On April 29, 2021 Gilead Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: GILD) reported its results of operations for the first quarter 2021 (Press release, Gilead Sciences, APR 29, 2021, View Source [SID1234578778]).

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"We have made strong progress in this first quarter, with our new partnership with Merck in long-acting HIV therapies, two newly approved indications in the U.S. for Trodelvy in metastatic triple-negative breast cancer and metastatic urothelial cancer, and the addition of Hepcludex to our portfolio," said Daniel O’Day, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Gilead Sciences. "2021 is a pivotal year for Gilead, with key milestones across our virology and oncology portfolios. We’re looking forward to advancing our pipeline of promising therapies in the coming months."

First Quarter 2021 Financial Results

•Total first quarter 2021 revenue of $6.4 billion increased 16% compared to the same period in 2020, primarily due to Veklury (remdesivir) sales, Cell Therapy growth with Yescarta (axicabtagene ciloleucel) and the U.S. launch of Tecartus (brexucabtagene autoleucel) in the third quarter 2020, the first full quarter recognition of Trodelvy (sacituzumab govitecan-hziy 180 mg) sales, and Hepatitis B virus ("HBV") growth with Vemlidy (tenofovir alafenamide 25 mg).

•Diluted Earnings Per Share ("EPS") increased 12% to $1.37 for the first quarter 2021 compared to the same period in 2020, primarily driven by revenue growth, partially offset by fair value loss adjustments related to Gilead’s equity investment in Galapagos NV ("Galapagos") and lower interest income.
•Non-GAAP diluted EPS increased 24% to $2.08 for the first quarter 2021 compared to the same period in 2020, primarily due to higher operating income and lower effective tax rate, offset by lower interest income.
•As of March 31, 2021, Gilead had $6.2 billion of cash, cash equivalents and marketable debt securities compared to $7.9 billion as of December 31, 2020.
•During the first quarter 2021, Gilead generated $2.6 billion in operating cash flow.
•During the first quarter 2021, Gilead repaid $1.3 billion of debt, utilized $1.3 billion on acquisitions, net of cash acquired (including in-process research and development ("IPR&D")), paid cash dividends of $917 million and utilized $309 million on repurchases of common stock.

Product Sales Performance

Total first quarter 2021 product sales increased 16% to $6.3 billion compared to the same period in 2020. Total product sales excluding Veklury decreased 11% to $4.9 billion for the first quarter 2021 compared to the same period in 2020, with contributions from new product launches such as Tecartus and Trodelvy offset, as expected, by loss of exclusivity of Truvada (emtricitabine 200 mg ("FTC") and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate 300 mg ("TDF")) and Atripla (efavirenz 600 mg/FTC/TDF) in the United States and COVID-19 pandemic-related impacts in both HIV and hepatitis C virus ("HCV").
HIV product sales decreased 12% to $3.7 billion for the first quarter 2021 compared to the same period in 2020, reflecting the expected loss of exclusivity of Truvada and Atripla in the United States, in addition to channel inventory dynamics including COVID-19 pandemic-related stocking in the first quarter 2020.

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•Biktarvy (bictegravir 50 mg/FTC/tenofovir alafenamide 25 mg ("TAF")) sales increased 8% year-over-year in the first quarter 2021, reflecting robust market share gains across core markets and partially offset by channel inventory dynamics.
•Descovy (FTC/TAF) sales decreased 22% year-over-year in the first quarter 2021, driven by lower average net selling price and channel inventory dynamics including COVID-19 pandemic-related stocking in the first quarter 2020, in addition to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic-related effects on the pre-exposure prophylaxis ("PrEP") market.
•Truvada and Atripla sales decreased 67% year-over-year to $135 million and $31 million, respectively, in the first quarter 2021, following loss of exclusivity in the United States in October 2020.
HCV product sales decreased 30% to $510 million for the first quarter 2021 compared to the same period in 2020. Sales volumes were impacted by lower patient starts in the United States and Europe associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.
HBV and hepatitis delta virus ("HDV") product sales increased 18% to $220 million for the first quarter 2021 compared to the same period in 2020. Vemlidy sales increased 33% in the first quarter 2021 compared to the same period in 2020. Hepcludex (bulevirtide) contributed $6 million in sales subsequent to Gilead’s acquisition of MYR GmbH ("MYR"), representing a partial quarter of sales.
Cell Therapy product sales increased 36% to $191 million for the first quarter 2021 compared to the same period in 2020.
•Yescarta sales increased to $160 million in the first quarter 2021, reflecting increased uptake and geographic expansion in Europe.
•Tecartus sales were $31 million for the first quarter 2021 as launch activities continue to ramp up in the United States.
Trodelvy sales for the first quarter 2021 were $72 million, representing the first full quarter of sales for Gilead.
Veklury sales were $1.5 billion for the first quarter 2021. Sales of Veklury are generally affected by COVID-19 related rates of infections, hospitalizations and vaccinations.
Other product sales decreased 13% to $241 million for the first quarter 2021 compared to the same period in 2020.
•Letairis (ambrisentan 5 mg and 10 mg) and Ranexa (ranolazine 500 mg and 1000 mg) sales decreased in the first quarter 2021, as expected, as generic competition continues to gain share following loss of exclusivity in 2019.
First Quarter 2021 Product Gross Margin, Operating Expenses and Tax
•Product gross margin was 78.5% for the first quarter 2021 compared to 82.3% in the same period in 2020. Non-GAAP product gross margin was 86.5% for the first quarter 2021 compared to 87.1% in the same period in 2020, reflecting a less favorable product mix and an inventory charge, partially offset by favorable royalty adjustments.
•Research and Development ("R&D") expenses for the first quarter 2021 were $1,055 million compared to $1,004 million in the same period in 2020. Non-GAAP R&D expenses for the first quarter 2021 were $1,049 million compared to $1,004 million in the same period in 2020. The higher R&D expenses included ramp-up of magrolimab and Trodelvy clinical activities, partially offset by study completions and discontinuations.
•Sales, General and Administrative ("SG&A") expenses for the first quarter 2021 were $1,055 million compared to $1,076 million in the same period in 2020. Non-GAAP SG&A expenses for the first quarter 2021 were $1,033 million compared to $1,076 million in the same period in 2020. The lower SG&A expenses reflect lower promotional spend in HIV and HCV and timing of grants, partially offset by increased commercialization investments for Veklury, Trodelvy, Cell Therapy, and HBV and HIV in China.

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•The GAAP effective tax rate ("ETR") and non-GAAP ETR for the first quarter 2021 were 23.9% and 18.4%, respectively, compared to 23.2% and 19.7% for the same period in 2020, respectively.
Key Updates Since Our Last Quarterly Release
Viral Diseases
• Gilead announced a collaboration with Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp ("Merck"), a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., to develop and commercialize long-acting, investigational treatment combinations of Gilead’s lenacapavir and Merck’s islatravir in HIV. The first clinical studies of the oral combination are expected to begin in the second half of 2021.
• At the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections ("CROI"), Gilead presented additional results from lenacapavir’s Phase 2/3 CAPELLA trial. The interim efficacy results showed lenacapavir maintained high rates of virologic suppression through 26 weeks among heavily treatment-experienced people with multi-drug resistant HIV; 73% of participants who reached Week 26 since the first dose of subcutaneous lenacapavir with an optimized background regimen achieved undetectable viral load.
• At CROI, Gilead presented data from an open label-extension of two Phase 3 studies of Biktarvy, demonstrating sustained safety and efficacy with greater than 98% of treatment-naïve participants achieving and maintaining undetectable viral load through four years of follow-up.
Oncology
• The New England Journal of Medicine published primary results from the randomized confirmatory Phase 3 ASCENT study of Trodelvy in metastatic triple-negative breast cancer ("mTNBC"). The publication demonstrated that Trodelvy significantly extended both progression-free survival and overall survival for patients compared to standard single-agent chemotherapy.
•U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") granted accelerated approval of Trodelvy for adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer who have previously received a platinum-containing chemotherapy and either a programmed death receptor-1 or programmed death-ligand 1 inhibitor.
• FDA granted full approval of Trodelvy for adult patients with unresectable locally advanced or mTNBC who have received two or more prior systemic therapies, at least one of them for metastatic disease.
• European Medicines Agency ("EMA") validated the Marketing Authorization Application and granted accelerated review for Trodelvy for the treatment of mTNBC.
• FDA approved Yescarta for relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma after two or more lines of systemic therapy. Yescarta is the first CAR T therapy approved for indolent follicular lymphoma.
• Gilead and Kite announced new analysis from the ZUMA-1 trial of Yescarta in a cohort of adult patients with relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma. Findings suggest use of corticosteroids prior to Yescarta infusion has potential to impact the benefit/risk profile.
Inflammatory Diseases
• Gilead and Novo Nordisk A/S ("Novo Nordisk") expanded their clinical collaboration in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis ("NASH") with plans to launch a new Phase 2b for a triple combination regimen in NASH patients with cirrhosis.
• Gilead and Galapagos discontinued ISABELA Phase 3 trials in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
Corporate
• In response to the rapid increase in COVID-19 in India, Gilead announced that it would provide voluntary licensees with technical assistance to expand local production capacity, support for the addition of new manufacturing facilities and a donation of active pharmaceutical ingredient. Gilead will also donate at least 450,000 vials of Veklury to the government of India.
•Gilead welcomed Flavius Martin, MD, as Executive Vice President, Research, following the retirement of William A. Lee, PhD. Dr. Martin brings decades of experience in early drug discovery research.

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• Gilead completed the acquisition of MYR for up to approximately €1.3 billion (or $1.6 billion) in aggregate consideration. The acquisition provides Gilead with Hepcludex, which is conditionally approved by EMA for the treatment of chronic HDV in adults with compensated liver disease.
• Kite appointed Frank Neumann, MD, PhD, as Worldwide Head of Clinical Development. Dr. Neumann has a record of proven leadership in cell therapy and oncology clinical development.
Guidance and Outlook

The COVID-19 pandemic is expected to continue to impact our business and broader market dynamics, such as HCV treatment initiations and HIV new starts and switches. We now expect a more gradual recovery in the COVID-19 related dynamics starting in the second quarter 2021, and the rate and degree of recovery may vary by geography. Sales of Veklury will continue to be subject to significant volatility and uncertainty. As a result, Gilead believes providing full year 2021 revenue guidance excluding Veklury is useful for investors, when considered in conjunction with its GAAP financial information.

Except for GAAP earnings per diluted share, there is no change to the guidance shared on February 4, 2021, including: full year product sales excluding Veklury between $21.7 billion and $22.1 billion; full year Veklury sales between $2 billion and $3 billion; total product sales for 2021 between $23.7 billion and $25.1 billion; and non-GAAP earnings per share for 2021 between $6.75 and $7.45. GAAP earnings per diluted share for 2021 is now expected to be between $4.75 and $5.45, updated primarily for actual changes in fair value of equity investments in the first quarter 2021. A reconciliation between GAAP and non-GAAP financial information for the 2021 guidance is provided in the table on page 12.

Non-GAAP Financial Information

The information presented in this document has been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), unless otherwise noted as non-GAAP. Management believes non-GAAP information is useful for investors, when considered in conjunction with Gilead’s GAAP financial information, because management uses such information internally for its operating, budgeting and financial planning purposes. Non-GAAP information is not prepared under a comprehensive set of accounting rules and should only be used to supplement an understanding of Gilead’s operating results as reported under GAAP. Non-GAAP financial information excludes acquisition-related expenses including amortization of acquired intangible assets and inventory step-up charges in cost of goods sold, acquired IPR&D expenses, and other items that are considered unusual or not representative of underlying trends of Gilead’s business, fair value adjustments of equity securities and discrete and related tax charges or benefits associated with changes in tax related laws and guidelines. Acquired IPR&D expenses reflect IPR&D impairments as well as the initial costs of externally developed IPR&D projects, acquired directly in a transaction other than a business combination, that do not have an alternative future use, including upfront payments related to various collaborations and the initial costs of rights to IPR&D projects. Although Gilead consistently excludes the amortization of acquired intangible assets from the non-GAAP financial information, management believes that it is important for investors to understand that such intangible assets were recorded as part of acquisitions and contribute to ongoing revenue generation. Non-GAAP measures may be defined and calculated differently by other companies in the same industry. Reconciliations of the non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures are provided in the tables on pages 10 – 11.

Conference Call

At 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time today, Gilead will host a conference call to discuss Gilead’s results. The live webcast can be accessed through the Gilead website at View Source Alternatively, individuals can access the call by dialing 877-359-9508 (U.S.) or 224-357-2393 (international) with conference ID 5069935. A replay of the conference call will be posted on the Gilead website after the event and will be available for one year.