SIGA Technologies, Inc.
Q4 2023 Earnings Call Transcript

Published: 13 Mar 2024

[Operator:]

Welcome to the SIGA Business Update Call. Before we turn the call over to SIGA management, please note that any forward-looking statements made during this call are based on management's current expectations and observations and are subject to risks and uncertainties, that could cause actual results to differ from the forward-looking statements. SIGA does not undertake any obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect events or changed circumstances after this call. For a discussion of factors that could cause results to differ, please see the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, without limitation, the company's annual report on Form 10-K, for the year ended December 31, 2023. And its subsequent reports on Form 10-Q and Form 8-K. I will now hand the call over to Diem Nguyen, CEO of SIGA. Please go ahead.

[Diem Nguyen:]

Good afternoon, everyone, and thank you for joining today's call and review of our business results for the fourth quarter and full-year of 2023. I am joined by Dan Luckshire, our Chief Financial Officer; and we're pleased to have this opportunity to provide an update to our shareholders. After the update, we'll be happy to answer any other questions. I'd like to begin by recognizing the work and contributions of Phil Gomez, who served as SIGA's CEO for the seven years. Phil was instrumental in transforming our company into a more commercial organization, with sales in over 25 countries and securing key regulatory approvals for our TPOXX franchise. On behalf of our team, I want to thank Phil for his many contributions to making SIGA the strong company it is today. On a personal note, I'm excited to join SIGA and take on the role of CEO. Having spent nearly three decades focused on addressing unmet needs in health care, I look forward to building on SIGA's success and driving greater growth for the benefit of our patients, customers and shareholders. I have a deep-seated passion for scientific advancement and innovation, as well as an extensive experience leading successful multibillion-dollar commercial organization. I'm extremely excited to leverage this experience to help fulfill SIGA's potential and have our essential therapies available worldwide. Although this is only my 6th week with the company, I'm pleased to share my belief in SIGA's bright future. This belief has been grounded for the following

[Daniel Luckshire:]

Thanks, Diem. As noted earlier in the call, SIGA's strong performance is represented in 2023. Product sales for the 12 months ended December 31, 2023, were $131 million, which is the highest amount achieved over the past five years and reflects a 51% increase over 2022. $116 million of the full year product sales were achieved in the fourth quarter, coming from the diversity of sourcing including the U.S. Strategic National Stockpile, the U.S. Department of Defense and 5 international governments. Fourth quarter product sales include SNS product sales of $98 million, through the delivery of oral TPOXX, $6 million of oral TPOXX sales to the U.S. Department of Defense and $12 million of international sales in oral TPOXX, most of which relate to orders under the HERA contract announced in October of 2023. I would like to add that the process of product deliveries under existing orders, which started in the fourth quarter of 2023, continued in the first two months of 2024, with approximately $15 million of deliveries of oral TPOXX to the SNS and approximately $7 million of international delivery of oral TPOXX. Pretax operating income, which excludes interest income and taxes was approximately $84 million for 2023. This represents an increase of 96%, over the corresponding 2022 amount. I would like to note that average pretax operating income for the past four years, by time period of 2020 to 2023, is $75 million. We believe this average and the 2023 financial results highlight the robust earnings power of SIGA. Continuing the strong performance, net income for 2023 was $68 million, an increase of approximately 100% from the corresponding amount in 2022. In turn, fully diluted income per share for 2023 is $0.95 versus $0.46 in 2022. At December 31, 2023, the company maintained a strong balance sheet, with a cash balance of approximately $150 million and no debt. In 2023, SIGA spent approximately $43 million of capital management, with a special cash dividend of approximately $32 million and share repurchases of approximately $11 million. Earlier today, the company declared a special cash dividend of $0.60 per share, payable on April 11 for shareholders of record after close of business on March 26. This concludes the financial update. At this point, I'll turn the call back to Diem.

[Diem Nguyen:]

Thank you, Dan. Before I conclude our prepared remarks, I'd like to offer one more insight to my role, as CEO. I am committed to creating shareholder value for our shareholders by doing what I believe is best in the long-term interest of our company, partners and patients. I am bringing a fresh perspective with a sense of urgency to our strategic planning, operational processes, development efforts, and capital allocation just to name a few. You'll be hearing more from me in the coming months, as our plans evolve and we leverage the progress and momentum from 2023 into 2024. Though in summary, our company is in an exciting and important launch moment as we strategically invest in our research and development programs, expand geographically by broadening our partnerships with governments around the world, leveraged our antiviral experience and expertise to pursue attractive opportunities in other therapeutic areas with similar points to patient care and continue initiatives that directly benefit our shareholders. Now I would like to open the call to Q&A.

[Operator:]

Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, we will now begin the question-and-answer session. [Operator Instructions] Your first question is from Soo Romanoff from Edison Group. Please ask your question.

[Soo Romanoff:]

Great. Thank you for taking my questions, and congratulations on the quarter, it's nice to see the healthy distribution. My first question was on oral TPOXX delivery. It looks like will mark the last deliveries under the 2018 contract with BARDA, for the oral TPOXX. Have we had any other further discussions with the government, the U.S. Government on possible extensions to the contract or new long-term rolling SNS contracts?

[Diem Nguyen:]

Thank you, Soo, for the question. We want to share that we have maintained a continued as well as healthy dialogue with the U.S. Government. At this time, we're targeting an RFP for the SNS, from the Administration of Strategic Preparedness and Response this year. Specifically, we're not in a position to point or pinpoint the exact timing, but we do know that we're prepared to engage in any conversation and address any needs that they may have. Thank you.

[Soo Romanoff:]

My second question was really on HERA. I mean, that was a really big milestone for SIGA. And it was -- have we seen any incremental opportunities developed in the last few months. We saw that nice double-digit million procurement deal that was already signed. What kind of other sales potentials can we assume looking ahead?

[Diem Nguyen:]

At this point, as you have all been aware, we have sold to more than 25 countries. There are multiple countries in Europe and beyond, who have ordered in the past who are indicating interest in ordering more TPOXX, often in larger quantity than the prior order. These conversations tend to be productive, but yet iterative. So we will share once we are able to. I will note that we've had $21 million in international sales in 2023, and we are looking to strengthen these sales in the years ahead.

[Soo Romanoff:]

Great. Thank you so much.

[Operator:]

[Operator Instructions] Your next question is from George Will, a Private Investor. Please ask your question.

[Unidentified Analyst:]

Hi, yes. I'm not sure if you covered this earlier in the call, but do you -- does SIGA still have an option coming up for later this year, the final option exercise for TPOXX for the U.S. Government?

[Daniel Luckshire:]

Yes. This is Dan. And you're correct in that the existing contract does have a remaining option for $113 million for oral TPOXX, as well as an IV TPOXX option for $26 million. I would note that -- I'm sorry, go ahead.

[Unidentified Analyst:]

That's for the '24 fiscal year?

[Daniel Luckshire:]

That's what we're targeting is that those options we are targeting to get exercised this year.

[Unidentified Analyst:]

Okay. Thank you.

[Operator:]

Thank you. Your next question is from Lance Kimbrough from Ivy Creek Capital. Please ask your question.

[Lance Kimbrough:]

Congratulations on the great 2023 results. My question was related to -- in the last quarter call, you had highlighted that there was some manufacturing bottlenecks that we're kind of holding up deliveries it looks like or it sounds like you've worked through those. It was also mentioned that the reorder cycle for 2024 would be approximately $128 million? Do you feel like manufacturing capacity now is such that you can meet that target if it's fulfilled?

[Daniel Luckshire:]

Sure. This is Dan. I'll start off and Diem could jump in, if she wants in that. Yes, we did navigate the slow pace of the supply chain towards the end of the year. We are still working on getting that to a more normalized way. We -- I'm not going to say that it's back to where it was a couple of years ago, but we did manage to get deliveries within the fourth quarter for the most part. Going forward, it will be a continuing focus. Your timing is important in terms of when the order comes in, in terms of when deliveries are made, but provided that we get a timely order from the U.S. Government then we'll be working towards making at least a substantial portion of deliveries this year.

[Diem Nguyen:]

Lance, I would just add that given my experiences, running large or commercialized organizations. I recognize the importance of a strong manufacturing capability. So within the weeks that I joined, I started to take a deep dive on the manufacturing partnerships, how we can be more effective in communication. And you will see that we will be working towards successful delivery of products in the future.

[Lance Kimbrough:]

Great. All right. Well, congratulations again on the great results.

[Diem Nguyen:]

Thank you, Lance.

[Operator:]

There are no further questions at this time. Please proceed.

[Diem Nguyen:]

Well, thank you, Jenny. I just want to pause and say thank you for everyone for their time today and their continued interest in SIGA. As I mentioned in my remarks earlier, SIGA is in an exciting and important launch moment. We look forward to providing you an update with our progress next quarter, and thank you to everyone. Have a great day.

[Operator:]

Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, the conference has now ended. Thank you all for joining. You may all disconnect.