It's not only the ongoing cost reduction plan whose results will become more obvious in 2021, so debt-free and profitable CPH will expand further its high profit margins.
CPH has additional levers to pull in 2021 and several promising drugs in the pipeline to grow its revenue in the next years such as:
1) Epuris performs very well with 41% market share, so the Canadian market love it.
2) Aside from the existing successful Absorica, Absorica LD (the new version of Absorica) just entered the market in 2020 while CPH is also able to launch its own authorized generic in case Allergan launches a generic:
"Earlier this year, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Cipher’s marketing partner for Absorica, launched Absorica LD capsules in the U.S. for the management of severe nodular acne in patients 12 years of age and older.
In addition to the benefits of Absorica LD will bring to the patient population, the launch triggered an extension of our agreement with Sun Pharmaceuticals, providing us with two additional years of royalties on Sun’s isotretinoin product portfolio. As previously communicated, the royalty rate on Absorica LD will be identical to the royalty on Absorica until December 2021. The extension allows for a reduced royalty rate in subsequent years. "
"And then sort of secondarily to that, I think we’re all obviously focused on timelines when Allergan can launch its own generic Absorica, which I believe is next month, any update on that would be helpful. And then I have a follow-up. Craig Mull: Okay. So the launch of a generic is something that we are watching very closely. We’re trying to get as much information that we can about any potential launch of generic of Absorica. We have not seen it. There has been no entries to-date. We have talked to them about different pricing strategies. We’re preparing in the event of a launch of a generic to be able to come out with an authorized generic and maintain a significant share of that market. So this is a day-to-day thing and we’re certainly in communication with Sun and we’re also doing our own reconnaissance on any potential launch of the generic." 3) The tattoo program, facts from the latest CC:
"In our tattoo program, the U.S. patent office issued a Notice of Allowance for the U.S. patent application covering Tattoo dermal compositions (topical, transdermal and intradermal). We have received encouraging results from the proof of concept studies and identified a lead candidate compound. Planning is currently underway for the next focused animal study that will incorporate test parameters that will potentially broaden and reinforce the existing IP portfolio."
4) Galephar and new product opportunities including Alitretinoin, facts from the latest CC:
"We also continue to work with our development partner, Galephar, on a number of interesting projects, including Alitretinoin, a drug for severe hand eczema for the U.S. market. Cipher and Galephar are working closely and expect to receive feedback on recent submissions to the FDA. Cipher continues to evaluate the market potential for this product. " 5) Moberg and MOB-015 (Nail fungus), facts from the latest CC:
"Our development partner, Moberg, has developed a proprietary formulation that can deliver high concentrations of active drug to the nail that competing products on the market have difficulty in matching. To-date, Moberg has conducted two North American Phase 3 studies. In these studies, the overall cure rates were lower than competing products at 4.5%. However, in contrast to the competing products, the mycological cure rate was 50% in less than 24 weeks while the competing products were quite longer to reach this rate. Moberg is considering conducting additional trials to address the complete cure rate by shortening the treatment period.
Our development partner, Moberg, has developed a proprietary formulation that can deliver a higher concentration of active drug to the nail bed than competing products on the market. To date, Moberg has conducted two Phase III studies for MOB-015 that have met the primary endpoint. Although the overall cure rates were low, there was a significant antifungal effect, as demonstrated in the secondary endpoints of the studies where the mycological cure was achieved in 84% of patients, which is unprecedented for a topical treatment and even higher than reported for oral treatments. Cipher is continuing discussions with Moberg on next steps."