Poniard second-quarter net loss decreases to $6.5 million

Poniard Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: PARD), a biopharmaceutical company focused on innovative oncology therapies, today reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2010.  

The Company reported a net loss of $6.5 million ($0.14 diluted loss per share on a loss applicable to common shares of $6.6 million) for the quarter ended June 30, 2010.  As of June 30, 2010, cash and investment securities totaled $29.3 million.  Management currently believes that existing cash and investment securities will provide adequate resources to fund the Company's operations at least through the end of 2010.

"Poniard has focused its resources on optimizing the picoplatin value proposition and realizing this value for our shareholders through a strategic transaction," said Ronald Martell, chief executive officer of Poniard.  "While we engage in active and ongoing dialogue regarding potential strategic alternatives, we are continuing to maintain picoplatin's visibility within the medical community, most recently through the presentation of the final data from our Phase 3 SPEAR trial, which showed that picoplatin is an active compound with the potential to address a key unmet medical need in second-line small cell lung cancer."  

The Company also announced today that Michael K. Jackson, the Company's Principal Accounting Officer and Controller, has been named Interim Chief Financial Officer, replacing Gregory L. Weaver, who served as Chief Financial Officer of the Company and Senior Vice President, Finance.  Mr. Weaver left the Company on August 6, 2010, to pursue other opportunities. Mr. Jackson joined Poniard as Controller in 2003 and has served as Senior Director, Finance of the Company since 2008.  Mr. Jackson is a certified public accountant and received his M.B.A. in finance and B.S. in mathematics from Brigham Young University.  The Company also stated that it plans to relocate its corporate headquarters to a smaller facility by September 15, 2010.

Mr. Martell commented, "Greg's departure and our plan to move our corporate headquarters to a smaller space are part of Poniard's efforts to focus its resources while maintaining key capabilities and operational flexibility in the long-term and its goal of enabling a strategic transaction.  Mike is intimately familiar with the Company's operations and finances, and we are pleased that he will provide continuity in the role of CFO.  Greg has been a valued member of the team since joining Poniard in early 2009, and we wish him well in his future endeavors."

Recent Clinical Developments

• Presented Final Phase 3 SPEAR Data at ASCO 2010 Annual Meeting.  In June, investigators presented final data from Poniard's Phase 3 trial of picoplatin in second-line small cell lung cancer (the SPEAR trial).  The trial evaluated treatment with picoplatin in combination with best supportive care (BSC) as compared to BSC alone. Median overall survival in the intent-to-treat population, the primary endpoint of the study, was 20.6 weeks in the picoplatin arm compared to 19.7 weeks in the BSC alone arm.  The result did not achieve statistical significance.  A key factor potentially contributing to this outcome was a statistically significant imbalance in the use of post-study chemotherapy in favor of the BSC alone arm (p-value = 0.012).  Although the primary endpoint was not met, there was a statistically significant difference in favor of the picoplatin arm for progression-free survival and time to progression in the intent-to-treat population, with p-values of 0.0281 and 0.0002, respectively.
• Further, in 273 patients who did not receive post-study chemotherapy, there was a statistically significant difference in favor of the picoplatin arm for overall survival (p-value = 0.0345). Picoplatin also demonstrated a statistically significant survival benefit in 294 patients who were refractory to or relapsed within 45 days of first-line platinum-based therapy>
• The abstract is featured as one of the "Best of ASCO 2010" in San Francisco, Boston and other local settings around the world.

Second Quarter 2010 Unaudited Financial Results

The Company reported a net loss of $6.5 million ($0.14 diluted loss per share on a loss applicable to common shares of $6.6 million) for the quarter ended June 30, 2010, compared with a net loss of $9.7 million ($0.28 diluted loss per share on a loss applicable to common shares of $9.8 million) for the quarter ended June 30, 2009.

Total operating expenses for the quarter ended June 30, 2010 were $6.0 million compared with $9.1 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2009. Total operating expenses for the second quarter of 2010 include share-based compensation expense of $0.5 million related to the Company's April 2010 reduction in force.

Research and development expenses were $2.1 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2010, compared with $5.3 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2009.

General and administrative expenses were $3.9 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2010, compared with $3.8 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2009.  The increase was primarily attributable to an increase in share-based compensation expense.

Cash and investment securities as of June 30, 2010, were $29.3 million, compared to $43.4 million at December 31, 2009.