Operator
Greetings and welcome to the Amphistar Pharmaceuticals fourth quarter earnings call. At this time, all participants are in a listen-only mode. A question and answer session will follow the formal presentation. If anyone should require operator assistance during the conference, please press star zero on your telephone keypad. Please note that certain statements made during this call regarding matters that are not historical facts, including but not limited to management's outlook or predictions for future periods are forward-looking statements. These statements are based solely on information that is now available to us. We encourage you to review the session entitled, Forward-Looking Statements in the Press Release Issued Today and the presentation on the company's website. Also, please refer to our SEC filings, which can be found on our website and the SEC's website, for a discussion of numerous factors that may impact our future performance. We will also discuss certain non-GAAP measures. Important information on our use of these measures and reconciliations to U.S. GAAP may be found in our earnings release. Please note this conference is being recorded. Our speakers today are Mr. Bill Peters, CFO, Mr. Dan Dishner, Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications, and Mr. Tony Mars, Executive Vice President of Regulatory Affairs and Clinical Operations. I will now turn the conference over to your host, Mr. Dan Dishner, Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications. Dan, you may begin.
Thank you, Paul. Good afternoon, everyone, and thank you for joining Anthastar's fourth quarter 2025 earnings call. 2025 was a pivotal year for the company, demonstrating the strength and balance of our business model with our continued focus on both commercial execution and scientific innovation. FACSIMI maintained its strong double-digit growth trajectory, reinforcing the durability of our franchise and continued execution, while FDA approvals for iron sucrose and teriparotide highlighted our technical depth in complex generics. And just this week, we achieved another major regulatory milestone with the FDA approval of our ipotropium bromide HFA inhalation aerosol. Previously referenced as AMP-007, the FDA also confirmed that this product is eligible for 180 days of generic drug exclusivity, as we were the first ANDA applicant with paragraph four certification. This approval reinforces the strength of our integrated R&D and manufacturing models and represents a meaningful addition to our respiratory portfolio. We expect to launch this product commercially early in the second quarter of 2026, positioning it as a significant near-term growth driver. Across the pipeline, we advanced and expanded our proprietary portfolio with the addition of three novel peptides in oncology and ophthalmology and a fully synthetic corticotropin program in immunology. These additions support our transition towards a portfolio increasingly anchored in high-value proprietary and biosimilar assets. On the commercial side, we remain attentive to the competitive pressures in certain legacy products and continue to prioritize resources towards our strongest growth opportunities. Our performance this year was driven by three core pillars, resilient commercial momentum, strategic pipeline progress, and disciplined operational execution supported throughout our U.S.-based manufacturing advantage. For the full year, net revenues were $719.9 million. Vaccini remained a key contributor, generating $185.4 million in revenue, up 12% year-over-year, driven by higher U.S. unit volumes and the successful transition to direct global distribution. Prima Team Miss also performed well, with sales rising 7% to $108.7 million, supported by strong consumer demand and continued marketing investment. We saw additional contributions from newer and expanding products, including $4.4 million from Iron Sucrose following its August launch, and a strong growth in albuterol driven by market demand. These gains helped offset competitive pressures in epinephrine and glutein. Full-year revenue declined modestly by 2%, reflecting greater-than-expected headwinds in legacy products. Even so, we maintained strong operational discipline, tightening expenses, prioritizing long-term investments, and mitigating margin pressures in areas facing pricing challenges. Operating cash flow totaled $156.1 million, demonstrating the resilience of our model and our ability to continue investing in strategic priorities. On the pipeline side, we achieved several major regulatory milestones with approvals for iron sucrose, pteriparotide, and most recently, ipratopium bromide HFA. These achievements broadened our capabilities across complex injectables and inhalation products. We also expanded our proprietary pipeline with high-value assets, including AMP 105, AMP 109, AMP 110, and AMP 107, programs that collectively opened more than $60 billion in addressable market opportunity and strengthened the long-term foundation of our portfolio. We also continue to advance several high-impact programs that remain on track for near-term launches. Our insulin ask part BLA for AMP-004 and our GLP-1 AMBA for AMP-018 are moving steadily through regulatory proceedings with anticipated commercialization for each expected in 2027. Together, these programs represent meaningful near- and midterm value drivers as we expand our presence across complex formulations and high-demand therapeutics. To support this expanding pipeline, our U.S. manufacturing investment in Rancho Cucamonga remains a critical pillar of our long-term strategy. The expansion will quadruple production capacity at the site, significantly enhancing scalability and improving supply reliability. The upgraded footprint positions us to meet future demands as our proprietary programs and complex scenarios advance Ford commercialization, ensuring we can execute with the speed and consistency required in these high-growth markets. I will now turn the call over to Bill Peters, our CFO and Executive Vice President of Finance, for more detailed financial review of the four forward and full years.
Thank you, Dan, and good afternoon, everyone. In my comments today, I will discuss the fourth quarter results and then our assumptions for 2026. Sales for the fourth quarter of 2025 decreased 2% to $183.1 million from $186.5 million in the previous year's period. Vaccine sales grew 12% at $46.7 million from $41.8 million in the prior year period as we continue our sales and marketing efforts in the United States. Primate-team mist sales dropped 3% to $27.9 million from $28.9 million in the prior year period. Glutegon sales declined 45% to $14.1 million from $25.6 million in the prior year period due to increased competition as well as a market move towards ready-to-use products such as vaccines. Epinephrine sales declined 9% to $17.1 million from $18.7 million in the previous years period due to increased competition for our epinephrine multidose bioproduct. This decrease was partially offset by an increase in unit volumes for our epinephrine pre-filled syringe, driven by increased demand caused by shortages from other suppliers during the Other pharmaceutical product revenue grew 8% to $62.4 million from $57.5 million in the previous years period, primarily due to increased sales of albuterol and iron sucrose, which we launched in August 2024 and August 2025, respectively. Those margins remained flat at 47% of revenues as we saw increased sales of baximi and iron sucrose. This was offset by a decrease in pricing of glucagon and our epinephrine multidose bioproducts. Selling, distribution, and marketing expenses were essentially unchanged at $10.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2025, compared to $10.4 million in the previous year's period. General and administrative expenses increased 27% to $16.5 million, dollars compared to $12.9 million in the prior year, primarily due to increased legal expenses and expenses related to the implementation of a new ERP system. Research and development expenditures increased 29% in the quarter to $23.3 million with $18.1 million in the comparable quarter of 2024, primarily due to increased spending on our insulin and proprietary pipeline. Non-operating expenses in the fourth quarter of 2025 were $3.7 million compared to $1.2 million in the prior year period, primarily as a result of foreign currency fluctuations, mark-to-market adjustments related to our interest swap contract. We reported net income of $24.4 million or 51 cents per share compared to the previous year's fourth quarter net income of $38 million, or $0.74 per share. Adjusted net income was $34.2 million, or $0.73 per share, compared to an adjusted net income of $47.2 million, or $0.92 per share in the fourth quarter of the previous year. Adjusted earnings exclude amortization, equity compensation, and one-time events. In the fourth quarter, we had cash flows provided by operations of approximately $32.9 million, and for the full-year cash flow from operations were $156.1 million. As we look ahead to 2026, we are basing our outlook on several key financial assumptions. For vaccine, we expect mid-single-digit unit growth in the U.S., partially offset by a planned reduction in international volume as we exit a handful of unprofitable markets later in the year. We do not expect to take any price increases in 2026, as our primary focus is on unit growth. For primary team myths, we expect unit growth in the mid to high single digits this year, and we plan to take a 5% increase in price in the second quarter. We expect the largest driver of growth will be the launch of Iphotropium bromide. With a planned launch in early the second quarter, our third meter dose inhalation product is poised to be a meaningful contributor as sales ramp up. We also expect increased contributions from third-party API sales from our ANP subsidiary. Offsetting these growth trends will be expected sales declines due to increased competition for glucagon and, to a lesser extent, epinephrine and titanidione. Overall, we expect these dynamics to drive consolidated revenue growth in the mid- to high single-digit range for 2026. We expect gross margins to be lower, primarily driven by continued pricing pressure on glucagon, epinephrine, and phytonodion, which are high-margin products. In addition, we are seeing higher input costs, including labor and supplier-related increases, which will further impact margins. Our selling and marketing sense will increase slightly the percentage of sales due to increased sales and marketing efforts for both vaccine and vaccine myths. general and administrative spending will be flat up as a percentage of sales due to one time of spending associated with implementations of our new ERP system. Turning to research and development, we plan to wrap up spending on clinical trials and purchases of materials and supplies for inhalation and proprietary pipeline products. We also anticipate a significant increase in capital spending from the expansion project at our Rancho Hoopamunga facility, which we announced last year. Spending on this major project is slower than we anticipated in 2025, but will ramp up more significantly in 2026. We plan to finance this expansion with cash flow from operations. As of today, we have over $300 million in cash and short-term investments on our hands, and we plan to utilize a portion of our strong cash position to continue our stock buyback program. Additionally, we continue to look for business development opportunities, which fit Amplestar's strategy. I will now turn the call back over to Dan.
Thank you, Bill. In summary, 2025 was a year of meaningful progress and disciplined execution. We strengthened our commercial foundation with resilient performance from Baximi and PrimaTeen Mids, advanced our regulatory pipeline with FDA approvals of iron sucrose, teraparotide, and most recently, epitropium bromide HFA inhalation aerosol, and made significant progress across our AMP-004 and AMP-018 near-term commercial product candidates. We also expanded our proprietary pipeline portfolio into high-growth therapeutic areas through the addition of novel product candidates in oncology, ophthalmology, and immunology. These achievements reinforce the depth of our scientific capabilities, the strategic value of our U.S. manufacturing footprint, and our commitment to delivering high-quality therapies that improve patient access and outcomes. The momentum we've built positioned Amphistar for significant long-term value creation through focused execution, innovation, and a robust pipeline designed to support sustainable With that, we'll take your question. Paul.
Operator
Thank you. We'll now be conducting a question and answer session. If you would like to ask a question, please press star 1 on your telephone keypad. A confirmation tone will indicate your line is in the question queue. You may press star 2 to remove your question from the queue. For participants using speaker equipment, it may be necessary to pick up the handset before pressing the star keys. One moment, please, while we poll for questions. Thank you. Our first question is from Dennis Ding with Jeffries. Dennis, is your line on mute? Our next question is from Ekaterina Nayakova with JP Morgan.
Thank you so much. So first question is just on AMP110, the corticotrophin asset. Just have you had any conversations with the FDA on just what the development path could look like and if there's anything you can share on that that would be helpful? And then second question is just on business development, just latest thoughts on appetite priorities, just what kind of assets are you most interested in, and how big of a priority is BD for you guys in 2026? Thank you.
Thank you. I'll take the first question for 110. We have not engaged the FDA with conversation on that. We're internally still having a discussion and putting our program on paper. We'll be doing that in the relative near future.
And the second one for business development. Our focus will be on areas where we either have a presence or a planned presence, and that would include endocrinology because of a vaccinating product, and also the oncology, ophthalmology, and immunology spaces in terms of the areas where we have early stage proprietary pipeline products.
Operator
Our next question is from Serge Bellinger with Needham & Company.
Hi, good afternoon. First question around Baxemi expectations for 2026, Bill, I think you mentioned you expect mid-single-digit growth on units, but to be offset by some discontinuation of international sales. Just curious what the level of those international sales are and what that means if you expect growth from the franchise at all for the year. And then the second question around A&P 007, you know, just how big of an opportunity is this? I guess, have you gotten any news whether there's an authorized generic coming on the market and whether you think the Atrovent market is now stabilized after a significant step down from in 2025 from 2024? Thanks.
Yeah, so back to me, we do expect to see that mid-single-digit increase in units in the United States. And the international decline will come in the second half of the year. We had a three-year commitment to keep marketing the products in all countries where Lilly was selling the product, and that commitment is up in July. So at that time, we're likely to discontinue from a handful of countries. There are several countries where either the regulatory requirements are very hard and expensive or their sales are just very minimal. So those are the two things that we're looking at. So that will offset some of the price, some of the growth in the U.S., but we do still see this as growing this year, especially in the first half of the year as, you know, the international sales will keep going on until the third quarter.
And for your AO7 question, the Equivia data last year was 112 million. We think that there's a meaningful market share for being the first and having 180 days of exclusivity with the product is a meaningful opportunity for us. We don't currently have any visibility into whether an authorized generic could or will be launched. But as far as the decline, I think we saw that mostly as more of a pricing decline last year and not so much in a demand decline, demand-driven. So we think it's fairly stable at this point.
Usually when you see a market go generic, you'll see that kind of stabilize because of the price considerations and because of payers wanting people on a generic product. So we think that this will lead to stabilization in terms of units for the product.
Got it. So I guess just to follow up, if there's no AG, would that be an upside to this mid to high single-digit growth expectation for this year?
I'll say it's, you know, potentially one of the differences between mid and high single bidgets.
Operator
Our next question is from Pazan Patel with Bank of America.
Hey, guys. Thanks for taking my questions. My first is on gross margins. I know you commented that you expect it to be lower in 2026, but maybe if you can help me understand to what degree pricing pressure on groups beyond epinephrine and these legacy products can be offset buybacks and meet growth, maybe if you can just frame the sizing between those pushes and pulls there. And then my second question is with regards to buybacks. I know you said that you plan to use a portion of your cash and you have about $300 million of cash. So maybe if you're able to help me size what proportion of that is going to be used potentially for buybacks versus BD. And if you can't speak in terms of like absolute value numbers, totally fine. If you which is a higher priority, that would also be helpful.
Yeah, sure. So that will definitely help us grow our gross margins next year because two things. One, the growth in the United States of the sales there, and two, in the second half of the year, the countries where we'll discontinue it have negative gross margins. So we're actually losing money in those countries, so that will help our margins. But, however, the galucagon reduction is fairly large, and so those products, the epivial and the centenodion, also are high-margin products, and we're expecting to see sales declines in those products as well, as well as we're seeing just cost increases from our vendors or our suppliers at this time. So that's also eating into the margins. Also, another thing we didn't mention is that we did mention the higher API sales from our China business next year. That's going to be at a generally lower than corporate average gross margin as well, which will impact the overall margins. And then as far as buybacks go, we have about – last year we did about $75 million in buybacks. I think that would be like the high end of the range for what we have. We have about $15 million left on the current buyback as of today. So we did buy back some stock in January and February as well. So we're likely to have another authorization later this year. But a lot of it will depend on, you know, do we have business development opportunities and how close are we to potentially executing on those, likely to slow the buyback down if we have a need for cash utilization.
Operator
Our next question is from David Amsalam with Piper Sandler.
Hi, thank you. This is now for David, just a couple from us. First, regarding primitine mist, how are you thinking about competition for the product, considering that the patent expires this year? And can you also remind us about lifecycle management activities for the product? So that's one. Number two, how should we think about the cadence of filings this year compared to prior years? And is your primary focus on inhalation products? Thank you.
So it's probably seen that the patent has already expired. So we don't see any competition now. We think it's unlikely to, given the economics for this. We think, you know, it's a strong product.
Yeah, and I think with the OTC market, it's a different dynamic when it comes to generics. You know, Prima Team Mist has 60 years of brand equity in it, and so we feel like we're in a good position, even if there was competition, we're in a good position of maintaining a large market share with that product. And at the same time, we're in the process of developing a new formulation of primatine mist. We've secured one patent, and we're currently working on another. So that's kind of our strategy as we move through that franchise.
The second question was about the cadence of the filing. So we expect late this year, early next year, to have two filings, and then next year's total is refiling, and we think that should be the case moving forward.
Operator
Our next question is from Ben Burnett with Wells Fargo.
Hi, hello, this is Tien Chi calling in for Ben.
Operator
Thanks for taking our question. So I wanted to ask you about the Nanjing NG in-licensed assets. Just see if you can have any updates on that. What kind of level of confidence do you have on these assets, And what does the clinical development path look like in their respective indications? Thank you very much.
Yeah, we're very excited about those products. We are currently in the preclinical stage of those. We're getting our packages together to have conversation, early conversation with the agency on it. We think these products are very, very exciting. internally, we have a lot of positive excitement around them. We're building teams and coming up with priorities of these projects. These will be new drugs, so they'll be going through the standard NDA process. Whether we have expedited pathways or not remains to be seen. We're optimistic that we should have some for those. We have some oncology products that we think likely will have some of that, but we've not yet engaged the FDA with conversations of that. But we're just kind of in the preclinical evaluation of that and looking at the prioritization of that. But overall, I think we're very, very excited and encouraged by these products.
Operator
There are no further questions at this time. I would like to hand the floor back over to management for any closing remarks.
Thank you, Paul, and thank you all once again for joining us today. We appreciate your continued engagement and support, and we look forward to keeping you updated on our progress throughout 2026. Have a wonderful evening.
Operator
This concludes today's conference call. You may disconnect your lives at this time. Thank you again for your participation.