Eton Pharmaceuticals Reports Second Quarter 2023 Financial Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Eton Pharmaceuticals reports Q2 revenue of $12.0M and net income of $4.6M. Product sales and royalty revenue of $6.5M, up 175% YoY and 22% QoQ. Cash on hand is $21.6M. Betaine Anhydrous launched successfully. ET-400 on track for NDA submission in Q4 2023. Increased revenue expectation of $30M for this year. Strong growth prospects and goal of having 10 commercial rare disease products by end of 2025.

Positive

• Q2 revenue of $12.0M and net income of $4.6M
• Product sales and royalty revenue up 175% YoY and 22% QoQ
• Successful launch of Betaine Anhydrous
• ET-400 on track for NDA submission in Q4 2023
• Increased revenue expectation of $30M for this year
• Strong growth prospects and goal of 10 commercial rare disease products by end of 2025

Negative

• None.

• Total Q2 revenue of $12.0 million and net income of $4.6 million
• Product sales and royalty revenue of $6.5 million up 175% from Q2 2022 and 22% from Q1 2023
• $21.6 million of cash on hand
• Launched Betaine Anhydrous
• Management to hold conference call today at 4:30pm ET
  

DEER PARK, Ill., Aug. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Eton Pharmaceuticals, Inc (“Eton” or “the Company”) (Nasdaq: ETON), an innovative pharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing treatments for rare diseases, today reported financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2023.

“With record product sales, the launch of Betaine Anhydrous, and positive cash flow and earnings, Eton’s second quarter was exceptional. It was the company’s tenth straight quarter of sequential product revenue growth, driven by robust demand and record results for ALKINDI SPRINKLE® and Carglumic Acid. Given our strong performance through the first half of the year, we have increased our revenue expectation and now anticipate reaching approximately $30 million in total revenue this year,” said Sean Brynjelsen, CEO of Eton Pharmaceuticals.

“With attractive growth prospects for our existing commercial products, the targeted 2024 launch of ET-400, and the financial resources to continue adding new products, Eton is very well positioned to deliver long-term growth and achieve our goal of having 10 commercial rare disease products on the market by the end of 2025,” concluded Brynjelsen.

Second Quarter and Recent Business Highlights

Tenth straight quarter of sequential growth in product sales and royalty revenue. Eton reported second quarter 2023 product sales and royalty revenue of $6.5 million, representing 175% growth over the prior year period and 22% growth over the first quarter of 2023.

Record sales of ALKINDI SPRINKLE. ALKINDI SPRINKLE saw another record revenue quarter. The Company’s goal is to reach 400 active patients by the end of the year.

Record sales of Carglumic Acid. Carglumic Acid also posted another quarter of record revenue. The product is benefiting from the Company’s recently expanded sales force as well as the launch of Betaine Anhydrous, which shares the same prescriber base and has resulted in increased interactions with metabolic geneticists.

Strong launch of Betaine Anhydrous. Betaine Anhydrous was launched in May and has already seen strong adoption by patients. The Company’s Eton Cares patient support program has received favorable reviews from both patients and prescribers.

Product candidate ET-400 on track for an NDA submission in Q4 2023. The Company is preparing for an NDA submission in the fourth quarter, which could result in an approval and commercial launch in 2024. ET-400 is a proprietary liquid formulation of hydrocortisone that, if approved, would be sold alongside ALKINDI SPRINKLE, and would provide patients with an additional treatment option. The Company believes ET-400 will accelerate patient adoption, with total combined peak sales of ALKINDI SPRINKLE and ET-400 expected to exceed $50 million annually.   

Monetized royalty interests and strengthened financial position. During the quarter, Eton sold its remaining milestone and royalty interests in ZONISADE®, EPRONTIA®, and the lamotrigine product candidate. In exchange for its interests, Eton received a payment of $5.5 million, which it intends to reinvest in the acquisition of rare disease products. In the second quarter, the company also received a $0.8 million break-up fee associated with its participation as the stalking horse bidder in an auction process. The Company finished the quarter with $21.6 million of cash and cash equivalents.

Second Quarter Financial Results

Net Revenue: Net sales for the second quarter of 2023 were $12.0 million compared with $7.4 million in the prior year period. Net sales included $5.5 million of licensing payments received during the quarter related to the sale of Eton’s neurology product royalties and milestones to Azurity Pharmaceuticals, compared to $5.0 million of licensing revenue in the prior year period related to the sale of multiple hospital products to Dr. Reddy’s.

Product sales and royalty revenue were $6.5 million for the second quarter of 2023 compared with $2.4 million in the prior year period, an increase of 175% over the prior year period and 22% over the first quarter of 2023. The year-over-year increase in product sales and royalty revenue was primarily driven by growth in ALKINDI SPRINKLE and Carglumic Acid tablets.

Gross Profit: Gross profit for the second quarter of 2023 was $9.7 million compared with $4.6 million in the prior year period. The growth was driven by the sale of the Company’s neurology product royalties as well as growth in ALKINDI SPRINKLE and Carglumic Acid. Gross profit for the prior year period included $1.8 million of non-cash expenses related to the hospital products divestment.

Research and Development (R&D) Expenses: R&D expenses for the second quarter of 2023 were $1.1 million compared to $0.7 million in the prior year period. The increase was primarily due to a $0.5 million milestone payment resulting from the successful manufacturing of registration batches of product candidate ET-600.

General and Administrative (G&A) Expenses: G&A expenses for the second quarter of 2023 were $4.7 million compared to $5.3 million in the prior year period. The decrease in G&A expenses was mainly due to decreased FDA fees and legal fees associated with products sold to Dr. Reddy's in June 2022.

Net Income: Net income for the second quarter of 2023 was $4.6 million or $0.18 per basic and diluted share compared to a net loss of $1.6 million, or $0.06 per basic and diluted share in the prior year period.

Cash Position: As of June 30, 2023, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $21.6 million.

Conference Call and Webcast Information

As previously announced, Eton will host its second quarter 2023 conference call as follows:

Date: Time: Register* (Audio Only)		Thursday, August 10, 2023 4:30 p.m. ET (3:30 p.m.CT) Click here

In addition to taking live questions from participants on the conference call, management will be answering emailed questions from investors. Investors can email questions to: investorrelations@etonpharma.com.

The live webcast can be accessed on the Investors section of Eton’s website at https://ir.etonpharma.com/. An archived webcast will be available on Eton’s website approximately two hours after the completion of the event and for 30 days thereafter.

* Conference call participants should register to obtain their dial-in and passcode details. Please be sure to register using a valid email address.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this press release regarding matters that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements associated with the expected ability of Eton to undertake certain activities and accomplish certain goals and objectives. These statements include but are not limited to statements regarding Eton’s business strategy, Eton’s plans to develop and commercialize its product candidates, the safety and efficacy of Eton’s product candidates, Eton’s plans and expected timing with respect to regulatory filings and approvals, and the size and growth potential of the markets for Eton’s product candidates. Because such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Words such as "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," "intends," "will," "goal," "potential" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon Eton’s current expectations and involve assumptions that may never materialize or may prove to be incorrect. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of various risks and uncertainties, which include, without limitation, risks associated with the process of discovering, developing and commercializing drugs that are safe and effective for use as human therapeutics, and in the endeavor of building a business around such drugs. These and other risks concerning Eton’s development programs and financial position are described in additional detail in Eton’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made. Eton undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made.

About Eton Pharmaceuticals

Eton is an innovative pharmaceutical company focused on developing, acquiring, and commercializing innovative products to address unmet needs in patients suffering from rare diseases. The Company currently has three commercial rare disease products, ALKINDI SPRINKLE® for the treatment of pediatric adrenocortical insufficiency, Carglumic Acid for the treatment of hyperammonemia due to N-acetylglutamate synthase (NAGS) deficiency, and Betaine Anhydrous for the treatment of homocystinuria. The Company has four additional product candidates in late-stage development: dehydrated alcohol injection, which has received Orphan Drug Designation for the treatment of methanol poisoning, ZENEO® hydrocortisone autoinjector for the treatment of adrenal crisis, ET-400 for the treatment of adrenocortical insufficiency, and ET-600 for the treatment of diabetes insipidus. For more information, please visit our website at www.etonpharma.com.

Investor Relations:
Lisa M. Wilson, In-Site Communications, Inc.
T: 212-452-2793
E: lwilson@insitecony.com

Eton Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Condensed Statements of Operations
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)

	For the three months ended								For the six months ended
	June 30,				June 30,				June 30,				June 30,
	2023				2022				2023				2022
Revenues:
Licensing revenue	$	5,500			$	5,000			$	5,500			$	5,000
Product sales and royalties		6,497				2,358				11,801				4,534
Total net revenues		11,997				7,358				17,301				9,534
Cost of sales:
Licensing revenue		—				990				—				990
Product sales and royalties		2,315				1,755				4,273				2,604
Total cost of sales		2,315				2,745				4,273				3,594
Gross profit		9,682				4,613				13,028				5,940
Operating expenses:
Research and development		1,125				690				1,660				2,308
General and administrative		4,674				5,263				10,019				10,059
Total operating expenses		5,799				5,953				11,679				12,367
Income (loss) from operations		3,883				(1,340	)			1,349				(6,427	)
Other income (expense):
Other income		800				—				800				—
Interest and other expense, net		(124	)			(218	)			(250	)			(461	)
Total other income (expense)		676				(218	)			550				(461	)
Income (loss) before income tax expense		4,559				(1,558	)			1,899				(6,888	)
Income tax expense		—				—				—				—
Net income (loss)	$	4,559			$	(1,558	)		$	1,899			$	(6,888	)
Net income (loss) per share, basic	$	0.18			$	(0.06	)		$	0.07			$	(0.28	)
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding, basic		25,593				25,126				25,560				24,915
Net income (loss) per share, diluted	$	0.18			$	(0.06	)		$	0.07			$	(0.28	)
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding, diluted		25,983				25,126				25,949				24,915

Eton Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Condensed Balance Sheets
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

		June 30, 2023				December 31, 2022
		(Unaudited)
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$	21,566			$	16,305
Accounts receivable, net			3,084				1,852
Inventories			816				557
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			867				1,290
Total current assets			26,333				20,004
Property and equipment, net			46				72
Intangible assets, net			4,392				4,754
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net			149				188
Other long-term assets, net			12				12
Total assets		$	30,932			$	25,030
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable		$	2,300			$	1,766
Current portion of long-term debt			1,540				1,033
Accrued liabilities			5,748				3,662
Total current liabilities			9,588				6,461
Long-term debt, net of discount and including accrued fees			4,553				5,384
Operating lease liabilities, net of current portion			66				107
Total liabilities			14,207				11,952
Commitments and contingencies (Note 11)
Stockholders’ equity
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 50,000,000 shares authorized; 25,561,994 and 25,353,119 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively			26				25
Additional paid-in capital			117,934				116,187
Accumulated deficit			(101,235	)			(103,134	)
Total stockholders’ equity			16,725				13,078
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity		$	30,932			$	25,030

Eton Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)

		Six months ended				Six months ended
		June 30, 2023				June 30, 2022
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income (loss)		$	1,899			$	(6,888	)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Stock-based compensation			1,657				2,383
Depreciation and amortization			424				1,352
Debt discount amortization			61				66
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable			(1,232	)			4,637
Inventories			(259	)			19
Prepaid expenses and other assets			423				1,827
Accounts payable			537				(475	)
Accrued liabilities			2,045				763
Net cash provided by operating activities			5,555				3,684
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchases of product license rights			—				(750	)
Purchases of property and equipment			—				(26	)
Net cash used in investing activities			—				(776	)
Cash flows from financing activities
Repayment of long-term debt			(385	)			(385	)
Proceeds from employee stock purchase plan and stock option exercises			272				117
Payment of tax withholding related to net share settlement of stock option exercises			(181	)			—
Net cash used in financing activities			(294	)			(268	)
Change in cash and cash equivalents			5,261				2,640
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period			16,305				14,406
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period		$	21,566			$	17,046
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information
Cash paid for interest		$	426			$	378
Cash paid for income taxes		$	—			$	—