Natera Reports First Quarter 2017 Financial Results

SAN CARLOS, Calif., May 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ — Natera, Inc. (NASDAQ: NTRA), a leader in non-invasive genetic testing and the analysis of circulating cell-free DNA, today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2017 and provided an update on recent business progress.

Recent Accomplishments & Highlights

• Processed greater than 121,000 tests, including greater than 114,000 tests accessioned in Natera’s laboratory and greater than 6,300 units processed through its Constellation software platform (Constellation units), in the first quarter of 2017, compared to greater than 108,000 tests processed, including greater than 105,000 tests accessioned and greater than 3,800 Constellation units, in the first quarter of 2016, which represents an increase in total units processed of approximately 12%.
• Accessioned greater than 84,000 Panorama tests in the first quarter of 2017 compared to greater than 81,000 Panorama tests accessioned in the first quarter of 2016, an increase of approximately 4%. Accessioned Panorama units from within Natera’s direct channel increased by 23% in the first quarter of 2017 compared to the first quarter of 2016 and by 16% compared to the fourth quarter of 2016.
• Accessioned approximately 27,000 Horizon carrier screening tests in the first quarter of 2017 compared to greater than 19,400 Horizon carrier screening tests accessioned in the first quarter of 2016, an increase of approximately 39%.
• Announced the publication of results from the first 100 patients in the Cancer Research UK-funded TRACERx study in Nature. This is the first demonstration of the use of circulating tumor DNA analysis to detect relapse and minimally residual disease in patients with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
• Announced launch plans for Vistara, a new addition to Natera’s suite of noninvasive prenatal tests. Vistara screens for single-gene mutations and identifies risk for severe conditions that have a combined incidence roughly of 1 in 600.
• ACOG issued updated guidelines recommending that physicians offer screening for more than cystic fibrosis; spinal muscular atrophy is now a recommended offering for all pregnant women in the US.

First Quarter Ended March 31, 2017 Financial Results

Total revenues were $46.9 million compared to $61.9 million for the first quarter of 2016, a decrease of 24%, driven primarily by Natera’s transition to in-network contracts with payers, which reduced the average selling price of tests.  Tests processed were greater than 121,000 tests in the first quarter of 2017 compared to greater than 108,000 tests processed in the first quarter of 2016, including Constellation units, which represents an increase of approximately 12%.  Natera recognized revenue on greater than 62,000 tests in the current quarter.  51% of these tests were also accessioned in the first quarter of 2017. Natera recognized revenue on greater than 47,000 Panorama tests in the first quarter of 2017.  55% of these tests were accessioned in the first quarter of 2017.       

Gross profit for the three months ended March 31, 2017 was $13.2 million, representing a 28% gross margin, compared to $29.6 million, representing a 48% gross margin in the same period of the prior year.* Gross margins declined in the first quarter of 2017 compared to the same period of the prior year due to lower in-network pricing, one-time expenses related to the transition to Version 3 of Natera’s Panorama test, and a one-time delay in revenue recognition due to a transition of volumes from the partner lab channel to Natera’s direct sales channel. Excluding the one-time impacts from the transition to V3 and volumes to the direct sales channel, gross margin for the first quarter of 2017 would have been 7% higher.    

Total operating expenses, representing research and development expenses, and selling, general and administrative expenses, for the three months ended March 31, 2017 were $50.2 million, an increase of 28% compared to $39.2 million in the same period of the prior year. The increase in the three months ended March 31, 2017 over the prior period was driven primarily by an increase in personnel-related expenses associated with increase in research and development headcount, additional expenses related to Natera’s sales and marketing efforts, and higher facility-related expenses as a result of the new lease negotiated for Natera’s corporate headquarters in San Carlos, California.

Loss from operations for the first quarter of 2017 was $37.0 million compared to loss from operations of $9.6 million for the same period of the prior year. 

Net loss for the three months ended March 31, 2017 was $36.0 million, or ($0.70) per diluted share, compared to net loss of $8.7 million, or ($0.17) per diluted share, for the same period in 2016. Weighted average diluted shares outstanding were 53.0 million for the first quarter of 2017.

At March 31, 2017, Natera held $116.6 million in cash, cash equivalents, short-term investments and restricted cash, compared to $147.2 million as of December 31, 2016. As of March 31, 2017, Natera had an outstanding balance of $49.8 million with accrued interest under its $50.0 million line of credit with UBS at a variable interest rate of 30-day LIBOR plus 65 bps, compared to $49.6 million with accrued interest as of December 31, 2016, due to additional interest accrual of $0.2 million. The line is secured by Natera’s investment portfolio, which is designed to yield higher returns than the borrowing rate Natera incurs in order to fund current operations.

2017 Financial Outlook

Natera anticipates 2017 total revenues of $210 million to $230 million; 2017 cost of product revenues to be approximately 60% to 65% of revenues; selling, general and administrative costs to be approximately $135 million to $140 million; research and development costs to be $45 million to $50 million, and net cash burn to be $65 million to $75 million**. This forecast improves Natera’s previously provided financial outlook by reducing cash burn expectations by $10 million. Natera’s research and development investments are intended to enhance its service offering and reduce the cost of goods sold of Panorama and Horizon, as well as technology development, product development, and clinical trials within oncology. Consistent with this guidance, Natera anticipates revenues and gross margins to increase, and cash burn to decrease, in the second quarter 2017 and through the remainder of 2017.

* Gross profit is calculated as GAAP total revenues less GAAP cost of product revenues. Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by GAAP total revenues.

** Net cash burn is calculated as the sum of GAAP net cash used by operating activities (estimated for 2017 to be between $605 million and $705 million) and GAAP net purchases of property and equipment (estimated for 2017 to be approximately $5 million).

About Natera

Natera is a genetic testing company that develops and commercializes non-invasive methods for analyzing DNA. The mission of the company is to transform the diagnosis and management of genetic disease. In pursuit of that mission, Natera operates a CAP-accredited laboratory certified under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) in San Carlos, CA, and it currently offers a host of proprietary genetic testing services primarily to OB/GYN physicians and fertility centers, as well as to genetic laboratories through its cloud-based Constellation™ software platform.

Product offerings include the Spectrum® pre-implantation genetic test for embryo selection during IVF; the Anora® miscarriage test to understand the genetic causes of a pregnancy loss; the Horizon™ carrier screen to detect inherited mutations; the Panorama® non-invasive prenatal test (NIPT) to screen for common chromosomal anomalies in a fetus as early as nine weeks of gestation; and Evercord™, a cord blood and tissue banking service offered at birth to expectant parents.

Each test described has been developed and its performance characteristics determined by the CLIA-certified laboratory performing the test. These tests have not been cleared or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Although FDA does not currently clear or approve laboratory-developed tests in the U.S., certification of the laboratory is required under CLIA to ensure the quality and validity of the tests.

Natera is also applying its unique technologies to develop non-invasive screening and diagnostic tools for earlier detection and improved treatment of cancer. These tests have not been cleared or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Conference Call Information

A webcast replay will be available at investor.natera.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding Natera’s market opportunity, current and new products and services, commercial partners, user experience, clinical trials, future financial outlook and financial performance, strategies, and general business conditions. Any forward-looking statements contained in this release are based upon Natera’s current plans, estimates, and expectations, as of the date of this release, and are not a representation that such plans, estimates, or expectations will be achieved. Subsequent events may cause these expectations to change, and Natera disclaims any obligation to update the forward-looking statements in the future.

These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially, including: we face numerous uncertainties and challenges in achieving the financial guidance provided; we derive most of our revenues from Panorama, and if our efforts to further increase the use and adoption of Panorama or to develop new products and services in the future do not succeed, our business will be harmed; we have incurred losses since our inception and we anticipate that we will continue to incur losses for the foreseeable future; uncertainty in the development and commercialization of our enhanced or new tests or services, including future cancer products, could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations; our quarterly results may fluctuate significantly; our estimates of market opportunity and forecasts of market growth may prove to be inaccurate, and even if the market in which we compete achieves the forecasted growth, our business could fail to grow at similar rates; we may be unable to compete successfully with either existing or future prenatal testing products or services; our cloud-based distribution model may be difficult to implement, and we may not be able to commercialize this model if we do not comply with ongoing regulatory requirements; implementation of our cloud-based distribution model may negatively impact our financial results and results of operations; we may be subject to increased compliance risks as a result of our rapid growth, including our recent growth in and dependence on our direct sales force; we rely on internal and third-party data centers and platforms to host our laboratory and cloud-based software, and any interruptions of service or failures may impair the operations of our laboratory or the delivery of our cloud-based software and harm our business; if our products do not perform as expected, our operating results, reputation and business will suffer; if we are unable to successfully grow revenues for our products or services in addition to Panorama, our business and result of operations may be adversely affected; the results of our clinical studies may not support the use of our tests, particularly in the average-risk pregnancy population or for microdeletions screening, or may not be able to be replicated in later studies required for regulatory approvals or clearances; we rely on a limited number of suppliers or, in some cases, single suppliers, for some of our laboratory instruments and materials and may not be able to find replacements or immediately transition to alternative suppliers; we may be unable to expand third-party payer coverage and reimbursement for Panorama and our other tests, or we may be required to refund reimbursements already received; and third-party payers may withdraw coverage or provide lower levels of reimbursements due to changing policies, billing complexities or other factors.

Additional risks and uncertainties that could affect Natera’s financial results are included under the captions, "Risk Factors" and "Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in Natera’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K. This is available on Natera’s website at www.natera.com under the Investor Relations section and on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Further information on potential risks that could affect actual results will be included in other filings Natera makes with the SEC from time to time.

Contacts

Natera, Inc.

Mike Brophy, Chief Financial Officer, 650-249-9091 x1471
Mbrophy@natera.com

Laura Zobkiw, Corporate and Public Relations, 650-249-9091 x1649
Lzobkiw@natera.com

SOURCE Natera, Inc.