Threshold Pharmaceuticals Reports Third Quarter 2010 Financial and Operational Results


REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Nov. 4, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Threshold Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq:THLD), today reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2010.

The net loss for the third quarter of 2010 was $5.9 million compared to $6.2 million for the third quarter of 2009. Research and development expenses were $4.8 million for the third quarter of 2010 compared to $4.0 million for the third quarter of 2009. The increase in research and development expenses primarily reflects an increase in clinical trial expenses related to TH-302. General and administrative expenses were $1.3 million for the third quarter of 2010 versus $1.2 million for the third quarter of 2009. This increase was primarily due to higher payroll and consulting expenses offset by lower employee stock-based compensation. Total non-cash stock compensation expense for the Company was $0.3 million for the third quarter of 2010 versus $0.5 million for the third quarter of 2009. The decrease in stock-based compensation expense is due to the amortization of options with lower valuations. Other income (expense) for the third quarter of 2010 was non-cash income of $0.1 million compared to non-cash expense of $1.0 million for the third quarter of 2009. This non-cash income was due to a decline in the fair value of the Company's outstanding warrants to purchase 10.9 million shares of common stock, which are classified as a liability.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, the net loss was $12.1 million, compared to $18.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009. Research and development expenses were $14.2 million in the first nine months of 2010 compared to $11.7 million in the first nine months of 2009, and increased primarily due to clinical trial expenses related to TH-302. General and administrative expenses decreased to $3.6 million in the first nine months of 2010 from $4.1 million in the first nine months of 2009, primarily due to lower employee stock-based compensation. Total non-cash stock compensation expense for the Company was $0.5 million for the first nine months of 2010 versus $1.6 million for the first nine months of 2009. This decrease was primarily due to the amortization of options with lower valuations. Other income (expense) for the first nine months of 2010 was non-cash income of $5.6 million compared to non-cash expense of $3.0 million for the first nine months of 2009. This non-cash income was due to a decline in the fair value of the Company's outstanding warrants to purchase 10.9 million shares of common stock, which are classified as a liability.

As of September 30, 2010, Threshold had $20.1 million in cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities. For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, the Company's cash requirements were $17.2 million. Threshold currently expects that total operating expenses for 2010 will be between $23 and $25 million. Additionally, the Company continues to expect existing cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities to last through the second quarter of 2011.

Recent Highlights

  • Completed patient accrual in the 402 trial (Phase 1/2 clinical trial of TH-302 in combination with chemotherapy in various solid tumors), with a total of 160 patients enrolled
  • Presented top-line results from the 402 trial at the European Medical Oncology Society (ESMO) annual meeting
  • Continued to enroll patients in the 403 trial (Phase 1/2 clinical trial of TH-302 in combination with doxorubicin in patients with soft tissue sarcoma)
  • Continued to enroll patients in the 404 trial (Phase 2 controlled clinical trial of TH-302 in combination with gemcitabine in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer) and remain on track to complete patient accrual in 2011

Key Milestones

The Company currently anticipates the following clinical milestones related to TH-302:

  • Report top line results from the 403 trial in the fourth quarter of 2010
  • Report top line results from a Phase 1 open label clinical trial in advanced leukemias (the 407 trial) in the fourth quarter of 2010
  • Report limited interim results from the 404 trial in the first half of 2011

About Threshold Pharmaceuticals

Threshold is a biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of drugs targeting the tumor microenvironment. This approach offers broad potential to treat most solid tumors. By selectively targeting tumor cells, we are building a pipeline of drugs that hold promise to be more effective and less toxic to healthy tissues than conventional anticancer drugs. For additional information, please visit our website (www.thresholdpharm.com).

Forward-Looking Statements

Except for statements of historical fact, the statements in this press release are forward-looking statements, including statements regarding Threshold's product candidates and approach to developing new product candidates, pre-clinical testing of TH-302, clinical trials and anticipated results and announcements, potential therapeutic uses and benefits of TH-302 and financial results, estimates, projections and requirements, including the need for additional cash. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that can cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, Threshold's ability to attract and retain employees, commence, enroll or complete its anticipated clinical trials, the time and expense required to conduct such clinical trials and analyze data, issues arising in the regulatory or manufacturing process and the results of such clinical trials (including product safety issues and efficacy results). Further information regarding these and other risks is included under the heading "Risk Factors" in Threshold's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, which was filed with the Securities Exchange Commission on November 4, 2010 and is available from the SEC's website (www.sec.gov) and on our website under the heading "Investors". We undertake no duty to update any forward-looking statement made in this news release.

THRESHOLD PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
(A Development Stage Enterprise)
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
         
  Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
  September 30, September 30,
  2010 2009 2010 2009
         
         
Revenue  $ --   $ --   $ --   $ -- 
         
Operating expenses        
 Research and development  4,773  3,973  14,194  11,719
 General and administrative  1,297  1,235  3,591  4,115
 Total Operating Expenses  6,070  5,208  17,785  15,834
 Loss from operations  (6,070)  (5,208)  (17,785)  (15,834)
         
 Interest income (expense), net  14  12  53  (37)
 Other income (expense)  148  (957)  5,604  (3,044)
 Net Loss  $ (5,908)  $ (6,153)  $ (12,128)  $ (18,915)
         
Net loss per common share - basic and diluted  $ (0.18)  $ (0.40)  $ (0.36)  $ (1.24)
Weighted-average shares used in computing        
 basic and diluted net loss per common share  33,672  15,227 33,638 15,223
         
THRESHOLD PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
(A Development Stage Enterprise)
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands)
     
     
  September 30,  December 31,
  2010 2009
  (unaudited)  (1) 
Assets    
     
 Cash, cash equivalents and    
 marketable securities  $ 20,052  $ 37,315
 Prepaid expenses and other current assets (2)  765  10,342
 Property and equipment, net  344  505
 Other assets  761  523
 Total assets  $ 21,922  $ 48,685
     
Liabilities and stockholders' equity    
     
 Total current liabilities (2)  $ 3,336  $ 12,874
 Long-term liabilities (3)  7,379  13,154
 Stockholders' equity  11,207  22,657
 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity  $ 21,922  $ 48,685
     
     
(1) Derived from audited financial statements.
(2) Includes as of December 31, 2009, $10 million of settlement costs to be paid to the plaintiffs of an outstanding class action lawsuit by the Company's insurers. During the second quarter of 2010 the settlement was approved by the Court and the $10.0 million was paid by the Company's insurers.
(3) Includes as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, $7.1 million and $12.7 million of warrant liability, respectively, as a result of the Company's adoption on January 1, 2009 of guidance now codified under ASC Topic 815, "Derivatives and Hedging."


            

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