Pacira BioSciences (NasdaqGS:PCRX) 2025 Conference November 18, 2025 08:30 AM ET Company ParticipantsFrank Lee - CEOConference Call ParticipantsNone - AnalystFrank LeeIf you know a little bit about Pacira, you know a little bit about Pacira. You know that we're focused on musculoskeletal pain and adjacencies. We have three products: Exparel, our flagship product, which is a nerve block; Zilretta, a long-acting steroid for osteoarthritis; and Iovera, which is a medical device that uses cryoneurolysis to alle ...

Core Viewpoint - DOMA Perpetual Capital Management LLC, a significant stockholder of Pacira BioSciences, Inc., is urging the Board to hire bankers and initiate a full sale process for the company due to perceived management underperformance and financial mismanagement [1][2][4]. Financial Performance and Management Concerns - Pacira's management has been criticized for excessive spending, with stock-based compensation projected to be approximately 6% of the company's market capitalization for 2025, exceeding the firm's entire operating income [2][6]. - Year-to-date sales of Zilretta have declined by 2% year over year through Q3, indicating poor business performance [3]. - Revenue growth has been modest at 3% year over year, while expenditures have surged, with R&D costs increasing by 36% and SG&A by 25% year over year [6]. Valuation and Sale Potential - A potential sale could yield a valuation of around $2.7 billion, translating to approximately $66 per share, which is three times the current stock price and represents a reasonable acquisition valuation [4][5]. - The cash flows from Pacira's assets, particularly Exparel, could exceed $10 billion through patent expiration, suggesting significant value under a larger owner [4]. Strategic Recommendations - The company should immediately pursue a sale process, with a target completion date before the end of Q1 2026 [7]. - Cost-cutting strategies must be implemented to enhance shareholder returns, and all new development programs should be put on hold until a sale is explored [12]. - Free cash flow should be prioritized for share buybacks, with a recommendation for a new $300 million buyback program following the completion of the current one [12]. Shareholder Relations and Governance - The Board's actions have been perceived as neglecting shareholder interests, with ongoing dilution of shareholder value through unapproved share issuances [10][11]. - DOMA has been in communication with the Board for over a year, advocating for a shareholder-friendly capital allocation framework, which has only recently begun to materialize [9].

Core Viewpoint - Pacira BioSciences reported first-quarter 2025 adjusted earnings of 62 cents per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 57 cents, while total revenues of $168.9 million fell short of the expected $175 million [1][2] Financial Performance - Adjusted earnings for Q1 2025 were 62 cents per share, consistent with the same quarter last year [1] - Total revenues reached $168.9 million, a 1% increase year over year, but missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate [1] - Exparel's net product sales were $136.5 million, up 3% from the previous year, but below the consensus estimate of $140.2 million [2][4] - Zilretta's net product sales were $23.3 million, down 10% year over year, missing both the consensus and model estimates [4] - Iovera's net product sales were $5.1 million, a 2% increase year over year, but below the consensus estimate of $5.5 million [5] Expenses - Research and development (R&D) expenses (excluding stock-based compensation) increased by 41% to $23.1 million due to higher product development and clinical study costs [6] - Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses (excluding stock-based compensation) rose 19% to $76.2 million, driven by increased investments in commercial and marketing activities [7] Guidance and Projections - For 2025, Pacira BioSciences expects total revenues between $725 million and $765 million, with an adjusted gross margin projected between 76% and 78% [8] - Adjusted R&D expenses are anticipated to be between $90 million and $105 million, while adjusted SG&A expenses are expected to range from $290 million to $320 million [10] Recent Developments - The company announced the dosing of the first patient in a mid-stage study for pipeline candidate PCRX-201, aimed at treating osteoarthritis of the knee [11] - A settlement agreement with Fresenius and others regarding Exparel patents protects sales from generic competition until at least 2030 [12] - A U.S. District Court ruling eliminated the obligation to pay a low single-digit royalty on Exparel sales, expected to enhance profitability and revenue growth [13]

Core Insights - The Medical sector is experiencing a robust first-quarter earnings season, with several drugmakers reporting results, and large caps like J&J, Merck, and Amgen exceeding earnings and sales estimates [1][2] - Overall, first-quarter earnings for the Medical sector are projected to rise by 40%, with revenues expected to increase by 8.3% [3] Earnings Performance - As of April 30, 45% of Medical sector companies, representing approximately 57.9% of the sector's market capitalization, have reported earnings, with 66.7% beating both earnings and revenue estimates [2] - Year-over-year earnings growth for the sector is reported at 60.5%, while revenues have increased by 7.8% [2] Company Highlights - **Novo Nordisk**: Expected to report earnings of 92 cents per share and revenues of $11.33 billion, with strong sales anticipated from diabetes and obesity care products [6][7] - **Pacira BioSciences**: Projected earnings of 57 cents per share and revenues of $174.96 million, driven by sales of its pain-management product Exparel [8][9] - **Ultragenyx Pharmaceuticals**: Expected to report a loss of $1.54 per share and revenues of $141.99 million, with growth driven by its lead drug Crysvita [10][11] - **Acadia Pharmaceuticals**: Anticipated earnings of 6 cents per share and revenues of $241.74 million, primarily from sales of Nuplazid for Parkinson's disease psychosis [12][13] - **Denali Therapeutics**: Expected loss of 71 cents per share and revenues of $8.3 million, with updates on pipeline programs anticipated during the earnings report [17][18] Earnings Surprise Potential - The Earnings ESP methodology indicates that stocks with a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank of 1, 2, or 3 have a high chance of delivering earnings surprises, with a success rate of up to 70% [4][5]