Genomic Health Announces First Quarter 2018 Financial Results and Reports Recent Business Progress

On May 2, 2018 Genomic Health, Inc. (NASDAQ: GHDX) reported financial results and business progress for the quarter ended March 31, 2018 (Press release, Genomic Health, MAY 2, 2018, View Source [SID1234525966]).

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"In the first quarter of 2018, we delivered 13 percent growth in revenue and delivered a non-GAAP profit demonstrating continued operating leverage for the 11th consecutive quarter of improved profitability," said Kim Popovits, chairman of the board, chief executive officer and president of Genomic Health. "We delivered a strong start to the year with multiple revenue drivers, including the implementation of PAMA and AJCC breast cancer staging criteria, and the recent strengthening of NCCN prostate cancer guidelines. With several additional catalysts on the near-term horizon, including ECOG’s presentation of TAILORx results at ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) and the anticipated finalization of the Medicare LCD for the Oncotype DX AR-V7 Nucleus Detect test, we expect strong revenue growth in the second half of the year."

Pre-606 Adjusted Revenue

Effective January 1, 2018, the company adopted the new ASC 606 accounting standard for revenue, using the modified retrospective method, which applies the new standard prospectively and does not impact prior years’ financial statements. Since the as-reported 2017 quarterly and annual financial statements will not be restated to reflect the new accounting standard, the company has provided a supplemental financial schedule in the non-GAAP tables at the end of this release, reflecting an estimate of revenue as if the new standard had been applied as of January 1, 2017 referred to herein as "pre-606 adjusted revenue."

First Quarter Financial Results

Total revenue was $92.6 million in the first quarter of 2018, compared with pre-606 adjusted revenue of $82.3 million for the first quarter of 2017, an increase of 13 percent, and an increase of 12 percent on a non-GAAP constant currency basis. Revenue was $84.0 million in the first quarter of 2017.

U.S. product revenue was $78.9 million in the first quarter of 2018, compared with pre-606 adjusted revenue of $69.2 million for the first quarter of 2017, an increase of 14 percent. U.S. product revenue was $70.6 million in the first quarter of 2017. U.S. invasive breast revenue from Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score tests was $71.0 million in the first quarter of 2018, compared with U.S. invasive breast pre-606 adjusted revenue of $63.4 million for the first quarter of 2017, an increase of 12 percent. U.S. invasive breast revenue was $64.8 million in the first quarter of 2017. U.S. prostate test revenue from Oncotype DX Genomic Prostate Score (GPS) tests was $5.8 million in the first quarter of 2018, compared with $3.3 million in the first quarter of 2017, an increase of 75 percent.

International product revenue was $13.8 million in the first quarter of 2018, compared with pre-606 adjusted revenue of $13.1 million for the first quarter of 2017, an increase of 5 percent, and a 1 percent increase on a non-GAAP constant currency basis. International product revenue was $13.4 million in the first quarter of 2017.

Net loss was $3.8 million, or $0.11 per share on a basic and diluted basis, in the first quarter of 2018, compared with a net loss of $0.8 million, or $0.02 per share on a basic and diluted basis, in the first quarter of 2017. Operating loss was $4.4 million in the first quarter of 2018, compared with an operating loss of $2.8 million in the first quarter of 2017.

On a non-GAAP basis, excluding the $8.5 million one-time charge for the realignment of resources that was completed in the quarter and certain other one-time charges, net income was $4.6 million in the first quarter of 2018, compared with a $2.8 million non-GAAP net loss in the first quarter of 2017. On a non-GAAP basis, operating income was $4.2 million in the first quarter of 2018, compared with a non-GAAP operating loss of $2.8 million in the first quarter of 2017.

More than 32,440 Oncotype test results were delivered in the first quarter of 2018, an increase of 3 percent, compared with more than 31,580 test results delivered in the same period in 2017. Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score tests delivered in the U.S. grew 4 percent in the first quarter of 2018 compared with the same period in 2017. Oncotype DX Genomic Prostate Score tests delivered in the U.S. grew 25 percent in the first quarter of 2018 compared with the same period in 2017. International tests delivered decreased by 7 percent compared with the same period in 2017 and represented approximately 22 percent of total test volume in the first quarter of 2018.

Cash and cash equivalents and short-term marketable securities at March 31, 2018 were $130.4 million, which included the fair value of the company’s investment in marketable equity securities of $3.8 million, compared with $129.6 million at December 31, 2017, which included the fair value of the company’s investment in marketable equity securities of $3.5 million.

Recent Business Highlights

Results from the landmark ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group TAILORx study were accepted for presentation at the Plenary Session at the 2018 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) on Sunday, June 3.

Multiple private insurers established new coverage for the Oncotype DX Genomic Prostate Score test, bringing the total number of U.S. covered lives to more than 71 million.

Palmetto GBA, a Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) that assesses molecular diagnostic technologies, issued a draft local coverage determination (LCD) for the Oncotype DX AR-V7 Nucleus Detect test.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in the United Kingdom issued a revised Diagnostics Consultation Document (DCD) including the Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score test for continued use to guide adjuvant chemotherapy decisions for patients with hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative, node-negative early-stage breast cancer.

Secured tender with the UNICANCER hospital group in France for the Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score test increasing access to approximately 20 percent of the French market.

Established new public coverage for the Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score test in Germany, bringing the total number of German covered lives to more than 17 million.

Secured public coverage with the province of Manitoba for the use of the Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score test in early-stage breast cancer patients with node-negative disease, increasing the total number of covered lives in Canada to 35 million.

The Oncologist published positive results from a study conducted by Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Canada, demonstrating a 37 percent reduction in chemotherapy among breast cancer patients with up to three positive nodes, as well as an increase in physicians’ and patients’ confidence (49 and 54 percent, respectively) when Oncotype DX was used to make adjuvant treatment decisions.

Presented results from three studies at the 11th European Breast Cancer Conference (EBCC-11) in March.

Received acceptance to present two studies utilizing the Oncotype DX Genomic Prostate Score test at the American Urological Association Annual Meeting in May.

Non-GAAP Disclosure

The company makes reference in this press release to "non-GAAP operating income (loss)" which excludes 2018 expenses resulting from the restructuring charges for the cessation of Oncotype SEQ, including the Oncotype SEQ Liquid Select test, and Oncotype SEQ product development and commercialization activities (restructuring charges). Additionally, the company references "non-GAAP net income (loss)" which excludes the Q1 2018 restructuring charges as well as fair value adjustments related to its collaborations with Biocartis and Cleveland Diagnostics in the first quarter of 2018 and the gain on sale of marketable equity securities in the first quarter of 2017. The company believes that excluding these items and their related tax effects from its financial results reflects operating results that are more indicative of the company’s ongoing operating performance while improving comparability to prior periods, and, as such may provide investors with an enhanced understanding of the company’s past financial performance and prospects for the future. The company also considers the impact of foreign currency exchange rates on its global business as described in the constant currency table accompanying this press release. The company’s management uses such non-GAAP measures internally to evaluate and assess its core operations and to make ongoing operating decisions. This information is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for income (loss) from operations or net income (loss) information prepared in accordance with GAAP. An explanation and reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures is included in the tables accompanying this press release.

Conference Call Details
To access the live conference call today, May 2, at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time via phone, please dial (877) 303-7208 from the United States and Canada, or +1 (224) 357-2389 internationally. The conference call ID is 2186716. Please dial in approximately ten minutes prior to the start of the call. To access the live and subsequently archived webcast of the conference call, go to the Investor Relations section of the company’s web site at View Source Please connect to the web site at least 15 minutes prior to the presentation to allow for any software download that may be necessary.

QUANTERIX TO RELEASE FIRST QUARTER 2018 FINANCIAL RESULTS AND HOST CONFERENCE CALL ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 9, 2018

On May 2, 2018 Quanterix Corporation (NASDAQ:QTRX), a company digitizing biomarker analysis with the goal of advancing the science of precision health, reported that it will release its financial results for first quarter 2018 after the close of trading on Wednesday, May 9, 2018 (Press release, Quanterix, MAY 2, 2018, https://www.quanterix.com/resources/press-releases/quanterix-release-first-quarter-2018-financial-results-and-host-conference [SID1234525984]). Company management will host a conference call at 4:30 p.m. ET to discuss Quanterix’ financial results and provide a business update. The call will be hosted by Kevin Hrusovsky, Chief Executive Officer, President and Chairman, Quanterix.

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Individuals interested in listening to the conference call may do so by dialing (833) 686-9351 for domestic callers, or (612) 979-9890 for international callers. Please reference the following password: 2576325. A live webcast will be accessible on the investor relations section of Quanterix’ website: View Source The webcast will be available on the Company’s website for one year following completion of the call.

Humanigen Announces Preclinical Findings Presented on Lenzilumab’s Potential to Optimize CAR-T Therapy

On May 2, 2018 Humanigen, Inc. (OTCQB:HGEN), a biopharmaceutical company developing cutting-edge CAR-T optimization and oncology treatments, reported that preclinical findings on lenzilumab’s potential as a new strategy to increase the safety and efficacy of chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy were presented at The Essential Protein Engineering Summit (PEGS) by Dr. Saad Kenderian, director, T cell engineering program at Mayo Clinic (Press release, Humanigen, MAY 2, 2018, View Source [SID1234525967]).

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Lenzilumab is a first-in-class Humaneered recombinant monoclonal antibody that targets and is an antagonist of soluble granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). Neutralization of circulating GM-CSF has the potential to blunt or prevent an inflammatory cascade that can result in serious and life-threatening CAR-T-induced side effects – neurotoxicity and Cytokine Release Syndrome – and possibly boost efficacy of CAR-T therapy. Improved treatment response could come through increased expansion of CAR-T, as seen in the ZUMA-1 pivotal trial.

The PEGS presentation on May 1 highlighted findings from preclinical studies using validated animal models. The key findings included:

Lenzilumab effectively neutralizes GM-CSF.
Lenzilumab does not inhibit CAR-T efficacy in vivo, as CAR-T plus lenzilumab exhibited an improved rate of survival compared to a control in the same mouse xenograft model.
GM-CSF depletion by lenzilumab may increase CAR-T expansion in vivo, as a more robust proliferation was observed after adding lenzilumab.
"There’s significant need for new science to find therapeutic combinations to improve the safety and efficacy of CAR-T therapy. These encouraging findings reinforce our belief that lenzilumab has the potential to make CAR-T safer, better and more routine in the treatment of cancer," said Cameron Durrant, M.D., chairman and chief executive officer of Humanigen. "We look forward to starting clinical work soon with the goal of improving this groundbreaking treatment for patients."

The company anticipates commencing a potentially pivotal phase I/II trial of lenzilumab as a prophylactic therapy prior to CAR-T infusion to optimize treatment and minimize or prevent neurotoxicity associated with CAR-T cancer therapy in the summer of 2018.

About Lenzilumab

Lenzilumab is a first-in-class, novel Humaneered recombinant monoclonal antibody designed to target and neutralize circulating granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), the myeloid inflammation factor involved in the recruitment of myeloid cells to a tumor and a central actor in leukocyte differentiation, autoimmunity and inflammation. There is also extensive evidence linking GM-CSF expression to serious and potentially life-threatening side effects in chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy, such as neurotoxicity and Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS). Humanigen is working with leading CAR-T experts to develop lenzilumab as a potential prophylactic therapy to optimize treatment and minimize or prevent neurotoxicity associated with CAR-T cancer therapy. In addition, lenzilumab is currently being evaluated as a potential treatment for rare leukemias in a phase I trial (NCT02546284) in patients with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML), with additional potential in juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML), a rare pediatric cancer. In previous clinical trials, lenzilumab has shown to be safe and well tolerated in more than 100 patients, including those with rheumatoid arthritis, asthma and healthy volunteers. It is a potent inhibitor of GM-CSF in vivo

AmerisourceBergen Reports Fiscal 2018 Second Quarter Results

On May 2, 2018 AmerisourceBergen Corporation (NYSE:ABC) reported that in its fiscal year 2018 second quarter ended March 31, 2018, revenue increased 10.5 percent to $41.0 billion. On the basis of U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), diluted earnings per share (EPS) was $1.29 for the March quarter of fiscal 2018, compared to $1.86 in the prior year quarter (Press release, AmerisourceBergen, MAY 2, 2018, View Source [SID1234525986]). Adjusted diluted EPS, which is a non-GAAP measure that excludes items described below, increased 9.6 percent to $1.94 in the fiscal second quarter.

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AmerisourceBergen now believes adjusted diluted EPS for fiscal year 2018 will be at the bottom of its guidance range of $6.45 to $6.65, reflecting growth of 10 percent versus last fiscal year. The Company does not provide forward-looking guidance on a GAAP basis, as discussed below in Fiscal Year 2018 Expectations.

"I am pleased with our performance in the March quarter as associates and businesses within AmerisourceBergen continue to execute. Our distribution businesses are creating significant value for our customers as we grow volumes and help support their businesses in a dynamic healthcare market," said Steven H. Collis, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of AmerisourceBergen.

"Our updated outlook for fiscal 2018 reflects the strong performance of our Pharmaceutical Distribution Services segment, helping to offset a lower contribution from its PharMEDium business. We remain confident in the value, efficiency and safety PharMEDium provides the healthcare system and are committed to providing our customers with the highest quality products and services," Mr. Collis continued. "As we move further into fiscal 2018, we are excited to begin realizing the benefits of investments throughout AmerisourceBergen that further enhance the value and efficiency we offer to our provider customers and manufacturer partners. Our long-term relationships and unique portfolio of integrated pharmaceutical services enable AmerisourceBergen to continue living its purpose as we are united in our responsibility to create healthier futures."

Aduro Biotech Reports First Quarter 2018 Financial Results

On May 2, 2018 Aduro Biotech, Inc. (NASDAQ:ADRO) reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2018. Net loss for the first quarter of 2018 was $21.5 million, or $0.28 per share, compared to net loss of $21.8 million, or $0.32 per share, for the same period in 2017 (Press release, Aduro Biotech, MAY 2, 2018, View Source;p=RssLanding&cat=news&id=2346437 [SID1234525952]).

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Recent Developments:

Reported preclinical data on ADU-S100, BION-1301 and ADU-1604 at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper)

Reported initial observations from the first patient treated with our personalized neoantigen-based immunotherapy

Received a milestone payment from Merck for initiation of a Phase 1 trial of our anti-CD27 antibody for patients with advanced solid tumors
Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities totaled $327.8 million at March 31, 2018, compared to $349.7 million at December 31, 2017.

Revenue was $6.6 million for the first quarter of 2018 compared to $3.8 million for the same period in 2017. The increase of $2.8 million was primarily due to a $3.0 million milestone payment received from Merck for initiation of a Phase 1 trial for our anti-CD27 antibody.

Research and development expenses were $20.1 million for the first quarter of 2018 compared to $20.6 million for the same period in 2017. The decrease of $0.5 million was due to lower contract manufacturing expense of $3.1 million primarily related to BION-1301, partially offset by increases in clinical development and contract research expenses for our ongoing programs including ADU-S100, BION-1301, ADU-1604 and our personalized neoantigen-based immunotherapy, as well as increases in stock-based compensation and personnel related expenses.

General and administrative expenses were $9.0 million for the first quarter of 2018 compared to $8.3 million for the same period in 2017. The increase of $0.7 million was driven primarily by legal fees associated with our patent portfolio and higher stock-based compensation expense, partially offset by decreased compensation expense.

Income tax benefit was approximately $21 thousand for the first quarter of 2018 compared to an income tax benefit of $2.8 million for the same period in 2017. The income tax benefit for 2017 related to federal income tax benefit associated with the carryback of the 2017 losses.