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Verona Pharma Plc (VRNA)
NASDAQ:VRNA
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Verona Pharma (VRNA) AI Stock Analysis

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VRNA

Verona Pharma

(NASDAQ:VRNA)

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Neutral 68 (OpenAI - 4o)
Rating:68Neutral
Price Target:
Verona Pharma's stock is bolstered by strong revenue growth and a successful product launch, contributing to positive momentum. However, profitability challenges, high valuations, and potential overbought conditions temper enthusiasm. The company's improved financial flexibility is a key strength, though ongoing operating losses and high SG&A expenses are notable risks.
Positive Factors
Strong Revenue Growth
The significant increase in sales of O2VERE indicates strong market adoption and growth potential, supporting long-term revenue expansion.
Financial Flexibility
A robust cash position and enhanced financing arrangements provide Verona Pharma with the flexibility to invest in growth opportunities and manage operational needs.
Intellectual Property Expansion
The expansion of intellectual property rights strengthens Verona Pharma's competitive position and provides a long-term barrier to entry for competitors.
Negative Factors
Operating Loss
Ongoing operating losses highlight challenges in achieving profitability, which could impact long-term financial sustainability if not addressed.
High SG&A Expenses
Elevated SG&A expenses, driven by the O2VERE launch, may pressure margins and hinder profitability unless managed effectively.
Reliance on External Financing
Dependence on external financing raises concerns about long-term cash flow sustainability and financial independence.

Verona Pharma (VRNA) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Verona Pharma Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionVerona Pharma (VRNA) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing innovative therapies for the treatment of respiratory diseases. The company is primarily involved in the research and development of novel compounds that target unmet medical needs in conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. Verona Pharma's lead product candidate, ensifentrine, is an inhaled dual inhibitor of the enzymes phosphodiesterase 3 and 4, designed to improve lung function and reduce inflammation.
How the Company Makes MoneyVerona Pharma makes money through the development and potential commercialization of its proprietary drug candidates, primarily focusing on ensifentrine. The company's revenue model is centered around advancing its drug candidates through clinical trials, securing regulatory approvals, and ultimately marketing the approved therapies to healthcare providers and patients. Revenue streams may include sales of approved drugs, milestone payments from strategic partnerships, and potential royalties on licensed products. Additionally, Verona Pharma may engage in collaborations with larger pharmaceutical companies to leverage their resources for co-development and commercialization, which can provide upfront payments and funding support for clinical trials.

Verona Pharma Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Jul 31, 2025
(Q1-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Nov 11, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The earnings call highlights significant achievements such as the strong launch of O2VERE, robust financial performance, and strategic advancements in pipeline and market expansion. However, challenges remain with operating losses and seasonality impacts. Overall, the positive developments and financial strength present an optimistic outlook for the company.
Q1-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Successful Launch of O2VERE
O2VERE's launch for COPD treatment has doubled sales from Q4 2024 to Q1 2025, reaching $71.3 million with 25,000 prescriptions filled and a 50% increase in prescriber base.
Financial Performance Exceeds Expectations
For the first time, quarterly revenue exceeded operating expenses excluding noncash charges. Q1 2025 net revenue was $76.3 million, with an adjusted net income of $20.5 million.
Strong Financial Position
Cash and equivalents increased to $401.4 million by March 2025. Strategic financing arrangement with Oaktree and OMERS was amended, increasing the debt facility to $450 million on more favorable terms.
Expansion of O2VERE's Market
O2VERE was approved in Macau for COPD treatment, marking its first regulatory approval outside the US. Potential EU and UK marketing authorization applications are in progress.
Pipeline Advancements
Initiating a Phase 2b trial for a fixed-dose combination of ensifentrine and glycopyrrolate. Continued enrollment in a Phase 2 trial for nebulized ensifentrine in non-CF bronchiectasis.
New Patent for O2VERE
A new Orange Book listed patent was granted with an expiration date in 2044, enhancing the intellectual property protection for O2VERE.
Negative Updates
Operating Loss
Despite strong sales, the company recorded an operating loss of $10.3 million and a net loss after tax of $16.3 million for Q1 2025.
Seasonality Impact
Q1 2025 experienced a typical industry-related blunting due to seasonality, affecting the pace of uptake early in the quarter.
Adjusted Gross to Net Stabilization
Although improving, the gross to net adjustments are stabilizing around a certain level, indicating limited future improvements.
Company Guidance
During the first quarter of 2025, Verona Pharma plc achieved significant milestones, particularly with the US launch of O2VERE for COPD. The company reported $71.3 million in net product sales for O2VERE, nearly doubling from the previous quarter, and total net revenue of $76.3 million, including a $5 million clinical milestone from Nuance Pharma. Prescriptions increased to 25,000, with new patient starts up by over 25% and refills accounting for 60% of expenses. The prescriber base expanded by 50% to approximately 5,300, with 60% identified as tier one healthcare providers. Verona also strengthened its financial position, maintaining $401.4 million in cash and equivalents and amending its debt facility to $450 million. Additionally, a new Orange Book patent extending to 2044 was granted, enhancing O2VERE's intellectual property portfolio.

Verona Pharma Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Verona Pharma shows strong revenue growth, but remains unprofitable with negative margins and relies on external funding. Liquidity is strong, but there are concerns about profitability and cash flow sustainability.
Income Statement
60
Neutral
Verona Pharma's income statement shows a significant year-over-year revenue growth, particularly notable in the TTM period with a revenue of $118.54 million compared to $42.28 million in the previous year. However, despite the revenue increase, the company remains unprofitable, with negative EBIT and Net Income, indicating challenges in managing operational costs. Margins are negative across the board, reflecting ongoing financial instability.
Balance Sheet
70
Positive
The balance sheet reveals a strong liquidity position with substantial cash reserves of $401.42 million in TTM, significantly exceeding its total debt of $2.13 million. The equity ratio is favorable at 43.10%, showcasing financial stability. However, the company has experienced limited equity growth, and the negative net debt indicates reliance on external financing for operations.
Cash Flow
55
Neutral
The cash flow statement highlights substantial negative operating cash flow of $119.80 million in TTM, indicating cash burn from operations. Despite negative free cash flow, the company has managed to secure significant financing cash flow of $267.04 million, which has supported its liquidity. Nonetheless, the company's dependency on external financing raises concerns about long-term sustainability.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue221.67M42.28M0.00458.00K40.00M0.00
Gross Profit210.93M39.70M-679.62K112.00K40.00M-627.85K
EBITDA-36.60M-142.19M-52.47M-67.29M-42.19M-47.81M
Net Income-81.19M-173.42M-54.37M-68.70M-55.57M-65.15M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets572.87M474.24M308.12M259.47M186.59M204.21M
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments438.02M399.76M271.77M227.83M148.38M187.99M
Total Debt244.37M122.70M51.33M10.65M5.81M5.95M
Total Liabilities294.60M269.68M58.84M29.00M38.58M19.35M
Stockholders Equity278.27M204.56M249.28M230.47M148.00M184.85M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow-73.03M-122.78M-50.22M-59.89M-33.27M-45.16M
Operating Cash Flow-72.48M-122.20M-50.22M-59.86M-33.25M-45.08M
Investing Cash Flow-1.07M-580.00K0.00-29.00K-12.00K9.71M
Financing Cash Flow105.47M250.78M92.87M140.82M-6.12M192.34M

Verona Pharma Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price106.79
Price Trends
50DMA
105.90
Positive
100DMA
97.68
Positive
200DMA
78.34
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
0.39
Positive
RSI
70.42
Negative
STOCH
93.95
Negative
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For VRNA, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 106.79 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 106.45, above the 50-day MA of 105.90, and above the 200-day MA of 78.34, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 0.39 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 70.42 is Negative, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 93.95 is Negative, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for VRNA.

Verona Pharma Risk Analysis

Verona Pharma disclosed 76 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Verona Pharma reported the most risks in the "Tech & Innovation" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Verona Pharma Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (51)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
76
Outperform
$9.29B78.4521.42%25.71%4.48%
68
Neutral
$9.18B-36.38%34.29%
61
Neutral
$11.04B1.93-15.84%-85.32%-111.82%
61
Neutral
$12.36B357.68%55.77%46.81%
58
Neutral
$10.11B35.68%7.62%-55.29%
51
Neutral
$7.86B-0.30-43.30%2.27%22.53%-2.21%
50
Neutral
99.19%48.43%
* Healthcare Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
VRNA
Verona Pharma
106.79
74.74
233.20%
CORT
Corcept Therapeutics
88.15
43.49
97.38%
ASND
Ascendis Pharma
204.05
64.91
46.65%
BPMC
Blueprint Medicines
129.46
40.14
44.94%
BBIO
BridgeBio Pharma
52.86
28.02
112.80%
ROIV
Roivant Sciences
16.17
4.96
44.25%

Verona Pharma Corporate Events

Private Placements and FinancingBusiness Operations and Strategy
Verona Pharma Enhances Financial Flexibility with Loan Amendments
Positive
Mar 28, 2025

On March 27, 2025, Verona Pharma announced an amendment to its credit agreement with Oaktree, increasing the Tranche C Term Loans from $75 million to $125 million and reducing the interest rate from 11% to 9.7%, with a further reduction to 9.35% upon meeting sales milestones. The amendment also includes a $75 million basket for a future working capital facility. On March 28, 2025, Verona Pharma repurchased its $100 million RIPSA obligation with reduced fees and increased its term loan facility to $450 million with improved terms. This strategic move enhances Verona Pharma’s financial flexibility and supports the continued growth of its COPD treatment, Ohtuvayre, while maintaining access to an additional $200 million under the term loan facility.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: May 01, 2025