On August 4, 2022 Aurinia Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: AUPH) (Aurinia or the Company) reported its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2022 (Press release, Aurinia Pharmaceuticals, AUG 4, 2022, View Source [SID1234617587]). Amounts, unless specified otherwise, are expressed in U.S. dollars.

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Second Quarter 2022 and Recent Highlights & Upcoming Milestones

Net product revenues were $28.2 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2022, compared to $6.6 million for the same period ended June 30, 2021.
Aurinia added 409 patient start forms (PSFs) during the second quarter 2022, as compared to 415 in the second quarter of 2021. As of Friday, July 29, 2022, the Company recorded 981 total PSFs since January 1, 2022.
PSF conversion rates after 90 days and confirmed patient access remain at peak levels since launch.
There were approximately 1,274 patients on LUPKYNIS therapy at June 30, 2022, compared with 1,071 at March 31, 2022.
At 6 months post-treatment-start, an average of approximately 70% of patients remain on treatment; and at 9 months, approximately 60% of patients are still on treatment.
Received positive CHMP opinion for LUPKYNIS (voclosporin) for the treatment of adults with active lupus nephritis in Europe. Regulatory review of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) marketing authorization application (MAA) remains on track with a European Commission (EC) approval decision expected by the end of the third quarter of 2022.
The first presentations of final AURORA 2 continuation study data were presented at the following medical meetings:
59th European Renal Association (ERA) Congress;
the European Congress of Rheumatology;
the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR); and,
Submission of a manuscript with the full results is expected in the second half of 2022.
Recruitment of patients and initiation of new sites into both the VOCAL pediatric study and the ENLIGHT-LN registry continue as planned.
The Company received notice regarding the U.S. Patent Office (USPTO) Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) decision to institute trial on the Inter Partes review (IPR) filed by Sun Pharmaceuticals, directed at U.S. Patent No. 10,286,036. This patent is related to the LUPKYNIS dosing protocol for lupus nephritis. A determination on patentability, relative to the IPR, is expected on or prior to July 26, 2023.
Financial Results for the Quarter and Six Months Ended June 30, 2022

Total net revenue was $28.2 million and $6.6 million for the quarters ended June 30, 2022 and June 30, 2021, respectively. Total net revenue was $49.8 million and $7.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022 and June 30, 2021, respectively. Our net revenues primarily consisted of product revenue, net of adjustments, for LUPKYNIS following FDA approval in late January 2021. Revenue growth is attributed to further progress in the launch of LUPKYNIS, driven by further penetration in the lupus nephritis market coupled with improvements in a number of key revenue driving metrics as noted above. No product sales commenced and no product marketing was permitted prior to January 22, 2021.

Total cost of sales and operating expenses for the quarters ended June 30, 2022 and June 30, 2021 were $64.2 million and $53.8 million, respectively. Total cost of sales and operating expenses were $123.7 million and $105.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022 and June 30, 2021, respectively. Further breakdown of operating expenses drivers and fluctuations are highlighted in the following paragraphs.

Cost of sales were $1.6 million and $0.3 million for the quarters ended June 30, 2022 and June 30, 2021, respectively. Cost of sales were $1.9 million and $0.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022 and June 30, 2021, respectively. The increase for both periods was primarily due to an increase in product revenue coupled with safety stock reserves.

Gross margin for the quarters ended June 30, 2022 and June 30, 2021 was approximately 94% and 95% respectively. Gross margin for the six months ended June 30, 2022 and June 30, 2021 was approximately 96% and 95% respectively.

Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses, inclusive of share-based compensation, were $51.5 million and $44.3 million for the quarters ended June 30, 2022 and June 30, 2021, respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2022 and June 30, 2021, SG&A expenses, inclusive of share-based compensation, were $96.7 million and $84.1 million, respectively. The primary drivers for the increase for both periods ended June 30, 2022 as compared to June 30, 2021 were an increase in share-based compensation expense, corporate legal matters and increased investment in infrastructure to support the commercialization of LUPKYNIS.

Non-cash SG&A share-based compensation expense included above for the quarters ended June 30, 2022 and June 30, 2021 was $8.9 million and $6.5 million, respectively. Non-cash SG&A share-based compensation expense included above for the six months ended June 30, 2022 and June 30, 2021 was $14.9 million and $13.2 million, respectively. The increase in share-based compensation is primarily due to an increase in annual grants in 2022 coupled with the full year expense impact from prior year grants.

Research and Development (R&D) expenses, inclusive of share-based compensation, were $11.5 million and $10.1 million for the quarters ended June 30, 2022 and June 30, 2021, respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2022 and June 30, 2021, R&D expenses, inclusive of share-based compensation expense, were $24.1 million and $19.9 million, respectively. The primary drivers for the increase for both periods were due to an increase in CRO and developmental expenses related to AUR200 and AUR300.

Non-cash R&D share-based compensation expense included above for the quarters ended June 30, 2022 and June 30, 2021 was $1.1 million for both periods. Non-cash R&D share-based compensation expense included above for the six months ended June 30, 2022 and June 30, 2021 was $2.0 million and $2.2 million, respectively.

For the quarter ended June 30, 2022, Aurinia recorded a net loss of $35.5 million or $0.25 net loss per common share, as compared to a net loss of $47.0 million or $0.37 net loss per common share for the quarter ended June 30, 2021. For the six months ended June 30, 2022, Aurinia recorded a net loss of $73.1 million or $0.52 net loss per common share, as compared to a net loss of $97.4 million or $0.76 net loss per common share for the six months ended June 30, 2021.

Financial Liquidity at June 30, 2022

As of June 30, 2022, Aurinia had cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash and investments of $391.7 million compared to $466.1 million at December 31, 2021. The decrease in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash and investments is primarily related to the continued investment in commercialization activities, advancement of our pipeline and a payment for the achievement of a one-time milestone, partially offset by an increase in cash receipts from sales of LUPKYNIS.

Aurinia believes that it has sufficient financial resources to fund its operations, which include funding commercial activities, including FDA related post approval commitments, manufacturing and packaging of commercial drug supply, funding its supporting commercial infrastructure, conducting planned R&D programs and investing in its pipeline and operating activities for at least the next few years.

This press release is intended to be read in conjunction with the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and Management’s Discussion and Analysis for the quarter ended June 30, 2022 in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, which will be accessible on Aurinia’s website at www.auriniapharma.com, on SEDAR at www.sedar.com or on EDGAR at www.sec.gov/edgar.

Conference Call Details

Aurinia will host a conference call and webcast to discuss the quarter ended June 30, 2022 financial results today, Thursday, August 4, 2022 at 8:30 a.m. ET. The audio webcast can be accessed under "News/Events" through the "Investors" section of the Aurinia corporate website at www.auriniapharma.com. In order to participate in the conference call, please dial +1 (877) 407-9170 (Toll-free U.S. & Canada). An audio webcast can be accessed under "News/Events" through the "Investors" section of the Aurinia corporate website at www.auriniapharma.com. A replay of the webcast will be available on Aurinia’s website.

About Lupus Nephritis

LN is a serious manifestation of SLE, a chronic and complex autoimmune disease. About 200,000-300,000 people live with SLE in the U.S. and about one-third of these people are diagnosed with lupus nephritis at the time of their SLE diagnosis. About 50 percent of all people with SLE may develop lupus nephritis. If poorly controlled, LN can lead to permanent and irreversible tissue damage within the kidney. Black and Asian individuals with SLE are four times more likely to develop LN and individuals of Hispanic ancestry are approximately twice as likely to develop the disease when compared with Caucasian individuals. Black and Hispanic individuals with SLE also tend to develop LN earlier and have poorer outcomes when compared to Caucasian individuals.