Genmab Announces Financial Results for the First Half of 2019 and Updates 2019 Financial Guidance

On August 14, 2019 Genmab reported that Interim Report for the First Half of 2019(Press release, Genmab, AUG 14, 2019, View Source [SID1234538770])

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Highlights

Registration statement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for the proposed public offering of American Depository Shares and application submitted for listing of the ADSs on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol "GMAB." The public offering and listing were completed in July.
Agreement signed with Janssen Biotech, Inc. (Janssen) to collaborate exclusively on next-generation CD38 antibody product candidate, HexaBody-CD38.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (U.S. FDA) approved DARZALEX (daratumumab) in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone for the treatment of adult patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma who are ineligible for autologous stem cell transplant.
The U.S. FDA granted Priority Review for daratumumab in combination with bortezomib, thalidomide and dexamethasone as treatment for newly diagnosed patients with multiple myeloma who are candidates for autologous stem cell transplant.
Janssen initiated Phase III study to examine daratumumab plus lenalidomide as maintenance treatment in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma.
DARZALEX net sales increased 49% over H1 2018 to USD 1,403 million, resulting in royalty income of DKK 1,169 million.
Genmab is updating its 2019 financial guidance due to increased royalty income related to the sales of DARZALEX and increased operating expenses as a result of the advancement of our product pipeline, resulting in a small increase in projected operating income.
"The first half of 2019 brought truly transformational change to Genmab as we began the process of becoming a dual-listed company, with the potential to trade shares in both the U.S. (in the form of ADSs) and in Denmark. We also built upon our already successful relationship with Janssen with the signing of an agreement to collaborate exclusively on the next-generation CD38 antibody product candidate, HexaBody-CD38. We have seen encouraging pre-clinical data from HexaBody-CD38 and believe it has the potential to extend the promise of CD38-targeted therapies beyond what is currently available for patients," said Jan van de Winkel, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Genmab. "In addition to these key events, the first half of 2019 also saw the highly anticipated U.S. FDA approval for DARZALEX, based on the Phase III MAIA data. Now that this indication has been approved many more patients in the U.S. who are newly diagnosed with multiple myeloma will have a DARZALEX containing regimen as a choice for their initial therapy."

Financial Performance First Half of 2019

Revenue was DKK 1,365 million in the first half of 2019 compared to DKK 1,191 million in the first half of 2018. The increase of DKK 174 million, or 15%, was mainly driven by higher DARZALEX royalties and reimbursement income from our collaborations with Seattle Genetics and BioNTech, partly offset by the one-time payment from Novartis of USD 50 million (DKK 304 million) during the first half of 2018 for lost potential milestones and royalties following announcement of Novartis’ intention to transition Arzerra (ofatumumab) to limited availability via compassionate use programs for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in non-U.S. markets.
Net sales of DARZALEX by Janssen were USD 1,403 million in the first half of 2019 compared to USD 943 million in the first half of 2018, an increase of USD 460 million, or 49%. According to Johnson & Johnson, sales in the second quarter of 2019 included a one-time adjustment related to the completion of pricing and reimbursement discussions in certain European countries, which positively impacted this worldwide second quarter operational growth by 16 percentage points.
Operating expenses were DKK 1,254 million in the first half of 2019 compared to DKK 732 million in the first half of 2018. The increase of DKK 522 million, or 71%, was driven by the advancement of enapotamab vedotin and tisotumab vedotin, additional investments in our product pipeline, and the increase in new employees to support the expansion of our product pipeline.
Operating income was DKK 111 million in the first half of 2019 compared to DKK 459 million in the first half of 2018. As anticipated, the decrease of DKK 348 million, or 76%, was driven primarily by increased operating expenses and the one-time payment from Novartis in 2018.
Subsequent Event

July: Completion of public offering and listing of American Depository Shares (ADSs) on Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol "GMAB". Gross proceeds from the issuance of new shares amounted to USD 506 million (DKK 3,368 million) with a corresponding increase in share capital of 2,850,000 ordinary shares or 28,500,000 American Depository Shares ("ADSs"). Further, the underwriters’ exercised in full their option to purchase an additional 427,500 ordinary shares or 4,275,000 ADSs bringing the total gross proceeds of the offering to USD 582 million (DKK 3,873 million). The public offering price of $17.75 per ADS, corresponded to a subscription price of DKK 1,181.80 per New Share at the U.S. dollar/DKK exchange rate of DKK 6.6580 per USD 1.00 on July 17, 2019, multiplied by the ADS-to-share ratio of ten-to-one. Underwriting commissions paid were USD 32 million (DKK 213 million). Total share capital following the public offering amounted to DKK 64,967,643.
Outlook
Genmab is updating its 2019 financial guidance published on February 20, 2019 due to increased royalty income related to the sales of DARZALEX and increased operating expenses as a result of the advancement of our product pipeline.

MDKK Revised Guidance Previous
Guidance
Revenue 4,800 4,600
Operating expenses (2,750) (2,600)
Operating income 2,050 2,000
Conference Call
Genmab will hold a conference call in English to discuss the results for the first half of 2019 today, Wednesday, August 14, at 6:00 pm CEST, 5:00 pm BST or 12:00 pm EDT. To join the call dial
+1 631 510 7495 (U.S. participants) or +44 2071 928000 (international participants) and provide conference code 4966139.

A live and archived webcast of the call and relevant slides will be available at www.genmab.com.

Contact:
Marisol Peron, Corporate Vice President, Communications & Investor Relations
T: +1 609 524 0065; E: [email protected]

For Investor Relations:
Andrew Carlsen, Senior Director, Investor Relations
T: +45 3377 9558; E: [email protected]