Micromet, Inc. To Regain Rights to Blinatumomab in North America; Reports Financial Results for the Fourth Quarter and Full Year

BETHESDA, Md., March 12  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Micromet, Inc. (NASDAQ: MITI), a biopharmaceutical company developing novel, proprietary antibodies for the treatment of cancer, inflammation and autoimmune diseases, today announced that it is regaining from its partner MedImmune the rights in North America to its most advanced BiTE antibody candidate, blinatumomab, also known as MT103. In Europe, Micromet is conducting a phase 2 clinical trial with blinatumomab for the treatment of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and a phase 1 clinical trial for the treatment of patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.  In addition, the two companies plan to initiate a research program for the development of a new BiTE antibody for the treatment of hematological cancers.  Micromet also announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2008.

"We had a successful 2008 and are excited about the prospects for 2009. Our lead BiTE antibody program blinatumomab reported encouraging clinical data from phase 1 and phase 2 clinical trials last year, which form the basis for advancing the program towards its first pivotal clinical trial. We are pleased to regain North American rights to blinatumomab from our partner and are looking forward to taking control of the worldwide development of the program," stated Christian Itin, President and Chief Executive Officer of Micromet. "With our successful financing and partnering activities last year and early this year, we are well positioned to move our programs to the next value step."

Recent Developments relating to Blinatumomab and Micromet's Collaboration with MedImmune:

In March 2009, MedImmune elected to return its license rights to blinatumomab to Micromet. Micromet will assume responsibility for the worldwide clinical development and commercialization of blinatumomab. MedImmune will complete the development of the commercial scale manufacturing process for blinatumomab at its cost. Upon the first marketing approval of blinatumomab in the United States, MedImmune will have a one-time option to reacquire the commercialization rights in North America at pre-defined terms.

Micromet's clinical development activities with blinatumomab in Europe will continue unchanged. With the return of control over the development of blinatumomab in North America, Micromet will be in a position to align the European and US development activities.  Micromet will provide an update later this year on its plans for the development of blinatumomab in the United States.

The companies plan to initiate a research program for the development of a new BiTE antibody for the treatment of hematological cancers. MedImmune has an exclusive license to develop and commercialize the new BiTE antibody in North America, while Micromet owns all rights to the new BiTE antibody outside of North America. MedImmune will reimburse Micromet for its expenses in the performance of certain research and preclinical development activities to be conducted by Micromet. In addition, MedImmune will be required to make milestone payments upon the achievement of certain development milestones, and, if it receives marketing approval, to pay a royalty on net sales of the new BiTE antibody in North America.

  Summary of Key Clinical Data Presented in 2008:

  --  In December, Micromet presented clinical data on blinatumomab at the
      American Society of Hematology meetings in San Francisco.  The
      presentations included an oral presentation of the phase 1 clinical
      trial data of blinatumomab in patients with relapsed non-Hodgkin's
      lymphoma and a poster presentation of the first interim data from its
      phase 2 clinical trial of blinatumomab in adult patients with acute
      lymphoblastic leukemia.
  --  In September, Micromet presented the first clinical data from a phase
      1b clinical trial studying the combination of adecatumumab with
      docetaxel in late stage metastatic breast cancer patients at the
      European Society for Medical Oncology in Stockholm, Sweden.
  --  In August, Micromet presented the first peer-reviewed publication of
      clinical data on blinatumomab from the phase 1 clinical study in
      relapsed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma patients. These data were published in
      the journal Science (321: 974-977 (2008)).
  --  In April, Micromet presented the first pre-clinical data on new BiTE
      antibodies targeting EGFR, HER-2, MCSP and CD33. In addition, data was
      presented from animal studies testing the subcutaneous delivery of
      blinatumomab and MT110.

  Financings and related Events in 2008:

  --  In December, Micromet entered into a new committed equity financing
      facility with Kingsbridge Capital Limited, replacing a similar
      facility that was established in 2006.  Under the renewed facility,
      Kingsbridge has committed to purchase, subject to certain
      restrictions, limitations and conditions, up to $75 million of common
      stock at the time and in the amounts deemed suitable to Micromet,
      until December 1, 2011. Micromet is not obligated to sell to
      Kingsbridge any of the $75 million of common stock available under the
      facility, and there are no minimum commitments or minimum use
      penalties.
  --  In November, Micromet was added to the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index.
  --  In October, Micromet closed a sale of its common stock in a private
      placement transaction that yielded $40 million in gross proceeds.

  Program Updates in 2009:



Consistent with its January 5, 2009, press release titled "Micromet Key Events for 2009," Micromet intends to provide an update on its research and development programs at the following events:

  --  April 12 to 16, 2009: Update on several preclinical BiTE antibodies at
      the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) in Denver, CO.
  --  April 24, 2009: Micromet will hold an R&D meeting in New York, NY for
      investors and analysts to provide a review of its product pipeline.
  --  May 29 to June 5, 2009: Update on a phase 1b clinical trial combining
      adecatumumab with docetaxel in late stage metastatic breast cancer
      patients at the annual meeting of the American Society for Clinical
      Oncology (ASCO) in Orlando, FL.
  --  June 4 to 7, 2009: Update on the phase 2 clinical trial with
      blinatumomab in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients at the
      14th Congress of the European Hematology Association (EHA) in Berlin,
      Germany.
  --  September 20 to 24, 2009: First interim data from a phase 1 clinical
      trial with MT110, an EpCAM-targeting BiTE antibody, in patients with
      metastatic gastrointestinal and lung cancers at the joint 15th
      Congress of the European Cancer Organisation (ECCO) and 34th Congress
      of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) in Berlin,
      Germany.
  --  December 5 to 8, 2009: Update on a phase 2 clinical trial with
      blinatumomab in ALL patients and final results from a phase 1 clinical
      trial in late stage NHL patients at the annual meeting of the American
      Society for Hematology (ASH) in New Orleans, LA.

  Additional expected Milestones in 2009:

  --  In the first half of 2009, we expect to initiate a randomized,
      controlled, multicenter phase 2 clinical trial for relapsed colorectal
      cancer patients after complete resection of liver metastasis with
      adecatumumab, an EpCAM-targeting human monoclonal antibody that we
      develop in collaboration with Merck Serono;
  --  Before the end of 2009, we plan to initiate an additional phase 2
      clinical trial in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with
      blinatumomab. In addition, by mid-2009, we expect to have completed
      enrollment in the ongoing phase 2 clinical trial in patients with
      acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
  --  By mid 2009, we expect our partner Nycomed to initiate the first phase
      1 clinical trial with MT203, a GM-CSF-neutralizing human monoclonal
      antibody, for the treatment of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune
      diseases.
  --  Later in 2009, we expect our partner Morphotek, a wholly-owned
      subsidiary of Eisai, to initiate a first phase 1 clinical trial with
      MT228, a glycolipid-binding human antibody.
  --  Also later in 2009, we expect our partner TRACON Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
      to complete the ongoing phase 1 clinical trial of MT293, a humanized
      monoclonal antibody targeting denatured collagen, that is being
      developed for the treatment of solid tumors.
  --  Micromet intends to publish results from the research and development
      of its programs in peer-reviewed scientific and clinical journals
      throughout the year.
  --  As previously stated, Micromet entered into an agreement with Bayer
      Schering in January 2009 under which Bayer Schering has obtained an
      exclusive option to develop and commercialize a BiTE antibody against
      a specified solid tumor target. We intend to enter into at least one
      additional corporate collaboration in 2009.

  Financial Results:

  Quarter Ended December 31, 2008



For the three months ended December 31, 2008, Micromet recognized total revenues of $5.9 million, compared to $7.0 million for the same period in 2007. Total operating expenses were $12.4 million for the three months ended December 31, 2008, compared to $13.1 million for the same period in 2007.

Loss from operations for the three months ended December 31, 2008 was $6.5 million, compared to a loss from operations of $6.1 million for the same period in 2007.

For the three months ended December 31, 2008, Micromet reported a net loss of $5.9 million, or $0.12 per basic and diluted common share, compared to a net loss of $3.8 million, or $0.09 per basic and diluted common share, for the same period in 2007.

Year Ended December 31, 2008

For the year ended December 31, 2008, Micromet recognized total revenues of $27.3 million, compared to $18.4 million for 2007. Total operating expenses were $53.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2008, compared to $43.6 million for 2007.

Loss from operations for the year ended December 31, 2008 was $26.1 million, compared to the $25.2 million loss from operations in 2007.

For the year ended December 31, 2008, Micromet reported a net loss of $33.2 million, or $0.77 per basic and diluted common share, compared to a net loss of $20.1 million, or $0.55 per basic and diluted common share, for 2007.  The net loss for the year ended December 31, 2008 includes a non-cash charge of $8.1 million, reflecting an increase during the year in the fair value of warrants that we issued in a 2007 private placement transaction, compared to a $1.8 million non-cash gain for this item in 2007.  The fair value of the warrants is calculated based on the Black-Scholes model.  Increases in our stock price during a reporting period result in a non-cash expense, while decreases in our stock price during a reporting period result in non-cash income.

Net cash used in operating activities was $15.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2008 compared to $14.3 million used in operating activities for 2007. Micromet's cash and cash equivalents were $46.2 million as of December 31, 2008.

Conference Call and Audio Webcast Today, March 12, 2009, at 9:00 am U.S. Eastern Time.

To participate in this conference call, dial 800-659-1966 (U.S.) or 617-614-2711 (international), passcode: 20334467. The audio webcast can be accessed at: http://www.micromet-inc.com/ in the investor relations section of the website.   A replay of the call will be available from 12:00 pm Eastern Time on March 12, 2009 (6:00 pm Central European Time) through Thursday, March 19, 2009. The replay number is 888-286-8010 (U.S.) or 617-801-6888 (international), passcode: 99301894.

About Micromet

Micromet, Inc. (http://www.micromet-inc.com/) is a biopharmaceutical company with offices in Bethesda, MD and Munich, Germany. The Company is focused on developing novel, proprietary antibodies for the treatment of cancer, inflammation and autoimmune diseases. The Company's novel antibody technology is based on its proprietary BiTE(R) antibody platform, representing a new class of antibodies that specifically activate T cells from the patient's own immune system to eliminate cancer cells or other disease related cells. Four of the Company's antibodies are currently in clinical trials, with the remainder of its product pipeline in preclinical development. The Company's lead program is a BiTE antibody known as blinatumomab, or MT103. It is in a phase 2 clinical trial for the treatment of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and a phase 1 clinical trial for the treatment of patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Micromet's second BiTE antibody in clinical development is MT110, which targets the epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM). The Company owns all rights to MT110, which is currently in a phase 1 clinical trial for the treatment of patients with solid tumors. The Company's third clinical stage antibody is adecatumumab, also known as MT201, a traditional human monoclonal antibody that targets EpCAM-expressing solid tumors. Micromet is developing adecatumumab in collaboration with Merck Serono in a phase 1b clinical trial evaluating adecatumumab in combination with docetaxel for the treatment of patients with metastatic breast cancer. Micromet licensed a fourth clinical stage antibody, MT293, to TRACON Pharmaceuticals, Inc. MT293 is being developed in a phase 1 clinical trial for the treatment of patients with cancer. The Company's preclinical programs include MT203 being developed in collaboration with Nycomed. MT203 is a traditional human antibody neutralizing the activity of granulocyte/macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), which has potential applications in the treatment of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, or multiple sclerosis. Micromet has granted an exclusive option to Bayer Schering Pharma AG to license a BiTE antibody against an undisclosed solid tumor target. Additional BiTE antibodies, targeting CEA, CD33, Her2, EGFR and MCSP, respectively, are in different stages of preclinical development.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains certain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to be materially different from historical results or from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include statements regarding the efficacy, safety and intended utilization of our product candidates, the development of our BiTE antibody technology, the return of development and commercialization rights to blinatumomab, the future development of blinatumomab and a new BiTE antibody binding to CD19, the conduct, timing and results of future clinical trials, expectations of the future expansion of our product pipeline and collaborations, our plans regarding future presentations of clinical data, our expectations of timing for the publication of results from our research and development programs, our ability to draw down on the Committed Equity Financing Facility with Kingsbridge, and our plans regarding collaborations and other partnering activities. You are urged to consider statements that include the words "ongoing," "may," "will," "believes," "potential," "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "intends," or the negative of those words or other similar words to be uncertain and forward-looking. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from any future results expressed or implied by any forward-looking statements include the risk that product candidates that appeared promising in early research, preclinical studies or clinical trials do not demonstrate safety and/or efficacy in subsequent clinical trials, the risk that encouraging results from early research, preclinical studies or clinical trials may not be confirmed upon further analysis of the detailed results of such research, preclinical study or clinical trial, the risk that additional information relating to the safety, efficacy or tolerability of our product candidates may be discovered upon further analysis of preclinical or clinical trial data, the risk that we or our collaborators will not obtain approval to market our product candidates, the risks associated with reliance on outside financing to meet capital requirements, and the risks associated with reliance on collaborators, including MedImmune, Merck Serono, TRACON and Nycomed, for the funding or conduct of further development and commercialization activities relating to our product candidates. These factors and others are more fully discussed in Micromet's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2008, filed with the SEC on November 6, 2008, as well as other filings by the company with the SEC.

  (Tables Follow)


  Micromet, Inc.
  Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
  (In thousands, except par value)

                                             December 31,   December 31,
                                                    2008           2007
  Assets
  Current assets:
      Cash and cash equivalents                  $46,168        $27,066
      Accounts receivable                          3,424          4,689
      Prepaid expenses and other current assets    1,950          2,579
  Total current assets                            51,542         34,334
  Property and equipment, net                      3,322          4,390
  Goodwill                                         6,462          6,462
  Patents, net                                     5,250          7,680
  Deposits and other assets                          959            196
  Restricted cash                                  3,140          3,190
  Total assets                                   $70,675        $56,252

  Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
  Current liabilities:
      Accounts payable                              $710         $2,335
      Accrued expenses                             6,492          5,285
      Warrant liabilities                         12,294          5,218
      Current portion of long-term debt
       obligations                                     -          2,401
      Current portion of deferred revenue          4,054          3,360
  Total current liabilities                       23,550         18,599
  Deferred revenue, net of current portion         7,555          8,366
  Other non-current liabilities                    2,025          2,055
  Long-term debt obligations, net of
   current portion                                 2,157          2,254
  Commitments
  Stockholders' equity:
     Preferred stock, $0.00004 par value;
      10,000 shares authorized; no shares
      issued and outstanding                           -              -
     Common stock, $0.00004 par value;
      150,000 shares authorized; 50,913
      and 40,778 shares issued and
      outstanding at December 31, 2008 and
      December 31, 2007, respectively                  2              2
     Additional paid-in capital                  227,806        184,014
     Accumulated other comprehensive income        5,749          5,895
     Accumulated deficit                        (198,169)      (164,933)
  Total stockholders´ equity                      35,388         24,978
  Total liabilities and stockholders' equity     $70,675        $56,252

  Micromet, Inc.
  Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations 
  (In thousands, except per share amounts)
  (Unaudited)

                                Three Months Ended    Year Ended
                                   December 31,      December 31,
                                  2008     2007     2008     2007

  Revenues
      Collaboration agreements  $5,212   $6,751   $25,870   $17,366
      License fees and other       660      234     1,416     1,018
  Total revenues                 5,872    6,985    27,286    18,384
  Operating expenses
      Research and development   8,534    9,471    39,189    29,191
      General and administrative 3,817    3,590    14,163    14,430
  Total operating expenses      12,351   13,061    53,352    43,621
  Loss from operations          (6,479)  (6,076)  (26,066)  (25,237)
  Other income (expense)
      Interest expense             (33)     (71)     (222)     (509)
      Interest income               91      348       740       938
      Change in fair value of
       warrants                    439       41    (8,064)    1,750
      Other income                 131    1,817       377     2,932
  Net loss                     $(5,851) $(3,799) $(33,235) $(20,126)
  Basic and diluted net
   loss per common share        $(0.12)  $(0.09)   $(0.77)   $(0.55)
  Weighted average shares
   used to compute basic
   and diluted net loss per
   share                        50,534   40,757    43,309    36,362


DATASOURCE: Micromet, Inc.



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; US Investors:  Susan Noonan, [phone].

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Web Site:  http://www.micromet-inc.com/ 

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