Catalyst launched its first product, Firdapse, in January 2019. Related product revenues, net for the quarter ended March 31, 2020 were $29.1 million compared to $12.4 million in the same period of 2019. Cost of sales for the quarter ended March 31, 2020 were $4.2 million compared to $1.7 million in the same period in 2019.
Research and development expenses for the first quarter of 2020 were $4.2 million, compared to $3.3 million in the first quarter of 2019. The increase of $915 thousand in research and development expenses for the first three months of 2020 is primarily attributable to increases in headcount, medical and regulatory affairs, quality assurance programs, and expenses from our Firdapse clinical trials and studies, as well as an increase innon-cash employee-stock based compensation. The Company expects that costs related to research and development activities will continue to be substantial throughout 2020 as Catalyst continues its clinical programs evaluating Firdapse inMuSK-MG and SMA Type 3, continues its Expanded Access Program and sustained release product development program for Firdapse, begins to evaluate Firdapse as a treatment for other neuromuscular diseases and, assuming positive results from the trial, prepares a sNDA for Firdapse for the treatment ofMuSK-MG.
Selling, general and administrative expenses for the first quarter of 2020 totaled $10.1 million as compared to $8.4 million in the first quarter of 2019. The increase when compared to the same period in 2019 is primarily due to additional cost from expansion of the sales force and contracting with a rare-disease experienced inside sales agency, and an increase innon-cash stock-based compensation. The Company expects selling, general and administrative expenses to increase in 2020, as the Company continues to build its infrastructure and commercial and patient programs in support of Firdapse sales activities.
At March 31, 2020, Catalyst had cash and cash equivalents and investments of $101.8 million and no funded-debt. Catalyst believes that its existing capital resources will be sufficient to support its planned operations for at least the next 12 months.
More detailed financial information and analysis may be found in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form10-Q, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on May 11, 2020.
Conference Call
Catalyst management will host an investment-community conference call and webcast at 8:30 a.m. ET, tomorrow, Tuesday, May 12, 2020 to discuss the financial results and provide a corporate update. Investors who wish to participate in the conference call may do so by dialing (877)407-8912 for domestic and Canadian callers or (201)689-8059 for international callers. Those interested in listening to the conference call live via the internet may do so by visiting the Investors page of the company’s website atwww.catalystpharma.com and clicking on the webcast link on the Investors home page. A webcast replay will be available on the Catalyst website for 30 days following the call by visiting the Investor page of the company’s website atwww.catalystpharma.com.
About Catalyst Pharmaceuticals
Catalyst Pharmaceuticals is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing innovative therapies for people with rare debilitating, chronic neuromuscular and neurological diseases, including Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS), anti-MuSK antibody positive myasthenia gravis(MuSK-MG) and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) Type 3. Catalyst’s new drug application for Firdapse® (amifampridine) 10 mg tablets for the treatment of adults with LEMS was approved in November 2018 by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (“FDA”), and Firdapse is now commercially available in the United States as a treatment for adults (age 17 and up) with LEMS. Prior to its approval, Firdapse for LEMS had received breakthrough therapy designation and orphan drug designation from the FDA.
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