CONR Conor Medsystems

MENLO PARK, Calif., May 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Conor Medsystems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CONR) today announced results of operations for the quarter ended March 31, 2006. In the first quarter of 2006, the net loss was $18.1 million, or $0.54 per share, compared to a net loss of $11.7 million, or $0.37 per share, in the first quarter of 2005. As of March 31, 2006, Conor had cash and cash equivalents of $61.7 million. The first quarter of 2006 included product sales of $4.4 million as a result of the commercial launch of Conor's cobalt chromium paclitaxel-eluting stent system, CoStar(TM), in many countries in the European Union through the company's distribution partner, Biotronik AG. Research and development expenses increased to $14.2 million in the first quarter of 2006 from $7.7 million for the first quarter of the prior year, primarily due to higher payroll expenses associated with an increased number of research and development personnel, expenditures for Conor's clinical trials and non-cash stock-based compensation expense. General and administrative expenses increased to $5.4 million in the first quarter of 2006 from $4.6 million for the first quarter of the prior year, primarily due to increased expenses for professional services and higher payroll expenses. Effective January 1, 2006, the Company adopted SFAS 123R, "Share-Based Payment," and operating expenses for the quarter ended March 31, 2006 include employee stock-based compensation expense totaling $4.3 million. "In the first quarter, we achieved a major milestone with the receipt of the CE Mark and the commercial launch in Europe of our CoStar stent," commented Frank Litvack, M.D., Conor's Chairman and CEO. "We look forward to launching the CoStar stent in other countries as well as continuing to advance the development of the product candidates in our pipeline." Conference Call and Webcast Information Frank Litvack, M.D., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and Michael Boennighausen, Chief Financial Officer, will host a conference call at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time today to discuss the company's operating and financial results and provide updates on the company's commercialization efforts, clinical trials, product development activities, litigation and other business matters. To access the live audio broadcast or the subsequent archived recording, visit the webcast section of the company's website located at http://www.conormed.com/. Please log on to Conor's website several minutes prior to the start of the presentation to ensure adequate time for any software download that may be necessary. A replay of the web cast will remain at this location until such time as the company reports its financial results for the second quarter of 2006. The webcast is also being distributed through the Thomson StreetEvents Network to both institutional and individual investors. Individual investors can listen to the call at http://www.fulldisclosure.com/ and institutional investors can access the call via http://www.streetevents.com/. The dial-in number for the conference call is 866-700-6979 in the U.S., 617-213-8836 outside the U.S., and the participant passcode is 53938795. About Conor Medsystems Conor Medsystems, Inc. develops innovative controlled vascular drug delivery technologies and has initially focused on the development of drug- eluting stents to treat coronary artery disease. For further information about Conor and controlled vascular delivery, visit http://www.conormed.com/. CoStar(TM) is not available for sale in the United States. CoStar is an investigational device limited by federal law to investigational use. Except for the historical information contained herein, this press release contains certain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including without limitation the statements related to commercialization of the company's CoStar stent and product pipeline development. All forward-looking statements and other information included in this press release are based on information available to Conor Medsystems as of the date hereof, and the company assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements or information. The company's actual results could differ materially from those described in the company's forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed in detail under "Item 1A. Risk Factors" in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, filed with the SEC on March 16, 2006, including (i) risks related to the commercialization of company's CoStar stent, including, among other things (a) the risk that the company's CoStar stent may never achieve market acceptance or obtain marketing approval in the United States from the FDA, (b) the risk that the company's manufacturing facilities may be unable to provide an adequate supply of its CoStar stent, (c) the risk that the loss of the company's single source suppliers could interrupt or delay the company's commercialization efforts, (d) the risk that the company may fail to comply with ongoing regulatory requirements, or that the company may experience unanticipated problems with its CoStar stent, (e) the risk that the company may not obtain adequate levels of reimbursement for its CoStar stent by third-party payors, and (f) the risk that the company's competitors may develop and market products that are safer and more effective than the CoStar stent; (ii) risks related to the uncertain, lengthy and expensive clinical development process, including, among other things, (a) the risk that the company may not be successful in its efforts to expand its portfolio of products and develop additional drug delivery technologies, (b) the risk that a clinical trial, including the company's COSTAR II trial, may not be completed on schedule, or at all, including as a result of patients experiencing adverse side effects or events related to the company's stents, (c) the risk that issues in the company's manufacturing processes could delay or impede the company's clinical development plans, and (d) the risk that the third parties on whom the company relies to conduct its clinical trials may not perform as contractually required or expected; and (iii) risks related to patent infringement, including, among other things, (a) the risk that if any patent infringement claims or other intellectual property claims against the company are successful, the company may, among other things (1) be enjoined from, or required to cease, the development, manufacture, use and sale of products that infringe the patent rights of others, including the company's CoStar stent, (2) be required to expend significant resources to redesign its technology so that it does not infringe others' patent rights, which may not be possible, and/or (3) be required to obtain licenses to the infringed intellectual property, which may not be available to the company on acceptable terms, or at all, and (b) the risk that intellectual property litigation against the company could significantly disrupt the company's development and commercialization efforts, divert management's attention and quickly consume the company's financial resources. The risks and other factors discussed above should be considered only in connection with the fully discussed risks and other factors discussed in detail in the company's periodic reports filed with the SEC, including the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005. Conor Medsystems, Inc. Consolidated Statement of Operations Data (In thousands, except per share amounts) (unaudited) Three months ended March 31, 2006 2005 Product sales $4,387 $36 Cost of sales (1) 3,839 238 Gross margin 548 (202) Operating expenses: Research and development (1) 14,160 7,653 General and administrative (1) 5,360 4,605 Total operating expenses 19,520 12,258 Loss from operations (18,972) (12,460) Interest income 702 679 Other income, net 122 33 Net loss $(18,148) $(11,748) Basic and diluted net loss per share $(0.54) $(0.37) Shares used to compute basic and diluted net loss per share 33,452 31,974 (1) Includes non-cash stock-based compensation expense as follows: Cost of sales $187 $-- Research and development 2,282 1,247 General and administrative 1,824 1,844 Total $4,293 $3,091 Consolidated Balance Sheet Data (In thousands) (unaudited) March 31, December 31, 2006 2005 Cash and cash equivalents $61,699 $78,470 Working capital 57,572 69,326 Total assets 80,239 92,070 Long-term liabilities 107 147 Accumulated deficit (121,285) (103,137) Total shareholders' equity 65,753 78,723 DATASOURCE: Conor Medsystems, Inc. CONTACT: investors, Michael Boennighausen, Chief Financial Officer of Conor Medsystems, Inc., +1-650-614-4100, or media, Karen L. Bergman of BCC Partners, +1-650-575-1509, for Conor Medsystems, Inc. Web site: http://www.conormed.com/

Copyright