Ionis reports fourth quarter and full year 2023 financial results

WAINUA™ approved with launch underway; on track for EU and Canada approval decisions this year

Positive Phase 3 olezarsen and donidalorsen data, preparing regulatory submissions for FCS and HAE, respectively

Olezarsen granted Breakthrough Therapy designation by the FDA for FCS

Ionis provides full year 2024 financial guidance

CARLSBAD, Calif., Feb. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: IONS) (the "Company"), today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2023.

"This past year included many remarkable achievements as we continued to advance our vision to bring better futures to people with serious diseases. Ionis achieved two FDA approvals, delivered three positive Phase 3 data readouts, expanded our rich Phase 3 pipeline to nine medicines and advanced our next wave of wholly owned medicines as well as our technology," said Brett P. Monia, Ph.D., chief executive officer of Ionis. "In 2024, we anticipate building on our success with important catalysts and continued value creation. The WAINUA U.S. launch is underway for patients with hereditary ATTR polyneuropathy, and we expect additional approvals in other countries this year. We plan to present positive Phase 3 data for olezarsen in familial chylomicronemia syndrome and donidalorsen in hereditary angioedema, positioning Ionis to independently launch these two medicines. We also anticipate additional readouts from multiple mid-stage programs that, if positive, would advance into Phase 3 development, further strengthening our ability to deliver a steady cadence of potentially transformational medicines for years to come."

Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2023 Summary Financial Results⁽¹⁾:

Financial Highlights

• Revenue more than doubled for the fourth quarter of 2023 compared to the same period in the prior year and increased 34% for the full year, driven by the successful progression of Ionis' pipeline and technology platform
• Operating expenses increased compared to the prior year, primarily due to strategic investments to bring eplontersen, olezarsen and donidalorsen to patients
• 2023 operating loss significantly improved over prior year due to substantial revenue earned during the year
• Cash and short-term investments of $2.3 billion as of December 31, 2023 enables continued investments to drive increasing value, including supporting our potential upcoming launches

Recent Marketed Medicines Highlights

• WAINUA approved in the U.S., resulting in a $50 million milestone payment from AstraZeneca; launch underway for treatment of adults with polyneuropathy of hereditary transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis (ATTRv-PN)
• SPINRAZA continued to be the global market leader for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) with global sales of $1.7 billion in 2023

Recent Late-Stage Pipeline Highlights

• Eplontersen granted Fast Track designation by the FDA for the treatment of patients with ATTR cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM)
• Olezarsen granted Breakthrough Therapy designation by the FDA for the treatment of patients with familial chylomicronemia syndrome (FCS)
• Olezarsen granted orphan drug designation by the FDA for the treatment of patients with FCS 
• Achieved multiple milestones with donidalorsen for the treatment of patients with hereditary angioedema (HAE):
  • Reported positive topline data from the Phase 3 OASIS-HAE study in patients treated every four weeks or every eight weeks; preparing to submit NDA
  • Licensed European donidalorsen commercialization rights to Otsuka; Otsuka preparing to submit MAA
  • Donidalorsen granted orphan drug designation by EMA
  • Reported positive Phase 2 data from the open label extension study in patients with HAE treated for two years
• Bepirovirsen granted fast track designation by the FDA for the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB)

Recent Other Pipeline Highlights

• Achieved multiple milestones with ION582 (BIIB121) for the treatment of patients with Angelman syndrome:
  • Completed enrollment in the Phase 1/2 HALOS study in patients with Angelman syndrome; on track for data readout in mid-2024
  • Presented positive clinical update from ongoing HALOS study at the FAST (Foundation for Angelman Syndrome Therapeutics) Summit
  • Extended the long-term extension portion of HALOS study
• Sapablursen and ION356 granted fast track designation by the FDA for the treatment of patients with polycythemia vera (PV) and Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease (PMD), respectively
• Initiated the Phase 1/2 PrProfile study of ION717 in patients with Prion disease
• AstraZeneca licensed ION826 for the treatment of heart failure, resulting in a $36 million payment from AstraZeneca

Recent Technology Advancement Highlights

• Licensed Vect-Horus' blood-brain barrier crossing technology for the development of RNA-targeted neurological disease medicines

Fourth Quarter, Full Year 2023 Financial Results and 2024 Financial Guidance

"In 2023, we earned substantial revenues due to continued success with our pipeline and technology. As a result, we exceeded our 2023 revenue guidance, which drove a smaller than anticipated operating loss," said Elizabeth L. Hougen, chief financial officer of Ionis. "In 2024, with WAINUA's launch for ATTRv-PN underway, we are adding a new stream of royalty revenue to our substantial and sustained revenues. We will continue to deploy our capital resources toward growth opportunities that can enable Ionis to unlock next-level value. This includes continuing to make significant investments in near-term commercial opportunities, the expansion of our wholly owned pipeline, and advancing our technology, all of which should empower future growth."

Revenue

Ionis' revenue was comprised of the following: 

Commercial revenues in 2023 were comparable to 2022. Commercial revenue for 2023 included $240 million from SPINRAZA royalties, which was comparable to 2022. Ionis' commercial revenue in 2023 also included royalties from QALSODY U.S. product sales.

R&D revenue significantly increased in 2023 compared to 2022 primarily due to continued success with Ionis' pipeline and technology. As a result, Ionis earned significant partner payments, including $50 million from AstraZeneca for the FDA approval of WAINUA for ATTRv-PN in the U.S., $36 million from AstraZeneca for licensing ION826 and payments from Ionis' new collaborations with Otsuka, Roche and Novartis.

Operating Expenses

Ionis' operating expenses increased for the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to 2022 primarily due to certain one-time costs, including a non-cash charge associated with a lease exit and the license fee Ionis paid to Vect-Horus. As Ionis advanced its robust pipeline, study costs increased compared to the same periods in 2022 as many of the Company's Phase 3 studies are either fully enrolled or approaching full enrollment, resulting in higher R&D expenses year over year. R&D expenses for the fourth quarter of 2023 were lower compared to the fourth quarter of 2022, primarily due to the $80 million upfront payment Ionis paid to Metagenomi in 2022. Ionis' SG&A expenses increased year over year primarily due to launch preparation activities for WAINUA, olezarsen and donidalorsen.

Balance Sheet

As of December 31, 2023, Ionis' cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments increased to $2.3 billion compared to $2.0 billion at December 31, 2022 primarily due to the $500 million Ionis received from Royalty Pharma in January 2023 and significant partner payments throughout 2023. Ionis' working capital also increased over the same period primarily due to the Company's higher cash and short-term investments balance. In 2023, the Company recorded a long-term liability for future royalties due to Royalty Pharma. In June 2023, Ionis issued $575 million of senior convertible notes due in June 2028 with an interest rate of 1.75%. The Company used the majority of the proceeds to repurchase $504 million of its 0.125% convertible notes.

2024 Financial Guidance

The Company's 2024 guidance reflects its plan to deploy its capital resources toward growth opportunities, including continued investments in its near-term commercial opportunities, expanding its wholly owned pipeline and advancing its technology platform. Additionally, the Company expects to continue earning substantial revenue from its commercial portfolio and partnered programs.

Webcast

Management will host a conference call and webcast to discuss Ionis' fourth quarter and full year 2023 results at 11:30 a.m. Eastern time on Wednesday, February 21, 2024. Interested parties may access the webcast here. A webcast replay will be available for a limited time at the same address. To access the Company's fourth quarter and full year 2023 earnings slides click here.

For more information about SPINRAZA and QALSODY, visit https://www.spinraza.com/ and https://www.qalsody.com/, respectively. QALSODY is approved under accelerated approval based on reduction in plasma neurofilament light chain (NfL) observed in patients treated with QALSODY. Continued approval may be contingent upon verification of clinical benefit in confirmatory trial(s).

INDICATION for WAINUA™ (eplontersen)
WAINUA injection, for subcutaneous use, 45 mg is indicated for the treatment of the polyneuropathy of hereditary transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis in adults.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION for WAINUA™ (eplontersen)

WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS
Reduced Serum Vitamin A Levels and Recommended Supplementation WAINUA leads to a decrease in serum vitamin A levels. Supplement with recommended daily allowance of vitamin A. Refer patient to an ophthalmologist if ocular symptoms suggestive of vitamin A deficiency occur.

ADVERSE REACTIONS
Most common adverse reactions (≥9% in WAINUA-treated patients) were vitamin A decreased (15%) and vomiting (9%).

Please see link to U.S. Full Prescribing Information for WAINUA. 

About Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

For three decades, Ionis has invented medicines that bring better futures to people with serious diseases. Ionis currently has five marketed medicines and a leading pipeline in neurology, cardiology, and other areas of high patient need. As the pioneer in RNA-targeted medicines, Ionis continues to drive innovation in RNA therapies in addition to advancing new approaches in gene editing. A deep understanding of disease biology and industry-leading technology propels our work, coupled with a passion and urgency to deliver life-changing advances for patients. To learn more about Ionis, visit Ionispharma.com and follow us on X (Twitter) and LinkedIn. 

Ionis' Forward-looking Statement

This press release includes forward-looking statements regarding Ionis' business, financial guidance and the therapeutic and commercial potential of our commercial medicines, additional medicines in development and technologies. Any statement describing Ionis' goals, expectations, financial or other projections, intentions or beliefs is a forward-looking statement and should be considered an at-risk statement. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties including those inherent in the process of discovering, developing and commercializing medicines that are safe and effective for use as human therapeutics, and in the endeavor of building a business around such medicines. Ionis' forward-looking statements also involve assumptions that, if they never materialize or prove correct, could cause its results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although Ionis' forward-looking statements reflect the good faith judgment of its management, these statements are based only on facts and factors currently known by Ionis. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements for any reason. As a result, you are cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. These and other risks concerning Ionis' programs are described in additional detail in Ionis' annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, and most recent Form 10-Q, which are on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies of these and other documents are available from the Company.

In this press release, unless the context requires otherwise, "Ionis," "Company," "we," "our" and "us" all refer to Ionis Pharmaceuticals and its subsidiaries.

Ionis Pharmaceuticals^® is a registered trademark of Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Akcea Therapeutics^® is a registered trademark of Akcea Therapeutics, Inc. TEGSEDI^® is a registered trademark of Akcea Therapeutics, Inc. WAYLIVRA^® is a registered trademark of Akcea Therapeutics, Inc. QALSODY^TM is a trademark of Biogen. SPINRAZA^® is a registered trademark of Biogen. WAINUA^TM is a registered trademark of the AstraZeneca group of companies.

*In October 2022, Ionis entered into a sale and leaseback transaction for several of its real estate assets. As a result, the Company recognized a $150 million gain on sale of real estate assets in the fourth quarter of 2022. The Company excluded the gain on sale of real estate assets and the related tax effect from its non-GAAP amounts for the applicable periods.

Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Basis

As illustrated in the Selected Financial Information in this press release, non-GAAP operating expenses, non-GAAP income (loss) from operations, and non-GAAP net income (loss) were adjusted from GAAP to exclude compensation expense related to equity awards and the related tax effects. Compensation expense related to equity awards are non-cash. In 2022, Ionis' non-GAAP net loss excluded the gain on real estate assets related to the sale and leaseback transaction and the related tax effects. These measures are provided as supplementary information and are not a substitute for financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. Ionis reports these non-GAAP results to better enable financial statement users to assess and compare its historical performance and project its future operating results and cash flows. Further, the presentation of Ionis' non-GAAP results is consistent with how Ionis' management internally evaluates the performance of its operations. 

Key 2024 Value Driving Events⁽¹⁾

SOURCE Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.