On May 2, 2019 Gilead Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: GILD) reported its results of operations for the first quarter ended March 31, 2019 (Press release, Gilead Sciences, MAY 2, 2019, View Source [SID1234535588]). The financial results that follow represent a year-over-year comparison of the first quarter 2019 to the first quarter 2018. Total revenues were $5.3 billion in 2019 compared to $5.1 billion in 2018. Net income was $2.0 billion or $1.54 per diluted share in 2019 compared to $1.5 billion or $1.17 per diluted share in 2018. Non-GAAP net income was $2.3 billion or $1.76 per diluted share in 2019 compared to $2.0 billion or $1.48 per diluted share in 2018.

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Product Sales

Total product sales for the first quarter of 2019 were $5.2 billion compared to $5.0 billion for the same period in 2018. Product sales for the first quarter of 2019 were $3.8 billion in the United States, $882 million in Europe and $522 million in other locations. Product sales for the first quarter of 2018 were $3.5 billion in the United States, $1.0 billion in Europe and $469 million in other locations.

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Note: Non-GAAP financial information excludes acquisition-related, up-front collaboration, stock-based compensation and other expenses, fair value adjustments of 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 10.
HIV product sales were $3.6 billion for the first quarter of 2019 compared to $3.2 billion for the same period in 2018. The increase was primarily driven by higher sales volume as a result of the continued uptake of Biktarvy (bictegravir 50 mg/emtricitabine 200 mg/tenofovir alafenamide 25 mg).
Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) product sales were $790 million for the first quarter of 2019 compared to $1.0 billion for the same period in 2018. The decline was primarily due to lower patient starts and competitive dynamics, including a decline in price in U.S. Medicare, in 2019.
Yescarta (axicabtagene ciloleucel), which was approved in the United States in October 2017 and Europe in August 2018, generated $96 million in sales during the first quarter of 2019 compared to $40 million for the same period in 2018. The increase was driven by an increase in the number of therapies provided to patients.
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 $696 million for the first quarter of 2019 compared to $745 million for the same period in 2018. The decrease was primarily due to the expected decline in Ranexa sales after generic entry in the first quarter of 2019.

During the first quarter of 2019, compared to the same period in 2018:

R&D expenses increased primarily due to up-front collaboration expenses and higher investments to support Gilead’s cell therapy programs partially offset by lower stock-based compensation expense. Stock-based compensation expense was higher for the first quarter of 2018 following the acquisition of Kite Pharma, Inc. (Kite).
Non-GAAP R&D expenses increased primarily due to higher investments to support Gilead’s cell therapy programs.
SG&A expenses increased primarily due to higher promotional expenses in the United States and expenses associated with the expansion of Gilead’s products in Europe and Japan, partially offset by lower stock-based compensation expense. Stock-based compensation expense was higher for the first quarter of 2018 following the acquisition of Kite.
Non-GAAP SG&A expenses increased primarily due to higher promotional expenses in the United States and expenses associated with the expansion of Gilead’s products in Europe and Japan.
Effective Tax Rate

The effective tax rate and non-GAAP effective tax rate in the first quarter of 2019 were 16.3% and 16.7% compared to 24.3% and 22.8% for the same period in 2018, respectively. The decreases were primarily due to favorable settlements with taxing authorities. For the full year 2019, Gilead reiterates its effective tax rate guidance and non-GAAP effective tax rate guidance to be in the range of 21.5% – 22.5% and 20.0% – 21.0%, respectively.

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Marketable Debt Securities

As of March 31, 2019, Gilead had $30.1 billion of cash, cash equivalents and marketable debt securities, compared to $31.5 billion as of December 31, 2018. During the first quarter of 2019, Gilead generated $1.4 billion in operating cash flow, repaid $750 million of debt, paid cash dividends of $817 million and utilized $834 million on stock repurchases.

Full Year 2019 Guidance Reiterated

Gilead reiterates its full year 2019 guidance, initially provided on February 4, 2019. 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, Including the Announcement of:

HepConnect, a five-year, multi-million dollar initiative aimed at addressing the sharp increase in chronic HCV infections fueled by the nation’s opioid crisis. In partnership with the Harm Reduction Coalition and local organizations, the initiative will support evidence-based solutions to meet the needs of people most affected by the opioid crisis in Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia.
The departure of Alessandro Riva, MD, Executive Vice President, Oncology Therapeutics, who left Gilead to become CEO of another pharmaceutical company.
The Gilead HIV Age Positively initiative, which will provide $17.6 million in grants to 30 organizations in the United States. This effort aims to enhance the lives of individuals aging with HIV by focusing in three priority areas: improving care coordination, increasing resources for better well-being and educating and informing policies that impact people living and aging with HIV.
Product and Pipeline Updates, Including the Announcement of:

Inflammation Program

Week 24 results of FINCH 1, an ongoing, randomized, double-blind, placebo- and active-controlled Phase 3 study of filgotinib, an investigational, oral, selective JAK1 inhibitor, in adults with moderately-to-severely active rheumatoid arthritis (RA). FINCH 1 evaluated filgotinib versus adalimumab or placebo, on a stable background dose of methotrexate in patients with prior inadequate response to methotrexate. The study achieved its primary endpoint for both doses of filgotinib in the proportion of patients achieving an American College of Rheumatology 20% response (ACR20) compared to placebo at week 12.
Week 24 results of FINCH 3, an ongoing, randomized, double-blind, active-controlled Phase 3 study of filgotinib in adults with moderately-to-severely active RA. FINCH 3 evaluated filgotinib in combination with methotrexate (MTX) and as monotherapy in MTX-naïve patients. The study achieved its primary endpoint in the proportion of patients achieving an ACR20 response at week 24. The proportion of patients achieving the primary endpoint of ACR20 response at week 24 was significantly higher for filgotinib 200 mg plus MTX and filgotinib 100 mg plus MTX compared with MTX alone.
Interim safety information from four studies of filgotinib for the treatment of RA. The data include 24 week results of the ongoing Phase 3 FINCH 1, 2 and 3 trials and updated week 156 safety data from the Phase 2b DARWIN 3 long-term extension study in patients with RA.
HIV and Liver Diseases Programs

Data from Gilead’s research and development programs in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), primary sclerosing cholangitis and viral hepatitis presented at The International Liver Congress 2019 in Vienna, Austria. These data reflect Gilead’s ongoing focus and commitment to advancing research and patient care across the field of liver disease.
Approval by Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) of Biktarvy for the treatment of HIV-1 infection.
The presentation of data at the 2019 Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, which included:
Results from the DISCOVER trial, a two-year Phase 3 randomized, controlled, double-blind study evaluating the safety and efficacy of the investigational use of once-daily Descovy (emtricitabine 200 mg/tenofovir alafenamide 25 mg) for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), compared with Truvada (emtricitabine 200 mg and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate 300 mg) for PrEP, in men who have sex with men and transgender women at risk for sexually acquired HIV infection. In the trial, Descovy achieved the primary efficacy endpoint and demonstrated non-inferiority to Truvada. Statistically significant advantages with respect to bone and renal laboratory parameters were observed for participants receiving Descovy as compared with those receiving Truvada.
Results from a Phase 2/3 study at 48 weeks, evaluating the efficacy and safety of Biktarvy in virologically suppressed adolescents and children at least 6 years of age who are living with HIV.
Results from two studies evaluating the resistance profile of Biktarvy in virologically suppressed adults switching from dolutegravir/abacavir/lamivudine or a boosted protease inhibitor-based regimen for the treatment of HIV-1.
Results from two studies that support the further development of GS-6207, an investigational, novel, selective, first-in-class inhibitor of HIV-1 capsid function, for potential future use as part of long-acting HIV combination therapy. Interim blinded data from a Phase 1 study in healthy trial participants demonstrated that single doses of GS-6207 of up to 450 mg, administered subcutaneously, achieved sustained concentration levels and were well-tolerated.
Results from STELLAR-4, a Phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluating the safety and efficacy of selonsertib, an investigational, once-daily, oral inhibitor of apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1, in patients with compensated cirrhosis (F4) due to NASH, did not meet the pre-specified week 48 primary endpoint of a ≥ 1-stage histologic improvement in fibrosis without worsening of NASH.
Approval by Japan’s MHLW of Epclusa (sofosbuvir 400 mg/velpatasvir 100 mg) for adults with chronic HCV infection with decompensated cirrhosis and for patients with chronic HCV infection without cirrhosis or with compensated cirrhosis who have had prior treatment with a direct-acting antiviral therapy.
Licensing agreement and collaboration agreement with Yuhan Corporation to co-develop novel therapeutic candidates for the treatment of advanced fibrosis due to NASH.
Non-GAAP Financial Information

The information presented in this document has been prepared 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 10.

Conference Call

At 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time today, Gilead’s management will host a conference call and a simultaneous webcast to discuss the company’s financial results for the first quarter 2019 and provide a business update. The live webcast of the call can be accessed at Gilead’s Investor page at View Source Please connect to Gilead’s website at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the call to allow adequate time for any software download that may be required to listen to the webcast. Alternatively, please call 877-359-9508 (U.S.) or 224-357-2393 (international) and dial the conference ID 5259422 to access the call. Telephone replay will be available approximately two hours after the call through 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, May 4, 2019. To access the replay, please call 855-859-2056 (U.S.) or 404-537-3406 (international) and dial the conference ID 5259422. The webcast will be archived on www.gilead.com for one year.