IONIS PHARMACEUTICALS INC Stock Forecasts | IONS EPS & Price Predictions

EX-99.1 2 ex99_1.htm EXHIBIT 99.1

Exhibit 99.1

Ionis provides fourth quarter and full year 2019 financial results

2019 revenues nearly doubled to more than $1.1 billion

Exceeded improved 2019 guidance

2020 guidance reflects investment in strategic priorities

Webcast today, February 26, 2020, at 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time

CARLSBAD, Calif., February 26, 2020 – Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: IONS) today reported its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2019 and recent business highlights.

“2019 was an exceptional year. We achieved our goals across the business, including advancing four medicines into pivotal studies and growing our Ionis-owned pipeline. We also made significant progress across our broad pipeline, including in our neurological and cardiometabolic disease franchises, and further advanced our antisense technology through investments in new, complementary technologies. Together these achievements position us to deliver on our goal of ten or more new drug applications through 2025,” said Brett P. Monia, chief executive officer at Ionis. “This year, our priorities include further growing and advancing our Ionis-owned pipeline, initiating additional Phase 3 studies, reporting clinical proof-of-concept results from six or more studies and further developing our commercial strategy to maximize the value of each medicine in our pipeline.”

2019 Financial Results and Highlights

•

Nearly doubled 2019 revenues, driven by SPINRAZA’s continued blockbuster performance and increasing R&D revenue

Commercial revenue from SPINRAZA^® (nusinersen) royalties increased by more than 20 percent to $293 million compared to 2018

Product sales from TEGSEDI^® (inotersen) and WAYLIVRA^® (volanesorsen) were $42 million

R&D revenue more than doubled to $771 million compared to 2018

•

Invested in commercializing TEGSEDI and WAYLIVRA and advanced the pipeline while remaining profitable

Operating income and net income significantly improved to $366 million and $294 million, respectively, compared to 2018, on a GAAP basis

Non-GAAP operating income and net income significantly improved to $513 million and $402 million, respectively, compared to 2018

•

Increased cash position to $2.5 billion; further strengthened balance sheet by refinancing a significant portion of the Company’s 1 percent convertible debt due in 2021

Extended maturity to 2024, achieved 0.125 percent interest rate, and significantly increased conversion price

•

Returned value to shareholders by repurchasing 2 million shares of Ionis common stock in late 2019 and early 2020 for $125 million

2020 Financial Guidance

The Company’s full year 2020 financial guidance consists of the following components (on a non-GAAP basis):

	Guidance

Revenue	>$700 million

Operating Expenses	~$650 million to $690 million

Meaningfully Profitable

“2019 was also an exceptional year financially, with growth in both commercial revenues and R&D revenues. We delivered over $1 billion in revenue and more than $400 million in net income. Our revenue nearly doubled compared to 2018, driven primarily by nearly $400 million in revenue from licensing AKCEA-APO(a)-L_Rx and AKCEA-ANGPTL3-L_Rx, both of which could address very large patient populations. We achieved our third consecutive year of net income while investing substantially in our pipeline and technology,” said Elizabeth L. Hougen, chief financial officer of Ionis. “This year, we expect to be meaningfully profitable. We expect growth in commercial revenues, with another strong year for SPINRAZA combined with growing revenue from TEGSEDI and WAYLIVRA as we expand into new countries. We also expect to achieve important milestones as we advance our medicines in development. Our projected increase in operating expenses reflects our plan to continue investing aggressively in all aspects of our business to generate substantial value, including growing and advancing our Ionis-owned pipeline and further advancing and broadening our technology. With a 2019 year-end cash balance of $2.5 billion, we have the financial strength to fully execute on these strategic priorities.”

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 Medicines

•	SPINRAZA: a global foundation-of-care for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) patients of all ages

Worldwide sales increased to more than $2 billion in 2019, an approximately 22 percent increase compared to 2018

Worldwide patients on treatment increased to over 10,000, including patients in commercial, early access and clinical trial settings

In the fourth quarter, patients on treatment outside the U.S. increased by approximately 10 percent, driven by growth from existing and newly launched markets

In the fourth quarter, U.S. patient growth was driven by pediatric and adult SMA patients, with adults accounting for more than 50 percent of new patient starts

Biogen initiated the Phase 2/3 DEVOTE study evaluating the safety and potential to achieve increased efficacy with a higher dose of SPINRAZA in SMA patients of all ages, including adults

•	TEGSEDI: launched in multiple markets for the treatment of hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis (hATTR) with polyneuropathy in adult patients

Revenue increased for each quarter during 2019, driven by growth in patients on treatment

Total units shipped to U.S. patients increased by 17 percent in the fourth quarter

Commercially available in more than ten countries

Launching in Brazil through PTC Therapeutics

Launching in additional EU countries this year

•	WAYLIVRA: launched in the EU as the only approved treatment for adults with genetically confirmed familial chylomicronemia syndrome (FCS) at high risk for pancreatitis

Commercial patients on therapy in Germany

Patient enrollment underway in France through the Temporary Authorization for Use (ATU)

Launching in additional EU countries this year

Potential approval in Brazil by the end of this year through PTC Therapeutics

Goal to refile for marketing authorization in the U.S. this year

Neurological Disease Franchise

•	Ionis-owned programs:

Initiated the Phase 3 NEURO-TTRansform study of AKCEA-TTR-L_Rx for the treatment of hATTR polyneuropathy

Advanced two new Ionis-owned neurological disease medicines into development:

◾

ION716 for the treatment of Prion disease

◾

ION283 for the treatment of Lafora disease

ION373, for the treatment of Alexander disease, granted orphan drug designation by the European Medicines Agency (EMA)

•	Partnered programs:

More than $55 million for licensing and advancing IONIS-MAPT_Rx for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease

$10 million for advancing the Phase 1/2 study of IONIS-C9_Rx for the treatment of C9ORF72-related ALS

$10 million for advancing ION581 into development for the treatment of Angelman syndrome

$30 million for advancing four new neurological disease programs toward development

Cardiometabolic Disease Franchise

•	Ionis-owned programs:

Initiated the Phase 3 CARDIO-TTRansform cardiovascular outcomes study of AKCEA-TTR-L_Rx in patients with hereditary and wild-type ATTR cardiomyopathy

AKCEA-APOCIII-L_Rxachieved its primary efficacy endpoint and demonstrated a favorable safety and tolerability profile in a Phase 2 proof-of-concept study

•	Partnered programs:

Novartis began enrolling patients in the Phase 3 HORIZON cardiovascular outcomes study of AKCEA-APO(a)-L_Rxin patients with established cardiovascular disease

AKCEA-ANGPTL3-L_Rxachieved its primary efficacy endpoint and demonstrated a favorable safety and tolerability profile in a Phase 2 proof-of-concept study

Received $250 million from Pfizer upon closing of the license agreement for the development and commercialization of AKCEA-ANGPTL3-L_Rx for the treatment of patients with certain cardiovascular and metabolic diseases

Key 2020 Catalysts

•	Initiate a Phase 3 study of AKCEA-APOCIII-L_Rx in patients with FCS

•	Report clinical proof-of-concept results from six or more studies, including IONIS-GHR-L_Rx, IONIS-PKK-L_Rx, IONIS-ENaC-2.5_Rx and an orally delivered medicine

Reported positive topline results for AKCEA-APOCIII-L_Rx and AKCEA-ANGPTL3-L_Rx in January 2020

•	Initiate ten or more Phase 2 studies

•	Advance five or more new medicines into development

Revenue

Ionis’ revenue increased by more than 85 percent in 2019 compared to the same period in 2018 and was comprised of the following (amounts in millions):

	Three months ended, December 31,				Year ended December 31,
	2019		2018		2019		2018
Revenue:
Commercial revenue:
SPINRAZA royalties	$	81	$	70	$	293	$	238
Product sales, net		13		2		42		2
Licensing and royalty revenue		6		1		17		15
Total commercial revenue		100		73		352		255
R&D Revenue:
Amortization from upfront payments		46		33		146		125
Milestone payments		51		38		115		83
License fees		292		38		490		102
Other services		5		10		20		35
Total R&D revenue		394		119		771		345
Total revenue	$	494	$	192	$	1,123	$	600

Operating Expenses

Operating expenses increased for the year ended December 31, 2019, compared to the same period in 2018 principally due to Ionis’ investment in the global launch of TEGSEDI, the EU launch of WAYLIVRA and advancing medicines in the Company’s pipeline.

Loss on Early Retirement of Debt

In December 2019, Ionis refinanced a significant portion of its 1% convertible senior notes due 2021 (1% Notes) for new 0.125% convertible senior notes due 2024 (0.125% Notes). Ionis significantly reduced its interest rate, extended the maturity to December 2024 and increased the conversion price. As a result of the early refinance of the 1% Notes, Ionis recognized a $22 million non-cash loss in 2019.

Income Tax Expense (Benefit)

Ionis’ income tax expense in 2019 was primarily because the Company generated U.S. federal and state taxable income in 2019. The tax benefit in 2018 was due to a one-time non-cash tax benefit recognized in 2018 related the Company’s deferred income tax assets.

Net (Income) Loss Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest in Akcea

At December 31, 2019, Ionis owned approximately 76 percent of Akcea. The shares of Akcea third parties own represent an interest in Akcea’s equity that Ionis does not control. However, because Ionis continues to maintain overall control of Akcea through its voting interest, Ionis reflects the assets, liabilities and results of operations of Akcea in Ionis’ consolidated financial statements. Ionis reflects the noncontrolling interest attributable to other owners of Akcea’s common stock in a separate line called “Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest in Akcea” on Ionis’ statement of operations. Ionis recognized net income attributable to noncontrolling interest in Akcea in 2019 compared to a net loss in 2018. Ionis had net income attributable to noncontrolling interest in Akcea in 2019 primarily because Akcea earned significant license fee revenue from Novartis and Pfizer in 2019 which led to Akcea having net income for 2019.

Net Income Attributable to Ionis Common Stockholders

Ionis’ net income attributable to Ionis’ common stockholders and basic and diluted earnings per share increased in 2019 compared to 2018 primarily due to the significant increase in Ionis’ revenue. Somewhat offsetting this increase was income tax expense the Company recognized in 2019 compared to a one-time non-cash tax benefit recognized in 2018 related to the Company’s deferred income tax assets.

Balance Sheet

Ionis strengthened its balance sheet, ending 2019 with cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $2.5 billion, compared to $2.1 billion at December 31, 2018.

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 treat a broad range of diseases including cardiovascular diseases, neurological diseases, infectious diseases, pulmonary diseases and cancer.

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

*Spinraza is marketed by Biogen.

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, 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, 2018, 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^™ 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 December 31,						Year ended December 31,
	2019			2018			2019			2018

	(unaudited)
Revenue:
Commercial revenue:
SPINRAZA royalties	$	81		$	70		$	293		$	238
Product sales, net		13			2			42			2
Licensing and royalty revenue		6			1			17			15
Total commercial revenue		100			73			352			255
Research and development revenue under collaborative agreements		394			119			771			345
Total revenue		494			192			1,123			600
Expenses:
Cost of products sold		1			1			4			2
Research, development and patent		149			113			466			414
Selling, general and administrative		83			67			287			245
Total operating expenses		233			181			757			661
Income (loss) from operations		261			11			366			(61	)
Other income (expense):
Investment income		13			11			52			30
Interest expense		(14	)		(11	)		(49	)		(45	)
Loss on early retirement of debt		(22	)		-			(22	)		-
Income (loss) before income tax (expense) benefit		238			11			347			(76	)

Income tax (expense) benefit		(34	)		292			(44	)		291

Net income	$	204		$	303		$	303		$	215
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest in Akcea Therapeutics, Inc.		(20	)		17			(9	)		59
Net income attributable to Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. common stockholders	$	184		$	320		$	294		$	274

Basic net income per share	$	1.31		$	2.32		$	2.12		$	2.09
Diluted net income per share	$	1.28		$	2.21		$	2.08		$	2.07
Shares used in computing basic net income per share		141			138			140			132
Shares used in computing diluted net income per share		153			150			143			134

IONIS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

SELECTED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations

(In Millions)

	Year Ended, December 31, 2019
	Ionis			Akcea			Eliminations			Ionis Consolidated
Revenue:
Commercial revenue:
SPINRAZA royalties	$	$293		$	-		$	-		$	293
Product sales, net		-			42			-			42
Licensing and royalty revenue		7			10			-			17
Total commercial revenue		300			52			-			352
Research and development revenue under collaborative agreements		334			437			-			771
Intercompany revenue		225			-			(225	)		-
Total revenue		859			489			(225	)		1,123
Expenses:
Cost of products sold		2			11			(9	)		4
Research, development and patent expenses		379			293			(206	)		466
Selling, general and administrative		143			146			(2	)		287
Profit/ loss share for TEGSEDI commercialization activities		37			(37	)		-			-
Total operating expenses		561			413			(217	)		757

Income (loss) from operations		298			76			(8	)		366

Other income (expense):
Investment income		47			5			-			52
Interest expense		(49	)		-			-			(49	)
Loss on early retirement of debt		(22	)		-			-			(22	)
Income before income tax expense		274			81			(8	)		347

Income tax expense		(41	)		(3	)		-			(44	)

Net income (loss)	$	233		$	78		$	(8	)	$	303
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest in Akcea Therapeutics, Inc.		-			-			(9	)		(9	)
Net income attributable to Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. common stockholders	$	233		$	78		$	(17	)	$	294

IONIS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Basis:

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

(In Millions)

	Three months ended, December 31,						Year ended, December 31,
	2019			2018			2019			2018
	(unaudited)
As reported research, development and patent expenses according to GAAP	$	149		$	113		$	466		$	415
Excluding compensation expense related to equity awards		(23	)		(18	)		(95	)		(77	)

Non-GAAP research, development and patent expenses	$	126		$	95		$	371		$	338
As reported selling, general and administrative expenses according to GAAP	$	83		$	67		$	287		$	245
Excluding compensation expense related to equity awards		(12	)		(15	)		(51	)		(55	)

Non-GAAP selling, general and administrative expenses	$	71		$	52		$	236		$	190
As reported operating expenses according to GAAP	$	233		$	181		$	757		$	661
Excluding compensation expense related to equity awards		(35	)		(34	)		(147	)		(131	)

Non-GAAP operating expenses	$	198		$	147		$	610		$	530

As reported income (loss) from operations according to GAAP	$	261		$	11		$	366		$	(61	)
Excluding compensation expense related to equity awards		(35	)		(34	)		(147	)		(131	)
Non-GAAP income from operations	$	296		$	45		$	513		$	70
As reported net income attributable to Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. common stockholders according to GAAP	$	184		$	320		$	294		$	274
Excluding compensation expense related to equity awards attributable to Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. common stockholders		(33	)		(31	)		(139	)		(120	)
Income tax effect related to compensation expense related to equity awards attributable to Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. common stockholders		5			21			31			21
Non-GAAP net income attributable to Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. common stockholders according to GAAP	$	212		$	330		$	402		$	373

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)

	December 31, 2019		December 31, 2018

Assets:
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments	$	2,500	$	2,084
Contracts receivable		63		13
Other current assets		158		111
Property, plant and equipment, net		154		132
Other assets		358		328
Total assets	$	3,233	$	2,668

Liabilities and stockholders’ equity:
Other current liabilities	$	155	$	120
Current portion of deferred contract revenue		118		160
1% convertible senior notes		275		568
0.125% convertible senior notes		435		-
Long-term obligations, less current portion		75		65
Long-term deferred contract revenue		490		567
Total Ionis stockholders’ equity		1,471		1,049
Noncontrolling interest in Akcea Therapeutics, Inc.		214		139
Total stockholders’ equity		1,685		1,188
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	3,233	$	2,668

IONIS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet

(In Millions)

	December 31, 2019
	Ionis		Akcea		Eliminations			Ionis Consolidated

Assets:
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments	$	2,036	$	464	$	-		$	2,500
Contracts receivable		53		10		-			63
Other current assets		138		23		(3	)		158
Property, plant and equipment, net		149		5		-			154
Other assets		1,105		97		(844	)		358
Total assets	$	3,481	$	599	$	(847	)	$	3,233

Liabilities and stockholders’ equity:
Other current liabilities	$	118	$	40	$	(3	)	$	155
Current portion of deferred contract revenue		116		2		-			118
1% convertible senior notes		275		-		-			275
0.125% convertible senior notes		435		-					435
Long-term obligations, less current portion		61		14		-			75
Long-term deferred contract revenue		492		-		(2	)		490
Total stockholders’ equity before noncontrolling interest		1,984		543		(1,056	)		1,471
Noncontrolling interest in Akcea Therapeutics, Inc.		-		-		214			214
Total stockholders’ equity		1,984		543		(842	)		1,685
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	3,481	$	599	$	(847	)	$	3,233