Pharmos Corporation Reports 2004 Results
Iselin NJ, March 9, 2005
– Pharmos Corporation (Nasdaq: PARS) today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and
twelve month period ended December 31, 2004. The net loss for the year
increased to $22.0 million, or $0.24 per share in 2004 compared to a net loss
of $18.5 million, or $0.27 per share in 2003. Cash and cash equivalents
totaled $54.0 million at December 31, 2004, including $4.8 million in
restricted cash targeted to satisfy the debt maturity in March 2005. The
amount of cash and cash equivalents at December 31, 2004 does not include a
net cash milestone payment of $9.3 million Pharmos received in January 2005
from a former marketing partner.
Year in Review:
In 2004 several milestones were reached in the Company's drug development
programs.
- Cannabinor for pain: Late-stage preclinical development is continuing on schedule. Cannabinor (PRS-211,375) has been found to be efficacious in pre-clinical animal models for various types of pain and for autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis. The clinical program is scheduled to start in the 2005 second half with a Phase I safety trial in healthy volunteers.
- Dexanabinol for cognitive impairment following coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery: Based on the exploratory Phase IIa trial unblinded in November 2004, the Company is continuing to evaluate clinical and regulatory aspects of this program and their impact on designing future clinical protocols. Details of the R&D program will be crystallized around mid 2005.
- Dexanabinol for TBI: Analysis of the data from the Phase III trial unblinded in December 2004 shows that the trial was well-conceived, designed and implemented. However, in this trial where dexanabinol was administrated within six hours of injury and the clinical outcome was tested at six months, dexanabinol was not effective in treating severe TBI as demonstrated by the primary and the secondary outcome measures. Consequently, the TBI program has been discontinued.
- CB2 (cannabinoid receptor 2) selective synthetic cannabinoids: Pharmos is continuing the exploration of interesting compounds based on the CB2 selective library in order to identify new drug candidates in CNS and inflammation.
"We are very encouraged by the preclinical performance of cannabinor in
multiple pain and autoimmune disease animal models, and we expect to initiate
the clinical program in the second half of this year," said Dr. Haim Aviv,
Chairman and CEO. "Our whole cannabinoid platform is an important asset, and
we are excited by the potential of advancing additional drug candidates for
treating neurological and inflammatory indications. The CABG program, the
Phase II clinical results of which were announced in November 2004, is still
under evaluation to determine next steps. We continue to use our human and
financial resources prudently as we develop drugs for unmet needs and pursue
the acquisition of new compounds that meet our criteria."
Operating expenses in 2004 increased $3.9 million to $19.9 million from
$16.0 million in 2003. Net research and development expenses increased $1.3
million in 2004 to $12.9 million. The increase reflects increased investment
in preclinical research to prepare cannabinor for human testing in 2005 and
for clinical expenses to complete the exploratory Phase IIa trial of
dexanabinol in CABG patients. Some of the increased R&D expense year over year
was offset by decreases in clinical trial costs for the completed Phase III
trial of dexanabinol for traumatic brain injury.
General and administrative expenses for 2004 increased to $6.4 million
compared to $3.7 million in 2003. The year over year increase was due
primarily to non-cash expenses for stock option and restricted stock grants to
key individuals, an extension of the stock option exercise period for a former
executive officer and greater accounting fees for Sarbanes-Oxley compliance.
Additional factors included personnel recruitment fees and higher insurance
fees. Salaries were higher for the year due to amortization of the 2004
deferred compensation retention award agreements for key executives and to
increased headcount.
Other expenses in 2004 were $2.5 million, slightly lower than the $2.7
million in 2003. In a year over year comparison, the most notable increases to
other expenses are due to four full quarters of interest expenses in
connection with outstanding debentures from a financing in September 2003 and
to decreased interest income. These factors were more than offset by recording
of a derivative gain in 2004 compared to a derivative loss in 2003.
For the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2004, Pharmos reported a net
loss of $4.8 million, or $0.05 per share compared to a net loss of $5.5
million, or $0.07 per share for the same period in 2003. Total operating
expenses increased $1.3 million year over year from $4.0 million to $5.4
million. Increases in net research and development and general and
administrative expenses were $ 0.6 million and $ 0.7 million, respectively.
The other income and expense category was favorable by $1.8 million in the
2004 fourth quarter compared to the same period in 2003 due to decreased
interest expenses for the convertible debt issued in September 2003, a
derivative gain compared to a derivative loss pursuant to accounting
requirements in connection with warrants issued in the Company's March 2003
private placement, and an increase in interest income.
Pharmos management will host a conference call to discuss the 2004 results
at 11:00 AM Eastern Time today. A live webcast of the conference call will be
available at
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/playerlink.zhtml?c=70702&s=wm&e=1025847. To listen
to the webcast, please go to the web site 15 minutes prior to its start to
register, download, and install any necessary audio software. A webcast replay
will be archived and accessible via the above link for a limited time
afterward.
Pharmos discovers and develops novel therapeutics to treat a range of
indications, in particular neurological and inflammation-based disorders. The
Company recently completed a Phase IIa trial for its neuroprotective drug
candidate, dexanabinol, from its tricyclic dextrocannabinoid platform
technology, as a preventive agent against post-surgical cognitive impairment.
Other compounds from Pharmos' proprietary synthetic cannabinoid library,
primarily CB2-selective receptor agonist compounds, are in pre-clinical
studies targeting pain, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and other
disorders. Clinical development in pain indications is expected to commence
during 2005.
Statements made in this press release related to the business outlook and
future financial performance of the Company, to the prospective market
penetration of its drug products, to the development and commercialization of
the Company's pipeline products and to the Company's expectations in
connection with any future event, condition, performance or other matter, are
forward-looking and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements involve risks and
uncertainties which may cause results to differ materially from those set
forth in these statements. Additional economic, competitive, governmental,
technological, marketing and other factors identified in Pharmos' filings with
the Securities and Exchange Commission could affect such results.
Pharmos Corporation Financial Highlights
Condensed Statements of Operations
For the three months ended For the year ended
Dec. 31, Dec. 31, Dec. 31, Dec. 31,
2004 2003 2004 2003
(Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Audited) (Audited)
Expenses
Research & development,
gross $4,018,504 $3,701,554 $16,335,334 $14,928,778
Grants (706,719) (1,023,982) (3,446,677) (3,295,819)
Research & development,
net 3,311,785 2,677,572 12,888,657 11,632,959
(exclusive of depreciation
and amortization shown
separately below)
General & administrative 1,923,779 1,210,573 6,413,803 3,746,570
(exclusive of depreciation
and amortization shown
separately below)
Depreciation and
amortization 134,321 149,131 577,691 654,617
Total operating
expenses 5,369,885 4,037,276 19,880,151 16,034,146
Other income (expense)
Interest income 207,867 103,197 658,010 1,051,242
Other expense, net (1,853) (12,016) (9,939) (56,362)
Derivative gain (loss) 381,497 (229,547) 525,074 (1,759,183)
Interest expense (461,156) (1,535,681) (3,705,535) (1,915,214)
Other income (expense),
net 126,355 (1,674,047) (2,532,390) (2,679,517)
Loss before income taxes (5,243,530) (5,711,323) (22,412,541) (18,713,663)
Income tax benefit (444,774) (227,798) (444,774) (227,798)
Net loss ($4,798,756)($5,483,525)($21,967,767)($18,485,865)
Net loss per share
- basic and diluted ($0.05) ($0.07) ($0.24) ($0.27)
Weighted average shares
outstanding
- basic and diluted 94,334,140 75,134,284 90,166,789 67,397,175
Condensed Balance Sheets at
Dec. 31, 2004 Dec. 31, 2003
(Audited) (Audited)
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents $49,014,530 $49,292,641
Restricted cash 4,846,155 11,192,312
Research and development grants receivable 1,537,782 681,245
Debt issuance costs 45,648 967,402
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 262,810 585,020
Total current assets 55,706,925 62,718,620
Fixed assets, net 987,451 1,255,096
Restricted cash 139,594 4,984,295
Severance pay funded 811,926 614,411
Other assets 18,946 20,589
Debt issuance costs - 29,471
Total assets $57,664,842 $69,622,482
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
Accounts payable $2,462,162 $3,005,461
Accrued expenses 1,155,413 1,751,200
Warrant liability 297,955 823,029
Accrued wages and other compensation 756,488 1,111,935
Convertible debentures, net 4,765,540 13,702,412
Total current liabilities 9,437,558 20,394,037
Other liability 39,412 10,000
Convertible debentures, net - 4,773,339
Severance pay 1,197,039 989,005
Total liabilities 10,674,009 26,166,381
Commitments and contingencies
Preferred stock, $.03 par value, 1,250,000 shares
authorized, none issued and outstanding - -
Common stock, $.03 par value; 150,000,000 shares
authorized, 95,137,076 and 85,568,205 issued
2004 and 2003, respectively 2,854,112 2,567,047
Deferred compensation (1,701,122) (66,660)
Paid in capital 188,809,955 161,960,059
Accumulated deficit (142,971,686) (121,003,919)
Treasury stock at cost 14,189 shares
in 2004 and 2003, respectively (426) (426)
Total shareholders' equity 46,990,833 43,456,101
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $57,664,842 $69,622,482
Contacts
Pharmos U.S.:
Gale Smith
(732) 452-9556
Pharmos Israel:
Irit Kopelov
011-972-8-940-9679
The Ruth Group, Inc.
John Quirk (investors)
(646) 536-7029
Janine McCargo (media)
(646) 536 7033
back
to News Room
