On February 28, 2017 Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: HALO), a biotechnology company developing novel oncology and drug-delivery therapies, reported financial results and recent highlights for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2016 (Press release, Halozyme, FEB 28, 2017, View Source [SID1234517886]). Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo! "We exited 2016 in a strong position through the benefit of our differentiated business model and having made substantial progress across both of our value-creating pillars," said Dr. Helen Torley, president and chief executive officer. "The positive Phase 2 data we reported last month affirms our conviction in PEGPH20, our lead investigational oncology drug, and supports our ongoing Phase 3 study in pancreas cancer patients. We have made strong progress initiating global sites in the Phase 3 study and see momentum building in the number of patients we are screening.
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"Our ENHANZE platform remains an important value driver as royalty revenue demonstrated yet another quarter of robust growth, and exceeded $50 million for the year. With positive data presented by Genentech and Janssen at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) (Free ASH Whitepaper) annual meeting for their ENHANZE-partnered programs and a recent BLA filing in the U.S. by Genentech, we remain very encouraged by the royalty growth potential from current and new products over the long term."
Fourth Quarter 2016 and Recent Highlights include:
Reporting a statistically significant improvement in the primary endpoint of progression-free survival (PFS) of all evaluable patients, and in the secondary endpoint of PFS in patients with high levels of hyaluronan (HA), as of a December 2016 data cut in the Phase 2 randomized HALO-202 study of PEGPH20 in combination with ABRAXANE (nab-paclitaxel) and gemcitabine in advanced pancreas cancer patients. The primary safety endpoint to evaluate and demonstrate a reduction in the rate of thromboembolic events in the PEGPH20 arm was also achieved.
In the population that closely mirrors the HALO-301 Phase 3 study, a 91 percent improvement was achieved in median PFS for HA-High patients in the PEGPH20 arm, 8.6 months compared to 4.5 months in the control arm. A 50 percent improvement was also reported in median overall survival (OS) for HA-High patients in the PEGPH20 arm, 11.7 months compared to 7.8 months in the control arm.
Screening patients at nearly 200 global sites and receiving approval in all 22 participating countries for HALO-301, the company’s Phase 3 study of pancreas cancer patients.
Entering the dose expansion phase of the ongoing Phase 1b clinical study evaluating PEGPH20 in combination with KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) in relapsed non-small cell lung and gastric cancer patients. The company expects to enroll approximately 50 patients with high levels of HA at 30 U.S. sites.
Announcing a broad clinical collaboration agreement with Genentech to evaluate PEGPH20 and TECENTRIQ (atezolizumab) in up to 8 tumor types. Halozyme plans to initiate a Phase 1b trial to evaluate the combination in gallbladder cancer and cholangiocarcinoma, and Roche plans to initiate multiple Phase 1b/2 trials within their novel immunotherapy MORPHEUS clinical trial platform to evaluate the combination in pancreas and gastric cancers in the second half of 2017.
Presenting supportive clinical data by ENHANZE partners at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) (Free ASH Whitepaper) annual meeting in November. Genentech presented data from the SABRINA Phase 3 study indicating comparable response rates and time-to-event data for subcutaneous rituximab compared to IV administration. The data presentation followed acceptance by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of a Biologics License Application for a subcutaneous formulation of rituximab using Halozyme’s ENHANZE technology. Roche has indicated it is seeking approval in chronic lymphocytic leukemia and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, with an action date in June.
In addition, Janssen presented data indicating its subcutaneous formulation of daratumumab on the ENHANZE platform was well tolerated and had an efficacy and pharmacokinetic profile consistent with the IV formulation, demonstrating the feasibility of a 30-minute, 90 mL dose and supporting further study in a Phase 3 clinical trial.
Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2016 Financial Highlights
Revenue for the fourth quarter was $39 million compared to $52.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2015. The year-over-year decrease was driven by $25 million received upon signing the Lilly collaboration agreement in 2015, offset by increases in royalties from partner sales of Herceptin SC, MabThera SC and HYQVIA, API sales to partners, and manufacturing and clinical supply reimbursements from ENHANZE partners. Revenue for the fourth quarter included $14.3 million in royalties, an increase of 50 percent from the prior-year period, $9 million in sales of bulk rHuPH20 primarily for use in manufacturing collaboration products and $4.4 million in HYLENEX recombinant (hyaluronidase human injection) product sales.
Revenue for 2016 totaled $146.7 million, an increase of 9 percent from 2015, including royalty revenue of $51 million, an increase of 65 percent from 2015.
Research and development expenses for the fourth quarter were $41.3 million, compared to $27.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2015. The planned increases were primarily due to a ramp in spending associated with the HALO-301 study, personnel expenses, and manufacturing and clinical supply expenses that are reimbursed by ENHANZE partners.
Selling, general and administrative expenses for the fourth quarter were $12.2 million, compared to $10.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2015. The increase was primarily due to personnel expenses, including stock compensation, for the period.
Operating expenses for 2016 totaled $229.9 million, an increase of 41 percent from 2015.
Net loss for the fourth quarter was $27.4 million, or $0.21 per share, compared to net income in the fourth quarter of 2015 of $4.3 million, or $0.03 per share. Net loss for 2016 totaled $103 million, or $0.81 per share.
Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities were $205 million at December 31, 2016, compared to $221.1 million at September 30, 2016.
Financial Outlook for 2017
For 2017, the company reiterated and updated the cash portions of its financial guidance, now expecting:
Net revenue of $115 million to $130 million, excluding any new ENHANZE collaboration agreements;
Operating expenses of $240 million to $250 million;
Operating cash burn of $75 million to $85 million; and
Year-end cash balance of $110 million to $125 million, an increase from its prior range of $100 million to $110 million.
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