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Pharming Group reports first quarter 2024 financial results and provides business update
First quarter 2024 revenues increased by 31% to US$55.6 million, compared to the first quarter 2023, driven by the U.S. commercial launch of Joenja® and revenue growth of RUCONEST®
RUCONEST® revenues increased by 8% to US$46.0 million, compared to the first quarter 2023
Joenja® (leniolisib) revenue of US$9.6 million, a 21% increase compared to the fourth quarter of 2023
On track for 2024 total revenue guidance of US$280 million - US$295 million (14 - 20% growth)
Overall cash and marketable securities of US$203.5 million at the end of the quarter
Pharming to host a conference call today at 13:30 CEST (7:30 am EDT)
Leiden, the Netherlands, May 8, 2024: Pharming Group N.V. ("Pharming" or "the Company") (NASDAQ:PHAR) presents its preliminary (unaudited) financial report for the three months ended March 31, 2024.
Chief Executive Officer, Sijmen de Vries commented: "Pharming delivered a strong first quarter, increasing quarterly revenues by 31% year-over-year to US$55.6 million and keeping the Company on track for our 2024 total revenue guidance of US$280 - US$295 million. This revenue growth was driven primarily by the U.S. commercial launch of Joenja®, and we also delivered continued strong RUCONEST® revenue growth and new patient enrollments as well as the first material named patient program revenues for leniolisib for patients outside of the U.S.
We now have 83 patients on Joenja® paid therapy in the U.S., with additional patients enrolled and pending, and a further 138 patients globally are on leniolisib therapy through one of our access programs or ongoing clinical trials. We have increased our focus on finding additional APDS patients through a combination of genetic testing, family testing, and Variant of Uncertain Significance (VUS) resolution efforts. The VUS resolution work seeks to confirm additional genetic variants that cause APDS and thereby diagnose additional patients from amongst the over 1,100 patients in the U.S. who have received such inconclusive VUS genetic testing results to date. All of these efforts have now begun to increase the number of identified APDS patients in the U.S., and we anticipate providing further updates in the near future on our progress in the U.S. and globally.
We continue to be very active with regulatory agencies worldwide in our efforts to make Joenja® (leniolisib) available to patients in as many markets as possible, and continue to prepare for the commercialization of leniolisib in additional key global markets this year. Just last week Joenja® received regulatory approval in Israel, further demonstrating the product's positive clinical benefit. In addition, the increasing number of requests for individual treatment on a named patient basis we are receiving reflects the unmet medical need for APDS patients outside of the U.S.
With the recent completion of enrollment in the leniolisib clinical trial for children aged 4 to 11, we are also progressing towards regulatory filings worldwide for pediatric approval, beginning in 2025.
In addition, we are working to expand the leniolisib market opportunity through clinical development for larger primary immunodeficiency (PID) disorders. Our team has made significant progress towards commencing a Phase II proof of concept clinical trial in PIDs with immune dysregulation linked to PI3Kẟ signaling. We are now also preparing a clinical development plan for an additional PID indication, and look forward to providing further updates after obtaining regulatory feedback.
Finally, following the end of the quarter, we completed a successful refinancing by issuing €100 million in new convertible bonds due in 2029 to repurchase the majority of our €125 million convertible bonds due in 2025. These transactions strengthen our financial position while enhancing flexibility for the continued execution of our business strategy over the next several years."
First quarter highlights
Commercialized assetsRUCONEST® marketed for the treatment of acute HAE attacks
RUCONEST® continued to perform well in the first quarter of 2024, with revenues of US$46.0 million, an 8% increase compared to the first quarter of 2023.
The U.S. market contributed 97% of first quarter revenues, while the EU and Rest of World contributed 3%.
In the U.S. market, we saw continued strength in underlying in-market demand for RUCONEST®, including almost 70 new patient enrollments in the first quarter. We achieved strong overall performance in leading key revenue indicators including new physicians prescribing RUCONEST®, new patient enrollments, and the total number of patients.
Joenja® (leniolisib) marketed in the U.S. – the first and only approved disease modifying treatment for APDS
Joenja® revenues increased to US$9.6 million in the first quarter of 2024, a 21% increase compared to the fourth quarter of 2023. This increase was mostly driven by higher volume from the continued increase in patients on paid therapy in the U.S. and revenues from EU and Rest of World.
As of March 31, 2024, we have 83 patients on paid therapy in the U.S. and an additional five patients enrolled and pending authorization.
EU and Rest of World revenues are from product provided on a named patient basis. Pharming has named patient and other funded early access programs whereby physicians can request leniolisib on behalf of individual patients living with APDS, who meet the eligibility criteria and receive local health authority approval, in certain countries where leniolisib is not commercially available.
APDS patient finding
As of December 31, 2023, Pharming had identified over 840 diagnosed APDS patients of all ages in global markets, including over 200 patients in the U.S. Of the identified patients in the U.S., approximately 75% are 12 years of age or older, the majority of whom are currently eligible for treatment with Joenja®. Over 730 of these globally identified patients are in the U.S., Europe, the U.K., Japan, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Canada, key markets for Pharming with estimated total prevalence of ~2000 APDS patients.
Pharming continues to advance several initiatives to diagnose additional APDS patients, including a sponsored genetic testing program in the U.S., partnerships with several genetic testing companies who undertake their own testing efforts, and family testing programs. Pharming's Variant of Uncertain Significance (VUS) resolution efforts are ongoing, including validation studies with various laboratories to confirm which VUSs should be classified as APDS. As results become available, patients with validated variants could be diagnosed with APDS and, therefore, potentially be eligible for Joenja® treatment. Completion of these studies is expected during the fourth quarter of 2024.
In the U.S. market, the number of diagnosed APDS patients increased by 15 during the first quarter 2024, including a few patients diagnosed via VUS resolution, bringing the number of identified patients in the U.S. to over 220.
Leniolisib highlights - regulatory, clinical and commercial strategy updates
Leniolisib for APDS
Pharming made continued progress in the first quarter of 2024 on leniolisib regulatory filings for APDS patients 12 years of age and older in key global markets. In addition, Pharming progressed ongoing clinical trials to support regulatory filings for approval in Japan and pediatric label expansion.
Pharming's strategy is to expand the commercial availability of leniolisib for APDS patients to key markets in Europe, U.K., Japan, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Canada. Pharming intends to market leniolisib directly in most of these markets following regulatory approval.
In total, there are currently 138 patients on leniolisib therapy as part of an Expanded Access Program (compassionate use), an ongoing clinical study, or a named patient program.
European Economic Area (EEA)
Pharming is working closely with the European Medicines Agency's (EMA) Committee for Human Medicinal Products (CHMP) to address the remaining outstanding issues on the Marketing Authorisation Application (MAA) for leniolisib. We are now awaiting the CHMP's opinion on the leniolisib MAA.
United Kingdom
On March 12, 2024, Pharming submitted a MAA for leniolisib with the U.K. Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), through the International Recognition Procedure (IRP) on the basis of the U.S. FDA approval. The MAA for leniolisib was validated on April 17, 2024. The MHRA has 110 days from the date the IRP submission is validated, with an optional clock stop at Day 70 to provide time for applicants to prepare responses to a potential request for further information, to review and issue its decision.
Additional markets - Canada, Australia, Israel
Pharming filed regulatory submissions in Canada and Australia in the third quarter of 2023, and Israel in the second quarter. We anticipate regulatory action in 2024 for Canada and in 2025 for Australia.
The Israeli Ministry of Health granted Marketing Authorization for Joenja® (leniolisib) for the treatment of APDS in adult and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older on April 30, 2024. Pharming has an agreement with Kamada Ltd., an Israel-based commercial stage global biopharmaceutical company with a portfolio of marketed products for rare and serious conditions focused on diseases of limited treatment alternatives, to commercialize Joenja® in Israel. Pharming anticipates the commercial launch of Joenja® in Israel in 2025, following completion of government payor negotiations that typically conclude in December.
Pediatric clinical development
In 2023, Pharming initiated two pediatric clinical trials, for children ages 4 to 11 and ages 1 to 6 years old, at sites in the U.S., Japan and the EU. The single-arm, open-label, multinational clinical trials will evaluate the safety, tolerability and efficacy of leniolisib in approximately 15 children, per clinical trial, who have a confirmed APDS diagnosis. The primary efficacy endpoints and secondary endpoints of the studies mirror those used to evaluate the clinical outcomes in the previous leniolisib Phase II/III APDS trials for patients aged 12 and older.
Pharming announced completion of enrollment in the clinical trial for children ages 4 to 11 years old on April 8, 2024. Pharming plans to include data from this 4–11-year-old trial in regulatory filings worldwide for the approval of leniolisib for pediatric patients with APDS, beginning in 2025.
In November 2023, the first patient was dosed in the clinical trial for children ages 1 to 6 years old. Enrollment in the study is continuing as planned.
Leniolisib for additional indications (PI3Kδ platform) - Primary immunodeficiencies (PIDs) beyond APDS
Pharming plans an initial Phase II, proof of concept, clinical trial in targeted PID genetic disorders with immune dysregulation linked to PI3Kẟ signaling in lymphocytes, with similar clinical phenotypes and unmet medical need to APDS. These PID disorders include ALPS-FAS, CTLA4 haploinsufficiency and PTEN deficiency. The epidemiology of these targeted PID genetic disorders suggests a prevalence of approximately five patients per million.
The Phase II clinical trial is a single arm, open-label, dose range-finding study to be conducted in approximately 12 patients. The objectives for the trial will be to assess safety and tolerability, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and explore clinical efficacy of leniolisib in this new PID population. The trial has been designed to inform a subsequent Phase III program. Pharming is in the final stages of preparation for the start of the trial.
Pharming has also prioritized development of leniolisib for an additional PID indication. Pharming will provide further updates and details on our plans after obtaining regulatory feedback on the proposed clinical development plan.
OTL-105
Consistent with Pharming's current strategy as well as prioritization of clinical development expansion of leniolisib into additional PID indications, Pharming has decided to terminate the research collaboration & licensing agreement with Orchard Therapeutics and discontinue the OTL-105 program.
Subsequent event - convertible bond refinancing
On April 18, 2024, Pharming announced the placement of €100 million of senior unsecured convertible bonds due 2029 (the "New Bonds") convertible into new and/or existing ordinary shares in the capital of the Company (the "Shares"). The New Bonds were issued at par and carry a coupon of 4.50% per annum payable semi-annually in arrear in equal installments on April 25 and October 25 of each year, commencing on October 25, 2024. Unless previously converted, redeemed or purchased and cancelled, the New Bonds will be redeemed at par on April 25, 2029. The initial conversion price has been set at €1.2271, representing a premium of 37.5% above the volume weighted average price (VWAP) of a Share on Euronext Amsterdam between opening of trading on the launch date and the pricing of the offering (i.e. €0.8924).
Pharming used the net proceeds of the New Bonds for the repurchase of €123.1 million of the outstanding €125 million 3.00% senior unsecured convertible bonds due 2025 issued on January 21, 2020 (the "2025 Bonds"; ISIN: XS2105716554), to strengthen its financial position while enhancing flexibility for the continued execution of its business strategy over the next several years. Settlement of the New Bonds took place on April 25, 2024, and settlement of the repurchase of the 2025 bonds took place on April 26, 2024.
Financial summary
Amounts in US$m except per share data
1Q 2024
1Q 2023
Consolidated Statement of Income
Revenue - RUCONEST®
46.0
42.5
Revenue - Joenja®
9.6
0.0
Total Revenues
55.6
42.5
Cost of sales
(8.4)
(4.0)
Gross profit
47.2
38.5
Other income
0.3
0.6
Research and development
(18.5)
(15.6)
General and administrative
(15.1)
(10.1)
Marketing and sales
(30.2)
(27.1)
Operating profit (loss)
(16.3)
(13.7)
Other finance income
1.8
0.1
Other finance expenses
(1.6)
(2.8)
Share of net profits in associates using the equity method
(0.5)
(0.3)
Profit (loss) before tax
(16.6)
(16.7)
Income tax credit (expense)
4.2
4.5
Profit (loss) for the period
(12.4)
(12.2)
Share Information
Basic earnings per share (US$)
(0.019)
(0.019)
Diluted earnings per share (US$)
(0.019)
(0.019)
Amounts in US$m
March 31, 2024
December 31, 2023
Consolidated Balance Sheet
Cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and marketable securities
203.5
215.0
Current assets
296.6
316.3
Total assets
441.7
462.9
Current liabilities (excluding convertible bonds)
72.4
76.1
Equity
205.9
218.8
Financial highlights Total revenues for the first quarter of 2024 increased by 31% to US$55.6 million compared to US$42.5 million in the first quarter of 2023. RUCONEST® revenues amounted to US$46.0 million, an 8% increase compared to the first quarter of 2023. The volume increase in the U.S. and a U.S. price increase in line with CPI were the primary factors behind this increase in RUCONEST® revenues. Joenja® revenues amounted to US$9.6 million in the first quarter of 2024, a 21% increase compared to the fourth quarter of 2023. This increase in Joenja® revenues was mostly driven by an increase in volume. Total revenues per operating and reportable segment for the period ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 are:
Amounts in US$ millions
1Q 2024
1Q 2023
RUCONEST®
Joenja®
Total
RUCONEST®
Joenja®
Total
Revenues
US
44.8
8.5
53.3
40.9
—
40.9
Europe and RoW
1.2
1.1
2.3
1.6
—
1.6
Total revenues
46.0
9.6
55.6
42.5
—
42.5
Gross profit increased by 23% to US$47.2 million (1Q 2023: US$38.5 million), mainly due to the increase in revenues. This was partially offset by non-recurring inventory impairments amounting to US$2.3 million.
The operating loss amounted to US$16.3 million compared to an operating loss of US$13.7 million in the first quarter of 2023. This was mainly due to an expected increase in operating expenses from US$52.7 million in the first quarter of 2023 to US$63.9 million in the first quarter of this year. This increase was caused by a combination of continuing investments in Joenja® in the U.S., launch preparation for leniolisib outside of the U.S., increasing R&D investments to expand the leniolisib franchise and increased payroll expenses due to business growth.
The Company had a net loss of US$12.4 million, compared to a net loss of US$12.2 million in the first quarter of 2023. The change was ...