On February 25, 2016 La Jolla Pharmaceutical Company (NASDAQ: LJPC) (the Company or La Jolla), a leader in the development of innovative therapies intended to significantly improve outcomes in patients suffering from life-threatening diseases, reported fourth quarter and full year 2015 financial results and highlighted 2015 corporate progress (Filing, Q4/Annual, La Jolla Pharmaceutical, 2015, MAR 2, 2016, View Source [SID:1234509952]).

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2015 Corporate Progress

• The ATHOS (Angiotensin II for the Treatment of High-Output Shock) 3 trial, La Jolla’s multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, Phase 3 clinical trial of LJPC-501, La Jolla’s proprietary formulation of angiotensin II, in catecholamine-resistant hypotension (CRH) was initiated in March 2015. The initiation of the ATHOS 3 trial followed the reaching of an agreement with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on a Special Protocol Assessment (SPA), in which the agreed-upon primary efficacy endpoint in ATHOS 3 is increase in blood pressure. ATHOS 3 is enrolling as planned, and results are expected by the end of 2016.

• A multicenter, open-label, dose-escalation Phase 1 clinical trial of LJPC-401, the Company’s novel formulation of hepcidin, in patients at risk for iron overload due to conditions such as hereditary hemochromatosis, beta thalassemia, sickle cell disease and myelodysplastic syndrome was initiated in October 2015. Interim results, reported in January 2016, suggested a dose-dependent reduction in serum iron following a single dose of LJPC-401. Additionally, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products (COMP) designated LJPC-401 an orphan medicinal product for the treatment of beta thalassemia intermedia and major.

• La Jolla entered into exclusive worldwide license agreements with the Indiana University Research and Technology Corporation and the University of Alabama at Birmingham to acquire intellectual property rights covering LJPC-30Sa and LJPC-30Sb in May 2015. LJPC-30Sa and LJPC-30Sb are La Jolla’s next-generation gentamicin derivatives for the potential treatment of serious bacterial infections and rare genetic disorders, such as cystic fibrosis and Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

• La Jolla completed a public offering of common stock in September 2015, whereby La Jolla received approximately $104.6 million, net of issuance costs. La Jolla finished 2015 with $126.5 million in cash and cash equivalents and believes this is sufficient to fund operations into 2018.

"2015 was a very exciting year for La Jolla, highlighted by the initiation and continued progress of our Phase 3 clinical trial of LJPC-501 and encouraging interim data from our recently initiated Phase 1 clinical trial of LJPC-401," said George Tidmarsh, M.D., Ph.D., La Jolla’s President and Chief Executive Officer. "We look forward to a productive 2016, with the continued advancement of our exciting product candidates and results from our LJPC-501 Phase 3 clinical trial expected by the end of the year."

Results of Operations

As of December 31, 2015, La Jolla had $126.5 million in cash and cash equivalents, compared to $48.6 million as of December 31, 2014. The increase in cash and cash equivalents was primarily due to cash provided by our common stock offering that was completed in September 2015, which was partially offset by net cash used for operating activities. Based on current operating plans and projections, La Jolla believes that its current cash and cash equivalents are sufficient to fund operations into 2018.

La Jolla’s net cash used for operating activities for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2015 was $8.5 million and $25.2 million, respectively, compared to net cash used for operating activities of $5.4 million and $12.9 million, respectively, for the same periods in 2014. La Jolla’s net loss for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2015 was $11.8 million and $41.9 million, or $0.69 per share and $2.68 per share, respectively, compared to a net loss of $6.8 million and $21.3 million, or $0.45 per share and $2.00 per share, respectively, for the same periods in 2014. During the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2015, La Jolla recognized contract revenue of approximately $0.4 million and $1.1 million, respectively, which was pursuant to a services agreement initiated in 2015 under which La Jolla provides research and development services to a related party. The net loss includes non-cash, share-based compensation expense of $2.8 million and $13.1 million for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2015, respectively, compared to $2.5 million and $9.1 million of noncash, share-based compensation expense, respectively, for the same periods in 2014.

The increases in net cash used for operating activities and net loss in 2015 as compared to 2014 were primarily due to increased development costs associated with the Phase 3 clinical trial of LJPC-501 in catecholamine-resistant hypotension and the costs associated with the initiation of the Phase 1 clinical trial of LJPC-401 in iron overload. In addition, there were increases in personnel and related costs, which were mainly due to the hiring of additional personnel and increased facility costs to support the increased development activities.