UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
 
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 
Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported):  December 1, 2010

PDL BioPharma, Inc.
 
(Exact name of Company as specified in its charter)
 
000-19756
(Commission File Number)
 
Delaware
 
94-3023969
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
 
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
Incorporation)
   
 
932 Southwood Boulevard
Incline Village, Nevada  89451
(Address of principal executive offices, with zip code)
 
(775) 832-8500
(Company’s telephone number, including area code)
 

 
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the Company under any of the following provisions:
 
¨
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
 
¨
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
 
¨
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
 
¨
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
 


 
 

 

Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.
 
Press Release
 
On December 1, 2010, PDL BioPharma, Inc. (the “Company”) issued a press release with revenue guidance for the quarter ending December 31, 2010.  The Company notes that the royalty payment it received from Genentech was complete and without a reservation of rights.  A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.
 
Detailed Product Sales, Royalties and Manufacturing
 
On December 1, 2010, the Company distributed to analysts covering the Company’s securities and posted to its website a summary of certain information underlying the Company’s receipt of royalty payments (the “Information Sheet”) to assist those analysts and its stockholders in valuing the Company’s securities.  The Information Sheet is based on information provided to the Company by its licensees and includes reported net sales revenues by licensed product, royalty revenue by licensed product and where certain licensed products are manufactured and sold.  A copy of the Information Sheet is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.2.
 
CEO Newsletter
 
On December 1, 2010, the Company released its Chief Executive Officer’s third quarter stockholder newsletter (the “Newsletter”).  A copy of the Newsletter has been posted to the Company’s website and is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.3.
 
Limitation of Incorporation by Reference
 
In accordance with General Instruction B.2. of Form 8-K, the information in this report, including the exhibits, is furnished pursuant to Item 7.01 and shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section. This Current Report will not be deemed an admission as to the materiality of any information in the report that is required to be disclosed solely by Regulation FD.
 
Cautionary Statements
 
This filing, the press release, the Information Sheet and the Newsletter include “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Important factors that could impair the Company’s royalty assets or business are disclosed in the “Risk Factors” contained in the Company’s 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 1, 2010, and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission thereafter. All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by such factors. We do not undertake any duty to update any forward-looking statement except as required by law.

 
 

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
 
(d) Exhibits.
 
Exhibit No.
 
Description
99.1
 
Press Release, dated December 1, 2010
     
99.2
 
Information Sheet, dated December 1, 2010
     
99.3
 
Newsletter, dated December 2010

 
 

 

SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Company has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
 
PDL BIOPHARMA, INC.
(Company)
 
By:
/s/ Christine R. Larson
 
Christine R. Larson
 
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
 
Dated:  December 1, 2010

 
 

 

EXHIBIT INDEX
 
Exhibit No.
 
Description
99.1
 
Press Release, dated December 1, 2010
     
99.2
 
Information Sheet, dated December 1, 2010
     
99.3
 
Newsletter, dated December 2010
 
 
 

 


Contacts:
 
Cris Larson
Jennifer Williams
PDL BioPharma, Inc.
Cook Williams Communications, Inc.
775-832-8505
360-668-3701
Cris.Larson@pdl.com
jennifer@cwcomm.org
 
PDL BioPharma Provides Fourth Quarter 2010 Revenue Guidance of $74 Million
 
INCLINE VILLAGE, NV, December 1, 2010PDL BioPharma, Inc. (PDL) (NASDAQ: PDLI) today announced revenue guidance for the fourth quarter ending December 31, 2010 of approximately $74 million, as compared with actual results of $58.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2009, a 27 percent year-over-year increase.  The growth is primarily driven by increased third quarter 2010 sales of Avastin®, Herceptin®, Lucentis® and Tysabri® for which PDL receives royalties in the fourth quarter of 2010.  The royalty payment received from Genentech included royalties generated on all worldwide sales.
 
Sales of Avastin, Herceptin and Lucentis are subject to a tiered royalty rate for product that is made or sold in the United States and a flat royalty rate of three percent for product that is manufactured and sold outside of the United States.  The net sales thresholds and the applicable royalty rates for product that is made or sold in the United States are outlined below:  
   
Royalty Rate
Net sales up to $1.5 billion
 
3.0%
Net sales between $1.5 billion and $2.5 billion
 
2.5%
Net sales between $2.5 billion and $4.0 billion
 
2.0%
Net sales exceeding $4.0 billion
 
1.0%
 
Reported sales for Avastin increased 8.7 percent in the third quarter of 2010 when compared to the same period in 2009. Roche recently reported that global sales of Avastin for advanced colorectal, breast, lung and kidney cancer, and for relapsed glioblastoma, rose 11 percent in the first nine months of 2010 driven by strong positive uptake of the product overall.  Roche also reported that slower U.S. sales, especially in the third quarter, reflected regulatory and reimbursement uncertainty regarding the metastatic breast cancer indication.  Contributing to increased Avastin royalties were sales of Avastin that was both manufactured and sold outside the United States.  Ex-U.S. manufactured and sold Avastin sales represented 26 percent of total Avastin sales; there were no sales of ex-U.S. manufactured and sold Avastin prior to the fourth quarter of 2009.

Reported sales for Herceptin increased 10.2 percent in the third quarter of 2010 when compared to the same period in 2009.  Roche recently announced that global sales of Herceptin for HER2-postive breast cancer and advanced stomach cancer increased eight percent in the first nine months of 2010 driven by further penetration in the early and metastatic breast cancer settings, particularly in emerging markets.  Additionally, Roche reported that sales continue to benefit from uptake in advanced HER2-positive stomach cancer in Europe and other markets.  Also contributing to increased Herceptin royalties were sales of Herceptin that was both manufactured and sold outside the United States.  Ex-U.S. manufactured and sold Herceptin sales represented 40 percent of total Herceptin sales in the third quarter of 2010 as compared with 22 percent in the third quarter of 2009.

Reported sales for Lucentis increased 30.8 percent in the third quarter of 2010 when compared to the same period in 2009.  Lucentis is approved for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration in the United States and in Europe and received approval for the treatment of macular edema following retinal vein occlusion in June 2010 in the United States.  Roche and Novartis recently reported that sales grew by 29 percent and 30 percent for the first nine months of 2010 in the United States and internationally, respectively.

 
 

 

Reported sales for Tysabri increased 10.9 percent in the third quarter of 2010 when compared to the same period in 2009.  Biogen Idec recently announced that at the end of September 2010, approximately 55,100 patients were on therapy worldwide representing an increase of 19 percent over the approximately 46,200 patients who were on therapy at the end of September 2009.  Tysabri royalties are determined at a flat rate as a percent of sales regardless of location of manufacture or sale.

The sales information presented above is based on information provided by PDL’s licensees in their quarterly reports to the Company as well as from public disclosures made by PDL’s licensees.

About PDL BioPharma
PDL pioneered the humanization of monoclonal antibodies and, by doing so, enabled the discovery of a new generation of targeted treatments for cancer and immunologic diseases. PDL is focused on maximizing the value of its antibody humanization patents and related assets. The Company receives royalties on sales of a number of humanized antibody products marketed by leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies today based on patents which expire in late 2014. For more information, please visit www.pdl.com.

NOTE: PDL BioPharma and the PDL BioPharma logo are considered trademarks of PDL BioPharma, Inc.

Forward-looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements. Each of these forward-looking statements involves risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those, express or implied, in these forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause differences between current expectations and actual results include, but are not limited to, the following:

 
·
The expected rate of growth in royalty-bearing product sales by PDL’s existing licensees;
 
·
The relative mix of royalty-bearing Genentech products manufactured and sold outside the U.S. versus made or sold in the U.S.;
 
·
The ability of our licensees to receive regulatory approvals to market and launch new royalty-bearing products and whether such products, if launched, will be commercially successful;
 
·
Changes in any of the other assumptions on which PDL’s projected royalty revenues are based;
 
 
·
The outcome of pending litigation or disputes;
 
 
·
The change in foreign currency exchange rate; and
 
·
The failure of licensees to comply with existing license agreements, including any failure to pay royalties due.

Other factors that may cause PDL's actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements in this press release are discussed in PDL's filings with the SEC, including the "Risk Factors" sections of its annual and quarterly reports filed with the SEC. Copies of PDL's filings with the SEC may be obtained at the "Investors" section of PDL's website at www.pdl.com. PDL expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in PDL's expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements are based for any reason, except as required by law, even as new information becomes available or other events occur in the future. All forward-looking statements in this press release are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

 
 

 

Royalty Revenue by Product ($ in 000's) *

Avastin
 
Q1
   
Q2
   
Q3
   
Q4
   
Total
 
2010
    16,870       44,765       29,989       24,922       116,547  
2009
    13,605       35,161       21,060       15,141       84,966  
2008
    9,957       30,480       19,574       12,394       72,405  
2007
    8,990       21,842       17,478       9,549       57,859  
2006
    10,438       15,572       15,405       12,536       53,952  
                                         
Herceptin
 
Q1
   
Q2
   
Q3
   
Q4
   
Total
 
2010
    23,402       38,555       27,952       25,441       115,350  
2009
    16,003       32,331       26,830       18,615       93,779  
2008
    14,092       34,383       28,122       20,282       96,880  
2007
    19,035       28,188       22,582       14,802       84,608  
2006
    15,142       19,716       21,557       20,354       76,769  
                                         
Lucentis
 
Q1
   
Q2
   
Q3
   
Q4
   
Total
 
2010
    7,220       19,091       10,841       8,047       45,198  
2009
    4,621       12,863       8,123       6,152       31,759  
2008
    3,636       11,060       7,631       4,549       26,876  
2007
    2,931       6,543       6,579       3,517       19,570  
2006
    -       -       289       3,335       3,624  
                                         
Xolair
 
Q1
   
Q2
   
Q3
   
Q4
   
Total
 
2010
    3,723       6,386       4,980       4,652       19,741  
2009
    2,665       5,082       4,085       3,722       15,553  
2008
    1,488       4,866       3,569       2,927       12,850  
2007
    1,684       3,942       3,332       2,184       11,142  
2006
    2,263       2,969       3,041       2,495       10,768  
                                         
Raptiva
 
Q1
   
Q2
   
Q3
   
Q4
   
Total
 
2010
    (150 )     142       -       150       142  
2009
    477       589       22       150       1,238  
2008
    405       1,618       1,111       802       3,937  
2007
    588       1,246       1,160       738       3,733  
2006
    776       1,060       1,069       874       3,780  
                                         
Synagis
 
Q1
   
Q2
   
Q3
   
Q4
   
Total
 
2010
    -       -       -       -       -  
2009
    17,145       18,869       1,568       3,159       40,741  
2008
    16,268       17,376       2,278       4,251       40,173  
2007
    14,352       16,747       1,608       4,042       36,748  
2006
    14,171       14,689       831       3,664       33,354  
                                         
Tysabri
 
Q1
   
Q2
   
Q3
   
Q4
   
Total
 
2010
    8,791       8,788       8,735       9,440       35,754  
2009
    6,656       7,050       7,642       8,564       29,912  
2008
    3,883       5,042       5,949       6,992       21,866  
2007
    839       1,611       2,084       2,836       7,370  
2006
    -       -       -       237       237  
                                         
Actemra
 
Q1
   
Q2
   
Q3
   
Q4
   
Total
 
2010
    1,587       237       315       688       2,827  
2009
    585       537       909       1,197       3,228  
2008
    44       116       179       369       708  
2007
    32       326       32       34       425  
2006
    -       -       -       -       -  
                                         
Mylotarg
 
Q1
   
Q2
   
Q3
   
Q4
   
Total
 
2010
    366       153       285       137       941  
2009
    293       370       805       453       1,921  
2008
    314       132       288       209       943  
2007
    276       137       292       426       1,131  
2006
    309       168       311       568       1,355  

* As reported to PDL by its licensees

 
 

 

Reported Net Sales Revenue by Product ($ in 000's) *

Avastin
 
Q1
   
Q2
   
Q3
   
Q4
   
Total
 
2010
    1,586,093       1,596,892       1,594,707       1,646,218       6,423,910  
2009
    1,345,487       1,295,536       1,439,730       1,514,053       5,594,806  
2008
    980,715       1,084,930       1,180,427       1,239,382       4,485,454  
2007
    678,068       746,587       797,013       875,084       3,096,752  
2006
    439,318       516,052       570,551       592,897       2,118,817  
                                         
Herceptin
 
Q1
   
Q2
   
Q3
   
Q4
   
Total
 
2010
    1,337,732       1,349,512       1,300,934       1,409,310       5,397,488  
2009
    1,210,268       1,133,993       1,226,435       1,278,626       4,849,323  
2008
    1,105,426       1,195,215       1,211,982       1,186,806       4,699,428  
2007
    891,761       949,556       979,602       1,015,033       3,835,952  
2006
    529,585       659,719       761,099       803,576       2,753,979  
                                         
Lucentis
 
Q1
   
Q2
   
Q3
   
Q4
   
Total
 
2010
    759,965       698,890       745,376       804,684       3,008,915  
2009
    462,103       469,736       555,296       615,212       2,102,347  
2008
    363,615       393,682       460,167       454,922       1,672,386  
2007
    224,820       219,579       299,995       322,300       1,066,695  
2006
    -       -       10,689       157,742       168,431  
                                         
Xolair
 
Q1
   
Q2
   
Q3
   
Q4
   
Total
 
2010
    240,904       225,878       251,055       263,389       981,225  
2009
    184,669       181,086       211,006       219,693       796,454  
2008
    137,875       169,521       177,179       183,753       668,329  
2007
    129,172       130,700       144,250       147,754       551,876  
2006
    95,241       99,354       112,608       118,002       425,204  
                                         
Raptiva
 
Q1
   
Q2
   
Q3
   
Q4
   
Total
 
2010
    -       14,224       -       -       14,224  
2009
    62,653       21,526       1,502       -       85,681  
2008
    55,541       57,601       66,992       65,216       245,349  
2007
    45,134       47,401       52,914       53,885       199,333  
2006
    32,672       35,458       39,610       41,353       149,093  
                                         
Synagis
 
Q1
   
Q2
   
Q3
   
Q4
   
Total
 
2010
    -       -       -       -       -  
2009
    571,486       623,951       57,271       105,314       1,358,021  
2008
    542,283       574,207       80,930       141,696       1,339,116  
2007
    478,388       548,227       53,586       139,736       1,219,936  
2006
    472,362       489,634       30,185       124,629       1,116,811  
                                         
Tysabri
 
Q1
   
Q2
   
Q3
   
Q4
   
Total
 
2010
    293,047       287,925       293,664       316,657       1,191,292  
2009
    221,854       229,993       257,240       285,481       994,569  
2008
    129,430       163,076       200,783       233,070       726,359  
2007
    30,468       48,715       71,972       94,521       245,675  
2006
    -       -       -       7,890       7,890  
                                         
Actemra
 
Q1
   
Q2
   
Q3
   
Q4
   
Total
 
2010
    52,908       5,405       10,493       22,919       91,725  
2009
    19,504       17,920       30,313       39,888       107,627  
2008
    1,452       1,377       5,981       12,305       21,116  
2007
    2,388       873       1,071       1,137       5,470  
2006
    -       -       -       -       -  
                                         
Mylotarg
 
Q1
   
Q2
   
Q3
   
Q4
   
Total
 
2010
    8,500       8,658       8,142       (363 )     24,937  
2009
    8,367       8,406       8,813       8,654       34,240  
2008
    8,978       8,050       8,225       8,140       33,393  
2007
    7,879       8,202       8,345       7,878       32,304  
2006
    8,832       9,084       8,874       16,081       42,871  

* As reported to PDL by its licensees

 
 

 


Avastin Sales
 
2009 - Q3
   
2009 - Q4
   
2010 - Q1
   
2010 - Q2
   
2010 - Q3
   
2010 - Q4
 
US Made & Sold
    777,635       795,199       795,453       814,872       820,453       800,139  
US Made & ex-US Sold
    662,095       718,855       703,661       355,742       338,929       415,576  
ex-US Made & Sold
    -       -       86,979       426,277       435,325       430,503  
Total
    1,439,730       1,514,053       1,586,093       1,596,892       1,594,707       1,646,218  
US Made & Sold
    54 %     53 %     50 %     51 %     51 %     49 %
US Made & ex-US Sold
    46 %     47 %     44 %     22 %     21 %     25 %
ex-US Made & Sold
    0 %     0 %     5 %     27 %     27 %     26 %
                                                 
Herceptin Sales
 
2009 - Q3
   
2009 - Q4
   
2010 - Q1
   
2010 - Q2
   
2010 - Q3
   
2010 - Q4
 
US Made & Sold
    391,401       386,654       394,883       406,222       410,563       416,611  
US Made & ex-US Sold
    256,693       608,046       372,146       312,792       306,085       425,303  
ex-US Made & Sold
    578,341       283,926       570,703       630,498       584,286       567,396  
Total
    1,226,435       1,278,626       1,337,732       1,349,512       1,300,934       1,409,310  
US Made & Sold
    32 %     30 %     30 %     30 %     32 %     30 %
US Made & ex-US Sold
    21 %     48 %     28 %     23 %     24 %     30 %
ex-US Made & Sold
    47 %     22 %     43 %     47 %     45 %     40 %
                                                 
Lucentis Sales
 
2009 - Q3
   
2009 - Q4
   
2010 - Q1
   
2010 - Q2
   
2010 - Q3
   
2010 - Q4
 
US Made & Sold
    251,182       266,405       323,153       300,501       326,840       360,911  
US Made & ex-US Sold
    304,114       348,808       436,812       398,389       418,536       443,773  
ex-US Made & Sold
    -       -       -       -       -       -  
Total
    555,296       615,212       759,965       698,890       745,376       804,684  
US Made & Sold
    45 %     43 %     43 %     43 %     44 %     45 %
US Made & ex-US Sold
    55 %     57 %     57 %     57 %     56 %     55 %
ex-US Made & Sold
    0 %     0 %     0 %     0 %     0 %     0 %
                                                 
Xolair Sales
 
2009 - Q3
   
2009 - Q4
   
2010 - Q1
   
2010 - Q2
   
2010 - Q3
   
2010 - Q4
 
US Made & Sold
    146,022       150,950       157,503       145,245       165,109       170,001  
US Made & ex-US Sold
    47       10       -       -       -       -  
ex-US Made & Sold
    64,937       68,733       83,401       80,632       85,945       93,388  
Total
    211,006       219,693       240,904       225,878       251,055       263,389  
US Made & Sold
    69 %     69 %     65 %     64 %     66 %     65 %
US Made & ex-US Sold
    0 %     0 %     0 %     0 %     0 %     0 %
ex-US Made & Sold
    31 %     31 %     35 %     36 %     34 %     35 %
                                                 
Total Sales
 
2009 - Q3
   
2009 - Q4
   
2010 - Q1
   
2010 - Q2
   
2010 - Q3
   
2010 - Q4
 
US Made & Sold
    1,567,742       1,599,208       1,670,992       1,666,840       1,722,965       1,747,662  
US Made & ex-US Sold
    1,222,949       1,675,718       1,512,620       1,081,147       1,063,551       1,284,652  
ex-US Made & Sold
    643,279       352,659       741,083       1,137,407       1,105,556       1,091,287  
Total
    3,433,970       3,627,585       3,924,694       3,885,394       3,892,072       4,123,601  
US Made & Sold
    46 %     44 %     43 %     43 %     44 %     42 %
US Made & ex-US Sold
    36 %     46 %     39 %     28 %     27 %     31 %
ex-US Made & Sold
    19 %     10 %     19 %     29 %     28 %     26 %

* As reported to PDL by its licensees

 
 

 

THIRD QUARTER UPDATE
December 2010
During the third quarter of 2010 we continued to post an increase in royalty revenue and we further strengthened our capital structure.  In addition, we responded to the August fax that we received from Genentech and are prepared to defend our intellectual property rights in national and international settings.

Increased Third Quarter 2010 Royalty Revenue
Revenue report for Q3-2010 and royalty revenue update.  >> read

Fourth Quarter 2010 Revenue Guidance
On December 1, 2010, we announced Q4-2010 revenue guidance of $74 million. >> read

Update on Genentech / Roche
Update on litigation and recent communications with Genentech / Roche.  >> read

Updates on Licensed Products
Brief reports on products under license to PDL and regulatory approvals.  >>read

Strengthening our Capital Structure
Creating a better capital structure for our shareholders.  >> read

Dividends
We paid the second of two dividends in 2010 of $0.50 per share on October 1, 2010 to all stockholders of record as of September 15, 2010.  We plan to announce our 2011 dividend policy in the first quarter of 2011.
 
In closing, we will continue to evaluate alternatives to increase return for our stockholders and we intend to vigorously defend our intellectual property rights in the United States and internationally. We will keep you apprised of our progress.
 
Sincerely,
 
John P. McLaughlin
President and Chief Executive Officer
PDL BioPharma, Inc.
December 2010

 
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Complete Articles

Increased Royalty Revenue
Total revenue for the third quarter of 2010 was $86.4 million as compared with $71.4 million for the third quarter of 2009, an increase of 21 percent year over year.  Revenue growth was driven largely by increased second quarter 2010 sales by our licensees of Avastin®, Herceptin®, Lucentis®, and Tysabri® for which PDL received royalties in the third quarter of 2010.  The royalty payment from Genentech included royalties generated on both U.S. and ex-U.S. manufactured products and sales.
 
Sales of Avastin, Herceptin and Lucentis are subject to a tiered royalty rate for product that is made or sold in the United States and a flat royalty rate of three percent for product that is manufactured and sold outside of the United States.  The net sales thresholds and the applicable royalty rates for product that is made or sold in the United States are outlined below:  
   
Royalty Rate
Net sales up to $1.5 billion
 
3.0%
Net sales between $1.5 billion and $2.5 billion
 
2.5%
Net sales between $2.5 billion and $4.0 billion
 
2.0%
Net sales exceeding $4.0 billion
 
1.0%
 
Reported sales of Avastin and Herceptin, which are sold by Genentech in the U.S. and by Roche outside of the U.S., increased 11 percent and six percent, respectively, in the second quarter of 2010, when compared to the same period for the prior year.  Roche recently reported that global sales of Avastin for advanced colorectal, breast, lung and kidney cancer, and for relapsed glioblastoma, rose 14 percent in the first half of 2010 driven by uptake in colorectal, breast and/or lung cancer.  Roche also reported that global sales of Herceptin for HER2-postive breast cancer and advanced stomach cancer increased eight percent in the first half of 2010 driven by further penetration in the early and metastatic breast cancer settings, particularly in emerging markets.  Additionally, first signs of uptake in Europe of Herceptin in HER2-postive advanced stomach cancer were seen following approval of this new indication in January of this year.

Reported sales of Lucentis, which is sold by Genentech in the U.S. and by Novartis outside of the U.S., increased 34 percent when compared to the same period for the prior year.  Lucentis is approved for the treatment of age related macular degeneration in the United States and in Europe and received approval for the treatment of macular edema following retinal vein occlusion in June 2010 in the United States.  Second quarter 2010 sales grew by 30 percent in the United States and by 38 percent internationally.

Reported sales of Tysabri, which is sold by Elan in the U.S. and by Biogen Idec outside of the U.S., increased 14 percent in the second quarter of 2010 when compared to the same period for the prior year.  Elan recently announced that at the end of June 2010, approximately 52,700 patients were on therapy worldwide representing an increase of 22 percent over the approximately 43,300 patients who were on the therapy at the end of June 2009.  Tysabri royalties are determined at a flat rate as a percent of sales regardless of location of manufacture or sale.

 
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The sales information presented above is based on information provided by PDL’s licensees in their quarterly reports to the Company as well as from public disclosures made by PDL’s licensees.

Q4-2010 Revenue Guidance
On December 1, 2010, we announced Q4-2010 revenue guidance of $74 million, as compared with actual results of $58.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2009, a 27 percent year-over-year increase.  The growth is primarily driven by increased third quarter 2010 sales of Avastin, Herceptin, Lucentis and Tysabri for which PDL receives royalties in the fourth quarter of 2010.  The royalty payment received from Genentech included royalties generated on all worldwide sales.

Update on Genentech / Roche
In August, we received a letter from Genentech, which was sent at the request of Roche and Novartis,  stating that Avastin, Herceptin, Lucentis and Xolair® (the Genentech products) do not infringe PDL’s supplementary protection certificates (SPCs) applied for and granted by various countries in Europe to PDL.  SPCs are intended to extend the duration of patent life to compensate for some of the patent time lost while seeking government approval to market a drug.  Roche and Novartis are responsible for sales of the Genentech products outside of the United States.

The letter asked for PDL’s views on the matter and does not describe what actions, if any, Genentech intends to take.  The letter refers only to those products both manufactured and sold outside the United States. It does not suggest that the Genentech products do not infringe PDL’s U.S. patents that cover products made in the United States and sold anywhere in the world.

It is important to note that we received our regular quarterly payment from Genentech following the receipt of the letter including royalties generated on all worldwide sales of the Genentech products.  We have received two regular quarterly royalty payments since Genentech sent us the fax in mid-August.  Both payments included royalties generated on all worldwide sales.  We believe that our SPCs are valid and we believe that Genentech owes us royalties on sales of their products on a worldwide basis.

In response to the letter, we replied to Genentech stating that we believe their declarations are without merit. We disagree fundamentally with the claim that their products do not infringe our patents.  We have had discussions with Genentech regarding this matter and would like to reach a satisfactory outcome for both parties.  If no mutually agreeable resolution can be reached, however, we are prepared to vigorously enforce our rights.

To that end, we filed a claim in Nevada, naming Genentech, Roche and Novartis as defendants.  In 2003, Genentech and PDL entered into a settlement agreement to resolve the intellectual property disputes between the two companies once and for all.  This agreement restricts Genentech’s right to challenge the validity of our patents. Violations of the settlement agreement require Genentech to pay up to $1 billion in damages.  The settlement agreement calculates the damages by applying a 3.75% royalty rate on all past sales of Genentech products that were made in the U.S. and sold anywhere in the world and also adds interest. In addition, the settlement agreement states PDL can end the license agreement with Genentech or receive a flat royalty of 3.75% on all future sales of the Genentech products made in the United States and sold anywhere in the world.

 
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In our complaint filed in Nevada, we state that the letter we received from Genentech as requested by Roche and Genentech violates Genentech’s requirements under the 2003 settlement agreement.  We also stated that Roche and Novartis interfered with the contract between PDL and Genentech deliberately.  We have asked the court to rule that Genentech has an obligation to pay royalties to PDL on international sales of its products covered under the SPC’s.  In addition, we are asking the court to find that Genentech should pay additional damages for violating the agreement and pay the legal costs to resolve this dispute.

In November, Genentech and Roche asked the courts to dismiss our filing because they believe that the 2003 settlement agreement apply only to PDL’s U.S. patents and does not cover international intellectual property disputes.  Genentech and Roche also asked the courts to dismiss PDL’s filing because they do not believe Nevada has authority over Roche, which is based in Switzerland and California.  PDL disagrees with both requests and we intend to defend our intellectual property rights forcefully.  Novartis has not yet responded to our filing, but is expected to reply in December 2010.

Overall, we would like to resolve the dispute in a mutually agreeable manner to all parties. If we need to go to court to defend our position we are ready to do so.  However, it can be very expensive, can take a long time and can be risky.  We encourage you to learn more about the Genentech matter.  You can find more information in our Form 10-Q document, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 9, 2010.

Updates on Licensed Products
 
·
ACTEMRA®: Chugai/Roches drug ACTEMRA (marketed as RoACTEMRA in Europe) is a prescription medication called an interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor inhibitor.  ACTEMRA is used to treat adults with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) after at least one other medicine called a tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonist has been used and did not work well.  On October 19, 2010, Roche submitted a supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Medicines Agency (EMA) to expand the uses of ACTEMRA to include the treatment of systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (sJIA) which affects children who are less than 16 years old and makes the joints inflamed and stiff for more than six weeks. “Idiopathic” means that we do not know the cause of the disease.    On November 7, 2010, Genentech announced positive updated data from a Phase 3 study showing that 85% (64/75) children with sJIA receiving ACTEMRA experienced a 30% improvement in the signs and symptoms and an absence of fever after three months of therapy compared with 24% (18/37) of children receiving placebo.
 
 
·
AVASTIN:  Genentech/Roches drug Avastin is approved for treatment of multiple cancers including advanced colorectal, lung, kidney and glioblastoma.  It was also approved under a special procedure known as accelerated approval for first line (or first time) treatment of HER2-negative breast cancer.   Avastin received this accelerated approval based on promising preliminary clinical trial results and a commitment to conduct further studies.   Based on additional Avastin breast cancer studies that failed to show a meaningful survival benefit, an FDA advisory committee of experts recently recommended that the accelerated approval for first line treatment for HER2-negative breast cancer be removed from the U.S. label for Avastin.  On October 18, 2010, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network reaffirmed its existing recommendation for the use of Avastin in HER2-negatrive metastatic breast cancer. In mid-September, the FDA extended the review period for Genentechs sBLA for Avastin in previously untreated advanced HER2-negative breast cancer until December 17, 2010.
 
 
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·
HERCEPTIN:  Genentech/Roche’s drug Herceptin was first approved in 1998 for the treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer.  HER2 stands for Human Epidermal growth factor Receptor 2.  Each normal breast cell contains copies of the HER2 gene, which helps normal cells grow.  The HER2 gene is found in the DNA of a cell, and this gene contains the information for making the HER2 protein.  HER2-positive cells have more of the HER2 protein on them than healthy cells.  On October 20, 2010, Roche announced that the FDA approved Herceptin in combination with chemotherapy for HER2-positive metastatic cancer of the stomach or gastro-esophageal junction, for patients who have not received prior treatment.  The EMA approved Herceptin for this indication in January 2010.
 
 
·
TRASTUZUMAB-DM1 (T-DM1):  T-DM1 is an experimental, antibody-drug conjugate being developed by Genentech/Roche that links Herceptin to the cell killing agent, DM1. This approach is designed to increase the already significant tumor fighting ability of Herceptin by coupling it with an additional cell killing agent that is efficiently and simultaneously delivered to the targeted cancer cells by the antibody.  In July 2010, Genentech/Roche submitted an application for approval known as a BLA to the FDA for T-DM1, a Herceptin conjugate, for the treatment of people with an aggressive form of breast cancer known as HER2-positive breast cancer and hoped for accelerated approval as early as 2011.  The focus of the request for approval for this exciting therapy is third line treatment, i.e. patients who have previously received multiple medicines and chemotherapies and whose breast cancer is no longer responding to such treatments.
 
On August 25, 2010, the FDA issued a “Refuse to File” letter for rejecting accelerated approval for T-DM1 BLA.   Genentech/Roche plan to continue their ongoing Phase 3 trial for this drug and plan to submit a new BLA in mid-2012. On October 13, Genentech/Roche announced preliminary, six month results from a Phase 3 trial in second line HER2-postive breast cancer patients which showed that 48 percent of women treated with T-DM1 had their tumors shrink compared with 41 percent of those taking the combination of Herceptin and Taxotere.  Among the women taking the standard therapy, 75 percent had side effects of grade 3 or higher on a 5-point scale, compared with 37 percent of those getting T-DM1.
 
Strengthening our Capital Structure
Over the last several months, we have accomplished three milestones toward strengthening our capital structure.  At the beginning of the year, we had two convertible notes, one due in 2012 and one due in 2023. First, we repurchased, retired or converted all of the 2023 notes which are now fully retired.  Next, we exchanged $92 million of the 2012 notes for notes due in 2015.  This transaction extends the timeline for repayment of this debt by three years.  We entered into this transaction because we believe the benefit of having the additional financial flexibility substantially outweighs the small increase in the 7/8ths of a percentage point of interest that we will need to pay for this debt.  Finally, we placed an additional $88 million of the new 2015 notes, further increasing our free cash available for acquiring additional royalty-generating assets, buying back remaining 2012 convertible debt or buying back stock to improve stockholder value.

 
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