On November 8, 2017 Pacira Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: PCRX) reported consolidated financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2017 (Press release, Pacira Pharmaceuticals, NOV 8, 2017, View Source;p=RssLanding&cat=news&id=2315327 [SID1234521756]).
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"We continue to make important progress during 2017 as we advance our strategy to expand the role of EXPAREL as the only long-acting local analgesic capable of providing non-opioid pain control during the most intense period of postsurgical pain," said Dave Stack, chairman and chief executive officer of Pacira. "Recent highlights include the FDA acceptance of our sNDA for nerve block; the publication of new research quantifying the devastating impact of opioids for postsurgical pain; a unique collaboration with Aetna to reduce opioid use associated with impacted wisdom teeth extractions; and the advancement of our important partnership with J&J."
"During the quarter we generated year over year EXPAREL growth despite fewer selling days and the impact of weather in areas of the southern United States representing about 20 percent of our business. From our commercial initiatives and current trends however; we remain confident in the growth potential of EXPAREL and our steadfast commitment to reducing the use of opioids for postsurgical pain."
Recent Highlights
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Acceptance of Supplementary New Drug Application for Nerve Block. In October, the FDA accepted the company’s resubmission of its supplemental new drug application (sNDA) seeking expansion of the EXPAREL (bupivacaine liposome injectable suspension) label to include administration via nerve block for prolonged regional analgesia. If approved, EXPAREL could help eliminate the need for cumbersome devices like pumps and catheters and shift numerous procedures to an outpatient setting. The expected action date for the FDA under the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) is April 6, 2018.
Provided Invited Testimony at White House Opioid Crisis Commission Meeting. In September, Pacira Chief Executive Officer Dave Stack testified before President Trump’s Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis. The Commission, led by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, was created to study ways to combat and treat drug abuse, addiction and the opioid crisis. Stack provided insights into the critical nature of clinician and patient access to non-opioid medications that can effectively manage postsurgical pain while reducing opioid requirements.
Published New Research Highlighting Serious Threats Associated with Overprescribing Postsurgical Opioids. Newly published research, conducted by the QuintilesIMS Institute, shows individuals undergoing surgery are at particular risk for long-term opioid use. An overwhelming majority of patients (nine in 10) are exposed to opioids to manage postsurgical pain, and those given prescriptions received an average of 85 pills each. In addition, nearly 3 million individuals who had surgery in 2016 became persistent opioid users, according to the research. This report, The United States for Non-Dependence, represents the most current analysis of national trends in opioid prescribing.
Collaboration with Aetna and the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons to Reduce Opioid Use. In September, Pacira announced a nationwide collaboration with Aetna and the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) aimed at reducing the number of opioid tablets prescribed to patients undergoing impacted third molar extraction by at least 50 percent through the utilization of EXPAREL to provide prolonged non-opioid postsurgical pain control.
Multiple EXPAREL Data Presentations at the New York School of Regional Anesthesia Annual Fall Symposium. In September, the company presented three posters evaluating the use of EXPAREL administered as a regional nerve block to manage postsurgical pain at the New York School of Regional Anesthesia’s (NYSORA) 16th Annual Symposium on Regional Anesthesia, Pain and Perioperative Medicine.
Third Quarter 2017 Financial Results
EXPAREL net product sales were $66.8 million in the third quarter of 2017, a 3% increase over the $64.9 million reported for the third quarter of 2016. There were two fewer selling days in the third quarter of 2017 compared to the third quarter of 2016.
Total revenues were $67.3 million in the third quarter of 2017, a 1% decrease versus the $68.4 million reported for the third quarter of 2016, primarily related to the discontinuation of DepoCyt(e) and lower collaborative licensing and milestone revenue.
Total operating expenses were $70.9 million in the third quarter of 2017, compared to $89.2 million in the third quarter of 2016.
GAAP net loss was $7.6 million, or $(0.19) per share (basic and diluted), in the third quarter of 2017, compared to a GAAP net loss of $22.2 million, or $(0.59) per share (basic and diluted), in the third quarter of 2016.
Non-GAAP net income was $4.4 million, or $0.11 per share (basic and diluted) in the third quarter of 2017, compared to non-GAAP net income of $8.0 million, or $0.22 per share (basic) and $0.20 per share (diluted), in the third quarter of 2016.
Pacira ended the third quarter of 2017 with cash, cash equivalents, short-term and long-term investments ("cash") of $374.9 million.
Pacira had 40.5 million basic weighted average shares of common stock outstanding in the third quarter of 2017.
For non-GAAP measures, Pacira had 41.4 million diluted weighted average shares of common stock outstanding in the third quarter of 2017.
2017 Outlook
Pacira is updating its full year 2017 sales guidance and reiterating its remaining financial guidance as follows:
EXPAREL net product sales of $280 million to $285 million from its previously guided range of $290 million to $310 million.
Non-GAAP gross margins of approximately 70%.
Non-GAAP research and development (R&D) expense of $50 million to $60 million.
Non-GAAP selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expense of $145 million to $155 million.
Stock-based compensation of $30 million to $35 million.
See "Non-GAAP Financial Information" and "Reconciliations of GAAP to Non-GAAP 2017 Financial Guidance" below.
Today’s Conference Call and Webcast Reminder
The Pacira management team will host a conference call to discuss the company’s financial results and recent developments today, Wednesday, November 8, 2017, at 8:30 a.m. ET. The call can be accessed by dialing 1-877-845-0779 (domestic) or 1-720-545-0035 (international) ten minutes prior to the start of the call and providing the Conference ID 96590192.
A replay of the call will be available approximately two hours after the completion of the call and can be accessed by dialing 1-855-859-2056 (domestic) or 1-404-537-3406 (international) and providing the Conference ID 96590192. The replay of the call will be available for two weeks from the date of the live call.
The live, listen-only webcast of the conference call can also be accessed by visiting the "Investors & Media" section of the company’s website at investor.pacira.com. A replay of the webcast will be archived on the Pacira website for two weeks following the call.
Non-GAAP Financial Information
This press release contains financial measures that do not comply with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), such as non-GAAP net income (loss), non-GAAP cost of goods sold, non-GAAP gross margins, non-GAAP research and development (R&D), non-GAAP selling, general and administrative (SG&A) and non-GAAP product discontinuation expenses, because such measures exclude stock-based compensation, amortization of debt discount, loss on early extinguishment of debt, a contract termination fee with CrossLink BioScience, LLC, or CrossLink, exit costs related to the discontinuation of DepoCyt(e) production and inventory and related reserves from 2016.
These measures supplement the company’s financial results prepared in accordance with GAAP. Pacira management uses these measures to better analyze its financial results, estimate its future cost of goods sold, gross margins, R&D and SG&A outlook for 2017 and to help make managerial decisions. In management’s opinion, these non-GAAP measures are useful to investors and other users of our financial statements by providing greater transparency into the operating performance at Pacira and the company’s future outlook. Such measures should not be deemed to be an alternative to GAAP requirements or a measure of liquidity for Pacira. Non-GAAP measures are also unlikely to be comparable with non-GAAP disclosures released by other companies. See the tables below for a reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP measures, and a reconciliation of our GAAP to non-GAAP 2017 financial guidance for gross margins, R&D and SG&A.