On November 1, 2017 Pain Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq:PTIE) reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2017. Net loss for the third quarter of 2017 was $2.6 million, or $0.40 per share, respectively, compared to a net loss for the same period in 2016 of $3.5 million, or $0.54 per share (Press release, Pain Therapeutics, NOV 1, 2017, View Source [SID1234521444]). Net cash used during the third quarter was $2.2 million. Cash and investments were $11.9 million as of September 30, 2017, with no debt. The Company still expects net cash usage in the calendar year 2017 may be approximately $10 million. Following the resubmission of the REMOXY NDA in Q1 2018, the Company believes net cash usage in 2018 will decrease significantly compared to 2017.
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“The White House recently declared the opioid epidemic a public health emergency,” said Remi Barbier, President & CEO. “We fully support this policy position, and have been a voice in support of such a policy for many years. Nearly 15 years ago, Pain Therapeutics pioneered abuse-deterrent technology for opioid drugs specifically to provide policy makers, regulators, physicians, pharmacists and patients an additional tool to help combat the opioid epidemic. In partnership with all constituents, we look forward to doing our part to address the issues of overdose and death from extended-release opioid drugs.”
Operating Highlights for Q3 2017
In September, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) awarded us a $1.8 million research grant to develop a blood-based diagnostic to detect Alzheimer’s disease.
In September, The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) awarded us a $2.2 million research grant to further develop FENROCK, an abuse-deterrent transdermal patch that contains the prescription drug fentanyl.
In October, we announced a successful Phase I clinical study for PTI-125, our drug candidate for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. As previously announced, our scientists plan to present full results of this study at the 10th Annual International Conference on Clinical Trials on Alzheimer’s Disease, in Boston, MA, on November 1-4th.
In October, we announced the FDA had agreed to a pre-NDA guidance meeting on November 14th to discuss the upcoming resubmission of an NDA for REMOXY ER. We will provide details of this FDA meeting after receipt of final meeting minutes.
Recently, we substantially completed a previously announced human nasal study with REMOXY ER. We plan to announce top-line results of this study by yearend 2017.
Financial Highlights for Q3 2017
At September 30, 2017, cash and investments were $11.9 million, compared to $14.1 million at June 30, 2017. The Company has no debt.
Net cash used during the three months ended September 30, 2017 was $2.2 million.
Research and development expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2017 decreased to $1.6 million, respectively, from $2.7 million for the same period in 2016, primarily due to decreases in REMOXY related expenses and the receipt of research grant funding from the National Institutes of Health for FENROCK and PTI-125, recorded as a reduction in research and development expenses activities. Research and development expenses included non-cash stock-related compensation of $0.3 million in both three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016.
General and administrative expenses increased slightly to $1.0 million in the three months ended September 30, 2017 from $0.9 million for the same period in 2016. General and administrative expenses included non-cash stock-related compensation of $0.4 million in the three months ended September 30, 2017 compared to $0.5 million for same period in 2016.
About REMOXY ER (extended-release oxycodone capsules CII)
REMOXY ER is a proprietary, abuse-deterrent, extended-release oral formulation of oxycodone. The proposed indication for this drug candidate is for “the management of pain severe enough to require daily, around-the-clock, long-term opioid treatment and for which alternative treatment options are inadequate.” We developed REMOXY to make oxycodone difficult to abuse yet provide 12 hours of steady pain relief when used appropriately by patients. In particular, REMOXY’s thick, sticky, high-viscosity gel-cap formulation may deter unapproved routes of drug administration, such as injection, snorting or smoking.
About Opioid Abuse
Opioid drugs such as oxycodone are an important treatment option for patients with severe chronic pain. However, oxycodone abuse and diversion remains a serious, persistent problem. Drug overdose deaths exceeded 64,000 in 2016, according to the CDC. For over a decade, Pain Therapeutics has pioneered Abuse-Deterrent Formulations (ADFs) to help in the fight against prescription drug abuse. ADFs attempt to raise the bar on prescription drug abuse by making it difficult, longer or aversive to tamper with long-acting opioid formulations, recognizing that no drug can be made abuse-proof.