Evogene(US:EVGN)2025-11-20 15:00Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For the nine months ending September 30, 2025, revenues were approximately $3.5 million, a decrease from approximately $4 million in the same period last year, primarily due to lower revenue from AgPlenus activity [9][31] - Total operating loss for the nine months of 2025 was approximately $8.8 million, a significant decrease from approximately $15.3 million in the same period of the previous year, mainly due to reduced operating expenses [10][35] - The net loss for the nine months of 2025 was approximately $2.5 million compared to approximately $18 million in the same period last year, reflecting a $15.5 million decrease primarily due to decreased operating expenses and income from discontinued operations [37][38] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The financial results of Lavie Bio, Evogene's subsidiary, are presented as a single line item in the consolidated P&L statement for 2025, reflecting the sale of the majority of its activities to ICL [8][29] - Research and development expenses for the nine months of 2025 were approximately $6.2 million, a decrease of approximately $3.6 million compared to $9.8 million in the nine months of 2024, primarily due to reduced R&D expenses in Biomica and the cessation of Canonic's operations [31][32] - Sales and marketing expenses for the nine months of 2025 were approximately $1.2 million, a decrease of approximately $400,000 compared to approximately $1.6 million in the same period last year, mainly due to personnel cost reductions [10][32] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The global agricultural market was valued at $79 billion in 2024, with significant opportunities for new product development in herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides [21] - The global pharmaceutical market for small molecule-based drugs is valued at approximately $780 billion, representing nearly 60% of the market [23] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is transitioning to focus on computational chemistry and generative design of small molecules for the pharmaceutical and agriculture industries [6][7] - The strategy includes leveraging the proprietary generative AI tech engine, Campus AI, to design novel small molecules that meet multiple parameters for commercial success [12][18] - The company aims to strengthen collaborations with leading global companies in both agriculture and pharmaceuticals to drive innovation and product development [28][25] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management highlighted the increased interest in AI-driven drug discovery following recent partnerships in the industry, indicating a positive outlook for Evogene's technology [39][40] - The company expects to announce additional collaborations in the pharma division and expand existing partnerships in agriculture, which are anticipated to generate cash inflows [47][48] Other Important Information - The company completed a cost reduction plan, which is reflected in the reduced operating expenses for the third quarter of 2025 [8][29] - The cash balance as of September 30, 2025, was approximately $16 million, reflecting proceeds from the sale of Lavie Bio's assets [10][30] Q&A Session Summary Question: Has the levels of interest in AI champs increased post the recent NVIDIA Eli Lilly AI drug discovery partnerships? - Management noted that the announcement increased interest in AI-related activities in the pharma industry, and they have seen growing interest in their technology [39][40] Question: How close are you to unlocking partners with AI champs? - Management indicated that interest has increased significantly, and they expect to announce new collaborations with biotech companies early next year [43][44] Question: What is the IR strategy going forward? - Management confirmed that they will focus on presenting the new company strategy and will initiate roadshows and participate in conferences to increase visibility [45][46] Question: Could you highlight upcoming catalysts over the coming 6-12 months? - Management expects to announce new collaborations in both the pharma and ag divisions, as well as additional partnerships with major tech companies [47] Question: What type of revenue level can we expect for customer seeds in Q4 and for 2026? - Management refrained from disclosing specific revenue levels but mentioned ongoing discussions with strategic companies that could significantly impact future revenue [48] Question: How excited are you about AI champs compared to all your other times at Evogene? - Management expressed optimism about the focus on the pharma industry, highlighting the unique expertise of their team and the potential for significant financial rewards [49][50]