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    KNSA
    Earnings call· Mar 2026(Q1 FY26)

    Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals International Q1 FY26 earnings call KNSA

    Apr 28, 2026 Source

    Executive summary

    Kiniksa Q1 FY26 — ARCALYST Revenue Growth and Pipeline Advancement

    Kiniksa delivered strong Q1 FY26 results, driven by robust ARCALYST commercial execution and a significant increase in new patient enrollments and prescribers. The company raised its full-year revenue guidance and remains cash flow positive, enabling continued investment in its clinical pipeline, including KPL-387 and KPL-1161, with key milestones expected later this year. Management is focused on expanding market penetration for ARCALYST through targeted commercial strategies.

    Highlights

    6
    • ARCALYST net revenue grew 56% year-over-year to $214.3 million in Q1 FY26.

    • Full-year 2026 revenue guidance for ARCALYST raised to $930 million-$945 million from $900 million-$920 million.

    • Q1 FY26 saw the highest quarterly increase in new patient enrollments since ARCALYST launch.

    • Approximately 400 new prescribers wrote ARCALYST for the first time in Q1 FY26, bringing the total to over 4,550.

    • Net income increased significantly to $22.6 million in Q1 FY26 compared to $8.5 million in Q1 FY25.

    • Ended Q1 FY26 with a $468.1 million cash balance, representing $54 million of net cash generation for the period.

    Concerns

    1
    • Gross-to-net increased compared to the prior quarter, mainly driven by changes to the co-pay support program, though it was lower than Q1 FY25.

    Guidance & targets

    5
    CategoryTargetConfidence
    Full-year 2026 ARCALYST Revenue
    $930 million to $945 million
    high materiality
    High
    KPL-387 Phase II Dose-Focusing Study Data
    On track for second half of this year
    medium materiality
    High
    KPL-387 Phase III Study Initiation
    Expected by the end of this year
    high materiality
    High
    KPL-1161 Phase I Study Initiation
    Planned by the end of this year
    medium materiality
    High
    Annual Cash Flow
    Remain cash flow positive
    high materiality
    High

    Segment performance

    1
    SegmentRevenueYoYQoQMargin
    ARCALYST
    ARCALYST net revenue grew significantly year-over-year, driven by strong new prescriber additions and patient enrollments, which more than offset industry-wide seasonal headwinds. The company noted a substantial opportunity remains in the recurrent pericarditis market, with a growing prescriber base and increasing adoption in the first recurrence patient group. Q1 revenue was approximately $12 million higher than Q4 of last year.
    New prescribers in Q1 FY26: 400Total prescribers: 4,550Repeat prescribers in Q1 FY26: 1,320Unaided patient awareness of ARCALYST: 14%Prescription rate when patients inquire about ARCALYST: 80%Penetration into 2+ recurrence patient population: 18%Prescriptions in first recurrence group: 20% of total
    $214.3 million56%

    Operational metrics

    8
    Net income
    $22.6 million165.8% YoY increase
    Q1 FY26

    Net income increased significantly compared to $8.5 million in Q1 FY25.

    ARCALYST collaboration profit
    $151.2 million73% YoY increase
    Q1 FY26

    Collaboration profit continued to grow faster than sales on a year-over-year basis.

    Cash balance
    $468.1 million
    Q1 FY26 end

    The company ended the first quarter with a strong cash balance.

    Net cash generation
    $54 million
    Q1 FY26

    Representing net cash generation for the period.

    Gross-to-net
    increased compared to prior quarter, lower than Q1 2025
    Q1 FY26

    Mainly driven by changes to the co-pay support program.

    Co-pay assistance program changes
    Q1 FY26

    Enhancements to the program contributed to a more favorable gross-to-net profile.

    SG&A as % of sales
    fairly consistent
    Last year

    SG&A growth was driven by personnel and sales and marketing initiatives, including the DTC campaign.

    R&D as % of sales
    fairly consistent
    Last year

    R&D expense is influenced by the timing of clinical trials and manufacturing of clinical supply.

    Industry KPIs

    4
    MetricValueDetails
    Launch access metrics80%%
    Pipeline read out calendarKPL-387 Phase II data expected H2 2026; KPL-387 Phase III initiation by end of 2026; KPL-1161 Phase I initiation by end of 2026
    Product franchise net sales$214.3 millionUSD
    Prescription volume new startshighest quarterly increase

    Risks & headwinds

    2
    Industry-wide seasonal headwindsQ1 FY26

    impacted Q1 FY26 revenue, but more than offset by strong underlying commercial metrics

    Mitigation: Strong underlying commercial metrics, enhancements to co-pay assistance program.

    Gross-to-net impact from co-pay support program changesQ1 FY26

    increased compared to prior quarter, but lower than Q1 FY25

    Mitigation: Enhancements to assistance program design reduced average co-pay payout per patient, including reducing maximum co-pay payments and using machine learning to identify patients on non-traditional payment plans.

    What to watch in Q2 FY26

    5

    KPL-387 Phase II dose-focusing data

    H2 2026
    CurrentOn track for H2 2026
    TargetData readout

    Why it matters

    This data will inform the dose selection for the pivotal Phase III trial and provide insights into KPL-387's PK/PD relationship.

    Data of the Phase II dose focusing portion of the study are on track for the second half of this year.

    Q&A highlights

    6

    What early demand signals are you seeing from the new DTC campaign, and what other plans are in place to accelerate demand for ARCALYST?

    Ross Moat stated it's early days for the targeted DTC campaign, which uses AI to reach potential recurrent pericarditis patients and empower them to speak with HCPs, addressing the 14% unaided awareness. He highlighted a multi-faceted approach including continued commercial execution, broader digital marketing, and peer-to-peer education to drive growth.

    So we know that there's a big awareness gap out there with patients. We know patients are very widely dispersed across the country. So this is our approach of ours of going out, trying to identify those patients and serve up appropriate, very targeted, very tailored messages that can help appropriate patients to be empowered to go and speak to their healthcare professionals about ARCALYST.

    asked by Nicholas Lorusso · answered by Ross Moat

    3 min read7 chapters

    Detailed Narrative

    01

    ARCALYST Commercial Performance and Market Penetration

    ARCALYST net revenue reached $214.3 million in Q1 FY26, marking a 56% year-over-year increase and approximately $12 million over Q4 FY25. This growth was driven by strong underlying commercial metrics, including the highest quarterly increase in new patient enrollments since launch and the addition of approximately 400 new prescribers, bringing the total to over 4,550. Management noted that with over 25,000 healthcare professionals seeing recurrent pericarditis patients annually, substantial opportunity remains, with current penetration into the 2-plus recurrence group at 18% and 20% of prescriptions now in the first recurrence group.

    02

    Raised Full-Year Revenue Guidance

    Due to the strong Q1 momentum and expanding prescribing breadth and depth, Kiniksa raised its full-year 2026 revenue guidance for ARCALYST to $930 million to $945 million, up from the previous range of $900 million to $920 million. This revision reflects confidence in continued commercial execution and the durability of average duration of therapy, despite industry-wide seasonal headwinds related to co-pay resets and changes in insurance plans.

    03

    KPL-387 Development Program Update

    The integrated Phase II/III study for KPL-387 in recurrent pericarditis is advancing, with data from the Phase II dose-focusing portion expected in the second half of 2026. This Phase II study is designed to define the PK/PD relationship and affirm the optimal dose level for the Phase III pivotal trial. The company plans to initiate the Phase III portion of the study by the end of 2026, which is designed to be a single pivotal study sufficient for registration, mirroring the RHAPSODY study for ARCALYST.

    04

    KPL-1161 Advancement to Clinic

    Kiniksa is also progressing KPL-1161, an Fc-modified IL-1 alpha and beta inhibitor, closer to clinical development. The company plans to initiate a Phase I study for KPL-1161 by the end of 2026. This asset is being developed with a target profile of quarterly dosing, aiming to offer a differentiated option in the IL-1 inhibition space.

    05

    Targeted Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) Campaign

    The company initiated a highly targeted direct-to-consumer campaign, 'Heart's Home,' leveraging digital innovation and AI. This campaign aims to identify and empower potential recurrent pericarditis patients, who often have low unaided awareness of ARCALYST (14%), to discuss treatment options with their healthcare providers. Market research indicates that when patients inquire about ARCALYST, it is prescribed in approximately 80% of cases, highlighting the potential impact of this targeted approach.

    06

    Financial Strength and Capital Allocation

    Kiniksa reported a significant increase in net income to $22.6 million in Q1 FY26, up from $8.5 million in Q1 FY25. The company ended the quarter with a strong cash balance of $468.1 million, generating $54 million in net cash. Management expects to remain cash flow positive on an annual basis, providing a robust financial position to invest in both commercial growth for ARCALYST and the advancement of its clinical pipeline, while maintaining a disciplined approach to capital allocation and business development.

    07

    Gross-to-Net Dynamics and Co-Pay Program Enhancements

    Gross-to-net increased compared to the prior quarter but was lower than Q1 FY25, primarily due to enhancements made to the co-pay assistance program at the beginning of the year. These enhancements reduced the average co-pay payout per patient by lowering the maximum co-pay payments and implementing a machine learning solution to proactively identify and manage patients on non-traditional payment plans, such as maximizer plans, thereby improving the overall gross-to-net profile.

    AI-generated summary of the company’s earnings call. Not investment advice.