On February 4, 2019 Gilead Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: GILD) reported its results of operations for the fourth quarter and full year 2018 (Press release, Gilead Sciences, FEB 4, 2019, View Source [SID1234533040]).
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Total revenues for the fourth quarter of 2018 were $5.8 billion compared to $5.9 billion for the same period in 2017. Net income for the fourth quarter of 2018 was $3 million, or $0.00 earnings per diluted share, compared to net loss of $3.9 billion, or $2.96 loss per diluted share for the same period in 2017. The earnings per share for the fourth quarter of 2018 included an unfavorable impact of $0.99 per diluted share from an impairment and a non-cash tax charge related to intangible assets acquired from Kite Pharma, Inc. (Kite). Non-GAAP net income for the fourth quarter of 2018 was $1.9 billion, or $1.44 per diluted share, compared to $2.3 billion, or $1.78 per diluted share for the same period in 2017.
"Financial Instruments – Overall: Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities"
Non-GAAP financial information excludes acquisition-related, up-front collaboration, stock-based compensation and other expenses, fair value adjustments of marketable equity securities and discrete tax charges or benefits associated with changes in tax related laws and guidelines. A reconciliation between GAAP and non-GAAP financial information is provided in the tables on pages 8 through 11.
Product Sales
Total product sales for the fourth quarter of 2018 were $5.7 billion, compared to $5.8 billion for the same period in 2017. Product sales for the fourth quarter of 2018 were $4.5 billion in the United States, $813 million in Europe and $398 million in other locations. Product sales for the fourth quarter of 2017 were $4.1 billion in the United States, $1.1 billion in Europe and $553 million in other locations.
Total product sales in 2018 were $21.7 billion, compared to $25.7 billion in 2017. For 2018, product sales were $16.2 billion in the United States, $3.7 billion in Europe and $1.8 billion in other locations. For 2017, product sales were $18.1 billion in the United States, $5.0 billion in Europe and $2.6 billion in other locations.
HIV product sales were $4.1 billion for the fourth quarter of 2018 compared to $3.4 billion for the same period in 2017. For 2018, HIV product sales were $14.6 billion compared to $13.0 billion in 2017. The increases were primarily due to the launch of Biktarvy (bictegravir 50 mg/emtricitabine 200 mg/tenofovir alafenamide 25 mg) in 2018 and the continued uptake of 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 virus (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 $738 million for the fourth quarter of 2018 compared to $1.5 billion for the same period in 2017. For 2018, HCV product sales were $3.7 billion compared to $9.1 billion in 2017. The declines were primarily due to lower average net selling price and lower sales volume of Harvoni and Epclusa across all major markets as a result of increased competition and lower patient starts.
Yescarta (axicabtagene ciloleucel), which was launched in the United States in October 2017, generated $81 million in sales during the fourth quarter of 2018 and $264 million in sales in 2018.
Other product sales, which include products from Gilead’s chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV), cardiovascular, oncology and other categories inclusive of Vemlidy (tenofovir alafenamide 25 mg), Viread (tenofovir disoproxil fumarate 300 mg), Letairis (ambrisentan 5 mg and 10 mg), Ranexa (ranolazine 500 mg and 1000 mg), Zydelig (idelalisib 150 mg) and AmBisome (amphotericin B liposome for injection 50 mg/vial), were $797 million for the fourth quarter of 2018 compared to $886 million for the same period in 2017. For 2018, other product sales were $3.1 billion compared to $3.5 billion in 2017.
Cost of Goods Sold and Product Gross Margin
For the fourth quarter and full year 2018, compared to the same periods in 2017:
Cost of goods sold and non-GAAP cost of goods sold increased primarily due to reserves for excess raw material inventory. In the fourth quarter of 2018, inventory reserves of $410 million, or approximately $0.31 per diluted share, were recorded for excess raw materials primarily due to a sustained decrease in demand for Harvoni. The full year cost of goods sold also increased due to amortization expense related to intangible assets acquired in connection with Gilead’s acquisition of Kite.
Product gross margin and non-GAAP product gross margin decreased primarily due to the factors noted above.
Operating Expenses
R&D expenses increased primarily due to an $820 million impairment charge related to in-process R&D (IPR&D) for the KITE-585 program (an anti-BCMA being evaluated for the treatment of multiple myeloma), up-front collaboration expenses and higher investments to support the growth of Gilead’s business following the acquisition of Kite, partially offset by Gilead’s purchase of Cell Design Labs, Inc. in 2017.
SG&A expenses decreased primarily due to lower stock-based compensation expenses associated with the acquisition of Kite, partially offset by higher investments to support the growth of Gilead’s business following the acquisition of Kite.
Non-GAAP R&D expenses and non-GAAP SG&A expenses increased primarily due to higher investments to support the growth of Gilead’s business following the acquisition of Kite.
For the full year 2018, compared to 2017:
R&D expenses increased primarily due to an $820 million impairment charge related to IPR&D for the KITE-585 program, up-front collaboration expenses, a full year of investments to support the growth of Gilead’s business following the acquisition of Kite and higher stock-based compensation expenses associated with the acquisition of Kite.
SG&A expenses increased primarily due to a full year of investments to support the growth of Gilead’s business following the acquisition of Kite, partially offset by lower acquisition-related costs associated with the acquisition of Kite.
Non-GAAP R&D expenses and non-GAAP SG&A expenses increased primarily due to a full year of investments to support the growth of Gilead’s business following the acquisition of Kite.
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Marketable Debt Securities
As of December 31, 2018, Gilead had $31.5 billion of cash, cash equivalents and marketable debt securities compared to $36.7 billion as of December 31, 2017. During 2018, Gilead generated $8.4 billion in operating cash flow, repaid $6.3 billion of debt, paid cash dividends of $3.0 billion and utilized $2.9 billion on stock repurchases.
Full Year 2019 Guidance
Gilead provided its full year 2019 guidance below. The guidance for product sales reflects the anticipated entry of generic versions of Letairis and Ranexa in the United States and the full year impact of generic products containing tenofovir disoproxil fumarate in certain European countries.
Corporate Highlights
Announced that the Board of Directors named Daniel O’Day Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, effective March 1, 2019. Announced that the Board of Directors appointed Gregg Alton as interim Chief Executive Officer for the period of January 1, 2019 until March 1, 2019.
Announced an immuno-oncology partnership with Agenus Inc. focused on the development and commercialization of novel immuno-oncology therapies.
Announced a strategic collaboration with Scholar Rock Holding Corporation to discover and develop highly specific inhibitors of transforming growth factor beta activation for the treatment of fibrotic diseases.
Announced a global strategic collaboration with Tango Therapeutics, Inc. to discover, develop and commercialize a pipeline of innovative targeted immuno-oncology treatments for patients with cancer.
Product & Pipeline Updates announced by Gilead during the Fourth Quarter of 2018 include:
HIV and Liver Diseases Programs
Announced that the China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) approved Harvoni in China for the treatment of HCV genotype 1-6 infection in adults and adolescents aged 12 to 18 years.
Announced that the NMPA approved Descovy in China for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in adults and adolescents.
Announced that the NMPA approved Vemlidy in China for the treatment of chronic HBV infection in adults and adolescents.
Presented data at The Liver Meeting 2018, which included the announcement of:
Results from studies investigating Epclusa in HCV infected patients with severe renal impairment undergoing dialysis and Harvoni in pediatric HCV patients aged three to five years, adding to the efficacy and safety profile of sofosbuvir-based regimens across diverse patient populations.
Results from Gilead’s HBV cure development program.
Results from Gilead’s clinical development program for advanced fibrosis due to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Data presented support the ongoing development of Gilead’s investigational compounds, evaluate the utility of noninvasive tests for the identification of patients with advanced fibrosis and demonstrate the significant burden of disease in affected patients.
Results demonstrating that treatment with GS-9674, an investigational, selective, nonsteroidal farnesoid X receptor agonist, led to significant improvements in liver biochemistry and markers of cholestasis in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis.
Presented data at the 2018 HIV Glasgow conference, which included the announcement of 96-week results from a Phase 3, randomized, double-blinded study evaluating the safety and efficacy of Biktarvy for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in treatment-naïve adults. In the ongoing study, Biktarvy was found to be statistically non-inferior to a regimen of dolutegravir and emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide through 96 weeks of therapy.
Oncology and Cell Therapy Programs
Presented data at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) (Free ASH Whitepaper), which included the announcement of:
Updated results from ZUMA-3, a single-arm Phase 1/2 study evaluating KTE-X19 (formerly KTE-C19), an investigational CD19 chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy, in adult patients with relapsed or refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia. With a median follow-up of 15.1 months following a single infusion of KTE-X19, 69% of evaluable patients achieved complete tumor remission, defined as complete remission (CR) or CR with incomplete hematological recovery. The rate of undetectable minimal residual disease in patients who achieved complete tumor remission was 100%.
Two-year efficacy and safety data from the pivotal ZUMA-1 trial of Yescarta in patients with refractory large B-cell lymphoma. With a minimum follow-up of two years after a single infusion of Yescarta (median follow up of 27.1 months), 39% of patients were in an ongoing response.
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 through 11.
Conference Call
At 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time today, Gilead’s management will host a conference call and a simultaneous webcast to discuss results for the fourth quarter and full year 2018 and a general business update. To access the webcast live via the internet, please connect to Gilead’s website at View Source 15 minutes prior to the conference call to ensure adequate time for any software download that may be needed to hear the webcast. Alternatively, please call (877) 359-9508 (U.S.) or (224) 357-2393 (international) and dial the conference ID 3826138 to access the call.
A replay of the webcast will be archived on Gilead’s website for one year and a phone replay will be available approximately two hours following the call through February 6, 2019. To access the phone replay, please call (855) 859-2056 (U.S.) or (404) 537-3406 (international) and dial the conference ID 3826138.