On October 27, 2017 AbbVie (NYSE:ABBV) reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2017 (Press release, AbbVie, OCT 27, 2017, View Source [SID1234521239]).

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“We are pleased with the significant progress we have made with our strategic priorities, including the recent settlement of our HUMIRA patent disputes with Amgen, and the significant advancement with our late-stage pipeline of innovative products,” said Richard A. Gonzalez, chairman and chief executive officer, AbbVie. “This quarter we achieved a number of milestones, including promising data from several pivotal studies, regulatory approvals for MAVYRET and the U.S. regulatory submission and priority review designation for elagolix. We remain confident in our ability to continue to successfully execute on our long-term strategy and fuel sustainable industry-leading performance.”

Third-Quarter Results

Worldwide net revenues were $6.995 billion in the third quarter, up 8.8 percent year-over-year on a GAAP basis. On an operational basis, adjusted net revenues increased 8.8 percent, excluding a 0.7 percent favorable impact from foreign exchange.
Global HUMIRA sales increased 15.8 percent on a reported basis, or 14.8 percent operationally, excluding a 1.0 percent favorable impact from foreign exchange. In the U.S., HUMIRA sales grew 19.1 percent in the quarter. Internationally, HUMIRA sales grew 6.8 percent, excluding a 2.9 percent favorable impact from foreign exchange.
Third-quarter global IMBRUVICA net revenues were $688 million, with U.S. sales of $574 million and international profit sharing of $114 million for the quarter, reflecting growth of 37.3 percent.
On a GAAP basis, the gross margin ratio in the third quarter was 76.9 percent. The adjusted gross margin ratio was 80.8 percent.
On a GAAP basis, selling, general and administrative expense was 20.7 percent of net revenues. The adjusted SG&A expense was 20.7 percent of net revenues.
On a GAAP basis, research and development expense was 17.5 percent of net revenues. The adjusted R&D expense was 17.0 percent, reflecting funding actions supporting all stages of our pipeline.
On a GAAP basis, the operating margin in the third quarter was 38.7 percent. The adjusted operating margin was 43.1 percent.
On a GAAP basis, net interest expense was $252 million. On a GAAP basis, the tax rate in the quarter was 22.1 percent. The adjusted tax rate was 19.0 percent.
Diluted EPS in the third quarter was $1.01 on a GAAP basis. Adjusted diluted EPS, excluding intangible asset amortization expense and other specified items, was $1.41, up 16.5 percent.
Key Events from the Third Quarter

AbbVie announced positive top-line results from three pivotal Phase 3 clinical trials evaluating risankizumab, an investigational interleukin-23 (IL-23) inhibitor, compared to ustekinumab and adalimumab for the treatment of patients with moderate to severe chronic plaque psoriasis. Results of the three trials showed that risankizumab met all co-primary and ranked secondary endpoints, achieving significantly greater rates of clear or almost clear skin at week 16 compared to ustekinumab and adalimumab. The safety profile was consistent with all previously reported studies, and there were no new safety signals detected across the three studies. Risankizumab is being developed in collaboration with Boehringer Ingelheim.
AbbVie announced positive top-line results from the Phase 3 SELECT-BEYOND clinical trial evaluating upadacitinib (ABT-494), an investigational oral JAK1-selective inhibitor, in patients with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis who did not adequately respond or were intolerant to treatment with biologic DMARDs. Results showed that after 12 weeks of treatment, both once-daily doses of upadacitinib (15 mg and 30 mg) met the study’s primary endpoints of ACR20 and low disease activity. All ranked secondary endpoints were also achieved with both doses. The safety profile of upadacitinib was consistent with previously reported Phase 2 trials and the Phase 3 SELECT-NEXT clinical trial, with no new safety signals detected. Detailed study results will be presented at an upcoming medical conference.
AbbVie announced positive top-line results from the Phase 2b randomized, placebo-controlled, dose-ranging study of upadacitinib in adult patients with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis not adequately controlled by topical treatments, or for whom topical treatments were not medically advisable. Results in all doses (30/15/7.5 mg once-daily) at week 16 showed that patients treated with upadacitinib achieved statistically significant improvements, compared to placebo, in the primary and all skin and itch-specific secondary endpoints. Additionally, reduction in itch was observed within the first week and improvement in skin within the first two weeks. No new safety signals were detected, and the safety profile of upadacitinib in this patient population will be further evaluated in the Phase 3 program. Detailed study results will be presented at an upcoming medical conference.
AbbVie announced that the Phase 3 MURANO study of VENCLEXTA/VENCLYXTO (Venetoclax) tablets in combination with Rituxan met its primary endpoint. Results showed that VENCLEXTA/VENCLYXTO in combination with Rituxan prolonged progression-free survival in patients with relapsed/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) compared with a combination of bendamustine and Rituxan. Safety data, including serious and most common adverse events and discontinuation rates, are currently being analyzed. Full data from this study will support regulatory submissions, and will be presented at an upcoming medical conference. VENCLEXTA/VENCLYXTO is being developed by AbbVie and Genentech, a member of the Roche Group.
AbbVie announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for IMBRUVICA (ibrutinib) as a treatment for adult patients with chronic graft-versus-host-disease (cGVHD) after failure of one or more lines of systemic therapy. IMBRUVICA is the first and only therapy specifically approved for adults with cGVHD, a serious and debilitating potential consequence of stem cell or bone marrow transplant. This indication is the first for IMBRUVICA outside of oncology, and the sixth U.S. disease indication for IMBRUVICA. IMBRUVICA is jointly developed and commercialized with Janssen Biotech, Inc.
AbbVie announced that MAVYRET/MAVIRET (glecaprevir/pibrentasvir), a pan-genotypic treatment for adults with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, received regulatory approval from the FDA, the European Commission, and the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. MAVYRET/MAVIRET is a new once-daily, ribavirin-free, 8-week option for patients without cirrhosis and who are new to treatment across all genotypes (GT1-6). This group comprises the majority of people living with HCV. MAVYRET/MAVIRET is also an additional HCV treatment option for patients with specific treatment challenges, such as those with compensated cirrhosis, chronic kidney disease and genotype 3 chronic HCV infection.
AbbVie, in cooperation with Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc., announced that the FDA granted priority review for elagolix, an investigational, orally administered gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist, being evaluated for the management of endometriosis with associated pain. In two replicate Phase 3 clinical studies, elagolix demonstrated superiority compared to placebo in reducing three types of endometriosis-associated pain – daily menstrual pelvic pain, non-menstrual pelvic pain and painful intercourse. If approved by the FDA, elagolix will be the first new medical management treatment option for endometriosis-associated pain in more than a decade.
AbbVie announced a clinical trial collaboration with Bristol-Myers Squibb to evaluate the combination of AbbVie’s investigational antibody drug conjugate ABBV-399 and Bristol-Myers Squibb’s immunotherapy Opdivo (nivolumab) in c-Met overexpressing non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Additionally, AbbVie announced immuno-oncology research agreements with Turnstone Biologics, including an exclusive option to license up to three of Turnstone’s next-generation oncolytic viral immunotherapies, and with Harpoon Therapeutics, seeking to incorporate Harpoon’s tri-specific T-cell activating construct platform with AbbVie’s research-stage immuno-oncology targets. AbbVie also announced a global strategic collaboration with Alector, a privately owned biotechnology company, to develop and commercialize medicines to treat Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders.
AbbVie announced a global resolution of all intellectual property-related litigation with Amgen over Amgen’s proposed biosimilar adalimumab product. Under the terms of the settlement agreements, AbbVie will grant to Amgen a non-exclusive license to AbbVie’s intellectual property relating to HUMIRA beginning on Jan. 31, 2023 in the U.S., on Oct. 16, 2018 in most countries in the European Union, and on other dates in various countries in which AbbVie has intellectual property.
Full-Year 2017 Outlook

AbbVie is updating its GAAP diluted EPS guidance for the full-year 2017 to $4.27 to $4.29. AbbVie now expects to deliver adjusted diluted EPS for the full-year 2017 of $5.53 to $5.55, representing growth of 14.9 percent at the midpoint. The company’s 2017 adjusted diluted EPS guidance excludes $1.26 per share of intangible asset amortization expense, changes in the fair value of contingent consideration, and other specified items.

Update To Long-Term Strategic and Financial Objectives

Today, AbbVie is providing an update to the company’s long-term strategic and financial objectives, including its progress against the long-range guidance provided in October 2015. AbbVie is on track to meet or exceed its long-range guidance, and now expects global HUMIRA sales to approach $21 billion in 2020. For 2018, AbbVie expects adjusted EPS in the range of $6.37 to $6.57, reflecting growth of approximately 15 to 19 percent from the mid-point of the 2017 revised guidance range. The company’s 2018 adjusted diluted EPS guidance excludes intangible asset amortization expense, changes in the fair value of contingent consideration, and other specified items. The company has also posted a slide presentation regarding the strategic update on the Investor Relations website at investors.abbvie.com.

Company Declares Dividend Increase of 11 Percent

AbbVie is also announcing today that its board of directors declared an increase in the company’s quarterly cash dividend from $0.64 per share to $0.71 per share beginning with the dividend payable on February 15, 2018 to shareholders of record as of January 12, 2018. This reflects an increase of approximately 11 percent, continuing AbbVie’s strong commitment to returning cash to shareholders through a growing dividend. Since the company’s inception in 2013, AbbVie has increased its dividend by more than 77 percent. AbbVie is a member of the S&P Dividend Aristocrats Index, which tracks companies that have annually increased their dividend for at least 25 consecutive years.