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Harvard Apparatus Regenerative Technology, Inc. (HRGN)·Q3 2022 Earnings Summary

Executive Summary

  • Q3 2022 was a largely operational quarter: no revenue, net loss of $1.06M and diluted EPS of $-0.10, with cash of ~$3.0M and no debt; management reiterated cash runway “into Q2 2023.”
  • Corporate highlights included a new U.S. patent expanding the platform to patch-based scaffolds (“Biostage Tissue Patch”) and the previously announced appointment of CFO Joseph Damasio; both support clinical/readiness and capital markets ambitions.
  • Management maintained the goal to commence the FDA‑approved esophageal implant clinical trial and pursue a NASDAQ uplisting; they were in an S‑1 quiet period and did not take questions.
  • No Wall Street consensus estimates were available via S&P Global for Q3 2022; therefore, no beat/miss analysis could be performed.
  • Near-term stock catalysts: IP expansion (new patent), clinical trial start readiness, and capital raise/uplisting progress; legal headwinds have eased following the wrongful death settlement earlier in 2022.

What Went Well and What Went Wrong

What Went Well

  • New U.S. patent protecting patch-based scaffolds (“Biostage Tissue Patch”), broadening potential indications across esophagus and GI tract; CEO highlighted the potential to treat fistulas and strictures. “Biostage expects this new technology to enable it [to] treat fistulas … and damage … in other parts of the gastro-intestinal tract.”
  • Strengthening leadership for capital markets execution: appointment of CFO Joseph Damasio with prior uplisting/financing experience. “Joe provides Biostage with considerable experience … including uplisting to NASDAQ.”
  • Balance sheet clarity and runway: ~$3.0M cash, no debt, and reiterated runway into Q2 2023; management quantified quarterly cash burn. “Cash on hand of approximately $3 million and had no debt… we used approximately $1.6 million in cash for operations during the quarter.”

What Went Wrong

  • Continued operating losses with no revenue: net loss widened versus prior year comparable (Q3 2021), and negative EPS persisted amid higher operating expenses.
  • R&D and G&A cost pressures: y/y operating expenses increased, driven by consulting/legal and share-based comp; legal-related expenses remained a 2022 drag.
  • S&P Global estimates unavailable: lack of coverage prevents benchmark comparisons and may limit investor visibility; management also refrained from Q&A due to S‑1 quiet period, reducing disclosure depth.

Financial Results

MetricQ3 2021Q1 2022Q2 2022Q3 2022
Revenue ($USD Millions)$0.00 N/AN/A$0.00
Net Loss ($USD Millions)$(0.849) $(2.177) $(1.345) $(1.056)
Diluted EPS ($USD)$(0.08) $(0.20) $(0.12) $(0.10)
R&D Expense ($USD Millions)$0.250 $0.303 $0.326 $0.369
G&A Expense ($USD Millions)$0.572 $1.902 $1.049 $0.711
Total Operating Expenses ($USD Millions)$0.822 $2.205 $1.375 $1.080

Liquidity KPIs

MetricQ1 2022Q2 2022Q3 2022
Cash and Equivalents ($USD Millions)$0.723 $4.640 $2.971
Cash Used in Ops (Quarter) ($USD Millions)$(0.5) N/A$(1.6)

Notes: Revenue was not recognized in Q3 2022 and Q3 2021; Q2 and Q1 revenue disclosures are not material/not presented in releases.

Guidance Changes

MetricPeriodPrevious GuidanceCurrent GuidanceChange
Cash RunwayOperating expenses & capex coverageThrough Q1 2023 (as of May 16, 2022) Into Q2 2023 (as of Aug 4 and Nov 14, 2022) Raised vs Q1; Maintained vs Q2
Clinical Trial TimingBEI (FDA-approved to commence)Trial approved to commence; timing not guided Trial approved to commence; timing not guided Maintained
UplistingNASDAQ targetGoal stated Goal stated Maintained

Earnings Call Themes & Trends

TopicPrevious Mentions (Q1 2022 and Q2 2022)Current Period (Q3 2022)Trend
Regulatory/LegalWrongful death case settled Apr 27; ~$6.0M total costs outlined; issuance of Series E preferred to HBIO in June; legal costs elevated YTD Legal costs moderating; no new litigation; going concern risk noted given runway Improving legal overhang; funding need persists
Financing & UplistingClosed $5.1M private placement in May; NASDAQ uplisting goal reiterated S‑1 quiet period; uplisting goal maintained; CFO with capital markets experience Building towards capital event
R&D Execution & IPPublished esophageal tissue mechanical strength data (June); FDA trial approval New U.S. patent for patch-based scaffolds (Biostage Tissue Patch) Strengthening platform/IP
Management ChangesN/AAppointed CFO Joseph Damasio (Aug 8) Enhanced leadership
Supply Chain/MacroN/ACompany monitoring global supply chain/inflation; not materially impacting performance to date Stable to manageable
Cash RunwayThrough Q1 2023 (Q1) Into Q2 2023 (Q2/Q3) Extended then maintained

Management Commentary

  • David Green (Interim CEO): “Biostage was issued a U.S. patent that protects the extension of the use of Biostage’s technology from hollow tubes to patches… This new technology is known as the Biostage Tissue Patch.”
  • David Green (Interim CEO, on call): “Biostage expects this new technology to enable it [to] treat fistulas… strictures… and damage… in other parts of the gastro-intestinal tract.”
  • Joseph Damasio (CFO): “Our net loss was approximately $1.1 million or $0.10 per basic and diluted share… As of September 30, 2022, we had cash on hand of approximately $3 million and had no debt… we used approximately $1.6 million in cash for operations during the quarter… we expect that our current cash will be sufficient to fund… into the second quarter of 2023.”

Q&A Highlights

  • Management conducted the call under a legally required quiet period related to Form S‑1 and did not take questions.
  • No additional guidance clarifications or numerical updates beyond prepared remarks were provided due to the quiet period.

Estimates Context

  • S&P Global consensus estimates (EPS and revenue) for Q3 2022 were not available for HRGN; analyst coverage appears absent, preventing beat/miss comparisons.
  • Implication: Investors should anchor on internal milestones (IP, clinical trial initiation, capital positioning) and actuals, rather than traditional consensus frameworks for near-term trading.

Key Takeaways for Investors

  • No revenue and continuing operating losses, but cash of ~$3.0M and no debt; runway maintained into Q2 2023—watch for financing updates and potential uplisting steps.
  • IP expansion via the Biostage Tissue Patch patent broadens addressable indications and may strengthen the platform’s value proposition ahead of first clinical trial enrollment.
  • Leadership bolstered for capital markets execution with the new CFO; S‑1 quiet period suggests active preparatory work—monitor for filing/transaction events.
  • Legal overhang substantially reduced post-settlement; 2022 legal spend elevated but trending down—removing a structural impediment to capital formation.
  • Short-term trading implications: catalysts likely tied to clinical trial gating, patent/IP communication, and financing/uplisting progress; lack of estimates means headline beats/misses will not drive moves.
  • Medium-term thesis: execution on FDA‑approved trial and sustained access to capital are critical to bridge to value inflection; watch cost discipline in R&D/G&A as the trial initiates.

References:

  • Q3 2022 10‑Q financials and MD&A
  • Q3 2022 8‑K and press release
  • Q3 2022 earnings call transcript
  • Q2 2022 8‑K and press release
  • Q1 2022 8‑K and press release
  • CFO appointment 8‑K