OMEROS CORP quarterly report, Q1 FY2022

Omeros Corporation — Q1 2022 Form 10-Q

Reporting period: Three months ended March 31, 2022. Omeros is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company. It sold OMIDRIA and related assets in December 2021; OMIDRIA results are presented as discontinued operations, leaving no product sales in continuing operations for the quarter.

Financial results and liquidity

MetricQ1 2022Q1 2021 / comparison
Continuing-operations revenueNone reportedNone reported
Research and development expense$24.1 million$32.5 million
Selling, general and administrative expense$11.0 million$12.8 million
Net loss from continuing operations$39.5 million$49.8 million
Income from discontinued operations$6.5 million$14.7 million
Net loss$33.0 million; $0.53 per share$35.1 million; $0.57 per share
Cash used in operating activities$15.2 million$40.3 million
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments$142.2 million at March 31$157.3 million at December 31, 2021
Convertible senior notes, net$313.9 million$313.5 million at December 31, 2021

Gross or operating margins are not applicable because continuing operations reported no revenue. Interest expense was $4.9 million, compared with $4.9 million a year earlier. Total assets were $369.3 million, and shareholders’ equity was a deficit of $4.9 million at quarter-end. The company had $16.3 million of receivables and no borrowings on its $50 million revolving credit facility.

Material changes and notable items

  • Research and development expense fell $8.4 million year over year, primarily due to timing of narsoplimab manufacturing and OMS906 trial costs. SG&A declined $1.8 million, mainly reflecting lower narsoplimab pre-launch and marketing costs and the timing of legal costs.
  • OMIDRIA royalties earned were $13.8 million; these reduced the OMIDRIA contract royalty asset rather than being reported as continuing revenue. Omeros also recorded $7.0 million of discontinued-operations income from royalty interest and remeasurement adjustments. The royalty asset was $177.7 million at March 31.
  • Cash and cash equivalents fell from $100.8 million to $9.0 million, while short-term investments rose from $56.5 million to $133.3 million. Management attributed much of the investing cash outflow to investing proceeds from the OMIDRIA sale in short-term investments.
  • In January, Omeros terminated part of its office and laboratory lease, reducing the right-of-use asset by $4.7 million and lease liability by $5.2 million, and recording a non-cash gain of $0.5 million.

Outlook, risks and contingencies

  • Management said available assets and expected OMIDRIA royalties were adequate to fund operations at least through May 10, 2023. The estimate depends on expected cash flows; the filing also describes potential additional financing, licensing or spending reductions if needed.
  • The FDA issued a Complete Response Letter for narsoplimab in HSCT-TMA in October 2021, stating that it had difficulty estimating treatment effect and needed additional information. After a February 2022 meeting, Omeros planned to request formal dispute resolution, seeking regular approval based on its existing BLA. Approval, a clear resubmission path, timing and required expenditure remain uncertain.
  • Management expected Q2 2022 R&D and SG&A expenses to increase versus Q1, citing timing of development activities and employee-related costs. Narsoplimab trials in IgA nephropathy and aHUS were ongoing; enrollment in aHUS had been slow. The company expected to begin an OMS906 Phase 1b PNH trial in summer 2022 and was awaiting analysis of narsoplimab data in the I-SPY COVID-19 trial.
  • Omeros owed $95 million principal on notes maturing in November 2023 and $225.0 million on notes maturing in February 2026. The company said it expected to fund repayment of the 2023 notes through a combination of operating cash, possible OMIDRIA milestone proceeds, strategic transactions, equity or additional debt.
  • A potential $200 million OMIDRIA milestone depends on securing separate U.S. payment for at least four continuous years before January 1, 2025; it is not assured. U.S. royalty rates are also subject to contractual terms and reimbursement-related reductions. The filing identifies $31.0 million of potential contract termination fees and $41.1 million of remaining aggregate rent under the initial lease term. No material legal proceedings were reported.

Important facts for investors to verify

  • Progress and outcome of the planned FDA formal dispute request, and any additional evidence or costs required for narsoplimab approval.
  • Cash burn, royalty receipts and financing needs relative to management’s runway estimate, including the November 2023 note maturity.
  • OMIDRIA sales, Medicare separate-payment status, royalty-rate terms and the conditions and timing for the potential $200 million milestone.
  • Enrollment, trial results and timelines for narsoplimab and OMS906 programs, including the company’s stated Q2 expense increases.