Full Press Release Details
Lion Biotechnologies Reports Fourth Quarter
and Full-Year 2016 Financial Results and Provides Corporate Update
to Host Conference Call at 4:30pm ET Today -
San Carlos, CA - March 7, 2017 -- Lion Biotechnologies,
Inc. (NASDAQ: LBIO), a biotechnology company developing novel cancer immunotherapies based on tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL)
technology, today reported its fourth quarter and full-year 2016 financial results and provided a corporate update.
"During the second half of 2016, we significantly expanded
our employee base, optimized the process of manufacturing TIL while increasing our capacity, continued enrollment in our LN-144
melanoma study and initiated start up activities for cervical and head and neck indications. In addition, we expanded our available
data through further collaborations with the NCI and Moffitt Cancer Center and we shared some of our preliminary process development
data at SITC in the later part of 2016," said Dr. Maria Fardis, Chief Executive Officer of Lion Biotechnologies. "Our
2017 priorities include implementing our newly developed shorter manufacturing process at our contract manufacturing facilities,
expanding our clinical program in melanoma to examine the new process, and initiating two company-sponsored trials. We will also
start at least two other clinical trials through collaborators in order to investigate the efficacy of TIL in new indications.
Simultaneously, we will define our melanoma regulatory path with multiple health authorities and present clinical data at upcoming
Corporate Leadership:
Strengthened the Management Team and More Than Doubled the
Employee Base Since June 1, 2016:
2017 Anticipated Milestones:
Fourth Quarter and Full-Year 2016 Financial Results
As of December 31, 2016 the Company held $166.5 million in cash
and cash equivalents and short-term investments, compared to $103.7 million as of December 31, 2015.
GAAP and Non-GAAP net loss attributable
to common stockholders
GAAP net loss attributable to common
stockholders for the quarter ended December 31, 2016 was $15.7 million, or ($0.25) per share, compared to GAAP net loss attributable
to common stockholders of $8.4 million or ($0.17) per share for the quarter ended December 31, 2015.
Non-GAAP net loss attributable to common
stockholders, which excludes amounts related to stock-based compensation, for the quarter ended December 31, 2016 was $12.6 million,
or ($0.20) per share, compared to non-GAAP net loss attributable to common stockholders of $5.6 million, or ($0.11) per share for
the quarter ended December 31, 2015. The non-GAAP net loss attributable to common stockholders for the quarter ended December 31,
2016 excludes $3.1 million of non-cash stock-based compensation.
GAAP net loss attributable to common
stockholders for the year ended December 31, 2016, which included a one-time deemed dividend related to a charge of $49.5 million
incurred as a result of the conversion feature of the recently issued Series B convertible preferred stock was $102.3 million,
or ($1.85) per share, compared to GAAP net loss attributable to common stockholders of $27.7 million or ($0.62) per share for the
year ended December 31, 2015. Non-GAAP net loss, which excludes amounts related to stock-based compensation and the $49.5 million
non-cash deemed dividend for the year ended December 31, 2016 was $34.0 million, or ($0.62) per share, compared to non-GAAP net
loss of $19.1 million or ($0.43) per share for the year ended December 31, 2015.
The Company believes that it is important
for investors to understand these non-cash charges as they materially impact the loss and EPS calculations. See "Use of Non-GAAP
Financial Measures" below for a description of the Company's Non-GAAP Financial Measures. Reconciliation between
certain GAAP and Non-GAAP measures is provided at the end of this press release.
GAAP and Non-GAAP expenses
GAAP research and development (R&D) expenses were $10.9
million for the quarter ended December 31, 2016, an increase of $6.8 million compared to the quarter ended December 31, 2015. The
increase in R&D expense is due to increased spending on clinical activities for LN-144 and manufacturing. In addition, R&D-associated
stock option expenses were $1.4 million for the three months ended December 31, 2016 and $3.3 million for the year ended December
31, 2016. Non-GAAP R&D expenses were $9.5 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2016, an increase of $5.6 million, compared
to $3.9 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2015.
GAAP general and administrative (G&A) expenses were $5.0
million, an increase of $0.6 million compared to the quarter ended December 31, 2015. Non-GAAP G&A expenses, which excludes
amounts related to stock-based compensation, of $3.3 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2016 increased by $1.4 million,
compared to $1.9 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2015.
Reconciliation between certain GAAP
and Non-GAAP measures is provided at the end of this press release.
Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
This press release contains non-GAAP
financial measures, including expenses adjusted to exclude certain non-cash expenses. These measures are not in accordance with,
or an alternative to, generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, and may be different from non-GAAP financial measures
used by other companies. The items included in GAAP presentations but excluded for purposes of determining non-GAAP financial measures
for the periods presented in this press release are: (i) the non-cash stock-based compensation expense which may fluctuate from
period to period based on factors including the timing and accounting of grants for stock options and changes in the Company's
stock price which impacts the fair value of options granted, and (ii) the one-time non-cash deemed dividend related to the conversion
feature of the Series B Preferred Stock. The Company believes the presentation of non-GAAP financial measures provides useful information
to management and investors regarding various financial and business trends relating to the Company's financial condition
and results of operations. When GAAP financial measures are viewed in conjunction with non-GAAP financial measures, investors are
provided with a more meaningful understanding of Lion's ongoing operating performance. In addition, these non-GAAP financial
measures are among those indicators the Company uses as a basis for evaluating operational performance, allocating resources and
planning and forecasting future periods. Non-GAAP financial measures are not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute
for GAAP financial measures. To the extent this release contains historical or future non-GAAP financial measures, the Company
has also provided corresponding GAAP financial measures for comparative purposes. Reconciliation between certain GAAP and non-GAAP
measures is provided at the end of this press release.
Upcoming Events & Presentations
Webcast and Conference Call
Lion will host a conference call today at 4:30 p.m. ET to discuss
these fourth quarter and full-year 2016 results. In order to participate in the conference call, please dial 1-844-646-4465 (domestic)
or 1-615-247-0257 (international). The live webcast can be accessed under "Events and Presentation" in the "Investors"
section of the Company's website at http://www.lbio.com/ or you may use the link: http://edge.media-server.com/m/p/usbgqbbo.
A replay of the call will be available one hour after the end
of the call on March 7, 2017 until 4:30 p.m. ET on March 17, 2017. To access the replay, please dial 1-855-859-2056 (domestic)
or 1-404-537-3406 (international) and reference the access code 75631507. The archived webcast will be available for thirty days
in the Investors section of Lion Biotechnologies' website at http://www.lbio.com.
About Lion Biotechnologies, Inc.
Lion Biotechnologies, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology
company focused on the development of cancer immunotherapy products for the treatment of various cancers. The Company's lead product
candidate is an adoptive cell therapy using tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) technology for the treatment of patients with refractory
metastatic melanoma. The Company is also pursuing TIL technology in both head and neck and cervical cancer indications. For more
information, please visit http://www.lionbio.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements"
regarding, among other things, the Company's future goals, its operating and financial performance, additional studies and product
development, expansion of the company's research platform, and market position and business strategy. The reader is cautioned not
to rely on these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations of future events. If underlying
assumptions prove inaccurate, or if known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from
the expectations and projections. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the Company's ability to implement the
newly developed shorter manufacturing process, initiate a Phase 2 trial for LN-145 in 2017, its ability to continue to enroll patients
in the Phase 2 trial for LN-144, the initiation in 2017 by the Karolinska University Hospital of two Phase 1 trials and the conduct
thereafter of those trials, the further development of TIL under the CRADA. A further list and description of these and other risks,
uncertainties and other factors can be found in Lion Biotechnologies, Inc. most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and the company's