Form 8-K

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):

March 5, 2014

 

 

Heron Therapeutics, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-33221   94-2875566

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

123 Saginaw Drive

Redwood City, CA

  94063
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (650) 366-2626

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 


Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On March 5, 2014, Heron Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing its financial results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2013 (the “Earnings Press Release”). A copy of the Earnings Press Release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1.

The information set forth in this Item 2.02 and in Exhibit 99.1 shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No.

  

Document

99.1    Press Release dated March 5, 2014

*            *             *

 

-2-


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

     HERON THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Date: March 5, 2014    By:  

/s/ Brian G. Drazba

    

Brian G. Drazba

Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

 

-3-

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO

For Immediate Release

Heron Therapeutics Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2013 Financial Results and Highlights Recent Corporate Progress

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. – March 5, 2014 – Heron Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: HRTX), a specialty pharmaceutical company, today reported fourth quarter and full year 2013 financial results and highlighted recent corporate progress.

“In the last 12 months, we transformed ourselves into Heron Therapeutics and made important advancements to position Heron for success in 2014,” said Barry D. Quart, PharmD, Chief Executive Officer of Heron Therapeutics. “In 2013, we brought in a fresh and highly seasoned management team that is focused on three key initiatives for 2014. Most importantly, we’re concentrating on the resubmission of our New Drug Application for our lead product candidate, Sustol™, for the treatment of chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). Second, we initiated a Phase 3 program which, if successful, would allow us to demonstrate the benefit of Sustol in the treatment of delayed onset CINV in patients receiving highly emetogenic chemotherapy agents. This would represent a new medical and market opportunity, as no 5-HT3 antagonist is currently approved for this indication. And third, we plan to initiate clinical studies later this year for a new investigational product targeting the relief of post-surgical pain using our proprietary Biochronomer™ drug delivery technology.”

“We believe that Heron Therapeutics is in a strong position coming into 2014 and look forward to providing updates on our continued progress throughout the year,” Dr. Quart continued.

Heron Recent Highlights

 

    On January 23, 2014, Heron Therapeutics announced that its common stock had been relisted on the NASDAQ Capital Market, trading under the symbol HRTX.

 

    On January 13, 2014, the Company announced that it had changed its name from A.P. Pharma, Inc. to Heron Therapeutics, Inc. and effected a 1-for-20 reverse stock split to increase the Company’s stock price in support of the Company’s application to list on the NASDAQ Capital Market. The Company also announced the appointment of three new independent members to its board of directors.

 

- more -


Heron Therapeutics Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2013

Financial Results and Highlights Recent Corporate Progress

   Page 2

 

    On November 25, 2013, the Company announced the closing of an underwritten public offering of 7.5 million shares (as adjusted, post-reverse split) of common stock at a public offering price of $8.00 per share (as adjusted, post-reverse split), which resulted in net proceeds of $57.8 million.

 

    On November 12, 2013, the Company announced the expansion of its pipeline to include a new program targeting the relief of post-surgical pain with the expected initiation of human clinical studies in mid-2014. The Company also announced plans to pursue a post-approval expansion of the intended Sustol labeling by conducting a clinical study of Sustol for the treatment of delayed onset CINV in patients receiving highly emetogenic chemotherapy agents.

Results of Operations

Heron Therapeutics’ net loss for the fourth quarter of 2013 was $14.0 million, or $0.75 per share, compared to a net loss of $7.7 million, or $0.51 per share, for the fourth quarter of 2012. Net loss was higher in the 2013 quarter primarily due to increased spending related to manufacturing development expenses and higher personnel costs, including stock compensation expense. Net loss for the fiscal year 2013 was $55.3 million, or $3.42 per share, compared with a net loss of $23.3 million, or $1.91 per share, for 2012.

Cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2013 were $72.3 million, compared to $53.5 million at December 31, 2012. As noted above, Heron closed an underwritten public offering of 7.5 million shares of common stock at an offering price of $8.00 per share and received net proceeds of $57.8 million from the offering. Net cash used in operating activities was $40.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2013.

About Sustol

Heron’s lead product candidate, Sustol™ (formerly known as APF530), is being developed for the prevention of both acute- and delayed-onset chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). One of the most debilitating side effects of cancer chemotherapy, CINV is a leading cause of premature discontinuation of treatment. There is only one injectable 5-HT3 antagonist approved for the prevention of delayed-onset CINV in patients receiving moderately emetogenic chemotherapy (MEC); none are approved for delayed-onset CINV in patients receiving highly emetogenic chemotherapy (HEC). Sustol contains the 5-HT3 antagonist granisetron formulated in the Company’s proprietary Biochronomer™ drug delivery system, which allows therapeutic drug levels to be maintained for five days with a single subcutaneous injection. Currently available intravenous and oral formulations of granisetron are approved only for the prevention of acute-onset CINV. Granisetron was selected for Sustol because it is widely prescribed by physicians based on a well-established record of safety and efficacy.


Heron Therapeutics Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2013

Financial Results and Highlights Recent Corporate Progress

   Page 3

 

About Heron Therapeutics, Inc.

Heron Therapeutics, Inc. (formerly A.P. Pharma, Inc.) is a specialty pharmaceutical company developing products using its proprietary Biochronomer™ polymer-based drug delivery platform. This drug delivery platform is designed to improve the therapeutic profile of injectable pharmaceuticals by converting them from products that must be injected once or twice per day to products that need to be injected only once every one or two weeks. The Company’s lead product, Sustol (formerly known as APF530), is being developed for the prevention of both acute- and delayed-onset chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.

In addition to Sustol, Heron is also utilizing its proprietary, sustained-release Biochronomer™ technology to develop other drugs designed to extend the duration of action of known active ingredients to address important unmet medical needs. In November 2013, the Company announced movement into full development of the first of these new drug programs—the Biochronomer extended release of an established local anesthetic for the treatment of post-surgical pain. In recently completed, post-surgical animal models of pain, the Company’s drug candidates demonstrated statistically significant pain relief for five days, representing the potential to significantly reduce the need for opiates post-surgery and the length of post-surgical hospital stays. Heron expects to move its pain program into human clinical studies in mid-2014.

(financial tables follow)


Heron Therapeutics Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2013

Financial Results and Highlights Recent Corporate Progress

   Page 4

 

Heron Therapeutics, Inc.

Condensed Statements of Operations

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended
December 31,
    Year Ended
December 31,
 
     2013     2012     2013     2012  

Operating expenses:

        

Research and development

   $ 8,620      $ 5,152      $ 32,780      $ 15,174   

General and administrative

     5,212        3,476        21,677        8,657   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     13,832        8,628        54,457        23,831   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating loss

     (13,832     (8,628     (54,457     (23,831

Interest expense, net

     (212     (197     (826     (599
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss from continuing operations

     (14,044     (8,825     (55,283     (24,430

Income from discontinued operations

     —          1,088        —          1,082   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss

   $ (14,044   $ (7,737   $ (55,283   $ (23,348
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Basic and diluted net loss per share:

        

Loss from continuing operations

   $ (0.75   $ (0.58   $ (3.42   $ (2.00
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss

   $ (0.75   $ (0.51   $ (3.42   $ (1.91
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Shares used to compute basic and diluted net loss per share

     18,708        15,111        16,163        12,223   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 


Heron Therapeutics Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2013

Financial Results and Highlights Recent Corporate Progress

   Page 5

 

Heron Therapeutics, Inc.

Condensed Balance Sheets

(in thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

     December 31,  
     2013     2012  

Assets

    

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 72,287      $ 53,506   

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     638        584   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

     72,925        54,090   

Property and equipment, net

     2,882        1,752   

Other long-term assets

     130        130   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 75,937      $ 55,972   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

    

Current liabilities:

    

Accounts payable

   $ 1,264      $ 1,912   

Accrued expenses

     4,703        1,750   

Convertible notes payable to related parties, net of discount

     1,025        492   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     6,992        4,154   

Stockholders’ equity:

    

Common stock

     237        152   

Additional paid-in capital

     307,578        235,253   

Accumulated deficit

     (238,870     (183,587
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity

     68,945        51,818   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 75,937      $ 55,972   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains “forward-looking statements” as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including uncertainties associated with the potential approval of Sustol (formerly APF530) and the potential timing for such approval, if approved at all, as well as risks and benefits relating to listing on the NASDAQ Capital Market, progress in research and development programs, launch and acceptance of new products and other risks and uncertainties identified in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We caution investors that forward-looking statements reflect our analysis only on their stated date. We do not intend to update them except as required by law.


Heron Therapeutics Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2013

Financial Results and Highlights Recent Corporate Progress

   Page 6

 

Contacts

Investor Relations Contacts:

Michael Rice, 646-597-6979

mrice@lifesciadvisors.com

Jennifer Capuzelo, 858-703-6063

jcapuzelo@herontx.com

and

Corporate Contact:

Heron Therapeutics, Inc.

Stephen R. Davis, 650-366-2626

Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

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