TRILLIUM THERAPEUTICS DOSES FIRST PATIENT WITH TTI-621 IN PHASE 1 SOLID TUMOR TRIAL

On January 31, 2017 Trillium Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: TRIL; TSX: TR), a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company developing innovative therapies for the treatment of cancer, reported that it has initiated dosing in its second Phase 1 clinical trial with TTI-621 (SIRPaFc) in patients with relapsed or refractory percutaneously-accessible solid tumors and mycosis fungoides (Press release, Trillium Therapeutics, JAN 31, 2017, View Source [SID1234517607]). Trillium is developing TTI-621 as a novel checkpoint inhibitor of the innate immune system, and the drug is currently being evaluated in an ongoing 10-cohort Phase 1b study in patients with relapsed or refractory hematologic malignancies.

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“To our knowledge, this is the first patient to ever receive an intratumoral injection of a CD47 blocking agent,” commented Dr. Bob Uger, Trillium’s Chief Scientific Officer. “We believe this approach, which aims to achieve a high local concentration of TTI-621 and employs frequent biopsy analysis, will help us better understand the effects of TTI-621 on the tumor microenvironment and provide critical information for the development of rational combination therapies.”

This two-part clinical trial is designed as a multi-center, open-label Phase 1a/1b trial, and is evaluating TTI-621 as a single-agent in patients that have relapsed or refractory percutaneously accessible solid tumors or mycosis fungoides (NCT02890368). The escalation phase will include single or multiple doses of TTI-621 delivered by intratumoral injections, which will be followed by an expansion phase during which one or more selected dose levels of TTI-621 will be tested.

PFIZER REPORTS FOURTH-QUARTER AND FULL-YEAR 2016 RESULTS

On January 31, 2017 Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) reported financial results for fourth-quarter and full-year 2016 and provided 2017 financial guidance (Press release, Pfizer, JAN 31, 2017, View Source [SID1234517602]).

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Pfizer manages its commercial operations through two distinct businesses: Pfizer Innovative Health (IH)(3) (formerly the Innovative Products business) and Pfizer Essential Health (EH)(3)(4) (formerly the Established Products business). Financial results for each of these businesses are presented in the Operating Segment Information section located at the hyperlink below.

On September 3, 2015, Pfizer acquired Hospira, Inc. (Hospira). Consequently, financial results for the year ended December 31, 2016 reflect legacy Hospira global operations for the entire period while financial results for the year ended December 31, 2015 reflect only four months of legacy Hospira U.S. operations and three months of legacy Hospira international operations(5). Financial results for fourth-quarter 2016 and fourth-quarter 2015 include legacy Hospira global operations for both periods.

On June 24, 2016, Pfizer acquired Anacor Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Anacor). Therefore, financial results for fourth-quarter and full-year 2016 reflect three months and approximately six months of legacy Anacor operations, respectively, which were immaterial.

On September 28, 2016, Pfizer acquired Medivation, Inc. (Medivation). Therefore, financial results for fourth-quarter and full-year 2016 reflect three months of legacy Medivation operations.

Some amounts in this press release may not add due to rounding. All percentages have been calculated using unrounded amounts. References to operational variances(6) pertain to period-over-period growth rates that exclude the impact of foreign exchange as well as the negative currency impact related to Venezuela. Results for the fourth quarter and full year 2016 and 2015 are summarized below.


OVERALL RESULTS
($ in millions, except
per share amounts)

Fourth-Quarter Full-Year
2016 2015 Change 2016 2015 Change
Revenues $ 13,627 $ 14,047 (3%) $ 52,824 $ 48,851 8%
Reported Net Income/(Loss)(1) 775 (172 ) * 7,215 6,960 4%
Reported EPS/(LPS)(1) 0.13 (0.03 ) * 1.17 1.11 5%
Adjusted Income(2) 2,894 3,306 (12%) 14,761 13,755 7%
Adjusted Diluted EPS(2) 0.47 0.53 (11%) 2.40 2.20 9%

* Indicates calculation not meaningful or greater than 100%.


REVENUES
($ in millions) Fourth-Quarter Full-Year
2016

2015 % Change 2016 2015 % Change
Total Oper. Total Oper.
Innovative Health $ 7,726 $ 7,637 1% 2% $ 29,197 $ 26,758 9% 11%
Essential Health $ 5,902 $ 6,410 (8%) (6%) $ 23,627 $ 22,094 7% 11%
EH Standalone
(Excl. Legacy Hospira)
4,735 5,228 (9%) (7%) 18,994 20,581 (8%) (3%)
Legacy Hospira 1,167 1,182 (1%) (1%) 4,634 1,513 * *
Total Company $ 13,627 $ 14,047 (3%) (1%) $ 52,824 $ 48,851 8% 11%

Pfizer Standalone
(Excl. Legacy Hospira
and Legacy Medivation) $ 12,322 $ 12,865 (4%) (2%) $ 48,050 $ 47,339 2% 5%

* Indicates calculation not meaningful or greater than 100%.

2017 FINANCIAL GUIDANCE(7)

Pfizer’s 2017 financial guidance is presented below. Financial guidance reflects the pending disposition of Hospira Infusion Systems (HIS), expected in February 2017, which contributed $1.2 billion of revenues and $0.03 of adjusted diluted EPS(2) in 2016.


Revenues $52.0 to $54.0 billion
Adjusted Cost of Sales(2) as a Percentage of Revenues 20.0% to 21.0%
Adjusted SI&A Expenses(2) $13.7 to $14.7 billion
Adjusted R&D Expenses(2) $7.5 to $8.0 billion
Adjusted Other (Income)/Deductions(2) Approximately $100 million of deductions
Effective Tax Rate on Adjusted Income(2) Approximately 23.0%
Adjusted Diluted EPS(2) $2.50 to $2.60

A reconciliation of Pfizer’s full-year 2016 financial results to certain components of its 2017 financial guidance, including certain significant factors impacting 2017 financial guidance, is below:



Full-Year
2016 Results

Full-Year
2016
Contribution
from HIS

Full-Year
2016 Results
Excluding HIS
Contribution

2017 Financial
Guidance at
2016 FX Rates

Impact of
Mid-January
2017 FX Rates
Compared to
2016 FX Rates

2017 Financial
Guidance
Revenues $52.8 billion $1.2 billion $51.7 billion
$52.9 to $54.9
billion
($0.9 billion)
$52.0 to $54.0
billion
Adjusted Diluted EPS(2) $2.40 $0.03 $2.37 $2.55 to $2.65 ($0.05) $2.50 to $2.60

EXECUTIVE COMMENTARY

Ian Read, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "I was pleased with the company’s overall performance during 2016 and believe both of our businesses executed well despite a challenging operating environment. We generated attractive operational revenue and earnings growth driven by our major products within both the Innovative Health and Essential Health businesses. In addition to strong business performance, we allocated our shareholders’ capital to a variety of value-creating initiatives that included company and product portfolio acquisitions, share repurchases, an increase in our dividend and ongoing funding for our R&D and commercial organizations.

"We are operating with a highly focused business structure and management team, providing us with the best opportunity to generate attractive operating revenue and earnings growth as demonstrated by our 2017 financial guidance. Our strong in-market product portfolio and broad R&D pipeline include several potential first-in-class or best-in-class compounds in important therapeutic areas. I believe we are positioned for continued strong performance in 2017 and beyond, which will enhance our ability to deliver new therapies to patients and create value for our shareholders," Mr. Read concluded.

Frank D’Amelio, Executive Vice President, Business Operations and Chief Financial Officer, stated, "Pfizer-standalone revenues in 2016 grew 5% operationally, excluding the impact of foreign exchange as well as legacy Hospira and legacy Medivation operations, reflecting solid underlying growth despite significant headwinds from product losses of exclusivity and the decline in revenues for Prevnar 13 Adult in the U.S. During 2016, we completed the acquisitions of Anacor and Medivation which added important revenue growth drivers to our Innovative Health business while we continued to integrate legacy Hospira operations into our Essential Health business. Finally, during 2016 we returned $12.3 billion directly to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases.

"Our 2017 financial guidance at the midpoint of our ranges implies revenues slightly above 2016 and a 6% increase to adjusted diluted EPS(2) compared to 2016 results. We expect to achieve this despite absorbing revenue headwinds totaling $4.5 billion, comprised of $2.4 billion resulting from anticipated generic competition, $1.2 billion due to the pending disposition of HIS and $0.9 billion due to adverse changes in foreign exchange rates since 2016. Excluding the negative impacts of the pending disposition of HIS and foreign exchange, the midpoints of our 2017 revenue and adjusted diluted EPS(2) guidance ranges reflect 4% and 10% operational growth, respectively. Notably, our guidance for adjusted diluted EPS(2) anticipates share repurchases totaling $5.0 billion in 2017, which are expected to more than offset potential dilution related to employee compensation programs," Mr. D’Amelio concluded.

QUARTERLY FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (Fourth-Quarter 2016 vs. Fourth-Quarter 2015)

Fourth-quarter 2016 revenues totaled $13.6 billion, a decline of $420 million, or 3% compared to the prior-year quarter, reflecting an operational decline of $191 million, or 1%, and the unfavorable impact of foreign exchange of $228 million, or 2%. Excluding the fourth-quarter 2016 contribution from legacy Medivation operations and foreign exchange, revenues declined by $330 million, or 2%.

Of note, there were four fewer selling days in the U.S. and three fewer selling days in international markets during fourth-quarter 2016 compared to fourth-quarter 2015, resulting in a negative impact on fourth-quarter 2016 revenues of approximately $750 million compared to the prior-year quarter.

Innovative Health Highlights

IH delivered 2% operational revenue growth in fourth-quarter 2016, driven by continued growth from key brands including Ibrance, primarily in the U.S., Eliquis globally, the addition of Xtandi revenues in the U.S. resulting from the acquisition of Medivation in September 2016, as well as Xeljanz and Lyrica, both primarily in the U.S. Global Ibrance revenue more than doubled operationally while global operational revenue growth for Xeljanz and Eliquis was 62% and 50%, respectively. Sequentially, fourth-quarter 2016 Ibrance revenues in the U.S. increased 15% compared to third-quarter 2016.
Global Prevnar/Prevenar 13 revenues declined 23% operationally. In the U.S., Prevnar 13 revenues decreased 33% due to the continued decline in revenues for the Adult indication due to a high initial capture rate of the eligible population following its successful fourth-quarter 2014 launch, which resulted in a smaller remaining "catch up" opportunity compared to the prior-year quarter, as well as the unfavorable impact from the timing of government purchases for the pediatric indication.
Fourth-quarter 2016 operational growth was also negatively impacted by lower revenues for Enbrel in most developed Europe markets, primarily due to continued biosimilar competition, as well as the loss of Rebif alliance revenues resulting from the year-end 2015 expiry of the collaboration agreement to co-promote Rebif in the U.S.
Essential Health Highlights

Fourth-quarter 2016 EH revenues decreased 6% operationally, resulting from a 20% operational decline from Peri-LOE Products(8) and a 3% operational decline from Legacy Established Products (LEP)(8) partially offset by 3% operational growth from the Sterile Injectable Pharmaceuticals (SIP)(8) portfolio and 48% operational growth from Biosimilars(8). EH revenues excluding the performance of HIS, which Pfizer expects to divest in February 2017, declined 5% operationally.
Revenues from legacy Hospira products declined 1% operationally. Excluding the performance of HIS, revenues from legacy Hospira products increased 2% operationally. Revenues from EH-standalone products (excluding legacy Hospira) declined 7% operationally.
Developed markets revenues declined 9% operationally, negatively impacted by a 28% operational decline from Peri-LOE Products(8) and a 7% operational decline from the LEP(8) portfolio, partially offset by 51% operational growth from Biosimilars(8).
Revenues in emerging markets grew 4% operationally, primarily driven by 3% operational growth from the LEP(8) portfolio and 9% operational growth from the SIP(8) portfolio.
GAAP Reported(1) Income Statement Highlights

SELECTED TOTAL COMPANY REPORTED COSTS AND EXPENSES(1)
($ in millions)
(Favorable)/Unfavorable
Fourth-Quarter Full-Year
2016 2015 % Change 2016 2015 % Change

Total
Oper. Total Oper.
Cost of Sales(1) $ 3,218 $ 3,410 (6%) (7%) $ 12,329 $ 9,648 28% 23%
Percent of Revenues
23.6
%
24.3 % N/A N/A 23.3 % 19.7 % N/A N/A
SI&A Expenses(1) 4,423 5,048 (12%) (11%) 14,837 14,809 — 3%
R&D Expenses(1) 2,512 2,348 7% 8% 7,872 7,690 2% 3%
Total $ 10,153 $ 10,807 (6%) (6%) $ 35,038 $ 32,147 9% 9%

Other
(Income)/Deductions––
net(1)

$841

$2,190

(62%)
(27%)

$3,655

$2,860

28%
53%
Effective Tax Rate on
Reported Income/(Loss)(1)
1.7
%
53.0 % 13.4 % 22.2 %

The decrease in fourth-quarter 2016 Other deductions––net(1) was primarily driven by the non-recurrence of foreign currency losses related to Venezuela and a charge to resolve a Protonix-related legal matter, both of which were incurred in the prior-year quarter, partially offset primarily by an impairment charge in fourth-quarter 2016 as a result of the pending HIS transaction, a loss resulting from the early redemption of certain outstanding debt securities in fourth-quarter 2016 and higher impairment charges compared to the prior-year quarter.

Adjusted(2) Income Statement Highlights

SELECTED TOTAL COMPANY ADJUSTED COSTS AND EXPENSES(2)
($ in millions)
(Favorable)/Unfavorable
Fourth-Quarter Full-Year
2016 2015 % Change 2016 2015 % Change
Total Oper. Total Oper.
Adjusted Cost of Sales(2) $ 3,046 $ 2,983 2% (2%) $ 11,630 $ 9,021 29% 24%
Percent of Revenues 22.4
%
21.2 % N/A N/A 22.0 % 18.5 % N/A N/A
Adjusted SI&A Expenses(2) 4,402 4,598 (4%) (3%) 14,745 14,324 3% 5%
Adjusted R&D Expenses(2)
2,505 2,318 8% 9% 7,841 7,653 2% 3%
Total $ 9,953 $ 9,900 1% — $ 34,215 $ 30,998 10% 10%

Adjusted Other



(Income)/Deductions––
net(2)

($182
)
$1

*
*
($729
)
($409
)
78%

*
Effective Tax Rate on
Adjusted Income(2)
24.1 % 19.6 % 23.0 % 24.0 %

* Indicates calculation not meaningful or greater than 100%.

The diluted weighted-average shares outstanding used to calculate adjusted diluted EPS(2) declined by 105 million shares compared to the prior-year quarter due to Pfizer’s share repurchase program, reflecting the impact of a $5 billion accelerated share repurchase agreement executed in March 2016 and completed in June 2016.

A full reconciliation of Reported(1) to Adjusted(2) financial measures and associated footnotes can be found starting on page 21 of the press release located at the hyperlink below.

FULL-YEAR FINANCIAL SUMMARY (Full-Year 2016 vs. Full-Year 2015)

Full-year 2016 revenues increased $4.0 billion, or 8%, reflecting operational growth of $5.5 billion, or 11%, partially offset by the unfavorable impact of foreign exchange of $1.5 billion, or 3%.

Excluding the 2015 and 2016 contributions from legacy Hospira operations, the unfavorable impact of foreign exchange and, to a lesser extent, legacy Medivation operations of $140 million, Pfizer-standalone revenues increased by $2.2 billion operationally, or 5%, reflecting operational growth from certain key products partially offset by product losses of exclusivity and co-promotion expirations that negatively impacted 2016 revenues by $1.8 billion operationally.

There was one additional selling day in international markets during full-year 2016 compared to full-year 2015, resulting in a favorable impact on full-year 2016 revenues of approximately $100 million compared to the prior year. In the U.S., there was no difference in selling days in full-year 2016 compared to full-year 2015.

RECENT NOTABLE DEVELOPMENTS (Since November 1, 2016)

Product Developments

Bosulif (bosutinib) — In December 2016, Pfizer and its partner Avillion LLP announced results from the Phase 3 BFORE (Bosutinib trial in First line chrOnic myelogenous leukemia tREatment) trial demonstrating superiority of Bosulif over imatinib as a first-line treatment for patients with chronic phase Philadelphia chromosome positive (Ph+) chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Based on the results of the study, Pfizer will work with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other regulatory authorities to potentially make Bosulif available for Ph+ CML patients in the first-line setting.
Celebrex (celecoxib) — In November 2016, Pfizer announced results of the PRECISION (Prospective Randomized Evaluation of Celecoxib Integrated Safety vs. Ibuprofen Or Naproxen) trial, which demonstrated similar rates of cardiovascular risk in patients treated with prescription doses of celecoxib, ibuprofen and naproxen who had a clinical diagnosis of osteoarthritis (OA) or rheumatoid arthritis (RA), were at high risk for cardiovascular disease, and required daily treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to control symptoms of arthritis. In addition, patients treated with celecoxib experienced significantly fewer gastrointestinal events as compared with those receiving prescription doses of ibuprofen or naproxen. However, it is important to note that given the trial’s design – prescription doses and chronic use in patients with cardiovascular risk factors – no inferences are possible regarding the safety of intermittent use of low-dose, over-the-counter NSAIDs. The results of the PRECISION study were presented at the annual meeting of the American Heart Association by Dr. Steve Nissen, chairman of cardiovascular medicine at the Cleveland Clinic and principal investigator of the PRECISION trial. In addition, the results were published in The New England Journal of Medicine.
Chantix/Champix (varenicline) — In December 2016, the FDA approved updates to the Chantix labeling, including removal of the boxed warning regarding serious neuropsychiatric events. The removal of the boxed warning is based on the outcomes of EAGLES (Evaluating Adverse Events in a Global Smoking Cessation Study), the largest smoking cessation clinical trial in patients without and with a history of psychiatric disorder, and is consistent with the recommendation of the FDA Psychopharmacologic Drugs and Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory Committees. Additional labeling revisions based on EAGLES include updates to the corresponding warning regarding neuropsychiatric safety and the addition of information on the superior efficacy of Chantix compared to bupropion or nicotine patch.
Eucrisa (crisaborole ointment 2%) — Pfizer announced in December 2016 that the FDA approved Eucrisa, a novel non-steroidal topical phosphodieterase-4 (PDE-4) inhibitor for the treatment of mild to moderate atopic dermatitis (AD) in patients two years of age and older. AD, often called eczema, is a chronic condition impacting nearly 18 million children and adults in the U.S. Approximately 90% of people living with AD have the mild to moderate form of the condition. Eucrisa is expected to be available by prescription starting in early February 2017.
Ibrance (palbociclib)

In December 2016, the FDA accepted for review a supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for Ibrance that supports the conversion of the accelerated approval of Ibrance in combination with letrozole to regular approval and includes data from the Phase 3 PALOMA-2 trial, which evaluated Ibrance as initial therapy in combination with letrozole for postmenopausal women with estrogen receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (ER+, HER2-) metastatic breast cancer. This is the same patient population as the randomized Phase 2 PALOMA-1 trial upon which the accelerated approval of Ibrance plus letrozole was granted in February 2015. The sNDA was granted Priority Review status and has a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) goal date for a decision by the FDA in April 2017.
Pfizer announced in December 2016 results from a sub-analysis studying Asian patients from the Phase 3 PALOMA-2 trial. Results showed the combination of Ibrance and letrozole significantly extended progression-free survival (PFS) by more than 11 months compared with letrozole plus placebo, and demonstrated that the median PFS exceeded two years in these patients. Data from this sub-analysis was shared in an oral presentation at the 2nd European Society for Medical Oncology Asia (ESMO Asia) Congress in Singapore.
In November 2016, Pfizer announced that detailed results from the Phase 3 PALOMA-2 trial were published in The New England Journal of Medicine. These data, initially presented at the 52nd American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting in June 2016, demonstrate the clinical benefit of Ibrance as initial therapy for postmenopausal women with ER+, HER2- metastatic breast cancer.
Pfizer announced in November 2016 that the European Commission (EC) has approved Ibrance for the treatment of women with hormone receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HR+/HER2-) locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer. The approval is for Ibrance to be used in combination with an aromatase inhibitor. The approval also covers the use of Ibrance in combination with fulvestrant in women who have received prior endocrine therapy.
Lyrica (pregabalin) — Pfizer announced in December 2016 positive top-line results of a study that evaluated the use of Lyrica Capsules CV and Oral Solution CV as adjunctive therapy for pediatric epilepsy patients four to 16 years of age with partial onset seizures. Results showed that adjunctive treatment with Lyrica 10 mg/kg/day resulted in a statistically significant reduction in seizure frequency versus placebo, the primary efficacy endpoint. Treatment with Lyrica 2.5 mg/kg/day resulted in a numerical reduction in seizure frequency, which was not statistically significant. Lyrica is not approved as adjunctive therapy for pediatric epilepsy patients with partial onset seizures.
Mylotarg (gemtuzumab ozogamicin) — A Biologics License Application (BLA) for Mylotarg was accepted for filing by the FDA in January 2017 and a Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) was validated for review by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in December 2016. Mylotarg is being evaluated for the potential treatment of adult patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Mylotarg was originally approved under the FDA’s accelerated approval program in 2000 for use as a single agent in first relapse patients with CD33-positive AML who were 60 years or older. In 2010, Pfizer voluntarily withdrew Mylotarg after a confirmatory Phase 3 trial did not show a clinical benefit and the fatal induction toxicity rate was significantly higher in the Mylotarg arm. The recent regulatory submissions are based on additional data from a Phase 3 randomized, open-label study (ALFA-0701) that evaluated the addition of Mylotarg to standard induction chemotherapy using an alternative fractionated dosing schedule in 280 adult, de novo, AML patients aged 50-70 years old, as well as a meta-analysis of patient-level data from over 3,000 patients in five randomized Phase 3 studies (including ALFA-0701) spanning 10 years of research. The PDUFA goal date for a decision by the FDA is in September 2017. Mylotarg originates from a collaboration between Pfizer and Celltech, now UCB. Pfizer has sole responsibility for all manufacturing and clinical development activities for this molecule.
Nimenrix (Meningococcal group A, C, W-135, and Y conjugate vaccine) — In December 2016, the EC approved an expanded indication for Nimenrix for active immunization against invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroups A, C, W-135, and Y (MenACWY) in infants as early as six weeks of age. Nimenrix is now the first and only MenACWY conjugate vaccine in the European Union (EU) that can be administered from six weeks of age with no upper age limit. Nimenrix was approved for administration in infants as a two dose primary series, with the first dose given from six weeks of age and with an interval of two months between doses, followed by a booster dose at 12 months.
Prevnar 13/Prevenar 13 (Pneumococcal 13-valent conjugate vaccine) — In November 2016, Pfizer China announced that it received approval from the Chinese Food and Drug Administration to market its pneumococcal 13-valent conjugate vaccine, Prevenar 13, in China for active immunization for the prevention of invasive diseases (including bacteremic pneumonia, meningitis, septicemia, and bacteremia) caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. Pneumoniae) serotypes 1, 3, 4, 5, 6A, 6B, 7F, 9V, 14, 18C, 19A, 19F, and 23F in infants and children aged 6 weeks to 15 months. S. pneumoniae is the most common cause of invasive disease as well as pneumonia and upper respiratory tract infections. In China, the recommended Prevenar 13 immunization series is a primary series administered at 2, 4 and 6 months of age with a fourth (booster) dose administered at approximately 12-15 months of age.
Retacrit (epoetin alpha) — In December 2016, Pfizer completed the resubmission of the BLA to the FDA for Retacrit, its proposed biosimilar of Epogen(9) and Procrit(10). This resubmission is in response to the FDA Complete Response Letter received in October 2015. Pfizer will continue to work closely with the agency on next steps and remains committed to bringing this important medicine to patients in the U.S. as quickly as possible.
Xeljanz (tofacitinib)

Pfizer announced in January 2017 that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the EMA adopted a positive opinion recommending Xeljanz 5 mg twice daily (BID) for the treatment of patients with moderate to severe active rheumatoid arthritis (RA). If approved, Xeljanz in combination with methotrexate (MTX) will be indicated for the treatment of moderate to severe active RA in adult patients who have responded inadequately to, or who are intolerant to one or more disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs. Xeljanz can be given as monotherapy in case of intolerance to MTX or when treatment with MTX is inappropriate. The CHMP’s opinion will now be reviewed by the EC, which has the authority to approve medicines for the EU.
In November 2016, Pfizer presented results from the Phase 3 Oral Psoriatic Arthritis TriaL (OPAL) studies, Broaden and Beyond, at the 2016 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting. OPAL Broaden and OPAL Beyond evaluated the efficacy and safety of Xeljanz in adult patients with active psoriatic arthritis who had an inadequate response to conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs or to tumor necrosis factor inhibitors, respectively. OPAL Broaden and OPAL Beyond met their primary efficacy endpoints showing a statistically significant improvement with tofacitinib 5 mg and 10 mg twice daily compared to treatment with placebo at three months as measured by American College of Rheumatology 20 (ACR20) response and change from baseline in Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index score.
Xtandi (enzalutamide) — In December 2016, Pfizer and Astellas Pharma Inc. announced that the Phase 4 PLATO study, evaluating the efficacy and safety of continued treatment with Xtandi plus abiraterone acetate and prednisone compared to treatment with abiraterone acetate and prednisone alone, did not meet its primary endpoint of improvement in PFS in patients with chemotherapy-naïve metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer whose prostate-specific antigen has previously progressed on Xtandi.
Pipeline Developments

A comprehensive update of Pfizer’s development pipeline was published today and is now available at www.pfizer.com/pipeline. It includes an overview of Pfizer’s research and a list of compounds in development with targeted indication and phase of development, as well as mechanism of action for candidates from Phase 2 through registration.

Avelumab (PF-06834635, MSB0010718C) — EMD Serono Inc. (EMD Serono), the biopharmaceutical business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, in the U.S. and Canada, and Pfizer announced in November 2016 that the FDA has accepted for Priority Review EMD Serono’s BLA for avelumab seeking approval for use in patients with metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), based on results of the JAVELIN Merkel 200 trial. Avelumab is an investigational fully human anti-PD-L1 IgG1 monoclonal antibody and could be the first treatment indicated for metastatic MCC in the U.S., if approved. MCC is a rare and aggressive skin cancer, which impacts approximately 2,500 Americans a year.
PF-05280014 (proposed biosimilar trastuzumab) — In November 2016, Pfizer announced that the pivotal REFLECTIONS B3271002 study, a comparative safety and efficacy study of PF-05280014 versus Herceptin(11) (trastuzumab), met its primary endpoint. The trial demonstrated equivalence in the primary endpoint of objective response rate of PF-05280014 versus Herceptin(11), each taken in combination with paclitaxel, in first-line patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer. A separate comparative, randomized, double-blind clinical trial in early breast cancer patients (REFLECTIONS B3271004) also met its primary endpoint of steady-state Ctrough concentrations (PK) in patients treated with PF-05280014 and Herceptin(11). PF-05280014 is being developed by Pfizer as a potential biosimilar to Herceptin(11).
PF-06410293 (proposed biosimilar adalimumab) — In January 2017, Pfizer announced that the comparative, confirmatory REFLECTIONS B538-02 study met its primary objective by demonstrating equivalent efficacy as measured by the ACR20 response rate at Week 12. This trial evaluated the efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity of PF-06410293 compared to Humira(12) (adalimumab), each taken in combination with methotrexate, in patients with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis. PF-06410293 is being developed by Pfizer as a potential biosimilar to Humira(12).
PF-06425090 (Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) vaccine candidate) — Pfizer announced in January 2017 that its Phase 2 study evaluating PF-06425090 provided positive data based on a pre-planned interim analysis. The randomized Phase 2 study examined the safety, tolerability and immunogenicity of the vaccine in healthy adults 65 to 85 years of age. PF-06425090 is designed to help prevent C. difficile infection. Based on these findings, Pfizer will progress PF-06425090 into Phase 3 in the first half of 2017.
PF-06836922 (hGH-CTP, long-acting human growth hormone) — OPKO Health, Inc. (OPKO) announced in December 2016 that the primary endpoint was not met for its Phase 3, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of its investigational long-acting human growth hormone product (hGH-CTP) in adults with growth hormone deficiency. OPKO announced that it is undertaking further review of the study population as promptly as possible. The safety profile observed in this study was consistent with that known for growth hormone treatments. In December 2014, OPKO entered into a worldwide collaboration and license agreement with Pfizer for the development and commercialization of hGH-CTP.
SPK-9001 — Spark Therapeutics and Pfizer announced in December 2016 updated preliminary data from the ongoing Phase 1/2 clinical trial of investigational SPK-9001 in hemophilia B was presented during the Plenary Scientific Session at the 58th American Society of Hematology (ASH) (Free ASH Whitepaper) Annual Meeting. The results suggested sustained therapeutic levels of factor IX activity among all study participants. Together, all nine participants reduced infusions of factor IX concentrates by 99% over a cumulative 1,650 days.
Corporate Developments

In January 2017, ICU Medical, Inc. (ICU Medical) and Pfizer modified the terms of the definitive agreement entered into on October 6, 2016, under which ICU Medical will acquire HIS from Pfizer. These modifications are a result of recent changes in performance of HIS that affect ICU Medical’s previously announced expectations for the transaction. Under the terms of the modified agreement, the aggregate purchase price will be adjusted to be up to $900 million (versus $1 billion as originally agreed). Upon closing, Pfizer will receive approximately $400 million in equity (based upon the 30-day volume weighted average price through October 5, 2016, the day prior to announcement of the proposed transaction) in the form of 3.2 million newly issued shares of ICU Medical common stock (as originally agreed) and $275 million in cash (versus $600 million as originally agreed), which will be financed with ICU Medical’s existing cash balances and a $75 million seller note. Pfizer is entitled to up to an additional $225 million based on achievement of performance targets for the combined company through December 31, 2019, which would be payable after that date if performance is within the agreed target range. The transaction is expected to close in February 2017.
In December 2016, Pfizer’s board of directors declared a 32-cent first-quarter 2017 dividend on the company’s common stock, representing an increase of approximately 7% compared to the company’s first-quarter 2016 dividend. The dividend is payable on March 1, 2017 to shareholders of record at the close of business on February 3, 2017.
In December 2016, which falls in the first fiscal quarter of 2017 for Pfizer’s international operations, Pfizer completed the acquisition of the development and commercialization rights to AstraZeneca’s small molecule anti-infective business, primarily outside the U.S. The agreement includes the commercialization and development rights to the newly approved EU drug Zavicefta (ceftazidime-avibactam), the marketed agents Merrem/Meronem (meropenem) and Zinforo (ceftaroline fosamil), and the clinical development assets aztreonam-avibactam (ATM-AVI) and CXL (ceftaroline fosamil-AVI).
Please find Pfizer’s press release and associated financial tables, including reconciliations of certain GAAP reported to non-GAAP adjusted information, at the following hyperlink:

View Source

(Note: If clicking on the above link does not open up a new web page, you may need to cut and paste the above URL into your browser’s address bar.)

Lilly Reports Fourth-Quarter and Full-Year 2016 Results

On January 31, 2017 Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year of 2016 (Press release, Eli Lilly, JAN 31, 2017, View Source [SID1234517601]).

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$ in millions, except per share data
Fourth Quarter
%

Full Year
%

2016

2015
Change

2016

2015
Change
Revenue
$
5,760.5


$
5,375.6

7%


$
21,222.1


$
19,958.7

6%

Net Income – Reported
771.8


478.4

61%


2,737.6


2,408.4

14%

EPS – Reported
0.73


0.45

62%


2.58


2.26

14%


Net Income – Non-GAAP
1,013.4


828.2

22%


3,735.6


3,656.3

2%

EPS – Non-GAAP
0.95


0.78

22%


3.52


3.43

3%



Certain financial information for 2016 and 2015 is presented on both a reported and a non-GAAP basis. Some numbers in this press release may not add due to rounding. Reported results were prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and include all revenue and expenses recognized during the periods. Non-GAAP measures exclude the items described in the reconciliation tables later in the release. The company’s 2017 financial guidance is also being provided on both a reported and a non-GAAP basis. The non-GAAP measures are presented to provide additional insights into the underlying trends in the company’s business.

"Newly launched products – including Trulicity, Cyramza, Jardiance and Taltz – led Lilly’s volume-driven growth in 2016. Pipeline progress also continued with approvals of new products and new indications for existing products in our core therapeutic areas of diabetes, oncology and immunology," said David A. Ricks, Lilly’s president and CEO. "We expect this momentum to continue in 2017 and remain focused on launching new products, improving productivity and advancing our pipeline as we work to bring life-changing medicines to patients."

Key Events Over the Last Three Months

Commercial

Basaglar (insulin glargine injection), part of the company’s alliance with Boehringer Ingelheim, became available by prescription in the U.S.
Galliprant (grapiprant tablets) is now available to veterinarians for once-daily use in dogs with osteoarthritis. Galliprant is part of a collaboration between Lilly and Aratana Therapeutics, Inc.
Regulatory

With respect to products on which we collaborate with Boehringer Ingelheim:
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved and the company began efforts to promote a new indication for Jardiance (empagliflozin) tablets to reduce the risk of cardiovascular (CV) death in adults with type 2 diabetes and established CV disease.
The FDA approved Synjardy XR (empagliflozin and metformin hydrochloride extended-release) tablets for adults with type 2 diabetes.
The FDA approved supplemental new drug applications for Synjardy (empagliflozin/metformin hydrochloride), Synjardy XR and Glyxambi (empagliflozin/linagliptin) to include data showing empagliflozin reduced the risk for CV death in adults with type 2 diabetes and established CV disease.
The European Commission granted approval to update the Jardiance label including a change to the indication statement and inclusion of data on the reduction of risk of CV death in patients with type 2 diabetes and established CV disease.
The European Commission granted marketing authorization for Glyxambi, a single pill combining Jardiance and Trajenta (linagliptin), for use in adults with type 2 diabetes to improve blood sugar control when metformin and/or sulphonylurea and one of the monocomponents of Glyxambi do not provide adequate blood sugar control, or when a patient is already being treated with the free combination of Jardiance and Trajenta.
The European Commission granted conditional marketing authorization for Lartruvo (olaratumab), in combination with doxorubicin, to treat adults with advanced soft tissue sarcoma not amenable to curative treatment with radiotherapy or surgery and who have not been previously treated with doxorubicin. As part of a conditional marketing authorization, Lilly will need to provide results from an ongoing Phase 3 study. Until availability of the full data, the CHMP will review the benefits and risks of olaratumab annually to determine whether the conditional marketing authorization can be maintained.
The EMA’s CHMP issued a positive opinion, recommending the approval of baricitinib, for the treatment of moderate-to-severe active rheumatoid arthritis in adult patients who have responded inadequately to, or who are intolerant to, one or more disease-modifying anti- rheumatic drugs. Baricitinib may be used as monotherapy or in combination with methotrexate. Baricitinib is part of a development and commercialization collaboration with Incyte.
The FDA extended the review period for the new drug application (NDA) for investigational baricitinib, a once-daily oral medication for the treatment of moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis. The NDA for baricitinib was submitted to the FDA in January 2016. The FDA extended the action date to allow time to review additional data analyses recently submitted by Lilly in response to the FDA’s information requests. The submission of the additional information has been determined by the FDA to constitute a Major Amendment to the NDA, resulting in an extension of the Prescription Drug User Fee Act goal date by three months.
Clinical

The company announced that solanezumab did not meet the primary endpoint in a Phase 3 study of people with mild dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease. Lilly will not pursue regulatory submissions for solanezumab for the treatment of mild dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease.
Business Development/Other

The company announced an agreement to acquire CoLucid Pharmaceuticals, Inc. for $46.50 per share or approximately $960 million. Lilly will add lasmiditan, in development for the acute treatment of migraine, to its Phase 3 pipeline.
The company completed the acquisition of Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc.’s U.S. feline, canine and rabies vaccines portfolio.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit upheld the decision of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana and ruled in the company’s favor regarding validity and infringement of the vitamin regimen patent for Alimta (pemetrexed for injection).
The company and AstraZeneca announced a worldwide agreement to co-develop MEDI1814, an antibody selective for amyloid-beta 42, which is currently in Phase 1 trials as a potential disease-modifying treatment for Alzheimer’s disease.
The company announced the expansion of an existing immuno-oncology collaboration with Merck to add a new study of Lilly’s Lartruvo with Keytruda (pembrolizumab) in patients with previously treated advanced or metastatic soft tissue sarcoma.
The company announced that people who use Lilly insulin can access discounted prices for their purchases starting January 1, 2017. The discounts, provided by Lilly through a partnership with Express Scripts, may reduce costs for people who pay full retail prices at U.S. pharmacies, such as those who have no insurance or are in the deductible phase of their high-deductible insurance plans.
As part of its previously announced share repurchase program, the company paid $300 million to repurchase company stock in the fourth quarter of 2016. For the full year 2016, the company returned $2.8 billion in cash to shareholders through both its dividend and share repurchase program.
Fourth-Quarter Reported Results

In the fourth quarter of 2016, worldwide revenue was $5.760 billion, an increase of 7 percent compared with the fourth quarter of 2015. The revenue increase was driven by an 8 percent increase due to volume, a 1 percent favorable impact of foreign exchange rates, and a realized price decrease of 1 percent, primarily due to lower realized prices outside the U.S. The increase in worldwide volume was driven by Trulicity and other new pharmaceutical products, including Jardiance, Taltz, Cyramza and Basaglar. The increase in volume was also driven by Humalog, Humulin and companion animal products. The total volume increase was partially offset by decreased volumes for Alimta, Zyprexa and Cymbalta.

Revenue in the U.S. increased 14 percent to $3.223 billion, driven primarily by increased volumes for Trulicity, Humalog, Taltz, Jardiance, Humulin and companion animal products. Realized prices increased U.S. revenue by 1 percent, reflecting a favorable adjustment of approximately $130 million related to changes in estimates for rebates and discounts, primarily related to Humalog.

Revenue outside the U.S. decreased 1 percent to $2.537 billion, as lower realized prices and volume from the loss of exclusivity for Alimta in several countries, Zyprexa in Japan, and Cymbalta in Europe and Canada were largely offset by increased volume for several new pharmaceutical products, including Cyramza, Trulicity, Basaglar and Jardiance, and the favorable impact of foreign exchange rates, primarily the Japanese yen, partially offset by other foreign currencies.

Gross margin increased 8 percent to $4.295 billion in the fourth quarter of 2016 compared with the fourth quarter of 2015. Gross margin as a percent of revenue was 74.6 percent, an increase of 0.4 percentage points compared with the fourth quarter of 2015. The increase in gross margin percent was primarily due to increased volume in the U.S. and efficiencies in manufacturing processes.

Operating expenses in the fourth quarter of 2016, defined as the sum of research and development, and marketing, selling and administrative expenses, remained flat at $3.241 billion. Research and development expenses were flat at $1.451 billion, or 25.2 percent of revenue. Marketing, selling and administrative expenses remained flat at $1.790 billion, as reduced spending on late-life-cycle products was largely offset by increased expenses related to new products.

In the fourth quarter of 2016, the company recognized an acquired in-process research and development charge of $30.0 million associated with an agreement with AstraZeneca to co-develop MEDI1814. In the fourth quarter of 2015, the company recognized acquired in-process research and development charges of $199.0 million, primarily associated with the acquisition of worldwide rights to an intranasal glucagon from Locemia Solutions.

In the fourth quarter of 2016, the company recognized asset impairment, restructuring and other special charges of $147.6 million. The charges are primarily associated with global severance costs and integration costs related to the acquisition of Novartis Animal Health. In the fourth quarter of 2015, the company recognized asset impairment, restructuring and other special charges of $144.9 million, comprised of severance costs, integration costs related to the acquisition of Novartis Animal Health and asset impairments.

Operating income in the fourth quarter of 2016 was $876.2 million, an increase of $476.3 million compared with the fourth quarter of 2015, due to higher revenue and lower acquired in-process research and development charges.

Other income (expense) was income of $15.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2016, compared with income of $44.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2015.

The effective tax rate was an expense of 13.5 percent in the fourth quarter of 2016, compared with a benefit of 7.6 percent in the fourth quarter of 2015. The lower effective tax rate in the fourth quarter of 2015 is primarily due to the inclusion of full-year benefits for certain U.S. tax provisions, including the R&D tax credit, reinstated in the fourth quarter of 2015, and the favorable tax impact of the acquired in-process research and development charges. The effective tax rate in the fourth quarter of 2016 was reduced by a net discrete tax benefit, including a tax benefit of approximately $40 million for the early adoption of the new accounting standard related to stock-based compensation.

In the fourth quarter of 2016, net income increased 61 percent to $771.8 million, and earnings per share increased 62 percent to $0.73, compared with $478.4 million and $0.45, respectively, in the fourth quarter of 2015. The increases in net income and earnings per share were driven by higher operating income, partially offset by a higher effective tax rate.

Fourth-Quarter Non-GAAP Measures

On a non-GAAP basis, fourth quarter 2016 gross margin increased 7 percent to $4.457 billion. Gross margin as a percent of revenue was 77.4 percent, an increase of 0.1 percentage point compared with the fourth quarter of 2015. The increase in gross margin percent was primarily due to increased volume in the U.S. and efficiencies in manufacturing processes.

Operating income increased $305.5 million, or 33 percent, to $1.218 billion in the fourth quarter of 2016, due to higher revenue.

The effective tax rate increased 4.4 percentage points to 17.9 percent compared with the fourth quarter of 2015. The higher effective tax rate is primarily due to the inclusion of full-year benefits for certain U.S. tax provisions, including the R&D tax credit, reinstated in the fourth quarter of 2015, partially offset by a higher net discrete tax benefit in the fourth quarter of 2016.

In the fourth quarter of 2016, net income and earnings per share increased 22 percent to $1.013 billion, and $0.95, respectively, compared with $828.2 million, and $0.78, respectively, in the fourth quarter of 2015. The increases in net income and earnings per share were driven by higher operating income, partially offset by a higher effective tax rate.

For further detail of non-GAAP measures, see the reconciliation below as well as the Reconciliation of GAAP Reported to Selected Non-GAAP Adjusted Information table later in this press release.




Fourth Quarter

2016

2015
% Change
Earnings per share (reported)
$
0.73


$
0.45

62%
Amortization of intangible assets
.11


.11


Asset impairment, restructuring and other special charges
.10


.10


Acquired in-process research and development
.02


.12


Earnings per share (non-GAAP)
$
0.95


$
0.78

22%





Numbers may not add due to rounding.






Full-Year Reported Results

For the full year 2016, worldwide revenue increased 6 percent compared with 2015 to $21.222 billion. Higher revenue was due to increased volume, as realized prices and the impact of foreign exchange rates were relatively flat. The worldwide volume increase was primarily driven by Trulicity and other new pharmaceutical products, including Cyramza, Jardiance and Taltz, as well as Humalog and Erbitux (due to the transfer of commercialization rights in North America to Lilly). The volume increases were partially offset by the impact of the loss of exclusivity for Cymbalta in Europe and Canada, Zyprexa in Japan, and Alimta in several countries.

Revenue in the U.S. increased 14 percent to $11.506 billion, driven by increased volume for several pharmaceutical products, including Trulicity, Humalog, Erbitux (due to the transfer of commercialization rights in North America to Lilly), Taltz and Jardiance, partially offset by lower volumes for Zyprexa. U.S. revenue also benefited from reductions to the Cymbalta reserve for expected product returns of approximately $175 million in 2016, favorably affecting both volume and price.

Revenue outside the U.S. decreased 1 percent to $9.716 billion as lower realized prices and volume from the losses of exclusivity for Cymbalta in Europe and Canada, Zyprexa in Japan, and Alimta in several countries were largely offset by increased volume for several new pharmaceutical products, including Cyramza and Trulicity.

Gross margin increased 4 percent to $15.567 billion in 2016. Gross margin as a percent of revenue was 73.4 percent, a decrease of 1.4 percentage points compared with 2015. The decline in gross margin percent was primarily due to a lower benefit from foreign exchange rates on international inventories sold.

Total operating expenses increased 3 percent to $11.696 billion in 2016. Research and development expenses increased 9 percent to $5.244 billion, or 24.7 percent of revenue, driven primarily by higher late-stage clinical development costs and, to a lesser extent, higher charges related to development milestones. Marketing, selling and administrative expenses decreased 1 percent to $6.452 billion, as reduced spending on late-life-cycle products was largely offset by expenses related to new products.

In 2016, the company recognized an acquired in-process research and development charge of $30.0 million associated with the agreement with AstraZeneca to co-develop MEDI1814. In 2015, the company recognized acquired in-process research and development charges of $535.0 million resulting from business development activity, primarily a collaboration with Pfizer and the acquisition of worldwide rights to Locemia’s intranasal glucagon.

In 2016, the company recognized asset impairment, restructuring and other special charges of $382.5 million. The charges are primarily associated with integration and severance costs related to the acquisition of Novartis Animal Health, other global severance costs, and asset impairments related to the closure of an animal health manufacturing facility in Ireland. In 2015, the company recognized asset impairment, restructuring, and other special charges of $367.7 million related to severance costs, integration costs for Novartis Animal Health and asset impairments.

Operating income in 2016 increased 29 percent compared with 2015 to $3.459 billion, as higher gross margin and lower acquired in-process research and development charges were partially offset by increased research and development costs.

Other income (expense) was expense of $84.8 million in 2016, compared with income of $100.6 million in 2015. Other expense in 2016 included a $203.9 million charge related to the impact of the Venezuelan financial crisis, including the significant deterioration of the bolívar, partially offset by net gains of $101.6 million on investments. Other income in 2015 included net gains of $236.7 million on investments, partially offset by a net charge of $152.7 million related to the repurchase of $1.65 billion of debt.

The effective tax rate was 18.9 percent in 2016, compared with 13.7 percent in 2015. The higher effective tax rate for 2016 reflects several factors in both years: in 2016, the unfavorable tax effect of the charge related to the impact of the Venezuelan financial crisis and certain asset impairment, restructuring and other special charges; and in 2015, the favorable tax impact of the acquired in-process research and development charges, net charges related to the repurchase of debt and asset impairment, restructuring and other special charges. The higher effective tax rate was partially offset by a net discrete tax benefit.

For the full year 2016, net income and earnings per share increased 14 percent to $2.738 billion, and $2.58, respectively, compared with $2.408 billion, and $2.26, respectively, in 2015. The increases in net income and earnings per share were due to higher operating income, partially offset by lower other income and a higher effective tax rate.

Full-Year Non-GAAP Measures

On a non-GAAP basis for the full year 2016, operating income increased $183.3 million, or 4 percent, to $4.555 billion, as higher gross margin was partially offset by higher operating expenses. The effective tax rate was 20.1 percent in 2016, compared with 20.9 percent in 2015. Net income increased 2 percent and earnings per share increased 3 percent to $3.736 billion, and $3.52, respectively.

For further detail of non-GAAP measures, see the reconciliation below as well as the Reconciliation of GAAP Reported to Selected Non-GAAP Adjusted Information table later in this press release.




Full Year

2016

2015
% Change
Earnings per share (reported)
$
2.58


$
2.26

14%
Amortization of intangible assets
.44


.39


Asset impairment, restructuring and other special charges
.29


.25


Venezuela charge
.19





Acquired in-process research and development
.02


.33


Novartis Animal Health inventory step-up



.10


Net charge related to repurchase of debt



.09


Earnings per share (non-GAAP)
$
3.52


$
3.43

3%
Numbers may not add due to rounding.








Select Revenue Highlights


(Dollars in millions)

Fourth Quarter


Full Year


Established
Pharmaceutical
Products
2016

2015


% Change

2016

2015

% Change

Humalog
$
819.8


$
798.7


3%

$
2,768.8


$
2,841.9


(3)%

Cialis
676.3


638.4


6%

2,471.6


2,310.7


7%

Alimta
541.6


627.2


(14)%

2,283.3


2,493.1


(8)%

Forteo
422.5


377.9


12%

1,500.0


1,348.3


11%

Humulin
355.3


358.6


(1)%

1,365.9


1,307.4


4%

Cymbalta
181.8


223.6


(19)%

930.5


1,027.6


(9)%

Strattera
243.2


221.6


10%

854.7


784.0


9%

Zyprexa
153.0


229.1


(33)%

725.3


940.3


(23)%

Erbitux
153.7


176.2


(13)%

687.0


485.0


42%

Effient
140.9


140.3


0%

535.2


523.0


2%














New
Pharmaceutical
Products












Trulicity
337.0


112.5


NM

925.5


248.7


NM

Cyramza
177.1


117.5


51%

614.1


383.8


60%

Jardiance(a)
76.1


14.6


NM

201.9


60.2


NM

Taltz
61.3





NM

113.1





NM

Basaglar
39.5


7.3


NM

86.1


11.1


NM

Portrazza
3.8


0.6


NM

14.8


0.6


NM

Lartruvo
11.9





NM

11.9





NM

Subtotal
706.7


252.5


NM

1,967.4


704.4


NM














Animal Health
837.6


811.7


3%

3,158.2


3,181.0


(1)%














Total Revenue
$
5,760.5


$
5,375.6


7%

$
21,222.1


$
19,958.7


6%














(a) Jardiance includes Glyxambi and Synjardy
NM – not meaningful
Numbers may not add due to rounding





Selected Established Pharmaceutical Products

Humalog

For the fourth quarter of 2016, worldwide Humalog revenue increased 3 percent compared with the fourth quarter of 2015 to $819.8 million. Revenue in the U.S. increased 3 percent to $524.8 million, as increased demand was partially offset by lower realized prices. Realized prices in the fourth quarter of both 2015 and 2016 reflect benefits related to estimates for rebates and discounts, with the benefit in 2016 being larger. Revenue outside the U.S. increased 3 percent to $295.0 million, driven by increased volume, partially offset by the unfavorable impact of foreign exchange rates.

For the full year 2016, worldwide Humalog revenue decreased 3 percent to $2.769 billion. U.S. Humalog revenue for 2016 was $1.685 billion, a 5 percent decrease, driven by lower realized prices, partially offset by increased demand. Humalog revenue outside the U.S. was $1.084 billion, a 1 percent increase, driven by increased volume and, to a lesser extent, higher realized prices, partially offset by the unfavorable impact of foreign exchange rates.

Cialis

For the fourth quarter of 2016, worldwide Cialis revenue increased 6 percent to $676.3 million. U.S. revenue of Cialis was $413.8 million in the fourth quarter, a 7 percent increase compared with the fourth quarter of 2015, driven by higher realized prices, partially offset by decreased demand. Revenue of Cialis outside the U.S. increased 4 percent, to $262.5 million, driven by increased volume and higher realized prices, partially offset by the unfavorable impact of foreign exchange rates.

For the full year 2016, worldwide Cialis revenue increased 7 percent to $2.472 billion. U.S. Cialis revenue for 2016 was $1.469 billion, a 17 percent increase, driven by higher realized prices. Cialis revenue outside the U.S. was $1.002 billion, a 5 percent decline, driven by the unfavorable impact of foreign exchange rates and decreased volume, partially offset by higher realized prices.

Alimta

For the fourth quarter of 2016, Alimta generated worldwide revenue of $541.6 million, which decreased 14 percent compared with the fourth quarter of 2015. U.S. revenue of Alimta decreased 5 percent, to $269.8 million, driven by decreased demand due to competitive pressure, partially offset by higher realized prices. Revenue outside the U.S. decreased 21 percent, to $271.7 million, driven primarily by the loss of exclusivity in several countries and to a lesser extent lower realized prices.

For the full year 2016, worldwide Alimta revenue decreased 8 percent to $2.283 billion. U.S. Alimta revenue for 2016 was $1.101 billion, a 5 percent decline, driven by decreased demand due to competitive pressure. Alimta revenue outside the U.S. was $1.182 billion, an 11 percent decline, driven primarily by the loss of exclusivity in several countries.

Forteo

Fourth-quarter 2016 worldwide revenue for Forteo was $422.5 million, a 12 percent increase compared with the fourth quarter of 2015. U.S. revenue increased 23 percent to $229.3 million, driven by higher realized prices. Revenue outside the U.S. increased 1 percent to $193.1 million, driven by increased volume and the favorable impact of foreign exchange rates, largely offset by lower realized prices.

For the full year 2016, worldwide Forteo revenue increased 11 percent to $1.500 billion. U.S. Forteo revenue for 2016 was $770.5 million, a 26 percent increase driven by higher realized prices. Forteo revenue outside the U.S. was $729.4 million, a 1 percent decline, driven by lower realized prices, largely offset by increased volume and the favorable impact of foreign exchange rates.

Humulin

Worldwide Humulin revenue for the fourth quarter of 2016 decreased 1 percent compared with the fourth quarter of 2015 to $355.3 million. U.S. revenue increased 5 percent to $221.8 million, driven by increased demand, largely offset by lower realized prices. Revenue outside the U.S. decreased 9 percent, to $133.5 million, driven by the unfavorable impact of foreign exchange rates, lower realized prices and decreased volume.

For the full year 2016, worldwide Humulin revenue increased 4 percent to $1.366 billion. U.S. revenue for 2016 was $861.8 million, a 13 percent increase, driven by increased demand and, to a lesser extent, higher realized prices. The increase in realized prices resulted from a change in estimate of a government rebate in the first quarter of 2016. Revenue outside the U.S. was $504.1 million, a 7 percent decline, driven by the unfavorable impact of foreign exchange rates and, to a lesser extent, decreased volume and lower realized prices.

New Pharmaceutical Products

Trulicity

Fourth-quarter 2016 worldwide Trulicity revenue was $337.0 million. U.S. revenue was $268.1 million, driven by growth in the GLP-1 market and increased share of market for Trulicity. Revenue outside the U.S. was $69.0 million.

For the full year 2016, worldwide Trulicity revenue was $925.5 million. U.S. revenue was $737.6 million, driven by growth in the GLP-1 market and increased share of market for Trulicity. Revenue outside the U.S. was $187.9 million.

Cyramza

For the fourth quarter of 2016, worldwide Cyramza revenue was $177.1 million, an increase of 51 percent compared with the fourth quarter of 2015. U.S. revenue was $63.6 million, a decline of 8 percent, due to competitive pressure. Revenue outside the U.S. was $113.5 million, primarily due to strong uptake for the gastric cancer indication in Japan.

For the full year 2016, worldwide Cyramza revenue was $614.1 million, an increase of 60 percent compared with 2015. U.S. revenue was $270.1 million, a decline of 3 percent, due to competitive pressure. Revenue outside the U.S. was $344.0 million, primarily due to strong uptake for the gastric cancer indication in Japan.

Jardiance

The company’s worldwide Jardiance revenue during the fourth quarter of 2016 was $76.1 million. U.S. revenue was $55.8 million, driven by growth in the SGLT2 class and increased share of market for Jardiance. Revenue outside the U.S. was $20.4 million. Jardiance is part of the company’s alliance with Boehringer Ingelheim, and Lilly reports as revenue a portion of Jardiance’s gross margin.

For the full year 2016, worldwide Jardiance revenue was $201.9 million. U.S. revenue was $144.5 million, driven by growth in the SGLT2 class and increased share of market for Jardiance. Revenue outside the U.S. was $57.4 million.

Taltz

For the fourth quarter of 2016, Taltz, a treatment for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, generated worldwide revenue of $61.3 million. U.S. revenue was $59.5 million due to increased share of market for Taltz.

For the full year 2016, Taltz generated worldwide revenue of $113.1 million. U.S. revenue was $110.8 million.

Basaglar

For the fourth quarter of 2016, Basaglar, a treatment to control high blood sugar in adults and children with type 1 diabetes and adults with type 2 diabetes, generated worldwide revenue of $39.5 million. Basaglar launched in the U.S. in mid-December 2016 and generated revenue of $15.8 million, largely due to initial wholesaler and retailer stocking. Basaglar is part of the company’s alliance with Boehringer Ingelheim.

For the full year 2016, Basaglar generated worldwide revenue of $86.1 million.

Portrazza

For the fourth quarter of 2016, Portrazza, a first-line treatment for metastatic squamous non-small cell lung cancer, generated worldwide revenue of $3.8 million.

For the full year 2016, Portrazza generated worldwide revenue of $14.8 million.

Lartruvo

For the fourth quarter and full year of 2016, Lartruvo, a treatment in combination with doxorubicin for adults with advanced soft tissue sarcoma not amenable to curative treatment with radiotherapy or surgery and who have not been previously treated with doxorubicin, generated worldwide revenue of $11.9 million. Lartruvo was launched in the U.S. and certain European countries in the fourth quarter of 2016.

Animal Health

In the fourth quarter of 2016, worldwide animal health revenue totaled $837.6 million, an increase of 3 percent compared with the fourth quarter of 2015. U.S. animal health revenue increased 2 percent to $389.0 million, due to increased revenue for companion animal products reflecting new launches and expanding relationships with distributors, largely offset by decreased revenue for food animal products due to market access pressures. Animal health revenue outside the U.S. increased 4 percent to $448.6 million, primarily due to increased revenue for food animal products. Excluding the impact of foreign exchange rates, worldwide animal health revenue increased 4 percent.

For the full year 2016, worldwide animal health revenue totaled $3.158 billion, a decline of 1 percent compared with the full year 2015. U.S. animal health revenue increased 1 percent, to $1.564 billion, primarily due to uptake of new companion animal products, partially offset by decreased revenue for food animal products. Animal health revenue outside the U.S. was $1.594 billion, a 3 percent decline driven by the unfavorable impact of foreign exchange rates. Excluding the impact of foreign exchange rates, worldwide animal health revenue increased 1 percent.



2017 Financial Guidance

The company has revised certain elements of its 2017 financial guidance. Earnings per share for 2017 are now expected to be in the range of $2.69 to $2.79 on a reported basis, primarily due to the estimated acquired in-process research and development charge related to the planned acquisition of CoLucid Pharmaceuticals. Earnings per share for 2017 are still expected to be $4.05 to $4.15 on a non-GAAP basis.




2017
Expectations
% Change
Earnings per share (reported)
$2.69 to $2.79
4% to 8%
Acquired in-process research and development charge related to
the planned acquisition of CoLucid Pharmaceuticals (1)
.80

Amortization of intangible assets (1)
.45

Inventory step-up costs associated with the acquisition of
Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica’s U.S. feline, canine and
rabies vaccines portfolio (1)(2)
.06

Asset impairment, restructuring and other special charges,
including Novartis Animal Health integration costs
.05

Earnings per share (non-GAAP)
$4.05 to $4.15
15% to 18%
(1) Subject to acquisition accounting adjustments
(2) Subject to final inventory quantities purchased


Numbers may not add due to rounding




The company still anticipates 2017 revenue between $21.8 billion and $22.3 billion. Excluding the impact of foreign exchange rates, the company expects revenue growth from animal health products and a number of established pharmaceutical products including Trajenta, Forteo and Humalog, as well as higher revenue from new products including Trulicity, Taltz, Basaglar, Cyramza, Jardiance and Lartruvo.

Marketing, selling and administrative expenses are still expected to be in the range of $6.4 billion to $6.6 billion. Research and development expenses are still expected to be in the range of $4.9 billion to $5.1 billion.

The 2017 tax rate is now expected to be approximately 24.5 percent on a reported basis, primarily due to the non-deductibility of the estimated acquired in-process research and development charge related to the planned acquisition of CoLucid Pharmaceuticals. The 2017 tax rate on a non-GAAP basis is still expected to be approximately 22.0 percent.

The following table summarizes the company’s 2017 financial guidance:





2017 Guidance

Prior

Revised
Revenue
$21.8 to $22.3 billion

Unchanged




Gross Margin % of Revenue (reported)
Approx. 73.5%

Unchanged
Gross Margin % of Revenue (non-GAAP)
Approx. 77.0%

Unchanged




Marketing, Selling & Administrative
$6.4 to $6.6 billion

Unchanged




Research & Development
$4.9 to $5.1 billion

Unchanged




Other Income/(Expense)
$0 to $100 million

Unchanged




Tax Rate (reported)
Approx. 20.0%

Approx. 24.5%
Tax Rate (non-GAAP)
Approx. 22.0%

Unchanged




Earnings per Share (reported)
$3.51 to $3.61

$2.69 to $2.79
Earnings per Share (non-GAAP)
$4.05 to $4.15

Unchanged




Capital Expenditures
Approx. $1.2 billion

Unchanged




Non-GAAP adjustments are consistent with the earnings per share table above.

ZIOPHARM Utilizing Non-Viral Sleeping Beauty Platform to Rapidly Produce CAR-Expressing T cells Advancing “Point-of-Care” Approach

On January 31, 2017 ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc. (Nasdaq:ZIOP), a biopharmaceutical company focused on new immunotherapies, reported improved production times utilizing its non-viral platform to engineer chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-modified T cells in an ongoing Phase 1 study of second-generation Sleeping Beauty CD19-specific CAR+ T cells (Press release, Ziopharm, JAN 31, 2017, View Source [SID1234517599]). Plans to progress the Company’s point-of-care (POC) approach with administration of CAR-T cell therapy in less than 2 days are also underway helping expand access to innovative T-cell therapies.

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"Through the application of Intrexon’s industrial engineering components and principles, we have enhanced our non-viral approach to T-cell therapies. Shortening the manufacturing process and avoiding the complexity of viral-based approaches with Sleeping Beauty represents a significant advance which dramatically reduces barriers to broadening delivery of CAR-expressing T cells to a wide range of institutions and importantly cancer patients in need," said Laurence Cooper, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of ZIOPHARM.

In contrast to the multi-step methods to produce virus-modified CAR- and TCR-expressing T cells, the non-viral Sleeping Beauty system offers the ability to rapidly generate genetically modified products through a simplified process. The improvements include avoiding activation and propagation of T cells as well as reduced time in culture.

In the clinical setting, data published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation in August 2016 from two Phase 1 trials, infusing first-generation Sleeping Beauty CD19-specific CAR T cells produced in 4 weeks, demonstrated positive long-term survival data for patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). In the ongoing Phase 1 study utilizing second-generation Sleeping Beauty CD19-specific CAR+ T cells for lymphoid malignancies, compressed production times with younger T cells are being deployed:

A patient with multiple-relapsed B-cell ALL received Sleeping Beauty-modified CD19-specific CAR+ T cells with the manufacturing time reduced to 3 weeks and achieved a complete remission with normalization of PET/CT tumor imaging.
A patient with triple-hit NHL treated in January 2017 was the first to receive Sleeping Beauty-modified CD19-specific CAR+ T cells with the manufacturing time reduced to 2 weeks.
In the pre-clinical setting, the time to administration of third generation Sleeping Beauty CAR+ T cells co-expressing a membrane-bound version of IL-15 (mbIL15) has been reduced to less than two days. This shortened process delivers genetically modified T cells with superior proliferative potential. Data presented at the 58th American Society of Hematology (ASH) (Free ASH Whitepaper) Annual Meeting in December 2016, supported by an earlier publication in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, revealed promising results:

Third generation Sleeping Beauty CAR+ T cells demonstrated that a single low-dose of T cells co-expressing a CD19-specific CAR and mbIL15 resulted in sustained in vivo persistence that produced potent anti-tumor effects and superior leukemia-free survival.
These clinical and pre-clinical data support the Company’s POC plans to rapidly infuse Sleeping Beauty CAR+ T cells in a Phase I trial to be launched later this year. With the intent to administer clinical-grade Sleeping Beauty CAR+ T cells in less than 48 hours, this non-viral CAR-T approach has the potential to outpace viral-based methods.

"Together with ZIOPHARM, we are realizing the promise of engineered T cells and are excited to advance the POC approach. Our ability to generate T cells that co-express immunoreceptors and cytokines such as membrane-bound IL-15 through non-viral gene transfer, plus integration of our RheoSwitch Therapeutic System enabling conditional control of these and other essential components, represents what we believe will be the best-in-class platform in CAR-T and TCR-based cellular therapy," stated Geno Germano, President of Intrexon Corporation (NYSE:XON).plete remission with normalization of PET/CT tumor imaging.
A patient with triple-hit NHL treated in January 2017 was the first to receive Sleeping Beauty-modified CD19-specific CAR+ T cells with the manufacturing time reduced to 2 weeks.
In the pre-clinical setting, the time to administration of third generation Sleeping Beauty CAR+ T cells co-expressing a membrane-bound version of IL-15 (mbIL15) has been reduced to less than two days. This shortened process delivers genetically modified T cells with superior proliferative potential. Data presented at the 58th American Society of Hematology (ASH) (Free ASH Whitepaper) Annual Meeting in December 2016, supported by an earlier publication in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, revealed promising results:

Third generation Sleeping Beauty CAR+ T cells demonstrated that a single low-dose of T cells co-expressing a CD19-specific CAR and mbIL15 resulted in sustained in vivo persistence that produced potent anti-tumor effects and superior leukemia-free survival.
These clinical and pre-clinical data support the Company’s POC plans to rapidly infuse Sleeping Beauty CAR+ T cells in a Phase I trial to be launched later this year. With the intent to administer clinical-grade Sleeping Beauty CAR+ T cells in less than 48 hours, this non-viral CAR-T approach has the potential to outpace viral-based methods.

"Together with ZIOPHARM, we are realizing the promise of engineered T cells and are excited to advance the POC approach. Our ability to generate T cells that co-express immunoreceptors and cytokines such as membrane-bound IL-15 through non-viral gene transfer, plus integration of our RheoSwitch Therapeutic System enabling conditional control of these and other essential components, represents what we believe will be the best-in-class platform in CAR-T and TCR-based cellular therapy," stated Geno Germano, President of Intrexon Corporation (NYSE:XON).. Plans to progress the Company’s point-of-care (POC) approach with administration of CAR-T cell therapy in less than 2 days are also underway helping expand access to innovative T-cell therapies.

"Through the application of Intrexon’s industrial engineering components and principles, we have enhanced our non-viral approach to T-cell therapies. Shortening the manufacturing process and avoiding the complexity of viral-based approaches with Sleeping Beauty represents a significant advance which dramatically reduces barriers to broadening delivery of CAR-expressing T cells to a wide range of institutions and importantly cancer patients in need," said Laurence Cooper, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of ZIOPHARM.

In contrast to the multi-step methods to produce virus-modified CAR- and TCR-expressing T cells, the non-viral Sleeping Beauty system offers the ability to rapidly generate genetically modified products through a simplified process. The improvements include avoiding activation and propagation of T cells as well as reduced time in culture.

In the clinical setting, data published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation in August 2016 from two Phase 1 trials, infusing first-generation Sleeping Beauty CD19-specific CAR T cells produced in 4 weeks, demonstrated positive long-term survival data for patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). In the ongoing Phase 1 study utilizing second-generation Sleeping Beauty CD19-specific CAR+ T cells for lymphoid malignancies, compressed production times with younger T cells are being deployed:

A patient with multiple-relapsed B-cell ALL received Sleeping Beauty-modified CD19-specific CAR+ T cells with the manufacturing time reduced to 3 weeks and achieved a complete remission with normalization of PET/CT tumor imaging.
A patient with triple-hit NHL treated in January 2017 was the first to receive Sleeping Beauty-modified CD19-specific CAR+ T cells with the manufacturing time reduced to 2 weeks.
In the pre-clinical setting, the time to administration of third generation Sleeping Beauty CAR+ T cells co-expressing a membrane-bound version of IL-15 (mbIL15) has been reduced to less than two days. This shortened process delivers genetically modified T cells with superior proliferative potential. Data presented at the 58th American Society of Hematology (ASH) (Free ASH Whitepaper) Annual Meeting in December 2016, supported by an earlier publication in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, revealed promising results:

Third generation Sleeping Beauty CAR+ T cells demonstrated that a single low-dose of T cells co-expressing a CD19-specific CAR and mbIL15 resulted in sustained in vivo persistence that produced potent anti-tumor effects and superior leukemia-free survival.
These clinical and pre-clinical data support the Company’s POC plans to rapidly infuse Sleeping Beauty CAR+ T cells in a Phase I trial to be launched later this year. With the intent to administer clinical-grade Sleeping Beauty CAR+ T cells in less than 48 hours, this non-viral CAR-T approach has the potential to outpace viral-based methods.

"Together with ZIOPHARM, we are realizing the promise of engineered T cells and are excited to advance the POC approach. Our ability to generate T cells that co-express immunoreceptors and cytokines such as membrane-bound IL-15 through non-viral gene transfer, plus integration of our RheoSwitch Therapeutic System enabling conditional control of these and other essential components, represents what we believe will be the best-in-class platform in CAR-T and TCR-based cellular therapy," stated Geno Germano, President of Intrexon Corporation (NYSE:XON).

Incyte and Calithera Biosciences Announce Global Collaboration to Develop and Commercialize CB-1158, a First-in-class, Small Molecule Arginase Inhibitor

On January 30, 2019 Incyte Corporation (NASDAQ:INCY) and Calithera Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:CALA) reported the companies have entered into a global collaboration and license agreement for the research, development and commercialization of Calithera’s first-in-class, small molecule arginase inhibitor CB-1158 in hematology and oncology (Press release, Calithera Biosciences, JAN 30, 2017, View Source [SID1234535251]). CB-1158 is currently being studied in a monotherapy dose escalation trial and additional studies are expected to evaluate CB-1158 in combination with immuno-oncology agents, including anti-PD-1 therapy.

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"Arginase-expressing tumor-infiltrating myeloid cells have been shown to play an important role in orchestrating the immune suppressive microenvironment in cancer; but, to date, therapeutic targeting of the arginase enzyme has remained elusive," said Reid Huber, Ph.D., Incyte’s Chief Scientific Officer. "The addition of this first-in-class, small molecule arginase inhibitor, CB-1158, to our portfolio expands our innovative immuno-oncology pipeline and allows us to continue to advance our mission of discovering and developing immune-active combination therapies to treat patients with cancer."

"In this strategic partnership with Incyte, CB-1158 is expected to be evaluated in multiple trials of novel therapeutic combinations, accelerating its development across hematological and oncology indications," said Susan Molineaux, Ph.D., Calithera’s Chief Executive Officer. Terms of the Collaboration Under the terms of the collaboration and license agreement, Calithera will receive an up-front payment of $45 million from Incyte.

In addition, Incyte will make an equity investment in Calithera of $8 million through the purchase of shares at a price of $4.65 per share. Incyte will receive worldwide rights to develop and commercialize CB-1158 in hematology and oncology and Calithera will retain certain rights to research, develop and commercialize certain other arginase inhibitors in certain orphan indications.

Incyte and Calithera will jointly conduct and co-fund development of CB-1158, with Incyte leading global development activities. Incyte will fund 70 percent of global development and Calithera will be responsible for the remaining 30 percent. In the event of regulatory approvals and commercialization of CB-1158, Incyte and Calithera will share in any future U.S. profits and losses (receiving 60 percent and 40 percent, respectively) and Calithera will be eligible to receive over $430 million in potential development, regulatory and commercialization milestones from Incyte. Per the terms of the agreement, Calithera will have the right to co-detail CB-1158 in the U.S. and also be eligible to receive from Incyte tiered royalties based on future ex-U.S. sales, with rates ranging from low-to-mid double-digits.

The agreement also provides that Calithera may choose to opt out of its co-funding obligations. In this scenario, Calithera would no longer be eligible to receive future U.S. profits and losses but would be eligible to receive up to $750 million in potential development, regulatory and commercialization milestones from Incyte and, if the product is approved and commercialized, also be eligible to receive reimbursement based on previous development expenditures incurred by Calithera and tiered royalty payments on future global sales of CB-1158, with rates ranging from low-to-mid double-digits. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2017, subject to customary closing conditions.

Conference Call and Webcast Information

Calithera will host a conference call today to discuss this collaboration at 8:30 a.m. ET, 5:30 a.m. PT. Participants may access the call by dialing (855)783-2599 (domestic) or (631)485-4877 (international) and referencing conference ID 58716954. The conference call will also be available by webcast in the Investor Relations page of Calithera’s website, www.calithera.com. The archived webcast will remain available for replay for 30 days.

About Arginase

Arginase is an enzyme produced by immunosuppressive myeloid cells, including myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and neutrophils, which prevents T-cell and natural killer (NK) cell activation in tumors. Arginase exerts its immunosuppressive effect by depleting the amino acid arginine in the tumor microenvironment which subsequently prevents activation and proliferation of the immune system’s cytotoxic T-cells and NK-cells. Inhibition of arginase activity reverses this immunosuppressive block and restores T-cell function. In preclinical models, arginase inhibition has been shown to enhance anti-tumor immunity and inhibit tumor growth.