On November 12, 2019 Eagle Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: EGRX) ("Eagle" or the "Company") reported financial results for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2019 (Press release, Eagle Pharmaceuticals, NOV 12, 2019, View Source [SID1234551001]). Third quarter and recent highlights include:

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

Invested $12 million in research and development and external legal costs to advance Eagle’s pipeline.
Eagle’s Japanese marketing partner, SymBio Pharmaceuticals Limited, submitted a New Drug Application ("NDA") for TREAKISYM, bendamustine ready-to-dilute liquid formulation, in Japan in September. Approval is expected in Q4 2020, which would trigger a $5 million milestone payment to Eagle. Potential payments to Eagle could reach $10 to $25 million per year in royalties and milestones.
Advanced clinical development plans for Eagle’s innovative fulvestrant program, which has the potential to change the treatment of estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. The program aims to determine if the unique properties of Eagle’s product will result in greater inhibition of estrogen receptors and better patient outcomes compared to currently available treatment options. The Company expects to dose the first subject in December.
Enrolled additional patients in its controlled clinical study of RYANODEX (dantrolene sodium for injectable suspension) for the treatment of exertional heat stroke ("EHS") patients during the 2019 Hajj pilgrimage held from August 9-14 in Saudi Arabia. The Company has recruited a total of 41 patients at the 2015, 2018 and 2019 Hajj pilgrimages. Eagle has submitted a plan to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") that proposes reviewing the data collectively for all 41 patients. If FDA agrees with this plan, Eagle plans to resubmit the NDA for EHS in response to the Complete Response Letter received in 2017.
The Company, in dialogue with FDA, has received further clarity regarding RYANODEX for the treatment of brain damage secondary to nerve agent exposure. FDA has recommended that, under the animal rule, an additional study be conducted in a second species. Eagle expects to file a supplement to the current NDA in the second half of 2020.
Total revenue for Q3 2019 was $41.1 million, compared to $51.3 million in Q3 2018, primarily reflecting lower BENDEKA royalty revenue and lower product sales of BELRAPZO and RYANODEX, partially offset by higher product sales of BENDEKA.
Q3 2019 net loss was $2.4 million, or $0.17 per basic and diluted share, compared to net income of $14.0 million, or $0.94 per basic and $0.91 per diluted share in Q3 2018.
Q3 2019 adjusted non-GAAP net income was $3.7 million, or $0.27 per basic and $0.26 per diluted share, compared to adjusted non-GAAP net income of $18.3 million, or $1.22 per basic and $1.18 per diluted share, in Q3 2018.
Cash and cash equivalents were $117.2 million, net accounts receivable was $44.8 million, and debt was $40.0 million as of September 30, 2019.
"In the third quarter, we invested over $12 million to further advance our pipeline. This includes $9 million in non-GAAP R&D expense as well as $3 million in external legal expense related to the pemetrexed and vasopressin litigations. We are advancing our pipeline, as evidenced by the news today on EHS, nerve agent and the planned initiation of our next clinical trial for fulvestrant. We are also pleased that our bendamustine program is expanding to Japan, and we are expecting $10-$25 million in annual royalty and milestone payments beginning in 2021. This is an exciting time for Eagle as we move closer to realizing the full potential of many of our late-stage products," stated Scott Tarriff, Chief Executive Officer of Eagle Pharmaceuticals.

Third Quarter 2019 Financial Results

Total revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2019 was $41.1 million, as compared to $51.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018.

Royalty revenue was $26.5 million in the third quarter of 2019, compared to $35.2 million in the third quarter of 2018. BENDEKA royalties were $26.2 million in the third quarter of 2019, compared to $33.8 million in the third quarter of 2018. A summary of total revenue is outlined below:

Gross Margin was 64% during the third quarter of 2019, as compared to 75% in the third quarter of 2018. The compression in gross margin in the third quarter of 2019 was primarily driven by an increase in BENDEKA product sales to our marketing partner, on which Eagle earns no profit, and the decrease in BENDEKA royalty revenue.

R&D expense was $10.2 million for the third quarter of 2019, compared to $6.0 million in the third quarter of 2018. The increase is largely attributable to spending on fulvestrant and vasopressin. Excluding stock-based compensation and other non-cash and non-recurring items, R&D expense during the third quarter of 2019 was $9.0 million.

SG&A expense in the third quarter of 2019 increased to $18.5 million compared to $13.9 million in the third quarter of 2018. External legal spend associated with litigation on pemetrexed and vasopressin as well as higher stock compensation expense account for the year-over-year increase. Excluding stock-based compensation and other non-cash and non-recurring items, third quarter 2019 SG&A expense was $13.4 million.

Net loss for the third quarter of 2019 was $2.4 million, or $0.17 per basic and diluted share, compared to net income of $14.0 million, or $0.94 per basic and $0.91 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2018, due to the factors discussed above.

Adjusted non-GAAP net income for the third quarter of 2019 was $3.7 million, or $0.27 per basic and $0.26 per diluted share, compared to adjusted non-GAAP net income of $18.3 million or $1.22 per basic and $1.18 per diluted share in the third quarter of 2018. For a full reconciliation of adjusted non-GAAP net income to the most comparable GAAP financial measures, please see the tables at the end of this press release.

2019 Expense Guidance

R&D spend in 2019, on a non-GAAP basis, is expected to be $32.0-$36.0 million, as compared to $38.0 million in 2018.
SG&A spend in 2019, on a non-GAAP basis, is expected to be $51.0-$54.0 million, as compared to $43.0 million in 2018.
The guidance provided in this section represents forward-looking information, and actual results may vary. Please see the risks and assumptions referred to in the Forward-Looking Statements section of this press release.

Liquidity

As of September 30, 2019, the Company had $117.2 million in cash and cash equivalents plus $44.8 million in net accounts receivable, $34.4 million of which was due from Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. The Company had $40.0 million in outstanding debt. Therefore, at September 30, 2019, the Company had net cash plus receivables of $122.0 million.

Conference Call

As previously announced, Eagle management will host its third quarter 2019 conference call as follows:

Date

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Time

8:30 A.M. EST

Toll free (U.S.)

866-342-8591

International

203-518-9713

Webcast (live and replay)

www.eagleus.com, under the "Investor + News" section

A replay of the conference call will be available for one week after the call’s completion by dialing 800-839-4577 (US) or 402-220-2682 (International) and entering conference call ID EGRXQ319. The webcast will be archived for 30 days at the aforementioned URL.