Genzyme Corp. (NASDAQ: GENZ) reported fourth-quarter 2010 results that reflect increasing supplies of Cerezyme® (imiglucerase for injection) and Fabrazyme® (agalsidase beta), revenue growth across all major product lines, and reductions in operating expenses. Earlier today Genzyme and sanofi-aventis announced that they have reached a definitive agreement under which sanofi-aventis will acquire Genzyme for $74 per share plus a contingent value right. This news is covered in a separate press release.
Fourth-quarter GAAP net income was $471.9 million, or $1.76 per diluted share, compared with $23.2 million, or $0.09 per diluted share, in the same period in 2009. Non-GAAP net income was $221.1 million, or $0.82 per diluted share, compared with $78.1 million, or $0.29 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2009. Non-GAAP 2010 income excludes items associated with business divestitures, Bayer oncology product acquisition expenses, and stock compensation expenses.
Full-year 2010 GAAP net income was $422.1 million, or $1.57 per diluted share, compared with $422.3 million, or $1.54 per diluted share, in 2009. Non-GAAP net income was $478.5 million, or $1.78 per diluted share, compared with $611.5 million, or $2.23 per diluted share, in 2009. Genzyme exited 2010 with $1.9 billion in cash and equivalents.
Fourth-quarter GAAP revenue grew 23 percent to $1.15 billion from $938.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2009; non-GAAP revenue was $1.13 billion. For the year, GAAP revenue was $4.05 billion compared with $3.98 billion in 2009; non-GAAP revenue was $4.03 billion. Non-GAAP revenue figures exclude the pharmaceuticals and cell therapy businesses, which Genzyme intends to divest.
"Strong growth in the fourth quarter demonstrates that our recovery is fully underway," said Henri A. Termeer, Genzyme's chairman and CEO. "By executing on the opportunities provided by our core businesses and reducing our operating expenses, we were able to nearly double our earnings from the third quarter to the fourth."
Genzyme expects to achieve several important manufacturing and product-related milestones during 2011, including:
- Ceasing the remaining fill/finish activities at the Allston facility for all products and transferring those operations to a contract manufacturer during the first half of the year;
- Announcing top-line data from the first phase 3 trial of alemtuzumab for multiple sclerosis mid-year and from the second trial in the second half of the year;
- Fully supplying existing patient demand for Fabrazyme and receiving approval for its production at the new Framingham plant, both expected during the second half of 2011; and
- Maintaining the existing full supply of Cerezyme.
The company is continuing to make progress in implementing its plan to increase shareholder value, which includes the divestitures of non-core businesses. In the fourth quarter, Genzyme completed the sale of its Genetics business, and the company this quarter completed the sale of its Diagnostics business and entered into an agreement to sell its Pharmaceuticals business.
As part of the company's initiative to improve its operating margins, Genzyme last year implemented a program focused on identifying sustainable cost savings opportunities across the organization. This resulted in $26 million in savings during the fourth quarter and is expected to create $275 million in savings in 2011.
Along with the expected 2011 milestones, Genzyme expects that supply recovery, business growth and the company's late-stage pipeline will serve as growth drivers this year.
About Genzyme
One of the world's leading biotechnology companies, Genzyme is dedicated to making a major positive impact on the lives of people with serious diseases. Since 1981, the company has grown from a small start-up to a diversified enterprise with approximately 10,000 employees in locations spanning the globe.
With many established products and services helping patients in approximately 100 countries, Genzyme is a leader in the effort to develop and apply the most advanced technologies in the life sciences. The company's products and services are focused on rare inherited disorders, kidney disease, orthopaedics, cancer, transplant and immune disease. Genzyme's commitment to innovation continues today with a substantial development program focused on these fields, as well as cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative diseases, and other areas of unmet medical need.