Exhibit 99.1
For Immediate Release
Sunesis Pharmaceuticals Reports Second Quarter 2006 Financial Results
South San Francisco, CA, August 10, 2006 — Sunesis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: SNSS), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of novel small molecule therapeutics, today reported financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2006. Total revenues for the second quarter were $6.7 million, with a net loss of $4.5 million. As of June 30, 2006, cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities totaled $79.1 million, a reduction of $3.2 million compared to March 31, 2006.
Recent Highlights
· In April, Sunesis received a $500,000 milestone payment from Biogen Idec for the discovery of novel inhibitors of an oncology kinase target.
· At the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting in June, Sunesis reported data from two clinical trials of SNS-595 involving 62 patients with advanced solid tumors designed to examine the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of two dosing regimens. SNS-595 demonstrated promising signs of clinical activity, with 19 of 62 patients experiencing sustained disease control lasting at least 16 weeks, including two confirmed partial responses, in a mesothelioma patient and an ovarian cancer patient, at the maximum-tolerated dose levels. SNS-595 was well tolerated, with a dose-limiting toxicity of neutropenia and no other significant drug-related toxicities.
· In June, Sunesis received a $4.25 million payment in its BACE collaboration with Merck for the achievement of two preclinical milestones.
Update on Clinical Programs
· Sunesis continues to enroll patients in two Phase II clinical trials of SNS-595 in non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer, a Phase I trial of SNS-595 in acute leukemias, and a Phase I/II trial of SNS-032 in solid tumors.
· Sunesis expects to complete enrollment and present the results of the SNS-595 Phase I leukemia trial by the end of 2006.
· Sunesis expects to complete enrollment of the first 25 patients (stage 1) in the non-small cell lung cancer trial and the first 40 patients (stage 1) of the small cell lung cancer trial of SNS-595 by the end of 2006.
· Enrollment of the dose-escalation portion of the Phase I/II trial for SNS-032 is expected to be complete by the end of 2006.
· Sunesis remains on track to file an Investigational New Drug application with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for SNS-314, the company’s Aurora kinase inhibitor, by the end of 2006.
Financial Highlights
· Revenue from research collaborations totaled $6.7 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2006, compared to $4.7 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2005. This increase in collaboration revenue was primarily due to the receipt of milestone payments from partners.
· Research and development (R&D) expense was $8.8 million for the second quarter 2006, compared to $14.8 million for the second quarter 2005. The $6.0 million decrease in R&D expense was primarily due to an $8.0 million expense in the second quarter 2005 relating to the in-licensing of SNS-032 and associated intellectual property. Excluding this expense, R&D expenses increased by $2.0 million from the second quarter of 2005 to the same quarter this year. This increase is due to increased expenses related to the development of our three lead programs: SNS-595, SNS-032 and SNS-314.
· General and administrative (G&A) expense for the second quarter of 2006 was $3.2 million, compared to $2.1 million for the second quarter 2005. The increase in G&A expense was primarily due to an increase in non-cash stock compensation expense in conjunction with the adoption of FAS 123R and costs related to being a publicly-traded company.
· Sunesis reported a net loss of $4.5 million for the second quarter of 2006, compared to a reported loss of $12.0 million for the second quarter 2005.
· Cash used in operating activities was $11.5 million for both the six months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005.
· In the second quarter of 2006, Sunesis recorded non-cash stock compensation expense of $689,000.
Conference Call Information
Sunesis’ management will host a conference call to review the results of the quarter on Thursday, August 10 at 10:30 am EDT. Individual and institutional investors can access the call via (800) 946-0706 (U.S. and Canada) or (719) 457-2638 (international). To access the live audio broadcast or the subsequent archived recording, visit the “Investors and Media – Calendar of Events” section of the Sunesis website at http://www.sunesis.com. Please log on to Sunesis’ website several minutes prior to the start of the presentation to ensure adequate time for any software download that may be necessary.
About Sunesis Pharmaceuticals
Sunesis is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of novel small molecule therapeutics for oncology and other serious diseases. Sunesis has built a broad product candidate portfolio through internal discovery and in-licensing of novel cancer therapeutics. Sunesis is advancing its product candidates through in-house research and development efforts and strategic collaborations with leading pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies. For additional information on Sunesis Pharmaceuticals, please visit http://www.sunesis.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. Sunesis may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations contained in such forward-looking statements. Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations contained in such forward-looking statements. Sunesis does not assume any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements.
CONTACTS: | | |
| | |
Investors | | Media |
Eric Bjerkholt, CFO | | Karen L. Bergman or |
Sunesis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | | Michelle Corral |
650-266-3717 | | BCC Partners |
| | 650-575-1509 or 415-794-8662 |
Sunesis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Statements of Operations
| | Three months ended June 30, | | Six months ended June 30, | |
| | 2006 | | 2005 | | 2006 | | 2005 | |
| | (unaudited) | | (unaudited) | |
Revenue: | | | | | | | | | |
Collaboration revenue | | $ | 4,516,667 | | $ | 1,682,358 | | $ | 5,887,372 | | $ | 3,343,386 | |
Collaboration revenue from related party | | 2,190,986 | | 3,034,158 | | 3,879,845 | | 5,243,444 | |
Grant and fellowship revenue | | — | | 34,626 | | 37,901 | | 67,405 | |
Total revenues | | 6,707,653 | | 4,751,142 | | 9,805,118 | | 8,654,235 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Operating expenses: | | | | | | | | | |
Research and development | | 8,847,380 | | 14,776,691 | | 18,563,475 | | 21,392,908 | |
General and administrative | | 3,153,630 | | 2,068,102 | | 5,835,201 | | 3,988,930 | |
Total operating expenses | | 12,001,010 | | 16,844,793 | | 24,398,676 | | 25,381,838 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Loss from operations | | (5,293,357 | ) | (12,093,651 | ) | (14,593,558 | ) | (16,727,603 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | |
Interest income | | 957,551 | | 190,473 | | 1,503,704 | | 395,689 | |
Interest expense | | (162,103 | ) | (110,498 | ) | (387,655 | ) | (216,525 | ) |
Other income (expense), net | | 2,003 | | 3,448 | | 3,893 | | 6,206 | |
Net loss | | $ | (4,495,906 | ) | $ | (12,010,228 | ) | $ | (13,473,616 | ) | $ | (16,542,233 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | |
Basic and diluted net loss per share | | $ | (0.15 | ) | $ | (8.55 | ) | $ | (0.52 | ) | $ | (11.88 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | |
Shares used in computing basic and diluted net loss per share | | 29,256,267 | | 1,404,129 | | 26,129,745 | | 1,392,040 | |
SUNESIS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
| | June 30, | | December 31, | |
| | 2006 | | 2005 | |
| | (Unaudited) | | | |
ASSETS | | | | | |
Current assets: | | | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents | | $ | 62,298,992 | | $ | 17,704,465 | |
Marketable securities | | 16,820,670 | | 30,629,061 | |
Prepaids and other current assets | | 1,430,023 | | 2,068,195 | |
Total current assets | | 80,549,685 | | 50,401,721 | |
| | | | | |
Property and equipment, net | | 4,850,904 | | 4,006,527 | |
Deposits and other assets | | 300,000 | | 300,000 | |
Total assets | | $ | 85,700,589 | | $ | 54,708,248 | |
| | | | | |
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY | | | | | |
Current liabilities: | | | | | |
Accounts payable | | $ | 1,884,692 | | $ | 2,044,571 | |
Accrued compensation | | 1,698,032 | | 2,067,769 | |
Other accrued liabilities | | 1,411,444 | | 1,277,595 | |
Current portion of deferred revenue | | 2,533,415 | | 3,787,453 | |
Current portion of equipment financing | | 917,750 | | 1,067,520 | |
Total current liabilities | | 8,445,333 | | 10,244,908 | |
| | | | | |
Deferred revenue | | 2,061,433 | | 3,319,765 | |
Non current portion of equipment financing | | 1,074,913 | | 1,306,027 | |
Deferred rent and other non-current liabilities | | 1,437,080 | | 1,371,346 | |
Commitments | | | | | |
Stockholders’ equity: | | | | | |
Preferred stock, $0.0001 per value, 5,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2006 and December 31,2005 | | — | | — | |
Common stock, $0.0001 par value:100,000,000 shares authorized, 29,319,977 and 21,514,007 shares issued and 29,319,310 and 21,511,126 shares outstanding at June 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005 | | 2,932 | | 2,151 | |
Additional paid-in capital | | 296,615,863 | | 249,689,714 | |
Deferred stock compensation | | (1,443,477 | ) | (2,162,688 | ) |
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | | (11,970 | ) | (55,073 | ) |
Accumulated deficit | | (222,481,518 | ) | (209,007,902 | ) |
Total stockholders’ equity | | 72,681,830 | | 38,466,202 | |
| | | | | |
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | | $ | 85,700,589 | | $ | 54,708,248 | |
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