Reports First Quarter Adjusted EPS of $0.17 per Diluted Share
Provides Full-year 2008 EPS Guidance and Projects its Pipeline Opportunities
Woodcliff Lake, N.J., May 8, 2008 – Par Pharmaceutical Companies, Inc. (NYSE:PRX) today reported results for the first quarter ended March 29, 2008.
Par reported total revenues of $154.9 million and net income of $2.6 million, or $0.08 per diluted share, which included a $5.0 million payment to Alfacell Corporation for the exclusive U.S. commercialization rights to ONCONASE® (ranpirnase), a novel product currently in Phase III clinical development. Adjusting for this item, earnings per diluted share were $0.17 for the three month period ended March 29, 2008. This is compared with reported revenues of $234.2 million and net income of $41.5 million, or $1.19 per diluted share, for the same period in 2007, which included a $20.0 million gain on the sale to Optimer Pharmaceuticals, Inc. of marketing rights to the investigational drug Difimicin (PAR 101). Adjusting for this item, earnings per diluted share were $0.84 in the first quarter of 2007.
First Quarter Review
For the first quarter ended March 29, 2008, total revenues decreased 33.9% compared with the same period in 2007 due primarily to a greater number of 2007 new product introductions in the Company’s generics business and increased pricing pressures on existing generic products, partly offset by higher revenues from Par’s branded division, Strativa, which increased 28.6% from the same period in 2007 driven by increased net sales of Megace® ES.
Revenues of the generic division decreased 39.5% in the first three months of 2008 compared to the same period in 2007 primarily due to competitive pressures in the following products: fluticasone, propranolol, various amoxicillin products, tramadol HCl and acetaminophen tablets, glyburide/metformin, cabergoline, ranitidine syrup, as well as lower royalties. Partially offsetting these decreases were increased sales of metoprolol resulting from the launch of additional strengths in the third quarter of 2007.
Par’s first quarter gross margin was 32.0% of total revenues compared to 37.4% in 2007. The decrease in the Company’s gross margin resulted primarily from the non-recurrence of the 2007 launch of propranolol and decreased sales of certain existing generic products and lower royalty income both resulting from competitive pressure, tempered by higher gross margin contribution from Strativa’s net sales of Megace® ES.
Research and development (R&D) expenses increased 22.2% for the first quarter 2008 compared with the first quarter 2007, which was primarily attributed to the initial $5.0 million payment to Alfacell Corporation for an exclusive licensing agreement to acquire the commercialization rights to ONCONASE®.
Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses for the first quarter 2008 decreased 3.7% from first quarter 2007. The decrease is due to lower expenses related to the sales and marketing of Megace® ES, lower finance and accounting costs, and lower stock-based compensation employment costs.
During the first quarter of 2008, the Company recognized a gain on the sale of product rights of $1.0 million related to the sale of two non-core ANDAs. In addition, the Company recognized a gain of $0.6 million related to providing certain information and other deliverables related to Megace® ES to a third party that is seeking to commercialize Megace® ES outside of the U.S.
Year-to-date Accomplishments
Patrick G. LePore, chairman, president and chief executive officer, states, “2008 is the year to execute on our strategy, and I am pleased with our progress thus far. Par should be measured in large part by the achievement of certain accomplishments and milestones that position the Company for growth in 2009 and beyond.”
In January, Strativa acquired the U.S. commercialization rights to Alfacell Corporation’s Phase III product, ONCONASE, for an initial payment of $5 million. Results from the Phase IIIb clinical trial will be reported by mid-year. Subject to a complete review of the study results and discussions with the FDA, it is anticipated that an NDA could be filed as early as year-end 2008.
In March, Par commenced bioequivalence studies for Zensana™ (ondansetron) oral spray. Subject to favorable results and discussions with the FDA, it is expected that Strativa could file an NDA around the end of 2008.
In April, Strativa announced that its development partner, BioAlliance Pharma, reported positive preliminary, top-line results from a Phase III study of Loramyc® (miconazole Lauriad®). Subject to a complete review of the study results and discussions with the FDA, it is anticipated that an NDA could be filed by year-end 2008.
On May 7, 2008, Par announced that it amended its agreement with Spectrum Pharmaceuticals and paid $20 million in cash to increase its share of profits from the generic versions of GlaxoSmithKline's Imitrex® Injection, which will be immediately accretive to 2008 earnings. As a result of the agreement, Par’s profit share shall increase from 38% to 95% from the commercialization of sumatriptan injection. Par will be permitted to sell generic versions of certain sumatriptan injection products with an expected launch date no later than November 2008. According to IMS Health, annual U.S. sales of Imitrex® are approximately $220 million.
2008 Financial Guidance
The Company’s projections are based on its results for the first three months of 2008, as well as management’s estimates regarding the impact of product competition on existing products, and the market opportunity of some of Par’s generic pipeline products. Full year 2008 earnings per diluted share are projected to be $0.65 to $0.85, excluding anticipated pre-launch spending and milestone payments in support of Strativa’s business strategy and including the estimated impact of four new generic product launches (i.e., sumatriptan vials and kits, clonidine, dronabinol, certain strengths of risperidone ODT) with an expected fully diluted EPS impact of $0.25 to $0.47.
2009-2012 Generic Pipeline
The Company’s investment in its generic first-to-file development strategy has lead to a growing pipeline and a track record of first-to-file drugs. The Company anticipates that it will launch as many as 15 new products during 2009 and 2012 based on the expiration of 30 month stay periods or prior settlements.
To provide investors with additional information by which to analyze the Company, Par is providing a range of estimated values for certain key generic pipeline products. These values are based on projections regarding the first six months of net sales and the anticipated gross margin of each product in the year the product launches. Since each full six-month period may not be in the calendar year the product launches, we anticipate that some of the value will be realized in the next calendar year. (Please note that these estimates do not include value after the initial six months following product launch).
In 2009, Par anticipates six key generic product launches that are expected to have a range of net sales and gross margin of $95-$135 million and $78-$110 million, respectively, to the Company. In 2010, Par anticipates five key generic product launches that are expected to have a range of net sales and gross margin of $60-$80 million and $42-$56 million, respectively, to the Company. In 2011, Par anticipates two key generic launches that are expected to have a range of net sales and gross margin of $20-$28 million and $7-$10 million, respectively, to the Company. In 2012, Par anticipates two key generic launches that are expected to have a range of net sales and gross margin of $14-$20 million and $12-$17 million, respectively, to the Company. These estimates are, of course, subject to future developments, not all of which may be anticipated at this time. See Key Generic Product Pipeline chart at the end of this press release.
In addition to these current first-to-file opportunities, Par is diligently working on other promising development products and business development opportunities that it anticipates will continue to enhance the Company’s future sales opportunities.
Conference Call
Par has scheduled a conference call for Friday, May 9 at 9:00 am EDT to discuss results for first quarter of 2008. Par invites investors and the general public to listen to a webcast of the conference call. Access to the live webcast can be made via the Company’s website at http://www.parpharm.com and will be available for two weeks.
The dial-in number is 888-713-4214 for domestic callers and 617-213-4866 for international callers. The access number is 85327955. A replay of the conference call will be available commencing approximately one hour after the call. The replay dial-in number is 888-286-8010 for domestic callers and 617-801-6888 for international callers. The access number is 16325023.
For a copy of Par’s Form 10-Qs for the quarter ended March 29, 2008, visit Investors/SEC Filings on the Par web site at www.parpharm.com.
About Par
Par Pharmaceutical Companies, Inc. develops, manufactures and markets generic drugs and innovative branded pharmaceuticals for specialty markets. For press release and other company information, visit www.parpharm.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
Certain statements in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. To the extent any statements made in this news release contain information that is not historical, these statements are essentially forward-looking. Such forward-looking statements are those that include estimates, projections, statements regarding the plans and objectives of management, as well as the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements, and other statements that cannot be verified without reference to future developments or events. The forward-looking statements identified in the release include, but are not limited to, the statements that contain the words “expect,” “expected,” “anticipate,” “anticipates,” “anticipated,” “projections,” “projected,” “estimate,” estimates,” “believes,” “continue,” and growing.” The forward-looking statements in the release are subject to risks and uncertainties, including the Company’s ability to accurately value its key generic pipeline products, including, but not limited to the vagaries of litigation, securing regulatory approval and uncertainty of exclusivity, the extent and impact of litigation arising out of the accounting issues described in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the difficulty of predicting FDA filings and approvals, acceptance and demand for new pharmaceutical products, the impact of competitive products and pricing, new product development and launch, reliance on key strategic alliances, uncertainty of patent litigation filed against the Company, availability of raw materials, the regulatory environment, fluctuations in operating results and other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in the Company's filings with the SEC, such as the Company's reports on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K, and amendments thereto. Any forward-looking statements included in this press release are made as of the date hereof only, based on information available to the Company as of the date hereof, and, subject to any applicable law to the contrary, the Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.
Contact:
Allison Wey
Senior Director
Investor Relations and Corporate Affairs
Par Pharmaceutical Companies, Inc.
(201) 802-4000
|
|
Please contact media relations with all media-related inquiries.
|
