What news next?6 Aug 2020 14:16
Can't wait for the next sales update.
Some snippets from the half year update from June. Just a reminder as to why this is such a good investment. IMO
Demand for the Company's COVID-19 test remains strong, with June sales of €25.4 million (£22.5 million) showing the sixth consecutive month of growth. Certain contracts for the supply of the test have also been extended into the second half of the year and in some cases into 2021. With the daily global incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infections continuing to rise, Novacyt expects significant ongoing demand for COVID-19 testing well into 2021.
In the US, the Company has signed a major distribution agreement for its COVID-19 test with a new global strategic partner. The US is delivering significant sales growth for Novacyt and this new agreement enables the Company to accelerate penetration of its COVID-19 test in this important market. This distribution agreement will focus initially on the US, with the potential to expand into further markets.
The Company remains well positioned to address the global need for COVID-19 testing, with its test being sold worldwide. It also has sufficient manufacturing capacity, raw materials and finished goods to meet the expected demand, having orchestrated a significant scale-up of operations during the half year. The Company continues to scale the business internally and has hired 45 people during the first half of the year, with plans to make further investment to strengthen the organisation in the second half of the year.
Development of the Company's COVID-19 test established Novacyt as a pioneer and a leader in COVID-19 diagnostics. Novacyt remains committed to building on this world-class innovative position for COVID-19 testing, and more broadly for respiratory disease testing, and is investing to address unmet needs in the market. Novacyt has already launched three new innovative products, COVID-HT, Exsig™ Direct and Exsig™ Mag, to support laboratories testing for COVID-19. These products are expected to drive incremental revenue and the Company received initial orders in June 2020 following their launch. Novacyt expects to provide an update on its investment in R&D to support continued growth, including a number of new products and innovations to be launched in the near future.
Outlook
Given the visibility of orders, extended contracts and the launch of new COVID-19 related products, the Company anticipates revenue for the second half of the year to be greater than the first half of the year and margins to be at least at a similar level. As a result, there is expected to be greater cash generation in the second half of the year and the Company is reviewing its capital allocation policy to enhance and accelerate long-term value creation through its three-pillar strategy of organic, R&D and acquisitive growth.