Conference call begins today at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time
EMERYVILLE, Calif. (May 9, 2019) – NovaBay® Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE American: NBY), a biopharmaceutical company focusing on commercializing prescription Avenova® for the domestic eye care market, reports financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and provides a business update.
“As we discussed when reporting fourth quarter 2018 financial results, net sales for the first quarter of 2019 were impacted by significant industry-wide changes in the reimbursement of branded pharmaceutical products,” said Justin Hall, interim President and CEO. “Our objective remains to make Avenova affordable to patients through rebates and coupons. However, the annual reset in healthcare plan deductibles, the continuing trend toward individual high-deductible healthcare plans along with the decision by certain nationwide insurers to end reimbursement coverage for Avenova are affecting unit sales and gross-to-net pricing more than in past years.
“We are adapting to this new reimbursement environment with various strategies to ensure that Avenova is affordable and accessible to all patients while providing NovaBay with appropriate economics,” he said. “We have expanded our partner pharmacy program that serves patients in all 50 states, ensuring product availability at the best pricing. This program has the added benefit of contracted pricing for Avenova, therefore improving our gross-to-net pricing. We are also opening opportunities for more eye care specialists to access our in-office sales channel in which they resell Avenova at affordable prices directly to their patients. We plan in the coming months to further broaden access to Avenova through an entirely new direct-to-patient sales channel.
“In March we implemented the strategic shift in our commercial operations and, as such, expenses for the first quarter reflect our prior strategy,” he added. “We expect to begin realizing cost savings from this reduction in force in the second quarter, and to significantly reduce operating expenses over the remainder of 2019.”
First Quarter Financial Results
Net sales for the first quarter of 2019 were $1.5 million compared with $2.9 million for the first quarter of 2018, with the decrease due to lower unit sales and lower gross-to-net pricing of Avenova. Gross margin on net product revenue was 77% for the first quarter of 2019 compared with 91% for the prior-year period, with the decrease due to lower product revenue.
Sales and marketing expenses for the first quarter of 2019 were $3.5 million compared with $3.4 million for the first quarter of 2018. General and administrative expenses for the first quarters of 2019 and 2018 were unchanged at $1.6 million. Research and development expenses for the first quarter of 2019 were $85,000 compared with $46,000 for 2018.
Operating loss for the first quarter of 2019 was $4.1 million compared with an operating loss of $2.4 million for the first quarter of 2018.
Non-cash loss on the change of fair value of warrant liability for the first quarter of 2019 was $0.1 million compared with a non-cash gain of $0.2 million for the first quarter of 2018.
Non-cash loss on the embedded derivative associated with the convertible note for the first quarter of 2019 was $0.6 million. The Company did not record a comparable loss or gain for the first quarter of 2018. The Company is working with its auditors and outside consultants regarding the valuation of the convertible note, which may cause a variation in the financials reported in the Company’s Form 10-Q.
The net loss for the first quarter of 2019 was $4.8 million, or $0.28 per share, compared with a net loss for the first quarter of 2018 of $2.2 million, or $0.13 per share.
NovaBay reported cash and cash equivalents of $2.9 million as of March 31, 2019, compared with $3.2 million as of December 31, 2018.
Conference Call
NovaBay management will host an investment community conference call today beginning at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time (1:30 p.m. Pacific time) to discuss the Company’s financial and operational results and to answer questions. Shareholders and other interested parties may participate in the conference call by dialing 800-608-8202 from within the U.S. or 702-495-1913 from outside the U.S., with the conference identification number 8495204.
A live webcast of the call will be available at http://novabay.com/investors/events and will be archived for 90 days. A replay of the call will be available beginning two hours after call ends through 8:59 p.m. Eastern time May 17, 2019 by dialing 855-859-2056 from within the U.S. or 404-537-3406 from outside the U.S., and entering the conference identification number 8495204.
Receipt of Audit Opinion with Going Concern Qualification
As disclosed in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 29, 2019 and amended on April 12, 2019, the Company’s audited financial statements contained a going concern explanatory paragraph in the audit opinion from its independent registered public accounting firm. This announcement does not represent any change or amendment to the Company’s financial statements or to its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, as amended.
About Avenova®
Avenova is an eye care product formulated with our proprietary, stable and pure form of hypochlorous acid. It has proven in laboratory testing to have broad antimicrobial properties as a preservative in solution as it removes foreign material including microorganisms and debris from the skin on the eyelids and lashes without burning or stinging. Avenova is marketed to optometrists and ophthalmologists throughout the U.S. by NovaBay’s direct salesforce. It is accessible from more than 90% of retail pharmacies in the U.S. through agreements with McKesson Corporation, Cardinal Health and AmerisourceBergen.
About NovaBay Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Going Beyond Antibiotics®
NovaBay Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focusing on commercializing and developing its non-antibiotic anti-infective products to address the unmet therapeutic needs of the global, topical anti-infective market with its two distinct product categories: the NEUTROX® family of products and the AGANOCIDE® compounds. The Neutrox family of products includes AVENOVA® for the eye care market, NEUTROPHASE® for wound care market, and CELLERX® for the aesthetic dermatology market. The Aganocide compounds, still under development, have target applications in the dermatology and urology markets.
Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains forward-looking statements that are based upon management’s current expectations, assumptions, estimates, projections and beliefs. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our business strategies and future focus, our estimated future revenue, and generally the Company’s expected future financial results. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or achievements to be materially different and adverse from those expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties relating to the size of the potential market for our products, improving sales rep productivity and product distribution, obtaining adequate insurance reimbursement, and any potential regulatory problems. Other risks relating to NovaBay’s business, including risks that could cause results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements in this press release, are detailed in NovaBay’s latest Form 10-Q/K filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, especially under the heading “Risk Factors.” The forward-looking statements in this release speak only as of this date, and NovaBay disclaims any intent or obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statement except as required by law.
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For NovaBay Avenova purchasing information:
Please Call us toll free: 1-800-890-0329 or email sales@avenova.com.
www.Avenova.com
NovaBay Contact
Justin Hall
Interim President and Chief Executive Officer
510-899-8800
jhall@novabay.com
Investor Contact
LHA
Jody Cain
310-691-7100
jcain@lhai.com
