NEW YORK, Mar 10, 2010 (GlobeNewswire via COMTEX News Network) -- SIGA Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:SIGA), a company specializing in the development of pharmaceutical agents to fight biowarfare pathogens, today announced its financial results for the year ended December 31, 2009.

For the full year 2009, total revenues were $13.8 million as compared to $8.1 million in 2008, and net operating loss was $11.9 million as compared to $8.7 million in 2008. Net loss per common share was $0.47 as compared to $0.25 in 2008. SIGA's performance in 2009 was mainly driven by the continued development of ST-246(R), including completion of a Phase II human safety clinical trial and the initiation of the commercial manufacturing validation campaign.

For the fourth quarter of 2009, total revenues were $4.0 million as compared to $2.5 million in 2008, and operating loss was $3.7 million as compared to $2.5 million in 2008.

Total assets as of December 31, 2009 were $25.9 million as compared to $8.8 million on December 31, 2008.

Ayelet Dugary, Chief Financial Officer of SIGA Technologies, stated, "We ended the year with a stronger balance sheet, greater liquidity and significant institutional investor support. During 2009, we raised approximately $20 million, which has positioned us to meet our commitments and invest in our programs."

2009 Key Financial Results

Revenues

For 2009, revenues from research and development contracts and grants were $13.8 million, an increase of $5.7 million, or 71.2%, from $8.1 million in 2008. This increase is due mainly to an increase in revenues recognized from our existing program to establish large-scale manufacturing and packaging of ST-246 and revenue recognized from our contract for additional formulations and indications of ST-246.

Research and Development

For 2009, research and development expenses were $17.4 million, an increase of $5.8 million, or 50%, from $11.6 million in 2008. Expenditures related to the manufacturing, packaging, and stability testing of ST-246 increased $3.3 million. Other costs related to ST-246 and the development of our other lead drug candidates increased $1.2 million from the prior year. Employee compensation expenses increased $978,000, mainly due to the hiring of additional expert R&D and support personnel.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

For 2009, selling, general and administrative expenses were $7.5 million, an increase of $2.9 million, or 64%, from $4.6 million in 2008. This increase is due mainly to higher stock-based compensation charges, higher general corporate and litigation legal support, and an increase in accounting fees.

Financial Condition and Liquidity

Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments at December 31, 2009 were $14.5 million and $5.0 million, respectively, as compared to a cash and cash equivalents balance of $2.3 million at December 31, 2008. In 2009, we strengthened our balance sheet with the sale of 2.7 million shares of our common stock for net proceeds after offering expenses of $18.6 million, in addition to receipt of $7.4 million of proceeds from exercises of warrants and options to acquire shares of our common stock.

Annual Report on Form 10-K

SIGA is filing today with the Securities and Exchange Commission its Annual Report on Form 10-K for its fiscal year ending December 31, 2009. SIGA urges its investors to read this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further details concerning the Company. The Annual Report on Form 10-K is also available on the Company's website, at http://www.siga.com.

About SIGA Technologies, Inc.

SIGA Technologies is applying viral and bacterial genomics and sophisticated computational modeling in the design and development of novel products for the prevention and treatment of serious infectious diseases, with an emphasis on products for biological warfare defense. SIGA believes that it is a leader in the development of pharmaceutical agents to fight potential bio-warfare pathogens. SIGA has antiviral programs targeting smallpox and other Category A pathogens, including arenaviruses (Lassa fever, Junin, Machupo, Guanarito, Sabia, and lymphocytic choriomeningitis), dengue virus, and the filoviruses (Ebola and Marburg). For more information about SIGA, please visit SIGA's web site at http://www.siga.com/.

The SIGA Technologies, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=4504

Forward-looking Statements

This press release contains or implies certain ``forward-looking statements'' within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, including statements regarding the efficacy of potential products, the timelines for bringing such products to market and the continued development and possible eventual approval of such products. Forward-looking statements are based on management's estimates, assumptions and projections, and are subject to uncertainties, many of which are beyond SIGA's control. Actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in any forward-looking statement. Factors that may cause such differences include (i) the risk that potential products that appear promising to SIGA or its collaborators cannot be shown to be efficacious or safe in subsequent pre-clinical or clinical trials, (ii) the risk that SIGA or its collaborators will not obtain appropriate or necessary governmental approvals to market these or other potential products, (iii) the risk that SIGA may not be able to obtain anticipated funding for its development projects or other needed funding, (iv) the risk that SIGA may not be able to secure funding from anticipated government contracts and grants, (v) the risk that SIGA may not be able to secure or enforce sufficient legal rights in its products, including sufficient patent protection for its products, (vi) the risk that regulatory approval for SIGA's products may require further or additional testing that will delay or prevent approval, (vii) the Biomedical Advanced Research & Development Authority may not complete the procurement set forth in a solicitation for the acquisition of a smallpox antiviral for the strategic national stockpile, or may complete it on different terms; (viii) the volatile and competitive nature of the biotechnology industry, (ix) changes in domestic and foreign economic and market conditions, (x) the effect of federal, state, and foreign regulation on SIGA's businesses and (xi) the risk that SIGA's developmental or commercialization activities, or other activities at the Company, may require greater cash expenditures than currently anticipated. More detailed information about SIGA and risk factors that may affect the realization of forward-looking statements, including the forward-looking statements in this press release, is set forth in SIGA's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including SIGA's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, and in other documents that SIGA has filed with the Commission. SIGA urges investors and security holders to read those documents free of charge at the Commission's Web site at http://www.sec.gov. Interested parties may also obtain those documents free of charge from SIGA. Forward-looking statements speak only as to the date they are made, and, except for any obligation under the U.S. federal securities laws, SIGA undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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SOURCE: SIGA Technologies, Inc.

CONTACT:  KCSA Strategic Communications
Todd Fromer
212-896-1215
Tfromer@kcsa.com
Marybeth Csaby
212-896-1236
mcsaby@kcsa.com

 

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