Dynavax Announces Third Quarter 2007 Financial Results and Updates 2007 Financial Outlook

November 1, 2007 at 12:00 AM EDT

BERKELEY, Calif., Nov 01, 2007 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ -- Dynavax Technologies Corporation (Nasdaq: DVAX) today reported financial results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2007. The results do not include the financial impact of today's arrangement with Merck.

As of September 30, 2007, Dynavax reported cash, cash equivalents, marketable securities and investments held by Symphony Dynamo, Inc. (SDI) totaling $68.7 million. This compares to $86.2 million at December 31, 2006.

"During the quarter, we made significant clinical progress and increased financial resources for our allergy and flu programs," said Dino Dina, MD, president and chief executive officer. "These events plus issuance of a landmark patent reflected a quarter of focused and productive work at Dynavax. However, today's announcement of a global partnership with Merck & Co. represents our most important accomplishment this year. With Merck as our commercialization partner, we could be the first company to bring a TLR9-based product to the market. The Merck deal increases the potential to capture the market opportunity and significantly improves our financial outlook for 2008 and beyond."

Total revenues were $1.0 million and $4.8 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, compared to $1.6 million and $2.4 million for the same periods in 2006. The increase in revenues for the nine month period resulted from our collaboration with AstraZeneca and grant revenue primarily from the NIH. The reported revenues do not include collaboration funding from SDI. Including the collaboration funding from SDI, pro forma revenues were $2.9 million and $13.3 million, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, compared to $4.9 million and $7.7 million for the same periods in 2006.

Total operating expenses were $20.2 million and $61.9 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, compared to $17.7 million and $45.4 million for the same periods in 2006. The increase in operating expenses resulted primarily from increased clinical development and licensing activities related to the Company's product candidate HEPLISAV(TM), overall organizational growth including the operations of Dynavax Europe, and reimbursable expenses related to SDI programs. Operating expenses included a one-time $5 million license payment for the commercialization of HEPLISAV and non-cash charges for stock-based compensation, acquired in-process research and development and amortization of intangible assets. Excluding one-time and non-cash charges, pro forma operating expenses were $19.0 million and $53.6 million, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, compared to $16.5 million and $38.4 million for the same periods in 2006.

The tables included as part of this press release provide a reconciliation of GAAP revenues and operating expenses to pro forma revenues and operating expenses.

Net loss for the third quarter 2007 was $17.1 million, or $0.43 per share, compared to a net loss of $12.2 million, or $0.40 per share, for the same period in 2006. Net loss for the nine months of 2007 was $47.9 million, or $1.21 per share, compared to a net loss of $35.6 million, or $1.17 per share, for the same period in 2006. The increase in net loss was due primarily to increased clinical development expenditures on the Company's product candidates and overall organizational growth. The increase in shares used to compute net loss per share resulted from the Company's equity financing activities completed in the fourth quarter 2006.

2007 Financial Outlook Update

The following statements are forward-looking and are based on current expectations. Actual results may differ materially. These statements do not include the potential impact of any equity offerings, new business collaborations, or other transactions that may be closed or entered into after November 1, 2007.

Since Dynavax most recently provided its financial outlook in February 2007, the company has successfully executed key strategic partnerships and secured grants that have provided cash and development funding for its programs. Specifically, these include the commercialization collaboration with Merck for HEPLISAV, the funding commitment from Deerfield for TOLAMBA(TM) and preclinical allergy programs, and a grant from NIH for a universal flu vaccine. As a result, the company has significantly increased its cash position and external funding for its R&D programs. As a result of the exercise of the hepatitis B therapy program option under the SDI collaboration, the company expects to reduce its use of SDI funding during the remainder of 2007.

The Company's consolidated cash, cash equivalents, marketable securities and investments held by SDI, or total cash, is projected to be in the range of $87 to $89 million at the end of 2007, as compared to the range of $38 to $42 million projected in February. This is due primarily to the addition of the collaboration with Merck, the Deerfield funding, and the adjustment in the SDI programs.

Total pro forma operating expenses for 2007 continue to be expected to be in the range of $76 to $84 million. Pro forma operating expenses for R&D programs funded by external sources are projected to be in the range of $38 to 40 million, as compared to the range of $29 to $33 million projected in February.

Dynavax Webcast and Conference Call

Dynavax will webcast its conference call today at 9:00 a.m. ET (6:00 a.m. PT) to discuss the agreement with Merck and 3Q 2007 Financial Results and Updated 2007 Outlook. The live webcast can be accessed by visiting the investor relations section of the Company's Web site at http://investors.dynavax.com/events.cfm. A replay of the webcast will be available on the Dynavax web site approximately two hours after completion of the call and will be archived for two weeks on the Investor page of the Dynavax website.

About Dynavax

Dynavax Technologies Corporation discovers, develops, and intends to commercialize innovative TLR9 agonist-based products to treat and prevent infectious diseases, allergies, cancer, and chronic inflammatory diseases using versatile, proprietary approaches that alter immune system responses in highly specific ways. Our TLR9 agonists are based on immunostimulatory sequences, or ISS, which are short DNA sequences that enhance the ability of the immune system to fight disease and control chronic inflammation. Our product candidates include: HEPLISAV, a hepatitis B vaccine in Phase 3 partnered with Merck & Co., Inc.; TOLAMBA, a ragweed allergy immunotherapy in Phase 2; a therapy for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) in Phase 2 and for metastatic colorectal cancer in Phase 1; and a therapy for hepatitis B in Phase 1. Our preclinical asthma and COPD program is partnered with AstraZeneca. The NIH partially funds our preclinical work on a vaccine for influenza. SDI funds our colorectal cancer trials and our preclinical hepatitis C therapeutic program, and Deerfield Management has committed funding for our allergy programs. While Deerfield, NIH and SDI provide program support, Dynavax has retained rights to seek strategic partners for future development and commercialization. For more information, please visit http://www.dynavax.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including statements about our projected cash position and operating results. Actual results may differ materially from those set forth in this press release due to the risks and uncertainties inherent in our business, including achievement of collaboration milestones and regulatory approvals under our third party funding arrangements, difficulties or delays in research and development, initiation and completion of clinical trials, the results of clinical trials and the impact of those results on the initiation and completion of subsequent trials and issues arising in the regulatory process; the scope and validity of patent protection and the possibility of claims against us based on the patent rights of others; our ability to obtain additional financing to support our operations; and other risks detailed in the "Risk Factors" section of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. We undertake no obligation to revise or update information herein to reflect events or circumstances in the future, even if new information becomes available.



                       DYNAVAX TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
                    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                   (In thousands, except per share amounts)
                                 (Unaudited)

                                       Three Months Ended    Nine Months Ended
                                         September 30,         September 30,
                                         2007      2006       2007      2006
    Revenues:
      Collaboration revenue              $719      $166      $2,218     $166
      Service and license revenue         162       692         732      916
      Grant revenue                       133       734       1,848    1,327
    Total revenues                      1,014     1,592       4,798    2,409

    Operating expenses:
      Research and development (2)     14,909    12,781      47,705   30,135
      General and administrative (3)    5,029     4,656      13,414   10,639
      Acquired in-process research
       and development                      -         -           -    4,180
      Amortization of intangible
       assets                             251       251         754      447
    Total operating expenses (1)       20,189    17,688      61,873   45,401

    Loss from operations              (19,175)  (16,096)    (57,075) (42,992)

    Interest and other income, net        453       673       2,506    2,093

    Loss including noncontrolling
     interest in Symphony
     Dynamo, Inc.                     (18,772)  (15,423)    (54,569) (40,899)

    Amount attributed to
     noncontrolling interest in
     Symphony Dynamo, Inc.              1,621     3,271       6,674    5,302

    Net loss                         $(17,101) $(12,152)   $(47,895)$(35,597)

    Basic and diluted net loss per
     share                             $(0.43)   $(0.40)     $(1.21)  $(1.17)
    Shares used to compute basic and
     diluted net loss per share        39,753    30,605      39,740   30,551

    (1)  Total operating expenses excluding non-cash stock-based compensation
         charges were $19.2 million and $59.4 million for the three and nine
         months ended September 30, 2007, respectively. Total operating
         expenses excluding non-cash stock-based compensation charges were
         $16.7 million and $43.0 million for the three and nine months ended
         September 30, 2006, respectively.
    (2)  Research and development expenses included non-cash stock-based
         compensation charges of $0.3 million and $0.8 million for the three
         and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively. Research and
         development expenses included non-cash stock-based compensation
         charges of $0.2 million and $0.8 million for the three and nine
         months ended September 30, 2006, respectively.
    (3)  General and administrative expenses included non-cash stock-based
         compensation charges of $0.7 million and $1.7 million for the three
         and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively. General and
         administrative expenses included non-cash stock-based compensation
         charges of $0.7 million and $1.6 million for the three and nine
         months ended September 30, 2006, respectively.



                       DYNAVAX TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
            RECONCILIATION OF GAAP REVENUES TO PRO FORMA REVENUES
                                (In thousands)
                                 (Unaudited)

                                         Three Months Ended  Nine Months Ended
                                             September 30,     September 30,
                                             2007     2006     2007    2006

    GAAP revenues                           $1,014   $1,592   $4,798  $2,409
    ADD:
    Collaboration funding incurred under
     SDI programs                            1,855    3,290    8,487   5,288
    Pro forma revenues (1)                  $2,869   $4,882  $13,285  $7,697

    (1)  These pro forma amounts are intended to illustrate the Company's
         revenues to be inclusive of collaboration funding provided for the
         SDI programs. The collaboration funding is reflected in the amount
         attributed to the noncontrolling interest in SDI in the Company's
         consolidated statement of operations, but would have been reported as
         revenue if SDI's results of operations were not consolidated with
         those of the company. Management of the company believes the pro
         forma results are a more useful measure of the Company's revenues
         because it provides investors the ability to evaluate the Company's
         operations in the manner that management uses to assess the continued
         progress of programs funded under the SDI arrangement. These pro
         forma results are not in accordance with, or an alternative for,
         generally accepted accounting principles and may be different from
         pro forma measures used by other companies.



                       DYNAVAX TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
  RECONCILIATION OF GAAP OPERATING EXPENSES TO PRO FORMA OPERATING EXPENSES
                                (In thousands)
                                 (Unaudited)

                                      Three Months Ended    Nine Months Ended
                                         September 30,         September 30,
                                       2007       2006       2007       2006


    GAAP operating expenses           $20,189    $17,688    $61,873    $45,401
    LESS:
    Licensing fee                           -          -      5,000          -
    Stock-based compensation expense      984        970      2,481      2,366
    Acquired in-process research and
     development                            -          -          -      4,180
    Amortization of intangible assets     251        251        754        447
    Pro forma operating expenses (2)  $18,954    $16,467    $53,638    $38,408

    (2)  These pro forma amounts are intended to illustrate the Company's
         operating expenses excluding certain one-time and non-cash charges in
         accordance with the financials that management uses to evaluate the
         Company's operations. These pro forma results are not in accordance
         with, or an alternative for, generally accepted accounting principles
         and may be different from pro forma measures used by other companies.



                       DYNAVAX TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
                         SELECTED BALANCE SHEET DATA
                                (In thousands)

                                                 September 30,    December 31,
                                                     2007             2006
    Assets                                        (unaudited)
     Cash and cash equivalents and marketable
      securities (1)                                $68,725          $86,194
     Property and equipment, net                      6,380            5,200
     Goodwill                                         2,312            2,312
     Other intangible assets, net                     3,627            4,382
     Other assets                                     6,952            4,802
    Total assets                                    $87,996         $102,890

    Liabilities, noncontrolling interest and
     stockholders' equity
     Current liabilities                            $13,807          $13,701
     Noncurrent portion of deferred revenue          10,000           10,000
     Liability from Program Option exercised under
      the SDI collaboration                          15,000                -
     Other long-term liabilities                      3,627              117
     Noncontrolling interest in Symphony
      Dynamo, Inc.                                   10,342            2,016
     Stockholders' equity                            35,220           77,056
    Total liabilities, noncontrolling interest and
     stockholders' equity                           $87,996         $102,890

        (1)  These amounts also include investments held by Symphony Dynamo,
             Inc. of $32.8 million as of September 30, 2007.

SOURCE Dynavax Technologies Corporation

http://www.dynavax.com

Copyright (C) 2007 PR Newswire. All rights reserved

News Provided by COMTEX