Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total revenue for Q4 2024 was $9.3 million, an 18% increase from $7.9 million in Q4 2023, and $37.7 million for the full year 2024, a 3% increase from $36.7 million in 2023 [25][34] - Adjusted to exclude revenue from a single large clinical solutions order of $2.7 million in 2023, total revenue growth was 11% in 2024 [9][25] - Free cash outflow improved from $26.7 million in 2023 to $13.5 million in 2024 [24][36] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue from catalog reagents represented approximately 60% of total revenue, growing low single digits in 2024, with 7% growth in the second half of the year compared to the second half of 2023 [13] - Custom biopharma business grew about 40% in 2024, with a robust growth of approximately 25% excluding a new therapeutic customer [16] - Clinical Solutions revenue was $1.9 million in Q4 2024, a 110% increase from $0.9 million in Q4 2023, and $7.1 million for the full year 2024, a 5% increase from $6.7 million in 2023 [27] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Sales to biopharma customers represented approximately 70% of custom revenue and 25% of total revenue in 2024 [15] - The company supported 48 clinical customers in 2024, up from 34 in 2023, with 39 being biopharma-related [8][17] - The company expects mid-single-digit growth in catalog business for 2025, reflecting market stabilization [20] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to expand its product portfolio through collaborations and acquisitions over the next 12 to 24 months [22] - The focus remains on executing the growth strategy laid out in 2021 to achieve long-term sustainable growth [8] - The company plans to moderately increase investments in sales and marketing to position itself for market recovery [40] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted cautiousness among customers due to macroeconomic uncertainty, particularly regarding capital flow into the sector [39] - The company expects 2025 to be a recovery year, with guidance for total revenue of $39 million to $42 million, implying 7% growth compared to 2024 [38] - Management expressed confidence in achieving at least 15% growth in custom products sold to biopharma accounts despite current uncertainties [21] Other Important Information - The company reported a net loss of $5.7 million for Q4 2024, an improvement from a net loss of $10.7 million in Q4 2023 [34] - Adjusted EBITDA for the full year of 2024 was negative $14.5 million, an improvement from negative $19.8 million in 2023 [34] - The company has amended and extended its credit facility, increasing liquidity by $4 million [43] Q&A Session Summary Question: Comments on customer budget softening - Management noted recent softening in customer budgets, particularly among smaller biotech firms, while larger pharma customers remain positive [51][52] Question: Composition of new customer pipeline - Most new customers are in preclinical or phase one stages, with successful transitions from phase two customers [56] Question: Any large one-time orders expected in 2025 - Management indicated no significant one-time orders are anticipated for 2024, but acknowledged potential revenue lumpiness [58][61] Question: Updated number of cell and gene therapy customers - The company now supports over 100 total cell and gene therapy customers, with 27% of total revenue coming from this segment [66] Question: Revenue phasing for 2025 - Management expects Q1 2025 to be the lowest quarter, with a gradual increase through Q2 and Q3, followed by a potential decrease in Q4 [70] Question: Revenue ramp for new clinical customers - It typically takes about a year to a year and a half for new clinical customers to reach spending levels comparable to more mature customers [79] Question: Pricing changes for reagents - The company implemented mid-single-digit price increases for its products at the beginning of the year [82]