Durect Corp.
Annual Report 2000

Plain-text annual report

Around The Clock Therapy Through Continuous Dosing D U R E C T A N N U A L R E P O R T 2 0 0 0 DURECT Corporation 10240 Bubb Road Cupertino, CA 95014-4166 408.777.1417 phone 408.777.3577 fax www.durect.com 2000 filed with the SEC on March 30, 2001. on September 22, 2000 and its 424(b) prospectus filed with the SEC on September 28, 2000 and its Annual Report on Form 10K for the year ended December 31, acceptance of DURECT's products. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the company's S-1 registration statement, filed with the SEC successful clinical trials, obtain product approvals from regulatory agencies, build a manufacturing facility, manage its growth and costs, as well as marketplace statements. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, DURECT's ability to develop, manufacture and commercialize its products, complete benefits are forward-looking statements involving risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking The statements in this Annual Report regarding DURECT's products in development, product development plans, clinical trials, and expected product © 2001 DURECT Corporation ALZACorporation. DUROS®is a registered trademark of are trademarks of DURECT Corporation. Round Window e-Cath®and ALZET® IntraEAR®,Round Window (mu)-Cath®, Trademarks Cupertino, CA95104 10240 Bubb Road Attn: Investor Relations DURECT Corporation at Company headquarters. 9:00 A.M. local time June 27, 2001 of stockholders will be held at The Company’s annual meeting Annual Meeting www.durect.com Corporate Website: Cupertino, CA95104 10240 Bubb Road DURECT Corporation Mailing Address: without charge upon written request to: Commission on Form 10-K is available Email: Schond.Greenway@durect.com the United States Securities and Exchange Acopy of the Company’s Annual Report to SEC Form 10-K Fax: 408.777.3577 Tel: 408.777.1417 Director, Investor Relations Schond L. Greenway Phone 781.575.3400 For more information please contact: Vice President of Manufacturing Scott M. Wheelwright, Ph.D. and Business Development Vice President of Commercial Timothy S. Nelson and Development Vice President of Regulatory Judy A. Magruder and General Counsel Vice President, Legal Jean I. Liu, J.D. System Programs and Director of Central Nervous Vice President of Preclinical Research Randolph M. Johnson, Ph.D. Vice President of Engineering Edward M. Gillis and Medical Director Vice President of Medical Affairs Dennis M. Fisher, M.D. Senior Management Chief Financial Officer Thomas A. Schreck Canton, MA02021 USA 150 Royal Street EquiServe Trust Company, N.A. Transfer Agent Menlo Park, CA Venture Law Group Legal Counsel Palo Alto, CA Ernst & Young LLP Auditors Additional Information Albert L. Zesiger Felix Theeuwes, D.Sc. Thomas A. Schreck Armand Neukermans, Ph.D. Matthew V. McPherron President and Chief Executive Officer Douglas A. Lee John L. Doyle James E. Brown, D.V.M. James R. Butler Chairman and Chief Scientific Officer James E. Brown, D.V.M. Board of Directors Felix Theeuwes, D.Sc. Executive Officers CORPORATEDIRECTORY Around The Clock Therapy Through Continuous Dosing DURECT Corporation is pioneering the development and commercialization of pharmaceutical systems to deliver the right drug to the right site in the right amount at the right time. DURECT’s pharmaceutical systems combine technology innovations from the medical device and drug delivery industries with proprietary pharmaceutical and biotechnology drug formulations. These capabilities can enable new drug therapies or optimize existing therapies based on a broad range of compounds, including small molecule pharmaceuticals as well as biotechnology molecules such as proteins, peptides and genes. CORPORATE MILESTONES Initial Public Offering Completed September 2000 Construction of commercial manufacturing facility Commenced October 2000 Phase II clinical trial for DUROS sufentanil Initiated December 2000 Prototype design for DUROS hydromorphone Completed December 2000 Patient Enrollment for Phase II clinical trial for DUROS sufentanil Completed March 2001 Initiation of Phase III clinical trial for DUROS sufentanil Expected during 2001 Manufacture of ICH and Phase III product for DUROS sufentanil DURECT’s lead product in development, DUROS® sufentanil, is designed Expected during 2001 to deliver sufentanil on a continuous basis for 3 months for the treatment of chronic pain. DURECT’s second product in development, DUROS hydromorphone, continuously delivers hydromorphone to the spine. Initiation of Phase I clinical trial for DUROS hydromorphone DURECT is also selling FDA-cleared catheters for the delivery of fluids to Expected during 2001 the inner ear. Finally, DURECT manufactures, sells and distributes the ALZET® osmotic pump product for use in laboratory research. T O O U R S T O C K H O L D E R S 2000 was an outstanding year for DURECT as we made substantial progress in many fundamental areas that have built value for our stockholders and have built the foundation for a strong future as a pharmaceutical systems company. Most of the credit for this goes to our employees whose hard work and dedication has been responsible for our success. We have met our major milestones for 2000. We have completed two financings, including our initial public offering, which allowed the company to raise a total of $117 million. P R O D U C T D E V E L O P M E N T S In December 2000, we began our Phase II clinical trials for our lead product, DUROS sufentanil, for the treatment of chronic pain. In March 2001, we announced the completion of patient enrollment for our Phase II clinical trial of DUROS sufentanil. More than 50 patients at 10 clinical centers were enrolled in the trial over three months ahead of schedule, which we believe shows the potential benefits of this product for both patients and physicians. Our second product in development, DUROS hydromorphone, continuously delivers hydromorphone to the spine. We have completed the prototype clinical system design and finalized our pharmaceutical formulation for the product. M A N U F A C T U R I N G C A P A B I L I T I E S In October 2000, we commenced construction of our commercial manufacturing facility, which is expected to meet our production needs for our Phase III clinical trial and commercial launch for DUROS sufentanil. This facility is designed to use advanced procedures to enhance the DUROS manufacturing process, which should increase production capacity, and to allow pilot manufacturing for a number of additional products. The new facility comprises approximately 8,000 sq. ft. and is located at our headquarters in Cupertino, California. The facility will house a state of the art aseptic clean room space and an advanced manufacturing process capable of supporting clean assembly and automated aseptic filling. R E S E A R C H A C T I V I T I E S We continue to make progress with regard to our research in a number of therapeutic areas. We have focused research and development efforts on the application of pharmaceutical systems technologies to potential products for cardiovascular diseases, vascular grafts, cancer immunotherapy and other central nervous system disorders. We look forward to moving some of these products into development. We are proud to have been able to assemble a staff with world-class expertise in pharmaceutical system technology and product development capability and experience. As a result, we have been able to make substantial progress in product development while simultaneously building laboratories, processes and manufacturing facilities. We expect this combination will produce results in 2001 and beyond as we pursue opportunities for innovation and partnership to build value for our stockholders and improve the quality of life for patients with chronic diseases and conditions throughout the world. Sincerely, James E. Brown, D.V. M. President and Chief Executive Officer 1 D U R O S C U T A W A Y D I A G R A M S E M I - P E R M E A B L E M E M B R A N E E N G I N E C O M PA RT M E N T D R U G R E S E RV O I R O R I F I C E O S M O T I C A G E N T P I S T O N P R O P R I E TA RY D R U G F O R M U L AT I O N D U R O S A C T U A L S I Z E A P H A R M A C E U T I C A L S Y S T E M DURECT’s initial portfolio of products combines the DUROS technology, a proven and patented drug delivery platform licensed for specified fields of use from ALZA Corporation, with drugs for which medical data on efficacy and safety are available. The DUROS technology platform is an implantable drug-dispensing osmotic pump. The system is a small titanium rod, which can be as small as a matchstick, designed to release drugs. Conceptually, the DUROS resembles a miniature syringe in which drug is pushed out in con- trolled, minute dosages. Water from the body is drawn through the semi- permeable membrane into the pump by salt (osmotic agent) residing in the engine compartment. The water fills this compartment and pushes a piston to dispense small amounts of drug P E R F O R M A N C E C H A R A C T E R I S T I C S O F T H E D U R O S T E C H N O L O G Y P L A T F O R M • The engine can generate pressure sufficient to deliver highly concentrated, viscous and non-water- based drug formulations. from the drug reservoir through the orifice. The osmotic engine does not require batteries, switches or other electromechanical parts to operate. The amount of drug delivered is regulated by the semi-permeable membrane’s control of body water entering the engine compartment and the concentration of the drug formula- • The system can be tion. The DUROS can be programmed engineered to deliver a drug formulation at the desired dosing rate with a degree of accuracy down to 1/100 of a drop per day on a continuous basis. • The titanium shell of the system protects the drug formulation inside from contact with body fluids, thus protecting drug from degradation by enzymes and clearance processes within the body. to deliver up to 1,000 mg of concentrated drug from months to one year. DURECT currently holds five issued patents and 25 applications pending for therapeutic indications. In addition, pursuant to DURECT’s license agreement with ALZA, DURECT has a license under a portfolio of pending, issued and future patents of ALZA, which may cover DURECT’s products depending on the attributes of those products. 2 1 0 0 D A Y S O F P A I N T R E A T M E N T = 1 D U R O S ® OR OR 2 0 0 P I L L S 3 3 PAT C H E S I N F U S I O N P U M P + A M P U L E Pharmaceutical systems can provide continuous, controlled dosing automat- B E N E F I T S O F can deliver drugs directly to the intended site of action, potentially ically to a patient. Most drugs require C O N T I N U O U S D O S A G E reducing side effects and increasing a minimum amount in the blood and V E R S U S efficiency of total drug administered. tissues to have a therapeutic effect. Above a certain level, however, the drug can be overdosed, causing toxic or unwanted side effects. It is between these two levels where the optimal dosing level lies. The DUROS system can allow dosing within the optimal C O N V E N T I O N A L D R U G A D M I N I S T R A T I O N • Better control of treatment regimens with added convenience • Potential elimination of self-administered injections therapeutic range, as opposed to the • Improved efficacy peak and troughs associated with repeated injections or oral dosages. • Increased patient compliance Additionally, by attaching a proprietary • Reduction of side effects microcatheter to the DUROS, DURECT DUROS is implanted in a simple outpatient procedure that takes minutes to perform. Subcutaneous implantation and removal in the upper arm is easily performed in an outpatient procedure using a local anesthetic and special DUROS implanter. The titanium alloy used in the DUROS system reduces bioreac- tivity and facilitates explantation. 3 T R E A T I N G C H R O N I C D I S E A S E : M O V I N G P A T I E N T S F R O M D E P E N D E N C E T O I N D E P E N D E N C E According to the Centers for Disease Control, increased overall life expectancy and improved cardiovascular disease, cancer, neurodegenerative patient quality of life, many chronic debilitating diseases diseases, diabetes, arthritis, epilepsy and other chronic continue to be inadequately treated with current drugs diseases claimed the lives of more than 1.7 million or medical devices. Americans in 1999. The Centers for Disease Control also estimate that the major chronic diseases are responsible for approximately 70% of all deaths in the U.S., and medical care costs for these conditions totaled more than $400 billion annually. Currently, more than 60% of total healthcare spending in the U.S. is devoted to the treatment of chronic diseases. Demographic trends suggest that, as the U.S. popula- tion ages, the incidence of chronic disease and cost of treating it as a proportion of total health care spending will increase. While the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, drug delivery and medical device industries have Due to our strong technological foundation and unique pharmaceutical systems approach to delivering drug in the right amount to the right place at the right time, DURECT is well positioned to capitalize on the advancements currently being made and address the challenging problems in the healthcare industry. DURECT’s pharmaceutical systems provide a steady sustained release of drug that minimizes side effects by eliminating peaks and troughs associated with conventional drug dosing using pills, injections or patches. DURECT’s pharmaceutical systems are suit- able for providing long-term drug therapy because 4 they store highly concentrated, stabilized drugs in a the body, which often limit the long-term use of many small volume and can protect the drug from degrada- drugs. DURECT’s pharmaceutical systems can thus tion by the body. This, in combination with DURECT’s DUROS vs. CONVENTIONAL DRUG ADMINISTRATION ability to deliver precise, accurate and continuous doses of a drug, allows the company to extend the therapeutic value of a wide variety of drugs, including those which would other- wise be ineffective, too unstable, too potent or L L E E V V E E L L G G U U R R D D OVERDOSE • SIDE EFFECTS • DRUG WASTE THERAPEUTIC DOSE UNDERDOSE • LOSS OF EFFECT TIME DU ROS CO NVENTION AL provide better therapy for chronic diseases or condi- tions by replacing multiple injection therapy or oral dosing, improving drug efficacy, reducing side effects and ensuring dosing compliance. DURECT’s pharmaceutical systems can improve patients’ quality of life by eliminating cause adverse side effects. Delivering the drug directly more repetitive treatments, reducing dependence on to the intended site of action can also improve efficacy caregivers and allowing them to lead more while minimizing unwanted side effects elsewhere in independent lives. 5 Michelle Gaudette, Senior Director of Clinical Operations, and Judy Magruder, Vice President of Regulatory and Development, demonstrate the placement of the second product in development, DUROS hydromorphone. DURECT Corporation executive management team which includes (from left to right): Thomas A. Schreck, Chief Financial Officer, Felix Theeuwes, Chairman and Chief Scientific Officer, and James E. Brown, President and Chief Executive Officer. A N E W E R A O F T H E R A P E U T I C S : O P T I M I Z I N G & E N A B L I N G D R U G D E V E L O P M E N T In order to build an integrated pharmaceutical systems an inventor of approximately 220 issued US patents. organization, a company must have the right people to Products based on these patents sold over $2.5 billon accomplish its goals. DURECT’s management team has in 2000. extensive and broad experience from the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries. Some key members of DURECT’s executive management are highlighted below. Dr. James E. Brown, D.V.M. co-founded DURECT and serves as President, Chief Executive Officer and a Director. Dr. Brown previously worked at ALZA Corporation as Vice President of Biopharmaceutical Dr. Felix Theeuwes, D.Sc. co-founded DURECT and and Implant Research and Development from June serves as Chairman, Chief Scientific Officer and a 1995 to June 1998. Prior to that, Dr. Brown held vari- Director. Dr. Theeuwes was formerly Chief Scientific ous positions at Syntex Corporation, a pharmaceutical Officer at ALZA Corporation, where he worked for company, from October 1985 to May 1995 including nearly 30 years. Dr. Theeuwes has been a force in Director of Business Development, Director of Joint defining the field of controlled drug delivery and is Ventures for Discovery Research and Program Director for Syntex Research and Development. 6 Mark Reiser, Research and Development Machinist, completes development of tools for the lead product, DUROS sufentanil. John Culwell, Senior Product Engineer, analyzes neutron ray scans of DUROS sufentanil. Scott Wheelwright, Vice President of Manufacturing, and Jason Brenner, Facilities Manager, discuss the con- struction plans for the commercial manufacturing facility. Thomas A. Schreck co-founded DURECT and serves management team. Our team is noted for its breadth as Chief Financial Officer and a Director. Prior to and depth, having worked at a wide range of notable founding DURECT, he founded and was President biotechnology, medical device, drug delivery and of Schreck Merchant Group, Inc., an investment bank pharmaceutical industry leaders, including Abbott specializing in private placements and mergers and Laboratories, ALZA Corporation, Chiron, Genentech, acquisitions, from June 1994 to February 1998. Guidant, Medtronic and Roche. With regard to tenure Mr. Schreck also founded and served as Risk Manager in industry, DURECT averages over 15 years of expe- to Genesis Merchant Group/Portola Capital Partners, rience per person in senior management, with each L.P., a convertible arbitrage fund, from 1993 to 1994. member possessing extensive experience developing He also served as a Manager of the Convertible and successfully bringing products to the marketplace. Securities Department at Montgomery Securities, from 1988 to 1991. DURECT has also recruited leading researchers and physicians to serve as scientific and medical advisors Engineers, chemists and scientists with extensive for DUROS sufentanil. industry expertise complement DURECT’s executive 7 P R O D U C T P I P E L I N E Area of Focus / Drug Status RESEARCH PRE-CLINICAL IND PHASE I PHASE II PHASE III COMMERCIAL (510K APPROVAL) COMMERCIAL COMMERCIAL Commercial INTRAEAR ALZET Development CHRONIC PAIN SUFENTANIL CNS DISORDERS HYDROMORPHONE OTHERS EAR DISORDERS GENTAMYCIN OTHERS Research CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE PROTEIN/PEPTIDE THERAPY VASCULAR GRAFT CANCER IMMUNOTHERAPY OTHER PHARMACEUTICAL SYSTEMS CURRENT PRODUCT STATUS P R O D U C T S A N D M A R K E T S DURECT’s lead product in develop- ment, DUROS sufentanil, is designed to deliver sufentanil, an FDA-approved opioid, continuously for 3 months for the treatment of chronic pain. DURECT’s second product, DUROS hydromorphone, continuously delivers hydromorphone, an opioid used as an analgesic, directly into the spinal cord by a catheter. The most common treatment for patients in the chronic pain market is opioids. The worldwide opiate market is over $1 billion in sales annually. The chronic pain market includes patients with cancer, arthritis, osteoporosis, neuropathies, spinal cord injury, O T H E R A R E A S O F R E S E A R C H DURECT is currently engaged in research and development efforts on the application of pharmaceutical systems technologies to potential products for cardiovascular diseases, vascular graft, cancer immunotherapy and other central nervous systems disorders. DURECT is also focused on therapeutic treatments that help to minimize hearing loss and preserve balance function. 8 AIDS-related pain and patients with failed back surgery. DURECT currently markets FDA-cleared catheters for the delivery of fluids to the inner ear. Meniere’s disease is an inner ear disorder characterized by periods of dizziness, nerve deafness, and buzzing, or ringing in the ear. The U.S. market includes about three million patients, with about 100,000 new cases diagnosed per year. DURECT also manufactures, sells and distributes the ALZET osmotic pump product for use in laboratory research. A C , o t l A o a P l . c n I , e v i t a e r C s i m e t r A : n g i s e D Around The Clock Therapy Through Continuous Dosing D U R E C T A N N U A L R E P O R T 2 0 0 0 DURECT Corporation 10240 Bubb Road Cupertino, CA 95014-4166 408.777.1417 phone 408.777.3577 fax www.durect.com 2000 filed with the SEC on March 30, 2001. on September 22, 2000 and its 424(b) prospectus filed with the SEC on September 28, 2000 and its Annual Report on Form 10K for the year ended December 31, acceptance of DURECT's products. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the company's S-1 registration statement, filed with the SEC successful clinical trials, obtain product approvals from regulatory agencies, build a manufacturing facility, manage its growth and costs, as well as marketplace statements. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, DURECT's ability to develop, manufacture and commercialize its products, complete benefits are forward-looking statements involving risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking The statements in this Annual Report regarding DURECT's products in development, product development plans, clinical trials, and expected product © 2001 DURECT Corporation ALZACorporation. DUROS®is a registered trademark of are trademarks of DURECT Corporation. Round Window e-Cath®and ALZET® IntraEAR®,Round Window (mu)-Cath®, Trademarks Cupertino, CA95104 10240 Bubb Road Attn: Investor Relations DURECT Corporation at Company headquarters. 9:00 A.M. local time June 27, 2001 of stockholders will be held at The Company’s annual meeting Annual Meeting www.durect.com Corporate Website: Cupertino, CA95104 10240 Bubb Road DURECT Corporation Mailing Address: without charge upon written request to: Commission on Form 10-K is available Email: Schond.Greenway@durect.com the United States Securities and Exchange Acopy of the Company’s Annual Report to SEC Form 10-K Fax: 408.777.3577 Tel: 408.777.1417 Director, Investor Relations Schond L. Greenway Phone 781.575.3400 For more information please contact: Vice President of Manufacturing Scott M. Wheelwright, Ph.D. and Business Development Vice President of Commercial Timothy S. Nelson and Development Vice President of Regulatory Judy A. Magruder and General Counsel Vice President, Legal Jean I. Liu, J.D. System Programs and Director of Central Nervous Vice President of Preclinical Research Randolph M. Johnson, Ph.D. Vice President of Engineering Edward M. Gillis and Medical Director Vice President of Medical Affairs Dennis M. Fisher, M.D. Senior Management Chief Financial Officer Thomas A. Schreck Canton, MA02021 USA 150 Royal Street EquiServe Trust Company, N.A. Transfer Agent Menlo Park, CA Venture Law Group Legal Counsel Palo Alto, CA Ernst & Young LLP Auditors Additional Information Albert L. Zesiger Felix Theeuwes, D.Sc. Thomas A. Schreck Armand Neukermans, Ph.D. Matthew V. McPherron President and Chief Executive Officer Douglas A. Lee John L. Doyle James E. Brown, D.V.M. James R. Butler Chairman and Chief Scientific Officer James E. Brown, D.V.M. Board of Directors Felix Theeuwes, D.Sc. Executive Officers CORPORATEDIRECTORY 

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