On April 25, 2019 AbbVie (NYSE:ABBV) reported its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2019 (Press release, AbbVie, APR 25, 2019, View Source [SID1234535386]).
"We are off to another excellent start, including first quarter sales and earnings above expectations," said Richard A. Gonzalez, chairman and chief executive officer, AbbVie. "Additionally, we have made tremendous progress advancing our pipeline, including the recent approval of SKYRIZI, which has the potential to set a new standard of care in psoriasis and represents a significant long-term opportunity for AbbVie. We are extremely pleased with our strong performance and based on the continued business momentum, are increasing our full-year EPS guidance."
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First-Quarter Results
Worldwide net revenues of $7.828 billion decreased 1.3 percent on a reported basis and increased 0.4 percent operationally.
First-Quarter Results (continued)
Global HUMIRA net revenues of $4.446 billion decreased 5.6 percent on a reported basis, or 3.8 percent operationally. In the U.S., HUMIRA net revenues of $3.215 billion grew 7.1 percent in the quarter. Internationally, HUMIRA net revenues of $1.231 billion decreased 27.9 percent on a reported basis, or 23.0 percent operationally, due to biosimilar competition.
Global net revenues from the hematologic oncology portfolio of $1.173 billion increased 42.8 percent on a reported basis, or 43.2 percent operationally. Global IMBRUVICA net revenues were $1.022 billion, with U.S. net revenues of $829 million and international profit sharing of $193 million. Global VENCLEXTA net revenues were $151 million.
Global HCV net revenues of $815 million decreased 11.3 percent on a reported basis, or 9.1 percent operationally. In the U.S., HCV net revenues of $403 million grew 17.3 percent in the quarter.
On a GAAP basis, the gross margin ratio in the first quarter was 78.4 percent. The adjusted gross margin ratio was 83.3 percent.
On a GAAP basis, selling, general and administrative expense was 21.5 percent of net revenues. The adjusted SG&A expense was 20.0 percent of net revenues.
On a GAAP basis, research and development expense was 16.5 percent of net revenues. The adjusted R&D expense was 15.3 percent of net revenues, reflecting funding actions supporting all stages of our pipeline.
On a GAAP basis, the operating margin in the first quarter was 38.5 percent. The adjusted operating margin was 48.1 percent.
On a GAAP basis, net interest expense was $325 million. On a GAAP basis, the tax rate in the quarter was 3.5 percent. The adjusted tax rate was 7.9 percent.
Diluted EPS in the first quarter was $1.65 on a GAAP basis. Adjusted diluted EPS, excluding specified items, was $2.14, up 14.4 percent.
Recent Events
AbbVie announced regulatory approvals for SKYRIZI for the treatment of adult patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy. The approvals from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare are based on results from four pivotal Phase 3 studies, ultIMMa-1, ultIMMa-2, IMMvent and IMMhance, evaluating more than 2,000 patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. Additionally, the European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use adopted a positive opinion for SKYRIZI for the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adult patients who are candidates for systemic therapy. SKYRIZI is part of a collaboration between Boehringer Ingelheim and AbbVie, with AbbVie leading development and commercialization globally.
Recent Events (continued)
At the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Annual Meeting, AbbVie presented data from 19 abstracts, including 10 oral presentations and 9 poster presentations. Long-term data from multiple studies investigating SKYRIZI for the treatment of plaque psoriasis were presented, including the first integrated efficacy analyses highlighting response over time and across various subgroups. Additionally, AbbVie presented up to 40 months of SKYRIZI safety data indicating adverse events were low and similar to comparator groups and data showing that psoriasis patients achieved significantly higher PASI 90 response rates after switching to SKYRIZI versus those who remained on adalimumab. AbbVie also presented results from a Phase 2 upadacitinib atopic dermatitis study, as well as data from HUMIRA (adalimumab) in multiple psoriatic diseases.
AbbVie announced that the FDA accepted for priority review its New Drug Application (NDA) for upadacitinib for the treatment of adult patients with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis. Upadacitinib is an investigational once-daily oral JAK1-selective inhibitor being studied for multiple immune-mediated diseases. The NDA is supported by data from the global upadacitinib SELECT Phase 3 rheumatoid arthritis program evaluating more than 4,000 patients with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis across five of six Phase 3 studies. AbbVie anticipates a regulatory decision in the third quarter of 2019.
AbbVie announced that the FDA approved the use of IMBRUVICA (ibrutinib) in combination with obinutuzumab, for adult patients with previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL). This milestone marked the 10th FDA approval for IMBRUVICA in six different disease areas since 2013 and expands the use of IMBRUVICA, which can already be administered as a single agent or in combination with bendamustine and rituximab for adult CLL/SLL patients. The FDA approval is based on results from the Phase 3 iLLUMINATE study, which showed the combination of IMBRUVICA plus obinutuzumab significantly improved progression-free survival compared to chlorambucil plus obinutuzumab in previously untreated CLL/SLL patients who were 65 years or older, or less than 65 years old with coexisting conditions. The FDA also updated the IMBRUVICA label to include additional long-term efficacy follow-up data from the Phase 3 RESONATE and RESONATE-2 studies, supporting its use as a single agent in CLL/SLL. IMBRUVICA is jointly developed and commercialized with Janssen Biotech, Inc.
AbbVie announced that the FDA granted a fifth Breakthrough Therapy Designation to VENCLEXTA (venetoclax), for use in combination with obinutuzumab as a fixed duration investigational combination, for untreated adult patients with CLL. The designation coincides with the completion of the supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) submission to the FDA for approval in previously-untreated CLL patients. In addition, the sNDA was granted priority review by the FDA. The sNDA for the VENCLEXTA and obinutuzumab combination is based on data from the Phase 3 CLL14 trial and is being reviewed by the FDA under its Real-Time Oncology Review pilot program. Venetoclax is being developed by AbbVie and Roche and is jointly commercialized by AbbVie and Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, in the U.S. and by AbbVie outside of the U.S.
AbbVie provided an update on the VENCLEXTA multiple myeloma program, announcing that the FDA placed a partial clinical hold on all clinical trials evaluating VENCLEXTA for the investigational treatment of multiple myeloma. The partial clinical hold followed a review of data from the ongoing Phase 3 BELLINI trial, a study in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma, in which a higher proportion of deaths was observed in the VENCLEXTA arm compared to the control arm of the trial. This action does not impact any of the approved indications for VENCLEXTA, such as CLL or acute myeloid leukemia, and is limited to investigational clinical trials in multiple myeloma. Additional analyses are ongoing and data will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and/or presented at a future medical meeting.
Recent Events (continued)
AbbVie announced a strategic partnership with Teneobio, a biotechnology company developing a new class of biologics for the treatments of cancer, autoimmunity and infectious diseases. Under the agreement, AbbVie and Teneobio will develop and commercialize TNB-383B, a B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-targeting immunotherapeutic for the potential treatment of multiple myeloma. TNB-383B is a bispecific antibody that simultaneously targets BCMA and CD3 and is designed to direct the body’s own immune system to target and kill BCMA expressing tumor cells. The collaboration broadens AbbVie’s oncology research platform to expand the development of potentially life-changing treatments for patients.
AbbVie announced a strategic collaboration with Voyager Therapeutics, a clinical-stage gene therapy company focused on developing life-changing treatments for severe neurological diseases. The Voyager Therapeutics transaction expands collaborative efforts on vectorized antibodies to target pathological species of alpha-synuclein for the potential treatment of Parkinson’s disease and other diseases characterized by the abnormal accumulation of misfolded alpha-synuclein protein. Voyager’s vectorized antibody platform and approach aims to improve the delivery of sufficient quantities of antibodies across the blood-brain barrier by delivering the genes that encode for the production of therapeutic antibodies. The collaboration broadens AbbVie’s neuroscience research platform to expand the development of potentially life-changing treatments for patients.
Full-Year 2019 Outlook
AbbVie is raising its GAAP diluted EPS guidance for the full-year 2019 to $7.26 to $7.36. The company’s 2019 GAAP guidance does not reflect a non-cash charge for contingent consideration related to the approval of SKYRIZI, which is planned to be communicated on the second-quarter earnings call. AbbVie is raising its previously announced adjusted EPS guidance range for the full-year 2019 from $8.65 to $8.75 to $8.73 to $8.83, representing growth of 11.0 percent at the mid-point. The company’s 2019 adjusted diluted EPS guidance excludes $1.47 per share of intangible asset amortization expense, non-cash charges for contingent consideration adjustments and other specified items.