Bristol-Myers Squibb Reports Second Quarter Financial Results

On July 28, 2016 Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY) reported results for the second quarter of 2016, which were highlighted by strong sales, key regulatory and clinical milestones in Immuno-Oncology and business development transactions that strengthened the company’s Immuno-Oncology pipeline (Press release, Bristol-Myers Squibb, JUL 28, 2016, View Source [SID:1234514085]).

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"During the second quarter we delivered strong sales and earnings growth, achieved important regulatory milestones with Opdivo across multiple types of cancer, and further advanced our leadership in Immuno-Oncology through the breadth of the clinical data we presented at ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper)," said Giovanni Caforio, M.D., chief executive officer, Bristol-Myers Squibb. "I am confident strong performance of our in-line products, progress with our diversified pipeline and our focused approach to business development position us well for continued success."

Second Quarter
$ amounts in millions, except per share amounts
2016
2015
Change
Total Revenues $4,871 $4,163 17%
GAAP Diluted EPS 0.69 (0.08) **
Non-GAAP Diluted EPS 0.69 0.53 30%

**In excess of +/- 100%

SECOND QUARTER FINANCIAL RESULTS

Bristol-Myers Squibb posted second quarter 2016 revenues of $4.9 billion, an increase of 17% compared to the same period a year ago. Global revenues increased 18% adjusted for foreign exchange impact. Excluding Abilify and Erbitux , global revenues increased 24% or 26% adjusted for foreign exchange impact.

U.S. revenues increased 46% to $2.7 billion in the quarter compared to the same period a year ago. International revenues decreased 6% primarily from lower Hepatitis C Franchise sales in Japan and France. When adjusted for foreign exchange impact, international revenues decreased 4%.

Gross margin as a percentage of revenues was 75.2% in the quarter compared to 75.7% in the same period a year ago.
Marketing, selling and administrative expenses increased 9% to $1.2 billion in the quarter.

Research and development expenses decreased 32% to $1.3 billion in the quarter. Research and development expenses in the second quarter of 2015 include an $800 million charge resulting from the Flexus acquisition.

The effective tax rate was 26.4% in the quarter, compared to 311.5% in the second quarter last year. The second quarter 2015 Flexus acquisition was non-deductible for tax purposes.

The company reported net earnings attributable to Bristol-Myers Squibb of $1.2 billion, or $0.69 per share, in the quarter compared to a net loss of $130 million, or $0.08 per share, a year ago. The results in the second quarter of 2015 include a $0.48 per share charge from the Flexus acquisition.

The company reported non-GAAP net earnings attributable to Bristol-Myers Squibb of $1.2 billion, or $0.69 per share, in the second quarter, compared to $890 million, or $0.53 per share, for the same period in 2015. An overview of specified items is discussed under the "Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information" section.

Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities were $7.9 billion, with a net cash position of $1.2 billion, as of June 30, 2016.
SECOND QUARTER PRODUCT AND PIPELINE UPDATE

Global revenues for the second quarter of 2016, compared to the second quarter of 2015, were driven by Opdivo, which grew by $718 million; Eliquis , which grew 78%; Orencia , which grew 29%; Hepatitis C Franchise, which grew 14%; and Sprycel , which grew 11%.

Opdivo

In July, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) accepted for priority review and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) validated the applications we submitted for Opdivo for patients with previously treated recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). Additionally, in Japan, Bristol-Myers Squibb’s partner Ono Pharmaceuticals submitted an application for Opdivo in SCCHN. The three submissions were based on CheckMate -141, a pivotal Phase 3 open-label, randomized study, that evaluated the overall survival (OS) of Opdivo in patients with SCCHN after platinum therapy compared to investigator’s choice of therapy (methotrexate, docetaxel, or cetuximab). This study was stopped early in January 2016 because an assessment conducted by the independent Data Monitoring Committee concluded the study met its primary endpoint of OS. The projected FDA action date is November 11, 2016.

In June, the FDA granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation to Opdivo for the potential indication of unresectable locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma that has progressed on or after a platinum-containing regimen. As part of the Breakthrough Therapy Designation submission, the company shared for the FDA’s review results from Phase 2 study CA209-275 and other supportive data investigating Opdivo in these previously treated bladder cancer patients.

In May, the FDA approved Opdivo for the treatment of patients with classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) who have relapsed or progressed after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HSCT) and post-transplantation brentuximab vedotin. This accelerated approval was based on overall response rate. This first approval of a PD-1 inhibitor for cHL patients who have relapsed or progressed after auto-HSCT and post-transplantation brentuximab vedotin is based on a combined analysis of data from the Phase 2 CheckMate -205 and the Phase 1 CheckMate -039 study. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials.

In May, the European Commission (EC) approved Opdivo in combination with Yervoy for the treatment of advanced unresectable or metastatic melanoma in adults, representing the first and only approved combination of two Immuno-Oncology (I-O) agents in the European Union (EU). The approval is based on the results of the Phase 3 study CheckMate -067, the first Phase 3, double-blind, randomized study, in which the Opdivo + Yervoy regimen and Opdivo monotherapy demonstrated superior progression-free survival (PFS) and objective response rates (ORR) in patients with advanced melanoma, regardless of BRAF mutational status, versus Yervoy alone. This approval allows for the marketing of the Opdivo + Yervoy regimen in all 28 Member States of the EU.

In June, during the Congress of the European Hematology Association (EHA) (Free EHA Whitepaper) in Copenhagen, Denmark, the company announced results from CheckMate -205, a Phase 2 registrational study evaluating Opdivo in patients with cHL. The primary endpoint of ORR per an independent radiologic review committee (IRRC) was 66%. In an exploratory analysis, the authors observed 72% of patients who did not respond to the most recent prior brentuximab vedotin treatment did respond to Opdivo. The safety profile of Opdivo in CheckMate -205 was consistent with previously reported data in this tumor type.

In June, during ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) in Chicago, the company announced results from eight studies for Opdivo and the Opdivo + Yervoy regimen:
CheckMate -067: In the pivotal Phase 3 study evaluating the Opdivo + Yervoy regimen or Opdivo monotherapy versus Yervoy monotherapy in patients with previously untreated advanced melanoma, including both BRAF V600 mutation positive or BRAF wild-type advanced melanoma, at a minimum follow-up of 18 months, the Opdivo + Yervoy regimen demonstrated continued clinical benefit with a 58% reduction in the risk of disease progression versus Yervoy monotherapy, while Opdivo monotherapy demonstrated a 45% risk reduction versus Yervoy alone. The safety profile of the Opdivo + Yervoy combination regimen in CheckMate -067 was consistent with previously reported studies of the combination.

CheckMate -069: In a post-hoc analysis from the Phase 2 study evaluating patients with previously untreated unresectable or metastatic melanoma who received either the Opdivo + Yervoy regimen or Yervoy alone, durable responses were observed with the combination regimen in a subgroup of 35 patients who discontinued therapy due to treatment-related adverse events and appeared consistent with the overall randomized patient population. Among this subgroup of patients, the ORR was 66%, and 20% achieved a complete response, with a minimum follow-up of two years. At two years, the median duration of response was not reached and 74% remain in response. The safety profile of the Opdivo + Yervoy regimen in CheckMate -069 was consistent with previously reported studies of the combination.

CA209-003: In this Phase 1 study evaluating Opdivo in patients with previously treated advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC), in which OS is an exploratory endpoint, 38% of patients were alive at four years and 34% of patients were alive at five years. The long-term safety profile of Opdivo was consistent with previously reported studies.

CA209-010: In this Phase 2 study evaluating Opdivo in patients with previously treated advanced RCC in which OS was a secondary endpoint, 29% of patients were alive at four years. The long-term safety profile of Opdivo was consistent with previously reported studies.

CheckMate -025: In this pivotal Phase 3 study comparing Opdivo versus everolimus in patients with advanced RCC who received prior anti-angiogenic therapy, 55% of patients treated with Opdivo experienced a clinically meaningful improvement in disease-related symptoms, as defined in the study, versus 37% of patients treated with everolimus. This additional analysis of health-related quality of life data was a secondary endpoint in the study.

CheckMate -142: In this Phase 2 study evaluating Opdivo alone or in combination with Yervoy in patients with previously treated metastatic colorectal cancer, including those with high microsatellite instability (MSI), the primary endpoint of investigator-assessed ORR for MSI-high metastatic colorectal cancer patients was 26% for Opdivo monotherapy and 33% for the Opdivo + Yervoy combination regimen. The six-month progression-free survival rates were 46% for Opdivo monotherapy and 67% for the Opdivo + Yervoy combination in patients with MSI-high metastatic colorectal cancer. The safety profile of Opdivo alone or in combination with Yervoy was consistent with other tumor types and prior combination studies.

CheckMate -032: In this Phase 1/2 study evaluating Opdivo in patients with metastatic urothelial cancer, the most common type of bladder cancer, after platinum-based therapy, the primary endpoint of investigator-assessed confirmed ORR was 24% in patients treated with Opdivo, with a minimum follow-up of nine months. At one year, patients treated with Opdivo had an OS rate, a secondary endpoint, of 46%, with a median OS of 9.72 months. Response rates by tumor PD-L1 expression, evaluated as an exploratory endpoint, were similar regardless of PD-L1 expression levels. The safety profile of Opdivo in CheckMate -032 was consistent with the known safety profile of Opdivo in other tumor types.

CheckMate -012: In this Phase 1b trial evaluating Opdivo and Yervoy in patients with chemotherapy-naïve advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), findings from a pooled analysis of two Opdivo + Yervoy combination regimen cohorts [3 mg/kg of Opdivo every two weeks plus 1 mg/kg of Yervoy either every six (Q6W) or 12 weeks (Q12W)] in the study showed the magnitude of response rate from the combination regimen cohorts was enhanced with increased PD-L1 expression. In these combination regimen cohorts, the confirmed ORR in patients with ≥1% PD-L1 expression was 57% and the confirmed ORR was up to 92% (n=12/13) in patients with ≥50% PD-L1 expression. In patients with <1% PD-L1 expression, the confirmed ORR was 15%. Improved safety and tolerability was observed with current Opdivo + Yervoy combination cohorts compared to those previously studied in NSCLC.

In May, in conjunction with ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper), the company announced results from two studies for Opdivo:
CheckMate -057: In this Phase 3 study evaluating Opdivo versus docetaxel in previously treated metastatic non-squamous NSCLC patients, Opdivo continued to demonstrate improved OS, the primary endpoint, at the landmark two-year time point, with 29% of patients treated with Opdivo alive at two years versus 16% of those treated with docetaxel. The safety profile of Opdivo at two years was consistent with previous reports of data from this study.

CheckMate -017: In this Phase 3 study evaluating Opdivo versus docetaxel in previously treated metastatic squamous NSCLC patients, Opdivo continued to demonstrate improved OS, the primary endpoint, at the landmark two-year time point, with 23% of patients treated with Opdivo alive at two years versus 8% of those treated with docetaxel. The safety profile of Opdivo at two years was consistent with previous reports of data from this study.

Empliciti

In May, the company and its partner, AbbVie Inc., announced the EC approval of Empliciti for the treatment of multiple myeloma as combination therapy with lenalidomide and dexamethasone in patients who have received at least one prior therapy. The approval of this first and only immunostimulatory antibody for multiple myeloma is based on data from the randomized, open label, Phase 3 ELOQUENT-2 study, which demonstrated that the combination of Empliciti with lenalidomide and dexamethasone delivered 53% relative improvement in progression-free survival vs. lenalidomide and dexamethasone alone at three years.
Orencia/Immunoscience

In July, the company announced the commercial launch of the ORENCIA ClickJectTM Autoinjector, a new self-administered autoinjector for adults with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA) which was approved by the FDA in June.

In July, the company announced the EMA Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) recommendation to approve the new indication for Orencia, in combination with methotrexate (MTX), for the treatment of highly active and progressive disease in adult patients with RA who have not received previous MTX treatment. The opinion is based on the AGREE and AVERT studies. Assuming EU approval, the new indication would make Orencia the first available biologic therapy specifically for this indication in the EU.

In June, the company announced results from three studies at the Annual European Congress of Rheumatology (EULAR 2016):
In a study exploring patients’ response to treatment for RA based on their baseline status for two biomarkers of poor prognosis, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP, also known as ACPA) and rheumatoid factor (RF), data from the Corrona, LLC RA registry showed that patients who tested positive for anti-CCP or RF were more likely to have a greater response with Orencia treatment than patients testing negative for the biomarkers. The study did not show significant differences in responses between anti-CCP/RF status in those administered TNF-inhibitors.

In a Phase 3 study of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (pJIA), subcutaneous (SC) Orencia demonstrated equivalent efficacy and comparable safety to intravenous (IV) Orencia for pJIA patients. SC Orencia showed efficacy after four months with greater than 80% of patients achieving an ACR30 response with few clinically relevant adverse events.

In a Phase 1 study, the company’s investigational Bruton’s Tyrosine Kinase (BTK) inhibitor, BMS-986142, targeted for RA and other inflammatory diseases, indicated it was well tolerated, warranting further development of the agent.

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT UPDATE

In July, the company entered into a clinical trial collaboration to evaluate the safety, tolerability and efficacy of AbbVie’s investigational antibody drug conjugate Rova-T (rovalpituzumab tesirine) in combination with Opdivo and Opdivo + Yervoy regimen as a second-line treatment for extensive- stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC). The Phase 1/2 clinical program will explore whether combining these two agents will provide improved and sustained efficacy and tolerability above the current treatment protocol of chemotherapy and radiation to SCLC patients.

In July, the company entered into a clinical collaboration to evaluate Opdivo in combination with Janssen Biotech, Inc.’s Live Attenuated Double-Deleted (LADD) Listerial monocytogenes cancer immunotherapy, expressing mesothelin and EGFRvIII (JNJ-64041757), in patients with NSCLC. The Phase 2 study will evaluate the tolerability and clinical activity of the combination of these agents.

In July, the company acquired Cormorant Pharmaceuticals, a private, Stockholm, Sweden-based pharmaceutical company focused on the development of therapies for cancer and rare diseases. The acquisition gives Bristol-Myers Squibb full rights to Cormorant’s HuMax-IL8 antibody program and the lead candidate HuMax-IL8, a Phase 1/2 monoclonal antibody targeted against interleukin-8 (IL-8) that represents a potentially complementary Immuno-Oncology mechanism of action to T-cell directed antibodies and co-stimulatory molecules.

In June, the company entered into an exclusive clinical collaboration agreement to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and preliminary efficacy of PsiOxus’ enadenotucirev, a systemically administered oncolytic adenovirus therapeutic, in combination with Opdivo to treat a range of tumor types in late-stage cancer patients. The clinical collaboration will support Phase 1 studies to determine whether combining these two agents can significantly improve the proportion of patients achieving objective tumor responses, the extent of tumor shrinkage, and/or the durability of responses.

In June, the company and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center entered into a new clinical research collaboration to evaluate strategies for the potential use of Opdivo + Yervoy to treat early- and advanced-stage lung cancer patients. The collaboration will help support multiple Phase 1 and 2 clinical trials testing Opdivo as monotherapy, in combination with Yervoy, or in regimens with other agents, radiation or surgery in a range of clinical settings. These studies will also incorporate extensive translational work including exploration of novel biomarkers to better differentiate responders from non-responders in lung cancer as well as preclinical studies of next generation immunotherapeutic agents that may be used to expand the benefits to larger numbers of patients.

2016 FINANCIAL GUIDANCE

Bristol-Myers Squibb is increasing its 2016 GAAP EPS guidance range from $2.37 – $2.47 to $2.43 – $2.53. The company is also increasing its non-GAAP EPS guidance range from $2.50 – $2.60 to $2.55 – $2.65. Both GAAP and non-GAAP guidance assume current exchange rates. Key revised 2016 non-GAAP line-item guidance assumptions include:

• Research and development expenses increasing in the mid-teen range.

• The effective tax rate is now expected to be 22%.

The financial guidance for 2016 excludes the impact of any potential future strategic acquisitions and divestitures, and any specified items that have not yet been identified and quantified. The non-GAAP 2016 guidance also excludes other specified items as discussed under "Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information." Details reconciling adjusted non-GAAP amounts with the amounts reflecting specified items are provided in supplemental materials available on the company’s website.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information

This press release contains non-GAAP financial measures, including non-GAAP earnings and related EPS information, that are adjusted to exclude certain costs, expenses, gains and losses and other specified items that are evaluated on an individual basis. These items are adjusted after considering their quantitative and qualitative aspects and typically have one or more of the following characteristics, such as being highly variable, difficult to project, unusual in nature, significant to the results of a particular period or not indicative of future operating results. Similar charges or gains were recognized in prior periods and will likely reoccur in future periods including restructuring costs, accelerated depreciation and impairment of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets, R&D charges in connection with the acquisition or licensing of third party intellectual property rights, divestiture gains or losses, pension, legal and other contractual settlement charges and debt redemption gains or losses, among other items. Deferred and current income taxes attributed to these items are also adjusted for considering their individual impact to the overall tax expense, deductibility and jurisdictional tax rates. Non-GAAP information is intended to portray the results of our baseline performance, supplement or enhance management, analysts and investors overall understanding of our underlying financial performance and facilitate comparisons among current, past and future periods. For example, non-GAAP earnings and EPS information is an indication of our baseline performance before items that are considered by us to not be reflective of our ongoing results. In addition, this information is among the primary indicators we use as a basis for evaluating performance, allocating resources, setting incentive compensation targets and planning and forecasting for future periods. This information is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for net earnings or diluted EPS prepared in accordance with GAAP.

United Therapeutics Corporation Reports Second Quarter 2016 Financial Results

On July 28, 2016 United Therapeutics Corporation (NASDAQ: UTHR) reported its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2016 (Press release, United Therapeutics, JUL 28, 2016, View Source [SID:1234514091]).

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"We are pleased with our second quarter 2016 financial results as total revenues exceeded $400 million and earnings beat $200 million," said Martine Rothblatt, Ph.D., United Therapeutics’ Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "These financial results strengthen our ability to advance our late-stage pipeline programs in cardiopulmonary disease and oncology, as well as early-stage programs in multiple indications."

Key financial highlights include (dollars in millions, except per share data):


Three Months Ended June 30,

Percentage

2016

2015

Change


Revenues

$412.6

$347.2

18.8 %


Net income

$206.1

$99.2

107.8%


Non-GAAP earnings(1)

$213.3

$132.8

60.6%


Net income, per diluted share

$4.39

$1.91

129.8%


Non-GAAP earnings, per diluted share(1)

$4.55

$2.56

77.7%
______________________________

(1)See definition of non-GAAP earnings, a non-GAAP financial measure, and a reconciliation of net income to non-GAAP earnings below.


Financial Results for the Three Months Ended June 30, 2016

Revenues

The table below summarizes the components of total revenues (dollars in millions):


Three Months Ended June 30,

Percentage

2016

2015

Change

Net product sales:


Remodulin

$158.9

$135.9

16.9 %


Tyvaso

107.0

115.8

(7.6) %


Adcirca

90.9

68.2

33.3 %


Orenitram

38.0

25.9

46.7 %


Unituxin

17.8



NM(1)


Other



1.4

(100.0) %


Total revenues

$412.6

$347.2

18.8 %

______________________________
(1)Calculation is not meaningful.

Revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2016 increased by $65.4 million, compared to the same period in 2015. The growth in revenues primarily resulted from the following: (1) a $23.0 million increase in Remodulin net product sales; (2) a $22.7 million increase in Adcirca net product sales; (3) a $17.8 million increase in Unituxin net product sales; and (4) a $12.1 million increase in Orenitram net product sales. These increases were partially offset by an $8.8 million decrease in Tyvaso net product sales.

Expenses

Cost of product sales. The table below summarizes cost of product sales by major categories (dollars in millions):


Three Months Ended June 30,

Percentage

2016

2015

Change


Category:

Cost of product sales

$20.0

$14.7

36.1 %


Share-based compensation expense



1.3

(100.0) %


Total cost of product sales

$20.0

$16.0

25.0 %

Cost of product sales. The increase in cost of product sales of $5.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2016, as compared to the same period in 2015, was attributable to increased sales volume.

Research and development expense. The table below summarizes research and development expense by major category (dollars in millions):

Three Months Ended June 30,

Percentage

2016

2015

Change

Category:


Research and development expense

$37.0

$36.0

2.8%


Share-based compensation (benefit) expense

(1.8)

13.4

(113.4) %


Total research and development expense

$35.2

$49.4

(28.7)%

Share-based compensation. The decrease in share-based compensation of $15.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2016, as compared to the same period in 2015, corresponded to a 5 percent decrease in the price of our common stock during the three months ended June 30, 2016, compared to a 1 percent increase in the price of our common stock during the same period in 2015.

Selling, general and administrative expense. The table below summarizes selling, general and administrative expense by major categories (dollars in millions):

Three Months Ended June 30,

Percentage

2016

2015

Change

Category:


General and administrative

$44.2

$53.0

(16.6)%


Sales and marketing

24.7

24.4

1.2%


Share-based compensation expense

3.3

32.6

(89.9) %


Total selling, general and administrative expense

$72.2

$110.0

(34.4)%

General and administrative. The decrease in general and administrative expense of $8.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2016, as compared to the same period in 2015, was primarily attributable to the timing of charitable donations to a non-affiliated, non-profit organization that provides financial assistance to patients with PAH. Donations to the same organization in 2016 totaled $37.0 million, all of which were paid during the first quarter of this year. Donations to the same organization in 2015 were $17.0 million, all of which were paid in the second quarter of 2015. The donations made during the first quarter of 2016 and the second quarter of 2015 represent the full extent of our funding to this organization for these two years. We expense these types of grant payments in the period they are paid.

Share-based compensation. The decrease in share-based compensation of $29.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2016, as compared to the same period in 2015, was primarily attributable to a 5 percent decrease in the price of our common stock during the three months ended June 30, 2016, compared to a 1 percent increase in the price of our common stock during the same period in 2015. The decrease was partially offset by approximately $9.8 million of costs related to the accelerated vesting of stock options associated with the departure of a company officer during the second quarter of 2016.

Income Tax Expense

Our 2016 effective income tax rate decreased as compared to 2015 primarily due to a decrease in non-deductible share-based compensation, which was driven largely by a decrease in our stock price during 2016.

Share Repurchases

In the second quarter of 2016, we repurchased approximately 1.2 million shares of our common stock at an aggregate cost of $136.5 million. These purchases were made pursuant to our $500 million stock repurchase program, which is effective during calendar year 2016, and $240.3 million of that amount remained available for additional share repurchases at June 30, 2016.

Non-GAAP Earnings

Non-GAAP earnings is defined as net income, adjusted for: (1) interest expense; (2) license fees; (3) depreciation and amortization; (4) impairment charges; (5) share-based compensation expense (benefit), net (including expenses relating to stock options, share tracking awards, restricted stock units and our employee stock purchase plan); and (6) tax impact on non-GAAP earnings adjustments.

A reconciliation of net income to non-GAAP earnings is presented below (in millions, except per share data):

Three Months Ended June 30,

2016

2015


Net income, as reported

$206.1

$99.2

Adjusted for:


Interest expense

0.6

1.3


Depreciation and amortization

7.9

8.4


Share-based compensation expense, net

1.5

47.3


Tax benefit(1)

(2.8)

(23.4)


Non-GAAP earnings

$213.3

$132.8


Non-GAAP earnings per share:


Basic


$4.82

$2.88


Diluted

$4.55

$2.56


Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:


Basic

44.3

46.1


Diluted

46.9

51.9

______________________________

(1) Represents the total tax impact of the quarterly Non-GAAP earnings adjustments based on our actual quarterly effective income tax rates of approximately 28 percent and approximately 41 percent as of June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

DNAtrix Receives European Medicines Agency PRIME Designation

On July 27, 2016 DNAtrix, a clinical stage biotechnology company developing virus-driven immunotherapies for cancer, reported that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has granted PRIority MEdicines (PRIME) designation for DNX-2401 as a promising new treatment for recurrent glioblastoma (Press release, DNAtrix, JUL 27, 2016, View Source [SID1234525538]).

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The PRIME initiative was launched by the EMA in March of 2016 to accelerate the regulatory approval of breakthrough therapies that target an unmet medical need. By offering prompt interaction with Sponsors developing innovative therapies, the objective is to provide patients who have few treatment options with early access to priority medicines that could provide significant benefit.

DNX-2401 is a potent oncolytic adenovirus that targets and kills cancer cells, while leaving normal cells intact. Multiple clinical studies in patients with recurrent glioblastoma and gynecologic cancer have shown that DNX-2401 has a favorable safety profile, strong tumor-killing potential and can trigger an antitumor immune response.

"We are pleased and honored that the European Medicines Agency has recognized the potential of our oncolytic immunotherapy DNX-2401 to make a positive impact on glioblastoma," said Joanna Peterkin, M.D., M.S., Chief Medical Officer of DNAtrix. "We look forward to working with the EMA on this important development program for DNX-2401, with the goal of improving the quality of life of patients with brain tumors."

DNAtrix has multiple ongoing studies, including a multicenter Phase 2 clinical study evaluating DNX-2401 with the checkpoint inhibitor pembrolizumab in patients with recurrent glioblastoma. For more information about this study, refer to Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02798406).
About DNX-2401 in Glioblastoma

DNX-2401 is an investigational oncolytic immunotherapy designed to treat cancer, with glioblastoma as the initial indication. Glioblastoma is the most aggressive form of brain cancer, which has a median survival of 15 months following a patient’s initial diagnosis. DNX-2401 sets off a chain reaction of tumor cell killing by selectively replicating within glioblastoma cells (but not normal cells), causing tumor destruction and further spread of the oncolytic virus to adjacent tumor cells. This process can also trigger an anti-tumor immune response. DNX-2401 is currently being investigated in several clinical studies and has been well tolerated in all settings. Compelling results from Phase 1 clinical studies in recurrent glioblastoma indicate that DNX-2401 can (1) replicate in human brain tumors for a period of weeks to months, (2) trigger immune cell infiltration into the tumor, (3) cause ongoing tumor destruction detectable by MRI and (4) induce durable responses to therapy. In these studies, patient survival has been prolonged in a subset of patients, including in those achieving a complete response.

Teva Receives Clearance from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission for Actavis Generics Acquisition

On Jul. 27, 2016– Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., (NYSE:TEVA)(TASE:TEVA) and Allergan plc (NYSE:AGN) reported that the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has accepted the proposed consent order in connection with the pending acquisition of Allergan’s generics business ("Actavis Generics") by Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd (Press release, Teva, JUL 27, 2016, View Source;p=RssLanding&cat=news&id=2188969 [SID:1234514078]).

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With the acceptance of the proposed consent order, Teva has satisfied the regulatory approval requirements under the purchase agreement to complete the acquisition of Actavis Generics.

"We are pleased to have received all of the requisite regulatory approvals for our acquisition of Actavis Generics," said Erez Vigodman, President and CEO, Teva. "This acquisition is a transformative step for Teva as we continue to claim a differentiated space in the global pharmaceutical industry. The generics industry is one of the most attractive industries in the world in terms of growth rates, profitability, return to investors and contribution to healthcare systems and societies around the world."

Mr. Vigodman continued, "The new Teva will be ideally positioned to realize the opportunities the global and U.S. generic markets offer. Through our best-in-class R&D capabilities and product pipeline, the world’s largest medicine cabinet and product portfolio, one of the most competitive fully integrated operational networks in the industry, extensive global commercial deployment and go-to-market platforms, we will be able to achieve greater efficiencies for the benefit of patients, healthcare systems and investors around the world. The transaction strongly reinforces our strategy and yields very compelling economics. As a result, it opens a new set of possibilities for us in generics and specialty medicines."

Once the transaction is completed, Teva will have approximately 338 product registrations pending FDA approval and will hold the leading position in first-to-file opportunities with approximately 115 pending ANDAs in the U.S. Additionally, Teva will have a commercial presence across 80 markets, including a top-three leadership position in over 40 markets.

The transaction is expected to achieve $1.4 billion in operational and tax synergies achievable by the end of 2019. It is significantly accretive to non-GAAP EPS, with approximately 14% accretion in 2017 and 19% accretion in 2019, and is expected to generate 9.3% ROIC by the end of 2019. The combined company is expected to generate more than $25 billion of free cash flow from deal close to the end of 2019, which will allow for rapid deleveraging and give Teva the ability to pursue acquisitions of attractive branded and pipeline assets as well as deals that further expand the company’s footprint in key growth markets.
The transaction is expected to close next week.

Varian Medical Systems Reports Results for Third Quarter of Fiscal Year 2016

On July 27, 2016 Varian Medical Systems (NYSE: VAR) reported GAAP net earnings of $1.04 per diluted share and non-GAAP net earnings of $1.22 per diluted share for the third quarter of fiscal year 2016 (Press release, Varian Medical Systems, JUL 27, 2016, View Source [SID:1234514075]). Varian’s revenues totaled $789 million for the third quarter, up 1 percent from the year-ago quarter in dollars and even with the year-ago quarter in constant currency. The company ended the quarter with a $3.3 billion backlog, up 5 percent from the end of the third quarter of fiscal year 2015.

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"We generated strong gross order and revenue growth for the third quarter with substantial improvements in gross and operating margins in both our Oncology and Imaging Components businesses," said Dow Wilson, CEO of Varian Medical Systems. "The quarter also included the booking of an order to equip a new proton therapy center in China."

The company finished the third quarter of fiscal year 2016 with $836 million in cash and cash equivalents and $701 million of debt. Cash flow from operations was $95 million for the third quarter, bringing the year-to-date total to $204 million. The company’s GAAP results for the quarter included about $24 million of unusual expenses principally for ongoing patent litigation and the recently announced initiative to separate the Imaging Components business into a new publicly traded company. During the quarter, the company spent $126 million to repurchase about 1.5 million shares of common stock.

Oncology Systems

Oncology Systems’ third quarter revenues totaled $605 million, up 8 percent from the year-ago quarter in dollars and in constant currency. Third-quarter Oncology gross orders were $676 million, up 6 percent from the year-ago quarter in dollars and in constant currency. In the Americas, Oncology gross orders increased by 8 percent in dollars and in constant currency, with 15 percent growth in North America offsetting a sharp decline in Latin America. In EMEA, gross orders were down 3 percent in dollars and 4 percent in constant currency. In APAC, gross orders rose 19 percent in dollars and 17 percent in constant currency, driven by strong growth in China and Australia.

"Oncology generated strong gross order growth in North America, Asia, Australia and Africa that offset weakness in developed European markets and Latin America," Wilson said. "A positive mix of hardware products and higher software revenues drove a healthy improvement in margins. We were particularly pleased to see strong demand for our TrueBeam platform as well as our new software products including RapidPlan and InSightive Analytics for improving both the quality and speed of treatments."

Imaging Components

Imaging Components revenues were $147 million for the third quarter, up 9 percent from the year-ago period. Gross orders were $138 million for the third quarter, up 13 percent from the year-ago period.

"As expected, we’re seeing a recovery in the Imaging Components business," said Wilson. "We generated strong gross order growth in tubes as well as software and accessories from our recently-acquired businesses. Favorable product mix and productivity gains contributed to significant improvements in margins for this business in the quarter. We feel good about the progress we’re making towards separation." The new company will be named Varex Imaging Corporation.

Other

The company’s Other category, including the Varian Particle Therapy business and the Ginzton Technology Center, recorded third quarter revenues of $37 million, down $53 million from the year-ago quarter when Varian booked significant revenues from its proton installation in Maryland. During the quarter, the company booked an order for a multi-room ProBeam installation at the new Hefei Ion Medical Center in China, with installation expected to begin in 2017.

Outlook

"We believe that total company non-GAAP net earnings will be in the range of $4.62 to $4.66 per diluted share for fiscal year 2016," said Wilson. "We believe revenues for fiscal year 2016 will increase by about 3 percent over fiscal year 2015."

Please refer to "Discussion of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" below for a description of items excluded from expected non-GAAP earnings.