Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq:ACOR)
today announced that AMPYRA® (dalfampridine) Extended Release
Tablets, 10 mg unaudited net sales for the fourth quarter of 2014 were
$109 million, and unaudited AMPYRA 2014 full-year net sales were $366
million, an increase of approximately 21% from 2013. Final results are
subject to completion of the Company’s year-end audit.
“We were very pleased with AMPYRA’s 2014 net sales, and our 2015
guidance of $405-$420 million reflects our confidence in the continued
growth of the brand,” said Ron Cohen, M.D., Acorda’s President and CEO.
“We believe the strength of the franchise demonstrates outstanding
execution by our commercial, sales and medical education teams, and the
growing acceptance of AMPYRA as a standard of care in MS.”
Dr. Cohen added, “We added substantial value to our pipeline and
capabilities in 2014 with the acquisition of CVT-301 and the ARCUS
technology. We are now entering 2015 with two active Phase 3 programs.
CVT-301 is being developed for people with Parkinson’s disease who
experience OFF episodes, which include impaired ability to move, muscle
stiffness and tremor. Dalfampridine is being developed for people with
chronic post-stroke walking deficits, which affect approximately 3.5
million people in the U.S. alone.”
The Company provided 2015 operating expense guidance of $150-$160
million for R&D expense and $180-$190 million for SG&A expense. This
guidance excludes share-based compensation and certain non-cash expenses
related to the Civitas acquisition.
Michael Rogers, Acorda’s Chief Financial Officer, said, “Our increased
R&D budget for 2015 is primarily related to our two Phase 3 programs, as
well as the advancement of our earlier stage clinical programs. It also
includes the manufacturing plant and R&D operations of our new Chelsea,
Massachusetts location. Given our increasing R&D investment needs, we
are setting a high priority on managing SG&A costs in 2015. Despite the
added infrastructure accompanying our acquisition of Civitas, SG&A
guidance for 2015 remains the same as for 2014. We expect to remain cash
flow positive in 2015.”
Following the acquisition of Civitas Therapeutics, the Company announced
that it was evaluating and prioritizing its clinical stage pipeline. As
a result, Acorda is deferring further development of NP-1998 for
neuropathic pain in 2015. The Company is continuing to work with the FDA
to define the additional clinical work necessary for the approval of
PLUMIAZ™ (diazepam) Nasal Spray.
Dr. Cohen will provide a corporate overview at the 33rd
Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference today at 11:00 a.m. Pacific
Time in San Francisco. The presentation is available via webcast at www.acorda.com.
This press release includes certain forward-looking financial measures
that were not prepared in accordance with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States (GAAP). Non-GAAP financial
measures are not an alternative for financial measures prepared in
accordance with GAAP. However, the Company believes the presentation of
these non-GAAP financial measures when viewed in conjunction with our
GAAP results, provide investors with a more meaningful understanding of
our ongoing and projected operating performance. The Company believes
these non-GAAP financial measures help indicate underlying trends in the
company's business and are important in understanding projected
operating performance.
About Acorda Therapeutics
Founded in 1995, Acorda Therapeutics is a biotechnology company focused
on developing therapies that restore function and improve the lives of
people with neurological disorders.
Acorda markets three FDA-approved therapies, including AMPYRA®
(dalfampridine) Extended Release Tablets, 10 mg, a treatment to improve
walking in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), as demonstrated by an
increase in walking speed. The Company has one of the leading pipelines
in the industry of novel neurological therapies. Acorda is currently
developing a number of clinical and preclinical stage therapies. This
pipeline addresses a range of disorders including post-stroke walking
deficits, Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, neuropathic pain, heart
failure, MS, and spinal cord injury. For more information, please visit
the Company’s website at: www.acorda.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes forward-looking statements within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All
statements, other than statements of historical facts, regarding
management's expectations, beliefs, goals, plans or prospects should be
considered forward-looking. These statements are subject to risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially,
including the ability to realize the benefits anticipated from the
Civitas transaction and to successfully integrate Civitas' operations
into our operations; our ability to successfully market and sell Ampyra
in the U.S.; third party payers (including governmental agencies) may
not reimburse for the use of Ampyra or our other products at acceptable
rates or at all and may impose restrictive prior authorization
requirements that limit or block prescriptions; the risk of unfavorable
results from future studies of Ampyra or from our other research and
development programs, including CVT-301, Plumiaz, or any other acquired
or in-licensed programs; we may not be able to complete development of,
obtain regulatory approval for, or successfully market CVT-301, Plumiaz,
or any other products under development; we may need to raise additional
funds to finance our expanded operations and may not be able to do so on
acceptable terms; the occurrence of adverse safety events with our
products; delays in obtaining or failure to obtain regulatory approval
of or to successfully market Fampyra outside of the U.S. and our
dependence on our collaboration partner Biogen Idec in connection
therewith; competition; failure to protect our intellectual property, to
defend against the intellectual property claims of others or to obtain
third party intellectual property licenses needed for the
commercialization of our products; and, failure to comply with
regulatory requirements could result in adverse action by regulatory
agencies.
These and other risks are described in greater detail in Acorda
Therapeutics' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Acorda may not actually achieve the goals or plans described in its
forward-looking statements, and investors should not place undue
reliance on these statements. Forward-looking statements made in this
release are made only as of the date hereof, and Acorda disclaims any
intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a
result of developments occurring after the date of this release.
Copyright Business Wire 2015