Medicure Reports Financial Results for Quarter Ended March 31, 2017

WINNIPEG, May 24, 2017 /PRNewswire/ - Medicure Inc. ("Medicure" or the "Company") (TSXV:MPH, OTC:MCUJF), a specialty pharmaceutical company, today reported its results from operations for the quarter ended March 31, 2017. 

Quarter Ended March 31, 2017 Highlights:

• Recorded net revenue of $8.7 million during the quarter ended March 31, 2017 compared to $6.1 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2016, an increase of 43%;
  
  
• Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA)¹ for the quarter ended March 31, 2017 was negative $1.5 million compared to EBITDA of $2.1 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2016;
  
  
• Net loss for the quarter ended March 31, 2017 was $5.1 million, compared to net income of $792,000 for the quarter ended March 31, 2016;

Financial Results

Net revenues for the quarter ended March 31, 2017 were $8.7 million compared to $6.1 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2016, an increase of 43%.  Net revenue from the sale of AGGRASTAT for the quarter ended March 31, 2017 was $7.0 million compared to $6.1 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2016, an increase of 16%.  Net revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2017 include $1.7 million in revenue from the Apicore business, which was acquired on December 1, 2016.

The increase in AGGRASTAT revenue compared to the previous year is primarily attributable to an increase in the number of new hospital customers using AGGRASTAT and the increase in market share held by the product.  The Company's commercial team continues to work on expanding its customer base.  For the quarter ended March 31, 2017, the Company experienced its highest level of AGGRASTAT hospital demand in the history of owning the product.  Hospital demand exceeded wholesale demand due to reductions in inventory levels within the wholesale channel.  During this period, wholesalers adjusted their target days-on-hand range from 25-30 to 15-20 days.

In regards to revenues from the Apicore business it is important to note that historically Apicore's revenues have been significantly lower in the first quarter of each year when compared to the remainder of the year.

Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter ended March 31, 2017 after adjusting for $61,000 of share-based compensation (a non-cash expense item) was negative $1.5 million compared to adjusted EBITDA of $2.1 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2016 after adjusting for $100,000 of share-based compensation (a non-cash expense item) and $251,000 relating to on-going costs pertaining to the one-time sNDA filing.

Net loss for the quarter ended March 31, 2017 was $5.1 million or $0.33 per share, compared to net income of $792,000 or $0.05 per share for the quarter ended March 31, 2016.  The net loss primarily relates to the acquisition of Apicore, which has historically had significantly lower revenues in the first quarter of each fiscal year when compared to the remaining quarters.  The Apicore business resulted in higher cost of goods sold by $2.1 million, selling general and administration expenses by $1.6 million and research and development expenses by $4.0 million during the quarter ended March 31, 2017.  The Apicore research and development expenses include $2.9 million of amortization relating to property, plant and equipment and intangible assets.  As well, finance expense increased due to interest on the loan from Crown Capital, which was obtained by the Company in November 2016.  Expenses relating to the AGGRASTAT business also increased with selling, general and administration expenses increasing for the quarter ended March 31, 2017 by approximately $400,000 due to staff additions resulting in higher personnel expenses, and higher selling costs associated with the growth in the AGGRASTAT business.  Research and development expenses increased by $502,000 as a result of costs associated with the Company's development of additional cardiovascular products.

At March 31, 2017, the Company had unrestricted cash totaling $10.5 million compared to $12.3 million as of December 31, 2016. The decrease in cash is due to the net loss, after adjusting for non-cash items, higher interest payments made during the quarter relating to the debt obtained in November 2016 and the acquisition of 145,000 Class E common shares of Apicore during the quarter.  Cash used in operating activities for the quarter ended March 31, 2017 were $834,000 compared to cash flows from operating activities of $4.8 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2016.

All amounts referenced herein are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise noted.

Notes

⁽¹⁾ The Company defines EBITDA as "earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and other income or expense" and Adjusted EBITDA as "EBITDA adjusted for non-cash and one-time items".  The terms "EBITDA" and "Adjusted EBITDA", as it relates to the quarters ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 results prepared using International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"), do not have any standardized meaning according to IFRS. It is therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies.

Reminder for the Conference Call Tomorrow

Conference Call Info:

Topic:  Medicure's Q1 Results
Call date:  Thursday, May 25, 2017
Time:  7:30 AM Central Time (8:30 AM Eastern Time)
Canada toll-free:  1 (888) 465-5079   Canada toll: 1 (416) 216-4169
United States toll-free:  1 (888) 545-0687
Passcode:  8196 147#

Webcast:  This conference call will be webcast live over the internet and can be accessed from the Medicure investor relations page at the following link: http://www.medicure.com/investors.html 

You may request international country-specific access information by e-mailing the Company in advance. Management will accept and answer questions related to the financial results and operations during the question-and-answer period at the end of the conference call. A recording of the call will be available following the event at the Company's website.

About Medicure Inc.

Medicure is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of therapeutics for the U.S. hospital market. The primary focus of the Company is the marketing and distribution of AGGRASTAT (tirofiban hydrochloride) in the United States, where it is sold through the Company's U.S. subsidiary, Medicure Pharma, Inc. Additionally, Medicure holds a majority interest in Apicore. For more information on Medicure please visit www.medicure.com.

About AGGRASTAT

Indications and Usage
AGGRASTAT is indicated to reduce the rate of thrombotic cardiovascular events (combined endpoint of death, myocardial infarction, or refractory ischemia/repeat cardiac procedure) in patients with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS).

Dosage and Administration
Administer intravenously 25 mcg/kg within 5 minutes and then 0.15 mcg/kg/min for up to 18 hours. In patients with creatinine clearance ≤60 mL/min, give 25 mcg/kg within 5 minutes and then 0.075 mcg/kg/min.

Clinical Experience
In clinical studies with the HDB regimen, Aggrastat was administered in combination with aspirin, clopidogrel and heparin or bivalirudin to over 8,000 patients for typically ≤24 hours.

Contraindications
Known hypersensitivity to any component of Aggrastat History of thrombocytopenia with prior exposure to Aggrastat Active internal bleeding, or history of bleeding diathesis, major surgical procedure or severe physical trauma within previous month.

Warnings and Precautions
Aggrastat can cause serious bleeding. If bleeding cannot be controlled discontinue Aggrastat. Thrombocytopenia: Discontinue Aggrastat and heparin.

Adverse Reactions
Bleeding is the most commonly reported adverse reaction.

For more information on AGGRASTAT, please refer to Full Prescribing Information.

About Apicore

Apicore is a private, New Jersey based developer and manufacturer of specialty Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients ("APIs") and pharmaceuticals, including over 15 Abbreviated New Drug Applications ("ANDAs"), one of which, is partnered with Medicure.  Apicore manufactures over 100 different API's, including over 35 for which Drug Master Files have been submitted to the FDA and 16 that are approved for commercial sale in the U.S. by customers of Apicore.  Apicore specializes in the manufacture of difficult to synthesize, high value and other niche API's for many U.S. and international generic and branded pharmaceutical companies.  Apicore has two FDA-approved facilities. In the U.S., the Somerset, New Jersey facility can produce a few grams up to 200 kg volumes and in India, the Vadodara, Gujarat facility can produce a few kilograms up to 60 metric tons yearly. Both facilities are equipped with state-of-the-art analytical and research capabilities. For more information, please visit Apicore online at www.apicore.com.

To be added to Medicure's e-mail list, please visit: 
http://medicure.mediaroom.com/alerts

Forward Looking Information: Statements contained in this press release that are not statements of historical fact, including, without limitation, statements containing the words "believes", "may", "plans", "will", "estimates", "continues", "anticipates", "intends", "expects" and similar expressions, may constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian and U.S. federal securities laws (such forward-looking information and forward-looking statements are hereinafter collectively referred to as "forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements, including the potential for Apicore's revenue and value to increase, and Medicure to secure and advance new products are based on the current assumptions, estimates, analysis and opinions of management of the Company made in light of its experience and its perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors which the Company believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances. Inherent in forward-looking statements are known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors beyond the Company's ability to predict or control that may cause the actual results, events or developments to be materially different from any future results, events or developments expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, and as such, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Such risk factors include, among others, the Company's future product revenues, stage of development, additional capital requirements, risks associated with the completion and timing of clinical trials and obtaining regulatory approval to market the Company's products, the ability to protect its intellectual property, dependence upon collaborative partners, changes in government regulation or regulatory approval processes, and rapid technological change in the industry. Such statements are based on a number of assumptions which may prove to be incorrect, including, but not limited to, assumptions about: general business and economic conditions; the impact of changes in Canadian-US dollar and other foreign exchange rates on the Company's revenues, costs and results; the timing of the receipt of regulatory and governmental approvals for the Company's research and development projects; the availability of financing for the Company's commercial operations and/or research and development projects, or the availability of financing on reasonable terms; results of current and future clinical trials; the uncertainties associated with the acceptance and demand for new products and market competition. The foregoing list of important factors and assumptions is not exhaustive. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements or the foregoing list of factors, other than as may be required by applicable legislation. Additional discussion regarding the risks and uncertainties relating to the Company and its business can be found in the Company's other filings with the applicable Canadian securities regulatory authorities or the US Securities and Exchange Commission, and in the "Risk Factors" section of its Form 20F for the year ended December 31, 2016.

AGGRASTAT® (tirofiban hydrochloride) is a registered trademark of Medicure International, Inc. 

SOURCE Medicure Inc.