Myriad Genetics Reports Results for Second Quarter of Fiscal 2005

Myriad Genetics Reports Results for Second Quarter of Fiscal 2005SALT LAKE CITY, Feb. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Myriad Genetics, Inc. (Nasdaq: MYGN) today reported financial results for the second quarter of fiscal 2005 and the six months ended December 31, 2004.

For the second fiscal quarter, ended December 31, 2004, predictive medicine revenues grew to a record $17.5 million from $10.4 million for the same quarter last year, a $7.1 million, or 68% increase. Compared with the first fiscal quarter of 2005, predictive medicine revenues were up $3.1 million, or 22%. We believe that this significant increase in predictive medicine revenues resulted from strong customer demand for Myriad's predictive medicine products due in part to the increased clinical utility of the test and the value to patients of using Myriad's BRACAnalysis® and COLARIS® predictive medicine products. For the first six months of this year, predictive medicine revenues increased 73% to $32.0 million, from $18.5 million during the same period last year.

Total revenues in the second quarter increased to $19.6 million, from $14.1 million for the same period of fiscal 2004, an increase of 39% year-to-year. Compared with the first quarter of fiscal 2005, total revenues increased by $2.9 million, or 18%. Research revenues contributed $2.1 million, for 12% of total revenues for the second quarter. This compares with $2.8 million for 27% of total revenues for the second quarter of fiscal 2004.

The gross profit margin on the predictive medicine business was 71% for the second quarter of fiscal 2005, compared with 67% for the second quarter of the prior year. This gross profit margin increase resulted from technology improvements and economies of scale realized during the last year.

Research and development expense was $14.5 million for the quarter, which included the introduction by the Company of two new investigative cancer drugs into clinical trials. This expense represents a modest increase of approximately 10% compared with $13.3 million for research and development in the same quarter of the prior year.

Net loss for the second quarter of fiscal 2005 was $10.0 million or $0.33 per share, compared with $9.9 million, or $0.36 per share, for the same quarter of fiscal 2004. The relatively unchanged loss reflects the Company's increased investment in its five currently active human clinical studies, which is offset by increased contribution from its profitable predictive medicine business. As of December 31, 2004, Myriad had approximately $125 million in cash, cash equivalents and marketable investment securities. The Company has no debt or convertible securities.

"In December, we submitted two new cancer therapeutic candidates to the FDA for initiation of human clinical trials," stated Peter Meldrum, President and CEO of Myriad Genetics, Inc. "I am pleased to report that both cancer programs, MPC-6827 and MPC-2130, are moving ahead with Phase 1 enrollment, as scheduled."

About the Two Cancer INDs Submitted in Second Quarter Fiscal 2005

The MPC-2130 Phase I clinical study is designed to evaluate its safety and pharmacokinetic profile in patients with advanced metastatic tumors or blood cancers as well as refractory cancers that have progressed despite previous chemotherapy. In preclinical studies MPC-2130 demonstrated significant cancer cell killing activity in ovarian cancer, prostate cancer and lymphoma. MPC-2130 was shown to be highly effective in cancer cell lines that are resistant to multiple drugs. Importantly, in animal studies, MPC-2130 appears to be well tolerated with a low side effect profile.

The MPC-6827 study is designed to evaluate its safety and pharmacokinetic profile in patients with advanced solid tumors, in an escalating dose regimen. In preclinical testing, MPC-6827 was demonstrated to be significantly more effective than the relevant standard-of-care chemotherapy drug at inhibiting tumor growth in xenograft animal models of cancer. In particular, MPC-6827 was shown in animal models to be more effective than doxorubicin in breast cancer, gemcitibine in pancreatic cancer, irinotecan in colon cancer, carboplatin in ovarian cancer and demonstrated a substantial inhibition of prostate cancer tumor growth, for which there is no currently recognized standard of care.

In preclinical testing, both drug candidates were equally active against multiple drug resistant cancers as they were against drug-susceptible tumors. Multiple drug resistance is common with the current options in cancer chemotherapy and represents a significant limitation in their use.

Conference Call and Audio Web Cast

Myriad management will host a conference call today at 10:00 am Eastern time to discuss the company's results and other recent events. The dial-in number for the conference call will be (877) 707-9631, or (785) 832-1508. A replay of the conference call will be available for one week following the call at (800) 934-3942 or (402) 220-1162. The call will also be available through a link on Myriad's home page at www.myriad.com.

Myriad Genetics, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel healthcare products. The Company develops and markets predictive medicine products, and is developing and intends to market therapeutic products. Myriad's news and other information are available on the Company's Web site at www.myriad.com.

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward looking statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth or implied by forward-looking statements. These statements include, but are not limited to increased demand for the Company's predictive medicine products; the clinical utility of the Company's predictive medicine tests and the value to patients of using the tests; strong growth in product revenues; continued development of, and increased investment in, the Company's therapeutic products in clinical trials and the expenses associated therewith; anticipated Phase 1 enrollment for the MPC-2130 and MPC-6827 clinical trials; the efficacy of MPC-2130 in patients with advanced metastatic tumor, blood cancers and refractory cancers; the efficacy of MPC-6827 in patients with advanced solid tumors; the ability of MPC-2130 to be well tolerated with a low side effect profile, the efficacy of MPC-2130 and MPC-6827 against multiple drug resistant cancers; uncertainties as to the extent of future government regulation of Myriad Genetics' business; risks and uncertainties as to whether Myriad Genetics and its collaborators will be successful in developing, and obtaining regulatory approval for, and commercial acceptance of, therapeutic compounds; the risk that markets will not exist for therapeutic compounds that Myriad Genetics develops or if such markets exist, that Myriad Genetics will not be able to sell compounds which it develops at acceptable prices; the risk that the Company will not be able to sustain revenue growth for its predictive medicine business and products, and risks associated with preclinical development activities that could cause delays in, or even prevent, planned IND applications. These and other risks are identified in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2004. All information in this press release is as of February 8, 2005, and Myriad undertakes no duty to update this information unless required by law.

BRACAnalysis is a registered trademark of Myriad Genetics, Inc. in the United States and certain other foreign countries.


                      MYRIAD GENETICS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
           CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)


    (in thousands, except per share
    amounts)                            Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
                                         Dec. 31, Dec. 31,  Dec. 31,  Dec. 31,
                                           2004     2003      2004      2003
    REVENUES:

      Predictive medicine revenue        $17,535  $10,446   $31,964   $18,510
      Research revenue                     2,104    2,773     4,385    $7,852
      Related party research revenue          --      929        --     1,458
        Total research revenue             2,104    3,702     4,385     9,310
        Total revenues                    19,639   14,148    36,349    27,820

    COSTS AND EXPENSES:

      Predictive medicine cost
       of revenue                          5,131    3,448     9,370     6,207
      Research and development expense    14,546   13,329    27,678    26,303
      Selling, general and
       administrative expense             10,638    7,752    20,594    15,859
        Total costs and expenses          30,315   24,529    57,642    48,369

        Operating loss                   (10,676) (10,381)  (21,293)  (20,549)

    Other income (expense):
      Interest income                        687      527     1,319     1,096
      Other                                  (59)      --       (66)      (10)
                                             628      527     1,253     1,086

    Net loss                            ($10,048) ($9,854) ($20,040) ($19,463)

    Basic and diluted loss per share      ($0.33)  ($0.36)   ($0.65)   ($0.72)

    Basic and diluted weighted
      average shares outstanding          30,682   27,109    30,666    27,098



                   Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)


    (In thousands)                                   Dec 31,          June 30,
                                                      2004              2004
     Cash, cash equivalents, and marketable
      investment securities                         $124,663          $141,839
     Trade receivables, net                           17,281            13,994
     Other receivables                                   755               554
     Prepaid expenses                                  5,236             7,279
     Equipment and leasehold improvements,
      net                                             16,251            17,339
     Other assets                                      7,176             7,351
        Total assets                                $171,362          $188,356

     Accounts payable and accrued
      liabilities                                    $15,741           $13,871
     Deferred revenue                                  1,618             1,209
     Stockholders' equity                            154,003           173,276
        Total liabilities and stockholders'
         equity                                     $171,362          $188,356


SOURCE Myriad Genetics, Inc.
02/08/2005
CONTACT: William A. Hockett, Vice President of Corporate Communications, +1-801-584-3600, bhockett@myriad.com
Web site: http://www.myriad.com