Axsome Therapeutics Reports Second Quarter 2024 Financial Results and Provides Business Update

Rhea-AI Summary

Axsome Therapeutics (NASDAQ: AXSM) reported strong Q2 2024 financial results, with total net product revenue of $87.2 million, up 87% year-over-year. Auvelity sales grew 135% to $65.0 million, while Sunosi revenue increased 16% to $22.1 million. The company resubmitted its NDA for AXS-07 in migraine and expects to submit an NDA for AXS-14 in fibromyalgia in Q3 2024. Axsome anticipates topline results from multiple Phase 3 trials in H2 2024, including studies of AXS-05 in Alzheimer's disease agitation and solriamfetol in ADHD. Despite strong revenue growth, the company reported a net loss of $79.3 million for Q2 2024, compared to $67.2 million in Q2 2023, primarily due to increased R&D and SG&A expenses.

Positive

• Total net product revenue increased 87% year-over-year to $87.2 million
• Auvelity sales grew 135% year-over-year to $65.0 million
• Sunosi revenue increased 16% year-over-year to $22.1 million
• Payer coverage for Auvelity in the commercial channel increased from 48% to 60% of lives covered
• NDA for AXS-07 in migraine resubmitted
• Multiple Phase 3 trial results expected in H2 2024
• Cash and cash equivalents of $315.7 million as of June 30, 2024

Negative

• Net loss increased to $79.3 million in Q2 2024 from $67.2 million in Q2 2023
• R&D expenses increased to $49.9 million from $20.6 million year-over-year
• SG&A expenses rose to $103.6 million from $78.9 million year-over-year
• Cash and cash equivalents decreased from $386.2 million at end of 2023 to $315.7 million at end of Q2 2024

Insights

Financial Analyst

Axsome Therapeutics' Q2 2024 results show strong revenue growth, with total net product revenue of $87.2 million, up 87% year-over-year. Notably, Auvelity sales surged 135% to $65.0 million, while Sunosi revenue grew 16% to $22.1 million. However, the company's net loss widened to $79.3 million, primarily due to increased R&D and SG&A expenses.

The company's cash position of $315.7 million is expected to fund operations until cash flow positivity. Expanded payer coverage for Auvelity (now at 76% of all covered lives) and strong prescription growth suggest continued revenue momentum. However, investors should monitor the increasing expenses and path to profitability.

Medical Research Analyst

Axsome's pipeline progress is impressive, with multiple late-stage trials advancing. Key developments include:

• NDA resubmission for AXS-07 in migraine
• Anticipated topline results for AXS-05 in Alzheimer's disease agitation (ADVANCE-2 and ACCORD-2 trials) in 2H 2024
• Phase 3 FOCUS trial results for solriamfetol in ADHD expected in 2H 2024
• Planned NDA submission for AXS-14 in fibromyalgia in Q3 2024

The diverse pipeline targeting major CNS disorders presents significant market potential. However, investors should be aware that clinical trial outcomes are uncertain and could impact the stock significantly.

Market Research Analyst

Axsome's commercial performance is robust, with Auvelity prescriptions growing 29% sequentially and Sunosi prescriptions up 8%. The expanded payer coverage for Auvelity, now at 60% of commercial lives, is a positive indicator for future growth. The company's focus on CNS disorders, which affect over 140 million people in the U.S., positions it in a large and growing market.

The recent patent litigation settlement with Unichem for Sunosi, allowing generic entry in 2042, provides long-term revenue visibility. However, investors should monitor competitive dynamics in the CNS space and potential pricing pressures as the portfolio expands.

Total 2Q 2024 net product revenue of $87.2 million, representing 87% year-over-year growth

Auvelity® 2Q 2024 net product sales of $65.0 million, representing 135% year-over-year growth

Sunosi® 2Q 2024 net product revenue of $22.1 million representing 16% year-over-year growth

NDA for AXS-07 in migraine resubmitted

Topline results of ADVANCE-2 Phase 3 trial of AXS-05 in Alzheimer’s disease agitation anticipated 2H 2024

Topline results of ACCORD-2 Phase 3 randomized withdrawal trial of AXS-05 in Alzheimer's disease agitation anticipated 2H 2024; target enrollment reached

Topline results of FOCUS Phase 3 trial of solriamfetol in ADHD anticipated 2H 2024

SUSTAIN Phase 3 trial of solriamfetol in shift work disorder initiated

NDA submission for AXS-14 in fibromyalgia expected 3Q 2024

NEW YORK, Aug. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Axsome Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: AXSM), a biopharmaceutical company developing and delivering novel therapies for the management of central nervous system (CNS) disorders, today announced financial results for the second quarter of 2024.

“We delivered another robust quarter driven by focused commercial execution and continued pipeline advancement,” said Herriot Tabuteau, MD, CEO of Axsome Therapeutics. “We continue to see strong demand for Auvelity and increased commercial payer coverage by more than 22 million lives as of August 1^st. The NDA for AXS-07 in migraine has been resubmitted, and we are tracking to submit the NDA for AXS-14 in fibromyalgia in the third quarter. Trials in four new indications for solriamfetol are now underway, and we remain on track to deliver topline results from the FOCUS Phase 3 trial in ADHD in the second half of this year. For our AXS-05 program in Alzheimer’s disease agitation, the ADVANCE-2 Phase 3 trial continues to progress, and the ACCORD-2 Phase 3 trial has reached target enrollment, positioning us to potentially report topline results for both of these pivotal trials in the second half of the year.”

Second Quarter 2024 Financial Highlights

• Total net product revenue for the second quarter of 2024 was $87.2 million, representing 87% year-over-year growth. Total net product revenue for the comparable period in 2023 was $46.7 million.
  
  
• Auvelity net product sales were $65.0 million for the second quarter of 2024, representing 135% year-over-year growth. Auvelity net product sales for the comparable period in 2023 were $27.6 million.
  
  
• Sunosi net product revenue was $22.1 million for the second quarter of 2024, consisting of $21.5 million in net product sales and $0.6 million in royalty revenue associated with sales in out-licensed territories, representing 16% year-over-year growth. Sunosi net product revenue for the comparable period in 2023 was $19.1 million, consisting of $18.4 million in net product sales and $0.7 million in royalty revenue.
  
  
• Total cost of revenue was $8.1 million for the second quarter of 2024. Total cost of revenue for the comparable period in 2023 was $4.6 million.
  
  
• Research and development (R&D) expenses were $49.9 million for the second quarter of 2024, compared to $20.6 million for the comparable period in 2023. The increase was primarily related to the initiation and continuation of solriamfetol Phase 3 trials in major depressive disorder, ADHD, and binge eating disorder, ongoing trials of AXS-05 and AXS-12, manufacturing costs associated with AXS-07 and AXS-14, post-marketing commitments for Auvelity and Sunosi, and higher personnel costs, including non-cash stock-based compensation, due to organizational growth.
  
  
• Selling, general, and administrative (SG&A) expenses were $103.6 million for the second quarter of 2024, compared to $78.9 million for the comparable period in 2023. The increase was primarily related to commercialization expenses largely driven by field force expansion and higher personnel costs, including non-cash stock-based compensation, due to organizational growth.
  
  
• Net loss for the second quarter of 2024 was $79.3 million or $(1.67) per share, compared to a net loss of $67.2 million or $(1.54) per share for the comparable period in 2023. The net loss in the second quarter of 2024 reflects $26.0 million in non-cash charges.
  
  
• Cash and cash equivalents totaled $315.7 million at June 30, 2024, compared to $386.2 million at December 31, 2023.
  
  
• Shares of common stock outstanding were 47,801,578 at June 30, 2024.
  

Financial Guidance

• Axsome believes that its current cash is sufficient to fund anticipated operations into cash flow positivity, based on the current operating plan.
  

Commercial Highlights

Auvelity

• Approximately 123,000 prescriptions were written for Auvelity in the second quarter of 2024, representing a 29% sequential increase versus the first quarter of 2024.
  
  
• Payer coverage for Auvelity in the commercial channel increased from 48% of lives covered last quarter to 60% of lives covered as of August 1. The proportion of lives covered in the government channel (Medicare and Medicaid) remains at approximately 100%. Payer coverage for Auvelity across all channels is now at approximately 76% of all covered lives. Axsome expects coverage to continue to expand and evolve.
  

Sunosi

• Approximately 45,000 prescriptions were written for Sunosi in the U.S. in the second quarter of 2024, representing an 8% increase versus the first quarter of 2024.
  
  
• Sunosi maintains broad payer coverage in the commercial channel with 95% of lives covered. Currently 83% of total lives across all channels are covered.
  

Development Pipeline

Axsome is advancing an industry-leading neuroscience pipeline encompassing five innovative, late-stage, patent-protected product candidates for 9 serious psychiatric and neurologic conditions, which affect more than 140 million people in the U.S. alone. Recent and anticipated progress for key pipeline programs is summarized below.

AXS-05

AXS-05 (dextromethorphan-bupropion) is Axsome’s novel, oral, investigational NMDA receptor antagonist and sigma-1 agonist being developed for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) agitation and smoking cessation. AXS-05 has been granted U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Breakthrough Therapy designation for AD agitation.

• Alzheimer’s Disease Agitation: Axsome is conducting the ADVANCE-2 study, a Phase 3, placebo-controlled, parallel group trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of AXS-05 in AD agitation. Patients completing ADVANCE-2 may enter a long-term open label safety extension trial. The Company anticipates topline results from the ADVANCE-2 trial in the second half of 2024.
  
  Axsome is also conducting the ACCORD-2 study, a Phase 3, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized withdrawal trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of AXS-05 in AD agitation. The enrollment target for the ACCORD-2 trial has been met and the Company now anticipates topline results in the second half of 2024.
  
  

• Smoking Cessation: Axsome plans to initiate a pivotal Phase 2/3 trial of AXS-05 in smoking cessation in 2024.
  

AXS-07

AXS-07 (MoSEIC™ meloxicam-rizatriptan) is Axsome’s novel, oral, rapidly absorbed, multi-mechanistic, investigational medicine being developed for the acute treatment of migraine.

• Migraine: The Company has resubmitted its New Drug Application (NDA) for AXS-07 for the acute treatment of migraine. The Company expects the NDA resubmission to be designated as Class 2, which would be subject to a six-month review.
  
  
• Axsome is conducting the EMERGE study, a multicenter, Phase 3, single-group trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of AXS-07 for the acute treatment of migraine headache in adults with a prior inadequate response to an oral CGRP inhibitor. The Company anticipates topline results from the EMERGE trial in the second half of 2024.
  

AXS-12

AXS-12 (reboxetine) is Axsome’s novel, oral, potent, investigational highly selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor and cortical dopamine modulator being developed for the treatment of narcolepsy. AXS-12 has been granted FDA Orphan Drug designation for narcolepsy.

• Narcolepsy: Axsome is conducting a Phase 3 open label safety extension trial of AXS-12 with topline results anticipated in the fourth quarter of 2024. AXS-12 has previously met the primary endpoints and demonstrated positive and statistically significant results in the completed SYMPHONY Phase 3 and CONCERT Phase 2 trials in patients with narcolepsy.
  

AXS-14

AXS-14 (esreboxetine) is Axsome’s novel, oral, potent, highly selective investigational norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor being developed for the management of fibromyalgia. Esreboxetine, the SS-enantiomer of reboxetine, is more potent and selective than racemic reboxetine.

• Fibromyalgia: Pre-submission activities for the Company’s NDA for AXS-14 for the management of fibromyalgia are substantially complete. The Company expects to submit the NDA in the third quarter of 2024. AXS-14 has previously met the primary endpoints and demonstrated positive and statistically significant results in a Phase 3 and in a Phase 2 trial for the management of fibromyalgia.
  

Solriamfetol

Solriamfetol is Axsome’s dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor and TAAR1 agonist being developed for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), major depressive disorder (MDD), binge eating disorder (BED), and excessive sleepiness associated with shift work disorder (SWD).

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Axsome is conducting the FOCUS study, a Phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of solriamfetol for the treatment of ADHD in adults. The Company anticipates topline results in the second half of 2024.
  
  
• Major Depressive Disorder: Axsome is conducting the PARADIGM study, a Phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of solriamfetol for the treatment of MDD. The Company anticipates topline results in 2025.
  
  
• Binge Eating Disorder: Axsome is conducting the ENGAGE study, a Phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of solriamfetol for the treatment of BED. The Company anticipates topline results in 2025.
  
  
• Shift Work Disorder: Axsome has initiated the SUSTAIN (Studying Solriamfetol Modulation of TAAR-1, Dopamine, and Norepinephrine in Shift Work Disorder) study, a Phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of solriamfetol for the treatment of SWD in adults. The Company anticipates topline results in 2026.
  

Business Update

• In June 2024, Axsome announced that it has resolved patent litigation with Unichem Laboratories Ltd. (Unichem) seeking approval to market a generic equivalent of Sunosi in the United States. The Company entered into a settlement agreement with Unichem Laboratories Ltd., which permits Unichem to begin selling its generic version of Sunosi on June 30, 2042, or earlier under certain circumstances. The June 30, 2042 date is also subject to potential extension for pediatric exclusivity.
  

Anticipated Milestones

• Regulatory:
  
  
  • AXS-14 for fibromyalgia, NDA submission (3Q 2024)
    
    
• Clinical Trial Topline Results:
  
  
  • Phase 3 ADVANCE-2 trial of AXS-05 in Alzheimer’s disease agitation (2H 2024)
    
    
  • Phase 3 ACCORD-2 trial of AXS-05 in Alzheimer’s disease agitation (2H 2024)
    
    
  • Phase 3 open-label safety extension trial of AXS-12 in narcolepsy (2H 2024)
    
    
  • Phase 3 FOCUS trial of solriamfetol in ADHD in adults (2H 2024)
    
    
  • Phase 3 EMERGE trial of AXS-07 in patients with migraine with inadequate response to oral CGRP inhibitors (2H 2024)
    
    
  • Phase 3 PARADIGM trial of solriamfetol in major depressive disorder (2025)
    
    
  • Phase 3 ENGAGE trial of solriamfetol in binge eating disorder (2025)
    
    
  • Phase 3 SUSTAIN trial of solriamfetol in shift work disorder (2026)
    
    
• Clinical Trial Initiations and Progress:
  
  
  • Pivotal Phase 2/3 trial of AXS-05 in smoking cessation, initiation (2024)
    

Conference Call Information

Axsome will host a conference call and webcast today at 8:00 AM Eastern to discuss second quarter 2024 financial results and provide a business update. To participate in the live conference call, please dial (877) 405-1239 (toll-free domestic). The live webcast can be accessed on the Investors page of the Company’s website at axsome.com. A replay of the webcast will be available for approximately 30 days following the live event.

About Axsome Therapeutics, Inc.

Axsome Therapeutics, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company developing and delivering novel therapies for central nervous system (CNS) conditions that have limited treatment options. Through development of therapeutic options with novel mechanisms of action, we are transforming the approach to treating CNS conditions. At Axsome, we are committed to developing products that meaningfully improve the lives of patients and provide new therapeutic options for physicians. For more information, please visit the Company’s website at axsome.com. The Company may occasionally disseminate material, nonpublic information on the company website.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain matters discussed in this press release are “forward-looking statements”. The Company may, in some cases, use terms such as “predicts,” “believes,” “potential,” “continue,” “estimates,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “plans,” “intends,” “may,” “could,” “might,” “will,” “should” or other words that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes to identify these forward-looking statements. In particular, the Company’s statements regarding trends and potential future results are examples of such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements include risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the continued commercial success of the Company’s Sunosi^® and Auvelity^® products and the success of the Company’s efforts to obtain any additional indication(s) with respect to solriamfetol and/or AXS-05; the Company’s ability to maintain and expand payer coverage; the success, timing and cost of the Company’s ongoing clinical trials and anticipated clinical trials for the Company’s current product candidates, including statements regarding the timing of initiation, pace of enrollment and completion of the trials (including the Company’s ability to fully fund the Company’s disclosed clinical trials, which assumes no material changes to the Company’s currently projected revenues or expenses), futility analyses and receipt of interim results, which are not necessarily indicative of the final results of the Company’s ongoing clinical trials, and/or data readouts, and the number or type of studies or nature of results necessary to support the filing of a new drug application (“NDA”) for any of the Company’s current product candidates; the Company’s ability to fund additional clinical trials to continue the advancement of the Company’s product candidates; the timing of and the Company’s ability to obtain and maintain U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) or other regulatory authority approval of, or other action with respect to, the Company’s product candidates, including statements regarding the timing of any NDA submission; whether issues identified by FDA in the complete response letter may impact the potential approvability of the Company’s NDA for AXS-07 for the acute treatment of migraine in adults with or without aura, pursuant to the Company’s special protocol assessment for the MOMENTUM clinical trial; the Company’s ability to successfully defend its intellectual property or obtain the necessary licenses at a cost acceptable to the Company, if at all; the successful implementation of the Company’s research and development programs and collaborations; the success of the Company’s license agreements; the acceptance by the market of the Company’s products and product candidates, if approved; the Company’s anticipated capital requirements, including the amount of capital required for the continued commercialization of Sunosi and Auvelity and for the Company’s commercial launch of its other product candidates, if approved, and the potential impact on the Company’s anticipated cash runway; the Company’s ability to convert sales to recognized revenue and maintain a favorable gross to net sales; unforeseen circumstances or other disruptions to normal business operations arising from or related to domestic political climate, geo-political conflicts or a global pandemic and other factors, including general economic conditions and regulatory developments, not within the Company’s control. The factors discussed herein could cause actual results and developments to be materially different from those expressed in or implied by such statements. The forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this press release and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstance.

Axsome Therapeutics, Inc. Selected Consolidated Financial Data
Axsome Therapeutics, Inc. Consolidated Balance Sheets (In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
		June 30, 2024				December 31, 2023
		(Unaudited)
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$	315,657			$	386,193
Accounts receivables, net			120,342				94,820
Inventories, net			15,220				15,135
Prepaid and other current assets			11,808				8,115
Total current assets			463,027				504,263
Equipment, net			724				846
Right-of-use asset - operating lease			6,071				6,772
Goodwill			12,042				12,042
Intangible asset, net			50,107				53,286
Non-current inventory and other assets			16,255				11,027
Total assets		$	548,226			$	588,236
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable		$	61,340			$	40,679
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities			116,771				90,501
Operating lease liability, current portion			1,419				1,267
Contingent consideration, current			7,040				6,407
Total current liabilities			186,570				138,854
Contingent consideration, non-current			69,620				73,300
Loan payable, long-term			179,330				178,070
Operating lease liability, long-term			6,829				7,035
Finance lease liability, long-term			3,025				—
Total liabilities			445,374				397,259
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value per share (10,000,000 shares authorized, none issued and outstanding)			—				—
Common stock, $0.0001 par value per share (150,000,000 shares authorized, 47,801,578 and 47,351,363 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively)			5				5
Additional paid-in capital			1,086,120				1,026,543
Accumulated deficit			(983,273	)			(835,571	)
Total stockholders’ equity			102,852				190,977
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity		$	548,226			$	588,236

Axsome Therapeutics, Inc. Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) (In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
		Three months ended June 30,								Six months ended June 30,
		2024				2023				2024				2023
Revenues:
Product sales, net		$	86,520			$	46,017			$	160,616			$	74,586
License revenue			—				—				—				65,735
Royalty revenue			646				683				1,549				955
Total revenues			87,166				46,700				162,165				141,276
Operating expenses:
Cost of revenue (excluding amortization and depreciation)			8,055				4,599				14,352				12,155
Research and development			49,853				20,581				86,683				38,374
Selling, general and administrative			103,554				78,935				202,524				153,126
Loss in fair value of contingent consideration			2,160				6,053				748				5,891
Intangible asset amortization			1,590				1,589				3,179				3,161
Total operating expenses			165,212				111,757				307,486				212,707
Loss from operations			(78,046	)			(65,057	)			(145,321	)			(71,431	)
Interest expense, net			(1,299	)			(2,730	)			(2,381	)			(4,994	)
Loss before income taxes			(79,345	)			(67,787	)			(147,702	)			(76,425	)
Income tax benefit (expense)			—				617				—				(1,963	)
Net loss		$	(79,345	)		$	(67,170	)		$	(147,702	)		$	(78,388	)
Net loss per common share, basic and diluted		$	(1.67	)		$	(1.54	)		$	(3.11	)		$	(1.80	)
Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic and diluted			47,573,229				43,669,820				47,482,602				43,597,131

Axsome Contacts:
Investors:
Mark Jacobson
Chief Operating Officer
Axsome Therapeutics, Inc.
One World Trade Center, 22^nd Floor
New York, NY 10007
Tel: 212-332-3243
Email: mjacobson@axsome.com
www.axsome.com

Media:
Darren Opland
Director, Corporate Communications
Axsome Therapeutics, Inc.
One World Trade Center, 22^nd Floor
New York, NY 10007
Tel: 929-837-1065
Email: dopland@axsome.com
www.axsome.com

FAQ

What was Axsome Therapeutics' (AXSM) total net product revenue for Q2 2024?

Axsome Therapeutics reported total net product revenue of $87.2 million for Q2 2024, representing an 87% year-over-year growth.

How much did Auvelity sales grow in Q2 2024 for Axsome Therapeutics (AXSM)?

Auvelity net product sales grew 135% year-over-year to $65.0 million in Q2 2024.

When does Axsome Therapeutics (AXSM) expect to submit the NDA for AXS-14 in fibromyalgia?

Axsome Therapeutics expects to submit the NDA for AXS-14 in fibromyalgia in the third quarter of 2024.

What is the cash position of Axsome Therapeutics (AXSM) as of June 30, 2024?

Axsome Therapeutics reported cash and cash equivalents totaling $315.7 million as of June 30, 2024.

When does Axsome Therapeutics (AXSM) anticipate topline results from the FOCUS Phase 3 trial of solriamfetol in ADHD?

Axsome Therapeutics anticipates topline results from the FOCUS Phase 3 trial of solriamfetol in ADHD in the second half of 2024.