Amneal Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Q2 2020 Earnings Call Transcript

Published: 9 Aug 2020

[Operator:]

Good morning, and welcome to Amneal Pharmaceuticals Second Quarter 2020 Earnings Conference Call. . I'd now like to turn the conference over to Amneal's Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Tasos Konidaris.

[Anastasios Konidaris:]

Good morning. Thank you for joining us for Amneal's Second Quarter 2020 Earnings Call. Earlier this morning, we issued a press release reporting our quarterly results. The press release as well as the slides that will be presented on the call are available on our website at www.amneal.com. We're conducting a live webcast of this call, and a replay of which will also be available on our website after its conclusion. Please note that today's call is copyrighted material of Amneal and cannot be rebroadcast without the company's expressed written consent.

[Chirag Patel:]

Thank you, Tasos, and good morning, everyone. I hope everyone is safe and healthy. Thank you for joining us to review Amneal's second quarter results. I'm pleased to report solid top and bottom line results with net revenue of $465 million, up 15% versus Q2 2019; adjusted EBITDA of $101 million, up 9%; and adjusted EPS of $0.13, up 44%. Overall, our business performed in line with our expectations and reflects our organizational focus and resiliency in meeting the needs of our patients against headwinds related to COVID-19 pandemic. The solid performance reflects the strong foundation of the company and the growth vision that Chintu and I laid out a year ago when we returned as the role of Co-CEOs. As we said then, we plan to reinvigorate the Generics business in the United States, build out our Specialty franchise, enhance our operational execution and diversify our distribution channels. We have a strong base for growth with 3 core businesses

[Chintu Patel:]

Thank you, Chirag. Good morning, everyone. It has been an eventful year since we returned as Co-CEOs, and we are enthusiastic about the progress we have made thus far and the significant opportunities ahead. The COVID-19 pandemic caused a temporary disruption but hasn't changed our long-term vision. Let me start with an update on our key initiatives and our response to the public health crisis. We have made significant strides in growing our portfolio and pipeline while focusing on operational excellence. Over the course of past year, we have significantly strengthened our supply chain and improved our operations. Our progress in reducing our back-order was temporarily interrupted by the COVID pandemic, but the situation improved in June. We are well positioned to meet volume demand across our manufacturing sites and see the potential for further improvement in these measures in the second half of the year. We have been extremely impressed and proud of our organization's ability to add up to the difficult circumstances caused by COVID-19. After some initial disruption, our operations recovered swiftly. By the end of June, more than 90% of employees were back to work at our U.S. manufacturing facilities. Although the pandemic spread later in India, we are also seeing attendance back about 80% of our facilities in India and Ireland. We have initiated multiple protocols at our facilities for the safety of our employees, including social distancing and thermal screening. We have also launched innovative information technology tools to enable our team to maintain productivity and to allow us to support and remain engaged with our employees. We appreciate their hard work and commitment to our vision and expect to achieve our full year plant utilization targets, as originally said. I would also like to highlight that while we continue to make operational improvements and get our operations back to full staffing, we have maintained our record for high quality, with no FDA issues.

[Anastasios Konidaris:]

Thank you, Chintu. Net revenue in the current quarter was $465 million, up $60 million or 15% compared to Q2 2019. AvKARE and Specialty were up $64 million and $24 million, respectively, while Generics were down $28 million. These results reflect the resiliency of our portfolio, which offset temporary softness in demand due to COVID-19, approximately $20 million of unfulfilled customer orders as our supply chain was stretched and a negative $6 million adjustment for the Metformin recall. Adjusted gross profit of $191 million was up $19 million or 9% compared to Q2 2019, reflecting solid performance despite the higher level of back-orders and Metformin costs. Adjusted gross margin of 41% was 150 bps lower than Q2 2019 and in line with our expectations. AvKARE diluted our margins by 320 basis points, while the rest of the business margins grew by about 170 basis points. On a sequential basis, adjusted gross margin was also down due to an expected level of price erosion, lower manufacturing absorption and the Metformin recall. Adjusted EBITDA of $101 million was up $9 million or 9% compared to Q2 2019 as AvKARE and the rest of the business contributed to growth. Adjusted diluted EPS of $0.13 were favorable to the $0.09 we reported in Q2 of 2019 as higher adjusted EBITDA and lower interest expense offset higher minority interest due to AvKARE.

[Chirag Patel:]

Thank you, Tasos. We are proud of how well the company responded during the COVID pandemic. We continue to work on building the pipeline and operational excellence to execute the long-term vision we have for the business. I would like to now turn the call over to the operator to take your questions. Thank you.

[Operator:]

. First question comes from Greg Gilbert of SunTrust.

[Gregory Gilbert:]

It's Greg Gilbert with Truist Securities. I have a brand one and a Generic one. First, on the Generic side, I was curious on NuvaRing. It's clear that some of your competitors are not so close. But I had assumed you would be able to ramp more on the supply side. Can you tell us what's going on there in terms of the ability to gain more share and whether there are any issues preventing you from doing so? And how long-lasting you think that opportunity could be in light of kind of the competitive environment? And perhaps Joe could comment on the brand side on the growth of Rytary and Unithroid revenue versus prescriptions and what that disconnect is being driven by. Is it a quarterly -- just quarterly variability? Or is there something else to understand about that dynamic?

[Chirag Patel:]

Greg, this is Chirag. I'll take the first one, and I'll pass it to Joe for the second question. So NuvaRing production has been ramped up. We have doubled over capacity, and we will be seeking additional market share starting this month. Competitions, you know as much as we know. Whenever that comes, that comes, but our market share would be in line to 20%, 25%. So even competition comes, we do not see our volume dropping because it's 2 players today with authorized generics, one is us. So third player coming in, we should be able to maintain our -- what capacity we have. Joe, you want to take the...

[Joseph Todisco:]

Sure. Thanks, Chirag. On Rytary growth, the dollar growth did outpace the script growth a little bit, which is attributable to 2 factors, both price and volume. From a price standpoint, we implemented some strategies at the end of last year to target more profitable patient segments. And we've seen over the last 2 quarters, that's had a positive impact on gross to net. From a volume standpoint, we saw a bolus of scripts in March, and the inventory that kind of replenished the trade shipped out in April. So we had a little bit higher April than what would have been expected because of restocking in the trade, and we saw that for both Rytary and for Unithroid.

[Gregory Gilbert:]

Okay. And if I could sneak in one follow-up for Chirag and Chintu. On the biosimilar side, I can certainly understand your desire to be in that market long term. I am a little concerned and curious about your thoughts on sort of the return potential for products like Avastin and Neulasta. If you're not first or second or third in, are you confident you can still get a good financial return if you're not among the first?

[Chirag Patel:]

Great question, Greg. And this is as we have said before, biosimilar is a long-term play. And it is more of a play of affordable medicine and providing values to the system. Fortunately for Amneal, we haven't invested that much of money in biosimilars. So return expectations, even though being fourth, fifth, sixth, would be lower, offsetting the lower investment. So we are focusing on oncology biosimilars. And you are right, it is tougher for now if you are the fourth player, fifth player and sixth player in the market. We are setting the stage as this becomes more of a crowded place, which we fully expect biosimilars to be. And that was intended to be, right? It is FDA's -- and Chintu can comment more on that, are being more open for new ideas, new signs and not to have expensive biosimilar development. And once that happens, more biosimilars players will come. It almost becomes like a generics business. Yes, it has, unfortunately today, specialty pharma kind of sales and marketing infrastructure, so you have generics margin and brand itself and marketing. They don't go together. So we do have to solve for this. As I said, it's a long-term play. More and more competition will be expected in biosimilars. You have to start combining biosimilars to generics. I believe some of our competitors are already doing that. And that's how it will play out. And this is why we're just setting it up with low investment, being smart about it and opportunistic about it, how we add our pipeline as we go forward. Chintu, do you want to comment on how FDA is thinking more of -- on a development cycle?

[Chintu Patel:]

Sure. Greg, biosimilar is an evolving space. And there's a lot more understanding from a regulatory perspective than it was before, and FDA is willing to sit down with companies and explore new ideas that can speed up the approval and reduces the costs. And you are absolutely right that it's no fun to be fourth, fifth, sixth, so we are looking at the portfolio where we could be potentially 1, 2, 3. But there are a lot more other tools than just full-blown clinical studies that can be utilized to speed up the development of biosimilar in a very cost-effective way, and that's what Amneal would be focusing on.

[Operator:]

Our next question comes from Randall Stanicky, RBC Capital.

[Daniel Busby:]

This is Dan Busby on for Randall. A couple of questions. First, with respect to high-value generic launches, it sounds like you've got at least 8 left over the next 12 months or so from your targeted 15. How should we think about the cadence of those launches? And specifically, how many of those could we see over the remainder of 2020? And second, the midpoint of EBITDA guidance implies a sequential decline from the 2Q level during the second half. Is that the right way to think about it? And can you talk a little bit more about the puts and takes that go into that? Is that driven largely by the step-up in spend? Or are there other factors at play?

[Chirag Patel:]

I'll take the first one. And sorry, I didn't catch your name.

[Joseph Todisco:]

It's Randall Stanicky.

[Chirag Patel:]

No. It's not Randall, it's somebody else.

[Daniel Busby:]

Yes. Dan Busby.

[Chirag Patel:]

Dan, sorry, sorry. It wasn't very clear. So yes, we are completely confident launching the remaining 8 or 10 high-value products. But the key is -- you should think about is we have reignited our R&D engine -- Generics engine. We added 16 new projects, including injectables, IV bags. We are a smaller player in injectables where we aim to become a meaningful player in coming years. So now the pipeline is 132 products. So definitely, we'll meet our -- what we said last year that we'll launch 15 to 20 high-value products. We will. I do not have the information or may not want to share the information about how many still are coming up this year, but this year still looks good on new launches coming up. On your guidance question, Dan, I'm going to pass it to Tasos. Tasos, would you take that?

[Anastasios Konidaris:]

Sure. Dan, so you're right with the math, right? So year-to-date, we have had EBITDA of about $235 million. We are projecting at full year, we'll maintain our guidance between $400 million and $450 million. So we are expecting -- when you do the math, it's approximately the same level of performance in the second half as well as the first half, maybe a little lower. So here's the way we think about it, right? So we expect in the second half of the year our business to continue to grow, and that is Generics will continue to resolve our manufacturing back-order situation, we're launching new products, health care will continue to do well. And then in Specialty, Q3, Q4 may come down slightly versus Q2. Some of the inventory buildup in Q2 that Joe mentioned normalizes. But also we talked about we're expecting higher level of operating expenses in the second half, right? So number one is we're expecting a higher level of R&D expense as we continue to invest in R&D and, over time, a higher percentage of that on the Specialty side. And then certainly, we're expecting higher level of SG&A expenses as the economy opens up and we just kind of open up some of our sales and marketing operating expense, if possible. So that's how we think about it. It's the acceleration of revenue, acceleration in operating expenses. And at the end of the day, right, we're still in the middle of a pandemic. So that's what kind of year-to-date performance, expectations about the future, you still have this unknown about the pandemic, but that's what's kind of led us in our core to maintain guidance, but at the same time, feel very confident in our ability to achieve it. Hopefully, that gives you a little bit more color, Dan.

[Operator:]

The next question comes from Ami Fadia of Leerink.

[Ami Fadia:]

I've got a couple. With regard to Levothyroxine, can you talk about the sustainability of this product with changing competitive landscape? And can you give us an update on some of the pipeline products that you had mentioned in the past, approval time line for Copaxone? And I believe you had mentioned something about an inhaler product that could potentially get approved next year. And then just lastly, we saw Kodak receive a loan from the government. Can you talk about Amneal as a company that may be positioned to leverage some of its manufacturing footprint in this domestication effort? And then can you talk to some of the opportunity there?

[Chirag Patel:]

Thank you, Ami. So the three questions you asked, I'm going to break it down. I'm going to first address the generic Levothyroxine. As you already know, the competition has been there since last year, but the product is also hard to switch. So our large customer preferred to stay with the same product, and we're able to manage or maintain the volume. Obviously, we already had the price decline, as you would expect, when the new players came in late last year and beginning of this year. But we should be okay with where we are today. Your second question -- your third question, I'm going to take it first and give the pipeline question to my brother, Chintu. So Kodak, yes, the government efforts, we are fully aware of what they're trying to do. We've been in talks with U.S. government and legislators. We do believe in making essential products in the United States because even the friendlier countries sometimes could have the situation where they're unable to ship the products. So we must produce certain of our -- or certain percentages of our essential drugs in the United States from the key starting material API and finished products. Amneal is well positioned. Amneal is U.S. domicile company. Only market we serve is United States, and we live in the United States. So we are completely vested on doing the right thing. Obviously, we do want to be mindful of the cost that when you make products in the United States, which we've been making a lot of Generics products in the United States, still maybe one of the largest portfolio than any other manufacturers, which are made in the United States. Bringing API brings its own set of challenges with EPA and even using the green technologies may take some time, but it's doable. Finished products is much easier, and we do believe that certain critical antibiotics and other emergency drugs should be made here. So we'll see how it progresses with the executive orders could do not much to sustain the industry in the United States for long term, it will require legislative action. And we hope, as we hear from both sides, Democrats and Republicans, they're keen to do something about this to not have -- we have our secured supply chain for certain drugs in the United States. So that's update from the government side, and I'll turn over the call to Chintu for the pipeline update.

[Chintu Patel:]

Ami, so we are very excited about our pipeline and diversification, what we have done. So very strong pipeline and every dosage form, we have capabilities from development to commercialization in-house. Your question on Copaxone, Copaxone is moving forward. We expect to launch that in second half of 2021. And inhalation product is also moving well with FDA. Don't have a firm date yet, but it most likely would be a 2021 launch also. And we are very excited on many other first-to-market and high-value launches coming up over next 12 to 18 months.

[Ami Fadia:]

Chintu, if I could just have a quick follow-up. Obviously, there was a notable increase in the number of pipeline assets that you have in development. Can you give us some color on when we should expect these products to start hitting the market? Maybe give us a sense of when -- over the next 2, 3 years, when do we start to see those products get approved?

[Chintu Patel:]

Good. So we have added more products, especially in sterile injectable space. We have reignited our R&D, so we have made it very efficient. I am personally very passionate about R&D, and we are very thoughtful in product selections, not getting into commodity projects. So our portfolio, including this year, we are filing 20 to 25, most of them are first-to-market, high-value products. So we're very excited. Depending on the complexity of the product, it could be 12 to 18 months. But every year, we'll be filing new products. So this portfolio would -- we'll be able to commercialize in -- some of them in '21, '22, '23, but we have enough in our pipeline that we are excited about the growth potential from this pipeline.

[Chirag Patel:]

Yes. And Ami, just to add on, the FDA is very efficient as well, as you know, on approving especially the first-to-market products and different dosage form products. Our new development pipeline on Slide 9 on our presentation, you can see 132 projects. Again, we added 60 projects. We are well known for years, since 2007, about our pipeline and execution. We have been #1 on bringing new products to the market, refreshing our pipeline. It's like Generic business is running on a treadmill, and we've been running on a treadmill really well, gotten used to it. So we feel very confident where we stand in terms of Generics business because our size is such that we can still grow. Yes, we do expect every year competition, but we have enough to offset that and grow and also look at the injectables, the IV bags we added now. And we are good in execution and manufacturing and quality. We have done it for years, and we continue to -- will continue to do so. So we expect good launches every year. It's not just an 18-to-24-months phenomenon.

[Operator:]

The next question comes from David Amsellem with Piper Jaffray.

[David Amsellem:]

So on NuvaRing, I guess this is one of those markets that even if Teva were to get an entry, it would not be all that crowded over time. So with that in mind, what can you do to increase your capacity here, and by doing so, grow your share, maybe talk to that? And then secondly, a question on Rytary and just the brand business in general. I mean if you don't add additional assets focused on neurology and you look at other therapeutic areas, would Rytary and the next-gen product be something you would look at divesting? And just, I guess, philosophically, how do you think about that in terms of either building the brand business or jettisoning an asset like Rytary that may not be an overall fit?

[Chirag Patel:]

Well, thank you, David. So NuvaRing, we -- as I mentioned before, we doubled the capacity. So we are producing over the -- on our automated lines, plus automated pouching, and we will still keep working on growing the manufacturing capabilities. And we have a very modest share with a 2-player market. So I'm sure Andy Boyer will receive -- will get more market share as we keep going. And yes, it is a difficult product. It's long term for us. So we would -- and we have gotten good at manufacturing, really good now. So we -- it's a good asset and durable asset for us, and we will keep growing our manufacturing capabilities. Very interesting question on Specialty. So think about it this way, we have the foundation on the Generics, which includes injectables and now the bags, inhalation product, the ophthalmic products. All these are growth areas for us. 19% is only on oral solid, 81% of pipeline is on all different dosage forms. So we -- our base of $1.3 billion to $1.4 billion of generics, we still have room to grow in the United States. So with having that foundation, the Specialty engine where we have Rytary, where Joe is doing a great job, and it is -- the products, we hear great feedback from KOLs and patients. It's much needed, great stories. We're going to keep expanding Rytary, and we're going to -- we have the IPX203, which almost doubles the time, good on time. So that is -- and we have learned a lot on the marketing and market, and we are preparing already our launch planning in 2023. Whatever we do in life, we do it really well. So we are committed to Specialty. We'll be adding more assets. We also have K127. We know where to get the platforms and technologies. We will buy companies, and I'm very mindful of leverage. So we will not -- we'll be -- because our goal is to get to 5x, 5x below, and then get to 4x sometime in the near future, so -- with the increase in EBITDA and keep managing the expenses and growing the business. So we are committed, and we will be building, especially the movement disorder franchise and endocrinology. Other areas, I'm not sure yet. We are always looking. So we'll love to know more about it as we keep going. So thank you, David.

[Operator:]

. Our next question comes from Gary Nachman, BMO Capital.

[Unidentified Analyst:]

This is Eli on for Gary. I was wondering if you could provide an update on your partnership with Fosun to expand your international presence, and if you've filed your first product. And if you did, if you can disclose what it is and if there are any more products expected to be filed for the remainder of the year.

[Chirag Patel:]

Gary, yes, the Fosun partnership is progressing well. We have identified several IDL products, which means that we would be filing -- we have been filing and we'll file more. We are not in liberty to disclose those products as of now. These products are FDA-approved products, which are -- will be shipping from the United States plant as well as Indian plants and potentially the Ireland plant as well. And we are expanding the partnership as well, looking at other products. We do like China as a market. It's evolving, so we'll see how it goes. Everybody is learning the new ways of doing business they have put together as Chinese FDA and Chinese government. But very exciting, big market. So we have a good partner, Fosun, and we will keep strengthening our partnership.

[Unidentified Analyst:]

Great. And just a follow-up on that. You guys have talked about the shift of focus on your Specialty franchise. So long term, is there a directional target for mix there for Specialty versus Generics?

[Anastasios Konidaris:]

You're referring, I think, around the R&D spend. So if I may, I can take this. When we look at the R&D spend right now, it's 2/3 Generics, 1/3 Specialty, maybe even more so skewed towards Generics. Over time, we'd love to be in that 50-50 split between the two. And we think we can do this without any impact to the strength of the pipeline of the Generics. So does that address your question?

[Unidentified Analyst:]

Yes. That's helpful.

[Operator:]

We have reached the end of our Q&A session. Thank you for joining. You may now disconnect.