Pfizer raises 2019 forecast as sales of cancer drug, heart medicine surge

By Tamara Mathias and Aakash B

(Reuters) – Pfizer Inc (N:) posted third-quarter profit well above analysts’ estimates on higher sales of cancer drug Ibrance and new heart medicine Vyndaqel, encouraging the largest U.S. drugmaker to lift its earnings forecast for the year.

Shares of the company rose 3.4% on Tuesday as the results suggested that Chief Executive Officer Albert Bourla’s efforts to slim down the sprawling drugmaker were paying off.

Pfizer announced in July it would separate its off-patent branded drugs business and combine it with generic drugmaker Mylan NV (O:), allowing it to focus on its more profitable drugs.

Bourla said on Tuesday Pfizer would become a “smaller, science-based company” following the Mylan deal, which is expected to close next year.

Pfizer raised its 2019 adjusted earnings per share forecast to between $2.94 and $3.00 from a prior estimate of between $2.76 and $2.86. Analysts on average were expecting $2.82 per share, according to Refinitiv IBES.

Although sales of Ibrance rose to $1.28 billion and those of rheumatoid arthritis drug Xeljanz jumped nearly 39% to $599 million, analysts called out Vyndaqel as the biggest surprise in the quarter.

Vyndaqel, chemically known as tafamidis, was approved in May and brought in revenue of $156 million, nearly double the consensus estimate of $82 million.

Priced at $225,000 per year, Vyndaqel’s high cost has faced criticism, with experts affiliated with Boston-based Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) warning that it could be among the most costly cardiovascular treatments ever sold.

“Importantly, Ibrance is back to strong growth after a period of slowing … (and) the Vyndaqel number in particular is impressive,” UBS analyst Navin Jacob said.

The company also said sales of its patented medicines benefited from demand in emerging markets, which contribute about a quarter of total sales.

Net income attributable to Pfizer’s shareholders rose nearly 87% to $7.68 billion, or $1.36 per share, as the company recognized a gain of $8.1 billion after closing its consumer health joint venture with Britain’s GlaxoSmithKline Plc (L:).

Excluding special items, Pfizer earned 75 cents per share, easily beating the average estimate of 62 cents.

Investor sentiment on Pfizer has been poor since it announced the deal with Mylan, making the third-quarter beat a relief, Jacob said.

Including Tuesday’s gains, Pfizer shares had lost about 11% of their value since the deal with Mylan was announced.

Total revenue fell about 5% to $12.68 billion as sales of pain treatment Lyrica, which recently lost patent protection in the United States, more than halved to $527 million.

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