SAN DIEGO, March 23, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Trius Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq:TSRX), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative antibiotics for life-threatening infections, announced today its financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2010.
Trius 2010 and Recent Highlights
Awarded a contract for up to $29.5 million from the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA)
Reached agreement with FDA for Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) for Phase 3 Oral ABSSSI study
Completed $50 million Initial Public Offering (IPO)
Enrolled 50% of patients needed to complete ongoing Phase 3 trial for ABSSSI
Announced positive Phase 1 torezolid lung study data
For the fourth quarter of 2010, Trius reported a net loss of $8.8 million, or $0.37 per share, compared to a net loss of $7.3 million, or $9.25 per share, for the comparable period in 2009. For the year ended December 31, 2010, Trius reported a net loss of $23.9 million, or $2.36 per share, compared to a net loss of $22.7 million, or $31.11 per share, for the comparable period in 2009. The decrease in the net loss per share for the three months and year ended December 31, 2010 as compared to the same periods in 2009 was primarily due to the increase in shares outstanding resulting from the IPO in August 2010.
Revenues for the three months ended December 31, 2010 increased to $2.5 million compared to $1.0 million for the same period in 2009. For the year ended December 31, 2010, revenues were $8.0 million compared to $5.0 million for the same period in 2009. The increase in revenues during the three months and year ended December 31, 2010 was largely a result of the initiation of work on the Company’s second federal research contract, a four and a half-year contract from DTRA for up to $29.5 million. Trius’ first federal contract was a five-year contract from the National Institutes for Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, for up to $27.7 million, which was awarded in 2008.
Research and development expenses for the three months ended December 31, 2010 were $9.6 million compared to $6.5 million for the same period in 2009. Research and development expenses for the year ended December 31, 2010 increased to $23.3 million compared to $23.0 million for the same period in 2009. The increase in expenses was primarily related to higher clinical trial expenses due to the initiation of the first Phase 3 clinical trial for torezolid phosphate.
General and administrative expenses for the three months ended December 31, 2010 increased to $1.9 million compared to $1.3 million for the same period in 2009. General and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2010 were $5.4 million compared to $4.1 million for the same period in 2009. The increase in general and administrative expenses was primarily due to additional costs related to operating as a publicly traded company.
At December 31, 2010, Trius had cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments totaling $45.3 million. As of March 21, 2011, Trius had 23,659,333 shares outstanding.
Torezolid Clinical Update
Enrollment in the Phase 3 clinical trial of the oral dosage form of torezolid in acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI) is on target and, as of March 18, 2011, 50% of the patients that are targeted to complete the trial have been enrolled in North American clinical trial sites. Enrollment in European and Latin American clinical trial sites will begin in the second quarter, with expected completion of enrollment this year followed by top-line data in early 2012. The Company also met with the FDA earlier this year to discuss protocol details for its second Phase 3 ABSSSI trial testing the IV to oral step-down dosing of torezolid. Based on these discussions, Trius expects to obtain a separate SPA for this trial by the end of the third quarter of 2011.
“We have made substantial progress on the development program for our investigational drug, torezolid phosphate. In addition to meeting our enrollment projections for our Phase 3 trial in ABSSSI, the positive results of our recently announced Phase 1 torezolid lung study support the use of the same once daily 200mg dose in pneumonia indications in the future,” said Jeffrey Stein, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Trius. “We continue to evaluate potential strategic alliances for an ex-US territory that reflect the strong value that we have created with torezolid.”
Scheduled Conference Call
The Company will host a conference call to discuss the fourth quarter and full year 2010 financial results and to provide a corporate update today, March 23, 2011, at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time (1:30 p.m. Pacific Time). The conference call may be accessed by calling (877) 845-0779 for domestic callers and (760) 298-5087 for international callers. Please specify to the operator that you would like to join the “Trius Earnings Call.” The conference call will also be webcast live under the Investors section of Trius’ website at http://investor.triusrx.com/, where it will be archived for 30 days following the call.
About Trius Therapeutics
Trius Therapeutics, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative antibiotics for life-threatening infections. The Company’s first product candidate, torezolid phosphate, is an IV and orally administered second generation oxazolidinone being developed for the treatment of serious gram-positive infections, including those caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA. In addition to the Company’s torezolid phosphate clinical program, it is currently conducting two preclinical programs using its proprietary discovery platform to develop antibiotics to treat infections caused by gram-negative bacteria. For more information, visit www.triusrx.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements contained in this press release regarding matters that are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Because such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the initiation of our torezolid phosphate clinical program in additional indications, the enrollment of patients in our ongoing Phase 3 clinical program of torezolid phosphate, an additional agreement with the FDA on an SPA for our second Phase 3 clinical trial of torezolid phosphate and potential strategic partnerships for the development of torezolid phosphate outside the United States. Risks that contribute to the uncertain nature of the forward-looking statements include: Trius’ ability to obtain additional financing; Trius’ use of the net proceeds from the IPO; the accuracy of Trius’ estimates regarding expenses, future revenues and capital requirements; the success and timing of Trius’ preclinical studies and clinical trials; regulatory developments in the United States and foreign countries; the performance of third-party manufacturers; changes in Trius’ plans to develop and commercialize its product candidates; Trius’ ability to obtain and maintain intellectual property protection for its product candidates; and the loss of key scientific or management personnel. These and other risks and uncertainties are described more fully in Trius’ most recently filed SEC documents, including its Registration Statement on Form S-1 that was originally filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission on November 6, 2009, and the amendments thereto, and its Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2010, including those factors discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” in such filings. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made. Trius undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made.