Earnings Labs

Sonoma Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (SNOA)

Q1 2018 Earnings Call· Mon, Aug 14, 2017

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Transcript

Operator

Operator

Good day, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to Sonoma Pharmaceuticals fiscal first quarter 2018 conference call. Currently, at this time, all participants are in a listen-only mode. Later, we will conduct a question-and-answer session and instructions will follow at that time. [Operator Instructions]. Also as a reminder, this conference call is being recorded. I would now like to turn the call over to your host, to Dan McFadden. Sir, you may begin.

Dan McFadden

Analyst

Thanks, Dylan. Good afternoon and thank you for joining us. With me on the call today are our CEO, Jim Schutz, and our CFO, COO, Bob Miller. We will open the call with Jim's update on our business strategy moving forward, followed by Bob's review of our financial results for the fiscal first quarter 2018, which ended June 30, 2017. This afternoon, Sonoma issued a press release detailing fiscal first quarter 2018 financial results and recent corporate developments. A copy of the release can be downloaded from our website, which is at sonomapharma.com or you can call Investor Relations at 425-753-2105 and we'll be happy to assist you. Before we begin, I’ll remind listeners that this conference call contains forward-looking statements within the Safe Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are identified by use of words such as expect, to expand, would and anticipate, among others. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, including risk inherent in the development and commercialization of potential products; the risk that potential clinical studies or trials will not proceed as anticipated or may not be successful or even sufficient to meet regulatory standards or receive the regulatory clearance or approvals; also, the company's future capital needs and its ability to obtain additional funding; and other risks detailed from time to time in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the quarterly report on Form 10-Q and the annual report on Form 10-K. Identified product applications and/or uses are intended to highlight potential applications for the investment community and does not infer that the company is marketing for these indications. The company does not provide any assurances that such applications will receive regulatory approvals. Sonoma disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements. I will now turn the call over to Jim Schutz, our CEO.

James Schutz

Analyst · Stonegate Capital Pa

Thank you, Dan. And thank you all for joining us today. For my portion of today's call, I'll highlight several key metrics of our business, spend just a moment looking ahead to the next several quarters, Bob will then cover the financials, and then finally we'll open the call for Q&A. We had a solid quarter on all of our key metrics, including top line revenue growth versus the same period last year, prescriptions filled at the pharmacy counter, and our profit center businesses. Product growth was strong, up 49% versus the same period last year, with continued solid performance from many of our top products. One data point shows a solid upward trend. For the June 2017 quarter, the following product lines experienced double-digit growth versus the March 2017 quarter. Our Alevicyn product for atopic dermatitis was up 26% just in one quarter. Celacyn, prescriptions filled for our scar treatment product was up 31% in the quarter. Mondoxyne for severe acne was up 31%. And Sebuderm, a recent product launch for us, indicated for seborrheic dermatitis, was up 42% June versus March. Dermatology prescriptions filled for the first quarter were up 66% over last year and up 24% even versus the March 2017 quarter. Our growing sales team now totals 30 sales reps and 5 managers. All reps have been trained, are out in the field generating prescriptions, and we are pleased to see the team hitting new weekly sales records for prescriptions filled at the pharmacy counter almost every week. From a clinical trial perspective, we saw a publication of two studies, describing the benefits of Celacyn, our prescription scar management product, and for Sebuderm for the treatment of facial and scalp seborrheic dermatitis. Both studies are available online, in print and are great tools for our growing…

Robert Miller

Analyst · Stonegate Capital Pa

Thank you, Jim. I'll first discuss the financial results of our first fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2017; secondly, a review the financial results of our derm strategy; and finally, talk about our path to EBITDA breakeven, driven by the 30 derm sales reps and their 5 senior managers, 13 of which have been hired in the March and June quarters. Moving now to a review of our financial results for the first fiscal quarter of fiscal year 2018 and covering only the highlights with the details in today's earnings press release. Total revenue was $3.8 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2017, up 45% or $1.2 million compared to $2.6 million in the same period last year. Total product revenue of $3.6 million was up 49% over the same period last year, with strong growth in US dermatology and acute care markets and in products sold to the new owner of the Latin America assets. More specifically, during the first quarter, US product revenue increased $486,000, up 35%, to $1.9 million, mostly related to the increase in dermatology and acute care product revenue, partially offset by a decline in animal health sales. Total international product revenue was up $706,000 or 68%, with increases in Mexico, Middle East, Europe, Hong Kong and Singapore, partially offset by decreases in China and India. Revenue from products sold to Invekra is temporary until Invekra sets up their own manufacturing facility. We expect that revenue related to Invekra will be in the $250,000 to $350,000 per quarter until they assume their own manufacturing. We further estimate that it will take about six to nine months from now until Invekra manufactures at their facility. The gross margins have been impacted by the historical separation of the discontinued operations and the very low margins of…

Operator

Operator

[Operator Instructions] Our first question comes from Laura Engel of Stonegate Capital Pa.

Laura Engel

Analyst · Stonegate Capital Pa

Good afternoon. Thanks for taking my questions. How are you all?

James Schutz

Analyst · Stonegate Capital Pa

Doing good.

Laura Engel

Analyst · Stonegate Capital Pa

Doing good. So, just two quick ones. On the pricing, you discussed that some and compared that to the competition. In keeping with what your plan is, is that still going to entail the 10% to 20% increases over 2017 or are you adjusting that range as well?

Robert Miller

Analyst · Stonegate Capital Pa

I would say it still should be in that range. But, actually, we could have a higher amount just because our price per gram tends to be quite lower than the rest. But our plan – our current plan is still that 10% to 15%, yes.

Laura Engel

Analyst · Stonegate Capital Pa

Okay. And then, I don't know if I know the answer to this, but the products you discussed that we are looking for some news from the FDA and some pending approvals, are the majority of those Microcyn-based or how would you characterize the in-house development that is going on right now as far as the products?

James Schutz

Analyst · Stonegate Capital Pa

Yeah, good question. We have an active R&D department in Seattle who is busy on all things hypochlorous acid-based. But please stay tuned also for some new product approvals and launches that are not HOCl. As you know, Laura, one of our goals is to diversify and provide more great products for our customers, the dermatologists, and for their patients.

Laura Engel

Analyst · Stonegate Capital Pa

Okay. And then, I guess, the last question, looking at the – you put out a separate press release that you mentioned about the Celacyn. You've been on the market with this a few years. What is your market share compared to the competition? I know there are limited products out there. Maybe really one or two others, I think we've discussed in the past. But how does that compare a couple of years into this as far as your share versus others.

James Schutz

Analyst · Stonegate Capital Pa

I think on the prescription, there are only really 2 products in the prescription Celacyn market. One is Recedo. And based on our data, it's probably about a 60-40. They actually have quite a few more sales people and they also sell into the women's health market. And that's probably the reason for the 60-40. Their product stands – it is a relatively standard silicon-based product. But they tend to pick up the benefits of selling into the women's healthcare market.

Laura Engel

Analyst · Stonegate Capital Pa

Okay. Well, I appreciate the detail. And I will get back in the queue.

James Schutz

Analyst · Stonegate Capital Pa

Thank you.

Operator

Operator

[Operator Instructions]. Our next question comes from Jason Kolbert of Maxim Group.

Gabrielle Zhou

Analyst · Maxim Group

It's actually Gabrielle Zhou here for Jason.

James Schutz

Analyst · Maxim Group

Hi, Gabrielle.

Gabrielle Zhou

Analyst · Maxim Group

Hi. I'm looking at your US sales for this quarter and it seems flattish compared to the last quarter. And I know that you guys mentioned about the growth was kind of offset by the higher rebate product return. And can you just give me some color on why is the return much higher this quarter because you seem to have a nice growth on the prescription sales.

Robert Miller

Analyst · Maxim Group

Well, there are couple of factors that affect the overall US sales for the quarter compared to last year and even the prior quarter. The animal health care sales were actually down compared to last year. And so, that's one that reduced the overall growth of the US revenue. It was a factor. In terms of the returns, the higher level of returns, they were more specifically related to a product that we introduced that didn't have very good coverage and we pulled that back.

James Schutz

Analyst · Maxim Group

And I can help there too. Gabrielle, we had three strengths on the market and we pulled back one strength due to insurance coverage not being very robust. Bob, I think you said in your script something about the returns being...

Robert Miller

Analyst · Maxim Group

Yeah, the returns – the combination of the returns and the rebates were higher as a percentage of the overall gross revenue. And I think the returns of – the trend in the returns has been higher and higher, not just for us but for many other prescription type – prescription companies. And we've seen the impact of that in this quarter. We've got a couple of – a number of major programs undergoing that we think that we'll be able to contain and reduce that cost over time.

James Schutz

Analyst · Maxim Group

Can I correct something you just said? We were talking returns and rebates. Rebates, we are seeing industry trends increase. Returns, we think we should more normalize, but expect an occasional spike at the end of shelf life or for some other reason, Gabrielle.

Robert Miller

Analyst · Maxim Group

Yes, that's – absolutely. It was the rebates that have – the trend has been upward. The returns, we see occasional spikes, and this was one of them.

Gabrielle Zhou

Analyst · Maxim Group

And do you think that will impact your [indiscernible] in terms of the growth rate for the US sales in the following quarter?

James Schutz

Analyst · Maxim Group

In the following quarter, we think that we are undertaking programs. They won't be – they will have an impact on the quarter. But it will have an impact of dampening the growth that we expect to see on a gross level basis. But we still think it will be a strong growth even in net revenue basis for the quarter for dermatology, in particular.

Gabrielle Zhou

Analyst · Maxim Group

Great. Just if I can just ask one more question, I heard that you guys mention some sales in China. Can you just provide some update on that as well?

James Schutz

Analyst · Maxim Group

Yes, we have two partners in China, primarily focused on the acute care business, but our international guru, Bruce Thornton, likes to describe our dermatology opportunity in China as just scratching the surface. So, we know that he's waiting for some additional regulatory approvals in particular for one of our product lines that he's going to be very enthusiastic about. But two solid partners doing reasonably well. We know the size of the dermatology market in China. It keeps getting bigger and bigger by all that we read. So, we want to make sure that we are partnered with the right companies and providing the right products there.

Gabrielle Zhou

Analyst · Maxim Group

And you mentioned the partners in China, are they the role of – mainly to be the distributors for your products?

James Schutz

Analyst · Maxim Group

Yes, that's well said. That's very knowledgeable too. No R&D. We provide them the products. They distribute in China. Correct.

Gabrielle Zhou

Analyst · Maxim Group

Got it. Great, thank you. Appreciate the insights.

James Schutz

Analyst · Maxim Group

Thank you.

Operator

Operator

I show no further questions in queue at this time. I'd now like to turn the call over back to Jim Schutz, CEO.

James Schutz

Analyst · Stonegate Capital Pa

Hey, thank you all for joining for today's call and for your continued support. We feel Sonoma is in the best shape we have ever been for several reasons. One, we've effectively executed a turnaround strategy in a very attractive dermatology market with a strong, experienced and effective sales team, a robust and unique product portfolio, and our growing product pipeline. Our next step is to drive to commercial breakeven, which we believe will increase shareholder value. Two, we believe our current cash position of $12.5 million – or more accurately, $12.6 million – enables us to aggressively grow our dermatology business with the use of only part of this cash. Three, our commercial EBITDA breakeven plan is relatively straightforward. And I'm going to repeat what Bob said. A, we see a high growth from our additional 13 new sales reps, now totaling 30 sales reps. B, we are going to launch new products and continued growth of our current products. And, C, gentle price increases, consistent with other comparable products. We have the foundation and building blocks in place to achieve EBITDA breakeven. We look forward to sharing our progress as we build this company to becoming a pure-play, multi-technology dermatology company and achieving our purpose of relentless passion for healing. Thank you again. And, operator, that's all.

Operator

Operator

Thank you, sir. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for attending today's conference. This concludes the program. You may all disconnect. Good day.