Novocure Reports Third Quarter 2016 Financial Results and Provides Company Update

ST. HELIER, Jersey–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Novocure (NASDAQ: NVCR), a commercial stage oncology company pioneering a proprietary therapy for solid tumors, today reported financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2016, highlighting year-over-year and sequential growth in prescriptions, active patients and revenues.

Third quarter 2016 highlights include:

“We saw year-over-year and sequential growth in the third quarter across all key operating statistics and in revenue, and I am pleased with the progress we have made in bringing Optune to patients who have such a vital need for improved treatment options,” said Asaf Danziger, Novocure’s Chief Executive Officer. “Given what is at stake for patients with glioblastoma, we are relentless in our efforts to increase awareness, earn acceptance and drive adoption.”

“An additional 14 million lives were placed under insurance coverage in the third quarter, bringing the total number of covered lives to 130 million in the United States as of September 30, 2016,” continued Mr. Danziger. “Importantly, as of today, we have also negotiated contracts to establish Optune as an in-network benefit for more than 120 million lives, including agreements with two of the three largest health plans in the United States, to become effective during the fourth quarter or 2016.”

“I am particularly proud of the successful roll-out of our second generation Optune System. We received FDA approval for the system in July and were well prepared for the transition,” continued Mr. Danziger. “The first patient was converted one week after FDA approval and 90% of U.S. patients were converted within one month. I want to thank all of our colleagues who worked so hard on the transition and who exemplify our patient-forward mission every day.”

“The fundamental value drivers for Novocure’s business remain as strong as ever. Optune offers significant improvements in survival outcomes for patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma and is transforming the way that glioblastoma is treated,” said William Doyle, Novocure’s Executive Chairman. “In September, we announced that the long-term analysis of our phase 3 pivotal trial in newly diagnosed GBM confirms the superior progression-free and overall survival seen at the interim analysis. These data will be presented on November 18, 2016 at the Society for Neuro-Oncology Annual Meeting.”

“Looking beyond glioblastoma, preclinical and clinical evidence shows that the mechanism of action of Tumor Treating Fields can have broad applicability across a variety of solid tumors,” concluded Mr. Doyle. “We made good progress in the third quarter to advance our clinical pipeline and now have three ongoing phase 2 pilot trials in pancreatic cancer, ovarian cancer and mesothelioma and one ongoing phase 3 pivotal trial in brain metastases. We look forward to sharing new data at our R&D day planned for December 12, 2016.”

2016 Third Quarter Operating Statistics and Financial Update

There were 690 prescriptions received in the quarter ended September 30, 2016, an increase of 335 prescriptions, or 94 percent, compared to the same period in 2015. The increase in prescriptions was driven primarily by commercial activities in the United States after the October 2015 U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of Optune for the treatment of newly diagnosed glioblastoma (GBM), increased commercial activities in Germany, and enhanced awareness of Optune following the December 2015 publication of EF-14 phase 3 pivotal trial results in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

• In the United States, 569 prescriptions were received in the quarter ended September 30, 2016, an increase of 262 prescriptions, or 85 percent, compared to the same period in 2015.
• In Germany and other EMEA markets, 120 prescriptions were received in the quarter ended September 30, 2016, an increase of 73 prescriptions, or 155 percent, compared to the same period in 2015.
• In Japan, 1 prescription was received in the quarter ended September 30, 2016.

There were 985 active patients on Optune at September 30, 2016, an increase of 516 active patients, or 110 percent, compared to September 30, 2015. The increase in active patients was driven both by prescription growth and by an increase in the percentage of newly diagnosed GBM patients who started Optune in prior periods and who typically have a longer duration of therapy. The portion of Optune prescriptions for newly diagnosed GBM was more than 50 percent in the third quarter of 2016.

• In the United States, there were 783 active patients on Optune at September 30, 2016, an increase of 375 active patients, or 92 percent, compared to September 30, 2015.
• In Germany and other EMEA markets, there were 202 active patients on Optune at September 30, 2016, an increase of 142 active patients, or 237 percent, compared to September 30, 2015.

We continued to work with payers in the United States to expand coverage of Optune for the treatment of newly diagnosed and/or recurrent GBM in the third quarter of 2016. As of September 30, 2016, payers administering plans for 130 million lives in aggregate had issued positive coverage policies stating that Optune is approved for the treatment of newly diagnosed or recurrent glioblastoma, an increase of 14 million from the prior quarter, including new policies with Medi-Cal, Premera Blue Cross and Geisinger Health Plan.

For the three months ended September 30, 2016, revenues increased to $21.7 million compared to $9.0 million for the same period in 2015, representing 142 percent growth. This growth was primarily driven by increased Optune adoption.

For the three months ended September 30, 2016, cost of revenues increased to $11.1 million compared to $5.7 million for the same period in 2015, representing 96 percent growth. This was primarily driven by an increase in active Optune patients, resulting in increased transducer array shipment costs and increased field equipment depreciation expenses, as well as increased personnel costs to establish infrastructure necessary to support an increasing volume of shipments to patients.

Research, development and clinical trials expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2016, were $10.2 million, flat compared the same period in 2015. This was primarily due to a decrease in clinical trial expenses resulting from the conclusion of our EF-14 phase 3 pivotal trial in newly diagnosed GBM and other GBM trial activities as well as a reduction in expenses related to the development of our second generation Optune System, offset by an increase in personnel costs and an increase in clinical trial expenses related to the start-up of our METIS phase 3 pivotal trial in brain metastases.

Sales and marketing expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2016, were $15.9 million compared to $8.9 million for the same period in 2015, representing growth of 78 percent. This growth was primarily due to increased personnel costs as well as increased marketing expenses to expand commercial operations in the United States and Germany and to establish commercial operations in Switzerland and Japan.

General and administrative expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2016, were $12.7 million compared to $8.4 million for the same period in 2015, representing growth of 51 percent. This growth was primarily due to increased personnel costs as well as increased expenses related to professional services and activities associated with being a public company.

Personnel costs for the three months ended September 30, 2016, included $5.6 million in non-cash share-based compensation expenses, comprised of $0.2 million in cost of revenues; $0.8 million in research, development and clinical trials; $1.2 million in sales and marketing; and $3.4 million in general and administrative expenses. Total non-cash share-based compensation expenses for third quarter 2015 were $2.9 million.

Net losses for the three months ended September 30, 2016, were $33.6 million compared to net losses of $26.0 million for the same period in 2015.

Financial Update for the Nine Months ended September 30, 2016

For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, revenues increased to $52.6 million compared to $20.7 million for the same period in 2015, representing 154 percent growth. This growth was primarily driven by increased Optune adoption.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, cost of revenues increased to $28.9 million compared to $14.3 million for the same period in 2015, representing 102 percent growth. This was primarily driven by an increase in active Optune patients, resulting in increased transducer array shipment costs and increased field equipment depreciation expenses, as well as increased personnel costs to establish infrastructure necessary to support an increasing volume of shipments to patients.

Research, development and clinical trials expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, were $33.0 million, essentially flat compared the same period in 2015. This was primarily due to an increase in personnel costs and clinical trial expenses related to the start-up of our METIS phase 3 pivotal trial in brain metastases, offset by a decrease in clinical trial expenses resulting from the conclusion of our EF-14 phase 3 pivotal trial in newly diagnosed GBM and a reduction in expenses related to the development of our second generation Optune System.

Sales and marketing expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, were $43.8 million compared to $24.1 million for the same period in 2015, representing growth of 81 percent. This growth was primarily due to increased personnel costs as well as increased marketing expenses to expand commercial operations in the United States and Germany and to establish commercial operations in Switzerland and Japan.

General and administrative expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, were $38.0 million compared to $22.7 million for the same period in 2015, representing growth of 67 percent. This growth was primarily due to increased personnel costs as well as increased expenses related to professional services and activities associated with being a public company.

Personnel costs for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, included $16.7 million in non-cash share-based compensation expenses, comprised of $0.5 million in cost of revenues; $2.4 million in research, development and clinical trials; $3.9 million in sales and marketing; and $10.0 million in general and administrative expenses. Total non-cash share-based compensation expenses for the same period in 2015 were $7.4 million.

Net losses for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, were $109.7 million compared to net losses of $78.7 million for the same period in 2015.

As of September 30, 2016, we had $115.8 million in cash and cash equivalents and $119.7 million in short-term investments, for a total balance of $235.5 million in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments.

Conference call details

Novocure will host a conference call and webcast to discuss third quarter 2016 financial results today, Wednesday, November 2, at 8 a.m. EDT. Analysts and investors can participate in the conference call by dialing (877) 726-5929 for domestic callers and (530) 379-4648 for international callers, using the conference ID 76871474. The webcast can be accessed live from the Investor Relations page of Novocure’s website, www.novocure.com/investors, and will available for replay for at least 14 days following the call.

The earnings slides presented during the webcast and the corporate presentation can also be accessed from the Investor Relations page of Novocure’s website, www.novocure.com/investors.

About Novocure

Novocure is a commercial-stage oncology company developing a proprietary therapy called Tumor Treating Fields, or TTFields, for the treatment of solid tumor cancers. Headquartered in Jersey, Novocure has U.S. operations in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Malvern, Pennsylvania, and New York City. Additionally, the company has offices in Germany, Switzerland and Japan, and a research center in Haifa, Israel. For additional information about the company, please visit www.novocure.com or follow us at www.twitter.com/novocure.

Forward-Looking Statements

In addition to historical facts or statements of current condition, this press release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements provide Novocure’s current expectations or forecasts of future events. These may include statements regarding anticipated scientific progress on its research programs, development of potential products, interpretation of clinical results, prospects for regulatory approval, manufacturing development and capabilities, market prospects for its products, and other statements regarding matters that are not historical facts. You may identify some of these forward-looking statements by the use of words in the statements such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe” or other words and terms of similar meaning. Novocure’s performance and financial results could differ materially from those reflected in these forward-looking statements due to general financial, economic, regulatory and political conditions as well as more specific risks and uncertainties facing Novocure such as those set forth in its Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 1, 2016, with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Given these risks and uncertainties, any or all of these forward-looking statements may prove to be incorrect. Therefore, you should not rely on any such factors or forward-looking statements. Furthermore, Novocure does not intend to update publicly any forward-looking statement, except as required by law. Any forward-looking statements herein speak only as of the date hereof. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 permits this discussion.