AVANIR Pharmaceuticals Reports First Quarter of Fiscal Year 2005 Resul

    Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers

    SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 10, 2005--AVANIR Pharmaceuticals (AMEX:AVN) today reported financial results for the first quarter of fiscal 2005, ended December 31, 2004. AVANIR reported a net loss for the first quarter of fiscal 2005 of $7.1 million, or $0.07 per share, compared to $6.3 million, or $0.09 per share, for the same period a year ago. In the first quarter of fiscal 2005, AVANIR continued the clinical development of Neurodex for the treatment of pseudobulbar affect and diabetic neuropathic pain, and AVP-13358 for the treatment of allergy and asthma, and pre-clinical development of potential treatments for atherosclerosis, inflammation and several infectious diseases. The Company's operating expenditures were partially offset by revenues earned from license agreements and government research grants.
    Total operating expenses for the first quarter of fiscal 2005 were $8.0 million, compared to $7.8 million in the same period a year ago. Expenditures on research and development (R&D) programs accounted for 63% and 68% of total operating expenses for the quarters ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. R&D expenses for the first quarter of fiscal 2005 amounted to $5.1 million, compared to $5.4 million for the same period a year ago.
    The first quarter of fiscal 2005 was highlighted by:

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM EXPENSES ---------------------------------------------------------------------- First Fiscal Quarter Ended ---------------------------- December 31, December 31, 2004 2003 ---------------------------- Amount Percent Amount Percent (Mils.) (Mils.) ---------------------------- Develop Neurodex for the treatment of PBA $2.0 40% $1.8 33% Develop Neurodex for neuropathic pain 0.1 2% 0.6 11% Development program for allergy and asthma (IgE regulator) 0.7 14% 1.1 20% Preclinical atherosclerosis research program 1.3 25% 0.2 4% Other preclinical research, including potential treatments for inflammation and infectious diseases 1.0 19% 1.7 32% --- --- --- --- Total $5.1 100% $5.4 100% -------------------------------------- ==== ==== ==== ====
    Revenues of $888,000 for the first quarter of fiscal 2005 included $508,000 in revenues that the Company recognized from the sale of Abreva(R) royalty rights, $200,000 relating to the achievement of milestones under license agreements, and $161,000 from government research grants. Revenues in the first quarter of fiscal 2004 amounted to $1.5 million and included $770,000 from sales of the active ingredient docosanol to licensees, $536,000 in revenues recognized from the sale of Abreva(R) royalty rights, and $198,000 from government research grants.

    Balance sheet highlights

    As of December 31, 2004, AVANIR had cash, cash equivalents, and investments in securities totaling $26.4 million, compared to $25.9 million as of September 30, 2004. Net working capital balance was $16.2 million, deferred revenue was $20.4 million and shareholders' equity was $10.2 million as of December 31, 2004. AVANIR completed a stock offering in December 2004, resulting in net proceeds of $7.0 million from the sale of Class A common stock.

    Conference Call and Webcast

    Management will host a conference call with a simultaneous webcast on February 10, 2005 at 1:30 Pacific/4:30 Eastern to discuss first quarter of fiscal 2005 operating performance. The call/webcast will feature President and Chief Executive Officer Gerald J. Yakatan, Ph.D., and Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Gregory P. Hanson, CMA. The webcast will be available live via the Internet by accessing AVANIR's web site at www.avanir.com. Please go to the web site at least ten minutes early to register, download and install any necessary audio software. Replays of the webcast will be available for 90 days, and a phone replay will be available through February 17, 2005 by dialing 888-266-2081 and entering the passcode 648044.

    The Company

    AVANIR Pharmaceuticals is a drug discovery and development company focused on treatments for chronic diseases. Our product candidates address therapeutic markets that include central nervous system and cardiovascular disorders, inflammation, and infectious disease. The Company's first commercialized product, Abreva(R), is marketed in North America by GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare and is the leading over-the-counter product for the treatment of cold sores. Further information about AVANIR can be found at www.avanir.com.

    Except for the historical information presented herein, matters discussed in this press release contain forward-looking statements that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements that are preceded by, followed by, or that include such words like "estimate," "anticipate," "believe," "intend," "plan," or "expect" or similar statements are forward-looking statements. In regard to financial projections, risks and uncertainties include risks associated with milestones and royalties earned from licensees, and results of clinical trials or product development efforts, as well as risks shown in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and from time-to-time in other publicly available information regarding the Company. Copies of such information are available from AVANIR upon request. Such publicly available information sets forth many risks and uncertainties related to AVANIR's business and technology. The company disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

AVANIR PHARMACEUTICALS Summary Consolidated Financial Information (Unaudited)

Three Months Ended December 31, ------------------------- Consolidated Statement of Operations Data: 2004 2003 ------------------------------------------ ------------ ------------ Revenues $888,365 $1,509,645 ------------ ------------ Operating expenses Research and development 5,054,241 5,366,369 General and administrative 1,852,175 1,405,210 Sales and marketing 1,098,828 858,511 Cost of product sales 3,102 210,090 ------------ ------------ Total operating expenses 8,008,346 7,840,180 ------------ ------------ Loss from operations (7,119,981) (6,330,535) Interest income 121,832 55,542 Interest expense (21,621) (10,808) Other income (expense), net (66,921) 7,647 ------------ ------------ Loss before income taxes (7,086,691) (6,278,154) Provision for income taxes (1,898) (2,058) ------------ ------------ Net loss $(7,088,589) $(6,280,212) ============ ============ Net loss per share: Basic and diluted $(0.07) $(0.09) ============ ============ Weighted average number of common shares outstanding: Basic and diluted 95,851,957 67,804,604 ============ ============

Consolidated Balance Sheet Data: December 31, September 30, 2004 2004 -------------------------------- ------------- ------------- Cash and cash equivalents $14,615,394 $13,494,083 Short-term, long-term and restricted investments in securities 11,735,034 12,412,446 ------------ ------------ Total cash and investments $26,350,428 $25,906,529 ============ ============ Net working capital $16,246,326 $16,653,621 Total assets $37,173,977 $37,403,953 Deferred revenue $20,400,786 $21,009,115 Total liabilities $26,966,081 $27,206,694 Shareholders' equity $10,207,896 $10,197,259

--30--SW/la*

CONTACT: AVANIR Pharmaceuticals Patrice Saxon, 858-622-5202 psaxon@avanir.com

KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: MEDICAL PHARMACEUTICAL BIOTECHNOLOGY EARNINGS CONFERENCE CALLS SOURCE: AVANIR Pharmaceuticals

Copyright Business Wire 2005