On August 6, 2018 Vericel Corporation (NASDAQ:VCEL), a leader in advanced cell therapies for the sports medicine and severe burn care markets, reported financial results and business highlights for the second quarter ended June 30, 2018 (Press release, Vericel, AUG 6, 2018, View Source [SID1234528625]).

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Second Quarter 2018 Financial Highlights

Total net revenues of $19.0 million compared to $17.0 million in the second quarter of 2017; second quarter 2017 revenues included a favorable $1.4 million reversal of a revenue reserve for Carticel and MACI related to a contractual dispute between one of the Company’s pharmacy providers and a third-party payer;

Gross margins of 59% compared to gross margins of 55% on a GAAP basis and 51% on a non-GAAP basis excluding the impact of the revenue reserve reversal in the second quarter of 2017;

Net loss of $4.7 million, or $0.12 loss per share, compared to net loss of $2.4 million, or $0.07 per share on a GAAP basis and $3.7 million, or $0.11 per share, on a non-GAAP basis excluding the impact of the revenue reserve reversal, in the second quarter of 2017;

Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA loss of $1.4 million compared to a loss of $2.7 million in the second quarter of 2017;

As of June 30, 2018, the company had $95.0 million in cash compared to $26.9 million in cash at December 31, 2017; and

Full year 2018 revenue guidance raised to $80 to $83 million compared to previous full year revenue guidance of $73 to $78 million.
Recent Business Highlights
During and since the second quarter of 2018, the company:

Reported record second quarter revenues marking the fifth consecutive quarter with record revenues for the reported quarter;

Deployed the expanded MACI sales force, which increased from 28 to 40 sales representatives;

Completed an expansion of MACI manufacturing capacity to support expected growth in MACI demand;
Implemented an expanded pharmacy distribution network to continue expansion of MACI payer access;

Closed a $74.8 million public offering; and

Joined the Russell 3000 Index.
"We continued our strong start to 2018 with solid revenue growth and expanding margins in the second quarter, and we believe that key performance indicators point to continued robust growth for MACI in the second half of the year," said Nick Colangelo, president and CEO of Vericel. "Moreover, based on our strengthened financial position, we are well positioned to execute on our business and strategic plans."

Second Quarter 2018 Results
Total net revenues for the quarter ended June 30, 2018 were $19.0 million, which included $14.1 million of MACI (autologous cultured chondrocytes on porcine collagen membrane) net revenue and $4.9 million of Epicel (cultured epidermal autografts) net revenue, compared to $12.9 million of Carticel (autologous cultured chondrocytes) and MACI net revenue and $4.0 million of Epicel net revenue, respectively, in the second quarter of 2017. Total net revenues for the quarter ended June 30, 2017 included a favorable $1.4 million reversal of a revenue reserve for Carticel and MACI related to a contractual dispute between one of the Company’s pharmacy providers and a third-party payer.
Gross profit for the quarter ended June 30, 2018 was $11.3 million, or 59% of net revenues, compared to $9.3 million, or 55% of net revenues on a GAAP basis and 51% on a non-GAAP basis excluding the impact of the revenue reserve reversal, for the second quarter of 2017. See table reconciling non-GAAP measures for more details.
Total operating expenses for the quarter ended June 30, 2018 were $15.5 million compared to $11.8 million for the same period in 2017. The increase in operating expenses was due primarily to a $1.7 million increase in stock-based compensation expense, a $1.6 million increase in MACI related sales and marketing activities, and $0.7 million increase in R&D expense related to the preparations for a MACI pediatric clinical study in the U.S.
Loss from operations for the quarter ended June 30, 2018 was $4.2 million, compared to a loss of $2.5 million on a GAAP basis and $3.9 million on a non-GAAP basis excluding the impact of the revenue reserve reversal for the second quarter of 2017. Material non-cash items impacting the operating loss for the quarter in the current year included $2.5 million of stock-based compensation expense and $0.4 million in depreciation expense, compared to $0.8 million of

stock-based compensation expense and $0.4 million in depreciation expense in the second quarter of 2017.
Other expense for the quarter ended June 30, 2018 was $0.4 million compared to other income of $0.1 million for the second quarter of 2017.
Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA loss was $1.4 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2018 compared to a loss of $2.7 million in the second quarter of 2017.
Vericel’s net loss for the quarter ended June 30, 2018 was $4.7 million, or $0.12 per share, compared to a net loss of $2.4 million, or $0.07 per share on a GAAP basis and $3.7 million, or $0.11 per share on a non-GAAP basis excluding the impact of the revenue reserve reversal, for the second quarter of 2017.
As of June 30, 2018, the company had $95.0 million in cash compared to $26.9 million in cash at December 31, 2017.
Full Year 2018 Financial Guidance
The company now expects total net product revenues for the full year 2018 to be in the range of $80 to $83 million, compared to the previous full year revenue guidance of $73 to $78 million.
Conference Call Information
Today’s conference call will be available live at 4:30pm Eastern time in the Investor Relations section of the Vericel website at View Source." target="_blank" title="View Source." rel="nofollow">View Source Please access the site at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start time in order to download the required audio software if necessary. To participate in the live call by telephone, please call (877) 312-5881 and reference Vericel Corporation’s second-quarter 2018 investor conference call. If calling from outside the U.S., please use the international phone number (253) 237-1173.
If you are unable to participate in the live call, the webcast will be available at View Source until August 6, 2019. A replay of the call will also be available until 7:30pm (EDT) on August 11, 2018 by calling (855) 859-2056, or from outside the U.S. (404) 537-3406. The conference ID is 9699288.

On August 6, 2018 Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc (Nasdaq: JAZZ) and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center reported a five-year collaboration agreement with a goal of evaluating therapies for multiple hematologic malignancies, including acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndromes (Press release, Jazz Pharmaceuticals, AUG 6, 2018, View Source;p=RssLanding&cat=news&id=2362297 [SID1234528511]).

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The joint effort brings together MD Anderson’s translational medicine and clinical research capabilities with Jazz’s hematology/oncology portfolio, including its FDA-approved medicines as well as current and potential future investigational therapies.

"This collaboration represents a significant opportunity to efficiently develop innovative therapies and therapeutic combinations," said Tapan Kadia, M.D., associate professor of Leukemia at MD Anderson. "Our aim is to always provide leading-edge care for our leukemia patients, and it is our hope that this joint effort will result in new treatment solutions."

Jazz and MD Anderson will pursue research opportunities in areas of high unmet need. The initial focus of the collaboration is to evaluate and generate additional data for Vyxeos (daunorubicin and cytarabine) liposome for injection, in new patient populations and in combination with other therapies.

"Jazz is committed to providing meaningful medicines for people with hematologic cancers, particularly those with serious unmet clinical needs," said Allen Yang, M.D., Ph.D., vice president and acting chief medical officer of Jazz Pharmaceuticals. "We look forward to collaborating with MD Anderson to help advance treatment options for patients as part of our growing hematology oncology therapeutic area."

Vyxeos received FDA approval in August 2017 for the treatment of adults with newly-diagnosed therapy-related (t-AML) or AML with myelodysplasia-related changes (AML-MRC), which represents part of high-risk or secondary AML populations. AML-MRC is more common in older patients who often do not respond well to intensive chemotherapy; while t-AML can occur as a result of previous chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

About Vyxeos
Vyxeos is a liposome formulation of a fixed combination of daunorubicin and cytarabine for intravenous infusion. Vyxeos is indicated for the treatment of adults with newly-diagnosed t-AML or AML-MRC. For more information about Vyxeos in the United States, please visit View Source

Important Safety Information
Vyxeos has different dosage recommendations from other medications that contain daunorubicin and/or cytarabine. Do not substitute Vyxeos for other daunorubicin- and/or cytarabine- containing products.

Vyxeos should not be given to patients who have a history of serious allergic reaction to daunorubicin, cytarabine or any of its ingredients.

Vyxeos can cause a severe decrease in blood cells (red and white blood cells and cells that prevent bleeding, called platelets) which can result in serious infection or bleeding and possibly lead to death. Your doctor will monitor your blood counts during treatment with Vyxeos. Patients should tell the doctor about new onset fever or symptoms of infection or if they notice signs of bruising or bleeding.

Vyxeos can cause heart-related side effects. Tell your doctor about any history of heart disease, radiation to the chest, or previous chemotherapy. Inform your doctor if you develop symptoms of heart failure such as:

shortness of breath or trouble breathing
swelling or fluid retention, especially in the feet, ankles or legs
unusual tiredness
Vyxeos may cause allergic reactions including anaphylaxis. Seek immediate medical attention if you develop signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis such as:

trouble breathing
severe itching
skin rash or hives
swelling of the face, lips, mouth, or tongue
Vyxeos contains copper and may cause copper overload in patients with Wilson’s disease or other copper-processing disorders.

Vyxeos can damage the skin if it leaks out of the vein. Tell your doctor right away if you experience symptoms of burning, stinging, or blisters and skin sores at the injection site. Vyxeos can harm your unborn baby. Inform your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or nursing. Do not breastfeed while receiving Vyxeos. Females and males of reproductive potential should use effective contraception during treatment and for 6 months following the last dose of Vyxeos.

The most common side effects were bleeding events, fever, rash, swelling, nausea, sores in the mouth or throat, diarrhea, constipation, muscle pain, tiredness, stomach pain, difficulty breathing, headache, cough, decreased appetite, irregular heartbeat, pneumonia, blood infection, chills, sleep disorders, and vomiting.

Please see full Prescribing Information for Vyxeos including BOXED Warning at View Source

On August 6, 2018 Neon Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: NTGN), a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company developing neoantigen-targeted therapies, reported financial results and provided a business update for the second quarter of 2018 (Press release, Neon Therapeutics, AUG 6, 2018, View Source [SID1234528483]).

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"The first half of 2018 was transformative for Neon, highlighted by the successful completion of our initial public offering. The capital raised will enable the continued execution of our strategy to develop neoantigen-targeted therapies that have the potential to transform patient lives," said Hugh O’Dowd, President and Chief Executive Officer of Neon. "We are pleased by the continued progress across our entire product portfolio of vaccine and T-cell programs, including completion of enrollment of our first Phase 1b clinical trial for NEO-PV-01. In addition, updated data from this trial will be presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) (Free ESMO Whitepaper) Congress in October 2018."

Second Quarter Business Highlights

Neon achieved several key operational milestones during the second quarter of 2018, including the following:

· In June 2018, Neon completed its initial public offering of common stock, raising $100 million in gross proceeds.

· In May 2018, Neon announced that the first patient was dosed in NT-002, its Phase 1b clinical trial evaluating the company’s personal neoantigen vaccine, NEO-PV-01, in combination with Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy, KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab), along with chemotherapy.

· In April 2018, Neon presented updated data from NT-001, its Phase 1b clinical trial of NEO-PV-01 in the metastatic setting, at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting.

Pipeline Overview and Upcoming Milestones

NEO-PV-01

· NT-001: Phase 1b Clinical Trial of NEO-PV-01 in the Metastatic Setting

· Updated data expected in October 2018 at ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper)

· 52-week data expected in the first half of 2019

· NT-002: Phase 1b Clinical Trial of NEO-PV-01 in Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

· 52-week data expected in the second half of 2019

· NT-003: Phase 1b Clinical Trial of NEO-PV-01 in Metastatic Melanoma Combinations

· Trial initiation expected in the second half of 2018

· NT-004: Phase 1b Clinical Trial of NEO-PV-01 in earlier disease setting

· Planning ongoing

NEO-PTC-01

· Phase 1 Clinical Trial in Solid Tumor Setting: Neon intends to submit a European Clinical Trial Application (CTA) for NEO-PTC-01, a personal neoantigen T-cell therapy, in the first half of 2019.

NEO-SV-01

· Phase 1 Clinical Trial in Subset of ER+ Breast Cancer: Following the completion of target validation and preclinical product development work, Neon expects to submit an Investigational New Drug (IND) application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the first half of 2019.

Second Quarter 2018 Financial Results

· Cash Position: As of June 30, 2018, cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities were $138.6 million, as compared to cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities of $79.7 million as of December 31, 2017.

· R&D Expenses: R&D expenses were $14.8 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2018, as compared to $7.3 million for the same quarter last year. The increase of $7.5 million was due primarily to increased costs related to the advancement of NEO-PV-01, including increased external manufacturing and other external costs to support our ongoing and planned clinical trials, as well as increased personnel-related costs due to additional headcount to support the growth of our research and development organization.

· G&A Expenses: G&A expenses were $4.3 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2018, compared to $2.4 million for the same quarter last year. The increase of $1.9 million was driven by increased personnel-related costs due to additional headcount, as well as increased consulting and professional fees.

· Net Loss Attributable to Common Stockholders: Net loss attributable to common stockholders was $22.1 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2018, or $7.84 per basic and diluted share, as compared to a net loss attributable to common stockholders of $12.1 million for the same quarter last year, or $7.55 per basic and diluted share.

Financial Guidance: Based on its current operating plan, Neon expects that its cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities as of June 30, 2018, including the proceeds from its initial public offering, will enable it to fund its operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements into at least the first quarter of 2020.

On August 6, 2018 Diplomat Pharmacy, Inc. (NYSE: DPLO), the nation’s largest independent provider of specialty pharmacy services, reported financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2018 (Press release, Diplomat Speciality Pharmacy, AUG 6, 2018, View Source [SID1234528481]). All comparisons, unless otherwise noted, are to the quarter ended June 30, 2017. Prior period financials have been recast to include certain direct expenses as part of cost of sales instead of selling, general and administrative expense ("SG&A") for our specialty segment. This change is a reclassification only and has no impact on overall results.

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Second Quarter 2018 Highlights include:

Revenue of $1,416 million, compared to $1,126 million, an increase of 26%
Specialty segment revenue of $1,234 million, compared to $1,126 million
PBM segment revenue of $189 million, which was not part of the business in the prior year period
Specialty segment total prescriptions dispensed of 236,000, compared to 220,000
PBM segment total volume, adjusted to 30-day equivalent, of 2,123,000
Gross margin of 6.9% versus 5.9%
Specialty segment gross margin of 5.9% versus 5.9%
PBM segment gross margin of 13.7%
EPS of $(0.05) per diluted common share versus $0.05
Adjusted EPS of $0.17 versus $0.25
Adjusted EBITDA of $42.7 million, compared to $25.2 million
Adjusted EBITDA margin of 3.0% versus 2.2%
Net cash provided by operating activities was $18.1 million, compared to $23.0 million
Net debt, including contingent consideration, reduced to $609.2 million, from $618.2 million at March 31, 2018
Brian Griffin, Chairman and CEO of Diplomat, commented "The Diplomat team delivered another great quarter with record revenue and adjusted EBITDA, driven by continued solid execution of our plan. Our PBM integration is reaching its conclusion with CastiaRx demonstrating strong results in the quarter, as well as continued momentum on our growth and profitability initiatives across the entire enterprise. I am truly excited to join such a highly energized organization and look forward to exploring our growth potential for the benefit of all of our stakeholders."

Second Quarter Financial Summary:

Revenue for the second quarter of 2018 was $1,416 million, compared to $1,126 million in the second quarter of 2017, an increase of $290 million or 26%. Revenue was comprised of $1,234 million and $189 million from our Specialty segment and our Pharmacy Benefit Management ("PBM") segment, respectively. There was a $6.4 million inter-company elimination of revenue, and associated cost of sales, between the segments. The increase in our Specialty segment revenue was primarily driven by $29 million of revenue from our acquisitions. The remaining increase in our Specialty segment was driven by manufacturer price increases, access to dispense drugs that were new in the past year and increased volume due to both payor and physician relationships.

Gross profit in the second quarter of 2018 was $98.4 million and generated an 6.9% gross margin, compared to $66.7 million gross profit and 5.9% gross margin in the second quarter of 2017. Gross profit was comprised of $72.5 million and $25.9 million from our Specialty segment and PBM segment, respectively. The gross margin increase in the quarter was primarily due to the impact of our PBM acquisitions, as well as the impact of the acquired entities in our Specialty segment versus the prior year period.

SG&A for the second quarter of 2018 were $90.6 million, an increase of $28.8 million, compared to $61.9 million in the second quarter of 2017. This increase is primarily driven by approximately $12.7 million related to employee cost, including employee cost for our acquired entities, a $4.1 million increase in share-based compensation, and approximately $0.6 million of non-recurring severance expense. Also contributing to the SG&A expense increase was a $7.3 million increase in amortization expense from definite-lived intangible assets, including capitalized software for internal use, and a $2.3 million increase in the fair value of contingent consideration, both of which are associated with our acquired entities. We also experienced increases in other SG&A; including, building and equipment with the addition of our Chandler, Arizona facility, recruiting primarily related to our CEO search, travel, and other miscellaneous expenses.

Net (loss) income attributable to Diplomat for the second quarter of 2018 was $(4.0) million compared to $3.6 million in the second quarter of 2017. This decrease was primarily driven by an $8.5 million increase in interest expense due to a significant increase in outstanding debt to fund our PBM acquisitions. Adjusted EBITDA for the second quarter of 2018 was $42.7 million compared to $25.2 million in the second quarter of 2017, an increase of $17.5 million.

Earnings per share for the second quarter of 2018 was $(0.05) per basic/diluted common share, compared to $0.05 per basic/diluted common share for the second quarter of 2017. Diluted non-GAAP adjusted earnings per share ("Adjusted EPS") was $0.17 in the second quarter of this year compared to $0.25 in the second quarter of 2017.

2018 Financial Outlook

For the full-year 2018, we are updating our previous financial guidance:

Revenue between $5.5 and $5.9 billion, no change to previous range
Net (loss) income attributable to Diplomat between $(11.0) and $0.5 million, versus the previous range of $4.5 and $13.0 million
Adjusted EBITDA between $164 and $170 million, no change to previous range
Diluted EPS between $(0.15) and $0.01, versus the previous range of $0.06 and $0.17
Our EPS expectations assume approximately 74,300,000 weighted average common shares outstanding on a diluted basis and a tax rate of (5)% and 32%, for the low- and high-end of the range, respectively, for the full year 2018, each of which could differ materially.

Earnings Conference Call Information

As previously announced, the Company will hold a conference call to discuss its second quarter performance this evening, August 6, 2018, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Shareholders and interested participants may listen to a live broadcast of the conference call by dialing 833-286-5805 (647-689-4450 for international callers) and referencing participant code 1842529 approximately 15 minutes prior to the call. A live webcast of the conference call and associated slide presentation will be available on the investor relations section of the Company’s website for approximately 90 days at ir.diplomat.is.

On August 6, 2018 Cardinal Health (NYSE: CAH) reported fourth-quarter fiscal year 2018 revenues of $35 billion, an increase of 7 percent from the fourth quarter last year, and fiscal year 2018 revenues of $137 billion, an increase of 5 percent from fiscal 2017 (Press release, Cardinal Health, AUG 6, 2018, View Source [SID1234528478]).

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Fourth-quarter GAAP operating earnings were a loss of $1.1 billion due to a Medical segment non-cash, goodwill impairment of $1.4 billion, which was primarily due to the performance of the Cordis business. Non-GAAP operating earnings were $465 million for the quarter. The company reported GAAP operating earnings of $126 million for fiscal year 2018 and non-GAAP operating earnings of $2.6 billion.

For the quarter, GAAP diluted earnings per share (EPS) were a loss of $3.76, while non-GAAP diluted EPS were $1.01. GAAP diluted EPS for fiscal year 2018 were $0.81, and non-GAAP diluted EPS were $5.00.

"Fiscal ’18 was a challenging year, but we are making significant progress by taking decisive actions to drive growth, reduce costs and enhance profitability," said Mike Kaufmann, CEO of Cardinal Health. "We are on track, and Cardinal Health’s best-in-class products and services continue to distinguish us with our customers and their patients."

Tax rates
During the fourth quarter of 2018 and 2017, GAAP effective tax rates were 1.8 percent and 25.8 percent, respectively. During fiscal years 2018 and 2017, GAAP effective tax rates were 213.8 percent and 32.7 percent, respectively. The fiscal year 2018 effective tax rates were adversely affected by the non-deductible Medical segment goodwill impairment. This unfavorable impact was partially offset in both the fourth quarter and fiscal year 2018 by net discrete tax benefits. Also, as previously disclosed, the fiscal year 2018 GAAP effective tax rate benefitted from transitional tax benefits of $2.97 per share due to the enactment of the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act ("U.S. tax reform") and a lower U.S. federal income tax rate.

During the fourth quarter of 2018 and 2017, the non-GAAP effective tax rates were 11.8 percent and 27.0 percent respectively. During fiscal years 2018 and 2017, the non-GAAP effective tax rates were 29.3 percent and 32.6 percent. The non-GAAP effective tax rates for the fourth quarter and fiscal year 2018 benefitted from net favorable discrete items and the lower U.S. federal income tax rate due to U.S. tax reform.

Segment results
Pharmaceutical segment
Fourth-quarter revenue for the Pharmaceutical segment increased 6 percent to $31 billion due to sales growth from Pharmaceutical and Specialty Distribution customers. This was partially offset by the divestiture of the company’s China distribution business and expiration of a large, mail-order customer contract, both of which were previously announced.

Segment profit for the quarter decreased 18 percent to $416 million primarily due to the negative impact from the company’s generic program performance.

Medical segment
Fourth-quarter revenue for the Medical segment increased 14 percent to $4 billion, which was driven primarily by the acquisition of the Patient Recovery business.

Medical segment profit decreased by 17 percent, or $24 million, to $114 million in the fourth quarter driven by the performance of Cardinal Health Branded products, primarily Cordis, and compensation-related items. This was mostly offset by contributions from acquisitions.

Outlook
The company does not provide GAAP EPS outlook because it is unable to reliably forecast most of the items that are excluded from GAAP EPS to calculate non-GAAP EPS. These items could cause EPS to differ materially from non-GAAP EPS. See "Use of Non-GAAP Measures" following the attached schedules for additional explanation.

The company’s fiscal year 2019 guidance range for non-GAAP diluted EPS from continuing operations is $4.90 to $5.15.

Recent highlights

Closed on partnership with Clayton, Dubilier & Rice to accelerate the growth of naviHealth, a market leader in post-acute care management. Cardinal Health retains approximately a 45 percent interest in naviHealth and, at closing, received net cash proceeds of $736 million and expects to record a pre-tax gain of more than $500 million in the first quarter of FY19.

The company exited its transition services agreements (TSA) with Medtronic for North America, Latin America and the Global Supply Chain during the last week of July and is on track for TSA exits in other regions in late calendar year 2018 and early 2019.

Awarded more than $3 million in grants to more than 70 nonprofit organizations to support local efforts to combat the opioid epidemic across Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee. The grants were made through the Cardinal Health Foundation’s Generation Rx program and are funded by Cardinal Health’s Opioid Action Program.

FY18 awards and recognition highlights

Named as one of 2018 World’s Most Admired Companies by Fortune for the fourth consecutive year

Earned distinction as a 2018 "Top 70 Companies for Executive Women" by the National Association for Female Executives for the seventh consecutive year

Recognized by Becker’s Healthcare as one of the 150 Top Places to Work in Healthcare in 2018 for the fifth consecutive year

Named to the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality for the tenth consecutive year based on ratings in HRC’s 2018 Corporate Equality Index

Webcast

Cardinal Health will host a webcast today at 8:30 a.m. Eastern to discuss fourth-quarter and year-end results. To access the webcast and corresponding slide presentation, go to the Investor Relations page at ir.cardinalhealth.com. No access code is required.

Presentation slides and a webcast replay will be available on the Cardinal Health website at ir.cardinalhealth.com until August 5, 2019.

Upcoming webcasted investor events

Morgan Stanley 16th Annual Global Healthcare Conference on Friday, Sept. 14 at 8:45 a.m. Eastern in New York City