Optimer Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2012 Financial Results

JERSEY CITY, N.J., Feb. 28, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Optimer Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: OPTR) announced today unaudited financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2012.  

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Financial Highlights

• 2012 DIFICID net product sales in the U.S. and Canada of $62.4 million, compared to $21.5 million in 2011
• A 14.3% increase in U.S. and Canadian DIFICID shipments in the fourth quarter, resulting in net sales of $16.8 million
• 2012 contract revenue from collaborations, which include up-front payments, milestones, royalties and product sales, were $39.1 million
• 2012 total revenues were $101.5 million
• Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments at December 31, 2012 totaled $124.0 million
• 2012 net loss was $37.0 million, or $0.78 per share, and 2012 net income for the fourth quarter was $1.0 million, $0.02 per share

"2012 was an exciting year for Optimer.  DIFICID is now available in over a dozen countries," said Dr. Henry McKinnell, Optimer's CEO and Chairman of the Board.  "In the U.S. we will be focusing on improving the formulary status of DIFICID in the hospital marketplace and on expanding the use of this important new medicine in all channels."

Financial Overview 
Total revenue for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011 was $101.5 million and $145.0 million, respectively.  Total revenue for the fourth quarter 2012 and 2011 was $19.5 million and $64.6 million, respectively.  The decreases were due to a reduction in contract revenue, which in 2011 included $122.7 million from the Astellas Pharma Europe (APEL) agreement, offset by increases in DIFICID net product sales.

DIFICID net product sales in the U.S. and Canada for the year and quarter ended December 31, 2012 were $62.4 million and $16.8 million, respectively.  We recognize product sales of DIFICID upon delivery of product to our wholesalers.  The increase in DIFICID net product sales in 2012 reflects higher demand for DIFICID, as well as a full year of sales.  DIFICID was launched in July 2011.

Contract revenue for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011 was $39.1 million and $122.7 million, respectively, a decrease of $83.6 million.  Contract revenue is generated from collaboration partners and includes up-front and milestone payments, royalties and product sales.  In 2011, contract revenue included a $69.2 million up-front payment from APEL and a $53.5 million milestone upon EMA approval of DIFICLIR™.   Contract revenue in 2012 included a $19.9 million up-front payment from Astellas Japan and a $12.6 million milestone payment from APEL in association with the first commercial sale of DIFICLIR in an APEL territory.  Contract revenues in 2012 also included inventory shipments to our collaboration partners and royalty income from APEL.

Research and development expense for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011 was $45.2 million and $43.1 million, respectively, an increase of $2.1 million.  The increase primarily was due to higher health economics and outcomes research and pharmacovigilance expenses.  We also incurred expenses related to our prophylaxis and pediatric clinical trials, which began in 2012.  The increase was partially offset by lower materials costs associated with DIFICID production prior to FDA approval in 2011.  Research and development expense for the quarters ending December 31, 2012 and 2011 was $11.9 million and $14.0 million, respectively, a decrease of $2.1 million. 

Selling, general and administrative expense for years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011 was $112.0 million and $80.6 million, respectively, an increase of $31.4 million.  The increase primarily was due to our commercialization efforts for DIFICID which included a full year of expense in 2012.  We also incurred higher compensation expense and higher legal and facilities expenses.  SG&A expense for the quarters ending December 31, 2012 and 2011 was $31.2 million and $30.0 respectively, an increase of $1.2 million. In order to conform to our current period financial statement presentation, we reclassified two line items on our 2011 Consolidated Statements of Operations to separately identify co-promotion expenses with Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Inc.  Previously, Cubist co-promotion expenses were included in our SG&A expense.

Co-promotion expenses with Cubist for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011 were $23.2 million and $6.6 million, respectively, an increase of $16.6 million.  This increase was due to a full year of co-promotion expenses and included the year-one sales target bonus and gross profit share on sales above the target.  Co-promotion expenses for the quarters ending December 31, 2012 and 2011 were $3.8 million and $3.6 million, respectively, an increase of $0.2 million. 

For the year ended December 31, 2012, Optimer reported a net loss of $37.0 million, or $0.78 per share, on both a basic and diluted basis, as compared to net income for the year ended December 31, 2011 of $7.8 million, or $0.17 per share, on both a basic and diluted basis.  Net income for the fourth quarter of 2012 was $1.0 million, or $0.02 per share, on a basic and diluted basis, as compared to net income for the fourth quarter of 2011 of $13.4 million, or $0.29 and $0.28 per share, on a basic and diluted basis, respectively. Net income in the fourth quarter of 2012 includes a gain of $31.5 million from the sale of our equity interest in Optimer Biotechnology, Inc. (OBI).

At December 31, 2012, Optimer held cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $124.0 million.  This includes proceeds from the sale of our equity interest in OBI, which was completed in the fourth quarter.  

Optimer had 47.8 million shares outstanding on December 31, 2012.

"Healthcare policy is shifting to new ways to control healthcare spending, particularly in hospitals.  Many of our recent research initiatives, such as analyzing the cost burden of Clostridium difficile infection, are designed to assist hospitals to better understand the disease burden on their patients and institutions," said Dr. McKinnell.

As of December 31, 2012:

• Inventory levels at wholesalers remain within the range of 14 to 28 days of demand
• Approximately 2,750 hospitals had ordered DIFICID
• About 83% of hospitals covered by Optimer have reordered DIFICID
• Approximately 1,000 hospitals are estimated to have placed DIFICID on formulary

As a result of the management changes announced yesterday and processes and procedures in connection therewith, we have determined that the filing of our Form 10-K will be delayed.

Conference Call and Webcast 
The Company will host a conference call and webcast to discuss its fourth quarter and fiscal year 2012 financial results and provide a corporate update today at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (2:00 p.m. Pacific Time).

The conference call may be accessed by dialing (877) 280-7280 for domestic callers and +1 (678) 825-8232 for international callers.  Please specify to the operator that you would like to join "Optimer's Financial Results Call."  The conference call will be webcast live under the Investors section of Optimer's website at www.optimerpharma.com, where it will be archived for 30 days following the call.  

About DIFICID® (fidaxomicin) Tablets 
DIFICID is the first macrolide antibacterial drug indicated for Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD) to be approved in over 25 years in the U.S.  It is indicated in the U.S. for the treatment of CDAD in adults 18 years of age or older.  DIFICID is administered in 200 milligram tablets given orally, twice daily.

Important Safety Information for DIFICID 
DIFICID is contraindicated in patients with hypersensitivity to fidaxomicin or to any of the excipients in the formulation.  DIFICID should not be used for systemic infections.  Only use DIFICID for infection proven, or strongly suspected, to be caused by C. difficile.  Prescribing DIFICID in the absence of a proven, or strongly suspected, C. difficile infection is unlikely to provide benefit to the patient and increases the risk of the development of drug-resistant bacteria.  The most common adverse reactions are nausea (11%), vomiting (7%), abdominal pain (6%), gastrointestinal hemorrhage (4%), anemia (2%) and neutropenia (2%).

Please visit www.DIFICID.com or call 855-DIFICID (343-4243) for full prescribing information for DIFICID.

About Optimer Pharmaceuticals 
Optimer Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing innovative hospital specialty products that have a positive impact on society.  Optimer developed DIFICID® (fidaxomicin) tablets, an FDA-approved macrolide antibacterial drug for the treatment of Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD) in adults 18 years of age and older, and is commercializing DIFICID in the U.S. and Canada.  Optimer also received marketing authorization for fidaxomicin tablets in the European Union where its partner, Astellas Pharma Europe, is commercializing fidaxomicin under the trade name DIFICLIR™.  The Company is exploring marketing authorization in other parts of the world where C. difficile has emerged as a serious health problem. Additional information can be found at http://www.optimerpharma.com.

Forward-looking Statements 
Statements included in this press release that are not a description of historical facts are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements related to the implementation and impact of Optimer's commercialization strategy, Optimer's pursuit of new indications for DIFICID, Optimer's on-going education efforts regarding its patient access initiatives and the burden of Clostridium difficile infection and expansion of DIFICID sales or market potential.  Words such as "expect," "anticipate," "will," "could," "would," "project," "intend," "plan," "believe," "predict," "estimate," "should," "may," "potential," "continue," "ongoing" or variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The inclusion of forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation by Optimer that any of its plans will be achieved. These forward-looking statements are based on management's expectations on the date of this release. Actual results may differ materially from those set forth in this release due to the risks and uncertainties inherent in Optimer's business including, without limitation, risks relating to: Optimer's ability to continue to increase adoption and use of DIFICID, the implementation and success of DIFICID growth initiatives and entry into new markets, whether or not healthcare professionals will prescribe DIFICID, the extent to which DIFICID receives reimbursement coverage from healthcare payors and government agencies, the extent to which DIFICID will be accepted on additional hospital formularies and the timing of hospital formulary decisions, Optimer's ability to successfully coordinate commercialization efforts with Cubist under its co-promotion agreement, whether Optimer will be able to realize expected benefits under its co-promotion agreement with Cubist and its collaboration agreements with other partners, the possibility of alternative means of preventing or treating CDAD impacting adoption and sales of DIFICID, Optimer's ability, through its third-party manufacturers and logistics providers, to maintain a sufficient supply of DIFICID to meet demand, the effects of changes in Optimer's management, the outcome of Optimer's review of strategic alternatives including a possible sale of the Company, the potential for lawsuits and enforcement proceedings related to the previously disclosed investigations by U.S. authorities and other risks detailed in Optimer's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release, and Optimer undertakes no obligation to update or revise these statements, except as may be required by law.

Contacts

Optimer Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
David Walsey, VP of Investor Relations and Corporate Communications
858-964-3418

Canale Communications
Jason I. Spark, Senior Vice President
(619) 849-6005

SOURCE Optimer Pharmaceuticals, Inc.