DURHAM, N.C., May 07, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dova Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: DOVA), a pharmaceutical company focused on acquiring, developing, and commercializing drug candidates for diseases where there is a high unmet need, today reported its operating and financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2019.

“Since refining our commercial strategy in December, we have become increasingly confident in the potential opportunities for DOPTELET as a treatment for thrombocytopenia. We are also encouraged by the initial feedback on our revised marketing and sales activities, which we expect to drive DOPTELET sales,” said Dr. David Zaccardelli, President and Chief Executive Officer of Dova. “In addition, we have made significant progress in our commercial preparation for the potential FDA approval of DOPTELET for the treatment of chronic ITP. With experienced clinical and commercial teams and a strong cash position, Dova remains well positioned to bring DOPTELET to patients across multiple indications.”

DOPTELET Launch Highlights

• Net product sales for DOPTELET were $4.0 million for the first quarter, an increase of 43% from the fourth quarter of 2018.
• The US sales team was restructured in early January 2019. It is now comprised of 44 sales territories and 5 regional directors responsible for driving DOPTELET sales in the hepatology, hematology, and interventional radiology physician segments.
• Co-promotion partner, Salix, with approximately 100 sales representatives, is responsible for driving DOPTELET sales for gastroenterology, colorectal surgery and proctology practices, and continues to progress as an integrated approach to expand our prescriber base.
• Early in the second quarter, a new marketing strategy was launched, including revised product positioning, messaging, and a new action-oriented brand campaign.
• From launch through March 31, 2019, a total of 1,060 health care professionals have prescribed DOPTELET to their patients, with an increasing number of repeat prescribers.
• More than 13,000 calls were conducted, reaching more than 6,500 unique health care providers during the first quarter of 2019.
• For prescriptions in the first quarter that have gone through the adjudication process with payers, 82% of those prescriptions were approved. On average, the time to decision for a referral was 6.3 business days in the quarter.
• Inventory held by specialty pharmacies in Dova’s contracted network remained relatively constant from January 1, 2019 to March 31, 2019.

Additional First Quarter Highlights

• DOPTELET sNDA – under review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of thrombocytopenia in adult patients with chronic ITP who have had an insufficient response to a previous treatment. The Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) goal date for an FDA decision is June 30, 2019. Sales professionals with hematology/oncology experience, with a focus on ITP, are being recruited to the sales force in anticipation of a potential U.S. launch.
• DOPTELET MAA – received a positive opinion from the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for DOPTELET for the treatment of severe thrombocytopenia in adult patients with CLD who are scheduled to undergo an invasive procedure. A European Commission decision for the MAA is expected in the third quarter of 2019.
• Phase 3 CIT Clinical Trial – continues to enroll patients for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia (CIT); plan reporting of primary and select secondary results in the first half of 2020.

First Quarter Financial Results

Net product sales for DOPTELET were $4.0 million for the first quarter of 2019. The Company recognizes revenue when products are delivered to its specialty pharmacy partners.

Dova reported a net loss of $16.4 million for the first quarter of 2019, compared to a net loss of $13.8 million for the same period in 2018.

Cost of product sales for the first quarter were $0.5 million, which consisted of the cost of inventory, royalty payments due to Astellas and certain distribution and overhead costs.

Research and development expenses were $4.1 million in the first quarter of 2019, compared to $3.4 million for the same period in 2018. The increase was primarily due to the ongoing clinical trial to evaluate DOPTELET for the treatment of CIT.

Selling, general and administrative expenses were $15.8 million in the first quarter of 2019, compared to $10.3 million for the same period in 2018. The increase was primarily due to staffing and other costs associated with the launch of DOPTELET as well as additional costs necessary for operating as a public entity.

As of March 31, 2019, Dova had $92.7 million in cash and equivalents compared to $104.6 million as of December 31, 2018. Additionally, on May 6, 2019, Dova entered into an amended and restated loan agreement with Silicon Valley Bank that extends the interest only period of the existing $20 million loan facility by 12 months and provides additional potential borrowings of $30 million upon achieving certain clinical and revenue milestones.

ADVERSE REACTIONS:

Most common adverse reactions (? 3%) were: pyrexia, abdominal pain, nausea, headache, fatigue, and edema peripheral.

Please see full Prescribing Information for DOPTELET (avatrombopag) www.doptelet.com

About Dova Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Dova is a pharmaceutical company focused on acquiring, developing, and commercializing drug candidates for diseases where there is a high unmet need, with an initial focus on addressing thrombocytopenia. Dova’s proprietary pipeline includes one commercial product, DOPTELET, for the treatment of thrombocytopenia in adult patients with chronic liver disease scheduled to undergo a procedure.