On May 6, 2020 Natera, Inc. (NASDAQ: NTRA), a pioneer and global leader in cell-free DNA testing, reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2020 and provided an update on recent business progress (Press release, Natera, MAY 6, 2020, View Source [SID1234557173]).
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Recent Accomplishments & Highlights
Generated total revenues of $94.0 million in the first quarter of 2020 compared to $66.8 million in the first quarter of 2019, an increase of 41%.
Processed approximately 235,500 tests in the first quarter of 2020, compared to approximately 200,200 tests processed in the first quarter of 2019 and 209,400 tests processed in the fourth quarter of 2019.
Achieved cost of goods sold of $202 per test accessioned in Natera’s laboratory; approaching the company’s long-term target of $200 cost of goods sold per unit.
Successfully enrolled the first 145 patients in the ProActive registry trial for ProsperaTM in kidney transplant rejection.
Responded to COVID-19 by implementing safety protocols in the laboratory, scaling remote ordering capabilities for patients and physicians.
Saw coverage for Panorama expanded during COVID-19 by greater than 20 million lives.
Successfully issued convertible senior notes due 2027 for net proceeds of $278.9 million in April 2020.
Repaid the obligations under its 2017 term loan with OrbiMed Advisors in April 2020.
"We were very pleased with our performance in the first quarter," said Steve Chapman, Natera’s Chief Executive Officer. "We had a record quarter for both volumes and revenues, and drove cost of goods sold per unit to very near the long-term target we had set out previously. We responded aggressively to the COVID-19 outbreak to ensure no disruptions to our lab operations, demonstrated our ability to rapidly scale our mobile ordering platforms for patients and providers, and further strengthened our balance sheet with the financing."
First Quarter Ended March 31, 2020 Financial Results
Total revenues were $94.0 million in the first quarter of 2020 compared to $66.8 million for the first quarter of 2019, an increase of 41%. The increase in total revenues was driven primarily by sales of Natera’s Panorama and Horizon tests. Natera processed 235,500 tests in the first quarter of 2020, including approximately 222,400 tests accessioned in its laboratory, compared to 200,200 tests processed in the first quarter of 2019, including approximately 186,500 tests accessioned in its laboratory.
In the three months ended March 31, 2020, Natera recognized revenue on approximately 221,500 tests for which results were reported to customers in the period (tests reported), including approximately 209,200 tests accessioned in its laboratory, compared to approximately 184,700 tests reported, including approximately 173,400 tests accessioned in its laboratory, in the first quarter of 2019, an overall increase of 20% for the quarter.
Gross profit for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 was $49.0 million and $23.5 million, respectively, representing a 52% and 35% gross margin, respectively. The company was able to achieve higher margins in Q1 2020 as a result of increases in both volume and average selling price as well as improved cost of goods sold per test.
Total operating expenses, representing research and development expenses and selling, general and administrative expenses, for the first quarter of 2020 were $83.9 million, compared to $55.3 million in the same period of the prior year. The increases were primarily driven by headcount growth to support new product offerings.
Loss from operations for the first quarter of 2020 was $34.9 million compared to $31.7 million for the same period of the prior year.
Net loss for the first quarter of 2020 was $35.4 million, or ($0.45) per diluted share, compared to net loss of $34.1 million, or ($0.54) per diluted share, for the same period in 2019. Weighted average shares outstanding were 78.3 million in the first quarter of 2020.
At March 31, 2020, Natera held $405.9 million in cash, cash equivalents, short-term investments and restricted cash, compared to $441.0 million as of December 31, 2019. As of March 31, 2020, Natera had a total outstanding debt balance of $123.0 million, comprised of $50.1 million with accrued interest under its $50.0 million line of credit with UBS at a variable interest rate of 30-day LIBOR plus 110 bps and a net carrying amount of $72.9 million under its debt agreement with OrbiMed Advisors.
Subsequent to March 31, 2020, Natera successfully issued seven-year convertible senior notes for net proceeds of $278.9 million, of which a portion was used to repay the obligations under the company’s 2017 term loan with OrbiMed Advisors. As of March 31, 2020, pro forma for the notes issuance and repayment of the term loan, the company’s cash, cash equivalents, short-term investments and restricted cash balance would have been $605.6 million.
2020 Financial Outlook
As previously disclosed, because of the highly dynamic situation and ongoing disruptions from COVID-19, the company has withdrawn its financial guidance for the 2020 fiscal year. At the present time, the company cannot predict the extent or duration of the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on its financial and operating results.