On May 4, 2022 Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: NBIX) reported its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2022 and reiterated financial guidance for 2022 (Press release, Neurocrine Biosciences, MAY 4, 2022, View Source [SID1234613477]).
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"INGREZZA’s first quarter performance reflects the opportunity we have to help patients living with tardive dyskinesia (TD). We completed our salesforce expansion in April and we now have three dedicated teams across psychiatry, neurology, and long-term care who are focused on improving diagnosis and treatment rates for TD," said Kevin Gorman, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Neurocrine Biosciences. "With a growing product in INGREZZA, several mid-to-late-stage clinical data read-outs this year and next, and a strong financial profile, Neurocrine Biosciences continues to establish our position as a leading neuroscience-focused company."
Financial Highlights
First Quarter INGREZZA Net Product Sales and Commercial Highlights:
Net product sales were $303 million with total prescriptions (TRx) of approximately 57,600
Net product sales and TRx grew 32% and 33%, respectively, vs. first quarter of 2021
Improved levels of persistence and compliance for existing patients when compared to prior first quarters driven by strong commercial execution
Record number of new patients
In April 2022, salesforce expansion was completed establishing separate psychiatry, neurology, and long-term care teams
Financial Highlights:
First quarter 2022 GAAP net income and diluted earnings per share of $14 million and $0.14, respectively, compared with $32 million and $0.33, respectively, for first quarter 2021
First quarter 2022 non-GAAP net income and diluted earnings per share of $30 million and $0.30, respectively, compared with $49 million and $0.50, respectively, for first quarter 2021
Differences in first quarter 2022 GAAP and non-GAAP financial results compared with first quarter 2021 driven by:
Increased R&D expense in support of an expanded and advancing clinical portfolio
Increased SG&A expense primarily due to ongoing commercial initiatives, including the TD Spotlight-branded direct-to-consumer INGREZZA advertising campaign which launched in May 2021 and deployment of the expanded salesforce in March 2022
At March 31, 2022, the Company had cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities of $1.2 billion
A reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP financial results can be found in Table 3 and Table 4 at the end of this earnings release.
Recent Events:
In March 2022, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation (MTPC) received Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare approval for DYSVAL (valbenazine) for the treatment of tardive dyskinesia in Japan. Under the terms of the license agreement, the Company is entitled to receive a milestone payment of $20 million upon MTPC’s first commercial sale of DYSVAL in Japan, which is expected to occur in the second quarter of 2022.
In April 2022, Neurocrine Biosciences presented Phase 3 data for the KINECT-HD study evaluating valbenazine for chorea associated with Huntington disease. In the study, valbenazine met the primary endpoint of significant (p<0.0001) improvement in chorea severity versus placebo as measured by the Unified Huntington’s Disease Rating Scale (UHDRS) Total Maximal Chorea (TMC) Score, with improvements beginning in week 2. Clinically meaningful results, demonstrated by greater response rates, were seen by clinicians (CGI-C) and patients (PGI-C) for valbenazine versus placebo. In addition, the safety profile was consistent with the known safety profile of valbenazine. The Company plans to submit a supplemental New Drug Application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in the second half of 2022.
Reiterated 2022 INGREZZA Sales and Operating Expense Guidance:
INGREZZA sales guidance for fiscal 2022 reflects approximately 20% year-over-year growth, at the mid-point of the range, and is based on recent trends, an anticipated improving COVID-19 related environment throughout the year, and benefit from our recently completed salesforce expansion during the second half of 2022. If new COVID-19 related disruptions emerge, the Company’s ability to meet these expectations could be negatively impacted.
GAAP R&D guidance includes amounts for milestones that are probable of achievement or have been achieved and (ii) amounts for in-process research and development once significant collaboration and licensing arrangements have been completed. GAAP R&D Guidance includes approximately $7 million of milestone expense for the Xenon collaboration which was achieved in January 2022.
Non-GAAP guidance adjusted to exclude estimated non-cash stock-based compensation expense of $60 million in R&D and $110 million in SG&A.
Based upon Federal NOL’s and tax credits, the Company expects to begin making cash payments for Federal income tax beginning in the fourth quarter of 2022.
Expected Future Milestones and Key Activities
Key: VMAT2 = Vesicular Monoamine Transporter 2; CaV = Calcium Channel, Voltage-Gated; CSWS = Epileptic Encephalopathy with Continuous Spike and Wave During Sleep; M4= M4 Muscarinic Receptor; CFR1 = Corticotropin-Releasing Factor Type 1; AMPA = Alpha-Amino-3-Hydroxy-5-Methyl-4-Isoxazole Propionic Acid; GPR = Orphan G Protein Coupled Receptor; NaV1.6 = Sodium Channel, Voltage-Gated
Neurocrine Bioscience Partners: * Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation has commercialization rights in East Asia;
** In-Licensed from Idorsia Pharmaceuticals; † In-Licensed from Sosei Group Corporation; ‡ Partnered with Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited; ∝ In-Licensed from Xenon Pharmaceuticals
Conference Call and Webcast Today at 8:00 AM Eastern Time
Neurocrine Biosciences will hold a live conference call and webcast today at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time (5:00 a.m. Pacific Time). Participants can access the live conference call by dialing 800-895-3361 (US) or 785-424-1062 (International) using the conference ID: NBIX. The webcast can also be accessed on Neurocrine Biosciences’ website under Investors at www.neurocrine.com. A replay of the webcast will be available on the website approximately one hour after the conclusion of the event and will be archived for approximately one month.