FibroGen Reports Third Quarter 2022 Financial Results


  • Continued advancement of pamrevlumab clinical trials – topline data from five pivotal Phase 3 trials beginning in 1H 2023 through mid-2024
  • Completed enrollment of MATTERHORN Phase 3 study of roxadustat in patients with anemia of myelodysplastic syndromes with topline data expected 1H 2023
  • Strong roxadustat volume growth in China of over 80% vs 3Q 2021
  • Announced non-dilutive royalty monetization transaction with NovaQuest for $50 million of capital secured by 22.5% of roxadustat royalty revenue in the Astellas territories

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FibroGen, Inc. (NASDAQ: FGEN) today reported financial results for the third quarter 2022 and provided an update on the company’s recent developments.

“I am very pleased with our progress across our clinical development programs with 3 pivotal trials expected to read out for pamrevlumab in 2023 and two more in 2024. Notably, our Phase 3 trials of roxadustat in the U.S. and Europe for anemia of myelodysplastic syndromes, and chemotherapy-induced anemia in China add two more pivotal readouts next year,” said Enrique Conterno, Chief Executive Officer, FibroGen. “The strategic financing transaction with NovaQuest provides additional non-dilutive capital which strengthens our balance sheet to support the development and commercialization of pamrevlumab while continuing to advance and expand our pipeline.”

Recent Developments:

  • Announced non-dilutive royalty monetization transaction with NovaQuest Capital Management secured by 22.5% of roxadustat royalty revenue in the territories licensed to Astellas Pharma Inc., providing $50 million to support our strategic priorities.
  • Completed enrollment of the MATTERHORN Phase 3 study of roxadustat in patients with anemia of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS).
  • Roxadustat continues to gain approvals in additional countries around the world. It is now approved in China, Europe, Japan, and numerous other territories for the treatment of anemia in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients on dialysis and not on dialysis.

China Performance:

  • FibroGen’s net product revenue under U.S. GAAP from the sale of roxadustat in China was $17.4 million compared to $13.4 million in the third quarter of 2021, an increase of 29%.
  • Third quarter total roxadustat net sales in China1 by FibroGen and the distribution entity (JDE) jointly owned by FibroGen, and AstraZeneca was $59.0 million, compared to $57.8 million in the third quarter of 2021.
  • Roxadustat continues to be the number one brand based on value share in the anemia of CKD market in China.

Upcoming Milestones:

Pamrevlumab

  • Topline data from the LELANTOS-1 Phase 3 study of pamrevlumab in non-ambulatory DMD patients expected 1H 2023.
  • Topline data from the ZEPHYRUS-1 Phase 3 study of pamrevlumab in IPF expected mid-2023.
  • Topline data from the LELANTOS-2 Phase 3 study of pamrevlumab in ambulatory DMD patients expected 2H 2023.
  • Topline data from the LAPIS Phase 3 study of pamrevlumab in LAPC expected 1H 2024.
  • Topline data from the ZEPHYRUS-2 Phase 3 study of pamrevlumab in IPF expected mid-2024.

Roxadustat

  • Topline data from the MATTERHORN Phase 3 study of roxadustat in anemia of MDS expected 1H 2023.
  • Topline data from the China Phase 3 study of roxadustat for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced anemia (CIA) expected mid-2023.

Financial:

  • Total revenue for the third quarter of 2022 was $15.7 million, as compared to $156.0 million for the third quarter of 2021, which included $120 million of milestone payments from Astellas related to the EU approval of roxadustat.
  • Net loss for the third quarter of 2022 was $91.7 million, or $0.98 net loss per basic and diluted share, compared to a net income of $49.8 million, or $0.54 net income per basic and diluted share one year ago.
  • At September 30, 2022, FibroGen had $441.6 million in cash - defined as cash, cash equivalents, investments, and accounts receivable.
  • Today we announced a non-dilutive royalty monetization transaction with NovaQuest Capital Management, providing $50 million to support our strategic priorities.
  • After this transaction and based on our latest forecast, we anticipate our 2022 ending cash balance to be $380-$410 million.

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1 Total roxadustat net sales in China includes sales made by the distribution entity as well as FibroGen China’s direct sales, each to its own distributors. The distribution entity jointly owned by AstraZeneca and FibroGen is not consolidated into FibroGen’s financial statements.

Conference Call and Webcast Details
FibroGen will host a conference call and webcast today, Monday, November 7, 2022, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (2:00 p.m. Pacific Time) to discuss financial results and provide a business update. A live audio webcast of the call may be accessed in the investor section of the Company’s website, www.fibrogen.com. To access the call by phone, please go to this link (registration link), and you will be provided with dial-in details. To avoid delays, we encourage participants to dial into the conference call fifteen minutes ahead of the scheduled start time. A replay of the webcast will also be available for a limited time at the following link (webcast replay).

About Pamrevlumab
Pamrevlumab is a potential first-in-class antibody being developed by FibroGen to inhibit the activity of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), a common factor in fibrotic and proliferative disorders characterized by persistent and excessive scarring that can lead to organ dysfunction and failure. Pamrevlumab is in Phase 3 clinical development for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), locally advanced unresectable pancreatic cancer (LAPC), and Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), and in Phase 2/3 for the treatment of metastatic pancreatic cancer. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted Orphan Drug Designation (ODD), and Fast Track designation to pamrevlumab for the treatment of patients with IPF, DMD, and LAPC. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has also granted Rare Pediatric Disease Designation to pamrevlumab for the treatment of patients with DMD. Pamrevlumab has demonstrated a safety and tolerability profile that has supported ongoing clinical investigation in IPF, DMD, and LAPC. Pamrevlumab is an investigational drug and not approved for marketing by any regulatory authority. For information about pamrevlumab studies currently recruiting patients, please visit www.clinicaltrials.gov.

About Roxadustat
Roxadustat, an oral medication, is the first in a new class of medicines comprising HIF-PH inhibitors that promote erythropoiesis, or red blood cell production, through increased endogenous production of erythropoietin, improved iron absorption and mobilization, and downregulation of hepcidin. Roxadustat is in clinical development for anemia of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and anemia associated with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), and for chemotherapy-induced anemia (CIA).

Roxadustat is approved in China, Europe, Japan, and numerous other countries for the treatment of anemia of CKD in adult patients on dialysis (DD) and not on dialysis (NDD). Several other licensing applications for roxadustat have been submitted by partners, Astellas and AstraZeneca to regulatory authorities across the globe, and are currently under review.

Astellas and FibroGen are collaborating on the development and commercialization of roxadustat for the potential treatment of anemia in territories including Japan, Europe, Turkey, Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Middle East, and South Africa. FibroGen and AstraZeneca are collaborating on the development and commercialization of roxadustat for the potential treatment of anemia in the U.S., China, and other markets not licensed to Astellas.

About FibroGen
FibroGen, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company committed to discovering, developing, and commercializing a pipeline of first-in-class therapeutics. The Company applies its pioneering expertise in connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) biology and hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) to advance innovative medicines for the treatment of unmet needs. Pamrevlumab, an anti-CTGF human monoclonal antibody, is in clinical development for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), locally advanced unresectable pancreatic cancer (LAPC), metastatic pancreatic cancer, and Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Roxadustat (爱瑞卓®, EVRENZO™) is currently approved in China, Europe, Japan, and numerous other countries for the treatment of anemia in CKD patients on dialysis and not on dialysis. Roxadustat is in Phase 3 clinical development in the U.S. and Europe for anemia associated with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), and in Phase 3 clinical development in China for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced anemia (CIA). FibroGen recently expanded its research and development portfolio to include product candidates in the immuno-oncology and autoimmune space. For more information, please visit www.fibrogen.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements regarding our strategy, future plans and prospects, including statements regarding the development and commercialization of the company’s product candidates, the potential safety and efficacy profile of our product candidates, and our clinical programs. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about our plans, objectives, representations and contentions and are not historical facts and typically are identified by use of terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “on track,” “could,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “continue” and similar words, although some forward-looking statements are expressed differently. Our actual results may differ materially from those indicated in these forward-looking statements due to risks and uncertainties related to the continued progress and timing of our various programs, including the enrollment and results from ongoing and potential future clinical trials, and other matters that are described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2022, each as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including the risk factors set forth therein. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement in this press release, except as required by law.

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands)

 September 30, 2022  December 31, 2021
 (Unaudited)  (1)
Assets    
Current assets:    
Cash and cash equivalents$155,960  $171,223 
Short-term investments 252,560   233,967 
Accounts receivable, net 15,328   17,401 
Inventory 39,950   31,015 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 10,426   20,453 
Total current assets 474,224   474,059 
     
Restricted time deposits 2,072   2,072 
Long-term investments 17,780   167,796 
Property and equipment, net 22,287   28,277 
Equity method investment in unconsolidated variable interest entity 4,631   3,825 
Operating lease right-of-use assets 82,903   91,112 
Other assets 4,940   6,680 
Total assets$608,837  $773,821 
     
Liabilities, stockholders’ equity and non-controlling interests    
Current liabilities:    
Accounts payable$19,323  $26,097 
Accrued and other liabilities 213,806   172,599 
Deferred revenue 7,361   15,857 
Operating lease liabilities, current 11,504   10,944 
Total current liabilities 251,994   225,497 
     
Product development obligations 15,422   17,613 
Deferred revenue, net of current 199,758   186,801 
Operating lease liabilities, non-current 81,091   88,776 
Other long-term liabilities 14,299   26,021 
Total liabilities 562,564   544,708 
     
Total stockholders’ equity 26,306   209,146 
Non-controlling interests 19,967   19,967 
Total equity 46,273   229,113 
Total liabilities, stockholders’ equity and non-controlling interests$608,837  $773,821 

(1)  The condensed consolidated balance sheet amounts at December 31, 2021 are derived from audited financial statements.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(In thousands, except per share data)

 Three Months Ended
September 30,
  Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
 2022  2021  2022  2021 
 (Unaudited) 
Revenue:           
License revenue$  $116,434  $22,590  $116,434 
Development and other revenue 2,453   26,097   19,672   60,325 
Product revenue, net 17,359   13,442   59,495   42,175 
Drug product revenue (4,077)     4,610   (168)
Total revenue 15,735   155,973   106,367   218,766 
            
Operating costs and expenses:           
Cost of goods sold 4,308   3,266   15,355   9,746 
Research and development 75,182   75,880   235,163   273,123 
Selling, general and administrative 29,902   25,853   90,722   89,186 
Total operating costs and expenses 109,392   104,999   341,240   372,055 
Income (loss) from operations (93,657)  50,974   (234,873)  (153,289)
            
Interest and other, net:           
Interest expense (84)  (109)  (321)  (965)
Interest income and other income (expenses), net 1,798   (1,303)  6,672   (2,120)
Total interest and other, net 1,714   (1,412)  6,351   (3,085)
            
Income (loss) before income taxes (91,943)  49,562   (228,522)  (156,374)
Provision for income taxes 114   106   250   235 
Investment income in unconsolidated variable interest entity 407   342   1,293   664 
Net income (loss)$(91,650) $49,798  $(227,479) $(155,945)
            
Net income (loss) per share - basic and diluted$(0.98) $0.54  $(2.43) $(1.69)
            
Weighted average number of common shares used to calculate net income (loss) per share:           
Basic 93,767   92,644   93,431   92,206 
Diluted 93,767   92,808   93,431   92,206 

Contacts:

FibroGen, Inc.
Investors:
Michael Tung, M.D.
Corporate Strategy / Investor Relations
415.978.1434
mtung@fibrogen.com

Media:
Meichiel Keenan
Investor Relations and Corporate Communications
mkeenan@fibrogen.com