StaffMay 8, 2020
Arena Pharmaceuticals
Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ARNA) today provided a corporate update and reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2020. Revenues for the first quarter totaled $0.3 million compared to $801.1 million in the first quarter of 2019. This decrease was driven by the $800.0 million upfront payment from the United Therapeutics transaction in the first quarter of 2019.
Research and development (R&D) expenses for the first quarter totaled $78.5 million compared to $45.4 million in the same period in 2019. This increase was primarily driven by advancing clinical studies, including the etrasimod Phase 3 program, as well as an increase in personnel expenses as we staff to support our clinical programs. The R&D non-cash share-based compensation was $6.6 million in the first quarter as compared to $6.7 million in the same period 2019
General and administrative (G&A) expenses for the first quarter totaled $26.4 million, compared to $16.6 million in the first quarter of 2019. This increase is primarily attributed to personnel expenses including share-based compensation. The G&A non-cash share-based compensation was $8.6 million in the first quarter as compared to $6.3 million in the same period 2019
Net loss for the first quarter was $100.2 million compared to net income of $620.1 million for the same period in 2019. In connection with the United Therapeutics transaction, we incurred transaction fees of approximately $17.0 million, of which $14.6 million was incurred in the first quarter of 2019, and was presented as transaction costs in the condensed consolidated statement of operations
“We are pleased to announce that our ongoing clinical programs are currently on track and our liquidity position remains strong with approximately one billion dollars in cash and investments. While maintaining momentum has not been easy, and we – along with the rest of the industry – have experienced a slowing in clinical trial operations, including site activations, our teams have been actively monitoring our ongoing trials day-by-day to ensure patient safety, study momentum and conduct, and drug supply. Additionally, prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, our programs were well ahead of schedule, giving us an important buffer to weather the storm. Finally, given the broad clinical site base across our programs, we are also monitoring certain countries and regions as they begin to lift restrictions. We continue to evaluate the situation in real-time and we will provide further updates frequently as circumstances evolve,” said Amit D. Munshi, President, and CEO of Arena.
CV Sciences
CV Sciences, Inc. (CVSI) announced its financial results for the first quarter ending March 31, 2020, with sales falling to $8.3 million, a decrease of 45% from $14.9 million in the first quarter of 2019. First-quarter sales were impacted by increased market competition in the natural product category, the continued impact on retail customers as a result of the uncertain regulatory environment for CBD, and the impact from the current COVID-19 pandemic.
The Company recognized an operating loss of $5.3 million in the first quarter of 2020, compared to an operating loss of $9.4 million in the prior year. The Company had a negative adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter of 2020 of $3.9 million, compared to adjusted EBITDA of $1.7 million for the first quarter of 2019.
The company’s retail store count increased to 5,799 stores nationwide as of March 31, 2020, up from 3,308 stores as of March 31, 2019, but apparently this didn’t result in increased sales.
“Over the past months, we have taken quick action to right-size our operations for the near-term industry outlook and to adapt our operations for the ever-changing operating environment created by the current global health crisis. Our production and distribution facilities continue to operate without interruption and our entire team of dedicated employees has risen to the challenge to ensure that we continue to deliver the highest quality hemp-derived CBD products on the market,” stated Joseph Dowling, Chief Executive Officer of CV Sciences.
22nd Century
22nd Century Group, Inc. (NYSE American: XXII) reported results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2020. Net sales revenue for the first quarter of 2020 was $7.1 million, an increase of $0.8 million, or 12.1%, over net sales revenue of $6.3 million during the first quarter of 2019. The increase was driven primarily by sales relating to contract manufactured cigarettes.
The Company experienced a net loss for the first quarter of 2020 of $4.0 million, representing a net loss per share of ($0.03) as compared to a net loss of $2.1 million, or a net loss per share of ($0.02) for the first quarter of 2019. The increased net loss for the first quarter was due primarily to a change in the fair value of warrants held by the Company in Aurora Cannabis, Inc.
Adjusted EBITDA was negative $3.2 million, or ($0.02) per share, for the first quarter of 2020, as compared to a negative Adjusted EBITDA of $4.6 million, or ($0.04) per share, for the first quarter of 2019, a decrease in the negative Adjusted EBITDA of $1.4 million, or 30%.
Debra Borchardt
