SAN DIEGO, Aug. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Optimer Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: OPTR) today reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2009. Optimer reported a net loss for the second quarter of 2009 of $12.4 million, or $0.37 per share, which was in line with the Company's expectations. This compares to a net loss for the second quarter of 2008 of $8.1 million, or $0.29 per share. The increase in net loss was primarily due to higher research and development expenses. Research and development expenses in the second quarter of 2009 were $10.5 million, compared to $6.2 million in the second quarter of 2008. The increase was primarily due to manufacturing scale-up expenses and expenses to prepare regulatory filings related to the Company's fidaxomicin and prulifloxacin programs.

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As of June 30, 2009, Optimer held cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $51.2 million.

"During the second quarter, we had the first oral presentations of our North American Phase 3 fidaxomicin data at major scientific conferences showing that fidaxomicin is more effective than oral vancomycin when it comes to reducing recurrence of CDI, even in high risk patient populations," said Michael N. Chang, Ph.D., Optimer's President and Chief Executive Officer. "As we head into the second half of this year, we look forward to presenting additional data from this study at ICAAC and IDSA and we are focused on completing our second fidaxomicin Phase 3 trial and preparing regulatory filings for fidaxomicin and prulifloxacin."

Recent Corporate Highlights

• Clinical investigator, Thomas J. Louie, M.D., presented top-line data from Optimer's fidaxomicin North American Phase 3 clinical study for patients with Clostridium difficile infection at the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases meeting, which showed the trial met its primary endpoint of achieving clinical cure compared to Vancocin(R). In addition, the top-line data showed that patients treated with fidaxomicin experienced a reduction in CDI recurrence compared to Vancocin (p=0.004) and had a higher global cure (cure with no recurrence within four weeks) compared to Vancocin (p=0.006).
• Clinical investigator, Mark A. Miller, M.D., presented additional data from Optimer's fidaxomicin North American Phase 3 clinical study at the Digestive Disease Week 2009 Conference focusing on patient risk factors believed to be predictive of CDI recurrence following treatment. These risk factors include albumin levels, white blood cell (WBC) count and temperature and strain types of CDI. The data showed that fidaxomicin overall demonstrated a lower recurrence rate compared to Vancocin (p=0.004) regardless of albumin levels, WBC count and temperature, as well as for patients with non-BI (NAP1/027) strains.
• The United States Patent and Trademark Office issued Optimer a production patent covering steps used in the manufacture of fidaxomicin.
  

About Optimer Pharmaceuticals

Optimer Pharmaceuticals, Inc.