Incyte Corporation (Nasdaq: INCY) today reports 2016 second-quarter financial results, including strong revenue growth driven by increased sales of Jakafi® (ruxolitinib) in the U.S. as well as continued growth in the royalties from ex-U.S. sales of Jakavi® (ruxolitinib) by Novartis.

The long-term clinical profile of Jakafi was reinforced by the presentation of five-year overall survival data from the COMFORT-I trial in patients with myelofibrosis at the recent American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting and the successful results from the RESPONSE-2 Phase 3 trial in patients with uncontrolled polycythemia vera highlighted at the European Hematology Association (EHA) congress. Additionally, ruxolitinib has been granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of patients with acute GVHD.

Baricitinib, currently under global regulatory review for the treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, may provide Incyte with a further valuable source of revenue, given the potential for milestones and royalties under the Company’s license agreement with Eli Lilly and Company. The first regulatory approval for baricitinib is anticipated in the first quarter of next year.

Incyte has a growing international footprint, which was accelerated by the recent ARIAD transaction in Europe, and now has a development, medical and commercial organization in Europe to complement its fully-integrated U.S. business. The expanded European team is fully operational, and will continue to grow the Iclusig® (ponatinib) brand as well as contribute to the clinical development of Incyte’s portfolio of 14 product candidates.

Within the R&D group, and during the second quarter of 2016, Incyte initiated the first pivotal Phase 3 trial of epacadostat, added a new clinical program with the initiation of a first-in-man trial of INCAGN1876, an anti-GITR agonist antibody, and signed a drug discovery alliance with the Moffitt Cancer Center – collectively illustrating the depth and breadth of Incyte’s discovery and development programs.

“Incyte is in an excellent position both financially and operationally as we enter the second half of the year,” stated Hervé Hoppenot, Incyte’s Chief Executive Officer. “Jakafi continues to grow rapidly in the U.S., and we have successfully incorporated our expanded European team. The recent initiation of the first Phase 3 trial of epacadostat was a significant milestone for Incyte, and we are preparing to launch the pivotal program for ruxolitinib in GVHD.”

2016 Second-Quarter Financial Results

Revenues For the quarter ended June 30, 2016, net product revenues of Jakafi were $208 million as compared to $142 million for the same period in 2015, representing 46 percent growth. For the six months ended June 30, 2016, net product revenues of Jakafi were $391 million as compared to $258 million for the same period in 2015, representing 52 percent growth. For the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2016, net product revenues of Iclusig were $4 million. For the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2016, product royalties from sales of Jakavi outside of the United States received from Novartis were $26 million and $48 million, respectively, as compared to $17 million and $33 million, respectively, for the same periods in 2015. For the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2016, contract revenues were $8 million and $66 million, respectively, as compared to $3 million and $31 million, respectively, for the same periods in 2015. The increase in contract revenues relates to milestone payments earned. For the quarter ended June 30, 2016, total revenues were $246 million as compared to $163 million for the same period in 2015. For the six months ended June 30, 2016, total revenues were $510 million as compared to $322 million for the same period in 2015.

 
Year Over Year Revenue Growth
(in thousands, unaudited)
 
  Three Months Ended     Six Months Ended  
June 30, % June 30, %
2016   2015 Change 2016   2015 Change
Revenues:
Jakafi net product revenue $ 208,126 $ 142,406 46% $ 391,393 $ 257,736 52%
Iclusig net product revenue 3,990 - - 3,990 - -
Product royalty revenues 25,958 17,364 49% 47,860 33,037 45%
Contract revenues 8,214 3,214 - 66,429 31,429 -
Other revenues   -   - -   80   58 -
Total revenues $ 246,288 $ 162,984 51% $ 509,752 $ 322,260 58%
 

Research and development expenses Research and development expenses for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2016 were $120 million and $277 million, respectively, as compared to $112 million and $231 million, respectively, for the same periods in 2015. Included in research and development expenses for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2016 were non-cash expenses related to equity awards to our employees of $14 million and $27 million, respectively. The increase in research and development expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2016 was primarily due to the previously announced $35 million upfront payment to acquire the rights from Lilly to develop ruxolitinib for the treatment of patients with GVHD and the expansion of the Company’s clinical portfolio.

Selling, general and administrative expenses Selling, general and administrative expenses for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2016 were $67 million and $131 million, respectively, as compared to $52 million and $97 million, respectively, for the same periods in 2015. Included in selling, general and administrative expenses for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2016 were non-cash expenses related to equity awards to our employees of $8 million and $16 million, respectively. Increased selling, general and administrative expenses are driven primarily by additional costs related to the commercialization of Jakafi.

Unrealized loss on long term investment Unrealized loss on long term investment of $1 million and $4 million for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2016 represents the fair market value adjustments of the Company’s investment in Agenus.

Net income / (loss) Net income for the quarter ended June 30, 2016 was $34 million, or $0.18 per basic and diluted share, as compared to net income of $9 million, or $0.05 per basic and diluted share for the same period in 2015. Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2016 was $58 million, or $0.31 per basic and $0.30 per diluted share, as compared to net loss of $9 million, or $0.05 per basic and diluted share for the same period in 2015.

Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities position As of June 30, 2016, cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities totaled $629 million, as compared to $708 million as of December 31, 2015.

2016 Financial Guidance

The Company has updated its full year 2016 financial guidance, as detailed below.

         
    Current   Previous
Jakafi net product revenues   $825-$835 million   $815-$830 million
Iclusig net product revenues $25-$30 million Unchanged
Research and development expenses $620-$630 million $635-$660 million
Selling, general and administrative expenses   $285-$310 million   Unchanged
 

Corporate Update

In June 2016, Jonathan Dickinson joined the Executive Management team as Senior Vice President and General Manager, Europe, leading the commercial and medical affairs functions for Incyte in Europe. He joined Incyte from ARIAD Pharmaceuticals (Europe) Sàrl where he held the position of General Manager, Europe. Prior to his tenure at ARIAD, Jonathan worked at Bristol-Myers Squibb as the European oncology brand lead and at Hoffmann-La Roche where he had assignments both in the U.S. and Switzerland.

Portfolio Update

Cancer – Targeted Therapies

In April 2016, Incyte announced an agreement with Lilly, enabling Incyte to develop and commercialize ruxolitinib in the U.S. for the treatment of GVHD, and an agreement granting Novartis exclusive research, development and commercialization rights for ruxolitinib in GVHD ex-U.S. Incyte recently announced that the FDA has granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation for ruxolitinib in patients with acute GVHD.

A proof-of-concept trial of INCB39110, a selective JAK1 inhibitor, in patients with GVHD has completed recruitment and initial data is expected before the end of 2016.

In April 2016, preliminary data from an open-label Phase 1 dose escalation trial of INCB50465, Incyte’s second-generation, highly selective PI3K delta inhibitor, was presented at AACR 2016. INCB50465 showed promising efficacy in B-cell malignancies and was generally well tolerated at all doses tested.

A Phase 2 trial of INCB54828, a selective FGFR inhibitor, in patients with bladder cancer harboring FGFR pathway alterations is expected to start in the second half of 2016.

         
    Indication   Status Update
Ruxolitinib (JAK1/JAK2)   Graft versus host disease   Pivotal program expected to begin in the second half of 2016
INCB39110 (JAK1)   Graft versus host disease   Phase 1/2 fully recruited, data expected before the end of 2016
INCB39110 (JAK1)   Lung cancer   Phase 1/2 in combination with osimertinib (EGFR) expected to initiate in the second half of 2016
INCB52793 (JAK1)   Advanced malignancies   Phase 1/2 dose-escalation
INCB50465 (PI3Kδ)   B-cell malignancies   Phase 1/2 as monotherapy and in combination with INCB39110 (JAK1)
INCB54828 (FGFR)   Bladder cancer   Phase 2 expected to initiate in the second half of 2016
INCB54329 (BRD)   Advanced malignancies   Phase 1/2 dose-escalation
INCB53914 (PIM)   Advanced malignancies   Phase 1/2 dose-escalation
INCB59872 (LSD1)   Acute myeloid leukemia, small cell lung cancer   Phase 1/2 dose-escalation
   

Cancer – Immune Therapies

The Phase 3 ECHO-301 study evaluating epacadostat in combination with the anti-PD-1 antibody, pembrolizumab, for the first-line treatment of patients with advanced or metastatic melanoma is now recruiting patients. The randomized, double-blind and placebo controlled trial, is planned to enroll 600 patients and to have dual-primary endpoints of progression-free survival and overall survival.

Updated data from the Phase 1 portion of ECHO-202, which was initially presented at SITC 2015 and drove the decision to initiate the Phase 3 trial, have been accepted for presentation at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) congress taking place in Copenhagen in October 2016.

In June 2016, the proof-of-concept trial of INCAGN1876, an anti-GITR agonist antibody being co-developed with Agenus, began dosing patients with solid tumors.

         
    Indication   Status Update
Epacadostat   First line, advanced melanoma   Phase 3 (ECHO-301) in combination with pembrolizumab (PD-1)
    Multiple tumor types   Phase 2 (ECHO-202) expansion cohorts in combination with pembrolizumab (PD-1)
    Multiple tumor types   Phase 2 (ECHO-204) expansion cohorts in combination with nivolumab (PD-1)
    Multiple tumor types   Phase 2 (ECHO-203) expansion cohorts in combination with durvalumab (PD-L1)
    Non-small cell lung cancer   Phase 1/2 (ECHO-110) dose-escalation in combination with atezolizumab (PD-L1)

INCSHR1210 (PD-1, licensed from Hengrui)

  Solid tumors   Phase 1/2 dose-escalation

INCAGN1876 (GITR, co-developed with Agenus)

  Solid tumors   Phase 1/2 dose-escalation

INCAGN1949 (OX40, co-developed with Agenus)

  Solid tumors   Phase 1/2 expected to initiate in the second half of 2016
         
PD-1 platform study   Solid tumors   Phase 1/2, pembrolizumab (PD-1) in combination with INCB39110 (JAK1) or INCB50465 (PI3Kδ)
JAK1 platform study   Solid tumors   Phase 1/2, INCB39110 (JAK1) in combination with epacadostat (IDO1) or INCB50465 (PI3Kδ)
   

Non Oncology

In October 2015, Incyte initiated a Phase 2 trial of topical ruxolitinib for the treatment of alopecia areata. This study builds on published data showing the efficacy of oral JAK inhibitors, including ruxolitinib, in alopecia areata.

         
    Indication   Status Update
Topical ruxolitinib (JAK1/JAK2)   Alopecia areata   Phase 2
   

Partnered

Baricitinib, a JAK1/JAK2 inhibitor licensed to Lilly, is under global regulatory review for the treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. If approved, Incyte will become eligible to earn regulatory and commercial milestones as well as royalties on global net sales. Baricitinib is also in Phase 2 trials for the treatment of patients with atopic dermatitis and systemic lupus erythematosus.

In June 2016, safety and efficacy data from several Phase 1 and Phase 2 trials of capmatinib, Incyte’s potent and selective c-MET inhibitor licensed to Novartis, as single agent and in combination with gefitinib in patients with c-MET positive non-small cell lung cancer and liver cancer, were presented at ASCO. Novartis anticipates submitting an NDA for capmatinib in 2018.

         
    Indication   Status Update
Baricitinib (JAK1/JAK2, licensed to Lilly)   Rheumatoid arthritis   NDA & MAA submitted
    Atopic dermatitis, systemic lupus erythematosus   Phase 2
Capmatinib (c-MET, licensed to Novartis)   Non-small cell lung cancer, glioblastoma, liver cancer   Phase 2 in EGFR wild-type ALK negative NSCLC patients with c-MET amplification and mutation
   

Conference Call and Webcast Information

Incyte will hold its 2016 second-quarter financial results conference call and webcast this morning at 10:00 a.m. ET. To access the conference call, please dial 877-407-9221 for domestic callers or 201-689-8597 for international callers. When prompted, provide the conference identification number, 13641107.

If you are unable to participate, a replay of the conference call will be available for 30 days. The replay dial-in number for the United States is 877-660-6853 and the dial-in number for international callers is 201-612-7415. To access the replay you will need the conference identification number, 13641107.

The conference call will also be webcast live and can be accessed at www.incyte.com in the Investors section under “Events and Presentations”.

About Incyte

Incyte Corporation is a Wilmington, Delaware-based biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of proprietary therapeutics. For additional information on Incyte, please visit the Company’s website at www.incyte.com.

Follow @Incyte on Twitter at https://twitter.com/Incyte.

About Jakafi® (ruxolitinib)

Jakafi is a first-in-class JAK1/JAK2 inhibitor approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for treatment of people with polycythemia vera (PV) who have had an inadequate response to or are intolerant of hydroxyurea. Jakafi is also indicated for treatment of people with intermediate or high-risk myelofibrosis (MF), including primary MF, post–polycythemia vera MF, and post–essential thrombocythemia MF.

Jakafi is marketed by Incyte in the United States and by Novartis as Jakavi® (ruxolitinib) outside the United States.

About Iclusig® (ponatinib) tablets

Iclusig targets not only native BCR-ABL but also its isoforms that carry mutations that confer resistance to treatment, including the T315I mutation, which has been associated with resistance to other approved TKIs.

In the EU, Iclusig is approved for the treatment of adult patients with chronic phase, accelerated phase or blast phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) who are resistant to dasatinib or nilotinib; who are intolerant to dasatinib or nilotinib and for whom subsequent treatment with imatinib is not clinically appropriate; or who have the T315I mutation, or the treatment of adult patients with Philadelphia-chromosome positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ ALL) who are resistant to dasatinib; who are intolerant to dasatinib and for whom subsequent treatment with imatinib is not clinically appropriate; or who have the T315I mutation.

Incyte has an exclusive license from ARIAD Pharmaceuticals, Inc to develop and commercialize Iclusig in the European Union and 22 other countries, including Switzerland, Norway, Turkey, Israel and Russia.

Forward-Looking Statements

Except for the historical information set forth herein, the matters set forth in this press release contain predictions, estimates and other forward-looking statements, including without limitation statements regarding: the Company’s revised financial guidance for 2016 and the expectations underlying such guidance; whether and when the Company will receive potential milestone payments or royalty payments from Lilly with respect to baricitinib, whether baricitinib will be approved in the U.S. or receive a positive opinion in Europe, and whether and when Lilly will launch baricitinib; whether the Company’s expanded European team will grow the Iclusig brand or contribute to clinical development; plans and expectations regarding the Company’s product pipeline and strategy - including timelines for advancing its drug candidates through clinical trials, including enrollment and commencement, timelines for regulatory submissions and timelines for releasing trial data, and whether any specific program will be successful - including, without limitation, with respect to its GVHD, ruxolitinib, selective JAK1 inhibitor, IDO1 inhibitor (epacadostat), FGFR inhibitor, OX40 and c-Met programs; and whether Novartis will submit an NDA for capmatinib in 2018.

These forward-looking statements are based on the Company’s current expectations and subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially, including unanticipated developments in and risks related to: the efficacy or safety of our products; the acceptance of our products in the marketplace; market competition; further research and development; sales, marketing and distribution requirements; clinical trials possibly being unsuccessful or insufficient to meet applicable regulatory standards or warrant continued development; the ability to enroll sufficient numbers of subjects in clinical trials; other market, economic or strategic factors and technological advances; unanticipated delays; the ability of the Company to compete against parties with greater financial or other resources; the Company's dependence on its relationships with its collaboration partners; greater than expected expenses; expenses relating to litigation or strategic activities; our ability to obtain additional capital when needed; obtaining and maintaining effective patent coverage for the Company’s products; and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company’s reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2016. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

 
INCYTE CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(unaudited, in thousands, except per share amounts)
 
  Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
June 30, June 30,
2016   2015 2016   2015
Revenues:
Product revenues, net $ 212,116 $ 142,406 $ 395,383 $ 257,736
Product royalty revenues 25,958 17,364 47,860 33,037
Contract revenues 8,214 3,214 66,429 31,429
Other revenues   -     -     80     58  
Total revenues   246,288     162,984     509,752     322,260  
 
Costs and expenses:
Cost of product revenues (including definite-lived intangible amortization) 12,367 6,254 18,372 9,229
Research and development 120,269 112,445 277,092 230,809
Selling, general and administrative 66,792 51,679 131,390 96,548
Change in fair value of acquisition-related contingent consideration   2,271     -     2,271     -  
Total costs and expenses   201,699     170,378     429,125     336,586  
 
Income (loss) from operations 44,589 (7,394 ) 80,627 (14,326 )
Interest and other income, net 1,137 1,144 2,630 2,773
Interest expense (9,662 ) (11,494 ) (19,796 ) (24,181 )
Unrealized gain (loss) on long term investment   (854 )   27,174     (3,804 )   27,174  
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes 35,210 9,430 59,657 (8,560 )
Provision for income taxes   785     136     1,185     503  
Net income (loss) $ 34,425   $ 9,294   $ 58,472   $ (9,063 )
 
Net income (loss) per share:
Basic $ 0.18 $ 0.05 $ 0.31 $ (0.05 )
Diluted $ 0.18 $ 0.05 $ 0.30 $ (0.05 )
 
Shares used in computing net income (loss) per share:
Basic 187,682 178,676 187,433 175,373
Diluted 193,015 186,493 192,820 175,373
 
 
INCYTE CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(unaudited, in thousands)
   
June 30, December 31,
2016 2015
ASSETS
Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities $ 629,191 $ 707,783
Restricted cash and investments 938 14,493
Accounts receivable 129,486 114,450
Property and equipment, net 138,513 86,006
Inventory 21,664 19,338
Prepaid expenses and other assets 29,809 30,122
Long term investment 31,444 35,248
Other intangible assets, net 269,205 -
In-process research and development 12,000 -
Goodwill   155,725   -
Total assets $ 1,417,975 $ 1,007,440
 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities $ 185,338 $ 203,880
Deferred revenue—collaborative agreements 6,083 12,512
Convertible senior notes 635,491 619,893
Acquisition-related contingent consideration 294,000 -
Stockholders’ equity   297,063   171,155
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 1,417,975 $ 1,007,440