Certara IQ

Search documents
Certara (NasdaqGS:CERT) FY Conference Transcript
2025-09-10 17:22
Summary of Certara FY Conference Call - September 10, 2025 Company Overview - **Company**: Certara (NasdaqGS:CERT) - **Industry**: Health Technology and Biosimulation Key Points and Arguments Growth Strategy - Certara is focused on accelerating organic growth despite a subdued market environment, targeting mid-single-digit growth rates [4][5] - Investments in sales, marketing, and R&D are being made to enhance the commercial organization and software platforms [4][5] - New software enhancements, including Certara IQ (AI-enabled software for Quantitative Systems Pharmacology, QSP), are expected to drive growth [5][10] R&D and Product Development - Certara is addressing critical pain points in drug development, particularly the high failure rates of drug trials, by enhancing software capabilities [7] - The company has launched Certara Cloud, which has seen rapid adoption, particularly among large biopharma customers [11][12] - The tiered customer structure includes: - **Tier 1**: Large biopharma (50% of revenue) - **Tier 2**: Mid-sized companies (20% of revenue) - **Tier 3**: Biotechs (30% of revenue) [14][15] Market Dynamics - The funding environment for tier three customers remains challenging, but Certara has successfully targeted biotechs with funding potential [13][15] - The FDA's directive to shift away from animal testing is seen as a tailwind for Certara, enhancing customer discussions and driving demand for SIMCYP and QSP [24][34] Financial Performance - Certara expects an adjusted EBITDA margin of 30-32% for the year, consistent with previous performance [20] - The company is on track to meet its full-year plan despite some timing issues in software bookings for tier one customers [16][17] AI and Technology Integration - The acquisition of Vyasa has enabled Certara to integrate AI technology into its workflow and product offerings [25][26] - The co-author tool for regulatory writing has demonstrated a 40% efficiency improvement, appealing to regulatory customers [27] M&A and Strategic Review - Certara is actively engaged in a strategic review of its regulatory business, which has returned to growth with a 20-30% adjusted EBITDA margin [43][44] - The company is focused on software acquisitions to shift its revenue mix from services to software, aiming for a balanced profitability profile [45][46] Capital Allocation - Certara prioritizes R&D investments while also considering M&A opportunities and share buybacks, having authorized a $100 million share repurchase program [47][48] Additional Important Insights - Certara's longstanding relationship with the FDA provides a competitive advantage, as many FDA users are familiar with Certara's software [32][33] - The company is well-positioned to help biopharma clients find efficiencies across the drug development cycle, from discovery to submission [30][31] - The integration of Camaxon, a chem-informatics software company, is progressing well, with expectations to enhance margins and product offerings [40][41]
Certara(CERT) - 2025 Q2 - Earnings Call Transcript
2025-08-06 22:00
Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total revenue for Q2 2025 was $104.6 million, representing a 12% year-over-year growth on a reported basis and 10% on a constant currency basis [22] - Total bookings in Q2 were $112 million, an increase of 13% from the prior year period [22] - Adjusted EBITDA for Q2 was $31.9 million, up from $26.3 million in Q2 2024, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 31% [26][27] - Net loss for Q2 2025 was $2 million, compared to a net loss of $12.6 million in Q2 2024 [27][28] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Software revenue was $46.7 million in Q2, a 22% increase over the prior year, with organic growth of 9% [23][24] - Services revenue was $57.9 million, up 5% year-over-year, with strong performance in QSP and SIMP businesses [25] - Software bookings were $46.6 million, an 11% increase from the prior year, while services bookings were $65.4 million, a 15% increase [24][25] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Large pharma companies are cautious due to geopolitical and macroeconomic factors, affecting decision-making timelines [8] - The biotech funding environment has slightly improved but remains below historical trends [8] - Approximately 50% of new QSP projects this year have been for monoclonal antibody therapies, indicating a shift towards non-animal testing methodologies [15] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on expanding its AI-enabled MIDD platform, with plans to launch Certara IQ in Q4 2025 [12][13] - Continued investment in R&D is a priority, with a focus on integrating AI with existing modeling technologies [11][12] - The company aims to solidify its leading position in model-informed drug development through strategic acquisitions and product launches [19] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the financial outlook for the remainder of the year, supported by solid bookings trends and high visibility into renewal dynamics [20] - The company is optimistic about the growing interest in model-informed drug development, which is expected to drive future growth [20] - Management acknowledged the mixed spending environment but noted persistent customer interest in biosimulation technology [8] Other Important Information - The company received EMA qualification for its SimChip modeling platform, marking a significant regulatory milestone [10][61] - A $100 million share repurchase program was authorized, with $25 million already purchased [29] Q&A Session Summary Question: Is the multibillion dollar addressable market opportunity incremental to the low single digit billion TAM for biosimulation software? - Yes, it is considered an additional opportunity [32] Question: What is the interpretation of the QSP responses in the recent webinar? - QSP is a growing area, and the company expects the ratio of users to increase over time [35][36] Question: Can you provide insights on the demand drivers for software versus services bookings? - Demand for software is driven by R&D infrastructure needs, while services have seen a resurgence due to high demand for QSP services [39][41] Question: What are the dynamics across customer tiers, particularly between tier one and tiers two and three? - Tier one experienced timing-related slowness, but there is confidence in achieving renewals in the second half of the year [42][43] Question: How should customers think about adopting the new AI MIDD platform? - The platform aims to unite various software solutions, enhancing decision-making in drug development [47][49] Question: How does the EMA qualification for SimChip differentiate the product? - It provides prequalification, enhancing consistency and reducing uncertainty in the review process [60][62] Question: What is the expected impact of FDA guidance on animal testing on new customer inquiries? - There has been an uptick in interest, particularly in QSP and CIMSIP, but it is expected to be a long-term conversion [73][74] Question: What are the factors leading to a step down in margins in the second half of the year? - Increased hiring and investments are expected to impact margins, with Q2 margins serving as a good proxy for future performance [87][90]