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AbCellera Reports Full Year 2023 Business Results

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  Total revenue of $38 million, compared to $485 million in FY 2022
  
  


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  Total cumulative partner-initiated program starts with downstreams of 87, with 12 new starts in the year
  
  


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  Net loss of $0.51 per share on a basic and diluted basis, compared to earnings of $0.56 (basic) and $0.50 (diluted) per share in 2022
  
  

FY 2023 Business Summary

• Earned $38.0 million in total revenue.
• Generated a net loss of $146.4 million, compared to net earnings of $158.5 million in 2022.
• Reached a cumulative total of 87 partner-initiated program starts with downstreams.
• Reporting the advancement of five additional molecules in the clinic, bringing the cumulative total to thirteen molecules to have reached the clinic.
• Advanced two AbCellera-led programs into IND-enabling studies.

Key Business Metrics

AbCellera reached a cumulative total of 203 programs under contract (up from 174 on December 31, 2022) that are either completed, in progress, or under contract with 46 different partners as of December 31, 2023 (up from 40 on December 31, 2022). AbCellera started discovery on an additional twelve partner-initiated programs with downstreams to reach a cumulative total of 87 partner-initiated program starts with downstreams in 2023 (up from 75 on December 31, 2022). AbCellera's partners have advanced a cumulative total of thirteen molecules into the clinic (up from eight on December 31, 2022).

Discussion of FY 2023 Financial Results

• Revenue - Total revenue was $38.0 million, compared to $485.4 million in 2022. The partnership business generated research fees of $35.6 million, compared to $40.8 million in 2022. Licensing revenue was $1.0 million.
• Research & Development (R&D) Expenses - R&D expenses were $175.7 million, compared to $107.9 million in 2022, reflecting growth in program execution, platform development, and investments in internal programs.
• Sales & Marketing (S&M) Expenses - S&M expenses were $14.2 million, compared to $11.3 million in 2022.
• General & Administrative (G&A) Expenses - G&A expenses were $61.0 million, compared to $55.5 million in 2022.
• Net Loss - Net loss of $146.4 million, or $(0.51) per share on a basic and diluted basis, compared to net earnings of $158.5 million, or $0.56 and $0.50 per share on a basic and diluted basis, respectively, in 2022.
• Liquidity - $787.9 million of total cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities, including restricted cash.

Q4 Highlights and Financial Results

• Advanced two internal programs into IND-enabling studies, ABCL635 and ABCL575.
• Started three partner-initiated programs with downstreams.
• Reporting the advancement of three additional molecules by partners into the clinic.

Revenue for the fourth quarter of 2023 was $9.2 million, representing 24% of total revenue for 2023. $8.7 million was generated from research fees, representing 25% of the total research fees for 2023.

Operating expenses totaled $75.2 million in the fourth quarter, or 27% of the total for 2023, and included investments made in co-development and internal programs.

The net loss for the fourth quarter was $47.2 million, or $(0.16) per share, on a basic and diluted basis.

Conference Call and Webcast

AbCellera will host a conference call and live webcast to discuss these results today at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time (5:00 p.m. Eastern Time).

The live webcast of the earnings conference call can be accessed on the Events and Presentations section of AbCellera's Investor Relations website. A replay of the webcast will be available through the same link following the conference call.

About AbCellera Biologics Inc.

AbCellera is breaking the barriers of conventional antibody discovery to bring better medicines to patients, sooner. AbCellera's engine integrates expert teams, technology, and facilities with the data science and automation needed to propel antibody-based medicines from target to clinic in nearly every therapeutic area with precision and speed. AbCellera provides innovative biotechs and leading pharmaceutical companies with a competitive advantage that empowers them to move quickly, reduce cost, and tackle the toughest problems in drug development. For more information, please visit www.abcellera.com.

Definition of Key Business Metrics

We regularly review the following key business metrics to evaluate our business, measure our performance, identify trends affecting our business, formulate financial projections, and make strategic decisions. We believe that the following metrics are important to understand our current business. These metrics may change or may be substituted for additional or different metrics as our business develops. Information on changes is set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.

Number of discovery partners represents the unique number of partners with whom we have executed partnership contracts. We view this metric as an indication of the competitiveness of our engine and our level of market penetration. The metric also relates to our opportunities to secure programs under contract.

Programs under contract represent the number of antibody development programs that are under contract for delivery of discovery research activities. A program under contract is counted when a contract is executed with a partner under which we commit to discover or deliver antibodies against one selected target. A target is any relevant antigen for which a partner seeks our support in developing binding antibodies. We view this metric as an indication of commercial success and technological competitiveness. It further relates to revenue from access fees. The cumulative number of programs under contract with downstream participation is related to our ability to generate future revenue from milestone payments and royalties.

Partner-initiated program starts with downstreams represent the number of unique partner-initiated programs where we stand to participate financially in downstream success for which we have commenced the discovery effort. The discovery effort commences on the later of (i) the day on which we receive sufficient reagents to start discovery of antibodies against a target and (ii) the day on which the kick-off meeting for the program is held. We view this metric as an indication of the selection and initiation of projects by our partners and the resulting potential for near-term payments. Cumulatively, partner-initiated program starts with downstream participation indicate our total opportunities to earn downstream revenue from milestone fees and royalties (or royalty equivalents) in the mid- to long-term.

Molecules in the clinic represent the count of unique molecules for which an Investigational New Drug, or IND, New Animal Drug, or equivalent under other regulatory regimes, application has reached "open" status or has otherwise been approved based on an antibody that was discovered either by us or by a partner using licensed AbCellera technology. Where the date of such application approval is not known to us, the date of the first public announcement of a clinical trial will be used for the purpose of this metric. We view this metric as an indication of our near- and mid-term potential revenue from milestone fees and potential royalty payments in the long term.

AbCellera Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward-looking statements are based on management's current beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to management. All statements contained in this release other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including statements regarding our ability to develop, commercialize and achieve market acceptance of our current and planned products and services, our research and development efforts, and other matters regarding our business strategies, use of capital, results of operations and financial position, and plans and objectives for future operations.

In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the words "may," "will," "could," "would," "should," "expect," "intend," "plan," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "project," "potential," "continue," "ongoing" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. These statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements to be materially different from the information expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and other factors are described under "Risk Factors," "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and elsewhere in the documents we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. We caution you that forward-looking statements are based on a combination of facts and factors currently known by us and our projections of the future, about which we cannot be certain. As a result, the forward-looking statements may not prove to be accurate. The forward-looking statements in this press release represent our views as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements for any reason, except as required by law.

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