On November 2, 2021 Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN) reported financial results for the third quarter of 2021 (Press release, Amgen, NOV 2, 2021, View Source [SID1234594097]). Key results include:
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Total revenues increased 4% to $6.7 billion in comparison to the third quarter of 2020, driven by higher unit demand, partially offset by lower net selling prices.
Product sales increased 4% globally, driven by double-digit volume growth across a number of our products, including Prolia (denosumab), EVENITY (romosozumab-aqqg), Repatha (evolocumab) and MVASI (bevacizumab-awwb).
GAAP earnings per share (EPS) decreased 3% to $3.31 driven by a $400 million licensing-related expense from our collaboration with Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd. (Kyowa Kirin), partially offset by increased revenues.
GAAP operating income decreased 3% to $2.4 billion, and GAAP operating margin decreased 2.6 percentage points to 37.6%.
Non-GAAP EPS increased 11% to $4.67 driven by increased revenues and the impact of fewer weighted average shares outstanding. Total non-GAAP operating expenses increased less than 1%.
Non-GAAP operating income increased 8% to $3.5 billion, and non-GAAP operating margin increased 2.5 percentage points to 54.6%.
The Company generated $2.2 billion of free cash flow in the third quarter versus $3.2 billion in the third quarter of 2020, driven by higher collections in the third quarter of 2020 from customers who had been granted extended payment terms due to COVID-19. This increase was partially offset by the timing of tax payments in the third quarter of 2020.
2021 total revenues guidance of $25.8-$26.2 billion; EPS guidance of $9.55-$10.21 on a GAAP basis and $16.50-$17.10 on a non-GAAP basis.
"Our newest product, LUMAKRAS, a first-in-class lung cancer treatment, is off to a strong start and our robust pipeline of potential new medicines across all stages of development sets us up well to drive growth over the long term," said Robert A. Bradway, chairman and chief executive officer. "We achieved solid growth in the quarter as our medicines reached an increasing number of patients around the world."
References in this release to "non-GAAP" measures, measures presented "on a non-GAAP basis" and to "free cash flow" (computed by subtracting capital expenditures from operating cash flow) refer to non-GAAP financial measures. Adjustments to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures and other items are presented on the attached reconciliations. For comparability of results to the prior year, non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP EPS amounts for 2020 have been revised to reflect the update to our non-GAAP policy that excludes gains and losses on certain equity investments. Refer to Non-GAAP Financial Measures below for further discussion.
Product Sales Performance
Total product sales increased 4% for the third quarter of 2021 versus the third quarter of 2020. Unit volumes grew 8% while net selling price declined 7%. In addition, this quarter includes $147 million of favorable changes to estimated sales deductions related to prior periods. In the third quarter last year, the favorable estimated sales deductions were $36 million, resulting in a $111 million year-over-year benefit in this quarter.
We continue to see gradual recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. As we progressed through the third quarter, we saw improvement in patient visits and diagnoses. Healthcare professional activity also improved during the first half of 2021 and stabilized during the third quarter. Overall, the gap in diagnosis visits over the course of the pandemic has suppressed the number of new patients starting treatment, which we expect will continue to impact our business for the remainder of the year.
General Medicine
Prolia sales increased 15% year-over-year for the third quarter, driven by 13% volume growth. New and repeat patient visits continued to improve as osteoporosis diagnosis rates in the U.S. reached over 90% of pre-COVID levels during the quarter.
EVENITY sales increased 153% year-over-year to a record $149 million for the third quarter, primarily driven by 118% volume growth. U.S. sales grew 74% year-over-year, driven by 65% volume growth as we continued to focus on increasing the number of new patients starting treatment. Outside the U.S., year-over-year volume growth was strong, amplified by inventory drawdowns by our partner Astellas during the third quarter of 2020.
Repatha sales increased 33% year-over-year for the third quarter, primarily driven by 42% volume growth partially offset by lower net selling price. In the U.S., volumes grew 64% year-over-year, and outside the U.S., volumes grew 24% year-over-year. Volume growth in the quarter was partially offset by lower net selling price, primarily as a result of an increase in the number of U.S. Medicare Part D patients receiving Repatha and entering the coverage gap, the so-called "donut hole." The impact of the donut hole is more pronounced in the second half of the year as patients reach their plan deductibles.
Aimovig (erenumab-aooe) sales decreased 25% year-over-year for the third quarter, driven by lower net selling price.
Inflammation
Otezla (apremilast) sales increased 13% year-over-year for the third quarter. Volume grew 7% partially offset by lower net selling price. Sales in the quarter benefited from an $18 million favorable adjustment to estimated sales deductions, compared to a $24 million unfavorable adjustment in the third quarter last year, resulting in an 8% year-over-year benefit. In the U.S., Otezla continued to maintain first-line share leadership in psoriasis. Looking forward, we are preparing for the anticipated U.S. approval of the mild-to-moderate psoriasis indication.
Enbrel (etanercept) sales decreased 3% year-over-year for the third quarter, driven by declines in volume, inventory and net selling price. Sales in the quarter benefited from a $114 million favorable adjustment to estimated sales deductions, compared to a $84 million favorable adjustment in the third quarter last year, resulting in a 2% year-over-year benefit. Year-over-year volume declined by 2%, representing the second consecutive quarter of slowing volume declines. We expect the trend of year-over-year net selling price declines to continue.
AMGEVITA (adalimumab) sales increased 39% year-over-year for the third quarter, driven by 73% volume growth partially offset by lower net selling price. AMGEVITA continues to be the most prescribed adalimumab biosimilar in Europe.
Hematology-Oncology
LUMAKRAS/LUMYKRAS (sotorasib) generated $36 million of sales in the quarter and cumulative sales of $45 million through the end of the third quarter. LUMAKRAS has been prescribed by over 500 physicians in both academic and community settings. A majority of the top clinical laboratories have now updated their reports to reflect KRAS G12C as an actionable mutation and ~75% of patients with NSCLC are now being tested by their oncologists at diagnosis for the KRAS G12C mutation.
KYPROLIS (carfilzomib) sales increased 13% year-over-year for the third quarter, driven by 10% volume growth supported by physician adoption of KYPROLIS use in combination with DARZALEX (daratumumab) plus dexamethasone (DKd).
XGEVA (denosumab) sales increased 7% year-over-year for the third quarter, driven by 9% volume growth partially offset by lower net selling price.
Vectibix (panitumumab) sales increased 4% year-over-year for the third quarter, driven by 8% volume growth as Vectibix remains the EGFR inhibitor of choice across all lines of therapy.
Nplate (romiplostim) sales increased 29% year-over-year for the third quarter, primarily driven by 14% volume growth.
BLINCYTO (blinatumomab) sales increased 40% year-over-year for the third quarter, primarily driven by 30% volume growth as we continue to see broad adoption in the community hospital setting.
MVASI sales increased 19% year-over-year for the third quarter, driven by 54% volume growth partially offset by lower net selling price. In the U.S., MVASI continues to hold leading volume share with 49% of the bevacizumab segment in the quarter. We expect that continued worldwide volume growth from MVASI will be offset by declines in net selling price due to increased competition.
KANJINTI (trastuzumab-anns) sales decreased 31% year-over-year for the third quarter, driven by lower net selling price, partially offset by 18% volume growth. In the U.S., KANJINTI continues to hold leading volume share with 41% of the trastuzumab segment in the quarter. We expect net selling price to continue to decline as a result of increased competition.
Established Products
Total sales of our established products, which include Neulasta (pegfilgrastim), NEUPOGEN (filgrastim), EPOGEN (epoetin alfa), Aranesp (darbepotein alfa), Parsabiv (etelcalcetide), and Sensipar/Mimpara (cinacalcet), decreased 21% year-over-year for the third quarter, primarily driven by volume declines and lower net selling price. Going forward, we expect increased competition to result in additional net price and volume erosion across this portfolio of products.
Product Sales Detail by Product and Geographic Region
Operating Expense, Operating Margin and Tax Rate Analysis
On a GAAP basis:
Total Operating Expenses increased 9% primarily driven by a licensing-related expense from our recent collaboration with Kyowa Kirin. Cost of Sales margin decreased 0.1 percentage points primarily due to lower amortization expense from acquisition-related assets, offset by product mix. Research & Development (R&D) expenses increased 34% primarily due to a licensing-related expense from our collaboration with Kyowa Kirin, partially offset by lower late-stage program support. Selling, General & Administrative (SG&A) expenses decreased 3%.
Operating Margin as a percentage of product sales decreased 2.6 percentage points to 37.6%.
Tax Rate increased 4.2 percentage points primarily driven by the non-deductible acquired IPR&D expense arising from the acquisition of Five Prime Therapeutics.
On a non-GAAP basis:
Total Operating Expenses increased less than 1%. Cost of Sales margin increased 1.5 percentage points primarily due to product mix, including COVID-19 antibody shipments to Lilly that began last quarter. R&D expenses decreased 4% primarily due to lower late-stage program support. SG&A expenses decreased 5%.
Operating Margin as a percentage of product sales increased 2.5 percentage points to 54.6%.
Tax Rate increased 0.5 percentage points primarily driven by a prior year favorable item partially offset by a change in earnings mix.
Cash Flow and Balance Sheet
The Company generated $2.2 billion of free cash flow in the third quarter of 2021 versus $3.2 billion in the third quarter of 2020, driven by higher collections in the third quarter of 2020 from customers who had been granted extended payment terms due to COVID-19. This increase was partially offset by the timing of tax payments in the third quarter of 2020.
The Company’s third quarter 2021 dividend of $1.76 per share was declared on July 30, 2021, and was paid on September 8, 2021, to all stockholders of record as of August 17, 2021, representing a 10% increase from 2020.
During the third quarter, the Company repurchased 4.6 million shares of common stock at a total cost of $1.1 billion. At the end of the third quarter, the Company had $2.9 billion authorization remaining under its stock repurchase program. In October 2021, the Board of Directors increased the amount authorized under our stock repurchase program by an additional $4.5 billion.
Cash and investments totaled $12.9 billion and debt outstanding totaled $37.6 billion as of September 30, 2021.
2021 Guidance
For the full year 2021, the Company now expects:
Total revenues in the range of $25.8 billion to $26.2 billion.
On a GAAP basis, EPS in the range of $9.55 to $10.21 and a tax rate in the range of 12.5% to 14.0%.
On a non-GAAP basis, EPS in the range of $16.50 to $17.10 and a tax rate in the range of 13.0% to 14.0%.
Capital expenditures to be approximately $900 million.
Share repurchases at the upper end of $3.0 billion to $5.0 billion range.
Third Quarter Product and Pipeline Update
The Company provided the following updates on selected product and pipeline programs:
LUMAKRAS/LUMYKRAS
In September, marketing authorizations were granted for LUMYKRAS in Great Britain and LUMAKRAS in Canada for the treatment of second-line patients with KRAS G12C-mutated, advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Regulatory reviews continue in Europe, Japan and other jurisdictions.
In September, data from LUMAKRAS in combination with Vectibix in patients with advanced KRAS G12C-mutated colorectal cancer (CRC) were presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology Congress. A Phase 3 study of LUMAKRAS in combination with Vectibix in third-line colorectal cancer is expected to initiate in Q4 2021.
In September, data from the Phase 1/2 CodeBreaK 100 monotherapy study in advanced KRAS G12C-mutated NSCLC, including biomarker analyses and post hoc analyses of efficacy and safety in patients with stable brain metastases, were presented at the World Conference on Lung Cancer. Enrollment continues in a cohort of patients with active brain metastases in the CodeBreaK 101 study.
In October, data from cohorts exploring LUMAKRAS in combination with trematinib, a mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase inhibitor, and LUMAKRAS in combination with afatinib, an oral epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor, were presented at the AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper)-NCI-EORTC 2021 Virtual AACR-NCI-EORTC (Free AACR-NCI-EORTC Whitepaper) International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics (EORTC-NCI-AACR) (Free ASGCT Whitepaper) (Free EORTC-NCI-AACR Whitepaper).
A Phase 2 study has initiated in first-line patients with KRAS G12C-mutated NSCLC whose tumors express serine/threonine kinase 11 (STK11) mutations and/or less than 1% programmed death-ligand 1.
Top-line results from the event-driven, confirmatory Phase 3 study comparing LUMAKRAS to docetaxel in patients with KRAS G12C-mutated advanced NSCLC are expected in H1 2022.
Top-line results from the Phase 2 monotherapy study in patients with KRAS G12C-mutated solid tumors other than NSCLC and CRC are expected in H1 2022.
Initial data from cohorts exploring LUMAKRAS in combination with the anti-programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) antibody pembrolizumab and LUMAKRAS in combination with the Src homology-2 domain-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase-2 (SHP2) inhibitor RMC-4630 from Revolution Medicines are expected to be presented in H1 2022.
BLINCYTO
A Phase 3 study of BLINCYTO alternating with low-intensity chemotherapy versus standard of care for older adults with newly diagnosed Philadelphia-negative B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia has initiated.
Bemarituzumab
The Phase 3 program has initiated for bemarituzumab, a fibroblast growth factor receptor 2b antibody, in first-line advanced gastric and gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma. The program will explore bemarituzumab in combination with either backbone chemotherapy or chemotherapy plus a checkpoint inhibitor.
A Phase 1b signal-seeking study of bemarituzumab alone and in combination with chemotherapy for the treatment of advanced, refractory, squamous NSCLC is expected to initiate by Q1 2022. Planning is underway for signal-seeking studies in other solid tumors.
Acapatamab (AMG 160)
Data continue to mature in a dose-expansion cohort of acapatamab, a half-life extended (HLE) BiTE molecule targeting prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) for the treatment of patients with metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Enrollment of acapatamab is ongoing in cohorts with reduced levels of monitoring during cycle one to explore outpatient administration.
An acapatamab dose-escalation study is enrolling patients with NSCLC tumors expressing PSMA.
A master protocol evaluating combinations of acapatamab with AMG 404, an anti-PD-1 antibody, or the novel hormone therapies enzalutamide or abiraterone, continues to enroll patients with earlier-line mCRPC.
AMG 340 (formerly TNB-585)
A Phase 1 dose-escalation study of AMG 340, a UniAb bispecific T-cell engager targeting PSMA, is enrolling patients with mCRPC.
Tarlatamab (AMG 757)
Initiation of a potentially pivotal Phase 2 study for tarlatamab, an HLE BiTE molecule targeting delta-like ligand 3 (DLL3), in patients with relapsed or refractory small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is planned for Q4 2021.
A Phase 1b dose-expansion cohort of tarlatamab in patients with SCLC is ongoing.
A Phase 1b study of tarlatamab continues to enroll patients with neuroendocrine prostate cancer.
A Phase 1b study of tarlatamab in combination with AMG 404 has initiated for patients with SCLC.
Tezepelumab
Tezepelumab, a thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) antibody, is under Priority Review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for severe asthma with a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) target date in Q1 2022. Regulatory reviews are also underway in the EU, Japan, and other jurisdictions.
A Phase 3 study continues to enroll patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps.
A Phase 2b study continues to enroll patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria.
A Phase 2 study continues to enroll patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Tezepelumab was granted Orphan Drug Designation by the FDA for the treatment of eosinophilic esophagitis.
Otezla
The FDA review of Otezla for the treatment of adults with mild-to-moderate plaque psoriasis continues to progress, with a PDUFA target action date of December 19, 2021.
In August, China’s National Medical Products Administration approved Otezla for the treatment of adult patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis who are candidates for phototherapy or systemic therapy.
Phase 3 initiation for the treatment of Japanese patients with palmoplantar pustulosis is expected to begin in H1 2022.
AMG 451 / KHK4083
In October, positive results from the Phase 2b study of AMG 451, an anti-OX40 monoclonal antibody for the treatment of atopic dermatitis, were presented at the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology 30th Virtual Congress. Phase 3 development is expected to begin in H1 2022.
Biomarker analyses from the Phase 2 atopic dermatitis study will be presented at the Inflammatory Skin Disease Summit on November 4, 2021.
Rozibafusp alfa (AMG 570)
A Phase 2b study of rozibafusp alfa, a multispecific antibody-peptide conjugate that simultaneously blocks inducible T-cell costimulatory ligand (ICOSL) and B-cell activating factor (BAFF) activity, continues to enroll patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
Efavaleukin alfa (AMG 592)
A Phase 2b study of efavaleukin alfa, an interleukin-2 mutein Fc fusion protein, continues to enroll patients with SLE.
Data from a Phase 1b study in patients with SLE will be presented at the American College of Rheumatology Convergence 2021 on November 9, 2021.
A Phase 2 study of efavaleukin alfa in patients with ulcerative colitis has initiated.
AMG 714 / PRV-015
A Phase 2b study of AMG 714, a monoclonal antibody that binds interleukin-15, continues to enroll patients with non-responsive celiac disease.
Repatha
In September, the FDA approved Repatha as an adjunct to diet and other low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)-lowering therapies for the treatment of pediatric patients aged 10 years and older with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) to reduce LDL-C. The FDA also expanded the homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH) indication to patients aged 10 years and older.
In October, the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency adopted a positive opinion recommending an update to the Marketing Authorization for Repatha for the treatment of pediatric patients aged 10 years and older with HeFH, and the expansion of treatment for pediatric HoFH patients aged 10 years and older.
A Phase 3 cardiovascular outcomes study (VESALIUS-CV) continues to enroll patients at high cardiovascular risk without prior myocardial infarction or stroke.
Olpasiran (AMG 890)
Results from a Phase 2 study of olpasiran, a lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) small interfering RNA molecule, in patients with elevated Lp(a) are expected in H1 2022 with publication expected in H2 2022.
Biosimilars
A Phase 3 study of ABP 938, an investigational biosimilar to EYLEA (aflibercept) continues to enroll patients, with data expected in 2022.
Phase 3 studies of ABP 654, an investigational biosimilar to STELARA (ustekinumab), and ABP 959, an investigational biosimilar to SOLIRIS (eculizumab), are ongoing, with data expected in 2022.
Phase 3 studies to support an interchangeability designation in the U.S. for ABP 654 and AMJEVITA (adalimumab-atto) are enrolling patients.
Amgenpipeline.com
A listing of additional ongoing clinical programs can be found at Amgenpipeline.com
Tezepelumab is being developed in collaboration with AstraZeneca
AMG 451 (also known as KHK4083) is being developed in collaboration with Kyowa Kirin
AMG 714 (also known as PRV-015) is being developed in collaboration with Provention Bio
DARZALEX and STELARA are a registered trademarks of Janssen Pharmaceutica NV
EYLEA is a registered trademark of Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
SOLIRIS is a registered trademark of Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.