Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (760) 931-9200

☐	Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐	Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

On August 7, 2019, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing the Company’s financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2019.  In addition to disclosing results that are determined in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), the Company also discloses pro forma or non-GAAP results of operations, which are adjusted from GAAP to exclude non-cash compensation related to stock awards.  The Company is presenting pro forma information excluding non-cash compensation related to stock awards because the Company believes it is useful for investors in assessing the Company’s operating results compared to the prior year.  A copy of the release is furnished with this report as an exhibit pursuant to “Item 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition” of Form 8-K in accordance with SEC Release Nos. 33-8216 and 34-47583.

 

The information in this Current Report on Form 8-K and the Exhibit attached hereto shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Exchange Act, regardless of any general incorporation language in such filing.

 

 

(d) Exhibits.

 

SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

Ionis Reports Second Quarter 2019 Financial Results

Q2 2019 year-to-date revenues increased more than 75% to $461 million

SPINRAZA sales surpass $1 billion in the first half of 2019

Ionis on track for third consecutive year of net income

Conference call and webcast today, August 7, 2019, at 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time

CARLSBAD, Calif., August 7, 2019 – Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: IONS) today reported its financial results for the second quarter and year-to-date 2019 and recent business highlights.

“We enter the second half of 2019 in a position of substantial financial strength driven by revenue growth of more than 75 percent. SPINRAZA’s blockbuster performance, with over $1 billion in net sales in the first half, contributed significantly to our strong financial results. There are approximately 8,400 patients on SPINRAZA, an increase of approximately 12 percent compared to last quarter. Product sales from TEGSEDI’s second full quarter on the market also contributed to our strong first half results. Additionally, WAYLIVRA is on track to launch in Europe this quarter. With three medicines commercialized in the last three years, an advancing technology and a pipeline of over 40 medicines, we are positioned to continue delivering value to patients and shareholders through this year and beyond,” said Stanley T. Crooke, M.D., Ph.D., chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Ionis.

“Our strong year-to-date financial results were driven by continued revenue growth across both commercial and R&D revenues. These results put us on track to meet or potentially improve upon our 2019 guidance. We are also on track to achieve our fourth consecutive year of operating income and our third consecutive year of net income, both on a non-GAAP basis. We believe our ability to be profitable while investing in commercial activities, fully exploiting our pipeline and advancing our technology, clearly sets us apart from our peers,” said Elizabeth L. Hougen, chief financial officer of Ionis.

Year-to-Date 2019 Financial Results and Highlights

All non-GAAP amounts referred to in this press release exclude non-cash compensation expense related to equity awards. Please refer to the reconciliation of non-GAAP and GAAP measures, which is provided later in this release.

“In addition to our commercial medicines, we have a broad and advancing pipeline of potentially transformational medicines we are moving toward the market. In our late-stage pipeline, our medicines targeting Huntington’s disease and SOD1-ALS are progressing in Phase 3 studies, both with the potential to support registration. Our LICA medicines targeting Lp(a)-driven cardiovascular disease and TTR amyloidosis are on track to initiate Phase 3 programs this year. Positive results from our HBV program, our advancing FXI program, which is nearing completion, and the initiation of multiple Phase 2 studies demonstrate the potential value in our mid-stage pipeline. All of these potentially transformational medicines demonstrate the ability of our technology to address a broad range of diseases from rare diseases to those affecting millions of patients,” said Brett P. Monia, chief operating officer at Ionis.

Recent Business Highlights

Key Upcoming Events

Revenue

Ionis’ revenue in the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 was $164 million and $461 million, respectively, compared to $118 million and $262 million for the same periods in 2018 and was comprised of the following (amounts in millions):

For the first half of 2019, Ionis significantly increased both commercial revenue and R&D revenue compared to the same period in 2018. Commercial revenue from SPINPRAZA royalties increased over 30 percent primarily due to increased SPINRAZA product sales. TEGSEDI product sales increased more than 40 percent over the first quarter of this year and were another important source of commercial revenue for Ionis.

Ionis’ R&D revenue substantially increased in the first half of 2019 compared to the same period in 2018 primarily due to the following:

Operating Expenses

Operating expenses for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 on a GAAP basis were $183 million and $358 million, respectively, and on a non-GAAP basis were $141 million and $271 million, respectively. These amounts compare to GAAP operating expenses for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 of $168 million and $316 million, respectively, and non-GAAP operating expenses of $134 million and $253 million, respectively. The increase in operating expenses was principally due to Ionis’ investment in the global launch of TEGSEDI and preparing to launch WAYLIVRA in the EU.

Income Tax Expense

Ionis recorded an income tax benefit of $7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2019 and income tax expense of $24 million for the six months ended June 30, 2019. Ionis’ income tax expense in the first half of this year was primarily due to Ionis’ expectation that it will generate U.S. federal and state taxable income in 2019.

Net Loss Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest in Akcea

At June 30, 2019, Ionis owned approximately 76 percent of Akcea. The shares of Akcea third parties own represent an interest in Akcea’s equity that Ionis does not control. However, because Ionis continues to maintain overall control of Akcea through its voting interest, Ionis reflects the assets, liabilities and results of operations of Akcea in Ionis’ consolidated financial statements. Ionis reflects the noncontrolling interest attributable to other owners of Akcea’s common stock in a separate line called “Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest in Akcea” on Ionis’ statement of operations. Ionis’ net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest in Akcea for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 was $9 million and $3 million, respectively, compared to $16 million and $25 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, respectively.

Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Ionis Common Stockholders

On a GAAP basis, Ionis reported net loss and net income attributable to Ionis’ common stockholders of $1 million and $84 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019, respectively, compared to a net loss of $40 million and $42 million for the same periods in 2018. On a non-GAAP basis, Ionis reported net income attributable to Ionis’ common stockholders of $38 million for the three months ended June 30, 2019, compared to a net loss attributable to Ionis’ common stockholders of $10 million for the same period in 2018. For the six months ended June 30, 2019, Ionis reported net income attributable to Ionis’ common stockholders of $162 million, compared to $15 million for the same period in 2018, all on a non-GAAP basis. The increase was primarily due to increases in revenue.

For the three months ended June 30, 2019, basic and diluted net loss per share were $0.01, compared to $0.29 for the same period in 2018. For the six months ended June 30, 2019, basic and diluted net income per share were $0.62 and $0.61, respectively, compared to basic and diluted net loss per share of $0.30 for the same period in 2018. All amounts are on a GAAP basis.

Balance Sheet

Ionis maintained its strong balance sheet, ending the second quarter of 2019 with cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $2.3 billion, compared to $2.1 billion at December 31, 2018.

Webcast and Conference Call

Today, at 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time, Ionis will conduct a live webcast conference call to discuss this earnings release and related activities. Interested parties may listen to the call by dialing 877-443-5662 or access the webcast at www.ionispharma.com. A webcast replay will be available for a limited time.

About Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

As the leader in RNA-targeted drug discovery and development, Ionis has created an efficient, broadly applicable, drug discovery platform called antisense technology that can treat diseases where no other therapeutic approaches have proven effective. Our drug discovery platform has served as a springboard for actionable promise and realized hope for patients with unmet needs. We created the first and only approved treatment for children and adults with spinal muscular atrophy as well as the world’s first RNA-targeted therapeutic approved for the treatment of polyneuropathy in adults with hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis. Our sights are set on all the patients we have yet to reach with a pipeline of more than 40 novel medicines designed to treat a broad range of diseases including cardiovascular diseases, neurological diseases, infectious diseases, pulmonary diseases and cancer.

*Spinraza is marketed by Biogen.

Ionis’ Forward-looking Statement

This press release includes forward-looking statements regarding Ionis’ business, financial guidance and the therapeutic and commercial potential of SPINRAZA (nusinersen), TEGSEDI (inotersen) and WAYLIVRA (volanesorsen) and Ionis’ technologies and products in development, including the business of Akcea Therapeutics, Inc., Ionis’ majority-owned affiliate. Any statement describing Ionis’ goals, expectations, financial or other projections, intentions or beliefs is a forward-looking statement and should be considered an at-risk statement. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, particularly those inherent in the process of discovering, developing and commercializing drugs that are safe and effective for use as human therapeutics, and in the endeavor of building a business around such drugs. Ionis’ forward-looking statements also involve assumptions that, if they never materialize or prove correct, could cause its results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although Ionis’ forward-looking statements reflect the good faith judgment of its management, these statements are based only on facts and factors currently known by Ionis. As a result, you are cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. These and other risks concerning Ionis’ programs are described in additional detail in Ionis’ annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, and the most recent Form 10-Q quarterly filing, which are on file with the SEC. Copies of these and other documents are available from the Company.

In this press release, unless the context requires otherwise, “Ionis,” “Company,” “we,” “our,” and “us” refers to Ionis Pharmaceuticals and its subsidiaries.

Ionis Pharmaceuticals^™ is a trademark of Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Akcea Therapeutics^® is a registered trademark of Akcea Therapeutics, Inc. TEGSEDI^® is a registered trademark of Akcea Therapeutics, Inc. WAYLIVRA^® is a registered trademark of Akcea Therapeutics, Inc. SPINRAZA^® is a registered trademark of Biogen.

Ionis Pharmaceuticals Investor Contact:

D. Wade Walke, Ph.D.

Vice President, Investor Relations

760-603-2741

Ionis Pharmaceuticals Media Contact:

Roslyn Patterson

Vice President, Corporate Communications

760-603-2681

IONIS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

SELECTED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

(In Millions, Except Per Share Data)

IONIS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

SELECTED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations

(In Millions)

IONIS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Basis:

Condensed Consolidated Operating Expenses, Income (Loss) From Operations, and Net Income (Loss)

(In Millions)

As illustrated in the Selected Financial Information in this press release, non-GAAP operating expenses, non-GAAP income (loss) from operations, and non-GAAP net income (loss) were adjusted from GAAP to exclude compensation expense related to equity awards, which are non-cash. Ionis has regularly reported non-GAAP measures for operating results as non-GAAP results. These measures are provided as supplementary information and are not a substitute for financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. Ionis reports these non-GAAP results to better enable financial statement users to assess and compare its historical performance and project its future operating results and cash flows. Further, the presentation of Ionis’ non-GAAP results is consistent with how Ionis’ management internally evaluates the performance of its operations.

IONIS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In Millions)

IONIS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet

(In Millions)