Bonesupport has emerged from its transition year with FY18 results highlighting the progress, and investment, in implementing commercial initiatives to accelerate global CERAMENT penetration. The switch to direct sales from October 23 and prior supply issues at the exclusive distributor impacted US sales (SEK34.1m vs SEK 78.1m in FY17). Europe/ROW delivered strong sales growth (+22% to SEK62.5m) as the high margin antibiotic eluting products continue to gain traction. We anticipate increased sales in 2019 as the expanded global commercial footprint beds down, key clinical data (eg CERTiFy) are leveraged, and new US GPO contracts are secured. This provides a solid foundation for the company to achieve its target of 40%+ revenue growth from 2020 onwards. We value Bonesupport at SEK39/share (SEK 2.042bn).
Year-end: December 31 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019E | 2020E |
Sales (SEKm) | 129.3 | 96.6 | 227.7 | 349.6 |
Adj. PBT (SEKm) | (127.9) | (175.2) | (128.8) | (68.5) |
Net Income (SEKm) | (128.9) | (176.7) | (129.3) | (68.8) |
EPS (SEK) | (3.2) | (3.4) | (2.5) | (1.3) |
Cash (SEKm) | 533.4 | 261.5 | 113.3 | 24.1 |
EBITDA (SEKm) | (98.1) | (172.8) | (125.1) | (65.4) |
Update
1 March 2019
Price | SEK20.5 |
Market Cap | SEK1,061m |
Enterprise Value | SEK800m |
Shares in issue | 51.8m |
12 month range | SEK9.04-26.5 |
Free float | 87.2% |
Primary exchange | OMX Stockholm |
Other exchanges | N/A |
Sector | Healthcare |
Company Code | BONEX |
Corporate client | Yes |
Company description
Bonesupport is a Swedish ortho-biologics company focused on developing and commercialising a pipeline of unique injectable drug eluting bioceramic bone graft substitutes based on its proprietary CERAMENT technology.
Analysts
Lala Gregorek
lgregorek@trinitydelta.org
+44 (0) 20 3637 5043
Mick Cooper PhD
mcooper@trinitydelta.org
+44 (0) 20 3637 5042
Table of Contents
2019 is anticipated to be an important year for Bonesupport, in which its strategic transformation comes to fruition, laying the foundation to achieve management’s target of year-on-year sales growth of 40%+ from 2020 onwards. During 2018, various commercial initiatives were implemented (detailed in our October Capital Markets Day Update note) with the goal of accelerating market penetration of CERAMENT in various geographies. FY18 results evidence this strategic evolution, with a new US commercial structure, and increased, albeit focused, investment in sales and marketing. As the company continues to execute on it plans, we expect 2019 to represent a sales inflection point. We value Bonesupport at SEK39/share (SEK2.042bn).
Bonesupport’s presence in the US and Europe/ROW synthetic bone graft markets differs, as do the market dynamics. Historic quarterly sales are shown in Exhibit 1 for each region, and we summarise key achievements in Q418 later in this note. However, the focus for 2019 is firmly on driving market penetration of CERAMENT and revenue growth.
CERAMENT is positioned as a synthetic bone graft substitute with industry leading clinical data that highlights its ability to remodel to the patient’s own bone, and in the case of CERAMENT G and V, to elute antibiotics directly into the bone void to protect the healing process. Data is critical to communicating the value proposition of this novel product platform to surgeons, patients, and payors. The availability of full data from the CERTiFy trauma study, expected to be published in a leading journal during 2019, should provide strong impetus on this front.
US sales should benefit from the direct distribution network becoming fully effective as sales reps complete their initial training (60% have done so to date), market access is improved as new GPO contracts are secured, and complementary osteobiologic products from the Collagen Matrix and MTF Biologics collaborations are launched in H119. In Europe, the larger and more commercially focused sales team should also start to make more significant inroads into geographic areas where there are large orthopaedic centres but a previously limited sales presence, and in the priority trauma and osteomyelitis indications.
CERAMENT BVF is currently the only available Bonesupport product in the US, and net sales for FY18 were SEK 34.1m (FY17: SEK78.1m). H118 sales were muted as the previous exclusive distributor, Zimmer Biomet, experienced significant hardware supply issues. Termination of this distribution agreement and the switch to a direct sales model from 23rd October 2018 meant Bonesupport booked no sales in Q318, although revenue of SEK4.2m was generated in Q418.
From a corporate perspective, Q418 was highly successful with achievement of numerous objectives, and more meaningful sales data is expected for Q119:
Europe/ROW continued to show revenue growth with net sales of SEK62.5m, a 22% increase on FY17 (SEK 51.2). Specifically, Europe (27%) and the strong momentum in CERAMENT G and V sales (up 33% for FY18, and 45% in Q4) are major contributors to this growth. 84% of Q418 sales were generated in the five direct European markets (UK, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, and Denmark). Bonesupport does not provide a geographic breakdown, but has disclosed that the US, Germany and the UK were the only markets to each represent over 10% of net sales during Q418.
During 2018, Bonesupport had an increased presence at medical conferences, and expanded its European sales and marketing organisation to 25 from 14; 11 of the planned 13 new hires are in place (up from 7 at end-Q318). Finding and training the right individuals are the rate limiting steps that define how quickly commercial impact is felt. Hiring, training, focused deployment, and initial customer contact of new reps has been the priority in 2018; the sales impact is expected to come through in Q119. Investment in the European sales infrastructure should reap rewards in a relatively short timeframe as new hires are experienced and are deployed in key regions with important orthopaedic centres but where Bonesupport has historically had limited presence. As a guide, management have suggested that during his or her first 12 months, a new rep is expected to generate sales in the middle of a €70-120k range.
Bonesupport is also directing more resources towards underpenetrated markets: Germany and trauma are clear priorities.
The ground-breaking level 1 clinical data from the CERTiFy study (CERAMENT Treatment of Fracture Defects) study could catalyse increasing sales in Germany and in trauma. Germany is a conservative market with strict requirements for clinical data, hence the CERTiFy results could have a disproportionate impact. The study confirmed non-inferiority of CERAMENT BVF to autograft, and the fact it was run at 20 German trauma centres provides familiarity with the CERAMENT product suite. CERAMENT BVF could be the entry point to increasing use of CERAMENT G/V which has the added clinical and health economics benefit of lowering the risk of infection and hospital readmissions in high risk injuries.
Top line data from CERTiFy was released in November 2018, showing that CERAMENT BVF is non-inferior to autograft in treating fracture defects. CERTiFy was a prospective, randomised controlled study which evaluated 137 patients across 20 German trauma centres, comparing outcomes with CERAMENT BVF and autograft (patient derived bone) in treating tibial plateau fractures.
Autograft is considered the gold standard, with high efficacy and safety; however, the need for two surgical procedures (harvest and the transplant itself) increases its cost vs the alternatives, is painful, and is associated with infection risk. The fact that CERAMENT BVF has been shown to be clinically non-inferior, while only requiring a single procedure (reducing both surgery time and risk of infection), could increase the addressable market opportunity, with potential, longer-term, for a paradigm shift in the standard of care in trauma. According to the company, autograft currently accounts for c160k annual procedures (c31% of bone grafts in EU5, 19% in the US). Even modest capture of market share would be significant for Bonesupport, and as no competing synthetic bone graft substitute has level 1 randomised clinical data, CERAMENT would also have a first-mover advantage.
CERTiFy results will add to the growing body of evidence supporting CERAMENT. Bonesupport and its key opinion leader (KOL) network continue to bolster this with case studies, presentations, and peer reviewed publications; most recently, a large animal model pilot study, and a long-term PK study of CERAMENT V vancomycin release in hip surgery.
The depth and breadth of supportive clinical data and documentation for CERAMENT means Bonesupport is well-prepared for the end of the transition period and full implementation of the EU Medical Devices Regulation from May 2020. This regulation puts more stringent obligations on manufacturers to ensure the quality, performance and safety of their medical devices, including having clinical evidence to support product claims. Full implementation may also trigger shifts in competitive dynamics in some European markets, should smaller producers run into difficulties with meeting these requirements.
Another important facet being addressed is health economics outcomes research, which will help drive reimbursement. Data from the 5-year study led by the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre (Oxford University Hospitals) is also expected to be published in 2019. Initial data has been positive, indicating that use of CERAMENT G in osteomyelitis reduces surgical time and the procedure rate, compared with the full range of alternative treatments available in England.
Bonesupport reported FY18 net sales of SEK96.6m, a decrease of 25% on FY17 (SEK129.3m). This decrease was primarily attributable to the disruption in the US market caused by supply issues at Zimmer Biomet during H118, followed by the switch to a direct distribution model from 23 October 2018. US net sales were SEK34.1m for FY18 (FY17: SEK78.1m), with an 87% gross margin. In Europe/ ROW, sales grew 22% to SEK62.5m (FY17: SEK51.2m), with an overall 83% gross margin, and particularly strong growth in CERAMENT G/V sales (SEK51.5m vs SEK38.5m). Due to reduced US revenue, gross profit of SEK81.5m was 27% lower.
Expenditure increased in FY18 reflecting Bonesupport’s focused investment in initiatives to accelerate sales of CERAMENT products. Higher selling expenses of SEK133.3m (+44% on FY17: SEK92.9m) were incurred with the switch to a direct sales model in the US, the European sales force expansion, and increased marketing activities globally. R&D spend of SEK66.1m increased more modestly (+9%), while admin expenses of SEK 58.3m (+1.5%) were broadly flat.
The wider operating loss of SEK 174.4m (FY17: SEK 99.3m), and net loss of SEK176.4m (FY17: SEK 128.9m) resulted from the combination of lower overall revenues coupled with increased, albeit more focused, investment in the commercial organisation.
Bonesupport ended December 2018 with cash and equivalents of SEK261.5m, which, according to management, is sufficient runway to profitability and positive cash flow (achieved in 2021 and 2022 respectively according to our model).
Post FY18 results, we have updated our forecasts (Exhibit 2) and valuation model. At this stage, given the near-term uncertainty around the US CERAMENT BVF sales ramp, we have only made minor tweaks to our expectations, and expect to revise our revenue forecasts later in 2019 once the sales trajectory becomes better established, all sales reps have received their training, and more information is available on the progress with GPO contracting. We highlight that Bonesupport will begin exclusive promotion of CERAMENT BVF in the US in April 2019, after which point, the levels of inventory still held by Zimmer Biomet will become irrelevant. In line with Bonesupport’s focus on disciplined cost control, balanced with appropriate investment, we have reallocated some admin expenses to sales.
Changes to our forecasts flow through to our valuation model. We have updated our valuation to reflect the strengthening of the SEK/US$ (9.3 vs 8.7 previously), the number of shares outstanding, last reported cash, as well as rolling forward our model to reflect the passage of time. Our three-stage DCF methodology now values Bonesupport at SEK 2.042bn or SEK39/share (vs SEK37/share previously).
Our valuation is based on explicit cash flows to 2022, followed by a ten-year trending period, and a 2.5% terminal growth rate. We forecast sales for all currently marketed CERAMENT products in Europe/RoW and the US, also including CERAMENT G in the US. For the latter we assume launch in 2021 and apply a 75% risk adjustment to recognise clinical and regulatory risk. Individual product rNPVs are summed and netted against the costs of running the business. Exhibit 3 provides a detailed breakdown of the components of our valuation.
Continued successful execution (eg commercial traction and/or success of additional products) would unlock further upside potential. The impact of CERTiFy on the trajectory of BVF sales in trauma, and US approval of CERAMENT G are two key inflection points. For the latter, removal of the risk adjustment on CERAMENT G (US) would lift our valuation to SEK2.251bn (SEK 43.5/share).
Additionally, we continue to apply a 12.5% discount rate to reflect the fact that Bonesupport is a small company operating in a highly competitive market; using a less conservative 10% discount rate results in a SEK 3.29bn (SEK 63.5/share) valuation
Disclaimer
Trinity Delta Research Limited (“TDRL”; firm reference number: 725161), which trades as Trinity Delta, is an appointed representative of Equity Development Limited (“ED”). The contents of this report, which has been prepared by and is the sole responsibility of TDRL, have been reviewed, but not independently verified, by ED which is authorised and regulated by the FCA, and whose reference number is 185325.
ED is acting for TDRL and not for any other person and will not be responsible for providing the protections provided to clients of TDRL nor for advising any other person in connection with the contents of this report and, except to the extent required by applicable law, including the rules of the FCA, owes no duty of care to any other such person. No reliance may be placed on ED for advice or recommendations with respect to the contents of this report and, to the extent it may do so under applicable law, ED makes no representation or warranty to the persons reading this report with regards to the information contained in it.
In the preparation of this report TDRL has used publically available sources and taken reasonable efforts to ensure that the facts stated herein are clear, fair and not misleading, but make no guarantee or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of the information or opinions contained herein, nor to provide updates should fresh information become available or opinions change.
Any person who is not a relevant person under section of Section 21(2) of the Financial Services & Markets Act 2000 of the United Kingdom should not act or rely on this document or any of its contents. Research on its client companies produced by TDRL is normally commissioned and paid for by those companies themselves (‘issuer financed research’) and as such is not deemed to be independent, as defined by the FCA, but is ‘objective’ in that the authors are stating their own opinions. The report should be considered a marketing communication for purposes of the FCA rules. It has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and it is not subject to any prohibition on dealing ahead of the dissemination of investment research. TDRL does not hold any positions in any of the companies mentioned in the report, although directors, employees or consultants of TDRL may hold positions in the companies mentioned. TDRL does impose restrictions on personal dealings. TDRL might also provide services to companies mentioned or solicit business from them.
This report is being provided to relevant persons to provide background information about the subject matter of the note. This document does not constitute, nor form part of, and should not be construed as, any offer for sale or purchase of (or solicitation of, or invitation to make any offer to buy or sell) any Securities (which may rise and fall in value). Nor shall it, or any part of it, form the basis of, or be relied on in connection with, any contract or commitment whatsoever. The information that we provide is not intended to be, and should not in any manner whatsoever be, construed as personalised advice. Self-certification by investors can be completed free of charge at www.fisma.org. TDRL, its affiliates, officers, directors and employees, and ED will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from any use of this document, to the maximum extent that the law permits.
Copyright 2018 Trinity Delta Research Limited. All rights reserved.