On July 25, 2018 Gilead Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: GILD) reported its results of operations for the second quarter ended June 30, 2018 (Press release, Gilead Sciences, JUL 25, 2018, View Source;p=irol-newsArticle&ID=2359992 [SID1234527885]). The financial results that follow represent a year-over-year comparison of the second quarter 2018 to the second quarter 2017. Total revenues were $5.6 billion in 2018 compared to $7.1 billion in 2017. Net income was $1.8 billion or $1.39 per diluted share in 2018 compared to $3.1 billion or $2.33 per diluted share in 2017. Non-GAAP net income was $2.5 billion or $1.91 per diluted share in 2018 compared to $3.4 billion or $2.56 per diluted share in 2017. Non-GAAP diluted EPS in the second quarter of 2018 benefited $0.15 from a favorable settlement of a tax examination.

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Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
June 30, June 30,
(In millions, except per share amounts) 2018 2017 2018 2017
Product sales $ 5,540 $ 7,046 $ 10,541 $ 13,423
Royalty, contract and other revenues 108 95 195 223
Total revenues $ 5,648 $ 7,141 $ 10,736 $ 13,646

Net income attributable to Gilead $ 1,817 $ 3,073 $ 3,355 $ 5,775
Non-GAAP net income $ 2,494 $ 3,372 $ 4,452 $ 6,321

Diluted earnings per share $ 1.39 $ 2.33 $ 2.55 $ 4.38
Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share $ 1.91 $ 2.56 $ 3.39 $ 4.79

Product Sales

Total product sales for the second quarter of 2018 were $5.5 billion compared to $7.0 billion for the same period in 2017. Product sales for the second quarter of 2018 were $4.1 billion in the United States, $1.0 billion in Europe and $466 million in other locations. Product sales for the second quarter of 2017 were $5.0 billion in the United States, $1.4 billion in Europe and $665 million in other locations.

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Note: Non-GAAP financial information excludes acquisition-related, up-front collaboration, stock-based compensation and other expenses, fair value adjustments of marketable equity securities and measurement period adjustments relating to the enactment of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (Tax Reform). A reconciliation between GAAP and non-GAAP financial information is provided in the tables on page 8, 9 and 10.

HIV product sales(1) were $3.7 billion for the second quarter of 2018 compared to $3.2 billion for the same period in 2017. The increase was primarily due to the continued uptake of products containing emtricitabine (FTC) and tenofovir alafenamide (TAF), which include Biktarvy (bictegravir 50 mg/emtricitabine 200 mg/tenofovir alafenamide 25 mg), Descovy (emtricitabine 200 mg/tenofovir alafenamide 25 mg), Genvoya (elvitegravir 150 mg/cobicistat 150 mg/emtricitabine 200 mg/tenofovir alafenamide 10 mg) and Odefsey (emtricitabine 200 mg/rilpivirine 25 mg/tenofovir alafenamide 25 mg).
Chronic hepatitis C (HCV) product sales, which consist of Epclusa (sofosbuvir 400 mg/velpatasvir 100 mg), Harvoni (ledipasvir 90 mg/sofosbuvir 400 mg), Vosevi (sofosbuvir 400 mg/velpatasvir 100 mg/voxilaprevir 100 mg) and Sovaldi (sofosbuvir 400 mg), were $1.0 billion for the second quarter of 2018 compared to $2.9 billion for the same period in 2017. The decline was primarily due to lower sales of Harvoni, Epclusa and Sovaldi across all major markets as a result of increased competition.
Yescarta (axicabtagene ciloleucel), which was launched in the United States in October 2017, generated $68 million in sales during the second quarter of 2018.
Other product sales, which include products from Gilead’s chronic hepatitis B (HBV), cardiovascular, oncology and other categories inclusive of Vemlidy (tenofovir alafenamide), Viread (tenofovir disoproxil fumarate), Letairis (ambrisentan), Ranexa (ranolazine), Zydelig (idelalisib) and AmBisome (amphotericin B liposome for injection), were $807 million for the second quarter of 2018 compared to $932 million for the same period in 2017.
Operating Expenses

Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
June 30, June 30,
(In millions) 2018 2017 2018 2017
Research and development expenses (R&D) $ 1,192 $ 864 $ 2,129 $ 1,795
Non-GAAP R&D expenses $ 921 $ 812 $ 1,735 $ 1,701

Selling, general and administrative expenses (SG&A) $ 980 $ 897 $ 1,977 $ 1,747
Non-GAAP SG&A expenses $ 840 $ 827 $ 1,724 $ 1,634

During the second quarter of 2018, compared to the same period in 2017:

R&D expenses increased primarily due to up-front collaboration expenses related to Gilead’s collaboration agreement with Sangamo Therapeutics, Inc., expense associated with Gilead’s purchase of a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Priority Review Voucher and stock-based compensation expenses associated with Gilead’s acquisition of Kite Pharma, Inc. (Kite).
Non-GAAP R&D expenses increased primarily due to expense associated with Gilead’s purchase of an FDA Priority Review Voucher.
SG&A expenses increased primarily due to stock-based compensation expenses associated with Gilead’s acquisition of Kite and higher costs to support the growth of Gilead’s business following the acquisition of Kite.
Non-GAAP SG&A expenses increased primarily due to higher costs to support the growth of Gilead’s business following the acquisition of Kite.
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(1) Excludes sales of Viread as Viread is primarily used for treatment of chronic hepatitis B (HBV).

Effective Tax Rate

The effective tax rate and non-GAAP effective tax rate in the second quarter of 2018 were 12.8% and 13.4% compared to 24.3% and 22.8% in the first quarter of 2018, respectively. The effective tax rate and non-GAAP effective tax rate were lower in the second quarter of 2018 primarily due to a favorable settlement of a tax examination. For the full year 2018, Gilead has revised its non-GAAP effective tax rate to be in the range of 19.0% – 21.0%.

Gilead is unable to project potential measurement period adjustments during 2018 relating to Tax Reform. As a result, Gilead is unable to project an effective tax rate on a GAAP basis.

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Marketable Securities

As of June 30, 2018, Gilead had $31.7 billion of cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities compared to $32.1 billion as of March 31, 2018. During the second quarter of 2018, Gilead generated $1.6 billion in operating cash flow, including tax-related payments of $1.5 billion, and also paid cash dividends of $740 million and utilized $450 million on stock repurchases.

Revised Full Year 2018 Guidance

Gilead revised its full year 2018 guidance, initially provided on February 6, 2018:

(In millions, except percentages and per share amounts)
Initially Provided
February 6, 2018
Reiterated
May 1, 2018

Updated
July 25, 2018

Net Product Sales $20,000 – $21,000 $20,000 – $21,000
Non-GAAP
Product Gross Margin 85% – 87% 85% – 87%
R&D Expenses $3,400 – $3,600 $3,400 – $3,600
SG&A Expenses $3,400 – $3,600 $3,400 – $3,600
Effective Tax Rate 21.0% – 23.0% 19.0% – 21.0%
Diluted EPS Impact of Acquisition-related, Up-front Collaboration, Stock-based Compensation and Other Expenses $1.41 – $1.51 $1.50 – $1.60

Corporate Highlights

Announced the promotion of Andrew Dickinson to Executive Vice President, Corporate Development and Strategy, with responsibility for Gilead’s corporate development, alliance management, competitive intelligence and corporate strategy and planning functions. Martin Silverstein, Executive Vice President, Strategy, has decided to leave Gilead at the end of August.
Announced that Harish M. Manwani has been appointed to Gilead’s Board of Directors.
Product and Pipeline Updates announced by Gilead during the Second Quarter of 2018 include:

HIV and Liver Diseases Programs

Announced that the European Commission has granted Marketing Authorization for Biktarvy for the treatment of HIV-1 infection.
Announced a research collaboration and license agreement with Hookipa Biotech AG (Hookipa) that grants Gilead exclusive rights to Hookipa’s TheraT and Vaxwave arenavirus vector-based immunization technologies for HBV and HIV.
Announced that the China Drug Administration (CDA) has approved Epclusa for the treatment of adults with genotype 1-6 HCV infection. The CDA also approved Epclusa in combination with ribavirin for adults with HCV and decompensated cirrhosis.
Announced that FDA has approved Truvada- in combination with safer sex practices – to reduce the risk of sexually acquired HIV-1 in at-risk adolescents.
Presented data at The International Liver Congress 2018, which included the announcement of:
The completion of enrollment, ahead of schedule, of STELLAR-3 and STELLAR-4, two ongoing Phase 3 trials evaluating the apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 inhibitor selonsertib in patients with F3 and F4 stages of fibrosis due to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).
Results from a proof-of-concept study of investigational combination therapies for patients with NASH, combining selonsertib with either the Acetyl-CoA carboxylase inhibitor GS-0976 or the selective, non-steroidal Farnesoid X receptor agonist GS-9674. Based on this 12-week study, these combination therapies were well tolerated and offered additional benefits for improving NASH by reducing liver fat content, liver cell injury and fibrosis. Gilead has initiated a larger 350-patient Phase 2b study of combinations of selonsertib, GS-0976 or GS-9674 in patients with advanced fibrosis due to NASH.
Results from two studies utilizing machine learning techniques which suggest that noninvasive tests perform as effectively as liver biopsy for predicting clinical outcomes in patients with advanced fibrosis due to NASH.
Oncology and Cell Therapy Programs

Announced that the European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use has issued a positive opinion on Gilead’s Marketing Authorization Application for Yescarta as a treatment for adult patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma, after two or more lines of systemic therapy.
Presented data at the 2018 American Society of Clinical Oncologists Annual Meeting, which included the announcement of:
Results from an ongoing Phase 1 study conducted by the National Cancer Institute showing that clinical responses were observed with investigational T cell receptor cell therapy targeting human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 E7 in solid tumor cancers caused by HPV.
Analyses of the ZUMA-1 study of Yescarta in adult patients with refractory large B-cell lymphoma showing that response status may predict rates of progression-free survival and that treatment responses were consistent across prior lines of therapy.
An analysis of the ZUMA-3 study evaluating investigational KTE-C19 for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia showed that patients experienced manageable safety and encouraging efficacy irrespective of prior blinatumomab use.
Announced new worldwide facilities to advance manufacturing of cell therapies for people with cancer and a new cooperative research and development agreement with the National Cancer Institute to develop adoptive cell therapies targeting patient-specific tumor neoantigens.
Inflammation Programs

Announced that the randomized, placebo-controlled Phase 2 EQUATOR study of filgotinib, an investigational, selective JAK1 inhibitor, in 131 adults with moderate to severe psoriatic arthritis, achieved its primary endpoint of improvement in the signs and symptoms of psoriatic arthritis at week 16, as assessed by the American College of Rheumatology 20 percent improvement score.
Announced that an independent Data Monitoring Committee (DMC) conducted a planned interim futility analysis of the filgotinib Phase 2b/3 ulcerative colitis study, SELECTION, after 350 patients completed the induction period in the Phase 2b portion of the study. The DMC recommended that the study proceed into Phase 3 as planned at both the 100 mg and 200 mg once daily dose level in biologic-experienced and biologic-naïve patients.
Announced a scientific collaboration with Verily Life Sciences LLC (Verily), an Alphabet company, using Verily’s Immunoscape platform to identify and better understand the immunological basis of three common and serious inflammatory diseases: rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and lupus-related diseases.
Non-GAAP Financial Information

The information presented in this document has been prepared by Gilead in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), unless otherwise noted as non-GAAP. Management believes non-GAAP information is useful for investors, when considered in conjunction with Gilead’s GAAP financial information, because management uses such information internally for its operating, budgeting and financial planning purposes. Non-GAAP information is not prepared under a comprehensive set of accounting rules and should only be used to supplement an understanding of Gilead’s operating results as reported under GAAP. Non-GAAP measures may be defined and calculated differently by other companies in the same industry. A reconciliation between GAAP and non-GAAP financial information is provided in the tables on pages 8, 9 and 10.