Nexstim has tidied up its share structure, with a consolidation resulting in a 30:1 reduction in the number of shares in issue. Management is focussed on exploiting the commercial opportunity for its proprietary Navigated Brain Therapy (NBT) system in the sizeable major depressive disorder (MDD) segment. Installations are growing across the US, Europe and Asia, with the strategy to support further roll out across the US progressing well. We have updated valuation model to reflect the fewer number of shares and value the company at €35.9m, or €11.04/share (€10.30/share diluted).
| Year-end: December 31 | 2017 | 2018E | 2019E | 2020E |
| Sales (€m) | 2.6 | 2.9 | 4.0 | 6.2 |
| PBT (€m) | (7.4) | (6.5) | (6.7) | (5.6) |
| Net Income (€m) | (7.3) | (6.5) | (6.7) | (5.5) |
| EPS (€) | (2.81) | (2.03) | (2.06) | (1.70) |
| Cash* (€m) | 8.5 | 6.0 | 3.7 | 12.2 |
| EBITDA (€m) | (5.3) | (6.2) | (5.7) | (4.6) |
Update
20 December 2018
| Price | €0.65 |
| Market Cap | €2.12m |
| Enterprise Value | €3.6m |
| Shares in issue | 3.25m |
| 12 month range | €0.05-1.25 |
| Free float | 85.8% |
| Primary exchange | Helsinki |
| Other exchanges | Stockholm |
| Sector | Healthcare |
| Company Codes | NXTMH/NXTMS |
| Corporate client | Yes |
Company description
Nexstim is a targeted neuro-modulation company that has developed a proprietary navigated rTMS platform for use in diagnostics (NBS) and therapeutics (NBT). NBS is used in planning brain surgery while NBT is focused on depression and chronic pain. FDA approval for depression was given in 2017, and the focus is on commercial roll out in the US, Europe and Asia.
Analysts
Mick Cooper PhD
mcooper@trinitydelta.org
+44 (0) 20 3637 5042
Lala Gregorek
lgregorek@trinitydelta.org
+44 20 3637 5041
Table of Contents
Whilst investors’ recent focus has been on the share reduction that has been implemented (a 30:1 share consolidation), the underlying business has been gaining traction, particularly in the important US market. Management is implementing a focussed strategy to maximise the commercial potential of its highly accurate TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) system as a therapy for major depressive disease (MDD).
We have detailed the technology and its clinical uses in previous notes (Initiation July 2018), with an extensive note examining its use in depression and the commercial prospects (Update October 2018). In this note we briefly re-cap on Nexstim’s current opportunities and, more importantly, update our forecasts and valuation models.
Nexstim’s TMS platform is employed in two related albeit commercially separate divisions: Diagnostics and Therapeutics (Exhibit 1). The diagnostics division comprises the Navigated Brain Stimulation (NBS) system and is used, and extensively validated, in pre-surgical brain mapping, while the Navigated Brain Therapy (NBT) system has been optimised for therapeutic use.
Understandably, most commercial traction has been gained in the more established use of NBS as a diagnostic in pre-surgical mapping (PSM). NBS provides greater mapping precision, allowing surgeons to be more aggressive in tumour resection, thus improving treatment outcomes. The NBS system was launched in 2003, with marketing efforts targeted at universities and teaching hospitals with a strong key opinion leader (KOL) presence in neurosurgery and radiology. It has subsequently attracted an impressive client list, which routinely uses the tool in pre-surgical mapping. The global installed base is over 150 NBS systems, including numerous world-renowned cancer centres (eg Mayo Clinic, MD Anderson, Charite, Great Ormond Street Hospital, and UCSF).
Although the NBS diagnostic application is attractive, and high margin, there is a materially larger commercial potential in the NBT therapeutic uses. The focus is now on two currently poorly addressed indications: depression and chronic neuropathic pain. Exhibit 2 overleaf summarises Nexstim’s commercial assessment for NBT in these indications.
The opportunity in MDD is material and timely. Treatment resistant depression (ie unresponsive to pharmacological anti-depressant medication) has a current addressable market of c 6m patients but is growing rapidly. The use of repetitive TMS (rTMS) is accepted as a second-line therapy, with the first FDA approval occurring in 2008 (Neuronetics’ Neurostar focal iron core coil TMS platform). It is also reimbursed in the US and various European countries.
Nexstim’s Navigated Brain Therapy (NBT) system ‘SmartFocus’ was FDA approved for MDD in December 2017 and launched in the US in May 2018. It is the only FDA approved device with built-in navigation, ensuring accurate and reproducible treatment. This is achieved through precise mapping of the motor cortex, and via proprietary e-field modelling to account for distortion caused by bone and brain tissue, accurately visualising the exact location, orientation, and magnitude of the stimulation. This means NBT can target the DLPFC (dorsolateral prefrontal cortex) 100% of the time vs 30% with other TMS approaches. Early indications are that the benefits of accurate navigation are readily understood by clinicians.
Leveraging the existing neurosurgical KOL network developed in pre-surgical brain mapping is an important facet of Nexstim’s commercial plan in MDD. To date NBT systems for MDD have been installed at multiple sites across 3 continents at prominent psychiatric and neuroscience centres. In the US, the commercial strategy is direct sales, while in Europe and Asia, a mixed direct and distributor model is being deployed, with the recent Ampere Medical distribution deal for Hong Kong demonstrating progress in developing new markets.
Nexstim’s commercial priority is to raise market awareness of its NBT system. Growth in patient registry data in MDD (including a comparative element with non-navigated systems) will supplement the body of clinical outcomes evidence and should support a shift from existing treatment practices and increase adoption of NBT. The company plans to publish registry data in a series of White Papers, which should help with raising the profile of the NBT system and its capabilities. Growing appreciation of the value proposition (ie improved patient outcomes and economic benefit to clinicians) will be a key driver of uptake.
Although chronic neuropathic pain is currently the largest application segment in the neuromodulation market, it is depression that is expected to be the major opportunity, despite its lower incidence, for medium-term growth. While Nexstim’s NBT is CE Marked for chronic neuropathic pain, the FDA has yet to approve any rTMS device for this indication. This largely reflects the fact that no large, multi-centre, randomised clinical trials have yet been undertaken by any manufacturer. Following encouraging results from an exploratory 39-patient Phase II study at The Walton Centre, Neuroscience Research Centre, Liverpool (detailed in our Initiation note), Nexstim is currently evaluating potential clinical trials for pain.
Nexstim’s share price fell sharply following the failure of the pivotal E-FIT stroke trial for understandable reasons but now has, in our view, over-reacted. Examining the details underlying our DCF-based valuation model (see also our previous reports: Initiation July 2018 and Update October 2018), shows how the existing diagnostic and therapeutic indications comfortably exceed the current share price.
Our valuation of €35.9m remains unchanged but the share consolidation means this is now equivalent to €11.04/share and €10.30/share diluted (based on in-the-money options and warrants).
Exhibit 3 provides a breakdown of the components of our valuation. We have employed risk-adjusted cash flows for the three main components: the NBS diagnostic pre-surgery brain mapping indication; the FDA approved major depression indication; and the earlier Phase II chronic pain indication.
The risk adjustments range from a success probability of 100% for the brain mapping application to 25% for the early-stage pain indication. The depression indication accounts for the largest element of the valuation, comprising 59% of total company value. Potential upsides include a more rapid execution of the US commercial strategy, and better rates of clinical adoption and sales progress.
It is worth highlighting that we apply conservative assumptions regarding patient populations, market sizes and growth rates, net pricing, adoption curves, and peak market penetration. Also, we only value the existing assets with potential supplementary clinical indications and off-label usage excluded. Additionally, as before, we have also accounted for the dilution from the outstanding warrants and options.
Nexstim had cash of €10.3m in June which, following the cessation of clinical work on stroke and other cost cutting, we estimate is sufficient for c12 months at our current forecast burn rates. Although still unclear, our forecasts suggest that Nexstim needs around €5m over the next 12 months to properly execute its commercialisation plans for NBT in MDD. Depending on the level of subsequent investment needed in the commercial infrastructure and the level of sales performance, further funds may be required: we model €15m in FY20. However, the actual amount and timings will depend on the rate of clinical acceptance and institutional adoption on the one hand, and the investments in clinical data and marketing effort on the other.
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