Amgen Reports Fourth Quarter And Full Year 2016 Financial Results

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif., Feb. 2, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN) today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and full year of 2016. Key results include:

• For the fourth quarter, total revenues increased 8 percent versus the fourth quarter of 2015 to $6.0 billion.
  • Product sales grew 6 percent driven by Enbrel^® (etanercept), Prolia^® (denosumab), Repatha^® (evolocumab) and KYPROLIS^® (carfilzomib).
• For the full year, total revenues increased 6 percent to $23.0 billion, with 5 percent product sales growth.
• GAAP earnings per share (EPS) increased 9 percent in the fourth quarter to $2.59 and 13 percent for the full year to $10.24, driven by higher revenues and higher operating margins.
  • GAAP operating income increased 22 percent in the fourth quarter to $2.5 billion and 16 percent for the full year to $9.8 billion.
• Non-GAAP EPS increased 11 percent in the fourth quarter to $2.89 and 12 percent for the full year to $11.65, driven by higher revenues and higher operating margins.
  • Non-GAAP operating income increased 21 percent in the fourth quarter to $2.9 billion and 14 percent for the full year to $11.4 billion.
• 2017 total revenues guidance of $22.3-$23.1 billion; EPS guidance of $10.45-$11.31 on a GAAP basis and $11.80-$12.60 on a non-GAAP basis.
• The Company generated $9.6 billion of free cash flow for the full year versus $9.1 billion in 2015 driven by higher net income.

"We finished the year with strong operating performance," said Robert A. Bradway, chairman and chief executive officer. "We anticipate several new product development opportunities and launches in 2017, and are excited about the Repatha cardiovascular outcomes data we released today. We have established a firm foundation for longer-term growth."

 

Product Sales Performance

• Total product sales increased 6 percent for the fourth quarter of 2016 versus the fourth quarter of 2015. The increase was driven primarily by ENBREL, Prolia, Repatha and KYPROLIS. Product sales increased 5 percent for the full year.
• ENBREL sales increased 14 percent for the fourth quarter driven by net selling price and favorable changes in inventory levels, offset partially by the impact of competition. Sales increased 11 percent for the full year driven by net selling price, offset partially by the impact of competition.
• Neulasta^® (pegfilgrastim) sales decreased 3 percent for the fourth quarter and 1 percent for the full year driven by lower unit demand.
• Aranesp^® (darbepoetin alfa) sales increased 5 percent for the fourth quarter and 7 percent for the full year driven by higher unit demand due to a shift by some U.S. dialysis customers from EPOGEN^® (epoetin alfa) to Aranesp, offset partially by unfavorable changes in net selling price.
• Prolia sales increased 22 percent for the fourth quarter and 25 percent for the full year driven by higher unit demand.
• Sensipar/Mimpara^® (cinacalcet) sales increased 7 percent for the fourth quarter driven by net selling price. Sales increased 12 percent for the full year driven by net selling price and higher unit demand.
• XGEVA^® (denosumab) sales increased 6 percent for the fourth quarter and 9 percent for the full year driven by higher unit demand.
• EPOGEN sales decreased 8 percent for the fourth quarter and 31 percent for the full year driven by the impact of competition and a shift by some U.S. dialysis customers to Aranesp.
• KYPROLIS sales increased 24 percent for the fourth quarter and 35 percent for the full year driven by higher unit demand.
• NEUPOGEN^® (filgrastim) sales decreased 34 percent for the fourth quarter and 27 percent for the full year driven primarily by the impact of competition in the U.S.
• Nplate^® (romiplostim) sales increased 9 percent for the fourth quarter and 11 percent for the full year driven by higher unit demand.
• Vectibix^® (panitumumab) sales increased 6 percent for the fourth quarter and 11 percent for the full year driven by higher unit demand.
• Repatha sales growth for the fourth quarter and full year was driven by higher unit demand.
• BLINCYTO^® (blinatumomab) sales increased 32 percent for the fourth quarter and 49 percent for the full year driven by higher unit demand.

Operating Expense, Operating Margin and Tax Rate Analysis

On a GAAP basis:

• Total Operating Expenses decreased 1 percent in the fourth quarter and were flat for the full year, with all expense categories reflecting savings from our transformation and process improvement efforts. Cost of Sales margin improved by 1.3 percentage points in the fourth quarter and 1.2 percentage points for the full year driven primarily by manufacturing efficiencies. Research & Development (R&D) expenses were flat for the fourth quarter. For the full year, R&D expenses decreased 6 percent driven primarily by lower spending required to support certain later-stage clinical programs and transformation and process improvement efforts, offset partially by external business development activities. Selling, General & Administrative (SG&A) expenses decreased 7 percent in the fourth quarter due to the Oct. 31, 2016, expiration of ENBREL residual royalty payments. For the full year, SG&A expenses increased 4 percent driven primarily by investments in new product launches, offset partially by the expiration of ENBREL residual royalty payments. Other expenses increased in the fourth quarter and for the full year as the prior year periods included gains from the sale of assets related to our site closures.
• Operating Margin improved by 5.8 percentage points in the fourth quarter to 43.9 percent, and 4.3 percentage points for the full year to 44.7 percent.
• Tax Rate for the fourth quarter increased 9.3 percentage points driven primarily by changes in the geographic mix of earnings and the discrete impact of the enactment of the federal R&D credit in the fourth quarter of 2015. The full year tax rate increased 2.7 percentage points driven by changes in the geographic mix of earnings, offset partially by the benefit of adopting Accounting Standards Update 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting (ASU 2016-09).

On a non-GAAP basis:

• Total Operating Expenses decreased 2 percent in the fourth quarter and 1 percent for the full year, with all expense categories reflecting savings from our transformation and process improvement efforts. Cost of Sales margin improved by 1.0 percentage points in the fourth quarter and 1.2 percentage points for the full year driven primarily by manufacturing efficiencies. R&D expenses were flat in the fourth quarter. For the full year, R&D expenses decreased 4 percent driven primarily by lower spending required to support certain later-stage clinical programs and transformation and process improvement efforts, offset partially by external business development activities. SG&A expenses decreased 4 percent in the fourth quarter due to the Oct. 31, 2016, expiration of ENBREL residual royalty payments. For the full year, SG&A expenses increased 5 percent driven primarily by investments in new product launches, offset partially by the expiration of ENBREL residual royalty payments.
• Operating Margin improved by 6.1 percentage points in the fourth quarter to 50.5 percent, and 4.3 percentage points for the year to 52.3 percent.
• Tax Rate for the fourth quarter increased 7.1 percentage points driven primarily by changes in the geographic mix of earnings and the discrete impact of the enactment of the federal R&D credit in the fourth quarter of 2015. The full year tax rate increased 2.0 percentage points driven by changes in the geographic mix of earnings, offset partially by the benefit of adopting ASU 2016-09.

Cash Flow and Balance Sheet

• The Company generated $2.9 billion of free cash flow in the fourth quarter of 2016 versus $1.9 billion in the fourth quarter of 2015 due primarily to the timing of tax and other payments, as well as higher net income. The Company generated $9.6 billion of free cash flow in 2016 versus $9.1 billion in 2015 due to higher net income.
• The Company's first quarter 2017 dividend of $1.15 per share declared on Dec. 20, 2016, will be paid on March 8, 2017, to all stockholders of record as of Feb. 15, 2017. This represents a 15 percent increase from that paid in each of the previous four quarters.
• During the fourth quarter, the Company repurchased 6.7 million shares of common stock at a total cost of $1.0 billion. For the full year, the Company repurchased 19.7 million shares of common stock at a total cost of $3.0 billion. At the end of 2016, the Company had $4.1 billion remaining under its stock repurchase authorization.

2017 Guidance

For the full year 2017, the Company expects:

• Total revenues in the range of $22.3 billion to $23.1 billion.
• On a GAAP basis, EPS in the range of $10.45 to $11.31 and a tax rate in the range of 16 percent to 18 percent.
• On a non-GAAP basis, EPS in the range of $11.80 to $12.60 and a tax rate in the range of 18.5 percent to 19.5 percent.
• Capital expenditures to be approximately $700 million.
• Share repurchases of approximately $2.5 billion to $3.5 billion.

*Event driven study; ^†Trade name provisionally approved by FDA; CV = cardiovascular; SRE =
skeletal-related event

The Company provided the following updates on selected product and pipeline programs:

Repatha 

• In December, the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) adopted a positive opinion for an extension to the marketing authorization of a new 420 mg single-dose delivery option.
• Data from a Phase 3 study evaluating the effects of Repatha on cardiovascular outcomes that met its primary composite endpoint and key secondary composite endpoint will be presented at the American College of Cardiology 66^th Annual Scientific Session on March 17.

Omecamtiv mecarbil

• Enrollment of the Phase 3 cardiovascular outcomes study in chronic heart failure patients commenced in Q1 2017.

KYPROLIS

• The primary endpoint in a Phase 3 study of once weekly KYPROLIS administration in relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma patients (ARROW) has been modified from overall response rate to progression-free survival, an event driven endpoint, with results expected in 2019.
• In November, a collaboration was established with Janssen Biotech, Inc. (Janssen) to evaluate the combination of KYPROLIS and Janssen's DARZALEX^® (daratumumab) in multiple clinical studies in patients with multiple myeloma.
• A Phase 3 registrational study evaluating KYPROLIS in combination with DARZALEX and dexamethasone compared to KYPROLIS and dexamethasone alone in patients with multiple myeloma who have had one, two or three prior lines of therapy is anticipated to begin enrollment in Q2 2017.

XGEVA

• Regulatory submissions for the prevention of skeletal-related events in multiple myeloma patients are expected in 2017.

BLINCYTO

• Regulatory submissions for Philadelphia chromosome-positive relapsed or refractory (R/R) B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) are expected in 2017.  BLINCYTO is currently approved for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with Philadelphia chromosome-negative R/R B-cell precursor ALL.
• Phase 2/3 studies in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma will enroll patients in 2017.

EVENITY™ (romosozumab)

• In December, an application for marketing approval for the treatment of osteoporosis for men and women at high risk for fracture was submitted to the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency in Japan.  This follows the postmenopausal osteoporosis U.S. filing in 2016 with a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) target action date of July 19, 2017.
• Primary results from an event driven active controlled Phase 3 fracture study (ARCH) in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis are expected in Q2 2017.

Erenumab

• In November, a second Phase 3 study met its primary endpoint, demonstrating statistically significant reductions from baseline in monthly migraine days in patients with episodic migraine treated with either 70 mg or 140 mg erenumab compared with placebo.
• Regulatory submissions for the prevention of episodic and chronic migraine are expected in Q2 2017.

CNP520

• In December, FDA granted fast track designation to CNP520, a small molecule beta-site amyloid precursor protein-cleaving enzyme-1 (BACE) inhibitor for the potential treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

Parsabiv

• FDA has set a Feb. 9, 2017, PDUFA target action date for the review of Parsabiv for the treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism (sHPT) in adult patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) on hemodialysis.
• In November, the EMA granted marketing authorization for the treatment of sHPT in adult patients with CKD on hemodialysis.

ENBREL

• In November, FDA approved the supplemental Biologics License Application (BLA) for the expanded use to treat pediatric patients (ages 4-17) with chronic moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.

ABP 215 (biosimilar bevacizumab)

• In January 2017, a BLA was accepted by FDA with a Sept. 14, 2017, Biosimilar User Fee target action date.
• In December, a Marketing Authorization Application was submitted to the EMA.

ABP 501 (biosimilar adalimumab)

• In January 2017, the CHMP adopted a positive opinion for the Marketing Authorization of ABP 501, recommending approval for all available indications. ABP 501 has been recommended for approval for the treatment of certain inflammatory diseases in adults, including moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, severe ankylosing spondylitis (AS), severe axial spondyloarthritis without radiographic evidence of AS, moderate-to-severe chronic plaque psoriasis, moderate-to-severe hidradenitis suppurativa, non-infectious intermediate, posterior and panuveitis, moderate-to-severe Crohn's disease and moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis. The CHMP opinion also recommends approval for the treatment of certain pediatric inflammatory diseases, including moderate-to-severe Crohn's disease (ages six and older), severe chronic plaque psoriasis (ages four and older), enthesitis-related arthritis (ages six and older) and polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (ages two and older).

Erenumab and CNP520 are developed in collaboration with Novartis AG
Omecamtiv mecarbil is developed in collaboration with Cytokinetics and in an alliance with Servier for certain territories.
EVENITY™ is developed in collaboration with UCB globally, as well as our joint venture partner Astellas in Japan
DARZALEX^® is a registered trademark of Janssen Biotech, Inc.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures
In this news release, management has presented its operating results for the fourth quarters and full years of 2016 and 2015, in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and on a non-GAAP basis. In addition, management has presented its full year 2017 EPS and tax rate guidance in accordance with GAAP and on a non-GAAP basis. These non-GAAP financial measures are computed by excluding certain items related to acquisitions, restructuring and certain other items from the related GAAP financial measures. Reconciliations for these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures are included in the news release. Management has also presented Free Cash Flow (FCF), which is a non-GAAP financial measure, for the fourth quarters and full years of 2016 and 2015. FCF is computed by subtracting capital expenditures from operating cash flow, each as determined in accordance with GAAP.

The Company believes that its presentation of non-GAAP financial measures provides useful supplementary information to and facilitates additional analysis by investors. The Company uses certain non-GAAP financial measures to enhance an investor's overall understanding of the financial performance and prospects for the future of the Company's ongoing business activities by facilitating comparisons of results of ongoing business operations among current, past and future periods.  The Company believes that FCF provides a further measure of the Company's liquidity.

The Company uses the non-GAAP financial measures set forth in the news release in connection with its own budgeting and financial planning internally to evaluate the performance of the business, including to allocate resources and to evaluate results relative to incentive compensation targets. The non-GAAP financial measures are in addition to, not a substitute for, or superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP.

About Amgen
Amgen is committed to unlocking the potential of biology for patients suffering from serious illnesses by discovering, developing, manufacturing and delivering innovative human therapeutics. This approach begins by using tools like advanced human genetics to unravel the complexities of disease and understand the fundamentals of human biology.

Amgen focuses on areas of high unmet medical need and leverages its expertise to strive for solutions that improve health outcomes and dramatically improve people's lives. A biotechnology pioneer since 1980, Amgen has grown to be one of the world's leading independent biotechnology companies, has reached millions of patients around the world and is developing a pipeline of medicines with breakaway potential. 

For more information, visit www.amgen.com and follow us on www.twitter.com/amgen.

Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on the current expectations and beliefs of Amgen. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including estimates of revenues, operating margins, capital expenditures, cash, other financial metrics, expected legal, arbitration, political, regulatory or clinical results or practices, customer and prescriber patterns or practices, reimbursement activities and outcomes and other such estimates and results. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, including those discussed below and more fully described in the Securities and Exchange Commission reports filed by Amgen, including our most recent annual report on Form 10-K and any subsequent periodic reports on Form 10-Q and Form 8-K. Unless otherwise noted, Amgen is providing this information as of the date of this news release and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this document as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual results may differ materially from those we project. Our results may be affected by our ability to successfully market both new and existing products domestically and internationally, clinical and regulatory developments involving current and future products, sales growth of recently launched products, competition from other products including biosimilars, difficulties or delays in manufacturing our products and global economic conditions. In addition, sales of our products are affected by pricing pressure, political and public scrutiny and reimbursement policies imposed by third-party payers, including governments, private insurance plans and managed care providers and may be affected by regulatory, clinical and guideline developments and domestic and international trends toward managed care and healthcare cost containment. Furthermore, our research, testing, pricing, marketing and other operations are subject to extensive regulation by domestic and foreign government regulatory authorities. We or others could identify safety, side effects or manufacturing problems with our products after they are on the market. Our business may be impacted by government investigations, litigation and product liability claims. In addition, our business may be impacted by the adoption of new tax legislation or exposure to additional tax liabilities. If we fail to meet the compliance obligations in the corporate integrity agreement between us and the U.S. government, we could become subject to significant sanctions. Further, while we routinely obtain patents for our products and technology, the protection offered by our patents and patent applications may be challenged, invalidated or circumvented by our competitors, or we may fail to prevail in present and future intellectual property litigation. We perform a substantial amount of our commercial manufacturing activities at a few key facilities and also depend on third parties for a portion of our manufacturing activities, and limits on supply may constrain sales of certain of our current products and product candidate development. In addition, we compete with other companies with respect to many of our marketed products as well as for the discovery and development of new products. Discovery or identification of new product candidates cannot be guaranteed and movement from concept to product is uncertain; consequently, there can be no guarantee that any particular product candidate will be successful and become a commercial product. Further, some raw materials, medical devices and component parts for our products are supplied by sole third-party suppliers. Certain of our distributors, customers and payers have substantial purchasing leverage in their dealings with us. The discovery of significant problems with a product similar to one of our products that implicate an entire class of products could have a material adverse effect on sales of the affected products and on our business and results of operations. Our efforts to acquire other companies or products and to integrate the operations of companies we have acquired may not be successful. We may not be able to access the capital and credit markets on terms that are favorable to us, or at all. We are increasingly dependent on information technology systems, infrastructure and data security. Our stock price is volatile and may be affected by a number of events. Our business performance could affect or limit the ability of our Board of Directors to declare a dividend or our ability to pay a dividend or repurchase our common stock.

CONTACT:  Amgen, Thousand Oaks
Trish Hawkins, 805-447-5631 (media)
Arvind Sood, 805-447-1060 (investors)

SOURCE Amgen

Related Links

http://www.amgen.com