Exhibit 99.2
argenx Reports Full Year 2022 Financial Results
and Provides Fourth Quarter Business Update
$173 million in fourth quarter and $401 million
in full year 2022 VYVGART® (efgartigimod alfa-fcab) global net product sales
FDA review ongoing for SC efgartigimod BLA with
PDUFA target action date of June 20, 2023; MAA filed in Japan with approval decision expected by first quarter of 2024
ADHERE topline results continue to be expected
in second quarter of 2023
Karen Massey appointed as Chief Operating Officer
as part of planned transition; Keith Woods to retire and serve as advisor on Board of Directors
Management to host conference call today at
2:30 pm CET (8:30 am ET)
March 2, 2023
Amsterdam, the Netherlands – argenx
(Euronext & Nasdaq: ARGX), a global immunology company committed to improving the lives of people suffering from severe autoimmune
diseases, today reported financial results for the full year 2022 and provided a fourth quarter business update.
In a separate press release, argenx also announced today the appointment
of Karen Massey to Chief Operating Officer as part of a planned transition. Ms. Massey will succeed Keith Woods who will remain at the
Company through the launch of subcutaneous (SC) efgartigimod after which he will retire and serve as a strategic advisor on the argenx
Board of Directors.
“We began 2023 from a position of strength
following the successful first year of our VYVGART launch where we were able to reach more than 3,000 gMG patients globally with our transformative
therapy. Our focus for the year ahead is expansion; both through upcoming regulatory approvals and launches, and more broadly by reaching
additional patient segments with the planned launch of SC efgartigimod and through our ongoing stakeholder engagement efforts,”
said Tim Van Hauwermeiren, Chief Executive Officer of argenx. “Looking ahead, we have the opportunity this year to showcase the
innovation within our pipeline through multiple data catalysts, including three pivotal data readouts from efgartigimod and the first
clinical efficacy data from ARGX-117, our next pipeline-in-a-product candidate. We are well-equipped to build on this significant momentum
as we advance our mission to redefine the treatment of autoimmune disease.”
FOURTH QUARTER 2022 AND RECENT BUSINESS UPDATE
VYVGART Expansion
VYVGART is the first-and-only approved neonatal
Fc receptor (FcRn) blocker in the U.S., Japan and the EU. argenx is planning for multi-dimensional expansion to reach more patients with
VYVGART through additional regulatory approvals for generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG), the launch of SC efgartigimod for gMG, and new
autoimmune indications with the VYVGART regulatory submission for immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) in Japan.
| · | Generated global net VYVGART revenues of $173 million in the fourth quarter of 2022 and $401 million in
the full year of 2022 |
| · | Additional VYVGART regulatory approvals and commercial launches expected in 2023 |
o
Approval decision expected in Canada in third quarter of 2023 and in China and Israel by end of 2023
o
gMG launch in France, United Kingdom and Italy expected by end of 2023 following review of respective reimbursement dossiers
| · | Regulatory reviews of SC efgartigimod for gMG ongoing in the U.S., EU and Japan |
| o | Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) target action date extended to June 20, 2023 following notification
from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in January 2023 |
| o | Marketing authorization application (MAA) filed in Japan in first quarter of 2023 with approval decision
expected by first quarter of 2024 |
| o | MAA review underway by European Medicines Agency with approval decision expected in fourth quarter of
2023 |
| · | Submission of MAA in Japan for VYVGART for the treatment of ITP expected mid-2023 |
Efgartigimod Research and Development
argenx aims to solidify its FcRn leadership by
expanding the scope of IgG-mediated autoimmune diseases in development and further demonstrating the potential of FcRn blockade in ongoing
clinical trials. By the end of 2023, efgartigimod is expected to be approved, in regulatory review or in development in 13 severe autoimmune
diseases.
Multiple data readouts expected from ongoing efgartigimod
trials in 2023 and 2024:
| · | ADHERE: Topline data in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) expected in second quarter
of 2023 |
| · | ADDRESS: Topline data in pemphigus expected in second half of 2023 |
| · | ADVANCE-SC: Topline data from SC trial in ITP expected in second half of 2023 |
| · | BALLAD and ALKIVIA: Interim data in bullous pemphigoid expected in first half of 2024 and in myositis
in second half of 2024 |
| · | ALPHA and RHO proof-of-concept (POC) trials through IQVIA collaboration: Topline data from ALPHA in post-COVID-19
postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (PC-POTS) expected in fourth quarter of 2023 and from RHO in primary Sjogren’s syndrome
expected in 2024 |
| · | POC trials underway in membranous nephropathy and lupus nephritis through Zai Lab collaboration |
Clinical trials of efgartigimod in additional
autoimmune indications to start this year:
| · | Registrational trial to start in thyroid eye disease in fourth quarter of 2023 |
| · | POC trials to start in ANCA-associated vasculitis (ANCA) and antibody mediated rejection (AMR) in kidney
transplant in fourth quarter of 2023 |
Pipeline Progress
argenx is advancing a robust portfolio of innovative
clinical programs, including ARGX-117 (C2 inhibitor) and ARGX-119 (muscle-specific kinase (MuSK) agonist). Both programs have the potential
to be first-in-class opportunities for multiple severe autoimmune indications.
| · | ARDA: Interim data from POC trial of ARGX-117 in multifocal motor neuropathy expected mid-2023 |
| · | POC trial of ARGX-117 for prevention of delayed graft function after kidney transplantation expected to
start in second half of 2023 following regulatory discussions |
| · | Dermatomyositis selected as third autoimmune indication for development of ARGX-117 |
| · | Initiated Phase 1 dose-escalation trial of ARGX-119 in healthy volunteers; subsequent Phase 1b trial to
assess early signal detection in patients |
Continued investment in Immunology Innovation
Program (IIP) to broaden autoimmune pipeline for sustained value creation opportunities
| · | argenx continues to invest in its discovery engine, the Immunology Innovation Program, to foster a robust
innovation ecosystem and drive early-stage pipeline growth. argenx expects to nominate one new development candidate in 2023. |
Steve Krognes appointed as non-executive director
and Chair of the Audit and Compliance Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors
FOURTH QUARTER AND FULL YEAR 2022 FINANCIAL
RESULTS
ARGENX SE
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT
OF PROFIT OR LOSS
| | |
Three Months Ended | | |
Twelve Months Ended | |
| | |
December 31, | | |
December 31, | |
| (in thousands of $ except for shares and EPS) | |
2022 | | |
2021 | | |
2022 | | |
2021 | |
| Product net sales | |
$ | 173,396 | | |
$ | — | | |
$ | 400,720 | | |
$ | — | |
| Collaboration revenue | |
| 764 | | |
| 26,022 | | |
| 10,026 | | |
| 497,277 | |
| Other operating income | |
| 7,956 | | |
| 7,662 | | |
| 34,520 | | |
| 42,141 | |
| Total operating income | |
| 182,116 | | |
| 33,684 | | |
| 445,267 | | |
| 539,418 | |
| | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
| Cost of sales | |
| (12,786 | ) | |
| — | | |
| (29,431 | ) | |
| — | |
| Research and development expenses | |
| (147,798 | ) | |
| (167,173 | ) | |
| (663,366 | ) | |
| (580,520 | ) |
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | |
| (135,287 | ) | |
| (97,422 | ) | |
| (472,132 | ) | |
| (307,644 | ) |
| Loss from investment in joint venture | |
| (677 | ) | |
| — | | |
| (677 | ) | |
| — | |
| Total operating expenses | |
| (296,548 | ) | |
| (264,596 | ) | |
| (1,165,607 | ) | |
| (888,164 | ) |
| | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
| Operating loss | |
$ | (114,432 | ) | |
$ | (230,912 | ) | |
$ | (720,341 | ) | |
$ | (348,746 | ) |
| | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
| Financial income | |
| 13,925 | | |
| 1,199 | | |
| 27,665 | | |
| 3,633 | |
| Financial expense | |
| (990 | ) | |
| (1,104 | ) | |
| (3,906 | ) | |
| (4,578 | ) |
| Exchange gains/(losses) | |
| 60,259 | | |
| (14,063 | ) | |
| (32,732 | ) | |
| (50,053 | ) |
| | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
| Loss for the period before taxes | |
$ | (41,238 | ) | |
$ | (244,880 | ) | |
$ | (729,314 | ) | |
$ | (399,743 | ) |
| Income tax (expense)/benefit | |
$ | 2,625 | | |
$ | 7,062 | | |
$ | 19,720 | | |
$ | (8,522 | ) |
| Loss for the period | |
$ | (38,613 | ) | |
$ | (237,818 | ) | |
$ | (709,594 | ) | |
$ | (408,265 | ) |
| Loss for the period attributable to: | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
| Owners of the parent | |
| (38,613 | ) | |
| (237,818 | ) | |
| (709,594 | ) | |
| (408,265 | ) |
| Weighted average number of shares outstanding | |
| 55,364,124 | | |
| 51,538,191 | | |
| 54,381,371 | | |
| 51,075,827 | |
| Basic loss per share (in $) | |
| (0.70 | ) | |
| (4.61 | ) | |
| (13.05 | ) | |
| (7.99 | ) |
| Diluted loss per share (in $) | |
| (0.70 | ) | |
| (4.61 | ) | |
| (13.05 | ) | |
| (7.99 | ) |
| | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
| Net increase/(decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and current financial assets compared to year-end 2021 and 2020 | |
| | | |
| | | |
$ | (144,180 | ) | |
$ | 340,276 | |
| Cash, cash equivalents and current financial assets at the end of the period | |
| | | |
| | | |
$ | 2,192,548 | | |
$ | 2,336,728 | |
DETAILS OF THE FINANCIAL RESULTS
Total operating income for the fourth
quarter and year-to-date in 2022 was $182.1 million and $445.3 million, respectively, compared to $33.7 million and $539.4 million for
the same periods in 2021, and consists of:
| · | Product net sales from the sales of VYVGART
for the three months ended December 31, 2022 were $173.4 million. The product net sales in the twelve months ended December 31, 2022 were
$400.7 million. No product net sales were recognized during the same period in 2021. |
| · | Collaboration revenue for the fourth quarter and year-to-date in 2022 was $0.8 million and $10 million, respectively, compared
to $26 million and $497.3 million for the same periods in 2021. The collaboration revenue during the twelve months ended December 31,
2022 primarily relates to the recognition of milestone revenue following the option exercise by LEO Pharma to enter into a commercial
license for ARGX-112. The collaboration revenue for the twelve months ended December 31, 2021 was primarily attributable to the recognition
of the transaction price as a consequence of the termination of the collaboration agreement with Janssen, resulting in the recognition
of $315.1 million, and the recognition of $177.5 million in collaboration revenue related to the strategic collaboration with Zai Lab,
including the development milestone which was triggered by the FDA approval of VYVGART. |
| · | Other operating income for the fourth
quarter and year-to-date in 2022 was $7.9 million, and $34.5 million, respectively, compared to $7.7 million and $42.1 million for the
same periods in 2021. During the twelve months ended December 31, 2022, and December 31, 2021, the fair value of the argenx profit share
in AgomAb Therapeutics NV increased by $4.3 million and $11.2 million respectively. The increase is a result of the extension of a Series
B financing round by AgomAb for which argenx maintains a profit share in exchange for granting the license for the use of HGF-mimetic
antibodies from the SIMPLE Antibody™ platform. |
Total operating expenses for the fourth
quarter and year-to-date in 2022 were $296.5 million and $1,165.6 million, respectively, compared to $264.6 million and $888.2 million
for the same periods in 2021, and consists of:
| · | Cost of sales for the fourth quarter and
year-to-date in 2022 was $12.8 million and $29.4 million, respectively. The cost of sales was recognized with respect to the sale of VYVGART
during 2022. There was no cost of sales recognized in the comparable prior year periods. |
| · | Research and development expenses for
the fourth quarter and year-to-date in 2022 were $147.8 million and $663.4 million, respectively, compared to $167.2 million and $580.5
million for the same periods in 2021. The research and development expenses mainly relate to external research and development expenses
and personnel expenses incurred in the clinical development of efgartigimod in various indications and the expansion of other clinical
and preclinical pipeline candidates. The increase in research and development expense during 2022 is mainly driven by the recognition
of the priority review voucher submitted with the BLA filing for SC efgartigimod for the treatment of gMG, which resulted in an expense
of $99.1 million. |
| · | Selling, general and administrative expenses
for the fourth quarter and year-to-date in 2022 were $135.3 million and $472.1 million, respectively, compared to $97.4 million and $307.6
million for the same periods in 2021. The selling, general and administrative expenses mainly relate to professional and marketing fees
linked to the commercialization of VYVGART in the U.S., Japan and the EU and personnel expenses. |
| · | Loss from investment in joint venture for
the fourth quarter and year-to-date in 2022 was $0.7 million. The loss recognized was argenx’s share of losses in Oncoverity, Inc.
There was no losses from investment in joint venture in the comparable prior year periods. |
Financial income for the fourth quarter
and year-to-date in 2022 were $13.9 million and $27.7 million respectively, compared to $1.2 million and $3.6 million for the same periods
in 2021. The increase in financial income is mainly due to an increase in interest income on current financial assets and cash and cash
equivalents attributable to higher interest rates.
Exchange gains/losses for the fourth quarter
and year-to-date in 2022 were $60.3 million of gains and $32.7 million of losses, respectively, compared to $14.1 million and $50.1 million
of exchange losses for the same periods in 2021. Exchange gains/losses are mainly attributable to unrealized exchange rate losses on the
cash, cash equivalents and current financial assets position in Euro.
Income tax for the fourth quarter and year-to-date
in 2022 was $2.6 million and $19.7 million of tax benefit, respectively, compared to $7.1 million of tax benefit and $8.5 million of tax
expense for the same periods in 2021. Tax benefit for the three months ended December 31, 2022 consists of $12.1 million of income tax
expense and $14.7 million of deferred tax income, compared to $1.2 million of income tax expense and $8.2 million of deferred tax income
for the same period in 2021.
Net loss for the fourth quarter and year-to-date
in 2022 was $38.6 million and $709.6 million, respectively, compared to net loss of $237.8 and $408.3 million for the same periods in
2021.
Cash, cash equivalents and current financial
assets totaled $2.2 billion as of December 31, 2022, compared to $2.3 billion as of December 31, 2021. Net change in Cash and cash
equivalents and current financial assets is primarily a result of the closing of a global offering of shares, which resulted in the receipt
of $761.0 million in net proceeds in March 2022, offset by net cash flows used in operating activities.
FINANCIAL GUIDANCE
Based on current plans to fund anticipated operating
expenses, working capital and capital expenditures, argenx expects to utilize up to $500 million cash in 2023.
EXPECTED 2023 FINANCIAL CALENDAR:
| - | May 4, 2023: Q1 2023 financial results and business update |
| - | July 27, 2023: HY 2023 financial results and business update |
| - | October 27, 2023: Q3 2023 financial results and business update |
CONFERENCE CALL DETAILS
The full year 2022 results and fourth quarter business update will
be discussed during a conference call and webcast presentation today at 2:30 pm CET/8:30 am ET. A webcast of the live call may be accessed
on the Investors section of the argenx website at argenx.com/investors. A replay of the webcast will be available on the argenx website.
Dial-in numbers:
Please dial in 15 minutes prior to the live call.
| Belgium |
32 800 50 201 |
| France |
33 800 943355 |
| Netherlands |
31 20 795 1090 |
| United Kingdom |
44 800 358 0970 |
| United States |
1 888 415 4250 |
| Japan |
81 3 4578 9752 |
| Switzerland |
41 43 210 11 32 |
About argenx
argenx is a global immunology company committed to improving the lives
of people suffering from severe autoimmune diseases. Partnering with leading academic researchers through its Immunology Innovation Program
(IIP), argenx aims to translate immunology breakthroughs into a world-class portfolio of novel antibody-based medicines. argenx developed
and is commercializing the first-and-only approved neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) blocker in the U.S., Japan, and the EU. The Company is
evaluating efgartigimod in multiple serious autoimmune diseases and advancing several earlier stage experimental medicines within its
therapeutic franchises. For more information, visit www.argenx.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter,
and Instagram.
For further information, please contact:
Media:
Erin Murphy
emurphy@argenx.com
Investors:
Beth DelGiacco
bdelgiacco@argenx.com
Forward-looking Statements
The contents of this announcement include statements that are,
or may be deemed to be, “forward-looking statements.” These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking
terminology, including the terms “believes,” “hope,” “estimates,” “anticipates,” “expects,”
“intends,” “may,” “will,” or “should” and include statements argenx makes regarding the
impact of the transition of the chief operating officer; its launch strategy to make VYVGART available in the EU, China, Canada and select
other regions; the VYVGART multi-dimensional expansion strategy; its expansion through potential regulatory approvals and launches and
the planned launch of SC efgartigimod, if approved; the timing of data readouts and new clinical efficacy data; the regulatory reviews
and regulatory approval timing in the United States, EU and Japan for SC efgartigimod for the treatment of gMG and the long-term safety
and tolerability of SC efgartigimod; the therapeutic potential of its product candidates; the intended results of its strategy and its
collaboration partners’, advancement of, and anticipated clinical development and regulatory milestones and plans, including the
timing of planned clinical trials; and the design of future clinical trials and the timing and outcome of regulatory filings and regulatory
approvals. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, and readers are cautioned that any such forward-looking
statements are not guarantees of future performance. argenx’s actual results may differ materially from those predicted by the
forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, inflation and deflation
and the corresponding fluctuations in interest rates; regional instability and conflicts, such as the conflict between Russia and Ukraine,
argenx’s expectations regarding the inherent uncertainties associated with competitive developments, preclinical and clinical trial
and product development activities and regulatory approval requirements; argenx’s reliance on collaborations with third parties;
estimating the commercial potential of argenx’s product candidates; argenx’s ability to obtain and maintain protection of
intellectual property for its technologies and drugs; argenx’s limited operating history; and argenx’s ability to obtain
additional funding for operations and to complete the development and commercialization of its product candidates. A further list and
description of these risks, uncertainties and other risks can be found in argenx’s U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
filings and reports, including in argenx’s most recent annual report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC as well as subsequent filings
and reports filed by argenx with the SEC. Given these uncertainties, the reader is advised not to place any undue reliance on such forward-looking
statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of publication of this document. argenx undertakes no obligation
to publicly update or revise the information in this press release, including any forward-looking statements, except as may be required
by law.
