Xenon Pharmaceuticals (XENE) FY 2025 Conference June 10, 2025 03:20 PM ET Speaker0 Okay. We'll continue with the next session, which is Xenon Pharmaceuticals. I'm Paul Choi, I cover the SmithCat biotechnology sector here at the firm. It's my pleasure to have Ian Mortimer to my immediate left here, CEO of Xenon. What we'll do is what we've been doing in other sessions, is let Ian kick it off with maybe a high level overview of Xenon, sort of where the company is, its key programs, and the overall strategy. A ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported revenue of approximately $4 million for Q1 2025, a decrease from $10 million in the same quarter of 2024, primarily due to a shift in focus towards internal and co-development programs [22][23] - The net loss for the quarter was roughly $46 million, compared to a loss of around $41 million in Q1 2024, resulting in a loss of CAD0.15 per share [24][25] - The company ended the quarter with approximately $630 million in cash and equivalents, along with $180 million in available committed government funding, totaling about $810 million in liquidity [21][27] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company maintained a cumulative total of 16 molecules that have reached the clinic, with no new molecules advancing in the quarter [22] - The company initiated work on one partner-initiated program, bringing the cumulative total to 97 programs with downstream participation [21] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The market opportunity for ABCL635, targeting vasomotor symptoms associated with menopause, is estimated to exceed $2 billion in annual sales, with approximately 30% of women experiencing moderate to severe symptoms [9][10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on advancing its lead programs, ABCL635 and ABCL575, into clinical trials, with plans to complete the CTA process for both programs [18][19] - The company aims to transition from a platform company to a clinical-stage biotech, with over 20 internal and co-development programs in the pipeline [20] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the biology and differentiation of ABCL635, highlighting the unmet medical need for non-hormonal treatments for vasomotor symptoms [18] - The company plans to start Phase I studies for ABCL635 in Q3 2025, with key readouts expected in mid-2026 [18] Other Important Information - The company is investing in building clinical manufacturing capabilities, expected to be operational by the end of 2025 [27] - The company has received commitments for funding from the Government of Canada's Strategic Innovation Fund and the Government of British Columbia, which will support its GMP facility and internal pipeline advancement [27] Q&A Session Summary Question: What do you expect this asset needs to see in terms of Phase one data to capture a competitive edge? - Management indicated that they will look for safety data and important biomarker data, which will provide early signs of target engagement and efficacy [30][31] Question: What should we expect to see from the upcoming ABCL575 preclinical data? - Management stated that the preclinical data will include early animal work and PK analysis, with expectations for a superior dosing regimen [35] Question: Given the risk around translatability of NKTR engagement, is there a precedent that gives confidence? - Management noted preclinical data from nonhuman primates provides optimism, but emphasized caution in drug development [37][38] Question: How are you thinking about the next development candidates? - Management is looking for high conviction biology with large unmet medical needs and compelling differentiation, likely focusing on GPCR or ion channel targets [40][41] Question: Can you provide context on the pause of Novorok molecules in the clinic? - Management believes the pause is related to fundraising efforts by Novorok, which is common in the current environment [57] Question: Is there consideration for U.S.-based manufacturing redundancies? - Management confirmed that their current manufacturing facility in Canada supports their clinical trials, and they have not yet considered U.S.-based manufacturing [58][59]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For the full year 2024, the company achieved $3.6 billion in funded loan volume, $108 million in revenue, and an adjusted EBITDA loss of $121 million, with a year-over-year revenue growth of 50% and a 19% increase in funded loan volume [8][9] - In Q4 2024, funded loan volume was $936 million, representing a 77% year-over-year increase, although it decreased approximately 10% sequentially due to seasonal factors [8][11] - The adjusted EBITDA loss in Q4 was $28 million, with total GAAP net loss around $59 million [46][47] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Funded loan volume growth in Q4 was driven by home equity products and refinance loans, with purchase loan volume increasing by 25% and refinance loan volume surging by 611% year-over-year [10][11] - The company reported a gain on sale margin improvement from 1.95% in 2023 to 2.17% in 2024, indicating enhanced revenue per loan through pricing and marketing optimization [9][10] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The overall HELOC and HELOAN originations increased by 10% in the third quarter, while the company’s origination volume grew by 619%, indicating significant market outperformance [10] - The mortgage market saw improvements in Q4 compared to the same period in 2023, but 30-year fixed mortgage rates remained high, impacting mortgage demand [11] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to leverage AI and technology to enhance operational efficiency, reduce costs, and improve customer experience, with a focus on achieving profitability in the medium term [6][8][45] - The strategic priorities include continuing to grow the business, diversifying distribution channels, and enhancing the technology platform to streamline the mortgage process [8][33] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged the challenges posed by low housing affordability and high mortgage rates but expressed optimism about the company's growth trajectory and market share gains [8][11] - The outlook for 2025 anticipates funded loan volume growth in the low to mid double digits, driven by initiatives like Neo powered by Better, despite macroeconomic headwinds [49][50] Other Important Information - The company is winding down its UK businesses, which contributed to lower volume in Q4, and expects to fully exit this segment by Q2 2025 [34][48] - The introduction of Betsy, an AI voice-based loan assistant, has significantly improved customer interaction efficiency, with a 20x increase in customer interactions since its launch [14][27] Q&A Session Summary Question: How does the AI technology adjust for high property insurance costs? - Management explained that their AI system integrates multiple data sources to provide instant homeowners insurance quotes during the loan process, significantly reducing the need for manual intervention [54] Question: How does profitability affect risk-taking? - Management clarified that they operate a marketplace model, ensuring loans are pre-committed to investors before origination, thus minimizing risk while focusing on efficiency and cost reduction to achieve profitability [58][62] Question: Can you elaborate on savings opportunities from Tin Man's AI application? - Management highlighted that AI-driven processes have reduced operational costs significantly, with potential savings of $2,000 per funded loan and $1,400 for AI-underwritten loans, contributing to improved margins [72][73] Question: How are gain on sale margins trending in Q1? - Management reported that gain on sale margins are trending higher in Q1, particularly with Neo loans performing better than the direct-to-consumer business, indicating improved efficiency and customer conversion [80][82] Question: Can you contextualize contribution profit per loan? - Management indicated that contribution margins have been improving, and they are focused on reducing costs in the mortgage business to enhance profitability while maintaining a balance with corporate cost reductions [93][94]