Depomed Reports First Quarter Financial Results

MENLO PARK, Calif., May 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Depomed, Inc. (Nasdaq: DEPO) today reported financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2012.

2012 First Quarter Business Highlights

• Financial Highlights:
  • Revenue of $16.8 million
  • Net loss of ($8.8) million or ($0.16) per share
  • Strong balance sheet with $128.6 million of cash and marketable securities and no debt
• Gralise® (gabapentin) Highlights:
  • Gralise product sales of $1.75 million
  • Gralise prescription demand now over 2,000 per week
  • Over 3,500 physicians have prescribed Gralise since launch
• Glumetza® (metformin hydrochloride extended release) Highlights:
  • Royalty of $9.2 million from Santarus
  • Settlement with Lupin regarding Glumetza generic entry in February 2016 (or earlier under certain circumstances)
• Technology and R&D Highlights:
  • FDA approved Merck's Janumet® XR (sitagliptin and metformin hydrochloride (HCl) extended-release) tablets; initial royalty to Depomed recognized in first quarter 2012
  • Acuform® license agreements - $2.5 million milestone earned and received from Boehringer Ingelheim; $1 million earned from Ironwood
  • Initiation of Phase 2 trial for Parkinson's Disease with DM-1992
  • Serada® Update in April – intent to file NDA for Serada for Menopausal Hot Flashes during second half of 2012

"Our first quarter results highlight the advances we have made toward transforming Depomed into a successful specialty pharmaceutical company," said Jim Schoeneck, president and chief executive officer of Depomed. "Our launch of Gralise is progressing well, with total prescriptions for the most recent week exceeding 2,000 and over 3,500 healthcare providers prescribing Gralise since our market introduction late last year. We continue to make progress with our payor coverage of Gralise in both commercial and government plans. Our restructured deal with Santarus for Glumetza continues to benefit both companies and our 29.5% royalty amounted to $9.2 million in the first quarter. Our technology licensing deals brought value to Depomed with the first royalty revenue following FDA approval of Merck's Janumet XR. We also recognized $3.5 million in milestone payments in the first quarter from our portfolio of license agreements; $2.5 million from Boehringer Ingelheim and $1 million from Ironwood."

"In April, we announced that based on our recent interactions with the FDA we believe that the data from our Serada clinical trial program in menopausal hot flashes warrants submission of a new drug application (NDA) for the FDA's review and consideration. We intend to file the NDA for Serada in the second half of this year. We ended the quarter with a strong balance sheet with $128.6 million of cash and marketable securities and no debt."

Depomed First Quarter Financial Highlights

Total revenue for the first quarter of 2012 was $16.8 million, consisting of $2.1 million of product sales, $9.4 million of royalties and $5.3 million of license and collaborative revenue. Gralise product sales were $1.75 million for the first quarter of 2012.

This compares to revenues of $83.1 million in the first quarter of 2011. First quarter 2011 revenues included recognition of a $48 million milestone payment and recognition of $12.6 million in license revenue from Abbott and $15.3 million of Glumetza sales.

Operating expenses were $25.3 million for the first quarter of 2012 compared with $22.7 million for first quarter 2011. Operating expenses for the first quarter of 2012 include sales and marketing expenses associated with Gralise which was launched in October 2011. Operating expenses were also affected by the restructuring of the Santarus agreement in August 2011. Prior to the restructuring of the agreement, Depomed recognized revenues and cost of goods from Glumetza sales and paid Santarus a promotion fee that was included in expenses. Operating expenses for first quarter 2012 did not reflect any promotion fee expense, compared with $10.3 million in promotion fee expense for first quarter 2011.

Net loss for first quarter 2012 was ($8.8) million, or ($0.16) per share, compared to net income of $98.8 million, or $1.77 cents per share, for first quarter 2011. Net income for the first quarter of 2011 included a milestone payment of $48 million and $12.6 in license revenue related to our license agreement with Abbott. Net income for the first quarter of 2011 also included a one-time $40 million gain related to the termination of our agreement with Abbott, which had the effect of reducing costs and expenses.

Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities were $128.6 million as of March 31, 2012 compared to $139.8 million as of December 31, 2011.

Conference Call
Depomed will host a conference call today, Tuesday, May 8, beginning at 5:00 p.m. ET, 2:00 p.m. PT to discuss its results. The dial-in number from the United States and Canada is 888-724-9505 and the conference code is 7198647. For calls from other countries, the dial-in number is 913-312-0693. The conference call will also be available via a live webcast on the investor relations section of Depomed's website at http://www.depomed.com. Access the website 15 minutes prior to the start of the call to download and install any necessary audio software. An archived webcast replay will be available on the Company's website for three months.

About Depomed
Depomed, Inc. is a specialty pharmaceutical company with two approved and marketed products. Gralise® (gabapentin) is a once-daily treatment approved for the management of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). Glumetza® (metformin hydrochloride extended release tablets) is approved for use in adults with type 2 diabetes and is commercialized by Santarus, Inc. in the United States. Depomed formulates its products and product candidates with its proven, proprietary Acuform® drug delivery technology, which is designed to improve existing oral medications, allowing for extended release of medications to the upper gastrointestinal tract when dosed with food. Additional information about Depomed may be found on its website, www.depomed.com.

"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The statements that are not historical facts contained in this release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, those related to the commercial launch of Gralise, the efforts of our collaboration partners to commercialize products; our research and development efforts; and other risks detailed in the company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 and the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2012. The inclusion of forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation that any of the company's plans or objectives will be achieved. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly release the result of any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

CONTACT:
August J. Moretti
Depomed, Inc.
650-462-5900
[email protected]

SOURCE Depomed, Inc.