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Notes on today's AVH 2QFY24 Investor Webinar, and then I think I am done with AVH for this Q!
TLDR SUMMARY
Nothing new as most of the content was released as part of the 2QFY24 results last week
What was very useful, however, was the detailed insights and colour to (1) the step change introduced by the RecellGo devices and the impact of this (2) the position behind the New Account numbers - a bigger than run-rate jump is expected in Q3 (3) approach to the globalisation strategy (4) positioning of Regnity in the Continuum of Wound Care strategy and the product selection process and (5) update on how profitability will play out.
Clear reiteration that with the current growth trajectory with RecellGo, there is sufficient cash to get to profitability without having to draw down on $25m of upcoming debt tranches.
Even if AVH meets the lower end of revenue growth guidance it still expects to reach the break-even goals as AVH is now setup for sequential QoQ growth.
Very apparent that Jeff and David are still very sore with the drop in the 1QFY24 results and the impact this will have on FY2024 - declaring that it really was “self-inflicted” and they have owned that. But AVH is now poised for growth and “is in a good place to make this happen”.
My thesis is absolutely playing out and am very bullish as the various pieces for sustainable growth previously discussed are now in place. It is now all about delivering against the playing field that AVH has created in the coming quarters ....
Discl: Topped up this morning in both SM (assuming closed) and IRL (to 3%) to move AVH into a medium conviction holding in my portfolio. Intend to top up another 1 to 1.5% if the price weakens from here.
THE SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT OF RECELLGO
I think I finally grasped the step change that RecellGO brings over Recell v1.0. This table is my layman's summary based on the pictures above:
NEW ACCOUNTS UPDATE
Q2 internal target was 46 units to new accounts which includes orders - landed short at 31 New Accounts + 6 VAC approved but no orders yet
Expect further improvement in Q3 as AVH has fine-tuned the new account process - 89 is in the pipeline vs 50-70 if maintained current run rate
Sales organisation is full staffed now, from 30 previously to 100 today
One of the early challenges was that some of the new accounts were seeing RecellGo for the first time and being positioned as the 1st in class in trauma centres causing process bottlenecks as most wanted to see trials being conducted first etc - have modified approach to overcome this.
GLOBAL COMMERCIALISATION STRATEGY
Countries on AVH’s radar met 3 internal criteria (1) Health Care systems must be able to leverage the Recell technology (2) have the ability to pay (3) has sufficient population size
Current new-country approach of expanding via local 3rd parties is to leverage off the partner’s knowledge of the local healthcare system
At the last step for CE mark certification in 3Q FY2024.
WOUND CARE STRATEGY
Reiterated that Recell has no competitor - if AVH gave away the IP to someone, it would take 2 PMA cycles over 4-5 years to get the requisite approvals from scratch - this is the lead time runway that AVH has to embed Recell as the standard of care for burns and FSTD indications.
Reiterated that the AVH strategy is to define and sell the suite of products across the full Continuum of Wound Care around the Recell spray-on.
There are many products in the Dermal Matrix space, but AVH had 3 specific criteria, which Regenity met the best:
Deal ensures that AVH gets more rights and improved margins as each clinical study gets approved - this is good skin in the game without having to develop a product from scratch
AVH is very excited at the prospect of a Regenity-Recell combination enabling AVH to define a 1-step standard of care/procedure vs the current 2-step approach of stabilising the wound in the Dermal Matrix followed by the Skin Graft procedure - this will be the focus in the planned clinical trials after PMA approval for Reginity has been obtained
FINANCIALS
Enough cash to get to profitability given current revenue growth trajectory.
AVH will not be eligible to draw down $25m tranche of debt which will become available as will not meet FY24 revenue threshold of $75m, this also means the 2nd tranche of $25m in FY25 will lapse - not an issue as AVH never expected to have to draw down these 2 tranches anyway - these is sufficient cash
Comments around profitability:
This confirms my commentary in the 2Q results that operational leverage could already be in play
David explained the rationale for the downward guidance in FY24 revenue - need to re-listen the webinar recording to capture the detail of this comment
David also said that even if AVH meets the lower end of revenue growth guidance, it still expects to reach the break-even goals as AVH is now setup for sequential QoQ growth
Very apparent that Jeff and David are still very sore with the drop in the 1QFY24 results and the impact this will have on FY2024 - declaring that it really was “self-inflicted” and they have owned that. But AVH is now poised for growth and “is in a good place to make this happen”
Super pleased that in the just concluded AVH Q2 Investor Webinar, my question on how AVH views PNV's NovoSorb, whether it was a direct or indirect competitor and if a competitor, how was it addressing that competition, was the first question, was read in full and I think, answered in full ... it was about 42 mins in.
This was my first crack at asking management a direct question as a super-small-fry retail investor outside of SM management sessions, so am still digesting the fact that I CAN ask questions and get answers ....!
I need to re-listen the recording as Jeff went into some medical explanation which I could not comprehend quicky enough but immediate points I picked up:
For me, this means that I can look at PNV as a standalone and different product to Recell, but operating in the same burns/trauma centre space, same customers etc.
Discl: AVH held IRL and in SM, evaluating PNV as a side-by-side addition
Worked through AVH's announcement last Thurs on the new addition to its wound care portfolio, Regenity. The more I understand this, the more AVH's strategy makes sense. Have re-organised the points in the press release to make better sense of the deal. Have to say that my enthusiasm and conviction in AVH might just have gone up another notch.
Discl: Held IRL and in SM
THOUGHTS
This is another way for AVH to win, targeted for 2025
End game objective is to define a new standard of care for FSTD wounds by using both Regenity and Recell in a single procedure, from the current 2-step procedure.
Each one of these adjacent bolt-on products not only expands AVH revenue opportunities, but it also changes the scope of, and tightens AVH’s moat around (1) RECELL and (2) AVH’s customers in the Burns Treatment world as it strives to define the new standard of care for burns wounds using a multi-product approach strategy
I am thus thinking that AVH's moat is rapidly morphing into (1) Defining the new standard of care using a suite of wound-care products across the full skin thickness (2) establishing the synergies and benefits of using the products in conjunction with other other, rather than a single product (3) monopolising the rights to market, sell and distribute the wound care products suite. which make up the new standard of care.
This is a significantly more robust go-to-market strategy vs a single Recell product approach, which only solves one of the many problems in a burns wound.
Overview of the Regenity Deal
Defining the New Standard of Care Using Regenity and RECEL in a Single Procedure Instead of The Current 2-Step Procedure
Commercial Terms
Did a more detailed review of the AVH Q2 results. The AVH price in the US spiked 20% on Fri, which has not happened for quite some time. Looking forward to Monday for a change!
Discl: Held IRL and in SM
TLDR SUMMARY
Very pleasing result - very encouraging signs that short term challenges of slow increase in new accounts is being overcome with a tangible increase in New Accounts (31) and VAC Approved accounts (6).
QoQ Revenue up 36.8%, direct costs up 39.5% but Gross Profit was an impressive 36.4% - encouraging signs of operational leverage perhaps.
Flagged increase in Sales cost has kicked in with a 29% increase, but impact was softened by falls in G&A and R&D, leading to a 7.1% overall cost increase.
FY24 Revenue guidance has been reduced from between $78.8m to $84.5m to between $68.0m to $70m - not great, but this will mostly be from the poor 1Q result. Happy to let this go if positive Q2 momentum is sustained throughout 2HFY24.
Have increasing confidence in management credibility as things have panned out as they have explained and guided in this result - continued confidence will need to be continually earned!
Other pipeline projects - RecellGo Mini FDA certification, Vitiligo studies progressing as planned.
Key for Q3 is continued evidence of sustained momentum in (1) New Accounts (2) Revenue, including expansion of non-US revenue (3) overall operating cost containment to absorb higher S&M expenses.
THOUGHT PROCESS
I am focused almost exclusively on understanding QoQ changes.
PcP changes are good to know, but significantly less important, as my view is that AVH has made step changes in the last 6M due to (1) RecellGo FDA certification (2) made clear moves in its transformation into a broad-based wound care company (distribution of Perma Derm, Regenity products alongside RecellGo) (3) upcoming RecellGO Mini FDA certification etc, which makes it a very different organisation than what it was in FY2023.
I am now thinking of AVH as not a single product, RecellGO-driven company, but as a broad-based wound care Company, which focuses on addressing all wound treatment issue around a central burn wound which is primarily treated by RecellGO - this pivot in thinking has been important to make sense of all the recent AVH moves and what is ahead.
I am desperately wanting to have clarity on where PNV’s NovoSorb sits in both this Continuum of Wound Care and Product Compatibility diagrams to understand how much of a competitor it is to AVH’s market position and strategy and/or whether it makes sense to open a position in PNV to ride on the NovSorb opportunity ahead - have asked the question for the AVH Investor Seminar next week.
Updated Continuum to Include Regenity
THE GOOD IN Q2
Tangible increase in New Accounts for RecellGo Full Thickness Skin Defects - the lack of progress in securing VAC approval for new accounts caused the 1QFY24 results to dive, expectations were reset, and there is now a tangible uptick in New Accounts and VAC approval. Q3 looks promising in terms of extending this new account momentum.
Revenue rose 36.8% QoQ to US$15.1m, at the top end of Q2 guidance of “between $14.3m to $15.3m”.
While from a very low base, good to see revenue increases in non-US markets as AVH focuses on expanding its RecellGo global footprint.
Cost of sales corresponding rose 39.5%, but Gross Profit rose 36.4%, which hints at improving operational leverage as the revenue increase was almost fully sustained through to gross profit margins. Need more evidence that this is sustainable but this is a really encouraging sign. It also lends credence to management’s explanation that the slowdown in 1Q revenue was primarily due to the challenges of navigating the VAC process in hospitals, which AVH had to learn from and fine-tune its approach to expedite the process.
Operating Expenses rose 7.1% QoQ, despite a clearly prior-flagged increase in Sales & Marketing expense of 29% as G&A and R&D expenses fell 16.1% and 5.9% respectively, to compensate for the increased sales cost. This is also encouraging as AVH appears to containing overall cost increase despite the sharp increase in Sales & Marketing expenses.
Cash balance increased $0.5m, or 3% and appears that operations now has a good cash-flow cadence. This augurs well for (1) the AVH objective of being cash flow positive no later than 3QFY25 (2) is likely to further improve as revenue momentum increases in the coming quarters and (3) keeps the risk of a operations-driven cash raise risk, low.
Other projects appear to be going well and on track (1) RecellGO Mini FDA approval (2) Vitiligo study.
THE NOT GREAT in Q2
Full Year revenue guidance has now dropped to between $68.0 and $70.0m from the initial FY24 guidance of $78.5m to $84.5m, but still a very respectable YoY growth of 37% to 41% over FY23 - much of this will be due to the poor 1Q result.
This is not great, but I am happy to let this go IF there is continued 2HFY24 momentum in (1) New Accounts (2) QoQ revenue and (3) improving non-US revenue contribution, as this blip will likely only be temporary. All bets will be off if 2HFY24 momentum falters!
EXPECTATIONS FOR Q3
THESIS UPDATE
Am working through the AVH's 2QFY24 results, which at first glance, looks good. The market certainly liked it!
It is a much-welcomed change from the recent bash-almost-everything-I-am-also-hurting mood across the market which I am desperately trying to tune out of ...
The AVH 2Q pcp improvement looks good, but what I am more focused on is tangible QoQ improvement to gauge sales momentum ...
In signing up for the Investor Webinar next week, I have asked the following question:
Could you please provide insights on how AVH view's PolyNovo's NovoSorb product. Where does NovoSorb sit in the AVH Wound Care Continuum? Does it compete with RecellGo, directly or indirectly, and if so, how is this competition being addressed?
Hoping AVH will pick up the question and provide some insights, that I will share.
Discl: Held IRL and in SM
Very impressed with the planning and prep, deployment and execution of the RECELL GO. FDA approval was received on Thu 30 May 24, so 1st use was the day after.
The Joseph M. Still Burn Center at Doctors Hospital of Augusta is the first U.S. burn center to treat a patient using its RECELL GO™ System
A much-expected-but-good-to-finally-see-it FDA approval for RECELL GO was received by AVH overnight. AVH has been all set to launch to market the day it got FDA approval. This could well be the turning point for the rough past 6M.
In the United States, the Company will launch RECELL GO in its top burn treatment centers in June, and other existing accounts will be converted to RECELL GO throughout the year. New accounts will receive RECELL GO with their first order, eliminating the need for conversion.
My notes on AVH's 1QFY24 earnings and earnings call.
Discl: Held IRL and in SM
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Risks
Outlook
Action
NOTES FROM EARNINGS CALL
Financials
Guidance for 2QFY24
Have started building a small position in AVH.
PROBLEM THAT AVH IS TRYING TO SOLVE
INVESTMENT CASE
RISKS
WHEN TO EXIT
POSITION SIZE
Discl: Held IRL and in SM
Post a valuation or endorse another member's valuation.