SNWV: Q2 Results. Supplemental Trial On-Track
By Brian Marckx, CFA
On August 9, 2012 SANUWAVE (SNWV) announced financial results for the second quarter ending June 30th. Aside from operating expenses continuing to come down faster than what we anticipated, results remain very much inline with our expectations. There also were no surprises relative to our outlook in either the earnings release nor on the conference call. Management remains very upbeat about the chances of dermaPACE hitting the endpoint in the upcoming supplemental trial, which is expected to commence once financing is in place – which management indicated could happen towards the end of Q3. We have made no meaningful changes to our model or otherwise to our outlook for SANUWAVE and we remain believers in both dermaPACE and management.
Q2 revenue came in at $210k compared to our $254k estimate. Operating expenses, which dipped $457k or 25% from Q1 2012, reflect management's tight control on costs and cash. Operating expenses were $1.4 million in Q2, much better than our $1.9 million estimate. As a reminder, following the December 2011 FDA major deficiency letter, when it was evident that dermaPACE would not make it to the market in the near-term, management announced that they were implementing cost-cutting initiatives to preserve capital. These initiatives started bearing fruit immediately, with Q1 2012 expenses falling 25% sequentially and, as noted, they fell another 25% in Q2. Management noted on the call that total employee headcount as been cut from 28 to 18 as part of this eye on costs and cash.
Q2 net income and EPS were ($1.4) million and ($0.07) compared to our ($1.8) million and ($0.07) estimates. The favorable difference in net income due to the beat on operating expenses. Our estimated share count was also higher due to our placeholder assumption (as we noted in a previous update) that financing would come in Q2 in the form of an equity sale (which didn't happen – although we carry this assumption forward).
Cash
Cash used in operations was $1.01 million in Q2, down from $1.49 million in Q1 and $1.84 million in Q4 2011. SANUWAVE exited Q2 with $1.4 million in cash and equivalents, down from $2.4 million at the end of Q1.
We think management has done a commendable job minimizing cash burn and cutting expenses where possible. Nonetheless the company will need to raise additional capital in the very near-term and indicated on the call that they think they could have something in place by the end of Q3 (9/30/2012). The supplemental trial will be on hold until financing is consummated.
SANUWAVE has retained Canacoord Genuity and (per the Q2 call) is also in discussions with other investment banks for a near-term capital raise. As we noted in our previous update, as a placeholder in our model we use the assumption that SANUWAVE raises financing through the regular sale of equity. At the current stock price and market cap ($0.22, $5MM), we think it's more likely that financing comes in the form of some sort of convertible (debt or preferred), but we think that will roughly wash with our equity placeholder with a (eventual) conversion assumption.
Management noted that their current best-guess estimate for cost of the supplemental trial is about $2 million – which is right in-line with our rough estimate. SNWV is currently burning ~$400k of cash per month – and management expects this to increase to ~$500k/month during the term of the supplemental trial.
Supplemental Trial On-Track Once Financing Is In Place
On May 8, 2012 SANUWAVE announced that the FDA approved its IDE Supplement for an additional clinical trial for dermaPACE. Aside from being smaller than the than the initial 206-patient trial and also incorporating treatment "boosts", the trials will be very similar. The statistical methods (Bayesian) apply sequential analysis allowing for the supplemental data to build on the positive results from the initial larger study. Importantly, the FDA typical approves Bayesian methods when there's already compelling data to build upon (the totality of which will presumably show statistical significance on the primary endpoint). This is a key point and underscores that this is not a replacement trial but is instead a supplement in every sense of the word – this supplemental data will be in addition to and build on the already very strong and compelling initial trial data.
As we've noted previously, the pivotal trial data already indicated dermaPACE was effective in healing diabetic foot ulcers – the hurdle to clear hitting the primary endpoint (100% wound closure), while not attained in the pivotal study, may very well be able to cleared with additional dermaPACE treatments. Safety was also excellent in the initial study, which was obviously a consideration of the FDA in allowing for more aggressive (i.e. – treatment "boosts") treatment with dermaPACE.
SANUWAVE believes the new trial can be completed (including data analysis) in as early as 20 months following initiation (management reiterated this timeline on the Q2 call). Enrollment is projected at 90 patients (~45 treatment / ~45 control). Similar to the initial study, the treatment group will receive four dermaPACE procedures during the first two weeks. In order to improve on the efficacy from the initial trial (which just missed statistical significance on the primary endpoint) up to four treatment "boosts" can be delivered during weeks four and ten. The primary endpoint, 100% wound closure at week-12, will be the same. Assuming statistical significance is met on the primary endpoint, the data will support an amendment to SANUWAVE's existing PMA which could potentially happen sometime in mid-to-late 2014 with FDA approval possible before the end of that same year.
SANUWAVE hopes to initiate enrollment in the coming weeks. They are currently finalizing selection of clinical sites and getting IRB approvals. However, before anything significant can move forward, SANUWAVE will need to raise additional capital to fund the trial. As noted, management thinks they can have financing in place by the end of Q3.
As we noted in our prior updates, the supplemental trial should provide a much less ambiguous decision-point for the agency than if SANUWAVE had decided to just use the original data to go in front of an advisory panel – a final decision from which can end up being a long, drawn-out affair which may not have come out in SANUWAVE's favor. Clearly avoiding the potential pitfalls of an advisory-panel review played a major role in management's decision to pursue a supplemental trial.
Importantly, safety was excellent in all studies to date which opened up the door for more aggressive treatment within the standard 12-week treatment window in this supplemental trial. These treatment "boosts" may very possibly increase efficacy and get them over the primary endpoint hurdle. Also very important is that the 12-week treatment window used in the initial trial will also be used in the supplement trial. If this supplemental study achieves 100% wound closure with the help of these treatment boosts, that would be an obvious major positive for SANUWAVE.
As best-guesses regarding size, costs and timelines of a supplemental trial as well as estimates in regards to when dermaPACE could be FDA approved and launch in the U.S. remain unchanged from our prior assumptions, we have made no material changes to our outlook or financial model since our last update (5/16/2012).
VALUATION / RECOMMENDATION
We use 2015 P/S comparables to value SNWV. Smith & Nephew (SNN) currently trades at approximately 2.0x analyst’s 2015 forecasted revenue. Kinetic Concepts was acquired in November 2011 for $6.1 billion, or about 2.8x estimated 2015 revenue. We currently model SNWV to generate revenue of $16 million in 2015 – based on the two comp 2015 P/S multiples values SNWV at between $1.60/share and $2.20/share. For simplicity, we use the average of the two, which values SNWV at about $2.00/share.
Please visit scr.zacks.com to access a free copy of the SNWV research report.
SANUWAVE HEALTH (SNWV): Free Stock Analysis Report
To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
Get all Zacks Research Reports and be alerted to fast-breaking buy and sell opportunities every trading day.
Be the first to comment