Sucampo Pharmaceuticals Reports Financial Results for the Third Quarter of 2009

November 5, 2009 4:05 PM EST

BETHESDA, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCMP) today reported its consolidated financial results for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2009.

Financial Highlights of the Quarter:

    --  Product royalty revenue from sales of Amitiza(R) (lubiprostone) in the
        U.S. for the third quarter of 2009 was $9.4 million compared to $7.7
        million during the prior year period. Product royalty revenues had been
        negatively impacted in the third quarter of 2008, as $1.9 million of
        revenue was recognized in the second quarter of 2008 from the initial
        stocking of Amitiza (8 mcg) for irritable bowel syndrome with
        constipation (IBS-C).

    --  Net sales of Amitiza, as reported by our collaboration partner Takeda
        Pharmaceutical Company (Takeda), for the third quarter of 2009 grew to
        $52.0 million, or by 2.4%, compared to $50.8 million the prior year
        period.

    --  Sucampo reported a net loss of $0.1 million, or $0.00 per diluted share,
        in the third quarter of 2009 compared to net loss of $2.4 million, or
        $0.06 per diluted share, in the prior year period. This favorable change
        is primarily attributable to increased research and development and
        product royalty revenues, decreased research and development expenses
        and a change in Sucampo's taxable position.

    --  The income (loss) before income taxes for each of Sucampo's reportable
        segments for the third quarter of 2009 was: a pre-tax income of $3.6
        million from Sucampo Pharma Americas; a pre-tax loss of $1.5 million
        from Sucampo Pharma Europe; and a pre-tax loss of $0.7 million from
        Sucampo Pharma Asia. These results compare with losses before income
        taxes for the third quarter of 2008 of $2.8 million, $0.5 million and
        $0.9 million, respectively.

    --  Sucampo's consolidated cash, cash equivalents and investments increased
        to $123.6 million as of September 30, 2009, from $121.5 million at
        December 31, 2008. The increase is mainly attributable to payments
        received under the Abbott Japan agreement, partially offset by the
        upfront payment of $3.0 million to R-Tech Ueno Ltd. for the U.S. and
        Canadian rights to Rescula. Sucampo had no debt as of September 30,
        2009.

Operational Update:

    --  In October 2009, Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that William L.
        Ashton, Dean of the Mayes College of Healthcare Business and Policy, at
        the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, had been
        appointed to the Board of Directors. Prior to joining the university in
        2005, Mr. Ashton held a number of senior executive positions at Amgen
        Inc., including Business Unit Vice President/General Manager of
        Corporate Accounts and Vice President of Commercial and Government
        Affairs.

    --  In August 2009, Sucampo Pharma Asia completed enrollment into its
        open-label phase 3 safety trial and, in October 2009, Sucampo Pharma
        Asia completed enrollment into the pivotal phase 3 efficacy trial of
        lubiprostone for chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC) in Japan.

    --  In September 2009, Sucampo Pharma Europe announced the withdrawal of its
        European marketing authorization application (MAA) for lubiprostone, 24
        mcg, for the treatment of CIC. The decision to withdraw the MAA was
        strategic, based on lubiprostone's projected commercial position in the
        global market.

    --  In July 2009, Sucampo Pharma Americas reported top-line results from two
        identically-designed phase 3 placebo-controlled pivotal clinical trials
        of lubiprostone (24 mcg, twice daily) for the management of
        opioid-induced bowel dysfunction (OBD) in subjects with chronic,
        non-cancer pain. In one trial, the primary endpoint of a statistically
        significant change from baseline in the frequency of spontaneous bowel
        movements (SBMs) was met when lubiprostone was compared to placebo. The
        other trial did not achieve statistical significance for the same
        primary endpoint. In both trials, a post-hoc sub-analysis showed that
        subjects on methadone treatment regimens who were randomized to receive
        lubiprostone showed a lower SBM response when compared to lubiprostone
        subjects treated with other opioid medications. The fully-enrolled,
        long-term, follow-on, open-label safety study of lubiprostone in OBD
        subjects remains ongoing, and Sucampo continues to expect to report data
        from this study in late 2009. Sucampo anticipates submitting data from
        these trials to the FDA in 2010.

    --  In July 2009, Sucampo Pharma Americas reported top-line results from its
        phase 2 clinical trial of orally administered cobiprostone for the
        prevention of gastric ulcers and other gastrointestinal injuries in
        patients treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID).
        Cobiprostone patients experienced an overall statistically significant
        reduction in the number of gastric erosions through the treatment period
        of twelve weeks compared to placebo patients. In addition, the high-dose
        cobiprostone group experienced a 50.0% reduction in the overall
        incidence of gastric ulcers when compared to patients taking placebo.

"We continue our review of Takeda's performance regarding the disappointing sales of Amitiza and possible methods to revitalize growth for the product," said Ryuji Ueno, M.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Co-Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "In the meantime, we continue to push forward in clinical development of Amitiza in other geographies and for other indications, we are preparing for the re-launch of Rescula for glaucoma as well as pursuing Rescula for additional indications with significant market and value potential, and we are proceeding in the development of our other pipeline product candidates."

Financial Results for the Quarter and Year-to-Date

Total revenues for the third quarter of 2009 were $17.8 million, compared to $14.5 million for the third quarter of 2008. Total revenues for the first nine months of 2009 were $51.1 million compared to $95.7 million for the first nine months of 2008. The key elements of the changes in total revenues are:

    --  R&D revenue for the third quarter 2009 was $7.0 million, consisting of
        $3.5 million recognized primarily for the phase 3 OBD trials funded by
        Takeda, and $3.5 million of revenue recognized from the payments
        received under the Abbott agreement. R&D revenue for the third quarter
        of 2008 was $5.4 million and included revenue recognized with respect to
        the development programs for Amitiza in the U.S. supported by Takeda.
        R&D revenue for the first nine months of 2009 was $20.0 million compared
        to $67.0 million for the first nine months of 2008, which included a
        $50.0 million milestone payment from Takeda received and recognized upon
        the April 2008 FDA approval of Amitiza (8 mcg) for the treatment of
        IBS-C in adult women.

    --  Product royalty revenue for the third quarter of 2009 was $9.4 million
        compared to $7.7 million during the third quarter of 2008. This increase
        is due to a large extent to the third quarter of 2008 being negatively
        impacted by lower shipments of Amitiza (8 mcg) subsequent to its initial
        stocking completed in the second quarter of 2008. We recognized
        approximately $1.9 million of product royalty revenue in the second
        quarter of 2008 relating to the initial stocking that was drawn down
        over the following two quarters. We note that this will affect
        year-over-year comparisons for the fourth quarter of 2009 as well. The
        increase also reflects the slight growth in net sales of Amitiza, which
        for the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008 were
        approximately $52.0 million and $50.8 million, respectively. Product
        royalty revenue during the nine months ended September 30, 2009 was
        $27.2 million, an increase of $2.5 million, or 10.2%, compared to $24.7
        million in the prior year period.

Total operating expenses during the third quarter of 2009 were $16.4 million compared to $19.3 million during the third quarter of 2008. Total operating expenses during the nine months ended September 30, 2009 were $51.1 million compared to $62.4 million during the prior year period. The key components of the changes in operating expenses are:

    --  R&D expenses during the third quarter of 2009 were $7.4 million, a
        decrease of 35.2%, from $11.4 million during the prior year quarter. The
        decrease was primarily due to the completion of U.S. clinical trials of
        Amitiza and cobiprostone, partially offset by increased expenses from
        ongoing phase 3 clinical trials of lubiprostone and phase 1 trials of
        SPI-017 in Japanese patients. R&D expenses during the first nine months
        of 2009 were $27.0 million, a decrease of 24.1%, from $35.5 million
        during the prior year period, which included approximately $2.5 million
        of filing and data purchase costs for the European MAA for Amitiza in
        Europe.

    --  General and administrative (G&A) expenses during the third quarter of
        2009 were $4.3 million, an increase of $0.4 million, or 11.8%, from $3.9
        million during the prior year quarter, primarily due to $1.4 million in
        expenses incurred in the preparation and the on-going conduct of a
        performance audit under Sucampo's contract with Takeda and a one-time
        business development effort that we elected not to pursue. The increase
        was partially offset by a decrease in salaries, benefits and related
        costs resulting from cost reduction initiatives implemented at the
        beginning of 2009. G&A expenses during the first nine months of 2009
        were $10.7 million, an increase of $0.1 million, or 1.0%, compared to
        $10.6 million during the prior year period.

    --  Selling and marketing (S&M) expenses during the third quarter of 2009
        were $3.0 million, an increase of $0.3 million, or 13.7%, as compared to
        $2.7 million during the prior year period, primarily resulting from a
        one-time expense of $0.7 million incurred upon the withdrawal of
        Sucampo's European MAA. The increase was offset in part by savings from
        the cost reduction measures in both sales and marketing. S&M expenses
        during the first nine months of 2009 were $7.7 million, a decrease of
        $0.7 million, or 7.8%, as compared to $8.4 million during the prior year
        period, resulting from the cost reduction measures.

Income tax - Sucampo recorded an income tax provision of $1.5 million for the third quarter of 2009 as compared to an income tax benefit of $1.7 million for the third quarter of 2008. Sucampo recorded an income tax provision of $2.7 million for the first nine months of 2009 as compared to $7.2 million for the first nine months of 2008. The income tax benefit/provision relates mainly to the profitable results of Sucampo's U.S. operations.

The financial results for the third quarter of 2009 of Sucampo's reportable segments (United States, Europe and Japan), continue to reflect their respective varying stages of development:

    --  Sucampo Pharma Americas recorded income before taxes of $3.6 million for
        the third quarter of 2009 compared to a loss before taxes of $2.8
        million in the third quarter of 2008. The increase was mainly due to
        higher product royalty revenue and decreased R&D expenses due to the
        completion of U.S. clinical trials of Amitiza and cobiprostone and
        decreased overall preclinical and basic development costs.

    --  Sucampo Pharma Europe reported a loss before taxes of $1.5 million for
        the third quarter of 2009 compared to a loss before taxes of $0.5
        million in the third quarter of 2008, reflecting the expenses incurred
        for the European regulatory approval and pre-commercialization
        activities for lubiprostone in Europe.
    --  Sucampo Pharma Asia reported a loss before taxes of $0.7 million in the
        third quarter of 2009 as compared to a loss before taxes of $0.9 million
        during the third quarter of 2008. The results reflect the ongoing
        investment in the clinical program for lubiprostone and SPI-017 and the
        ongoing preclinical programs for other prostone-based compounds.

Sucampo's consolidated cash, cash equivalents and investments totaled $123.6 million at September 30, 2009 as compared with $121.5 million at December 31, 2008. Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. had no debt as of September 30, 2009.

Company to Host Conference Call Today

Sucampo management will host a conference call today, November 5, 2009 at 4:30 pm Eastern Time to discuss these results. To participate on the live call, please dial 866-783-2138 (domestic) or +1-857-350-1597 (international), and provide the participant passcode 31403000, five to ten minutes ahead of the start of the call. A replay of the call will be available within a few hours after the call ends. Investors may listen to the replay by dialing 888-286-8010 (domestic) or 1-617-801-6888 (international), with the passcode 52346247.

A live and archived audio webcast of the call will be available via the "For Investors" page of the Sucampo Pharmaceuticals website, www.sucampo.com. Please dial in or log on through Sucampo Pharmaceuticals' website approximately 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start time.

About Sucampo Pharmaceuticals

Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Inc., an international biopharmaceutical company based in Bethesda, Maryland, focuses on the development and commercialization of medicines based on prostones. The therapeutic potential of prostones, which are bio-lipids that occur naturally in the human body, was first identified by Ryuji Ueno, M.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Sucampo Pharmaceuticals' Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Ueno founded Sucampo Pharmaceuticals in 1996 with Sachiko Kuno, Ph.D., founding Chief Executive Officer and currently Director and Advisor, International Business Development.

Sucampo is marketing Amitiza(R) (lubiprostone) 24 mcg in the U.S. for chronic idiopathic constipation in adults and Amitiza 8 mcg in the U.S. to treat irritable bowel syndrome with constipation in adult women. Sucampo also is developing the drug for additional gastrointestinal disorders with large potential markets. In addition, Sucampo has a robust pipeline of compounds with the potential to target underserved diseases affecting millions of patients worldwide. Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has three wholly owned subsidiaries: Sucampo Pharma Europe, Ltd., located in the UK; Sucampo Pharma, Ltd., located in Japan; and, Sucampo Pharma Americas, Inc., located in Maryland. To learn more about Sucampo Pharmaceuticals and its products, visit www.sucampo.com.

Amitiza is registered trademark of Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Rescula is a registered trademark used under license.

Amitiza is co-marketed in the U.S. by Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, Inc.

Forward-Looking Statements

Any statements in this press release about future expectations, plans and prospects for Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and its subsidiaries are forward-looking statements made under the provisions of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the words "project," "believe," "anticipate," "plan," "expect," "estimate," "intend," "should," "would," "could," "will," "may" or other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements include statements about potential trial results, the potential utility of Amitiza and Rescula to treat particular indications and expected data availability, trial commencement and regulatory dates. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including those described in Sucampo Pharmaceuticals' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including the annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 and other periodic reports filed with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements in this press release represent Sucampo Pharmaceuticals' views only as of the date of this release and should not be relied upon as representing its views as of any subsequent date. Sucampo Pharmaceuticals anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause its views to change. However, while Sucampo Pharmaceuticals may elect to update these forward-looking statements publicly at some point in the future, Sucampo Pharmaceuticals specifically disclaims any obligation to do so, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

(Financial Schedules Follow)


Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited)

(in thousands, except per share data)

                                  Three Months Ended      Nine Months Ended

                                  September 30,           September 30,

                                  2009        2008        2009        2008

Revenues:

Research and development revenue  $ 7,045     $ 5,436     $ 19,966    $ 66,982

Product royalty revenue             9,367       7,718       27,227      24,699

Co-promotion revenue                1,266       1,185       3,406       3,643

Contract and collaboration          153         142         451         425
revenue

Total revenues                      17,831      14,481      51,050      95,749

Operating expenses:

Research and development            7,383       11,390      26,969      35,537

General and administrative          4,317       3,863       10,696      10,591

Selling and marketing               3,047       2,680       7,747       8,398

Milestone royalties - related       -           -           875         3,531
parties

Product royalties - related         1,664       1,359       4,837       4,391
parties

Total operating expenses            16,411      19,292      51,124      62,448

Income (loss) from operations       1,420       (4,811 )    (74    )    33,301

Non-operating income (expense):

Interest income                     211         655         742         1,862

Other expense, net                  (250   )    (15    )    (36    )    (16    )

Total non-operating income          (39    )    640         706         1,846
(expense), net

Income (loss) before income         1,381       (4,171 )    632         35,147
taxes

Income tax benefit (provision)      (1,469 )    1,745       (2,733 )    (7,192 )

Net income (loss)                 $ (88    )  $ (2,426 )  $ (2,101 )  $ 27,955

Net income (loss) per share:

Basic net income (loss) per       $ -         $ (0.06  )  $ (0.05  )  $ 0.67
share

Diluted net income (loss) per     $ -         $ (0.06  )  $ (0.05  )  $ 0.67
share

Weighted average common shares      41,844      41,813      41,844      41,768
outstanding - basic

Weighted average common shares      41,844      41,813      41,844      42,022
outstanding - diluted




Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited)

(in thousands, except share data)

                                                     September 30,  December 31,

                                                     2009           2008

ASSETS:

Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents                            $ 31,751       $ 11,536

Investments, current                                   53,038         93,776

Product royalties receivable                           9,368          9,725

Unbilled accounts receivable                           828            4,373

Accounts receivable                                    1,350          878

Prepaid and income taxes receivable                    -              133

Deferred tax assets, net                               190            963

Prepaid expenses and other current assets              3,447          3,641

Total current assets                                   99,972         125,025

Investments, non-current                               38,853         16,222

Property and equipment, net                            2,357          2,275

Deferred tax assets, non-current                       4,216          4,026

Other assets                                           4,339          3,246

Total assets                                         $ 149,737      $ 150,794

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:

Current liabilities:

Accounts payable                                     $ 2,122        $ 1,433

Accrued expenses                                       9,414          9,764

Deferred revenue, current                              13,499         15,599

Income taxes payable                                   313            -

Total current liabilities                              25,348         26,796

Deferred revenue, non-current                          10,217         8,061

Other liabilities                                      2,110          2,147

Total liabilities                                      37,675         37,004

Commitments

Stockholders' equity:

Preferred stock, $0.01 par value; $5,000,000 shares
authorized at September 30, 2009 and December 31,      -              -
2008; no shares issued and outstanding at September
30, 2009 and December 31, 2008

Class A common stock, $0.01 par value; 270,000,000
shares authorized at September 30, 2009 and
December 31, 2008; 15,654,258 and 15,651,849 shares    156            156
issued and outstanding at September 30, 2009 and
December 31, 2008, respectively

Class B common stock, $0.01 par value; 75,000,000
shares authorized at September 30, 2009 and
December 31, 2008; 26,191,050 shares issued and        262            262
outstanding at September 30, 2009 and December 31,
2008, respectively

Additional paid-in capital                             98,516         98,243

Accumulated other comprehensive income                 454            354

Retained earnings                                      12,674         14,775

Total stockholders' equity                             112,062        113,790

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity           $ 149,737      $ 150,794




Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Key Segment Information (unaudited)

(in thousands)

                                                      Intercompany

                  Americas    Europe      Asia        Eliminations  Consolidated

Three Months
Ended September
30, 2009

Research and
development       $ 3,562     $ -         $ 3,483     $ -           $ 7,045
revenue

Product royalty     9,367       -           -           -             9,367
revenue

Co-promotion        1,266       -           -           -             1,266
revenue

Contract and
collaboration       141         -           282         (270 )        153
revenue

Total revenues      14,336      -           3,765       (270 )        17,831

Research and
development         3,040       459         3,884       -             7,383
expenses

Depreciation and    213         3           7           -             223
amortization

Other operating     7,790       1,029       256         (270 )        8,805
expenses

Income (loss)       3,293       (1,491 )    (382   )    -             1,420
from operations

Interest income     277         -           2           (68  )        211

Other
non-operating       (17    )    (22    )    (279   )    68            (250   )
expense, net

Income (loss)
before income     $ 3,553     $ (1,513 )  $ (659   )  $ -           $ 1,381
taxes

Capital           $ 64        $ -         $ 87        $ -           $ 151
expenditures

Three Months
Ended September
30, 2008

Research and
development       $ 5,436     $ -         $ -         $ -           $ 5,436
revenue

Product royalty     7,718       -           -           -             7,718
revenue

Co-promotion        1,185       -           -           -             1,185
revenue

Contract and
collaboration       142         -           213         (213 )        142
revenue

Total revenues      14,481      -           213         (213 )        14,481

Research and
development         10,217      330         843         -             11,390
expenses

Depreciation and    110         1           3           -             114
amortization

Other operating     7,602       139         257         (210 )        7,788
expenses

Income (loss)       (3,448 )    (470   )    (890   )    (3   )        (4,811 )
from operations

Interest income     678         1           2           (26  )        655

Other
non-operating       (6     )    (17    )    (21    )    29            (15    )
expense, net

Income (loss)
before income     $ (2,776 )  $ (486   )  $ (909   )  $ -           $ (4,171 )
taxes

Capital           $ 5         $ 35        $ -         $ -           $ 40
expenditures

Nine Months
Ended September
30, 2009

Research and
development       $ 12,539    $ -         $ 7,427     $ -           $ 19,966
revenue

Product royalty     27,227      -           -           -             27,227
revenue

Co-promotion        3,406       -           -           -             3,406
revenue

Contract and
collaboration       424         -           717         (690 )        451
revenue

Total revenues      43,596      -           8,144       (690 )        51,050

Research and
development         16,398      788         9,783       -             26,969
expenses

Depreciation and    512         9           11          -             532
amortization

Other operating     20,851      1,659       1,803       (690 )        23,623
expenses

Income (loss)       5,835       (2,456 )    (3,453 )    -             (74    )
from operations

Interest income     928         -           4           (190 )        742

Other
non-operating       191         (392   )    (25    )    190           (36    )
expense, net

Income (loss)
before income     $ 6,954     $ (2,848 )  $ (3,474 )  $ -           $ 632
taxes

Capital           $ 3,259     $ 3         $ 116       $ -           $ 3,378
expenditures

Nine Months
Ended September
30, 2008

Research and
development       $ 66,982    $ -         $ -         $ -           $ 66,982
revenue

Product royalty     24,699      -           -           -             24,699
revenue

Co-promotion        3,643       -           -           -             3,643
revenue

Contract and
collaboration       425         -           630         (630 )        425
revenue

Total revenues      95,749      -           630         (630 )        95,749

Research and
development         29,976      1,703       3,858       -             35,537
expenses

Depreciation and    318         1           7           -             326
amortization

Other operating     25,348      1,188       679         (630 )        26,585
expenses

Income (loss)       40,107      (2,892 )    (3,914 )    -             33,301
from operations

Interest income     1,924       6           5           (73  )        1,862

Other
non-operating       (39    )    (30    )    (20    )    73            (16    )
expense, net

Income (loss)
before income     $ 41,992    $ (2,916 )  $ (3,929 )  $ -           $ 35,147
taxes

Capital           $ 304       $ 35        $ 3         $ -           $ 342
expenditures




    Source: Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Inc.


Related Categories

Press Releases

Stocks Mentioned

SCMP 3.47

-0.13 -3.61%
Volume: 22,674
Track SCMP


Add Your Comment