Feb. 4, 2021 13:00 UTC

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc.. (NASDAQ:ALXN) today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and full year of 2020. Total revenues for the full year of 2020 were $6,069.9 million, a 22 percent increase compared to the same period in 2019. The negative impact of foreign currency on total revenues year-over-year was 1 percent, or $52.0 million, inclusive of hedging activities. On a GAAP basis, diluted EPS for the full year of 2020 was $2.72, compared to $10.70 in the prior year. Full year 2020 includes impairment charges of $2,053.3 million primarily relating to the KANUMA intangible asset and a related deferred tax benefit of $377.3 million. Full year 2019 includes one-time tax benefits of $382.2 million related to intra-entity asset transfers of intellectual property. Non-GAAP diluted EPS for the full year of 2020 was $12.51, a 19 percent increase versus the prior year.

Total revenues in the fourth quarter were $1,591.8 million, a 15 percent increase compared to the same period in 2019. The positive impact of foreign currency on total revenues year-over-year was less than 1 percent, or $0.1 million, inclusive of hedging activities. On a GAAP basis, diluted EPS in the quarter was $2.42, compared to $4.00 in the prior year, inclusive of one-time tax benefits of $382.2 million related to intra-entity asset transfers of intellectual property in the fourth quarter of 2019. Non-GAAP diluted EPS for the fourth quarter of 2020 was $2.96, a 9 percent increase versus the fourth quarter of 2019.

"In 2020, we delivered on our LEAD-EXPAND-DIVERSIFY strategy - progressing our commercial portfolio with multiple global regulatory approvals, and further building our pipeline, which now spans more than 20 development programs. I am so proud of our team's remarkable execution and perseverance amidst the uncertainties of COVID-19," said Ludwig Hantson, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Alexion. "We enter 2021 with significant momentum, a strong foundation and a promising future. I am confident we are well positioned to build on our success and further advance our mission of delivering life-changing medicines to people with rare diseases and devastating conditions in the coming months and once we become part of AstraZeneca."

Full Year 2020 Financial Highlights

Fourth Quarter 2020 Financial Highlights

COVID-19

We continue to take steps to proactively respond to the evolving COVID-19 pandemic and to plan for related uncertainties. We remain focused on continuing to serve patients, protecting the health and safety of our employees and the communities in which we live and work, and supporting patients in clinical trials. We are also focused on minimizing potential interactions that could contribute to the spread of the virus and put additional strain on healthcare systems through the use of innovative virtual means where possible.

Research and Development

PHASE 3/4

PHASE 1/2

Conference Call/Earnings Materials:

Given the recently announced agreement for Alexion to be acquired by AstraZeneca, Alexion will not be hosting a conference call. Earnings materials are available publicly on the Investor Relations page of our website at http://ir.alexion.com. Questions may be directed to the Investor Relations team via e-mail at InvestorRelations@Alexion.com or the contact information below.

About Alexion

Alexion is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on serving patients and families affected by rare diseases and devastating conditions through the discovery, development and commercialization of life-changing medicines. As a leader in rare diseases for more than 25 years, Alexion has developed and commercializes two approved complement inhibitors to treat patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) and atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS), as well as the first and only approved complement inhibitor to treat anti-acetylcholine receptor (AchR) antibody-positive generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). Alexion also has two highly innovative enzyme replacement therapies for patients with life-threatening and ultra-rare metabolic disorders, hypophosphatasia (HPP) and lysosomal acid lipase deficiency (LAL-D) as well as the first and only approved Factor Xa inhibitor reversal agent. In addition, the company is developing several mid-to-late-stage therapies, including a copper-binding agent for Wilson disease, an anti-neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) antibody for rare Immunoglobulin G (IgG)-mediated diseases and an oral Factor D inhibitor as well as several early-stage therapies, including one for light chain (AL) amyloidosis, a second oral Factor D inhibitor and a third complement inhibitor. Alexion focuses its research efforts on novel molecules and targets in the complement cascade and its development efforts on hematology, nephrology, neurology, metabolic disorders, cardiology, ophthalmology and acute care. Headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, Alexion has offices around the globe and serves patients in more than 50 countries. This press release and further information about Alexion can be found at: http://www.alexion.com.

[ALXN-E]

Additional Information and Where to Find It

In connection with the proposed transaction, AstraZeneca PLC (AstraZeneca) intends to file with the SEC a registration statement on Form F-4 that will include a proxy statement of Alexion and that also constitutes a prospectus of AstraZeneca. Each of Alexion and AstraZeneca may also file other relevant documents with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regarding the proposed transaction. This document is not a substitute for the proxy statement/prospectus or registration statement or any other document that Alexion or AstraZeneca may file with the SEC. The definitive proxy statement/prospectus (if and when available) will be mailed to stockholders of Alexion. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT, PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS THAT MAY BE FILED WITH THE SEC, AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS TO THESE DOCUMENTS, CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY IF AND WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN OR WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of the registration statement and proxy statement/prospectus (if and when available) and other documents containing important information about Alexion, AstraZeneca and the proposed transaction, once such documents are filed with the SEC through the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. Copies of the documents filed with the SEC by Alexion will be available free of charge on Alexions website at http://www.alexion.com or by contacting Alexions Investor Relations Department by email at InvestorRelations@alexion.com. Copies of the documents filed with the SEC by AstraZeneca will be available free of charge on AstraZenecas website at https://www.astrazeneca.com/investor-relations.html or by contacting AstraZenecas Investor Relations department by email at global-mediateam@astrazeneca.com.

Participants in the Solicitation

Alexion, AstraZeneca, their respective directors and certain of their executive officers and other employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from Alexions stockholders in connection with the proposed transaction. Information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be deemed participants in the solicitation of Alexion stockholders in connection with the proposed mergers, including a description of their direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be set forth in the proxy statement/prospectus when it is filed with the SEC. Information about Alexions directors and executive officers is available in Alexions proxy statement for its 2020 annual meeting of stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on March 26, 2020, Alexions Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, which was filed with the SEC on February 4, 2020, and other documents subsequently filed by Alexion with the SEC. Information about AstraZenecas directors and executive officers is available in AstraZenecas Form 20-F filed with the SEC on March 3, 2020, and other documents subsequently filed by AstraZeneca with the SEC.

No Offer or Solicitation

This communication is not intended to and shall not constitute an offer to buy or sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any securities, or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made, except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Forward Looking Statements

This communication contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. You can generally identify forward-looking statements by the use of forward-looking terminology such as anticipate, believe, continue, could, estimate, expect, explore, evaluate, intend, may, might, plan, potential, predict, project, seek, should, or will, or the negative thereof or other variations thereon or comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Alexions control. Statements in this communication regarding Alexion, AstraZeneca and the combined company that are forward-looking, including anticipated benefits of the proposed transaction, the impact of the proposed transaction on Alexions and AstraZenecas businesses, that Alexion is well positioned to build on its success, the anticipated timing of initiation, enrollment, reporting results of clinical trials, the timing of filing for regulatory approvals and receipt of approvals are based on managements estimates, assumptions and projections, and are subject to significant uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond Alexions and AstraZenecas control. These factors include, among other things, market factors, completion of the audit of Alexions fiscal year 2020 financial results, competitive product development and approvals, pricing controls and pressures (including changes in rules and practices of managed care groups and institutional and governmental purchasers), economic conditions such as interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations, judicial decisions, claims and concerns that may arise regarding the safety and efficacy of in-line products and product candidates, changes to wholesaler inventory levels, variability in data provided by third parties, changes in, and interpretation of, governmental regulations and legislation affecting domestic or foreign operations, including tax obligations, changes to business or tax planning strategies, difficulties and delays in product development, manufacturing or sales including any potential future recalls, patent positions and the ultimate outcome of any litigation matter. Additional information concerning these risks, uncertainties and assumptions can be found in Alexions filings with the SEC, including the risk factors discussed in Alexions most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as updated by its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and in Alexions future filings with the SEC. Important risk factors could cause actual future results and other future events to differ materially from those currently estimated by management, including, but not limited to, the risks that: a condition to the closing the proposed acquisition may not be satisfied; a regulatory approval that may be required for the proposed acquisition is delayed, is not obtained or is obtained subject to conditions that are not anticipated; managements time and attention is diverted on transaction related issues; disruption from the transaction makes it more difficult to maintain business, contractual and operational relationships; the credit ratings of the combined company declines following the proposed acquisition; legal proceedings are instituted against Alexion, AstraZeneca or the combined company; Alexion is unable to retain key personnel; and the announcement or the consummation of the proposed acquisition has a negative effect on the market price of the capital stock of Alexion or on Alexions operating results. No assurances can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do occur, what impact they will have on the results of operations, financial condition or cash flows of Alexion. Should any risks and uncertainties develop into actual events, these developments could have a material adverse effect on the proposed transaction and/or Alexion. You are cautioned not to rely on Alexions forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are and will be based upon managements then-current views and assumptions regarding future events and operating performance, and are applicable only as of the dates of such statements. Alexion assumes no duty to update or revise forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, as of any future date.

In addition to financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP, this press release also contains non-GAAP financial measures that Alexion believes, when considered together with the GAAP information, provide investors and management with supplemental information relating to performance, trends and prospects that promote a more complete understanding of our operating results and financial position during different periods. Alexion also uses these non-GAAP financial measures to establish budgets, set operational goals and to evaluate the performance of the business. The non-GAAP results, determined in accordance with our internal policies, exclude the impact of the following GAAP items (see reconciliation tables below for additional information): share-based compensation expense, fair value adjustment of inventory acquired, amortization of purchased intangible assets, changes in fair value of contingent consideration, restructuring and related expenses, upfront payments related to licenses and other strategic agreements, acquired in-process research and development, impairment of purchased intangible assets, gains and losses related to strategic equity investments, litigation charges, gain or loss on sale of a business or asset, gain or loss related to modification of purchase options, contingent milestone payments associated with acquisitions of legal entities accounted for as asset acquisitions, acquisition-related costs and certain adjustments to income tax expense. These non-GAAP financial measures are not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for, or superior to, the financial measures prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP, and should be reviewed in conjunction with the relevant GAAP financial measures. Please refer to the attached Reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP Financial Results for explanations of the amounts adjusted to arrive at non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP earnings per share amounts for the three and twelve month periods ended December 31, 2020 and 2019.

(Tables Follow)

ALEXION PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

TABLE 1: CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(in millions, except per share amounts)

(unaudited)

Three months ended

Twelve months ended

December 31,

December 31,

2020

2019

2020

2019

Net product sales

$

1,591.7

$

1,384.2

$

6,069.1

$

4,990.0

Other revenue

0.1

0.1

0.8

1.1

Total revenues

1,591.8

1,384.3

6,069.9

4,991.1

Costs and expenses:

Cost of sales (exclusive of amortization of purchased intangible assets)

152.2

114.3

Read more:
Alexion Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2020 Results - BioSpace