-- Reports Neurology Franchise Annual Net Sales of $110.3 million, at the High End of Guidance Range --


Assertio Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASRT) today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2018, and provided an update on its business performance and strategic initiatives.
     
Financial Highlights:(unaudited)
     
  Fourth-Quarter 2018 Full-Year 2018
         
(in millions, except earnings per share) GAAP Non-GAAP (3) GAAP Non-GAAP (3)
Total Revenues (1) (2) 42.6 62.8 311.8 278.0
Net Income/(Loss) (24.1) 23.1 36.9 93.2
Earnings/(Loss) Per Share $(0.38) $0.30 $0.57 $1.22
Adjusted EBITDA 41.0 155.3
(1)  Fourth-quarter 2018 includes a $21.3 million adjustment reversal for the non-cash value assigned to inventory transferred to Collegium.
(2)  Full-year 2018 includes a ($25.2) million adjustment reversal for the non-cash value assigned to inventory transferred to Collegium.
(3) All non-GAAP measures included in this earnings news release are reconciled to the corresponding GAAP measures in the schedules attached.
 

“Assertio’s 2018 financial performance met, or exceeded, our goals for the full year,” said Arthur Higgins, President and CEO of Assertio. “We delivered adjusted EBITDA at the high end of our current guidance range, and ahead of our original target, as well as neurology franchise sales at the high end of our current guidance range. In addition, we made significant progress throughout the year advancing our strategic, financial and operational goals, including the NDA filing of our long-acting cosyntropin. We look forward to another productive year ahead as we continue the transformation of Assertio into a biopharma company with sustainable growth and a promising pipeline."

Business Highlights:

  • FDA Accepted Filing of 505(b)(2) NDA Filing for Cosyntropin: On February 19, 2019, the Company received notification of acceptance for filing from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its 505(b)(2) New Drug Application for its injectable formulation of long-acting cosyntropin (synthetic adrenocorticotropic hormone, or ACTH). The Company, together with its partner West Therapeutic Development, LLC, seeks approval for the use of long-acting cosyntropin as a diagnostic drug in the screening of patients presumed to have adrenocortical insufficiency. The PDUFA date is October 19, 2019.
  • Strong Cash Generation and Debt Reduction: In 2018, the Company secured $97.0 million in non-dilutive cash through strategic transactions, of which approximately $65.0 million was received in 2018; the balance of $32 million was received on January 30, 2019. These cash inflows, as well as the Company’s own cash-flow generation, reduced total secured debt by $82.5 million from $365.0 million as of December 31, 2017 to $282.5 million as of December 31, 2018. As of December 31, 2018, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $110.9 million.
  • Amended Senior Secured Credit Facility: On January 8, 2019, the Company amended its Senior Secured Credit Facility, replacing the previous fixed adjusted EBITDA covenant with a trailing 12-month debt-to-adjusted EBITDA ratio that declines over time. The amendment gives the Company greater flexibility to continue to pay down debt and invest in the core business, including potential business development transactions.
  • Strengthened NUCYNTA Collaboration with Collegium - Extends Minimum Term; Annual Royalty Payments Through 2021: On November 8, 2018, the Company announced an amendment to the Commercialization Agreement with Collegium Pharmaceutical, Inc. relating to the NUCYNTA® franchise. The amendment strengthens the collaboration and further aligns the parties’ mutual interest in growing the franchise. The amendment secures a minimum term of the Commercialization Agreement through at least December 31, 2021, prior to which Collegium may not terminate.
  • Completed Previously Announced Corporate Restructuring and HQ Relocation: In 2018, the Company completed its reincorporation from California to Delaware and changed its name from “Depomed, Inc.” to “Assertio Therapeutics, Inc.” In connection with the reincorporation and name change, the Company’s common stock began trading under a new ticker symbol “ASRT” and a new CUSIP number, 04545L 107, on August 15, 2018.On August 15, 2018, the Company completed the relocation of its corporate headquarters from Newark, CA, to Lake Forest, IL. The relocation is consistent with the Company’s strategy to attract new pharmaceutical talent based in the Chicagoland area.Additionally, the Company has sublet the entirety of its Newark facility.
       
Revenue Summary(in thousands, unaudited)      
       
  Three Months EndedDecember 31,   Twelve Months EndedDecember 31,
  2018   2017   2018   2017
               
Product sales, net:              
Gralise $ 14,805     $ 20,208     $ 58,077     $ 77,034  
CAMBIA 10,933     7,749     35,803     31,597  
Zipsor 3,212     4,415     16,387     16,700  
Total neurology product sales, net 28,950     32,372     110,267     125,331  
               
Nucynta products (1) 162     60,018     18,944     239,539  
Lazanda (2) 227     1,770     755     15,010  
Total product sales, net 29,339     94,160     129,966     379,880  
               
Commercialization agreement: (3)              
Commercialization rights and facilitation services, net 12,983         100,038      
Revenue from transfer of inventory         55,705      
Royalties and milestone revenue 277     248     26,061     844  
               
Total revenues $ 42,599     $ 94,408     $ 311,770     $ 380,724  

___________________

(1)  The Company transitioned the commercial rights to sell NUCYNTA to Collegium on January 9, 2018. NUCYNTA product sales for the three months ended December 31, 2018 relate to sales reserve estimate adjustments. NUCYNTA product sales for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 reflect the Company's sales of NUCYNTA during a stub period between January 1st and January 8th, and also includes a $12.5 million benefit related to the release of sales reserves for which the Company is no longer financially responsible.

(2)  The Company divested Lazanda in November 2017. Product sales for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2018 relate to sales reserve estimate adjustments.

(3)  The Commercialization Agreement revenues for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 includes $100.0 million related to the commercialization rights and facilitation services provided to Collegium and $55.7 million related to the fair value of inventory transferred to Collegium. During the fourth quarter of 2018, the Company amended the Commercialization Agreement and agreed upon a variable revenue stream to take the place of the existing fixed revenue stream. As such, as of the date of the amendment, on November 8, 2018, the Company ceased recognition of fixed revenues and will begin recognition of variable revenues when they become due beginning in January 2019.  Cash collected during the fourth quarter remained in-line with the pre-modification agreement amount of $33.8 million.

2019 Financial GuidanceThe Company is providing the following 2019 financial guidance:

    2019 Guidance  
  Neurology Franchise Net Sales Low-to Mid-Single Digit Growth  
  GAAP Net (Loss)/Income(1) ($71) to ($61) million  
  Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA(1) $115 to $125 million  
    (1) Guidance includes: (a) $2.8 million of non-cash Collegium warrant-related income and excludes (b) any future mark-to-market adjustments related to those warrants, which cannot be estimated at this time.  
     

Conference Call and WebcastAssertio will host a conference call today, Wednesday, March 6, 2019 beginning at 4:30 p.m. ET to discuss its results. This event can be accessed in three ways:

  • From the Assertio website: http://investor.assertiotx.com. Please access the website 15 minutes prior to the start of the call to download and install any necessary audio software.
  • By telephone: Participants can access the call by dialing (877) 550-3745 (United States) or (281) 973-6277 (International) referencing Conference ID 3784827.
  • By replay: A replay of the webcast will be located under the Investor Relations section of Assertio's website approximately two hours after the conclusion of the live call.

About Assertio Therapeutics, Inc.Assertio Therapeutics is committed to providing responsible solutions to advance patient care in the Company’s core areas of neurology, orphan and specialty medicines. Assertio currently markets three FDA-approved products and continues to identify, license and develop new products that offer enhanced options for patients that may be under served by existing therapies. To learn more about Assertio, visit www.assertiotx.com.

“Safe Harbor” Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995The statements that are not historical facts contained in this release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, the commercialization of Gralise, CAMBIA, and Zipsor, royalties associated with Collegium’s commercialization of NUCYNTA and NUCYNTA ER, regulatory approval and clinical development of long-acting cosyntropin, loan agreements, including our senior secured debt facility, Assertio’s financial outlook for 2019 and expectations regarding financial results and potential business opportunities and other risks detailed in the Company’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. The inclusion of forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation that any of the Company’s plans or objectives will be achieved. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly release the result of any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Investor and Media Contact:John B. ThomasSenior Vice President, Investor Relations and Corporate Communicationsjthomas@assertiotx.com

Non-GAAP Financial MeasuresTo supplement the Company’s financial results presented on a U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) basis, the Company has included information about non-GAAP revenue, non-GAAP adjusted earnings, non-GAAP adjusted diluted earnings per share, non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA and other non-GAAP financial measures as useful operating metrics. The Company believes that the presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures, when viewed with results under GAAP and the accompanying reconciliation, provides supplementary information to analysts, investors, lenders, and the Company’s management in assessing the Company’s performance and results from period to period. The Company uses these non-GAAP measures internally to understand, manage and evaluate the Company’s performance, and in part, in the determination of bonuses for executive officers and employees. These non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to, and not a substitute for, or superior to, net income or other financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. Non-GAAP financial measures used by us may be calculated differently from, and therefore may not be comparable to, non-GAAP measures used by other companies.

Specified ItemsNon-GAAP measures presented within this release exclude specified items. The Company considers specified Items to be significant income/expense items not indicative of current operations, including the related tax effect. Specified items include non-cash adjustment to Collegium agreement revenue and cost of sales, release of NUCYNTA and Lazanda sales reserves for products the Company is no longer selling, interest income, interest expense, amortization, acquired in-process research and development and non-cash adjustments related to product acquisitions, stock-based compensation expense, non-cash interest expense related to debt, depreciation, taxes, transaction costs, CEO transition, restructuring costs, adjustments to net sales related to reserves recorded prior to the Company’s exit of opioid commercialization activities, legal costs and expenses incurred in connection with opioid-related litigation, investigations and regulations pertaining to the company’s historical commercialization of opioid products, certain types of legal settlements, disputes, fees and costs, and to adjust for the tax effect related to each of the non-GAAP adjustments.

       
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS(in thousands, except per share amounts)(unaudited)
       
  Three Months Ended December 31,   Twelve Months Ended December 31,
  2018   2017   2018   2017
       
  (unaudited)   (unaudited)
Revenues:              
Product sales, net $ 29,339     $ 94,160     $ 129,966     $ 379,880  
Commercialization agreement, net 12,983         155,743      
Royalties and milestones 277     248     26,061     844  
Total revenues 42,599     94,408     311,770     380,724  
               
Costs and expenses:              
Cost of sales (excluding amortization of intangible assets) 704     17,704     18,476     72,598  
Research and development expenses 2,207     1,259     8,042     13,718  
Acquired in-process research and development     24,900         24,900  
Selling, general and administrative expenses 25,468     48,318     119,218     195,696  
Amortization of intangible assets 25,443     25,541     101,774     102,745  
Restructuring charges 1,859     9,372     20,601     13,247  
Total costs and expenses 55,681     127,094     268,111     422,904  
               
Income/(loss) from operations (13,082 )   (32,685 )   43,659     (42,180 )
Litigation settlement         62,000      
Gain on divestiture of Lazanda     17,064         17,064  
Interest and other income 224     77     1,197     681  
Loss on prepayment of Senior Notes     (573 )       (5,938 )
Interest expense (16,613 )   (17,857 )   (68,881 )   (73,552 )
Income tax (expense) benefit 5,333     870     (1,067 )   1,429  
Net income/(loss) $ (24,138 )   $ (33,104 )   $ 36,908     $ (102,496 )
               
Basic net (loss) income per share $ (0.38 )   $ (0.52 )   $ 0.58     $ (1.63 )
Diluted net income (loss) per share $ (0.38 )   $ (0.52 )   $ 0.57     $ (1.63 )
Basic shares used in calculation 64,004     63,137     63,794     62,702  
Diluted shares used in calculation 64,004     63,137     64,208     62,702  

       
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS(in thousands)(unaudited)
       
  December 31,2018   December 31,2017
       
Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities $ 110,949     $ 128,089  
Accounts receivable, net 37,211     72,482  
Inventories 3,396     13,042  
Property and equipment, net 13,064     13,024  
Intangible assets, net 692,099     793,873  
Investments 11,784      
Prepaid and other assets 64,363     18,107  
Total assets $ 932,866     $ 1,038,617  
       
Accounts payable $ 6,138     $ 14,732  
Income tax payable     126  
Interest payable 11,645     13,220  
Accrued liabilities 31,361     60,496  
Accrued rebates, returns and discounts 75,759     135,828  
Senior notes 278,309     357,220  
Convertible notes 287,798     269,510  
Contingent consideration liability 1,038     1,613  
Other liabilities 20,483     16,364  
Shareholders’ equity 220,335     169,508  
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $ 932,866     $ 1,038,617  

       
RECONCILIATION OF GAAP NET INCOME (LOSS) TO NON-GAAP ADJUSTED EBITDA(in thousands)(unaudited)
       
  Three Months Ended December 31,   Twelve Months Ended December 31,
  2018   2017   2018   2017
       
  (unaudited)   (unaudited)
               
GAAP net income/(loss) $ (24,138 )   $ (33,104 )   $ 36,908     $ (102,496 )
Commercialization agreement revenues (1) 21,262         (25,164 )    
Commercialization agreement cost of sales (2)         6,200      
Nucynta sales reserve (3)         (10,711 )    
Nucynta and Lazanda revenue reserves (4) (1,024 )       (1,562 )    
Expenses for opioid-related litigation, investigations and regulations (5) 3,537         7,897      
Intangible amortization related to product acquisitions 25,443     25,541     101,774     102,745  
Contingent consideration related to product acquisitions 143     (104 )   (515 )   (6,629 )
Stock-based compensation 2,549     3,095     10,439     12,965  
Purdue litigation settlement         (62,000 )    
Interest and other income (224 )   (77 )   (1,197 )   (410 )
Interest expense 16,613     18,361     68,881     78,190  
Depreciation 254     918     1,931     2,757  
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes (5,333 )   (870 )   1,067     (1,429 )
Restructuring and related costs (6) 1,881     9,817     21,264     16,834  
Acquired in process research and development     24,900         24,900  
Gain on divestiture of Lazanda     (17,064 )       (17,064 )
Managed care dispute reserve             4,742  
Transaction and other costs     1,435     123     1,435  
Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA $ 40,963     $ 32,848     $ 155,335     $ 116,540  

___________________

(1) For the period from January 8, 2018 through November 8, 2018, the adjustment relates to the non-cash value assigned to inventory transferred to Collegium.  As of the date of the amendment, on November 8, 2018, the Company ceased recognition of fixed revenues and will begin recognition of variable revenues when they become due beginning in January 2019.  Cash collected during the fourth quarter remained in-line with the pre-modification agreement amount of $33.8 million. The adjustment for the three months ended December 31, 2018 relates to the cash received in excess of the GAAP revenue recognized.  The Company has consistently shown non-GAAP revenue for the Commercialization Agreement on a cash basis.

(2) Represents the cash received for inventory transferred to Collegium at the commencement of the Commercialization Agreement.

(3) Represents a $12.5 million benefit related to the release of sales reserves for which the Company is no longer financially responsible, net of $1.8 million in royalties payable to a third party.

(4) Removal of the impact of revenue adjustment estimates related to products that we are no longer commercializing.

(5) Legal costs/expenses related to opioid-related litigation, investigations and regulations pertaining to the Company’s historical commercialization of opioid products.

(6) Restructuring and other costs represents non-recurring costs associated with the Company’s restructuring, reincorporation, headquarters relocation and CEO transition.

       
RECONCILIATION OF GAAP NET INCOME/(LOSS) TO NON-GAAP ADJUSTED EARNINGS(in thousands, except per share amounts)(unaudited)
       
  Three Months Ended December 31,   Twelve Months Ended December 31,
  2018   2017   2018   2017
       
  (unaudited)   (unaudited)
               
GAAP net income/(loss) $ (24,138 )   $ (33,104 )   $ 36,908     $ (102,496 )
Commercialization agreement revenues (1) 21,262         (25,164 )    
Commercialization agreement cost of sales (2)         6,200      
Nucynta sales reserve (3)         (10,711 )    
Nucynta and Lazanda revenue reserves (4) (1,024 )       (1,562 )    
Expenses for opioid-related litigation, investigations and regulations (5) 3,537         7,897      
Intangible amortization related to product acquisitions 25,443     25,541     101,774     102,745  
Contingent consideration related to product acquisitions 143     (104 )   (515 )   (6,629 )
Stock-based compensation 2,549     3,095     10,439     12,965  
Restructuring and related costs (6) 1,881     9,817     21,264     16,834  
Acquired in process research and development     24,900         24,900  
Gain on divestiture of Lazanda     (17,064 )       (17,064 )
Purdue litigation settlement         (62,000 )    
Non-cash interest expense on debt 5,579     5,340     21,877     20,953  
Managed care dispute reserve             4,742  
Valuation allowance on deferred tax assets     11,017         30,291  
Other costs         123      
Income tax effect of non-GAAP adjustments (7) (12,147   (18,626 )   (13,305   (56,875 )
Non-GAAP adjusted earnings $ 23,085     $ 10,813     $ 93,225     $ 30,366  
Add interest expense of convertible debt, net of tax (8) 1,704     1,348     6,814     5,390  
Numerator $ 24,789     $ 12,160     $ 100,039     $ 35,756  
Shares used in calculation (8) 81,935     81,360     82,139     81,619  
Non-GAAP adjusted earnings per share $ 0.30     $ 0.15     $ 1.22     $ 0.44  

___________________

(1) For the period from January 8, 2018 through November 8, 2018, the adjustment relates to the non-cash value assigned to inventory transferred to Collegium.  As of the date of the amendment, on November 8, 2018, the Company ceased recognition of fixed revenues and will begin recognition of variable revenues when they become due beginning in January 2019.  Cash collected during the fourth quarter remained in-line with the pre-modification agreement amount of $33.8 million. The adjustment for the three months ended December 31, 2018 relates to the cash received in excess of the GAAP revenue recognized.  The Company has consistently shown non-GAAP revenue for the Commercialization Agreement on a cash basis.

(2) Represents the cash received for inventory transferred to Collegium at the commencement of the Commercialization Agreement.

(3) Represents a $12.5 million benefit related to the release of sales reserves for which the Company is no longer financially responsible, net of $1.8 million in royalties payable to a third party.

(4) Removal of the impact of revenue adjustment estimates related to products that we are no longer commercializing.

(5) Legal costs/expenses related to opioid-related litigation, investigations and regulations pertaining to the Company’s historical commercialization of opioid products.

(6) Restructuring and other costs represents non-recurring costs associated with the Company’s restructuring, reincorporation, headquarters relocation and CEO transition.

(7) Calculated by taking the pre-tax non-GAAP adjustments and applying the statutory tax rate.

(8) The Company uses the if-converted method to compute diluted earnings per share with respect to its convertible debt.

       
RECONCILIATION OF GAAP NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE TONON-GAAP ADJUSTED EARNINGS PER SHARE(unaudited)
       
  Three Months Ended December 31,   Twelve Months Ended December 31,
  2018   2017   2018   2017
               
GAAP net income/(loss) per share (0.38 )   (0.52 )   0.57     (1.63 )
Conversion from basic shares to diluted shares 0.09     0.12     (0.13 )   0.38  
Commercialization agreement revenues 0.26         (0.30 )    
Commercialization agreement cost of sales         0.08      
Nucynta sales reserve         (0.13 )    
Non-cash interest expense on debt 0.07     0.07     0.27     0.26  
Nucynta and Lazanda revenue reserves         (0.01 )    
Managed care dispute reserve             0.06  
Expenses for opioid-related litigation, investigations and regulations 0.04         0.09      
Purdue litigation settlement         (0.75 )    
Intangible amortization related to product acquisitions 0.31     0.31     1.23     1.25  
Contingent consideration related to product acquisitions (0.01 )       (0.01 )   (0.08 )
Stock based compensation 0.03     0.04     0.13     0.16  
Restructuring and related costs 0.03     0.12     0.26     0.21  
Acquired in process research and development     0.30         0.30  
Gain on divestiture of Lazanda     (0.21 )       (0.21 )
Valuation allowance on deferred tax assets     0.14         0.37  
Income tax effect of non-GAAP adjustments (0.16   (0.23 )   (0.16 )   (0.70 )
Add interest expense of convertible debt, net of tax 0.02     0.02     0.08     0.07  
Non-GAAP adjusted diluted earnings per share 0.30     0.15     1.22     0.44  

                             
RECONCILIATIONS OF GAAP REPORTED TO NON-GAAP ADJUSTED INFORMATIONFor the three months ended December 31, 2018(in thousands)(unaudited)
                             
    Commercializationagreement revenues   Product Sales   Royalties andmilestones   Total Revenue   Cost of sales   Research anddevelopmentexpense   Selling, general andadministrativeexpense
GAAP as reported   $ 12,983     $ 29,339     $ 277     $ 42,599     $ 704     $ 2,207     $ 25,468  
Commercialization agreement revenues and cost of sales   21,262             21,262              
Nucynta sales reserve                            
Third party royalties   (82 )           (82 )   82          
Nucynta and Lazanda revenue reserves       (1,024 )       (1,024 )            
Expenses for opioid-related litigation, investigations and regulations                           (3,537 )
Contingent consideration related to product acquisitions                           (143
Stock based compensation                       (109 )   (2,440 )
Restructuring and other costs                           (22 )
Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA   $ 34,163     $ 28,315     $ 277     $ 62,755     $ 786     $ 2,098     $ 19,326  

For non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA purposes, the company adjusts the full costs of restructuring, amortization of intangible assets, interest expense and taxes.

                             
RECONCILIATIONS OF GAAP REPORTED TO NON-GAAP ADJUSTED INFORMATIONFor the twelve months ended December 31, 2018(in thousands)(unaudited)
                             
    Commercializationagreement revenues   Product Sales   Royalties andmilestones   Total Revenue   Cost of sales   Research anddevelopmentexpense   Selling, general andadministrativeexpense
GAAP as reported   $ 155,743     $ 129,966     $ 26,061     $ 311,770     $ 18,476     $ 8,042     $ 119,218  
Commercialization agreement revenues and cost of sales   (25,164 )           (25,164 )            
Nucynta sales reserve       (10,711 )       (10,711 )            
Third party royalties   3,659             3,659     (3,659 )        
Nucynta and Lazanda revenue reserves       (1,562 )       (1,562 )            
Expenses for opioid-related litigation, investigations and regulations                           (7,897 )
Contingent consideration related to product acquisitions                           515  
Stock based compensation                   (30 )   (446 )   (9,963 )
Restructuring and other costs                           (661 )
Other costs                           (123 )
Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA   $ 134,238     $ 117,693     $ 26,061     $ 277,992     $ 14,787     $ 7,596     $ 101,089  

For non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA purposes, the company adjusts the full costs of restructuring, amortization of intangible assets, interest expense and taxes.

     
     
FULL-YEAR 2019 NON-GAAP GUIDANCE RECONCILIATION(in millions)(unaudited)
                   
    Earnings(1)  
    Low End   High End  
  GAAP ($71 )   ($61 )  
  Specified Items(2) $ 186     $ 186    
  Non-GAAP $ 115     $ 125    

___________________

(1) GAAP net income guidance refers to GAAP net income and non-GAAP earnings guidance refers to non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA.

(2) For purposes of this forward-looking reconciliation, a description of the categories of specified items included in this reconciliation are detailed in the tables above.

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