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Jazz Pharmaceuticals (JAZZ) Q1 FY26 earnings call: guidance and Q&A

Earnings call· Mar 2026 (Q1 FY26)· Health Care· May 5, 2026

Source: earnings call transcript

Executive summary

Jazz Pharmaceuticals Q1 FY26 — Record Revenue and Zanidatamab Progress Drive Strong Start

Jazz Pharmaceuticals delivered an exceptionally strong first quarter, marked by record revenues and double-digit growth across its key commercial brands. The company is actively preparing for the potential launch of zanidatamab in HER2-positive GEA following its FDA Priority Review, while also advancing its broader pipeline. With a robust financial position, Jazz remains focused on strategic business development to expand its rare disease portfolio and leverage its existing capabilities.

Highlights

5
  • Achieved highest ever first quarter total revenues of $1.1 billion, reflecting more than 19% year-over-year growth.

  • Generated double-digit growth across all promoted brands: Xywav, Epidiolex, Modeyso, and Zepzelca.

  • Reported strong cash flow from operations of over $400 million in the first quarter.

  • Posted robust non-GAAP adjusted EPS of $6.34.

  • FDA accepted sBLA for Ziihera (zanidatamab) in HER2-positive first-line GEA with Priority Review and a PDUFA date of August 25, 2026.

Concerns

3
  • Non-GAAP adjusted gross margin declined slightly year-on-year, primarily due to higher sales of products carrying royalties (Zepzelca and Modeyso).

  • Anticipates increased competitive dynamics in the sleep business in the second half of 2026, including high-sodium generics gaining volume and potential entry of new wake-promoting agents.

  • Expects a decline in second-line use of Zepzelca due to competition and fewer Zepzelca naive patients available for treatment.

Guidance & targets

CategoryTargetConfidence
Total Revenue
$4.25 billion to $4.5 billion
high materiality
High
Ziihera (zanidatamab) GEA Regulatory Approval
PDUFA date of August 25, 2026
high materiality
High
Ziihera (zanidatamab) GEA Launch
On or before PDUFA date of August 25, 2026
high materiality
High
EmpowHER trial (zanidatamab) Enrollment Completion
First half of 2027
medium materiality
Medium
EmpowHER trial (zanidatamab) Top-line Data
Late 2027 or early 2028
medium materiality
Medium
ACTION trial (Modeyso) Interim Overall Survival Readout
Late 2026 or early 2027
medium materiality
Medium
HERIZON-GEA trial (zanidatamab) Second Interim OS Analysis
Midyear
medium materiality
High

Segment performance

SegmentRevenueYoYQoQMargin
Xywav
Strong demand driven by HCPs and patients for low-sodium option, with significant new patient growth, primarily from idiopathic hypersomnia (IH). Remains the #1 branded treatment for narcolepsy and only FDA-approved treatment for IH.
Net patient adds: 425Active patients: 16,600Volume growth: 12%Payer coverage: >90% commercial lives
$408M18%——
Epidiolex
Growth driven by strong underlying demand and volume. Focus on expanding reach in the adult patient population and long-term care settings. Nurse Navigator program continues to improve patient persistency.
Volume growth: 16%
$250M15%——
Oncology
The oncology portfolio demonstrated significant growth, including Ziihera, Modeyso, Zepzelca, and Rylaze.
—45%——
Ziihera (zanidatamab)
Generated sales from biliary tract cancer (BTC) indication. Expanding into community-based accounts and building readiness for potential launch in GEA, with significant customer overlap between BTC and GEA accounts.
$13M———
Modeyso
Strong early performance following its August 2025 launch, reflecting significant unmet need in H3 K27M-mutant diffuse midline glioma. Patients are staying on treatment longer than initially anticipated.
Patients treated since launch: 500
$41M———
Zepzelca
Growth primarily driven by strong uptake in the frontline maintenance setting following FDA approval in combination with Tecentriq. Commercial initiatives are focused on first-line maintenance, with second-line use expected to decrease.
$101M60%——
Rylaze
Delivered a strong quarter, though compared to a low Q1 2025. The COGS impact that started in 2024 has been fully realized. Focus continues on ensuring appropriate patients receive Rylaze and growth in AYA.
$104M10%——

Deals & partnerships

Nippon Zoki Partnership for Epidiolex in Japan

Nippon Zoki will lead regulatory, distribution, and commercial activities for Epidiolex in Japan. Jazz remains the sponsor of the clinical trial.

Risks & headwinds

Competitive dynamics in sleep business Second half of 2026

Increased in H2 FY26

Mitigation:Xywav's unique benefits (low-sodium, IH approval, nighttime efficacy) and Jazz's patient support services are key differentiators.

High-sodium generics gaining volume Second half of 2026

Expected to build volumes over the course of 2026

Mitigation:Xywav's low-sodium formulation and strong payer coverage are expected to mitigate impact. Jazz has robust patents for Xywav.

New wake-promoting agents entering narcolepsy market Second half of 2026

One or more potentially entering

Mitigation:Orexins are likely complementary to Xywav, which addresses disrupted nighttime sleep directly. Xywav's safety advantage for cardiovascular risk patients is highlighted.

Decline in Xyrem and high sodium authorized generic revenues Over the course of 2026

Expected decline

Mitigation:As generic high sodium oxybates build their volumes.

Decline in second-line use of Zepzelca Rest of 2026

Expected decrease

Mitigation:Due to competition and fewer Zepzelca naive patients available for treatment. Commercial initiatives are focused on first-line maintenance uptake.

MFN-related considerations for zanidatamab OUS pricing

Uncertainty

Mitigation:GLOBE and GUARD proposals to use ex-U.S. countries for U.S. reference pricing will be taken into account for OUS strategy.

What to watch in Q2 FY26

Zanidatamab GEA Regulatory Approval

August 25, 2026 (PDUFA date)
Current sBLA accepted, Priority Review
Target FDA approval

Why it matters

FDA approval and subsequent launch of zanidatamab in HER2-positive GEA is a major catalyst for the oncology portfolio and a significant growth driver.

The FDA recently accepted our sBLA for Ziihera under real-time oncology review and granted priority review with a PDUFA date of August 25, 2026.

Find out whether JAZZ delivers this. Inve re-checks your case every morning.

Q&A highlights

How will physicians sequence HER2 agents if zanidatamab is approved post-HER2, given the lack of data for other products in this setting?

The EmpowHER trial (303) is designed to definitively evaluate zanidatamab against standard of care in a randomized setting, providing crucial data for sequencing decisions where current data is limited.

“The trial that we're running 303 will be the first time that we definitively in a randomized setting, evaluate zanidatamab versus what would be considered a standard of care. So we expect to be out ahead with important data that will inform decisions about whether to use zanidatamab or other HER2 agents in that space.”

asked by Jess Fye · answered by Robert Iannone

2 min read 6 chapters

Detailed narrative

Strong Commercial Execution Drives Record Q1 Revenues

Jazz Pharmaceuticals reported an exceptionally strong first quarter, achieving its highest ever first quarter total revenues of $1.1 billion, representing over 19% year-over-year growth. This performance was driven by robust commercial execution across its highly differentiated product portfolio, including Xywav, Epidiolex, Modeyso, and Zepzelca, all of which demonstrated double-digit growth. The company highlighted disciplined efforts by its commercial teams in supporting physicians and patients.

Zanidatamab Progress in HER2-positive GEA

The company is urgently advancing zanidatamab for patients with HER2-positive first-line locally advanced or metastatic GEA, an area of significant unmet medical need. The FDA recently accepted the sBLA for Ziihera under real-time oncology review, granting Priority Review with a PDUFA date of August 25, 2026.

Management expects Ziihera to become the HER2-targeted therapy of choice due to the magnitude of benefits observed in the HERIZON-GEA trial, including an unprecedented median overall survival of 26.4 months with the triplet arm.

Modeyso Launch Momentum and First-Line Potential

Modeyso generated strong early net product sales of $41 million in Q1 2026, following its launch in August 2025. Approximately 500 patients have been treated with Modeyso since launch, reflecting the significant unmet need in H3 K27M-mutant diffuse midline glioma.

The company sees potential upsides in treatment duration and patient population size, especially with the ongoing Phase III ACTION trial, which is designed to support regulatory approval for frontline therapy directly following radiation, potentially expanding the market and duration of treatment.

Zepzelca Growth Driven by Frontline Maintenance

Zepzelca net product sales increased 60% year-over-year to $101 million in Q1 2026. This growth was primarily fueled by strong uptake in the frontline maintenance setting, following FDA approval in combination with Tecentriq in October of the prior year. Healthcare providers are rapidly adopting the Zepzelca combination due to the IMforte clinical data showing improved progression-free and overall survival for patients with extensive stage small cell lung cancer.

While first-line maintenance adoption is expected to grow, second-line use is anticipated to decrease due to competition.

Pipeline Advancement Across Oncology and Neuroscience

Jazz Pharmaceuticals continues to make progress across its pipeline with multiple clinical trials. Key oncology trials include ongoing registrational zanidatamab trials, such as the EmpowHER trial in metastatic breast cancer (enrollment completion H1 2027, data late 2027/early 2028) and a potentially registrational pan-tumor basket trial.

In neuroscience and epilepsy, early-stage assets are in development, with the company actively exploring new mechanisms and building around its Epidiolex franchise.

Financial Strength and Strategic Capital Allocation

The company reported a strong financial position with $2.9 billion in cash and investments and $408 million in cash from operations in Q1. This financial strength enables investment in commercial portfolio growth and pipeline advancement, alongside disciplined capital allocation for business development opportunities.

Jazz is focused on expanding its presence in rare diseases, particularly strengthening existing areas like epilepsy, sleep, and rare oncology, and exploring new rare disease areas where it can leverage its capabilities.

Summary of the company's earnings call; see how call summaries are prepared. Not investment advice.