SciClone Pharma Backs 2014 Outlook

(RTTNews) - Specialty pharmaceutical company SciClone Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (SCLN) on Tuesday affirmed its financial outlook for fiscal 2014 and provided revenue outlook for fiscal 2015.

For fiscal 2014, Foster City, California-based SciClone Pharma affirmed its outlook for adjusted earnings of $0.64 to $0.68, as a result of reduced marketing and general and administrative expenses. The company also maintained its outlook for sales revenue of $130 million to $135 million, representing an about 30 percent increase from its core business revenue over 2013.

The core business revenue excludes all Sanofi products and certain Pfizer products, including Adriamycin and Daunoblastina.

For 2015, SciClone forecasts sales revenue of $153 million to $158 million, representing an about 17 percent increase over 2014.

Friedhelm Blobel, SciClone's Chief Executive Officer said, "ZADAXIN continues to be a strong growth driver of our core business, in the current indications for which it is used, as well as in potential new indications, such as sepsis and hepatitis B infection. We are looking forward to delivering a stronger performance in our oncology business unit in 2015, and believe that DC Bead can begin to contribute to that growth when we introduce it to the market around mid-year."

In addition, SciClone has a share repurchase program under which its board of directors had authorized $65.5 million, of which about $65.2 million had been utilized through December 31, 2014, while about $0.3 million remained available. The board of directors may consider authorizing additional funds in this program for 2015.

SciClone expects to report its complete fourth quarter and full-year 2014 financial results in March 2015, and plans to provide full-year 2015 financial guidance at that time.

SCLN closed Monday's trading at $8.55, down $0.20 or 2.29 percent on a volume of 380,200 shares.