Japanese Marketing Authorization Application (J-MAA) for efgartigimod accepted for review by Japan’s Pharmaceuticals and Medical Device Agency (PMDA) for generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG)
Management to host conference call today at 2:30 pm CEST (8:30 am ET)
May14, 2021Breda, the Netherlands– argenx (Euronext & Nasdaq: ARGX), a global immunology company committed to improving the lives of people suffering from severe autoimmune diseases and cancer, today reported financial results for the first quarter 2021 and provided a business update.
“We’ve had a strong start to 2021 with the acceptance for review of the BLA and J-MAA for efgartigimod in gMG by the regulatory agencies in the U.S. and Japan. The submissions in China and the EU are on track and we are well-positioned for a global launch of our first-in-class FcRn antagonist. We are building an exceptional team with significant launch experience in neurology and rare disease and hope to reach patients this year,” said Tim Van Hauwermeiren, Chief Executive Officer of argenx.
“Efgartigimod has the potential to help people living with gMG as well as several other severe autoimmune diseases mediated by IgG autoantibodies. Our team is advancing registrational trials across four indications with plans to start enrollment in two additional efgartigimod indications this year. We are also broadening our reach within autoimmunity with our first-in-class C2 inhibitor, ARGX-117, from which we will have Phase 1 data mid-year. To complement our clinical pipeline, we continue to invest in our discovery capabilities through our Immunology Innovation Program and strategic technology partnerships that position us well to generate long-term value for shareholders. We are closer each day to building an integrated, innovative, global immunology organization with the goal of impacting the lives of patients,” concluded Mr. Van Hauwermeiren.
FIRST QUARTER 2021 AND RECENT BUSINESS UPDATE
Commercial preparations on-trackfor global launch of IV efgartigimod forgMG, including regulatory submissions, initial salesforce hires and key stakeholder engagementefforts
Immunology pipeline advancing withfive ongoing registrational trials of efgartigimodand initial upcoming data from second potential pipeline-in a product candidate, ARGX-117
Immunology Innovation Program (IIP) continues to growpipelinethrough wholly-owneddevelopment, partnered opportunities, asset-centric spinoffcompanies andthe addition of strategic technology capabilities
Strong balance sheet and expanded Board of Directors supporttransition into integrated, global immunology organization
argenx to host virtual R&D Day on July 20, 2021 to share long-term corporate vision, disclose additional potential efgartigimod indicationsand provide updates across immunology pipeline.
FIRST QUARTER 2021 FINANCIAL RESULTS (CONSOLIDATED)
Three Months Ended | |||||||||
March 31, | |||||||||
(in thousands of $ except for shares and EPS) | 2021 | 2020 | Variance | ||||||
Revenue | $ | 158,155 | $ | 21,139 | $ | 137,017 | |||
Other operating income | 9,260 | 4,672 | 4,588 | ||||||
Total operating income | 167,415 | 25,811 | 141,604 | ||||||
Research and development expenses | (122,328) | (104,661) | (17,666) | ||||||
Selling, general and administrative expenses | (56,253) | (27,609) | (28,644) | ||||||
Total operating expenses | (178,580) | (132,270) | (46,310) | ||||||
Change in fair value on non-current financial assets | 11,152 | 0 | 11,152 | ||||||
Operating loss | $ | (13) | $ | (106,459) | $ | 106,446 | |||
Financial income/(expenses) | (420) | (3,591) | 3,171 | ||||||
Exchange gain/(losses) | (28,817) | 22,985 | (51,802) | ||||||
Loss before taxes | $ | (29,249) | $ | (87,064) | $ | 57,815 | |||
Income taxes | (11,184) | (1,200) | (9,984) | ||||||
Loss for the period and total comprehensive loss | $ | (40,433) | $ | (88,264) | $ | 47,831 | |||
Weighted average number of shares outstanding | 49,946,515 | 42,786,194 | |||||||
Basic and diluted profit/(loss) per share (in $) | (0.81) | (2.06) | |||||||
Net increase/(decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and current financial assets compared to year-end 2020 and 2019 | 910,903 | (70,318) | |||||||
Cash, cash equivalents and current financial assets at the end of the period | 2,907,355 | 1,430,343 |
DETAILS OF THE FINANCIAL RESULTS
As of January 1, 2021, the Company changed its functional and presentation currency from euro to U.S. dollars, which results in reporting its financial highlights in U.S. dollar as compared to euro in prior periods. Historical financials have been converted at the average exchange rate of the related period.
Cash, cash equivalents and current financial assets totaled $2,907.4 million on March 31, 2021, compared to $1,996.5 million on December 31, 2020. The increase in cash, cash equivalents and current financial assets resulted primarily from (i) the closing of a global offering, which resulted in the receipt of $1,092.1 million in net proceeds in February 2021, (ii) the net receipt of a $73.1 million non-creditable, non-refundable development cost-sharing payment in the form of newly issued Zai Lab shares received as part of the strategic collaboration for efgartigimod in Greater China, partially offset by (iii) the payment of $98.0 million related to the purchase of a priority review voucher from Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals and other net cash flows used in operating activities.
Total operating income increased by $141.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 to $167.4 million, compared to $25.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020. The increase was primarily due to the closing of the strategic collaboration for efgartigimod with Zai Lab, resulting in the recognition of $151.9 million in collaboration revenue.
Research and development expenses increased by $17.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 to $122.3 million, compared to $104.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020. The increase in the first three months of 2021 resulted primarily from higher external research and development expenses, mainly related to the efgartigimod program in multiple indications and other clinical and preclinical programs. Furthermore, the research and development personnel expenses increased due to a planned increase in headcount and the increased costs of the share-based payment compensation plans related to the grant of stock options.
Selling, general and administrative expenses totaled $56.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, compared to $27.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020. The increase resulted primarily from higher personnel expenses, including the costs of the share-based payment compensation plans related to the grant of stock options, and consulting fees linked to the preparation of a possible future commercialization of efgartigimod.
The increase in fair value on non-current financial assets amounted to $11.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, which is the result of the closing of a Series B financing round of AgomAb Therapeutics, for which the Company maintains a profit share in exchange for granting the license for the use of HGF-mimetic antibodies from the SIMPLE Antibody™ platform.
Exchange losses totaled $28.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, compared to an exchange gain of $23.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020. As a result of the change in the Company’s functional and presentation currency, the exchange losses for the three months ended March 31, 2021 are reflecting the unfavorable change in euro/U.S. dollar exchange rate, mainly attributable to unrealized exchange rate losses on cash, cash equivalents and current financial asset position in euro.
FINANCIAL GUIDANCE
Based on current plans to fund anticipated operating expenses and capital expenditures, argenx continues to expect its 2021 cash burn to approximately double from 2020. The increased spend will support the Company’s transition to an integrated immunology company, including the build-out of global commercial infrastructure and drug product inventory ahead of the expected launch of efgartigimod in gMG in the U.S, the advancement of its clinical-stage pipeline, including seven expected global trials of efgartigimod, and the continued investment in its Immunology Innovation Program.
EXPECTED 2021FINANCIAL CALENDAR
CONFERENCE CALL DETAILSThe first quarter 2021 financial results and business update will be discussed during a conference call and webcast presentation today at 2:30 pm CEST/8:30 am ET. A webcast of the live call may be accessed on the Investors section of the argenx website at argenx.com/investors. A replay of the webcast will be available on the argenx website.
Dial-in numbers:Please dial in 15 minutes prior to the live call.
Belgium 0800 389 13 France 0805 102 319 Netherlands 0800 949 4506 United Kingdom 0800 279 9489 United States 1 844 808 7140International 1 412 902 0128
About argenxargenx is a global immunology company committed to improving the lives of people suffering from severe autoimmune diseases and cancer. Partnering with leading academic researchers through its Immunology Innovation Program (IIP), argenx aims to translate immunology breakthroughs into a world-class portfolio of novel antibody-based medicines. argenx is evaluating efgartigimod in multiple serious autoimmune diseases, and cusatuzumab in hematological cancers in collaboration with Janssen. argenx is also advancing several earlier stage experimental medicines within its therapeutic franchises. argenx has offices in Belgium, the United States, Japan, and Switzerland. For more information, visit www.argenx.com and follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/argenx/ and Twitter at https://twitter.com/argenxglobal.
For further information, please contact:
Media:Kelsey KirkKKirk@argenx.com
Joke Comijn (EU)jcomijn@argenx.com
Investors:Beth DelGiaccobdelgiacco@argenx.com
Michelle Greenblattmgreenblatt@argenx.com
Forward-looking Statements
The contents of this announcement include statements that are, or may be deemed to be, “forward-looking statements.” These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms “believes,” “estimates,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “will,” or “should” and include statements argenx makes concerning itsstatement that the submissions in China and the EU are on track and that it is well-positioned for a global launch of itsfirst-in-class FcRn antagonist, including that BLA for IV efgartigimod for treatment of gMG accepted for review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in March 2021 with target action date of December 17, 2021 under Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA), J-MAA submitted to Japan’s PMDA and accepted for review with anticipated Japan commercial launch in 2022, MAA expected to be filed with European Medicines Agency (EMA) in second half of 2021and Zai Lab Limited to discuss potential accelerated regulatory pathway for approval in China with National Medical Products Administration (NMPA); statements regarding its commercial readiness; its statement that enrollment in trials for fifth and sixth indications to begin in 2021; its statement that data expected mid-year from Phase 1 trial of C2 inhibitor, ARGX-117; Phase 2 dosing plan to be identified for indications including multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN), and Phase 2 trial of MMN on track to start by end of 2021; its expectation thatits 2021 cash burn willapproximately double from 2020; its hope to reach patients this year; its statements regarding the therapeutic potential of Efgartigimodin patients with gMG as well as several other severe autoimmune diseases mediated by IgG autoantibodies; its plans to start enrollment in two additional efgartigimod indications this year, its expectation to have Phase 1 data mid-year for itsC2 inhibitor, ARGX-117, 2021 business and financial outlook and related plans; the therapeutic potential of its product candidates; the intended results of its strategy and argenx’s, and its collaboration partners’, advancement of, and anticipated clinical development, data readouts and regulatory milestones and plans, including the timing of planned clinical trials and expected data readouts; the design of future clinical trials and the timing and outcome of regulatory filings and regulatory approvals. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and readers are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. argenx’sactual results may differ materially from those predicted by the forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, argenx’sexpectations regarding its the inherent uncertainties associated with competitive developments, preclinical and clinical trial and product development activities and regulatory approval requirements; argenx’sreliance on collaborations with third parties; estimating the commercial potential of argenx’sproduct candidates; argenx’sability to obtain and maintain protection of intellectual property for its technologies and drugs; argenx’slimited operating history; and argenx’sability to obtain additional funding for operations and to complete the development and commercialization of its product candidates. A further list and description of these risks, uncertainties and other risks can be found in argenx’sU.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings and reports, including in argenx’smost recent annual report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC as well as subsequent filings and reports filed by argenx with the SEC. Given these uncertainties, the reader is advised not to place any undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of publication of this document. argenx undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise the information in this press release, including any forward-looking statements, except as may be required by law.
Source: argenx SE