MediGene AG Announces Nine-Months Result and Confirms Forecast for the Year
02 November 2005 - 3:41PM
PR Newswire (US)
* Total revenues of 8.6 million euro (9M-2004: 11.5 million euro)
MARTINSRIED/MUNICH, Germany and SAN DIEGO, Nov. 2
/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- - Today the German-American biotech
company MediGene AG (Frankfurt, Prime Standard: MDG) presents its
results for the first nine months of 2005, and confirms its
forecast for the year. MediGene will hold a conference call today,
Wednesday, November 2, 2005 at 9 a.m. ET to discuss its third
quarter 2005 earnings results. You may access the call by dialing:
Toll Free US Number: 1-866.271.5140 International Dial in Number:
1-617.213.8893 Passcode: MediGene A replay of the call will be
available until November 9 2005. The call replay can be accessed by
calling: Dial In: 1-888-286-8010 International Dial In:
1-617-801-6888 Passcode 63531423 Total revenues in the third
quarter of 2005 amounted to 3,693 T euro (Q3-2004: 2,642 T euro),
and to 8,635 T euro in the first nine months (9M-2004: 11,472 T
euro). These revenues were generated almost solely by the
commercialization of the drug Eligard(R), and are made up of
proceeds from product sales, license fees, and milestone payments
that MediGene received from its marketing partner Astellas Pharma
Europe Ltd. The higher revenues in the first nine months of 2004
resulted from one-time upfront and milestone payments posted after
conclusion of the Eligard(R) marketing partnership. In the third
quarter of 2005, gross profit increased to 919 T euro (Q3-2004: 844
T euro), whereas in the first nine months of the year gross profit
decreased to 4,585 T euro (9M-2004: 6,421 T euro). This results
from higher one-time payments received in the first six months of
2004. In the third quarter of 2005, no milestone payment was
posted, just as in the third quarter of last year. The gross profit
amount is determined by milestone payments, the release of deferred
income, and the ratio of revenues from products sales to license
payments. It is subject to substantial fluctuations comparing
individual reporting periods. The increase of general,
administrative, and selling expenses to 1,693 Teuro (Q3-2004: 1,375
T euro), and to 4,741 T euro (9M-2004: 4,254 T euro), respectively,
is mainly due to the first-time adoption of International Financial
Reporting Standards (IFRS), according to which stock options issued
to employees are now recognized as expenses of 372 Teuro in the
first nine months of 2005. Consolidated Income Statement
(Abbreviated) in T euro Q3-2005 Q3-2004 Change 9M-2005 9M-2004
Change Total revenues 3,693 2,642 40% 8,635 11,472 -25% Cost of
sales 2,774 1,798 54% 4,050 5,051 -20% Gross profit 919 844 9%
4,585 6,421 -29% General, administrative, and selling expenses
1,693 1,375 23% 4,741 4,254 11% Research and development expenses
4,242 3,903 9% 11,799 10,723 10% Operating result (EBIT) -5,016
-4,434 -13% -11,955 -8,556 -40% Net loss from continued operations
-4,846 -4,294 -13% -11,175 -8,189 -36% Result from discontinued
operations -1 5 -120% 3 -295 101% Net loss for the period -4,847
-4,289 -13% -11,172 -8,484 -32% Comparing this year's and last
year's reporting periods, total R&D expenses slightly increased
to 4,242 T euro (Q3-2004: 3,903 T euro), and to 11,799 T euro
(9M-2004: 10,723 T euro), respectively. Compared to last year's
reporting periods, the net loss increased to -4,847 Teuro (Q3-2004:
-4,289 T euro), and to -11,172 T euro (9M-2004: -8,484 T euro),
respectively, since last year the company received higher milestone
payments for the drug Eligard(R). Milestones reached in the third
quarter: * An NDA for MediGene's second drug candidate, i.e.
Polyphenon E(R) Ointment for the treatment of genital warts, was
submitted to the US regulatory authority FDA. * A clinical phase II
trial of EndoTAG(TM)-1 for the treatment of advanced pancreatic
cancer was initiated in Europe; interim analysis of the results
scheduled for the end of the year 2006. Outlook: Based on the
current order backlog for Eligard(R), and the progress of our
licensing activities, MediGene confirms the forecast for the year
2005, according to which the company expects total revenues of
approximately 20 million euro, and a reduction of the net loss to
less than 10 million euro. Major milestones expected to be reached
are the conclusion of a marketing partnership for the Polyphenon(R)
E Ointment, as well as the launch of Eligard(R) in other European
countries. The complete 9-Months Report 2005 is available at
http://www.medigene.de/englisch/quartalsberichte.php. This press
release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and
uncertainties. The forward-looking statements contained herein
represent the judgment of MediGene as of the date of this release.
These forward-looking statements are no guarantees for future
performance, and the forward-looking events discussed in this press
release may not occur. MediGene disclaims any intent or obligation
to update any of these forward-looking statements. MediGene(TM) is
a trademark of MediGene AG, Polyphenon(R) E is a trademark of
Mitsui Norin. MediGene AG is a publicly quoted (Frankfurt: Prime
Standard), German- American biotechnology company located in
Martinsried, Germany and San Diego, USA. MediGene is the first
German biotech company with a drug on the market. The NDA for a
second drug, Polyphenon(R) E Ointment, has now been submitted. In
addition, MediGene has several oncological drug candidates
undergoing clinical development, and possesses innovative platform
technologies for drug development. MediGene's core competence lies
in research into and development of novel approaches for the
treatment of various cancer and tumor diseases. DATASOURCE:
MediGene AG CONTACT: Dr. Georg Donges, Public Relations,
+49-89-85-65-3317, or Dr. Michael Nettersheim, Investor Relations,
+49-89-85-65-2946, , Fax: +49-89-85-65-2920, all of MediGene AG Web
site: http://www.medigene.de/englisch/index_e.php
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