ROCKVILLE, Md., Aug. 02, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Sucampo) (NASDAQ:SCMP), a global biopharmaceutical company, today reported consolidated financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2017.

“We had a strong second quarter, bolstered by our financial results and the acquisition of Vtesse Inc., through which we acquired VTS-270 for Niemann-Pick Disease Type C1,” said Peter Greenleaf, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sucampo. “VTS-270 is being developed to potentially provide necessary treatment for patients and families living with NPC-1, a devastating and ultimately fatal neurological disorder. The recent issuance of a U.S. patent for VTS-270 strengthens the IP position of the product by distinguishing it from other hydroxypropyl beta-cyclodextrin products, and is further evidence of VTS-270’s strong profile and differentiated composition. In addition to this, an Independent Data Monitoring Committee found no reason to advise discontinuation of the ongoing phase 3 development of CPP-1X/sulindac by Cancer Prevention Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to treat Familial Adenomatous Polyposis, after a planned interim futility analysis. Finally, we’re excited to welcome Dr. Karen Smith to our Board of Directors.”

For the three months ended June 30, 2017, Sucampo reported year-over-year total revenue growth of 15% to $59.9 million. Product sales revenue increased to $34.2 million, representing year-over-year growth of 21%, and product royalty revenue grew 10% year-over-year to $20.6 million.

Sucampo reported a GAAP net loss of $181.2 million, or ($3.92) per diluted share, during the second quarter of 2017, compared to a GAAP net loss of $0.8 million, or ($0.02) per diluted share, during the second quarter of 2016. The company recorded a one-time In-Process Research and Development (IP R&D) charge of $186.6 million in connection with the acquisition. This is due to the early adoption of recent business combination accounting guidance. Accordingly, the Company has determined the acquisition does not meet the definition of a business and thus should be accounted for as an asset acquisition. As the asset represents a phase 2b/3 asset, pre-FDA approval, the Company has expensed the asset in accordance with the latest accounting standards. By treating the acquisition as an asset acquisition, the Company has removed the future P&L impact associated with ongoing amortization of the acquired intellectual property, reduced audit and valuation costs associated with the business combination and simplified the go-forward accounting.

Sucampo reported adjusted net income (as defined below) of $16.5 million, or $0.28 per diluted share, during the second quarter of 2017, compared to adjusted net income of $10.3 million, or $0.24 per diluted share, during the second quarter of 2016.

Corporate

• Acquired Vtesse Inc. (Vtesse), a privately-held rare disease company, for upfront consideration of $200.0 million, net of cash acquired. Sucampo funded the acquisition through the issuance of 2,782,676 shares of Sucampo Class A common stock and $170.0 million of cash on hand; no external financing was utilized. The acquisition provided Sucampo with VTS-270, currently in a pivotal study for the treatment of Niemann-Pick Disease Type C1 (NPC-1), with results expected in mid-2018. Effective treatment of NPC remains a high unmet need, with no approved products for patients in the U.S. VTS-270 has been granted orphan drug designation in both the U.S. and Europe. The acquisition of Vtesse was treated as an asset acquisition for accounting purposes.
• Secured an issued patent for VTS-270 from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The patent, U.S. No. 9,675,634, relates to proprietary cyclodextrin compositions with a specific fingerprint and purity profile that distinguish VTS-270 from other HP?CD products.
• CPP-1X/sulindac, currently in phase 3 development with Cancer Prevention Pharmaceuticals (CPP), recently passed a pre-specified interim futility analysis. In 2016, Sucampo acquired an exclusive option to license CPP-1X/sulindac for North America. CPP-1X/sulindac is a combination therapy which is used to treat Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP). A predominately genetic disease, FAP develops into colon cancer if left untreated in 100% of patients. CPP-1X/sulindac was granted orphan designation in the U.S. and Europe. FAP prevalence is estimated to be 1 in 10,000 or approximately 30,000 patients in the U.S. There are currently no approved treatments for FAP and no known products in late-stage development.
• Filed an sNDA in July with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the approval of AMITIZA for pediatric functional constipation in 10-17 year old patients, based on supporting data and pronounced efficacy in this age group.
• Karen Smith, M.D., Ph.D., M.B.A., LLM., joined the Company’s Board of Directors on July 15. Dr. Smith is Executive Vice President, R&D, and Chief Medical Officer at Jazz Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Smith brings to Sucampo over 25 years of senior leadership and executive experience with both major pharmaceutical companies and start-up biotechnology organizations. Her product development expertise spans various therapeutic areas and includes over 15 major drug and device approvals in North and Latin America, Asia, Europe and Australia at companies such as Allergan, AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Boron Molecular.

AMITIZA

United States

• AMITIZA total prescriptions in the second quarter of 2017 were 381,097, as reported by IMS, an increase of 4% compared to the second quarter of 2016. Net sales of AMITIZA, reported by Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc. (Takeda) for royalty calculation purposes, increased 9% to $110.7 million for the second quarter of 2017, compared to $101.7 million in the same period in 2016. The increase was due to strong execution of AMITIZA marketing and selling by our partner Takeda, as well as overall growth in the branded chronic constipation market.
• Royalty revenue was $20.6 million in the second quarter of 2017 compared to $18.7 million in the same period in 2016, an increase of 10%. The increase was due to higher Takeda reported AMITIZA net sales which were primarily driven by price and volume increases.

Global Markets

• In Japan, Sucampo’s revenue from sales of AMITIZA to Mylan was $18.6 million for the second quarter of 2017, compared to $14.6 million in the same period in 2016, an increase of 27%. Unit volume as reported by Mylan grew 24% for the second quarter of 2017 compared to the second quarter of 2016, to 39.9 million units versus 32.1 million units. AMITIZA’s growth in Japan continues to reflect the strong unmet need in the region for effective treatments for chronic constipation, and Mylan’s continued strong market execution.

Second Quarter 2017 Financial Review

• Total revenues were $59.9 million for the second quarter of 2017 compared to $52.0 million in the same period in 2016, an increase of $7.9 million or 15%. The increase was primarily due to higher AMITIZA sales in Japan.
• EBITDA (as defined below) was ($169.3) million for the second quarter of 2017 compared to EBITDA of $17.9 million for the same period in 2016, a decrease of $187.2 million. Adjusted EBITDA (as defined below) was $27.4 million for the second quarter of 2017 compared to $25.0 million in the same period in 2016, an increase of 10%.
• On a GAAP basis, Sucampo reported a net loss of $181.2 million and diluted EPS of ($3.92) during the second quarter of 2017 compared to a net loss of $0.8 million and a diluted EPS of ($0.02) in the same period in 2016. Adjusted net income (as defined below) was $16.5 million, or $0.28 per diluted share, during the second quarter of 2017, compared to adjusted net income of $10.3 million, or $0.24 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2016.
• Cost of goods sold was $17.0 million for the second quarter of 2017 compared to $20.4 million for the same period in 2016, a decrease of $3.3 million or 16%. The decrease was primarily due to inventory step up expense in the second quarter of 2016 associated with the acquisition of R-Tech Ueno. Excluding intangible asset amortization of $6.7 million in the second quarter of 2017 and intangible asset amortization of $6.3 million and inventory step up of $6.3 million in the second quarter of 2016, cost of goods sold was $10.3 million in the second quarter of 2017, compared to $7.7 million in the second quarter of 2016, an increase of 33%. The increase was mainly due to higher AMITIZA sales in Japan and the impact of foreign currency fluctuations.
• Gross margin, calculated as product sales revenue less cost of goods sold as a percentage of product sales revenue, was 50% for the second quarter of 2017 compared to 28% for the same period in 2016, an increase of 22%. The increase was primarily due to the inclusion of inventory step up cost in the second quarter of 2016. Excluding intangible asset amortization of $6.7 million in the second quarter of 2017, gross margin was 70% in the second quarter of 2017 compared to 73% in the second quarter of 2016, a decrease of 3%, which is mainly due to higher AMITIZA sales in Japan and the impact of foreign currency fluctuations.
• Research and development, general and administrative, and selling and marketing expenses were $218.7 million for the second quarter of 2017 compared to $24 million for the same period in 2016, an increase of $194.7 million. Excluding Vtesse IP R&D one-time expense of $186.6 million in the second quarter of 2017, research and development, general and administrative, and selling and marketing expenses were $32.1 million in the second quarter of 2017, an increase of $8.1 million or 34%. The increase was primarily due to CPP R&D expense of $4.5 million, which was paid upon the successful futility readout and the inclusion of Vtesse R&D related expense in second quarter of 2017.
• The effective tax rate for the second quarter of 2017 was (1%), compared to 6% in the same period in 2016. The slight fluctuation year over year is due to the Vtesse acquisition and the shift in profit split among the Company’s geographical regions.
• At June 30, 2017, cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash were $84.9 million compared to $198.5 million at December 31, 2016. This decrease is primarily due to the acquisition of Vtesse. At June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, notes payable were $291.5 million and $290.5 million, respectively. Sucampo’s net debt position at June 30, 2017 was $206.6 million, compared to $92.0 million at December 31, 2016.

Guidance

Sucampo today reiterated its guidance for the full year ending December 31, 2017. Sucampo expects total revenue of $220.0 million to $230.0 million, adjusted net income of $56.0 million to $66.0 million, adjusted EPS of $1.00 to $1.10, adjusted EBITDA of $109.0 million to $119.0 million and free cash flow of $86.0 million to $96.0 million.

About AMITIZA^® (lubiprostone)

AMITIZA (lubiprostone) is a chloride channel activator that acts locally in the small intestine. By increasing intestinal fluid secretion, lubiprostone increases motility in the intestine, thereby facilitating the passage of stool and alleviating symptoms associated with CIC. Lubiprostone, via activation of apical CIC-2 channels in intestinal epithelial cells, bypasses the antisecretory action of opiates that results from suppression of secretomotor neuron excitability. Activation of CIC-2 by lubiprostone has also been shown to stimulate recovery of mucosal barrier function and reduce intestinal permeability via the restoration of tight junction protein complexes in ex vivo studies of ischemic porcine intestine.

AMITIZA (24 mcg twice daily) is indicated in the U.S. and Israel for the treatment of adults with CIC and opioid-induced constipation (OIC) with chronic, non-cancer pain. AMITIZA (8 mcg twice daily) is also approved in the U.S. and Israel for irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) in women 18 years of age and older. In Japan, AMITIZA (24 mcg twice daily) is indicated for the treatment of chronic constipation (excluding constipation caused by organic diseases). In Canada, AMITIZA (24 mcg twice daily) is indicated for the treatment of CIC in adults. In the U.K., AMITIZA (24 mcg twice daily) is indicated for the treatment of CIC and associated symptoms in adults, when response to diet and other non-pharmacological measures (e.g. educational measures, physical activity) are inappropriate. In Switzerland, AMITIZA (24 mcg twice daily) is indicated for the treatment of CIC in adults and for the treatment of OIC and associated signs and symptoms such as stool consistency, straining, constipation severity, abdominal discomfort, and abdominal bloating in adults with chronic, non-cancer pain. The efficacy of AMITIZA for the treatment of OIC in patients taking opioids of the diphenylheptane class, such as methadone, has not been established.

About RESCULA®

Unoprostone isopropyl 0.12% (trade named RESCULA) first received marketing authorization in 1994 in Japan for the treatment of glaucoma and ocular hypertension. RESCULA is marketed in Japan by Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Santen). We acquired RESCULA as part of the acquisition of R-Tech Ueno in 2015.

About Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of highly specialized medicines. Sucampo has a late-stage pipeline of product candidates in clinical development for orphan disease areas, including VTS-270, a 2-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin product with a specific compositional fingerprint that has been granted orphan designation in the U.S. and Europe and is in a pivotal Phase 2b/3 clinical trial for the treatment of Niemann-Pick Disease Type C-1, a rare progressive genetic disorder. VTS-270 also has been granted breakthrough therapy designation in the U.S. Sucampo has an exclusive option for the North American rights to CPP-1x/sulindac, which is in Phase 3 development for the treatment of familial adenomatous polyposis and has been granted orphan drug designation in the U.S. The company has two marketed products – AMITIZA and RESCULA. For more information, please visit www.sucampo.com. The Sucampo logo and the tagline, The Science of Innovation, are registered trademarks of Sucampo AG. AMITIZA is a registered trademark of Sucampo AG.

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