United Therapeutics Corporation Reports First Quarter 2015 Financial Results

SILVER SPRING, Md. and RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., April 28, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- United Therapeutics Corporation (NASDAQ: UTHR) today announced its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2015.

"Our total revenues increased as compared to the prior year and we are continuing to see a growing number of patients being prescribed our pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) products," said Martine Rothblatt, Ph.D., United Therapeutics' Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer. "Since its commercial launch last June, Orenitram^® is being prescribed to an increasing number of patients and this momentum underscores our belief in the growing clinical support for the use of our orally-administered prostacyclin analogues."

Key financial highlights include (in thousands, except per share data):

Financial Results for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2015

Revenues

The table below summarizes the components of net revenues (dollars in thousands):

Revenues for the quarter ended March 31, 2015 increased by $38.1 million, compared to the same quarter in 2014. The growth in revenues reflects the continued increase in the number of patients being treated with our cardiopulmonary products and the commencement of Orenitram sales in the second quarter of 2014.

Expenses

Research and development expense. The table below summarizes research and development expense by major project and non-project components (dollars in thousands):

Share-based compensation expense (benefit). The increase in share-based compensation of $101.6 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2015, compared to the same quarter in 2014, resulted principally from a 33 percent increase in the price of our common stock during the quarter ended March 31, 2015, as compared to a 17 percent decrease in the price of our common stock in the same quarter in 2014.

Selling, general and administrative expense. The table below summarizes selling, general and administrative expense by major categories (dollars in thousands):

General and administrative. The decrease in general and administrative expense of $5.4 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2015, compared to the same quarter in 2014, was driven by decreases in professional and consulting fees and grants to non-affiliated, not-for-profit organizations, offset in part by increases in salaries and related expenses.

Sales and marketing. The increase in sales and marketing expenses of $4.8 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2015, compared to the same quarter in 2014, was driven by increases in marketing activities.

Share-based compensation expense (benefit). The increase in share-based compensation of $181.7 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2015, compared to the same quarter in 2014, resulted principally from a 33 percent increase in the price of our common stock during the quarter ended March 31, 2015, as compared to a 17 percent decrease in the price of our common stock in the same quarter in 2014.

Cost of product sales. The table below summarizes cost of product sales by major categories (dollars in thousands):

Cost of product sales. The decrease in cost of product sales for the quarter ended March 31, 2015, compared to the same quarter in 2014, was due to the expiration of our royalty payment obligation to GlaxoSmithKline plc in October 2014. During the three months ended March 31, 2014, we paid GlaxoSmithKline plc $20.0 million in royalties.

Share-based compensation expense (benefit). The increase in share-based compensation of $11.9 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2015, compared to the same quarter in 2014, resulted principally from a 33 percent increase in the price of our common stock during the quarter ended March 31, 2015, as compared to a 17 percent decrease in the price of our common stock in the same quarter in 2014.

Income Tax Expense

The provision for income taxes was a $151,000 benefit as a result of the net loss for the quarter ended March 31, 2015, compared to a $75.7 million expense for the same quarter in 2014. Our estimated annual effective tax rates were approximately 38 percent and approximately 35 percent as of March 31, 2015 and March 31, 2014, respectively.  Our 2015 estimated annual effective tax rate increased as of March 31, 2015, primarily due to an increase in the amount of non-deductible compensation expense during 2015, as compared to 2014.

Non-GAAP Earnings

Non-GAAP earnings is defined as net income (loss), adjusted for the following charges, which are presented net of the annual effective income tax rate, as applicable: (1) interest; (2) license fees; (3) depreciation and amortization; (4) impairment charges; and (5) share-based compensation expense (stock option, share tracking award and employee stock purchase plan).

A reconciliation of net income to non-GAAP earnings is presented below (in thousands, except per share data):

Conference Call

We will host a half-hour teleconference on Tuesday, April 28, 2015, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The teleconference is accessible by dialing 1-877-351-5881, with international callers dialing 1-970-315-0533. A rebroadcast of the teleconference will be available for one week by dialing 1-855-859-2056, with international callers dialing 1-404-537-3406, and using access code: 28256741.

This teleconference is also being webcast and can be accessed via our website at http://ir.unither.com/events.cfm.

About United Therapeutics

United Therapeutics Corporation is a biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of innovative products to address the unmet medical needs of patients with chronic and life-threatening conditions.

Non-GAAP Financial Information

This press release contains a financial measure, non-GAAP earnings, that does not comply with United States generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). This measure supplements our financial results prepared in accordance with GAAP as reported below.

We use non-GAAP earnings to assist us in: (1) planning, including the preparation of our annual operating budget; (2) allocating resources in an effort to enhance the financial performance of our business; (3) evaluating the effectiveness of our operational strategies; and (4) assessing our capacity to fund capital expenditures and expand our business. We believe this non-GAAP financial measure improves investors' understanding of our financial results by excluding certain expenses that we do not consider when evaluating and comparing the performance of our core operations and making operating decisions. However, there are limitations in the use of this non-GAAP financial measure in that it excludes certain operating expenses that are recurring in nature. In addition, our calculation of this non-GAAP financial measure may differ from the methodology used by other companies. The presentation of this non-GAAP financial measure should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for our financial results prepared in accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation of net income, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, to non-GAAP earnings can be found in the table above under the heading, Non-GAAP Earnings.

Forward-looking Statements

Statements included in this press release that are not historical in nature are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include, among others, statements relating to the continued growth of patients being prescribed our products, including Orenitram. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, such as those described in our periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, that could cause actual results to differ materially from anticipated results. Consequently, such forward-looking statements are qualified by the cautionary statements, cautionary language and risk factors set forth in our periodic reports and documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K. We claim the protection of the safe harbor contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 for forward-looking statements. We are providing this information as of April 28, 2015, and assume no obligation to update or revise the information contained in this press release whether as a result of new information, future events or any other reason. [uthr-g]

Orenitram, Remodulin and Tyvaso are registered trademarks of United Therapeutics Corporation.

Adcirca is a registered trademark of Eli Lilly and Company.

SOURCE United Therapeutics Corporation

Related Links

http://www.unither.com

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