DURECT Corporation Announces Second Quarter 2017 Financial Results and Provides Corporate Update

CUPERTINO, Calif., Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- DURECT Corporation (Nasdaq: DRRX) today announced financial results for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and provided a corporate update.

    --  Executed a U.S. commercialization agreement with Sandoz for POSIMIR(®),
        including a $20 million upfront payment, as well as milestone payments
        and double digit royalties.
    --  Total revenues were $4.3 million and net loss was $9.9 million for the
        three months ended June 30, 2017 as compared to total revenues of $3.2
        million and net loss of $9.0 million for the three months ended June 30,
        2016.
    --  At June 30, 2017, cash and investments were $33.6 million, compared to
        cash and investments of $25.2 million at December 31, 2016. Cash and
        investments increased during the quarter primarily as a result of the
        upfront payment received from Sandoz in connection with our POSIMIR
        agreement. Debt at June 30, 2017 was $19.9 million.

"Highlights of the second quarter included reaching agreement with Sandoz to commercialize POSIMIR in the United States and completing ahead of schedule the enrollment of PERSIST, the POSIMIR pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial in post-operative pain," stated James E. Brown, D.V.M., President and CEO of DURECT. "We completed drug-drug interaction studies with DUR-928, the lead molecule in our Epigenetic Regulator Program, and found no evidence of likely drug interactions. We also completed a second Phase 1b study in which we observed that DUR-928 was well tolerated in moderate to severe kidney function impaired patients and that the pharmacokinetics were comparable among the patients and matched control subjects. In addition, we were pleased that Orient Pharma, our licensee in certain Asian and South Pacific countries, has achieved positive top-line results from a Phase 3 clinical study of ORADUR-Methylphenidate ER conducted in Taiwan."

Update on Selected Programs:

POSIMIR (SABER(®)-Bupivacaine) Post-Operative Pain Relief Depot. POSIMIR is our investigational post-operative pain relief depot that utilizes our patented SABER technology and is designed to deliver bupivacaine to provide up to 3 days of pain relief after surgery.

    --  In May 2017, we signed a development and commercialization agreement
        with Sandoz AG covering the United States. Under the terms of the
        agreement, Sandoz has made an upfront payment to DURECT of $20 million,
        with the potential for up to an additional $43 million in development
        and regulatory milestones, up to an additional $230 million in
        sales-based milestones, as well as a tiered double digit royalty on
        product sales in the United States. DURECT will remain responsible for
        the completion of the PERSIST Phase 3 clinical trial for POSIMIR as well
        as FDA interactions through approval.
    --  In June 2017, we completed enrolling 296 patients in Part 2 of PERSIST,
        a POSIMIR Phase 3 clinical trial consisting of patients undergoing
        laparoscopic cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal) surgery. We expect to
        complete patient follow-up visits in the third quarter and to announce
        top-line results from PERSIST in the fourth quarter of this year.

Epigenetic Regulator Program. DUR-928, the lead product candidate in our Epigenetic Regulator Program, is an endogenous, small molecule, new chemical entity (NCE), which may have broad applicability in several metabolic diseases such as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and other disorders of the liver, in acute organ injuries such as acute kidney injury, and in autoimmune/inflammatory skin disorders such as psoriasis.

Oral Administration

    --  We recently conducted in vivo drug-drug interaction (DDI) studies with
        both orally administered and IV injected DUR-928. The results
        demonstrate that DUR-928 did not have effects on the safety and
        pharmacokinetics (PK) of midazolam, a drug used for detecting drug-drug
        interactions via the enzyme CYP3A4. This enzyme is commonly associated
        with causing many clinically relevant drug-drug interactions. These data
        will be included in upcoming INDs submitted to the FDA.
    --  We are actively working towards initiating a Phase 2 trial in primary
        sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), with orally administered DUR-928. PSC is a
        chronic liver disease characterized by a progression of cholestasis
        (decrease in bile flow) with inflammation and fibrosis of bile ducts. We
        recently applied for and have received orphan drug designation for PSC
        with DUR-928.

Injectable Administration

    --  We recently completed a Phase 1b study in Australia with DUR-928. This
        was an open-label, single-ascending-dose study investigating safety and
        PK in patients with impaired kidney function (stage 3 and 4 chronic
        kidney disease) and matched control subjects.
    --  This study was conducted in successive cohorts evaluating single-dose
        levels (first a low dose and then a high dose which was four times
        larger than the low dose cohort) of DUR-928 administered by
        intramuscular injection. The low dose cohort enrolled 6 kidney function
        impaired patients and 3 matched control subjects, and the high dose
        cohort enrolled 5 kidney function impaired patients and 3 matched
        control subjects.
    --  In this trial, DUR-928 was well tolerated among all subjects and the PK
        parameters between the kidney function impaired patients and the matched
        control subjects were comparable.
    --  We are working closely with expert advisors to design Phase 2 trials in
        one or more indications with an injectable formulation of DUR-928.

Topical Administration

    --  As previously disclosed, we completed an exploratory Phase 1b trial in
        psoriasis patients (n = 9 evaluable patients) utilizing intralesional
        micro injections of DUR-928; promising activity was observed which we
        believe warrants further investigation.
    --  In the first half of 2017, we developed several topical formulations of
        DUR-928 that we expect to utilize in a future topical application
        psoriasis trial. We believe that there is a large unmet medical need for
        new topical drugs for inflammatory skin diseases such as psoriasis and
        atopic dermatitis.

REMOXY(®) ER (oxycodone) Extended-Release Capsules CII. Based on our ORADUR technology, the investigational drug REMOXY ER is a unique long-acting formulation of oxycodone designed to discourage common methods of tampering associated with opioid misuse and abuse. In March 2017, Pain Therapeutics announced that it plans to resubmit the REMOXY ER NDA after completing two additional studies regarding REMOXY ER based on guidance obtained in a recent meeting with the FDA. The two studies are a clinical abuse potential study via the intranasal route of abuse and a non-clinical abuse potential study using household solvents. Pain Therapeutics stated that it expects to complete these studies by year end 2017, after which it intends to have a pre-NDA meeting with the FDA followed by resubmission of the REMOXY NDA.

ORADUR-ADHD Program. ORADUR-Methylphenidate ER is an investigational drug that has the potential for rapid onset of action and long duration with once-a-day dosing, utilizes a small capsule size relative to the leading existing long-acting products on the market and incorporates our ORADUR anti-tampering technology. Orient Pharma, our licensee in defined Asian and South Pacific countries, has reported that a Phase 3 study conducted in Taiwan has achieved positive results. We retain rights to all other markets in the world, notably including the U.S., Europe and Japan. We intend to reach out with these Phase 3 data to potential development and commercialization partners for major markets not licensed to Orient Pharma.

Earnings Conference Call
A live audio webcast of a conference call to discuss second quarter 2017 results and provide a corporate update will be broadcast live over the internet at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time on August 8 and is available by accessing DURECT's homepage at www.durect.com and clicking "Investor Relations." If you are unable to participate during the live webcast, the call will be archived on DURECT's website under Audio Archive in the "Investor Relations" section.

About DURECT Corporation

DURECT is a biopharmaceutical company actively developing new therapeutics based on its Epigenetic Regulator Program and proprietary drug delivery platforms. DUR?928, a new chemical entity in Phase 1 development, is the lead candidate in DURECT's Epigenetic Regulator Program. An endogenous, orally bioavailable small molecule, DUR-928 has been shown in preclinical studies to play an important regulatory role in lipid homeostasis, inflammation, and cell survival. Human applications may include acute organ injury, chronic metabolic diseases such as primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and other liver diseases with both broad and orphan populations, and inflammatory skin conditions such as psoriasis. DURECT's advanced oral, injectable, and transdermal delivery technologies are designed to enable new indications and enhanced attributes for small-molecule and biologic drugs. One late-stage product candidate in this category is POSIMIR(®) (SABER(®)-Bupivacaine), an investigational locally-acting, non-opioid analgesic intended to provide up to 3 days of continuous pain relief after surgery. Another late stage product candidate is REMOXY(® )ER (oxycodone), an investigational pain control drug based on DURECT's ORADUR(® )technology. For more information, please visit www.durect.com.

NOTE: POSIMIR(®), SABER(®), and ORADUR(®) are trademarks of DURECT Corporation. Other referenced trademarks belong to their respective owners. POSIMIR, DUR-928, REMOXY ER and ORADUR-Methylphenidate ER are drug candidates under development and have not been approved for commercialization by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or other health authorities.

DURECT Forward-Looking Statement

The statements in this press release regarding the potential benefits and uses of our drug candidates, including the potential use of DUR-928 to treat PSC, other disorders of the liver, kidney diseases, acute organ injuries, or psoriasis or other inflammatory conditions, the potential use of POSIMIR to treat pain, the potential abuse deterrent properties of REMOXY ER and the potential use of ORADUR-Methylphenidate ER to treat ADHD, our clinical trial plans for DUR-928 and potential reporting of Phase 3 results for POSIMIR, potential regulatory approvals of POSIMIR and REMOXY ER, potential markets for our product candidates, potential payments under the Sandoz agreement, Pain Therapeutics' plans for REMOXY ER and our plans to seek a licensee for ORADUR-Methylphenidate ER are forward-looking statements involving 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, the risks that future clinical trials of DUR-928 do not demonstrate the safety or efficacy of DUR-928 in a statistically significant manner, that the PERSIST clinical trial of POSIMIR will take longer to analyze and report than anticipated or result in data that will not support a successful NDA resubmission or product approval, that Pain Therapeutics may not be able to adequately address all of FDA's concerns regarding the REMOXY ER NDA or that there could be a delay in addressing such concerns, the potential that FDA may not grant regulatory approval of POSIMIR or REMOXY ER, the risks of obtaining marketplace acceptance of POSIMIR or REMOXY ER, if approved, the risk that Sandoz will not achieve milestones triggering payments, the risk that prior clinical trials (including prior trials of POSIMIR in laparoscopic cholecystectomy patients and Phase 1b trials of DUR-928) will not be confirmed in subsequent trials, the potential failure of clinical trials to meet their intended endpoints, the risk that Pain Therapeutics or Orient Pharma will discontinue development of REMOXY ER or ORADUR-Methylphenidate ER, respectively, or be delayed in development or regulatory submissions, the risk that additional time and resources that may be required for development, testing and regulatory approval of DUR-928, potential adverse effects arising from the testing or use of our drug candidates, our potential failure to maintain our collaborative agreements with third parties or consummate new collaborations and risks related to our ability to obtain capital to fund operations and expenses. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in DURECT's Form 10-Q filed on May 10, 2017 under the heading "Risk Factors."


                                                                                   DURECT CORPORATION

                                                                       CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

                                                                        (in thousands, except per share amounts)

                                                                                       (unaudited)



                                                  Three months ended                     Six months ended

                                                        June 30                               June 30
                                                       -------                               -------

                                                                   2017                                   2016             2017           2016
                                                                   ----                                   ----             ----           ----


    Collaborative research
     and development and
     other revenue                                             $1,268                                   $371           $1,702           $790

    Product revenue, net                                        3,051                                  2,786            7,184          5,975

                                                                4,319                                  3,157            8,886          6,765

            Total revenues



    Operating expenses:

                                                                  924                                    913            2,467          2,155

            Cost of product revenues

                                                                9,079                                  7,852           16,627         14,477

            Research and development

                                                                3,681                                  2,888            6,724          5,950

            Selling, general and
             administrative

    Total operating
     expenses                                                  13,684                                 11,653           25,818         22,582
                                                               ------                                 ------           ------         ------


    Loss from operations                                      (9,365)                               (8,496)        (16,932)      (15,817)


    Other income (expense):

                                                                   39                                     40               75             67

            Interest and other income

                                                                (601)                                 (558)         (1,184)       (1,116)

            Interest and other expense


    Net other income
     (expense)                                                  (562)                                 (518)         (1,109)       (1,049)


    Net loss                                                 $(9,927)                              $(9,014)       $(18,041)     $(16,866)
                                                              =======                                =======         ========       ========


    Net loss per share

                                                              $(0.07)                               $(0.07)         $(0.13)       $(0.13)

            Basic


                                                              $(0.07)                               $(0.07)         $(0.13)       $(0.13)

            Diluted



    Weighted-average shares used in computing net
     loss per share

                                                              142,532                                132,812          142,176        127,480

            Basic


                                                              142,532                                132,812          142,176        127,480

            Diluted



    Total comprehensive
     loss                                                    $(9,925)                              $(9,007)       $(18,041)     $(16,842)
                                                              =======                                =======         ========       ========


                DURECT CORPORATION
             CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
                  (in thousands)

                                      
    As of
    June 30, 2017     
    As of
    December 31, 2016(1)
                                      -------------------       -------------------------

                                          (unaudited)

    ASSETS

    Current
     assets:
                                                       $30,405                       $5,404
        Cash and
         cash
         equivalents

        Short-term
         investments                                     3,055                       19,600

        Accounts
         receivable                                      1,385                        1,154

        Inventories                                      3,714                        3,782

        Prepaid
         expenses
         and other
         current
         assets                                          3,454                        2,486
                                                         -----                        -----

    Total
     current
     assets                                             42,013                       32,426


    Property and
     equipment,
     net                                                 1,089                        1,297

    Goodwill                                             6,399                        6,399

    Long-term
     restricted
     Investments                                           150                          150

    Other long-
     term assets                                           282                          236
                                                       $49,933                      $40,508
    Total assets



    LIABILITIES
     AND
     STOCKHOLDERS'
     EQUITY
     (DEFICIT)

    Current
     liabilities:
                                                        $1,783                       $2,086
        Accounts
         payable

        Accrued
         liabilities                                     4,103                        5,060

        Contract
         research
         liability                                       2,131                          783

        Deferred
         revenue,
         current
         portion                                        16,207                          968

        Term loan,
         current
         portion,
         net                                             3,273                       19,853
                                                         -----                       ------

    Total
     current
     liabilities                                        27,497                       28,750


    Deferred
     revenue,
     noncurrent
     portion                                             5,617                        1,879

    Term loan,
     noncurrent
     portion,
     net                                                16,611                            -

    Other long-
     term
     liabilities                                         2,046                        1,541


     Stockholders'
     equity
     (deficit)                                         (1,838)                       8,338
                                                       $49,933                      $40,508
    Total
     liabilities
     and
     stockholders'
     equity
     (deficit)


    (1)  Derived from audited
     financial statements.

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SOURCE DURECT Corporation