Biopharmaceutical company Onyx Pharmaceuticals has reported full year 2008 net income of $1.9 million, or $0.03 per diluted share, compared with a net loss of $34.2 million, or $0.67 per diluted share, for the same period in 2007.
Excluding employee stock-based compensation expense, non-GAAP net income for the full year 2008 was $20.7 million, or $0.37 per diluted share, compared to a non-GAAP net loss of $20.0 million, or $0.39 per diluted share, for the same period in 2007.
Onyx reported a net loss of $30.2 million, or $0.53 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2008, compared to a net loss of $11.7 million, or $0.21 per diluted share, in the same period in 2007. Excluding employee stock-based compensation expense, non-GAAP net loss for the fourth quarter 2008 was $25.2 million, or $0.45 per diluted share, compared to a non-GAAP net loss of $7.8 million, or $0.14 per diluted share, for the same period in 2007.
Global Nexavar net sales grew 82% to $677.8 million for the full year 2008, and grew 41% to $176.5 million for the fourth quarter 2008, compared to $371.7 million and $124.9 million in the same periods in 2007. Onyx, with its collaborator Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, is marketing and developing Nexavar(R) (sorafenib) tablets, an anticancer therapy currently approved for the treatment of liver cancer and advanced kidney cancer in the U.S., European Union and other territories. In accordance with Onyx's collaboration agreement with Bayer, Bayer recognizes all revenue from the sale of Nexavar.
As of December 31, 2008 and for earlier periods presented, Onyx has adopted a new financial statement presentation based on guidance from the Financial Accounting Standards Board's Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) 07-1, Accounting for Collaborative Arrangements. This new presentation changes the classification of amounts included in specific lines in the Statement of Operations, but does not change net income (loss) or net income (loss) per share.
Under this new presentation, the Statement of Operations includes the line item "Revenue from Collaboration Agreement." This line item consists of Onyx's share of the commercial profit generated from the collaboration with Bayer, reimbursement of Onyx's shared marketing costs related to Nexavar and Nexavar royalty revenue. Onyx's 50% share of collaboration research and development expenses is included in the research and development expense line item.
For the full year and fourth quarter 2008, Onyx reported revenue from collaboration agreement of $194.3 million and $49.7 million, respectively, compared to $90.4 million and $26.1 million for the same periods in 2007. The increase in revenue from collaboration agreement between periods is due to an increase in Nexavar revenue recognized by Bayer and higher royalty revenue, partially offset by an increase in commercial expenses related to Nexavar.
Onyx recorded research and development expenses of $123.7 million in the full year 2008 and $59.9 million in the fourth quarter 2008, compared to $83.3 million and $27.2 million for the same periods in 2007. Research and development expenses in fourth quarter 2008 include payments made by Onyx to S*BIO Pte Ltd under a development collaboration, option and license agreement and to BTG International Limited under a development and license agreement. Research and development expenses included $3.2 million and $1.1 million of employee stock-based compensation for the full year and fourth quarter 2008, respectively.
At December 31, 2008, cash, cash equivalents, and current and noncurrent marketable securities were $458.0 million, compared to $469.7 million at December 31, 2007. This decrease was primarily due to payments made under its agreements with S*BIO and BTG, partially offset by positive cash flow from operations.
Anthony Coles, president and chief executive officer of Onyx, said: "This has been a year of remarkable growth and advancement for Onyx, as we increased year-over-year sales by 82% and achieved profitability for the year. We've leveraged our successes to invest strategically in the long-term growth potential of the company, creating a rich pipeline with Nexavar and beginning to shape a diversified portfolio beyond Nexavar through strategic but disciplined corporate development activities.
“With continued sales growth from Nexavar, a comprehensive development program with near-term value drivers, and a strong financial position, we believe we are well-positioned to drive growing shareholder value in 2009 and the years to come."
