Rick E. Winningham
Thank you, Mike and good afternoon everyone. The past few months have been very exciting and an important time at Theravance on both the program and strategic level. Strategically we’ve made significant progress on our separation highlighted by the announcement of a May 15 record date for the dividend of ordinary shares of Theravance Biopharma to be paid to the Theravance’s stockholders to affect the separation. We also recently completed the $450 million, 9% non-correspondent note royalty financing. Additionally we are announcing today Theravance’s intention to initiate a $0.25 per share quarterly dividend for stockholders of Theravance following the separation. We’ve also had a number of positive program developments recently, which I will not be covering in detail on the call including the U.S. launch of the ANORO for the treatment of COPD. GSK’s intention to file BERO for the treatment of asthma in the U.S. later this year and two positive Phase II studies with our earlier stage assets, one with TD-9855 for the treatment of fibromyalgia second in our partnership with Alfa Wassermann with velusetrag for the treatment of gastroparesis. Overall, I am pleased that were poised to complete the separation in the coming weeks and more importantly that both companies are very well positioned financially and strategically for the future. I will begin my discussion with the separation. We are currently targeting a separation date of June 2, when shares of Theravance biopharma will be disrupted the stockholdes of Theravance. This is combination of the significant amount of work over the past year and final step in the separation. Over the next few weeks, we expect to make additional stockholder communication including the filing of final Form 10 with the SEC and mailing of stockholder information statement. After the May 15, record date we expect Theravance shares and trade ex dividend and Theravance biopharma shares to begin a one issue trading. The first company Theravance, royalty management company, which I will refer to simply is Theravance is targeting stockholders we see capital returns from dividend payouts which we intended to go over time. And potential future share repurchases. Theravance will be well capitalized with the net proceeds of approximately $434 million from our recently completed non-recourse royalty notes thus any approval on launch milestones pay to GSK prior to the separation. The respiratory products partner with GSK RELVAR BREO, ELLIPTA, and ANORO ELLIPTA, are in the process of the global launch into multi billion dollars respiratory market. The strategic objective of Theravance it’s managed all of the development and commercial responsibilities under its respiratory partnership agreements with GSK and associated royalty revenues with the intention of providing capital returns to stockholders. As a result of a strong cash position and confidence in the potential of these respiratory programs again we announced our intention to initiated $0.25 per share quarterly dividend following the separation which we intend to grow over time. Regarding RELVAR BREO as of April 25, 2014 this medicine is going to proved in 42 countries for marketing and there has been – then launched in 12 countries across North America, Europe and Asia. Total net revenue for RELVAR BREO during the first quarter with approximately $4.9 million with royalties payable to Theravance of approximately $730,000. GSK and Theravance remain very optimistic about BREO’s potential. Regarding the launch in the U.S. Andrew Witty noted last week in GSKs really call that while it is been a slow start the underlying trends look good the leading indicators look promising and significant progress on reimbursement has been accomplished since the beginning of the year. In particular GSK stated that they had 70% Medicare Part D coverage for BREO as April 30 up from low-single digits in January. And that 50% of patients are currently covered in commercial plans. Also direct to consumer advertising is now underway in the U.S. GSK announced its intention to file BREO for asthma in the United States in 2014. Needless to say the decision to proceed with the U.S. asthma filing is a very important milestone for the GSK Theravance respiratory collaboration. In progress continues with Salford studies as well as summit. Our second respiratory program with GSK ANORA ELLIPTA was launched in the U.S. last week and it’s now available in U.S. pharmacies. Although it is very early as GSK noted during its call we are in good position with a Part B book of business compared to where BREO was at this point in time and its launch phase. An EU and ANORA received a positive opinion from the European medicines agency committee for medicinal products for human use in February 2014 recommending marketing authorization for UMEC/VI under the proposed brand-name ANORA. As it once daily maintenance bronchodilators treatment to release symptoms and adult patients with COPD and we expect to hear a final decision from the EMA shortly. Now turning to the second company Theravance Biopharma which I will refer to simply as biopharma. Biopharma is targeting shareholders to seek capital appreciation associated with the progress in research development and commercialization activities in our pipeline. Biopharma will also be well-capitalized with approximately $400 million following the separation and we will be focus on small molecule product candidates and infectious disease central nervous system and pain, respiratory disease and gastrointestinal disease. Additionally Theravance biopharma will have rights to 85% of the economics, from UMEC/VI FF also know as diamond MABA FF and MABA monotherapy and any other product that maybe developed in the future under these agreements with GSK. We were very excited about the prospects of biopharma following the separation based on a robust pipeline and proven R&D capabilities. We’ve had a number of positive clinical events for the programs residing in biopharma including two recent positive to say studies one with 9855 our dual serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor in the treatment of fibromyalgia in the second with Velusetrag with partnered with Alfa Wassermann gastroparetic. In addition we got two other product candidates currently in Phase II, TD-4208 nebulizer long acting Muscarinic Antagonist for the treatment of COPD and TD-8954 a 5-HT4 agonist delivered for the – feeling intolerance. And finally we are making good progress with Vibativ our commercialize antibiotic for the resistant Gram-positive infections which was reintroduced into the U.S. market late last year. in addition in February GSK communicated its intention to take the triple therapy, UMEC/VI, FF also known as diamond in the Phase III. The portfolio of programs provided number of potential catalyst for biopharma following a separation. Overall, I’m pleased with the execution of our previously communicated strategy, the distinct strategic opportunities for each company and a strong financial position for both entities. Since we announced our strategy to separate the companies a little over a year ago we’ve had three product approvals, multiple product launches, we’ve initiated a capital return strategy, we’ve adjusted our capital structure to facilitate the royalty monetization strategy and we’ve made significant across our pipeline with 9855, 4208, 8954, 5108 as well as BREO and Asna and diamond the close triple therapy. So with that I’ll turn it over to Mike our Chief Financial Officer. Mike.