On February 23, 2016 Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc (Nasdaq: JAZZ) reported financial results for the full year and the fourth quarter of 2015 and provided financial guidance for 2016 (Filing, 8-K, Jazz Pharmaceuticals, FEB 23, 2016, View Source [SID:1234509162]).

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"In 2015, we delivered solid growth on the top- and bottom-line while increasing investment in new growth opportunities for our current products and our promising R&D pipeline," said Bruce C. Cozadd, chairman and chief executive officer of Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc. "We look forward to 2016 as we focus on delivering growth of our key commercial products, preparing for our planned launch of defibrotide in the U.S., reaching important clinical milestones, including completing enrollment and determining preliminary results of our JZP-110 Phase 3 safety and efficacy studies, and potentially expanding our commercial and development portfolio through corporate development activities."

Adjusted net income attributable to Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc for 2015 was $600.1 million, or $9.52 per diluted share, compared to $520.5 million, or $8.31 per diluted share, for 2014. Adjusted net income attributable to Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc for the fourth quarter of 2015 was $163.5 million, or $2.60 per diluted share, compared to $151.1 million, or $2.40 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2014.

GAAP net income attributable to Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc for 2015 was $329.5 million, or $5.23 per diluted share, compared to $58.4 million, or $0.93 per diluted share, for 2014. GAAP net income attributable to Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc for the fourth quarter of 2015 was $82.8 million, or $1.32 per diluted share, compared to $81.6 million, or $1.30 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2014. Reconciliations of applicable GAAP reported to non-GAAP adjusted information are included in this press release.

2015 Revenues and Product Sales
Total revenues for the year ended December 31, 2015 were $1,324.8 million, an increase of 13% over total revenues of $1,172.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2014. Total revenues for the fourth quarter of 2015 were $340.9 million, an increase of 4% over total revenues of $328.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2014. The increase in total revenues was driven by higher net product sales of Xyrem (sodium oxybate) oral solution. Total revenues include net product sales, royalties and contract revenues.

Net product sales for 2015 and the fourth quarter of 2015 were as follows:
•
Xyrem: 2015 Xyrem net sales increased by 23% to $955.2 million compared to $778.6 million during the prior year. Xyrem net sales increased by 13% to $251.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2015 compared to $222.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2014.

• Erwinaze/Erwinase (asparaginase Erwinia chrysanthemi): 2015 Erwinaze/Erwinase net sales were $203.3 million compared to $199.7 million during the prior year. Erwinaze/Erwinase net sales were $50.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2015 compared to $52.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2014. Product sales volume for the full year and fourth quarter of 2015 increased

compared to the same periods in 2014; however, net sales were negatively impacted by higher chargebacks and rebates and unfavorable foreign currency exchange rates. In the fourth quarter of 2015, the company experienced supply challenges that disrupted the ability to fully supply certain markets.

• Defitelio (defibrotide): 2015 Defitelio/defibrotide net sales were $70.7 million compared to 2014 full year pro forma Defitelio/defibrotide net sales of $73.4 million. Defitelio/defibrotide net sales from the period beginning from the closing of its acquisition of Gentium S.r.l. on January 23, 2014 to December 31, 2014 were $70.5 million. Defitelio/defibrotide net sales were $18.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2015 compared to $19.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2014. Product sales volume for the full year and fourth quarter of 2015 was consistent with the company’s expectations and higher than the same periods in 2014, but net sales were impacted by unfavorable foreign currency exchange rates.

• Prialt (ziconotide) intrathecal infusion: Prialt net sales were $26.4 million in both 2015 and 2014. Prialt net sales were $6.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2015 compared to $10.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2014. Net sales in the fourth quarter of 2014 included shipments to Eisai Co., the European distributor of Prialt.

• Psychiatry products: 2015 net sales of the company’s psychiatry products were $37.1 million compared to $40.9 million in the prior year. Net sales of the company’s psychiatry products were $8.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2015 compared to $8.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2014.

• Other: 2015 net sales of other products were $24.1 million compared to 2014 full year pro forma net sales of other products of $47.0 million. Net sales of other products in the fourth quarter of 2015 were $3.0 million compared to $11.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2014. In March 2015, the company completed the sale of certain products and the related business that the company acquired as part of the acquisition of EUSA Pharma Inc. in 2012.

Tables showing actual net product sales for the three months and year ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 and pro forma net product sales for the year ended December 31, 2014 are included in this press release.

Operating Expenses and Other
Operating expenses for 2015 were $816.6 million compared to $977.3 million for 2014. Operating expenses for 2014 included acquired in-process research and development expenses of $202.6 million. Operating expenses for the fourth quarter of 2015 were $234.3 million compared to $198.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2014. Operating expenses changed over the prior year periods primarily due to the following:

• Cost of product sales for 2015 was $102.5 million compared to $117.4 million for 2014. Cost of product sales for the fourth quarter of 2015 was $24.0 million compared to $28.8 million for the same period in 2014. Gross margin for 2015 was 92.2% compared to 89.9% for 2014. Gross margin for the fourth quarter of 2015 was 92.9% compared to 91.1% for the same period in 2014.

• Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses for 2015 on a GAAP basis were $449.1 million compared to $406.1 million for 2014. SG&A expenses for the fourth quarter of 2015 on a GAAP basis were $125.6 million compared to $105.7 million for the same period in 2014. Adjusted SG&A expenses for 2015 were $355.4 million, or 27% of total revenues, compared to $321.5 million, or 27% of total revenues, for 2014. Adjusted SG&A expenses for the fourth quarter of 2015 were $87.4 million, or 26% of total revenues, compared to $83.5 million, or 25% of total revenues, for the same period in 2014. The increases were primarily due to higher headcount and other expenses resulting from the expansion of the company’s business, except that the increase in GAAP SG&A expenses for the fourth quarter of 2015 compared to the same period in 2014 was primarily due to a one-time charge for settlement of a contract claim originally

asserted against Azur Pharma Public Limited Company (Azur Pharma) prior to the 2012 merger between Azur Pharma and Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

• Research and development (R&D) expenses for 2015 on a GAAP basis were $135.3 million compared to $85.2 million for 2014. R&D expenses for the fourth quarter of 2015 on a GAAP basis were $29.5 million compared to $24.6 million for the same period in 2014. Adjusted R&D expenses for 2015 were $96.7 million, or 7% of total revenues, compared to $71.8 million, or 6% of total revenues, for 2014. Adjusted R&D expenses for the fourth quarter of 2015 were $26.0 million, or 8% of total revenues, compared to $21.2 million, or 6% of total revenues, for the same period in 2014. The increases were primarily due to higher costs for clinical studies and outside services for the development of JZP-110 and line extensions for the company’s existing products, except that the increase in GAAP R&D expenses for full year 2015 compared to the same period in 2014 was primarily due to a $25.0 million milestone payment that was triggered by the acceptance for filing by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the first new drug application (NDA) for defibrotide.

• Acquired in-process research and development expenses of $202.6 million in 2014 primarily related to upfront and milestone payments of $127.0 million made in connection with the acquisition of rights to JZP-110 and an upfront payment of $75.0 million made in connection with the acquisition of rights to defibrotide in the Americas.

• Impairment charges of $31.5 million in 2015 resulted from the termination of the suspended JZP-416 study. Impairment charges of $39.4 million in 2014 related to certain products we sold in March 2015 that we acquired as part of the EUSA acquisition.
Net interest expense in 2015 was $56.9 million compared to $52.7 million for 2014. Net interest expense for the fourth quarter of 2015 was $12.2 million compared to $16.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2014. In June 2015, the company refinanced its existing term loans and revolving credit facility and obtained more favorable interest rates, which reduced interest expense in the second half of 2015.

As of December 31, 2015, cash and cash equivalents were $988.8 million, and the outstanding principal balance of the company’s long-term debt was $1.3 billion. Cash and cash equivalents increased during 2015 primarily due to cash generated by the business.
During 2015, the company repurchased 0.4 million ordinary shares for $61.6 million at an average cost of $150.24 per ordinary share.