Catalyst Pharmaceuticals Reports Third Quarter 2021 Financial Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Catalyst Pharmaceuticals reported strong financial results for Q3 2021, achieving $35.9 million in FIRDAPSE revenue, a 23.1% increase year-over-year. The company plans to expand U.S. approval of FIRDAPSE to include pediatric LEMS patients. Catalyst's cash position stands at $174.8 million, bolstering its long-term growth strategy. The company also received favorable court support for orphan drug exclusivity and made strategic decisions for sustainable growth. However, GAAP net income for Q3 2021 was $10.3 million, down from $43.3 million in Q3 2020, due to a significant prior year tax asset.

Positive

• Record net FIRDAPSE revenue of $35.9 million in Q3 2021, up 23.1% from Q3 2020.
• Strong cash position of $174.8 million supports long-term growth.
• Favorable court decision supporting orphan drug exclusivity for FIRDAPSE.
• Plans to file a supplemental NDA for pediatric LEMS treatment.

Negative

• GAAP net income decreased to $10.3 million in Q3 2021 from $43.3 million in Q3 2020.
• Drop in net income attributed to a one-time tax asset recognition in the previous year.

Continued Strong Financial and Operational Performance in the Third Quarter 2021
FIRDAPSE® Revenue of $35.9 Million Increased 23.1% Compared to Third Quarter 2020
Plans to Seek to Expand the U.S. Approval of FIRDAPSE To Include Pediatric LEMS Patients
Strong Cash Position $174.8 Million Supports Long-term Growth Strategy
Company to Host Quarterly Conference Call on November 10, 2021, at 8:30 AM ET

CORAL GABLES, Fla., Nov. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Catalyst) (Nasdaq: CPRX), a commercial-stage, patient-centric biopharmaceutical company focused on in-licensing, developing, and commercializing novel high-quality medicines for patients living with rare diseases, today reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2021, and provided a corporate update.

"We delivered another quarter of strong financial results while making important progress on all fronts," said Patrick J. McEnany, Chairman and CEO of Catalyst. "We reported a record quarter for net sales for FIRDAPSE®, further underscoring the strength of our commercial capabilities while advancing our efforts in support of the orphan drug exclusivity of FIRDAPSE for the treatment of LEMS. We continued to execute on all key growth initiatives, including plans to expand the label for FIRDAPSE to include all LEMS patients, including the very few pediatric patients diagnosed with LEMS. Our quarterly achievements demonstrate continued performance excellence supported by several key strategic decisions that have positioned Catalyst firmly for the future. In saying that, we are excited about the path ahead as we continue to execute across all fronts to drive sustainable growth for the long term. "

Operational Highlights

• Achieved record net FIRDAPSE revenue in the third quarter of 2021 of $35.9 million driven by strong patient persistency and new patient enrollments, representing a 6.7% increase compared to the second quarter 2021.
  
  
• Received favorable decision from the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals supporting the orphan drug exclusivity for FIRDAPSE® (amifampridine) Tablets 10 mg for LEMS treatment in the U.S.
  
  
• Strengthened the intellectual property portfolio for FIRDAPSE with a second patent published in the Orange Book, extending the intellectual property to 2034, with additional patents pending.
  
  
• Advancing global expansion initiative with partner DyDo Pharma to initiate a small registrational trial for the development of FIRDAPSE® (amifampridine) Tablets 10 mg for the treatment of Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome in Japan in early 2022.
  
  
• Work continues on our long-acting candidate formulation of amifampridine phosphate for the treatment of LEMS.
  
  
• Plans underway to file a supplemental NDA for FIRDAPSE for the treatment of pediatric LEMS.
  
  
• After much evaluation, we are ending the development program for Musk-MG but will continue to support patients currently receiving FIRDAPSE to treat their MuSK-MG symptoms through investigator-initiated programs, in accordance with FDA regulations.
  
  
• Strong cash position increases scope of business development initiatives to expand the focus beyond FIRDAPSE through acquisition or in-licensing of products or companies.
  
  
• The Company repurchased 949,746 million shares during the third quarter 2021 under its share buyback program, at an average price of $5.32 per share, bringing the total shares purchased through September 30, 2021 to 1,749,746 shares, at an average price of $5.15 per share.
  

Third Quarter 2021 Financial Results

• Total Net FIRDAPSE Revenue in the third quarter of 2021 was $35.9 million, a 23.1% increase compared to $29.2 million for the third quarter of 2020. 
  
  
• Total Operating Income in the third quarter of 2021 was $14.0 million, compared to $11.7 million in the third quarter of 2020. 
  
  
• Research and Development Expenses in the third quarter of 2021 were $4.5 million, compared to $3.7 million in the third quarter of 2020. 
  
  
• Selling, General, and Administrative Expenses for the third quarter of 2021 were $12.2 million, compared to $10.0 million for the third quarter of 2020.
  
  
• Cash and Investments were approximately $174.8 million as of September 30, 2021, approximately $20 million increase when compared to $155.3 million as of June 30, 2021, with no funded debt in either period.
  
  
• GAAP Net Income for the third quarter of 2021 was $10.3 million ($0.10 per basic and diluted share), compared to $43.3 million ($0.42 per basic and $0.41 per diluted share) for the third quarter of 2020. Net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 was $30.2 million ($0.29 per basic and $0.28 per diluted share), compared to $63.5 million ($0.61 per basic and $0.60 per diluted share) for the comparable nine month period. Net income for the third quarter of 2020 benefitted from the one-time recording of an approximately $31.6 million deferred tax asset, upon reversal of a valuation allowance.
  

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Non-GAAP¹ net income for Q3-21 was $15.6 million ($0.15 per basic and $0.14 per diluted share), which excludes from GAAP net income of $10.3 million (i) stock-based compensation expense of $1.5 million, (ii) depreciation of $31 thousand, and (iii) the provision for income taxes of $3.7 million. This compares to non-GAAP¹ net income for Q3-20 of $13.2 million ($0.13 per basic and $0.12 per diluted share), which excludes from GAAP net income of $43.3 million (i) stock-based compensation expense of $1.5 million, (ii) depreciation of $30 thousand, and (iii) a benefit for income taxes of $31.6 million, as the Company recorded the deferred tax asset during Q3-20. A tabular presentation of non-GAAP¹ net income for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 is included below.
_________________________

¹ Statements made in this press release include non-GAAP financial measures. Such information is provided as additional information and not as an alternative to Catalyst's financial statements presented in accordance with the U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). These non-GAAP financial measures are intended to enhance an overall understanding of Catalyst's current financial performance. Catalyst believes that the non-GAAP financial measures presented in this press release provide investors and prospective investors with an alternative method for assessing Catalyst's operating results in a manner that Catalyst believes is focused on the performance of ongoing operations and provides a more consistent basis for comparison between periods. Non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for comparable GAAP accounting. Further, non-GAAP measures of net income used by Catalyst may be different from and not directly comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies.

The non-GAAP financial measures in this press release exclude from the calculation of net income (i) the expense associated with non-cash stock-based compensation, (ii) depreciation expense, and (iii) the (benefit) provision for income taxes. Non-GAAP income per share is calculated by dividing non-GAAP income by the weighted average common shares outstanding.

More detailed financial information and analysis can be found in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on November 9, 2021.

Conference Call

Catalyst management will host a conference call and webcast on Wednesday, November 10, 2021, at 8:30 AM ET to discuss the financial results and provide a corporate update.

To access the call, please dial 877-407-8912 for the United States and Canada or 201-689-8059 for International. A webcast of the call will be available on the Investors section of the Company's website at www.catalystpharma.com. A webcast replay will be available on the Catalyst website for 30 days following the call by visiting the Investor page of the Company's website at www.catalystpharma.com. 

About Catalyst Pharmaceuticals

Catalyst Pharmaceuticals is a commercial-stage, patient-centric biopharmaceutical company focused on in-licensing, developing, and commercializing novel high-quality medicines for patients living with rare diseases. With exceptional patient focus, Catalyst is committed to developing a robust pipeline of cutting-edge, first- or best-in-class medicines for rare diseases. Catalyst's New Drug Application for FIRDAPSE® (amifampridine) Tablets 10 mg for the treatment of adults with LEMS was approved in 2018 by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration ("FDA"), and FIRDAPSE is commercially available in the United States as a treatment for adults with LEMS. Further, Canada's national healthcare regulatory agency, Health Canada, approved the use of FIRDAPSE (amifampridine) for the treatment of adult patients in Canada with LEMS.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause Catalyst's actual results in future periods to differ materially from forecasted results. A number of factors, including (i) the continuing effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on Catalyst's net product revenues and net income, (ii) Catalyst's ability to locate and acquire new product candidates through acquisition or in-licensing, (iii) Catalyst's ability to successfully develop any new product candidates acquired or in-licensed, (iv) Catalyst's ability to successfully develop and commercialize a long-acting formulation of FIRDAPSE, and (v) those factors described in Catalyst's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year 2020 and Catalyst's other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), could adversely affect Catalyst. Copies of Catalyst's filings with the SEC are available from the SEC, may be found on Catalyst's website, or may be obtained upon request from Catalyst. Catalyst does not undertake any obligation to update the information contained herein, which speaks only as of this date.

CATALYST PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (unaudited)

(in thousands, except share data)

	For the Three Months Ended September 30,								For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2021				2020				2021				2020
Product revenue, net	$	35,890			$	29,167			$	99,731			$	87,908
License and other revenue		64				150				2,793				150
Total revenues		35,954				29,317				102,524				88,058
Operating costs and expenses:
Cost of sales		5,310				3,879				14,536				12,170
Research and development		4,487				3,749				11,944				12,322
Selling, general and administrative		12,153				9,985				36,401				30,881
Total operating costs and expenses		21,950				17,613				62,881				55,373
Operating income		14,004				11,704				39,643				32,685
Other income, net		68				33				211				481
Net income before income taxes		14,072				11,737				39,854				33,166
Income tax provision (benefit)		3,743				(31,603	)			9,681				(30,380		)
Net income	$	10,329			$	43,340			$	30,173			$	63,546
Net income per share:
Basic	$	0.10			$	0.42			$	0.29			$	0.61
Diluted	$	0.10			$	0.41			$	0.28			$	0.60
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic		103,196,550				103,535,431				103,470,762				103,452,025
Diluted		107,843,196				106,316,241				107,476,175				106,386,617

CATALYST PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP METRICS (unaudited)

(in thousands, except share data)

	For the Three Months Ended September 30,								For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2021				2020				2021				2020
GAAP net income	$	10,329			$	43,340			$	30,173			$	63,546
Non-GAAP adjustments:
Stock-based compensation expense		1,512				1,478				4,601				4,792
Depreciation		31				30				159				73
Income tax provision (benefit)		3,743				(31,603	)			9,681				(30,380	)
Non-GAAP net income	$	15,615			$	13,245			$	44,614			$	38,031

Non-GAAP net income per share:
Basic	$	0.15			$	0.13			$	0.43			$	0.37
Diluted	$	0.14			$	0.12			$	0.42			$	0.36
Weighted average shares outstanding – basic		103,196,550				103,535,431				103,470,762				103,452,025
Weighted average shares outstanding – diluted..		107,843,196				106,316,241				107,476,175				106,386,617

CATALYST PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands)

	September 30, 2021				December 31, 2020
	(unaudited)
ASSETS
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	154,836			$	130,237
Short-term investments		19,956				10,041
Accounts receivable, net		6,625				5,987
Inventory		6,950				4,651
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		4,428				8,328
Total current assets		192,795				159,244
Operating lease right-of-use asset		3,093				--
Property and equipment, net		951				130
Deferred tax assets		26,400				32,971
Deposits		9				9
Total assets	$	223,248			$	192,354
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	2,752			$	4,256
Accrued expenses and other liabilities		17,862				18,500
Total current liabilities		20,614				22,756
Operating lease liability, net of current portion		3,973				--
Total liabilities		24,587				22,756
Total stockholders’ equity		198,661				169,598
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	223,248			$	192,354

Media Contact
David Schull
Russo Partners
(858) 717-2310
david.schull@russopartnersllc.com

Investor Contact
Mary Coleman
Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
(305) 420-3200
mcoleman@catalystpharma.com

FAQ

What were Catalyst Pharmaceuticals' Q3 2021 earnings results?

Catalyst reported Q3 2021 net income of $10.3 million, down from $43.3 million in Q3 2020.

What is the revenue growth for FIRDAPSE in Q3 2021?

FIRDAPSE revenue for Q3 2021 reached $35.9 million, a 23.1% increase compared to Q3 2020.

How much cash does Catalyst Pharmaceuticals have as of September 30, 2021?

Catalyst has a cash position of $174.8 million as of September 30, 2021.

What expansion plans does Catalyst have for FIRDAPSE?

Catalyst plans to seek U.S. approval to expand FIRDAPSE's indication to include pediatric LEMS patients.

When will Catalyst Pharmaceuticals host its quarterly conference call?

Catalyst's quarterly conference call is scheduled for November 10, 2021, at 8:30 AM ET.