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Ironwood Pharmaceuticals Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 6 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 3 raised. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue and GAAP profit rose: Total revenue was $113.0 million against $85.2 million a year earlier. GAAP net income was $51.3 million, or $0.31 per diluted share, against $23.6 million, or $0.14. Source
  • LINZESS sales up 14% in quarter: LINZESS U.S. net sales were $282.3 million, up 14% from $248.0 million. Total demand grew 4%, and net price also improved. Source
  • Pediatric functional constipation approval: The FDA approved LINZESS for pediatric functional constipation in patients aged 2 years and older. The company says LINZESS remains the only FDA-approved prescription therapy for pediatric FC. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose to $83.0 million: Adjusted EBITDA was $83.0 million, compared with $50.1 million in the prior year quarter. Source
  • Convertible notes repaid from cash: The company repaid $200 million of 1.50% convertible notes at their June 2026 maturity using cash on hand. Source
  • STARS-2 Phase 3 now recruiting: STARS-2, a confirmatory Phase 3 trial of apraglutide in SBS-IF, was initiated and is recruiting patients. Source
  • New chief medical officer joins: Dr. Jeffrey Silber joined in July as Chief Medical Officer and Head of Research and Drug Development, following the retirement of Dr. Michael Shetzline. Source

“Throughout the first half of the year, we have remained laser focused on meaningful execution of our three strategic priorities: maximizing LINZESS, advancing apraglutide, and delivering sustained profits and cash flows,”

Tom McCourt, chief executive officer of Ironwood

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
U.S. LINZESS net sales Sourcefull year 2026$1.15 to $1.20 billionRaised from $1.125 to $1.175 billion
Total revenue Sourcefull year 2026$460 to $485 millionRaised from $450 to $475 million
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefull year 2026greater than $310 millionRaised from greater than $300 million

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year 2026 guidance was raised for LINZESS U.S. net sales, total revenue and adjusted EBITDA. Source
  • New: FDA approved LINZESS for pediatric functional constipation in patients aged 2 years and older in May 2026. Source
  • New: Confirmatory Phase 3 STARS-2 trial of apraglutide was initiated and is recruiting patients. Source
  • New: Ronald Silver, Corporate Controller and Chief Accounting Officer, was appointed interim Chief Financial Officer in May. Source
  • Ended: Gregory Martini left the Chief Financial Officer role, which the company reports as a resignation. Source
  • New: Dr. Jeffrey Silber joined as Chief Medical Officer and Head of Research and Drug Development in July 2026. Source
  • Ended: The 1.50% convertible senior notes were repaid in full at their June 2026 maturity. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue and GAAP profit rose: Total revenue was $113.0 million against $85.2 million a year earlier. GAAP net income was $51.3 million, or $0.31 per diluted share, against $23.6 million, or $0.14. Source
  • LINZESS sales up 14% in quarter: LINZESS U.S. net sales were $282.3 million, up 14% from $248.0 million. Total demand grew 4%, and net price also improved. Source
  • Year-to-date LINZESS sales up 44%: LINZESS U.S. net sales for the first half of 2026 were $555 million, representing 44% growth over the prior year period. Source
  • Net price drove most of growth: Management attributed growth to 4% demand growth and significantly improved net price, which reflects the elimination of inflationary rebates and rebate-reserve timing. Source
  • Revenue up from first quarter: Total revenue in the first quarter of 2026 was $106.5 million, so second quarter revenue was $6.5 million higher than the prior quarter.

LINZESS collaboration economics

  • Collaboration profit up 30%: Net profit for the LINZESS U.S. brand collaboration, after commercial and R&D expenses, was $214.6 million, against $164.9 million a year earlier. Source
  • Collaboration revenue to Ironwood up 28%: Ironwood recorded $110.0 million of collaboration revenue on U.S. LINZESS sales, against $85.7 million a year earlier. Ironwood and AbbVie share brand profits equally. Source
  • Commercial margin rose to 78%: LINZESS commercial margin was 78% in the second quarter of 2026, up from 69% a year earlier. The first quarter margin was 76%. Source

“We also repaid our $200 million convertible notes during the quarter using cash on hand and remain committed to further debt reduction and strengthening our balance sheet through year end.”

Tom McCourt, chief executive officer of Ironwood

Products and customers

  • Pediatric functional constipation approval: The FDA approved LINZESS for pediatric functional constipation in patients aged 2 years and older. The company says LINZESS remains the only FDA-approved prescription therapy for pediatric FC. Source
  • Prescription demand up 4%: Total LINZESS demand was 59.8 million capsules in the second quarter, per IQVIA. First quarter demand was 56.0 million capsules, up 5%. Source

Costs and margins

  • Adjusted EBITDA rose to $83.0 million: Adjusted EBITDA was $83.0 million, compared with $50.1 million in the prior year quarter. Source
  • Total costs fell year over year: Total costs and expenses were $33.7 million, against $39.9 million a year earlier. Prior year costs included restructuring and higher SG&A. Source
  • Income tax expense mostly non-cash: Income tax expense was $22.4 million, most of it non-cash, as net operating losses offset taxable income for federal purposes and in many states. Source
  • Interest expense reported: Interest expense was $7.2 million, including interest on the convertible notes paid at maturity and the revolving credit facility, against $8.4 million a year earlier. Source

“Based on the positive Phase 3 STARS data and the confirmatory design of STARS-2, we are confident that apraglutide has the potential to be a best-in-class therapy”

Tom McCourt, chief executive officer of Ironwood

Cash, debt and receivables

  • Convertible notes repaid from cash: The company repaid $200 million of 1.50% convertible notes at their June 2026 maturity using cash on hand. Source
  • Cash balance lower at quarter end: Cash and equivalents were $79.1 million at June 30, 2026, against $215.5 million at December 31, 2025 and $220.5 million at March 31, 2026. Source
  • Operating cash flow higher: Cash from operations was $58.3 million in the second quarter, against $15.1 million a year earlier. Source
  • Revolver balance and remaining capacity: The revolving credit facility balance was $385.0 million at June 30, 2026, with $165.0 million of remaining borrowing capacity. Source
  • Receivables from collaboration revenue: Accounts receivable were $112.7 million at June 30, 2026, mainly from second quarter collaboration revenue. Source

Apraglutide development

  • STARS-2 Phase 3 now recruiting: STARS-2, a confirmatory Phase 3 trial of apraglutide in SBS-IF, was initiated and is recruiting patients. Source
  • STARS-2 design and primary endpoint: STARS-2 is a 24-week trial. The primary endpoint is relative change from baseline in actual weekly parenteral support volume. Source
  • Safety profile consistent with prior studies: Pooled STARS program data presented at DDW in May showed an apraglutide safety profile consistent with previous studies. Source
  • Best-in-class potential stated: Management believes apraglutide could be a best-in-class therapeutic for adult patients with SBS dependent on parenteral support, based on STARS Phase 3 data. Source

Leadership changes

  • Interim CFO named after resignation: Ronald Silver was appointed interim Chief Financial Officer in May, following the resignation of Gregory Martini. Source
  • New chief medical officer joins: Dr. Jeffrey Silber joined in July as Chief Medical Officer and Head of Research and Drug Development, following the retirement of Dr. Michael Shetzline. Source
  • Silber to lead R&D strategy: Dr. Silber will lead the next phase of R&D strategy and execution, according to the company. Source

Coming up, as management said on 6 August 2026

  • Further debt reduction through year end: Management said it remains committed to further debt reduction and to strengthening the balance sheet through year end. Source
  • STARS-2 aims to be first long-acting GLP-2: The company stated its goal that apraglutide will be the first long-acting GLP-2 analog to market, through the ongoing STARS-2 recruitment. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
LINZESS U.S. net sales, Q2 2026 Source$282.3 million
LINZESS prescription demand, Q2 2026 Source59.8 million capsules, up 4%
R&D expenses, Q2 2026 Source$22.4 million
Pediatric functional constipation approval SourceFDA approved May 2026, ages 2 and older
STARS-2 Phase 3 trial status Sourceactively recruiting

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: In May, the company said it remained on track for site initiation in the second quarter. In August it reported that STARS-2 was initiated and recruiting. Source
  • Met: In May, the company expected second quarter operating cash flows to support repayment at maturity. In August it reported the notes were repaid in full from cash on hand. Source
  • Met: In May, the company stated a PDUFA date of May 24 for the pediatric FC sNDA. In August it reported FDA approval in May 2026. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.