BioLineRx Reports Second Quarter 2012 Results
<0> KCSA Strategic CommunicationsGarth Russell, 1-212-896-1250orTodd Fromer, 1-212-896-1215orTsipi Haitovsky, Public Relations+972-3-6240871 </0>
BioLineRx Ltd. (NASDAQ: ) (TASE: ), a biopharmaceutical development company, today reported its results for the quarter ended June 30, 2012.
Kinneret Savitsky, Ph.D., CEO of BioLineRx, remarked, “During the second quarter, we continued to see progress in the development of our clinical stage compounds. We believe the market potential for BL-1020, our lead product for the treatment of schizophrenia, has increased over the past few months as potentially competing high-profile schizophrenia therapies being developed by large pharmaceutical companies have failed during late-stage clinical trials, including compounds for cognition improvement in schizophrenia working on mechanisms of action different than that of BL-1020. We currently expect to receive results from the Phase 2/3 CLARITY study in the second half of 2013, which is extended from our previous targeted timeframe of mid-2013. This extension reflects a recent unanticipated delay in the enrollment of participants. We are taking steps to mitigate this delay as much as possible, including the opening of an additional number of sites. The PRESERVATION I clinical trial, a pivotal CE Mark registration trial for BL-1040 (BCM) led by Ikaria, is continuing according to plan and we look forward to the results of this trial during 2013. Another promising clinical compound is BL-7040, an orally available oligonucleotide for the treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), which is currently in a Phase 2a proof-of-concept clinical trial at three sites in Israel, with a fourth site expected to be opened shortly. The IBD therapeutics market represents a very substantial opportunity for BioLineRx. According to a 2011 study by Visiongain, ‘the IBD therapeutics market was estimated at $5 billion in 2009, and is expected to grow to $7 billion in 2015.’ We look forward to the results of the BL-7040 Phase 2a clinical trial, which we hope to announce by the end of this year or early next year."
“We remain excited about the clinical progress of BL-5010 for the non-surgical removal of skin lesions. We have begun development of a unique applicator, which will be an important component of the final BL-5010 product. The applicator is scheduled to be completed by the end of this year, and we expect to commence a pivotal CE Mark registration trial for this product, with the new applicator, in the first half of 2013.”
Dr. Savitsky added, “We are also very pleased with the progression of our next generation of compounds. BL-7010, an orally-available treatment for celiac disease, is moving forward with pre-clinical phase toxicity and safety testing. Celiac disease, a real unmet medical need affecting approximately 2.2 million Americans and about 1% of the world’s population, is generally under-diagnosed throughout the world. BL-7010 has a unique mechanism of action and we believe it has the potential to be a breakthrough compound in this therapeutic area. Another pre-clinical compound, BL-5040, a biologic for the treatment of cachexia, has recently passed feasibility testing and is now expected to rapidly advance through pre-clinical development. Cachexia, or “wasting syndrome”, which results in significant weight loss, , fatigue, weakness and a significant , all of which cannot be reversed nutritionally, is associated with certain debilitating diseases such as cancer and chronic kidney disease (CKD). It is also an unmet medical need. We are specifically focusing on CKD cachexia, which represents a potential $500-$700 million market. We have also initiated discussions on co-development collaborations for this product, and we are seeing a lot of interest from potential collaboration partners. A third pre-clinical compound, BL-8020, for the treatment of the Hepatitis C virus (HCV), is currently undergoing feasibility testing in an accelerated development program. BL-8020 is orally available, and works on the host rather than directly on the virus itself, which suggests pan-genotypic efficacy and the ability to be combined with different drug groups. These two characteristics make BL-8020 attractive as an adjunct therapy to other oral cocktail therapies, therefore not directly competing with currently approved therapies or those under development.”
Philip Serlin, Chief Financial Officer of BioLineRx, concluded, “We are excited to celebrate the one-year anniversary of our listing on NASDAQ in July 2011. We have made significant efforts to reach out to the U.S. investor community over the last year, which we believe is reflected in the fact that U.S. investors now comprise over 40% of our shareholder base - a considerable improvement since our ADRs listed on NASDAQ just one year ago.”
During the three and six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, no revenues were recorded.
Research and development expenses for the quarter ended June 30, 2012 were NIS 16.0 million ($4.1 million), an increase of NIS 5.6 million ($1.4 million), or 54%, compared to NIS 10.4 million ($2.7 million) for the quarter ended June 30, 2011. The increase resulted primarily from expenses associated with the CLARITY clinical trial in respect of BL-1020, which commenced at the end of June 2011. Research and development expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2012 were NIS 30.7 million ($7.8 million), an increase of NIS 13.9 million ($3.5 million), or 83%, compared to NIS 16.8 million ($4.3 million) for the comparable period in 2011. The increase resulted primarily from expenses associated with the CLARITY clinical trial in respect of BL-1020, as well as a ramp-up in spending on several new projects introduced during the second half of 2011 and the first six months of 2012.
Sales and marketing expenses for the quarter ended June 30, 2012 were NIS 1.0 million ($0.2 million), a decrease of NIS 0.4 million ($0.1 million), or 28%, compared to NIS 1.3 million ($0.3 million) for the quarter ended June 30, 2011. The decrease resulted primarily from efficiencies realized this year due to the reorganization of the Company’s business development team, including the relocation of business development activities back to Israel, as well as professional services incurred in the three-month period last year related to the reacquisition of the rights to BL-1020. Sales and marketing expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2012 were NIS 1.7 million ($0.4 million), a decrease of NIS 0.4 million ($0.1 million), or 17%, compared to NIS 2.1 million ($0.5 million) for comparable period in 2011. The reasons for the decrease are similar to those discussed above in the three-month comparison.
General and administrative expenses for the quarter ended June 30, 2012 were NIS 2.9 million ($0.8 million), a decrease of NIS 0.4 million ($0.1 million), or 12%, compared to NIS 3.3 million ($0.9 million) for the quarter ended June 30, 2011. The decrease resulted primarily from one-time professional services incurred in the three-month period last year associated with the Company’s initial listing on NASDAQ in July 2011. General and administrative expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2012 were NIS 6.5 million ($1.7 million), an increase of NIS 0.2 million ($0.1 million), or 3%, compared to NIS 6.3 million ($1.6 million) for the comparable period in 2011. The small increase resulted primarily from ongoing professional services and travel expenses associated with the Company being listed on NASDAQ, partially offset by the one-time professional services discussed above in the three-month comparison.
The Company’s operating loss for the quarter ended June 30, 2012 amounted to NIS 19.9 million ($5.1 million), compared with an operating loss of NIS 15.1 million ($3.8 million) for the quarter ended June 30, 2011. The Company’s operating loss for the six months ended June 30, 2012 amounted to NIS 38.9 million ($9.9 million), compared with an operating loss of NIS 25.1 million ($6.4 million) for the comparable period in 2011.
Non-operating income for the quarter ended June 30, 2012 results from a NIS 2.7 million ($0.7 million) fair-value adjustment of derivative liabilities on account of the warrants issued in the private placement conducted in February 2012. Non-operating income for the six months ended June 30, 2012 results from a NIS 6.7 million ($1.7 million) fair-value adjustment of derivative liabilities on account of the warrants, offset by issuance expenses in the amount of NIS 1.2 million ($0.3 million) related to the warrants.
Net financial income of NIS 5.9 million ($1.5 million) was recorded for the quarter ended June 30, 2012, a change of NIS 7.2 million ($1.8 million), compared to net financial expenses of NIS 1.3 million ($0.3 million) for the quarter ended June 30, 2011. The change in net financial income resulted primarily from an increase in the average exchange rate of foreign currencies in relation to the NIS during the three months ended June 30, 2012, which had a positive effect on the Company’s net assets denominated in such foreign currencies during that period. Net financial income amounted to NIS 4.1 million ($1.0 million) for the six months ended June 30, 2012, a change of NIS 7.0 million ($1.8 million), compared to net financial expenses of NIS 3.0 million ($0.8 million) for the comparable period in 2011. The reasons for the change in net financial income are similar to those discussed above in the three-month comparison.
Net loss for the quarter ended June 30, 2012 amounted to NIS 11.3 million ($2.9 million), compared with a net loss of NIS 16.4 million ($4.2 million) for the quarter ended June 30, 2011. Net loss for the six months ended June 30, 2012 amounted to NIS 29.2 million ($7.4 million), compared with a net loss of NIS 28.0 million ($7.1 million) for the comparable period in 2011.
As of June 30, 2012, BioLineRx had NIS 119.9 million ($30.6 million) in cash, cash equivalents and short-term bank deposits, compared with NIS 98.8 million ($25.2 million) as of December 31, 2011. The increase in cash, cash equivalents and short-term deposits is mainly due to the private placement completed in February 2012, less cash outflows for the Company’s operating activities during the period.
Net cash used in operating activities was NIS 36.4 million ($9.3 million) for the six months ended June 30, 2012, compared with net cash used in operating activities of NIS 21.3 million ($5.4 million) for the six months ended June 30, 2011. The NIS 15.1 million ($3.9 million) increase in net cash used in operating activities during the six-month period in 2012, compared to the six-month period in 2011, was primarily the result of increased research and development spending.
Net cash provided by investing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2012 was NIS 9.9 million ($2.5 million), compared to net cash used in investing activities of NIS 52.0 million ($13.2 million) for the six months ended June 30, 2011. The cash flows provided by investing activities relate primarily to a net increase in the amount of short-term bank deposits that matured during the period.
Net cash provided by financing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2012 was NIS 52.3 million ($13.3 million), compared to an insignificant amount of net cash used in financing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2011. This increase relates to the private placement completed in February 2012.
BioLineRx will hold a conference call to discuss its second quarter 2012 results today, August 15, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. EDT. To access the conference call, please dial 1-888-668-9141 from the U.S. or +972-3-918-0609 internationally. The call will also be available via live webcast through BioLineRx's website. A replay of the conference call will be available approximately two hours after completion of the live conference call. To access the replay, please dial 1-888-782-4291 from the U.S. or +972-3-9255901 internationally. The replay will be available through August 18, 2012.
BioLineRx is a publicly-traded biopharmaceutical development company. BioLineRx is dedicated to building a portfolio of products for unmet medical needs or with advantages over currently available therapies. BioLineRx’s current portfolio consists of five clinical stage candidates: BL-1020 for schizophrenia is currently undergoing a Phase 2/3 study; BL-1040, for prevention of pathological cardiac remodeling following a myocardial infarction, which has been out-licensed to Ikaria Inc., is currently undergoing a pivotal CE-Mark registration trial; BL-5010 for non-surgical removal of skin lesions has completed a Phase 1/2 study; BL-1021 for neuropathic pain is in Phase 1 development and BL-7040 for treating Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) has commenced a Phase 2 trial. In addition, BioLineRx has nine products in various pre-clinical development stages for a variety of indications, including central nervous system diseases, infectious diseases, cardiovascular and autoimmune diseases.
BioLineRx's business model is based on acquiring molecules mainly from biotechnological incubators and academic institutions. The Company performs feasibility assessment studies and development through pre-clinical and clinical stages, with partial funding from the Israeli Government's Office of the Chief Scientist (OCS). The final stage includes partnering with medium and large pharmaceutical companies for advanced clinical development (Phase 3) and commercialization. For more information on BioLineRx, please visit.