La Jolla Pharmaceutical (LJPC) Tops Q4 EPS by 1c, Slight Beat on Revenues

La Jolla Pharmaceutical (NASDAQ: LJPC) reported Q4 EPS of ($1.73), $0.01 better than the analyst estimate of ($1.74). Revenue for the quarter came in at $4.18 million versus the consensus estimate of $4.16 million.

Recent Corporate Progress and Key Objectives

GIAPREZATM (angiotensin II):

• 2018 Net Sales: Fourth-quarter 2018 net sales were $4.2 million, up 20% from the third quarter of 2018. 2018 net sales were $10.1 million. GIAPREZA was launched in March 2018.
• 2019 Net Sales Guidance: La Jolla expects 2019 net sales of $24 million to $28 million.
• Decision on GIAPREZA MAA by EMA Expected in June of 2019: La Jolla expects a decision on the GIAPREZA Marketing Authorisation Application (MAA) by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in June of 2019.

Investigational Products Update

• NDA Planned for New Investigational Product, LJPC-0118, for the Treatment of Severe Malaria, in Fourth Quarter of 2019: La Jolla plans to file a New Drug Application (NDA) with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the fourth quarter of 2019 for LJPC-0118. LJPC-0118 is La Jolla’s new investigational product for the treatment of severe malaria. The active pharmaceutical ingredient in LJPC-0118 was demonstrated to be superior to quinine in reducing mortality in patients with severe falciparum malaria infection in two randomized, controlled, clinical studies.
• Topline Results of Phase 2 Study of LJPC-401 in Patients with Hereditary Hemochromatosis Expected in Second Half of 2019: La Jolla expects topline results in the second half of 2019 for LJ401-HH01, a multinational, multicenter, randomized, Phase 2 study that is designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of LJPC-401, La Jolla’s proprietary formulation of synthetic human hepcidin, as a treatment for hereditary hemochromatosis (HH). The primary efficacy endpoint of the study is the change in transferrin saturation, a standard measurement of iron levels in the body and one of the two key measurements used to detect iron overload, from baseline to end of treatment.
• Topline Results of Pivotal Study of LJPC-401 in Patients with Beta Thalassemia Expected in Mid-2020: La Jolla expects topline results in mid-2020 for LJ401-BT01, a pivotal, multinational, multicenter, randomized, controlled study that is designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of LJPC-401 as a treatment for beta thalassemia (BT) patients who, despite chelation therapy, have cardiac iron levels above normal. The primary efficacy endpoint of this study is the change in iron content in the heart after 6 months, as measured by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). If this study is successful, La Jolla anticipates filing an MAA for LJPC-401 in the European Union (EU).

“We are excited to have launched GIAPREZA, our first commercial product, in 2018, and we look forward to executing on a number of initiatives that we believe will support its continued, increased adoption in 2019,” said George Tidmarsh, M.D., Ph.D., La Jolla’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “Our two randomized studies of LJPC-401 in BT and HH have the potential to demonstrate improved patient outcomes in these important diseases. Furthermore, we are excited to have recently announced a planned NDA submission for LJPC-0118, our new investigational product for the treatment of severe malaria, in the fourth quarter of 2019.”

For earnings history and earnings-related data on La Jolla Pharmaceutical (LJPC) click here.

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