EXHIBIT 99.1
LA JOLLA PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY
REPORTS THIRD QUARTER 2004 FINANCIAL RESULTS
SAN DIEGO, NOVEMBER 4, 2004 -- La Jolla Pharmaceutical Company (Nasdaq: LJPC)
reported a net loss for the third quarter ended September 30, 2004 of $12.8
million, or $0.21 per share (on 61.3 million weighted average shares), compared
to a net loss of $6.9 million, or $0.15 per share (on 47.1 million weighted
average shares), for the third quarter of 2003. The net loss for the nine months
ended September 30, 2004 was $29.6 million, or $0.50 per share (on 59.1 million
weighted average shares), compared to a net loss of $30.4 million, or $0.69 per
share (on 44.1 million weighted average shares), for the same period in 2003.
Research and development expenses increased to $10.7 million for the three
months ended September 30, 2004 from $5.6 million for the same period in 2003
primarily due to the purchase of a large amount of raw materials, which the
Company expects to use in the production of validation lots of Riquent(R) in
2004. The Company expects to use the validation lots in connection with the
submission of the Marketing Authorization Application in Europe, and for other
purposes, including the Company's ongoing clinical trial.
Research and development expenses decreased to $24.3 million for the nine months
ended September 30, 2004 from $26.0 million for the same period in 2003
primarily due to decreases in costs incurred for clinical studies of Riquent,
including the open-label follow-on clinical trial which was closed in April 2003
and the unblinding and analysis of the data from the Phase 3 trial of Riquent in
the first quarter of 2003. These decreases were partially offset by the increase
in expenses noted above during the third quarter.
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments as of September 30, 2004 were
$35.2 million compared to $32.1 million as of December 31, 2003.
La Jolla Pharmaceutical Company is a biotechnology company developing
therapeutics for antibody-mediated autoimmune diseases and inflammation
afflicting several million people in the United States and Europe. The Company
is developing Riquent for the treatment of lupus kidney disease, a leading cause
of sickness and death in patients with lupus. The Company is also developing LJP
1082 for the treatment of antibody-mediated thrombosis, a condition in which
patients suffer from recurrent stroke, deep-vein thrombosis, miscarriage and
other thrombotic events, and is in the early stage of developing small molecules
to treat various other autoimmune and inflammatory conditions. The Company's
common stock is traded on The Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol LJPC. For
more information about the Company, visit its Web site: http://www.ljpc.com.
The forward-looking statements in this press release involve significant risks
and uncertainties, and a number of factors, both foreseen and unforeseen, could
cause actual results to differ materially from our current expectations.
Forward-looking
statements include those that express a plan, belief, expectation, estimation,
anticipation, intent, contingency, future development or similar expression. The
analyses of clinical results of Riquent, previously known as LJP 394, our drug
candidate for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus ("lupus"), and LJP
1082, our drug candidate for the treatment of antibody-mediated thrombosis
("thrombosis"), including the results of any trials that are ongoing or that we
may initiate in the future, could result in a finding that these drug candidates
are not effective in large patient populations, do not provide a meaningful
clinical benefit, or may reveal a potential safety issue requiring us to develop
new candidates. The analysis of the data from our Phase 3 trial of Riquent
showed that the trial did not reach statistical significance with respect to its
primary endpoint, time to renal flare, or with respect to the secondary
endpoint, time to treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or cyclophosphamide.
The results from our clinical trials of Riquent, including the results of any
trials that are ongoing or that we may initiate in the future, may not
ultimately be sufficient to obtain regulatory clearance to market Riquent either
in the United States or Europe, and we may be required to conduct additional
clinical studies to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of Riquent in order to
obtain marketing approval. There can be no assurance, however, that we will have
the necessary resources to complete any additional trial or that any additional
trial will sufficiently demonstrate the safety and efficacy of Riquent. Our
blood test to measure the binding affinity for Riquent is experimental, has not
been validated by independent laboratories and will likely be reviewed as part
of the Riquent approval process. Our other potential drug candidates are at
earlier stages of development and involve comparable risks. Analysis of our
clinical trials could have negative or inconclusive results. Any positive
results observed to date may not be indicative of future results. In any event,
regulatory authorities may require clinical trials in addition to our current
clinical trial, or may not approve our drugs. Our ability to develop and sell
our products in the future may be adversely affected by the intellectual
property rights of third parties. Additional risk factors include the
uncertainty and timing of: our clear need for additional financing; obtaining
required regulatory approvals, including delays associated with any approvals
that we may obtain; our ability to pass all necessary FDA inspections; the
increase in capacity of our manufacturing capabilities for possible
commercialization; successfully marketing and selling our products; our lack of
manufacturing, marketing and sales experience; our ability to make use of the
orphan drug designation for Riquent; generating future revenue from product
sales or other sources such as collaborative relationships; future
profitability; and our dependence on patents and other proprietary rights.
Readers are cautioned to not place undue reliance upon forward-looking
statements, which speak only as of the date hereof, and we undertake no
obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or
circumstances occurring after the date hereof. Interested parties are urged to
review the risks described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2003, and in other reports and registration statements that we file
with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time.
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LA JOLLA PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY
CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS
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THREE MONTHS ENDED NINE MONTHS ENDED
SEPTEMBER 30, SEPTEMBER 30,
(UNAUDITED) (UNAUDITED)
2004 2003 2004 2003
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Research and development expense $ 10,656 $ 5,633 $ 24,268 $ 25,970
General and administrative expense 2,280 1,413 5,452 4,812
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Total expenses 12,936 7,046 29,720 30,782
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Loss from operations (12,936) (7,046) (29,720) (30,782)
Interest income, net 104 112 145 384
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Net loss $(12,832) $ (6,934) $(29,575) $(30,398)
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Basic and diluted net loss per share $ (0.21) $ (0.15) $ (0.50) $ (0.69)
Shares used in computing basic and diluted net loss
per share 61,310 47,089 59,135 44,063
BALANCE SHEET INFORMATION
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SEPTEMBER 30, DECEMBER 31,
2004 2003
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(UNAUDITED)
ASSETS
Cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments $35,207 $32,133
Other assets 10,196 9,811
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Total assets $45,403 $41,944
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LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Liabilities $ 8,621 $ 5,517
Stockholders' equity 36,782 36,427
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Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $45,403 $41,944
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