SCOLR Pharma, Inc. Reports Second Quarter 2009 Financial Results

BOTHELL, Wash., Aug. 7  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- SCOLR Pharma, Inc. (NYSE Amex: DDD) today reported financial results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009.

Dr. Bruce Morra, SCOLR Pharma's President and CEO, said, "We continue to advance discussions with a number of potential partners for our 12-hour controlled release ibuprofen. These potential partners have been committing resources to due diligence and preliminary negotiations of license terms. In the nutraceutical arena, we are working with companies interested in commercializing products we have developed for growing segments of this field in both the US and international markets. We continue to work with our investment bankers on potential strategic transactions, including mergers and other business combinations that could yield opportunities to increase shareholder value and provide additional resources for us to develop our Controlled Delivery Technology (CDT ) platforms. However, we are faced with a difficult marketplace and many specialty pharmaceutical companies competing for alliances with the more established pharmaceutical and consumer product companies. Our operating strategy is to preserve our capital by limiting clinical and development expenses to our ibuprofen and pseudoephedrine lead products while also supporting our existing alliances. We have made significant reductions to our operating expenses so far this year and are continuing to evaluate additional areas to further minimize our burn rate."

Total revenues, which consist of royalty revenue from our collaboration agreements, decreased 17%, or $48,782 to $230,789 for the three months ended June 30, 2009, compared to $279,571 for the same period in 2008. This decrease is primarily due to lower royalty income from our relationship with Perrigo.

Royalty income increased 34%, or $59,017 to $230,789 in the three months ended June 30, 2009, compared to $171,772 for the first quarter of 2009. This increase is a result of higher sales activities of our nutritional products by Perrigo. Royalty payments are based on Perrigo's net profits from the sale of CDT-based products which involve uncertainties and are difficult to predict.

Total revenues decreased 26%, or $142,565 to $402,561 for the six months ended June 30, 2009, compared to $545,126 for the same period in 2008. This decrease is primarily due to lower royalty income from our relationship with Perrigo.

Marketing and selling expenses decreased 79%, or $151,579 to $39,468 for the three months ended June 30, 2009, compared to $191,047 for the same period in 2008 and decreased 66%, or $282,688 to $146,051 for the six months ended June 30, 2009, compared to $428,739 for the same period in 2008. These decreases are due to a reduction in personnel related expenses due to reduction in personnel and lower advertising and tradeshow expenses. In addition, commission expense decreased due to lower royalty income.

Research and development expenses decreased 34%, or $403,818 to $793,503 for the three months ended June 30, 2009, compared to $1.2 million for the same period in 2008 and decreased 22%, or $465,096 to $1.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2009, compared to $2.1 million for the same period in 2008. These decreases were primarily due to our decision to defer development activities on certain projects pending additional funding and a reduction in personnel related expenses due to personnel reductions. These decreases were offset by an expense related to settlement of claims by a former employee.

General and administrative expenses decreased 8%, or $89,762 to $972,884 for the three months ended June 30, 2009, compared to $1.1 million for the same period in 2008 and decreased 7%, or $168,395, to $2.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2009, compared to $2.3 million for the same period in 2008. These decreases were primarily due to a decrease in personnel related expenses through personnel reductions, a decrease in travel expenses, and a reduction in insurance premium expense. These decreases were offset by an increase in outside services related to investment banking activities and an increase in legal expenses.

Other income decreased 98%, or $55,774 to $958 for the three months ended June 30, 2009, compared to $56,732 for the comparable period in 2008 and decreased 95%, or $145,137 to $7,600 for the six months ended June 30, 2009, compared to $152,737 for the same period in 2008. These decreases were due to a decrease in interest income due to lower cash balances.

Net loss decreased 26%, or $540,603 to $1.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2009, compared to $2.1 million for the same period in 2008 and the net loss for the six months ended June 30, 2009, decreased 15%, or $628,477 to $3.5 million, compared with a net loss of $4.1 million for the same period in 2008. These decreases were primarily due to lower operating expenses offset by lower revenues.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

We had approximately $3.1 million in cash and cash equivalents, and $473,711 in restricted cash as of June 30, 2009. Based on our current operating plan, we anticipate that our existing cash and cash equivalents, together with expected royalties from third parties, will fund our operations until late 2009, assuming we do not trigger additional obligations, including contractual severance or lease obligations and unless unforeseen events arise that negatively impact our liquidity. In the event we are unsuccessful generating additional revenues or raising additional funds, we will have to substantially reduce our operations to preserve capital or seek bankruptcy protection or otherwise wind up our business.

In addition to our efforts to enter into alliances and licensing agreements, we plan to continue to seek access to the capital markets to fund our operations. We filed a shelf registration statement in the amount of $40 million which was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 25, 2008 under which we may offer from time-to-time, one or more offerings of securities up to an aggregate public offering price of $40 million. However, the financial markets have been very difficult for companies at our development stage and financial condition and financing may not be available on favorable terms or at all. Additionally, we have received notice from the NYSE Amex that we are not in compliance with continued listing requirements. While we have provided the NYSE Amex with a plan to regain compliance with applicable listing standards, our inability to maintain listing of our common stock on the NYSE Amex may further limit our ability to access the capital markets. Any issuance of additional securities would be extremely dilutive to our existing stockholders.

About SCOLR Pharma:

Based in Bothell, Washington, SCOLR Pharma, Inc. is a specialty pharmaceutical company. SCOLR Pharma's corporate objective is to combine its formulation expertise and its patented CDT platform to develop novel pharmaceutical, over-the-counter (OTC), and nutritional products. Our CDT drug delivery platforms are based on multiple issued and pending patents and other intellectual property for the programmed release or enhanced performance of active pharmaceutical ingredients and nutritional products. For more information on SCOLR Pharma, please call 425.368.1050 or visit http://www.scolr.com/.

This press release contains forward-looking statements (statements which are not historical facts) within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including activities, events or developments that we expect, believe or anticipate will or may occur in the future. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ from those indicated in the forward-looking statements, including our ability to raise additional funds or enter strategic alliances, advance development of our potential products and complete research and development, including pre-clinical and clinical studies, the continuation of arrangements with partners and customers, competition, government regulation and approvals, and general economic conditions. For example, we may not obtain regulatory approval for our products, which would materially impair our ability to generate revenue, or we may not be able to raise capital or generate revenue to finance our operations. Additional assumptions, risks and uncertainties are described in detail in our registration statements, reports and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Such filings are available on our website or at http://www.sec.gov/. You are cautioned that such statements are not guarantees of future performance and that actual results or developments may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

                              SCOLR Pharma, Inc.

                           CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS

                                            June 30, 2009   December 31,
                                             (Unaudited)        2008
                                            -------------   ------------
                     ASSETS
     Current Assets
        Cash and cash equivalents            $3,128,839      $6,363,243
        Accounts receivable                     203,072         177,253
        Interest and other receivables            4,822           1,157
        Prepaid expenses and other assets       350,631         286,539
                                                -------         -------
             Total current assets             3,687,364       6,828,192
     Property and Equipment - net of
      accumulated amortization of
      $1,594,032 and $1,289,844,
      respectively                              682,806         790,947
     Intangible assets - net of
      accumulated amortization of
      $473,307 and $465,724,
      respectively                              560,046         557,639
     Restricted cash                            473,711         473,711
                                                -------         -------
                                             $5,403,927      $8,650,489
                                             ==========      ==========

       LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
     Current Liabilities
        Accounts payable                        $75,949        $238,701
        Accrued liabilities                     660,179         668,694
        Current portion of term loan                  -          87,850
                                                    ---          ------
             Total current liabilities          736,128         995,245

     Deferred rent                              284,530         310,010
     Long-term portion of term loan                   -          23,269
                                                    ---          ------
             Total liabilities                1,020,658       1,328,524

     Commitments and Contingencies

     Stockholders' Equity
        Preferred stock, authorized
         5,000,000 shares, $.01 par
         value, none issued or
         outstanding                                  -               -
        Common stock, authorized
         100,000,000 shares, $.001 par
         value 41,098,270 and 41,130,270
         issued and outstanding as of
         June 30, 2009, and December 31,
         2008, respectively                      41,098          41,130
        Additional paid-in capital           71,795,099      71,255,901
        Accumulated deficit                 (67,452,928)    (63,975,066)
                                            -----------     -----------
             Total stockholders' equity       4,383,269       7,321,965
                                              ---------       ---------
                                             $5,403,927      $8,650,489
                                             ==========      ==========



                             SCOLR Pharma, Inc.

                     CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                                (Unaudited)

                               Three months ended       Six months ended
                                    June 30,                June 30,
                               ------------------       ----------------
                                2009        2008        2009        2008
                                ----        ----        ----        ----
   Revenues
      Royalty income          $230,789    $279,571    $402,561    $545,126
                              --------    --------    --------    --------
           Total revenues      230,789     279,571     402,561     545,126

   Operating expenses
      Marketing and selling     39,468     191,047     146,051     428,739
      Research and
       development             793,503   1,197,321   1,615,437   2,080,533
      General and
       administrative          972,884   1,062,646   2,126,535   2,294,930
                               -------    ---------  ---------   ---------
           Total operating
            expenses         1,805,855   2,451,014   3,888,023   4,804,202
                             ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------
               Loss from
                operations  (1,575,066) (2,171,443) (3,485,462) (4,259,076)

   Other income (expense)
         Interest income         2,040      59,353      11,112     159,671
         Interest expense       (1,082)     (3,859)     (3,512)     (8,172)
         Other                       -       1,238           -       1,238
                                   ---       -----         ---       -----
           Total other income      958      56,732       7,600     152,737
                                   ---      ------       -----     -------
               Net loss    $(1,574,108)$(2,114,711)$(3,477,862)$(4,106,339)
                           =========== =========== =========== ===========
           Net loss per
            share, basic
            and diluted         $(0.04)     $(0.05)     $(0.08)     $(0.10)
                                ======      ======      ======      ======
           Shares used in
            computing basic
            and diluted net
            loss per share  41,098,270  41,128,590  41,098,270  41,100,676



  Contacts:
  Investor Relations:
  Cameron Associates
  Kevin McGrath
  212.245.4577
  

DATASOURCE: SCOLR Pharma, Inc.



CONTACT:  Investor Relations, Kevin McGrath of Cameron Associates,

[phone], 



Web Site:  http://www.scolr.com/ 

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