Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc.'s (REGN) first quarter 2012 earnings (excluding special items but including stock-based compensation) of 15 cents per share compared favorably with the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a net loss of 24 cents and the year-ago loss of 49 cents. Higher revenues boosted earnings in the quarter.

Total revenue in the reported quarter soared 107% to $232.0 million driven by strong sales of eye-drug Eylea. This was the first full quarter of the drug in the market. The drug, launched in the US in November 2011, is marketed for treating patients suffering from the neovascular form of age-related macular degeneration.

Revenues handsomely beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $172 million. Total revenue included collaboration revenue, technology licensing revenue, net product sales and contract research and other revenue.

The Quarter in Details

Net product sales jumped to $128 million in the reported quarter from $4 million a year-ago. While Eylea sales came in at $124 million in the reported quarter, Arcalyst, Regeneron’s other marketed product for treating cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes, contributed $4.0 million to product sales in the quarter

Collaboration revenues came in flat at $97 million. Collaboration revenues from Regeneron’s antibody collaboration with Sanofi (SNY) came in at $85.0 million. $12.5 million came from Regeneron’s collaboration with the Healthcare unit of Bayer (BAYRY).

Revenues from technology licensing declined 25% to $5.9 million. Revenues from contract research and others accounted for the balance in the reported quarter.

Both research and development (R&D) expenses (up 7.3%) and selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses (up 149.6%) were on the upswing during the reported quarter.

The rise was primarily attributable to the higher R&D expenses incurred in connection with the efforts to develop the pipeline at Regeneron and the higher employee headcount in connection with the antibody collaboration with Sanofi. Higher costs related to the marketing of Eylea were primarily responsible for pushing the SG&A costs up. Continued...