Radius Health (NASDAQ:RDUS), Inc. RDUS reported mixed results for the first quarter, wherein loss was wider than expected but sales surpassed estimates.
Shares of the company have lost 23.3% in the year so far compared with the industry’s decline of 11.4%.
The company incurred a loss of 81 cents per share in the first quarter, wider than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 72 cents. Nevertheless, the loss was narrower than the year-ago quarter’s loss of 94 cents owing to increased revenues.
The company reported revenues of $47.9 million, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $47 million. The figure increased from the year-ago quarter’s $29.8 million.
Quarter in Detail
We remind investors that Radius obtained the FDA approval for Tymlos (abaloparatide) injection in April 2017 for the treatment of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis at high risk of fracture. The company commenced shipments of the drug to wholesalers toward the end of May 2017.
Tymlos sales of $47.9 million in the United States were up 61% year over year.
By the end of the first quarter, the drug captured, on average, 44% of the U.S. anabolic osteoporosis market (based on Patient Months on Therapy, TRx PMOT) and achieved a 53% share of new anabolic patient starts.
There has been a decline in new patient starts in April due to the decrease in physician office visits resulting from government restrictions in response to the pandemic.
Research & development expenses for the reported quarter were $39.0 million, flaring up 68% year over year primarily due to a rise in elacestrant project and abaloparatide-patch project costs. General & administrative expenses decreased 12% to $36.4 million.
Pipeline Updates
The company’s pipeline includes abaloparatide injection for potential use in the treatment of men with osteoporosis, abaloparatide patch for potential use in osteoporosis and elacestrant (RAD1901) for potential use in hormone receptor-positive breast cancer.
Enrollment in the phase III study, ATOM, which is assessing the efficacy and safety of abaloparatide-SC in men with osteoporosis, is 90% complete. Radius expects to complete recruitment later in the year and report top-line data in the second half of 2021.
The Tymlos bone histomorphometry study, which evaluated the early effects of abaloparatide-SC on tissue-based indices of bone formation and resorption in postmenopausal women, met its primary endpoint of change from baseline to 3 months in the mineralizing surface of the cancellous bone envelope, which is a strong indicator of bone formation.
In August 2019, the first patient was randomized in the phase III wearABLe clinical trial, assessing the safety and efficacy of abaloparatide-patch in postmenopausal patients with osteoporosis at high risk for fracture. The study is currently enrolling. The screening failure rate has significantly decreased after the implementation of a revised enrollment plan and the addition of targeted bone specialty sites in the United States. In Europe, regulatory reviews are underway, with first conditional approvals already received for sites to be initiated in the second quarter of this year. Top-line data from the study are expected in the second half of 2021.
2020 Guidance Lowered
Radius now expects Tymlos net revenues of $190-$220 million, down from the earlier projected range of $220-$235 million.
Our Take
Radius reported a wider-than-expected loss in the first quarter. The ongoing pandemic is likely to hit sales in the second quarter. Moreover, competition is stiff from bigwigs like Eli Lilly & Co's LLY Forteo and Amgen's AMGN Prolia.
Zacks Rank & A Stock to Consider
Radius currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
A better-ranked stock in this space is Infinity Pharmaceuticals, Inc. INFI, which carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Biggest Tech Breakthrough in a Generation
Be among the early investors in the new type of device that experts say could impact society as much as the discovery of electricity. Current technology will soon be outdated and replaced by these new devices. In the process, it’s expected to create 22 million jobs and generate $12.3 trillion in activity.
A select few stocks could skyrocket the most as rollout accelerates for this new tech. Early investors could see gains similar to buying Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) in the 1990s. Zacks’ just-released special report reveals 8 stocks to watch. The report is only available for a limited time.
See 8 breakthrough stocks now>>
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY): Free Stock Analysis Report
Amgen Inc (NASDAQ:AMGN): Free Stock Analysis Report
Infinity Pharmaceuticals Inc (INFI): Free Stock Analysis Report
Radius Health Inc (RDUS): Free Stock Analysis Report
To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
Zacks Investment Research