2024 results - A$166m comprehensive income for shareholders
Released
Released
Announcement PDF
Neuren (NEU) – ASX Announcement
28 February 2025
2024 results: A$166 million comprehensive income for shareholders
Highlights:
•
Total comprehensive income for shareholders A$166 million, comprising A$142 million profit after
tax and A$24 million foreign currency translation gain
•
A$222 million cash and short-term investments at 31 December 2024, A$359 million pro-forma
cash adjusted to include receipt in Q1 2025 of PRV sale proceeds, sales milestone and Q4 2024
royalty and payment in Q1 2025 of Q4 2024 tax
•
A$56 million US royalty income from DAYBUE™ (trofinetide) in 2024 up 110% from A$27 million in
2023, with guidance for growth to between A$62 million and A$67 million in 2025
•
A$445 million cumulative income from DAYBUE over 2023 and 2024
•
DAYBUE approved in Canada, first sales expected in Q3 2025
•
Trofinetide Marketing Authorisation Application for Europe filed, potential for approval in Q1
2026, Acadia planning managed access programs from Q2 2025
•
Acadia commencing small clinical study by Q3 2025 to support marketing application for Japan
•
NNZ-2591 potential to address core symptoms of diverse neurodevelopmental disorders,
independent of the underlying genetics, supported by positive Phase 2 trial results across PhelanMcDermid, Pitt Hopkins and Angelman syndromes, with other indications under evaluation
•
Fast Track designation granted by FDA for NNZ-2591 in Pitt Hopkins syndrome and Rare Pediatric
Disease designation granted by FDA for all three syndromes
•
Type C Meeting with US Food and Drug Administration scheduled for early April 2025 to discuss
primary efficacy endpoints for Phase 3 trial in Phelan-McDermid syndrome, with alignment
reached on all other key aspects of the program at End of Phase 2 Meeting
•
Preparations continuing for planned commencement of Phase 3 trial in mid-year 2025
Investor Webinar | Friday, 28 Feb 2025 at 12.30 PM AEDT
You are invited to register using this link:
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_R__Xh9A3SaCXTqBuqUVyyw
Participants may submit questions at registration or during the session
Melbourne, Australia: Neuren Pharmaceuticals (ASX: NEU) today announced financial results for 2024,
generating record total comprehensive income for shareholders of A$166 million.
Neuren CEO Jon Pilcher commented “This is another exceptional financial result, with A$142 million
profit after tax plus an additional A$24 million of foreign currency gains. Neuren’s revenue from the
successful development and commercialisation of DAYBUE™ has so far reached A$445 million across
2023 and 2024, with commercial expansion outside the US still to come. The financial foundation this
gives Neuren to target repeating the success on a larger scale with NNZ-2591 across multiple indications
should not be underestimated.”
1 of 7
Financial commentary
In accordance with applicable Accounting Standards, effective 1 January 2024 the Company changed its
functional currency from Australian dollar to US dollars, however the Group retained Australian dollars
as its reporting currency. In a year in which the A$/US$ exchange rate fell from 0.68 at 31 December
2023 to 0.62 at 31 December 2024, the change in functional currency significantly impacted the Financial
Statements compared with 2023. Profit before tax for 2024 includes a net foreign currency loss of A$7.2
million, mainly due to the translation of cash and short-term investments held in Australian dollars to
the US dollars functional currency. However, the translation from the US dollars functional currency to
the Australian dollars presentation currency resulted in a foreign currency gain of A$24.2 million, which
is included in total comprehensive income and increased shareholders’ equity via the currency
translation reserve. The gain included in comprehensive income is mainly due to the translation to
Australian dollars of the cash and short-term investments held in US dollars. The following table shows
the impact of foreign currency translation items in each year:
Profit after tax adjusted to exclude FX translation impacts
Gain/(loss) on revaluation of A$/US$ forward contracts
Gain on translation to A$ functional currency
Loss on translation to US$ functional currency
Reported Profit after Tax
Gain on translation from US$ functional currency to A$ presentation currency
Reported Total Comprehensive Income
A$/US$ exchange rate at 31 December
2024
A$m
145.6
3.6
n/a
(7.2)
142.0
24.2
166.2
0.62
2023
A$m
156.9
(2.2)
2.4
n/a
157.1
n/a
157.1
0.68
Total income of A$227.8 million in 2024 includes A$213.2 earned under the worldwide licence
agreement with Acadia Pharmaceuticals and interest income of A$11.0 million (2023: A$5.7 million).
The income from Acadia, which is summarized in the table below, comprised quarterly royalty income of
A$56.2 million (2023: A$26.8 million), milestone income of A$80.5 million (2023: A$59.4 million) and
A$76.5 million as Neuren’s one third share of the net proceeds of the Rare Disease Priority Review
Voucher (PRV) sold by Acadia. The milestone income for 2024 was earned on achievement of the first in
a series of four thresholds of total annual net sales of DAYBUE, due to net sales for the year exceeding
US$250 million, whilst the milestone income for 2023 was for the first commercial sale of DAYBUE in
North America. Income for 2023 also included an upfront payment of A$145.7 million under the
expanded global licence agreement with Acadia.
Royalties
Sales milestone income
First commercial sale milestone income
Up-front payment for ex-North America
One third share of sale of Rare Pediatric Disease Priority Review Voucher
Total income from DAYBUE™ (trofinetide)
2024
A$m
56.2
80.5
76.5
213.2
2023
A$m
26.8
59.4
145.7
231.9
2 of 7
Research and development costs increased by A$6.2 million to A$33.0 million, due to higher expenditure
relating to the NNZ-2591 Phase 2 clinical trials and the foundational work to prepare for Phase 3
development of NNZ-2591 across multiple indications. Corporate and administrative costs decreased by
A$1.2 million to A$4.7 million, mainly due to bonuses paid in 2023 following the marketing authorisation
of DAYBUE by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Income tax expense for 2024 was A$40.9
million (2023: A$48.1 million), reduced by the recognition of previously unrecognised New Zealand tax
losses.
Total cash and short-term investments at 31 December 2024 were A$222.2 million. As shown in the
chart below, adjustments to include the receipt in Q1 2025 of the PRV sale proceeds, sales milestone
payment and Q4 2024 royalty (all of which are included in 2024 income) and the payment in Q1 2025 of
Q4 2024 tax, results in pro-forma cash and short-term investments of A$359.4 million.
Cash and Pro-forma Cash (A$m)
80.5
18.7
-38.5
76.5
359.4
222.2
Cash at 31 Dec 24
PRV
Sales milestone
Q4 24 royalty
Q4 24 tax paid Q1 25*
Pro-forma cash
* Includes US withholding tax on Q4 24 royalty and sales milestone payment.
DAYBUE (trofinetide)
In April 2023, Acadia launched DAYBUE™ (trofinetide) in the United States as the first approved
treatment for Rett syndrome.
Acadia’s net sales of DAYBUE for the year ended 31 December 2024 were US$348.4 million, up 97% from
US$177.2 million in 2023, delivering royalties of A$56.2 million to Neuren, up 110% from A$26.8 million
in 2023. Neuren also earned A$80.5 million in 2024 from the first sales milestone, due for the first
calendar year in which net sales exceed US$250 million, as well as A$76.5 million from Neuren’s one
third of the net proceeds received by Acadia from the sale of the PRV in December 2024.
Acadia has provided guidance for DAYBUE full-year US net sales in 2025 of US$380-405 million. This
excludes any sales outside the US. Assuming this guidance is met and an exchange rate of 0.65, Neuren
anticipates earning US royalties of A$62-67 million.
3 of 7
DAYBUE US Net Sales (US$m)
+ 9-16%
+ 97%
405
+ 11-19%
348
67
380
177
CY2023 (Apr -Dec)
US Royalty to Neuren (A$m)
+ 110%
56
62
27
CY2024
CY2025 Acadia
Guidance
CY2023
CY2024
CY2025E*
* Based on CY25 Acadia DAYBUE US Net Sales Guidance of US$380-405m, 10% of DAYBUE net sales up to US$250m and 12% of
DAYBUE net sales between US$250m and US$500m, and AUDUSD of 0.65
With 70% of the 5,500 to 5,800 diagnosed Rett patients yet to try DAYBUE, there is substantial potential
for growth in the US. As announced in January 2025, Acadia is implementing initiatives to accelerate
adoption, in particular among patients treated outside the Rett syndrome Centers of Excellence. Acadia
is expanding its field force by ~30%, optimizing patient support, launching branded Direct-to-Consumer
campaigns to showcase DAYBUE benefits and utilizing a range of communication channels to bring
DAYBUE clinical data to life.
In October 2024, Health Canada approved Acadia’s New Drug Submission for DAYBUE and Acadia
anticipates first sales in Q3 2025. Canada net sales will be added to US net sales to give total net sales
for calculation of Neuren’s North America royalties and sales milestone payments. In Canada, the
prevalence of Rett Syndrome is estimated to be 600 to 900 patients.
In January 2025, Acadia submitted a Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) to the European
Medicines Agency (EMA) for trofinetide for the treatment of Rett syndrome in adults and pediatric
patients two years of age and older. Acadia anticipates potential approval in Q1 2026. If granted
marketing authorization, trofinetide will be the first and only approved therapy for Rett syndrome in the
European Union. In the meantime, Acadia anticipates initiating Managed Access Programs in Europe in
Q2 2025.
For Japan, Acadia has had productive discussions with the regulatory agency (PMDA) and plans to
initiate a small clinical study by Q3 2025 to support a marketing application.
Neuren’s entitlement to royalties and milestone payments from development and commercialization of
trofinetide in North America and outside North America are summarized in the following tables.
4 of 7
North America
US$10m
upfront in 2018
US$10m
in 2022 following acceptance of NDA for review
US$40m
in 2023 following 1st commercial sale in the US
US$50m
In 2024 one third share of Priority Review Voucher
awarded to Acadia (sold for US$150m)
US$55m
Milestone payments related to Fragile X
Tiered Royalty Rates (% of net
sales)1
Annual Net Sales
Rates
Sales Milestones1
Net Sales in one
calendar year
US$m
≤US$250m
10%
≥US$250m
50
>US$250m, ≤US$500m
12%
≥US$500m
50
>US$500m, ≤US$750m
14%
≥US$750m
100
>US$750m
15%
≥US$1bn
150
1 Royalty rates payable on the portion of annual net sales that fall within the applicable range. Each sales milestone payment is
payable once only.
Outside North America
US$100m
upfront in 2023
US$35m
following 1st commercial sale in Europe
US$15m
following 1st commercial sale in Japan
US$10m
following 1st commercial sale of a 2nd indication
Europe
US$4m
following 1st commercial sale of a 2nd indication
Japan
Sales milestones1
On achievement of escalating annual net
sales thresholds:
Europe: up to US$170m
Japan: up to US$110m
RoW: up to US$83m
Tiered royalties1
Mid-teens to low-20s % of net sales
1 Royalty rates payable on the portion of annual net sales that fall within the applicable range. Each sales milestone payment is
payable once only.
5 of 7
NNZ-2591
Neuren is developing a second drug NNZ-2591 for multiple serious neurodevelopmental disorders with
different genetic origins that emerge in early childhood and have no or limited approved treatment
options. Recognising the urgent unmet need, all programs have been granted “orphan drug”
designation in the United States. Orphan drug designation provides incentives to encourage the
development of therapies for rare and serious diseases.
In May 2024, Neuren announced positive top-line results from the Phase 2 clinical trial of NNZ-2591 in
children with Pitt Hopkins syndrome (PTHS). After treatment for 13 weeks, 9 out of 11 children showed
improvement assessed by clinicians and significant improvement was observed by both clinicians and
caregivers in clinically important aspects of PTHS, including communication, social interaction, cognition
and motor abilities. NNZ-2591 was well tolerated and demonstrated a good safety profile. Neuren
recently announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Fast Track designation
for NNZ-2591 for the treatment of PTHS. Fast Track is designed to facilitate the development and
expedite the review of drugs to treat serious conditions.
In August 2024, Neuren announced positive top-line results from the Phase 2 clinical trial of NNZ-2591 in
children with Angelman syndrome (AS). After treatment for 13 weeks, 11 out of 13 children showed
improvement assessed by clinicians, with improvements seen in clinically important aspects of AS. In
the 3-12 years age group all 8 children showed improvement.
The positive results of NNZ-2591 in PTHS and AS followed the announcement of positive top-line results
from the Phase 2 clinical trial of NNZ-2591 in children with Phelan McDermid syndrome (PMS). A Type C
Meeting with the FDA is scheduled in early April 2025, to discuss the primary efficacy endpoints in
Neuren’s planned pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial program for PMS. Neuren previously announced the
positive outcomes from a Type B End of Phase 2 Meeting, at which alignment with FDA was reached on
the other key features of the Phase 3 clinical trial program. A Type C Meeting was considered by FDA as
the best forum for completion of the remaining efficacy endpoints discussion. In parallel, Neuren is
continuing preparations for the first ever Phase 3 trial in PMS, planning for mid-2025 commencement.
Other potential indications for NNZ-2591 are currently under evaluation and Neuren has an open IND
with the FDA for NNZ-2591 in Prader-Willi syndrome.
Since July 2024, the FDA has granted Rare Pediatric disease Designation for NNZ-2591 in each of PMS,
PTHS and AS. With this designation in place, Neuren may be awarded a PRV if the Rare Pediatric Disease
PRV program is reauthorized by the US Congress and NNZ-2591 receives marketing authorisation for any
of these indications. The Rare Pediatric Disease PRV program is designed to incentivize drug
development for serious rare pediatric diseases. If awarded, a PRV can be redeemed to receive priority
review for a different product or sold to another sponsor. As previously reported, Neuren’s partner
Acadia received a PRV on marketing authorization of DAYBUE in Rett syndrome and recently sold the
PRV for US$150 million.
6 of 7
About Neuren
Neuren is developing new drug therapies to treat multiple serious neurological disorders that emerge in
early childhood and have no or limited approved treatment options. Recognising the urgent unmet
need, all programs have been granted “orphan drug” designation in the United States. Orphan drug
designation provides incentives to encourage development of therapies for rare and serious diseases.
DAYBUE™ (trofinetide) is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Health Canada for
the treatment of Rett syndrome. Neuren has granted an exclusive worldwide licence to Acadia
Pharmaceuticals Inc. for the development and commercialisation of trofinetide.
Neuren’s second drug candidate, NNZ-2591, is in development for multiple neurodevelopmental
disorders, with positive results achieved in Phase 2 clinical trials in Phelan-McDermid syndrome, Pitt
Hopkins syndrome and Angelman syndrome.
Contact:
investorrelations@neurenpharma.com
Jon Pilcher, CEO: +61 438 422 271
ASX Listing Rules information
This announcement was authorized to be given to the ASX by the board of directors of Neuren
Pharmaceuticals Limited, Suite 201, 697 Burke Road, Camberwell, VIC 3124
Forward-looking Statements
This announcement contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Such
statements involve known and unknown risks and important factors that may cause the actual results,
performance or achievements of Neuren to be materially different from the statements in this
announcement.
7 of 7
Share your feedback
Discover