Thallion Announces 2010 First Quarter Results
MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - April 12, 2010) - Thallion Pharmaceuticals Inc. (TSX:TLN) today announced its operational and financial results for the 2010 first quarter which ended on February 28, 2010.
Operational Highlights
- Signed a definitive development and commercialization agreement with LFB Biotechnologies (LFB) for Shigamabs®, under which Thallion is eligible to receive up to €95 million (approximately C$135 million) from LFB. The funding includes an up-front licensing fee of €1.5 million (approximately C$2.1 million), funding for substantially all future clinical development costs, as well as potential milestone payments. The agreement grants LFB an exclusive license for the commercial rights to Shigamabs® in Europe, South America and other territories of strategic interest to LFB, including Russia, Turkey, China, South Korea and Northern African countries, while Thallion retained the rights for North America and the rest of world. Thallion is eligible to receive tiered, double digit royalties based on product sales.
- Sold its subordinated promissory note in Caprion Proteomics Inc. (Caprion) back to Caprion for an immediate cash payment of $1.85 million, while retaining the Company's approximate 16 percent equity interest in Caprion.
- Signed a binding lease cancellation agreement related to its redundant facility for a one-time cash payment of $1.15 million.
- Appointed Dr. Allan Mandelzys to the position of Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors.
- Appointed Lloyd Segal as Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors.
Discontinued its Phase II trial evaluating TLN-4601 as a treatment for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) due to a lack of measurable efficacy after analysis of the interim data. - "In collaboration with LFB, we have already begun preparations to initiate the Phase II study to evaluate Shigamabs® as a treatment for E. coli infections," said Dr. Allan Mandelzys, Chief Executive Officer of Thallion Pharmaceuticals Inc. "We expect to launch the trial in South America during the fourth quarter of calendar 2010 in order to enroll patients during the peak infection season in the southern hemisphere. The funding received by LFB and our primary focus dedicated to Shigamabs® have considerably strengthened our balance sheet and now provides us with a cash runway to complete development without the need to access additional capital."
Financial Highlights
Research and development expenses before tax credits amounted to $1,171,499 in the first quarter of 2010, compared with $2,111,941 in the first quarter of 2009, reflecting a decrease in costs of $940,442. The 2010 research and development expenses included a $365,027 one-time royalty buy-down payment to a shareholder, Sunol Molecular Corporation (Sunol) upon closing of the LFB transaction pursuant to the terms of the Company's amended license agreement with Sunol. The decrease in research and development expenses is primarily due to the suspension of patient enrollment in the Phase II trial evaluating TLN-232 in July 2009 due to an ongoing dispute with the licensor, and the discontinuation of the Phase II GBM trial due to lack of measurable efficacy after analysis of the interim data.
General and administrative expenses amounted to $1,801,198 in the first quarter of 2010, compared with $1,337,424 in the first quarter of 2009. This increase in 2010 is due in part to $305,000 in one-time cash incentive bonuses paid to certain employees pursuant to final execution of the definitive development and license agreement with LFB and one-time severance costs amounting to $234,086.
The Company recorded a net loss of $2,559,367 or $0.08 per share in the first quarter of 2010, compared with $3,238,671 or $0.10 per share in the first quarter of 2009. The decrease in net loss in the first quarter of 2010 compared to the first quarter of 2009 is mainly attributable to reductions in R&D expenses as described above.
As at February 28, 2010, the Company's unrestricted cash position amounted to $11,932,893 which consists of cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments. Tax credits receivable amounted to $651,839. Consequently, the Company's liquidity availability amounted to $12,584,732 compared with $9,073,557 on November 30, 2009. The increase in liquidity is primarily due to the up-front payment and development funding received from LFB following final execution of the development and license agreement signed in February 2010, the collection of the note receivable from Caprion Proteomics Inc. and the collection of investment tax credits receivable, partially offset by the final settlement of the Company's lease obligations in relation to the redundant facility.
As of April 12, 2010, the Company had 32,194,566 common shares outstanding and a total of 2,453,675 stock options at an average exercise price of $0.13 remain outstanding following the exercise of 38,750 employee stock options in March 2010. A total of 530,000 common share purchase warrants remain outstanding following the expiry of 9,000,000 warrants on March 15, 2010 related to the March 2007 private placement.
Notice of Annual General Meeting of Shareholders
Thallion will hold its Annual General Meeting of Shareholders on, April 13, 2010, at 10:00 a.m. (ET) at the offices of McCarthy Tétrault LLP, Suite 2500, 1000, De La Gauchetière Street West, Montréal, Québec. Following the formal proceedings of the meeting, Dr. Allan Mandelzys, Chief Executive Officer will present a corporate update on the Company.
About Thallion Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Thallion Pharmaceuticals Inc. (TSX:TLN) is a biotechnology company developing pharmaceutical products in the areas of infectious disease and oncology. The Company's clinical programs include Shigamabs® and TLN-4601, a novel anti-cancer therapy. Shigamabs® is a dual antibody product for the treatment of Shiga toxin producing E. coli bacterial infections which is anticipated to enter Phase II clinical testing in the fourth quarter of 2010. Additional information about Thallion can be obtained at
www.thallion.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements containing the words "believe", "may", "plan", "will", "estimate", "continue", "anticipate", "intend", "expect" and other similar expressions which constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements reflect Thallion's current expectation and assumptions, and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, the satisfaction of conditions provided in the development and commercialization agreement with LFB, changing market conditions, the successful and timely completion of clinical studies, the establishment of corporate alliances, the impact of competitive products and pricing, new product development, uncertainties related to the regulatory approval process and other risks detailed from time-to-time in Thallion's ongoing filings with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities which filings can be found at www.sedar.com. Given these risks and uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Thallion undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements either as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable Canadian securities laws.