MannKind Corporation (NASDAQ:MNKD) said Monday that it would release its fiscal third-quarter results on Monday, Nov.3 after the market close. The announcement will be followed by a conference call with investors and analysts at 5:00 p.m. Eastern to discuss quarter results and other developments. You can participate in the live conference call by dialing (800) 708-4540 or (847) 619-6397. The participant passcode is: 3643 5007. Alternatively, you can listen to the call live through the company’s website.
MannKind’s Q3 loss expected to narrow down
The Valencia-based company is expected to start selling its inhaled insulin treatment Afrezza in early 2015. Analysts on average expect the company to incur a loss of 4 cents a share, narrower than a loss of 17 cents in the same quarter last year. They forecast revenue of $66.60 million. The company hadn’t generated any revenue in the corresponding quarter last year.
Shares of the company have declined close to 40% since June 30, despite FDA approval of Afrezza and worldwide commercialization agreement with French drugmaker Sanofi SA (ADR) (NYSE:SNY) (EPA:SAN). Goldman Sachs analyst Jay Olson said in a research note last month that MannKind will remain unprofitable on an annual basis at least until 2017.
Sanofi a good partner for MannKind
Even when the company begins turning profit in 2018, the profits will be small. Goldman Sachs’ EPS estimate is 70% lower than the Wall Street consensus for FY2018. The research firm says Sanofi could prove to be a good partner. The French company will try its best to retain its diabetes market share after its blockbuster Lantus goes off-patent. So, Sanofi will put its weight and marketing might behind Afrezza to make it a success.
However, Goldman Sachs says terms of the deal give the French company an upper hand. It may affect the profitability timeline of MannKind. Goldman Sachs as a Neutral rating on the stock with $6 price objective. Meanwhile, short interest in MannKind has skyrocketed from 47.46 million in January 2014 to 78.57 million shares at the end of September 2014.
MannKind shares inched up 3.81% to $6.00 at 11:00 AM EDT on Tuesday.
