Neurocrine Biosciences Reports First Quarter 20...( SAN DIEGO May 5 /- Neurocrine Bioscie...)

SAN DIEGO, May 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: NBIX) today announced its financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2009. For the first quarter of 2009, the Company reported a net loss of $19.7 million, or $0.51 per share compared with a net loss of $21.1 million, or $0.55 per share, for the same period in 2008.

Revenues for the first quarter of 2009 were $0.7 million compared with $1.8 million for the same period last year. The decrease in revenues is primarily due to revenues recognized in 2008 under our collaboration agreement with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). During the first quarter of 2008, the Company recognized $1.0 million in milestone revenue from GSK for clinical advancements relating to the Company's CRF program.

Research and development expenses decreased to $10.8 million during the first quarter of 2009 compared with $14.2 million for the same period in 2008. The decrease in research and development expenses is primarily due to expense management efforts and lower external clinical development expenses related to the elagolix program.

General and administrative expenses were $4.2 million for the first quarter of 2009 and $8.3 million during the same period last year. The decrease in general and administrative expenses is primarily due to severance costs incurred in the first quarter of 2008 and expense management efforts in the first quarter of 2009.

The Company incurred $4.8 million in cease-use expense during the first quarter of 2009 due to a change in assumptions on timing of tenant occupancy for the front building of its campus.

The Company's balance sheet on March 31, 2009 reflected total assets of $101.0 million, including cash, cash equivalents, and investments of $86.0 million compared with balances at Decembe
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