging global oncology company
focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of medicines
to transform the lives of cancer patients. ARIAD's approach to
structure-based drug design has led to three internally discovered,
molecularly targeted product candidates for drug-resistant and
difficult-to-treat cancers, including certain forms of chronic myeloid
leukemia, soft tissue and bone sarcomas and non-small cell lung cancer.
For additional information, visit http://www.ariad.com.
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” including, but
not limited to, updates on clinical, preclinical and regulatory
developments for our product candidates. Forward-looking statements are
based on management's expectations and are subject to certain factors,
risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, outcome of
events, timing and performance to differ materially from those expressed
or implied by such statements. These risks and uncertainties include,
but are not limited to, preclinical data and early-stage clinical data
that may not be replicated in later-stage clinical studies, the costs
associated with our research, development, manufacturing and other
activities, the conduct, timing and results of pre-clinical and clinical
studies of our product candidates, the adequacy of our capital resources
and the availability of additional funding, and other factors detailed
in the Company's public filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission. The information contained in this press release is believed
to be current as of the date of original issue. The Company does not
intend to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of
this document to conform these statements to actual results or to
changes in the Company's expectations, except as required by law.
ARIAD PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIESCONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
In thousands, except per share data
Three Months EndedMarch 31,2012
2011(Unaudited)(Unaudited)
Total revenue
$
81
$
56
Operating expenses:
Research and development
28,774
14,574
General and administrative
11,288
4,854
Total operating expenses
40,062
19,428
Revaluation of warrant liability
(15,924
)
(18,572
)
Other
11
(5
)
Other income (expense), net
(15,913
)
(18,577
)
Net loss
$
(55,894
)
$
(37,949
)
Net loss per common share
$
(0.35
)
$
(0.29
)
Weighted average number of shares of
common stock outstanding
160,970
128,998
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET INFORMATION
In thousands
March 31,2012
December 31,2011(Unaudited)
Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities
$
287,754
$
306,256
Total assets
$
303,914
$
320,712
Working capital
$
261,638
$
282,195
Total liabilities
$
46,649
$
100,571
Stockholders' equity
$
257,265
$
220,141
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS INFORMATION
In thousands
Three Months EndedMarch 31,2012
2011(Unaudited)(Unaudited)
Net cash used in operating activities
$
(30,561
)
$
(17,269
)
Net cash used in investing activities
(90,665
)
(664
)
Net cash provided by financing activities
13,192
12,659
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
$
(108,034
)
$
(5,274
)
ARIAD Pharmaceuticals, Inc.For Investors:Maria E. Cantor,
617-621-2208Maria.cantor@ariad.comorFor
Media:Lynn Granito, 212-253-8881lgranito@berrypr.com
