Skip to content

Strongbridge Biopharma plc Reports First Quarter 2018 Financial Results and Provides Corporate Update

~ KEVEYIS®(dichlorphenamide) First Quarter 2018 Revenue of $3.9 Million ~

~ Increased Full-Year 2018 Revenue Guidance for KEVEYIS from $16 to $19 Million to $18 to $20 Million ~

~ MACRILEN™ (macimorelin) Product Launch on Track for July 2018 ~

~ Development Program for RECORLEV™ (levoketoconazole) Progressing with Top-line Results for SONICS Planned for Mid-2018 and LOGICS for First Quarter 2019 ~

DUBLIN, Ireland and TREVOSE, Pa., May 10, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Strongbridge Biopharma plc, (Nasdaq:SBBP), a global commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of therapies for rare diseases with significant unmet needs, today reported  first quarter 2018 financial results.

“The first quarter of 2018 was highly productive for Strongbridge as we began preparing for the commercial launch in July of MACRILEN™ (macimorelin), the first and only FDA-approved oral drug indicated for the diagnosis of Adult Growth Hormone Deficiency (AGHD). The interest from the endocrinology community across the United States has been significant; the enthusiasm to adopt a safe, simple and accurate drug to use in their assessment of AGHD has reinforced our  optimism about the market potential for MACRILEN,” said Matthew Pauls, president and chief executive officer of Strongbridge Biopharma. “We also delivered solid first quarter revenues for KEVEYIS® (dichlorphenamide) and given these results, along with our expectation for continued strong commercial execution for the balance of the year, we increased our full year KEVEYIS revenue guidance for 2018.”

First Quarter 2018 & Recent Company Highlights:

Corporate & Commercial:

  • Achieved KEVEYIS net product sales of $3.9 million in the first quarter of 2018, a 30 percent increase compared to $3.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2017.
  • Increased full-year 2018 revenue guidance for KEVEYIS from $16 to $19 million to $18 to $20 million.
  • Acquired the U.S. and Canadian rights to MACRILEN in January 2018, expanding the Company’s footprint in the rare endocrine therapeutic category.
  • In preparation for the planned MACRILEN launch in July, hired 15 of 16 sales representatives; in the process of hiring two regional business directors and four field reimbursement managers.
  • Strengthened intellectual property portfolio with second method of use patent issued for RECORLEV by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Clinical Development and Medical Affairs:

  • Presented new clinical analyses for KEVEYIS at the 70th American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Annual Meeting.
  • Hired two of three medical science liaisons in preparation for the planned MACRILEN launch.
  • Top-line results for SONICS remain on track for mid-year 2018.
  • Held Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) meeting at the end of April at which the DSMB recommended that the Phase 3 SONICS study continue as planned with no protocol changes.
  • Dosed the initial patients and continued activating sites for the Phase 3 LOGICS study.
  • Presented results from an in vitro study of levoketoconazole, the active ingredient in RECORLEV, at ENDO 2018, the Annual Meeting of the Endocrine Society; these data demonstrated that levoketoconazole is the clinically active half of ketoconazole with regard to cortisol and androgen synthesis inhibition.

First Quarter 2018 Financial Results
For the three months ended March 31, 2018, basic and diluted net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders on a GAAP basis was $28.7 million, or $0.66 per share, compared to a basic net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders of $29.5 million, or $0.83 per share, for the same period in 2017.  Net loss for the three months ended March 31, 2018 was lower than the same period in 2017 primarily due to net revenues recorded in 2018 from sales of KEVEYIS, which was launched in April 2017, and a lower unrealized loss on the fair value of warrants recorded in 2018, offset in part by increased operating expenses associated with the commercialization of KEVEYIS.

For the three months ended March 31, 2018, non-GAAP basic and diluted net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders was $14.3 million, or $0.33 per share, compared to a non-GAAP basic and diluted net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders of $10.4 million, or $0.28 per share, for the same period in 2017. The increase in non-GAAP net loss was primarily due to increased operating expenses associated with the commercialization of KEVEYIS, which was launched in April 2017, offset in part by net revenues recorded from KEVEYIS product sales.

The Company recorded net revenues from sales of KEVEYIS, which was launched in April 2017, of $3.9 million and cost of goods sold of $0.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018. No revenue or cost of goods sold was recognized for the same period in 2017.

Research and development expenses were $4.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018, compared to $3.5 million for the same period in 2017. The increase during the 2018 period was primarily due to expenses related to the RECORLEV LOGICS clinical trial.

Selling, general and administrative expenses were $12.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018, compared to $7.4 million for the same period in 2017. The increase during the 2018 period was primarily due to costs incurred to establish the commercial and corporate infrastructure necessary to support the launch and ongoing commercialization of KEVEYIS.

Strongbridge had $92.4 million of cash and cash equivalents and $86.5 million in outstanding debt as of March 31, 2018, compared to $57.5 million of cash and cash equivalents and $40.0 million in outstanding debt as of December 31, 2017. The Company believes the combination of existing cash resources and potential additional borrowings available under its credit facility will provide sufficient cash resources under its current operating plan, which includes the commercial launch of MACRILEN and the potential U.S. regulatory approval and launch of RECORLEV, to achieve consistent positive cash flows from operating activities.

Conference Call Information
Strongbridge will host a conference call on Thursday, May 10 at 8:30 a.m. ET. To access the live call, dial 844-285-7153 (domestic) or 478-219-0180 (international) with conference ID 4674956. The conference call will also be audio webcast from the Company’s website at www.strongbridgebio.com under the “Investor/Webcasts and Presentations” section. A replay of the call will be made available for one week following the conference call. To hear a replay of the call, dial 855-859-2056 (domestic) or 404-537-3406 (international) with conference ID 4674956.

About Strongbridge Biopharma
Strongbridge Biopharma is a global commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of therapies for rare diseases with significant unmet needs. Strongbridge’s commercial portfolio within its rare neuromuscular and rare endocrine franchises includes KEVEYIS®(dichlorphenamide), the first and only FDA-approved treatment for hyperkalemic, hypokalemic, and related variants of primary periodic paralysis, and MACRILEN™ (macimorelin), the first and only FDA-approved oral drug indicated for the diagnosis of adult growth hormone deficiency. The Company’s rare endocrine franchise also includes a clinical-stage pipeline of therapies: RECORLEV™ (levoketoconazole), a cortisol synthesis inhibitor currently being studied for the treatment of endogenous Cushing’s syndrome, and veldoreotide, a next-generation somatostatin analog being investigated for the treatment of acromegaly and potential additional applications in other conditions amenable to somatostatin receptor activation.

About KEVEYIS 
KEVEYIS® (dichlorphenamide) is indicated for the treatment of primary hyperkalemic periodic paralysis, primary hypokalemic periodic paralysis, and related variants. In clinical studies, the most common side effects of KEVEYIS were a numbness or tingling, difficulty thinking and paying attention, changes in taste, and confusion. These are not all of the possible side effects that you may experience with KEVEYIS. Talk to your doctor if you have any symptoms that bother you or do not go away. You are encouraged to report side effects to Strongbridge Biopharma at 1-855-324-8912, or to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or visit www.fda.gov/medwatch/. For additional KEVEYIS important safety information and the full prescribing information visit www.keveyis.com.

About MACRILEN 
MACRILEN™ (macimorelin) is a prescription oral solution that is used to test for adult growth hormone deficiency (AGHD).  In clinical studies, the most common side effects of MACRILEN were changed sense of taste, dizziness, headache, fatigue, nausea, hunger, diarrhea, upper respiratory tract infection, feeling hot, excessive sweating, sore nose and throat, and decreased heart rate.  These are not all of the possible side effects that you may experience with MACRILEN. Call your healthcare provider for medical advice about side effects. You are encouraged to report side effects to Strongbridge at 1-855-324-8912, or to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or visit www.strongbridgebio.com/products/macrilen/.  Please see Full Prescribing Information for additional important MACRILEN safety information.

Forward-Looking Statements 
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, contained in this press release, are forward-looking statements. These statements relate to future events and involve known and unknown risks, including, without limitation, uncertainties regarding Strongbridge’s strategy, plans, future financial position, anticipated investments, costs and results, outcomes of product development efforts, status and results of clinical trials, and objectives of management for future operations. The words “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “project,” “target,” “will,” “would,” or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections and are not guarantees of future performance or development and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and Strongbridge Biopharma does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements except as required by applicable law.

Contacts:

Corporate and Media Relations
Elixir Health Public Relations
Lindsay Rocco
+1 862-596-1304
lrocco@elixirhealthpr.com

Investor Relations
U.S.:
Solebury Trout
Marcy Nanus
+1 646-378-2927
mnanus@soleburytrout.com

Europe:
First House
Geir Arne Drangeid
+47 913 10 458
strongbridgebio@firsthouse.no

USA
900 Northbrook Drive
Suite 200
Trevose, PA 19053
Tel. +1 610-254-9200
Fax. +1 215-355-7389