Pharmasset Reports Financial Results for Quarter Ended Jun...( PRINCETON N.J. Aug. 14 /- Pharmas...),Health

PRINCETON, N.J., Aug. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Pharmasset, Inc. (Nasdaq: VRUS), a clinical stage pharmaceutical company committed to discovering, developing and commercializing novel drugs to treat viral infections, reported unaudited financial results for the third fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2008. Pharmasset reported a net loss attributable to common stockholders of $15.0 million, or a loss per share of $0.69 for the quarter ended June 30, 2008, as compared to a net loss attributable to common stockholders of $7.1 million, or a loss per share of $0.40 per share for the same period in 2007.

Revenues were $0.5 million during the quarters ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 and reflect amortization of up-front and subsequent collaborative and license payments received from Roche previously recorded as deferred revenue. Total costs and expenses for the quarter ended June 30, 2008 were $15.0 million, as compared to $7.1 million for the same period in 2007. The $7.9 million increase in total costs and expenses during the quarter ended June 30, 2008 was primarily due to a $5.8 million increase in Phase 3 clinical trial expenses to support registration of clevudine for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, a $1.0 million increase in compensation expense resulting from increased headcount, a $0.4 million increase in new drug discovery expenses, and a $0.7 million increase in marketing and other administrative expenses. Investment income decreased to $0.2 million during the quarter ended June 30, 2008 from $0.7 million in the quarter ended June 30, 2007, primarily on lower rates of return on invested balances. Interest expense increased to $0.7 million during the quarter ended June 30, 2008 from $0.0 million in the yea
'/>"/>