Supernus Announces First Quarter 2018 Financial Results and Record Quarterly Revenue


  • Total revenue of $90.4 million, a 57% increase over 2017

  • Net product sales of $89.1 million, a 58% increase over 2017

  • Operating earnings of $31.4 million, an 87% increase over 2017

  • Diluted earnings per share (GAAP) of $0.49, compared to $0.19 in 2017

ROCKVILLE, Md., May 08, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Supernus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:SUPN), a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing products for the treatment of central nervous system (CNS) diseases, today reported record financial results for the first quarter of 2018 and related Company developments.

Commercial Update

First quarter 2018 product prescriptions for Trokendi XR® and Oxtellar XR®, as reported by IQVIA, totaled 200,878, a 49.2% increase over the first quarter of 2017.

 Prescriptions  
 Q1 2018Q1 2017Change %
Trokendi XR164,160101,54461.7%
Oxtellar XR36,71833,10010.9%
Total200,878134,64449.2%

Source:  IQVIA

Net product sales for the first quarter of 2018 were $89.1 million, a 58.0% increase over $56.4 million in the same period in the prior year.

 Net Product Sales
($ in millions)

  
 Q1 2018Q1 2017Change %
Trokendi XR$70.5$42.067.9%
Oxtellar XR$18.6$14.429.2%
Total$89.1$56.458.0%

“We delivered another strong quarter of growth in net product sales for both Trokendi XR and Oxtellar XR, driven by the strong underlying demand for both products,” said Jack Khattar, President and CEO of Supernus Pharmaceuticals. “We are executing well against our commercial strategy and continue to build on the momentum established last year.”

During April 2018, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) accepted for review the Company’s efficacy supplement requesting expansion of the current indication for Oxtellar XR to include monotherapy treatment of partial seizures of epilepsy for adults and for children 6–17 years. Oxtellar XR is currently indicated as adjunctive therapy for treatment of partial seizures of epilepsy for adults and for children 6–17 years. A decision by the FDA on the Company’s supplement is expected by the end of December 2018. 

Mr. Khattar added, “We are excited about this potential label expansion for Oxtellar XR and believe it will allow us to maximize the potential of the product in epilepsy.”

Progress of Product Pipeline

The Company continues to expect that data will be available from the Phase III programs for SPN-812 and SPN-810 by the first quarter of 2019.  

  • Overall enrollment in the four Phase III trials for SPN-812, a novel non-stimulant for the treatment of ADHD, is approximately 61% complete. The program consists of four three-arm, placebo-controlled trials; two of which are pediatric trials and two of which are adolescent trials.

  • Enrollment continues in both Phase III trials (P301 and P302) for SPN-810, currently in development for Impulsive Aggression (IA) in pediatric patients who have ADHD. Enrollment in P301 and P302 is approximately 86% and 71% complete, respectively. In addition, the Company expects that a Phase III trial for SPN-810 treating IA in adolescents who have ADHD to start mid-2018.    

Regarding Oxtellar XR, the investigator-sponsored trial in bipolar disorder is expected to complete enrollment by year end 2018.  

Operating Expenses

Research and development expenses in the first quarter of 2018 were $18.9 million, as compared to $9.6 million in the same quarter last year. The increase was due primarily to the initiation of the four Phase III clinical trials for SPN-812 in the second half of 2017, as well as the open-label extension trial for SPN-812.

Selling, general and administrative expenses in the first quarter of 2018 were $36.8 million, as compared to $28.2 million in the same quarter last year. The increase was primarily due to the expansion of the salesforce by 40 salespeople who were fully deployed in the fourth quarter of 2017 and associated expenses. To a lesser extent, marketing programs to support the Company’s commercial products grew year over year.

Operating Earnings and Earnings Per Share

Operating earnings in the first quarter of 2018 were $31.4 million, an 87.0% increase over $16.8 million in the same period the prior year. The improvement in operating earnings was primarily due to increased net product sales, partially offset by increased research and development expenses and selling, general and administrative expenses.

Net earnings (GAAP) in the first quarter of 2018 were $26.4 million, as compared to $10.3 million in the same period last year.

Diluted earnings per share (GAAP) were $0.49 in the first quarter of 2018, compared to $0.19 in the first quarter of 2017.

Weighted-average diluted common shares outstanding were approximately 53.8 million in the first quarter of 2018, as compared to approximately 52.8 million in the first quarter of 2017.

As of March 31, 2018, the Company had $664.8 million in cash, cash equivalents, marketable securities and long term marketable securities, as compared to $273.7 million at December 31, 2017. This increase includes net proceeds from the sale of $402.5 million of convertible senior notes in March 2018, as well as $27.1 million of cash from operations in the three months ended March 31, 2018.  

Financial Guidance

For full year 2018, the Company reiterates its prior guidance for net product sales, research and development expenses, operating earnings, and effective tax rate as set forth below:

  • Net product sales in the range of $375 million to $400 million.

  • Research and development expenses of approximately $80 million.

  • Operating earnings in the range of $125 million to $135 million, including approximately $7 million of licensing and non-cash royalty revenue.

  • Effective tax rate of approximately 23% to 25%.

Conference Call Details

The Company will hold a conference call hosted by Jack Khattar, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Greg Patrick, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, to discuss these results at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time, on Wednesday, May 9, 2018. An accompanying webcast also will be provided.

Please refer to the information below for conference call dial-in information and webcast registration. Callers should dial in approximately 10 minutes prior to the start of the call.

Conference dial-in:  (877) 288-1043
International dial-in:   (970) 315-0267
Conference ID:     1568978
Conference Call Name:  Supernus Pharmaceuticals First Quarter 2018 Earnings Conference Call

Following the live call, a replay will be available on the Company's website, www.supernus.com, under “Investor Relations”.

About Supernus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Supernus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing products for the treatment of central nervous system diseases. The Company currently markets Trokendi XR® (extended-release topiramate) for the prophylaxis of migraine and the treatment of epilepsy, and Oxtellar XR® (extended-release oxcarbazepine) for the treatment of epilepsy. The Company is also developing several product candidates to address large market opportunities in psychiatry, including SPN-810 for the treatment of Impulsive Aggression in ADHD patients and SPN-812 for the treatment of ADHD.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements do not convey historical information, but relate to predicted or potential future events that are based upon management's current expectations. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. In addition to the factors mentioned in this press release, such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the Company’s ability to sustain and increase its profitability; the Company’s ability to raise sufficient capital to fully implement its corporate strategy; the implementation of the Company’s corporate strategy; the Company’s future financial performance and projected expenditures; the Company’s ability to increase the number of prescriptions written for each of its products; the Company’s ability to increase its net revenue; the Company’s ability to enter into future collaborations with pharmaceutical companies and academic institutions or to obtain funding from government agencies; the Company’s product research and development activities, including the timing and progress of the Company’s clinical trials, and projected expenditures; the Company’s ability to receive, and the timing of any receipt of, regulatory approvals to develop and commercialize the Company’s product candidates; the Company’s ability to protect its intellectual property and operate its business without infringing upon the intellectual property rights of others; the Company’s expectations regarding federal, state and foreign regulatory requirements; the therapeutic benefits, effectiveness and safety of the Company’s product candidates; the accuracy of the Company’s estimates of the size and characteristics of the markets that may be addressed by its product candidates; the Company’s ability to increase its manufacturing capabilities for its products and product candidates; the Company’s projected markets and growth in markets; the Company’s product formulations and patient needs and potential funding sources; the Company’s staffing needs; and other risk factors set forth from time to time in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission made pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The Company undertakes no obligation to update the information in this press release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events.

       
Supernus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands, except share amounts)
       
  March 31, December 31, 
  2018
 2017
Assets (unaudited)   
Current assets      
Cash and cash equivalents $444,140  $100,304 
Marketable securities  45,585   39,736 
Accounts receivable, net  67,864   65,586 
Inventories, net  19,075   16,304 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets  6,582   6,521 
Total current assets  583,246   228,451 
Long term marketable securities  175,064   133,638 
Property and equipment, net  5,003   5,124 
Intangible assets, net  34,858   36,019 
Other non-current assets  735   389 
Deferred income taxes  26,254   20,843 
       
Total assets $825,160  $424,464 
       
Liabilities and stockholders' equity      
Current liabilities      
Accounts payable $3,333  $6,844 
Accrued sales deductions  73,034   68,343 
Accrued expenses  25,024   27,305 
Income taxes payable  16,265   15,938 
Non-recourse liability related to sale of future royalties, current portion  1,432   4,283 
Deferred licensing revenue     287 
Total current liabilities  119,088   123,000 
Deferred licensing revenue, net of current portion     1,149 
Convertible notes, net  318,225    
Non-recourse liability related to sale of future royalties, long term  24,370   22,258 
Other non-current liabilities  11,608   10,577 
Total liabilities  473,291   156,984 
       
Stockholders' equity      
Common stock, $0.001 par value, 130,000,000 shares authorized at      
March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017;  51,633,991 and 51,314,850 shares
issued and outstanding at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively
  52   51 
Additional paid-in capital  352,257   294,999 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax  (2,291)  (747)
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)  1,851   (26,823)
Total stockholders' equity  351,869   267,480 
       
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $825,160  $424,464 
        

 

      
Supernus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Earnings
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
      
 Three Months Ended March 31,
  2018  2017 
 (unaudited)
Revenue     
Net product sales$89,120  $56,369 
Royalty revenue 1,309   1,149 
Licensing revenue    58 
      
Total revenue 90,429   57,576 
      
Costs and expenses     
Cost of product sales 3,278   2,949 
Research and development 18,908   9,601 
Selling, general and administrative 36,849   28,238 
      
Total costs and expenses 59,035   40,788 
      
Operating earnings 31,394   16,788 
Other income (expense)     
Interest income 1,206   531 
Interest expense (717)  (90)
Interest expense-nonrecourse liability related to sale of future royalties (701)  (959)
Changes in fair value of derivative liabilities    54 
Loss on extinguishment of debt    (101)
      
Total other income (expense) (212)  (565)
      
Earnings before income taxes 31,182   16,223 
      
Income tax expense 4,830   5,926 
      
Net earnings$26,352  $10,297 
      
Earnings per share     
Basic$0.51  $0.21 
Diluted$0.49  $0.19 
      
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding     
Basic 51,536,474   50,158,634 
Diluted 53,788,346   52,764,442 
      

CONTACTS:

Jack A. Khattar, President and CEO
Gregory S. Patrick, Vice President and CFO
Supernus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Tel: (301) 838-2591

or

INVESTOR CONTACT:
Peter Vozzo
Westwicke Partners
Office: (443) 213-0505
Mobile: (443) 377-4767
Email: peter.vozzo@westwicke.com