AbCellera Reports Q3 2024 Business Results

Rhea-AI Summary

AbCellera (ABCL) reported Q3 2024 financial results with total revenue of $6.5 million, slightly down from $6.6 million in Q3 2023. The company reported a net loss of $51.1 million, or $(0.17) per share. Key operational highlights include expanding collaboration with Eli Lilly, reaching 95 partner-initiated programs (up 13% YoY), and advancing 14 molecules to the clinic (up 40% YoY). R&D expenses increased to $41.0 million, while maintaining strong liquidity of $875 million including $670.4 million in cash and equivalents, plus $205 million in available non-dilutive government funding.

Positive

• Increased partner-initiated programs by 13% YoY to 95
• 40% YoY growth in molecules advanced to clinic, reaching 14
• Strong liquidity position of $875 million
• Expanded collaboration with Eli Lilly in multiple therapeutic areas

Negative

• Revenue declined slightly to $6.5M from $6.6M YoY
• Net loss increased to $51.1M from $28.6M YoY
• R&D expenses increased 8.2% to $41.0M
• G&A expenses increased 32.6% to $19.1M

Insights

Financial Analyst

The Q3 results reveal concerning financial trends for AbCellera. $6.5 million in revenue remained flat year-over-year, while net losses widened significantly to $51.1 million from $28.6 million. Operating expenses increased across R&D and G&A, pushing the loss per share to $0.17. The company's substantial liquidity position of $875 million provides a strong runway, but the growing losses and stagnant revenue raise questions about the business model's scalability.

The expansion of partner-initiated programs by 13% and 40% increase in clinical molecules show pipeline progress. However, these metrics haven't translated to meaningful revenue growth. The collaboration expansion with Eli Lilly is promising but may take years to generate significant returns. The high cash burn rate and widening losses suggest investors should closely monitor the path to profitability.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- AbCellera (Nasdaq: ABCL) today announced financial results for the third quarter of 2024. All financial information in this press release is reported in U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated.

“Through the third quarter we continued to execute on our key priorities of advancing our internal pipeline and building capabilities to support clinical trials activities in 2025 and beyond,” said Carl Hansen, Ph.D., founder and CEO of AbCellera. “Notably, we completed the consolidation into our new headquarters in Vancouver, Canada, which marks a significant milestone towards completing our platform and infrastructure investments.”

Q3 2024 Business Summary

• Expanded existing collaboration with Eli Lilly and Company to discover therapeutic antibodies for programs in immunology, cardiovascular disease, and neuroscience.
• Reported the start of two additional partner-initiated programs with downstreams to reach a cumulative total of 95 partner-initiated program starts with downstreams.
• Maintained a cumulative total of 14 molecules advanced to the clinic.

Key Business Metrics

Cumulative Metrics		September 30, 2023		September 30, 2024		Change %
Partner-initiated program starts with downstreams		84		95		13%
Molecules in the clinic		10		14		40%

AbCellera started discovery on an additional two partner-initiated programs with downstreams to reach a cumulative total of 95 partner-initiated program starts with downstreams in Q3 2024 (up from 84 on September 30, 2023). AbCellera’s partners have advanced a cumulative total of 14 molecules into the clinic (up from 10 on September 30, 2023).

Discussion of Q3 2024 Financial Results

• Revenue – Total revenue was $6.5 million, compared to $6.6 million in Q3 2023. In both periods, the majority of revenues were research fees generated by our partnerships.
• Research & Development (R&D) Expenses – R&D expenses were $41.0 million, compared to $37.9 million in Q3 2023, reflecting underlying continued growth in program execution, platform development, and investments in internal programs.
• Sales & Marketing (S&M) Expenses – S&M expenses were $3.1 million, compared to $3.5 million in Q3 2023.
• General & Administrative (G&A) Expenses – G&A expenses were $19.1 million, compared to $14.4 million in Q3 2023.
• Net Loss – Net loss of $51.1 million, or $(0.17) per share on a basic and diluted basis, compared to net loss of $28.6 million, or $(0.10) per share on a basic and diluted basis in Q3 2023.
• Liquidity – $670.4 million of total cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities and with approximately $205 million in available non-dilutive government funding to execute on AbCellera's strategy, bringing total available liquidity to over $875 million.

Conference Call and Webcast

AbCellera will host a conference call and live webcast to discuss these results today at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time (5:00 p.m. Eastern Time).

The live webcast of the earnings conference call can be accessed on the Events and Presentations section of AbCellera’s Investor Relations website. A replay of the webcast will be available through the same link following the conference call.

About AbCellera Biologics Inc.

AbCellera (Nasdaq: ABCL) discovers and develops antibody medicines for indications across therapeutic areas including cancer, metabolic and endocrine conditions, and autoimmune disorders. AbCellera’s engine integrates technology, data science, infrastructure, and interdisciplinary teams to solve the most challenging antibody discovery problems. AbCellera is focused on advancing an internal pipeline of first-in-class and best-in-class programs and collaborating on innovative drug development programs with partners. For more information, please visit www.abcellera.com.

Definition of Key Business Metrics

We regularly review the following key business metrics to evaluate our business, measure our performance, identify trends affecting our business, formulate financial projections, and make strategic decisions. We believe that the following metrics are important to understand our current business. These metrics may change or may be substituted for additional or different metrics as our business develops. Information on changes is set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.

Partner-initiated program starts with downstreams represent the number of unique partner-initiated programs where we stand to participate financially in downstream success for which we have commenced the discovery effort. The discovery effort commences on the later of (i) the day on which we receive sufficient reagents to start discovery of antibodies against a target and (ii) the day on which the kick-off meeting for the program is held. We view this metric as an indication of the selection and initiation of projects by our partners and the resulting potential for near-term payments. Cumulatively, partner-initiated program starts with downstream participation indicate our total opportunities to earn downstream revenue from milestone fees and royalties (or royalty equivalents) in the mid- to long-term.

Molecules in the clinic represent the count of unique molecules for which an Investigational New Drug, or IND, New Animal Drug, or equivalent under other regulatory regimes, application has reached “open” status or has otherwise been approved based on an antibody that was discovered either by us or by a partner using licensed AbCellera technology. Where the date of such application approval is not known to us, the date of the first public announcement of a clinical trial will be used for the purpose of this metric. We view this metric as an indication of our near- and mid-term potential revenue from milestone fees and potential royalty payments in the long term.

AbCellera Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward-looking statements are based on management’s current beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to management. All statements contained in this release other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including statements regarding our ability to develop, commercialize and achieve market acceptance of our current and planned products and services, our research and development efforts, and other matters regarding our business strategies, use of capital, results of operations and financial position, and plans and objectives for future operations.

In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the words “may,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “project,” “potential,” “continue,” “ongoing” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. These statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements to be materially different from the information expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and other factors are described under “Risk Factors,” “Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and elsewhere in the documents we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. We caution you that forward-looking statements are based on a combination of facts and factors currently known by us and our projections of the future, about which we cannot be certain. As a result, the forward-looking statements may not prove to be accurate. The forward-looking statements in this press release represent our views as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements for any reason, except as required by law.

AbCellera Biologics Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Loss and
Comprehensive Loss
(All figures in U.S. dollars. Amounts are expressed in thousands except share and per share data.)
(Unaudited)
		Three months ended September 30,								Nine months ended September 30,
		2023				2024				2023				2024
Revenue:
Research fees		$	6,413			$	6,289			$	26,812			$	21,516
Licensing revenue			186				218				784				767
Milestone payments			–				–				1,250				1,500
Total revenue			6,599				6,507				28,846				23,783
Operating expenses:
Research and development(1)			37,917				40,969				127,036				121,183
Sales and marketing(1)			3,468				3,135				11,080				9,635
General and administrative(1)			14,369				19,147				45,025				56,691
Depreciation, amortization, and impairment			5,735				36,919				16,859				78,285
Total operating expenses			61,489				100,170				200,000				265,794
Loss from operations			(54,890	)			(93,663	)			(171,154	)			(242,011	)
Other income:
Interest income			(10,740	)			(9,603	)			(31,278	)			(29,805	)
Grants and incentives			(2,828	)			(3,491	)			(10,779	)			(10,076	)
Other income			(2,046	)			(17,937	)			(3,670	)			(48,564	)
Total other income			(15,614	)			(31,031	)			(45,727	)			(88,445	)
Net loss before income tax			(39,276	)			(62,632	)			(125,427	)			(153,566	)
Income tax recovery			(10,666	)			(11,525	)			(26,179	)			(24,919	)
Net loss		$	(28,610	)		$	(51,107	)		$	(99,248	)		$	(128,647	)
Foreign currency translation adjustment			439				841				(69	)			488
Comprehensive loss		$	(28,171	)		$	(50,266	)		$	(99,317	)		$	(128,159	)
Net loss per share
Basic		$	(0.10	)		$	(0.17	)		$	(0.34	)		$	(0.44	)
Diluted		$	(0.10	)		$	(0.17	)		$	(0.34	)		$	(0.44	)
Weighted-average common shares outstanding
Basic			289,496,841				294,851,945				288,750,387				293,930,702
Diluted			289,496,841				294,851,945				288,750,387				293,930,702
(1) Exclusive of depreciation, amortization, and impairment

AbCellera Biologics Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(All figures in U.S. dollars. Amounts are expressed in thousands except share data.)
(Unaudited)
	December 31, 2023				September 30, 2024
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	133,320			$	126,640
Marketable securities		627,265				516,499
Total cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities		760,585				643,139
Accounts and accrued receivable		30,590				31,373
Restricted cash		25,000				25,000
Other current assets		55,810				43,371
Total current assets		871,985				742,883
Long-term assets:
Property and equipment, net		287,696				331,263
Intangible assets, net		120,425				52,577
Goodwill		47,806				47,806
Investments in equity accounted investees		65,938				84,084
Other long-term assets		94,244				134,215
Total long-term assets		616,109				649,945
Total assets	$	1,488,094			$	1,392,828
Liabilities and shareholders' equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and other current liabilities	$	49,580			$	53,773
Contingent consideration payable		50,475				20,217
Deferred revenue		18,958				5,578
Total current liabilities		119,013				79,568
Long-term liabilities:
Operating lease liability		71,222				66,274
Deferred revenue		8,195				8,100
Deferred government contributions		95,915				142,046
Contingent consideration payable		4,913				4,441
Deferred tax liability		30,612				12,781
Other long-term liabilities		5,906				1,524
Total long-term liabilities		216,763				235,166
Total liabilities		335,776				314,734
Commitments and contingencies
Shareholders' equity:
Common shares: no par value, unlimited authorized shares at December 31, 2023 and September 30, 2024: 290,824,970 and 295,157,474 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2023 and September 30, 2024, respectively		753,199				772,832
Additional paid-in capital		121,052				155,354
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(1,720	)			(1,232	)
Accumulated earnings		279,787				151,140
Total shareholders' equity		1,152,318				1,078,094
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$	1,488,094			$	1,392,828

AbCellera Biologics Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
(Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars.)
(Unaudited)
	Nine months ended September 30,
	2023				2024
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss	$	(99,248	)		$	(128,647	)
Cash flows from operating activities:
Depreciation of property and equipment		8,874				10,437
Amortization and impairment of intangible assets		7,985				67,848
Amortization of operating lease right-of-use assets		4,926				4,813
Stock-based compensation		47,735				52,355
Fair value gain on contingent consideration and investments		–				(48,727	)
Deferred income tax and other		(6,354	)			(17,891	)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Research fees and grants receivable		(35,495	)			(54,258	)
Accrued royalties receivable		9,273				–
Income taxes payable (receivable)		28,685				(8,709	)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		(1,852	)			4,018
Deferred revenue		(7,238	)			(13,474	)
Accrued royalties payable		(16,253	)			–
Deferred grant income		30,377				30,671
Other assets		4,319				1,008
Net cash used in operating activities		(24,266	)			(100,556	)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment		(62,516	)			(62,766	)
Purchase of marketable securities		(744,674	)			(612,249	)
Proceeds from marketable securities		642,913				735,989
Receipt of grant funding		15,023				29,150
Long-term investments and other assets		(37,317	)			13,538
Investment in equity accounted investees		(10,214	)			(17,956	)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities		(196,785	)			85,706
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payment of liability for in-licensing agreement and other		(1,049	)			(552	)
Proceeds from long-term liabilities		6,560				7,599
Proceeds from exercise of stock options		1,080				1,580
Net cash provided by financing activities		6,591				8,627
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		(479	)			(457	)
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents		(214,939	)			(6,680	)
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period		414,651				160,610
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period	$	199,712			$	153,930
Restricted cash included in other assets		2,290				2,290
Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash shown on the balance sheet	$	197,422			$	151,640
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities
Property and equipment in accounts payable		12,948				15,989
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for operating lease obligation		3,586				2,232

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241104711335/en/

Inquiries

Media: Kathleen Reid: media@abcellera.com, +1(236)521-6774

Business Development: Murray McCutcheon, Ph.D., partnering@abcellera.com, +1(604)559-9005

Investor Relations: Peter Ahn, ir@abcellera.com, +1(778)729-9116

Source: AbCellera Biologics Inc.

FAQ

What was AbCellera's (ABCL) revenue in Q3 2024?

AbCellera reported total revenue of $6.5 million in Q3 2024, slightly down from $6.6 million in Q3 2023.

How many partner-initiated programs does AbCellera (ABCL) have as of Q3 2024?

AbCellera has reached 95 partner-initiated programs with downstreams, up 13% from 84 programs in Q3 2023.

What was AbCellera's (ABCL) net loss per share in Q3 2024?

AbCellera reported a net loss of $0.17 per share in Q3 2024, compared to $0.10 per share in Q3 2023.

How much cash and liquidity does AbCellera (ABCL) have as of Q3 2024?

AbCellera has $670.4 million in cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities, plus $205 million in available non-dilutive government funding, totaling over $875 million in liquidity.