Verastem Reports First Quarter 2013 Financial and Corporate Results
Verastem, Inc.
Verastem, Inc., (NASDAQ: VSTM) focused on discovering and developing drugs to treat cancer by the targeted killing of cancer stem cells, today reported financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2013, and also commented on certain corporate accomplishments and plans.
“During the first quarter we made key strides in advancing our development programs targeting cancer stem cells,” said Christoph Westphal, M.D., Ph.D., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Verastem.
“The combination trial of VS-6063 plus paclitaxel for ovarian cancer is open and enrolling patients at all sites,” said Robert Forrester, President and Chief Operating Officer of Verastem. “In addition, we met with the regulatory agencies in the US and UK and are on track to initiate midyear the potentially pivotal trial of VS-6063 in mesothelioma.”
Our significant accomplishments include the following:
Our planned upcoming clinical milestones include the following:
As of March 31, 2013, Verastem had cash, cash equivalents and investments of $84.4 million compared to $91.5 million on December 31, 2012, a difference of $7.1 million. The number of outstanding common shares as of April 30, 2013, was 21,289,319.
Net loss for the three months ended March 31, 2013 (the “2013 Quarter”), was $9.0 million, or $0.44 per share applicable to common shareholders, as compared to net loss of $6.9 million, or $0.47 per share, for the three months ending March 31, 2012 (the “2012 Quarter”). Net loss for the 2013 Quarter includes non-cash stock-based compensation expense of $2.5 million as compared to $1.5 million for the 2012 Quarter.
Research and development expense for the 2013 Quarter was $5.3 million compared to $4.8 million for the 2012 Quarter. The $494,000 increase from the 2012 Quarter to the 2013 Quarter is primarily related to an increase of $650,000 in contract research organization expense for outsourced biology, chemistry and development services and an increase of $309,000 for personnel costs primarily due to increased headcount. These increases are partially offset by a decrease of $367,000 in license fee expense primarily related to the revaluation of the obligation to issue the warrant to Poniard Pharmaceuticals in the 2012 Quarter.
General and administrative expense for the 2013 Quarter was $3.8 million compared to $2.1 million for the 2012 Quarter. The $1.7 million increase from the 2012 Quarter to the 2013 Quarter primarily resulted from an increase of $1.0 million for personnel costs primarily due to stock-based compensation expense associated with restricted stock units and restricted stock units with performance-based vesting provisions, an increase of $437,000 in professional fees and an increase of $111,000 in consulting fees.
Verastem, Inc. (NASDAQ: VSTM) is discovering and developing drugs to treat cancer by the targeted killing of . Cancer stem cells are an underlying cause of tumor recurrence and metastasis. Verastem is developing small molecule inhibitors of signaling pathways that are critical to cancer stem cell survival and proliferation: FAK, PI3K/mTOR and Wnt. For more information, please visit .
This press release includes forward-looking statements about the Company’s strategy, future plans and prospects, including statements regarding the development of the Company’s compounds, including VS-6063, VS-4718 and VS-5584, and the Company’s FAK, PI3K/mTOR and diagnostic programs generally, the timeline for clinical development and regulatory approval of the Company’s compounds, the structure of the Company’s planned clinical trials and estimates of the Company’s ability to fund operations. The words “anticipate,” “appear,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,” “target,” “potential,” “will,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “continue,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Each forward-looking statement is subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statement. Applicable risks and uncertainties include the risks that the preclinical testing of the Company’s compounds may not be predictive of the success of later clinical trials, that the Company will be unable to successfully complete the clinical development of its compounds, including VS-6063, VS-4718 and VS-5584, that the development of the Company’s compounds will take longer or cost more than planned, and that the Company’s compounds will not receive regulatory approval or become commercially successful products. Other risks and uncertainties include those identified under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 and in any subsequent SEC filings. The forward-looking statements contained in this presentation reflect the Company’s current views with respect to future events, and the Company does not undertake and specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.