On February 27, 2018 Heron Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: HRTX), a commercial-stage biotechnology company focused on improving the lives of patients by developing best-in-class treatments to address some of the most important unmet patient needs, reported financial results for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2017 and highlighted recent corporate progress (Press release, Heron Therapeutics, FEB 27, 2018, View Source [SID1234524237]).

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Recent Corporate Progress

CINV Franchise

SUSTOL Sales. Net product sales of SUSTOL (granisetron) extended-release injection for the three months ended December 31, 2017 were $10.1 million, up 17% from the net product sales for the three months ended September 30, 2017 of $8.6 million. SUSTOL net product sales for the twelve months ended December 31, 2017 were $30.8 million, versus guidance of $25 million to $30 million.
2018 CINV Sales Guidance. Net product sales guidance for full-year 2018 for the CINV franchise is $60 million to $70 million.
Permanent J-Code Now Effective. On January 1, 2018,a product-specific billing code, or permanent J-code, for SUSTOL became available. The new J-code was assigned by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and will help simplify the billing and reimbursement process for prescribers of SUSTOL.
CINVANTI Now Available. In November 2017, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the Company’s New Drug Application (NDA) for CINVANTI (aprepitant) injectable emulsion, the first and only polysorbate 80-free intravenous (IV) formulation of a neurokinin-1 (NK1) receptor antagonist indicated for the prevention of acute and delayed CINV. CINVANTI became commercially available in the United States on January 4, 2018.

Pain Management Franchise

Enrollment Complete in Phase 3 Pivotal Trials for HTX-011 in Postoperative Pain. Heron completed enrollment in its two pivotal Phase 3 efficacy studies in bunionectomy and hernia repair. Heron anticipates reporting top-line results in the first half of 2018 and expects to file an NDA with the FDA in the second half of 2018.

"2017 was an excellent year for Heron, with significant progress in both our CINV and pain management franchises," said Barry D. Quart, Pharm.D., Chief Executive Officer of Heron. "2018 should be an equally exciting year as we look forward to reporting top-line pivotal Phase 3 data and filing an NDA for HTX-011, while continuing to ramp up net product sales for our CINV franchise."

Financial Results

Net product sales of SUSTOL for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2017 were $10.1 million and $30.8 million, respectively. Heron commenced commercial sales of SUSTOL in October 2016. Net product sales of SUSTOL for both the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2016 were $1.3 million.

Heron’s net loss for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2017 was $62.5 million and $197.5 million, or $1.09 per share and $3.65 per share, respectively, compared to a net loss of $48.0 million and $173.1 million, or $1.22 per share and $4.56 per share, respectively, for the same periods in 2016. Net loss for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2017 included non-cash, stock-based compensation expense of $6.9 million and $30.5 million, respectively, compared to $7.3 million and $26.0 million, respectively, for the same periods in 2016.

As of December 31, 2017, Heron had $172.4 million in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments, which included net proceeds of $142.6 million from an underwritten public offering of common stock completed in December 2017. Net cash used for operating activities for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2017 was $47.1 million and $170.3 million, respectively, compared to net cash used for operating activities of $38.5 million and $134.1 million, respectively, for the same periods in 2016.

About HTX-011 for Postoperative Pain

HTX-011, which utilizes Heron’s proprietary Biochronomer drug delivery technology, is an investigational, long-acting, extended-release formulation of the local anesthetic bupivacaine in a fixed-dose combination with the anti-inflammatory meloxicam for the prevention of postoperative pain. By delivering sustained levels of both a potent anesthetic and a local anti-inflammatory agent directly to the site of tissue injury, HTX-011 was designed to deliver superior pain relief while reducing the need for systemically administered pain medications such as opioids, which carry the risk of harmful side effects, abuse and addiction. The Phase 2 development program for HTX-011 was designed to target the many patients undergoing a wide range of surgeries who experience significant postoperative pain. Heron completed enrollment in its two pivotal Phase 3 efficacy studies in bunionectomy and hernia repair and anticipates reporting top-line results in the first half of 2018 and expects to file an NDA with the FDA in the second half of 2018.

About CINVANTI (aprepitant) injectable emulsion

CINVANTI is indicated in adults, in combination with other antiemetic agents, for the prevention of acute and delayed nausea and vomiting associated with initial and repeat courses of highly emetogenic cancer chemotherapy (HEC) including high-dose cisplatin and nausea and vomiting associated with initial and repeat courses of moderately emetogenic cancer chemotherapy (MEC). CINVANTI is an intravenous formulation of aprepitant, a substance P/neurokinin-1 (NK1) receptor antagonist. CINVANTI is the first intravenous (IV) formulation to directly deliver aprepitant, the active ingredient in EMEND capsules. Aprepitant (including its prodrug, fosaprepitant) is the only single-agent NK1 receptor antagonist to significantly reduce CINV in both the acute phase (0 – 24 hours after chemotherapy) and the delayed phase (24 – 120 hours after chemotherapy). CINVANTI does not contain polysorbate 80 or any other synthetic surfactant. Pharmaceutical formulations containing polysorbate 80 have been linked to hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis and irritation of blood vessels resulting in infusion-site pain. FDA-approved dosing administration included in the United States prescribing information for CINVANTI is a 30-minute infusion.

Please see Full Prescribing Information at www.CINVANTI.com.

About SUSTOL (granisetron) extended-release injection

SUSTOL is indicated in combination with other antiemetics in adults for the prevention of acute and delayed nausea and vomiting associated with initial and repeat courses of moderately emetogenic chemotherapy (MEC) or anthracycline and cyclophosphamide (AC) combination chemotherapy regimens. SUSTOL is an extended-release, injectable 5-HT3 receptor antagonist that utilizes Heron’s Biochronomer polymer-based drug delivery technology to maintain therapeutic levels of granisetron for ≥5 days. The SUSTOL global Phase 3 development program was comprised of two, large, guideline-based clinical studies that evaluated SUSTOL’s efficacy and safety in more than 2,000 patients with cancer. SUSTOL’s efficacy in preventing nausea and vomiting was evaluated in both the acute phase (0 – 24 hours after chemotherapy) and delayed phase (24 – 120 hours after chemotherapy).