Acorda Therapeutics reports AMPYRA gross sales of $3.4 million for first-quarter 2010

Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: ACOR) today announced its financial results for the first quarter of 2010.

“We are very pleased by the performance of AMPYRA since it became commercially available on March 1. As of April 29, more than 2,000 physicians have written at least one prescription and we have already received many reports about the positive impact AMPYRA is having on people with MS”

"We are very pleased by the performance of AMPYRA since it became commercially available on March 1. As of April 29, more than 2,000 physicians have written at least one prescription and we have already received many reports about the positive impact AMPYRA is having on people with MS," said Ron Cohen, M.D., Acorda Therapeutics' President and CEO. "We are also excited to have filed an Investigational New Drug Application for our lead preclinical product, GGF2, and expect to start a Phase 1 clinical trial in patients with heart failure in mid-2010."

Financial Results and Product Update

AMPYRA gross sales - For the quarter ended March 31, 2010, the Company reported gross sales of AMPYRA of $3.4 million compared to no gross sales for the same quarter in 2009. Gross sales of AMPYRA are recognized following shipment of the product from the Company's distribution facility to its network of specialty pharmacies. Acorda began shipping AMPYRA to specialty pharmacies on March 1, 2010.

ZANAFLEX CAPSULES^® (tizanidine hydrochloride) and ZANAFLEX^® (tizanidine hydrochloride) Tablets gross sales - For the quarter ended March 31, 2010, the Company reported combined gross sales of ZANAFLEX CAPSULES and ZANAFLEX tablets of $13.8 million compared to combined gross sales of $14.6 million for the same quarter in 2009. ZANAFLEX gross sales are recognized using a deferred revenue recognition model, meaning ZANAFLEX CAPSULES and ZANAFLEX tablet shipments to wholesalers are recorded as deferred revenue and only recognized as revenue when end-user prescriptions of ZANAFLEX CAPSULES and ZANAFLEX tablets are reported. The Company expects sales of ZANAFLEX CAPSULES will decline in 2010.

ZANAFLEX CAPSULES and ZANAFLEX Tablets shipments - Total ZANAFLEX CAPSULES and ZANAFLEX tablet shipments for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 were $13.4 million, compared to total shipments of $16.3 million for the same quarter in 2009.

Research and development expenses for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 were $8.1 million, including $0.8 million of share-based compensation, compared to $7.9 million including $0.8 million of share-based compensation for the same quarter in 2009. Research and development expense increases for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 included costs related to AMPYRA long-term extension studies, expensed AMPYRA inventory received prior to regulatory approval and development of the Company's preclinical pipeline products.

Sales, general and administrative expenses for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 were $26.7 million, including $2.4 million of share-based compensation, compared to $20.0 million including $1.9 million of share-based compensation for the same quarter in 2009. The increase in expenses was primarily due to increases in AMPYRA pre-launch and launch activities. Acorda expects that launch expenses will continue to increase significantly throughout the course of the year.

The Company reported a net loss of $21.1 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2010, or $0.56 per diluted common share, compared to a net loss of $18.7 million, or $0.50 per diluted common share, for the same quarter in 2009.

During the first quarter of 2010, the Company received approximately $19 million in shipments of AMPYRA inventory from Elan Pharma International Limited for product and safety stock requirements.

As of March 31, 2010, Acorda held cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $243.6 million.

AMPYRA Update

• On January 22, 2010 AMPYRA™ (dalfampridine) Extended Release Tablets, 10 mg was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as an oral treatment to improve walking in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). This was demonstrated by an increase in walking speed. AMPYRA demonstrated efficacy in people with all four major types of MS (relapsing remitting, secondary progressive, progressive relapsing and primary progressive). AMPYRA can be used alone or with existing MS therapies, including immunomodulator drugs.
• On March 1, 2010 AMPYRA became commercially available. AMPYRA is being distributed exclusively through a network of specialty pharmacies, coordinated by AMPYRA Patient Support Services (APSS). This distribution process is well established within the MS community, and physicians and patients are familiar with this model. The process begins when a prescription is submitted by a physician to APSS. APSS then conducts a benefits investigation for the patient, and communicates with the patient about insurance coverage for AMPYRA. APSS also provides information on co-pay and patient assistance programs. Once this process is completed, the prescription is sent to a specialty pharmacy, which confirms the benefits and mails the prescription directly to the patient.
• As of April 29, 2010 more than 2,000 physicians had written at least one prescription for AMPYRA.
• Due to initial pent-up demand, currently it is taking up to 30 days to complete the process and deliver AMPYRA to the patient. In response, resources have been added at AMPYRA Patient Support Services. Consequently, waiting time for initial prescriptions has begun to decrease and is expected to continue to decrease over time. The Company believes it has adequate drug stock to meet demand.
• Acorda completed the expansion of its sales force in March, with 100 sales representatives calling on approximately 5,500 target physicians. The Company also has teams of Regional Scientific Managers and Managed Markets representatives providing information on AMPYRA to physicians and payors.
• Four new analyses of long-term clinical trial data were presented at the 62nd American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Annual meeting in April 2010. The Company has also submitted data for the upcoming CMSC meeting in June 2010.
• Acorda's partner Biogen Idec, which is responsible for commercialization outside the U.S., has filed regulatory applications for Fampridine prolonged-release tablets in regions including Europe, Canada, Switzerland, Australia and New Zealand.

  GGF2

• In March, Acorda submitted an Investigational New Drug (IND) application for GGF2 as a therapy for heart failure. The Company plans to initiate a Phase 1 single ascending dose clinical trial in patients with heart failure in mid-2010.

Corporate Update

• Lauren Sabella joined the Company as Executive Vice President of Commercial Development, and Adrian L. Rabinowicz, M.D., FAAN, joined as Senior Vice President and Head, Medical Affairs.