While its long-awaited novel drug to treat Parkinson's disease
inches closer to the finish line,Impax Laboratories (
IPXL
) has found other ways to keep its growth engine humming.
Products treating migraine headache and attention deficit
hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, have recently led the way.
Revenue from the two treatments powered Impax's second-quarter
results, which in turn lifted shares more than 8% July 31, the
day of the report, to over 22. They've since climbed a bit
higher.
Hayward, Calif.-based Impax is a specialty drug company that
has built a reputation on controlled-release oral delivery
techniques. It focuses on both generic and branded drugs,
especially for disorders of the central nervous system.
But it's Rytary, Impax's first internally developed branded
drug for Parkinson's disease, that could be the big game-changer.
The drug is also known by its filing name, IPX066.
Parkinson's is a neurodegenerative movement disorder
afflicting more than 3 million people in the U.S., Europe and
Japan alone. Impax will have a lock on the big U.S.
market.GlaxoSmithKline (
GSK
) is licensed to sell Rytary outside the U.S. and Taiwan.
Better Efficacy
Rytary is an extended release capsule reformulation of an
immediate release version containing the treatment standard
bearer, levodopa. It's meant to maintain more consistent and
longer-lasting improvements in patients.
"Clinicians are pretty enthusiastic about the better efficacy
and with what appears to be fewer side effects," said Cowen &
Co. analyst Ken Cacciatore.
Analysts expect Rytary to generate more than $300 million in
annual sales as the product fully ramps up about five years after
the launch date, which is expected to occur early next year.
In the second quarter, sales from generic Adderall XR, which
treats ADHD, made up $70 million of the company's $166.5 million
in revenue.
That was better than many had expected, considering past
supply shortfalls fromShire (
SHPG
).
Revenue in the quarter was 32% higher than in the same period
a year earlier.
Profit soared 173% to 60 cents a share. Analysts forecast an
83% rise in full-year profit, to $2.05 a share, and much slower
growth next year as launch expenses rise.
In migraines, U.S. sales of the tablet form of Zomig began
April 1 on the heels of a licensing agreement withAstraZeneca (
AZN
) for three formulations, tablets, oral disintegrating pills and
nasal spray.
Zomig generated $29 million in sales in the quarter just from
the tablet form, delivering on management's earlier vow that the
drug would help support growth as they prepared for the Rytary
launch.
The two other formulations of Zomig started contributing to
sales in July. Even if overall Zomig volume has been declining,
as analysts say, it's all new revenue for Impax.
But analysts say Rytary is the real key to Impax's success for
now. Cacciatore calls Rytary "critical."
"It's a brand product you can invest behind and grow," he
said.
Compared to the short, jittery sales cycles of generic drugs,
it'll provide the company with a much longer period of patent
protection and with smoother and more balanced growth.
Last year, Impax's revenue fell 42% and profit by over 60% as
it lost sales from generic Flomax, which was a big contributor in
2010.
Though Rytary approval is expected, it's not yet a done deal.
After extensive clinical studies, the FDA accepted Impax's
new-drug application filing for IPX066 in February. It's set to
weigh in with a further decision in late October in what is known
as a Prescription Drug User Fee Date.
Some analysts are concerned that a warning letter from the FDA
on Impax's manufacturing plant in Hayward, Calif., could throw a
wrench in Rytary's final approval.
That's despite the fact that the Hayward plant is only a
backup facility for making the drug. The company's Taiwan plant
will be the primary site.
FDA Inspection
Management has told analysts and investors they are working to
get the plant up to speed to satisfy the FDA's concerns. It's
unclear when the FDA will reinspect the plant.
"There's a chance (Rytary) gets approved without the
resolution of Hayward," Cacciatore said.
Executives have said they could possibly remove the Hayward
plant from the FDA application if necessary.
Manufacturing issues at the Hayward plant "have been an
overhang," says ThinkEquity analyst James Molloy, who believes
issues will eventually be resolved.
Meanwhile, Impax's medicine chest is hardly low on supplies.
Impax markets more than 100 generic products. And it has a
pipeline of 46 pending applications with the FDA, including some
filed jointly with partners.
In its central-nervous-system-focused branded pharma business,
a drug to treat restless legs syndrome is currently in clinical
studies. It's an oral controlled-release formulation.
In late June, Impax announced it will partner with
Colorado-based Tolmar to commercialize several generic topical
prescription products.
Three-Way Battle
New products could help offset an expected falloff in generic
Adderall XR sales as new generics enter the market. The FDA
recently approved a drug submitted by Actavis, a company being
acquired byWatson Pharmaceuticals (
WPI
).
That spells an end to the three-way market battle between
Shire and its two authorized generic partners, Impax being one of
them. The other: generic-drug giantTeva (TEVA).
Adderall XR brand and generic versions took in nearly $2
billion in sales in the 12 months ending in March, according to
industry figures cited by Drug Store News.
Impax is "still levered to (Adderall XR) for better or worse,"
wrote Jefferies & Co. analysts on Aug. 1. Revenue from the
drug, they added, "continues to drive this boat quarter to
quarter until new approvals come through."
Though Impax's Adderall sales will likely fall off, reduced
royalty rates paid to Shire lifts gross margins on the drug, the
Jefferies & Co. analysts wrote.
Meanwhile, with over $354 million in cash and no debt, Impax
execs boast that they can make acquisitions and enter into new
partnerships to drive growth.
Then of course there is Rytary. CEO Larry Hsu said in a
conference call on July 31, "We continue to be excited about
(Rytary) and its market potential."