OREANDA-NEWS. Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY) today reported results for the third quarter of 2015, which were highlighted by strong global sales, key regulatory and clinical milestones in Immuno-Oncology and the completion of several business development transactions strengthening the company’s diversified pipeline.

“In the third quarter we advanced our leadership position in Immuno-Oncology with two accelerated approvals in the U.S. and the presentation of important new clinical data that demonstrates the breadth and depth of our development program,” said Giovanni Caforio, M.D., chief executive officer, Bristol-Myers Squibb. “We delivered strong operational performance driven by top-line growth, the successful launch of Opdivo and continuing positive trends for Eliquis. I remain confident in our strategy and that we are entering our exciting next chapter in a position of strength.”

           
       

Third Quarter

  
$ amounts in millions, except per share amounts                          
       

2015

      

2014

      

Change

  
Total Revenues       $4,069       $3,921       4%  
GAAP Diluted EPS       0.42       0.43       (2)%  
Non-GAAP Diluted EPS       0.39       0.45       (13)%  
                           

THIRD QUARTER FINANCIAL RESULTS

  • Bristol-Myers Squibb posted third quarter 2015 revenues of $4.1 billion, an increase of 4% compared to the same period a year ago. Global revenues increased 11% adjusted for foreign exchange impact.
  • U.S. revenues increased 4% to $2.0 billion in the quarter compared to the same period a year ago. International revenues increased 4%, or 19% adjusted for foreign exchange impact.
  • Gross margin as a percentage of revenues was 73.0% in the quarter compared to 74.3% in the same period a year ago.
  • Marketing, selling and administrative expenses decreased 4% to $983 million in the quarter.
  • Advertising and product promotion spending increased 13% to $193 million in the quarter.
  • Research and development expenses increased 15% to $1.1 billion in the quarter.
  • The effective tax rate was 26.0% in the quarter, compared to 27.4% in the third quarter last year.
  • The company reported net earnings attributable to Bristol-Myers Squibb of $706 million, or $0.42 per share, in the quarter compared to net earnings of $721 million, or $0.43 per share, a year ago.
  • The company reported non-GAAP net earnings attributable to Bristol-Myers Squibb of $648 million, or $0.39 per share, in the third quarter, compared to $750 million, or $0.45 per share, for the same period in 2014. An overview of specified items is discussed under the “Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information” section.
  • Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities were $10.0 billion, with a net cash position of $2.8 billion, as of September 30, 2015.

THIRD QUARTER PRODUCT AND PIPELINE UPDATE

Bristol-Myers Squibb’s global sales in the third quarter included Daklinza and Sunvepra, which grew by $353 million, Opdivo, which grew by $304 million, Eliquis, which grew by $250 million, Orencia, which grew 9%, and Sprycel, which grew 7%.

Opdivo

  • In October, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Opdivo for the treatment of previously treated patients with non-squamous (NSQ) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) regardless of PD-L1 expression, which expands upon the current indication for Opdivo in patients with previously treated squamous (SQ) NSCLC. Opdivo is the only PD-1 inhibitor approved for previously treated metastatic SQ and now NSQ NSCLC patients regardless of PD-L1 expressionand the only PD-1 inhibitor approved by the FDA to deliver superior overall survival compared to docetaxel in previously treated metastatic NSCLC. The accelerated approval was based on data from CheckMate -057, a Phase 3 study that evaluated the survival of patients with NSQ NSCLC who had progressed during or after one prior platinum doublet-based chemotherapy regimen.
  • In October, the FDA approved Opdivo in combination with Yervoy for the treatment of patients with BRAF V600 wild-type unresectable or metastatic melanoma.The approval marks the first and only FDA approval of a regimen of two Immuno-Oncology agents in cancer. The indication was approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and durability of response data from CheckMate -069. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials.
  • In September, the FDA granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation to Opdivo for the potential indication of advanced or metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC). This designation is based on results of CheckMate -025, a Phase 3 study that evaluated the survival of patients with previously treated advanced or metastatic clear-cell RCC versus everolimus. The trial was stopped early in July 2015 because an assessment conducted by the independent Data Monitoring Committee concluded that the study met its primary endpoint of overall survival.
  • In September, the FDA accepted for filing and review a Supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) for the Opdivo+Yervoy regimen to include clinical data from CheckMate -067, a landmark Phase 3 trial in patients with previously untreated advanced melanoma. If approved, this application would expand upon the initial Opdivo+Yervoy regimen, which was approved based on tumor response rate and safety data from the Phase 2 randomized trial, CheckMate -069. The FDA granted Priority Review for this application with a target action date of January 23, 2016.
  • In September, the company announced results from two Phase 3 clinical trials at the 2015 European Cancer Congress:
    • CheckMate -025 – In this study comparing Opdivo to everolimus in patients with advanced RCC after prior anti-angiogenic treatment, Opdivo demonstrated significant overall survival (OS) benefit compared to the standard of care with a median OS benefit of 25 months compared to 19.6 months for everolimus and clinical benefit regardless of level of PD-L1 expression. The safety profile shown was consistent with previously reported Opdivo trials. The results were published in The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM).
    • CheckMate -057 – In this study evaluating Opdivo vs. docetaxel in previously treated patients with advanced NSQ NSCLC, Opdivo continued to demonstrate superior OS with an estimated 39% of patients alive at 18 months versus 23% for docetaxel, based on a minimum follow-up of 17.1 months. Opdivo also continued to demonstrate a reduction in the risk of death by 28%. Grade 3-4 treatment-related adverse events were reported in 10% of patients treated with Opdivo versus 54% in the docetaxel arm. The results were published in NEJM.
  • In September, the company announced results from multiple clinical trials at the World Conference on Lung Cancer in Denver:
    • CheckMate -017 and CheckMate -063 – In these two studies evaluating patients with previously treated SQ NSCLC, Opdivo demonstrated sustained survival benefit with an estimated 18 month OS rate of 27% (CheckMate -063) to 28% (CheckMate -017); survival benefit was independent of PD-L1 expression. The safety profile of Opdivo was consistent with previously-reported trials, and in CheckMate -017, was also favorable compared to docetaxel.
    • CheckMate -012 – In this multi-arm Phase 1b study evaluating Opdivo in patients with chemotherapy-na?ve advanced NSCLC, new dosing schedules of the Opdivo+Yervoy arms confirmed objective response rates (ORR) ranging from 13% to 39% depending on the administered regimen, and encouraging efficacy with highest ORR for the Opdivo 3 mg and Yervoy 1 mg (31% to 39%) regimen. Median duration of response was not reached in any of these arms with a median follow-up of 6.2 months to 16.6 months, and median progression-free survival ranged from 4.9 months to 10.6 months. Treatment-related serious adverse events reported in these cohorts for CheckMate -012 were consistent with other previously reported Opdivo+Yervoy cohorts of this trial, and the new dosing schedules resulted in less toxicity than previously-reported dosing schedules, and an acceptable tolerability profile with 10% or fewer subjects discontinuing for grade 3-4 adverse events.
  • In August, the company announced that the FDA extended the action date for the sBLA for Opdivo for the treatment of patients with previously untreated advanced melanoma. The company submitted additional data from the Opdivo clinical trial program to ensure the broadest data set, irrespective of BRAF status, was available for review. This submission constitutes a major amendment that will require additional time for review and the new projected FDA action date is November 27, 2015.

Yervoy

  • The company announced today that a Yervoy Phase 3 trial, Study -104 in subjects with stage IV/recurrent NSCLC, which compared the efficacy of Yervoy in combination with paclitaxel and carboplatin versus placebo, and versus paclitaxel and carboplatin alone did not meet the primary endpoint of overall survival for the Yervoy treatment arms and has been discontinued. No new safety concerns with Yervoy were identified in either study. The company will complete a full evaluation of the data and work with investigators on the future publication of the results.

Elotuzumab

  • In August, the FDA accepted for priority review the Biologics License Application for elotuzumab, an investigational Signaling Lymphocyte Activation Molecule (SLAMF7)-directed immunostimulatory antibody, for the treatment of multiple myeloma as combination therapy in patients who have received one or more prior therapies. Elotuzumab was previously granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation. The filing acceptance was primarily supported by data from ELOQUENT-2, a Phase 3, randomized, open-label study, which evaluated elotuzumab in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone versus lenalidomide and dexamethasone alone. Additionally, the filing was supported by data from study CA004-009, a Phase 2, randomized, open-label study that evaluated elotuzumab with bortezomib and dexamethasone versus bortezomib and dexamethasone alone.
  • In July, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) validated for review the Marketing Authorization Application for elotuzumab for the treatment of multiple myeloma as combination therapy in adult patients who have received one or more prior therapies. The application was granted accelerated assessment by the EMA’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use. Elotuzumab previously obtained orphan drug designation in the European Union (EU). The filing acceptance includes data from ELOQUENT-2 and Study CA004-009.

Sprycel

  • In August, the company and its partner Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, announced that the FDA approved an update to the Sprycel product labeling to include five-year efficacy and safety data in adult patients with newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome-positive (Ph+) chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in chronic phase (CP) and seven-year data in the same patient population who are resistant or intolerant to prior therapy, including imatinib.

Daklinza

  • In October, the FDA accepted for priority review three supplemental New Drug Applications (sNDAs) for Daklinza for use with sofosbuvir with or without ribavirin. The applications are for the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C (HCV) coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1), patients with advanced cirrhosis (including decompensated cirrhosis), and for patients with post-liver transplant recurrence of HCV. The new sNDAs accepted by the FDA for review include data from the ALLY-1 and ALLY-2 clinical trials.
  • In October, the company announced that the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended Daklinza in England and Wales for the treatment of adult patients with chronic HCV infection genotypes 1, 3 and 4.
  • In September, the company announced the European Commission approved an updated label for Daklinza for the treatment of chronic HCV genotype 3, one of the most difficult-to-treat genotypes. The update allows the use of Daklinza in combination with sofosbuvir for 12 weeks in patients without cirrhosis in all 28 Member States of the EU, and marks the first time these patients with genotype 3 HCV have a once-daily, all-oral treatment regimen of this shorter duration. The approval is based on data from the Phase 3 open-label ALLY-3 clinical trial.
  • In July, the FDA approved Daklinza for the treatment of patients with chronic HCV genotype 3. The approval marks the first time patients in the U.S. have a 12-week, once-daily, all-oral treatment option, and is the first approval for Daklinza in the U.S. The approval is based on data from the Phase 3 open-label ALLY-3 clinical trial.

HIV

  • In October, the company announced overall antiviral activity and safety results from a three-part Phase 2a proof-of-concept study of BMS-955176, a novel investigational therapy designed to prevent the maturation of HIV-1. The overall results of the study demonstrate BMS-955176’s antiretroviral activity against the HIV-1 virus as both monotherapy and in combination with other antiretroviral medicines, and across patient subtypes (B, C), including those infected with the HIV-1 virus with changes in a critical protein (“Gag polymorphisms”) that were not responsive to a previously investigated maturation inhibitor. Results were presented at the European AIDS Clinical Society’s 15th European AIDS Conference (EACS) in Barcelona.

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT UPDATE

  • In October, the company announced an exclusive worldwide license and collaboration agreement with Five Prime Therapeutics, Inc. for the development and commercialization of Five Prime’s colony stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R) antibody program, including FPA008 which is in Phase 1 development for immunology and oncology indications. The agreement replaces the existing clinical collaboration agreement between both companies to evaluate the safety, tolerability and preliminary efficacy of combining Opdivo with FPA008 in six tumor types.
  • In August, the company announced the establishment of the Immuno-Oncology Rare Population Malignancy (I-O RPM) program in the U.S. The I-O RPM program is a multi-institutional initiative with academic-based cancer centers focused on the clinical investigation of Immuno-Oncology therapeutics as potential treatment options for patients with high risk, poor prognostic cancers, defined as a rare population malignancy. As part of the I-O RPM program, Bristol-Myers Squibb subsequently announced two collaborations:
    • In August, the company announced an agreement with the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University (Lurie Cancer Center) and the Northwestern Medicine Developmental Therapeutics Institute (NMDTI) whereby the Lurie Cancer Center and NMDTI will conduct a range of early phase clinical studies and Bristol-Myers Squibb will fund positions within the NMDTI Developmental Therapeutics Fellowship program.
    • In September, the company announced an agreement with Moffitt Cancer Center in which Bristol-Myers Squibb and Moffitt will conduct a range of early phase clinical studies, including clinical investigations by young investigators to strengthen their development as clinical research scientists.
  • In August, the company announced an agreement that grants Bristol-Myers Squibb an exclusive right to acquire Promedior, a company pioneering the development of targeted therapeutics to treat fibrotic diseases, and gain worldwide rights to its lead asset PRM-151, a recombinant form of human pentraxin-2 protein in Phase 2 development for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and myelofibrosis (MF). PRM-151 has been granted Fast Track designation in the U.S. and Orphan Designation in the U.S. and Europe for the treatment of MF, and Orphan Designation in the U.S. and Europe for the treatment of IPF.
  • In August, the company announced a research collaboration and license agreement with QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute to discover novel therapeutic antibodies against an undisclosed Immuno-Oncology target.
  • In July, the company announced a clinical trial collaboration agreement with Kyowa Hakko Kirin Co., Ltd., to conduct a Phase 1/Phase 2 combination study of Opdivo and mogamulizumab, an anti-CCR4 antibody. The study, which will be conducted in the U.S., will focus on evaluating the safety, tolerability and anti-tumor activity of combining mogamulizumab and Opdivo as a potential treatment option for patients with advanced or metastatic solid tumors.