Conference call and webcast: today, November 21, 2024, 9:00 am ET
Financial Highlights:
REHOVOT, Israel, Nov. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Evogene Ltd. (Nasdaq: EVGN) (TASE: EVGN) (“Evogene” or the “Company”), a leading computational biology company aiming to revolutionize the development of life-science-based products, today announced its financial results for the third quarter period ended September 30, 2024.
Mr. Ofer Haviv, Evogene’s President and Chief Executive Officer, stated: “Our vision is to position Evogene as a pioneering company in the development of groundbreaking life-science products, rooted in microbes, small molecules, and genomics.
This led to the development of our three proprietary AI tech-engines: MicroBoost AI, ChemPass AI and GeneRator AI. Our AI-driven tech-engines offer a strong value proposition by efficiently identifying and optimizing the most promising candidates, enhancing the likelihood of achieving breakthrough products within competitive timelines and in a cost-effective way.
To maintain the competitive advantage of our AI tech-engines, Evogene continuously invests in enhancements and the addition of new applications and capabilities. This commitment is exemplified by our recent collaboration with Google Cloud to develop an advanced generative AI foundation model for small molecule design.
Building on the successful integration of ChemPass AI into Google Cloud, this collaboration will now focus on expanding the value of our tech-engine specifically through the creation of a cutting-edge foundation model. This model will be designed to generate and optimize innovative small molecule structures with better specific, desired properties, by expanding the training set for the model from 6 million molecules to 40 billion molecules.
The primary objective of this initiative is to enhance and expedite the discovery and development of new small molecules for drug development, sustainable crop protection, and other innovative applications across various life-science sectors.
The significant expansion of the model training set is expected to lead to the following key benefits:
– Innovative molecules, more accurately addressing the specific product requirements
– Shortening development timelines
– Enhanced cost efficiency
I want to emphasize that the foundation model, which will be integrated into ChemPass AI, will remain the exclusive property of Evogene.”
Mr. Ofer Haviv continued: “To effectively harness the value embedded in our technology, we implement a targeted business strategy designed to maximize potential while minimizing risk, by establishing a diverse network of collaborative partnerships for life-science product development. We partner with experts in complementary fields, forming licensing or collaboration agreements with companies that bring domain-specific knowledge. Through these strategic alliances, we aim to co-develop innovative products. The upside for Evogene stems from revenue sharing mechanisms of the end-product, or through equity holdings in the company developing the end-product.
In the passing quarter all our subsidiaries continued progressing in accordance with their work-plans, and we’re very proud of their achievements.
With respect to activities in market segments not covered by our subsidiaries, I would like to share that, starting this past quarter, we have increased our efforts to establish partnerships with companies specializing in small-molecule drug development, leveraging the unique capabilities of ChemPass AI. To support this strategic focus, we have strengthened the business development team with a dedicated business development manager with the clear objective of generating new business opportunities for Evogene.
Additionally, we recently announced, alongside Watershed AC and Ben-Gurion University, the approval of a second-year grant to advance our joint project aimed at enhancing crustacean traits through gene-editing technology. In the second year, the collaboration will focus on scaling up CRISPR technology for the industrial production of giant freshwater prawns, with plans to extend these advancements to additional crustacean species.”
Subsidiaries’ Business Highlights:
Casterra Ag Ltd. – focuses on developing an integrated solution to enable large-scale commercial cultivation of castor to address the global demand for stable castor oil supply, mainly for the biodiesel industry. Casterra is utilizing Evogene’s GeneRator AI tech-engine to direct and accelerate the development of its unique elite castor seed varieties.
Lavie Bio Ltd. – a leading ag-biologicals company that develops microbiome-based, computational-driven, novel bio-stimulant and bio-pesticide products, utilizing Evogene’s MicroBoost AI tech-engine.
AgPlenus Ltd. – specializes in developing novel and sustainable crop protection products, utilizing Evogene’s ChemPass AI tech-engine.
Biomica Ltd. – a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing innovative microbiome-based therapeutics, utilizing Evogene’s MicroBoost AI tech-engine.
Financial Highlights:
Cash Position: As of September 30, 2024, Evogene held consolidated cash, cash equivalents, and short-term bank deposits of approximately $20.0 million. This amount does not include approximately $1.4 of payments due from customers regarding deliveries made in September 2024. The consolidated cash usage during the third quarter of 2024 was approximately $5.7 million. Excluding Lavie Bio and Biomica, Evogene and its other subsidiaries used approximately $3.1 million in cash during the third quarter of 2024. Projected cash usage for 2024, excluding Lavie Bio and Biomica, is expected to be approximately $8.0 – $10.0 million, marking a notable 20% – 36% decrease from approximately $12.5 million in 2023.
Revenue: Revenues for the first nine months of 2024 were approximately $6.9 million, an increase from approximately $5.1 million in the same period the previous year. This growth was primarily driven by revenues recognized from AgPlenus’ new collaboration with Bayer and increased Casterra revenues for the supply of castor seeds during the period. Revenues for the third quarter of 2024 were approximately $1.8 million, compared to approximately $3.8 million in the same period the previous year. The decrease was mainly attributable to revenue of $2.5 million recognized in Lavie Bio in the third quarter of 2023 from the licensing agreement with Corteva, partially offset by increased revenues recognized in Casterra and AgPlenus during the third quarter of 2024.
Evogene anticipates continued revenue growth in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to the previous year, mainly based on Casterra’s forecast for seed-order supply.
R&D Expenses: Research and development expenses, net of non-refundable grants, for the first nine months of 2024 were approximately $13.2 million, a significant decrease from approximately $15.2 million in the first nine months of 2023. The decrease in expenses is mainly due to the cessation of Canonic’s activities and a decrease in certain development expenses in Biomica as compared to the same period the previous year. Research and development expenses, net of non-refundable grants, for the third quarter of 2024 were approximately $4.4 million, and decreased as compared to approximately $5.1 million in the same period in the previous year. The decrease is mainly attributable to decreased expenses in Canonic and Biomica, as mentioned above.
Sales and Marketing Expenses: Sales and marketing expenses for the first nine months of 2024 were approximately $2.8 million, a slight increase from approximately $2.6 million in the same period in the previous year. The increase is mainly attributable to increased sales and marketing activities in Casterra during the first nine months of 2024 as compared to the same period in 2023. Sales and marketing expenses for the third quarter of 2024 were approximately $0.9 million and remained stable compared to approximately $0.9 million in the same period in the previous year.
General and Administrative Expenses: General and administrative expenses for the first nine months of 2024 increased to approximately $6.1 million from approximately $4.8 million in the same period of the previous year. General and administrative expenses for the third quarter of 2024 increased to approximately $2.9 million compared to approximately $1.5 million in the same period of the previous year. The increase during the first nine months period and the third quarter of 2024 were mainly attributable to expenses recorded in Casterra due to provision on doubtful debt of one seed supplier and transaction costs related to Evogene’s fundraising that occurred in August 2024, totaling approximately $1.4 million. Total other G&A expenses in Q3 2024 amounted to approximately $1.5 million, unchanged compared to Q3 2023.
Other Expenses: The decision to cease Canonic’s operations in the first half of 2024 resulted in other expenses of approximately $0.5 million for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2024, mainly due to impairment of fixed assets in the first quarter of 2024.
Operating Loss: The operating loss for the first nine months of 2024 was approximately $17.6 million, a decrease from approximately $18.9 million in the same period of the previous year, mainly due to increased revenues as mentioned above. The operating loss for the third quarter of 2024 was approximately $7.5 million, an increase from approximately $4.2 million in the same period of the previous year, mainly due to decreased revenues and increased general and administrative expenses as mentioned above.
Financing Income / Expenses: Financing expenses, net for the first nine months of 2024 were $378 thousand, compared to financing income, net of $234 thousand in the same period of the previous year. Financing expenses, net for the third quarter of 2024 were $757 thousand, compared to financing income, net of $320 thousand in the same period of the previous year. The increase in financial expenses, net during the first nine month period and the third quarter of 2024 as compared to the respective periods of 2023 was mainly associated with accounting treatment of pre-funded warrants and warrants issued in August 2024 fund raising. Pre-funded warrants and warrants were classified as a liability on the consolidated statements of financial position, were initially recorded at fair value and subsequently remeasured at each reporting period using the Black – Scholes option pricing model. As a result, during the third quarter of 2024 the Company recorded net financial expenses, related to warrants of approximately $882 thousand.
Net Loss: The net loss for the first nine months of 2024 was approximately $18.0 million, compared to approximately $18.6 million in the same period of the previous year. The net loss for the third quarter of 2024 was approximately $8.2 million, compared to approximately $3.9 million in the same period of the previous year. The $4.3 million increase in net loss for the third quarter of 2024 as compared to the third quarter of 2023 was primarily due to decreased revenues, increased general and administrative expenses and increased financial expenses as mentioned above. This increase in net loss was impacted by an amount of approximately $1.5 million, due to transaction costs and the financial expenses related to warrants issued in that transaction.
For the financial tables click here.
***
Conference Call & Webcast Details: Thursday, November 21, 2024. 9:00 AM EST 4:00 PM IDT
To join the Zoom conference, please register in advance here
Or join via audio
US: +15642172000, Israel: +972 3 978 6688
Webinar ID: 869 0801 3385
More International numbers
Webcast & Presentation link available at:
https://evogene.com/investor-relations/
About Evogene Ltd.
Evogene Ltd. (Nasdaq: EVGN, TASE: EVGN) is a computational biology company leveraging big data and artificial intelligence, aiming to revolutionize the development of life-science based products by utilizing cutting-edge technologies to increase the probability of success while reducing development time and cost.
Evogene established three unique tech-engines – MicroBoost AI, ChemPass AI and GeneRator AI. Each tech-engine is focused on the discovery and development of products based on one of the following core components: microbes (MicroBoost AI), small molecules (ChemPass AI), and genetic elements (GeneRator AI).
Evogene uses its tech-engines to develop products through strategic partnerships and collaborations, and its four subsidiaries including:
For more information, please visit: www.evogene.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” relating to future events. These statements may be identified by words such as “may”, “could”, “expects”, “hopes” “intends”, “anticipates”, “plans”, “believes”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “demonstrates” or words of similar meaning. For example, Evogene and its subsidiaries are using forward-looking statements in this press release when they discuss Evogene’s strategy and vision, Evogene’s value proposition and ability to identify and optimize candidates, enhance the likelihood of achieving breakthrough products within competitive timelines and in a cost-effective way, Evogene’s investments in and ability to develop novel products, applications and capabilities, expected benefits from the integration with Google Cloud, potential partnerships and Evogene’s ability to harness value and leverage ChemPass AI, the expected timing of and ability of Casterra to supply purchase orders, the expected timing of Lavie Bio’s sales, AgPlenus’ pipeline, Biomica’s BMC128’s future activity, and Evogene’s projected cash usage for 2024 and Evogene anticipated continued revenue growth in for 2024. Such statements are based on current expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions, describe opinions about future events, involve certain risks and uncertainties which are difficult to predict and are not guarantees of future performance. Therefore, actual future results, performance, or achievements of Evogene and its subsidiaries may differ materially from what is expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors, many of which are beyond the control of Evogene and its subsidiaries, including, without limitation, the current war between Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah and any worsening of the situation in Israel such as further mobilizations or escalation in the northern border of Israel, and those risk factors contained in Evogene’s reports filed with the applicable securities authority. In addition, Evogene and its subsidiaries rely, and expect to continue to rely, on third parties to conduct certain activities, such as their field trials and pre-clinical studies, and if these third parties do not successfully carry out their contractual duties, comply with regulatory requirements or meet expected deadlines, Evogene and its subsidiaries may experience significant delays in the conduct of their activities. Evogene and its subsidiaries disclaim any obligation or commitment to update these forward-looking statements to reflect future events or developments or changes in expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions.
Evogene Investor Relations Contact:
Email: ir@evogene.com
Tel: +972-8-9311901
CONSOLIDATED INTERIM STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION |
||||
U.S. dollars in thousands |
||||
September 30, |
December 31, |
|||
2024 |
2023 |
|||
Unaudited |
||||
CURRENT ASSETS: |
||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
$11,317 |
$ 20,772 |
||
Short-term bank deposits |
8,636 |
10,291 |
||
Trade receivables |
1,590 |
357 |
||
Other receivables and prepaid expenses |
2,360 |
2,973 |
||
Inventories |
1,456 |
76 |
||
25,359 |
34,469 |
|||
LONG-TERM ASSETS: |
||||
Long-term deposits and other receivables |
39 |
28 |
||
Investment accounted for using the equity method |
95 |
– |
||
Right-of-use-assets |
619 |
980 |
||
Property, plant and equipment, net |
1,562 |
2,455 |
||
Intangible assets, net |
12,440 |
13,169 |
||
14,755 |
16,632 |
|||
$ 40,114 |
$ 51,101 |
|||
CURRENT LIABILITIES: |
||||
Trade payables |
$1,198 |
$ 1,785 |
||
Employees and payroll accruals |
2,289 |
2,537 |
||
Lease liability |
417 |
853 |
||
Liabilities in respect of government grants |
782 |
388 |
||
Deferred revenues and other advances |
742 |
362 |
||
Warrants and pre-funded warrants liability,net |
6,382 |
– |
||
Convertible SAFE |
10,320 |
– |
||
Other payables |
1,158 |
1,019 |
||
23,288 |
6,944 |
|||
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES: |
||||
Lease liability |
269 |
285 |
||
Liabilities in respect of government grants |
4,148 |
4,426 |
||
Deferred revenues and other advances |
171 |
393 |
||
Convertible SAFE |
– |
10,368 |
||
4,588 |
15,472 |
|||
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY: |
||||
Ordinary shares of NIS 0.2 par value: Authorized − 15,000,000 ordinary shares; Issued and |
301 |
286 |
||
Share premium and other capital reserve |
269,854 |
269,353 |
||
Accumulated deficit |
(274,498) |
(257,586) |
||
Equity attributable to equity holders of the Company |
(4,343) |
12,053 |
||
Non-controlling interests |
16,581 |
16,632 |
||
Total equity |
12,238 |
28,685 |
||
$ 40,114 |
$ 51,101 |
|||
(*) Shares and per shares amounts have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the reverse stock split. |
CONSOLIDATED INTERIM STATEMENTS OF PROFIT OR LOSS |
||||||||||
U.S. dollars in thousands )except share and per share amounts) |
||||||||||
Nine months ended September 30, |
Three months ended September 30, |
Year ended December 31, |
||||||||
2024 |
2023 |
2024 |
2023 |
2023 |
||||||
Unaudited |
||||||||||
Revenues |
$ 6,900 |
$ 5,062 |
$ 1,796 |
$ 3,767 |
$ 5,640 |
|||||
Cost of revenues |
1,928 |
1,294 |
1,081 |
511 |
1,692 |
|||||
Gross profit |
4,972 |
3,768 |
715 |
3,256 |
3,948 |
|||||
Operating expenses: |
||||||||||
Research and development, net |
13,247 |
15,232 |
4,430 |
5,063 |
20,777 |
|||||
Sales and marketing |
2,775 |
2,578 |
855 |
850 |
3,611 |
|||||
General and administrative |
6,069 |
4,838 |
2,885 |
1,526 |
6,068 |
|||||
Other expenses |
524 |
– |
– |
– |
– |
|||||
Total operating expenses, net |
22,615 |
22,648 |
8,170 |
7,439 |
30,456 |
|||||
Operating loss |
(17,643) |
(18,880) |
(7,455) |
(4,183) |
(26,508) |
|||||
Financing income |
2,820 |
1,128 |
2,153 |
429 |
1,486 |
|||||
Financing expenses |
(3,198) |
(894) |
(2,910) |
(109) |
(965) |
|||||
Financing income (expenses), net |
(378) |
234 |
(757) |
320 |
521 |
|||||
Share of loss of an associate |
(26) |
– |
(6) |
– |
– |
|||||
Loss before taxes on income |
(18,047) |
(18,646) |
(8,218) |
(3,863) |
(25,987) |
|||||
Taxes on income (tax benefit) |
2 |
(29) |
1 |
(5) |
(33) |
|||||
Loss |
$ (18,049) |
$ (18,617) |
$ (8,219) |
$ (3,858) |
$ (25,954) |
|||||
Attributable to: |
||||||||||
Equity holders of the Company |
(16,912) |
(17,278) |
(7,630) |
(3,984) |
(23,879) |
|||||
Non-controlling interests |
(1,137) |
(1,339) |
(589) |
126 |
(2,075) |
|||||
$ (18,049) |
$ (18,617) |
$ (8,219) |
$ (3,858) |
$ (25,954) |
||||||
Basic and diluted loss per share, attributable to equity |
$ (3.17) |
$ (3.91) |
$ (1.31) |
$ (0.81) |
$ (5.20) |
|||||
Weighted average number of shares used in computing |
5,327,078 |
4,423,661 |
5,807,128 |
4,913,052 |
4,589,386 |
|||||
(*) Shares and per shares amounts have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the reverse stock split |
CONSOLIDATED INTERIM STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS |
|||||||||||
U.S. dollars in thousands |
|||||||||||
Nine months ended September 30, |
Three months ended September 30, |
Year ended December 31, |
|||||||||
2024 |
2023 |
2024 |
2023 |
2023 |
|||||||
Unaudited |
|||||||||||
Cash flows from operating activities: |
|||||||||||
Loss |
$ (18,049) |
$ (18,617) |
$ (8,219) |
$ (3,858) |
$ (25,954) |
||||||
Adjustments to reconcile loss to net cash used in operating activities: |
|||||||||||
Adjustments to the profit or loss items: |
|||||||||||
Depreciation |
1,182 |
1,223 |
382 |
416 |
1,641 |
||||||
Amortization of intangible assets |
729 |
726 |
245 |
245 |
971 |
||||||
Share-based compensation |
1,478 |
1,764 |
479 |
545 |
1,877 |
||||||
Remeasurement of pre-funded warrants and warrants |
(1,940) |
– |
(1,940) |
– |
– |
||||||
Revaluation of convertible SAFE |
(48) |
177 |
(72) |
(43) |
254 |
||||||
Net financing expenses (income) |
943 |
(206) |
1,165 |
(212) |
(666) |
||||||
Loss (gain) from sale of property, plant and equipment |
524 |
(26) |
– |
– |
(26) |
||||||
Excess of initial fair value of pre-funded warrants over transaction proceeds |
2,684 |
– |
2,684 |
– |
– |
||||||
Amortization of deferred expenses related to issuance of warrants |
137 |
– |
137 |
– |
– |
||||||
Share of loss of an associate |
26 |
– |
6 |
– |
– |
||||||
Taxes on income (tax benefit) |
2 |
(29) |
1 |
(5) |
(33) |
||||||
5,717 |
3,629 |
3,087 |
946 |
4,018 |
|||||||
Changes in asset and liability items: |
|||||||||||
Increase in trade receivables |
(1,233) |
(997) |
(1,214) |
(1,167) |
(9) |
||||||
Decrease (increase) in other receivables |
601 |
(420) |
1,326 |
(504) |
(1,445) |
||||||
Decrease (increase) in inventories |
(1,380) |
453 |
(662) |
136 |
490 |
||||||
Decrease in deferred taxes |
– |
– |
– |
– |
94 |
||||||
Increase (decrease) in trade payables |
(534) |
179 |
228 |
153 |
742 |
||||||
Increase (decrease) in employees and payroll accruals |
(248) |
72 |
(44) |
(100) |
550 |
||||||
Increase (decrease) in other payables |
139 |
(467) |
353 |
(305) |
(534) |
||||||
Increase (decrease) in deferred revenues and other advances |
(96) |
190 |
(12) |
263 |
(288) |
||||||
(2,751) |
(990) |
(25) |
(1,524) |
(400) |
|||||||
Cash received (paid) during the period for: |
|||||||||||
Interest received |
646 |
433 |
244 |
150 |
905 |
||||||
Interest paid |
(56) |
(92) |
(15) |
(26) |
(115) |
||||||
Tax paid |
– |
(15) |
– |
(5) |
(31) |
||||||
Net cash used in operating activities |
$ (14,493) |
$ (15,652) |
$ (4,928) |
$ (4,317) |
$ (21,577) |
CONSOLIDATED INTERIM STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS |
|||||||||||||||||
U.S. dollars in thousands |
|||||||||||||||||
Nine months ended September 30, |
Three months ended September 30, |
Year ended December 31, |
|||||||||||||||
2024 |
2023 |
2024 |
2023 |
2023 |
|||||||||||||
Unaudited |
|||||||||||||||||
Cash flows from investing activities: |
|||||||||||||||||
Purchase of property, plant and equipment |
$ (304) |
$ (699) |
$ (132) |
$ (216) |
$ (785) |
||||||||||||
Proceeds from sale of marketable securities |
– |
6,924 |
– |
– |
6,924 |
||||||||||||
Purchase of marketable securities |
– |
(503) |
– |
– |
(503) |
||||||||||||
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment |
58 |
26 |
48 |
– |
26 |
||||||||||||
Investment in short term bank deposits, net |
1,110 |
(9,700) |
2,100 |
3,860 |
(10,200) |
||||||||||||
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities |
864 |
(3,952) |
2,016 |
3,644 |
(4,538) |
||||||||||||
Cash flows from financing activities: |
|||||||||||||||||
Issuance of a subsidiary preferred shares to non-controlling interests |
– |
9,523 |
– |
– |
9,523 |
||||||||||||
Proceeds from issuance of ordinary shares, pre-funded warrants |
4,854 |
– |
4,854 |
– |
– |
||||||||||||
Proceeds from issuance of ordinary shares, net of issuance expenses |
123 |
8,404 |
37 |
8,068 |
8,449 |
||||||||||||
Repayment of lease liability |
(695) |
(624) |
(233) |
(211) |
(836) |
||||||||||||
Proceeds from government grants |
232 |
1,069 |
232 |
(20) |
1,089 |
||||||||||||
Repayment of government grants |
(298) |
(73) |
(156) |
(38) |
(73) |
||||||||||||
Net cash provided by financing activities |
4,216 |
18,299 |
4,734 |
7,799 |
18,152 |
||||||||||||
Exchange rate differences – cash and cash equivalent balances |
(42) |
(344) |
11 |
(28) |
(245) |
||||||||||||
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents |
(9,455) |
(1,649) |
1,833 |
7,098 |
(8,208) |
||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents beginning of the period |
20,772 |
28,980 |
9,484 |
20,233 |
28,980 |
||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents end of the period |
$ 11,317 |
$ 27,331 |
$ 11,317 |
$ 27,331 |
$ 20,772 |
||||||||||||
Significant non-cash activities: |
|||||||||||||||||
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment, net |
$ 28 |
$ 35 |
$ 28 |
$ 35 |
$ 81 |
||||||||||||
Increase of right-of-use asset recognized with corresponding lease liability |
$ 279 |
$ 135 |
$ 95 |
$ – |
$ 194 |
||||||||||||
Investment in affiliated Company with corresponding deferred revenues |
$ 120 |
$ – |
$ – |
$ – |
$ – |
||||||||||||
Logo – https://healthtechnologynet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Evogene_Logo-1.jpg
SOURCE Evogene
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