The net loss for the year ended December 31, 2009 was $13.5 million, or $0.35 per share, compared to a net loss of $24.7 million, or $0.65 per share for the year ended December 31, 2008.

For 2010, BioCryst expects cash use to be between $25 and $30 million.  Cash use will vary depending on clinical outcomes.  

Recent Program Highlights

Peramivir Program

On January 27, BioCryst's partner Shionogi announced the commercial launch of RAPIACTA (i.v. peramivir) to treat patients with influenza in Japan.  This launch occurred less than two weeks following marketing and manufacturing approval for RAPIACTA in Japan. In November 2009, BioCryst received an initial order for 10,000 courses of i.v peramivir (600 mg once-daily for five days) with a value of $22.5 million under a newly issued contract with HHS.  Under the contract, HHS may place additional orders, up to a total of 40,000 courses of i.v. peramivir. BioCryst's partner Green Cross Corporation filed for approval of peramivir in South Korea.  Countries that have approved, ordered or authorized use of peramivir during this flu season include the U.S., Japan, Israel, Mexico, Australia and South Korea. In January, BioCryst announced two new partners to exclusively represent peramivir for stockpiling opportunities in their territories: Merck Serono for Europe, Russia, Canada and Singapore; and Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, excluding Israel.  Together, BioCryst and its seven regional partners for peramivir cover most of the world's pharmaceutical markets.

Forodesine Program

In January 2010, the pivotal Phase 2 study for forodesine in the treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) achieved its protocol-specified objective of enrolling 100 late-stage patients (Stage IIB to IVA).  The Company expects to report data from the study in the second half of 2010. The Phase 2 single-arm, open-label study evaluating 200 mg of forodesine twice-daily in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is beyond half way to its enrollment target of 26 patients and is ongoing.

BCX4208 Program

During the fourth quarter 2009, BioCryst began enrolling a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2 study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of BCX4208 in subjects with gout.  The study's primary objective is to determine the effect of different doses of orally administered BCX4208 on serum uric acid levels in patients with gout.  Results from the first part of this study are expected in the second quarter of 2010. BioCryst is evaluating alternatives for an additional blinded study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of BCX4208 as an add-on treatment with another urate-lowering treatment for gout that has a different mechanism of action.

SOURCE BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc.