Pharmos Corporation Reports 2005 Fourth Quarter and Year-end Results
Iselin NJ, March 15, 2006
– Pharmos Corporation (Nasdaq: PARS) today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and twelve month period ended December 31, 2005.
For the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2005, Pharmos reported a net loss of $3.0 million, or $0.16 per
share compared to a net loss of $4.8 million, or $0.25 per share for the same period in 2004. Total
operating expenses decreased $1.5 million to $3.9 million in the 2005 fourth quarter from $5.4 million in
the 2004 fourth quarter. Net research and development expenses were $2.0 million in the 2005 fourth
quarter, a reduction of $1.4 million compared to the same period in 2004. General and administrative
expenses were $1.9 million in the 2005 fourth quarter, relatively unchanged from the 2004 fourth quarter.
Other income (expense), net, was favorable by $0.3 million in the 2005 fourth quarter compared to the
same period in 2004 due to decreased interest expenses in connection with the September 2003
convertible debt and increased interest income. Interest income improved and interest expense declined
compared to the same period in 2004 as a result of the convertible debt maturity in the 2005 first quarter.
The market to market valuation of warrants decreased $0.4 million in the 2005 fourth quarter as a result
of the significant price drop of Pharmos common stock in the 2004 fourth quarter compared to the 2005
fourth quarter.
The net loss for the year was $2.9 million, or $0.15 per share in 2005 compared to a net loss of $22.0
million, or $1.22 per share in 2004. The substantial decrease in net loss is primarily attributable to the
receipt by Pharmos of a $10.7 million net milestone payment from a former marketing partner in the 2005
first quarter, which resulted in positive income for the Company for the first nine months of 2005. The
2005 net loss was also favorably impacted by a 21% decrease in operating expenses to $15.7 million from
$19.9 million in 2004, driven by lower clinical trial-related costs. Cash and short term investments totaled
$46.0 million at December 31, 2005.
Net research and development expenses decreased 37% to $8.2 million, a reduction of $4.7 million
compared to 2004. The primary research and development expenditures in 2005 were related to
development of the Company’s CB2-selective platform, including initiation of Phase I clinical testing of
cannabinor, Pharmos’ lead product candidate for the treatment of pain indications. Research and
development expenses were lower in 2005 compared to 2004 primarily due to a reduction in clinical trial
expenses associated with a large-scale Phase III trial and an exploratory Phase IIa trial, both of which
were completed in the 2004 fourth quarter. Pharmos recorded research and development grants from the
Office of the Chief Scientist of Israel’s Ministry of Industry and Trade of $1,406,508 during 2005, which
reduced gross research and development expenses.
General and administrative expenses for 2005 were $7.2 million compared to $6.4 million in 2004. The
year over year increase was due primarily to higher compensation, insurance and professional fees by
$0.9 million, $0.4 million and $0.2 million, respectively, in 2005 compared to 2004. The increase was
partially offset by a reduction in consultant expenses of $0.7 million. The compensation increase is
attributed to the amortization of deferred compensation from Retention Award Agreements issued in
September 2004. The increase in insurance is attributable to higher insurance rates. Higher professional
fees are attributed to legal fees related to class action lawsuit defense, which were partially offset by
lower accounting fees. Decreased consulting expenses reflected the absence in 2005 of non-cash charges
incurred in 2004 for stock options and to reduced pre-marketing consulting fees in 2005.
Other income (expense), net, increased by $14.8 million in 2005 to income of $12.3 million from an
expense of $2.5 million in 2004. Income of $10.7 million, net, was recognized in connection with a nonrecurring
milestone payment received from Bausch & Lomb, a former marketing partner, in the 2005 first
quarter. Interest expense decreased by $3.5 million to $0.2 million in 2005 compared to $3.7 million in
2004 primarily due to the substantially reduced average outstanding balance and maturity at March 31,
2005 of convertible debt issued in September 2003. Interest income increased by $0.8 million to $1.5
million in 2005 from $0.7 million in 2004 as a result of higher average cash balances and interest rates.
Pharmos discovers and develops novel therapeutics to treat a range of indications including neurological
and inflammatory disorders. The Company's core proprietary technology platform focuses on discovery
and development of synthetic cannabinoid compounds. Cannabinor, the lead CB2-selective receptor
agonist candidate, is scheduled for Phase II testing in pain indications during 2006. Other compounds
from Pharmos' proprietary synthetic cannabinoid library are in pre-clinical studies targeting pain, multiple
sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and other disorders.
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.
Download Full Press Release with Complete Financial Results
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
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