NovaBay Pharmaceuticals Announces Agreement to Sell its DERMAdoctor Skincare Business Segment; Announces Preliminary Financial Results for Fourth Quarter and Year Ended December 31, 2023
- None.
- Operating loss for the fourth quarter of 2023 is expected to be approximately $3.2 million, primarily due to a $2.7 million loss in the DERMAdoctor skincare segment.
- Operating loss for the 2023 fiscal year is expected to be approximately $7.4 million, including a $3.8 million loss in the DERMAdoctor skincare segment.
- The DERMAdoctor skincare segment loss includes a $2.5 million non-cash impairment of goodwill and indefinite lived and long-lived assets related to the business segment.
- NovaBay had $1.1 million in outstanding convertible notes as of December 31, 2023.
Insights
The divestiture of the DERMAdoctor skincare business by NovaBay Pharmaceuticals for approximately $1.0 million in cash represents a strategic shift for the company. By offloading a segment that has been underperforming, as evidenced by the reported $2.7 million loss in the fourth quarter of 2023, NovaBay is aiming to strengthen its financial position. The sale not only provides immediate liquidity but also reduces operating expenses, which is crucial in a challenging capital market environment.
From a financial perspective, the move may be seen as a positive step towards focusing on more profitable segments, such as eyecare and wound care products, which accounted for $11.1 million in net sales during the fiscal year 2023. Additionally, the decision to sell DERMAdoctor aligns with NovaBay's strategic pivot towards its core Avenova business and the co-promotion partnership with Eyenovia. This partnership could potentially open new revenue streams and leverage NovaBay's existing physician-dispensed channel.
NovaBay's decision to divest its skincare business in the face of eCommerce growth projections that did not materialize indicates a recalibration of their market strategy. The skincare industry is highly competitive and the pivot to focus on eyecare and wound care suggests a concentration on niche markets where NovaBay might have a stronger competitive advantage or higher margins.
Analyzing the market dynamics, the transition towards specialized healthcare products, such as the FDA-approved clobetasol propionate ophthalmic suspension, could be a response to the increasing demand for prescription-based eyecare solutions. The co-promotion with Eyenovia may enhance NovaBay's market penetration and brand presence in the eyecare segment, which could be a strategic move to offset losses from the skincare segment.
The sale of the DERMAdoctor skincare line and the focus on Avenova and the co-promotion of Eyenovia's clobetasol propionate ophthalmic suspension represent a shift towards medical-grade, physician-dispensed products. This move is indicative of NovaBay's strategy to capitalize on the higher barriers to entry and regulatory compliance in the medical product space, which often leads to less competition and potentially higher profit margins than in the consumer skincare market.
Furthermore, the impairment of goodwill and non-cash assets related to the DERMAdoctor segment, amounting to $2.5 million, reflects adjustments in the valuation of these assets. This adjustment is a common financial practice when a business segment underperforms or when there's a shift in strategic direction. Stakeholders should be aware that such impairments can affect the company's balance sheet and are indicative of the company's need to align its asset values with current market conditions.
DERMAdoctor sale reduces operating expenses and bolsters cash
“This sale will reduce our quarterly operating expenses and provide us with much-needed cash during this challenging capital market environment. It also streamlines our business by placing us in a better position to pursue new strategic opportunities that have greater potential for growth,” said Justin Hall, CEO of NovaBay.
“We expanded our product lineup in the direct-to-consumer market during the height of COVID-19 with the expectation that growth in eCommerce sales would continue post-pandemic,” he added. “Unfortunately, our projections for DERMAdoctor sales and profitability were not realized. This divestiture aligns with our strategy of executing on more promising transactions that involve our core Avenova® business such as our recently announced co-promotion partnership with Eyenovia.”
On March 13, 2024, NovaBay announced an agreement to market Eyenovia’s recently FDA-approved clobetasol propionate ophthalmic suspension
Included within the upcoming Company Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, NovaBay expects to report net sales for the fourth quarter of 2023 of
Also, included within the upcoming Company Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, NovaBay expects to report net sales for the 2023 fiscal year of
NovaBay’s cash as of December 31, 2023 was
The Company plans to report 2023 fourth quarter and full year financial results and to hold an investment community conference call in the coming weeks. Details regarding this call will be made available.
About Avenova
NovaBay’s leading product Avenova® Antimicrobial Lid & Lash Solution is often prescribed by eyecare professionals for blepharitis and dry-eye disease and is available directly to consumers through online distribution channels such as Amazon.com. It is clinically proven to kill a broad spectrum of bacteria to help relieve the symptoms of bacterial dry eye, yet is non-irritating and completely safe for regular use. NovaBay offers a full portfolio of scientifically developed products for each step of the standard dry eye treatment regimen, including the Avenova Eye Health Support antioxidant-rich oral supplement, Avenova Lubricating Eye Drops for instant relief, Avenova Warm Eye Compress to soothe the eyes and the i-Chek by Avenova to monitor physical eyelid health. The Avenova Allograft, an amniotic tissue prescription-only product, is available through eyecare professionals in
About NovaBay Pharmaceuticals, Inc.:
NovaBay Pharmaceuticals, Inc. develops and sells scientifically created and clinically proven eyecare and wound care products. Manufactured in the
Forward-Looking Statements
Except for historical information herein, matters set forth in this press release may be forward looking within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based upon management’s current expectations, assumptions, estimates, projections and beliefs and include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our potential sale of DERMAdoctor, current revenue sources, and expected future revenue, as well as generally the Company’s expected future financial results. These statements involve 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, the possibility that the available market for the Company’s products will not be as large as expected, the Company’s products will not be able to penetrate one or more targeted markets, and the possibility that the Company’s revenues will not be sufficient to meet the Company’s cash needs, the potential inability of the Company to successfully complete its financing initiatives (including any related stockholder or regulatory approvals) or continue operating as a going concern, the Company’s potential inability to close the sale of DERMAdoctor within our expected timeframe, if at all, and the Company’s inability to maintain the listing of its common stock on the NYSE American. 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 Annual and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q. 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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Avenova Purchasing Information
For NovaBay Avenova purchasing information:
Please call 800-890-0329 or email sales@avenova.com
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NovaBay Contact
Justin Hall
Chief Executive Officer and General Counsel
510-899-8800
jhall@novabay.com
Investor Contact
LHA Investor Relations
Jody Cain
310-691-7100
jcain@lhai.com
Source: NovaBay Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
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