YM BIOSCIENCES REPORTS FISCAL THIRD QUARTER 2008 OPERATIONAL AND FINANCIAL RESULTS

Thursday May 8, 8:56 pm ET

MISSISSAUGA, ON, May 8 /CNW/ - YM BioSciences Inc. (AMEX: YMI, TSX: YM, AIM: YMBA), an oncology company that identifies, develops and commercializes differentiated products for patients worldwide, today reported operational and financial results for its third quarter of fiscal 2008, ended March 31, 2008.


"During the quarter we continued to advance nimotuzumab globally, leveraging co-operative efforts of multiple partners and other licensees of the drug," said David Allan, Chairman and CEO of YM BioSciences. "These activities were highlighted by the acceptance of a poster at ASCO 2008 describing data from the Canadian arm of a Canadian/Korean trial in non-small cell lung cancer, also known as NSCLC, and the enrollment of the first patient in our US and Canadian Phase II trial investigating nimotuzumab in pediatric patients with inoperable, treatment-resistant brain cancer."


Nimotuzumab

Nimotuzumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody that targets the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), is being developed globally, with 14 companies now participating in the development of this drug. YM's financial interest in nimotuzumab extends across the major pharmaceutical marketplaces of North America, Europe and Japan and includes countries in South-East Asia and Africa. YM has retained all rights to North America, Australia and New Zealand while out-licensing rights to the drug in its remaining territories.

• In February 2008, YM enrolled the first patient in its Phase II trial investigating nimotuzumab in pediatric patients with progressive diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), an inoperable treatment-resistant brain cancer. Nine leading US pediatric clinical centers and two Canadian centers are participating in the 44-patient single-arm trial evaluating nimotuzumab as a monotherapy. The primary endpoint of the trial is a target response rate of 15%, and recruitment is expected to be completed in mid-2009.
  
  

• Preliminary results are expected in mid 2008 from the 59 patients in the first of two possible tranches of YM's Phase II colorectal cancer study. The trial is evaluating the combination of nimotuzumab with irinotecan chemotherapy in irinotecan-resistant patients
  
  
  
• In Europe, Oncoscience AG, is conducting late-stage trials in first-line pediatric DIPG, adult glioma and pancreatic cancer. In April 2008, nimotuzumab was accorded Orphan Drug Designation for pancreatic cancer in Europe. Data from the first-line, single-arm Phase III pediatric DIPG trial is scheduled for a poster presentation (Poster No. 3D, S Hall A1) on June 1, 2008 at ASCO.
  
  
  
• In Japan, the Company's licensee, Daiichi-Sankyo Co., Ltd. is preparing to conduct Phase II trials with nimotuzumab.
  
  
  
• YM's licensee in Singapore/Indonesia, Innogene Kalbiotech/P.T. Kalbe Farma, has initiated a Special Access Program under which patients are being treated with nimotuzumab for various tumour types and a broad development program is underway in those substantial markets.
  
  
  
• At the 2008 ASCO annual meeting, poster presentations on a pharmacodynamic study of nimotuzumab in patients with unresectable squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (Poster No. 14D, S Hall A1 on May 31, 2008), and additional results from the escalating-dose Phase I portion of a Phase I/II NSCLC study (Poster No. 15F, S Hall A1 on June 1, 2008) will be presented.
  

       


AeroLEF(TM)


AeroLEF(TM) is a proprietary, inhaled-delivery composition of free and liposome-encapsulated fentanyl in development for the treatment of moderate to severe pain, including cancer pain. AeroLEF(TM) uniquely permits patients to identify and select the appropriate dose in real-time for each pain episode to achieve both rapid onset and extended duration of analgesia.


YM received clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2007 to initiate a Phase II Acute Pain Study (AP5) of AeroLEF(TM) in the US in opioid-tolerant or opioid-naive patients. During the fiscal third quarter, YM reported that it received a letter from the US FDA informing the Company that the planned Phase II Acute Pain Study (AP5) of AeroLEF(TM) had been placed on clinical hold. The Company is currently preparing its response to the FDA and expects to submit its response in the coming weeks.


Three posters describing research conducted on AreoLEF(TM) will be presented at the 27th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Pain Society (APS), which takes place May 8-10, 2008 in Tampa, Florida. (Poster No.'s 243, 264 and 265)



Financial Results (CDN dollars)

Total revenue for the third quarter of fiscal 2008, ended March 31, 2008 was $1.8 million compared with $2.0 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2007, ended March 31, 2007. Total revenue for the first nine months of fiscal 2008 was $5.5 million compared with $5.7 million for the first nine months of fiscal 2007. Revenue from out-licensing was $1.2 million for third quarter of fiscal 2008 compared with $1.2 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2007. Interest income for the third quarter of fiscal 2008 was $0.6 million compared with $0.8 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2007.


Total operating expenditures for the third quarter of fiscal 2008 were $5.7 million compared to $10.9 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2007. Total operating expenditures for the first nine months of fiscal 2008 were $17.6 million compared with $31.0 million for the first nine months of fiscal 2007. General and administrative expenses were $1.4 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2008 compared with $1.7 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2007. Licensing and product development expenses were $4.3 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2008 compared to $7.3 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2007. The large decreases are mainly the result of reduced development activity for tesmilifene, for which a Phase III trial was terminated in January 2007. The Company's current clinical development plans for nimotuzumab and AeroLEF(TM) anticipate an increase in expenditures, the timing of which is subject to regulatory approvals.


The net loss for the third quarter of fiscal 2008 was $3.8 million ($0.07 per share) compared to $8.9 million ($0.16 per share) for the same period last year. The net loss for the first nine months of fiscal 2008 was $11.9 million ($0.21 per share) compared to $27.0 million ($0.48 per share) for the same period last year.


As at March 31, 2008 the Company had cash and cash equivalents and short-term deposits totaling $62.1 million and payables and accrued liabilities totaling $2.5 million compared to $75.6 million and $3.3 million respectively at June 30, 2007.


As at March 31, 2008 the Company had 55,835,356 common shares outstanding, of which 2,380,953 common shares are held in escrow for contingent additional payment related to the acquisition of Delex Therapeutics Inc.



About YM BioSciences

YM BioSciences Inc. is an oncology company that identifies, develops and commercializes differentiated products for patients worldwide. The Company has two late-stage products: nimotuzumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody that targets the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and is approved in several countries for treatment of various types of head and neck cancer and brain cancer; and AeroLEF(TM), a proprietary, inhaled-delivery composition of free and liposome-encapsulated fentanyl in development for the treatment of moderate to severe pain, including cancer pain.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements, which reflect the Company's current expectation regarding future events. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, events or developments to be materially different from any future results, events or developments expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to, changing market conditions, the successful and timely completion of clinical studies, the establishment of corporate alliances, the impact of competitive products and pricing, new product development, uncertainties related to the regulatory approval process and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's ongoing quarterly and annual reporting. Certain of the assumptions made in preparing forward-looking statements include but are not limited to the following: that nimotuzumab will continue to demonstrate a competitive safety profile in ongoing and future clinical trials; that AeroLEF(TM) will continue to generate positive efficacy and safety data in future clinical trials; and that YM and its various partners will complete their respective clinical trials within the timelines communicated in this release. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.