Avadel Pharmaceuticals Provides Corporate Update and Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2020 Financial Results

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  • New Drug Application (NDA) for once-nightly FT218 to treat excessive daytime sleepiness and cataplexy in adults with narcolepsy accepted for filing by the FDA; assigned a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) target date of October 15, 2021
  • Completed key appointments for Commercial, Clinical and Medical Affairs functions to lead launch planning and readiness to capitalize on significant market opportunity
  • Presenting new data highlighting the overall clinical value proposition of FT218 at upcoming medical congresses and key publications
  • Management to host a conference call today at 8:30 a.m. ET

DUBLIN, Ireland, March 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Avadel Pharmaceuticals plc AVDL, a company focused on developing FT218, an investigational, once-nightly formulation of sodium oxybate designed to treat excessive daytime sleepiness and cataplexy in adults with narcolepsy, today provided a corporate update and announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2020.

"We are pleased with the significant and rapid progress we have made on a number of fronts with our once nightly FT218 program including clinical research, market opportunity assessment, launch preparation, and our regulatory filing strategy. In less than 10 months, we have delivered exceptional top line results, an NDA submission and now formal FDA acceptance for review of our once-nightly FT218 NDA," said Greg Divis, Chief Executive Officer of Avadel.

Mr. Divis continued, "Our priorities between now and a launch of FT218, if approved, are very clear: the execution of our NDA filing strategy and subsequent approval; the acceleration of our launch readiness; and the externalization of our pivotal data and related market preparation activities. We believe Avadel is well positioned to bring FT218 to patients suffering from narcolepsy and potentially command a market leading share of this multi-billion-dollar opportunity."

Fourth quarter and recent company highlights

  • The NDA for FT218 was accepted for filing by the FDA and assigned a PDUFA target action date of October 15, 2021
  • Appointed Richard Kim as Chief Commercial Officer to lead the commercial strategy and launch of FT218, if approved
  • Appointed Dr. Jennifer Gudeman as Vice President, Medical and Clinical Affairs, leading the Company's medical and clinical affairs activities
  • Scheduled to present data from our REST-ON trial at the American Academy of Neurology in April 2021 and at SLEEP in June 2021, including all three primary endpoints, as well as a number of secondary endpoints and post-hoc analyses
  • To highlight the novel technology and predictable PK profile of FT218, four of the clinically relevant Phase 1 PK studies were recently described in a Clinical Therapeutics publication, "Pharmacokinetics of FT218, a Once-Nightly Sodium Oxybate Formulation in Healthy Adults"
  • Ongoing analysis of an internal comprehensive market assessment has provided key insights about the narcolepsy market and once nightly therapy, including:
    • Once-nightly FT218, if approved, is expected to be the preferred oxybate of choice based on results from large quantitative HCP and patient research projects
    • Oxybate eligible patients ranked a once-nightly therapy as being the most important driver of treatment preference
    • A once-nightly therapy was characterized by patients as increasing the likelihood of compliance and reducing stress and anxiety associated with the middle of the night dosing
    • Oxybate market expansion potential could benefit once-nightly FT218 due to patients and HCPs reported dosing challenges associated with the twice nightly treatment regimen of currently available oxybate products
  • Continued the expansion and enrollment of the RESTORE open-label extension/switch study of FT218 designed to generate long-term safety, tolerability, and efficacy data, as well as data on switching from twice-nightly sodium oxybate and patient preference

Overview of Fourth Quarter Results

As a result of the sale of the sterile injectable products to Exela Sterile Medicines LLC on June 30, 2020, the Company did not report any revenue for the fourth quarter of 2020, compared to $11.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2019.

R&D expenses were $5.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2020, compared to $7.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2019. The decrease on a year-over-year basis was primarily attributed to the completion of the Phase 3 REST-ON clinical study for FT218, which concluded during the first quarter of 2020, as well as lower headcount due to the restructuring activities initiated during 2019.

SG&A expenses were $9.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2020, compared to $7.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2019. The year-over-year increase is the result of a number of factors including FT218 NDA preparation and submission costs, commercial launch planning costs related to FT218 and higher stock-based compensation.

Net loss for the fourth quarter of 2020 was $11.3 million, or ($0.19) per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $2.7 million, or ($0.07) per diluted share, for the same period in 2019. The increase in net loss and diluted loss per share is primarily the result of the year-over-year decrease in revenue due to the sale of the sterile injectable products partially offset by lower operating expenses. The increase in diluted shares outstanding resulted primarily from equity issuances related to financing activities completed during the first half of the year.

Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities were $221.4 million as of December 31, 2020. The Company has convertible debt of $143.8 million due in February 2023.

Conference Call:
A conference call to discuss these results has been scheduled for Tuesday, March 9, 2021 at 8:30 a.m. ET. To access the conference call, investors are invited to dial (877) 407-9716 (U.S. and Canada) or (201) 493-6779 (International). The conference ID number is 13716363. A live audio webcast can be accessed by visiting the investor relations section of the Company's website, www.avadel.com. A replay of the webcast will be archived on Avadel's website for 90 days following the event.

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About FT218
FT218 is an investigational, once-nightly formulation of sodium oxybate that includes Avadel's MicroPump™ controlled-release (CR) technology. In March of 2020, the Company completed the REST-ON study, a pivotal, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled Phase 3 trial, to assess the efficacy and safety of FT218 in the treatment of excessive daytime sleepiness and cataplexy in patients suffering from narcolepsy. In December 2020, the Company submitted a New Drug Application (NDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for FT218 to treat excessive daytime sleepiness and cataplexy in adults with narcolepsy. The NDA for FT218 was accepted by the FDA in February 2021 and assigned a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) target action date of October 15, 2021. FT218 has been granted Orphan Drug Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of narcolepsy. The designation was granted on the plausible hypothesis that FT218 may be clinically superior to the twice-nightly formulation of sodium oxybate already approved by the FDA for the same indication. In particular, FT218 may be safer due to ramifications associated with the dosing regimen of the previously approved product.

About Avadel Pharmaceuticals plc
Avadel Pharmaceuticals plc AVDL is a biopharmaceutical company primarily focused on the development and FDA approval of FT218, an investigational, once-nightly, extended-release formulation of sodium oxybate designed to treat excessive daytime sleepiness and cataplexy in adults with narcolepsy. For more information, please visit www.avadel.com.

Cautionary Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements relate to our future expectations, beliefs, plans, strategies, objectives, results, conditions, financial performance, prospects, or other events. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the FDA's review of the NDA for FT218, the sufficiency of data supporting the NDA for FT218, the commercial launch of FT218 (if approved), and the market acceptance of FT218 (if approved). In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "will," "may," "could," "believe," "expect," "look forward," "on track," "guidance," "anticipate," "estimate," "project," "next steps" and similar expressions, and the negatives thereof (if applicable).

Our forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions that are made within the bounds of our knowledge of our business and operations and that we consider reasonable. However, our business and operations are subject to significant risks, and, as a result, there can be no assurance that actual results and the results of our business and operations will not differ materially from the results contemplated in such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ from expectations in our forward-looking statements include the risk that the NDA for FT218 is not approved by the FDA or such approval is delayed, the risk that FT218 (if approved) may not receive a 7-year Orphan Drug Exclusivity, the risk that the RESTORE study may be delayed or may not be completed at all, the risk that commercial launch of FT218 (if approved) is delayed, the risk that the potential market performance for FT218 (if approved) may differ materially from projections, and the risk that the impact of the current COVID-19 pandemic on our financial results and results of operations could be greater than we anticipate and the risks and uncertainties described in the "Risk Factors" section of Part I, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, which we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on March 16, 2020 and subsequent SEC filings.

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and are not guarantees of future performance. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. We do not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise our forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

Contacts:

Investor Contacts

Tom McHugh
Chief Financial Officer
Phone: (636) 449-1843
Email: tmchugh@avadel.com

Tim McCarthy
LifeSci Advisors, LLC
Phone: (212) 915.2564
Email: tim@lifesciadvisors.com

Media Contact

Patrick Bursey
LifeSci Communications, LLC
Phone: (646) 970-4688
Email: pbursey@lifescicomms.com


AVADEL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF (LOSS) INCOME
(In thousands, except per share data)

 Three Months Ended December 31, Twelve Months Ended December 31,
 2020 2019 2020 2019
        
Product sales$  $10,995  $22,334  $59,215 
Operating expenses:       
Cost of products  2,414  5,742  12,125 
Research and development expenses5,286  7,757  20,442  32,917 
Selling, general and administrative expenses8,974  7,663  32,405  30,183 
Intangible asset amortization  206  406  816 
Changes in fair value of contingent consideration  (1,539) 3,327  845 
Gain on sale of Hospital Products    (45,760)  
Restructuring costs (income)  1,841  (43) 6,441 
Total operating expenses14,260  18,342  16,519  83,327 
Operating (loss) income(14,260) (7,347) 5,815  (24,112)
Investment and other income (expense), net74  (1,479) (832) 1,069 
Interest expense(3,308) (3,190) (12,994) (12,483)
Gain from release of certain liabilities3,364    3,364   
Gain (loss) on deconsolidation of subsidiary  162    (2,678)
Other income (expense) - changes in fair value of contingent consideration payable  118  (435) (378)
Loss before income taxes(14,130) (11,736) (5,082) (38,582)
Income tax benefit(2,852) (8,997) (12,110) (5,356)
Net (loss) income$(11,278) $(2,739) $7,028  $(33,226)
        
Net loss (income) per share - basic$(0.19) $(0.07) $0.13  $(0.89)
Net loss (income) per share - diluted(0.19) (0.07) 0.13  (0.89)
        
Weighted average number of shares outstanding - basic58,325  37,465  52,996  37,403 
Weighted average number of shares outstanding - diluted58,325  37,465  54,941  37,403 
        


AVADEL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except per share data)

 December 31, 2020 December 31, 2019
    
ASSETS   
Current assets:   
Cash and cash equivalents$71,722  $9,774 
Marketable securities149,680  54,384 
Accounts receivable  8,281 
Inventories, net  3,570 
Research and development tax credit receivable3,326  2,107 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets38,726  4,264 
Total current assets263,454  82,380 
Property and equipment, net359  544 
Operating lease right-of-use assets2,604  3,612 
Goodwill16,836  18,491 
Intangible assets, net  813 
Research and development tax credit receivable3,445  6,322 
Other non-current assets24,939  39,274 
Total assets$311,637  $151,436 
    
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)   
Current liabilities:   
Current portion of long-term contingent consideration payable$  $5,554 
Current portion of operating lease liability474  645 
Accounts payable2,934  6,100 
Accrued expenses6,501  19,810 
Other current liabilities5,200  3,875 
Total current liabilities15,109  35,984 
Long-term debt128,210  121,686 
Long-term contingent consideration payable, less current portion  11,773 
Long-term operating lease liability1,840  2,319 
Other non-current liabilities4,212  8,873 
Total liabilities149,371  180,635 
    
Shareholders' equity (deficit):   
Preferred shares, nominal value of $0.01 per share; 50,000 shares authorized; 488 issued and outstanding at December 31, 2020 and 0 issued and outstanding at December 31, 20195   
Ordinary shares, nominal value of $0.01 per share; 500,000 shares authorized; 58,396 issued and outstanding at December 31, 2020, and 42,927 issued and 37,520 outstanding at December 31, 2019583  429 
Treasury shares, at cost, 0 and 5,407 shares held at December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively  (49,998)
Additional paid-in capital566,916  434,391 
Accumulated deficit(384,187) (391,215)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss(21,051) (22,806)
Total shareholders' equity (deficit)162,266  (29,199)
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity (deficit)$311,637  $151,436 
        


AVADEL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)

 Twelve Months Ended December 31,
 2020 2019
    
Cash flows from operating activities:   
Net income (loss)$7,028  $(33,226)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash used in operating activities:   
Depreciation and amortization1,690  2,486 
Remeasurement of acquisition-related contingent consideration3,327  845 
Remeasurement of financing-related contingent consideration435  378 
Amortization of debt discount and debt issuance costs6,524  5,995 
Changes in deferred tax(7,431) (6,334)
Share-based compensation expense2,999  519 
Gain on the disposition of the Hospital Products(45,760)  
Loss on deconsolidation of subsidiary  1,750 
Gain from the release of certain liabilities(3,364)  
Other adjustments142  (254)
Net changes in assets and liabilities   
Accounts receivable8,281  2,471 
Inventories, net(1,352) 1,155 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets1,863  (1,187)
Research and development tax credit receivable2,213  (1,014)
Accounts payable & other current liabilities(2,788) 4,641 
Deferred revenue  (114)
Accrued expenses(13,226) 357 
Earn-out payments for contingent consideration in excess of acquisition-date fair value(5,323) (10,988)
Royalty payments for contingent consideration payable in excess of original fair value(866) (1,748)
Other assets and liabilities(3,126) (4,057)
Net cash used in operating activities(48,734) (38,325)
    
Cash flows from investing activities:   
Purchases of property and equipment(98) (29)
Proceeds from disposal of property and equipment  154 
Proceeds from the disposition of the Hospital Products25,500   
Proceeds from sales of marketable securities36,284  63,246 
Purchases of marketable securities(131,407) (24,648)
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities(69,721) 38,723 
    
Cash flows from financing activities:   
Proceeds from the February 2020 private placement60,570   
Proceeds from the May 2020 public offering116,924   
Proceeds from issuance of ordinary shares2,189  118 
Other financing activities, net  (145)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities179,683  (27)
Effect of foreign currency exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents720  78 
Net change in cash and cash equivalents61,948  449 
Cash and cash equivalents at January 19,774  9,325 
Cash and cash equivalents at December 31$71,722  $9,774 
        


AVADEL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC

UNAUDITED SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
(In thousands, except per share data)

  Three Months Ended December 31, Twelve Months Ended December 31,
Revenues by Product: 2020 2019 2020 2019
         
Bloxiverz $  $1,087  $2,201  $7,479 
Vazculep   5,483  10,429  33,152 
Akovaz   4,696  9,545  18,642 
Other   (271) 159  (58)
Product sales $  $10,995  $22,334  $59,215 


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