On November 1, 2022 Incyte (Nasdaq:INCY) reported that 2022 third quarter financial results, and provides a status update on the Company’s clinical development portfolio (Press release, Incyte, NOV 1, 2022, View Source [SID1234622710]).
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"Additionally, our pipeline is progressing across Oncology and Dermatology, and we continue to execute on our strategy for growth and diversification with multiple updates on key programs expected over the next several months."
"Our total net product revenues grew 20% year over year led by strong Jakafi (ruxolitinib) performance and an increasing contribution from Opzelura (ruxolitinib) cream. Over 62,000 units of Opzelura were shipped in the quarter with growth fueled by both atopic dermatitis and vitiligo. This strong demand, coupled with an expansion of reimbursement coverage, positions Opzelura to become a meaningful long-term growth driver for Incyte," said Hervé Hoppenot, Chief Executive Officer, Incyte. "Additionally, our pipeline is progressing across Oncology and Dermatology, and we continue to execute on our strategy for growth and diversification with multiple updates on key programs expected over the next several months."
Portfolio Updates
MPNs and GVHD – key highlights
LIMBER (Leadership In MPNs and GVHD BEyond Ruxolitinib) program: Key LIMBER development programs, including combination trials of ruxolitinib with parsaclisib, INCB57643 (BET) and INCB00928 (ALK2), are ongoing. Additionally, the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) target action date for once-daily (QD) ruxolitinib extended release (XR) formulation is March 23, 2023.
Axatilimab in chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD): AGAVE-201, a global pivotal Phase 2 trial of axatilimab in patients with cGVHD is ongoing with results expected mid-2023. A Phase 1/2 combination trial of axatilimab with ruxolitinib in patients with newly-diagnosed cGVHD is in preparation and is expected to initiate in the first quarter of 2023.
Other Hematology/Oncology – key highlights
Pemigatinib (Pemazyre): In August, Pemazyre was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as the first and only targeted treatment for myeloid/lymphoid neoplasms (MLNs) with FGFR1 rearrangement. MLNs with FGFR1 rearrangement are extremely rare and aggressive blood cancers and this approval demonstrates Incyte’s commitment to improving and expanding treatments for patients living with rare blood cancers. Phase 2 open-label studies evaluating pemigatinib in glioblastoma and relapsed or refractory advanced non-small cell lung cancer are ongoing.
1 Development of tafasitamab in collaboration with MorphoSys.
2 Clinical collaboration with MorphoSys and Xencor, Inc. to investigate the combination of tafasitamab plus lenalidomide in combination with Xencor’s CD20xCD3 XmAb bispecific antibody, plamotamab.
3 Retifanlimab licensed from MacroGenics.
Inflammation and Autoimmunity (IAI) – key highlights
Dermatology
Opzelura growth coming from both atopic dermatitis (AD) and vitiligo in the U.S.: Over 62,000 units of Opzelura were shipped in the third quarter with positive physician and patient experiences continuing to fuel uptake in AD. The launch in vitiligo is progressing well, contributing to the growth in overall demand. An increasing number of plans are adding Opzelura to formularies, helping to drive net product revenues to $38 million, a growth of 130% versus prior quarter.
Ruxolitinib cream in other indications: Incyte continues to expand the development of ruxolitinib cream into new indications as we seek to maximize the opportunity with Opzelura. Two Phase 2 trials evaluating ruxolitinib cream in lichen planus and lichen sclerosus are in preparation. Lichen planus is a recurrent inflammatory condition affecting the skin and mucosal surfaces and can result in itchy, purple bumps on the skin. Lichen sclerosus is a chronic inflammatory skin disease most commonly affecting women and can result in painful ulcers and intense itching.
Povorcitinib (INCB54707): In August, results from the randomized Phase 2 trial evaluating povorcitinib in patients with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) were presented at the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) 31st Congress. Based on the positive Phase 2 results, Incyte plans to initiate a Phase 3 study in HS by end of this year.
1 Novartis’ rights for ruxolitinib outside of the United States under our Collaboration and License Agreement with Novartis do not include topical administration.
Acquisition of Villaris Therapeutics further complements dermatology portfolio: In October, Incyte announced an agreement to acquire Villaris Therapeutics, an asset-centric biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel antibody therapeutics for vitiligo. Its lead asset, auremolimab (VM6) is a novel, ultra-humanized anti-IL-15Rβ monoclonal antibody designed to target and deplete autoreactive resident memory T cells (TRM) that has demonstrated efficacy as a treatment for vitiligo in preclinical models. Incyte will receive exclusive global rights to develop and commercialize auremolimab for all uses, including in vitiligo and other autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. IND-enabling studies are currently underway, and clinical development for auremolimab is expected to begin in 2023. The agreement is subject to clearance by the U.S. antitrust authorities under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act and will become effective as soon as this condition has been met.
Discovery and early development – key highlights
Incyte’s portfolio of other earlier-stage clinical candidates is included below.
1 Jakavi (ruxolitinib) licensed to Novartis ex-US.
2 Worldwide rights to baricitinib licensed to Lilly: approved as Olumiant in multiple territories globally for certain patients with moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis; approved as Olumiant in EU and Japan for certain patients with atopic dermatitis.
3 Worldwide rights to capmatinib licensed to Novartis.
2022 Third Quarter Financial Results
The financial measures presented in this press release for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 have been prepared by the Company in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP"), unless otherwise identified as a Non-GAAP financial measure. Management believes that Non-GAAP information is useful for investors, when considered in conjunction with Incyte’s GAAP disclosures. Management uses such information internally and externally for establishing budgets, operating goals and financial planning purposes. These metrics are also used to manage the Company’s business and monitor performance. The Company adjusts, where appropriate, for expenses in order to reflect the Company’s core operations. The Company believes these adjustments are useful to investors by providing an enhanced understanding of the financial performance of the Company’s core operations. The metrics have been adopted to align the Company with disclosures provided by industry peers.
Non-GAAP information is not prepared under a comprehensive set of accounting rules and should only be used in conjunction with and to supplement Incyte’s operating results as reported under GAAP. Non-GAAP measures may be defined and calculated differently by other companies in our industry.
As changes in exchange rates are an important factor in understanding period-to-period comparisons, Management believes the presentation of certain revenue results on a constant currency basis in addition to reported results helps improve investors’ ability to understand its operating results and evaluate its performance in comparison to prior periods. Constant currency information compares results between periods as if exchange rates had remained constant period over period. The Company calculates constant currency by calculating current year results using prior year foreign currency exchange rates and generally refers to such amounts calculated on a constant currency basis as excluding the impact of foreign exchange or being on a constant currency basis. These results should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, results reported in accordance with GAAP. Results on a constant currency basis, as the Company presents them, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies and are not measures of performance presented in accordance with GAAP.
1.Percentage change in constant currency is calculated using 2021 foreign exchange rates to recalculate 2022 results.
Product and Royalty Revenues Product and royalty revenues for the quarter ended September 30, 2022 increased over the prior year comparative period as a result of net product revenues increasing 20% year-over-year, primarily driven by increases in Jakafi and Opzelura net product revenues. Jakafi net product revenues for the quarter ended September 30, 2022 increased 13% over the prior year comparative period, primarily driven by growth in patient demand across all indications. Jakavi and Olumiant royalties for the quarter were impacted by unfavorable changes in foreign currency exchange rates, while Olumiant royalties were also impacted by a decrease in net product sales of Olumiant for use as a treatment for COVID-19 and a one-time deduction related to securing intellectual property rights.
1 Non-GAAP cost of product revenues excludes the amortization of licensed intellectual property for Iclusig relating to the acquisition of the European business of ARIAD Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and the cost of stock-based compensation.
2 Non-GAAP research and development expenses exclude the cost of stock-based compensation.
3 Non-GAAP selling, general and administrative expenses exclude the cost of stock-based compensation and legal settlements.
4 Non-GAAP (gain) loss on change in fair value of acquisition-related contingent consideration is null.
Research and development expenses GAAP and Non-GAAP research and development expense for the quarter ended September 30, 2022 increased 15% and 16%, respectively, compared to the same period in 2021 primarily due to continued investment in our late stage development assets and certain upfront and milestone payments. Excluding the $33.5 million of upfront and milestone payments for the quarter ended September 30, 2022, GAAP and Non-GAAP research and development expense increased approximately 6% and 7%, respectively, compared to the same period in 2021.
Selling, general and administrative expenses GAAP and Non-GAAP selling, general and administrative expenses for the quarter ended September 30, 2022 increased 40% and 47%, respectively, compared to the same period in 2021, primarily due to expenses related to our dermatology commercial organization and activities to support the launch of Opzelura for the treatments of atopic dermatitis and vitiligo.
Other Financial Information
Operating income GAAP operating income for the quarter ended September 30, 2022 decreased compared to the same period in 2021, primarily due to an increase in operating expenses partially offset by growth in net product revenues.
Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities position As of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities totaled $3.0 billion and $2.3 billion, respectively.
2022 Financial Guidance
Incyte is tightening its full year 2022 guidance for Jakafi net product revenues to reflect strong performance of Jakafi and is revising the guidance range for other Hematology/Oncology net product revenues to reflect unfavorable changes in foreign currency exchange rates. In addition, the Company is reaffirming its research and development guidance, which now also includes the upfront payment to Villaris, anticipated in the fourth quarter, and its selling, general and administrative expense guidance. Guidance does not include revenue from any potential new product launches or the impact of any potential future strategic transactions. Incyte’s updated guidance is summarized below.
1Pemazyre in the U.S., EU and Japan and Iclusig and Minjuvi in the EU.
2Adjusted to exclude the amortization of licensed intellectual property for Iclusig relating to the acquisition of the European business of ARIAD Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and the estimated cost of stock-based compensation.
3 Adjusted to exclude the estimated cost of stock-based compensation.
Conference Call and Webcast Information
Incyte will hold a conference call and webcast this morning at 8:00 a.m. ET. To access the conference call, please dial 877-407-3042 for domestic callers or 201-389-0864 for international callers. When prompted, provide the conference identification number, 13733379.
If you are unable to participate, a replay of the conference call will be available for 90 days. The replay dial-in number for the United States is 877-660-6853 and the dial-in number for international callers is 201-612-7415. To access the replay you will need the conference identification number, 13733379.
The conference call will also be webcast live and can be accessed at investor.incyte.com.