May 10, 2017
Executives
Jennifer Williams - Investor Relations Dr. Greg Demopulos - Chairman and CEO Mike Jacobsen - Chief Accounting Officer
Analysts
Liana Moussatos - Wedbush Securities Steve Brozak - WBB Elemer Piros - Cantor Jason Kolbert - Maxim Tyler Van Buren - Cowen & Company
Operator
Good afternoon. And welcome to today’s conference call for Omeros Corporation.
At this time, all participants are in listen-only mode. After the company’s remarks, we will conduct a question-and-answer session.
Please be advised that today’s call is being recorded at the company’s request and a replay will be available on the company’s website from -- for one week from today. I’ll now turn the call over to Jennifer Williams, Investor Relations for Omeros.
Jennifer Williams
Good afternoon and thank you for joining the call today. I’d like to remind you that some of the statements that will be made on the call today will be forward-looking.
These statements are based on management’s beliefs and expectations as of today only and are subject to change. All forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause the company’s actual results to differ materially.
Please refer to the Risk Factor section of the company’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q, which was filed today with the SEC for a discussion of these risks and uncertainties. Dr.
Greg Demopulos, Chairman and CEO of Omeros will take you through a corporate update and then Mike Jacobsen, our Chief Accounting Officer will provide an overview of our first quarter financial results. We have some time reserved for questions after the financial overview.
Now, I would like to turn the call over to Dr. Demopulos.
Dr. Greg Demopulos
Thank you, Jennifer, and good afternoon, everyone. We appreciate you taking the time to join on the call.
We have a lot to report today, so we will begin OMIDRIA, our FDA approved ophthalmology product. Total revenues from the sales of OMIDRIA for the first quarter were $12.3 million.
Although, revenues were slightly down compared to the fourth quarter of 2016, first quarter sell-through or unit vials shipped from our wholesalers to our hospital customers and ambulatory surgery centers or ASCs increased 14% over Q4 and year-over-year growth was 107%. There are three major reasons for the difference between our recorded revenues and our sell-through.
First, our wholesalers customarily billed increase inventories at year end and as previously reported this was the case at the end of last year for OMIDRIA. This excess inventory then needed to be burned through as wholesaler inventory levels returned to normal in January.
Second, while wholesaler inventory levels were high at the end of December, their inventory levels at March 31 were historically low. This first quarter deficit in inventory was then replenished in the first week of the second quarter, with wholesaler purchases in that week alone totaling approximately $2.1 million in net sales.
To-date, subsequent second quarter inventories have remained at normal levels. Finally, Q1 represented the first full quarter of operation for our volume discount purchase program for OMIDRIA.
As a result, our gross to net deductions increased as expected by approximately 4% over the fourth quarter of last year. So we are pleased with the continued growth in sales that we saw in the first quarter, particularly given the Q1 is historically the weakest quarter of the year for cataract surgery procedures, due to the resetting of insurance deductibles in January and the large number of ophthalmology conferences in January and February.
As was the case last year, March of this year accounted for the largest monthly sell-through in the first quarter. The growth has continued into the second quarter, with the daily number of vials sold in April showing a 9% monthly increase over March.
OMIDRIA continues to gain market penetration both by expanding the number of facilities using OMIDRIA and by capturing a greater percentage of cataract procedures performed within a given facility. Here are some of the data, the number of facilities purchasing OMIDRIA from December to March increased by 10%.
By the end of the first quarter, 22% of all ambulatory surgery centers that use OMIDRIA were administering the drug in over 50% of their cataract surgery procedures. The top 100 ASCs by surgical volume nationally increase their utilization of OMIDRIA by 37% and purchasing accounts grew by 21% in Q1, compared to Q4.
The top 100 hospitals by surgical volume increased use of OMIDRIA by 17% in Q1 over Q4. The list of academic centers now regularly using OMIDRIA include New York Eye and Ear, which performs more cataract surgery than any other hospital in the United States, Duke University, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, University of California, San Francisco, Wake Forest University, Yale University, Cornell Medical Center, The Moran Eye Center at University of Utah, Emory University the University of Virginia, Hackensack University, Ochsner Medical Center, University of North Carolina, the University of Connecticut and others.
Beyond hospitals and freestanding ambulatory surgical centers, we also are making good inroads into large chains of ASCs, with a number of corporate headquarters supporting use of OMIDRIA within their respective member facilities. International sales of OMIDRIA are also growing and we expect to expand the countries and regions where OMIDRIA is sold.
At the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery this past week, the support for an interest in OMIDRIA among surgeons and nurses and administrators was strong. As more and more surgeons have had the opportunity to use OMIDRIA at their respective facilities, their recognition of and appreciation for an FDA approved product with important clinical benefits continues to grow.
Concurrently, multiple articles reporting the clinical benefits of OMIDRIA have been published in peer-reviewed journals. Additional investigator initiated studies are in progress or resultant manuscripts are being submitted or our awaiting publication in peer-reviewed journals further confirming that use of OMIDRIA results in decrease complication rates, reduced use of pupil expansion devices, faster surgical times leading to higher procedural throughput and better postoperative visual acuity.
Another manuscript submitted for publication proposes that based on comparative data, OMIDRIA precludes the need for pre-and/or postoperative topical NSAIDs. With respect to reimbursement, we continue to expand payment for OMIDRIA within and across third-party payors.
We also are making good progress toward our goal of achieving long-term reimbursement for our drug. Let’s turn now to our pipeline, starting with our MASP-2 program.
Our MASP-2 antibody OMS721 targets the lectin pathway of the complement system, a key component of the immune response. We have three OMS721 programs currently in progress, a Phase 3 program in atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome or aHUS and two Phase 2 program that we expect to enter Phase 3 later this year, one in complement-related renal diseases focused on patients with immunoglobulin A or IgA nephropathy and the second in hematopoietic stem cell transplant-related thrombotic microangiopathy or TMAs.
Our Phase 3 program in patients with aHUS is advancing. The clinical trial is in patients with ongoing or newly diagnosed aHUS.
Based on discussions with both FDA and EMA, the study design consists of an open-label clinical trial with only a single-arm, in other words, no control-arm. We expect that the data from this single study will satisfy both regulatory agencies.
This study design has the potential to shorten the path to regulatory approval by as much as several years and to save the associated costs. Our initial target enrollment is approximately 40 patients, which could provide full approval in Europe, as well as satisfy requirements for accelerated approval in the U.S.
To-date, we have received orphan drug designation from the FDA for TMAs broadly, including aHUS and fast track designation for the treatment of patients with aHUS. In April positive data from the dose ranging stage of the Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating OMS721 and the treatment of HUS were presented at the International Society of Nephrology World Congress in Mexico City.
The presentation summarized the trial data from seven aHUS patients across three different doses, six of the seven patients were plasma therapy resistant. The data demonstrate a dose response in platelet count assessed has change from the baseline value.
One patient was able to discontinue dialysis during OMS721 treatment and renal function remained stable following completion of treatment. Two additional patients were on chronic dialysis and considered ineligible for kidney transplantation because of their active aHUS stabilized on OMS721 treatment and were deemed eligible for transplantation.
One of them is already undergone successful kidney transplantation. Our ongoing Phase 2 program in patients with IgA nephropathy and other kidney diseases also continues to generate positive data.
In March we announced additional results from the first cohort in our Phase 2 open-label clinical trial evaluating OMS721 across patients requiring steroid treatment in one of four different types of complement associated glomerulonephropathies. IgA nephropathy, membranous nephropathy, lupus nephritis and complement component C or C3 glomerulopathy.
The trial assesses the effect of OMS721 on urine protein measures that are predictive of kidney failure, namely urine albumin to creatinine ratio or uACR and total 24-hour urine protein excretion, as well as on the ability to reduce steroid dosing. We have provided full data on three of the four IgA nephropathy patients in this cohort.
Treatment effects across these IgA nephropathy patients were highly consistent. The magnitude of which are associated with improved renal survival.
Specifically, uACR values were decreased by 47% to 94% with a mean improvement of 76%. uACR values continued to improve after dosing was stopped and improvements persisted even after trial completion.
24-hour urine protein levels also improved, showing decreases of approximately 54% to 81% with a mean decrease of 66%. Concurrently, daily steroid doses for all patients were substantially reduced or completely eliminated.
After completion of this full cohort of IgA nephropathy patients, we expect to release the results soon. More detailed data will be presented at the Annual Congress of the European Renal Association and the European Dialysis and Transplant Association in Madrid in early June.
Encouraging results were also observed in lupus nephritis. Four of five patients showed a substantial reduction in 24-hour urine protein excretion over the treatment period, with a mean reduction of 69%.
The fifth patient experienced a systemic disease flare and showed a substantial increase. The majority of lupus responders were also able to taper their steroid doses.
Based on the positive data in the IgA nephropathy patients treated with OMS721, we met with the FDA to discuss the Phase 3 development program. Following review of the data, FDA suggested that Omeros apply for breakthrough therapy designation in IgA nephropathy.
Our discussion included both accelerated approval and an expedited approach to full approval based on an endpoint of proteinuria, which could be faster than accelerated approval. We have submitted our breakthrough application to the FDA and are preparing a Phase 3 protocol for discussion with the agency.
We expect that the Phase 3 program in IgA nephropathy will begin this year. Our other OMS721 Phase 2 program evaluating the drug in patients with stem cell transplant-associated TMA has also been making strides.
In February, we presented data from this Phase 2 clinical program at the Tandem Meeting of the American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation and the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research. To-date, we have treated nine patients with life threatening posttransplant TMAs and TMA markers improved in seven of those patients.
The other two patients received only two weeks to three weeks of OMS721 with treatment truncated for reasons wholly-unrelated to the drug, were managed positively and died. Patients who completed protocol specified treatment with OMS721 showed meaningful improvement in platelet counts and measures of red blood cell destruction.
Specifically, lactate dehydrogenase and haptoglobin levels. We plan to seek breakthrough therapy or fast track designation and accelerated approval for OMS721 in stem cell TMAs and are planning to initiate a Phase 3 program by year end.
Outside of our clinical trials our compassionate use program for OMS721 remains active. From around the world we continue to receive frequent requests from physicians, patients and family members, who have heard about the benefits of OMS721 and are seeking to access the drug.
Let’s turn now to the other half of our MASP program, OMS906 targeting MASP-3 which continues to make progress as well. Omeros was the first to identify MASP-3 as the activator of the complement systems alternative pathway.
Positive data and animal models of both arthritis and paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria or PNH have been generated to-date. We are currently finalizing selection of our lead and backup molecules, and are preparing to initiate scale up for clinical trials.
In contrast the C-5 inhibitor that only block intravascular hemolysis in PNH, OMS906 has been shown to block both intra-and extra vascular hemolysis. This is an important distinction and in part why OMS906 could be significantly more beneficial than a C-5 inhibitor in patients with PNH.
We are evaluating PNH as the first clinical indication for OMS906. Through our broad patents directed to MASP-2 and MASP-3, the key activators of both the lectin and alternative pathways respectively, Omeros holds what we believe is a dominant position in the complement space.
Not only do we exclusively control antibodies against both MASP-2 and MASP-3 across broad indications, we also are developing small molecule inhibitors against both of these targets and now we have identified small molecule inhibitors against C-1 as well, the key activator of the third of the three pathways in the complement system, the classical pathway. Because of our unique ability to identify agents that interact with enzymes in the complement system, we also are evaluating other complement targets that we might elect to pursue as we continue to expand and strengthen our complement franchise.
Let’s now discuss another therapeutic area where we believe Omeros is poised to play a dominant role, the field of addiction and compulsive disorders. Experts believe that phosphodiesterase 7 or PDE7 is the most exciting target in addiction and Omeros exclusively controls the intellectual property directed to any PDE7 inhibitor in the treatment of any addiction or compulsive disorder.
OMS527, our lead PDE7 inhibitor continues to progress toward the clinic, preclinical results are consistently positive in cocaine, alcohol, nicotine and opioids, as well as in binge eating, and the data show that OMS527 decreases craving, as well as both cue and stress induced relapse. According to these studies, our PDE7 inhibitors accomplish these effects without depressing the reward system, a problem that seriously hinders the use of currently approved any addiction agents.
We believe that we have elucidated the mechanism by which PDE7 inhibitors exert their effects in regions of the brain that are known to control addiction and we are currently finalizing a manuscript describing our findings for submission to a premier peer-reviewed journal. We have also initiated toxicology studies to support the submission of an IND or CTA in subsequent clinical trials.
We are currently targeting the submission of an IND or CTA in late 2017 or early 2018. The other half of our addiction franchise is OMS405, our program focused on PPAR-gamma agonist.
Positive Phase 2 clinical trial data have been generated in patients with cocaine use disorder and in heroin dependent patients. Here again, Omeros has broad issued and pending patents covering the use of any PPAR-gamma agonist in the treatment of any form of addiction or compulsive disorder.
Work is also ongoing in our OMS824 or phosphodiesterase 10, PDE10 inhibitor program. Based on available data we continue to evaluate a range of indications for this program.
Finally, our GPCR program continues to break new ground. Compound optimization is progressing across our programs in triple negative breast cancer, demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis, appetite and eating disorders, osteoporosis and seasonal effective disorder.
Collaborations around multiple GPCRs controlled by Omeros are underway with a number of academic institutions. We previously have disclosed publicly some of our work on GPR174, our novel cancer immunotherapy target.
We believe that Omeros alone has agents that block GPR174. The combined effects of that blockade stimulate the production of cytokines or tumor killers and decrease the population of regulatory T-cells that act to protect the tumor.
Inhibition of GPR174 potentiates both innate and adaptive arms of the immune system and represents a new mechanism for cancer immunotherapy. Omeros’ unique ability to find small molecule inhibitors of GPR174 could provide meaningful benefits over chimeric antigen receptor T-cell or CART therapy, checkpoint inhibitors and other cancer immunotherapies.
GPR174 could represent an unwrapped -- truly unprecedented advance in the care of cancer patients. We are making rapid progress and expect to share more information on this and other of our programs in the near future.
Finally, as you may recall, we have a credit facility with CRG. Given the significant progress and our commercial efforts for OMIDRIA and in the development of our pipeline, including our MASP-2 addiction and GPCR programs, CRG has already agreed to provide the next tranche of $25 million in debt financing, should we choose to take it.
We have until the end of August to decide whether to make the drop. Our decision will be based on the growth of OMIDRIA sales and revenues from any other sources.
With that, I will conclude the update on Omeros’ products and programs and turn the call over to Mike for a summary of our first quarter financial results.
Mike Jacobsen
Thanks, Greg. As Greg noted, revenues for the first quarter were $12.3 million all from OMIDRIA product sales and our net loss was $15.1 million or $0.34 per share.
This includes non-cash expenses of $4.4 million or $0.10 per share. Here are some specifics regarding the first quarter versus the fourth quarter of last year.
Our reported revenue for the quarter decreased by 5% or $648,000 from the fourth quarter, while sales of OMIDRIA by our wholesalers to the ASCs and hospitals or sell-through increased by 14%. The difference between reported revenue growth and sell-through unit growth was attributable to the normal reduction of wholesaler inventory levels in early January and the below historic inventory levels held by our wholesalers at the end of the first quarter.
This situation was rectified during the first week of April when our wholesalers purchased a net amount of $2.1 million of OMIDRIA, returning inventories to traditional levels and supporting ongoing demand. In addition, but to a lesser extent, the first full quarter of our OMIDRIA volume discount purchase program also contributed to the difference.
As expected, the overall amount that we receive per unit of OMIDRIA sold was reduced by approximately 4% from the prior quarter. This is due primarily to Q1 being the first full quarter of our volume discount program.
We expect the overall amount will receive for OMIDRIA vials sold will decreased slightly going forward, again due to the expansion of our volume discount program as additional ASCs reach OMIDRIA utilization levels to qualify for the rebates. We expect the overall positive impact of our volume discount rebate program will continue growing.
Costs and operating expenses for the first quarter were $25 million. Effectively flat from the $24.8 million we had in the fourth quarter of last year.
Specific variations from the fourth quarter included incremental costs associated with the Par lawsuit as we continue to defend our OMIDRIA patents, which are offset in the quarter by decreased OMS721 manufacturing and clinical trial costs. Stock compensation costs also decreased due to the timing of stock option grants to employees made in 2016.
Interest expense was $2.7 million for the current quarter and in line with our expectations. The year-over-year increase was due to incremental borrowings we made subsequent to the first quarter of 2016.
As of March 31, 2017, we had $33.7 million of cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments available for general operations. In addition, we had $5.8 million of cash and investments available as required under our loan agreement, building leases and other operating leases.
As you may recall under our secured debt facility with CRG, we borrowed $80 million in the fourth quarter of 2016 and has two additional tranches, one of $25 million and the second for $20 million available to us assuming we achieved certain OMIDRIA net product sales or average market capitalization threshold. In light of the progress across our program, CRG recently agreed to allow us to access the $25 million tranche at our discretion.
Our decision to draw the fund needs to be made by the end of August. Now let’s take a look ahead for the remainder of 2017.
With regard to revenue, we had a 14% increase in sell-through between Q4 2016 and Q1 2017. April sell-through as measured by average units sold by our wholesalers per business day increased 9% over that March and we expect that OMIDRIA unit sales will continue to increase in the second quarter.
We anticipate that during 2017 majority of our research and development expenses will be related to our Phase 3 and Phase 2 clinical programs for OMS721 and the preparation for commercial manufacturing of OMS721. We expect these costs to increase as the year progresses, as we initiate additional OMS721 Phase 3 trials.
Selling, general and administrative expenses for the remainder of 2017 are expected to increase slightly from the first quarter, primarily due to the legal costs associated with the Par lawsuit. With that, I’d like to turn the call back over to Greg.
Greg?
Dr. Greg Demopulos
Thanks, Mike. Operator, we can go ahead and open the line for calls.
Operator
Thank you. [Operator Instructions] Our first question is from the line of Liana Moussatos of Wedbush Securities.
Your line is open.
Liana Moussatos
Thank you for taking my questions and congratulations on the quarter.
Dr. Greg Demopulos
Hi, Liana.
Liana Moussatos
Hi.
Dr. Greg Demopulos
Thank you.
Liana Moussatos
The $33.65 million cash, how long that last without the $25 million tranche?
Dr. Greg Demopulos
Depends on OMIDRIA revenues, we expect the OMIDRIA revenues to continue to grow. As you know, first quarter historically is the weakest quarter for OMIDRIA.
frankly not just OMIDRIA but surgical products in general, given the resetting as I said of annual deductibles and just patients reticence to have surgery in January. I think that clearly sales are continuing to grow despite Q1 being a traditionally weak quarter and Q4 being a strong quarter, our sell-through was over 14% higher in Q1 than in Q4.
So I think what we need to do is see what’s happening with revenues and then I can give you better clarity on where that $33.7 million, I believe, takes us. But again, all we see our kind of consistent and continuous signs of the increased adoption in the ophthalmology market and in the ophthalmology field around OMIDRIA and I think that that will continue to bear out.
Liana Moussatos
And could you comment also on reimbursement for OMIDRIA in 2018, how it will change?
Dr. Greg Demopulos
Yes. At midnight on 12/31 of this year, we are slated to be packaged, meaning pass-through will expire for us and as currently indicated there is the potential that OMIDRIA will be packaged into the overall reimbursement for cataract surgery.
I can tell you that from the day we received pass-through, we turned our attention to achieving long-term reimbursement for OMIDRIA. The efforts there have been consistent, and frankly, I believe we are making significant progress toward achieving that end.
We are pursuing two different approaches in parallel, one legislative, one administrative. However, frankly, don’t want to go into the details of that, but I will leave it, as said that, certainly that has our focus and we expect that we will be successful there.
Again no promises but certainly I think we are making meaningful headway toward achieving that end.
Liana Moussatos
And my final question is what percent of OMIDRIA sales in Q1 were international?
Dr. Greg Demopulos
Very small, Liana. Again, we are just beginning to expand in the Middle Eastern market.
As I mentioned, we do plan on expanding the regions and countries internationally, and will keep everyone updated as we accomplish that goal.
Liana Moussatos
Thank you very much.
Dr. Greg Demopulos
Thanks, Liana.
Operator
Thank you. Our next question is from Steve Brozak of WBB.
Your line is open.
Steve Brozak
Hey, Greg. Good afternoon and congrats on this quarter obviously.
And hey, I want to dive in on few quick questions on OMIDRIA and I got OMS721. In looking over the filed documents here and you had mentioned the ANDA?
I see that there is an ANDA from Sandoz now. I guess, it’s a form of flattery and that everyone’s interested.
But can you expand on that and give as much detail or clarity as you can, because…
Dr. Greg Demopulos
Yes. Yes.
As much as I know, we just received this notification from Sandoz today. We see this business as usual.
As I think I agree with your comment. We take this as complementary.
Clearly, Sandoz must think that there is enough room in this market, not only for one generic, but for two. The bottomline as I see it is nothing has changed.
Our patents are our patents. Those don’t change.
We have very high confidence in those patents and this is just again, as frankly I see it and I think as we see it at Omeros, this is really standard operating procedure for these generics and it’s -- I take that as you said as a form of, perhaps, a high form of flattery.
Steve Brozak
It actually leads me to the next question, because obviously, we have been tracking and watching all the compounding issues, it’s for a different kind of ophthalmic issue, but the stuff that’s been taking place in Texas, where obviously, there’s been contamination and there has been issues. How do you look at the competitive advantages you’ve got, obviously, versus compounding and can you give us greater clarity on your thoughts there and I want to follow-up with sales as well please?
Dr. Greg Demopulos
Sure. First with your question regarding how we see ourselves comparing the compounded products.
As you know, Steve, we are the only FDA approved product that does what OMIDRIA does and even compared to compounded products, frankly, OMIDRIA is more effective, so -- significantly so. So you take better clinical outcomes, better clinical efficacy and layer on the potential safety issues of compounded products.
Frankly, we don’t see compounded products as truly competitive to OMIDRIA. Now you mentioned the specific events occurring in Texas and Dallas, Texas, they are very unfortunate.
We follow these only somewhat remotely. Don’t have all the details, haven’t focused on them.
We do understand that these were patients who underwent cataract surgery and a compounded product was used, injected into the eye and what we’ve heard now and what I was hearing, frankly, at ASCRS, which was just this last weekend. This was as you would expect a topic of frequent conversation among ophthalmologists.
It sounds like this is a problem that is affecting dozens of patients, I heard, perhaps as many as 60 to 80 patients, who are losing varying degrees of vision, some effectively complete vision loss, believed to be secondary to use of this compounded product during cataract surgery. Obviously, incredibly unfortunate for these patients who are undergoing what they believe is a routine, and frankly, is a routine surgical procedure that is designed and in almost all cases is extremely effective at restoring wonderful eyesight.
And to have these patients going and then, as a result of that procedure, have their eyesight diminished or taken is clearly a terrible thing. And frankly, the facility where this happened, we know the head of that group of surgery centers and he is a tremendous person, cares deeply about his patients and he is by all accounts an outstanding surgeon and physician.
And it’s just a terribly sad situation, I think, all the way around and that’s about all I know of it at this point.
Steve Brozak
Yeah. Obviously looking at your distribution and looking at the ophthalmology throughout there, one of the things that we model is your base.
Can you tell us about how you’re looking at increasing the base, because obviously when you do that then obviously the increase is everything else gets streamlined, I will ask that question and I’d like to ask questions about OMS721 when you done with that?
Dr. Greg Demopulos
Sure. Sure.
With respect to increasing the base, we continue to focus on new accounts, Steve. We see this as a pyramid.
Certainly we are focused on increasing utilization within accounts that are already using OMIDRIA, expanding it within a given physicians or surgeons surgical practice, but also expanding it within the facility to that physician who is using OMIDRIA, expanding it to his or her colleagues. But at the same time we are looking at adding and continue to add wholly new facilities, be it hospitals, be it ASCs and we are continuing to have had and continue to have good success at adding new accounts.
So obviously our discount -- volume discount pricing program is helpful in convincing new facilities to try the drug, because the key here is getting facilities and physicians to try the drug. Once it’s in their hands.
Once they use it. Once they use it in enough cases, so that they get the sense that, gee, I’m starting to see something here that’s a lot better than what I’ve been doing.
And my days are smoother, my days are faster, my patients are doing better. Once they do that it’s very simple or relatively simple to get them to continue to use.
The key is initially having them try. The volume discount pricing program helps to do that.
So, yes, we are focused on expanding the base, while also building the penetration within facilities that are existing users of OMIDRIA.
Steve Brozak
Okay. Now I am going to switch tack and I will hop off line, because I don’t want obviously to monopolize the call.
You had mentioned something earlier on the protein area side, because that’s a quantifiable mechanism and when you’re looking at OMS721 and what hurdles are to prove things. How do you see that as being something that you can quantify and that you can get the another approval be a granularity in terms of saying assessing OMS721 efficacy in going out there and showing patient response and I will jump back in the queue after you answer that?
Thank you.
Dr. Greg Demopulos
Okay. So you are referencing now IgA nephropathy.
Steve Brozak
Yeah.
Dr. Greg Demopulos
Trial on IgA nephropathy and OMS721 with an endpoint of 24-hour urine protein excretion and your question with respect to the objectivity or accessibility of that is extremely high. It’s a laboratory value.
You are measuring the amount of protein 24 -- over a 24-hour period that ends up in a patient’s urine. So this from our perspective is a very meaningful endpoint.
The data exists. The literature is there that demonstrates that reduction in urine protein levels is tied to improvement in kidney function, very clearly.
And when we say improvement in kidney function we are really talking about kind of two measurements, estimated glomerular filtration rate or eGFR and creatinine. Both of those have been shown to be effected by reduction in protein levels.
The reason that this is so meaningful and the reason that, frankly, we at Omeros are so excited about this is from our understanding this may be the first time and also from the understanding of our experts in IgA nephropathy work closely with the FDA, this very well may be the first time that they are really considering this as an endpoint, not just for accelerated approval, meaning not as a surrogate endpoint, but as an endpoint for full approval. What we had initially thought was that the FDA would consider potentially proteinuria as an endpoint for accelerated approval, but we will still require eGFR, estimated glomerular filtration rate or eGFR for full approval.
And in fact you have this discussion with the FDA, were they somewhat waved off eGFR for full approval and said that they would assuming our data continue to look like our data look consider proteinuria as an endpoint for full approval was obviously a very pleasant surprise for us and likely removes potentially years of clinical trial duration to full approval. So it is as, I think you’re pointing out a very big deal and I think that it demonstrates, I think, the FDA’s focus on getting treatment to the market for this very serious disease for which there currently is no approved treatment.
And I think we so far found the FDA very cooperative. I expect we will continue to find the FDA very cooperative.
I know that we look very much forward to working with them very closely to get OMS721 approved quickly for the treatment of patients with IgA nephropathy, who as I said, have no other treatment existing that is approved.
Steve Brozak
Greg, again, congrats on both the commercial and clinical progress, let me hop back in the queue. Thank you.
Dr. Greg Demopulos
Thanks, Steve. Thank you very much.
Operator
Thank you. Our next question is from Elemer Piros of Cantor.
Your line is open.
Elemer Piros
Hello, Greg. How are you?
Dr. Greg Demopulos
Hi, Elemer. Good.
How are you, Elemer?
Elemer Piros
Okay. Thank you.
So, Greg, if you were to estimate how many hospitals and ASCs you have introduced OMIDRIA to and what percent of the total would that be roughly, so what is your potential target number?
Dr. Greg Demopulos
Well, a lot in that question, some will be able to answer Elemer, some I will not. But with respect to where we currently stand overall in penetration of cataract surgery procedures.
I think if you look at our Q1 sell-through numbers, we are probably only on the order of 3.5% to 4% of all cataract procedures performed. So, clearly, we are just scratching the surface here for what is ultimately the potential market for OMIDRIA.
Now with respect to your question is, where do we want to be, we are focused on taking OMIDRIA to the point of standard-of-use for cataract surgery and we think that that is genuinely an achievable objective. Ophthalmologists in general are conservative.
Ophthalmologists in general are slow to adopt. I mean, if you think of Viscoelastics, Viscoelastics I believe in the first several years following the launch of Viscoelastics, the overall penetration in cataract surgery was less than 5%, if you look at Viscoelastics now it’s effectively 100%.
There are really very few and again, I’m not an ophthalmologist, but I -- everyone tells me, all the ophthalmologists tell me that you just don’t perform cataract surgery without Viscoelastics. So the idea is, well, slow to adopt, when they do recognize the value of the product and begin to expand the utilization of that product, they become very loyal to that product.
And we do expect that that’s what we’re starting to see with OMIDRIA. It was very telling at ASCRS this last weekend.
I remember two years ago at ASCRS, when frankly, the initial reaction from a number of the ophthalmologists was almost somewhat hostile, regarding this new product that was coming out and the pricing of that product, that definitely lessened in the last ASCRS meeting last year. This year I left that ASCRS, frankly, highly energized about the product, because of the number of positive comments from the podium, from the panels, the presentations around OMIDRIA.
But even more so from the unsolicited comments from physicians, nurses, administrators coming by the OMIDRIA booth and talking about the importance of OMIDRIA to their practice, their expanding use of the product and their belief that what we’re doing is ultimately good for their patients. It was a stark comparison clearly to two years ago, and frankly, a pretty significant difference from even a year ago.
So I think that corner is being turned and I think we are on our way to achieving what we want to achieve here.
Elemer Piros
Okay. Now coming back to the original question, if you are in -- if you have introduced the concept to X number of hospitals and ASCs as of the end of first quarter, where was that number or how -- by what percent did that grow when you look back a year ago?
Dr. Greg Demopulos
Yeah. I think that I mentioned that the utilization of the product from December to March it increased -- the number of facilities using that product had increased by 10%.
Elemer Piros
But you wouldn’t have a year ago number on…
Dr. Greg Demopulos
I think I don’t -- I don’t have it at my hands, Elemer. I can -- if -- at some point we can put that information if we choose out there.
I can tell you that the growth of new accounts has been pretty consistent. Obviously, as a percentage -- those percentages are going to progressively come down since the number of accounts that are using.
The base of accounts continues to expand. So we can’t continue to be generating 75% to 80% new accounts, as we did when we initially launch the product.
Elemer Piros
Okay.
Dr. Greg Demopulos
But there is no question that the growth of the base of users of OMIDRIA continues to grow and continues to grow at a pretty steady and that at an attractive pace.
Elemer Piros
Yes. Greg, you provided a very good explanation of the first quarter numbers and I personally don’t look at the sequential decline or being stable quarter-on-quarter, but I look at, say, the last four quarters.
So the observation there is that revenues grew from 10% to 12.3%. So if you just divide it, it’s about $0.5 million in addition or additional on a quarter-on-quarter basis over a year period.
So evening out seasonality, et cetera, et cetera, are you satisfied with that level of growth?
Dr. Greg Demopulos
Well, I think, that you are -- with all the respect, Elemer, I think, you are mischaracterizing of it. The 12.3% that you’re pointing to this quarter was, as we said, I think, pretty clearly a function of just lumpiness in inventory.
And if you look at the growth what we saw in utilization was again double-digit growth and we’ve seen double-digit growth quarter over quarter over quarter. So, I think, that that is pretty attractive from our perspective.
I think that Q2 we will see -- we expect continued growth and we plan on seeing continued growth throughout the year. Do we think that we can get to cash flow positive with OMIDRIA, absolutely.
Do we think we will have long-term reimbursement for the product, yes, we do, any guarantees in that, no. But if I had to bet, I bet, yes.
So I think that are -- I will change your question a little bit to, are we comfortable with the growth that we are seeing in OMIDRIA. Of course, I’d always like to see it faster.
Our team knows that and they would like to see it faster as well. Are we generally comfortable with it, yes, I am and we as a whole are.
We love to see it faster, but quarter-over-quarter double-digit growth I think is not -- it is not a terrible arch there. So I think we are going to get there and I think we continue to do so.
Elemer Piros
Yes. Okay.
And just one question on OMS721, please, so the aHUS clinically Phase 3 protocol, has that been rolled into the existing protocol that you had for -- that is listed on clinicaltrials.gov. I think that list like 89 patients, but there are multiple types of patients in that protocol or is this completely separate thing.
Dr. Greg Demopulos
I am sorry, Elemer, I lost a part of what you said, could you repeat that?
Elemer Piros
Yes. So the Phase 3 protocol for OMS721 in the aHUS indication, has that protocol been rolled into the previous Phase 2 protocol that you listed back in 2014 or it’s an entirely new thing and shall we look for it elsewhere?
Dr. Greg Demopulos
No. That is a new protocol.
The protocol TMA is the Phase 2 program has continued to advance and in that is our stem cell TMA.
Elemer Piros
Got it. So we should look for it somewhere else on clinicaltrials.gov?
Dr. Greg Demopulos
Yes. That should already, in fact, be up on clinicaltrials, if it’s not, it’s simply because our team is running flat out.
We’ve gone from one indication now in OMS721 to three indications and one already in Phase 3, two more moving to Phase 3, as you can imagine things are a bit busy.
Elemer Piros
Yes. Yes.
Thank you very much, Greg.
Dr. Greg Demopulos
Thanks, Elemer.
Operator
Thank you. Our next question is from Jason Kolbert of Maxim.
Your line is open.
Jason Kolbert
Hi, Greg. Thank you.
I want my questions to really focus on OMS721. On the one hand congratulations on OMIDRIA, I see the importance in the revenues, I see the sequential growth and I see the very clear explanation of wholesaler inventory.
But I am surprised by the intense focus on those numbers, because I think, you and I both understand the OMIDRIA while it’s great. It’s a means to an end and clearly OMS721 is one of the add?
I think, one of the most important things you’re talking about now is breakthrough designation. So can you talk with me a little bit about what the process was or will be to secure that and how that changes kind of your clinical trial thinking and how the pivotal programs might unfold for the three different indications associated with OMS721, because to me that’s where there could be what I would consider the most significant inflection point in the company?
Thanks.
Dr. Greg Demopulos
Hi, Jason and thanks for your comments. Yes.
Look, as I think, we agree OMS721 is driving revenue that supports the pipeline. I wouldn’t underestimate what those revenues can and what I expect will be, but I think you’re correct in identifying OMS721 as a major program within Omeros.
Let me answer specifically your questions, breakthrough designation. This arose most recently when we met with the FDA to speak with them about our Phase 3 program.
FDA looked at our data. We presented the IgA nephropathy data to them.
I think it’s safe to say that no one is ever seen data that look as compelling in IgA as the data that we have generated in OMS721 and that is not my opinion. That is what I have been told by experts in renal diseases in IgA specifically, and frankly, I think, that was clearly the read by the FDA.
So in that meeting they suggested that we submit a breakthrough therapy designation request, which we have already done. So there is a 60-day clock on the review of that application.
It needs to go to the department level. Again that’s assuming FDA meets those deadlines sometimes does, sometimes does not.
What the importance of breakthrough designation carries with it is the ability to work closely with the FDA on things like the design of the Phase 3 protocol. It’s really ongoing in real time interactions with the FDA.
FDA then brings its resources to get products approved as efficiently as possible and that’s what breakthrough therapy designation delivers for the sponsor and for the drug.
Jason Kolbert
Thank you, Greg. And when you take a look at specifically patient size, are there impacts there, I mean, given the safety profile was established at this point, what are they really looking for in terms of establishing efficacy towards approval under the designation with breakthrough status?
Dr. Greg Demopulos
The number of patients, it mean sample size for the trial, Jason?
Jason Kolbert
Yeah. Exactly.
Dr. Greg Demopulos
Yeah. We are still working through sample size and how we want to structure that study.
So we’ve not put out yet numbers with respect to overall sample size for the IgA program, part of that will depend in discussions or on discussions with the FDA about the overall design. We have a pretty good idea about how we’d like to run that study and what we think the design of that study should be.
As part of that we have preliminary numbers around sample size. So I think that when we talk with the FDA more we will get there.
Jason Kolbert
I am very excited for you and for patients. Thanks, Greg.
Dr. Greg Demopulos
Thanks, Jason. Thank you very much.
Operator
Thank you. Our next question is from Tyler Van Buren of Cowen & Company.
Your line is open.
Tyler Van Buren
Hi, Greg. Good afternoon.
Thanks for taking the questions.
Dr. Greg Demopulos
Much like Jason.
Tyler Van Buren
Yeah. Much like Jason, I am not very surprise to hear the quarter-over-quarter change in dynamics in Q1 we are seeing it broadly across the industry, I just like.
One of major question I want to ask in terms of the commercial strategy and how it’s evolved and for clarification first. Did you state that the centers are seeing 50% penetration in their cataract procedures with OMIDRIA that are signed up, maybe some clarification that would be helpful?
Dr. Greg Demopulos
Yeah. What I said there was that at the end of the first quarter 22% of all of the ASCs that use OMIDRIA are administering the drug in over 50% of their total number of cases, cataract surgery cases performed within their respective facilities.
Tyler Van Buren
That’s Helpful. And it sounds like you have -- you guys are in a lot of the major hospitals or institutions and obviously, you’re going to continue to grow the base.
So you do -- do you see the largest opportunity in more the community-based surgical centers and is that kind of why you’ve shifted to this volume discount pricing program and have you seen any early traction there, just want to get maybe some more specific thoughts there?
Dr. Greg Demopulos
Yes. The volume discount pricing program applies to the ASCs and roughly 65% of cataract surgery cases are performed in ASCs, the other 35% being performed in hospitals.
We continue to focus on both of those facilities or types or care settings hospitals and ASCs. It’s interesting that in fact the distribution of OMIDRIA used across these two different settings of care for cataract surgery very closely aligned with the national distribution, meaning, 65% ASCs, 35% hospitals, we are seeing the same thing or we’ve achieved that same split with respect to OMIDRIA sales specifically.
So I think that answers your question.
Tyler Van Buren
That’s helpful. So it seems to be similar in both settings and just a couple or hopefully quick ones on OMS721.
Have patients been dosed in the study so far?
Dr. Greg Demopulos
We have not put out any updates on our enrollment numbers. We will do that likely at some point.
But we continue just to move forward on that program.
Tyler Van Buren
Okay. And imagine how quickly the program advancing that you guys are going to be exploring different doses, potentially a different dosing regimen, any updated thoughts on your strategy there?
Dr. Greg Demopulos
Well, we have a fixed dosing regimen that we are pursuing in aHUS and we may very well already have dosing regimens for IgA and stem cell also. So I think the key here is we have three programs running, one in Phase 3, two in Phase 2, which are moving to Phase 3.
Our -- we are largely agnostic with respect to which indication makes it over the finish line first, Tyler. We are looking to get on the OMS721 on the market as quickly as possible.
So if that means that that’s aHUS, great. If that means that somehow IgA and/or stem cell, leapfrog aHUS in terms of the ability to complete the program faster, that’s fine too.
So we are going to continue to push and the issue of dosing, we think that we have that pretty well ironed up. So I’m not sure that we are expecting to see additional dosing studies for example on IgA nephropathy.
Tyler Van Buren
Okay. That’s helpful.
Dr. Greg Demopulos
Four in stem cell -- four in stem cell.
Tyler Van Buren
Okay.
Dr. Greg Demopulos
And obviously, we are not in aHUS given that that Phase 3 programs already underway.
Tyler Van Buren
Okay. That’s great to hear.
And with respect to the patients that you are enrolling in aHUS study, you mentioned that there were some ongoing patients, as well as some new patients. Can you maybe just speak to your ability to get new patients on therapy with Soliris available, is there potential rescue protocol built into the study for whatever reason, one patient didn’t respond and ultimately do you view the mix of U.S.
versus ex-U.S. sites being 50/50 in the program or is there a requirement for that, just your thoughts on that?
Dr. Greg Demopulos
Yeah. Thanks.
We are enrolling in the Phase 3 program for aHUS, both patients who have been previously treated on other agents and of course, the other agent there would be Soliris, we are also including patients who are newly diagnosed who have had no treatment. Clearly those newly diagnosed patients are coming from primarily regions where Soliris is either not available or is for some other reason inaccessible by aHUS patients.
But I’ll be very clear that there are a good number of those regions and patients available to us. So, specifically, I think, with respect to your question around split between U.S.
and ex-U.S. I think that what we’re going to see is a good number of these patients just as we’ve already seen arising out of ex-U.S.
regions. Now that is specific to aHUS.
That’s going to be different for stem cell and for IgA where there are no approved products anywhere in the world. So I think then we can clearly draw pretty readily from U.S.
sites, as well as ex-U.S. sites.
Tyler Van Buren
Makes lot of sense. Thanks for the additional thought.
Dr. Greg Demopulos
Thank you.
Operator
Thank you. And that concludes our Q&A session for today.
I’d like to turn the call back over to Greg Demopulos for any further remarks.
Dr. Greg Demopulos
Thank you, Operator. And thank you again everyone for taking the time to listen in.
Clearly these are exciting times for Omeros. OMIDRIA sales continue to drain traction.
Our Phase 3 OMS721 program is underway and as I said, two more are expected to quickly join it. One addiction programs in Phase 2 and the next OMS527 is rapidly advancing to the clinic.
We expect that all of these programs and the rest of our pipeline will continue to generate a long line of near-term milestones and we look forward to keeping you updated on those milestones and our achievement of them. As always, we appreciate your continued interest and support.
Have a good day. Thank you.
Operator
Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for participating in today’s conference. This does conclude today’s program.
You may all disconnect. Everyone have a great day.