Allurion Technologies Inc. (NYSE:ALUR) Q1 2024 Earnings Conference Call May 14, 2024 8:30 AM ET

Company Participants

Mike Cavanaugh - Investor Relations, ICR Westwicke
Shantanu Gaur - Chief Executive Officer
Chris Geberth - Chief Financial Officer

Conference Call Participants

Matthew Taylor - Jefferies
Keay Nakae - Chardan

Operator

Thank you for standing by and welcome to the Allurion First Quarter Earnings Call. All lines have been placed on mute to prevent any background noise. After the speaker's remarks, there will be a question and answer session. [Operator Instructions]. Thank you.

I would now like to turn the call over to Mike Cavanaugh, Investor Relations, please go ahead.

Mike Cavanaugh

Good morning. Thank you all for joining us today. Earlier today Allurion Technologies Incorporated issued a press release announcing financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 and reviewing the company's recent business highlights. You can access a copy of the announcement on the company's website at www.investors.allurion.com.

With me on the call today are Shantanu Gaur, Founder and Chief Executive Officer and Chris Geberth, Chief Financial Officer. Shantanu will begin the call by discussing the quarter's business and operational highlights and our 2024 financial outlook. Chris will then provide a review of our financial results and we will close the call with a question and answer session.

Before we begin, I would like to inform you that comments mentioned on today's call may be deemed to contain forward looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including but not limited to the financial outlook for 2024 and the path to profitability in the future, the market and demand for our products and elective procedures, the impact of cost reduction initiatives on cash burn and runway, the ability to compete with GLP-1 drugs or use the Allurion program in combination with GLP-1 drugs, timing and expectations regarding our ongoing clinical trials and expectations regarding our ability to launch our products in new markets and growth and procedure volumes.

Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied as a result of certain risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties are described in detail in our Securities Exchange Commission filings, including our most recent 10-K filed on March 26, 2024. Our SEC filings can be found through our company website at investors.allurion.com or the SEC's website.

Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements and Allurion undertakes no obligation to publicly update or release any revisions to these forward looking statements.

Please note that this conference call is being recorded and will be available for audio replay on our website at Allurion.com under the Events and Presentation section in our investor relations page shortly after the conclusion of this call. Today's press release and supplementary financial data tables have been posted to our website.

And with that, I will turn a call over to Shantanu.

Shantanu Gaur

Thank you Mike and thanks to everyone for joining today's call. As I report on our first quarter 2024 results, I'm very pleased with the performance of the Allurion team as we accelerated out of the fourth quarter which as you recall was impacted by headwinds that we view as being largely short-term in nature.

Revenue in the first quarter total $9.4 million, a sequential increase of 14% from the fourth quarter of 2023, more importantly procedural volumes as estimated by new app users, the metric we believe is currently the best indicator of demand for our product, reached a record high for the company in the first quarter growing by 22% compared to the fourth quarter of 2023 and 12% compared to the first quarter of 2023 representing what we believe to be a strong and growing opportunity for the Allurion program.

The year-over-year procedural volume growth exceeded our plan for the first quarter of 2024 and we expect continued acceleration of procedural volume throughout the remainder of 2024 as we increase productivity of existing accounts and open new accounts

The higher sequential growth in procedural volume compared to revenue in the first quarter is reflective of ongoing de-stocking of inventory especially in distributor markets. We expect that the majority of this de-stocking will conclude in the second quarter that most distributors will begin to reorder in the second quarter and that procedural volume and revenue growth will be more closely correlated in the second half of 2024.

While it is still early in the second quarter we are observing positive trends in procedural volume thus far especially in markets that have previously been impacted by short-term headwinds.

With these markets stabilizing we are reiterating our 2024 guidance for procedural volume, revenue, gross margin and cash burn with the majority of revenue growth occurring in the second half of the year.

I'm also extremely pleased with how we have improved our execution and increased efficiency across our operations. In the first quarter of 2024 cash burn reduced by 62% compared to the fourth quarter of 2023 from $22 million to $8.4 million.

This was largely driven by a 43% reduction in operating expenses and reallocation of marketing investments to higher ROI channels. We expect to continue our efforts to further optimize our spent to drive even higher efficiency revenue in the subsequent quarters.

We've also taken significant steps recently to simplify our capital structure and pave the way for future growth. In April we announced the closing of a $48 million convertible senior secured note financing with RTW investments that allowed for the prepayment of an existing senior secured term loan.

This refinancing reduces annual interest expense, provides increased near-term cash flow and operational flexibility and extends our expected cash runway in advance of the AUDACITY FDA trial readout.

We believe the simplification of our capital structure combined with the operational efficiencies we have unlocked at Allurion positions the company for success in 2024 and beyond with a series of catalysts ahead.

Chris will provide more color on our first quarter financial performance later in the call, but I would like to first highlight some of our more impactful recent business successes. As I mentioned in the last call we believe the GLP-1 drugs will be a significant net positive for Allurion in the long term.

First, they have shown significant light on the massive global obesity problem and second these drugs are not and will not be the ideal therapy for all of the approximately one billion people worldwide suffering from obesity.

We know adherence to these drugs is low with multiple studies and surveys validating that only one quarter to one-third of patients will remain on these drugs beyond one year and that these drugs must be continued indefinitely.

Currently approximately one-third of patients on the Allurion program had previously tried anti-obesity medications. In the first quarter, we also began to observe that an increasing number of patients in the funnel showing interest in the Allurion program had previously tried GLP-1 drugs providing further validation that these drugs may have been a short-term headwind in 2023, but could become a long-term tailwind for Allurion in 2024 and beyond.

GLP-1s have driven an increased visibility on the obesity space and the need for cost-effective and scalable therapies. In January we announced the first Allurion patients treated with full reimbursement in partnership with the UK's National Health Service.

Approximately one in every four adults in the UK has obesity and an additional 38% are overweight.

There are 3,000 obesity-related hospital admissions per day in the UK and weight loss surgery costs on average about 10,000 British pounds. These surgeries have a penetration rate of roughly 1% implying a 100-year backlog at current procedure rates. Even if bariatric surgery volumes scale up considerably in the short term to meet this need, there will still be a significant backlog.

In contrast, Allurion is a scalable, safe and effective solution that can immediately address this need in the UK at significantly lower cost and I look forward to the opportunity to expand with the NHS in years to come and replicate this model in other markets with significant backlogs.

In addition, combination therapy is becoming increasingly important in obesity management. In January we announced the publication of a randomized double-blind control study demonstrating significant improvement in obesity-related comorbidities with the Allurion program used with or without an oral GLP-1.

Specifically, the trial demonstrated that the Allurion program alone resulted in remission of type 2 diabetes, hypertension and obstructive sleep apnea in just four months in over half of the patients enrolled and that these results improved when combined with an oral GLP-1 drug. This study underscores two important points regarding the Allurion program.

First, Allurion acts fast. In as little as four months, there was a statistically significant improvement in and in over half of the cases a full resolution of these serious comorbidities.

Second, Allurion can be used effectively with GLP-1s as a combination therapy, which is encouraging as we may be able to improve outcomes even further and expand our therapy to a broader segment of the population.

Turning to our home market in the U.S., we were thrilled to announce in April that our virtual care suite or VCS is now available to license in the United States for providers offering GLP-1 and other anti-obesity medication therapy, bariatric surgery, or weight loss devices.

Already in use by thousands of providers in over 50 countries, the VCS is an AI-powered weight loss management suite that enables remote patient monitoring, telehealth, and care team collaboration, all under one digital interface.

In 2023, Allurion added Coach Iris, a personalized AI-powered weight loss coach to the VCS, enabling a more customized behavior change program to accompany a wide range of obesity treatments.

The data show that the VCS is already having a profound impact on our obesity treatment globally. Specifically, clinics with the highest VCS usage achieve an additional 11% weight loss, with 16% more patients reaching their goals, and a 17% increase in net promoter score.

We believe that healthcare providers will increasingly need a powerful tool like VCS to help monitor and manage the growing number of patients with obesity under their care. As part of the VCS launch in the U.S, we also debuted a new version of Allurion Insights, the web-based dashboard that providers and care teams use to navigate the VCS.

Highlights of the new version of Allurion Insights include a responsive mobile app-like design, allowing providers and care teams to efficiently sync with their patients, a more efficient navigation and seamless interface, and multitasking capabilities for busy [ph] providers.

Just last month, we asked a group of experts at the Obesity Medicine Association Conference in Denver for their impressions of the VCS, and we believe their feedback bodes well for our launch in the United States.

Not only was there positive feedback on the role that VCS could play in their busy obesity practices, but it became clear that many of these same providers would be appropriate customers for the Allurion Balloon.

With the launch of the VCS in the United States, we are looking forward to building strong partnerships with U.S. providers, including those who may become future customers for the Allurion Balloon if FDA approved.

Long term, we are encouraged by the continued exposure the obesity market has received from the growing prominence of the GLP-1 drugs and the rising interest and attention to the weight loss space. Obesity is a massive worldwide epidemic, and we believe Allurion is a well-positioned to be a leader in the space, not just as a standalone therapy, but also as a supplemental one.

Before handing the call over to Chris to discuss financials, I want to recognize the Allurion team as a whole. Our team continues to innovate, expand, and execute. I'm proud to lead a group of highly talented professionals working collectively to further our mission to treat a significant segment of the 1 billion people globally suffering from obesity.

With that, I will now hand the call over to Chris. Chris?

Chris Geberth

Thank you, Shantanu, and thank you all for joining the call today. First quarter revenue total $9.4 million, a decrease of 33% from the first quarter of 2023. The year-over-year decrease in revenue reflected macroeconomic headwinds in certain markets, leading to lower reorder rates during the period, as distributors and accounts in certain markets are just their inventory levels, and we reduced or paused sales of certain accounts to manage credit risk.

While revenue decreased year-by-year, procedural volume as estimated by new app users grew by 12%, indicative of ongoing de-stocking of inventory. Revenue for the first quarter increased sequentially by 14%. As Shantanu mentioned earlier, procedural volume grew 22% over the fourth quarter of 2023.

The higher sequential growth in procedural volume compared to revenue in the quarter is reflective of ongoing de-stocking of inventory, mostly at distributor locations. We expect the majority of de-stocking to be completed in the second quarter.

Gross margins in the quarter were 73% compared to 39% for the same period a year ago, driven by temporary lower production volumes, which resulted in less manufacturing labor and overhead costs being absorbed into inventory. We expect margins to increase with higher volume later in the year.

Sales and marketing expenses for the first quarter decreased approximately $5.7 million for 48% to $6.2 million compared to $11.9 million for the same period in 2023, driven largely by strategic reductions in spending to reduce cash burn and improve operational flexibility.

Research and development expenses decreased by $2.1 million to $5.7 million in the quarter, driven by reduced costs related to our FDA or AUDACITY trial. General and administrative expenses of $6.4 million increased by $1.1 million, driven by $2 million of costs related to being a public company, and offset by $1 million less bad debt expense in the period.

Loss in operations for the first quarter was $11.4 million, a decrease of $2.5 million compared to $13.9 million in the same period in 2023. The decrease in loss from operations was driven by $6.8 million in lower operating expenses, partially offset by the lower gross margin. As of March 31, 2024, we had cash and cash equivalents of $29.7 million, a decrease of $8.4 million from December 31, 2023.

With that, I'd like to turn the call back to Shantanu for some final thoughts before we begin the questions and answers portion of the call.

Shantanu Gaur

We are extremely pleased with our results from the first quarter and believe it is a strong way to get 2024 started. We have delivered growth in procedural volume while burning significantly less cash, underscoring, we believe, the strong underlying demand for the Allurion program and the clear line of sight we have toward a profitable, sustainable future.

With several exciting catalysts ahead of us, including the completion of the AUDACITY FDA trial, launch of the VCS in the United States, reimbursement opportunities in the UK and potentially other markets, and a growing number of patients cycling off GLP1s and toward other therapies. We believe the future has never been brighter for Allurion and its shareholders.

With that, I'd like to turn it back to the operator to open it up for questions.

Question-and-Answer Session

Operator

Thank you. We will now begin the question and answer session. [Operator Instructions] Your first question comes from the line of Matthew Taylor with Jefferies. Please ask your question.

Matthew Taylor

Hi, thank you for taking the question. I wanted to ask you a couple questions about catalysts through the year and starting with the reimbursement you received in the UK. Maybe talk about that as a catalyst in country and then how that recognition could help you to get more coverage or potentially market the product and other geographies as well?

Shantanu Gaur

Yes, thanks for the question, Matt. As I mentioned on the call, the UK is a pretty significant opportunity from just an obesity perspective in general. 3000 obesity related hospital admissions per day, weight loss surgery costs that are through the roof and a significant backlog for bariatric surgery in that market. The way the NHS works in the UK is that there are 215 trusts that really operate somewhat autonomously. And so we've broken the ground in the NHS by starting to work with the first handful of trusts that are reimbursing for the technology.

And over the course of the next several quarters and indeed probably the next several years, we will be able to open up incrementally more and more trusts that really recognize the value proposition the Allurion program brings above and beyond bariatric surgery specifically for patients who need to lose weight prior to surgery. So I think what we've achieved in the UK is indicative of some of the pressures that payers are feeling, especially in the era of GLP-1s, and some of the trends that we are seeing in the UK could very well materialize in other parts of Europe and the Middle East and some of the other markets that we're operating in.

Matthew Taylor

Great. And just a general question. What are the catalysts should you looking for through the year? Do you see the potential for any other reimbursement wins, publications, anything like that outside of, obviously, the tracking of the pivotal study?

Shantanu Gaur

Yes. There's several catalysts that are here in the short-term. Matt, the first being obviously additional reimbursement wins in different markets. We, as I mentioned earlier, are exploring what the reimbursement landscape could look like in other parts of Europe and the Middle East. Those are markets that I think are feeling the pinch of GLP-1 costs and are looking for alternatives like the Allurion program. There's a large network of providers in a number of our different markets that are outside the center of our bullseye.

Typically, we start commercialization with bariatric surgeons and providers that are deeply invested in obesity management and weight loss. But there are other types of providers in certain markets that are more generalists that are looking to expand into obesity management. And over the next couple of quarters in those markets, we expect to open up some of those larger groups of providers versus individual practitioners. And then, I mentioned on the call that we are now making available in the United States the virtual care suite. And I believe that that could be a significant opportunity for us to expand the B2B SaaS software business that we started inside Allurion in a significant market like the United States, but also start to build relationships with providers well before the Allurion balloon is approved. And that will hopefully increase awareness about our technology in the United States. But more importantly, start to educate U.S. providers on the Allurion balloon and some of the benefits that it could provide.

Matthew Taylor

Great. Thanks a lot for the color.

Shantanu Gaur

Thank you.

Operator

Thank you. [Operator Instructions] Your next question comes from Keay Nakae with Chardan. Your light is open.

Keay Nakae

Yes. Thank you. So, in terms of the inventory de-stocking, is it still more of a problem or what's left to remediate? Is that still more of a problem with distributors?

Shantanu Gaur

Yes, thanks for the question, Keay. It is mostly concentrated in distributor markets. What we observed in the first quarter was strong procedural volume growth in our direct markets and distributor markets. And in our direct markets, we saw a much closer correlation to sell-in and sell-out. In our distributor markets, procedural volume was strong, but obviously with ongoing de-stocking, sell-in lagged behind procedural volume. We expect that the majority of de-stocking should complete in the second quarter in those distributor markets, and that several of those distributors should begin to reorder in the second quarter.

Keay Nakae

And if you could talk a little bit more about how you're able to understand what the procedural volume is. Obviously, if you have a new user, there are new app user that's probably easier to track. But with respect to the practitioners, is it always the case that there's a direct one-to-one correlation there between the app user using the balloon?

Shantanu Gaur

Yes. Typically, it does vary by market key in terms of the correlation between new app users and actual balloon placements. But what we've been able to do over the past several quarters is actually validate our new app user data with actual inventory levels. So what we've been able to do market-by-market is assess what the app adoption rate is by market and use that to correlate new app users to actual inventory levels.

And what that results in is a pretty powerful metric for us, really in real time, day-by-day, to actually track what procedural volumes are looking like in each market. And we expect that in the second half of the year in particular, that that metric should much more closely correlate to our revenue growth.

Keay Nakae

Okay. And just a final question if I can. What are the prospects for launching in new geographies this year?

Shantanu Gaur

This year, we are pretty much set in terms of the new geographies that we previously had launched in 2022 and 2023. Those include India, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, Australia. Those are massive market opportunities for us. And so we'll continue expanding in those markets in terms of new markets on the horizon, the one that we're most focused on right now is the United States.

Keay Nakae

Okay, thank you.

Shantanu Gaur

Thank you.

Operator

There are no further questions at this time. I will now turn the conference back over to Shantanu Gaur for the closing remarks.

Shantanu Gaur

I want to thank everyone for joining today, and thank you for the questions. I specifically want to thank all the Allurion out there for their hard work on getting this year off to a very strong start. For any of you who have further follow ups, please reach out to the ICR Westwicke team for follow up. And thank you all. Have a great day. Thanks for joining.

Operator

That concludes today's call. Thank you all for joining. You may now disconnect.