On August 4, 2016 Progenics Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq:PGNX) reported financial and business results for the second quarter 2016 (Press release, Progenics Pharmaceuticals, AUG 4, 2016, View Source [SID:1234514291]).

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"The clear highlight in recent weeks was the approval of RELISTOR tablets, which triggered a $50 million milestone payment from our partner Valeant, strengthening our balance sheet as we prepare for a potential AZEDRA launch and continue to advance development of our prostate cancer pipeline," said Mark Baker, Chief Executive Officer of Progenics. "Our cash, together with the potential to earn significant additional royalties and sales milestones from the RELISTOR franchise, puts us in a strong position to achieve multiple value-creating milestones. In particular, our ultra-orphan radiotherapeutic candidate AZEDRA represents a meaningful near-term commercialization opportunity for Progenics, and we are on track to announce registrational topline data later this year or in early 2017. We are also advancing development of our portfolio of prostate cancer imaging agents and therapeutics, which has the potential to significantly improve how we find, fight, and follow all stages of prostate cancer."

Key Business Highlights

RELISTOR, treatment for opioid-induced constipation (partnered with Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc.)

On July 19, the Company Announced that the FDA has approved RELISTOR tablets for the treatment of opioid induced constipation in adults with chronic non-cancer pain. The approval triggered a $50 million milestone payment on July 25 from Progenics’ partner, Valeant, as well as subsequent royalties and up to $200 million in sales milestones.

RELISTOR SC Net Sales for the Second Quarter 2016 Total $15.9 Million. The second quarter 2016 sales, as reported to the Company by Valeant, translated to $2.4 million in royalty revenue for the second quarter of 2016.
AZEDRA, Ultra-orphan radiotherapeutic candidate

AZEDRA Topline Results Expected Between December 2016 and March 2017. In late 2016 or early 2017, Progenics expects to report topline results from its ongoing registrational trial of AZEDRA. If the AZEDRA trial meets the endpoints of the SPA, the Company expects to submit an NDA to the FDA during the first half of 2017.
PSMA-Targeted Prostate Cancer Pipeline

Granted an Exclusive License to Bayer for the Development and Commercialization of Therapeutic Antibodies Combining Progenics’ PSMA Antibody Technology with Bayer’s Targeted Thorium Conjugate Technology. Progenics recognized revenue of $5 million in the second quarter of 2016, constituting the $4 million upfront payment and the first pre-clinical development milestone of $1 million. Under terms of the agreement, the Company is entitled to up to an additional $48 million in potential clinical and regulatory development milestones, single digit royalties on net sales, and potential sales milestone payments up to an aggregate of $130 million.

Enrollment in Pivotal Phase 3 Study of 1404 is Ongoing. The study will enroll up to 450 patients with newly-diagnosed or low-grade prostate cancer who are candidates for active surveillance. The Company’s plans for an interim analysis during the fourth quarter of 2016 to assess futility and evaluate the need for a sample size re-estimation remain unchanged.

Presented Data from its PSMA-Targeted Prostate Cancer Imaging Programs at the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging 2016 Annual Meeting in San Diego. The data highlighted the potential of the Company’s SPEC/CT imaging agent 1404 and PET/CT imaging agent PyL to detect prostate cancer.

On-Track to Initiate Phase 2/3 Trial of PyL by Year-End. The study is designed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of PyL PET/CT imaging in patients with high risk and/or metastatic prostate cancer.

Company Remains On-Track to Initiate a Phase 1 Trial of 1095 in the Fourth Quarter of 2016. The Phase 1 Study of 1095, a PSMA-Targeted Therapeutic for Metastatic Prostate Cancer, will be conducted at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
Second Quarter 2016 Financial Results

Net loss attributable to Progenics for the quarter was $5.6 million or $0.08 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $11.7 million or $0.17 per diluted share in the 2015 period. Progenics ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $60.1 million, a decrease of $5.5 million in the quarter.

Second quarter revenue totaled $8.5 million, up from $1.9 million in 2015, reflecting RELISTOR royalty income of $2.4 million compared to $1.8 million in the 2015 period, based on net sales reported to Progenics by Valeant. The increase was primarily attributable to upfront and milestone revenue of $5 million under the Bayer license agreement.

Second quarter and year-to-date research and development expenses increased by $1.3 million and $3.9 million, respectively, compared to the prior year periods, resulting from higher clinical trial and contract manufacturing expenses for AZEDRA, 1404 and PyL, partially offset by lower expenses for PSMA ADC. Second quarter general and administrative expenses decreased by $0.5 million from the prior year period, primarily attributable to lower legal fees as the prior year included costs related to litigation with a former employee. Year-to-date general and administrative expenses increased by $1.6 million compared to prior year period, primarily resulting from higher depreciation expense as a result of a reduction in the remaining useful lives of our leasehold improvements at our Tarrytown, NY location, and higher compensation and consulting expenses. The Company also recorded a non-cash charge of $0.6 million in the second quarter related to an increase in the fair value estimate of the contingent consideration liability.