Earnings Preview: Here's a Look at What to Expect From 7 Biopharmas

January 23, 2017
By Alex Keown, BioSpace.com Breaking News Staff

NEW YORK – All eyes will be on Johnson & Johnson ’s annual earnings report to serve as a measuring stick to see what the year has in store for the biopharma industry in regards to pricing, potential deals and of course, how the industry will respond to possible pricing controls from the new president.

Johnson & Johnson is coming into its earnings report after rumors of potential deal with Swiss-based Actelion . However, this morning that company revealed its drug candidate Opsumit missed its primary endpoint in a late-stage trial. Analysts said that drug failure should not have any impact on J&J’s potential deal with the company, according to Reuters.

Johnson & Johnson will announce its earnings report Jan. 24. BioPharmaDive said analysts will be looking not only at potential of an Actelion deal, but also at sales reports of Remicade, which is being challenged by a biosimilar from Pfizer and Celltrion (068270.KQ). Analysts will look to see if the drug is losing any market share to the new drug. Analysts will also look to see if there is revenue growth from other top drugs like Xarelto and Imbruvica, as well.

J&J is not the only company planning to release its annual earnings this week. Six other companies are also announcing earnings, BioPharmaDive said.

Novartis

Swiss drugmaker Novartis will announce earnings Jan. 25. The company saw some growth last quarter, but, as BioPharmaDive reported, 2016 was not as strong as 2015. Some of the company’s drugs that have been good performers include multiple sclerosis drug Gilenya, anti-inflammatory drug Cosentyx and heart failure medication Entresto. BioPharmaDive said analysts will be looking at revenue from those drugs, as well as information regarding Novartis’ strategy to offset lagging returns from its eye care business Alcon and the patent loss of blockbuster cancer drug Gleevec. Additionally, investors and analysts are looking at information on Novartis’ led CAR-T therapy CTL019.

Vertex

Boston-based Vertex will also announce earnings on Jan. 25. During the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference, the company said its cystic fibrosis drug Orkambi brought in $276 million, which is better than analysts predicted. BioPharmaDive said analysts will expect to see announcements regarding sales strategies for Orkambi, as well as Kalydeco, its other lead cystic fibrosis drug.

Biogen

Under the guiding hand of a new chief executive officer, Boston-based Biogen is expected to provide more information regarding its focus on developing treatments for multiple sclerosis, spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and other neurodegenerative disorders. Certainly the company will discuss marketing strategies for its newly approved SMA drug, Spinraza. Another area that CEO Michel Vounatsos will likely discuss is the next steps for the company’s experimental Alzheimer’s aducanumab.

Bristol-Myers Squibb

Analysts will be interested to see how BMS continues to deal with its lead immuno-oncology drug, Opdivo, after the drug surprised everyone by failing a Phase III monotherapy test last summer. Opdivo was the first PD-1 inhibitor to receive regulatory approval. Analysts will also pay attention to news regarding the company’s shake-up of its research and development division. In the fall, BMS announced it planned a reorganization of that department to “enable the company to deliver the strategic, financial and operational flexibility necessary to invest in the highest priorities across the company.”

Celgene

Coming off a series of deals struck at the end of 2016, Celgene is planning to present its earnings report on Jan. 27. Analysts will likely look for information about revenue streams from drugs like multiple myeloma treatment Revlimid, as well as Abraxane. BioPharmaDive said analysts predict a “tougher road for Abraxane” as the immuno-oncology drug faces increased competition.

AbbVie

Analysts will watch AbbVie with a keen eye as it continues to rely heavily on RA drug Humira for the bulk of its revenue stream. The drug faces increased competition from biosimilars, although the company is fighting in the courts to prevent their commercialization and protect its revenue stream. BioPharmaDive said the company does not plan any major acquisitions in 2017, but analysts and investors should “expect announcements about bolt-on acquisitions in the oncology, hematology and immunology spaces.”