Ascendis Pharma Reports Second Quarter 2024 Financial Results

• YORVIPATH approved by U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) as the first and only treatment of hypoparathyroidism in adults
• TransCon CNP (navepegritide) pivotal ApproaCH Trial topline results expected in the coming weeks
• SKYTROFA Q2 revenue of €26 million – 134% year-over-year volume growth offset by negative adjustment of €27 million, resetting market access for continued growth
• Revising full year 2024 SKYTROFA revenue outlook to €220 - €240 million
• Conference call today at 4:30 pm ET
  
  

COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Sept. 03, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ascendis Pharma A/S (Nasdaq: ASND) today announced financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2024, and provided a business update.

“The recent FDA approval of YORVIPATH demonstrates why our unrelenting focus on helping patients suffering from hypoparathyroidism and other serious diseases with considerable unmet need is so important for Ascendis,” said Jan Mikkelsen, Ascendis Pharma’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “Already, two out of our three Endocrine Rare Disease TransCon product candidates have been approved by the FDA and European Commission. Our first, SKYTROFA, has achieved U.S. market value leadership, and, we believe, now with broader market access, remains well positioned to reach blockbuster status in the U.S. alone. Looking forward, we are preparing for our second U.S. launch with YORVIPATH and are on track to report pivotal data in the coming weeks for our third TransCon product candidate, TransCon CNP.”

Select Highlights & Anticipated 2024 Milestones

• TransCon hGH:
  (lonapegsomatropin, marketed as SKYTROFA)
  • SKYTROFA revenue for the second quarter of 2024 totaled €26.2 million, a 27% year-over-year decrease compared to €35.9 million during the same period in 2023. 134% year-over-year volume growth was offset by the cost associated with broader market access for SKYTROFA which also resulted in a negative adjustment to prior period sales deductions of €27.1 million, where €19.5 million and €7.6 million were attributable to the three months ended March 31, 2024, and periods prior to January 1, 2024, respectively.
  • SKYTROFA revenue for the first half of 2024 totaled €91.2 million, a 35% year-over-year increase compared to €67.4 million during the same period of 2023. 159% year-over-year volume growth was offset by the cost associated with broader market access for SKYTROFA which also resulted in a negative adjustment to prior period sales deductions of €7.6 million, which were attributable to periods prior to January 1, 2024.
  • On track to submit a supplemental Biologics License Application to the FDA for adult growth hormone deficiency in the third quarter of 2024.
  • Topline results from Phase 2 New InsiGHTS Trial in Turner syndrome expected in the fourth quarter of 2024.
    
    
• TransCon PTH:
  (palopegteriparatide, marketed as YORVIPATH)
  
  • Received U.S. FDA approval for TransCon PTH, under the brand name YORVIPATH, for the treatment of hypoparathyroidism in adults.
  • Completing manufacturing of commercial product for the U.S. market and anticipate initial supply will be available in the first quarter of 2025. The Company is in dialogue with the FDA about commercialization of existing manufactured product, which if agreed, could be introduced in the U.S. in the fourth quarter of 2024.
  • Second quarter YORVIPATH revenue totaled €5.2 million, reflecting the first full quarter of commercial launch in Germany and Austria as well initial revenue in International Markets. Initial revenue in France expected starting in the fourth quarter of 2024.

• TransCon CNP
  (navepegritide)
  • Topline data from pivotal ApproaCH Trial expected in the coming weeks, and, if successful, plan to submit a New Drug Application to FDA for children with achondroplasia (age 2-11 years) in the first quarter of 2025.
  • Plan to complete enrollment in the combination TransCon hGH and TransCon CNP COACH trial of children with achondroplasia (ages 2-11 years) during the third quarter of 2024; topline Week 26 data expected in the second quarter of 2025.
  • Expect to initiate teACH, a Phase 2 trial in adolescents with achondroplasia, in the fourth quarter of 2024.

• Oncology Programs
  • Presented new and updated results from the ongoing Phase 1/2 IL-Believe Trial of TransCon IL-2 β⁄γ in a poster presentation at ASCO 2024. As of the April 16, 2024, data cutoff, 40% of efficacy-evaluable patients (2 out of 5) in the initial cohort of patients with anti-PD-1 refractory melanoma treated with TransCon IL-2 β⁄γ in combination with TransCon TLR7/8 Agonist exhibited confirmed clinical responses with no new safety signals.
  • Initial results from the Phase 2 dose expansion cohort of the IL-Believe Trial of TransCon IL-2 β⁄γ in combination with chemotherapy in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer (PROC) will be presented later this month at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) 2024 Congress in Barcelona, Spain.
    
    
• Financial Update and Outlook Based on Current Plans
  
  • As of June 30, 2024, Ascendis Pharma had cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities totaling €259 million, compared to €399 million as of December 31, 2023.
  • Full year 2024 SKYTROFA revenue expected to be €220 million to €240 million.
  • Expect total operating expenses (SG&A and R&D) to be approximately €600 million for 2024.
  • Pending launch timing of YORVIPATH in the U.S., expect to be operating cash flow breakeven on a quarterly basis in 2024 or 2025
  • Subsequent to the quarter end, entered into a $150 million capped synthetic royalty funding agreement with Royalty Pharma relating to net sales of YORVIPATH in the United States. More information on this funding can be found in a separate press release issued today and available here on the Investors & News section of the Ascendis Pharma website.

Second Quarter 2024 Financial Results
Total revenue for the second quarter of 2024 was €36.0 million, compared to €47.4 million during the same period for 2023. Results in the quarter were primarily impacted by a negative adjustment to prior periods’ estimates and assumptions for sales deductions of €27.1 million, where €19.5 million and €7.6 million were attributable to the three months ended March 31, 2024, and periods prior to January 1, 2024, respectively. This was partially offset by increased demand for SKYTROFA in the U.S. and revenue contribution from YORVIPATH. In addition, non-product revenue was €4.6 million in the second quarter of 2024, compared to €11.5 million during the same period for 2023.

Research and development (R&D) costs for the second quarter of 2024 were €83.5 million, compared to €105.0 million during the same period in 2023. The decline was largely tied to lower external development costs for TransCon TLR 7/8 Agonist and lower costs for TransCon PTH, as well as lower employee costs as a result of the Eyconis spin-off.

Selling, general, and administrative (SG&A) expenses for the second quarter of 2024 were €74.3 million, compared to €70.3 million during the same period in 2023. The increase was primarily due to higher employee costs, including the impact from commercial expansion.

Total operating expenses for the second quarter of 2024 were €157.8 million compared to €175.3 million during the same period in 2023.

Net finance income for the second quarter of 2024 was €29.4 million compared to a net finance income of €26.4 million during the same period in 2023.

For the second quarter of 2024, Ascendis Pharma reported a net loss of €109.4 million, or €1.91 per share (basic and diluted) compared to a net loss of €121.4 million, or €2.16 per share (basic and diluted) for the same period in 2023.

As of June 30, 2024, Ascendis Pharma had cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities totaling €258.7 million compared to €399.4 million as of December 31, 2023. As of June 30, 2024, Ascendis Pharma had 58,231,484 ordinary shares outstanding, including 881,730 ordinary shares represented by ADSs held by the company.

Conference Call and Webcast Information
Ascendis Pharma will host a conference call and webcast today at 4:30 pm Eastern Time (ET) to discuss its second quarter 2024 financial results.

Those who would like to participate may access the live webcast here, or register in advance for the teleconference here. The link to the live webcast will also be available on the Investors & News section of the Ascendis Pharma website at https://investors.ascendispharma.com. A replay of the webcast will be available on this section of the Ascendis Pharma website shortly after conclusion of the event for 30 days.

About Ascendis Pharma A/S
Ascendis Pharma is applying its innovative TransCon technology platform to build a leading, fully integrated biopharma company focused on making a meaningful difference in patients’ lives. Guided by its core values of Patients, Science, and Passion, Ascendis uses its TransCon technologies to create new and potentially best-in-class therapies. Ascendis is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark and has additional facilities in Europe and the United States. Please visit ascendispharma.com to learn more.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release regarding Ascendis’ future operations, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. Examples of such statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to (i) the timing of topline results from the ApproaCH Trial, (ii) Ascendis’ expectations regarding full year 2024 SKYTROFA revenue, (iii) Ascendis’ expectations regarding SKYTROFA’s potential to reach blockbuster status, (iv) Ascendis’ plan to submit a supplemental Biologics License Application for SKYTROFA for adult growth hormone deficiency in the third quarter of 2024, (v) the timing of topline results from the Phase 2 trial of TransCon hGH in Turner syndrome, (vi) Ascendis’ plan to submit a New Drug Application for TransCon CNP for children with achondroplasia, (vii) Ascendis’ expectations regarding completing manufacturing of YORVIPATH commercial product for the U.S. market and the timing of initial supply, (viii) dialogue with FDA regarding commercialization of existing YORVIPATH manufactured product and, if agreed, the potential timing of introduction, (ix) Ascendis’ expectations regarding initial revenue in France from YORVIPATH, (x) Ascendis’ plan to complete enrollment in the COACH Trial, (xi) the timing of topline Week 26 data from the COACH Trial, (xii) the timing of initiating the teACH Phase 2 trial in adolescents, (xiii) Ascendis’ plan to present initial results from the Phase 2 dose expansion cohort of the IL-Believe Trial, (xiv) Ascendis’ expectations regarding its total operating expenses for 2024, (xv) Ascendis’ expectation to be operating cash flow breakeven on a quarterly basis in 2024 or 2025, (xvi) Ascendis’ ability to apply its TransCon technology platform to build a leading, fully integrated biopharma company, and (xvii) Ascendis’ use of its TransCon technologies to create new and potentially best-in-class therapies. Ascendis may not actually achieve the plans, carry out the intentions or meet the expectations or projections disclosed in the forward-looking statements and you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions, expectations and projections disclosed in the forward-looking statements. Various important factors could cause actual results or events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements that Ascendis makes, including the following: dependence on third party manufacturers, distributors and service providers for Ascendis’ products and product candidates; unforeseen safety or efficacy results in Ascendis’ development programs or on-market products; unforeseen expenses related to commercialization of any approved Ascendis products; unforeseen expenses related to Ascendis’ development programs; unforeseen selling, general and administrative expenses, other research and development expenses and Ascendis’ business generally; delays in the development of its programs related to manufacturing, regulatory requirements, speed of patient recruitment or other unforeseen delays; Ascendis’ ability to obtain additional funding, if needed, to support its business activities; the impact of international economic, political, legal, compliance, social and business factors. For a further description of the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, as well as risks relating to Ascendis’ business in general, see Ascendis’ Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on February 7, 2024 and Ascendis’ other future reports filed with, or submitted to, the SEC. Forward-looking statements do not reflect the potential impact of any future licensing, collaborations, acquisitions, mergers, dispositions, joint ventures, or investments that Ascendis may enter into or make. Ascendis does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

Ascendis, Ascendis Pharma, the Ascendis Pharma logo, the company logo, TransCon, SKYTROFA^®, and YORVIPATH^® are trademarks owned by the Ascendis Pharma group. © September 2024 Ascendis Pharma A/S.
 

FINANCIAL TABLES FOLLOW