AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 8, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pain Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq:PTIE) today reported financial results for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2012. Net loss for Q3 2012 was $1.6 million, or $0.03 per share, as compared to the net loss in Q3 2011 of $0.8 million, or $0.02 per share. Net loss for the first nine months of 2012 was $1.7 million, or $0.04 per share, as compared to net loss for the first nine months of 2011 of $2.2 million, or $0.05 per share.

Cash and investments were $92.5 million at September 30, 2012. The Company has no debt. Management continues to believe net cash usage for full-year 2012 will be under $10.0 million.

"Our financial strategy is to maintain tight fiscal discipline while awaiting the resubmission of REMOXY to the FDA by our commercial partner, Pfizer," said Remi Barbier, President & CEO. "We believe this drug candidate is well-partnered, has succeeded in a Phase III efficacy study, has published results of abuse-resistance, has four issued patents and targets a large marketplace. The value of these success factors may become more apparent as Pfizer updates regulatory guidance for REMOXY in the first half of 2013."

Based on management's review of recent written correspondence between Pfizer and the FDA, management believes Pfizer is well-positioned to address the concerns described in the FDA's Complete Response Letter for REMOXY.

Q3 2012 Financial Detail

Research and development expenses increased to $2.4 million in Q3 2012 from $2.0 million in Q3 2011, primarily due to higher non-cash stock-related compensation costs.  Research and development expenses decreased to $5.5 million in the first nine months of 2012 from $6.6 million in the first nine months of 2011, primarily due to lower headcount and facilities costs. 

General and administrative expenses increased to $2.0 million in Q3 2012 from $1.8 million in Q3 2011, primarily due to higher non-cash stock-related compensation costs.  General and administrative expenses decreased to $5.0 million in the first nine months of 2012 from $5.1 million in the first nine months of 2011, primarily due to lower headcount and facilities costs.

About REMOXY

Our lead drug candidate is called REMOXY (oxycodone) Extended-Release Capsules CII. REMOXY is an investigational drug with a unique, controlled release formulation of oxycodone for patients with moderate-to-severe chronic pain. REMOXY is designed to discourage common methods of tampering associated with prescription analgesic misuse and abuse.

• Pfizer is our exclusive, worldwide commercial partner for REMOXY and three other abuse-resistant prescription pain medications (except in Australia/New Zealand).
• REMOXY received a Complete Response Letter in December 2008 and in June 2011. Pfizer has sole responsibility for addressing the concerns described in the FDA's Complete Response Letter, at its own expense.
• On November 1, 2012, Pfizer announced it plans to meet with the FDA in March 2013 to discuss REMOXY. Pfizer also announced the initiation of a new pharmacokinetic study with REMOXY. 

REMOXY Deal Economics

• To date, we have received total cash payments of $185.0 million in program fees and milestone payments under the strategic alliance with Pfizer in connection with the development of REMOXY and three other abuse-resistant drug candidates.
• We are also eligible to receive up to an additional $120.0 million in clinical/regulatory milestone payments, including a $15 million payment upon FDA approval of REMOXY.
• Upon the commercial launch of REMOXY, we will receive from Pfizer a royalty of 20% of net sales in the United States, except as to the first $1.0 billion in cumulative net sales, which royalty is set at 15%. Outside the United States, the royalty rate is 10%.
• We will also receive from Pfizer a supplemental royalty fee payment of 6.0% to 11.5% of net sales, depending on the range of total dollar sales in each year. This supplemental payment is equal to the full amount of our financial obligations to Durect Corporation (Nasdaq: DRRX), our exclusive supplier of certain excipients in REMOXY.
• Our development expenses for REMOXY and three other abuse-resistant pain medications that are in various stages of development, including hydrocodone, hydromorphone and oxymorphone, are reimbursed by Pfizer.
• Pain Therapeutics retains commercial rights to REMOXY and three other abuse-resistant drug candidates in Australia/New Zealand. We have not yet announced a market entry strategy for these territories.

About Pain Therapeutics, Inc.

Pain Therapeutics, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company that develops novel drugs. The FDA has not approved any of our drug candidates for commercial sale.  For more information, please visit www.paintrials.com.

Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains forward-looking statements for purposes of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Act"). Pain Therapeutics disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements, and claims the protection of the Safe Harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Act. Examples of such statements include, but are not limited to, any statements relating to the size and potential markets for REMOXY, the development and commercialization prospects of REMOXY, our projected net cash usage for 2012, Pfizer's plans with respect to development of REMOXY, potential future milestone payments and royalties based on revenue from REMOXY, the potential development of other abuse resistant drug candidates, funding obligations of Pfizer, or the benefits of REMOXY. Such statements are based on management's current expectations, but actual results may differ materially due to various factors. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, those risks and uncertainties relating to difficulties or delays in obtaining regulatory approval of REMOXY and in development, testing and pursuit of regulatory approval of our other drug candidates, unexpected adverse side effects or inadequate therapeutic efficacy of our drug candidates, difficulties or delays in commercialization efforts with respect to our products, if any are approved for marketing, or failure of such products to gain market acceptance, the uncertainty of patent protection for our intellectual property or trade secrets, unanticipated additional research and development and other costs, potential diversion of resources from the pursuit of development and commercialization of drug candidates subject to our strategic alliance with Pfizer as a result of the acquisition of King Pharmaceuticals, Inc. by Pfizer, the potential for abuse resistant pain medications or other competing products or therapies to be developed by competitors and potential competitors or others and difficulties resulting from, or risks associated with, pending litigation, including diversion of resources and potential adverse judgments. For further information regarding these and other risks related to the Company's business, investors should consult the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

-Financial Tables Follow-