Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2019 and provided a corporate update.
- Firdapse® Launch Momentum Continues with Second Quarter Net Revenues of $28.8 Million
- 409 Adult LEMS Patients Active on Firdapse as of June 30, 2019
- Company to Host Quarterly Conference Call at 8:30 am ET Tomorrow
CORAL GABLES, Fla., Aug. 07, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Catalyst) (Nasdaq:CPRX), a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing innovative therapies for people with rare debilitating, chronic neuromuscular and neurological diseases, today reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2019 and provided a corporate update.
“We are very pleased with the continued strength of the commercial launch of Firdapse®, the first and only evidence-based, FDA approved drug for the treatment of adult patients with Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS). We are greatly encouraged by the support we continue to receive from LEMS patients and their healthcare providers,” said Patrick J. McEnany, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Catalyst Pharmaceuticals. “While the launch remains our greatest area of focus, we are also enthused with the advances we continue to make with our ongoing clinical programs, as well as our effort to expand our reach with Firdapse to other countries without an approved therapy for LEMS.”
Q2-19 Financial Results
· Product revenue, net in the second quarter 2019 was $28.8 million
· Reported net income of $11.0 million, or $0.11 per basic and $0.10 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2019, compared with a net loss of $6.0 million, or $0.06 per basic and diluted share, for the second quarter of 2018.
· Selling, general and administrative expenses for the second quarter of 2019 totaled $9.0 million as compared to $2.6 million in the second quarter of 2018.
· Research and development expenses for the second quarter of 2019 were $4.6 million as compared to $3.7 million for the second quarter of 2018.
· Ended June 30, 2019 with $64.9 million in cash and investments and no funded debt.
Recent Developments and Highlights
· Initiated commercial launch of Firdapse for LEMS on January 15, 2019.
· Had 409 adult LEMS patients on Firdapse as of June 30, 2019, compared to 337 patients on March 31, 2019.
· As of today, 138 patients previously naïve to any form of 3,4-DAP are enrolled in Catalyst Pathways.
· Amended our Firdapse license agreement to expand the commercial territory to include Japan.
· Global expansion of Firdapse for LEMS underway in Canada and Japan.
· Filed federal lawsuit against U.S. Food and Drug Administration challenging the approval of RuzurgiTM for the treatment of pediatric LEMS patients (ages 6 to under 17).
Upcoming Milestones
· Expect to complete enrollment for the MuSK-MG trial in the second half of 2019 and to report top-line results from this trial in the first half of 2020.
· Expect top-line results from Phase 3 trial for CMS in the second half of 2019.
· Expect top-line results for SMA Type 3 proof of concept trial in the first half of 2020.
Financial Results
For the quarter ended June 30, 2019, Catalyst reported net income of $10,959,948, or $0.11 per basic and $0.10 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $5,965,140, or $0.06 per basic and diluted share, for the same period in 2018. For the six months ended June 30, 2019, Catalyst reported net income of $10,315,445, or $0.10 per basic and diluted share, as compared to a net loss of $11,665,032, or $0.11 per basic and diluted share, for the same period in 2018.
Research and development expenses for the second quarter of 2019 were $4,629,364 as compared to $3,704,824 in the second quarter of 2018. For the six months ended June 30, 2019, research and development expenses were $7,937,323 as compared to $6,963,866 in the same period in 2018. Research and development expenses for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 primarily consisted of expenses in medical and regulatory affairs and quality assurance programs, as well as expenses from our ongoing clinical trials and studies evaluating Firdapse for the treatment of other ultra-orphan neuromuscular diseases and our Expanded Access Program. Research and development expenses in the comparable period in 2018, primarily consisted of consulting expenses as the Company prepared to submit an NDA for Firdapse for the treatment of LEMS, as well as expenses from Catalyst’s ongoing clinical trials and studies and its Expanded Access Program. The Company expects that costs related to research and development activities will continue to be substantial throughout 2019 as it continues its on-going clinical trials and studies in MuSK-MG, CMS and SMA Type 3 and its Expanded Access Program for Firdapse.
Selling, general and administrative expenses for the second quarter of 2019 totaled $8,987,722 as compared to $2,631,031 in the second quarter of 2018. For the six months ended June 30, 2019, selling, general and administrative expenses were $17,404,182 as compared to $5,305,429 in the same period in 2018. The increase when compared to the same period in 2018 is primarily due to increased selling expenses, including costs of commercial system implementation, of the Company’s sales force and supporting personnel, product launch expenses, market access and market research expenses, and professional fees associated with Catalyst’s suit against the FDA. The Company expects selling, general and administrative expenses to increase in 2019, as the Company continues to build its infrastructure and commercial and patient programs in support of Firdapse sales activities in 2019, and prosecutes its lawsuit against the FDA.
Catalyst launched its first product, Firdapse, in January 2019. Product revenue, net for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2019 were $28,837,900 and $41,286,338, respectively. Cost of sales for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2019 were $4,261,625 and $5,973,413, respectively.
At June 30, 2019, Catalyst had cash and cash equivalents and investments of $64.9 million and no funded debt. Catalyst believes that its existing capital resources will be sufficient to support its planned operations for at least the next 12 months.
More detailed financial information and analysis may be found in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on August 7, 2019.
Conference Call
Catalyst management will host an investment-community conference call and webcast at 8:30 a.m. ET, tomorrow, Thursday, August 8, 2019 to discuss the financial results and provide a corporate update. Investors who wish to participate in the conference call may do so by dialing (877) 407-8912 for domestic and Canadian callers or (201) 689-8059 for international callers. Those interested in listening to the conference call live via the internet may do so by visiting the Investors page of the company’s website at www.catalystpharma.com and clicking on the webcast link on the Investors home page. A webcast replay will be available on the Catalyst website for 30 days following the call by visiting the Investor page of the company’s website at www.catalystpharma.com.
About Catalyst Pharmaceuticals
Catalyst Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing innovative therapies for people with rare debilitating, chronic neuromuscular and neurological diseases, including Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS), anti-MuSK antibody positive myasthenia gravis (MuSK-MG), congenital myasthenic syndromes (CMS), and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) Type 3. Catalyst’s new drug application for Firdapse® (amifampridine) 10 mg tablets for the treatment of adults with LEMS was approved in November 2018 by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (“FDA”), and Firdapse is now commercially available in the United States. Prior to its approval, Firdapse for LEMS had received breakthrough therapy designation and orphan drug designation from the FDA.
Firdapse is being evaluated in clinical trials for the treatment of MuSK-MG, CMS, and SMA Type 3 and has received Orphan Drug Designation from the FDA for myasthenia gravis and CMS. Firdapse (amifampridine) 10 mg tablets is the first and only approved drug in Europe for the symptomatic treatment in adults with LEMS.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause Catalyst’s actual results in future periods to differ materially from forecasted results. A number of factors, including (i) whether, even if Catalyst is successful in commercializing Firdapse, Catalyst will achieve sustained profitability, (ii) the effect on Catalyst’s business and future results of operations of the recent approval by the FDA of Ruzurgi for the treatment of pediatric LEMS patients (ages 6 to under 17); (iii) whether Catalyst’s suit against the FDA seeking to vacate the FDA’s approval of Ruzurgi will be successful; (iv) whether Firdapse will ever be approved for commercialization for the treatment of MuSK-MG, CMS, SMA Type 3, or any other disease, and (v) those other factors described in Catalyst’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year 2018 and its other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), could adversely affect Catalyst. Copies of Catalyst’s filings with the SEC are available from the SEC, may be found on Catalyst’s website, or may be obtained upon request from Catalyst. Catalyst does not undertake any obligation to update the information contained herein, which speaks only as of this date.
Investor Contact
Brian Korb
Solebury Trout
(646) 378-2923
Company Contact
Patrick J. McEnany
Catalyst Pharmaceuticals
Chief Executive Officer
(305) 420-3200
Media Contact
David Schull
Russo Partners
(212) 845-4271
david.schull@russopartnersllc.
Click here to view the condensed consolidated 6-30-19 financial statements (unaudited).
