Shire cuts 2020 revenue target, prepares for spin-off of ADHD drugs

[January 09, 2018] By Paul Sandle

LONDON (Reuters) - Shire ditched its revenue target of $20 billion by 2020 on Monday due to increased generic competition and new drugs from rivals, saying it would split its rare disease and hyperactivity medicines businesses to boost performance.

The London-listed pharmaceutical group said total revenue would now reach $17-18 billion by 2020, dropping the goal set two years ago when it acquired hemophilia specialist Baxalta.

Chief Executive Flemming Ornskov, said that revenue had tripled to $15 billion in five years and that $20 billion was a "stretch target". The consensus among industry analysts for annual revenue by 2020 stood at around $17 billion, he said.

"There's been a change in the rate that genericisation takes place across the industry (and) we're facing some additional competition (in) hematology," he said after the update, which triggered a fall of as much 6 percent in Shire shares.

Shire stock closed down 5.4 percent at 36.65 pounds.

Analysts at HSBC said in November that Shire should reconsider its 2020 guidance after Roche reported positive clinical data from its hemophilia agent Hemlibra, a potential blockbuster which threatens some of Shire's products.

Shire had already been dealt a blow in June when U.S. regulators approved a generic competitor to Lialda, its drug to treat ulcerative colitis.

Ornskov, however, said the setbacks had to be weighed against "significantly accelerated growth" in its immunology franchise. "The prospects for Shire mid-to long term have not changed," he added.

Separating Shire into two units, one focusing on small molecule pills that treat conditions like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and the other on complex biologics for rare diseases, would improve performance in both, he said.

Shire has been a leader in neuroscience since it acquired Adderall-owner Richwood Pharmaceutical 20 years ago, and it had decided after a review that the unit warranted additional focus and investment.

The company said in August it was considering spinning off its hyperactivity drugs into a standalone group that analysts said could be worth as much as $8.5 billion.

Shire said it will continue to evaluate the merits of an independent listing for each of the two divisions, and would update the market in the second half of 2018.

(editing by Kate Holton/Adrian Croft/Alexander Smith)

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