XOMA Corporation (XOMA)

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XOMA Reports 2009 Third Quarter Financial Results
8:00a ET November 9, 2009 (GlobeNewswire)

XOMA Ltd. (Nasdaq:XOMA), a leader in the discovery and development of therapeutic antibodies, today announced its financial results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2009 and provided a general business update. XOMA has made significant progress in 2009 toward its objective of becoming a company focused on proprietary product development and has done so while generating revenues from its technology licensing collaborations, royalties and biodefense businesses in difficult circumstances that included the removal of royalty generating RAPTIVA(R) from the market and a particularly challenging economic environment. The following are XOMA's key accomplishments in 2009.



* Proprietary pipeline: The company has advanced XOMA 052,
its anti-inflammatory antibody to interleukin-1 beta (IL-1
beta), through the completion of successful Phase 1 trials
and into Phase 2 development in Type 2 diabetes and
cardiometabolic diseases. XOMA reported new preclinical
results showing the benefit of XOMA 052 in reducing the
buildup of plaque which can lead to hardening of the
arteries and heart attack. Preclinical results with another
IL-1 targeting agent have shown beneficial effects in
cardiac remodeling which may reduce the risk of congestive
heart failure following heart attack. These results provide
direct evidence of the potential for IL-1 inhibition to
beneficially impact major cardiovascular diseases. Based on
these developments and its Phase 1 results, XOMA has expanded
its XOMA 052 development strategy to cardiovascular diseases.
XOMA has also advanced its XOMA 3AB anti-botulism antibody
for biodefense into pre-IND studies and continues to develop
its proprietary preclinical pipeline in inflammatory,
cardiometabolic, infectious and oncologic diseases.
* Antibody collaboration revenues: Collaboration, licensing
and biodefense revenues totaled $48 million in the first
nine months of 2009. With the signing of new agreements with
Kaketsuken and the Cephalon subsidiary Arana Therapeutics,
actual and anticipated non-royalty revenues now total $62
million for the year thus far.
* Marketed product royalties: Royalties for LUCENTIS(R),
CIMZIA(R) and RAPTIVA(R), including a one-time prepayment of
$25 million for future LUCENTIS royalties, generated revenues
of $28.9 million through September 30, 2009.
* Total revenues: For the nine months ended September 30, 2009,
XOMA recorded revenues of $76.8 million, compared with $31.1
million for the same period of 2008.




Total revenues in the 2009 third quarter were $27.4 million, compared to $7.9 million in the 2008 third quarter. The company had net income $1.5 million or $0.01 per share in the 2009 third quarter, compared with a net loss of $20.4 million, or $0.15 per share, for the third quarter of 2008. The improvement was primarily due to increased revenues as a result of the sale of the LUCENTIS(r) royalty interest and decreased operating expenses.

Total operating expenses were $20.6 million in the 2009 third quarter, compared with $26.4 million for the third quarter of 2008. This decrease was primarily due to reduced expenses arising from the workforce reduction in January 2009, particularly in manufacturing and related areas and associated selling, general and administrative support, as well as multiple cost control initiatives.

At September 30, 2009, XOMA had unrestricted cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $27.7 million, compared with $10.8 million at December 31, 2008. In September 2009, the company fully repaid principal and accrued interest totaling $44.4 million on its loan with Goldman Sachs Specialty Lending Holdings, Inc. (Goldman Sachs).

"We are excited about the new cardiovascular results from preclinical and clinical studies with XOMA 052 and other IL-1 targeting agents and our expanded strategy for XOMA 052 in cardiovascular diseases. This adds substantial value to XOMA 052. We are also pleased to have exceeded expectations for generating revenues during the first three quarters of this year," said Steven B. Engle, XOMA's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "Based on our cash reserves, anticipated revenues from collaborations including a XOMA 052 corporate partnership, licensing transactions and biodefense contracts, we believe XOMA has sufficient cash resources to meet its anticipated net cash needs into 2011.

"We continue to make progress in our discussions with potential partners," Mr. Engle continued. "Importantly, new cardiovascular results combined with previous data greatly increase the value of XOMA 052. As a result, partners need additional time to review the new data. As might be expected, with our financial flexibility and depending on ongoing discussions, we may complete a partnership in the original time frame, or it may take some additional time for partners to fully value XOMA 052's potential beyond diabetes."

Recent Highlights



* XOMA 052 Phase 2 clinical development program initiated in
Type 2 diabetes and cardiometabolic diseases: Based on
positive results in two Phase 1 studies conducted in 98
patients, XOMA initiated its Phase 2a program with an
extended safety and biological activity study in Type 2
diabetes patients for which interim results may be available
by the third quarter of 2010. XOMA also plans to conduct a
Phase 2a cardiometabolic study intended to provide more
details about beta cell and endothelial functions. XOMA
anticipates initiating this trial in the first quarter of
2010. These and other studies will more fully characterize
the multiple biological activities of XOMA 052, collect
additional safety data and provide results supporting design
of pivotal Phase 3 trials.

* XOMA 052 demonstrates statistically significant reduction
in the formation of plaque in preclinical studies:
Preclinical results with XOMA 052 in an animal model of
cardiovascular disease were presented in October at the 2009
Annual Meeting of the Society for Leukocyte Biology,
International Cytokine Society, & International Society for
Interferon and Cytokine Research (Tri-Society). The
presentation included results of studies in the apolipoprotein
E (ApoE) "knockout" mouse model, a well-validated model of
atherosclerosis that follows a similar pattern of progression
to that in humans. The studies demonstrated that mice treated
with a murine equivalent of XOMA 052 had a statistically
significant reduction in the formation of plaque in the aorta,
and trends toward improved lipid profiles, compared to mice
receiving a control antibody. These results demonstrate for
the first time that XOMA 052 has a direct, beneficial effect
on plaque build-up in an animal model of cardiovascular
disease.

* XOMA expands XOMA 052 development strategy into cardiovascular
disease indications: New findings on the reduction of
cholesterol, plaque damage to the heart after heart attack,
biomarker results from the XOMA 052 Phase 1 trials and other
studies of IL-1 targeting agents indicate that XOMA 052 is
likely to have positive benefits in cardiovascular disease.
The combination of these findings has led XOMA to expand the
cardiovascular disease development strategy for XOMA 052 and
greatly increases the potential value of XOMA 052.

* Results presented at international diabetes meeting
demonstrate XOMA 052's unique regulatory mechanism of action
in regulating IL-1 beta signaling: At the European Association
for the Study of Diabetes annual meeting in September, XOMA
reported results demonstrating that XOMA 052 regulates IL-1
beta signaling, reducing pathologically high levels that
cause disease while allowing normal and beneficial low levels.
This regulatory mechanism of action for XOMA 052 differs from
some antibodies to IL-1 which are designed to completely block
all contact between target and receptor, and if shown in
clinical studies, may confer safety advantages in chronic
diseases including diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.

* New indication for XOMA 052 in Type 1 diabetes to be
evaluated in Phase 2 clinical trial funded by Juvenile
Diabetes Research Foundation: The study is designed to
measure the effects of treatment with XOMA 052 over six
months on beta cell function and insulin production in 24
patients with well-controlled Type 1 diabetes who have had
the disease for at least two years. It will test the novel
hypothesis that inhibiting the activity of IL-1 beta may
prevent ongoing beta cell death at later stages of disease,
when most beta cells have been destroyed, and allow beta cell
regeneration to prevail and repopulate the pancreas. It is
complementary to ongoing trials with IL-1 and immune
modulating agents at earlier disease stages. The Juvenile
Diabetes Research Foundation International is the largest
Type 1 diabetes patient advocacy organization in the world.

* New antibody technology collaborations provide $14 million:
XOMA signed agreements with Cephalon's subsidiary, Arana
Therapeutics, and Kaketsuken, a private research institute
based in Japan, covering multiple proprietary XOMA antibody
research and development technologies, including XOMA's new
antibody phage display libraries, and suites of integrated
information and data management systems. These are the second
and third technology collaborations XOMA has initiated this
year, the three of which together are expected to generate
fee revenue totaling $43 million and potential future
milestone and royalty payments.

* New contracts for federal government biodefense and public
health programs to provide $3.9 million: XOMA was awarded
two new subcontracts from the National Institutes of Allergy
and Infectious Disease of the National Institutes of Health
to develop and optimize novel antibody drugs against
important biodefense and public health threats. One contract,
for $2.2 million, is for the development of a novel antibody
that has been shown by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and
Harvard Medical School researchers to neutralize group 1
influenza A viruses, including the H1N1 and the H5N1 strains.
The other contract provides $1.7 million for the development
of an antibody to the virus that causes SARS, a highly
contagious infectious disease that often leads to pneumonia
and may be fatal.

* First European patent granted covering XOMA 052: The patent,
granted by the European Patent Office, provides protection
through 2026 for XOMA 052 as well as nucleic acids, expression
vectors and production cell lines for the manufacture of
XOMA 052.




Additional Financial Results

XOMA's total revenues in the third quarter of 2009 included $22.3 million in royalty income, $3.7 million in contract and other revenue, and $1.4 million in license and collaborative fees. In the 2008 third quarter, revenues included $4.6 million in royalties, $2.0 million in contract and other revenue, and $1.3 million in license and collaborative fees. The increase in royalty revenue was primarily due to the sale to Genentech of XOMA's royalty interest in LUCENTIS(R).

XOMA receives royalties based on U.S. sales of CIMZIA(R), which is marketed by UCB SA for the treatment of moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis, an estimated $10 billion overall market, and Crohn's disease. Royalties on sales of CIMZIA(R) in the third quarter of 2009 were $0.2 million, and are expected to increase as UCB continues the CIMZIA(R) launch in the U.S. rheumatoid arthritis market.

XOMA's research and development expense for the third quarter of 2009 was $13.4 million, compared with $19.7 million in the same period of 2008. This decrease was due to decreased personnel costs as a result of the January 2009 workforce reduction, and reduced spending resulting from multiple additional cost control initiatives. Selling, general and administrative expenses for the third quarter of 2009 were $7.2 million compared with $6.7 million for the same period last year.

Interest expense for the third quarter of 2009 was $1.3 million compared with $2.0 million for the same period of 2008. This decrease is primarily due to the repayment in full of the Goldman Sachs loan in September 2009 and a decrease in the outstanding principal balance of and interest rate on the Novartis note.

Loss on debt extinguishment for the third quarter of 2009 was $3.6 million related to the repayment of our Goldman Sachs loan. This loss includes a prepayment premium of $2.5 million and the recognition of unamortized debt issuance costs of $1.1 million.

Debt Obligations

In September 2009, XOMA fully repaid its term loan facility with Goldman Sachs, including the outstanding principal balance of $42.0 million and accrued interest of $2.4 million.

With this repayment, XOMA's sole debt obligation at the end of the third quarter is a $13.1 million long-term note due to Novartis. This note was established under a loan facility to facilitate XOMA's participation in its collaboration with Novartis including the development of HCD 122 which is in Phase 1a/2 clinical testing for lymphoma. The Novartis loan is secured by XOMA's interest in the collaboration and is due in 2015.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments at September 30, 2009 was $27.7 million compared with $10.8 million at December 31, 2008. In September 2009, in addition to the repayment of the Goldman Sachs loan, the company completed two common share financings under its committed equity line of credit facility with Azimuth Opportunity Ltd. that provided approximately $26.4 million in gross proceeds to the company. Approximately $12.3 million of these proceeds were used, together with other funds, to repay the Goldman Sachs loan.

Cash provided by operating activities during the first nine months of 2009 was $11.5 million compared with cash used in operating activities of $35.8 million during the first nine months of 2008. This change is primarily due to license and collaborative fees and the sale of the LUCENTIS(r) royalty interest to Genentech.

In the third quarter of 2009, XOMA entered into an At Market Issuance Sales Agreement with Wm Smith & Co. under which XOMA may issue up to 25 million of its common shares from time to time through Wm Smith as agent by means of one or more "at the market" offerings or, with XOMA's approval, in negotiated transactions. The company's equity line of credit facility with Azimuth is no longer in effect and no additional shares can be issued under it.

A more detailed tabulation of XOMA's financial results appears below, and a more complete discussion is included in the company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2009.

Guidance

The company will not be providing guidance on revenues or cash receipts for 2009 so as to best manage its ongoing negotiations for XOMA 052 and technology licensing and in light of general economic and market conditions.

The company expects that cash used in operating activities for 2009 may range from $5 million to cash neutral or positive. This guidance is updated from its prior estimate that cash used in operating activities for 2009 may range from $15 million to cash neutral.

Investor Conference Call

XOMA will host a conference call and webcast to discuss its third quarter 2009 financial results today, November 9, 2009, at 9:00 a.m. ET. The webcast can be accessed via the Investors section of XOMA's website at http://investors.xoma.com/events.cfm and will be available for replay until close of business on January 8, 2010. Telephone numbers for the live audiocast are 888-677-8749 (U.S./Canada) and 913-312-1468 (international). A telephonic replay will be available beginning approximately two hours after the conclusion of the call until close of business on November 18, 2009. Telephone numbers for the replay are 888-203-1112 (U.S./Canada) and 719-457-0820 (international), passcode 1808574.

About XOMA

XOMA discovers, develops and manufactures novel antibody therapeutics for its own proprietary pipeline as well as through license and collaborative agreements with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, and under its contracts with the U.S. government. The company's proprietary product pipeline includes:



* XOMA 052, an anti-IL-1 beta antibody in Phase 2 development for
Type 2 diabetes, Type 1 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, with
potential for the treatment of a wide range of inflammatory diseases

* XOMA 3AB, an antibody candidate in pre-IND studies to neutralize
the botulinum toxin, among the most deadly potential bioterror
threats, under development through funding provided by the
National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the
National Institutes of Health

* A preclinical pipeline with candidates in development for
inflammatory, inflammatory, cardiometabolic, infectious and
oncologic diseases.




In addition to its proprietary pipeline, XOMA develops products with premier pharmaceutical companies including Novartis AG, Schering-Plough Research Institute and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited. XOMA has multiple revenue streams resulting from the licensing of its antibody technologies, product royalties, development collaborations and biodefense contracts. XOMA's technologies have contributed to the success of marketed antibody products, including LUCENTIS(R) (ranibizumab injection) for wet age-related macular degeneration and CIMZIA(R) (certolizumab pegol) for rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease.

The company has a premier antibody discovery and development platform that incorporates an unmatched collection of antibody phage display libraries and proprietary Human Engineering(TM), affinity maturation, Bacterial Cell Expression (BCE) and manufacturing technologies. BCE is a key breakthrough biotechnology for the discovery and manufacturing of antibodies and other proteins. As a result, more than 50 pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies have signed BCE licenses, and several licensed product candidates are in clinical development.

XOMA has a fully integrated product development infrastructure, extending from pre-clinical science to approval, and a team of about 200 employees at its Berkeley, California location. For more information, please visit http://www.xoma.com.