On July 28, 2021 Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) reported financial results for second-quarter 2021 and raised 2021 guidance(4) for revenues and Adjusted diluted EPS(3) driven by its updated expectations for contributions to 2021 performance from both BNT162b2, the Pfizer-BioNTech SE (BioNTech) COVID-19 vaccine, as well as its business excluding BNT162b2(1) (Press release, Pfizer, JUL 28, 2021, View Source [SID1234585307]).
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Additionally, Pfizer published this morning on its website the second-quarter 2021 earnings presentation and accompanying prepared remarks from management as well as the quarterly update to its R&D pipeline.
EXECUTIVE COMMENTARY
Dr. Albert Bourla, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, stated: "The second quarter was remarkable in a number of ways. Most visibly, the speed and efficiency of our efforts with BioNTech to help vaccinate the world against COVID-19 have been unprecedented, with now more than a billion doses of BNT162b2 having been delivered globally. In addition, we are equally proud of the second-quarter performance of our business excluding BNT162b2(1), which posted 10% operational revenue growth. Looking forward, we remain highly confident in our ability to achieve at least a 6% compound annual growth rate through 2025 and intend to build upon our recent successes by continuing to follow the science, trust in our people and remain focused on delivering breakthroughs for the patients we serve."
Frank D’Amelio, Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President, Global Supply, stated: "Pfizer’s second quarter performance highlighted once again the underlying strength of our business, with consistent and solid growth coming from multiple products and categories. It is important to point out that the 10% year-over-year operational revenue growth rate for our business excluding BNT162b2(1) comes on top of a strong 6% operational growth rate delivered by the comparable business in the second quarter of last year. As a result of updates to our expectations for our business, both including and excluding BNT162b2(1), we are increasing our 2021 financial guidance ranges for revenues and Adjusted diluted EPS(3) for the second quarter in a row."
Results for the second quarter and the first six months of 2021 and 2020(5) are summarized below.
* Indicates calculation not meaningful.
Following the completion of the spin-off of the Upjohn Business(6) in the fourth quarter of 2020, Pfizer operates as a focused innovative biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery, development, manufacturing, marketing, sale and distribution of biopharmaceutical products worldwide.
Revenues and expenses associated with the Upjohn Business(6) for the first and second quarters of 2020 have been recategorized as discontinued operations and excluded from Adjusted(3) results. Pfizer’s Meridian subsidiary, the manufacturer of EpiPen and other auto-injector products, which had been reported within the results of the Upjohn Business(6) in the first three quarters of 2020, is now included within the Hospital therapeutic area for all periods presented.
Business development activities completed in 2020 and 2021 impacted financial results in the periods presented(6). Some amounts in this press release may not add due to rounding. All percentages have been calculated using unrounded amounts. References to operational variances pertain to period-over-period changes that exclude the impact of foreign exchange rates(7).
2021 FINANCIAL GUIDANCE(4)
Financial guidance reflects management’s current expectations for operational performance, foreign exchange rates and management’s current projections as to the severity, duration and global macroeconomic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Key guidance assumptions included in these projections broadly reflect a continued recovery in global macroeconomic and healthcare activity throughout 2021 as more of the population becomes vaccinated against COVID-19.
Pfizer is raising its financial guidance ranges primarily to reflect higher expected revenues and related expenses for BNT162b2(1) and anticipated incremental spending on other COVID-19-related and mRNA-based programs, as well as increased expected contributions from its business excluding BNT162b2(1). The increase to guidance for the effective tax rate on Adjusted income(3) resulted from updates to the anticipated jurisdictional mix of earnings, primarily related to BNT162b2(1). Current 2021 financial guidance is presented below.
The midpoint of the guidance range for revenues represents 89% growth from 2020 revenues, including an expected $1.5 billion, or 4%, favorable impact from changes in foreign exchange rates compared to 2020. The midpoint of the updated guidance range for Adjusted diluted EPS(3) reflects a 77% increase over 2020 actual results(8), including an expected $0.10, or 4%, benefit due to favorable changes in foreign exchange rates compared to 2020.
Financial guidance for Adjusted diluted EPS(3) is calculated using approximately 5.7 billion weighted average shares outstanding, and does not currently assume any share repurchases in 2021.
Update to Assumptions Related to BNT162b2(1) Within Guidance
Due to additional supply agreements that have been signed from mid-April to mid-July, Pfizer is updating the revenue assumptions related to BNT162b2(1) incorporated within the above guidance ranges. The updated assumptions are summarized below.
The BNT162b2(1) revenue projection incorporated within Pfizer’s 2021 financial guidance includes 2.1 billion doses that are expected to be delivered in 2021(5) under contracts signed through mid-July 2021. This guidance may be adjusted in the future as additional contracts are signed. Based on current projections, Pfizer and BioNTech expect to manufacture in total up to 3 billion doses by the end of December 2021, subject to continuous process improvements, expansion at current facilities and adding new suppliers and contract manufacturers.
Adjusted(3) IBT margin guidance for BNT162b2(1) incorporates the current expectation for revenues for the product, less anticipated Adjusted(3) costs to manufacture, market and distribute BNT162b2(1), including applicable royalty expenses and a 50% gross profit split with BioNTech, as well as shared R&D expenses related to BNT162b2(1) and costs associated with other assets currently in development for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. It also includes R&D expenses related to other mRNA-based development programs. It does not include an allocation of corporate or other overhead costs.
Selected Financial Guidance Ranges Excluding BNT162b2(1)
Pfizer is raising its financial guidance ranges for revenues and Adjusted diluted EPS(3) excluding contributions from BNT162b2(1).
The midpoint of the revenue guidance range above reflects approximately 7% operational growth compared to 2020 when sales of BNT162b2(1) are excluded from both periods, which is in line with the company’s stated goal of at least a 6% revenue compound annual growth rate through 2025. The midpoint of Pfizer’s Adjusted diluted EPS(3) guidance range excluding BNT162b2(1) reflects approximately 11% operational growth compared to the prior year(8).
CAPITAL ALLOCATION
During the first six months of 2021, Pfizer paid $4.4 billion of cash dividends, or $0.78 per share of common stock, which represents an increase in dividends per share of 3% compared to the same period last year.
No share repurchases have been completed to date in 2021. As of July 28, 2021, Pfizer’s remaining share repurchase authorization is $5.3 billion. Current 2021 financial guidance does not reflect any share repurchases in 2021.
Second-quarter 2021 diluted weighted-average shares outstanding used to calculate Reported(2) and Adjusted(3) diluted EPS was 5,678 million shares, an increase of 59 million shares compared to the prior-year quarter primarily due to shares issued for employee compensation programs.
QUARTERLY FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (Second-Quarter 2021 vs. Second-Quarter 2020)
Second-quarter 2021 revenues totaled $19.0 billion, an increase of $9.1 billion, or 92%, compared to the prior-year quarter, reflecting operational growth of $8.5 billion, or 86%, as well as a favorable impact of foreign exchange of $637 million, or 6%.
Second-quarter 2021 operational growth was primarily driven by:
BNT162b2(1), which contributed $7.8 billion in direct sales and alliance revenues;
Vyndaqel/Vyndamax globally, up 77% operationally, primarily driven by continued strong uptake of the transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy indication in the U.S., developed Europe and Japan;
Eliquis, up 13% operationally, led by growth in the U.S. and emerging markets, driven primarily by continued increased adoption in non-valvular atrial fibrillation and oral anti-coagulant market share gains;
Prevnar 13 in the U.S., up 34%, driven by:
35% growth in the pediatric indication primarily due to higher levels of healthcare activity and wellness visits compared to the prior-year quarter, which was heavily impacted by COVID-19-related mobility restrictions and limitations, and favorable timing of government purchases, partially offset by a lower year-over-year birth rate(9), and
24% growth in the adult indication, which was primarily driven by higher levels of healthcare activity compared to the prior-year quarter, as described above, partially offset by the impact of a lower remaining eligible unvaccinated population;
Ibrance outside of the U.S., up 21% operationally, driven by accelerating demand as the delays in diagnosis and treatment initiations caused by COVID-19 show signs of recovery across several international markets;
Inlyta globally, up 29% operationally, primarily reflecting increased adoption in the U.S. and developed Europe of combinations of certain immune checkpoint inhibitors and Inlyta for the first-line treatment of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma;
Xtandi in the U.S., up 14%, primarily driven by strong demand across the metastatic and non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer indications and the metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer indication; as well as
Hospital products globally, which grew 17% operationally to $2.3 billion, primarily driven by Pfizer CentreOne, Pfizer’s contract manufacturing operation, reflecting manufacturing of legacy Upjohn products for Viatris(6), certain BNT162b2 manufacturing activities performed on behalf of BioNTech(1) and remdesivir for Gilead Sciences Inc., as well as growth from recent anti-infective product launches in international markets, partially offset by a decline in U.S. sales of certain sterile injectable products utilized in the intubation and mechanical ventilation of patients being treated for COVID-19 due to high demand for these products in the prior-year quarter; and
Biosimilars globally, which grew 88% operationally to $559 million, primarily driven by recent oncology monoclonal antibody biosimilar launches of Zirabev (bevacizumab), Ruxience (rituximab) and Trazimera (trastuzumab) globally, as well as continued growth from Retacrit (epoetin) in the U.S.,
partially offset primarily by lower revenues for:
Xeljanz in the U.S., down 15%, despite 2% year-over-year growth in U.S. prescription volume, reflecting an unfavorable change in channel mix toward lower-priced channels and continued investments to improve formulary positioning and unlock access to additional patient lives, as well as a negative impact on new patient starts resulting from an ongoing review by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of safety data from the post-marketing ORAL Surveillance study of Xeljanz in subjects with rheumatoid arthritis who were 50 years of age or older and had at least one additional cardiovascular risk factor;
Ibrance in the U.S., down 7%, despite maintaining a strong leadership position in the CDK 4/6 class with 73% share of first-line new patient starts, reflecting an increase in the proportion of patients accessing Ibrance through Pfizer’s Patient Assistance Program;
Enbrel internationally, down 19% operationally, primarily reflecting continued biosimilar competition in developed Europe and Japan; and
Prevenar 13 in developed Europe, down 35% operationally, reflecting significantly increased adult demand in the prior-year quarter in Germany and certain other markets resulting from greater vaccine awareness for respiratory illnesses due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
GAAP Reported(2) Income Statement Highlights
SELECTED REPORTED COSTS AND EXPENSES(2)
* Indicates calculation not meaningful.
Second-quarter 2021 Cost of Sales(2) as a percentage of revenues increased 18.6 percentage points compared with the prior-year quarter. The drivers for the increase include, among other things:
an increase of approximately 15 percentage points associated with sales of BNT162b2(1), which includes a charge for the 50% gross profit split with BioNTech and applicable royalty expenses;
unfavorable changes in product mix, reflecting higher sales of lower margin products including revenues from the Pfizer CentreOne operation, partially offset by the favorable impact of higher alliance revenues; and
unfavorable foreign exchange impacts.
SI&A Expenses(2) increased 8% operationally in second-quarter 2021 compared with the prior-year quarter, primarily due to increased product-related spending across multiple therapeutic categories and other costs associated with a return to more normal activity levels compared to the prior-year quarter, partially offset by a reduction in spending for corporate enabling functions and lower spending for Chantix following its loss of patent protection in the U.S. in November 2020.
Second-quarter 2021 R&D Expenses(2) increased 17% operationally compared with the prior-year quarter, which primarily reflects incremental investments across multiple therapeutic categories, including additional spending related to the development of BNT162b2(1) and therapeutics to help treat COVID-19, as well as a charge for in-process R&D related to an asset acquisition completed in the second quarter of 2021, partially offset by the non-recurrence of upfront payments associated with two R&D agreements executed in second-quarter 2020.
Other income––net(2) in second-quarter 2021 decreased 5% operationally compared with second-quarter 2020, primarily driven by higher legal charges and lower income from collaborations, partially offset by higher transition services agreement income, higher net gains on both equity securities and asset disposals, lower interest expense and higher net periodic benefit credits related to pension and postretirement plans.
Pfizer’s effective tax rate on Reported income(2) for second-quarter 2021 compared to the prior-year quarter increased due to an unfavorable change in the jurisdictional mix of earnings primarily related to BNT162b2(1).
Adjusted(3) Income Statement Highlights
* Indicates calculation not meaningful.
Changes in Adjusted(3) costs and expenses in second-quarter 2021 compared to the prior-year quarter were driven primarily by the factors listed in the Reported(2) costs and expenses section above.
A full reconciliation of Reported(2) to Adjusted(3) financial measures and associated footnotes can be found in the financial tables section of the press release located at the hyperlink below.
RECENT NOTABLE DEVELOPMENTS (Since May 4, 2021)
Product Developments
Chantix (varenicline) — In July 2021, Pfizer issued a voluntary recall in the U.S. for twelve lots of Chantix due to the presence of a nitrosamine, N-nitroso-varenicline, above the Pfizer-established acceptable daily intake level. Nitrosamines are common in water and foods and everyone is exposed to some level of nitrosamines. These impurities may theoretically increase the risk of cancer if people are exposed to them above acceptable levels over long periods of time. The health benefits of stopping smoking outweigh the theoretical potential cancer risk from the nitrosamine impurity in varenicline.
Myfembree (relugolix 40 mg, estradiol 1 mg, and norethindrone acetate 0.5 mg) — In May 2021, Myovant Sciences (Myovant) and Pfizer announced that the FDA approved Myfembree, the first once-daily treatment for the management of heavy menstrual bleeding associated with uterine fibroids in premenopausal women, with a treatment duration of up to 24 months. Myovant and Pfizer are jointly commercializing Myfembree in the U.S.
Prevnar 20 (pneumococcal 20-valent conjugate vaccine) — In June 2021, Pfizer announced that the FDA approved Prevnar 20 for the prevention of invasive disease and pneumonia caused by the 20 Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) serotypes in the vaccine in adults ages 18 years and older. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) is expected to meet in October to discuss and update recommendations on the safe and appropriate use of pneumococcal vaccines in adults.
Talzenna (talazoparib) — In June 2021, Pfizer announced that the first participant had been dosed in the Phase 3 TALAPRO-3 study, which will evaluate the efficacy and safety of talazoparib, an oral poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor, in combination with enzalutamide, an androgen receptor inhibitor, compared with placebo plus enzalutamide in men with DNA damage response (DDR)-deficient metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer. The anticipated primary completion date is late-2024.
Xeljanz (tofacitinib)
In June 2021, Pfizer announced that the Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) recommended that Xeljanz should only be used in patients over 65 years of age, patients who are current or past smokers, patients with other cardiovascular risk factors, and patients with other malignancy risk factors, if no suitable treatment alternative is available. The recommendation, which has since been adopted by the EMA’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP), is based on the receipt of safety data from the post-marketing ORAL Surveillance study of Xeljanz in subjects with rheumatoid arthritis who were 50 years of age or older and had at least one cardiovascular risk factor.
In June 2021, Pfizer, in collaboration with The Academic Research Organization (ARO) from the Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, announced that The New England Journal of Medicine had published positive findings from the STOP-COVID study (NCT04469114) evaluating the efficacy and safety of its oral Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor tofacitinib in 289 hospitalized adult patients with COVID-19 pneumonia who were not on ventilation. Tofacitinib has not been approved or authorized for use by any regulatory authority worldwide for the treatment of COVID-19 and tofacitinib should not be used in patients with an active serious infection. Pfizer is assessing next steps.
In July 2021, the FDA notified Pfizer that it would not meet the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) goal date for the supplemental New Drug Applications (sNDA) for Xeljanz/Xeljanz XR for the treatment of adults with active ankylosing spondylitis. The FDA cited its ongoing review of Pfizer’s post-marketing safety study, ORAL Surveillance, evaluating tofacitinib in subjects with rheumatoid arthritis who were 50 years of age or older and had at least one additional cardiovascular risk factor, as a factor for the extension. No revised PDUFA goal date has been set for these sNDAs.
Pipeline Developments
A comprehensive update of Pfizer’s development pipeline was published today and is now available at www.pfizer.com/science/drug-product-pipeline. It includes an overview of Pfizer’s research and a list of compounds in development with targeted indication and phase of development, as well as mechanism of action for some candidates in Phase 1 and all candidates from Phase 2 through registration.
Abrocitinib (PF-04965842) — In July 2021, the FDA notified Pfizer that it would not meet the PDUFA goal date for the New Drug Application (NDA) for abrocitinib for the treatment of adults and adolescents with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis. The FDA cited its ongoing review of Pfizer’s post-marketing safety study, ORAL Surveillance, evaluating tofacitinib in subjects with rheumatoid arthritis who were 50 years of age or older and had at least one cardiovascular risk factor, as a factor for the extension. No revised PDUFA goal date has been set for this NDA.
BNT162b2 (COVID-19 Vaccine) Development Program
Clinical and Research Developments
In June 2021, Pfizer and BioNTech initiated a Phase 2/3 study to further evaluate the safety, tolerability and immunogenicity of BNT162b2 in preventing COVID-19 in healthy children between the ages of 6 months to 11 years old. The companies expect to have the safety and immunogenicity data that could potentially support an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for use in children ages 5 to 11 years old, if such an EUA is deemed necessary, by the end of September. The full dataset from this study, which will be required to support licensure in this age group, is expected by the end of 2021. Similar data packages will be submitted shortly thereafter to support EUA and licensure in children 6 months to 5 years of age.
In July 2021, Pfizer and BioNTech provided an update on the ongoing Phase 1/2/3 booster trial of a third dose of the current BNT162b2 vaccine. Initial safety and immunogenicity data from the study demonstrate that a booster dose given at least 6 months after the second dose has a consistent tolerability profile while eliciting high neutralization titers against the wild type and the Beta (B.1.351) variant, which are 5 to 10 times higher than after two primary doses. In addition, newly disclosed data demonstrates that a third dose elicits neutralizing titers against the Delta (B.1.617.2) variant that are more than five times higher in younger people and more than 11 times higher in older people than after two doses. The companies expect to publish more definitive data about the analysis and all accumulated data will be shared as part of the ongoing discussions with the FDA, EMA and other regulatory authorities in the coming weeks.
In July 2021, Pfizer and BioNTech initiated the global Phase 3 portion of the clinical study to evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of a third dose of BNT162b2 compared to placebo, including evaluating the booster’s efficacy at continuing to prevent COVID-19 infection. The Phase 3 study will enroll 10,000 participants who participated in the original Phase 3 trial.
Regulatory Developments
In May 2021, Pfizer and BioNTech received approval from the EMA to extend the storage period of an unopened thawed vial of BNT162b2 at 2-8°C from five days to one month (31 days) to facilitate the handling of the vaccine in vaccination centers across the European Union (EU).
In May 2021, Pfizer and BioNTech announced expanded authorization in the EU as part of its Conditional Marketing Authorization (CMA), and separately expanded authorization in the U.S. as part of its EUA, for use of BNT162b2 in individuals 12 to 15 years of age. BNT162b2 is the first COVID-19 vaccine to be authorized for use in this age group(10).
In July 2021, Pfizer and BioNTech announced that the FDA granted Priority Review designation for the Biologics License Application (BLA) for their mRNA vaccine to prevent COVID-19 in individuals 16 years of age and older. This follows the completion of the rolling submission of the BLA in May 2021, which includes data from the pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial of the vaccine, where the vaccine’s efficacy and favorable safety profile were observed up to six months after the second dose. The PDUFA goal date for a decision by the FDA is in January 2022.
Commercial Developments
In May 2021, Pfizer and BioNTech announced an agreement with the European Commission (EC) to supply 900 million doses of BNT162b2 to the EU, with an option for the EU to request up to an additional 900 million doses for a total of up to 1.8 billion doses. The 900 million agreed doses are expected to be delivered on a monthly schedule beginning in December 2021 and continuing into 2023. This new agreement is in addition to the 600 million doses that had already been committed to the EU through 2021.
In June 2021, Pfizer and BioNTech announced plans to provide 500 million doses of BNT162b2 to the U.S. government at a not-for-profit price for donation to approximately 100 low- and lower middle-income countries including those in the African Union via the COVAX Facility. Deliveries under the agreement will begin in August 2021, with 200 million doses to be delivered through the end of 2021 and the remaining 300 million doses to be delivered in the first half of 2022. The agreement also provides the U.S. government with an option for additional doses in 2022.
In July 2021, Pfizer and BioNTech announced the signing of a letter of intent with The Biovac Institute (Pty) Ltd (Biovac), a South African biopharmaceutical company, to manufacture BNT162b2 for distribution within the African Union. Biovac will obtain drug substance from facilities in Europe, and manufacturing of finished doses will commence in 2022. At full operational capacity, annual production is estimated to be approximately 100 million finished doses. All doses will exclusively be distributed within the 55 member states that make up the African Union.
In July 2021, Pfizer and BioNTech announced that the U.S. government has agreed to purchase an additional 200 million doses of BNT162b2, of which 110 million doses are expected to be delivered from October through December 2021 with the remainder expected to be delivered from January through April 2022. This brings the total number of doses to be supplied to the U.S. government under its existing supply agreement to 500 million. This agreement is separate from the 500 million doses to be provided to the U.S. government for donation to the world’s poorest nations, which was announced in June 2021.
PF-07304814 (Intravenous Protease Inhibitor for COVID-19) — Following a communication from the FDA in July 2021, Pfizer anticipates the initiation of a Phase 2/3 study in third-quarter 2021 of its intravenous protease inhibitor clinical candidate, PF-07304814, a potential novel treatment option for hospitalized patients with COVID-19.
PF-07321332 (Oral Protease Inhibitor for COVID-19) — Pfizer today provided further details on its oral protease inhibitor program for treatment of COVID-19. PF-07321332 exhibits potent, selective in vitro antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses. Additionally, it has demonstrated robust preclinical antiviral effect in human cells in vitro, and in SARS-CoV-2 infected animals. In a Phase 1 pharmacokinetic study in healthy volunteers, PF-07321332 has shown high drug exposure over 10 days, exceeding the level of exposure predicted to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 viral replication by more than five fold. Based on these data, Pfizer initiated a Phase 2/3 trial in COVID-19 patients in July 2021. Data from the trial are expected in fourth-quarter 2021.
Ritlecitinib (PF-06651600) — In July 2021, Pfizer presented initial efficacy and safety results from the Phase 2 VIBRATO study evaluating its investigational oral JAK3/TEC inhibitor ritlecitinib at the European Congress of Crohn’s and Colitis Organisation (ECCO) annual meeting. At Week 8, once-daily ritlecitinib 70 and 200 mg demonstrated significant improvement in remission, modified remission, and endoscopic improvement in participants with moderate to severe active ulcerative colitis who had inadequate or loss of response, or intolerance to corticosteroids, immunosuppressants or biologic therapies.
RSVpreF (RSV Adult Vaccine Candidate) — Pfizer today provided an update on a Phase 2a study to evaluate the safety, immunogenicity and efficacy of its bivalent protein-based vaccine candidate, RSVpreF, in a virus challenge model in healthy adults 18 to 50 years of age. RSVpreF showed 100% observed efficacy against mild to moderate symptomatic infection resulting from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). No vaccine related serious adverse events were observed. Injection site pain was the most frequent mild adverse event observed. Detailed results from this study will be shared in a future scientific forum. Based on these data, Pfizer plans to initiate a global Phase 3 trial in adults in September 2021.
Tanezumab (PF-04383119) — In July 2021, Pfizer and Eli Lilly and Company announced positive top-line results of a Phase 3 study evaluating subcutaneous (SC) administration of tanezumab in adults with moderate-to-severe cancer pain due to bone metastases or multiple myeloma. In Study A4091061, 146 patients were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive either tanezumab 20 mg SC or placebo, each administered at baseline, week eight, and week 16 in addition to background opioid therapy. The use of background opioids allowed an appropriate comparison of the efficacy and safety of tanezumab versus placebo to be made reflective of the real-world experience. The trial included a 24-week treatment period, followed by a 24-week safety period, for a total of 48 weeks of observation. The study met its primary endpoint of demonstrating a statistically significant improvement in daily average pain intensity at eight weeks for tanezumab compared to placebo in patients receiving background opioid therapy. Preliminary safety data showed that during the 24-week treatment period, the adverse event profile of tanezumab 20 mg was generally consistent with adverse events expected in patients with cancer pain due to bone metastasis and the known safety profile of tanezumab. There were two adjudicated composite joint safety outcomes, both pathological fractures, which occurred near the site of bone metastases in tanezumab-treated patients. Detailed results from this study will be shared in a future scientific forum.
VLA15 (Lyme Disease Vaccine Candidate) — In July 2021, Valneva SE and Pfizer announced that they have completed recruitment for the Phase 2 trial, VLA15-221, of the Lyme disease vaccine candidate, VLA15. The trial builds on previous positive Phase 2 trials and includes both adult and pediatric participants with the aim to support acceleration of the vaccine candidate’s pediatric program. The objective of the trial is to show safety and immunogenicity down to 5 years of age and to evaluate the optimal vaccination schedule for use in Phase 3.
Corporate Developments
In July 2021, Pfizer and Arvinas, Inc. (Arvinas) announced a global collaboration to develop and commercialize ARV-471, an investigational oral PROTAC (PROteolysis TArgeting Chimera) estrogen receptor protein degrader. The estrogen receptor is a well-known disease driver in most breast cancers. ARV-471 is currently in a Phase 2 dose expansion clinical trial for the treatment of patients with estrogen receptor positive / human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 negative (ER+/HER2-) locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer. Under the terms of the agreement, Pfizer will pay Arvinas $650 million upfront. Separately, Pfizer will make a $350 million equity investment in Arvinas. Arvinas is also eligible to receive up to $400 million in approval milestones and up to $1 billion in commercial milestones. The companies will equally share worldwide development costs, commercialization expenses and profits.
Please find Pfizer’s press release and associated financial tables, including reconciliations of certain GAAP reported to non-GAAP adjusted information, at the following hyperlink:
View Source
(Note: If clicking on the above link does not open up a new web page, you may need to cut and paste the above URL into your browser’s address bar.)
For additional details, see the associated financial schedules and product revenue tables attached to the press release located at the hyperlink referred to above and the attached disclosure notice.
(1) BNT162b2 includes direct sales and alliance revenues related to sales of the Pfizer-BioNTech SE (BioNTech) COVID-19 vaccine, which are recorded within Pfizer’s Vaccines therapeutic area. It does not include revenues for certain BNT162b2 manufacturing activities performed on behalf of BioNTech related to the COVID-19 vaccine, which are included in the Pfizer CentreOne contract manufacturing operation within the Hospital area.
(2) Revenues is defined as revenues in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Reported net income and its components are defined as net income attributable to Pfizer Inc. and its components in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Reported diluted earnings per share (EPS) is defined as diluted EPS attributable to Pfizer Inc. common shareholders in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
(3) Adjusted income and its components and Adjusted diluted EPS are defined as reported U.S. GAAP net income(2) and its components and reported diluted EPS(2) excluding purchase accounting adjustments, acquisition-related costs, discontinued operations and certain significant items (some of which may recur, such as actuarial gains and losses from pension and postretirement plan remeasurements, gains on the completion of joint venture transactions, restructuring charges, legal charges or gains and losses from equity securities, but which management does not believe are reflective of ongoing core operations). Adjusted cost of sales, Adjusted selling, informational and administrative (SI&A) expenses, Adjusted research and development (R&D) expenses and Adjusted other (income)/deductions are income statement line items prepared on the same basis as, and therefore components of, the overall Adjusted income measure.
As described in the Non-GAAP Financial Measure: Adjusted Income section of Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in Pfizer’s 2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K, management uses Adjusted income, among other factors, to set performance goals and to measure the performance of the overall company. Because Adjusted income is an important internal measurement for Pfizer, management believes that investors’ understanding of our performance is enhanced by disclosing this measure. Pfizer reports Adjusted income, certain components of Adjusted income, and Adjusted diluted EPS in order to present the results of the company’s major operations––the discovery, development, manufacture, marketing, sale and distribution of prescription medicines and vaccines––prior to considering certain income statement elements. See the accompanying reconciliations of certain GAAP Reported to Non-GAAP Adjusted information for the second quarter and first six months of 2021 and 2020. The Adjusted income and its components and Adjusted diluted EPS measures are not, and should not be viewed as, substitutes for U.S. GAAP net income and its components and diluted EPS(2).
(4) Pfizer does not provide guidance for GAAP Reported financial measures (other than revenues) or a reconciliation of forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP Reported financial measures on a forward-looking basis because it is unable to predict with reasonable certainty the ultimate outcome of pending litigation, unusual gains and losses, acquisition-related expenses, gains and losses from equity securities, actuarial gains and losses from pension and postretirement plan remeasurements and potential future asset impairments without unreasonable effort. These items are uncertain, depend on various factors, and could have a material impact on GAAP Reported results for the guidance period.
Financial guidance for full-year 2021 reflects the following:
Does not assume the completion of any business development transactions not completed as of July 4, 2021, including any one-time upfront payments associated with such transactions.
Includes Pfizer’s pro rata share of the Consumer Healthcare joint venture anticipated earnings, which is recorded in Adjusted other (income)/deductions(3) on a one-quarter lag.
Reflects an anticipated negative revenue impact of $0.6 billion due to recent and expected generic and biosimilar competition for certain products that have recently lost or are anticipated to soon lose patent protection.
Exchange rates assumed are a blend of actual rates in effect through second-quarter 2021 and mid-July 2021 rates for the remainder of the year. Financial guidance reflects the anticipated favorable impact of approximately $1.5 billion on revenues and approximately $0.10 on Adjusted diluted EPS(3) as a result of changes in foreign exchange rates relative to the U.S. dollar compared to foreign exchange rates from 2020.
Guidance for Adjusted diluted EPS(3) assumes diluted weighted-average shares outstanding of approximately 5.7 billion shares, which currently assumes no share repurchases in 2021.
Guidance for Adjusted other (income)/deductions(3) includes an estimated benefit of approximately $300 million resulting from a change in accounting principle to a more preferable policy under U.S. GAAP to immediately recognize actuarial gains and losses arising from the remeasurement of our pension and postretirement plans. This change went into effect in the first quarter of 2021 and prior period amounts have been recast to conform to the new accounting policy.
(5) Pfizer’s fiscal year-end for international subsidiaries is November 30 while Pfizer’s fiscal year-end for U.S. subsidiaries is December 31. Therefore, Pfizer’s second quarter and first six months for U.S. subsidiaries reflects the three and six months ended on July 4, 2021 and June 28, 2020 while Pfizer’s second quarter and first six months for subsidiaries operating outside the U.S. reflects the three and six months ended on May 30, 2021 and May 24, 2020.
(6) The following business development activity, among others, impacted financial results for the periods presented:
On November 16, 2020, Pfizer completed the transaction to spin off its Upjohn Business and combine it with Mylan N.V. (Mylan) to form Viatris Inc. (Viatris). On December 21, 2020, which fell in Pfizer’s international first-quarter 2021, Pfizer and Viatris completed the termination of a pre-existing strategic collaboration between Pfizer and Mylan for generic drugs in Japan (Mylan-Japan collaboration) and Pfizer transferred related operations that were part of the Mylan-Japan collaboration to Viatris. As a result of the spin-off of the Upjohn Business and the termination of the Mylan-Japan collaboration, the results of operations of the Upjohn Business and the Mylan-Japan collaboration are presented as discontinued operations.
On April 9, 2020, Pfizer signed a global agreement with BioNTech to co-develop a first-in-class, mRNA-based coronavirus vaccine program, BNT162, aimed at preventing COVID-19 infection. In connection with the agreement, Pfizer paid BioNTech an upfront cash payment of $72 million in second-quarter 2020. Pfizer also made an equity investment of $113 million in BioNTech common stock. Pfizer made an additional investment of $50 million in common stock of BioNTech as part of an underwritten equity offering by BioNTech, which closed in July 2020. On January 29, 2021, Pfizer and BioNTech signed an amended version of the April 2020 agreement. Under the January 2021 agreement, BioNTech paid Pfizer its 50 percent share of prior development costs in a lump sum payment during the first quarter of 2021. Further R&D costs are being shared equally.
(7) References to operational variances in this press release pertain to period-over-period growth rates that exclude the impact of foreign exchange rates. Although exchange rate changes are part of Pfizer’s business, they are not within Pfizer’s control and since they can mask positive or negative trends in the business, Pfizer believes presenting operational variances excluding these foreign exchange changes provides useful information to evaluate Pfizer’s results.
(8) As described in footnote (4) above, in the first quarter of 2021, Pfizer adopted a change in accounting principle to a more preferable approach under U.S. GAAP related to its pension and postretirement plans. Prior period financial results have been recast to reflect this change. The recast comparable full-year 2020 Adjusted diluted EPS(3) is $2.26, versus $2.22 previously reported.
(9) The U.S. birth rate decline is 4% compared to 2020 levels, according to Demographic Intelligence.
(10) BNT162b2 has not been approved or licensed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), but has been authorized for emergency use by the FDA under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to prevent Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) for use in individuals 12 years of age and older. The emergency use of this product is only authorized for the duration of the declaration that circumstances exist justifying the authorization of emergency use of the medical product under Section 564 (b) (1) of the FD&C Act unless the declaration is terminated or authorization revoked sooner. Please see the EUA Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers Administering Vaccine (Vaccination Providers) including full EUA prescribing information available at www.cvdvaccine.com.
DISCLOSURE NOTICE: Except where otherwise noted, the information contained in this earnings release and the related attachments is as of July 28, 2021. We assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this earnings release and the related attachments as a result of new information or future events or developments.
This earnings release and the related attachments contain forward-looking statements about, among other topics, our anticipated operating and financial performance; reorganizations; business plans and prospects; expectations for our product pipeline, in-line products and product candidates, including anticipated regulatory submissions, data read-outs, study starts, approvals, clinical trial results and other developing data that become available, revenue contribution, growth, performance, timing of exclusivity and potential benefits; strategic reviews; capital allocation objectives; dividends and share repurchases; plans for and prospects of our acquisitions, dispositions and other business development activities, and our ability to successfully capitalize on these opportunities; manufacturing and product supply; our efforts to respond to COVID-19, including the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine (BNT162b2) and our investigational protease inhibitors; and our expectations regarding the impact of COVID-19 on our business, operations and financial results that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. You can identify these statements by the fact that they use future dates or use words such as "will," "may," "could," "likely," "ongoing," "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "project," "intend," "plan," "believe," "assume," "target," "forecast," "guidance," "goal," "objective," "aim," "seek" and other words and terms of similar meaning. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from past results and future plans and projected future results are the following:
Risks Related to Our Business, Industry and Operations, and Business Development:
the outcome of R&D activities, including, the ability to meet anticipated pre-clinical or clinical endpoints, commencement and/or completion dates for our pre-clinical or clinical trials, regulatory submission dates, and/or regulatory approval and/or launch dates; the possibility of unfavorable pre-clinical and clinical trial results, including the possibility of unfavorable new pre-clinical or clinical data and further analyses of existing pre-clinical or clinical data; the risk that pre-clinical and clinical trial data are subject to differing interpretations and assessments, including during the peer review/publication process, in the scientific community generally, and by regulatory authorities; and whether and when additional data from our pipeline programs will be published in scientific journal publications and, if so, when and with what modifications and interpretations;
our ability to successfully address comments received from regulatory authorities such as the FDA or the EMA, or obtain approval for new products or indications from regulators on a timely basis or at all; regulatory decisions impacting labeling, manufacturing processes, safety and/or other matters; the impact of recommendations by technical or advisory committees; and the timing of pricing approvals and product launches;
claims and concerns that may arise regarding the safety or efficacy of in-line products and product candidates, including claims and concerns that may arise from the outcome of post-approval clinical trials, which could impact marketing approval, product labeling, and/or availability or commercial potential, including uncertainties regarding the commercial or other impact of the results of the Xeljanz ORAL Surveillance (A3921133) study or any potential actions by regulatory authorities based on analysis of ORAL Surveillance or other data;
the success and impact of external business-development activities, including the ability to identify and execute on potential business development opportunities; the ability to satisfy the conditions to closing of announced transactions in the anticipated time frame or at all; the ability to realize the anticipated benefits of any such transactions in the anticipated time frame or at all; the potential need for and impact of additional equity or debt financing to pursue these opportunities, which could result in increased leverage and/or a downgrade of our credit ratings; challenges integrating the businesses and operations; disruption to business and operations relationships; risks related to growing revenues for certain acquired products; significant transaction costs; and unknown liabilities;
competition, including from new product entrants, in-line branded products, generic products, private label products, biosimilars and product candidates that treat diseases and conditions similar to those treated by our in-line products and product candidates;
the ability to successfully market both new and existing products, including biosimilars;
difficulties or delays in manufacturing, sales or marketing; supply disruptions, shortages or stock-outs at our or our third party suppliers’ facilities; and legal or regulatory actions;
the impact of public health outbreaks, epidemics or pandemics (such as the COVID-19 pandemic) on our business, operations and financial condition and results, including impacts on our employees, manufacturing, supply chain, sales and marketing, research and development and clinical trials;
risks and uncertainties related to our efforts to develop and commercialize a vaccine to help prevent COVID-19 and potential treatments for COVID-19, as well as challenges related to their manufacturing, supply and distribution, including, among others, uncertainties inherent in research and development, including the ability to meet anticipated clinical endpoints, commencement and/or completion dates for clinical trials, regulatory submission dates, regulatory approval dates and/or launch dates, as well as risks associated with pre-clinical or clinical data (including the Phase 3 data for BNT162b2), including the possibility of unfavorable new pre-clinical, clinical or safety data and further analyses of existing pre-clinical, clinical or safety data; the ability to produce comparable clinical or other results, including the rate of vaccine effectiveness and safety and tolerability profile observed to date, in additional analyses of the Phase 3 trial and additional studies or in larger, more diverse populations following commercialization; the ability of BNT162b2 to prevent COVID-19 caused by emerging virus variants; the risk that more widespread use of the vaccine will lead to new information about efficacy, safety or other developments, including the risk of additional adverse reactions, some of which may be serious; the risk that pre-clinical and clinical trial data are subject to differing interpretations and assessments, including during the peer review/publication process, in the scientific community generally, and by regulatory authorities; whether and when additional data from the BNT162 mRNA vaccine program or other programs will be published in scientific journal publications and, if so, when and with what modifications and interpretations; whether regulatory authorities will be satisfied with the design of and results from these and any future pre-clinical and clinical studies; whether and when biologics license and/or EUA applications or amendments to any such applications may be filed in particular jurisdictions for BNT162b2 or any other potential vaccines that may arise from the BNT162 program, and if obtained, whether or when such EUA or licenses will expire or terminate; whether and when any applications that may be pending or filed for BNT162b2 (including the Biologics License Application in the U.S. or any requested amendments to the emergency use or conditional marketing authorizations) or other vaccines that may result from the BNT162 program may be approved by particular regulatory authorities, which will depend on myriad factors, including making a determination as to whether the vaccine’s benefits outweigh its known risks and determination of the vaccine’s efficacy and, if approved, whether it will be commercially successful; decisions by regulatory authorities impacting labeling or marketing, manufacturing processes, safety and/or other matters that could affect the availability or commercial potential of a vaccine, including development of products or therapies by other companies; disruptions in the relationships between us and our collaboration partners, clinical trial sites or third-party suppliers, including our relationship with BioNTech; the risk that other companies may produce superior or competitive products; the risk that demand for any products may be reduced or no longer exist; risks related to the availability of raw materials to manufacture or test any such products; challenges related to our vaccine’s ultra-low temperature formulation, two-dose schedule and attendant storage, distribution and administration requirements, including risks related to storage and handling after delivery by Pfizer; the risk that we may not be able to successfully develop other vaccine formulations, booster doses or new variant-specific vaccines; the risk that we may not be able to recoup costs associated with our R&D and manufacturing efforts; risks associated with any changes in the way we approach or provide research funding for the BNT162 program or potential treatment for COVID-19; challenges and risks associated with the pace of our development programs; the risk that we may not be able to maintain or scale up manufacturing capacity on a timely basis or maintain access to logistics or supply channels commensurate with global demand for our vaccine or any potential approved treatment, which would negatively impact our ability to supply the estimated numbers of doses of our vaccine within the projected time periods as previously indicated; whether and when additional supply agreements will be reached; uncertainties regarding the ability to obtain recommendations from vaccine advisory or technical committees and other public health authorities and uncertainties regarding the commercial impact of any such recommendations; pricing and access challenges for such products; challenges related to public vaccine confidence or awareness; trade restrictions; and competitive developments;
trends toward managed care and healthcare cost containment, and our ability to obtain or maintain timely or adequate pricing or favorable formulary placement for our products;
interest rate and foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, including the impact of possible currency devaluations in countries experiencing high inflation rates;
any significant issues involving our largest wholesale distributors, which account for a substantial portion of our revenues;
the impact of the increased presence of counterfeit medicines in the pharmaceutical supply chain;
any significant issues related to the outsourcing of certain operational and staff functions to third parties; and any significant issues related to our JVs and other third-party business arrangements;
uncertainties related to general economic, political, business, industry, regulatory and market conditions including, without limitation, uncertainties related to the impact on us, our customers, suppliers and lenders and counterparties to our foreign-exchange and interest-rate agreements of challenging global economic conditions and recent and possible future changes in global financial markets;
any changes in business, political and economic conditions due to actual or threatened terrorist activity, civil unrest or military action;
the impact of product recalls, withdrawals and other unusual items;
trade buying patterns;
the risk of an impairment charge related to our intangible assets, goodwill or equity-method investments;
the impact of, and risks and uncertainties related to, restructurings and internal reorganizations, as well as any other corporate strategic initiatives, and cost-reduction and productivity initiatives, each of which requires upfront costs but may fail to yield anticipated benefits and may result in unexpected costs or organizational disruption;
Risks Related to Government Regulation and Legal Proceedings:
the impact of any U.S. healthcare reform or legislation or any significant spending reductions or cost controls affecting Medicare, Medicaid or other publicly funded or subsidized health programs or changes in the tax treatment of employer-sponsored health insurance that may be implemented;
U.S. federal or state legislation or regulatory action and/or policy efforts affecting, among other things, pharmaceutical product pricing, intellectual property, reimbursement or access or restrictions on U.S. direct-to-consumer advertising; limitations on interactions with healthcare professionals and other industry stakeholders; as well as pricing pressures for our products as a result of highly competitive insurance markets;
legislation or regulatory action in markets outside of the U.S., including China, affecting pharmaceutical product pricing, intellectual property, reimbursement or access, including, in particular, continued government-mandated reductions in prices and access restrictions for certain biopharmaceutical products to control costs in those markets;
the exposure of our operations globally to possible capital and exchange controls, economic conditions, expropriation and other restrictive government actions, changes in intellectual property legal protections and remedies, as well as political unrest, unstable governments and legal systems and inter-governmental disputes;
legal defense costs, insurance expenses, settlement costs and contingencies, including those related to actual or alleged environmental contamination;
the risk and impact of an adverse decision or settlement and the adequacy of reserves related to legal proceedings;
the risk and impact of tax related litigation;
governmental laws and regulations affecting our operations, including, without limitation, changes in laws and regulations or their interpretation, including, among others, changes in tax laws and regulations, including, among others, any potential changes to the existing tax law by the current U.S. Presidential administration and Congress increasing the corporate tax rate and/or the tax rate on foreign earnings;
Risks Related to Intellectual Property, Technology and Security:
any significant breakdown, infiltration or interruption of our information technology systems and infrastructure;
the risk that our currently pending or future patent applications may not be granted on a timely basis or at all, or any patent-term extensions that we seek may not be granted on a timely basis, if at all; and
our ability to protect our patents and other intellectual property, including against claims of invalidity that could result in loss of exclusivity, unasserted intellectual property claims and in response to any pressure, or legal or regulatory action by, various stakeholders or governments that could potentially result in us not seeking intellectual property protection for or agreeing not to enforce or being restricted from enforcing intellectual property related to our products, including our vaccine to help prevent COVID-19 and potential treatments for COVID-19.
We cannot guarantee that any forward-looking statement will be realized. Should known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize or should underlying assumptions prove inaccurate, actual results could vary materially from past results and those anticipated, estimated or projected. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. A further list and description of risks, uncertainties and other matters can be found in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 and in our subsequent reports on Form 10-Q, in each case including in the sections thereof captioned "Forward-Looking Information and Factors That May Affect Future Results" and "Item 1A. Risk Factors," and in our subsequent reports on Form 8-K.
This earnings release may include discussion of certain clinical studies relating to various in-line products and/or product candidates. These studies typically are part of a larger body of clinical data relating to such products or product candidates, and the discussion herein should be considered in the context of the larger body of data. In addition, clinical trial data are subject to differing interpretations, and, even when we view data as sufficient to support the safety and/or effectiveness of a product candidate or a new indication for an in-line product, regulatory authorities may not share our views and may require additional data or may deny approval altogether.
The information contained on our website or any third-party website is not incorporated by reference into this earnings release.