UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934

NEUROCRINE BIOSCIENCES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware		0-22705		33-0525145
(State or other jurisdiction of		(Commission File		(IRS Employer Identification No.)
incorporation or organization)		Number)

12780 El Camino Real, San Diego, California		92130
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (858) 617-7600

N/A
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

o		Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o		Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o		Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2 (b))
o		Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4 (c))

 

 

ITEM 2.02 RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION.

     On October 28, 2008, Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. announced its financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2008. The full text of the press release issued in connection with the announcement is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

     In accordance with General Instruction B.2 of Form 8-K, the information in this Current Report on Form 8-K, including Exhibit 99.1, shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) or otherwise subject to the liability of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.

ITEM 9.01 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

(d) EXHIBITS.

Exhibit
Number				Description of Exhibit
	99.1			Press Release dated October 28, 2008

SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

Dated: October 28, 2008		NEUROCRINE BIOSCIENCES, INC.
		/s/ TIMOTHY P. COUGHLIN
		Timothy P. Coughlin
		Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit
Number		Description of Exhibit
99.1		Press Release dated October 28, 2008

Exhibit 99.1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact at Neurocrine Biosciences
Claudia Woodworth
(858) 617-7600

NEUROCRINE BIOSCIENCES REPORTS THIRD QUARTER 2008 RESULTS

San Diego, CA, October 28, 2008 – Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:NBIX) today announced its financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2008. For the third quarter of 2008, the Company reported a net loss of $17.7 million, or $(0.46) per share compared with a net loss of $27.2 million, or $(0.72) per share, for the same period in 2007. For the nine months, the Company reported a net loss of $59.8 million, or $(1.56) per share, as compared to $79.3 million, or $(2.09) per share, for the same period last year.

Revenues for the third quarter of 2008 were $0.8 million compared with $0.5 million for the same period last year. Revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 were $3.2 million, compared with $0.7 million for the same period in 2007. The increase in revenues is primarily due to revenues recognized in 2008 under collaboration agreements with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd.

Research and development expenses decreased to $13.0 million during the third quarter of 2008 compared with $19.8 million for the same period in 2007. For the nine months ended September 30, 2008, research and development expenses were $43.4 million, compared to $57.6 million for the same period last year. The decrease in research and development expenses is primarily due to cost savings related to our restructuring in the fourth quarter of 2007.

General and administrative expenses were $3.5 million for the third quarter of 2008 and $9.6 million during the same period last year. For the nine months ended September 30, 2008, general and administrative expenses were $16.4 million, compared to $26.7 million for the first nine months of 2007. The reduction in general and administrative expenses is primarily due to cost savings related to recent restructurings.

The Company’s balance sheet on September 30, 2008 reflected total assets of $207.7 million, including cash and investments of $118.2 million compared with balances at December 31, 2007 of $276.7 million and $179.4 million, respectively. The Company expects to end 2008 with approximately $100 million in cash and investments.

“We are pleased with the progress of our GnRH program, especially the recent positive results of our 603 study where once a day elagolix showed profound efficacy with minimal impact on bone mineral density. We are also nearing completion of the final preclinical studies of urocortin 2 to allow for long-term Phase II clinical studies and our scientists have just recently identified a clinical candidate from our VMAT2 development program for movement disorders,” said Kevin Gorman, Chief Executive Officer and President of Neurocrine Biosciences. “While we are

making great strides in advancing our pipeline, we continue to prioritize expenditures and diligently manage our cash burn.”

R & D Pipeline Update

Neurocrine’s clinical development group and corporate partners have five programs in clinical development. Neurocrine scientists continue to supply Neurocrine’s pipeline to meet the Company-wide goal of bringing one new compound into development each year.

Elagolix for Endometriosis

The Company recently announced the positive safety and efficacy results from the completed 6-month treatment phase of its Phase IIb clinical trial (PETAL Study) using its proprietary, orally-active nonpeptide Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH) receptor antagonist, elagolix.

The primary endpoint, percent change from baseline in mean bone mineral density (BMD) demonstrated elagolix did not induce significant bone loss over the six month treatment period. Additionally, elagolix also met the secondary endpoints of improvement in endometriosis symptoms using several different scales for endometriosis pain. The 6-month results from this study, together with data from the other Phase II studies, will be the basis for securing agreement on a registration plan with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The Company is also currently conducting two additional randomized placebo-controlled Phase II clinical trials. The clinical endpoints for both of these trials are a reduction in pelvic pain associated with endometriosis, utilizing a scale proposed by the FDA. The first Phase II trial includes our selected commercial formulation tablet in two doses, (150 mg and 250 mg); this trial has completed randomization in 155 patients. The Company expects topline results from the first three months of treatment in the first quarter of 2009. The second trial is a four arm comparator trial of two doses of elagolix (150 mg and 250 mg), placebo or leuprolide depot. This trial is being conducted in Central and Eastern Europe. Topline data from this 3-month double-blind trial of approximately 180 patients should be available at the end of the first half of 2009.

Neurocrine is also investigating the potential of certain GnRH antagonists in treating other hormone-dependent diseases in Men’s and Women’s Health.

Corticotropin Releasing Factor (CRF1) Receptor Antagonists for Anxiety/Depression and IBS

The CRF collaboration between Neurocrine and GSK has identified multiple unique high affinity and selective antagonists for the CRF1 receptor that are currently in clinical development for mood disorders and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). There are currently three distinct CRF compounds in clinical development that have arisen out of the GSK collaboration. The compound (876008) is in a Phase II “proof of concept” trial to evaluate its safety and efficacy in patients with IBS. Approximately 130 patients meeting established diagnostic criteria for IBS have been entered into this cross-over design trial. The trial contains standard assessments of safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics. The clinical endpoints reflect change in symptom frequency and severity and the data should be available later in 2008.

GSK has advanced a novel lead CRF1 receptor antagonist compound, 561679, into a Phase II trial in patients with major depressive disorder. Enrollment of approximately 150 subjects is anticipated in this 6-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

In addition to the two compounds listed above, GSK has also successfully completed a Phase I single dose-escalating clinical trial with a third CRF1 compound, 586529, for the treatment of anxiety and depression.

Urocortin 2 for Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) Continues Preclinical Evaluation

Initiation of longer term (up to 72 hours in duration) Phase II clinical trials of urocortin 2 are awaiting additional preclinical data. The Company has identified five preclinical studies necessary to support the longer period of infusion in the clinical program. Two of these five preclinical studies were successfully completed by July 2008. The two completed studies were non-GLP toxicology and safety assessment studies over 14 days of continuous infusion in distinct species models. The favorable results of these studies now await confirmation in the GLP preclinical studies anticipated later in 2008.

Indiplon Update

The Company met with the FDA in July for an end of review meeting related to the December 12, 2007 approvable letter for indiplon capsules. The FDA meeting focused on the three additional requirements outlined in the approvable letter. After exchange of correspondence regarding meeting minutes, the Company is awaiting the FDA’s final version of these minutes to determine the next course of action related to indiplon capsules.

Conference Call and Webcast Today at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time

Neurocrine will hold a live conference call and webcast today at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (2:00 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time). Participants can access the live conference call by dialing 1-800-894-5910 (US) or 785-424-1052 (International) using the conference passcode 7NBIX2. The call can also be accessed via the webcast through the Company’s website at http://www.neurocrine.com

If you are unable to attend the Webcast and would like further information on this announcement please contact the Investor Relations Department at Neurocrine Biosciences at (858) 617-7600. A replay of the Conference Call will be available approximately one hour after the conclusion of the call by dialing 1-800-723-5154 (US) or 402-220-2661 (International) using the passcode 7NBIX2. The call will be archived for two weeks.

Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on neurological and endocrine diseases and disorders. Our product candidates address some of the largest pharmaceutical markets in the world including endometriosis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS),

anxiety, depression, pain, diabetes, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and other neurological and endocrine related diseases and disorders. Indiplon was licensed from DOV Pharmaceutical, Inc. in 1998. Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. news releases are available through the Company’s website via the internet at http://www.neurocrine.com

In addition to historical facts, this press release may contain forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements are risks and uncertainties associated with Neurocrine’s business and finances in general, as well as risks and uncertainties associated with the Company’s R & D pipeline and Company overall. Specifically, the risks and uncertainties the Company faces with respect to the Company’s clinical programs include, but are not limited to, risk that the Company’s elagolix Phase II clinical trials will fail to demonstrate that elagolix is safe and effective; risk that preclinical data will indicate that urocortin 2 is not suitable for further clinical studies; risk that the CRF1 receptor antagonist candidate’s Phase II proof of concept clinical studies will not support further clinical studies; and overall risk that the Company’s clinical candidates will not proceed to later stage clinical trials. Risks associated with the Company’s indiplon program include, but are not limited to risk that indiplon approval and subsequent commercialization may be indefinitely delayed or never accomplished. With respect to its pipeline overall, the Company faces risk that it will be unable to raise additional funding required to complete development of all of its product candidates; risk relating to the Company’s dependence on contract manufacturers for clinical drug supply; risks associated with the Company’s dependence on corporate collaborators for commercial manufacturing and marketing and sales activities; uncertainties relating to patent protection and intellectual property rights of third parties; risks and uncertainties relating to competitive products and technological changes that may limit demand for the Company’s products; and the other risks described in the Company’s report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 and report on Form 10Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2008. Neurocrine undertakes no obligation to update the statements contained in this press release after the date hereof.

# # #

NEUROCRINE BIOSCIENCES, INC.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in thousands, except for per share data)

		Three Months Ended								Nine Months Ended
		September 30,								September 30,
		2008				2007				2008				2007
		(unaudited)								(unaudited)
Revenues:
Sponsored research and development		$	32			$	13			$	48			$	120
License fees and milestones			729				500				3,189				500
Grant Revenue			—				27				9				72
Total revenues			761				540				3,246				692
Operating expenses:
Research and development			12,993				19,795				43,406				57,645
Sales, general and administrative			3,472				9,571				16,423				26,695
Total operating expenses			16,465				29,366				59,829				84,340
Loss from operations			(15,704	)			(28,826	)			(56,583	)			(83,648	)
Other income and (expenses):
Interest income and expense, net			(93	)			2,413				2,573				6,869
Other income and (expense), net			(1,914	)			(827	)			(5,749	)			(2,545	)
Total other income			(2,007	)			1,586				(3,176	)			4,324
Net loss		$	(17,711	)		$	(27,240	)		$	(59,759	)		$	(79,324	)
Net loss per common share:
Basic and diluted		$	(0.46	)		$	(0.72	)		$	(1.56	)		$	(2.09	)
Shares used in the calculation of net loss per common share:
Basic and diluted			38,446				37,990				38,399				37,956

NEUROCRINE BIOSCIENCES, INC.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in thousands, except for per share data)

		September 30,				December 31,
		2008				2007
		(unaudited)
Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities		$	96,949			$	179,385
Other current assets			1,861				3,563
Total current assets			98,810				182,948
Property and equipment, net			77,309				82,598
Long-term investments			21,255				—
Restricted cash			6,441				6,399
Other non-current assets			3,918				4,709
Total assets		$	207,733			$	276,654
Current liabilities		$	18,975			$	29,907
Long-term liabilities			16,366				19,305
Leaseback financing obligation			108,745				108,745
Stockholders’ equity			63,647				118,697
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity		$	207,733			$	276,654