On November 1, 2016 Corcept Therapeutics Incorporated (NASDAQ: CORT), a pharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery, development and commercialization of drugs that treat severe metabolic, oncologic and psychiatric disorders by modulating the effects of cortisol, reported its financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2016 (Press release, Corcept Therapeutics, NOV 1, 2016, http://www.corcept.com/news_events/view/pr_1478031960 [SID1234516139]).
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Corcept reported revenue of $21.7 million and GAAP net income of $2.6 million for the third quarter of 2016, compared to revenue of $13.3 million and a GAAP net loss of $0.6 million for the third quarter of 2015. The company’s cash and cash equivalents were $47.9 million at September 30, 2016, an increase of $6.1 million from June 30, 2016.
The company expects that its revenue for 2016 will be $79-82 million, an increase from its original guidance of $76-81 million.
"The productivity of our expanded team of clinical specialists continues to improve," said Joseph K. Belanoff, MD, Corcept’s Chief Executive Officer. "Because of their hard work, the number of patients with Cushing’s syndrome receiving Korlym grew again last quarter, as did the number of physicians prescribing the medication. We do not see a leveling off in this growth. Many endocrinologists have yet to prescribe Korlym and many patients who could benefit from the medication have yet to receive it."
"The success of our Korlym franchise is allowing us to build a development program of exciting breadth and depth," said Robert S. Fishman, MD, Corcept’s Chief Medical Officer. "Our proprietary, selective cortisol modulator CORT125134 – now in its Phase 2 trial – may offer Cushing’s syndrome patients Korlym’s powerful benefits, but without the side effects associated with Korlym’s affinity for the progesterone receptor. We look forward to those results next year.
"Our oncology program continues to progress," added Dr. Fishman. "We are enrolling patients in our Phase 1/2 open-label trial of CORT125134 as a treatment for solid-tumor cancers. Korlym’s efficacy is being investigated as a treatment for patients with triple-negative breast cancer and castration-resistant prostate cancer. Stacie Shepherd, MD, PhD, a senior oncology development executive from Abbvie, joined us last quarter to lead the program.
"Our pipeline will broaden significantly next year, when we expect to advance to the clinic additional selective cortisol modulators that have shown great promise in animal models of solid-tumor cancers and metabolic disorders, including fatty liver disease."
Financial Discussion
Corcept’s GAAP net income for the third quarter of 2016 was $2.6 million, compared to a GAAP net loss of $0.6 million for the third quarter of 2015. Excluding non-cash expenses related to stock-based compensation and accreted interest on the company’s capped royalty obligation (the "Royalty Financing"), Corcept generated $4.9 million of non-GAAP net income in the third quarter of 2016, compared to non-GAAP net income of $1.6 million in the third quarter of 2015. A reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP net operating results is set forth below.
Operating expenses for the third quarter of 2016 increased to $18.7 million, from $13.2 million in the third quarter of 2015, primarily due to: (i) increased employee compensation expense associated with expansion of the company’s commercial and clinical development teams; (ii) growth in patient support costs, distribution expenses and commissions resulting from higher sales volumes; and (iii) increased spending on the clinical development of CORT125134.
Corcept’s cash and cash equivalents totaled $47.9 million at September 30, 2016, compared to $41.8 million at June 30, 2016. These cash balances reflect scheduled payments made under the Royalty Financing of $4.0 million and $3.3 million in the third and second quarters of 2016, respectively. The company expects to make its final payment under the Royalty Financing in 2017.
Conference Call
Corcept will hold a conference call on November 1, 2016, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (2:00 p.m. Pacific Time) to discuss this announcement. To participate, dial 1-800-446-1671 from the United States or 1-847-413-3362 internationally approximately ten minutes before the start of the call. The passcode will be 43632675. A replay will be available through November 15, 2016 at 1-888-843-7419 from the United States and 1-630-652-3042 internationally. The passcode for the replay will be 43632675.
About Cushing’s Syndrome
Endogenous Cushing’s syndrome is caused by prolonged exposure of the body’s tissues to high levels of the hormone cortisol and is generated by tumors that produce cortisol or ACTH. Cushing’s syndrome is an orphan indication that most commonly affects adults aged 20-50. An estimated 10-15 of every one million people are newly diagnosed with this syndrome each year, resulting in over 3,000 new patients annually in the United States. An estimated 20,000 patients in the United States have Cushing’s syndrome. Symptoms vary, but most people have one or more of the following manifestations: high blood sugar, diabetes, high blood pressure, upper body obesity, rounded face, increased fat around the neck, thinning arms and legs, severe fatigue and weak muscles. Irritability, anxiety, cognitive disturbances and depression are also common. Cushing’s syndrome can affect every organ system in the body and can be lethal if not treated effectively.
About Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Triple-negative breast cancer is a form of the disease in which the three receptors that fuel most breast cancer growth – estrogen, progesterone and the HER-2/neu gene – are not present. Because the tumor cells lack the necessary receptors, treatments that target estrogen, progesterone and HER-2 receptors are ineffective. In 2013, approximately 40,000 women were diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer. Corcept estimates that more than 75 percent of these women’s tumor cells express the GR receptor to which cortisol binds. There is no FDA-approved treatment and neither a targeted treatment nor an approved standard chemotherapy regimen for patients with relapsed triple-negative disease exists.
About Korlym
Korlym modulates the effect of cortisol at the glucocorticoid receptor, one of the two receptors to which cortisol binds, thereby inhibiting the effects of excess cortisol in patients with Cushing’s syndrome. Since 2012, Corcept has made Korlym available as a once-daily oral treatment of hyperglycemia secondary to endogenous Cushing’s syndrome in adult patients with glucose intolerance or diabetes mellitus type 2 who have failed surgery or are not candidates for surgery. Korlym was the first FDA-approved treatment for that illness. The FDA has designated it as an Orphan Drug for that indication.
About CORT125134
CORT125134 is the lead compound in Corcept’s portfolio of selective cortisol modulators. It is a non-steroidal competitive antagonist of the glucocorticoid receptor that does not bind to the body’s other hormone receptors, including the progesterone receptor. It is the affinity of Korlym for the progesterone receptor that results in termination of pregnancy and can cause endometrial thickening and irregular vaginal bleeding in some women. CORT125134 will not have these effects. Corcept is currently studying the compound in two clinical trials, one for the treatment of patients with Cushing’s syndrome and another for patients suffering from solid-tumor cancers. CORT125134 is proprietary to Corcept and is protected by composition of matter and method of use patents extending to 2033.