Regeneron (REGN) Misses Q3 EPS by 5c

Regeneron (NASDAQ: REGN) reported Q3 EPS of $2.52, $0.05 worse than the analyst estimate of $2.57. Revenue for the quarter came in at $726 million versus the consensus estimate of $733.04 million.

Pipeline Progress

Regeneron has sixteen fully human monoclonal antibodies generated using the Company's VelocImmune® technology in clinical development, including six in collaboration with Sanofi. Highlights from the late-stage antibody pipeline include:

Alirocumab, the Company's antibody targeting PCSK9 (proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9) to lower LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C), is currently being evaluated in the global Phase 3 ODYSSEY program. In July 2014, the Company and Sanofi reported positive, top-line results from nine Phase 3 ODYSSEY studies. Data from the nine studies (ODYSSEY LONG TERM, FH I, FH II, HIGH FH, COMBO I, COMBO II, OPTIONS I, OPTIONS II, and ALTERNATIVE), along with the previously announced positive data from the ODYSSEY MONO study, will form the basis for the Company's initial global regulatory filings. The Phase 3 ODYSSEY program remains ongoing. This includes three additional studies, CHOICE I, CHOICE II, and OUTCOMES, which are expected to report primary endpoints in 2015 and beyond.

In July 2014, the Company and Sanofi also announced that the Company had purchased an FDA rare pediatric disease priority review voucher from a third party, which the companies intend to use in connection with the planned BLA submission for alirocumab. The priority review voucher entitles the holder to designate a human drug application for priority review, which provides for an expedited 6-month review from the filing date instead of the standard 10-month review.

In August 2014, detailed positive results from four Phase 3 ODYSSEY trials of alirocumab in patients with hypercholesterolemia were presented at the ESC Congress 2014 in Barcelona, Spain. This included the ODYSSEY LONG TERM, COMBO II, FH I, and FH II studies. On the primary efficacy endpoint of the LONG TERM trial, at 24 weeks, there was a 61 percent reduction from baseline in LDL-C levels in the alirocumab group as compared to a 1 percent increase in the placebo group (62 percent reduction in alirocumab group compared to placebo), p less than 0.0001. Of the alirocumab patients, 81 percent achieved their pre-specified LDL-C goal (either 70 milligrams/deciliter [mg/dL] or 100 mg/dL depending on patients' baseline cardiovascular (CV) risk) compared to 9 percent for placebo (p less than 0.0001). The most common adverse events (greater than or equal to 5 percent of patients) were nasopharyngitis (13 percent alirocumab; 13 percent placebo), upper respiratory tract infection (7 percent alirocumab; 8 percent placebo), and injection site reactions (6 percent alirocumab; 4 percent placebo). In a post hoc safety analysis, there was a lower rate of adjudicated major CV events (cardiac death, myocardial infarction, stroke, and unstable angina requiring hospitalization) in the alirocumab group compared to placebo (1.4 percent compared to 3.0 percent, nominal p-value less than 0.01). These CV events comprise the composite primary endpoint of the ongoing 18,000-patient ODYSSEY OUTCOMES trial, which is prospectively evaluating the potential of alirocumab to demonstrate CV benefit.

The Company and Sanofi expect to submit U.S. and EU regulatory submissions for alirocumab before the end of 2014.

Sarilumab, the Company's antibody targeting IL-6R for rheumatoid arthritis, is currently continuing enrollment in the global Phase 3 SARIL-RA program. The Phase 3 MONARCH study, which will be a head-to-head monotherapy study comparing sarilumab against adalimumab, is expected to be initiated by the end of 2014.

Dupilumab, the Company's antibody that blocks signaling of IL-4 and IL-13, is currently being studied in atopic dermatitis, asthma, and chronic sinusitis with nasal polyps. In July 2014, positive results from four Phase 1 and Phase 2 studies of dupilumab in adults with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis were published in the New England Journal of Medicine. In addition, positive results from the Phase 2b trial of dupilumab in atopic dermatitis were reported in July 2014 and were presented in October 2014 at the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. In October 2014, the LIBERTY AD CHRONOS Phase 3 study of dupilumab in atopic dermatitis was initiated and is currently enrolling patients. The Phase 3 study is part of a clinical program which will consist of at least five trials of patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis at sites worldwide.

A Phase 2b trial of dupilumab in asthma is fully enrolled and the Company and Sanofi expect to report data by the end of the year.

In September 2014, positive results from a Phase 2a study of dupilumab in patients with moderate-to-severe chronic sinusitis with nasal polyps were reported.

REGN1979, a fully human bispecific antibody against both CD20 and CD3, recently had a Phase 1 study in oncology initiated.

REGN910-3, a combination product comprised of an antibody to Ang2 co-formulated with EYLEA in a single injection, recently had a Phase 1 study in ophthalmology initiated.

For earnings history and earnings-related data on Regeneron (REGN) click here.

You May Also Be Interested In

• The Shyft Group (SHYF) Tops Q1 EPS by 10c ; Offers Guidance
• ACNB Corporation (ACNB) Reports In-Line Q1 EPS
• Kearny Financial (KRNY) Tops Q3 EPS by 1c