Release Date: March 12, 2025

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.

Positive Points

• Assertio Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:ASRT) exceeded $60 million in Rovedon sales, growing their share in the community oncology clinic segment.
• The company completed and presented the Rovedon same-day dosing trial, supporting its use as a safe and effective agent.
• Assertio Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:ASRT) added new talent to their leadership team, including a new Chief Commercial Officer and Chief Transformation Officer.
• The company generated $26.4 million in operating cash flows in 2024, exceeding their high-end cash goal of $100 million.
• Assertio Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:ASRT) is focusing on strategic priorities for 2025, including simplifying structure and processes, focusing on growth assets, and reducing legal exposure.

Negative Points

• Gross margin decreased to 61% from 74% in Q3 due to higher excess inventory write-downs, primarily for Indocin.
• GAAP net income for the fourth quarter was a loss of $10.5 million, impacted by an impairment charge on intangible assets.
• Adjusted EBITDA for the fourth quarter was a loss of $0.5 million, impacted by inventory write-downs and litigation contingencies.
• The company faces ongoing legal exposure, including opioid-related cases and shareholder lawsuits.
• Indocin sales were negatively impacted by generic competition, with expectations of further generic competitors entering the market.

Q & A Highlights

• Warning! GuruFocus has detected 5 Warning Signs with ASRT.

Q: What are the factors that could influence the wide guidance range of $108 to $123 million for 2025? A: Brendan O'Grady, CEO, explained that the wide guidance range is due to several uncertainties, including the evolution of Indocin, which has traditionally had a good margin, and the dynamic nature of the long-acting GCSF market. The company needs to expand beyond the Medicare Part B space into commercial and institutional segments to fuel growth. Additionally, strategic options not included in the guidance could also impact the range.

Q: How likely is it that Assertio will make an acquisition in the next 12 months? A: Brendan O'Grady, CEO, stated that the odds are above 50/50. The company has strengthened its balance sheet, allowing it to consider a broader range of assets. However, any acquisition must fit the company's model and be economically sensible. Discussions are ongoing, but it's uncertain when or if they will result in an acquisition.

Q: Can you provide more details on the legal exposures and their impact on the company? A: Brendan O'Grady, CEO, mentioned that the legal exposure is primarily related to ongoing opioid litigation and shareholder lawsuits. The company has made progress in reducing this exposure, which should eventually lower operating expenses and positively impact EBITDA. However, the process takes time, and the company does not control the pace of legal proceedings.

Q: Are there any updates on the same-day dosing data for Rolvedon and its potential inclusion in NCCN guidelines? A: Brendan O'Grady, CEO, noted that the same-day dosing data was presented at conferences in December and March. The company plans to submit the data to a peer-reviewed journal and approach NCCN for guideline inclusion in the latter half of the year. While there is no guarantee of inclusion, the company believes the data supports the safety and efficacy of same-day dosing.

Q: What is the current status of generic competition for Indocin, and how is it affecting the company? A: Brendan O'Grady, CEO, explained that there are currently two generic competitors and a compounder in the market. The company expects one or two more generic competitors this year. The presence of generics is a headwind, but the company is optimizing Indocin as best as possible, retaining market share and maintaining stable pricing recently.

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.