On November 9, 2021 Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: ACOR) reported its financial results for the third quarter 2021 and changes to its leadership team (Press release, Acorda Therapeutics, NOV 9, 2021, View Source [SID1234594898]).

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"Acorda made significant progress this quarter. We saw a 34% increase in INBRIJA net sales over the same quarter in 2020, despite the continuing impact of the pandemic on our business. Today we announced an agreement with Esteve to commercialize Inbrija in Germany, the largest pharmaceutical market in Europe and fourth largest in the world. Esteve expects to launch INBRIJA there in mid-2022," said Ron Cohen, M.D., Acorda’s President and Chief Executive Officer. "We have also added two seasoned executives to Acorda’s leadership team. Mike Gesser is a highly experienced CFO who will enhance our efforts to maintain fiscal discipline and increase the efficiency of our organization. Neil Belloff has a long track record of success as a General Counsel for biotech companies and at the Securities and Exchange Commission. We thank Dr. Blank for his years of service to Acorda; under his leadership, Acorda secured marketing authorizations for INBRIJA from both the FDA and the European Medicines Agency. We are pleased that Dr. Blank will continue to provide the benefit of his expertise to Acorda as a consultant."

"We are making excellent progress on our top corporate priorities: accelerating Inbrija’s sales trajectory, maintaining our Ampyra brand in the face of generic competition, commercializing Inbrija outside the US, which provides a significant additional revenue stream to Acorda, and aligning our operating expenses to our revenue. Our goal is to be cash flow positive on a run rate basis by the end of 2022."

Third Quarter 2021 Financial Results

For the quarter ended September 30, 2021, the Company reported INBRIJA net revenue of $7.8 million, compared to $5.8 million for the same quarter in 2020.

For the quarter ended September 30, 2021, the Company reported AMPYRA net revenue of $20.0 million compared to $27.3 million for the same quarter in 2020. 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 September 30, 2021 were $1.9 million, including $0.2 million of share-based compensation compared to $5.7 million, including $0.6 million of share-based compensation for the same quarter in 2020.

Sales, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses for the quarter ended September 30, 2021 were $29.6 million, including $0.6 million of share-based compensation, compared to $39.9 million, including $1.8 million of share-based compensation for the same quarter in 2020.

Change in fair value of derivative liability for the quarter ended September 30, 2021 was $(0.3) million compared to $(4.9) million for the same quarter in 2020.

Benefit from income taxes for the quarter ended September 30, 2021 was $3.1 million compared to a provision for income taxes of $1.5 million for the same quarter in 2020.

The Company reported a GAAP net loss of $27.1 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2021, or $2.43 per diluted share. GAAP net income in the same quarter of 2020 was $7.3 million, or $0.32 per diluted share.

Non-GAAP net loss for the quarter ended September 30, 2021 was $15.9 million, or $1.43 per diluted share. Non-GAAP net loss in the same quarter of 2020 was $10.9 million, or $1.36 per diluted share. This quarterly non-GAAP net loss measure, more fully described below under "Non-GAAP Financial Measures," excludes share-based compensation charges, non-cash interest charges on our debt, changes in the fair value of acquired contingent consideration, changes in the fair value of derivative liability related to our 2024 convertible senior secured notes, and expenses that pertain to non-routine corporate restructurings. A reconciliation of the GAAP financial results to non-GAAP financial results is included with the attached financial statements.

At September 30, 2021, the Company had cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash of $62 million, compared to $103 million at year end 2020. Restricted cash includes $25 million in escrow related to the 6% semi-annual interest portion of the 2024 convertible senior secured notes, which is payable in cash or stock. If the Company elects to pay interest due in stock, a corresponding amount of restricted cash will be released from escrow.

For the full-year 2021, Acorda continues to expect AMPYRA net revenue to be $75 – $85 million, and operating expenses to be $130 – $140 million. The operating expense guidance is a non-GAAP projection that excludes restructuring costs and share-based compensation as more fully described below under "Non-GAAP Financial Measures."

INBRIJA Ex-US

Acorda announced that it has entered into distribution and supply agreements with Esteve Pharmaceuticals GmbH for the commercialization of INBRJIA in Germany. Acorda will receive a €5 million upfront signing fee, and will receive additional sales-based milestones. Acorda will also receive a significant double-digit percent of the selling price of INBRIJA in Germany in exchange for supply of the product. Esteve expects to launch INBRIJA in Germany in mid-2022.

Leadership Team

Michael Gesser has joined Acorda as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Mr. Gesser was most recently the CFO of Tergus Pharma and has also held CFO positions at BioMedomics, Inc., HAP Innovations, LLC, Suntech Medical, Inc., and Osmotica Pharmaceutical Corp. Previous to those roles, he held several senior-level financial positions at Allergan Pharmaceuticals. Mr. Gesser received his M.B.A. from the Belk School of Business at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and his B.S. in Finance at the Cameron School of Business at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.

Neil Belloff has joined the Company as General Counsel. Mr. Belloff has over 30 years of business and legal experience and was formerly the Chief Operating Officer, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Eloxx Pharmaceuticals and held senior level positions at Celgene Corporation, Deutsche Telekom, AG, and the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Mr. Belloff received his J.D. from the University of Bridgeport School of Law, M.A. from New York University, his B.A. from Queens College of the City University of New York, and completed post-graduate studies in the LL.M Program in Securities Regulation at Georgetown University Law Center. Andrew Mayer will remain Deputy General Counsel and Corporate Secretary.

Burkhard Blank, M.D., the Company’s Chief Medical Officer, will leave his position at the end of this year. He is expected to serve as a consultant to Acorda following his departure.

Mr. Gesser and Mr. Belloff were each granted options to purchase 85,000 shares of Acorda’s common stock (for an aggregate of 170,000 shares). In accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4), these stock options were granted to Mr. Gesser and Mr. Belloff under the company’s 2016 Inducement Plan as a material inducement to their accepting employment with the company as Chief Financial Officer and General Counsel, respectively.

The stock options have an exercise price of $3.74 per share, equal to the closing price of the company’s common stock on the grant date of November 8, 2021, which is the date Mr. Gesser and Mr. Belloff commenced employment. The stock options will vest over four years, with 25% vesting on the one-year anniversary of the commencement of employment, and the remaining 75% vesting on a quarterly basis over the remaining three years thereafter, subject to continuing employment. The stock options have a 10-year term and are subject to the terms and conditions of the 2016 Inducement Plan.

Webcast

The Company will host a webcast in conjunction with its third quarter 2021 update and financial results today at 4:30 p.m. ET.

To participate in the Webcast, please use the following pre-registration link:

View Source
Once you have registered, you will receive a confirmation email with Webcast details. You will receive an email 2 hours prior to the start of the call with the link to join. The presentation will be available in the Investors section of www.acorda.com.

A replay of the audio portion will be available from 7:30 p.m. ET on November 9, 2021 until 11:59 p.m. ET on December 9, 2021. To access the replay, please dial (866) 813 9403 (domestic) or +44 204 525 0658 (international); access code 602929. The archived webcast will be available in the Investor Relations section of the Acorda website at www.acorda.com.