Immunovia has announced that it needs to optimise the algorithms used in the IMMray PanCan-d test in high-risk patients due to sample collection-related variability, which will delay the first sales of the product for a year from late 2018 to late 2019. Separately, Immunovia has shown the IMMray platform can differentiate between healthy and lung cancer samples with 95% accuracy. On the autoimmune front, IMMray has proven efficacious in detecting patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who tested negative for antibodies against cyclic citrullinated peptides (CCP) with 90% accuracy, allowing a potential increase of up to 30% in detection rate. Both studies will be validated in further trials. Net cash at end H118 was SEK447.2m. Our updated valuation is SEK3.5bn vs SEK3.6bn before.
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Immunovia |
Exploring new avenues |
H118 results and business update |
Healthcare equipment & services |
6 September 2018 |
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Business description
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Immunovia is a research client of Edison Investment Research Limited |
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Immunovia has announced that it needs to optimise the algorithms used in the IMMray PanCan-d test in high-risk patients due to sample collection-related variability, which will delay the first sales of the product for a year from late 2018 to late 2019. Separately, Immunovia has shown the IMMray platform can differentiate between healthy and lung cancer samples with 95% accuracy. On the autoimmune front, IMMray has proven efficacious in detecting patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who tested negative for antibodies against cyclic citrullinated peptides (CCP) with 90% accuracy, allowing a potential increase of up to 30% in detection rate. Both studies will be validated in further trials. Net cash at end H118 was SEK447.2m. Our updated valuation is SEK3.5bn vs SEK3.6bn before.
Year end |
Revenue |
PBT* |
EPS* |
DPS |
P/E |
Yield |
12/16 |
24.5 |
(14.7) |
(0.98) |
0.0 |
N/A |
N/A |
12/17 |
24.2 |
(45.2) |
(2.67) |
0.0 |
N/A |
N/A |
12/18e |
29.9 |
(74.2) |
(4.00) |
0.0 |
N/A |
N/A |
12/19e |
22.6 |
(88.8) |
(4.56) |
0.0 |
N/A |
N/A |
Note: *Normalised, excluding amortisation of acquired intangibles and exceptionals.
PanCan-d first self-pay sales delayed for a year
In retrospective analysis of 1,000 samples, Immunovia found that different blood-collection procedures introduced variability in the test algorithms. Therefore, additional optimisation work is needed, which the company estimates will cost SEK5m. The interim analysis of the prospective PANFAM-1 clinical trial in high-risk individuals will now be conducted in Q119 (vs Q318 before); however, the company still expects to complete the interventional phase during 2019. We continue to estimate the total market opportunity is SEK2bn in the EU/US, based on 200,000 potential patients.
Emerging opportunities in lung cancer and RA
Immunovia has announced that the IMMray technology was able to detect normal from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) samples with 95% accuracy in a study that involved 100 serum samples (50 healthy and 50 NSCLC). The company and its pharma partner plan to conduct larger, confirmatory studies. Approximately 200,000 new NSCLC cases are diagnosed each year in the US according to SEER. Separately, in a preliminary study IMMray has demonstrated it is able to detect RA patients that tested negative for anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies with 90% accuracy; we think this is important as up to 30% of patients with negative test results for anti-CCP antibodies have RA.
Valuation: DCF SEK3.5bn or SEK177 per share
Our updated valuation is SEK3.5bn or SEK177 per share vs SEK3.6bn or SEK208 per share previously. The main change is the delay in first sales of PanCan-d in high-risk patients, now pushed back to 2020 in our model from late 2018, partially offset by end-H118 net cash of SEK447.2m. Additionally, we update the number of shares after the June 2018 offering that resulted in c 11% dilution. Peak sales are unchanged at SEK2.5bn in the EU and US in 2028.
IMMray opens new avenues for diagnostics
Potential in RA may lead to improved diagnosis rate
According to the European League Against Rheumatism 2010 criteria, the rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-CCP are used to diagnose RA. Sensitivity and specificity for the anti-CCP test range from 53–71% and 95–96% respectively (Braschi E. et al 2016)). In addition to the anti-CCP tests, testing for RF and imaging scans are also used to diagnose RA. Anti-CCP antibodies are thought to be present in 60–70% of patients with RA. They may be present early in the disease process and have not been found consistently in any other autoimmune disease syndrome, hence they are considered particularly specific to RA. It is important to diagnose RA early as early treatment is associated with better outcomes. In particular, anti-TNF alpha products are more effective when taken early in the disease. The annual worldwide incidence of RA is 40 in 100,000 people and prevalence is c 1% of the population (Sherine E. et al, 2018).
Immunovia’s IMMray test accuracy was higher than 90% for all RA patients. Immunovia and its collaborator Linköping University expect to start the design of confirmatory studies in the short term, leading to the development of a commercial assay.
We believe this reinforces the potential of IMMray in autoimmune diseases. In particular, Immunovia announced earlier this year that IMMray was able to differentiate rheumatoid arthritis from a mix of systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjögren syndrome (SS) and systemic vasculitis (SV), with 89% accuracy. It differentiated RA from SS and SV with accuracies of 83% and 95%, respectively.
New opportunity in lung cancer arises
Immunovia’s IMMray technology has shown it can differentiate normal samples from NSCLC samples with 95% accuracy. These preliminary data are based on 100 serum samples, 50 healthy and 50 NSCLC in a study conducted with an undisclosed pharma partner. The partners now plan to run larger, confirmatory studies; no specific timelines have been provided. We await additional information on the stage of NSCLC the test can differentiate and additional data on the differentiation with other lung conditions (eg tuberculosis) in further studies.
Lung cancer affects 214,000 people in the US and 313,000 people in the EU-28 according to Globocan data from 2012. Around 80–85% of these cases is NSCLC.
Prospective studies advance
Due to the algorithm optimisation process, the observational phase of the PANFAM-1 study has been delayed from Q318 to Q119. This is a three-year prospective clinical trial in 1,000 high-risk patients intended to achieve reimbursement. Immunovia still expects to release final data in 2019. We estimate the total market opportunity is c SEK2bn in the EU/US, based on c 200,000 potential patients.
The prospective PANDIA-1 study in new-onset type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients aged 50 and over as part of a consortium with centres in the Nordic region continues. It is also continuing with the retrospective study using the biobank of Lund University Diabetes Centre with samples from over 17,000 patients. The company expects first data to be available in 2020 and full results in 2021. We believe this continues to be a large opportunity worth SEK34bn a year based on two tests per year for three years at SEK5,000 per test (see our initiation for more details). There are c 3.4 million patients diagnosed with diabetes every year in the EU and the US.
The prospective PANSYM-1 study continues in the form of a pilot study collecting samples from 360 patients with early gastric symptoms. The company expects to report first data this year and the trial will be expanded if they are positive. We view this as a potential opportunity of SEK5bn based on the company’s estimate of 1m tests per year at SEK5,000 per test.
Financials: H118 results released, forecasts adjusted
As a result of the delay, we now project first sales of PanCan-d in the high-risk population in 2020, vs late 2018 before, hence we have adjusted our FY18 sales forecasts to SEK0.2m from SEK2.7m to reflect the late launch of IMMray PanCan-d. We now forecast increased sales from 2021 onwards as the company obtains approval and reimbursement for IMMray PanCan-d in the high-risk indication and starts marketing in the diabetes and early symptoms indications. We model higher total operating costs of SEK104.6m in FY18 (vs SEK87.6m before) as a result of the additional SEK5m for algorithm optimisation, as guided by the company; and a further SEK13m rise in personnel costs, in line with H118 expenses of SEK21m, mainly associated with R&D and marketing activities. We continue to project the PANFAM-1 study in the at-risk population to consume SEK40m in 2017–19, the PANDIA-1 study in the T2D population to cost SEK90m and run from 2018 to 2020 and the PANSYM-1 study to consume SEK30m from 2018 to 2020.
Exhibit 1: Forecast adjustments
Concept (SEKm) |
2018e previous |
2018e new |
Difference |
Sales |
2.7 |
0.2 |
-93% |
Opex (incl. depreciation & amortisation) |
87.6 |
104.6 |
19% |
Operating profit/(loss) |
(62.3) |
(74.7) |
20% |
Net profit/(loss) |
(61.8) |
(74.2) |
20% |
Cash flow from operations |
(62.3) |
(61.3) |
-2% |
Source: Company accounts. Edison Investment Research
After the June 2018 fund-raise, Immunovia’s end-H118 cash position was SEK447.2m. We estimate this should be sufficient to fund operations for the next three years, including its ongoing clinical trials and commercial activities, until the company reaches positive operating cash flow in 2021. We expect Immunovia to end 2018 with a cash balance of SEK404.2m.
Valuation: DCF of SEK3.5bn or SEK177/share
Our updated valuation is SEK3.5bn or SEK177 per share vs SEK3.6bn or SEK208 per share previously, based on a risk-adjusted NPV analysis using a 12.5% discount rate. The main change to our valuation is the delay of first sales of IMMray PanCan-d, which we now project to start in 2020. We take a more conservative approach in our model than Immunovia does, as the company still has to conduct a number of pre-marketing activities after the optimisation has been completed, namely receive the ISO 13485 and ISO 17025 certifications, CE mark and production scale-up. This is partially offset by end-June 2018 net cash of SEK447.2m. The decrease in the value per share from SEK208 to SEK177 is associated with the dilution (c 11%) from the share issue in June 2018. We continue to assume a price of SEK5,000 per test, and peak sales of c SEK2.5bn in the EU and US in 2028. As previously, we project a 35% penetration rate in the c 200,000 population of high-risk patients, 5% in the 3.4 million newly diagnosed diabetic patients and 5% in patients with early gastric symptoms.
Additionally, we project an alternative scenario in which the company does not receive reimbursement in the diabetic population, resulting in a 1% market share. In this case, the valuation is c SEK1.7bn and SEK85.6 per share vs SEK1.8bn and SEK103 per share previously. We have included the same assumptions as in the main scenario, ie first sales in high-risk population in 2020, reimbursement in 2022, number of tests and price per test.
Exhibit 2: Financial summary
SEK '000s |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018e |
2019e |
||
Year end 31 December |
GAAP |
GAAP |
GAAP |
GAAP |
GAAP |
||
PROFIT & LOSS |
|||||||
Revenue |
|
|
17,007 |
24,503 |
24,249 |
29,908 |
22,628 |
Cost of Sales |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
Gross Profit |
17,007 |
24,503 |
24,249 |
29,908 |
22,628 |
||
External costs |
(17,377) |
(24,115) |
(39,113) |
(58,333) |
(53,333) |
||
Personnel |
(6,749) |
(14,815) |
(29,138) |
(44,062) |
(55,078) |
||
EBITDA |
|
|
(7,136) |
(14,429) |
(44,256) |
(72,488) |
(85,784) |
Operating Profit (before amort. and except.) |
|
|
(7,424) |
(14,978) |
(45,520) |
(74,688) |
(89,762) |
Intangible Amortisation |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
||
Exceptionals/Other |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
Operating Profit |
(7,424) |
(14,978) |
(45,520) |
(74,688) |
(89,761) |
||
Net Interest |
40 |
255 |
288 |
481 |
1,011 |
||
Exceptionals/Other |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
Profit Before Tax (norm) |
|
|
(7,384) |
(14,723) |
(45,232) |
(74,207) |
(88,752) |
Profit Before Tax (IFRS) |
|
|
(7,384) |
(14,723) |
(45,232) |
(74,207) |
(88,751) |
Tax |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
Discontinued operations |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
Profit After Tax (norm) |
(7,384) |
(14,723) |
(45,232) |
(74,207) |
(88,752) |
||
Profit After Tax (IFRS) |
(7,384) |
(14,723) |
(45,232) |
(74,207) |
(88,751) |
||
Average Number of Shares Outstanding (m) |
11.42 |
14.99 |
16.93 |
18.53 |
19.48 |
||
EPS - normalised (ore) |
|
|
(65) |
(98) |
(267) |
(400) |
(456) |
EPS - normalised (ore) |
|
|
(65) |
(98) |
(267) |
(400) |
(456) |
Dividend per share (ore) |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
||
Gross Margin (%) |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
||
EBITDA Margin (%) |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
||
Operating Margin (before GW and except.) (%) |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
||
BALANCE SHEET |
|||||||
Fixed Assets |
|
|
14,556 |
22,485 |
46,761 |
82,567 |
99,061 |
Intangible Assets |
13,885 |
19,483 |
36,791 |
63,878 |
82,377 |
||
Tangible Assets |
671 |
3,002 |
7,211 |
15,684 |
16,684 |
||
Other |
0 |
0 |
2,759 |
3,005 |
0 |
||
Current Assets |
|
|
76,959 |
260,925 |
204,009 |
413,948 |
282,829 |
Stocks |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
Debtors |
814 |
1,830 |
11,584 |
9,720 |
9,720 |
||
Cash |
75,767 |
259,095 |
192,425 |
404,228 |
273,109 |
||
Other |
378 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
Current Liabilities |
|
|
(7,713) |
(6,778) |
(13,975) |
(22,868) |
0 |
Creditors |
(1,252) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
Short term borrowings |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
Deferred revenues |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
Other short term liabilities |
(6,461) |
(6,778) |
(13,975) |
(22,868) |
0 |
||
Long Term Liabilities |
|
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Long term borrowings |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
Deferred revenues |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
Other long term liabilities |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
Net Assets |
|
|
83,802 |
276,632 |
236,795 |
473,646 |
381,890 |
CASH FLOW |
|||||||
Operating Cash Flow |
|
|
(2,844) |
(11,868) |
(46,525) |
(61,250) |
(107,641) |
Net Interest |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
Tax |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
Capex |
-8,636 |
(30,809) |
(31,187) |
(37,760) |
(23,478) |
||
Acquisitions/disposals |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
Financing |
55,441 |
207,233 |
4,923 |
309,733 |
0 |
||
Dividends |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
Other |
0 |
18,772 |
8,880 |
981 |
0 |
||
Net Cash Flow |
43,961 |
183,328 |
(63,909) |
211,705 |
(131,119) |
||
Opening net debt/(cash) |
|
|
(31,804) |
(75,767) |
(259,095) |
(192,425) |
(404,228) |
HP finance leases initiated |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
Exchange rate movements |
0 |
0 |
0 |
(98) |
0 |
||
Other |
1 |
0 |
(2,761) |
0 |
0 |
||
Closing net debt/(cash) |
|
|
(75,767) |
(259,095) |
(192,425) |
(404,228) |
(273,109) |
Source: Company accounts, Edison Investment Research
|
|
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