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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported):		February 23, 2017

Heron Therapeutics, Inc.
__________________________________________
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	001-33221	94-2875566
_____________________ (State or other jurisdiction	_____________ (Commission	______________ (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation)	File Number)	Identification No.)
4242 Campus Point Court, Suite 200, San Diego, California		92121
_________________________________ (Address of principal executive offices)		___________ (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:		(858) 251-4400

Not Applicable
______________________________________________
Former name or former address, if changed since last report

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

[  ]  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
[  ]  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
[  ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
[  ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

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Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On February 23, 2017, Heron Therapeutics, Inc. (the "Company") issued a press release announcing its financial results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2016 (the "Earnings Press Release"). A copy of the Earnings Press Release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1.

This Item 2.02 and the Earnings Press Release attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1, insofar as they disclose information regarding the Company's results of operations or financial condition for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2016 are being furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

Exhibit No./Document

99.1 Earnings Press Release, dated February 23, 2017

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

		Heron Therapeutics, Inc.
February 23, 2017		By:		/s/ Brian G. Drazba
				Name: Brian G. Drazba
				Title: Vice President, Finance & Chief Financial Officer

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Exhibit Index

Exhibit No.		Description
99.1		Earnings Press Release, dated February 23, 2017

EXHIBIT 99.1

Heron Therapeutics Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2016
Financial Results and Recent Corporate Progress

SAN DIEGO, Calif. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — February 23, 2017 — Heron Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: HRTX) (the Company or Heron), a commercial-stage biotechnology company focused on developing novel best-in-class treatment solutions to address some of the biggest unmet patient needs, today reported fourth quarter and full year 2016 financial results and highlighted recent corporate progress.

Recent Corporate Progress

Pain Franchise

Advanced HTX-011 through Four Positive Phase 2 Studies. HTX-011 is Heron’s investigational, long-acting formulation of the local anesthetic bupivacaine in a fixed-dose combination with the anti-inflammatory meloxicam for the prevention of post-operative pain. In four Phase 2 studies, HTX-011 produced statistically significant reductions in both pain intensity and the need for opioids compared to saline placebo following procedures with incisions ranging from very large (abdominoplasty) to very small (hernia repair and bunionectomy surgeries). Statistically significant reductions in pain and opioid use were also demonstrated when compared against bupivacaine solution, the current standard-of-care. Heron anticipates initiating Phase 3 studies in 2017 and filing a New Drug Application (NDA) in 2018.

Established Synergy of Heron’s Novel Formulation of Bupivacaine and Meloxicam. HTX-011 demonstrated a statistically significant benefit over each individual component of the product alone, providing evidence of the synergistic activity of bupivacaine and meloxicam in the HTX-011 formulation.

CINV Franchise

Launched First Commercial Product, SUSTOL. SUSTOL^® (granisetron) extended-release injection is indicated in combination with other antiemetics in adults for the prevention of acute and delayed nausea and vomiting associated with initial and repeat courses of moderately emetogenic chemotherapy (MEC) or anthracycline and cyclophosphamide (AC) combination chemotherapy regimens. Heron launched SUSTOL in October 2016, and we anticipate net sales of SUSTOL in 2017 to range from $15 to $25 million.

Submitted NDA for CINVANTI^TM (HTX-019). CINVANTI is the first surfactant-free, intravenous formulation of aprepitant for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). If approved by the FDA, CINVANTI will strengthen Heron’s CINV portfolio by adding a second, complementary therapeutic agent. In January 2017, Heron submitted an NDA with the FDA for CINVANTI and expects to receive approval in the fourth quarter of 2017.

“2016 was an exciting and transformational year for Heron, highlighted by the release of our best-in-class Phase 2 data for HTX-011 and our FDA approval and commercial launch of SUSTOL,” said Barry D. Quart, Pharm.D., Chief Executive Officer of Heron. “2017 is off to a promising start as well, highlighted by our submission of an NDA for CINVANTI, our second, complementary therapeutic agent in the CINV category, and the release of strong Phase 2 results of HTX-011 in abdominoplasty.”

Financial Results

As of December 31, 2016, we had cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $51.1 million. In January 2017, we completed an underwritten public offering of 14.1 million shares of our common stock for net proceeds of $163.7 million. As of December 31, 2016, our pro-forma cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments, adjusting for the January 2017 public offering, was $214.8 million. This compares to $131.2 million in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments as of December 31, 2015.

For the quarter and year ended December 31, 2016, we recognized net product sales of $1.3 million related to sales of SUSTOL. Due to the recent launch, we have recognized revenue only when our specialty distributors have resold SUSTOL to healthcare providers, the end users. We have deferred an additional $1.1 million in SUSTOL sales to the specialty distributors.

Our net loss for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2016 was $48.0 million and $173.1 million, or $1.22 per share and $4.56 per share, respectively, compared to a net loss of $31.2 million and $97.6 million, or $0.87 per share and $2.95 per share, respectively, for the same periods in 2015. Net loss for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2016, included non-cash, stock-based compensation expense of $7.3 million and $26.0 million, respectively, compared to $5.8 million and $14.4 million for the same periods in 2015.

Our net cash used for operating activities for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2016 was $38.5 million and $134.1 million, respectively, compared to net cash used for operating activities of $23.2 million and $78.5 million, respectively, for the same periods in 2015.

The increases in net loss and net cash used for operating activities in the 2016 periods as compared to the 2015 periods were primarily due to costs incurred in preparation for the commercial launch of SUSTOL, as well as clinical and manufacturing costs related to the development of CINVANTI and HTX-011.

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About Heron Therapeutics, Inc.

Heron Therapeutics, Inc. is a commercial-stage biotechnology company focused on improving the lives of patients by developing best-in-class medicines that address major unmet medical needs. Heron is developing novel, patient-focused solutions that apply its innovative science and technologies to already-approved pharmacological agents for patients suffering from cancer or pain. For more information, visit www.herontx.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains “forward-looking statements” as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Heron cautions readers that forward-looking statements are based on management’s expectations and assumptions as of the date of this news release and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, including, but not limited to, those associated with: the projected sufficiency of our capital position for future periods, the potential market opportunity for SUSTOL, CINVANTI, HTX-011 and new products generally, the sufficiency of the Phase 2 data to allow the commencement of Phase 3 registration studies for HTX-011, acceptance of the NDA for CINVANTI, whether the FDA approves the CINVANTI NDA as submitted, the timing of the NDA approval for CINVANTI, the timing of the NDA filing for HTX-011, the progress in the research and development of HTX-011 and our other programs, including the timing of preclinical, clinical, and manufacturing activities, safety and efficacy results from our studies, and other risks and uncertainties identified in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements reflect our analysis only on their stated date, and Heron takes no obligation to update or revise these statements except as may be required by law.

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HERON THERAPEUTICS, INC.

Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in thousands, except per share amounts)

• For the quarter and year ended December 31, 2016, operating expenses included non-cash, stock-based compensation expense of $7.3 million and $26.0 million, respectively, compared to $5.8 million and $14.4 million for the same periods in 2015.

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HERON THERAPEUTICS, INC.

Consolidated Balance Sheet Data
(in thousands)

Investor Relations and Media Contact:

David Szekeres
858-251-4447
Senior VP, General Counsel, Business Development and Corporate Secretary
dszekeres@herontx.com

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