Akebia Therapeutics Q2 2023 Earnings Call Transcript

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August 25, 2023

There are 8 speakers on the call.

Operator

Day, and welcome to Akebia's Second Quarter 2023 Financial Results Call. At this time, all participants are in a listen only mode. After the speakers' presentation, there will be a question and answer session and instructions will be given at that time. As a reminder, this call is being recorded. I would now like to introduce your host for today, Mercedes Carrasco, Senior Director of Corporate Communications and Investor Relations.

Operator

You may begin.

Speaker 1

Thank you. Thank you, and welcome to Akebia's Q2 2023 Financial Results and Business Update Conference Call. Please note that a press release was issued earlier today, Friday, August 25, detailing our Q2 financial results and that release is available on the Investors section of our website. For your convenience, a replay of today's call will also be available on our website after we conclude. Joining me for today's call, we have John Butler, Chief Executive Officer Doctor.

Speaker 1

Steve Burke, Chief Medical Officer and Ellen Snow, Chief Financial Officer. I'd like to remind everyone that this call includes forward looking statements. Each forward looking statement on this call is subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in these statements. Additionally, additional information describing these risks is included in the financial results Press release that we issued on August 25, as well as in the Risk Factors and Management Discussion and Analysis section of our most recent annual and quarterly reports filed with the SEC. The forward looking statements on this call speak only as to the original date of this Call and except as required by law, we do not undertake any obligation to update or revise any of these statements.

Speaker 1

As described in the press release, we intend to file an amendment to our 2022 Annual Report on Form 10 ks To reflect corrections to our previously issued financial statements due to recently identified accounting errors related to the recording and reporting of return reserves for Auryxia as well as our Q2 Form 10 Q. Please note that comments made during this call regarding the company's financials reflect revised financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 2020 and the Q1 of 2023, as outlined in the press release and to be described in the amendment to the 2022 Form 10 ks and the 2nd quarter Form 10 Q. With that, I'd like to introduce our CEO, John Butler.

Speaker 2

Thanks, Mercedes, and thanks, everyone, for joining us. It's a pleasure to be here with you today. While this is a little later than we expected to be together, the extra time spent was necessary. We're very pleased that the revisions to our financial statements that we had to work through are not material and they don't impact the value of the company. You'll hear from Ellen shortly, but I want to thank her and her team for the work done over the past several weeks that helped to ensure we are best positioned to maximize value as we approach several important catalysts.

Speaker 2

First, let's focus on the operational progress that we've made over the past few months, Working through towards the potential approval of our second product for patients with kidney disease vadadustat. We are now on a clear path to potentially gain U. S. Approval for vadadustat as a treatment for anemia due to chronic kidney disease or CKD And adult patients on dialysis. In fact, as we shared earlier, we've received the minutes from our recent end of dispute Type A meeting with the FDA, which reflect our productive discussion with the agency and support our optimism that we will resubmit our New Drug Application or NDA for vadadustat by the end of this quarter.

Speaker 2

With that timing for resubmission, we would expect a decision from the FDA on the vadadustat NDA in March of 2024. We have Doctor. Steve Burke here to answer any questions about our interactions with the FDA or our timeline for NDA resubmission at the end of the call. And I'll also discuss initial plans for an anticipated launch next year if approved. What's especially encouraging for our team at Akebia is that the momentum in the U.

Speaker 2

S. Regulatory discussions follows Tangible progress in markets around the globe. Today, vadadustat is approved in 34 countries. In the past quarter alone, the European Commission, The United Kingdom Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency and Swiss Agency For Therapeutic Products approved Vafzeovadadustat For the treatment of symptomatic anemia associated with CKD in adults on chronic maintenance dialysis in the EU, United Kingdom and Switzerland respectively. Further, Akebia expects a regulatory opinion on vadadustat in Australia this year.

Speaker 2

I want to credit our team who assumed responsibility for the regulatory processes outside the U. S. Mid last year and worked efficiently to secure local approvals to help to enable Akebia to deliver a new therapeutic option to patients in need. To that end, we had previously discussed Our priority was to secure a partner in Europe who would bring VASIO to market. Here again, we met our objective and signed a license agreement with Medici.

Speaker 2

Medici is a fully integrated pharmaceutical company based in Germany with a strategic focus on the dialysis market. The license agreement grants with DCB exclusive rights to market and sell VAPZIO in the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Australia for treatment of anemia in patients with CKD. The agreement included an upfront payment of $10,000,000 and in addition, We're eligible for commercial milestone payments up to an aggregate of $100,000,000 and tiered royalty payments ranging from 10% to 30% We believe MEDICI is situated to maximize the European market potential for vadadustat. They understand the unique country by country pricing and access dynamics related to dialysis. They are committed and driven to succeed and we continue to support their efforts.

Speaker 2

We expect Medici to launch as soon as possible in 2024. Building on the regulatory success we've had in other markets, we're eager to advance the regulatory approval process for vadadustat in the U. S. An approval in the U. S.

Speaker 2

Would represent our most significant commercial market opportunity and allow us to target the 550,000 U. S. Patients with anemia due to CKD who are receiving dialysis treatment. I'll note that the resubmission is a very focused filing. As part of the resubmission, we'll submit safety data collected since our original submission in 2021, including data from 2 alternate dosing studies, FOCUS and MODIFY.

Speaker 2

We'll also submit post marketing data from Japan, where tens of thousands of patients have received the drug over the past 2 years. Now working through a potential launch timeline. Again, we expect to resubmit the NDA by the end of the quarter. So since we're submitting data that was not in the original NDA, our expectation is that our resubmission would undergo a 6 month review. And this review period would commence upon submission.

Speaker 2

As such, we anticipate a new PDUFA date likely in March of 2024. Upon a potential approval, we'll quickly file for TDAPA reimbursement, which is a 6 month process. After receiving TDAPA designation, we'd expect the product to be widely available for patients. We're actively preparing for a potential launch of vadadustat and are reengaging around the commercial opportunity. Let me summarize.

Speaker 2

We estimate that approximately 88% The nearly 550,000 patients on dialysis are treated with an erythropoiesis stimulating agent or an ESA for anemia, An injectable is currently the standard of care. Medications used to treat dialysis patients in the U. S. Are paid for As part of a bundled payment made to dialysis providers, now to promote innovative drug use for Medicare patients on dialysis, CMS created a transitional add on payment adjustment or Tdapa. The add on payment would cover the cost of vadadustat when a physician prescribes the drug For 2 years after receiving the TDAPA designation on top of the regular bundle payment.

Speaker 2

The TDAPA payment would for treatment of their PPS or prospective payment system Medicare patients. We believe that we've created a favorable environment for adoption of the product as we prepare for a potential launch. We have a collaboration with Vifor CSL that provides access to up to 60% of the dialysis market Through existing Vifor CSL relationships, which includes Fresenius Kidney Care and most small to midsized providers. Vifor CSL has a relationship with Fresenius for the procurement of therapeutic products used in their network and vadadustat would be made available Through that collaboration, we believe Vifor's unique relationship and our experience in the dialysis market will create a favorable environment for pull through within the dialysis centers. Together, we believe we are well positioned for a successful launch if vadadustat is approved.

Speaker 2

Our collaboration with Vifor CSL is a profit share, where we retain approximately 2 thirds of the profit from vadadustat, Net of certain pre specified costs with Vifor CSL keeping the remaining 1 third. For the remaining 40% of the dialysis market That Vifor CSL does not have rights to sell to, we retain 100% of the economics. So one of the most common questions I get these days is on launch costs. I'll note that we are also in a strong position here. The most significant launch expenses relate to people and product.

Speaker 2

While we have the commercial organization in place today with only incremental additions needed And we already have the product on a shelf to launch as soon as we receive approval. We believe our additional costs will be truly incremental. Now to speak more about our financial position, I'm pleased to introduce Ellen Snow, who joined our team as CFO and Treasurer last month. Ellen's impact has been near immediate as she brought vast accounting and financial management expertise into the process to close the quarter and put the organization on the right footing by strengthening our product return reserves accounting process that was described in the press release filed this morning. This financial discipline will be especially important as we prepare to launch Vadadustat in the U.

Speaker 2

S. If approved. Ellen?

Speaker 3

Thanks, John. First, let me say that I'm extremely pleased to have joined Akebia last month. I saw significant potential and for the organization associated with the pending potential vadadustat FDA approval as well as opportunities to optimize the company's cost structure and better leverage The cash flows from Auryxia towards improving the balance sheet and creating shareholder value. I'm grateful to have a talented, Hard working and dedicated accounting team who have worked tirelessly over the last few weeks as we identified and corrected errors in the accounting. As previously announced, during the Q2 close process, we identified errors related to the accruals for product returns.

Speaker 3

We concluded the errors represent a material weakness in internal controls over financial reporting, a deficiency we are working to remediate. We also intend to revise our financial statements and our 2022 annual report on Form 10 ks to correct the impact of the errors, Which will primarily impact the balance sheet and the affected years, including liabilities for product returns, accounts receivable and goodwill as well as immaterial changes to the prior year revenues. We expect to file our amended Form 10 ks And 2nd quarter Form 10 Q on Monday. Now let's move to our current financial position. Importantly, we believe our cash runway will fund our current operating plan for at least 12 months.

Speaker 3

Cash and cash equivalents as of June 30, 2023 were $53,600,000 Total revenue was $56,400,000 for the Q2 of 2023. Of that, dollars 42,200,000 was Auryxia net products revenue and $14,100,000 was other revenue. Other revenue consists primarily of the $10,000,000 upfront payment in connection with the Medici license agreement. Auryxia net product revenue increased 21.6% over the previous quarter. The growth was due to the timing of purchases in certain Auryxia And expected cyclical demand from the Q1 to the Q2.

Speaker 3

Auryxia revenue decreased 2.5% compared to Same quarter of 2022. The decrease compared to the prior year period is due in part To the impact of the shifting payer mix and a volume decrease partially caused by the contracting dynamics and phosphate binder market erosion, We expected quarterly swings in the Auryxia revenue, but had also expected the binder market to rebound. Based on our analysis, we believe the binder market is leveling, but there's evidence of a long tail impact of COVID in the dialysis community. We are in a position to affirm our 2023 net product revenue guidance of $175,000,000 to 180,000,000 Our team continues a high touch engagement with key accounts, and we continue to carefully review the trends. We remain focused on maximizing Auryxia revenue through its loss of exclusivity in March of 2025.

Speaker 3

Regarding expenses, we reported a decrease in cost of goods sold and R and D expenses compared to the Q2 of 2022. Cost of goods sold decreased slightly to $17,300,000 in the Q2 of 2023 from $18,600,000 in the Q2 of 2022. R and D expenses decreased from $26,000,000 to $20,200,000 a more than 20% decrease as a result of reduced spending on vadadustat development, R and D headcount and outsourced contract services. We have curtailed non headcount related growth by continuing to find ways of operating more efficiently, placing an increased scrutiny on all areas of operating expenses and taking measures such as reducing our office footprint with the assignment of the Seaport office lease, which was completed at the end of the Q2. We are deliberate about managing our expenses in an effort to extend our runway, which will be achieved in part by keeping 2023 headcount relatively flat with current levels.

Speaker 3

In the time I've spent at Akebia, it's clear that everyone on the team is dedicated to managing resources, while continuing to deliver on their individual and group objectives. Revenue from Auryxia continues to provide cash for operations And our teams are motivated by the progress we've made across the business this quarter as we all work to prepare for The launch of vadadustat in the U. S. Next year if approved. With that, let's open the line for questions.

Operator

Thank

Speaker 4

you.

Operator

Our first question comes from Allison Bradshaw with Piper Sandler. Your line is open.

Speaker 4

Hey, good morning and thank you for taking the questions. So first, just hoping you could frame for us From a high level topics that were addressed at the Type A meeting, any remaining gating factors to resubmission for And just your confidence that FDA will find the resubmission approvable, in dialysis without the generation of Additional clinical data, and then I have a follow-up.

Speaker 2

Sure, Ali. Thanks for the question. I mean, it was I think the Type A meeting was pretty, technical meeting in a lot of ways. And Steve is here and attended the meeting. Steve, maybe Give a little

Speaker 5

color. Sure. This is Steve Burke, the Chief Medical Officer. The meeting was it's like A pre NDA meeting where you meet with the agency to describe how you're going to present the requested data and is that acceptable to them. So for instance, like when we finish an NDA review, we have 120 day safety update.

Speaker 5

We have to do another safety update. And so we just clarify, for instance, the window in which any new data would be collected and reported. So John alluded earlier to the modify and focus studies, what we were going to present, what we're going to provide to them And was that acceptable? How we were going to present Japanese post marketing surveillance data? The actual components and how it would be analyzed and things of this nature.

Speaker 5

They also had asked some questions about some additional analysis they wanted of the Phase 3 data. But all of this is pretty modest in scope. But as John indicated, it is new data and therefore we expect they will get a 6 month review clock because of that. I think we're satisfying all the requests and have really excellent clarity on what they want And expect from us and that we're able to deliver that and there's no need for us to generate new data, clinical data.

Speaker 2

Yes. I would say that it was an amazingly collaborative meeting kind of given that the CRL from last year, It was very focused on what we need to put through. And even going into it, most of the questions that we asked, we posed to them, They found our approach reasonable. So it was really more clarification than anything else. So we feel pretty good about where things are and very much on track for our filing.

Speaker 4

That's helpful. So now just hoping you could also walk us through your expectations For just for what the vadadustat launch will look like kind of between the March PDUFA and the receipt of Tdapa designation during that timeframe. And then separately, if you could just kind of frame or compare contrast for us whether KORSUVA's launch Experience under TDAPA is a good analog for vadadustat. Any color or perspective there would be helpful. Thanks.

Speaker 2

Yes. No, thanks for that question, Ali. So a couple of things that are really important to communicate. While we will make the product available During the post launch pre Xyapa, it's really available for dialysis Providers to purchase the product and develop protocols or the like, we don't expect widespread Adoption until you have the TDAPA designation and they'll have the product reimbursed there Outside of the bundle. So that's I mean, I think that should be a clear expectation for everyone.

Speaker 2

If we see any dollars, it will be very modest and you will really see that uptake at TDAPA. I think that The KORSUVA question is a really important one as well and I appreciate asking that. The KORSUVA launch is a very different Product and a very different opportunity than vadadustat, I think for a number of reasons. When you look at KORSUVA, this is a product that was approved for pruritus for severe itching, which is in a small Number of patients. The average pricing that's published now for KORSUVA is about $135 per dialysis session.

Speaker 2

And there's nothing in the bundle to cover pruritus other than $0.25 for Benadryl, Right. So the $135 they'd be reimbursed for on a cost basis as well. But when you speak to physicians about that experience and that desire to use the product, they really worry about, well, When TDAPA ends, there's no mechanism for me to continue to use this product to benefit patients. And Think about it. A bundle payment is about $2.80 per dialysis session and you have $135 For KORSUVA, there's a real worry from a financial perspective About having to use that continuing to use that product.

Speaker 2

So you're just not seeing patients who could benefit from the product benefit. And so it's one of the reasons why we've been Trying to push CMS to create a continued add on payment beyond TDAPA that follows the drug and Haven't been successful yet. Now Vadadustat is very different, right, because there's money in the bundle for ESAs today. The pricing will be very different. While it may be premium to ESAs, it's certainly not going to be $135 per dialysis session And that those dollars that are in the bundle will continue to be in the bundle post TDAPA.

Speaker 2

So now our pricing may have to change From a contracting perspective post TDAPA, but it's not as if people are going to stop treating anemia or not treat anemia, right? They're going to do that, which they're not doing with pruritus. So, TDAPA is very much a positive for us. It's been more Have a challenge for KORSUVA.

Speaker 4

That's super helpful. Thank you.

Speaker 2

Thanks, Ali.

Operator

Thank you. Our next question comes from Ed Arce with H. C. Wainwright. Your line is open.

Speaker 6

Great. Hello, everyone. Thanks for taking my questions. First, I just wanted to ask again on the Type A meeting. John, you and I have talked about this a number of times since the letter in May, specifically about the two issues from the CRL, the thrombotic And wanted to get your thoughts on how Those meeting minutes now that you have them in hand are fully aligned with the path that was offered in that letter from Doctor.

Speaker 6

Stein back in May. And then I have a follow-up.

Speaker 2

Yes. I think I can say unequivocally That they're fully aligned. I mean, I think we have, as I said, and Steve, you kind of gave more detail on, I mean, a lot of that meeting is kind of how you're going to present the data. It's more technical, but we had questions about our labeling, right? I wish to submit that.

Speaker 2

I mean, that's always a good sign, right? There was nothing to indicate in that meeting that there was Anything that was misaligned with the letter that we received from Doctor. Stein, as I've said all along, I think that letter describes Kind of the guardrails in the path for us and for the division. And I think that was reflected in The discussions, it was again, it was a very collaborative discussion. I mean, it's fair to say you never are quite sure what you're going When you get when you go into those meetings, and I think, I'm sure Steve agrees, I mean, we were quite pleased with The quality of the focus on the issues and the collaborative nature of the discussion and makes us feel Quite good about our path forward.

Speaker 2

Great.

Speaker 6

And then I'd like to ask if you could Remind us of the objective of having the modify and focus studies included in the resubmission.

Speaker 2

Yes. So for this resubmission, that's an important question. I mean, obviously, we think the modify and focus studies will be It's clear they won't be looking at that 3 times weekly dosing regimen for this initial approval. The reason for adding the MODIFY and FOCUS data is to You basically have to add all of your safety data to your filing, right, which we had to do in 2021 when we originally filed. And now we simply have to update all of the safety data that we have.

Speaker 2

So it won't be they won't be considering efficacy From those studies at all, while we know that they were successful and we think We're expecting they'll support our 3 times weekly filing and we're working to publish them quickly. It won't be in the label.

Speaker 6

Okay, great. Actually, if I could squeeze one more in. Question on Auryxia, probably for Ms. Snow. Given that the half year net sales is now about 78,000,000 And you're reaffirming your guidance of $175,000,000 to $180,000,000 for the full year.

Speaker 6

I'm just wondering if you could help us understand what gives you the confidence to reach that guidance, Especially given, what you described as a decline in the phosphate binder market. Thanks.

Speaker 2

Yes. Thanks, Ed. Appreciate the question. So, a number of things. There are if you look at the dynamics of Sales over the past couple of years, it's kind of that September to December timeframe really is kind of where we see a significant step up.

Speaker 2

To be sure, I would say that our we had an expectation of our price being a bit higher, but our payer mix has skewed towards Part D a little bit more than we expected. So I would say my expectation is probably we're up more on the lower end of our guidance range. But when you look at there's a number of qualitative things as well. 1 of the large dialysis providers hadn't let our sales reps in to see people at all and everything was being done virtually. That's just changed in the last month.

Speaker 2

And I think everyone could agree that sales reps can be much more effective when they're face to face with people. So we expect that to be helpful as well and a number of other those types of dynamics. As Ellen said, we think that the binder market has still been under pressure, but it is flattening, if you will, we think. This is obviously, we'll continue to monitor this, but as it flattens, I mean, patients still need to be treated, right? So as they come in the funnel, I think there's opportunity there.

Speaker 2

And we also expect Competitive product to be launched in the back half of this year as well. And that will come, I think, with a lot of focus on phosphate control. And that's Kind of one of those rising tide lifts all boats at moments as well. So, I think that there is a number of those Types of issues that allow us to maintain that guidance, albeit I would say, I would Think more towards the lower end of the range where earlier in the year, I was expecting the higher end.

Speaker 6

Great. That's very helpful. Thanks so much.

Speaker 2

Thank you, Ed.

Operator

Thank you. Our next question comes from Julian Harrison with BTIG. Your line is open.

Speaker 7

Hi, good morning. Congrats on the progress and thank you for taking my questions. First, just on the 3 times weekly dosing regimen, again, you studied in Okay. So I'm curious if you could talk more about your strategy there and how soon a potential label for vadadustat could maybe be amended with this dosing regimen?

Speaker 2

Sure. So, thanks, Julian, for the question. Welcome to the call. So 3 times weekly is very helpful for treating patients in the dialysis center, right? You give them the dose During their dialysis session, you ensure compliance from the patients.

Speaker 2

You don't have to send them home a drug. So we've always felt that that was something that was important And that's something that we could potentially add to the label, though we never expected to have it in the label at launch. We will publish the data. We expect it to be presented at the ASN meeting in October From FOCUS, FOCUS was the large study that really looked at that 3 times weekly dosing. Then once we have our NDA approved in March, of course, as we've been talking about and expect, Then we'll have a conversation with the FDA about supplemental NDA, where we'll submit for 3 times weekly dosing.

Speaker 2

Again, when you think about the low hanging fruit for the product adoption initially, it's home patients Where daily dosing works just fine. And I would say patients who are on the highest doses of ESAs, where they're having the risk of exposure to high doses of ESAs and added cost as well to the dialysis provider. And even though those might be in center patients, I think they'd be willing to dose them once a day and send them home a drug or rely on the publication, and choose to use 3 times weekly dosing. Of course, we wouldn't be promoting 3 times weekly dosing until it's in our label, But that's certainly something that physicians can choose to do with the data that supports it. And then as I said, we will look to have the 3 times weekly dosing regimen added to our label as quickly as we can.

Speaker 7

Okay, got it. Thanks. That's helpful. And then early in the call, you gave a great You on your current commercial preparations. Sorry if I missed it, but I was just curious if you're talking at all about how much you're manufacturing at risk ahead of

Speaker 2

Yes. Thanks for that question, Julian. We, as I mentioned, the 2 biggest costs are People and product and product is a really significant one. Remember, we had product on the shelf ready to launch back last year. And our quality team has done a magnificent job of continuing to generate data and we're able to push out the expiry date on that product to 4 years.

Speaker 2

So that product that's on the shelf today We'll be able to support our launch. So we don't have to do any incremental manufacturing and take that incremental cost to be ready to launch the drug. And of course, that drug is also going to support, ADC and the European launch as well.

Speaker 7

Excellent. Great to hear. Thanks again.

Speaker 2

Thanks so much, Julian.

Operator

Thank you. There are no further questions. I'd like to turn the call over to John Butler for closing remarks.

Speaker 2

Thanks, Michelle. We are extremely pleased with the progress we've made last quarter as we've made significant strides towards our purpose to better the lives People impacted by kidney disease. We're preparing for very near term potential catalysts. Most immediately, the resubmission of the Vadadustat NDA next month. With this momentum, we believe we're now poised to disrupt the market for the anemia of CKD in dialysis patients if adadustat is approved.

Speaker 2

Everyone at Acuity is excited to be in that position and remains motivated by our potential to help patients. The team is focused on the work we need to do in the very near future to get us there. And I look forward to continuing to update you as we move through resubmission, acceptance and ultimately potential approval and launch of vadadustat in the U. S. Thank you all for joining us today.

Operator

Thank you for your participation. This does conclude the program and you may now disconnect. Everyone have a great day.

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