DURHAM, N.C., Aug. 06, 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 second quarter ended June 30, 2019.

“The last few months have been a transformational period in Dova’s history, with FDA approval and launch of our thrombopoietin receptor agonist (TPO-RA) DOPTELET for ITP, European approval of DOPTELET for severe thrombocytopenia in adult patients with CLD, and an expanded co-promotion partnership with Salix for CLD. These accomplishments have strengthened our position as a growing leader in the treatment of thrombocytopenia,” said Dr. David Zaccardelli, President and Chief Executive Officer of Dova. “Beyond ITP, we look forward to results of our further indication expansion activities, with top-line data from our Phase 3 trial of DOPTELET for the treatment of chemotherapy induced thrombocytopenia (CIT) expected in the first half of 2020.”

Second Quarter and Subsequent Highlights

• DOPTELET ITP Approval – In late June, the FDA approved a supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) that expanded the use of DOPTELET to include the treatment of thrombocytopenia in adult patients with ITP who have had an insufficient response to a previous treatment.
• DOPTELET ITP Launch – In mid-July, DOPTELET was launched commercially for the ITP indication. A sales force of approximately 60 sales professionals with extensive Hematology/Oncology experience, are now calling on roughly 6,000 HCPs that represent 96% of the ITP patient potential in the United States.
• DOPTELET Differentiating Characteristics in ITP –
  º DOPTELET is the only oral TPO-RA approved for use in adult patients with ITP that does not have a boxed warning for hepatotoxicity and does not require routine liver enzyme monitoring.
  º DOPTELET is the only oral TPO approved for use in adult patients with ITP without food-type restrictions.
  º DOPTELET, as an oral tablet, does not require weekly visits to a health care provider’s office for subcutaneous injections.
  º DOPTELET increased platelet counts to >50,000 in 66% of ITP patients by Day 8 of treatment in a Phase 3 trial.
• DOPTELET ITP Publications - Dova presented four abstracts on the safety and efficacy of avatrombopag from studies in patients with ITP at the 65^th International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) Annual Scientific Meeting, held July 6-10, 2019, in Melbourne, Australia. These included efficacy data in patients who had previously received another TPO-RA, and the results of a dosing model study.
• DOPTELET CLD MAA – In late June, the EC granted marketing authorization for DOPTELET for the treatment of severe thrombocytopenia in adult patients with CLD who are scheduled to undergo an invasive procedure. Further, Dova continues to advance partnering discussions to commercialize DOPTELET in markets outside the US.
• Salix Partnership – Dova strategically expanded its co-promotion partnership for CLD in the United States with Salix. Starting on July 1, 2019, in addition to the gastroenterology, colorectal surgery, and proctology segments, Salix has the exclusive right to co-promote DOPTELET for the CLD indication to the hepatology and interventional radiology segments. Dova will continue to pay Salix a commission based on a percentage of net sales in these specialties, which beginning on July 1, 2019, is expected to be in the mid-thirties. In addition, the co-promotion agreement was extended to September 2023.
• Phase 3 CIT Clinical Trial – Dova continues to enroll patients in a Phase 3 trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of DOPTELET for the treatment of CIT and plans to report top-line results in the first half of 2020.

DOPTELET CLD Launch Highlights

• Net product sales for DOPTELET were $3.5 million for the second quarter.

  º Inventory held by specialty pharmacies in Dova’s contracted network decreased by approximately $450,000 from March 31, 2019 to June 30, 2019.
  º Prescription referrals increased approximately 7% in the second quarter of 2019 compared to the first quarter of 2019.
  º As expected, sales were negatively affected by competitive pricing pressure and payer restrictions in the second quarter of 2019, which Dova is addressing with the new pricing for DOPTELET implemented mid-July 2019.

• Early in the second quarter of 2019, a new marketing strategy for the CLD indication was launched, including revised product positioning, messaging, and a new action-oriented brand campaign.
• From launch through June 30, 2019, a total of 1,368 health care professionals have prescribed DOPTELET to their patients, with an increasing number of repeat prescribers.
• More than 9,200 calls were conducted, reaching more than 4,000 unique health care providers during the second quarter of 2019.
• For prescriptions in the second quarter of 2019 that have gone through the adjudication process with payers, 77% of those prescriptions were approved. On average, the time to decision for a referral was 7.4 business days in the second quarter of 2019.

Second Quarter Financial Results

Net product sales for DOPTELET were $3.5 million for the second quarter of 2019. Dova recognizes revenue when products are delivered to its specialty pharmacy partners.

Dova reported a net loss of $17.1 million for the second quarter of 2019, compared to a net loss of $19.7 million for the same period in 2018.

Cost of product sales for the second quarter were $0.4 million, which consisted of the cost of inventory, royalty payments and certain distribution and overhead costs.

Research and development expenses were $4.5 million in the second quarter of 2019, compared to $4.5 million for the same period in 2018.

Selling, general and administrative expenses were $15.5 million in the second quarter of 2019, compared to $18.6 million for the same period in 2018. The second quarter of 2018 saw higher expense levels as a result of the full sales staff being onboard for most of the second quarter of 2018 while in 2019 the full sales staff for the launch of DOPTELET for the ITP indication were hired at the end of the second quarter and early third quarter.

As of June 30, 2019, Dova had $76.8 million in cash and cash 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 extended the interest only period of the existing $20 million loan facility by 12 months and provided additional potential borrowings of $30 million upon achieving certain clinical and revenue milestones. In July 2019, subsequent to the quarter end, Dova drew $10 million on this loan agreement upon approval in ITP.

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 and the treatment of thrombocytopenia in adults with chronic immune thrombocytopenia who have had an insufficient response to a previous treatment. For more information, visit www.Dova.com.