On March 1, 2021 Athenex, Inc., (NASDAQ: ATNX), a global biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, development, and commercialization of novel therapies for the treatment of cancer and related conditions, reported a corporate and financial update for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2020 (Press release, Athenex, MAR 1, 2021, View Source [SID1234575859]).
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Oral Paclitaxel Plus Encequidar Update
As announced by Athenex in a separate press release this morning, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a complete response letter (CRL) for the Company’s New Drug Application (NDA) for oral paclitaxel and encequidar for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer. In the CRL, the FDA expressed the following:
Concerns about safety risks associated with increase in neutropenia-related sequelae
Concerns regarding the primary endpoint assessment conducted by the Blinded Independent Central Review (BICR)
Recommendation that Athenex conduct a new clinical trial in a patient population with metastatic breast cancer representative of the population in the U.S.
"We are surprised and disappointed by the FDA’s decision to issue a complete response letter for oral paclitaxel and encequidar," said Johnson Lau, Chief Executive Officer of Athenex. "Based on the clinical benefits demonstrated by the Phase III trial results, we are committed to exploring our available options to obtain approval for oral paclitaxel and encequidar. Additionally, we will undertake a thorough review of our organization to best position ourselves to create value for all stakeholders as we move forward."
Fourth Quarter 2020 and Recent Business Updates
Clinical Programs:
Oral Paclitaxel Plus Encequidar for Metastatic Breast Cancer
Athenex received a Complete Response Letter from the FDA for the NDA for oral paclitaxel for metastatic breast cancer
On December 9, 2020, the Company presented four abstracts associated with oral paclitaxel plus encequidar for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer and angiosarcoma at the 2020 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium
Klisyri for Actinic Keratosis
On December 14, 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Klisyri (tirbanibulin), 1% for the treatment of actinic keratosis of the face or scalp
In February 2021, the New England Journal of Medicine published Phase 3 trial results on the efficacy and safety of tirbanibulin ointment for the topical treatment of actinic keratosis of the face or scalp
Almirall, S.A. (BLM: ALM), Athenex’s U.S. partner, launched Klisyri in the U.S. on February 18, 2021
Commercial Business:
Product sales growth in the fourth quarter were primarily driven by sales of specialty pharmaceutical products used to treat patients hospitalized with COVID-19
Athenex Pharmaceutical Division (APD) currently markets a total of 34 products with 63 SKUs
Athenex Pharma Solutions (APS) currently markets 6 products with 19 SKUs
Key Anticipated Future Milestones
Request a meeting with the FDA to discuss and align on next steps to obtain approval for oral paclitaxel plus encequidar in metastatic breast cancer
Identify and undertake appropriate adjustments for the company pending the outcome of the FDA meeting
Begin expansion portion of the oral paclitaxel plus pembrolizumab Phase I trial
Present the oral paclitaxel plus pembrolizumab Phase I trial data at a medical conference in 2021
Anticipate EMA approval of Klisyri in 2021
TCR-T NY-ESO-1 IRB approval and initiate P1 trial enrollment in 1H 2021
Anticipate results from the I-SPY 2 trial of oral paclitaxel plus anti PD-1 in 2022
Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2020 Financial Highlights
Product sales for the three months ended December 31, 2020 were $21.8 million, up from $14.1 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019, which represents a 54% increase. Product sales for the full year in 2020 were $105.3 million, up from $80.5 million for the full year in 2019, which represents a 31% increase. The increase was primarily driven by the impact of the global health pandemic which led to the increased demand for COVID-19 related drugs, and the launch of additional products, resulting in a significant increase in specialty product sales. The product sales increase was partially offset by a decrease in API and 503B products sales, which was attributable to the reduced production and external sales of API, and the discontinued vasopressin sales.
Collaboration and license revenue for the three months and year ended December 31, 2020 were $28 thousand and $39.1 million, respectively, compared to $20.3 million and $20.7 million, respectively, for the same periods in 2019. The collaboration and license revenue recognized in the full year of 2020 was primarily attributable to the 2019 Xiangxue License Agreement, while the revenue in the full year of 2019 was primarily attributable to a milestone achieved pursuant to the license agreement entered with Almirall in December 2017.
Total revenues for the three months and year ended December 31, 2020 were $21.8 million and $144.4 million, respectively, compared to $34.4 million and $101.2 million, respectively, for the same periods in 2019.
Cost of sales totaled $18.3 million for the three months ended December 31, 2020, an increase of 16%, as compared to $15.7 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019. Cost of sales totaled $95.4 million for the full year in 2020, an increase of 37%, as compared to $69.6 million for the full year in 2019. The increase in cost of specialty product sales was generally in-line with the increase in revenue, and we continued to incur fixed costs despite decreased production at our API and 503B facilities. in the fourth quarter, the increase in product sales outpaced that of cost of sales, primarily as a result of an uptake in the blended product margin of our specialty product portfolio.
Research & Development (R&D) expenses totaled $18.3 million for the three months ended December 31, 2020, a decrease of 16%, as compared to $21.8 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019. R&D expenses totaled $75.9 million for the full year in 2020, a decrease of 10%, as compared to $84.4 million for the full year in 2019. This was primarily attributable to a decrease in clinical operations expenses, drug development costs for specialty products and certain licensing costs. The decrease in R&D expenses in the full year of 2020 was partially offset by an increase in medical affairs expenses related to preparing our proprietary drugs for commercialization, API development costs, and expenses related to the expansion of our R&D teams in Latin America and Taiwan.
Selling, General & Administrative (SG&A) expenses totaled $31.4 million for the three months ended December 31, 2020, an increase of 73%, as compared to $18.1 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019. SG&A expenses totaled $96.9 million for the full year in 2020, an increase of 45%, as compared to $66.7 million for the full year in 2019. This was primarily attributable to an increase in commercial preparations costs associated with the possible approval of Oral Paclitaxel, expanded work forces at our manufacturing facilities and an increase in general and administrative costs related to professional service fees, IT costs, insurance and other operational costs. In addition, in the three months ended December 31, 2020, we recorded a provision for a potential credit loss of $8.9 million related to an outstanding balance due from Xiangxue and associated expenses resulting from currency conversion. This provision is related to the license revenue we recognized in the third quarter of 2020. As of February 28, 2021, we have received $1.5 million from Xiangxue.
Interest expense totaled $4.4 million and $1.7 million for the three months ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Interest expense totaled $11.2 million and $7.0 million for the full year in 2020 and 2019, respectively. In June 2020, we refinanced the $50 million long-term debt with Perceptive, with an up to $225 million long-term credit facility with Oaktree. In the three months ended December 31, 2020, we received net proceeds of $24.25 million from the Oaktree facility upon achievement of the tirbanibulin FDA approval milestone. As of December 31, 2020, we had drawn down $150 million, out of the $225 million Oaktree facility.
We recognized a $7.2 million loss on the extinguishment of debt related to the termination of the senior secured loan agreement with Perceptive and a $3.0 million loss on the partial extinguishment of debt related to the assignment of a portion of the senior secured loan from Oaktree’s co-investors to Sagard during the year ended December 31, 2020. We did not incur expenses of similar nature in 2019.
For the full year in 2020, we incurred income tax expense of $4.1 million, compared to $0.9 million for the same period in 2019. The increase was primarily attributable to foreign income tax withholdings on our revenue earned under our out-license arrangements.
Net losses attributable to Athenex for the three months and year ended December 31, 2020 were $49.5 million and $146.2 million, respectively, or ($0.53) and ($1.72) per diluted share, respectively, as compared to a net loss of $21.7 million and $123.7 million, or ($0.28) and ($1.67) per diluted share, for the same periods in 2019. Excluding the credit loss provision of $8.9 million during the three months ended December 31, 2020, net loss attributable to Athenex for the quarter was $40.6 million or ($0.43) per diluted share. Excluding the one-time debt extinguishment expenses of $10.3 million and the $8.9 million credit loss provision during the year ended December 31, 2020, net loss attributable to Athenex for the full year in 2020 was $127.0 million, or ($1.49) per diluted share.
As of December 31, 2020, the Company had cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash of $86.1 million and short-term investments of $138.6 million.
2021 Financial Guidance
In terms of product sales guidance, the Company is limiting financial guidance to only the existing product portfolio, which excludes any proprietary products, until meaningful sales data from the proprietary product Klisyri becomes available. In 2020, the Company recorded a significant amount of revenues from international customers as a result of the global pandemic. However, the Company does not see these revenues as recurring in nature, while it has been continuing to expand its product portfolio. The Company currently expects its product sales in 2021, excluding any royalties from Klisyri, to be in line with 2020 levels.
The Company expects that its cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and short-term investments as of December 31, 2020, will enable it to meet its current operational liquidity needs and fund operations into the second quarter of 2022. The Company’s estimates are based on relevant conditions that are known and reasonably knowable at the date of these consolidated financial statements being available for issuance, and are subject to change due to changes in business, industry or macroeconomic conditions. The cash runway described above does not reflect additional funding available through the existing Senior Credit Agreement with Oaktree, or the Revenue Interest Financing Agreement with Sagard.
Conference Call and Webcast Information
Athenex will host a conference call and live audio webcast today, Monday, March 1, 2021, before the market open, at 8:00 am Eastern Time to discuss the financial results and provide a business update.
To participate in the call, dial (877) 407-0784 (domestic) or (201) 689-8560 (international) fifteen minutes before the conference call begins and reference the conference passcode 13715950. The live conference call and replay can also be accessed by audio webcast here and also on the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website, located at View Source