2021 results: a major confidence reinforcing event

UCB ended 2021 on a strong note, largely driven by promising growth in the Neurology portfolio. While the top line is expected to witness some moderation as the firm enters a critical transition period, UCB seems well-prepared with Bimzelx’s US launch, expected in mid-2022, and Zogenix’s acquisition. Re-affirmation of the mid-term targets was all the more comforting. Our positive stock recommendation is reiterated.

Pricing & pandemic concerns impede upward revision to full-year outlook, despite strong H1

UCB reported strong H1 results with the core drug portfolio leading the pack. While momentum in the core portfolio should sustain and the upcoming launch of Bimekizumab provide an additional push, management refrained from upgrading the full-year outlook. In our view, increasing pricing pressure on Cimzia and resurfacing COVID-19 concerns held them back. Despite these near-term uncertainties and the upcoming patent expiry of key drugs, we remain confident of the group’s medium-to-long fortunes a

Encouraging long-term outlook

Despite the COVID-19-related disruptions, UCB’s core portfolio showcased resilience and the launch of new drugs further bolstered growth. However, higher marketing spend on new launches and higher R&D investments on the five late-stage drugs suppressed profitability. In our view, the upcoming approval of Bimekizumab should boost investors’ confidence. Furthermore, the healthy FY25 outlook, at a time when key drugs are set to lose exclusivity, is also encouraging.

Strong H1 20; Bimekizumab set to become new core-driver

UCB reported robust top-line growth led by a strong show in the core portfolio (except for Neupro). However, the EBITDA margin softened due to higher marketing spend on drug launches. RA Pharma and Engage Therapeutics have been fully integrated and their mid-to-late stage pipeline could keep R&D expenses on the high side, thereby pressuring the margin in H2. However, the upcoming launch of high-margin drug, Bimekizumab, should ensure that the mid-term profitability targets are met.

UCB’s psoriasis candidate is racing ahead of its rivals

UCB’s psoriasis candidate, Bimekizumab has shown promising clinical data vs. J&J’s Stelara. While this increases the probability that the drug could hit the market in Q1 21, its real competition in the overly-crowded space would come from Novartis’s Cosentyx. Bimekizumab should report head-to-head data with Cosentyx in the next few weeks and, if it is found to be superior, we will increase our peak sales potential for Bimekizumab by €500m to €2bn.

Strong performance in H2 19; peak sales guidance of key drugs upgraded

H2 19 sales and profitability beat was driven by the robust show of Cimzia and Vimpat. Given that the strong momentum is likely to continue and could be bolstered further with the geographic/label expansion, management has upgraded the peak sales potential of these drugs for the second time. Though the near-term margin could come under pressure, due to the integration of RA pharmaceuticals and increased investments into R&D, Bimekizumab (approval likely in 2020) should ensure that the mid-term p

RA’s acquisition expands UCB’s neuromuscular portfolio

UCB has broadened its neuromuscular portfolio with the €2.2bn acquisition of RA pharmaceuticals – blockbuster potential drug, Zilucoplan (expected launch in 2023), is RA’s key drug which complements UCB’s rozanolixizumab. As UCB will invest in R&D and marketing of the drug, the deal would be margin-dilutive until 2023. Nonetheless, we foresee EPS accretion thereafter as sales momentum picks up. The deal is all the more important at a time when UCB’s CVN drugs are about to hit the patent cliff.

CFO exit weighs on the performance in H1 19

UCB reported strong top-line growth, driven by the CVN portfolio and Briviact, partially offset by the off-patent Keppra. The EBITDA margin remained subdued due to higher R&D expenses, while the net results were further impacted by a higher tax rate. Evenity was approved in the US, Canada, South Korea, and Australia but rejected in Europe. Management maintained its FY 19 outlook, implying a weak H2 19 (sequentially). The CFO exit came as a big surprise, overshadowing the results.

Weak performance in Q4 and mixed guidance for 2019

UCB reported a weak quarter with a decline in top-line and margin, revenue getting impacted by a decline in Cimzia’s US sales and profitability further pulled down by high R&D expenses on the next wave of molecules. Evenity approval in US and Europe would be the next big trigger for the share price. Management upgraded Cimzia and Vimpat sales estimates but downgraded Neupro sales and short-term EBITDA margins.

Steady quarter but no assurance from the labs

UCB’s 9M 18 (trading update) performance came in line with our as well as consensus estimates, although variations were seen at the drug level. Revenue grew by 6% ytd at CER to €3.4bn, on the back of the continued strength in the core portfolio (+12% at CER) — Cimzia (+9%), Vimpat (+19%), Keppra (+5%), Briviact (+81%) and Neupro (+2%). FX had a negative impact of 3% on the group sales. NB all sales numbers are at calculated CER unless specified otherwise (the company does not report quarterly CE

Strong momentum in Q2

UCB reported strong quarter after a weak start in Q1 18. Cimzia, Vimpat and Briviact clocked strong performances, but Neupro continued to languish. Cost control and a significant decline in the effective tax rate boosted net profit by 33%. Evenity’s approval and biosimilar impact on Cimzia are likely to be the triggers in the upcoming quarters, however, given the lack of convincing drivers, including in the pipeline, makes us believe that the recent run-up is unlikely to continue.

CVN starts to lose

UCB reported a soft performance with a sales decline of 1% at CER in its Q1 18 trading update. Forex headwinds of 5% weighed further, resulting in a reported decline of 5% to €1.07bn. However, adjusting for the out-licensing of the allergy drug, Xyzal, which generated €56m in Q1 17, the CER growth came in at 4%. NB. All sales growth numbers are CER, unless specified otherwise. The five core products (accounting for ~78% of group sales) grew by 8% to €839m, led by the newbie Briviact (€27m), Vimp

Consensus beat; focus on pipeline delivery

UCB’s 9M 17 results (trading update) came in ahead of both ours and the Street’s expectations. Top-line grew strongly at 9% CER (9% reported as the 2ppt HY 17 currency tailwinds reversed in the quarter) to €3.33bn (c.3% ahead of consensus estimate of €3.24bn), driven by a sustained performance across the CVN portfolio, in particular, Vimpat (+20%). This was supported further by strong returns from the off-patent drug Keppra (+14%, driven by stocking benefits, Japan and international market). The

UCB outlook fractured by Romosozumab

In an unexpected development for UCB, the long-awaited results from the phase III ARCH study of its osteoporosis drug Romosozumab (trade name Evenity) – co-developed with Amgen – threw up serious side effects, sending the share down by c.18% (22 May 2017), the company’s worst single day performance in the last three decades. While the drug was able to meet both its primary and secondary endpoints – significantly reducing the incidence of new vertebral fractures over 24 months and non-vertebral f

Strong FY 16 results; crucial events ahead

UCB reported strong FY 16 numbers, with both top-line and bottom-line coming in slightly above our expectations. Revenue was up 8% yoy to €4.2bn (vs. our estimate of €4.1bn), mainly driven by the core CVN portfolio – Cimzia (+21%), Vimpat (+20%) and Neupro (+17%). Recurring EBITDA increased 26% to €1bn (the margin improved c.3.5ppt to c.25%), primarily on account of the positive product mix, and lower R&D (end of late stage trials of Romosozumab/Evenity) and G&A expenses. Core EPS came in at €3.

Cenkos: Healthcare Sector - Ward Round

Weekly round-up of AIM-listed healthcare news. Venture Life Group, GENinCode, Kromek, Alliance Pharma, Polarean Imaging, Benchmark Holdings, Ondine Biomedical, Verici Dx, Faron Pharmaceuticals, Avacta Group, Abingdon Health, Open Orphan, Belluscura, Hutchmed (China), Oxford Biodynamics

LIBERUM: Futura Medical* - Strategy on track, FM71 data in Sept

Shield Therapeutics - FY results: focus on funding and growing the US

Full-year results were in line with the preliminary guidance issued in early 2022. Feraccru revenues in Europe increased with a 60% increase in volumes and the US commercialisation of Accrufer continues, with broader insurance coverage (100m lives covered). As with many small cap companies, access to growth capital is currently difficult; however, the group has raised a $10m loan from a major shareholder providing a cash runway till end-2022. Our assumption is that further funding comes from deb

SHORE CAPITAL - Warpaint London+ (W7L) - House Stock at 113p

Record H1 as distribution widens and offer resonates

Trading continues to track ahead of expectations, which have been upgraded twice so far YTD. There is clear evidence the growth strategy is bearing fruit. Distribution gains are increasing brand reach both in the UK and overseas. This appears to be an ideal time for its on-trend value-for-money proposition to gain traction, potentially with counter-cyclical characteristics as consumers start trading down. After the recent pull-back, valuation is undemanding for a 3-yr EPS CAGR of 13% with risk p

Cenkos: OptiBiotix Health Plc -- Final results

OptiBiotix has reported final results for the year to December 2021, with revenues growing 45% to £2.2m and the EBITDA loss increasing to £1.0m, reflecting the increased investment in the business. Post-period end, OptiBiotix has continued to return value to shareholders through the successful spin-out and listing of its ProBiotix Health division. Future growth of the company is supported by commercial agreements with large partners and a substantial pipeline of opportunities through its 2nd gen

Morning Note – 30 June 2022

Next Gen XPLOR and D2C

Belluscura has announced the launch of the next generation X-PLOR portable oxygen concentrator and expanded distribution through a D2C offering and partnership distribution plan for smaller DMEs.

Hybridan Small Cap Feast 30/06/2022

Dish of the day Joiners: Visum Technologies has joined the AQSE Growth Market. The Company's business is to own and operate an "on-ride" video and photographic camera system that it sells and/or licenses to customers (being theme parks, ride manufacturers, souvenir imaging providers, and other leisure operators). Leavers: No Leavers Today. What’s cooking in the IPO kitchen? Immediate acquisitions (IME.L) is to re-join AIM via a Reverse Takeover of Fiinu Holdings Limited. Once complete the Compan

SHORE CAPITAL - Oxford BioDynamics+ (OBD) - House Stock at 16p

Hybridan Small Cap Feast 20/06/2022

Joiners: No Joiners Today. Leavers: Tungsten Corp and Sensyne Health have both left AIM. Hibernia REIT has left the Main Market. What’s cooking in the IPO kitchen? Visum Technologies seeking admission to The AQSE Growth Market. The Company's business is to own and operate an "on-ride" video and photographic camera system that it sells and/or licenses to customers (being theme parks, ride manufacturers, souvenir imaging providers, and other leisure operators). Due 30 June. LifeSafe Holdings, a fi

CMA conclusion; small bolt-on; and in line trading

An update from CVS this morning covering conclusion of the CMA process, a further acquisition and update on trading. The CMA investigation into the acquisition of Quality Pet Care (QPC) is now complete, thereby bringing to an end a 9 month process. As part of the undertaking, CVS yesterday completed the sale of QPC for cash proceeds of c.£9m, implying a c.£12m impairment. Whilst the CMA episode has clearly been a setback, it does not seem to have fundamentally impaired ongoing M&A ambitions give

Positive AGM statement

The strong momentum from Q4-21 has continued into H1-22, with revenues expected to be up by more than 22% YoY. The outlook remains positive supported by strong industry demand and market share gains in the UK, where the group’s sustainability and affordability credentials are increasingly resonating. Whilst some macro pressures remain, these look to be manageable. We therefore make no change to our forecasts at this stage, but are highly encouraged by current trends and remain optimistic for the

LIBERUM: SourceBio International* - Scaling growth and trading well

Continued growth and margin improvement prompt further upgrades

A positive AGM update confirms strong revenue growth has continued YTD and further margin improvement means management again expect EBITDA to be materially ahead of expectations. The business model is now settled, with additional distributors appointed in the US which should help drive further penetration into the Primary Care market there. China revenues were strong and with no sign yet of any slowdown, despite being cognisant of renewed lockdowns there. Gross margins have remained robust on po