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EARNINGS CALL TRANSCRIPT
EARNINGS CALL TRANSCRIPT 2014 - Q3
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Operator

Greetings and welcome to the DARA BioSciences Third Quarter 2014 Earnings Conference Call. At this time, all participants are in a listen-only mode. A question-and-answer session will follow the formal presentation. (Operator Instructions) As a reminder, this conference is being recorded. I’ll now turn the conference over to Mr.

Jim Polson, Investor Relations for DARA BioSciences. Thank you, Mr. Polson. You may now begin..

Jim Polson

Thank you, operator. Good morning and welcome to the DARA BioSciences third quarter 2014 earnings call. Thank you all for joining us on the call this morning. I’d like to begin by reminding our listeners that remarks made during this call may contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties.

Forward-looking statements on this call are made pursuant to the Safe Harbor provisions of the Federal Securities laws. Information contained in the forward-looking statements is based on current expectations and is subject to change and actual results may differ materially from forward-looking statements.

Some of the factors that could cause actual results to differ are discussed in reports DARA files with the SEC. These documents are available on the DARA website at www.darabio.com and we encourage you to review these documents carefully. Joining me on the call today is Chris Clement, DARA’s President and Chief Executive Officer; Dr. David J.

Drutz, Executive Chairman of the Board and Chief Medical Officer; Dave Tousley, Chief Financial Officer; and David Benharris, Vice President of Sales, Marketing, who will be available for the Q&A portion of the call.

Chris will begin the call with opening comments and review of the key progress and results made during the quarter followed by an update from Dr. Drutz regarding our development asset KRN5500. Dave Tousley will conclude with a review of the third quarter financials. We will then open the call up for your questions.

It is now my pleasure to turn the call over to Chris..

Christopher G. Clement

Thanks, Jim, and good morning, everyone. I’m pleased to welcome you to our third quarter 2014 earnings call. As always, we appreciate your time, interest and participation in this event. As you likely saw in our press release aftermarket close last night, we reported another solid quarter of progress for DARA.

DARA reported record net revenues of $598,000 for the third quarter based upon gross product sales in excess of $690,000 as compared to net revenues of $139 for the year-ago period, a year-over-year increase of 330%.

The increase in revenues was primarily attributable to the continued progress of our sales organization as our nationwide team of experienced sales representatives continued to raise awareness and drive interest in our product portfolio as evidenced by increasing revenue growth.

Our sales team is enthusiastic and the progress that they’re seeing in their respective territories and the meaningful impact that they’re making in cancer patients lives.

Beyond continuing to build relationships with key oncologists, radiologists, physician assistance, nurses and other caregivers our entire company and in particular our sales reps are volunteering that personal time and participating in local open half events, educational programs and other cancer related fun raising activities.

To facilitate this community involvement, DARA has instituted a novel program called the DARA Day of Service to allow our sales people to spend at least two days in their local communities working to support and help those affected by cancer.

Local interest and involvement in community activities goes a long way in building and solidifying relationships to our sales team with their oncology and radiology practices. DARA also actively supports national cancer educational organizations with donations collaborative programs and other types of support.

Turning specifically the third quarter highlights we are pleased with the progress and performance of our sales team.

As I’ve mentioned on previous calls our sales representatives have been affected in establishing and building important relationships with our target offices and institutions has evidenced by their ability to gain ongoing access to offices.

In fact, our sales force called on 85% of highest prescribers of oncology products nationwide in the third quarter.

This nationwide reach combined with expected frequency in these important offices is a good leading indicator of the sales teams ability to establish relationships that have been built over the course of this year to deliver our sales messages which we believe will continue to increase usage and adoption of our products.

Oncology offices are typically among the most difficult specialty to access for any sales representatives unfortunately because of how busy they all are. Beyond the importance of relationship building I believe DARA’s unique positioning and oncology supportive care and our breadth of products help facilitate office access.

For example, each of our six products can benefit a variety of patients in an oncology office and our reps do a good job of understanding which particular product is most appropriate for that office on a specific call as it “door opener”.

Once that door has been opened, the sales representative is able to facilitate a discussion with a healthcare provider on the importance and use of DARA’s product portfolio for many patients that are seen in each office on a daily basis.

To further help drive the revenue growth we have seen over the past couple of quarters, we have expanded our commercial sales team and adding personal and marketing, analytics and field force management, bolstering of our team with experienced professionals allows us to provide the sales team with highly effective tools and materials needed to continue product adoption, utilization and growth.

As DARA continues to build its identity and leadership role on oncology supportive care we are very active in helping raise awareness on the significance of effective patient supportive care through our constant participation at national and regional oncology meetings, nursing society meetings and other educational programs and events.

Our activities in this regard paralleling efforts similar in focus by ASCO and other leading professional oncology organizations on the importance of oncology supportive care.

Not only for those patients undergoing current active cancer therapy, but also for the growing number of cancer survivors who were left with lingering side effects of their successful treatment, including but not limited to painful chronic peripheral neuropathy.

In addition to our field force efforts to educate healthcare providers in their offices at regional nurses society meetings and do external educational programs, DARA has created an educational video to help raise awareness of oral mucositis among patients with cancer.

Including the importance of proper oral hygiene and treatments to relieve the often intense pain associated with the condition. Oral mucositis is a common side-effect among cancer patients receiving radiotherapy and/or chemotherapeutic agents; both are used regularly in the treatment of breast cancer.

Our product Gelclair, is indicated for the relief of oral mucositis pain. The video, which features Dr.

Elizabeth Feldman, DMD, MS, a maxillofacial prosthodontist and dental oncologist at UF Health Cancer Center in Orlando, and Gelclair patients Ingrid Hellender, was created to help educate patients who suffer from oral mucositis on the steps they can take to insure appropriate pain management.

This video is available on YouTube, Oncology Tube and other video sites to help facilitate awareness and education. The video is a part of a series of important educational materials DARA has developed to raise awareness of, and to support, patients with oral mucositis.

Earlier in the year, DARA released a Top 10 Oral Care Tips for Cancer Patients video, along with The Oral Mucositis Care app, available for iPhone and Android devices. The free app provides educational resources and useful tips for patients with oral mucositis.

We have also seen high interest in our Gelclair website with traffic for the site continuing to increase since the beginning of the year. While we are excited about progress and the prospects for entire product portfolio. Let me take a few minutes to provide you with an update and insights specifically on two of our key products. Gelclair and Soltamox.

Gelclair’s performance continues to service our primary growth driver and we are particularly pleased with the quarterly sales growth we are seeing with this product. In fact, in June Gelclair became the most frequently prescribed retail oral gel barrier agents and continues to be the leader in this class as we reported through August of 2014.

The latest data as reported by Symphony Health indicates that Gelclair is the only product in the oral gel barrier class to show continued month-over-month retail prescription growth since February.

Gelclair was recently approved for preferred formulary positions by both national payers and leading cancer institution providing millions of people access to this product.

These recent placements combined with DARA’s No Coupon, No Co-Pay, No Hassles program have made Gelclair the number one choice in gel barriers in the retail segment among prescribing healthcare providers. We anticipate additional formulary approvals moving forward as interest and enthusiasm for the product continues to grow.

Turning to Soltamox, we continue to believe in the potential for this product although results today have been below our expectations. Soltamox’s is a niche product which will have appeal to a certain segment of tamoxifen patients and based upon our market research and our CAPTURE registry where we surveyed over 600 tamoxifen patients.

We continue to believe that this drug will tilt between 3% and 5% of current tamoxifen patients. Based upon further market research and data analysis we have modified our tactical sales and marketing plan focusing on those divisions who are currently prescribing or who have previously prescribed Soltamox.

The sales team is utilizing new promotional materials to Soltamox which highlights data from the CAPTURE registry which demonstrates that patients welcome a choice with therapeutic formulations of tamoxifen. Now there are field forces, new promotional materials which emphasize the important patients place on having a choice.

We believe physicians will be encouraged to provide the choice of a liquid tamoxifen option helping to empower and actively involve patients in the management of their disease. We are also utilizing patient advocates who need or desire a liquid alternative in a variety of educational and awareness programs.

In fact the story of breast cancer survivor and Soltamox patient Anna Kessler, who spoke about her personal journey with our sales team in October was detailed in USA Today and the Detroit Free Press in connection with our efforts would amend the label of tamoxifen and Soltamox to the Citizen's Petition we filed with the FDA.

We believe these adjustments will have a positive impact on Soltamox revenues going forward. In addition to our newly implemented field sales strategy Soltamox was recently granted improved formulary status at three major Medicare Part D Plans increasing access to over $7 million covered lives.

As I mentioned DARA recently petitioned the FDA to amend the label for tamoxifen citrate and Soltamox which is the only FDA approved oral liquid and it’s bioequivalent to tamoxifen by increasing the recommended duration of adjuvant therapy for women with estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer from five to 10-years.

Tamoxifen citrate is a critical treatment option for breast cancer patients and DARA is leading the effort to petition the FDA to ensure the label for tamoxifen citrate and Soltamox accurately reflects the latest clinical evidence which supports these improved outcomes.

Having current clinical guidelines included on a newly updated label is an important avenue to educate clinicians, pharmacists and patients and we believe that will improve the care of patients with breast cancers.

Typically the FDA will provide a response within six-months of submission of the petition and we are pleased to lead this important initiative.

As we move forward and execute on our commercial strategy for both Soltamox and Gelclair, we will continue to support and introduced novel programs that we believe will benefit both brands as well as our other products.

We have recently launched a comprehensive non-personal integrated digital campaign with a well known and successful partner to help drive product demand through targeted media such as eNewsletters, mobile messages, surveys and other interactive programs.

These digital programs are complementary to our personal sales called an educational programs and serve to increase our share of voice and keep our brands top of mind on a consistent basis with target prescribers.

We continue to support our No Coupon, No Co-Pay, No Hassles program mitigating any concern over costs or fulfillments of the prescription to qualified patients. This program is important and that helps to ensure that patients who would benefit from these products will have access to them.

Beyond Gelclair and Soltamox I mentioned earlier, that we are seeing nice sequential growth in demand across other products in our portfolio, particularly for Aquoral and Ferralet.

I believe these increases in multiple products across the portfolio are positive indicator of the synergistic opportunity we are expecting to see in offering multiple complementary products and oncology supportive care. Dry mouth or xerostomia is a common medical condition that may add to the severity of oral mucositis.

Therefore, Aquoral maybe highly complementary to Gelclair when used before and after the occurrence of oral mucositis. Recent market research on all the products in our portfolio also indicates an interest and a willingness to prescribe these products among physicians now and moving forward.

Importantly, healthcare providers should value in the features and benefits of each of our products relative to the current standards of care and competitive agents. Our current portfolio of synergistic products is an important differentiating feature and a competitive advantage in the marketplace.

We think this synergistic approach helps each product sell the next product invest we obtaining on adding additional oncology supportive care products to our mix. We have been active in searching for an evaluating products that we can acquire or license particularly those that could be monetized in the near-term.

It’s focused on acquiring additional products remains a high priority for us and we will remain diligent in that effort. We do have a number exciting opportunities in various stages of discussion and I am hopeful that we will be able to add novel product to our portfolio and do not-too-distant future.

So in summary on the commercial front, we are pleased with the continued progress and momentum of our sales team that has generated in a relatively short period of time. By establishing and building key relationships, gaining regular access to key accounts and raising overall awareness of our entire portfolio of supportive care products.

We are extremely encouraged with our positive traction and increasing sales trends for products in the portfolio that are focused on significantly driving revenues and firmly establishing DARA has the oncology supportive care company. Our team remains committed to building a strategy that will provide us with long-term sustainable growth.

We feel confident in the strategic plan we have in place as well as having a right team to execute that plan. Not only do we have a solid portfolio of commercial products, we believe we now have the momentum, the right sales strategy and resources to drive and harness the demand that we believe that exists in the marketplace.

When coupled with what we believe to be an extremely valuable and high potential development asset in KRN5500, we think we are uniquely positioned in the oncology supportive care market and have the opportunity to create a significant value for our shareholders. I will now turn the call over to David Drutz for an update on KRN5500.

David?.

David J. Drutz

Thank you, Chris. Good morning and thanks to all for joining us. I’d like to take a few minutes to provide an update on our lead development asset, KRN5500 which I’ll now simply refer to as KRN. KRN is our novel, non-opioid, non-narcotic compound that’s being readied for Phase IIb clinical developments.

KRN was previously awarded fast track development status by the FDA in 2011 based on a successful Phase IIa clinical trial in cancer patients with neuropathic pain. Significant progress has been made on KRN this year.

In February, DARA received orphan drug designation for development of KRN for the parenteral treatment of painful, chronic chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy or CCIPN that is refractory to conventional analgesics.

As a reminder orphan drug designation provides DARA from seven years market exclusivity from the time of approval, tax credits, waver of PDUFA fees and access to federal grants. During the second quarter we announced that the FDA had granted orphan drug designation for a second indication for treatment of multiple myeloma.

This allows us to approach the actual treatment of the hematological malignancies. We believe this myeloma specific orphan designation enhances both the visibility and the future market opportunity to this valuable pipeline product.

The favorable consideration of myeloma as an orphan indication for KRN was reported by a peer reviewed publication in 2011, by an independent group of academic investigators which demonstrated its therapeutic potential based on its effect on both myeloma malignant cells and for bone marrow osteo class that permit bone invasion by this destructive disease.

As we’ve previously stated, priority of the KRN program has been to secure a development partner to undertake, manage and fund the future clinical trials and ultimate worldwide commercialization of this asset.

We’re engaged with a firm that specializes in these partnering transactions to identify and evaluate the breath of both pain oriented and oncology oriented companies with the clinical and technical expertise to develop this novel drug.

Over the preceding months we have provided data packages and have met with a number of target companies that had expressed interest in KRN. These target companies have and are currently conducting their internal analysis of due diligence.

We are pleased to-date with a level of interest expressed in KRN and will continue to work with the target companies through reevaluation process.

While I know it seems this process is lengthy and it is, please bear in mind that there is a lot of technical data to review across multiple disciplines and this activity has to be coordinated for the potential partners availability and priorities, management involvement and time lines.

I cannot provide a more specific timeline on completion of this process, but want to assure you that we are proceeding in a very thorough and systematic manner to ensure we take all necessary steps in seeking out the appropriate partner and maximize the potential of this asset.

During the third quarter, the company has been in communication with the FDA regarding our development program for KRN for the CCIPN orphan indications, we have provided the FDA with our proposed questions for comments and they had granted our request for feedbacks which we hope we will have before the end of the year.

FDA feedback will allow us to more definitely outline timing and cost to complete the NDA for U.S. approval of this non-opioid analgesic for the treatment of CCIPN. We will provide an update on feedback from the FDA as well as an update on partnership discussions as events unfolds.

With that I'll now turn the call over to David Tousley who will provide an overview of our third quarter financial results. Dave..

David L. Tousley

Thanks David and thank you all for joining us this morning. Our net revenues for the third quarter of 2014 were $598,000 compared to net revenues of a $139,000 for the third quarter last year, a significant increase in sales of Gelclair was responsible for the majority of this increase as Gelclair has just launched in April of 2013.

In spite of the significant increase in net revenues, our cost of sales for the third quarter increased only slightly from the third quarter of 2013 due to the fact that third quarter 2013 included a write-down of Soltamox inventory with nearing expiration were approximately $81,000.

Excluding net write-down the volume related cost of sales increased was approximately $83,000. Sales and marketing experience increased only $15,000 from $1,84,000 for the three months ended September 30 last year $1.1 million for the corresponding period this year.

Despite the expansion of the sales force to 20 reps, which expansion became effective in early January 2014? Our sales force cost increased on a quarter-over-quarter basis, this increase was nearly offset by a decrease in marketing program expenses.

Research and development expenses decreased $70,000 from $453,000 for the three months ended September 30 last year to $383,000 for the corresponding period this year, primarily as a result of formulation in API manufacturing cost associated with the KRN5500 program incurred in 2013, while none have been incurred this year.

G&A expenses increased by $66,000 from $938,000 for the three months ended September 30 last year to $1 million for the corresponding period this year, primarily as a result of an increase in NASDAQ fees related to the issuance of shares earlier in the year.

At the end of the third quarter this year, our principle sources of liquidity for our cash and cash equivalents, which totaled approximately $14 million? As of September 30th, we have networking capital of approximately $12.6 million.

With cash on hand and based upon our current operating plan, we believe that we now have sufficient working capital to continue our operations through 2015. I’ll be happy to answer any questions you have during the Q&A and I’ll now turn the call over to Jim..

Jim Polson

Operator, we are ready to open the call up for questions. Thank you..

Operator

Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, we will now be conducting a question-and-answer session. (Operator Instructions) Our first question is from Jason Napodano of Zacks. Please go ahead..

Jason Napodano

Good morning guys..

Christopher G. Clement

Good morning..

David L. Tousley

Hi, Jason..

Jason Napodano

Congrats on some more progress being demonstrated in the quarter. I’d like to start off with just kind of an analysis of the income statement, it’s good to see obviously revenues going up, it’s also good to see expenses coming down.

I’m curious as to if you guys have given any thought on that inflection point in terms of when revenues will exceed expenses or when it where at least we’ll see some breakeven operations, because again we had a nice narrowing in the third quarter, but when do you think that will get to the point where we’ll see breakeven operations..

Christopher G. Clement

Yes, well it’s going to take some significant – further significant sales increase, for the quarter our burn, our average burn, net burn was about 600,000 month down significantly from where it was a year ago and primarily because we have been netting our expenses with positive cash coming in.

So as we move forward we see further sales growth that we’ll move it towards breakeven and we are not giving any guidance right now on specifically when we expect that to happen..

David L. Tousley

Jason, I would also say that we – the infrastructure that we have in place with 20 sales reps and as I mentioned we did add a couple of resources in marketing, analytics, and in field management. But we believe that those resources are now sufficient to really accelerate and drive the business.

So, hopefully we are making significant positive traction here we expect that to continue going forward. So I think we will see nice increase in revenues and not a lot of significant increase in expense, because we believe we have the commercial infrastructure in place to make that happen..

Christopher G. Clement

Yes, just to take that one step further I mean that the infrastructure we have now – we do expect continue increasing and lowering our net burn. And so to the extend we can bring in another product that should largely be incremental. And so that would accelerate our time to breakeven so it’s a little hard to predict right now..

Jason Napodano

As far as your agreement with Mission Pharmacal it’s been years since you sign that deal.

I am curious if you are seeing expense reduction based on the promotion of those products I notice SG&A or marketing and sales was down sequential from the second quarter I am wondering if that’s due to some expense reduction based on promoting those products and when do you that we will see or you near the point where we will some revenue contribution from those products and maybe in 2015?.

Christopher G. Clement

Yes, so the reduction in sales and marketing line is not due to any increase we are still on a fixed contribution basis with Mission that contribution is embedded against the expenses; the reduction in that line is really related to a reduction in marketing program expenses.

As far as when we do have an option in the future to switch to a revenue sharing program of profit sharing I guess and we are evaluating that right now..

Jason Napodano

Okay. As far as your deferred revenues I notice that deferred revenue number increased again you are taking reserves for returns, you had a couple of quarters now of sales.

Can you give me a sense if you think that you got the proper amount of reserves and inventory on hand or do you think that you will continue to take reserves in the fourth quarter and may be even early next year..

Christopher G. Clement

Yes, that the increase in the deferred is really related to I think we explained this in the queue [ph] we deferred a portion of our revenue in the quarter related to Gelclair. We had an increase in wholesaler acquisition price that really became effective in late September and prior to that we allowed wholesalers to buy in at the old price.

And so some of the exit what we thought were excess purchases we deferred, and that’s really we have quite that increase in the deferred. We do feel that with regard to our reserves, we evaluate those on a quarterly basis and we do feel that they are appropriate..

Jason Napodano

Okay. Last question on KRN, Dr. Drutz you mentioned the discussions with the agency around the CCIPN.

I’m curious if those discussions included multiple myeloma as well and you know just in terms of your goals and what you would like to see or what would be the ideal feedbacks on the agency, can you just give us a sense on again what would be kind of your ideal pass code there..

David J. Drutz

Yes, hi, Jason. So the situation with the FDA as we focused entirely on the neuropathy indication with CCIPN, one of the most obvious reasons is that where we actually have clinical data, the Phase IIa data, our clinical data.

And although we had some nice curt icy of some academic investing in some very nice pre-clinical data in myeloma, we have no clinical data whatsoever in myeloma, which we mean that the strategy for moving the drug forward with the agency would be different on the cancer side then it is on the pain side.

So the cancer side is an interesting side and it’s being held and deserved, the partners we’ve talked to are quite interested in it, but everybody we’ve talked to agreed that the focus really needs to be on the neuropathy for the reasons that I’ve stated. Is that answer your question..

Jason Napodano

Yes, it does and but just in terms of your discussions then with partners I assume all indications are on the table..

David J. Drutz

Yes, right definitely and then depending on the type of partner that you are talking to, some of them are much more oncologically oriented, then they are pain oriented.

And for the folks that are focused entirely on oncology, or hematology or oncology their feeling is for that program to move forward there needs to be a Phase I study for multiple myeloma, plus the drugs really been in humans for this purpose.

So clearly the deeper interest on the partnering side has been on the pain side and particularly because this is not an opioid, this particular aspect of the drug resonates, especially I could tell you with the pain clinics, especially with the pain clinics..

Jason Napodano

Gotcha. Okay guys. Thanks for taking the questions and again congrats on the process..

Christopher G. Clement

Thank you Jason..

David J. Drutz

Thanks Jason..

Operator

Thank you (Operator Instructions) The next question is from Ren Benjamin of H.C. Wainwright. Please go ahead..

Reni J. Benjamin

Hi, good mornings guys, let me add my congratulations for the progress as well. Just I guess a couple of questions. One can you just remind us how big the filed force is and whether you feel that is the – this is the optimal size or what could be the optimal size going forward..

Christopher G. Clement

Hi, Ren its Chris. The current sales organization is at 20 field sales representatives and we have three field managers that are managing both 20 sales reps, when we originally look at the market and how we defiled [ph] positions, we really looked at the highest prescribing oncologist across the country relative to their tomaxifen usage.

If they were very high defile virus of tomaxifen they became high target doctors for us to consider where we would put sales representatives. We pay our high prescribes of tomaxifen, they are going to be high prescribes of the other products that we have in our portfolio.

So I can have David Benharris to comment on this in a little bit more detail, but relative to our reach and frequency then we felt that a national sales organization of 20 would give us the appropriate reach and frequency that we are currently seeing and that we are pleased with.

So we believe that in order to execute our current plan that we are right sized at 20 as we continue to grow sales and if we bring additional products into portfolio and want to boost that reach a little bit and frequency, then it might be appropriate to increase the sales force at some point down the road, but not dramatically we think that given the number of oncologists and radiologists that we are calling on that we are getting pretty good coverage at this particular point in time, but let’s met ask David Benharris to expand on that a minute..

David Benharris

Sure.

As Chris said, we definitely feel that we have a right size sales force, we have brought another sales manager in for the very reason that we have a better scope of controlled results and have more opportunity for interaction with our sales reps from a management perspective and it does give us a little flexibility as well as well should we see areas of opportunity where we could grow into.

So as Chris stated, as we now have 20 folks in the field we are right sized, we have called on 85% of the top prescriber narcology and offices in the country with our current sales forces and we average almost two calls per month to those very same offices.

So our reach is very good for 20 folks based on our targeted defiled customers and our frequency is excellent as well.

So right now we add another sales manager so we can downsize the geographical footprint of the regions and it give us some flexibility moving forward to expand into those regions if and when we get other the products or if and when we see additional business opportunities that needs to be taken advantage of..

Reni J. Benjamin

Okay. Thank you for that. I guess switching gears to Gelclair and obtaining of course market leadership position.

When we take a look at the market, just looking at those numbers of patients that suffer with oral mucositis it’s a huge and sizeable market and so when we talk about market leadership position, normally we would be taking about some significant not just obviously market share,, but significant revenue.

But there has got to be something in that dynamic that I’m missing and I’m hoping that you could help us understand maybe a little bit of the dynamics of the oral mucositis space and what it will take not just to have market leadership position, but clearly to grow that market leadership position with significantly relief [ph] on the revenue side..

David L. Tousley

This is David, I will gist that question. So there is various factors to answer that specific questions. So when we talk about market leadership in the gel barrier space, it’s often specifically about products that are similar to Gelclair in their composition and how they work, so there is a handful of products that do that.

Outside of that there are other products that are utilized in oral mucositis that are specifically indicated to oral mucositis, but they are more artificial saliva agents. So there is a good opportunity for us to get oral mucositis patients there.

But at the end of the day the oral mucositis treatment standard of care across the country is something called Magic Mouthwash. The Magic Mouthwash is a concoction of different constituents that makeup a prescription product that could be used to treat oral mucositis, it’s different everywhere you go.

The statistics on oral mucositis is that approximately 400,000 patients per year suffer from this condition, either from chemotherapy, targeted cancer therapeutics or radiation therapy.

So there is different slices of the market that we can gain traction in and we’ve done that very well initially which is the agents that are similar to us in gel barrier market.

We’re now having the opportunity to grab market share from the artificial saliva agents that are used for treating oral mucositis based on our field force efforts, based on our clinical data and based on the way that Gelclair works from a mechanistic perspective and as we continue to educate and grow our basic business we will have the opportunity to encroach into the Magic Mouthwash space as well.

So there is a lot of opportunity out there, we have market leadership and one specific segment of the opportunity which is products that are similar to us that work in the same way.

Again we are now taking some share and have the opportunity to take share from the other agents that are using the space, which are artificial saliva agent as well as Magic Mouthwash..

David J. Drutz

We are looking - you might want to have a look if you could get at something called the [indiscernible] are you familiar with that at all?.

David L. Tousley

I’m not.

David J. Drutz

Nobody follows Magic Mouthwash , there is no company that makes it, it basically sound good, but if you can get a hold of – or maybe I can send it to you if I can find it they are the only people who have ever paid in the attention to it and found that 21 different Magic Mouthwashes out there.

They are not enthusiastic about it, but all they say well its out there and it’s popular, it seem to be popular because it has [indiscernible] which get into the mouth for fairly big period of time. If you want me to send you that I would be glad to send you that..

Reni J. Benjamin

Definitely.

And I guess just related to the growing market share any thoughts on running a post marketing sort of head-to-head comparison to be able to enable the sales force to show these physicians what Gelclair could do for them?.

David L. Tousley

Yes, absolutely so have ongoing discussions now, this is David again. Of our accounts that are looking from a standard of care perspective of average patient populations who suffer from oral mucositis. So radiation patients particularly bone marrow transplants patients.

We’ve engaged some though leaders across the country to work with us to see if there is opportunity to some very large cancer institutions, well known and respected cancer institutions to run some trials, and we’ve also been in discussion with our partner Helsinn who is the worldwide owner of Gelclair to support those types of trials.

So those are discussions that are underway, I think they can be effective moving forward to help gain additional market share, but with that being said we do have most data on Gelclair of all the ages that are out there and we clearly have competitive selling advantages for the five not only versus the products in our class, but versus artificial salvia and specifically versus Magic Mouthwash as well.

So we have what we need today from a perspective of selling, messaging and features and benefits versus the other products that are utilized, but it always is good to strengthen that with clinical data and we are working very diligently, David Drutz, myself and our customers and our partner Helsinn to see if we can accomplish some of those in the short term as well..

Reni J. Benjamin

Okay, great. And just one final question in regards to Soltamox, you mentioned that sufficient to amend a label, so that it’s narrows the ASCO guidelines.

Just remind me does the NCCN treatment guidelines mentioned Soltamox and if not how do you get Soltamox on for the NCCN guidelines?.

David Benharris

The NCCN guidelines do not mention Soltamox, but we have asked the NCCN to consider at least mentioning that there exists more than one formulation of tamaxifen, because when you read the guidelines the only thing that’s been talked about in the guidelines of the pills. So we are waiting to hear from NCCN on that request..

Reni J. Benjamin

And for this petition to the FDA is something different, can you just help me understand?.

David Benharris

Yes, it’s totally different the issue is that the label for tamaxifen is written many, many years ago and the recommended duration with treatment for tamaxifen has evolved overtime. If we go way back in time, it was only though a year. I mean that’s a long time ago, but then recently for this five-years.

However, as you very well know, now there are good data, Atlas and so on and Adam are indicating that at least ten-years is necessary for optimum outcome. So when you have a look at the tamaxifen label.

All of a sudden its five-years and we feel that it’s important to have the label accurately reflect recommend standard of practice for both ASCO and NCCN. Our request to the FDA is for tamaxifen period, Soltamox is form of tamaxifen but it would impact all tamaxifen..

Reni J. Benjamin

Okay. Thank you very much and good luck..

David Benharris

Thanks..

David J. Drutz

Thank you..

Operator

(Operator Instructions) doesn’t appear that we have any further questions. I would now turn the conference call over to Mr. Clement for any closing remarks..

Christopher G. Clement

Thank you, very much operator. I would like to sincerely thank you all for joining us this morning for our third quarter call. We are very encouraged with the traction of our commercial sales strategy and remain committed to building upon the positive momentum generated over the past several quarters of 2014.

We believe this growing success is attributable to the commitment of our sales team and the breadth of our product portfolio and the value it brings to both patients and healthcare practitioners.

We continue to proactively examine and enhancing our sales strategy, bolstering our existing product portfolio and maximizing the value of our key development asset KRN5500 with the ultimate goal of creating sustainable growth and value for our shareholders.

Thank you again, and I look forward to providing you with future updates on our progress on our fourth quarter call and full year 2014 earning call. Have a good day..

Operator

Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, this does conclude today’s teleconference. You may disconnect your lines at this time. And thank you for your participation..

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