Oslo, Norway, 8 November 2023 - Photocure ASA (OSE:PHO) today reported
Hexvix[®]/Cysview[®] revenues of NOK 107.3 million in the third quarter of 2023
(Q3 2022: NOK 96.9 million), and an EBITDA of NOK 3.3 million (NOK 4.7 million)
for the company. Photocure refines its guidance ranges for 2023: The Company
continues to expect 65-75 new SaphiraT blue light tower installations assuming
delivery of an anticipated large purchase order in Q4; consolidated product
revenue growth in the range of 17-20% including the impact of FX and the ongoing
flexible BLC phase down; and positive EBITDA anticipated in the range of NOK 45
-50 million excluding BD spending.
"In the third quarter, Hexvix/Cysview revenue increased 11% year-over-year and
we delivered NOK 3.3 million in EBITDA while progressing numerous initiatives to
advance our business. We also announced successful Phase III clinical trial
outcomes for two assets with our partner Asieris: Cevira for the treatment of
pre-cervical cancer and Hexvix, our core product to be commercialized by Asieris
in China," says Dan Schneider, President & Chief Executive Officer of
Photocure.
Photocure reported total group revenues of NOK 107.5 million in the third
quarter of 2023 (NOK 106.8 million), and an EBITDA* of NOK 3.3 million (NOK 4.7
million), driven by a combination of price increases and a benefit from foreign
exchange, partially offset by lower unit volumes in the U.S. The
Hexvix®/Cysview® revenues ended at NOK 107.3 million in the quarter (Q3 2022:
NOK 96.9 million). The EBIT was NOK -3.9 million (NOK -1.4 million). In the
prior-year period, Photocure received a NOK 9.3 million milestone payment from
Asieris. The cash balance at the end of the period was NOK 255.1 million.
At the end of the third quarter of 2023, the installed base of rigid blue light
cystoscopy (BLC®) systems in the U.S. was 342, an increase of 23%, or 65 towers,
since the third quarter of 2022. These figures do not include the approximately
30 remaining active flexible cystoscopy towers in the U.S.
"The installed base of rigid blue light capital equipment continued to grow,
with 21 new Saphira towers readied for use in the third quarter. New high
definition Saphira cystoscope systems now represent more than a third of the
installed base of rigid BLC towers in the U.S. Currently, there are more than
100 quotes for new Saphira towers issued, with Karl Storz extending its
promotional program through year-end. As a result, we believe that both new
placements and upgrades to high-definition blue light equipment in the U.S. will
continue to be strong in Q4, as we work to offset the loss of active towers in
the surveillance segment," Schneider adds.
Photocure believes that the benefits of Blue Light Cystoscopy with
Hexvix®/Cysview® offering superior detection and management of bladder cancer
will continue to be adopted and become the standard of care, although the phase
down of flexible equipment represents challenges in near to intermediate term.
Photocure today refined its 2023 guidance ranges: The Company continues to
expect 65-75 new SaphiraT blue light tower installations assuming delivery of an
anticipated large purchase order in Q4; consolidated product revenue growth in
the range of 17-20% including the impact of FX and the ongoing flexible BLC
phase down; and positive EBITDA anticipated in the range of NOK 45-50 million
excluding BD spending.
"I am proud that in 2023 alone, Photocure has worked with blue light equipment
manufacturers to open a total of 56 new accounts and upgrade components or full
towers in over 150 accounts internationally. We believe that reclassification of
BLC equipment from Class 3 to Class 2 in the U.S. will open a regulatory pathway
facilitating the entry of equipment manufacturers eager to access the U.S.
market to expand BLC use, as indicated by Stryker Corporation's recent
supportive public comment on the pending Citizen's Petition. Simultaneously, we
are actively pursuing a global strategy to reintroduce flexible blue light
cystoscopy equipment with the intention to rebuild the larger surveillance
segment of the market worldwide. Given our plans to reaccelerate growth, a
strong balance sheet and the potential for additional milestones and sales
royalties from our partner Asieris, I remain confident that Photocure is in a
solid position to deliver value for our patients and shareholders," Schneider
concludes.
Please find the full financial report and presentation enclosed.
EBITDA* and other alternative performance measures (APMs) are defined and
reconciled to the IFRS financial statements as a part of the APM section of the
third quarter 2023 financial report on page 23.
The quarterly report and presentation will be published at 08:00 CET and will be
publicly available at www.photocure.com. Dan Schneider, CEO and Erik Dahl, CFO,
will host a live webcast at 14:00 CET.
The presentation will be held in English and questions can be submitted
throughout the event. The streaming event is available through
https://channel.royalcast.com/landingpage/hegnarmedia/20231108_3/
The presentation is scheduled to conclude at 14:45 CET.
For further information, please contact:
Dan Schneider
President and CEO
Photocure ASA
Tel: + 1-609 759-6515
Email: ds@photocure.com
Erik Dahl
Chief Financial Officer
Tel: +47 450 55 000
Email: ed@photocure.no
David Moskowitz
Vice President of Investor Relations
Tel: +1 202 280 0888
Email: david.moskowitz@photocure.com
Media and IR enquiries:
Geir Bjørlo
Corporate Communications (Norway)
Tel: +47 91540000
Email: geir.bjorlo@corpcom.no
About Photocure ASA
Photocure: The Bladder Cancer Company delivers transformative solutions to
improve the lives of bladder cancer patients. Our unique technology, making
cancer cells glow bright pink, has led to better health outcomes for patients
worldwide. Photocure is headquartered in Oslo, Norway and listed on the Oslo
Stock Exchange (OSE: PHO). For more information, please visit us at
www.photocure.com, www.hexvix.com, www.cysview.com
All trademarks mentioned in this release are protected by law and are registered
trademarks of Photocure ASA.
This information is considered to be inside information pursuant to the EU
Market Abuse Regulation and is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant
to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act. This stock exchange
announcement was published by Tolv Hillestad, Group Controller, Photocure ASA,
on 8 November 2023 at 08:00 CET.