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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):		May 10, 2017

Heron Therapeutics, Inc.
__________________________________________
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	001-33221	94-2875566
_____________________ (State or other jurisdiction	_____________ (Commission	______________ (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation)	File Number)	Identification No.)
4242 Campus Point Court, Suite 200, San Diego, California		92121
_________________________________ (Address of principal executive offices)		___________ (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:		(858) 251-4400

Not Applicable
______________________________________________
Former name or former address, if changed since last report

 

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:

[  ]  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))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company [  ]

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. [  ]

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Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On May 10, 2017, Heron Therapeutics, Inc. (the "Company") issued a press release announcing its financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2017 (the "Earnings Press Release"). A copy of the Earnings Press Release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1.

This Item 2.02 and the Earnings Press Release attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1, insofar as they disclose information regarding the Company's results of operations or financial condition for the three months ended March 31, 2017 are being furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

Exhibit No./Document

99.1 Earnings Press Release, dated May 10, 2017

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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.
May 10, 2017		By:		/s/ Robert E. Hoffman
				Name: Robert E. Hoffman
				Title: Chief Financial Officer & Senior Vice President, Finance

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Exhibit Index

Exhibit No.		Description
99.1		Press Release, dated May 10, 2017

EXHIBIT 99.1

Heron Therapeutics Reports Financial Results for the
Three Months Ended March 31, 2017 and Recent Corporate Progress

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – (BUSINESS WIRE) – May 10, 2017 – Heron Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: HRTX) (the Company or Heron), a commercial-stage biotechnology company focused on developing novel best-in-class treatments to address some of the biggest unmet patient needs, today reported financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and highlighted recent corporate progress.

Recent Corporate Progress

Pain Franchise

Expanded Phase 2 Program of HTX-011 with Initiation of TKA and Nerve Block Studies. Heron initiated Phase 2 studies of HTX-011 in two new surgical models, total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and breast augmentation (pectoral pocket nerve block), to complement its four successful Phase 2 studies in abdominoplasty, bunionectomy, and hernia repair. Heron anticipates initiating Phase 3 studies of HTX-011 this year and filing a New Drug Application (NDA) in 2018.

CINV Franchise

SUSTOL^® Sales Increase; Product Added to National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN^®) Antiemesis Guidelines. Net product sales of SUSTOL (granisetron) extended-release injection for the three months ended March 31, 2017 were $3.6 million, compared to $1.3 million for the three months ended December 31, 2016. In addition, SUSTOL was granted a Category 1 recommendation by the NCCN for use in the prevention of acute and delayed chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) in patients receiving highly or moderately emetogenic chemotherapy (HEC or MEC). The NCCN guidelines identify SUSTOL as a “preferred” agent for preventing CINV following MEC and highlight the unique, extended-release formulation of SUSTOL.

Received Notice of CINVANTI™ (HTX-019) PDUFA Date. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) set a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) goal date of November 12, 2017 for a decision on the Company’s NDA for CINVANTI. If approved, CINVANTI will strengthen Heron’s CINV portfolio by adding a second, complementary therapeutic agent in this category.

“The first quarter of 2017 was a productive period for Heron, highlighted by the completion of several highly-successful Phase 2 studies of HTX-011 in multiple post-operative pain models and the inclusion of SUSTOL in the NCCN guidelines,” said Barry D. Quart, Pharm.D., Chief Executive Officer of Heron. “Looking ahead, we are focused on the commencement of Phase 3 studies of HTX-011, as well as the approval of CINVANTI by year-end 2017.”

Financial Results

In January 2017, Heron completed an underwritten public offering of its common stock for net proceeds of $163.7 million. As of March 31, 2017, the Company had cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $165.2 million, compared to $51.1 million as of December 31, 2016. Based on the Company’s current operating plan and projections, it believes that available cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments are sufficient to fund operations for at least one year.

Net product sales of SUSTOL for the three months ended March 31, 2017 were $3.6 million, which represents 184% sequential quarter-over-quarter growth over the $1.3 million of net product sales of SUSTOL for the three months ended December 31, 2016.

Heron’s net loss for the three months ended March 31, 2017 was $50.3 million, or $1.00 per share, compared to $33.4 million, or $0.92 per share for the same period in 2016. Net loss for the three months ended March 31, 2017, included non-cash, stock-based compensation expense of $8.0 million compared to $5.4 million for the same period in 2016.

Heron’s net cash used for operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2017 was $50.6 million, compared to $32.4 million for the same period in 2016.

The increases in net loss and net cash used for operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2017 compared to the same period in 2016 were primarily due to increased clinical and manufacturing costs related to the development of HTX-011 and CINVANTI.

About Heron Therapeutics, Inc.

Heron Therapeutics, Inc. is a commercial-stage biotechnology company focused on improving the lives of patients by developing best-in-class treatments that address some of the biggest unmet patient needs. Heron is developing novel, patient-focused solutions that apply its innovative science and technologies to already-approved pharmacological agents for patients suffering from cancer or pain. For more information, visit www.herontx.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains “forward-looking statements” as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Heron cautions readers that forward-looking statements are based on management’s expectations and assumptions as of the date of this news release and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, including, but not limited to, those associated with: the projected sufficiency of our capital position for future periods, the market opportunity for SUSTOL, CINVANTI, HTX-011 and new products generally, timing of potential generic forms of palonosetron and the potential impact on sales of SUSTOL, the timing and outcome of the End of Phase 2 meeting with the FDA for HTX-011, whether the FDA approves the CINVANTI NDA as submitted, the timing of the NDA filing for HTX-011, the progress in the research and development of HTX-011 and our other programs, including the timing of preclinical, clinical, and manufacturing activities, safety and efficacy results from our studies, and other risks and uncertainties identified in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements reflect our analysis only on their stated date, and Heron takes no obligation to update or revise these statements except as may be required by law.

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HERON THERAPEUTICS, INC.

Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in thousands, except per share amounts)

• For the three months ended March 31, 2017, operating expenses included non-cash, stock-based compensation expense of $8.0 million compared to $5.4 million for the same period in 2016.

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HERON THERAPEUTICS, INC.

Consolidated Balance Sheet Data
(in thousands)

Investor Relations and Media Contact:

David Szekeres
Senior VP, General Counsel, Business Development and Corporate Secretary
dszekeres@herontx.com
858-251-4447

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