Full Press Release Details
THE WOODLANDS, Texas, Oct. 30, 2008 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq:LXRX), a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing breakthrough treatments for human disease, today updated its drug development progress and reported financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008.
"We have now advanced two drug candidates into Phase 2 clinical development and selected our sixth drug candidate for preclinical development from our pipeline of novel mechanisms," said Dr. Arthur T. Sands, president and chief executive officer of Lexicon. "We anticipate reporting data from several of our clinical development programs by the end of the year as we continue to progress our pipeline."
-- Lexicon has completed dosing in a Phase 2a clinical trial of its
LX6171 drug candidate for cognitive disorders. The trial is a
double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study in
approximately 120 subjects with age-associated memory impairment.
Two dose levels of LX6171 were evaluated over a four week period
to assess safety, tolerability, and effects on cognitive
performance. Results from this study are expected by the end
-- Lexicon has completed dosing in a Phase 1b clinical trial of its
LX1032 drug candidate for carcinoid syndrome. The trial is a
double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, multiple
ascending-dose study in healthy volunteers. Results from this
study are expected to be reported in the fourth quarter.
-- Lexicon recently completed a Phase 1b clinical trial of its
LX2931 drug candidate for autoimmune disorders. Results from
Lexicon's Phase 1 clinical trials of LX2931 were presented
recently at the American College of Rheumatology annual meeting
in San Francisco. The Phase 1b trial was a double-blind,
randomized, placebo-controlled, multiple ascending-dose study in
healthy volunteers. In the trial, LX2931 was well tolerated at
all doses tested, including the maximum dose of 150 mg per day,
over the seven day dosing period. Results from the trial
demonstrated a dose-dependent reduction in circulating
lymphocytes, confirming the mechanism of action of LX2931 in
regulating lymphocyte trafficking. The lymphocyte reductions
observed in the multiple dose study are similar to those
associated with a beneficial response obtained in animal models
of arthritis after treatment with LX2931. Lexicon is currently
planning to commence a drug-drug interaction study with
methotrexate in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in the first
-- Lexicon expects to initiate a Phase 2a clinical trial of its
LX1031 drug candidate for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in the
fourth quarter of this year. The trial is designed as a
double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study to evaluate
the safety, tolerability, and effects of LX1031 on symptoms
associated with IBS over a four-week period.
Other Highlights for the Quarter
-- Lexicon initiated formal preclinical development of LX7101, a new
drug candidate for glaucoma, in preparation for the planned filing
of an Investigational New Drug (IND) application with the U.S. Food
and Drug Administration (FDA). LX7101 is a small molecule compound
that may have application in treating glaucoma by lowering
intraocular pressure through a new mechanism of action that
enhances the eye's fluid outflow facility. Impairment of fluid
outflow is thought to be a major contributing factor to the
higher incidence of glaucoma that is observed as people age.
Revenues: Lexicon's revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2008 decreased 26 percent to $7.5 million from $10.2 million for the corresponding period in 2007. The decrease was primarily attributable to the completion in 2007 of the project funded by Lexicon's award from the Texas Enterprise Fund and reduced revenues in the three months ended September 30, 2008 under Lexicon's alliance with N.V. Organon due to its progress towards completing the target discovery portion of the alliance. For the nine months ended September 30, 2008, revenues decreased 28 percent to $26.0 million from $36.3 million for the corresponding period in 2007.
Research and Development Expenses: Research and development expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2008 increased 13 percent to $27.6 million from $24.5 million for the corresponding period in 2007. The increase was primarily due to higher preclinical and clinical costs related to the advancement of Lexicon's drug development programs, partially offset by decreased research expenses as a result of the company's previously stated plans to reallocate resources from genetics research efforts to drug development. For the nine months ended September 30, 2008, research and development expenses increased 11 percent to $85.8 million from $77.4 million for the corresponding period in 2007.
General and Administrative Expenses: General and administrative expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2008 decreased eight percent to $4.7 million from $5.1 million for the corresponding period in 2007. The decrease was primarily attributable to lower salary and benefit costs as well as lower legal fees. For the nine months ended September 30, 2008, general and administrative expenses increased three percent to $15.8 million from $15.4 million for the corresponding period in 2007.
Net Loss: Net loss for the three months ended September 30, 2008 was $23.5 million, or $0.17 per share, compared to net loss of $14.1 million, or $0.14 per share, in the corresponding period in 2007. Net loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 was $61.4 million, or $0.45 per share, compared to a net loss of $46.6 million, or $0.53 per share, for the corresponding period in 2007. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, net loss included an impairment of long-term investments of $3.3 million, which represents the decline in fair value of student loan auction rate securities held by Lexicon. For the three months ended September 30, 2008, net loss included non-cash, stock-based compensation expense of $1.4 million, compared to $1.6 million in the corresponding period in 2007. For the nine months ended September 30, 2008, net loss included non-cash, stock-based compensation expense of $4.8 million, consistent with the corresponding period in 2007.
Cash and Investments: As of September 30, 2008, Lexicon had $177.3 million in cash and investments, including $21.1 million in cash and investments held by Symphony Icon, as compared to $200.5 million as of June 30, 2008 and $258.8 million as of December 31, 2007.
Lexicon Conference Call:
Lexicon management will hold a conference call to discuss its clinical development progress and financial results for the third quarter of 2008 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on October 30, 2008. The dial-in number for the conference call is 888-220-1244 (within the U.S./Canada) or 706-679-5615 (international). The pass code for all callers is 67655964. Investors can access a live webcast of the call at www.lexpharma.com. An archived version of the webcast will be available on the website through November 4, 2008.
Lexicon is a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing breakthrough treatments for human disease. Lexicon currently has six drug candidates in development for autoimmune disease, carcinoid syndrome, cognitive disorders, diabetes, glaucoma and irritable bowel syndrome, all of which were discovered by the company's research team. The company is using its proprietary gene knockout technology to characterize approximately 5,000 genes in its Genome5000(tm) program, and has discovered more than 100 promising drug targets. Lexicon has applied small molecule chemistry and antibody technology to these biologically-validated targets to create its extensive pipeline of clinical and preclinical programs. Lexicon's goal is to advance 10 drug candidates into human clinical trials by the end of 2010, the strategic objective of its 10TO10 program. For additional information about Lexicon and its programs, please visit www.lexpharma.com.
The Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=4799
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains "forward-looking statements," including statements relating to Lexicon's clinical development of LX1031, LX1032, LX2931, LX6171 and LX7101 and the potential therapeutic and commercial potential of LX1031, LX1032, LX2931, LX6171 and LX7101. This press release also contains forward-looking statements relating to Lexicon's growth and future operating results, discovery and development of products, strategic alliances and intellectual property, as well as other matters that are not historical facts or information. All forward-looking statements are based on management's current assumptions and expectations and involve risks, uncertainties and other important factors, specifically including those relating to Lexicon's ability to successfully conduct clinical development of LX1031, LX1032, LX2931, LX6171 and LX7101 and preclinical and clinical development of its other potential drug candidates, advance additional candidates into preclinical and clinical development, obtain necessary regulatory approvals, achieve its operational objectives, obtain patent protection for its discoveries and establish strategic alliances, as well as additional factors relating to manufacturing, intellectual property rights, and the therapeutic or commercial value of its drug candidates, that may cause Lexicon's actual results to be materially different from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Information identifying such important factors is contained under "Factors Affecting Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors" in Lexicon's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Lexicon undertakes no obligation to update or revise any such forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Selected Financial Data
--------------------------------------
Consolidated Statements Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
of Operations Data September 30, September 30,
per share data) ------------------ ------------------
-------- -------- -------- --------
(unaudited) (unaudited)
Collaborative research $ 7,202 $ 9,712 $ 22,789 $ 34,460
Subscription and license
fees 310 455 3,182 1,850
-------- -------- -------- --------
Total revenues 7,512 10,167 25,971 36,310
Research and development,
including stock-based
compensation of $836,
$965, $2,913 and $3,000,
respectively 27,642 24,518 85,793 77,402
General and administrative,
including stock-based
compensation of $583,
$635, $1,868 and $1,830,
respectively 4,692 5,091 15,824 15,395
-------- -------- -------- --------
Total operating expenses 32,334 29,609 101,617 92,797
-------- -------- -------- --------
Loss from operations (24,822) (19,442) (75,646) (56,487)
Impairment of long-term
investments (3,322) -- (3,322) --
Interest income 956 2,166 5,155 3,811
Interest expense (675) (694) (2,020) (2,077)
Other expense, net (535) (8) (1,621) (34)
-------- -------- -------- --------
Loss before noncontrolling
interest in Symphony
Icon, Inc. (28,398) (17,978) (77,454) (54,787)
Loss attributable to
noncontrolling interest
in Symphony Icon, Inc. 4,939 3,867 16,011 8,170
-------- -------- -------- --------
Net loss $(23,459) $(14,111) $(61,443) $(46,617)
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