Net loss attributable to Athenex for the third quarter ended September 30, 2018 was $46.2 million, or ($0.70) per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $23.3 million, or ($0.41) per diluted share, in the same period last year. Excluding thenon-cash license fee of $24.5 million, the net loss attributable to Athenex for the third quarter ended September 30, 2018 was $21.6 million.
In July 2018, Athenex closed a privately placed debt and equity financing deal with Perceptive Advisors, LLC for gross proceeds of $100.0 million and aggregate net proceeds of $97.1 million, net of fees and offering expenses. The Company entered into a5-year senior secured loan for $50.0 million of this financing and issued 2,679,528 shares of its common stock at a purchase price of $18.66 per share for the remaining $50.0 million.
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments were $141.4 million at September 30, 2018, compared to $51.0 million at December 31, 2017. Based on the current operating plan, the Company expects that its cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments as of September 30, 2018, together with cash to be generated from operating activities, will enable it to fund its operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements into the fourth quarter of 2019.
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018 Financial Results
Revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 was $67.8 million, an increase of $44.7 million, or 193%, as compared to $23.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017. The increase was primarily attributable to $30.0 million in upfront license fees, a $13.7 million increase in specialty products sold through the Company’s Commercial Platform, a $2.0 million increase in sales of 503B products, and a $0.4 million increase in API and medical device sales.
Cost of sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 totaled $32.7 million, an increase of $17.6 million, or 117%, as compared to $15.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017. This was primarily due to the increase of $13.2 million cost of sales from the specialty products and $4.4 million cost of sales from 503B and API products.
Research and development expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 totaled $99.1 million, an increase of $43.1 million, or 77%, as compared to $55.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017. This was primarily due to an increase in licensing fees and clinical expenses. In particular, there was a $29.5 millionnon-cash license fee related to the purchase ofTCR-T in connection with the establishment of Axis Therapeutics, of which $24.5 million related to the fair value of the IPR&D and $5.0 million related to the Company’s common stock issued to Xiangxue Life Sciences.
SG&A expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 totaled $37.4 million, an increase of $3.6 million, or 11%, as compared to $33.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017. This was primarily due to an increase in costs related to operating as a public company.
Net loss attributable to Athenex for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 was $90.3 million, or ($1.42) per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $102.9 million, or ($2.18) per diluted share, for the nine months ended September 30, 2017. Excluding thenon-cash license fee of $24.5 million, the net loss attributable to Athenex for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 was $65.8 million.