Columbia Laboratories third quarter total net revenues decrease to $4.9 million

Columbia Laboratories, Inc. (Nasdaq: CBRX) today reported financial results for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2011. Highlights of the third quarter include:

“We look forward to further revenue growth from our partners going forward.”

• Total net revenues were $4.9 million, compared to $14.2 million for the third quarter of 2010. The 2010 quarter included $8.5 million of the amortization of the $34 million gain on the sale of the progesterone assets in July 2010 to Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Watson"); amortization concluded in the second quarter of 2011.
• Net revenues from Merck Serono for international sales of CRINONE^® (progesterone gel) increased 56% on a 60% volume increase, and net revenues from Watson for domestic CRINONE increased 92% on a 41% volume increase, over third quarter of 2010 levels. The higher dollar increase in Watson net product revenues over volumes represents a pass-through of costs due to higher exchange rates.
• Total net product revenues were $4.1 million in the third quarter of 2011, compared to $5.1 million in the third quarter of 2010. The $1.6 million increase in CRINONE net revenues was more than offset by the absence of revenues from the OTC products and STRIANT^® (testosterone buccal system) in the 2011 third quarter.
• Net income was $4.4 million, compared to net income of $0.3 million in the third quarter of 2010.
• Cash, cash equivalents and short term investments at September 30, 2011 were $26.3 million.
• The PREGNANT study, Columbia's pivotal clinical trial of progesterone vaginal gel 8% to reduce the risk of preterm birth in women with premature cervical shortening, was published in the July 2011 issue of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

"We are very pleased with the strong growth of CRINONE by Watson in the U.S. and Merck Serono internationally," said Frank Condella, Columbia's President and CEO. "We look forward to further revenue growth from our partners going forward.

"During the third quarter of 2011, we continued to work closely with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ensure a thorough review of the New Drug Application (NDA) for progesterone vaginal gel 8% to reduce the risk of preterm birth in women with premature cervical shortening. Our PDUFA date is February 26, 2012. If the FDA approves this product for the preterm birth indication, we plan to supply sufficient quantities to Watson for a timely commercial launch," Condella concluded.

Third Quarter Financial Results

Total net revenues for the third quarter of 2011 were comprised of net product revenues primarily for domestic and international sales of CRINONE to Watson and Merck Serono, respectively, and royalties from Watson.

Net product revenues were $4.1 million in the third quarter of 2011, compared to $5.1 million in the third quarter of 2010.

• Net revenues from CRINONE sold to Merck Serono increased by $1.3 million as compared to the third quarter of 2010 due primarily to higher volume.
• Net revenues from product sold to Watson under the new supply agreement were $0.9 million in the third quarter of 2011 as compared to $0.6 million in the third quarter of 2010.
• Sales of Replens^® and RepHresh^® OTC products to Lil' Drug Store Products, Inc. (LDS) were $2.1 million lower than in the third quarter of 2010; there were no sales to LDS in the third quarter of 2011.
• STRIANT net product revenues were $0.3 million in the third quarter of 2010; there were no STRIANT sales in the third quarter of 2011 as a result of the sale of STRIANT to Actient in April 2011.

Total royalty revenues were $0.8 million in the third quarter of 2011, compared to $0.5 million in the third quarter of 2010, reflecting royalty revenues from Watson on CRINONE products sold by Watson after the closing of the Watson Transactions.

There were no other revenues in the third quarter of 2011, compared to other revenues of $8.5 million in the third quarter of 2010, due to the amortization of the deferred revenue recognized from the sale of assets to Watson. The Company amortized $34.0 million in deferred gains over four quarters from July 2, 2010 through June 30, 2011, representing the estimated remaining development period for progesterone vaginal gel 8% in the preterm birth indication.

As a result, total net revenues for the third quarter of 2011 were $4.9 million, compared to $14.2 million for the third quarter of 2010.

Gross profit margin was 37% in the third quarter of 2011, compared to 79% in the third quarter of 2010. Excluding the amortization of deferred revenue, gross profit margin was 37% for the three months ended September 30, 2011 as compared with 47% in the same period in 2010. The decline in gross profit margin is related to a shift in the sales mix in the 2011 quarter toward sales to Watson at cost-plus-10% versus net product sales to Merck Serono.

Total net operating expenses were $2.4 million in the third quarter of 2011, compared to $10.3 million in the prior year period. The decrease is attributable to the following:

• There were no selling and distribution expenses in the third quarter of 2011, compared to $3.9 million in the 2010 quarter, reflecting the termination of sales and marketing activities following Watson's assumption of those responsibilities in July 2010 and the sale of STRIANT to Actient.
• General and administrative costs were $1.9 million in the third quarter of 2011, compared to $4.3 million in the 2010 quarter, primarily reflecting the absence of Watson transaction costs and severance costs, and lower intellectual property costs, in the 2011 period.
• Research and development costs were $0.5 million in the third quarter of 2011, compared to $2.0 million in the 2010 quarter, reflecting lower expenses following the completion of the PREGNANT study in the fourth quarter of 2010 and the reimbursement by Watson of R&D expenses related to the PREGNANT study and the NDA.

The operating loss in the third quarter of 2011 was $0.6 million, compared to operating income of $0.9 million in the prior year period. The change primarily reflects the amortization of $8.5 million in revenue related to the gain on the sale of the progesterone assets to Watson in 2010, offset in part by the $7.9 million reduction in operating expenses in 2011.

Other income and expense aggregated to net income of $5.0 million for the third quarter of 2011, compared to a net expense of $0.6 million in the third quarter of 2010, primarily reflecting the recognition of the $2.7 million change in fair value of the warrants issued in conjunction with the October 2009 stock issuance resulting from the decrease in Columbia's stock price from June 30, 2011, to September 30, 2011.

As a result, the Company reported net income of $4.4 million for the third quarter of 2011, compared to net income of $0.3 million for the third quarter of 2010.

Cash and Equivalents

At September 30, 2011, Columbia had cash, cash equivalents and short term investments of $26.3 million, compared to cash, cash equivalents and short term investments of $21.6 million at December 31, 2010.

Financial Outlook

If successful in obtaining FDA approval of progesterone 8% vaginal gel for the preterm birth indication, the Company will receive a $30 million milestone payment from Watson upon commercial launch of the product in the U.S. Under the Prescription Drug User Fee Act ( PDUFA), the FDA's goal is to review and act on the progesterone 8% vaginal gel NDA by February 26, 2012. The Company continues to make investments to upgrade its manufacturing capabilities and increase capacity to ensure its ability to meet Watson's forecasts for the anticipated launch of progesterone 8% vaginal gel. Depending on the timing of the expected investment in manufacturing, cash balances will fluctuate somewhat throughout the remainder of 2011. The Company believes its cash, cash equivalents and short term investments will sustain its operations for the foreseeable future.

Looking ahead, the Company has completed amortization of the upfront payment from Watson for sale of the progesterone assets, its CRINONE revenues continue to increase, and operating expenses are low. The Company's earnings and cash flows will be varied over the next several quarters as it continues to provide staff support to the Watson-funded efforts to gain approval for the preterm birth NDA as well as life-cycle management activities. Exclusive of non-cash income and non-cash expenses, the Company expects to be operating at a slight loss in the fourth quarter of 2011, but still maintain a net profit for the full year.