[Just filed. Developing story.] December 11, 2022 – Clovis Oncology, Inc. and two affiliated debtors (Nasdaq: CLVS; and together “Clovis” or the “Debtors”) filed for Chapter 11 protection with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in the District of Delaware, lead case No. 22-11292 (Judge TBD). The Debtors, who "acquire, develop, and commercialize cancer treatments in the United States, Europe and other international markets," are represented by Robert J. Dehney of Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell LLP. Further Board authorized appointments include: (i) Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP as general bankruptcy counsel, (ii) AlixPartners, LLP as restructuring advisors, (iii) Perella Weinberg Partners LP as investment bankers and (iv) Kroll Restructuring Administration as claims agent.
The Debtors’ lead petition notes between 5,000 and 10,000 creditors; estimated assets of $319.2mn; and estimated liabilities of $754.6mn (each unaudited as at October 31, 2022) . Documents filed with the Court list the Debtors’ three largest unsecured creditors as (i) Bank of New York Mellon (as trustee for $300.0mn unsecured notes due 2025), (ii) Bank of New York Mellon (as trustee for $88.8mn unsecured notes due 2024) and (iii) Bank of New York Mellon (as trustee for $57.5mn unsecured notes due 2024).
Highlights
- Commercial Stage Biotech (Founded in 2009) Files with Over $750mn in Liabilities
- Filing Follows Earlier Flagged Failure to Make Interest Payment on 2025 Convertible Notes and Cross Defaults Through Capital Structure
- Historically Loss-Making Debtors Cite COVID, Competition and Uncertainty as to FDA Approval as to Ovarian Cancer Drugs (and Possible Uses)
- Novartis to Serve as Stalking Horse in Respect of Pipeline Product FAP-2286 (a peptide-targeted radionuclide therapy, or "PTRT")
- Lines Up $75mn of DIP Financing
- Holds $1.8bn of NOLs and $259mn of R&D/Orphan Drug Tax Credit Carryforwards
- Significant Shareholders (All Looking to Pare Positions in Recent Months) Include Vanguard, Palo Alto Investors and BlackRock (with State Street Having Shed Most of its Prepetition Holding)
In a press release announcing the filing, the Debtors stated that they "will seek to sell their assets through a court supervised sales process. Prior to the Chapter 11 filing, and subject to Bankruptcy Court approval, the Company entered into a 'stalking horse' purchase and assignment agreement with Novartis Innovative Therapies AG (“Novartis”) to acquire substantially all of the rights of the Company to its pipeline clinical candidate, FAP-2286, as a therapeutic agent for an upfront payment of $50 million and up to an additional $333.75 million upon the successful achievement of specified development and regulatory milestones and $297 million in later sales milestones….Clovis is also actively engaged in discussions with a number of interested parties with respect to a potential sale of one or more of its other assets."
In their November 9th 10-Q, the Debtors reported that they had declined to "make the interest payment in the amount of $1.9 million in respect of our 1.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2025 that was due on November 1, 2022. Under the indenture governing these notes, we have a 30-day grace period from the due date to make this interest payment before such nonpayment constitutes an 'event of default' under the indenture with respect to such notes." A December 2nd 8-K, noted the expiration of the grace period; the resulting defaults in respect of essentially their entire capital structure; and the likelihood of a bankruptcy filing "in the very near term."
Events Leading to the Chapter 11 Filing
The Debtors' November 9, 2022 10-Q provides: "We have incurred significant net losses since inception and have relied, almost entirely, on debt and equity financings to fund our operations. We expect operating losses and negative cash flows to continue for the foreseeable future even with Rubraca generating revenues. Rubraca revenues have not been consistent in prior quarters and have been trending downward during the past two years, initially as a result of the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on patient visits and diagnoses, but more recently primarily as a result of competition from other products on the market, including the impact on second-line maintenance that may result from an increase in first-line maintenance treatment of ovarian cancer (indications for which competing products are approved).
Moreover, over the past few months, a new focus by the FDA and the EMA on mature OS data for drugs previously approved based on achieving PFS as a primary endpoint has led to withdrawals of certain later line indications in ovarian cancer for Rubraca and each of the other PARP inhibitors on the market with a later line treatment indication in ovarian cancer. In addition, FDA had scheduled an ODAC meeting in November 2022 to review another PARP-inhibitor, Zejula (niraparib) (GlaxoSmithKline ('GSK')), to seek advice on whether its second-line maintenance indication in ovarian cancer should be withdrawn from the labeling on the basis of the final OS data from the trial that supported approval for Zejula in that indication. In late October 2022, the FDA cancelled that ODAC meeting, indicating that it was no longer necessary. While neither the FDA nor GSK have publicly stated the reason for cancelation of the meeting, if the outcome of discussions between the FDA and GSK is a withdrawal or narrowing of that indication, we cannot assure you that the FDA would not seek to similarly limit our second line maintenance indication in ovarian cancer. As a substantial portion of our Rubraca revenue is attributable to that indication, we would expect that a limiting of our second line maintenance indication could result in a significant impact on our revenue, although the timing and magnitude of such impact is not currently ascertainable. This focus by the FDA on OS data has created uncertainty with respect to the timing, likelihood and scope of an approval for the sNDA we filed with the FDA, and may result in uncertainty with respect to the Type II variation we filed with the EMA, for first-line maintenance treatment indication in ovarian cancer, which we had been planning on to finally level the competitive landscape with our two competitors that have existing and established labels in the first-line maintenance treatment indication setting.
This new regulatory framework has created an uncertain commercial landscape for Rubraca (and to a certain extent, other PARP inhibitors) and has impacted the perceived market opportunity and revenue potential for Rubraca (and to a certain extent, other PARP inhibitors)….Based on our current cash and cash equivalents, together with current estimates for revenues to be generated by sales of Rubraca, we must raise additional capital in the near term in order to fund our operating plan and to continue as a going concern beyond January 2023."
Proposed Asset Sale(s) and Stalking Horse
See above as to Novartis stalking horse arrangements; with Debtors adding in press release: "Clovis is also actively engaged in discussions with a number of interested parties with respect to a potential sale of one or more of its other assets."
Also note, however, as to NOLs (sourced from most recent 10-K): "As of December 31, 2021, we have net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforwards of approximately $1.8 billion to offset future federal income taxes. We also have research and development and orphan drug tax credit carryforwards of $259.3 million to offset future federal income taxes. The federal net operating loss carryforwards and research and development and orphan drug tax credit carryforwards expire at various times through 2041."
DIP Financing
The Debtors have received a commitment of up to $75.0mn in a multi-draw, debtor-in-possession ("DIP") financing which they believe will "provide Clovis with the necessary liquidity to operate in the normal course…throughout the Chapter 11 proceeding while executing on the sales process." Terms and parties to come.
Prepetition Indebtedness (from latest 10-K and as at December 31, 2021)
"As of December 31, 2021, we had $300.0 million outstanding aggregate principal amount of 1.25% convertible senior notes due 2025 (the '2025 Notes'), $85.8 million outstanding aggregate principal amount of 4.50% convertible senior notes due 2024 (the '2024 Notes (2019 Issuance)'), and $57.5 million outstanding aggregate principal amount of a new series of 4.50% Convertible Senior Notes due 2024 (the '2024 Notes (2020 Issuance))' and together with the 2024 Notes and 2025 Notes, the 'Notes'). In addition, as of December 31, 2021, we had $147.2 million outstanding aggregate principal amount pursuant to our ATHENA clinical trial financing agreement."
Significant Prepetition Shareholders
- Vanguard Group, Inc.: 10,206,509 shares (7.8% and the only shareholder above 5%, see latest SC 13G here)
- Palo Alto Investors, L.P.: 4,473,967 shares
- BlackRock Fund Advisors: 3,899,531 shares (NB: Their most recent SC 13G has BlackRock at 4,755,365 shares, ie 3.3%)
For an idea as to the nature and pace of shareholder disengagement, the below is extracted from the 2022 and 2021 definitive proxy statements (2021 first)
About the Debtors
According to the Debtors: “Clovis Oncology, Inc….is a biopharmaceutical company focused on acquiring, developing and commercializing innovative anti-cancer agents in the United States, Europe and additional international markets. We target our development programs for the treatment of specific subsets of cancer populations, and simultaneously develop, with partners, for those indications that require them, diagnostic tools intended to direct a compound in development to the population that is most likely to benefit from its use. We have in-licensed or acquired rights to oncology compounds in all stages of development. In exchange for the right to develop and commercialize these compounds, we have provided the licensor with a combination of upfront payments, milestone payments and royalties on future sales. In addition, we have assumed the responsibility for future drug development and commercialization costs. We currently operate in two segments. Since inception, our operations have consisted primarily of developing in-licensed compounds, evaluating new product acquisition candidates and general corporate activities and since 2016 we have also marketed and sold products.“
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