On April 29, 2021 Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY) reported results for the first quarter of 2021, which reflect continued sales growth and advancement of the company’s product pipeline across our four core therapeutic areas (Press release, Bristol-Myers Squibb, APR 29, 2021, View Source [SID1234578792]).
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"We continue to deliver solid growth, execute against our strategic priorities and make meaningful progress across our pipeline," said Giovanni Caforio, M.D., board chair and chief executive officer, Bristol Myers Squibb. "I am proud of our team’s hard work and dedication, which led to important milestones with significant potential to benefit patients across multiple disease states. These accomplishments, combined with our financial strength and flexibility, further advance our opportunity to renew our portfolio and drive long-term sustainable growth."
FIRST QUARTER FINANCIAL RESULTS
All comparisons are made versus the same period in 2020 unless otherwise stated.
Bristol Myers Squibb posted first quarter revenues of $11.1 billion, an increase of 3%, or 1% when adjusted for foreign exchange. Excluding COVID-19 related buying patterns from the prior year period, first quarter revenues grew 8%.
U.S. revenues increased 4% to $7.0 billion in the quarter. International revenues increased 1% to $4.1 billion in the quarter. When adjusted for foreign exchange impact, international revenues decreased 5%.
Gross margin increased from 66.0% to 74.3% in the quarter primarily due to lower unwinding of inventory purchase price accounting adjustments, partially offset by an impairment charge related to the Inrebic marketed product rights and foreign exchange. On a non-GAAP basis, gross margin decreased from 79.4% to 78.1% in the quarter driven by foreign exchange.
Marketing, selling and administrative expenses increased 4% to $1.7 billion in the quarter primarily due to higher advertising and promotion expenses. On a non-GAAP basis, marketing, selling and administrative expenses increased 5% to $1.7 billion in the quarter primarily due to higher advertising and promotion expenses.
Research and development expenses decreased 6% to $2.2 billion in the quarter primarily due to lower site exit costs and license and asset acquisition charges and other specified items related to the Celgene acquisition in the same period a year ago. On a non-GAAP basis, research and development expenses decreased 1% to $2.2 billion.
Amortization of acquired intangible assets increased $231 million to $2.5 billion in the quarter.
The effective tax rate was 19.8% in the quarter. Income taxes were $462 million despite a pre-tax loss of $304 million in the same period a year ago primarily due to certain non-deductible expenses and purchase price adjustments. On a non-GAAP basis, the effective tax rate was 16.8% in the quarter and 16.0% in the same period a year ago.
The company reported net earnings attributable to Bristol Myers Squibb of $2.0 billion, or $0.89 per share, in the first quarter, compared to net loss of $775 million, or $0.34 per share, for the same period a year ago.
The company reported non-GAAP net earnings attributable to Bristol Myers Squibb of $4.0 billion, or $1.74 per share, in the first quarter, compared to non-GAAP net earnings of $4.0 billion, or $1.72 per share, for the same period a year ago.
A discussion of the non-GAAP financial measures is included under the "Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information" section.
FIRST QUARTER PRODUCT AND PIPELINE UPDATE
Cardiovascular
mavacamten
Regulatory
In March, the company announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted its New Drug Application (NDA) for mavacamten, an investigational, novel, oral, allosteric modulator of cardiac myosin, for patients with symptomatic obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (oHCM). The FDA has assigned a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) goal date of January 28, 2022. (link)
Oncology
Opdivo
Regulatory
In April, the company announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has recommended approval of Opdivo (nivolumab) plus Yervoy(ipilimumab) for the first-line treatment of adults with unresectable malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). The positive CHMP opinion is based on results from CheckMate -743, which demonstrated superior overall survival with Opdivo plus Yervoy vs. chemotherapy. (link)
In April, the company announced the FDA approved Opdivo in combination with fluoropyrimidine- and platinum-containing chemotherapy for the treatment of patients with advanced or metastatic gastric cancer, gastroesophageal junction cancer, and esophageal adenocarcinoma, regardless of PD-L1 expression status. The approval is based on results from the CheckMate -649 trial. (link)
In April, the company announced that the European Commission (EC) has approved Opdivo in combination with Cabometyx (cabozantinib) for the first-line treatment of adults with advanced renal cell carcinoma. The EC’s decision is based on results from the Phase 3 CheckMate -9ER trial, which demonstrated superior efficacy with Opdivo in combination with Cabometyx vs. sunitinib. (link)
In March, the company announced that the EMA has validated its type II variation application for Opdivo for the adjuvant treatment of patients with surgically resected, high-risk muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma. The application is based on results from the CheckMate -274 trial, which showed that Opdivo increased disease-free survival and was well tolerated by patients. Validation of the application confirms the submission is complete and begins the EMA’s centralized review process. (link)
In February, the company announced that the CHMP of the EMA has recommended approval of Opdivo in combination with Cabometyx for the first-line treatment of adults with advanced RCC. The recommendation is based on the Phase 3 CheckMate -9ER trial and the European Commission (EC), which has the authority to approve medicines for the European Union (EU), will now review the CHMP recommendation. (link)
Clinical
In April, the company announced results from the CheckMate -648 study, evaluating treatment with Opdivo plus chemotherapy or Opdivo plus Yervoy in patients with unresectable advanced or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). The study showed statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements in: overall survival in patients whose tumors expressed PD-L1 with both Opdivo plus Yervoy and Opdivo plus chemotherapy; overall survival in the all-randomized patient population with both Opdivo plus Yervoy and Opdivo plus chemotherapy; and progression-free survival in patients whose tumors express PD-L1 with Opdivo plus chemotherapy. The study did not meet the endpoint of progression-free survival in patients whose tumors express PD-L1 with use of Opdivo plus Yervoy. (link)
relatlimab
Clinical
In March, the company announced primary results from the Phase 2/3 RELATIVITY-047 (CA224-047) trial evaluating the fixed-dose combination of relatlimab, an anti-LAG-3 antibody, and Opdivo versus Opdivo alone in patients with previously untreated metastatic or unresectable melanoma. The trial met its primary endpoint of progression-free survival (PFS). (link)
Medical Conferences
In April, during a plenary session at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting 2021:
The company announced results from the CheckMate -816 study, which showed that neoadjuvant treatment with three cycles of Opdivo plus chemotherapy significantly improved pathologic complete response (pCR), a primary endpoint, compared to chemotherapy alone in patients with resectable stage Ib to IIIa non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). (link)
In February during the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) 2021 Genitourinary Cancers Symposium:
The company announced results from the Phase 3 CheckMate -274 trial, which showed that Opdivo significantly improved disease-free survival (DFS) as an adjuvant treatment across all randomized patients with surgically resected, high-risk muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma and in the subgroup of patients whose tumors express PD-L1 ≥1%, meeting both of the study’s primary endpoints. CheckMate -274 is the first positive Phase 3 trial evaluating an immunotherapy in the adjuvant setting of muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma. (link)
The company and Exelixis, Inc.(NASDAQ: EXEL) announced results from new analyses from the Phase 3 CheckMate -9ER trial, demonstrating clinically meaningful, sustained efficacy benefits as well as quality of life improvements with the combination of Opdivo and Cabometyx compared to sunitinib in the first-line treatment of advanced RCC. (link)
Hematology
Onureg
Regulatory
In April, the company announced that CHMP of the EMA has recommended approval of Onureg (azacitidine tablets; CC-486) as a maintenance therapy in adult patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) who achieved complete remission (CR) or complete remission with incomplete blood count recovery (CRi) following induction therapy with or without consolidation treatment and who are not candidates for, including those who choose not to proceed to, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). (link)
Abecma
Regulatory
In March, the company and bluebird bio, Inc. (NASDAQ: BLUE) announced that the FDA has approved Abecma(idecabtagene vicleucel; ide-cel) as the first B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-directed chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell immunotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma after four or more prior lines of therapy, including an immunomodulatory agent, a proteasome inhibitor, and an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody. (link)
Breyanzi
Regulatory
In February, the company announced that the FDA has approved Breyanzi (lisocabtagene maraleucel: liso-cel), a CD19-directed CAR T cell therapy for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory (R/R) large B-cell lymphoma(LBCL) after two or more lines of systemic therapy, including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) not otherwise specified (including DLBCL arising from indolent lymphoma), high-grade B-cell lymphoma, primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma, and follicular lymphoma grade 3B. (link)
Inrebic
Regulatory
In February, the company announced that the European Commission (EC) has granted full Marketing Authorization for Inrebic (fedratinib) for the treatment of disease-related splenomegaly (enlarged spleen) or symptoms in adult patients with primary myelofibrosis, post-polycythaemia vera myelofibrosis or post-essential thrombocythaemia myelofibrosis, who are Janus Associated Kinase (JAK) inhibitor naïve or have been treated with ruxolitinib. (link)
Immunology
deucravacitinib
Medical Conferences
In April, at the American Academy of Dermatology Virtual Meeting Experience (AAD VMX), the company announced positive results from the POETYK PSO-1 and POETYK PSO-2 Phase 3 trials evaluating deucravacitinib, a potential first-in-class, oral, selective tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2) inhibitor with a unique mechanism of action, for the treatment of patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.(link)
Capital Allocation
The company continues to maintain a consistent, balanced approach to capital allocation, focused on prioritizing investment for growth through business development along with reducing debt, commitment to dividend and share repurchases.
In March, the company purchased approximately $4.0 billion in aggregate purchase price of certain debt securities in a series of cash tender offers and "make whole" redemptions.
Commitment to Environmental Sustainability, Diversity and Inclusion, Health Equity
In February, the company announced the donation of a total of $11 million to 56 nonprofit organizations focused on advancing health equity in the United States. These organizations will deliver programs to improve access to high-quality care as well as increase disease awareness and education in racially and ethnically diverse and medically underserved communities, and to improve diversity in clinical research. (link)
COVID-19 Pandemic Response
During the current world health crisis, the company continues to take all necessary actions to promote public health by carrying out its mission of providing life-saving medicines to the patients who depend on the company, conducting research and supporting relief efforts across the globe. (link)
Financial Guidance
Bristol Myers Squibb is updating its 2021 GAAP EPS guidance range of $3.12-$3.32 to $3.18-$3.38 and affirming its non-GAAP EPS guidance range of $7.35 – $7.55. Both GAAP and non-GAAP guidance assume current exchange rates. Key 2021 GAAP and non-GAAP line item guidance assumptions are:
Worldwide revenues increasing in the high-single digits.
Gross margin as a percentage of revenue is expected to be approximately 79% for GAAP and approximately 80.5% for non-GAAP.
Marketing, selling and administrative expenses to be in-line with 2020 levels for GAAP and increasing in the low-single digit range for non-GAAP.
Research and development expenses decreasing in the low-double digits for GAAP and increasing in the mid-single digits for non-GAAP.
An effective tax rate of approximately 22% for GAAP and approximately 16% for non-GAAP.
The 2021 financial guidance excludes the impact of any potential future strategic acquisitions and divestitures, and any specified items that have not yet been identified and quantified. The 2021 non-GAAP EPS guidance is explained and further excludes other specified items as discussed under "Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information." The financial guidance is subject to risks and uncertainties applicable to all forward-looking statements as described elsewhere in this press release.
Company and Conference Call Information
Bristol Myers Squibb is a global biopharmaceutical company whose mission is to discover, develop and deliver innovative medicines that help patients prevail over serious diseases. For more information about Bristol Myers Squibb, visit us at BMS.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram.
There will be a conference call on April 29, 2021 at 9 a.m. ET during which company executives will review financial information and address inquiries from investors and analysts. Investors and the general public are invited to listen to a live webcast of the call at View Source or by dialing in the U.S. toll free 800-458-4121 or international +1 313-209-6672, confirmation code: 3705525, or using this link which becomes active 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start time and entering your information to be connected. Materials related to the call will be available at the same website prior to the conference call.
A replay of the call will be available beginning at 12:30 p.m. ET on April 29 through 12:30 p.m. ET on May 13, 2021. The replay will also be available through View Source or by dialing in the U.S. toll free 888-203-1112 or international 719-457-0820, confirmation code: 3705525.
Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information
In discussing financial results and guidance, the company refers to the financial measures that are not in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). The non-GAAP financial measures are provided as supplemental information to the financial measures presented in this press release that are calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP and are presented because management has evaluated the company’s financial results both including and excluding the adjusted items or the effects of foreign currency translation, as applicable, and believes that the non-GAAP financial measures presented portray the results of the company’s baseline performance, supplement or enhance management, analysts and investors overall understanding of the company’s underlying financial performance and trends and facilitate comparisons among current, past and future periods. For example, non-GAAP earnings and EPS information are indications of the company’s baseline performance before items that are considered by us to not be reflective of the company’s ongoing results. This information is among the primary indicators that we use as a basis for evaluating performance, allocating resources, setting incentive compensation targets and planning and forecasting for future periods. In addition, revenue excluding COVID-19 related buying patterns from the first quarter of 2020, non-GAAP gross margin, which is gross profit excluding certain specified items as a percentage of revenues, non-GAAP marketing, selling and administrative expenses, which is marketing, selling and administrative expense excluding certain specified items, and non-GAAP research and development expenses, which is research and development expenses excluding certain specified items, are relevant and useful for investors because they allow investors to view performance in a manner similar to the method used by our management and make it easier for investors, analysts and peers to compare our operating performance to other companies in our industry and to compare our year-over-year results. This earnings release also provides international revenues excluding the impact of foreign exchange. Foreign exchange impacts were derived by applying the prior period average currency rates to the current period revenues and expenses.
Non-GAAP financial measures such as non-GAAP earnings and related EPS information are adjusted to exclude certain costs, expenses, gains and losses and other specified items that are evaluated on an individual basis after considering their quantitative and qualitative aspects and typically have one or more of the following characteristics, such as being highly variable, difficult to project, unusual in nature, significant to the results of a particular period or not indicative of past or future operating results. These items are excluded from non-GAAP earnings and related EPS information because the company believes they neither relate to the ordinary course of the company’s business nor reflect the company’s underlying business performance. Similar charges or gains were recognized in prior periods and will likely reoccur in future periods, including amortization of acquired intangible assets, including product rights that generate a significant portion of our ongoing revenue and will recur until the intangible assets are fully amortized, unwind of inventory fair value adjustments, acquisition and integration expenses, restructuring costs, accelerated depreciation and impairment of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets, R&D charges or other income resulting from upfront or contingent milestone payments in connection with the acquisition or licensing of third-party intellectual property rights, divestiture gains or losses, stock compensation resulting from accelerated vesting of Celgene awards, certain retention-related employee compensation charges related to the Celgene transaction, pension, legal and other contractual settlement charges, equity investment and contingent value rights fair value adjustments (including fair value adjustments attributed to limited partnership equity method investments beginning in 2021) and amortization of fair value adjustments of debt acquired from Celgene in our 2019 exchange offer, among other items. Deferred and current income taxes attributed to these items are also adjusted for considering their individual impact to the overall tax expense, deductibility and jurisdictional tax rates.
Because the non-GAAP financial measures are not calculated in accordance with GAAP, they should not be considered superior to and are not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the related financial measures presented in the press release that are prepared in accordance with GAAP and may not be the same as or comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies due to possible differences in method and in the items being adjusted. We encourage investors to review our financial statements and publicly-filed reports in their entirety and not to rely on any single financial measure.
Reconciliations of the non-GAAP financial measures to the most comparable GAAP measures are provided in the accompanying financial tables and also available on the company’s website at www.bms.com.
Website Information
We routinely post important information for investors on our website, BMS.com, in the "Investors" section. We may use this website as a means of disclosing material, non-public information and for complying with our disclosure obligations under Regulation FD. Accordingly, investors should monitor the Investors section of our website, in addition to following our press releases, SEC filings, public conference calls, presentations and webcasts. We may also use social media channels to communicate with our investors and the public about our company, our products and other matters, and those communications could be deemed to be material information. The information contained on, or that may be accessed through, our website or social media channels are not incorporated by reference into, and are not a part of, this document.