Antares Pharma reports total revenues of $5.2 million for first quarter 2014

Antares Pharma, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATRS) today reported operating and financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2014.

Quarter and Recent Highlights

• Announced the product launch of OTREXUP™ (methotrexate) injection for subcutaneous use to treat rheumatoid arthritis and polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis by the Antares 40 person commercial team.
• Announced LEO Pharma's launch of OTREXUP™ to dermatologists for adults with psoriasis. LEO Pharma brings a dedicated sales force of 75 representatives focused solely on the treatment of psoriasis.
• Received a second milestone payment of $5 million from LEO Pharma in connection with the launch of OTREXUP™ and the achievement of a specific percentage of patient lives covered by managed care organizations. To date, Antares has received $10 million in milestone payments from LEO Pharma.
• Publication in The Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases of study results comparing the relative bioavailability, safety and tolerability of OTREXUP™ to oral methotrexate in adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The study showed the systemic availability of methotrexate (MTX) following oral dosing plateaus at 15 mg and greater, and administration of OTREXUP™ extends the systemic availability of MTX at every dose studied.
• Reported positive results from the VIBEX^® QuickShot™ multi-center phase 2 clinical study evaluating the pharmacokinetic profile of testosterone administered once-weekly by subcutaneous injection in testosterone deficient adult males.
• Announced the issuance of U.S. Patents RE44846 and RE44847. These patents trace back to inventions made in the late 1990's and capture innovations in the field of auto injectors that originally established Antares Pharma's position as a leader and innovator in medical injection device technology.
• Ended the quarter with $63.1 million in cash and investments and no debt.

Paul K. Wotton, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "We started detailing OTREXUP to rheumatologists in February and while it is still very early in the launch, feedback from prescribing rheumatologists has been very encouraging and patients have reported positive experiences with self-administration." He continued, "During the initial launch phase, our primary concentration has been on multiple visits to high prescribers and local pharmacies as well as building on existing formulary coverage. Our dermatology partner LEO began detailing OTREXUP in mid-March and they too are encouraged by the feedback they have received from physicians. We believe that our focused commercialization plan will continue to result in a growing number of new patient starts followed by in an increase in prescription trends over time."

First Quarter Financial Results

Total revenues were $5.2 million and $4.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Product sales were $1.8 million and $2.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. In the first quarters of 2014 and 2013, sales of reusable needle-free injector devices and disposable components were $1.2 million and $1.1 million, respectively, and were generated primarily from sales to Ferring and Teva. Product sales in the first quarter of 2014 also included $0.3 million of sales of pre-commercial pen injector devices to Teva. Additionally, in the three months ended March 31, 2014, the Company recognized net product sales of $0.2 million from sales of OTREXUP™ based on patient prescriptions dispensed. OTREXUP™ revenue recognized is net of estimated wholesaler discounts, prompt pay discounts, rebates and patient discount programs. In the first quarter of 2014, the Company shipped $2.7 million of OTREXUP™ product to wholesalers and had a deferred revenue balance of $2.1 million at March 31, 2014, which is net of estimated wholesaler discounts, prompt pay discounts, rebates and patient discount programs. Product sales in the first quarter of 2013 included $0.6 million of initial sales to Teva of our Vibex™ auto injector for Teva's generic epinephrine auto injector product and included $0.5 million of sales of our topical oxybutynin gel 3% product to Actavis in connection with their marketing of Gelnique 3%.

Development revenues were $1.4 million and $0.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The development revenue in the first quarter of each year was primarily related to auto injector and pen injector development work for Teva.

Licensing revenue was $0.9 million and $0.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The licensing revenue in the first quarter of 2014 was primarily due to revenue recognized in connection with our license and promotion agreement with LEO Pharma executed in November of 2013. The licensing revenue in the first quarter of 2013 was primarily due to recognition of revenue deferred in prior years under agreements with Ferring.

Revenue from royalties was $1.0 million and $1.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. We receive royalties from Teva and Ferring related to needle-free injector device sales and/or hGH sales, from Meda Pharma on sales of Elestrin^® and from Actavis on sales of Gelnique 3%.

Total gross profit increased in the first quarter of 2014 to $4.0 million from $2.5 million in 2013. The increase in the quarter was primarily related to license revenue recognized under the license and promotion agreement with LEO Pharma and development revenue from Teva.

Total operating expenses were approximately $12.8 million and $5.9 million for the first quarters of 2014 and 2013, respectively. The increase was primarily due to increased sales and marketing cost of $4.6 million in connection with the launch of OTREXUP™ along with an increase in expenses related to development of our Vibex™ QS T for testosterone replacement therapy of approximately $1.3 million.

Net loss was approximately $8.8 million and $3.4 million for the first quarters of 2014 and 2013, respectively, and net loss per share was $0.07 and $0.03 in the first quarters of 2014 and 2013, respectively.

At March 31, 2014, Antares had approximately $63.1 million in cash and investments, compared to approximately $69.1 million at December 31, 2013.

Conference Call, Call Replay and Webcast

Dr. Paul K. Wotton, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Robert F. Apple, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and President of the Parenteral Products Division will provide a company update and review first quarter 2014 results via webcast and conference call on Friday, May 9, 2014, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time (ET). A webcast of the call will be available from the investors/media section of the Company's web site at www.antarespharma.com.