On May 2, 2019 Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: ACOR) reported a financial and pipeline update for the quarter ended March 31, 2019 (Press release, Acorda Therapeutics, MAY 2, 2019, View Source [SID1234535541]).

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"Since INBRIJA became commercially available at the end of February, the feedback from both healthcare professionals and people with Parkinson’s, or PWPs, has been enthusiastic, and our Prescription Support Services center has received approximately 2,000 prescription requests. Our market research has consistently shown that both physicians and PWPs consider OFF periods one of the most troubling and disruptive aspects of Parkinson’s, and that they regard INBRIJA as having the potential to address this significant unmet need," said Ron Cohen, M.D., Acorda’s President and CEO. "We are currently meeting with insurers to discuss formulary placement. We are also continuing to roll out in-person and digital programs to educate healthcare professionals and PWPs about INBRIJA."

First Quarter 2019 Financial Results

For the quarter ended March 31, 2019, the Company reported INBRIJA net revenue of $1.3 million. INBRIJA became commercially available on February 28, 2019.

For the quarter ended March 31, 2019, the Company reported AMPYRA net revenue of $40.1 million compared to $102.8 million for the same quarter in 2018. In September 2018, AMPYRA lost its exclusivity and generics entered the market. Consequently, the Company expects AMPYRA revenue to continue to decline.

Research and development (R&D) expenses for the quarter ended March 31, 2019 were $16.0 million, including $0.7 million of share-based compensation compared to $30.6 million, including $1.7 million of share-based compensation for the same quarter in 2018.

Sales, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses for the quarter ended March 31, 2019 were $52.7 million, including $2.8 million of share-based compensation compared to $47.6 million, including $4.2 million of share-based compensation for the same quarter in 2018.

Benefit from income taxes for the quarter ended March 31, 2019 was $0.7 million compared to a provision for income taxes of $3.5 million for the same quarter in 2018.

The Company reported a GAAP net loss of $47.6 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2019, or $1.00 per diluted share. GAAP net loss in the same quarter of 2018 was $8.2 million, or $0.18 per diluted share.

Non-GAAP net loss for the quarter ended March 31, 2019 was $26.5 million, or $0.56 per diluted share. Non-GAAP net income in the same quarter of 2018 was $6.8 million, or $0.14 per diluted share. This quarterly non-GAAP net (loss) income measure, more fully described below under "Non-GAAP Financial Measures," excludes share-based compensation charges, non-cash interest charges on our debt, and changes in the fair value of acquired contingent consideration. A reconciliation of the GAAP financial results to non-GAAP financial results is included with the attached financial statements.

At March 31, 2019, the Company had cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $343.3 million compared to $445.6 million at year end 2018. The decline in cash was due in large part to non-recurring payments of approximately $45 million that were made in the first quarter, primarily related to AMPYRA inventory purchases. The Company does not expect to purchase additional AMPYRA inventory in 2019.

For the remainder of 2019, the Company expects cash expenditures to align with normal operating activities, and continues to believe that it can become cash flow positive without raising additional capital, based on its long-term projections.

2019 Financial Guidance

During INBRIJA’s launch year, the Company does not expect to provide INBRIJA revenue guidance.

The Company will no longer provide revenue guidance for AMPYRA, due to the unpredictable trajectory of revenue decline given the entrance of generics.

R&D expenses for the full year 2019 are expected to be $70-$80 million and SG&A expenses for the full year 2019 are expected to be $200-$210 million. This guidance is a non-GAAP projection that excludes share-based compensation as more fully described below under "Non-GAAP Financial Measures."

First Quarter 2019 Highlights

INBRIJA (levodopa inhalation powder)

In March, the Company submitted responses to the INBRIJA Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) Day 120 list of questions. A final decision from the European Commission is expected before the end of 2019. Acorda is seeking approval to market INBRIJA in the European Union.

In March, new one-year safety and exploratory efficacy outcomes data from the extension of the Phase 3 SPANSM-PD trial were presented at the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy Annual Meeting.

Webcast and Conference Call

The Company will host a conference call today at 8:30 a.m. ET. To participate in the conference call, please dial (866) 393-4306 (domestic) or (734) 385-2616 (international) and reference the access code 4783943. The presentation will be available on the Investors section of www.acorda.com.

A replay of the call will be available from 11:30 a.m. ET on May 2, 2019 until 11:59 p.m. ET on June 2, 2019. To access the replay, please dial (855) 859-2056 (domestic) or (404) 537-3406 (international); reference code 4783943. The archived webcast will be available in the Investor Relations section of the Acorda website at www.acorda.com.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release includes financial results prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP), and also certain historical and forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures. In particular, Acorda has provided non-GAAP net loss, adjusted to exclude the items below, and has provided 2019 guidance for R&D and SG&A expenses on a non-GAAP basis. Non-GAAP financial measures are not an alternative for financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. However, the Company believes the presentation of non-GAAP net loss, when viewed in conjunction with our GAAP results, provides investors with a more meaningful understanding of our ongoing and projected operating performance because this measure excludes (i) non-cash compensation charges and benefits that are substantially dependent on changes in the market price of our common stock, (ii) non-cash interest charges related to the accounting for our outstanding convertible debt which are in excess of the actual interest expense owing on such convertible debt, as well as non-cash interest related to the Fampyra monetization, and acquired Biotie debt, and (iii) changes in the fair value of acquired contingent consideration which do not correlate to our actual cash payment obligations in the relevant periods. The Company believes its non-GAAP net loss measure helps indicate underlying trends in the Company’s business and is important in comparing current results with prior period results and understanding projected operating performance. Also, management uses this non-GAAP financial measure to establish budgets and operational goals, and to manage the Company’s business and to evaluate its performance.

In addition to non-GAAP net loss, we have provided 2019 guidance for R&D and SG&A expenses on a non-GAAP basis. Due to the forward looking nature of this information, the amount of

compensation charges and benefits needed to reconcile these measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures is dependent on future changes in the market price of our common stock and is not available at this time. The Company believes that these non-GAAP measures, when viewed in conjunction with our GAAP results, provide investors with a more meaningful understanding of our ongoing and projected R&D and SG&A expenses. Also, management uses these non-GAAP financial measures to establish budgets and operational goals, and to manage the Company’s business and to evaluate its performance.