| • | | The net change in deferred revenue related to upfront and milestone payments, which represents the cash and stock received from collaborators less the amount of revenue recognized during the period, was a decrease of $34.5 million compared to a decrease of $28.2 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2017. |
“Our company is transitioning from one with great science and technology to one with great products and product candidates that embody our engineered biology,” commented Randal J. Kirk, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Intrexon. “Recognizing our requirements, we are fully occupied on the development of systems, teams and plans to successfully commercialize products that we believe will be transformative in their fields.”
Mr. Kirk concluded, “While we do not underestimate the challenges that face us – or anyone – in making such a transition, we have persevered in the execution of our plans laid long ago and believe that we are seeing the fruits of our prior labors. It long has been our goal to create one of the truly great companies in the world and all of us at intrexon are excited to be where we are today and looking with great anticipation toward our future.”
Third Quarter 2018 Financial Results Compared to Prior Year Period
Total revenues decreased $13.6 million, or 30%, from the quarter ended September 30, 2017. Collaboration and licensing revenues decreased $13.8 million from the quarter ended September 30, 2017 due to (i) a decrease in research and development services for certain of the Company’s exclusive channel collaborations, or ECCs, as the Company redeployed certain resources towards supporting prospective new platforms and partnering opportunities and began to focus more on the further development of relationships and structures that provide the Company with more control and ownership over the development process and commercialization path, (ii) a decrease in research and development services for certain of the Company’s ECCs as a result of program progression where the Company’s collaborators have taken responsibility of the execution of the programs, (iii) changes in revenue recognition for upfront and milestone payments under the new Accounting Standards Codification 606, or ASC 606, revenue standard whereby revenues are recognized based on the amount of services the Company performs for its collaborators, and (iv) the mutual termination of the Company’s second ECC with ZIOPHARM for the treatment of graft-versus-host disease in December 2017. Gross margin on products declined in the current period as a result of increased operating costs associated with new product offerings and cloned products. Gross margin on services improved in the current period as a result of pricing changes and an increase in the number of embryos produced per bovinein vitro fertilization cycle due to improved production results.
Research and development expenses increased $8.4 million, or 23%, and include $8.7 million expense related toin-process research and development reacquired as part of an asset acquisition in September 2018. Although selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses were consistent period over period, legal and professional fees decreased $2.9 million primarily due to a decline in the use of regulatory and other consultants. This decrease was offset primarily by higher compensation expenses related to performance and retention incentives for SG&A employees.
Year-to-Date 2018 Financial Results Compared to Prior Year Period
Total revenues decreased $36.6 million, or 24%, from the nine months ended September 30, 2017. Collaboration and licensing revenues decreased $37.8 million from the nine months ended September 30, 2017 primarily due to (i) a decrease in research and development services for certain of the Company’s ECCs as the Company redeployed certain resources towards supporting prospective new platforms and partnering opportunities and began to focus more on the further development of relationships and structures that provide the Company with more control and ownership over the development process and commercialization path, (ii) a decrease in research and development services for certain of the Company’s ECCs as a result of program progression where the Company’s collaborators have taken responsibility of the execution of the programs, (iii) changes in revenue