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Ironwood Pharmaceuticals Reports Strong Third Quarter 2020 Results and Increases Full Year 2020 Financial Guidance

November 5, 2020 Off By BusinessWire

– U.S. LINZESS® (linaclotide) net sales increased 10% year-over-year to $241 million, as reported by AbbVie Inc. (AbbVie) –

– U.S. LINZESS collaboration revenue to Ironwood increased 18% year-over-year to $100 million, resulting in 3Q 2020 total Ironwood revenue of $103 million –

– 3Q 2020 GAAP net income was $34 million and adjusted EBITDA was $47 million –

– Expect total cost savings of approximately $95 million, excluding anticipated one-time costs, relating to discontinuation of IW-3718 and planned workforce reduction –

BOSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: IRWD), a GI-focused healthcare company, today provided an update on its third quarter 2020 results and recent business performance.

“Ironwood’s strong financial performance this quarter was bolstered by continued demand for our market leading product LINZESS, which delivered 10% growth in net sales year-over-year, and another quarter of profitability and positive cash flow for Ironwood,” said Mark Mallon, chief executive officer of Ironwood. “While our pipeline experienced disappointing setbacks, we are confident that under the seasoned leadership of our talented, GI-experienced team, we are positioned well to execute against our strategic priorities. Through our focused efforts, we seek to unlock meaningful shareholder value as we progress our mission of advancing GI medicines and redefining the standard of care for GI patients.”

Third Quarter 2020 Financial Highlights1

(in thousands, except for per share amounts)

 

3Q 2020

3Q 2019

(Read more…)

Total revenues

$103,468

$131,167

Total costs and expenses

57,852

65,280

GAAP income from continuing operations, net of income taxes

34,423

20,648

GAAP net income

34,423

20,648

GAAP net income per share – basic

0.22

0.13

GAAP net income per share –diluted

0.21

0.13

Adjusted EBITDA

47,437

75,659

Non-GAAP net income

38,271

62,921

Non-GAAP net income per share – basic

0.24

0.40

Non-GAAP net income per share – diluted

0.23

0.40

  1. Refer to the Reconciliation of GAAP Results to Non-GAAP Financial Measures table and to the Reconciliation of GAAP Income from Continuing Operations, Net of Income Taxes to Adjusted EBITDA table at the end of this press release. Adjusted EBITDA is reconciled from GAAP Income from Continuing Operations, Net of Income Taxes. There were no discontinued operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020. Refer to Non-GAAP Financial Measures for additional information.

Third Quarter 2020 Corporate Highlights

U.S. LINZESS

  • Total LINZESS prescription demand in the third quarter of 2020 was approximately 37 million LINZESS capsules, a 7% increase compared to the third quarter of 2019, per IQVIA.

    • Average new-to-brand LINZESS prescription demand grew 10% during the third quarter of 2020 compared to the second quarter of 2020, per IQVIA Patient Insights Edition.
  • LINZESS U.S. net sales are provided to Ironwood by its U.S. partner, AbbVie. In the third quarter of 2020, LINZESS U.S. net sales were $241 million, a 10% increase compared to $220 million for the third quarter of 2019. Ironwood and AbbVie share equally in U.S. brand collaboration profits. See the LINZESS U.S. Commercial Collaboration table at the end of the press release.

    • The difference between LINZESS net sales growth and total prescription demand growth in the third quarter was primarily due to modest net price improvement and inventory fluctuations.
    • In connection with its acquisition of Allergan plc (Allergan), AbbVie recast LINZESS net sales previously reported by Allergan for periods beginning January 1, 2019 to conform with AbbVie’s revenue recognition accounting policies and reporting conventions for certain rebates and discounts. This recast did not result in any change to Ironwood’s historically reported collaborative arrangements revenue or collaborative arrangements revenue policy. Ironwood continues to record collaborative arrangements revenue based on actual settlement payments received from AbbVie.
    • LINZESS commercial margin was 78% in the third quarter of 2020 compared to the commercial margin of 66% in the third quarter of 2019. The higher year-over-year margin was largely driven by higher LINZESS net sales and lower brand expenditure primarily due to limits on in-person details by the Ironwood and AbbVie LINZESS field sales forces resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. See U.S. LINZESS Full Brand Collaboration table below and at the end of this press release.
    • Ironwood recorded $100 million in collaboration revenue in the third quarter of 2020 related to sales of LINZESS in the U.S., an 18% increase compared to $85 million for the third quarter of 2019. See U.S. LINZESS Commercial Collaboration table at the end of the press release.
    • Net profit for the LINZESS U.S. brand collaboration, net of commercial and research and development (R&D) expenses, was $177 million in the third quarter of 2020 compared to $129 million in the third quarter of 2019. See U.S. LINZESS Full Brand Collaboration table below and at the end of this press release.
    • In September 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for LINZESS. This approval resulted in updated U.S. prescribing information with data demonstrating that linaclotide improved the overall abdominal symptoms of bloating, discomfort, and pain in adult patients with IBS-C compared to placebo.

U.S. LINZESS Full Brand Collaboration1

(in thousands, except for percentages)

Three Months Ended

September 30,

 

2020

2019

LINZESS U.S. net sales as reported by AbbVie

$241,124

$220,037

AbbVie & Ironwood commercial costs, expenses and other discounts

52,939

74,519

Commercial margin

78%

66%

AbbVie & Ironwood R&D Expenses

11,207

16,436

Total net profit on sales of LINZESS

$176,978

$129,082

Full brand margin

73%

59%

  1. All periods presented have been adjusted to conform with AbbVie’s revenue recognition accounting policies and reporting conventions. As a result, certain of the rebates and discounts that were previously classified within LINZESS U.S. net sales have been reclassified as LINZESS U.S. commercial costs, expenses and other discounts within Ironwood’s calculation of collaborative arrangements revenue. Refer to the U.S. LINZESS Full Brand Collaboration table at the end of this press release.

IW-3718

  • In September, Ironwood announced that data from IW-3718-302, one of Ironwood’s two identical Phase III trials that were evaluating IW-3718 in refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), did not meet the pre-specified criteria associated with a planned early assessment.

    • Following the assessment from an independent data monitoring committee, Ironwood unblinded the data and confirmed that IW-3718-302 did not meet the criteria, including the study’s primary endpoint of achieving a statistically significant improvement in heartburn severity.
    • Based on these findings, Ironwood is discontinuing development of IW-3718.
    • Data from the IW-3718 Phase III trials are expected to be shared at an upcoming medical meeting.
  • In connection with this outcome, Ironwood is implementing an organizational restructuring and plans to reduce headcount by approximately 100 full-time employees. Ironwood expects to substantially complete the planned workforce reduction in the fourth quarter of 2020.

    • Ironwood expects these changes to result in total cost savings of approximately $95 million, comprised of approximately $45 million in annualized cost savings related to the planned workforce reduction and an additional approximately $50 million related to external spend for IW-3718 previously expected through 2021.
    • Ironwood expects to incur one-time costs of approximately $15 million to $18 million in connection with discontinuing development of IW-3718, primarily associated with the planned workforce reduction. Such costs are expected to be incurred primarily in the fourth quarter of 2020.

Global Collaborations and U.S. Promotional Partnerships

  • U.S. Disease Education and Promotional Partnership with Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Alnylam). In August 2019, Ironwood and Alnylam announced a U.S. GI disease education and promotional agreement for Alnylam’s GIVLAARI® (givosiran), an RNAi therapeutic targeting aminolevulinic acid synthase 1 for the treatment of adults with Acute Hepatic Porphyria.

    • Under this agreement, Ironwood receives fixed payments and royalties in the mid-teens percent on net sales generated from prescriptions or referrals from certain physicians related to Ironwood’s promotional efforts.
    • Since launch through the third quarter of 2020, Ironwood efforts have contributed to approximately 20 patients starting on GIVLAARI treatment.
  • LINZESS in Japan. Ironwood recorded $0.5 million in royalties from Astellas Pharma Inc. (Astellas) in the third quarter of 2020.

    • Under its license agreement with Astellas, Ironwood receives royalties beginning in the mid-single-digit percent and escalating to the low double-digit percent, based on annual net sales of LINZESS in Japan. In the fourth quarter of 2020, Astellas assumed responsibility for linaclotide active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) manufacturing in Japan.
    • LINZESS net sales in Japan for the six months ended September 30, 2020, as reported by Astellas, were approximately ¥3.1 billion, a 13% increase compared to the six months ended September 30, 2019.
  • LINZESS in China. Under Ironwood’s collaboration agreement with AstraZeneca, AstraZeneca has exclusive rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialize linaclotide in China (including Hong Kong and Macau) and is responsible for all expenses associated with these activities beginning in 2020. Ironwood receives royalties beginning in the mid-single-digit percent and increasing up to 20 percent based on annual net sales of LINZESS in China.

Third Quarter Financial Results

  • Total Revenues. Total revenues in the third quarter of 2020 were $103.5 million, compared to $131.2 million in the third quarter of 2019.

    • Total revenues in the third quarter of 2020 consisted of $100.2 million associated with Ironwood’s share of the net profits from the sales of LINZESS in the U.S., $1.8 million in linaclotide royalty revenue, $1.1 million in promotion revenue, and $0.4 million in other revenue.
    • Total revenues in the third quarter of 2019 consisted of $84.6 million associated with Ironwood’s share of the net profits from the sales of LINZESS in the U.S., $42.4 million in license and milestone payments, $2.1 million in co-promotion revenue, $1.5 million in royalty revenue, and $0.6 million in sales of linaclotide API.
  • Operating Expenses. Operating expenses in the third quarter of 2020 were $57.9 million, compared to $65.3 million in the third quarter of 2019.

    • Operating expenses in the third quarter of 2020 consisted of $34.9 million in selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses, $21.7 million in R&D expenses and $1.2 million in restructuring expenses.
    • Operating expenses in the third quarter of 2019 consisted of $40.9 million in SG&A expenses, $27.6 million in R&D expenses, and $0.5 million in cost of revenues, partially offset by $3.5 million related to the write-down of commercial supply and inventory to net realizable value and settlement on non-cancellable purchase commitments, and $0.2 million in adjustments to restructuring expenses.
  • Interest Expense, net of Interest and Investment Income. Net interest expense was $7.2 million in the third quarter of 2020 primarily in connection with the company’s convertible senior notes. Interest expense recorded in the third quarter of 2020 included $1.8 million in cash expense and $5.6 million in non-cash expense.

    • Net interest expense was $9.6 million in the third quarter of 2019, primarily in connection with the 8.375% Notes due 2026 prior to their redemption in September 2019 and the outstanding 2022 Convertible Notes. Interest expense recorded in the third quarter of 2019 includes $4.2 million in cash expense and $6.2 million in non-cash expense.
  • Loss on Derivatives. Ironwood recorded a loss on derivatives of $2.6 million in the third quarter of 2020 as a result of the change in fair value of the convertible note hedges and note hedge warrants issued in connection with the 2022 Convertible Notes.

    • Ironwood recorded a loss on derivatives of $4.8 million in the third quarter of 2019 as a result of the partial termination of the convertible note hedges and note hedge warrants associated with the partial redemption of the 2022 Convertible Notes, and the change in fair value of the remaining convertible note hedge and note hedge warrants.
  • Income Tax Expense. Ironwood recorded $1.4 million in state income taxes in the third quarter of 2020, primarily in connection with a change in California tax law that temporarily disallows the use of net operating losses.
  • Net Income.

    • GAAP net income was $34.4 million, or $0.22 per share (basic) and $0.21 per share (diluted), in the third quarter of 2020, compared to GAAP net income of $20.6 million, or $0.13 per share (basic and diluted), in the third quarter of 2019.
    • Non-GAAP net income was $38.3 million, or $0.24 per share (basic) and 0.23 per share (diluted), in the third quarter of 2020, compared to non-GAAP net income of $62.9 million, or $0.40 per share (basic and diluted), in the third quarter of 2019.
    • Non-GAAP net income excludes the impact of mark-to-market adjustments on the derivatives related to Ironwood’s 2022 Convertible Notes, restructuring expenses and separation expenses, and loss on extinguishment of debt. These adjustments are reflected in non-GAAP net income in the third quarter of 2020 and 2019 presented in this press release. See Non-GAAP Financial Measures below.
  • Income from Continuing Operations, Net of Income Taxes. Beginning in the second quarter of 2019, Ironwood recast historical operations related to Cyclerion Therapeutics, Inc. (Cyclerion) as discontinued operations.

    • Ironwood recorded $34.4 million and $20.6 million in income from continuing operations, net of income taxes during the third quarter of 2020 and 2019, respectively.
    • Ironwood did not incur any Cyclerion-related expenses during the third quarter of 2020 or 2019.
  • Adjusted EBITDA. Adjusted EBITDA was $47.4 million in the third quarter of 2020, compared to $75.7 million in the third quarter of 2019.

    • Adjusted EBITDA is calculated by subtracting net interest expense, taxes, depreciation, amortization, mark-to-market adjustments on derivatives related to Ironwood’s 2022 Convertible Notes, restructuring expenses, separation expenses, and loss on extinguishment of debt from GAAP income from continuing operations, net of income taxes. See Non-GAAP Financial Measures below.
  • Cash Flow Statement and Balance Sheet Highlights.

    • Ironwood ended the third quarter of 2020 with $307.6 million of cash and cash equivalents.
    • Ironwood generated $53.6 million in cash from operations in the third quarter of 2020.
  • 2020 Financial Guidance

    • Ironwood increased its 2020 financial guidance and now expects:

 

Prior 2020 Guidance

Revised 2020 Guidance

LINZESS net sales growth

Mid-single digit % increase

High-single digit % increase

Total Revenue

$360 – $380 million

$370 – $385 million

Adjusted EBITDA1

>$105 million

>$130 million

1 Adjusted EBITDA is calculated by subtracting net interest expense, taxes, depreciation, amortization, mark-to-market adjustments on derivatives related to Ironwood’s 2022 Convertible Notes, restructuring expenses, separation expenses, and loss on extinguishment of debt from GAAP income from continuing operations, net of income taxes.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Ironwood presents non-GAAP net income (loss) and non-GAAP net income (loss) per share to exclude the impact of net gains and losses on derivatives related to our 2022 Convertible Notes that are required to be marked-to-market. Ironwood also excludes restructuring, separation-related expenses, and loss on extinguishment of debt from non-GAAP net income (loss), if any. These adjustments, as applicable, are reflected in the non-GAAP net income (loss) in the third quarter 2020 presented in this press release. Non-GAAP adjustments are further detailed below:

  • The gains and losses on the derivatives related to our 2022 Convertible Notes may be highly variable, difficult to predict and of a size that could have a substantial impact on the company’s reported results of operations in any given period.
  • Restructuring expenses are considered to be a non-recurring event as they are associated with distinct operational decisions. Included in restructuring expenses are costs associated with exit and disposal activities.
  • Separation expenses include costs associated with the spin-off of Cyclerion from Ironwood. These costs are considered non-recurring as the separation was a significant and unusual event. Certain of these expenses do not appear as non-GAAP adjustments used to calculate adjusted EBITDA, as such expenses are included as part of discontinued operations, and are therefore excluded from the calculation of GAAP income from continuing operations, net of income taxes.
  • Loss on extinguishment of debt is considered to be a non-recurring event as it is associated with a distinct financing decision. Included in loss on extinguishment of debt are costs incurred during the three months ended September 30, 2019 associated with the extinguishment of the 8.375% Notes due 2026 and a portion of the 2022 Convertible Notes.

Ironwood also presents adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure, as well as guidance on adjusted EBITDA. Adjusted EBITDA is calculated by subtracting net interest expense, taxes, depreciation, amortization, mark-to-market adjustments on derivatives related to Ironwood’s 2022 Convertible Notes, restructuring expenses, separation expenses and loss on extinguishment of debt from GAAP income from continuing operations, net of income taxes. The adjustments are made on a similar basis as described above related to non-GAAP net income (loss), as applicable.

Management believes this non-GAAP information is useful for investors, taken in conjunction with Ironwood’s GAAP financial statements, because it provides greater transparency and period-over-period comparability with respect to Ironwood’s operating performance. These measures are also used by management to assess the performance of the business. Investors should consider these non-GAAP measures only as a supplement to, not as a substitute for or as superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. In addition, these non-GAAP financial measures are unlikely to be comparable with non-GAAP information provided by other companies. For a reconciliation of non-GAAP net income (loss) and non-GAAP net income (loss) per share to GAAP net income (loss) and GAAP net income (loss) per share, respectively, and for a reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA to income from continuing operations, net of income taxes on a GAAP basis, please refer to the tables at the end of this press release.

Ironwood does not provide guidance on GAAP income from continuing operations, net of income taxes or a reconciliation of expected adjusted EBITDA to expected GAAP income from continuing operations, net of income taxes because, without unreasonable efforts, it is unable to predict with reasonable certainty the non-GAAP adjustments used to calculate adjusted EBITDA including, without limitation, the mark-to-market adjustments on the derivatives related to its 2022 Convertible Notes. These adjustments are uncertain, depend on various factors and could have a material impact on GAAP income from continuing operations, net of income taxes for the guidance period.

Conference Call Information

Ironwood will host a conference call and webcast at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, November 5, 2020 to discuss its third quarter 2020 results and recent business activities. Individuals interested in participating in the call should dial (833) 350-1432 (U.S. and Canada) or (647) 689-6932 (international) using conference ID number 2794527. To access the webcast, please visit the Investors section of Ironwood’s website at www.ironwoodpharma.com at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the call to ensure adequate time for any software downloads that may be required. The call will be available for replay via telephone starting at approximately 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time on November 5, 2020 running through 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on November 19, 2020. To listen to the replay, dial (800) 585-8367 (U.S. and Canada) or (416) 621-4642 (international) using conference ID number 2794527. The archived webcast will be available on Ironwood’s website for 14 days beginning approximately one hour after the call has completed.

About Ironwood Pharmaceuticals

Ironwood Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: IRWD) is a GI-focused healthcare company dedicated to creating medicines that make a difference for patients living with GI diseases. We discovered, developed and are commercializing linaclotide, the U.S. branded prescription market leader for adults with irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) or chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC).

Ironwood was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Boston, Mass. For more information, please visit our website at www.ironwoodpharma.com or www.twitter.com/ironwoodpharma; information that may be important to investors will be routinely posted in both these locations.

About LINZESS (linaclotide)

LINZESS® is the #1 prescribed brand for the treatment of adult patients with irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) and chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC), based on IQVIA data.

LINZESS is a once-daily capsule that helps relieve the overall abdominal symptoms (bloating, discomfort and pain) and constipation associated with IBS-C, as well as the constipation, infrequent stools, hard stools, straining, and incomplete evacuation associated with CIC. The recommended dose is 290 mcg for IBS-C patients and 145 mcg for CIC patients, with a 72-mcg dose approved for use in CIC depending on individual patient presentation or tolerability. LINZESS should be taken at least 30 minutes before the first meal of the day.

LINZESS is contraindicated in pediatric patients less than 6 years of age. The safety and effectiveness of LINZESS in pediatric patients less than 18 years of age have not been established. In neonatal mice, linaclotide increased fluid secretion as a consequence of guanylate cyclase-C (GC-C) agonism resulting in mortality within the first 24 hours due to dehydration. Due to increased intestinal expression of GC-C, patients less than 6 years of age may be more likely than patients 6 years of age and older to develop severe diarrhea and its potentially serious consequences. In adults with IBS-C or CIC treated with LINZESS, the most commonly reported adverse event was diarrhea.

LINZESS is not a laxative; it is the first medicine approved by the FDA in a class called GC-C agonists. LINZESS contains a peptide called linaclotide that activates the GC-C receptor in the intestine. Activation of GC-C is thought to result in increased intestinal fluid secretion and accelerated transit and a decrease in the activity of pain-sensing nerves in the intestine. The clinical relevance of the effect on pain fibers, which is based on nonclinical studies, has not been established.

In the United States, Ironwood and AbbVie co-develop and co-commercialize LINZESS for the treatment of adults with IBS-C or CIC. In Europe, AbbVie markets linaclotide under the brand name CONSTELLA® for the treatment of adults with moderate to severe IBS-C.

Contacts

Investors and Media:

Meredith Kaya, 617-374-5082

[email protected]

Media:

Beth Calitri, 978-417-2031

[email protected]

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