Press release Biocartis Group NV: Biocartis Reports Results of Third Quarter of 2022

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN, SOUTH AFRICA OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD BE PROHIBITED BY APPLICABLE LAW.

PRESS RELEASE: INSIDE INFORMATION / REGULATED INFORMATION

21 October 2022, 07:00 CEST

Biocartis Reports Results of Third Quarter of 2022:
Full-year guidance raised for product gross margin, despite expected lower product revenues
Improving operating cash burn guidance

Mechelen, Belgium, 21 October 2022 – Biocartis Group NV (the “Company” or “Biocartis”), an innovative molecular diagnostics company (Euronext Brussels: BCART), today provides a business update for the third quarter of 2022 and the outlook for the full year 2022. 

In view of the ongoing implementation of the comprehensive recapitalization transaction, the Company deemed it appropriate to publish the Q3 2022 results earlier.

Commenting on the Q3 2022 results, Herman Verrelst, Chief Executive Officer of Biocartis, said: “Our operating performance in Q3 2022 remained strong and fully in line with expectations. We continued to grow cartridge revenue in our core oncology business by 36%, significantly improved the gross margin on products to 32% and reduced the year-on-year operating cash burn by EUR 15.2 million. The current economic climate and the looming recession are nevertheless expected to affect product sales in Q4 2022, which may result in lower-than-expected product revenues for 2022. In particular, certain of our collaboration partners revert to cash preserving measures and delay investments such as planned clinical trials until 2023. We also continue to attract and onboard new customers, but they make increasing use of the possibility to adopt Idylla™ through our free-of-charge Idylla™ instrument evaluation programs¹ before purchasing or renting new systems. Despite this temporary impact, we increase our expectation for gross margin on products to at least 30% and we expect to reduce the operating burn rate beyond initial expectations. Despite the significant impact of rising inflation, we are reducing expenses, this year and next year, and remain committed to our ambition to become profitable.”

Q3 2022 HIGHLIGHTS

• Product revenue of EUR 30.5m, up 14% year-on-year and including EUR 25.2m cartridge revenue and UR 5.3m from instrument sales and rentals:

• Continued strong growth of oncology cartridge revenue to EUR 22m (+36% year-on-year)
• EUR 3.2m contribution from infectious diseases, of which EUR 2.5m from Idylla™ SARS-CoV-2 product sales, which represents 8% of product revenue
• Continued increase of commercial Average Sales Price (ASP) to EUR 116 in oncology and EUR 106 ASP overall (+3% versus H1 2022)
• EUR 5.3m revenue from instruments. 189 new instruments² placed year-to-date, total installed base of 2,029 instruments end of Q3 2022

• Gross profit on product sales of EUR 9.7m (Q3 2021: EUR 2.3m), reflecting a gross margin of 32% (8% in Q3 2021)
• Operating cash burn of EUR 30.6m, a reduction of EUR 15.2m year-on-year. The cash position end Q3 2022 amounts to EUR 12.6m and includes EUR 7.5m drawn on total available credit facilities of EUR 15m from KBC Bank, awaiting the completion of of the recapitalization transaction in a gross amount of EUR 66m which was announced on 1 September 2022
• Partnerships:
  • SkylineDx: On 1 September 2022, Biocartis announced the start of the commercialization in Europe of SkylineDx’s innovative Merlin Assay as a CE-IVD marked manual kit³
  • Ophiomics: On 10 October 2022, Biocartis announced the start of the commercialization in Europe of Ophiomics’ HepatoPredict test as a CE-IVD marked manual kit⁴
• China: On 16 September 2022, Biocartis obtained regulatory approval for its Idylla™ Instrument by the regulatory authorities NMPA in China, an important step ahead of the further regulatory approval and commercialization of Idylla™ assays in China.
• Japan: On 29 August 2022, Nichirei Biosciences, Biocartis’ distribution partner in Japan, received approval by the Japanese regulatory authorities (Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare) for the commercialization of the Idylla™ MSI Test in Japan. Nichirei Biosciences plans to commercially launch the Idylla™ MSI Test in Japan in Q4 2022.

REFINANCING
On 1 September 2022, Biocartis announced a comprehensive recapitalization intended to provide the Company with a gross amount of new cash of approximately EUR 66m to help manage liquidity until the Company reaches operating breakeven. As part of this recapitalization, certain amendments⁵ to the existing 4.00% convertible bonds due in 2024 (“Existing Convertible Bonds”) were approved by the required majority of holders of the Existing Convertible Bonds, as announced on 11 October 2022, and as such have become effective. Holders of the Existing Convertible Bonds were also offered the right to exchange their Existing Convertible Bonds into new second lien secured convertible bonds (the “New Convertible Bonds”), subject to their commitment to participate pro-rata in a fully backstopped EUR 25m investment into additional New Convertible Bonds. The deadline for the exchange offer for holders of the Existing Convertible Bonds is 24 October 2022.

On 19 October 2022, approximately EUR 18m of the overall EUR 30m of new senior secured term loan (“New Convertible Term Loans”) has been drawn following the approval of the amendment of the terms and conditions of the Existing Convertible Bonds announced on 11 October 2022. From the amount drawn, approximately EUR 14 million was used to repurchase and cancel more than EUR 16 million of principal amount of Existing Convertible Bonds from certain holders thereof. The drawdown of the remaining portion of the New Convertible Term Loans is conditional on the exchange of Existing Convertible Bonds, certain shareholder approvals, and the Company’s contemplated rights offering.

An extraordinary shareholders’ meeting (EGM) will take place on Thursday 27 October 2022 at 2:00 p.m. CEST at the offices of the Company at Generaal de Wittelaan 11B, 2800 Mechelen, Belgium to fully effect the comprehensive recapitalization transaction, subject to the fulfilment of the attendance quorum requirement of at least 50% of the outstanding shares for the majority of the items on the agenda of the EGM. The convening notice and other documents relating to the EGM can be consulted on the website of the Company.

OUTLOOK
Product revenues are expected to be impacted in Q4 2022 as a direct result of the current economic environment. Planned and often committed product sales are deferred in light of postponed investment decisions by certain collaboration partners and new customers. In particular, certain content partners decided to postpone clinical trials that were projected to start in 2022, involving the placement of a significant number of Idylla™ instruments, and would now shift into 2023. Furthermore, an increasing number of new customers onboard Idylla™ through a free-of-charge Idylla™ instrument evaluation program. Under this program, customers can make use of the instruments while only paying for the cartridge consumption. Revenues from the sale or the rental of these instruments are therefore delayed by an average of six months, subject to the satisfactory outcome of the evaluation. Generally, both partners and customers recently became more cautious and hold less cartridge stock.

The expected product revenue for 2022 is now projected to amount to at least EUR 45m. More importantly however, the profitability continues to improve, and the product gross margin for the year is expected to be at least 30% versus the previous expectation of 25%-30%. Similarly, the operating cash burn is expected to improve to between EUR 41m-EUR 43m, versus the previously stated range of EUR 43m-EUR47m. Full year guidance is now summarized as follows:

• Increase product revenues to be around EUR 45m (versus around EUR 50m previously)
• Increase gross margins on product sales to at least 30% (from 25% – 30% previously)
• Reduce the operating cash burn (EBITDA plus capital expenditure) by around EUR 13.5-15.5m, to approximately EUR 41m – 43m for full year 2022 (vs EUR 43m – 47m previously)

In spite of rising inflation and its significant impact on costs, we remain committed to reduce our operating cash burn and are implementing various measures to further improve the profitability. Amongst others cartridge manufacturing will be further streamlined and, starting 2023, more than 90% of commercial cartridge production will have been transferred to the highly automated second manufacturing line ‘ML2’, allowing to further grow the gross margin. Furthermore, operating costs have been reduced across the business, while maintaining the focus on continued menu expansion and achieving global commercial success. More detailed guidance on expected performance in 2023 will be provided when announcing the full year 2022 results on 23 February 2023.

For the time being, due to the ongoing replanning, the Company does not provide an outlook on timing of product launches and registrations.

FINANCIAL CALENDAR

• 27 October 2022      Extraordinary Shareholders’ Meeting Biocartis Group NV
• 23 February 2023     2022 full year results
• 30 March 2023          Publication 2022 annual report
• 20 April 2023           Q1 2023 Business Update
• 12 May 2023            Annual Shareholders’ Meeting Biocartis Group NV
• 31 August 2023        H1 2023 results
• 9 November 2023     Q3 2023 Business Update

— END —

More information:
Renate Degrave
Head of Corporate Communications & Investor Relations Biocartis
e-mail    rdegrave@biocartis.com
tel         +32 15 631 729
mobile   +32 471 53 60 64

About Biocartis

With its revolutionary and proprietary Idylla™ platform, Biocartis (Euronext Brussels: BCART) aspires to enable personalized medicine for patients around the world through universal access to molecular testing, by making molecular testing actionable, convenient, fast and suitable for any lab. The Idylla™ platform is a fully automated sample-to-result, real-time PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) based system designed to offer in-house access to accurate molecular information in a minimum amount of time for faster, informed treatment decisions. Biocartis’ continuously expanding menu of molecular diagnostic tests addresses key unmet clinical needs, with a focus in oncology. This is the fastest growing segment of the molecular diagnostics market worldwide. Today, Biocartis offers tests supporting melanoma, colorectal, lung and liver cancer, as well as for COVID-19, Flu, RSV and sepsis. For more information, visit www.biocartis.com or follow Biocartis on Twitter @Biocartis_ , Facebook or LinkedIn. 

Biocartis and Idylla™ are registered trademarks in Europe, the United States and other countries. The Biocartis and Idylla™ trademark and logo are used trademarks owned by Biocartis. Please refer to the product labeling for applicable intended uses for each individual Biocartis product.
This press release is not for distribution, directly or indirectly, in any jurisdiction where to do so would be unlawful. Any persons reading this press release should inform themselves of and observe any such restrictions. Biocartis takes no responsibility for any violation of any such restrictions by any person. This press release does not constitute an offer or invitation for the sale or purchase of securities in any jurisdiction. No securities of Biocartis may be offered or sold in the United States of America absent registration with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission or an exemption from registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Forward-looking statements
Certain statements, beliefs and opinions in this press release are forward-looking, which reflect the Company’s or, as appropriate, the Company directors’ or managements’ current expectations and projections concerning future events such as the Company’s results of operations, financial condition, liquidity, performance, prospects, growth, strategies and the industry in which the Company operates. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties, assumptions and factors could adversely affect the outcome and financial effects of the plans and events described herein. A multitude of factors including, but not limited to, changes in demand, competition and technology, can cause actual events, performance or results to differ significantly from any anticipated development. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release regarding past trends or activities are not guarantees of future performance and should not be taken as a representation that such trends or activities will continue in the future. In addition, even if actual results or developments are consistent with the forward-looking statements contained in this press release, those results or developments may not be indicative of results or developments in future periods. No representations and warranties are made as to the accuracy or fairness of such forward-looking statements. As a result, the Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements in this press release as a result of any change in expectations or any change in events, conditions, assumptions or circumstances on which these forward-looking statements are based, except if specifically required to do so by law or regulation. Neither the Company nor its advisers or representatives nor any of its subsidiary undertakings or any such person’s officers or employees guarantees that the assumptions underlying such forward-looking statements are free from errors nor does either accept any responsibility for the future accuracy of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release or the actual occurrence of the forecasted developments. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release.

Important information

This announcement is not a prospectus for the purposes of Regulation 2017/1129, as amended (together with any applicable implementing measures in any Member State of the European Economic Area, the “Prospectus Regulation”) or the Prospectus Regulation as it forms part of UK domestic law by virtue of the UK European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 and as amended by The Prospectus (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (each as amended) (the “UK Prospectus Regulation”).

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN, SOUTH AFRICA OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD BE PROHIBITED BY APPLICABLE LAW. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY AND DOES NOT FORM PART OF ANY OFFER TO SELL OR PURCHASE, OR THE SOLICITATION OF ANY OFFER TO SELL OR PURCHASE, ANY NEW BONDS, OUTSTANDING BONDS OR OTHER SECURITIES. THE DISTRIBUTION OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND THE OFFER, SALE AND PURCHASE OF THE NEW BONDS, NEW TERM LOANS OR THE OUTSTANDING BONDS DESCRIBED IN THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IN CERTAIN JURISDICTIONS MAY BE RESTRICTED BY LAW. ANY PERSONS READING THIS ANNOUNCEMENT SHOULD INFORM THEMSELVES OF AND OBSERVE ANY SUCH RESTRICTIONS.

There shall be no offer, solicitation, sale or purchase or exchange of the Existing Convertible Bonds or the New Convertible Bonds in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, sale, or purchase would be unlawful prior to registration, exemption from registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time (the “U.S. Securities Act”) or the securities laws of any state of the United States, and may not be offered or sold in the United States unless these securities are registered under the U.S. Securities Act, or an exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act is available. Biocartis has not registered, and does not intend to register, any portion of the offering of the securities concerned in the United States, and does not intend to conduct a public offering of securities in the United States. This communication is only addressed to and directed at persons in member states of the European Economic Area (each a “Member States”) and in the United Kingdom who are “qualified investors” within the meaning of Article 2(e) of the Prospectus Regulation and of the UK Prospectus Regulation, respectively (“Qualified Investors”). This communication is only being distributed to and is only directed at (i) persons who are outside the United Kingdom or (ii) investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the “Order”) or (iii) high net worth companies, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”). The securities referred to herein are only available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire such securities will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this document or any of its contents. This announcement cannot be used as a basis for any investment agreement or decision. Biocartis is not liable if the aforementioned restrictions are not complied with by any person.

1 Under these programs, customers can make use of the instruments while only paying for the cartridge consumption. Revenues from the sale or the rental of these instruments are therefore delayed by an average of six months, subject to the satisfactory outcome of the evaluation

2 117 net new instruments year-to-date

3 The test, developed by SkylineDx together with the Mayo Clinic (US), aims to predict a melanoma patient’s risk of nodal metastasis and may help safely forgo an invasive surgery, which is now often performed to determine metastatic spread of the cancer for staging purposes

4 The test is a prognostic diagnostic test that supports the decision of liver transplantation in patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC)

5 Such as the partial equitization equal to 10% of notional amounts outstanding, a maturity extension by 3.5 years to November 2027 and remaining coupons to be paid as Payment-In-Kind (via capitalization of coupons) to preserve cash