PHILADELPHIA, May 6, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Lannett Company, Inc. (NYSE: LCI) today reported financial results for its fiscal 2015 third quarter ended March 31, 2015. 

For the fiscal 2015 third quarter, net sales rose 24% to $99.4 million from $80.0 million in last year's third quarter.  Gross profit increased 35% to $75.6 million, or 76% of net sales, from $56.1 million, or 70% of net sales.  Research and development (R&D) expenses decreased to $9.2 million from $10.6 million for the fiscal 2014 third quarter.  Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses were $12.2 million, compared with $9.6 million.  Operating income grew 51% to $54.3 million from $36.0 million.  Net income attributable to Lannett Company increased 58% to $36.2 million, or $0.97 per diluted share, from $23.0 million, or $0.63 per diluted share, for the prior year third quarter. 

"We have now reported thirteen consecutive quarters in which net sales and adjusted EPS exceeded the comparable prior-year period," said Arthur Bedrosian, chief executive officer of Lannett.  "Our third quarter performance reflects higher sales and gross margin across a number of product categories, partially offset by lower sales of our cardiovascular products, which as expected faced new entrants in the market.  With our strong third quarter and outlook for a solid fourth quarter, we have raised our fiscal 2015 full-year guidance."

For the first nine months of fiscal 2015, net sales rose 59% to $307.6 million from $193.2 million in the comparable prior-year period.  Gross profit was $234.4 million, or 76% of net sales.  This compares with gross profit for the first nine months of fiscal 2014 of $98.5 million, or 51% of net sales, which included a non-recurring pre-tax charge of $20.1 million related to the contract extension with Jerome Stevens Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (JSP).  Excluding the JSP contract renewal charge, gross profit was $118.6 million, or 61% of net sales.  R&D expenses increased to $23.4 million from $21.1 million.  SG&A expenses were $35.6 million, compared with $26.6 million.  Operating income was $175.5 million compared with $50.7 million for the first nine months of the prior year.  Excluding the JSP contract renewal charge, operating income for the prior-year period was $70.8 million.  Net income attributable to Lannett Company was $116.0 million, or $3.13 per diluted share, compared with $33.6 million, or $0.97 per diluted share, for the first nine months of fiscal 2014.  Adjusted net income, which excludes the impact of the JSP contract renewal charge equal to $12.6 million after-tax, was $46.2 million, or $1.34 per diluted share, in the first nine months of fiscal 2014.

Guidance for Fiscal 2015

Based on Lannett's current outlook, the company raised its financial guidance for the fiscal 2015 full year as follows:

• Net sales in the range of $403 million to $408 million, up from previous guidance of $395 million to $405 million;
• Gross margin as a percentage of net sales of approximately 75% to 76%, up from 74% to 75%;
• R&D expense in the range of $30 million to $31 million, up from previous guidance of $29 million to $31 million;
• SG&A expense ranging from $51 million to $52 million, up from $47 million to $49 million;
• The full year effective tax rate to be in the range of 34% to 35%, unchanged from previous guidance; and
• Capital expenditures in fiscal 2015 in the range of $30 million to $35 million, which includes $4 million to continue the partial fit-out of two buildings recently acquired by the company, revised from previous guidance of $40 million to $50 million.

Conference Call Information and Forward-Looking Statements

Later today, the company will host a conference call at 4:30 p.m. ET to review its results of operations for the fiscal 2015 third quarter ended March 31, 2015.  The conference call will be available to interested parties by dialing 877-261-8992 from the U.S. or Canada, or 847-619-6548 from international locations, passcode 39586832.  The call will be broadcast via the Internet at www.lannett.com.  Listeners are encouraged to visit the website at least 10 minutes prior to the start of the scheduled presentation to register, download and install any necessary audio software.  A playback of the call will be archived and accessible on the same website for at least three months

Discussion during the conference call may include forward-looking statements regarding such topics as, but not limited to, the company's financial status and performance, regulatory and operational developments, and any comments the company may make about its future plans or prospects in response to questions from participants on the conference call.

About Lannett Company, Inc.:

Lannett Company, founded in 1942, develops, manufactures, packages, markets and distributes generic pharmaceutical products for a wide range of medical indications.  For more information, visit the company's website at www.lannett.com.

This news release contains certain statements of a forward-looking nature relating to future events or future business performance.  Any such statements, including, but not limited to, achieving the financial metrics stated in the company's guidance for fiscal 2015, whether expressed or implied, are subject to risks and uncertainties which can cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors which include, but are not limited to, the difficulty in predicting the timing or outcome of FDA or other regulatory approvals or actions, the ability to successfully commercialize products upon approval, Lannett's estimated or anticipated future financial results, future inventory levels, future competition or pricing, future levels of operating expenses, product development efforts or performance, and other risk factors discussed in the company's Form 10-K and other documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time.  These forward-looking statements represent the company's judgment as of the date of this news release.  The company disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

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SOURCE Lannett Company, Inc.