VBI Vaccines to Present Initial Data for VBI-1901 in Recurrent Glioblastoma (GBM) Patients at the 2018 Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuro-O

On Ovtober 24, 2018 VBI Vaccines Inc. (NASDAQ: VBIV) ("VBI"), a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company developing next-generation infectious disease and immuno-oncology vaccines, reported that initial clinical data from the Phase 1/2a study of VBI-1901 in recurrent Glioblastoma (GBM) patients will be presented in a poster discussion session at the 23rd Annual Scientific Meeting and Education Day of the Society for Neuro-Oncology (SNO), taking place November 15-18, 2018, in New Orleans, Louisiana (Press release, VBI Vaccines, OCT 24, 2018, View Source [SID1234530324]).

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

"While early, the responses we’ve seen to-date are encouraging," said David Anderson, Ph.D., VBI’s Chief Scientific Officer. "The data to be presented at SNO will assess initial immunologic responses to vaccination with VBI-1901 in patients with recurrent GBM. We’ve already seen evidence of robust boosting of CMV-specific immunity directed against multiple antigens in some subjects in both the low and intermediate dose cohorts. As this is the first clinical data from our immuno-oncology vaccine candidate, we are honored and very pleased that the SNO has accepted our abstract for poster presentation and we look forward to the meeting."

Following two positive Data Safety and Monitoring Board reviews that occurred in April and September 2018, detailed patient-specific data for subjects in the low- and intermediate-dose cohorts will be included in the presentation. Additional information will be available when abstracts are released from embargo on November 5th, 2018.

The SNO Poster Discussion session presentation details are as follows:

CMV gB/pp65 eVLPs Formulated with GM-CSF as a Therapeutic Vaccine Against Recurrent Glioblastoma (GBM)

Poster #: ATIM-14

Date: Friday, November 16, 2018

Time: 7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. CDT

Location: Marriott Hotel, New Orleans, Louisiana

About the Phase 1/2a Study Design

VBI’s two-part Phase 1/2a study is a multi-center, open-label, dose-escalation study of VBI-1901 in up to 28 patients with recurrent GBM:

Part A: Dose-escalation phase to define the safety, tolerability, and optimal dose level of VBI-1901 in recurrent GBM patients. This phase is expected to enroll up to 18 patients in three dose cohorts.
Part B: A subsequent extension of the optimal dose level, as defined in the dose escalation phase. This phase is expected to enroll an expanded cohort of approximately 10 additional patients.

VBI-1901 is administered intradermally and is adjuvanted with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), a potent adjuvant that mobilizes dendritic cell function. Patients in both phases of the study will receive vaccine every four weeks until tumor progression.

Additional information, including a detailed description of the study design, eligibility criteria, and investigator sites, is available at ClinicalTrials.gov using identifier NCT03382977.

NextCure Initiates Clinical Development for NC318, a Siglec-15 Targeting Antibody, for Solid Tumors

On October 23, 2018 NextCure, Inc., a privately-held biopharmaceutical company discovering and developing next generation immunomedicines for cancer and other diseases, reported the initiation of a Phase 1/2 clinical trial for NC318, a Siglec-15 (S15) antibody (Press release, NextCure, OCT 23, 2018, View Source [SID1234530067]).

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

The Phase 1 dose-escalation portion of this open-label trial will evaluate the safety and tolerability of NC318 in patients with advanced or metastatic solid tumors and determine its pharmacologically active and/or maximum tolerated dose. After a recommended dose for the Phase 2 portion of the trial is determined, the efficacy of NC318 will be evaluated in select tumor types. The trial is being conducted at five clinical sites in the United States. Details can be found at clinicaltrials.gov – NCT03665285.

"NC318 is the first antibody drug candidate developed at NextCure to enter clinical trials, marking an exciting milestone for our company," says Michael Richman, CEO of NextCure. "The trial marks a major advancement in our plan to develop our pipeline of next generation immunomedicines for cancer patients who do not respond to currently approved therapies."

S15 is a novel immunomodulatory target expressed on a restricted set of myeloid cells in the tumor microenvironment and on certain tumor types including lung, ovarian and head and neck cancers. Preclinical research shows that S15 promotes the survival and differentiation of suppressive myeloid cells and negatively regulates T cell function, allowing cancer growth. In preclinical studies, NC318 blocks the negative effects of S15. NC318 is a first-in-class immunomedicine that has the potential to treat multiple cancer types.

"Immunotherapies targeting T cell function have significantly improved patient outcomes; however, a substantial proportion of patients do not respond to currently approved PD-1 or PD-L1 antibody therapies," said Kevin N. Heller, M.D., CMO of NextCure. "Laboratory studies demonstrate that Siglec-15 modulates immune suppression in a manner independent of the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway, suggesting that NC318 may have the potential to be used in patients who do not express PD-L1. Blocking S15 with NC318 is expected to diminish immunosuppression and normalize the immune response, resulting in a clinically relevant anti-tumor immune response. A goal of our trial is to test that hypothesis."

The immune regulatory function of S15 was initially discovered in the lab of Lieping Chen, M.D., Ph.D., Founder of NextCure and United Technologies Endowed Professor of Cancer Research, Professor of Immunobiology, Dermatology, and Medicine at the Yale University School of Medicine. Dr. Chen is a renowned leader in immuno-oncology and has discovered many novel immune-related targets, including the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway. "The discoveries made by our group and others have paved the way for the first generation of immunotherapies, leading to major breakthroughs in cancer treatment. Building upon these early discoveries, and in collaboration with NextCure, we continue our research to identify new targets for modulating the immune system," stated Dr. Chen. "We expect that S15, one of the first new targets identified, will be the first in a series of next generation immunomedicines. Through a comprehensive and streamlined process, NextCure has efficiently brought NC318 to the clinic."

Alkermes Plc Reports Third Quarter 2018 Financial Results

On October 23, 2018 Alkermes plc (Nasdaq: ALKS) today reported financial results for the third quarter of 2018 (Press release, Alkermes, OCT 23, 2018, View Source;p=RssLanding&cat=news&id=2372866 [SID1234530087]).

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

"Our solid results in the quarter were in-line with expectations, driven by the growth of our proprietary commercial products, the continued strength of our royalty and manufacturing business, and the important investments we are making in our late-stage pipeline and commercial organization," commented James Frates, Chief Financial Officer of Alkermes. "Our diverse business is financially strong and we are well positioned to execute on our strategy to drive value and long-term growth. Based on our outlook for the remainder of the year, today we are raising our financial expectations for 2018, primarily driven by upside from AMPYRA revenues."

Quarter Ended Sept. 30, 2018 Financial Highlights

Total revenues for the quarter were $248.7 million. This compared to $217.4 million for the same period in the prior year, representing an increase of 14%. Proprietary product net sales for VIVITROL and ARISTADA were $116.0 million for the quarter, reflecting a 24% increase compared to the same period in the prior year.
Net loss according to generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S. (GAAP) was $34.4 million for the quarter, or a basic and diluted GAAP net loss per share of $0.22. This compared to GAAP net loss of $36.3 million, or a basic and diluted GAAP net loss per share of $0.24, for the same period in the prior year.
Non-GAAP net income was $11.6 million for the quarter, or a non-GAAP basic and diluted earnings per share of $0.07. This compared to non-GAAP net income of $4.2 million, or a non-GAAP basic and diluted earnings per share of $0.03, for the same period in the prior year.

"The third quarter was highlighted by the launch of ARISTADA INITIO1, the newest addition to the ARISTADA product family. This new offering is resonating with healthcare providers and the early trends are encouraging. ARISTADA INITIO further differentiates ARISTADA in the market and provides an opportunity to address unmet patient need," stated Jim Robinson, President and Chief Operating Officer of Alkermes. "We are also making important strides with VIVITROL as the product continues to grow and as policymakers continue to activate in their response to the opioid crisis. We look forward to providing updates on our progress."

Quarter Ended Sept. 30, 2018 Financial Results

Revenues

Net sales of VIVITROL were $79.9 million, compared to $69.2 million for the same period in the prior year, representing an increase of approximately 15%.
Net sales of ARISTADA were $36.1 million, compared to $24.5 million for the same period in the prior year, representing an increase of approximately 48%.
Manufacturing and royalty revenues from RISPERDAL CONSTA, INVEGA SUSTENNA/XEPLION and INVEGA TRINZA/TREVICTA were $77.2 million, compared to $79.4 million for the same period in the prior year, reflecting the timing of RISPERDAL CONSTA manufacturing shipments.
Manufacturing and royalty revenues from AMPYRA/FAMPYRA2 were $20.3 million, compared to $24.5 million for the same period in the prior year.
Research and development revenues were $16.3 million, of which $15.7 million related to the collaboration with Biogen for BIIB098, or diroximel fumarate.

Costs and Expenses

Operating expenses were $285.9 million, compared to $255.7 million for the same period in the prior year, primarily reflecting increased investment in the commercialization of VIVITROL and ARISTADA.

"Against the backdrop of the highly-anticipated upcoming regulatory interactions for ALKS 5461 for the adjunctive treatment of major depressive disorder and the ALKS 3831 ENLIGHTEN-2 pivotal study data in schizophrenia, we continue to make important progress across our other pipeline assets. BIIB098 for multiple sclerosis is on track for NDA submission by year-end and ALKS 4230, our immuno-oncology program, is gaining momentum, highlighted by the recent initiation of combination therapy evaluation," said Richard Pops, Chief Executive Officer of Alkermes. "Our results this quarter demonstrate the strong and resilient company we have carefully built over the years, with important medicines driving an expected topline in excess of $1 billion and a diverse development portfolio of late-stage product candidates, each with the potential to impact the practice of medicine and change the growth trajectory of the company. As we head into the fourth quarter, the business is well positioned for growth and the opportunities ahead."

Recent Events:

ARISTADA

Completed enrollment of six-month phase 3b study evaluating ARISTADA INITIO plus the ARISTADA two-month dose and INVEGA SUSTENNA in patients experiencing an acute exacerbation of schizophrenia

ALKS 4230

Initiated clinical evaluation of ALKS 4230 in combination with PD-1 inhibitor pembrolizumab
Submitted new clinical protocol for subcutaneous dosing phase 1 study to the ALKS 4230 Investigational New Drug (IND) application

Upcoming Milestones:

The following outlines the company’s expected upcoming milestones.

ALKS 5461

Joint meeting of the Psychopharmacologic Drugs Advisory Committee and the Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory Committee to review the ALKS 5461 New Drug Application (NDA) on Nov. 1, 2018
Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) target action date on Jan. 31, 2019

ALKS 3831

Topline results for ENLIGHTEN-2, a six-month weight study of ALKS 3831 compared to olanzapine in patients with stable schizophrenia in Q4 2018

BIIB098 (diroximel fumarate)

Planned submission of the NDA for diroximel fumarate for the treatment of multiple sclerosis in Q4 2018

ALKS 4230

Presentation of initial clinical data from ongoing dose-escalation stage of the phase 1 study at the 2018 Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) (Free SITC Whitepaper) Annual Meeting in November 2018
Initiation of subcutaneous dosing phase 1 study in early 2019

Financial Expectations for 2018

Alkermes is updating its financial expectations for 2018 to reflect greater than expected revenues from AMPYRA. The following outlines Alkermes’ updated financial expectations for 2018.

Revenues: The company now expects total revenues to range from $1.015 billion to $1.045 billion, increased from its previous expectation of $975 million to $1.025 billion. This increase was driven by upside from AMPYRA following delayed generic competition in 2018. Included in this total revenue expectation, Alkermes continues to expect VIVITROL net sales to range from $300 million to $330 million, although closer to the lower end of this range, and ARISTADA net sales to range from $140 million to $160 million.
Cost of Goods Manufactured and Sold: The company continues to expect cost of goods manufactured and sold to range from $180 million to $190 million.
Research and Development (R&D) Expenses: The company continues to expect R&D expenses to range from $415 million to $445 million.
Selling, General and Administrative (SG&A) Expenses: The company continues to expect SG&A expenses to range from $515 million to $545 million.
Amortization of Intangible Assets: The company continues to expect amortization of intangibles to be approximately $65 million.
Net Interest Expense: The company continues to expect net interest expense to be approximately $10 million.
Income Tax Expense: The company continues to expect income tax expense of up to $10 million.
GAAP Net Loss: The company now expects GAAP net loss to range from $180 million to $210 million, or a basic and diluted loss per share of $1.16 to $1.35, based on a weighted average basic and diluted share count of approximately 155 million shares outstanding. This compares to previous expectations of GAAP net loss in the range of $210 million to $240 million, or a basic and diluted loss per share of $1.35 to $1.55, based on a weighted average basic and diluted share count of approximately 155 million shares outstanding.
Non-GAAP Net Income: The company now expects non-GAAP results to range from non-GAAP net income of $20 million to $50 million, or a non-GAAP basic earnings per share of $0.13 to $0.32 and a non-GAAP diluted earnings per share of $0.12 to $0.31, based on a weighted average basic share count of approximately 155 million shares outstanding and a weighted average diluted share count of approximately 161 million shares outstanding. This compares to previous expectations of non-GAAP net results in the range of non-GAAP net loss of $10 million to non-GAAP net income of $20 million, or a basic and diluted non-GAAP net loss per share of $0.06 to a non-GAAP basic earnings per share of $0.13 and a non-GAAP diluted earnings per share of $0.12, based on a weighted average basic share count of approximately 155 million shares outstanding and a weighted average diluted share count of approximately 161 million shares outstanding.
Share-Based Compensation: The company continues to expect share-based compensation of approximately $120 million.
Capital Expenditures: The company now expects capital expenditures to range from $65 million to $75 million, compared to a previous expectation in the range of $80 million to $90 million.

Conference Call
Alkermes will host a conference call and webcast presentation with accompanying slides at 8:30 a.m. ET (1:30 p.m. BST) on Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2018, to discuss these financial results and provide an update on the company. The webcast may be accessed on the Investors section of Alkermes’ website at www.alkermes.com. The conference call may be accessed by dialing +1 888 424 8151 for U.S. callers and +1 847 585 4422 for international callers. The conference call ID number is 6037988. In addition, a replay of the conference call will be available from 11:00 a.m. ET (4:00 p.m. BST) on Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2018, through 5:00 p.m. ET (9:00 p.m. GMT) on Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018, and may be accessed by visiting Alkermes’ website or by dialing +1 888 843 7419 for U.S. callers and +1 630 652 3042 for international callers. The replay access code is 6037988.

About Alkermes plc
Alkermes plc is a fully integrated, global biopharmaceutical company developing innovative medicines for the treatment of central nervous system (CNS) diseases. The company has a diversified commercial product portfolio and a substantial clinical pipeline of product candidates for chronic diseases that include schizophrenia, depression, addiction and multiple sclerosis. Headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, Alkermes plc has an R&D center in Waltham, Massachusetts; a research and manufacturing facility in Athlone, Ireland; and a manufacturing facility in Wilmington, Ohio. For more information, please visit Alkermes’ website at www.alkermes.com.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures
This press release includes information about certain financial measures that are not prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S. (GAAP), including non-GAAP net income (loss) and non-GAAP basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share. These non-GAAP measures are not based on any standardized methodology prescribed by GAAP and are not necessarily comparable to similar measures presented by other companies.

Non-GAAP net income (loss) adjusts for one-time and non-cash charges by excluding from GAAP results: share-based compensation expense; amortization; depreciation; non-cash net interest expense; certain other one-time or non-cash items; and the income tax effect of these reconciling items.

The company’s management and board of directors utilize these non-GAAP financial measures to evaluate the company’s performance. The company provides these non-GAAP measures of the company’s performance to investors because management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures, when viewed with the company’s results under GAAP and the accompanying reconciliations, are useful in identifying underlying trends in ongoing operations. However, non-GAAP net income (loss) and non-GAAP basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share are not measures of financial performance under GAAP and, accordingly, should not be considered as alternatives to GAAP measures as indicators of operating performance. Further, non-GAAP net income (loss) and non-GAAP basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share should not be considered measures of our liquidity.

A reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures has been provided in the tables included in this press release.

Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements set forth in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, including, but not limited to, statements concerning: future financial and operating performance, business plans or prospects; the likelihood of continued revenue growth from the company’s commercial products, including the growth of VIVITROL and ARISTADA; the potential therapeutic and commercial value of the company’s marketed and development products, and patient access to, and policy related to, such products; expectations concerning the timing and results of clinical development and regulatory activities, including the timing of the phase 3 clinical trial (ENLIGHTEN-2) data readout for ALKS 3831, the timing of the submission of the NDA for BIIB098, the timing of presentation of initial data from the ALKS 4230 phase 1 study and initiation of a subcutaneous dosing phase 1 study for ALKS 4230, and the outcome and timing of the FDA’s review of the NDA for ALKS 5461. The company cautions that forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain. Although the company believes that such statements are based on reasonable assumptions within the bounds of its knowledge of its business and operations, the forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees and they are necessarily subject to a high degree of uncertainty and risk. Actual performance and results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements due to various risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, among others: the unfavorable outcome of litigation, including so-called "Paragraph IV" litigation and other patent litigation, related to any of our products or products using our proprietary technologies, which may lead to competition from generic drug manufacturers; data from clinical trials may be interpreted by the FDA in different ways than we interpret it; the FDA may not agree with our regulatory approval strategies or components of our filings for our products, including our clinical trial designs, conduct and methodologies and, for ALKS 5461, evidence of efficacy and adequacy of bridging to buprenorphine; clinical development activities may not be completed on time or at all; the results of our clinical development activities may not be positive, or predictive of real-world results or of results in subsequent clinical trials; regulatory submissions may not occur or be submitted in a timely manner; the company and its licensees may not be able to continue to successfully commercialize their products; there may be a reduction in payment rate or reimbursement for the company’s products or an increase in the company’s financial obligations to governmental payers; the FDA or regulatory authorities outside the U.S. may make adverse decisions regarding the company’s products; the company’s products may prove difficult to manufacture, be precluded from commercialization by the proprietary rights of third parties, or have unintended side effects, adverse reactions or incidents of misuse; and those risks and uncertainties described under the heading "Risk Factors" in the company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and in subsequent filings made by the company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), which are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Existing and prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Except as required by law, the company disclaims any intention or responsibility for updating or revising any forward-looking statements contained in this press release.

VIVITROL is a registered trademark of Alkermes, Inc.; ARISTADA and ARISTADA INITIO are registered trademarks of Alkermes Pharma Ireland Limited; RISPERDAL CONSTA, INVEGA SUSTENNA, XEPLION, INVEGA TRINZA and TREVICTA are registered trademarks of Johnson & Johnson; AMPYRA and FAMPYRA are registered trademarks of Acorda Therapeutics, Inc.

1 ARISTADA INITIO was approved by the FDA for the initiation of ARISTADA, a long-acting injectable atypical antipsychotic for the treatment of schizophrenia in adults. The ARISTADA INITIO regimen consists of ARISTADA INITIO plus a single 30 mg dose of oral aripiprazole.

2 AMPYRA (dalfampridine) Extended Release Tablets, 10 mg is developed and marketed in the U.S. by Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. and outside the U.S. by Biogen Idec, under a licensing agreement with Acorda Therapeutics, as FAMPYRA (prolonged-release fampridine tablets).

(tables follow)






Alkermes plc and Subsidiaries

Selected Financial Information (Unaudited)







Three Months

Three Months


Ended

Ended

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations – GAAP

September 30,

September 30,

(In thousands, except per share data)

2018

2017

Revenues:





Manufacturing and royalty revenues

$ 116,411

$ 122,677

Product sales, net

116,035

93,681

Research and development revenue

16,274

1,027

Total Revenues

248,720

217,385

Expenses:





Cost of goods manufactured and sold

39,410

36,054

Research and development

101,265

104,411

Selling, general and administrative

128,777

99,633

Amortization of acquired intangible assets

16,426

15,643

Total Expenses

285,878

255,741

Operating Loss

(37,158)

(38,356)

Other Income, net:





Interest income

2,561

1,173

Interest expense

(3,346)

(3,129)

Change in the fair value of contingent consideration

4,200

13,600

Other expense, net

(90)

(9,078)

Total Other Income, net

3,325

2,566

Loss Before Income Taxes

(33,833)

(35,790)

Income Tax Provision

611

486

Net Loss — GAAP

$ (34,444)

$ (36,276)






Net (Loss) Earnings Per Share:





GAAP net loss per share — basic and diluted

$ (0.22)

$ (0.24)

Non-GAAP earnings per share — basic and diluted

$ 0.07

$ 0.03






Weighted Average Number of Ordinary Shares Outstanding:





Basic and diluted — GAAP

155,328

153,684

Basic — Non-GAAP

155,328

153,684

Diluted — Non-GAAP

159,763

159,989






An itemized reconciliation between net loss on a GAAP basis and non-GAAP net income is as follows:





Net Loss — GAAP

$ (34,444)

$ (36,276)

Adjustments:





Share-based compensation expense

25,068

19,487

Amortization expense

16,426

15,643

Depreciation expense

9,842

9,394

Non-cash net interest expense

170

192

Change in the fair value of warrants and equity method investments

(367)

(303)

Change in the fair value of contingent consideration

(4,200)

(13,600)

Income tax effect related to reconciling items

(869)

(844)

Other-than-temporary impairment of equity method investment



10,471

Non-GAAP Net Income

$ 11,626

$ 4,164

















Nine Months

Nine Months


Ended

Ended

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations – GAAP

September 30,

September 30,

(In thousands, except per share data)

2018

2017

Revenues:





Manufacturing and royalty revenues

$ 359,253

$ 366,608

Product sales, net

317,684

258,893

Research and development revenues

53,325

2,503

License revenues

48,250



Total Revenues

778,512

628,004

Expenses:





Cost of goods manufactured and sold

127,303

116,241

Research and development

316,434

308,399

Selling, general and administrative

385,181

310,682

Amortization of acquired intangible assets

48,742

46,417

Total Expenses

877,660

781,739

Operating Loss

(99,148)

(153,735)

Other Expense, net:





Interest income

5,946

3,287

Interest expense

(11,959)

(8,816)

Change in the fair value of contingent consideration

(17,300)

15,900

Other expense, net

(2,815)

(10,696)

Total Other Expense, net

(26,128)

(325)

Loss Before Income Taxes

(125,276)

(154,060)

Income Tax Provision (Benefit)

4,322

(5,904)

Net Loss — GAAP

$ (129,598)

$ (148,156)






Net (Loss) Earnings Per Share:





GAAP net loss per share — basic and diluted

$ (0.84)

$ (0.97)

Non-GAAP earnings (loss) per share — basic

$ 0.28

$ (0.15)

Non-GAAP earnings (loss) per share — diluted

$ 0.27

$ (0.15)






Weighted Average Number of Ordinary Shares Outstanding:





Basic and diluted — GAAP

154,979

153,263

Basic — Non-GAAP

154,979

153,263

Diluted — Non-GAAP

160,224

153,263






An itemized reconciliation between net loss on a GAAP basis and non-GAAP net income (loss) is as follows:





Net Loss — GAAP

$ (129,598)

$ (148,156)

Adjustments:





Share-based compensation expense

76,043

63,336

Amortization expense

48,742

46,417

Depreciation expense

29,016

26,889

Change in the fair value of warrants and equity method investments

600

2,760

Non-cash net interest expense

531

578

Change in the fair value of contingent consideration

17,300

(15,900)

Income tax effect related to reconciling items

(5,535)

(8,896)

Other-than-temporary impairment of equity method investment



10,471

Restructuring expense

3,598



Debt refinancing charge

2,298



Non-GAAP Net Income (Loss)

$ 42,995

$ (22,501)











Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

September 30,

December 31,

(In thousands)

2018

2017

Cash, cash equivalents and total investments

$ 578,543

$ 590,716

Receivables

250,913

233,590

Contract assets

13,476



Inventory

88,018

93,275

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

50,265

48,475

Property, plant and equipment, net

303,087

284,736

Intangible assets, net and goodwill

300,299

349,041

Other assets

176,109

197,394

Total Assets

$ 1,760,710

$ 1,797,227

Long-term debt — current portion

$ 2,843

$ 3,000

Other current liabilities

301,945

288,122

Long-term debt

277,007

278,436

Contract liabilities — long-term

5,010

5,657

Other long-term liabilities

23,190

19,204

Total shareholders’ equity

1,150,715

1,202,808

Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

$ 1,760,710

$ 1,797,227






Ordinary shares outstanding (in thousands)

155,364

154,009






This selected financial information should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in Alkermes plc’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended September 30, 2018, which the company intends to file in October 2018.











2018 Guidance — GAAP to Non-GAAP Adjustments






An itemized reconciliation between projected loss per share on a GAAP basis and projected earnings per share on a non-GAAP basis is as follows:






(In millions, except per share data)

Amount

Shares

(Loss)
Earnings
Per Share

Projected Net Loss — GAAP

$

(195.0)

155

$

(1.26)

Adjustments:





Share-based compensation expense

120.0



Amortization expense

65.0



Depreciation expense

42.5



Non-cash net interest expense

1.0



Income tax effect related to reconciling items

(3.5)

Other (including debt refinancing & restructuring charges)

5.0

Projected Net Income — Non-GAAP

$

35.0

161

$

0.22

Projected GAAP and non-GAAP measures reflect mid-points within ranges of estimated guidance.

AstraZeneca strengthens and expands oncology development and commercialisation collaboration with Innate Pharma

On October 23, 2018 AstraZeneca, and its global biologics research and development arm MedImmune, reported a new multi-term agreement with Innate Pharma (Innate), building on an existing collaboration, aimed at accelerating each company’s oncology portfolio and bringing new medicines to patients more quickly (Press release, AstraZeneca, OCT 23, 2018, View Source [SID1234530224]). The extended collaboration will enrich AstraZeneca’s immuno-oncology (IO) portfolio with pre-clinical and clinical potential new medicines.

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

AstraZeneca will obtain full oncology rights to the first-in-class humanised anti-NKG2A antibody, monalizumab, expanding its partnership with Innate from the initial collaboration announced in 2015. AstraZeneca also gains option rights to IPH5201, an antibody targeting CD39, as well as four preclinical molecules from Innate’s pipeline. Innate is licensing the US and EU commercial rights to recently FDA-approved Lumoxiti (moxetumomab pasudotox) for hairy cell leukaemia (HCL).

Pascal Soriot, Chief Executive Officer, said: "Our expanded collaboration with Innate Pharma enables us to further strengthen our leadership in immuno-oncology, and to explore the potential of next-generation immuno-oncology pathways, together with the world-class scientific team of Innate. Today’s agreement also secures the long-term commercialisation of the recently FDA approved rare disease medicine, Lumoxiti, through dedicated focus and investment by Innate Pharma."

Mondher Mahjoubi, Chief Executive Officer of Innate Pharma, said: "Today is a defining moment for Innate Pharma as we transition to become a fully-integrated oncology-focused biotech. Lumoxiti is a major therapeutic innovation for patients who suffer from relapsed/refractory hairy cell leukaemia, and we are proud to be in a position to address a significant unmet medical need. Our commercial team will be focused on rare cancers and generate more value as our own haemato-oncology proprietary pipeline develops."

Monalizumab

Building on a 2015 collaboration with Innate, AstraZeneca is exercising its option to obtain full oncology rights to monalizumab, a first-in-class humanised anti-NKG2A antibody. NKG2A is a checkpoint receptor expressed on tumour-infiltrating cytotoxic T-cells and natural killer (NK) cells that inhibits their anti-cancer functions. The companies currently share Phase II development for monalizumab in combination trials in both head and neck and colorectal cancer, with additional trials underway in other solid tumours.

Results from a single-arm Phase II trial of monalizumab in combination with cetuximab in head and neck cancer patients were presented at the ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) 2018 Congress (European Society of Medical Oncology), showing deep and durable responses in 40 patients with ORR of 27.5%, progression free survival of 5.0 and overall survival of 10.3 months, respectively. Among the 40 patients enrolled in the cohort expansion, the safety findings were consistent with previously-presented data at AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) 2017 and 2018 (Abstract #1049PD).

CD39 and additional molecules

AstraZeneca is entering into a development collaboration and option for further co-development and co-commercialisation with Innate for its CD39 monoclonal antibody, IPH5201.

CD39 is a membrane-bound extracellular enzyme overexpressed on both regulatory T-cells and tumour cells in several cancer types. CD39 plays an important role in promoting immunosuppression through the pathway that degrades adenosine triphosphate (ATP) into adenosine. It is increasingly recognised that the adenosine pathway is critical in tumour immunosuppression and will complement AstraZeneca’s current portfolio in this area.

In addition, Innate grants AstraZeneca an option to exclusively license four molecules to be agreed upon from Innate’s preclinical portfolio, increasing the breadth and depth of AstraZeneca’s immuno-oncology portfolio.

Lumoxiti

Innate is licensing the US commercial rights of AstraZeneca’s recently FDA-approved treatment for HCL, Lumoxiti. Innate, with support from AstraZeneca, will continue EU development and commercialisation, pending regulatory submission and approval.

Lumoxiti is a CD22-directed cytotoxin and a first-in-class medicine in the US for adult patients with relapsed or refractory HCL who have received at least two prior systemic therapies, including treatment with a purine nucleoside analogue. Approximately 1,000 people are diagnosed with HCL in the US each year, a subset of which would be eligible for Lumoxiti. Innate will recognise revenues and co-commercialise Lumoxiti with AstraZeneca in the US and will take full responsibility by mid-2020.

Financial considerations

Innate will pay AstraZeneca $50 million upfront for Lumoxiti, and $25 million for future commercial and regulatory milestones, in consideration for its intellectual property and clinical and manufacturing development of the medicine. This income will be recorded as Other Operating Income by AstraZeneca.

AstraZeneca will pay Innate $100 million in the first quarter of 2019 for the expansion of the monalizumab collaboration. Additional financial arrangements related to monalizumab are detailed and available in the 2015 collaboration announcement.

Further, AstraZeneca will pay Innate $50 million upfront for the development collaboration and option for further co-development and co-commercialisation of Innate’s CD39 monoclonal antibody, IPH5201, plus an option exercise fee, milestones and royalties. Innate will have the potential for co-promotion and profit sharing in the EU.

AstraZeneca will also pay Innate $20 million upfront for an exclusive license option on four to-be-agreed molecules from Innate’s preclinical portfolio. These options can be exercised before the molecules reach clinical development, triggering an option exercise fee in addition to milestones and royalties. Innate will have the potential for co-promotion and profit sharing in the EU, dependent on future progress.

Given the long-term collaboration between the two companies, AstraZeneca will acquire a 9.8% equity stake in Innate Pharma through the issuance of 6,260,500 new shares to AstraZeneca at €10/share. Issuance of the new shares is expected to take place on or about 25 October 2018.

Humanetics Corporation to Present at the Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology

On October 23, 2018 Humanetics Corporation (Humanetics) reported that it has been invited to present at the annual meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) being held October 21st through the 24th in San Antonio, Texas. Dr. Michael Kurman, M.D., Chief Medical Officer for Humanetics, will be presenting an overview of the study design and providing an update on the status of the Company’s on-going, multi-site, Phase 1b/2a trial in non-small cell lung cancer patients (Press release, Humanetics, OCT 23, 2018, View Source [SID1234530068]). The trial is investigating the safety and efficacy of BIO 300, a new drug candidate focused on mitigating toxicities to normal tissues resulting from cancer radiotherapy.

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States and affects more than 230,000 individuals per year. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer, comprising approximately 87% of all cases. A common treatment for NSCLC is radiotherapy, which is often accompanied by chemotherapy. Radiation can cause unwanted side-effects to otherwise healthy tissue surrounding the tumor or in the path of the radiation beam. These effects include esophagitis, pulmonary pneumonitis and fibrosis, all of which can contribute to lasting health problems and in severe cases can be fatal.

"Drugs that can prevent the unwanted side effects of radiotherapy are an urgent need for patients," said Dr. Charles Simone, Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology and Medical Director of the Maryland Proton Therapy Center in Baltimore, Maryland. "Radiotherapy is an important standard of care and its use is forecast to grow. Drugs such as BIO 300 have the potential to significantly improve the quality of life and outcomes for our patients." Dr. Simone is serving as a Principal Investigator for the BIO 300 clinical trial.

BIO 300 is an oral medication, taken once daily by the patient prior to their radiation treatment. Its properties as a radioprotectant were discovered by researchers at the U.S. Department of Defense, where it was studied as a potential agent to be used by warfighters to prevent injury from radiation on the battlefield. Humanetics acquired the rights to the drug and has active development programs ongoing in both oncology and for biodefense.