Ionis reports second quarter 2020 financial results and recent business achievements

CARLSBAD, Calif., Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: IONS) today reported its financial results for the second quarter of 2020 and recent business highlights.

"The first half of this year was marked by numerous important achievements. Our Phase 3 programs progressed, we advanced our cardio-renal, metabolic and neurological disease franchises and added new medicines to our Ionis-owned pipeline. Together, these catalysts moved us closer to delivering 10 or more marketing applications through 2025, which we expect to result in a number of new commercial medicines. In the second half of this year, we are expanding the reach of our technology in neurological and pulmonary diseases, as studies in sporadic ALS and COPD get underway. We also look forward to proof-of-concept data from additional mid-stage programs," said Brett P. Monia, Ph.D., chief executive officer at Ionis. "Our achievements, together with our significant financial resources, position us to realize my vision for Ionis - to lead in the delivery of transformational medicines for patients around the world."

Second Quarter 2020 Financial Results and Highlights

    --  On track to achieve financial guidance of being meaningfully profitable
        this year
        --  Net income of $8 million on a non-GAAP basis and a net loss of $32
            million on a GAAP basis
    --  Achieved quarter over quarter growth in commercial and R&D revenues
        --  Commercial revenue from SPINRAZA(®) (nusinersen) royalties
            increased to $72 million
        --  Product sales from TEGSEDI(®) (inotersen) and WAYLIVRA(®)
            (volanesorsen) increased to $16 million
        --  R&D revenue increased to more than $55 million, including $26
            million from Ionis' neurological disease franchise, $13 million from
            the oncology franchise and more than $10 million from the
            cardio-renal franchise
    --  Cash position of more than $2.3 billion provides substantial financial
        resources to continue executing on strategic goals

"We ended the second quarter with net income on a non-GAAP basis, an increase compared to our first quarter results. Looking ahead, we are maintaining our 2020 financial guidance and expect revenue and earnings growth in the second half of this year. With our substantial resources, we are well positioned to continue executing on our ambitious agenda and to deliver increasing value near-term and into the future," said Elizabeth L. Hougen, chief financial officer of Ionis.

All non-GAAP amounts referred to in this press release exclude non-cash compensation expense related to equity awards. Please refer to the reconciliation of non-GAAP and GAAP measures, which is provided later in this release.

Commercial Medicine Highlights

    --  SPINRAZA: a global foundation-of-care for the treatment of spinal
        muscular atrophy (SMA) patients of all ages
        --  $495 million in worldwide sales in the second quarter of this year
        --  More than 11,000 patients were on SPINRAZA treatment worldwide at
            the end of the second quarter, including patients across commercial,
            expanded access and clinical trial settings
        --  The Phase 4 RESPOND study to evaluate SPINRAZA benefit in patients
            with a suboptimal clinical response to Zolgensma(®) (onasemnogene
            abeparvovec) is expected to begin early next year
        --  The DEVOTE study evaluating a higher dose of SPINRAZA with the
            potential to deliver even greater efficacy in SMA patients of all
            ages is progressing
        --  New clinical data from the NURTURE and SHINE studies, as well as new
            real-world data, further support SPINRAZA's durable efficacy and
            established safety profile across SMA patients of all ages
    --  TEGSEDI: the only approved at-home subcutaneous therapy for the
        treatment of hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis (hATTR) with
        polyneuropathy in adult patients
        --  Commercially available in 15 countries
        --  Reimbursement approved in Portugal, Spain, Italy and Austria
        --  Expanding commercial availability in additional EU countries and in
            Latin America this year
    --  WAYLIVRA: the only approved treatment in the EU for adults with
        genetically confirmed familial chylomicronemia syndrome (FCS) at high
        risk for pancreatitis
        --  Launch progressing in Germany, Austria, Greece and through the ATU
            in France; launching in additional EU countries this year
        --  Filed for marketing approval in Brazil; refiling new drug
            application for U.S. marketing authorization

Second Quarter 2020 and Recent Pipeline Highlights

    --  Completed enrollment in the global GENERATION HD1 Phase 3 study of
        tominersen in patients with Huntington's disease
    --  Progressed multiple neurological disease medicines under Ionis' broad
        Biogen collaboration
        --  Published data from the Phase 1/2 study of tofersen in the New
            England Journal of Medicine
        --  Progressed the IONIS-MAPT(Rx) long-term extension study in patients
            with Alzheimer's disease and achieved a $12 million milestone
            payment
        --  Advanced ION464 into a Phase 1/2 study in patients with multiple
            system atrophy and achieved an $18 million milestone payment
    --  Advanced medicines for the treatment of cancer and immune-mediated GI
        disease
        --  Licensed ION736 to AstraZeneca for the treatment of cancer and
            achieved a $13 million license fee
        --  Initiated a Phase 1 study of ION253 for the treatment of
            immune-mediated GI disease and achieved a $5 million milestone
            payment from Janssen
    --  Expanded the Ionis-owned pipeline with the addition of ION363 for the
        treatment of FUS-ALS

Upcoming Catalysts

    --  Report clinical proof-of-concept results for four or more programs
    --  Present positive Phase 2 results from vupanorsen and AKCEA-APOCIII-L(Rx)
    --  Initiate a Phase 3 study of AKCEA-APOCIII-L(Rx) in patients with FCS
    --  Initiate a registration study of ION363 in patients with FUS-ALS
    --  Initiate a Phase 1/2 study of ION541 in patients with sporadic ALS
    --  Initiate a Phase 2 study of IONIS-ENaC-2.5(Rx) in patients with chronic
        obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
    --  Initiate a Phase 2 study of IONIS-FXI-L(Rx) in patients with clotting
        disorders
    --  Initiate a Phase 2 study of IONIS-HBV(Rx) in patients with hepatitis B
        virus infection
    --  Advance additional new medicines into development

Revenue

Ionis' revenue was comprised of the following (amounts in millions):


                                                Three months ended,              Six months ended


                                         
           June 30,             
     June 30,


                                           2020                  2019       2020                2019




     Revenue:



          Commercial revenue:



     SPINRAZA royalties                    $72                   $71       $138                $130



     Product sales, net                     16                    10         32                  17



     Licensing and royalty revenue           2                     7          4                   9




     Total commercial revenue               90                    88        174                 156



     R&D Revenue:



     Amortization from upfront payments     28                    41         49                  75



     Milestone payments                      7                    12         30                  52



     License fees                           15                    22         15                 173



     Other services                          6                     1         11                   5




     Total R&D revenue                      56                    76        105                 305




     Total revenue                        $146                  $164       $279                $461

Operating Expenses

Ionis' operating expenses for the second quarter of 2020 increased compared to the same period in 2019 driven by its investments in advancing its strategic priorities, including advancing the Phase 3 program for AKCEA-TTR-L(Rx) and other medicines in its Ionis-owned pipeline.

Net Loss Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest in Akcea

At June 30, 2020, Ionis owned approximately 76 percent of Akcea. The Company's net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest in Akcea for the second quarter of 2020 was consistent with the same period last year. The line titled "Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest in Akcea" on Ionis' statement of operations reflects the portion of Akcea's net income or loss attributable to the other owners of Akcea's common stock.

Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Ionis Common Stockholders

Ionis' net loss attributable to Ionis' common stockholders for the second quarter of 2020 was larger compared to the same period in 2019 primarily due to higher revenue and lower operating expenses in the same period last year.

Balance Sheet

Ionis ended June 2020 with cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of more than $2.3 billion, compared to $2.5 billion at December 31, 2019.

Webcast

Today, at 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time, Ionis will conduct a live webcast to discuss this earnings release and related activities. Interested parties may access the webcast here. A webcast replay will be available for a limited time at the same address.

About Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

As the leader in RNA-targeted drug discovery and development, Ionis has created an efficient, broadly applicable, drug discovery platform called antisense technology that can treat diseases where no other therapeutic approaches have proven effective. Our drug discovery platform has served as a springboard for actionable promise and realized hope for patients with unmet needs. We created the first and only approved treatment for children and adults with spinal muscular atrophy as well as the world's first RNA-targeted therapeutic approved for the treatment of polyneuropathy in adults with hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis. Our sights are set on all the patients we have yet to reach with a pipeline of more than 40 novel medicines designed to potentially treat a broad range of diseases, including neurological, cardio-renal, metabolic, infectious, and pulmonary diseases.

To learn more about Ionis visit www.ionispharma.com or follow us on twitter @ionispharma.

Ionis' Forward-looking Statement

This press release includes forward-looking statements regarding Ionis' business, financial guidance and the therapeutic and commercial potential of SPINRAZA (nusinersen), TEGSEDI (inotersen) and WAYLIVRA (volanesorsen) and Ionis' technologies and products in development, including the business of Akcea Therapeutics, Inc., Ionis' majority-owned affiliate. Any statement describing Ionis' goals, expectations, financial or other projections, intentions or beliefs is a forward-looking statement and should be considered an at-risk statement. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including those related to the impact COVID-19 could have on our business, and including but not limited to those related to our commercial products and the medicines in our pipeline, and particularly those inherent in the process of discovering, developing and commercializing medicines that are safe and effective for use as human therapeutics, and in the endeavor of building a business around such medicines. Ionis' forward-looking statements also involve assumptions that, if they never materialize or prove correct, could cause its results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although Ionis' forward-looking statements reflect the good faith judgment of its management, these statements are based only on facts and factors currently known by Ionis. As a result, you are cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. These and other risks concerning Ionis' programs are described in additional detail in Ionis' annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, and the most recent Form 10-Q quarterly filing, which are on file with the SEC. Copies of these and other documents are available from the Company.

In this press release, unless the context requires otherwise, "Ionis," "Company," "we," "our," and "us" refers to Ionis Pharmaceuticals and its subsidiaries.

Ionis Pharmaceuticals((TM)) is a trademark of Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Akcea Therapeutics(®) is a registered trademark of Akcea Therapeutics, Inc. TEGSEDI(®) is a registered trademark of Akcea Therapeutics, Inc. WAYLIVRA(®) is a registered trademark of Akcea Therapeutics, Inc. SPINRAZA(®) is a registered trademark of Biogen.

Ionis Pharmaceuticals Investor Contact:
D. Wade Walke, Ph.D.
Vice President, Investor Relations
760-603-2741

Ionis Pharmaceuticals Media Contact:
Roslyn Patterson
Vice President, Corporate Communications
760-603-2681



                                        
              
                IONIS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

                                       
              
                SELECTED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

                              
              
                Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

                                    
              
                (In Millions, Except Per Share Data)




                                                                                        Three months ended                Six months ended


                                                                             
              June 30,              
     June 30,


                                                                                 2020                   2019          2020                   2019





                                                                                        
              (unaudited)



     Revenue:



          Commercial revenue:



     SPINRAZA royalties                                                          $72                    $71          $138                   $130



     Product sales, net                                                           16                     10            32                     17



     Licensing and royalty revenue                                                 2                      7             4                      9




     Total commercial revenue                                                     90                     88           174                    156


          Research and development revenue under collaborative agreements          56                     76           105                    305




     Total revenue                                                               146                    164           279                    461




     Expenses:



            Cost of products sold                                                  3                      1             6                      2



         Research, development and patent                                        122                    106           239                    213



         Selling, general and administrative                                      73                     76           147                    143




     Total operating expenses                                                    198                    183           392                    358






     Income (loss) from operations                                              (52)                  (19)        (113)                   103





     Other income, net                                                             8                      2             7                      2



     Income (loss) before income tax benefit (expense)                          (44)                  (17)        (106)                   105







     Income tax benefit (expense)                                                                        7             4                   (24)






     Net income (loss)                                                         $(44)                 $(10)       $(102)                   $81



      Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest in Akcea
       Therapeutics, Inc.                                                          12                      9            22                      3



      Net income (loss) attributable to Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
       common stockholders                                                      $(32)                  $(1)        $(80)                   $84






     Basic net income (loss) per share                                       $(0.23)               $(0.01)      $(0.58)                 $0.62




     Diluted net income (loss) per share                                     $(0.23)               $(0.01)      $(0.58)                 $0.61



      Shares used in computing basic net income (loss) per share                  139                    140           139                    139



      Shares used in computing diluted net income (loss) per share                139                    140           139                    142


                                                                          
            
                IONIS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
                                                                              
              SELECTED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

                                                                   
           
              Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations

                                                                                 
            
                (In Millions)




                                                                                                          
               Six months ended
                                                                                                            
              June 30, 2020
                                                                                                             
              (unaudited)



                                                                     
           Ionis                    
              Akcea                        
     Eliminations                    Ionis
                                                                                                                                                                       Consolidated




     Revenue:



          Commercial revenue:



     SPINRAZA royalties                                                           $
              $138                             
              $-                 
         $-                     $138



     Product sales, net                                                                                            32                                                              32



     Licensing and royalty revenue                                                             4                                                                                           4




     Total commercial revenue                                                                142                                        32                                                174


          Research and development revenue under collaborative agreements                      98                                         7                                                105



         Intercompany revenue                                                                  7                                                                (7)




     Total revenue                                                                           247                                        39                       (7)                      279



     Expenses:



            Cost of products sold                                                                                  10                                    (4)                        6



         Research, development and patent expenses                                           197                                        47                       (5)                      239



         Selling, general and administrative                                                  59                                        88                                                147


      Profit/ loss share for TEGSEDI commercialization activities                              10                                      (10)




     Total operating expenses                                                                266                                       135                       (9)                      392





     Loss from operations                                                                   (19)                                     (96)                        2                     (113)





     Other income, net                                                                         4                                         3                                                  7



     Loss before income tax benefit                                                         (15)                                     (93)                        2                     (106)





     Income tax benefit                                                                        3                                         1                                                  4






     Net loss                                                                              $(12)                                    $(92)                       $2                    $(102)



      Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest in Akcea
       Therapeutics, Inc.                                               
           $-                       
              $-                                   $22                       $22



      Net loss attributable to Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. common
       stockholders                                                                         $(12)                                    $(92)                      $24                     $(80)


                            
              
                IONIS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

                     
              
                Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Basis:


     
                Condensed Consolidated Operating Expenses, Income (Loss) From Operations, and Net Income (Loss)

                                   
              
                (In Millions)




                                                                           Three months ended                        Six months ended
                                                                                                         June 30,
                                                                
              June 30,


                                                                   2020                   2019                   2020                  2019



                                                                       
              (unaudited)


                   As reported research, development and
                    patent expenses according to GAAP              $122                   $106                   $239                  $213


          Excluding compensation expense related to
           equity awards                                           (26)                  (24)                  (52)                 (49)





                   Non-GAAP research, development and
                    patent expenses                                 $96                    $82                   $187                  $164



                                                                    $73                    $76                   $147                  $143

                   As reported selling, general and
                    administrative expenses according to
                    GAAP


          Excluding compensation expense related to
           equity awards                                           (22)                  (18)                  (37)                 (39)





                   Non-GAAP selling, general and
                    administrative expenses                         $51                    $58                   $110                  $104



                                                                   $198                   $183                   $392                  $358

                   As reported operating expenses according
                    to GAAP


          Excluding compensation expense related to
           equity awards                                           (48)                  (42)                  (89)                 (87)





                   Non-GAAP operating expenses                     $150                   $141                   $303                  $271





                   As reported income (loss) from operations
                    according to GAAP                             $(52)                 $(19)                $(113)                 $103


          Excluding compensation expense related to
           equity awards                                           (48)                  (42)                  (89)                 (87)



                                                                   $(4)                   $23                  $(24)                 $190

                   Non-GAAP income (loss) from operations



                                                                  $(32)                  $(1)                 $(80)                  $84

                   As reported net income (loss)
                    attributable to Ionis Pharmaceuticals,
                    Inc. common stockholders according to
                    GAAP


      Excluding compensation expense related to
       equity awards attributable to Ionis
       Pharmaceuticals, Inc. common
       stockholders                                                (45)                  (39)                  (84)                 (78)


      Income tax effect related to compensation
       expense related to equity awards
       attributable to Ionis Pharmaceuticals,
       Inc. common stockholders                                       5                     14                     11                    13



                                                                     $8                    $24                   $(7)                 $149

                   Non-GAAP net income (loss) attributable
                    to Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. common
                    stockholders according to GAAP

Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Basis

As illustrated in the Selected Financial Information in this press release, non-GAAP operating expenses, non-GAAP income (loss) from operations, and non-GAAP net income (loss) attributable to Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. common shareholders were adjusted from GAAP to exclude compensation expense related to equity awards and the related tax effect. Compensation expense related to equity awards are non-cash. Ionis has regularly reported non-GAAP measures for operating results as non-GAAP results. These measures are provided as supplementary information and are not a substitute for financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. Ionis reports these non-GAAP results to better enable financial statement users to assess and compare its historical performance and project its future operating results and cash flows. Further, the presentation of Ionis' non-GAAP results is consistent with how Ionis' management internally evaluates the performance of its operations.


                          
        
             IONIS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

                        
       
           Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

                             
         
                (In Millions)




                                   June 30,              
              December 31,


                                        2020                                 2019



                                 (unaudited)


     Assets:


       Cash,
        cash
        equivalents
        and
        short-
        term
        investments                   $2,349                               $2,500


       Contracts
        receivable                        28                                   63


       Other
        current
        assets                           155                                  158


       Property,
        plant and
        equipment,
        net                              173                                  154


       Other
        assets                           374                                  358



          Total
           assets                     $3,079                               $3,233





      Liabilities
      and
      stockholders'
      equity:


       Other
        current
        liabilities                     $132                                 $155


       Current
        portion
        of
        deferred
        contract
        revenue                          100                                  118


       0.125%
        convertible
        senior
        notes                            445                                  435


       1%
        convertible
        senior
        notes                            284                                  275


       Long-
        term
        obligations,
        less
        current
        portion                           75                                   75


       Long-
        term
        deferred
        contract
        revenue                          448                                  490


       Total
        Ionis
        stockholders'
        equity                         1,377                                1,471


        Noncontrolling
        interest
        in Akcea
        Therapeutics,
        Inc.                             218                                  214



       Total
        stockholders'
        equity                        $1,595                               $1,685



         Total
          liabilities
          and
          stockholders'
          equity                      $3,079                               $3,233


                                            
           
                IONIS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

                                       
           
                Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet

                                                
              
                (In Millions)




                                       
           June 30, 2020

                                      
           (unaudited)



                                                                                                                       
        Ionis


                                    
     Ionis              
              Akcea                   
         Eliminations       
       Consolidated






     Assets:


        Cash, cash equivalents and
         short-term investments        $1,959                          $390                            
              $-                 $2,349


        Contracts receivable               14                            14                                                              28


        Other current assets              136                            24                                      (5)                    155


        Property, plant and
         equipment, net                   167                             6                                                             173



       Other assets                    1,122                            94                                    (842)                    374




          Total assets                $3,398                          $528                                   $(847)                 $3,079





      Liabilities and stockholders'
       equity:


        Other current liabilities        $102                           $35                                     $(5)                   $132


        Current portion of deferred
         contract revenue                 100                                                                                          100


        0.125% convertible senior
         notes                            445                                                                                          445


        1% convertible senior notes       284                                                                                          284


        Long-term obligations, less
         current portion                   61                            14                                                              75


        Long-term deferred contract
         revenue                          451                                                                   (3)                    448


        Total stockholders' equity
         before noncontrolling
         interest                       1,955                           479                                  (1,057)                  1,377


        Noncontrolling interest in
         Akcea Therapeutics, Inc.                                                                              218                     218



        Total stockholders' equity     $1,955                          $479                                   $(839)                 $1,595



           Total liabilities and
            stockholders' equity       $3,398                          $528                                   $(847)                 $3,079

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SOURCE Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.