Neurocrine Biosciences Reports Third Quarter 2005 Results

Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:NBIX) today announced its financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2005. For the third quarter of 2005, the Company reported net income of $26.2 million, or $0.71 basic earnings per share compared to a net loss of $1.6 million, or $0.05 loss per share, for the same period last year. For the nine months ended September 30, 2005, the Company reported net income of $1.7 million, or $0.05 basic earnings per share compared to a net loss of $25.2 million, or $0.70 loss per share, for the same period last year.

Revenues for the third quarter of 2005 were $64.7 million compared with $34.7 million for the respective period last year. Revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 were $109.8 million compared with $66.7 million for the same period in 2004. The increase in revenues for the three and nine month periods is primarily due to achievement of a $50.0 million milestone under the Pfizer agreement related to the acceptance for review of the New Drug Application filing for indiplon tablets by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Sponsored development associated with the indiplon clinical program decreased compared to last year. During 2005, the Company recognized $1.3 million and $7.9 million, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005 in the form of sponsored development funding under the Pfizer collaboration agreement compared to $7.3 million and $12.3 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004. License fees and milestones recognized under the Pfizer collaboration were $55.4 million and $86.3 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005 and $26.1 million and $48.5 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004. The sales force allowance earned under the Pfizer collaboration agreement was $8.0 million and $14.0 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005.

Research and development expenses decreased to $26.6 million for the third quarter of 2005 from $32.3 million for the respective period in 2004. For the nine months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004, research and development expenses were $81.9 million and $81.7 million, respectively. This decrease in research and development expenses during the third quarter primarily reflects lower costs associated with the indiplon development program.

Sales, general and administrative expenses increased to $13.0 million for the third quarter of 2005 compared with $5.4 million during the same period last year. For the nine months ended September 30, 2005, sales, general and administrative expenses were $28.4 million compared to $16.2 million for the respective period in 2004. The increase in expenses from 2004 to 2005 resulted primarily from activities surrounding the implementation of the commercialization strategy, including hiring, training and deploying the 200 person sales force. Sales force costs are largely reimbursed by Pfizer.

The Company's balance sheet on September 30, 2005 reflected total assets of $501.0 million, including cash, cash equivalents, marketable securities, and receivables due under collaboration agreements of $292.4 million as compared with balances at December 31, 2004 of $519.2 million and $309.3 million, respectively.

Financial Guidance

The financial guidance for the year ending 2005 has adjusted the loss to approximately $25 million from a previously anticipated loss of $30 to $35 million. The reduced loss results primarily from lower than expected development expenses and anticipated milestones from the Company's collaboration with GlaxoSmithKline.

Sales Force of 200 Now Fully Operational

The U.S. sales organization of 200 has been fully recruited, trained by Pfizer, and is now deployed in the field. The sales team is co-detailing Zoloft to 25,000 psychiatrists. The sales force reach and call frequency are exceeding target projections with over 70,000 calls made to date on the target audiences.

Indiplon for Insomnia

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted and is currently reviewing the Company's New Drug Applications for indiplon capsules and tablets for the treatment of insomnia in both adult and elderly patients. PDUFA action dates for the capsules and tablets are in the first quarter of 2006.

Driving Study Preliminary Results

Neurocrine recently completed a randomized, double-blind, active- and placebo-controlled, four-way crossover, out-patient clinical trial conducted in 30 healthy volunteers to measure the impairment on next day driving performance after nighttime administration of indiplon 10mg, and 15mg, zopiclone 7.5mg or placebo. Following nighttime administration of indiplon there was no statistical difference for either indiplon dose vs. placebo on measurements of driving performance in a simulator, the primary endpoint in the study. These preliminary results also showed that zopiclone exhibited statistically significant impairment on driving performance. Safety results with indiplon were consistent with those previously reported in studies with indiplon 10mg and 15mg.

GnRH Antagonists for Women's Health Disorders

The Company has initiated a three month Phase II study in endometriosis. Enrollment is expected to be completed in November 2005 with results available in early 2006.

A second Phase II study in endometriosis is expected to be initiated in the fourth quarter of this year to more fully explore dose response, in anticipation of beginning six month studies in the second half of 2006. We also anticipate filing an Investigational New Drug (IND) in the fourth quarter to initiate Phase I Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) studies in males as a basis for a Phase II study during 2006. Additionally, a back-up compound entered Phase I studies in October 2005.

Urocortin 2 for Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)

The Company completed dosing in a Phase Iia clinical study in patients with mild to moderate CHF in the third quarter of 2005. Results from this study are expected in the fourth quarter of 2005, at which time we expect to file an IND in the US for Phase II dose exploration studies in CHF patients.

Altered Peptide Ligand (APL) for Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

Results are expected in early 2006 from a Phase II clinical trial with NBI-5788 involving over 150 patients for the treatment of relapsing MS. The study will evaluate safety and tolerability. The Phase II study is being conducted at 28 sites in the US and Canada and was expanded to five Eastern European countries in 2004.

Altered Peptide Ligand (APL) for Type 1 Diabetes

Neurocrine has completed enrollment in a Phase II, dose-response, efficacy and safety trial in approximately 190 adults/adolescents with new onset Type 1 Diabetes. Results for all patients enrolled are expected in mid-2006.

Corticotropin Releasing Factor (CRF) for Stress Related Disorders

The CRF program (CRF small molecule antagonist) partnered with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has identified multiple unique preclinical compounds that are in various stages of development for anxiety, depression, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). A lead CRF R1 receptor antagonist compound is expected to complete Phase I in 2006. The Phase I program includes double-blind, randomized, placebo controlled, single-dose studies followed by multiple dose studies to evaluate the safety/tolerability and PK of a range of escalating doses of this compound in healthy volunteers. On successful completion of Phase I, Phase II clinical trials in IBS are expected to begin in early 2006 with depression / anxiety studies starting in mid-2006.

Additional Compound for Insomnia To Enter Clinical Development

Neurocrine will file an IND in the fourth quarter of 2005 for the evaluation of safety and efficacy of a new compound, NBI-75043, for the treatment of insomnia. NBI-75043 is an orally active, highly selective and short acting agent that, in preclinical studies, has demonstrated safety and efficacy for the treatment of various sleep disorders. Phase I studies will evaluate the safety and PK of single and multiple doses as well as selective sleep-related parameters.

Additional Research Programs

Neurocrine's Research Department continues to advance novel small molecule compounds into clinical development. Neurocrine scientists are focusing on developing small molecule antagonists against G-protein coupled receptors. In addition, Neurocrine scientists are also developing A2A antagonists for Parkinson's disease.

Conference Call and Webcast Today at 4:30 PM Eastern Time

Neurocrine will also host a live conference call and Webcast to discuss its third quarter financial results and provide a Company update Monday afternoon, October 24, 2005 at 4:30 PM Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) / 1:30 PM Pacific Daylight Time (PDT). Participants may access the live Conference Call by dialing 1-800-540-0559 (U.S.) or 785-832-0326 (International) and using the Conference ID# NBIX. The call can also be accessed via the Webcast through the Company's website at http://www.neurocrine.com/

If you are unable to attend the Webcast and would like further information on this announcement please contact Claudia Woodworth or Elizabeth Foster in the Investor Relations Department at Neurocrine Biosciences at (858) 617-7600. A replay of the Conference Call will be available approximately one hour after the conclusion of the call by dialing 1-800-839-3607 (US) or 402-220-2970 (International) and will be archived until Monday, November 7, 2005.

Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. is a product-based biopharmaceutical company focused on neurological and endocrine diseases and disorders. Our product candidates address some of the largest pharmaceutical markets in the world including insomnia, anxiety, depression, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, irritable bowel syndrome, eating disorders, pain, and autoimmunity. Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. news releases are available through the Company's website via the Internet at http://www.neurocrine.com/