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Alexion Reports Third Quarter 2015 Results

October 29, 2015 6:30 AM

– Soliris® (eculizumab) Net Product Sales of $665.4 Million; Increased 20% Year-on-Year Despite 9% Currency Headwinds; 29% Volume Increase Year-on-Year -

- 2015 Non-GAAP EPS Guidance Increased to $4.92 to $4.97 -

–Strensiq™ (asfotase alfa) Approved in the United States, European Union, Japan and Canada for Hypophosphatasia (HPP) –

– Kanuma™ (sebelipase alfa) Approved in the European Union for Lysosomal Acid Lipase Deficiency (LAL-D) –

– Completed Enrollment in Registration Trial of Eculizumab in Refractory MG and Progressed Registration Trials in Relapsing NMO and DGF –

– Advanced Complement and Metabolic Pipelines, Including ALXN 1210 and SBC-103 –

CHESHIRE, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ALXN) today announced financial results for the third quarter of 2015. Total revenues grew to $666.6 million, a 20 percent increase, compared to $555.1 million for the same period in 2014, despite 9 percent currency headwinds. Results for the third quarter of 2015 reflect results of Synageva’s operations for the first full quarter following the close of the stock and cash acquisition on June 22, 2015. Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share (EPS) for the third quarter of 2015 were $1.16, compared to $1.27 in the third quarter of 2014. On a GAAP basis, net loss for the third quarter of 2015 was $0.81 per share, impacted by $315.6 million, or $1.39 per share, related to a non-cash deferred income tax expense resulting from the integration of Synageva, compared to diluted GAAP EPS of $0.88 in the third quarter of 2014.

“The third quarter of 2015 was a landmark quarter for Alexion as we firmly established our leadership in serving patients with rare and devastating diseases by diversifying our commercial portfolio, advancing the most robust rare disease pipeline in biotech, and continuing to deliver long-term value creation,” said David Hallal, Chief Executive Officer of Alexion. “In the remaining months of 2015, we will continue to grow our core Soliris business in PNH and aHUS, focus on our launches of Strensiq and Kanuma, and will report on several R&D catalysts that are expected in the fourth quarter.”

Third Quarter 2015 Financial Highlights

Product and Pipeline Updates

Complement Portfolio

Metabolic Portfolio

Preclinical Portfolio

2015 Financial Guidance

Alexion expects 2015 total revenues to be at the lower end of our previously guided range of $2.6 billion to $2.62 billion, primarily due to macroeconomic factors in Latin American countries. 2015 revenue guidance includes an approximately negative 6 percent, or $160 million, foreign exchange impact compared to 2014 exchange rates. Alexion continues to forecast strong volume growth of 28 percent for the full year 2015 compared to 2014.

Alexion is increasing 2015 non-GAAP EPS guidance to the range of $4.92 to $4.97 per share, from the previous range of $4.70 to $4.80 per share.

Updated 2015 non-GAAP financial guidance is as follows:

Revised Guidance Prior Guidance
Cost of sales 8% to 9% of net product sales 8% to 9% of net product sales
Research and development expense $500 to $510 million $520 to $540 million
Selling, general and administrative expense $700 to $710 million $690 to $710 million
Interest expense $55 million $55 million
Effective tax rate 3% to 4 % 3% to 4 %
Diluted shares outstanding 219 million 219 million

Conference Call/Webcast Information

Alexion will host a conference call/audio webcast to discuss matters mentioned in this release. The call is scheduled for today, October 29, at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time. To participate in this conference call, dial 877-876-9176 (USA) or 785-424-1667 (International), passcode 582738 shortly before 10:00 a.m. ET. A replay of the call will be available for a limited time by dialing 888-203-1112 (USA) or 719-457-0820 (International), passcode 582738. The audio webcast can be accessed on the Investor page of http://ir.alexionpharm.com.

About Alexion

Alexion is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and delivering life-transforming therapies for patients with devastating and rare disorders. Alexion developed and commercializes Soliris® (eculizumab), the first and only approved complement inhibitor to treat patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) and atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS), two life-threatening ultra-rare disorders. As the global leader in complement inhibition, Alexion is strengthening and broadening its portfolio of complement inhibitors, including evaluating potential indications for eculizumab in additional severe and ultra-rare disorders. Alexion’s metabolic franchise includes two highly innovative enzyme replacement therapies for patients with life-threatening and ultra-rare disorders, Strensiq™ (asfotase alfa) to treat patients with hypophosphatasia (HPP) and Kanuma™ (sebelipase alfa) to treat patients with lysosomal acid lipase deficiency (LAL-D). In addition, Alexion is advancing the most robust rare disease pipeline in the biotech industry, with highly innovative product candidates in multiple therapeutic areas. This press release and further information about Alexion can be found at: www.alexion.com.

[ALXN-E]

This news release contains forward-looking statements, including statements related to guidance regarding anticipated financial results for 2015, assessment of the Company's financial position and commercialization efforts, medical benefits and commercial potential for Soliris, Strensiq and Kanuma, medical and commercial potential of Alexion's complement-inhibition technology and other technologies, commercial potential of Strensiq and Kanuma, including launch expectations, and plans for clinical programs for our product candidates. Forward-looking statements are subject to factors that may cause Alexion's results and plans to differ from those expected, including for example, decisions of regulatory authorities regarding marketing approval or material limitations on the marketing of our products, delays, interruptions or failures in the manufacture and supply of our products and our product candidates, progress in establishing and developing commercial infrastructure, failure to satisfactorily address the issues raised by the FDA in regulatory correspondence, the possibility that results of clinical trials are not predictive of safety and efficacy results of our products in broader patient populations in the disease studied or other diseases, the risk that strategic transactions will not result in short-term or long-term benefits, the possibility that current results of commercialization are not predictive of future rates of adoption of Soliris in PNH, aHUS or other diseases, the possibility that clinical trials of our product candidates could be delayed or that additional research and testing is required by regulatory agencies, the adequacy of our pharmacovigilance and drug safety reporting processes, the risk that third party payors (including governmental agencies) will not reimburse or continue to reimburse for the use of our products at acceptable rates or at all, risks regarding government investigations, the risk that estimates regarding the number of patients with PNH, aHUS or other diseases are inaccurate, and a variety of other risks set forth from time to time in Alexion's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to the risks discussed in Alexion's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2015 and in our other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Alexion does not intend to update any of these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof, except when a duty arises under law.

In addition to financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP, this news release also contains non-GAAP financial measures that Alexion believes, when considered together with the GAAP information, provide investors and management with supplemental information relating to performance, trends and prospects that promote a more complete understanding of our operating results and financial position during different periods. The non-GAAP results exclude the impact of the following GAAP items: share-based compensation expense, amortization of purchased intangible assets, acquisition-related costs, restructuring expenses, intangible asset impairments, upfront and milestone payments related to license and collaboration agreements, and non-cash taxes. These non-GAAP financial measures are not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for, or superior to, the financial measures prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP and should be reviewed in conjunction with the relevant GAAP financial measures. Please refer to the attached Reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP Financial Results for explanations of the amounts adjusted to arrive at non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP earnings per share amounts for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014.

(Tables Follow)

ALEXION PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
(unaudited)
Three months ended

Nine months ended

September 30

September 30

2015 2014 2015 2014
Net product sales $ 665,791 $ 555,146 $ 1,902,107 $ 1,634,257
Other revenue 846 - 1,073 -
Total revenues 666,637 555,146 1,903,180 1,634,257
Cost of sales 54,057 51,858 175,463 124,423
Operating expenses:
Research and development 165,664 100,661 518,437 384,672
Selling, general and administrative 212,520 157,665 621,019 446,433
Amortization of purchased intangible assets 36,608 - 36,608 -
Acquisition-related costs 35,759 8,303 81,559 10,254
Restructuring expenses 7,461 - 30,737 -
Impairment of intangible asset - - - 3,464
Total operating expenses 458,012 266,629 1,288,360 844,823
Operating income 154,568 236,659 439,357 665,011
Other income and expense:
Investment income 1,967 2,250 7,077 6,177
Interest expense (19,971 ) (655 ) (24,593 ) (2,433 )
Foreign currency gain (loss) 2,795 (2,045 ) 1,755 (1,989 )
Income before income taxes 139,359 236,209 423,596 666,766
Income tax provision 323,116 58,478 345,815 163,186
Net income (loss) $ (183,757 ) $ 177,731 $ 77,781 $ 503,580
Earnings (loss) per common share
Basic $ (0.81 ) $ 0.90 $ 0.37 $ 2.54
Diluted $ (0.81 ) $ 0.88 $ 0.37 $ 2.50
Shares used in computing earnings (loss) per common share
Basic 226,228 198,052 209,373 197,910
Diluted 226,228 201,313 211,808 201,528
ALEXION PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL RESULTS
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
(unaudited)
Three months ended Nine months ended
September 30 September 30
2015 2014 2015 2014
Net income (loss) reconciliation:
GAAP net income (loss) $ (183,757 ) $ 177,731 $ 77,781 $ 503,580
Share-based compensation expense 51,056 28,366 160,853 80,621
Amortization of purchased intangible assets (1) 36,608 - 36,608 -
Acquisition-related costs (2) 35,759 8,303 81,559 10,254
Restructuring expenses (3) 7,461 - 30,737 -
Impairment of intangible asset - - - 3,464
Upfront and milestone payments related to license and collaboration agreements - - 114,250 101,925
Non-cash taxes (4) 321,792 43,866 326,842 100,094
Non-GAAP net income $ 268,919 $ 258,266 $ 828,630 $ 799,938
GAAP earnings (loss) per share - diluted $ (0.81 ) $ 0.88 $ 0.37 $ 2.50
Non-GAAP earnings per share - diluted $ 1.16 $ 1.27 $ 3.87 $ 3.91
Shares used in computing diluted earnings (loss) per share (GAAP) 226,228 201,313 211,808 201,528
Shares used in computing diluted earnings per share (non-GAAP) 230,875 203,992 214,146 204,417
Cost of sales reconciliation:
GAAP cost of sales $ 54,057 $ 51,858 $ 175,463 $ 124,423
Share-based compensation expense (1,470 ) (1,059 ) (4,223 ) (2,906 )
Non-GAAP cost of sales $ 52,587 $ 50,799 $ 171,240 $ 121,517
Research and development expense reconciliation:
GAAP research and development expense $ 165,664 $ 100,661 $ 518,437 $ 384,672
Share-based compensation expense (19,087 ) (7,936 ) (43,500 ) (23,374 )
Upfront and milestone payments related to license and collaboration agreements - - (114,250 ) (101,925 )
Non-GAAP research and development expense $ 146,577 $ 92,725 $ 360,687 $ 259,373
Selling, general and administrative expense reconciliation:
GAAP selling, general and administrative expense $ 212,520 $ 157,665 $ 621,019 $ 446,433
Share-based compensation expense (30,499 ) (19,371 ) (113,130 ) (54,341 )
Non-GAAP selling, general and administrative expense $ 182,021 $ 138,294 $ 507,889 $ 392,092
Income tax provision reconciliation:
GAAP income tax provision $ 323,116 $ 58,478 $ 345,815 $ 163,186
Non-cash taxes (4) (321,792 ) (43,866 ) (326,842 ) (100,094 )
Non-GAAP income tax provision $ 1,324 $ 14,612 $ 18,973 $ 63,092
(1 ) In the third quarter, the Company initiated amortization of its purchased intangible assets due to the regulatory approvals for Strensiq and Kanuma.
(2 ) The following table summarizes acquisition-related costs:
Three months ended Nine months ended
September 30 September 30
2015 2014 2015 2014
Acquisition-related costs:
Transaction costs $ - $ - $ 26,799 $ -
Integration costs 6,075 - 9,053 -
Changes in fair value of contingent consideration 29,684 8,303 45,707 10,254
$ 35,759 $ 8,303 $ 81,559 $ 10,254
(3 ) Restructuring expenses of $7.5 million includes $3.2 million resulting from the Synageva acquisition and $4.3 million related to the European headquarters relocation.
(4 ) Non-cash taxes represents the adjustment from GAAP tax expense to the amount of taxes that are payable in cash in the current period. In the third quarter 2015, the Company recorded a $315.6 million GAAP income tax expense resulting from a non-cash deferred income tax expense from the integration of Synageva. The deferred income tax expense results from a change in the deferred tax liability associated with an outside basis difference in our captive partnership.
ALEXION PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
REVENUES
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
Three months ended Nine months ended
September 30 September 30
2015 2014 2015 2014
Soliris $ 665,404 $ 555,146 $ 1,901,720 $ 1,634,257
Strensiq 357 - 357 -
Kanuma 30 - 30 -
Total net product sales 665,791 555,146 1,902,107 1,634,257
Royalty revenue 846 - 1,073 -
Total other revenue 846 - 1,073 -
Total revenues $ 666,637 $ 555,146 $ 1,903,180 $ 1,634,257
ALEXION PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
September 30, December 31,
2015 2014
Cash and cash equivalents $ 1,163,281 $ 943,999
Marketable securities 295,211 1,017,567
Trade accounts receivable, net 512,253 432,888
Inventories 236,542 176,441
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 272,932 225,134
Property, plant and equipment, net 618,733 392,248
Intangible assets, net 4,787,901 587,046
Goodwill 5,015,519 254,073
Other assets 250,643 172,566
Total assets $ 13,153,015 $ 4,201,962
Accounts payable and accrued expenses $ 404,961 $ 439,248
Deferred revenue 49,944 58,837
Deferred tax liabilties, current 132,619 12,476
Current portion of long-term debt 175,000 48,000
Other current liabilities 4,336 48,179
Long-term debt, less current portion 3,325,000 9,500
Deferred tax liabilties 417,319 7,046
Facility lease obligation 149,604 107,099
Contingent consideration 158,678 116,425
Other liabilities 82,685 53,134
Total liabilities 4,900,146 899,944
Total stockholders' equity 8,252,869 3,302,018
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 13,153,015 $ 4,201,962

Alexion:

Media

Stephanie Fagan, 203-271-8223

Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications

or

Kim Diamond, 203-439-9600

Executive Director, Corporate Communications

or

Investors

Elena Ridloff, CFA, 203-699-7722

Executive Director, Investor Relations

Source: Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

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