OREX reported in-line financial results for quarter ended may 8. 2014 could become a transformational year for the company. FDA approval in obesity is expected in June.
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Wells Fargo Note on OREX - Set Up to Be a Transformational Year
OREX reported in-line financial results for quarter ended may 8. 2014 could become a transformational year for the company. FDA approval in obesity is expected in June.
OREX reported in-line financial results for quarter ended may 8. 2014 could become a transformational year for the company. FDA approval in obesity is expected in June.
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May 8, 2014
Equi ty Resear ch Orexigen Therapeutics, Inc. OREX: Q1--2014 Set Up to Be A Transformational Year
Summary: After the May 8 market close, Orexigen reported in-line financial results for Q1 highlighted by continuing pre-market preparations by U.S. partner Takeda for the launch of NB32 with its 900-person field force following FDAs potential approval around the June 10 PDUFA date, while Orexigen continued to work towards completion of its responses to the CHMPs 120-Day Questions for the European Marketing Authorization Application. 2014 could become a transformational year for the company with FDA approval in obesity in June, a strong launch by Takeda soon thereafter, potential EU approval sometime in H2, completion of an ex-U.S. partnership for obesity and Type 2 Diabetes post-EU approval, and potential initiation of a Phase III T2DM program by the end of 2014. We probability weight U.S. approval around the PDUFA data at 90%. Over the long term, we believe OREX is undervalued based on its T2DM strategy and the potential to be the 1 st obesity agent to demonstrate a superiority outcome on Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events (e.g., mortality). Based on our recent work with U.S. private payers, we believe an NB32 label with a T2DM claim and superiority on MACE outcomes has the potential to meaningfully improve reimbursement coverage compared to other obesity drugs. Based on changes to our model, our 2014E GAAP EPS decreases to $0.13 from $0.14. Partnering interest in NB32 ex-U.S. appears to have increased since late 2013. While specific details were not provided on the call, OREX noted that the positive interim LIGHT CV risk analysis and the recently announced life-cycle management strategy for a T2DM label have generated increased interest in ex- U.S. partnering discussions for NB32. This is not surprising to us as currently only one drug is approved in Europe for the treatment of obesity, and NB32 is becoming a clinically de-risked asset, in our view, based on the LIGHT study analysis -- especially due to cardiovascular risk. Recall in the Ph. III, 56-week COR-DM study, NB32 resulted in -0.5% (modified intent-to-treat) and -0.7% (excluding rescue medicines) placebo-adjusted HbA1c, and weight loss of 11.6 pounds (ITT analysis) and 13.5 pounds (completers analysis) in obese diabetics (a historically tougher to treat population than obese non-diabetics). NB32 MAA Update. OREX plans to file its answers to the CHMPs 120-Day questions in late May and expects a CHMP decision or the 180-Day list of questions in Q3 (late July). If CHMP issues 180-Day questions (a possibility due to potential new questions on the LIGHT data -- which will be included in OREXs answers to the 120-Day questions), OREX believes it can address these within 30 calendar days (file in late August). A CHMP decision would then pace a final European Commission decision 60 to 90 days later (by the end of 2014). Financials: OREX reported EPS of -$0.23 vs. our -$0.21. Based on achievement of regulatory and sales milestones later in Q2 associated with the U.S. NB32 approval ($100M), we expect OREX to end 2014 with ~$300M in cash.
Valuation Range: $11.00 to $12.00 We value OREX based on a blend of a 5-5.5x P/S multiple applied to 2020E revenues of $568M and a DCF using a 10% discount rate. Key risks are clinical and regulatory failures of NB32 in obesity and T2DM, obesity competition, and poor U.S. reimbursement.
Investment Thesis: We believe OREX is undervalued based on NB32 in Type 2 diabetes and obesity.
Outperform / V
Sector: Biotechnology Market Weight
Earni ngs Reported 2013A 2014E 2015E EPS Curr. Prior Curr. Prior Q1 (Mar.) ($0.21) ($0.23) A (0.21) NE Q2 (June) (0.19) 0.48 0.47 NE Q3 (Sep.) (0.19) (0.11) NC NE Q4 (Dec.) (0.21) (0.11) NC NE FY ($0.81) $0.13 0.14 ($0.04) NC CY ($0.81) $0.13 ($0.04) FY P/E NM 40.8x NM Rev.(MM) $3 $109 $73 Source: Company Data, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC estimates, and Reuters NA = Not Available, NC = No Change, NE = No Estimate, NM = Not Meaningful V = Volatile, = Company is on the Priority Stock List
Due to use of diluted vs. basic shares in calculation of 1/4 EPS, the sum of the four 1/4's does not equal FY 2014 EPS.
Ticker OREX
Price (05/08/2014) $5.30
52-Week Range: $4-8
Shares Outstanding: (MM) 111.5
Market Cap.: (MM) $591.0
S&P 500: 1,875.63
Avg. Daily Vol.: 2,279,630
Dividend/Yield: $0.00/0.0%
LT Debt: (MM) $115.0
LT Debt/Total Cap.: 20.0%
ROE: NM
3-5 Yr. Est. Growth Rate: NE
CY 2014 Est. P/E-to-Growth: NM
Last Reporting Date: 05/08/2014
After Close
Source: Company Data, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC estimates, and Reuters
Matthew J. Andrews, Associate Analyst (617) 603-4218 / matt hew. j . andrews@wel l sf argo. com Brian Abrahams, M.D., Senior Analyst (212) 214-8060 / bri an. abrahams@wel l sfargo. com Shin Kang, Ph.D., Associate Analyst (212) 214-5036 / shi n. kang@wel l sfargo. com
WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC Biotechnology EQUITY RESEARCH DEPARTMENT
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Company Description: Orexigen Therapeutics, Inc. (La Jolla, California) is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel products for the treatment of obesity and Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Orexigen's portfolio is highlighted by NB32 (Contrave), its novel anti-obesity therapy which combines sustained release formulations of naltrexone and bupropion. NB32 has completed four Phase III studies and successfully met an interim safety analysis in late 2013 for its ongoing Phase III cardiovascular outcomes study (LIGHT). Beyond obesity, Orexigen and North American partner Takeda are planning to develop NB32 for the treatment of T2DM. The T2DM strategy may enable Orexigen and Takeda to differentiate NB32 from other anti-obesity agents and could allow for better reimbursement with U.S. health plans, a major headwind for any novel anti-obesity therapy. NB32's PDUFA date is June 10, 2014, and its European Marketing Authorization Application is currently under review by the CHMP. Behind NB32, Orexigen has a second novel anti-obesity agent, Empatic, a combination of bupropion and zonisamide, which has completed Phase II studies. Orexigen will not advance Empatic into Phase III without a partner.
Exhibit 1. Upcoming Milestone Chart Agent Timing Event Q2 (End of May) 2014 Orexigen files responses to CHMP's 120-Day Questions. June 10, 2014 U.S. PDUFA date June 13-17, 2014 At the ADA Meeting: Phase III data for NB32 related to fasting blood glucose levels and other metabolic parameters in pre-diabetics. Late June/early July 2014 U.S. launch of Contrave Q3 (July) 2014 CHMP Opinion or 180-Day Questions Late Q3 (September) 2014 If there are 180-Day Questions, OREX to file responses within ~30 calendar days. Late Q4 2014 EC decision (60 to 90 days following the CHMP meeting). Q4 2014/Q1 2015 2nd interim analysis of the LIGHT Study (50% of events). H2 2014+ License ex-U.S. rights for Contrave to a partner for obesity and/or Type 2 diabetes. Late 2014+/H1 2015 Initiate Phase III, 26-week monotherapy and combination study of Contrave in Type 2 diabetes (paced by partnership?). Q3+ 2015 Complete enrollment of Phase III Contrave Type 2 diabetes study. Q4 2015/Q1 2016 3rd interim analysis of the LIGHT Study (75% of events). Early 2016 Last patient, last visit in Phase III Type 2 diabetes study (~six months post last patient recruited). Q2 2016+ Top-line Phase III Type 2 diabetes study results. H2 2016 File for regulatory approvals of Contrave in Type 2 diabetes. End 2016+ Complete the LIGHT Study and report top-line results. 2017 Submit LIGHT Study results to regulatory authorities for inclusion in various package inserts. Q2 2017 (U.S.)/ H2 2017 (Europe) Regulatory decisions for Contrave as monotherapy or in combination with other Type 2 diabetes agents and as part of an FDC (with a DPP-IV inhibitor). Late 2017/2018 Label expansion for Contrave to include the LIGHT Study CVOT results. 2022 Januvia/Janumet loses IP protection on a global basis (In 2026 for the salt formulation). 2014+ License rights to a partner. 2015+ Commence Phase III program. Empatic Source: Company reports and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC estimates NB32 (Contrave)
WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC Orexigen Therapeutics, Inc. EQUITY RESEARCH DEPARTMENT
WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC Biotechnology EQUITY RESEARCH DEPARTMENT
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Exhibit 3. Pipeline Chart Candidate Indication Stage And Summary Obesity NDA re-submitted and under review/MAA under review - Contrave is a proprietary fixed-dose combination of naltrexone sustained release (SR) and bupropion SR dosed in two pills b.i.d. (8mg/90mg). Bupropion is a widely prescribed antidepressant and smoking cessation medication and naltrexone is a treatment for alcohol and opioid addiction. The Phase II program included 657 U.S. patients and the Phase III COR Program included four studies: COR-I, COR-II, COR-Diabetes, and COR-BMOD and evaluated three doses of naltrexone SR (16mg, 32mg, and 48mg) in combination with bupropion SR 360mg. All studies were 56 weeks in length. For the proposed commercial Contrave32 dose (naltrexone SR 32mg/bupropion SR 360mg), mean weight loss (%), weight loss > 5%, and weight loss > 10% across the four studies ranged from 5.0-9.3%, 44.5%-66.4%, and 18.5%-41.5%, vs. 1.2%-5.1%, 16.4%-43%, and 5.7%- 20.2% for placebo. While an FDA EMDAC panel voted to recommend approval on December 7, 2010, the FDA issued a Complete Response Letter in January 2011, based primarily on its concerns regarding the cardiovascular safety profile of Contrave when used over the long-term in overweight and obese subjects. Following consultation with the FDA, Orexigen initiated the ~8,900 patient LIGHT CV outcomes study in June 2012. Following an interim analysis of MACE events in Q4 2013, which ruled out an elevated risk of CV events, Orexigen re-filed the NDA with the FDA in December 2013. In September 2010, Oexigen entered into a collaboration agreement with Takeda to develop and commercialize Contrave in the United States, Canada and Mexico. In October 2013, Orexigen filed the MAA in the EU. Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Phase III - As part of the COR Program, Orexigen conducted COR-Diabetes (formerly NB-304) which compared Contrave with placebo in 505 obese diabetics. After 56 weeks, Contrave patients demonstrated a 0.6% reduction in HbA1c vs. 0.1% for placebo. Orexigen's development program includes plans to co-formulate Contrave with a DPP-IV inhibitor, and it expects that a single Ph. III 26-week study should be sufficient to obtain approval. It is unclear which DPP-IV inhibitor would be used, though Takeda's Nesina (alogliptin; q.d.), which was approved in August 2013 could be most likely due to its partnership with Takeda. Approval for the treatment of T2DM may enable better formulary coverage by U.S. private managed care health plans. Smoking cessation Phase II - Orexigen has completed a 24-week, open-label study of Contrave32 in 30 obese/overweight smokers. Smoking abstinence rates at week 12 and 24 were 48.1% and 40.7%, respectively, and no clinically meaningful weight gain was observed. No SAEs occurred and five patients withdrew due to AEs. Depressed obesity Phase II - Orexigen has completed a 24-week, open-label study of Contrave32 in 25 obese/overweight patients with major depression. At weeks 12 and 24, Contrave32 resulted in mean decreases in Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale total scores of more than 50%. AEs tended to be moderate in severity, no SAEs were observed, and ten patients withdrew due to AEs. Empatic (bupropion/ zonisamide) Obesity Phase II - Empatic is a novel combination of bupropion SR/zonisamide SR and is currently on clinical hold pending the outcome of the Contrave NDA. Zonisamide, in an immediate release formulation, was approved in the U.S. for the adjunctive treatment of partial seizures, a form of epilepsy. Future development will be contingent upon Orexigen licensing the compound. Ph. II(b) data demonstrate after 24 weeks that Empatic120 and Empatic360 resulted in 6.1% and 7.5% weight loss compared to 1.4% for placebo (based on ITT analysis). OREX-003 Mitigation of weight gain due to antipsychotics Phase II - OREX-003 is a combination of olanzapine/zonisamide SR. A planned Phase II Proof-of-Concept study was placed on clinical hold in December 2008. OREX-004 Obsessive- compulsive disorder Phase II - OREX-004 is a combination of naltrexone SR/fluoxetine. A planned Phase II Proof-of-Concept study was placed on clinical hold in December 2008. Orexigen Therapeutics, Inc.'s Pipeline Summary Source: Company reports and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC NB32 (Contrave; naltrexone SR/ bupropion SR)
WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC Orexigen Therapeutics, Inc. EQUITY RESEARCH DEPARTMENT
Orexigen Therapeutics, Inc. (OREX) 3-yr. Price Performance Orexigen Therapeutics, Inc. (OREX) 3-yr. Price Performance Date
Date PublicationPrice($) RatingCode Val. Rng. Low Val. Rng. High ClosePrice($) 4/23/2014 5.53 1 11.00 12.00 5.54 4/24/2014 Andrews
Source: Wells FargoSecurities, LLCestimates andReuters data
Symbol Key RatingCodeKey RatingDowngrade Initiation, Resumption, Dropor Suspend 1 Outperform/Buy SR Suspended RatingUpgrade Analyst Change 2 Market Perform/Hold NR Not Rated ValuationRangeChange Split Adjustment 3 Underperform/Sell NE NoEstimate
Additional Information Available Upon Request
I certify that: 1) All views expressed in this research report accurately reflect my personal views about any and all of the subject securities or issuers discussed; and 2) No part of my compensation was, is, or will be, directly or indirectly, related to the specific recommendations or views expressed by me in this research report.
Wells Fargo Securities, LLC maintains a market in the common stock of Orexigen Therapeutics, Inc.
OREX: Key risks are clinical and regulatory failures of NB32 in obesity and T2DM, obesity competition, and poor U.S. reimbursement.
Wells Fargo Securities, LLC does not compensate its research analysts based on specific investment banking transactions. Wells Fargo Securities, LLCs research analysts receive compensation that is based upon and impacted by the overall profitability and revenue of the firm, which includes, but is not limited to investment banking revenue.
WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC Biotechnology EQUITY RESEARCH DEPARTMENT
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STOCK RATING 1=Outperform: The stock appears attractively valued, and we believe the stock's total return will exceed that of the market over the next 12 months. BUY 2=Market Perform: The stock appears appropriately valued, and we believe the stock's total return will be in line with the market over the next 12 months. HOLD 3=Underperform: The stock appears overvalued, and we believe the stock's total return will be below the market over the next 12 months. SELL
SECTOR RATING O=Overweight: Industry expected to outperform the relevant broad market benchmark over the next 12 months. M=Market Weight: Industry expected to perform in-line with the relevant broad market benchmark over the next 12 months. U=Underweight: Industry expected to underperform the relevant broad market benchmark over the next 12 months.
VOLATILITY RATING V = A stock is defined as volatile if the stock price has fluctuated by +/-20% or greater in at least 8 of the past 24 months or if the analyst expects significant volatility. All IPO stocks are automatically rated volatile within the first 24 months of trading.
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