18:39:39 EDT Wed 01 May 2024
Enter Symbol
or Name
USA
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Valeo Pharma Inc
Symbol VPH
Shares Issued 98,675,427
Close 2024-03-14 C$ 0.195
Market Cap C$ 19,241,708
Recent Sedar Documents

Valeo Pharma loses $6.9-million in Q1 2024

2024-03-14 17:38 ET - News Release

Mr. Steve Saviuk reports

VALEO PHARMA REPORTS FIRST QUARTER 2024 RESULTS

Valeo Pharma Inc. has released its financial results for the first quarter ended Jan. 31, 2024.

First quarter 2024 results and highlights:

  • Revenues of $13.5 million in Q1-24 vs $13.1 million in Q1-23 and $13.1 million in Q4-23, up 3% respectively
  • Adjusted gross profit of $3.9 million in Q1-24 vs $3.9 million in Q1-23 and $2.1 million in Q4-23, down 1% and up 81% respectively
  • Q1-24 net loss of $6.9 million vs $6.2 million in Q1-23 and $9.2 million in Q4-23, up 10% and down 26% respectively
  • Adjusted EBITDA loss of $2.1 million for Q1-24 vs $2.2 million loss in Q1-23 and $4.5 million in Q4-23, down 6% and 54% respectively
  • Enerzair and Atectura prescribing physicians reached 3,472 at the end of Q1-24, a 17% growth for the quarter and 119% increase year-over-year.

"Valeo has returned to its revenue growth trend in Q1-2024. Our respiratory business unit has continued to perform strongly with asthma product revenues increasing 58% in Q1-2024 vs Q4-2023, this was offset in part by lower ophthalmology revenues associated to the winddown of our promotional activities for Xiidra ", said Steve Saviuk, CEO. "We expect that our major promoted brands, Enerzair, Simbrinza and Redesca will provide an increasing share of our revenue growth in the coming quarters and greater margin contribution. Valeo has embarked on a number of initiatives as it drives towards positive cashflow with our previously announced operational cost savings having greater impact from Q2-24 onwards".

Commenting on the first quarter 2024 results, Pascal Tougas, Valeo's Chief Financial Officer, said, "Despite the negative impact of further inventory write-offs endured in Q1-24, our quarterly financial performance is only starting to demonstrate the benefits associated with the cost reduction, organizational realignment measures and relentless focus on execution implemented in late 2023 and in Q1-24. Our operating margins and adjusted EBITDA loss have started improving with the bulk of the operating expenses reduction measures benefits expected to materialize starting in the second quarter and ramping up sequentially throughout the remainder of 2024."

First Quarter 2024 Financial Results

  • Revenues were $13.5 million for the quarter ended January 31, 2024, compared to $13.1 million for the quarter ended January 31, 2023, representing a 3% increase. Valeo revenue growth momentum returning due to sales uplift generated via promotional activities in respiratory, Allerject and continued growth from other core products, such as Redesca, Simbrinza;
  • Adjusted gross profit was $3.9 million for the quarter ended January 31, 2024, compared to $3.9 million for the quarter ended January 31, 2023, representing a 1% decrease. The slight decrease over the previous comparable period is mainly due to the loss of momentum associated to Xiidra cease of promotion;
  • Net loss was $6.9 million for the quarter ended January 31, 2024, compared to $6.2 million for the quarter ended January 31, 2023. The 10% increase in net loss in Q1-24 mainly results from the inventory write-offs materialized for new product launch; and
  • Adjusted EBITDA loss was $2.1 million for the quarter ended January 31, 2024, compared to $2.2 million for the quarter ended January 31, 2023, a 6% improvement.

First Quarter 2024 Highlights

  • In November 2023, the Company announced the undertaking of a series of initiatives to reduce operating costs and drive operational efficiency as it moves toward profitability expecting to decrease its operating expenses by more than $2.0 million, on an annualized basis, through reorganizing and streamlining its organizational structure and commercial support activities.
  • In November 2023, the Company announced the appointment of Mr. Pascal Tougas to the position of Chief Financial Officer; and
  • In November 2023, the Company announced the appointment of Mr. Richard Lajoie and retirement of Ms. Maureen C. Brennan from its Board of Directors. Richard Lajoie was President of Bausch Health, Canada from 2017 to 2021 before being promoted to President Ortho Dermatologics US based in New Jersey. Prior to Bausch Health, Richard spent 12 years with Novartis Pharmaceuticals in roles of increasing responsibility.

First Quarter 2024 Subsequent Events

  • In February 2024, the Company announced the appointment Messrs. Robert Raich and Charles Bisaillon to the Company's Board of Directors and that Messrs. Michel Trudeau, Stuart Fowler, Didier Leconte and Ms. Tamara Close have all resigned from its Board of Directors.
  • In February 2024, the Company entered into an amendment of its 7-year Commercialization and Supply Agreement of XIIDRA and SIMBRINZA. As per the Amendment, Valeo will continue to distribute XIIDRA for the entire transition period. The transition period is expected to continue until approximately Q3-2024. Valeo will continue to commercialize and promote SIMBRINZA on an exclusive basis as provided by the Commercial and Supply Agreement with Novartis. Within 60 days from the Effective Date of Termination, Valeo will be entitled to a reimbursement of a residual portion of the upfront fee paid by Valeo at the time it entered into the Commercialization and Supply Agreement. The amount to be received as Reimbursement, when received, will be used for partial repayment of the Secured Term Loan (the "Facility'') entered into between Valeo and Sagard Healthcare Royalty Partners, LP ("Sagard") in July 2022.
  • In February 2024, the Company also entered into an agreement with Sagard to provide, among other things, for accelerated debt repayment of the Facility. Under the Sagard Amendment, Valeo will be required to make a first repayment of $10 million by August 31, 2024 and will also have the option to make an additional repayment of US$5 million under the Facility, which amount is currently held in a restricted cash account; and
  • On February 23, 2024, the Corporation entered into an agreement to assign the rights to a non-core asset for gross proceeds consideration of $1.5 million to be materialized in Q2-2024.

First Quarter 2024 Webcast and Conference Call

Valeo will host a conference call to discuss its first quarter 2024 results and highlights on Friday March 15, 2024, at 8.30 am (ET). The telephone numbers to access the conference call are 416-764-8659 and 1-888-664-6392. An audio replay of the call will be available. The numbers to access the audio replay are 416-764-8677 and 1-888-390-0541 using the following access code (767002 #).

A live audio webcast of the conference call will be available on-line.

Financial Statements and MD&A

Valeo Pharma's financial statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis for the three-month ended January 31, 2024, are available on SEDAR.

About Valeo Pharma

Valeo Pharma is a Canadian pharmaceutical company dedicated to the commercialization of innovative prescription products in Canada with a focus on Respiratory/Allergy, Ophthalmology and Hospital Specialty Products. Headquartered in Kirkland, Quebec Valeo Pharma has all the required capabilities and the full infrastructure to register and properly manage its growing product portfolio through all stages of commercialization.

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