$398 million in first quarter global net product
sales
FDA review ongoing for CIDP sBLA with PDUFA
target action date of June 21, 2024
On track to submit filing for pre-filled syringe
(PFS) in second quarter 2024
Management to host conference call today at 2:30
PM CET (8:30 AM ET)
May 9, 2024, 7:00 AM CET
Amsterdam, the Netherlands –
argenx SE (Euronext & Nasdaq: ARGX), a global immunology
company committed to improving the lives of people suffering from
severe autoimmune diseases, today announced its first quarter 2024
results and provided a business update.
“The team at argenx has made significant
progress executing across the ambitious plan we set out at the
beginning of the year,” said Tim Van Hauwermeiren, Chief Executive
Officer of argenx. “We are driven by our commitment to provide
patients with the broadest gMG product offering that consistently
delivers on safety and efficacy. VYVGART SC played a key role in
our growth over the quarter, expanding the breadth of our
prescriber base and reaching new patients. The relationships we
have built and key market learnings in gMG position us for success
as we scale the organization and prepare for CIDP. After generating
the data required for filing, we are also excited to advance the
development of our pre-filled syringe, which should further enhance
the patient experience.”
“The clinical opportunity ahead is expansive –
we are preparing for registrational trials across multiple programs
including empasiprubart in MMN and efgartigimod in Sjogren's
disease, in addition to those already underway in TED and
seronegative gMG. We look forward to deepening our understanding of
FcRn with additional Phase 2 data points expected this year, while
rapidly working to deliver on our promise of innovation by bringing
the next wave of molecules to the clinic.”
FIRST QUARTER 2024 AND RECENT BUSINESS
UPDATE
Reaching More Patients with
VYVGART
VYVGART (efgartigimod alfa-fcab) is a
first-in-class antibody fragment targeting the neonatal Fc receptor
(FcRn), and is now the first FcRn antagonist approved in two
indications. VYVGART is approved in more than 30 countries globally
for the treatment of generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) and is
approved in Japan for the treatment of primary immune
thrombocytopenia (ITP). VYVGART subcutaneous (SC) (efgartigimod
alfa and hyaluronidase-qvfc) is approved in the U.S. (as VYVGART®
Hytrulo), Japan (as VYVDURA®) and Europe, making VYVGART the only
gMG treatment available as both an IV and simple SC injection.
- Generated global net product sales
(inclusive of both VYVGART and VYVGART SC) of $398 million in the
first quarter of 2024
- VYVGART approved in Japan for
treatment of ITP on March 26, 2024, marking first global approval
for ITP
- Additional VYVGART and VYVGART SC
regulatory decisions on approval expected for gMG in 2024,
including VYVGART in Switzerland, Australia, Saudi Arabia and South
Korea, and VYVGART SC in China through Zai Lab
- Multiple VYVGART SC regulatory
submissions under review or planned for chronic inflammatory
demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), including:
- FDA review of Supplemental
Biologics License Application (sBLA) ongoing with Prescription Drug
User Fee Act (PDUFA) target action date of June 21, 2024
- Regulatory submissions completed in
China and Japan
- Regulatory submissions expected in
Europe and Canada by end of 2024
- Registrational study of VYVGART in
seronegative gMG patients ongoing with aim to expand label into
broader MG populations
- FDA submission for VYVGART SC
prefilled syringe for gMG and CIDP expected in second quarter of
2024, following positive data outcomes from bioequivalence and
human factor studies
Advancing Current Pipeline
argenx continues to demonstrate breadth and
depth within its immunology pipeline and is advancing multiple
pipeline-in-a-product candidates. argenx is solidifying its
leadership in FcRn biology and expects that efgartigimod will be
approved or under evaluation in at least 15 indications by 2025.
argenx is also advancing its earlier stage pipeline programs,
including empasiprubart (C2 inhibitor) with Phase 2 studies ongoing
in multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN), delayed graft function (DGF)
and dermatomyositis (DM). In addition, argenx is evaluating
ARGX-119, a muscle-specific kinase (MuSK) agonist in both
congenital myasthenic syndrome (CMS) and amyotrophic lateral
sclerosis (ALS).
- Decision announced to advance
development of efgartigimod in primary Sjogren’s disease (SjD) to
Phase 3 following analysis of topline data from Phase 2 RHO
study
- Topline data from Phase 2 ALPHA
study of efgartigimod in post-COVID-19 postural orthostatic
tachycardia syndrome (PC-POTS) expected in second quarter of
2024
- Topline data from seamless Phase
2/3 ALKIVIA study evaluating efgartigimod across three myositis
subsets (immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy (IMNM),
anti-synthetase syndrome (ASyS), and DM expected in second half of
2024
- Update on BALLAD study development
plan evaluating efgartigimod in bullous pemphigoid (BP) expected by
end of 2024
- Registrational studies ongoing of
efgartigimod in thyroid eye disease (TED)
- Decision made to discontinue
planned development of efgartigimod in ANCA-associated vasculitis
(AAV) following risk assessment of all ongoing studies based on
learnings from ADDRESS (pemphigus) and ADVANCE SC (ITP)
studies
- Proof-of-concept studies ongoing
with efgartigimod in membranous nephropathy (MN) and lupus
nephritis (LN) with studies expected to start this year in antibody
mediated rejection (AMR) and newly nominated indication, systemic
sclerosis (SSc)
- Full Phase 2 topline data (cohorts
1 and 2) from ARDA study of empasiprubart in MMN expected in 2024;
cohort 2 ongoing to determine dose response ahead of Phase 3 study
start
- Phase 1b/2a trials of ARGX-119 to
assess early signal detection in patients with CMS and ALS expected
to start in 2024
Leveraging Repeatable Innovation
Playbook to Drive Long-Term Pipeline Growth
argenx continues to invest in its discovery
engine, the Immunology Innovation Program (IIP), to drive long-term
sustainable pipeline growth. Through the IIP, four new pipeline
candidates have been nominated, including: ARGX-213 targeting FcRn
and further solidifying argenx’s leadership in this new class of
medicine; ARGX-121 and ARGX-220, which are first-in-class targets
broadening argenx’s focus across the immune system; and ARGX-109,
targeting IL-6, which plays an important role in inflammation.
Investigational new drug (IND) applications for each program are
expected to be filed by end of 2025.
Appointment of Brian L. Kotzin, MD as
Non-executive Director to Board of Directors
Dr. Brian Kotzin has been appointed as
non-executive director to the Board of Directors and Chair of the
Research & Development Committee for a term of four years. He
is currently a consultant for companies developing therapeutics for
autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. His prior roles include Chief
Medical Officer for Nektar Therapeutics and Vice President of
Global Clinical Development, Head of the Inflammation Therapeutic
Area and Vice President and Head of Medical Sciences at Amgen.
FIRST QUARTER 2024 FINANCIAL
RESULTS
argenx SE
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF PROFIT OR LOSS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three months ended |
|
|
|
March 31, |
(in thousands of $ except for shares and EPS) |
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
Variance |
Product net sales |
|
$ |
398,283 |
|
$ |
218,022 |
|
$ |
180,261 |
Collaboration revenue |
|
|
2,718 |
|
|
1,118 |
|
|
(1,600) |
Other operating income |
|
|
11,512 |
|
|
10,740 |
|
|
772 |
Total operating
income |
|
|
412,513 |
|
|
229,880 |
|
|
182,633 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of sales |
|
|
(43,178) |
|
|
(18,335) |
|
|
(24,843) |
Research and development
expenses |
|
|
(224,969) |
|
|
(165,855) |
|
|
(59,114) |
Selling, general and
administrative expenses |
|
|
(235,995) |
|
|
(149,172) |
|
|
(86,823) |
Loss from investment in joint
venture |
|
|
(1,792) |
|
|
(261) |
|
|
(1,531) |
Total operating
expenses |
|
|
(505,934) |
|
|
(333,623) |
|
|
(172,311) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating
loss |
|
$ |
(93,421) |
|
$ |
(103,743) |
|
$ |
10,322 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Financial income |
|
|
38,895 |
|
|
16,588 |
|
|
22,307 |
Financial expense |
|
|
(512) |
|
|
(188) |
|
|
(324) |
Exchange gains/(losses) |
|
|
(19,312) |
|
|
11,165 |
|
|
(30,477) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss for the period
before taxes |
|
$ |
(74,350) |
|
$ |
(76,178) |
|
$ |
1,828 |
Income tax
benefit/(expense) |
|
$ |
12,753 |
|
$ |
47,307 |
|
$ |
(34,554) |
Loss for the
period |
|
$ |
(61,597) |
|
$ |
(28,871) |
|
$ |
(32,726) |
Loss for the period
attributable to: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Owners of the parent |
|
$ |
(61,597) |
|
$ |
(28,871) |
|
$ |
(32,726) |
Weighted average number of
shares outstanding |
|
|
59,309,996 |
|
|
55,555,186 |
|
|
3,754,810 |
Basic and diluted (loss) per
share (in $) |
|
|
(1.04) |
|
|
(0.52) |
|
|
(0.52) |
Net increase/(decrease) in
cash, cash equivalents and current financial assets compared to
year-end 2023 and 2022 |
|
|
(75,378) |
|
|
(185,035) |
|
|
109,657 |
Cash and cash equivalents and
current financial assets at the end of the period |
|
|
3,104,466 |
|
|
2,007,513 |
|
|
|
DETAILS OF THE FINANCIAL
RESULTS
Total operating income for the
three months ended March 31, 2024, was $413 million compared to
$230 million for the same period in 2023, and consists of:
- Product net sales
of VYVGART and VYVGART SC for the three months ended March 31,
2024, were $398 million compared to $218 million for the same
period in 2023.
- Collaboration
revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2024, was $3
million compared to $1 million for the same period in 2023.
Collaboration revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2024,
includes $2 million in royalty revenue from VYVGART sales in
China.
- Other operating
income for the three months ended March 31, 2024, was $12
million compared to $11 million for the same period in 2023. The
other operating income for the three months ended March 31, 2024
and 2023, primarily relates to research and development tax
incentives.
Total operating expenses for
the three months ended March 31, 2024, were $506 million compared
to $334 million for the same period in 2023, and mainly consists
of:
- Cost of sales for
the three months ended March 31, 2024, was $43 million compared to
$18 million for the same period in 2023. The cost of sales was
recognized with respect to the sale of VYVGART and VYVGART SC.
- Research and development
expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2024, were
$225 million compared to $166 million for the same period in 2023.
The research and development expenses mainly relate to external
research and development expenses and personnel expenses incurred
in the clinical development of efgartigimod in various indications
and the expansion of other clinical and preclinical pipeline
candidates.
- Selling, general and
administrative expenses for the three months ended March
31, 2024, were $236 million compared to $149 million for the same
period in 2023. The selling, general and administrative expenses
mainly relate to professional and marketing fees linked to the
commercialization of VYVGART and VYVGART SC, and personnel
expenses.
Financial income for the three
months ended March 31, 2024, was $39 million compared to $17
million for the same period in 2023. The increase in financial
income is mainly due to an increase in interest income coming from
an increase of cash, cash equivalents and current financial assets
as a result of the July 2023 financing round.
Exchange losses for the three
months ended March 31, 2024, were $19 million compared to $11
million of exchange gains for the same period in 2023. Exchange
gains/losses are mainly attributable to unrealized exchange rate
gains or losses on the cash, cash equivalents and current financial
assets denominated in Euro.
Income tax for the three months
ended March 31, 2024, was $13 million of income tax benefit
compared to $47 million of income tax benefit for the same period
in 2023. Income tax benefit for the three months ended March 31,
2024, consists of $6 million of current income tax expense and $19
million of deferred tax benefit, compared to $11 million of current
income tax expense and $58 million of deferred tax benefit for the
comparable prior period.
Net loss for the three months
ended March 31, 2024, was $62 million compared to $29 million for
the same period in 2023. On a per weighted average share basis, the
net loss was $1.04 and $0.52 for the three months ended March 31,
2024 and 2023, respectively.
Cash, cash equivalents and current
financial assets totalled $3.1 billion as of March 31,
2024, compared to $3.2 billion as of December 31, 2023. The
decrease in cash and cash equivalents and current financial assets
result from net cash flows used in operating activities.
FINANCIAL GUIDANCE
Based on its current operating plans, argenx
expects its combined Research and development and Selling, general
and administrative expenses in 2024 to be less than $2 billion.
argenx expects to utilize up to $500 million of net cash in 2024 on
these anticipated operating expenses as well as working capital and
capital expenditures.
EXPECTED 2024 FINANCIAL
CALENDAR
- July 25, 2024: Q2 2024 financial
results and business update
- October 31, 2024: Q3 2024 financial
results and business update
CONFERENCE CALL DETAILS The
first quarter 2024 financial results and business update will be
discussed during a conference call and webcast presentation today
at 2:30 PM CET/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 32
800 50
201France 33
800
943355Netherlands 31
20 795 1090United
Kingdom 44 800 358
0970United States
1
800 715
9871Japan 81
3 4578
9081Switzerland 41
43 210 11 32
About argenx
argenx is a global immunology company committed
to improving the lives of people suffering from severe autoimmune
diseases. 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 developed and is commercializing
the first approved neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) blocker, globally in
the U.S., Japan, Israel, the EU, the UK, China and Canada. The
Company is evaluating efgartigimod in multiple serious autoimmune
diseases and advancing several earlier stage experimental medicines
within its therapeutic franchises. For more information, visit
www.argenx.com and follow us on LinkedIn, X/Twitter, Instagram,
Facebook, and YouTube.
For further information, please
contact:
Media:Ben
Petokbpetok@argenx.com
Investors:Alexandra Roy
(US)aroy@argenx.com
Lynn Elton (EU)lelton@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 “aim,”
“anticipates,” “believes,” “continue,” “expects,” “will,” “plan,”
“prepare,” or “should” and include statements argenx makes
regarding its commitment to provide patients with the broadest
generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) product offerings; the ability
to scale the organization and prepare for CIDP; the preparation for
registrational trials across multiple programs including
empasiprubart in MMN and efgartigimod in Sjogren's disease; the
pending regulatory decisions for gMG in Switzerland, Australia,
Saudi Arabia and South Korea, and VYVGART SC in China through Zai
Lab; regulatory submissions in Europe and Canada; its plans to
expand label for VYVGART in seronegative gMG patients into broader
MG populations; the planned FDA submission for VYVGART SC prefilled
syringe for gMG and CIDP in second quarter of 2024; its aim to
solidify its Fc receptor (FcRn) leadership and expectation that
efgartigimod will be approved or under evaluation in at least 15
autoimmune diseases by 2025; its advancement of earlier stage
pipeline programs; its evaluation of ARGX-119; its expected updates
on BALLAD study development plan by end of 2024; data readouts and
regulatory milestones and plans, including the timing of planned
clinical trials and expected data readouts; its investigational new
drug applications for four new pipeline candidates through the
Immunology Innovation Program expected to be filed by the end of
2025; and its 2024 research and development and selling, general
and administrative expenses and operating expenses. 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’s actual results
may differ materially from those predicted by the forward-looking
statements as a result of various important factors, including the
results of argenx's clinical trials; expectations regarding the
inherent uncertainties associated with the development of novel
drug therapies; preclinical and clinical trial and product
development activities and regulatory approval requirements in
products and product candidates; the acceptance of argenx's
products and product candidates by patients as safe, effective and
cost-effective; the impact of governmental laws and regulations on
our business; disruptions caused on our reliance of third parties
suppliers, service provides and manufacturing; inflation and
deflation and the corresponding fluctuations in interest rates; the
results of the PDUFA review; and regional instability and
conflicts. A further list and description of these risks,
uncertainties and other risks can be found in argenx’s U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings and reports,
including in argenx’s most 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.
Argen X (EU:ARGX)
Historical Stock Chart
From Oct 2024 to Nov 2024
Argen X (EU:ARGX)
Historical Stock Chart
From Nov 2023 to Nov 2024