NeuroPace Reports Third Quarter 2022 Financial Results and Provides a Business Update


MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Nov. 08, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NeuroPace, Inc. (Nasdaq: NPCE), a commercial-stage medical device company focused on transforming the lives of people suffering from epilepsy, today reported financial results for the quarter ending September 30, 2022.

Recent Highlights

  • Achieved total revenue of $11.2 million for the third quarter of 2022, representing growth of 8% compared to the third quarter of 2021 and 9% compared to the second quarter of 2022
  • Achieved initial implant revenue of $9.2 million for the third quarter of 2022, representing growth of 18% compared to the third quarter of 2021 and 15% compared to the second quarter of 2022
  • Initiated distribution of DIXI Medical’s stereo EEG product portfolio to epilepsy monitoring units, or EMUs, on October 1, 2022
  • Implanted the first patient with the RNS System in the NAUTILUS pivotal study for primary generalized epilepsy

“Our third quarter results demonstrated increased adoption of the RNS System,” said Mike Favet, Chief Executive Officer of NeuroPace. “We are encouraged by the increasing awareness of the clinical benefits and differentiated features of RNS and what we believe are sustained improvements in the EMU operating environment. In addition, we are excited about our initial distribution activity of DIXI Medical stereo EEG electrodes. We believe continued commercial execution will drive increasing utilization of our technology within comprehensive epilepsy centers and their EMUs.”

Third Quarter 2022 Financial Results
Total revenue was $11.2 million in the third quarter of 2022, representing growth of 8% compared to the prior year period and 9% compared to the prior quarter. Initial implant revenue was $9.2 million, growth of 18% compared the prior year period and 15% sequentially. Replacement implant revenue was $1.9 million, compared to $2.5 million in the prior year period. Replacement implant revenue will generally continue to decrease until a significant number of devices with the longer lasting battery reach end of service. More than 90% of patients have had their NeuroPace device replaced when the battery reaches end of service, so replacement implant revenue is primarily a function of when the batteries in the previously implanted devices reach end of service.

Gross margin for the third quarter of 2022 was 71% compared to 73% in the third quarter of 2021. The decline in gross margin was primarily due to a short-term supply chain disruption, which was resolved during the third quarter.

Total operating expenses in the third quarter of 2022 were $18.2 million, compared with $13.8 million in the prior year period. R&D expense in the third quarter was $5.6 million compared with $4.3 million in the prior year period. The increase in R&D expense was primarily driven by an increase in personnel related expenses, product development, and clinical study expenses. SG&A expense in the third quarter of 2022 was $12.6 million compared with $9.4 million in the prior year period. The increase in SG&A expense was primarily driven by personnel related expenses and increased sales and marketing costs to support commercial expansion initiatives.

Net loss was $11.8 million for the third quarter of 2022, compared to a net loss of $8.1 million in the prior year period. Interest expense in the third quarter of 2022 was $1.9 million, compared to $1.8 million in the prior year period.

Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities were $85.4 million down from $92.4 million as of June 30, 2022, and long-term borrowings were $52.0 million as of September 30, 2022.

Updated 2022 Financial Guidance

  • Total revenue of $44.5 million to $45.5 million compared to the previous expectation of $43 million to $45 million
  • Initial implant revenue of $35 million to $36 million compared to the previous expectation of $34 million to $36 million
  • Replacement implant revenue of nearly $8 million compared to the previous expectation of $7.5 million
  • DIXI Medical revenue of approximately $1.5 million, expected in the fourth quarter of 2022
  • Gross margin in the low 70% range
  • Total operating expenses of $74 million to $75 million, which includes approximately $8 million to $9 million of non-cash stock-based compensation expense and approximately $1 million of DIXI launch related expenses in the fourth quarter

Webcast and Conference Call Information
NeuroPace will host a conference call to discuss the third quarter 2022 financial results after market close on Tuesday, November 8, 2022, at 4:30 P.M. Eastern Time.

Investors interested in listening to the conference call may do so by accessing a live and archived webcast of the event at www.neuropace.com, on the Investors page in the News & Events section. The webcast will be available for replay for at least 90 days after the event.

About NeuroPace, Inc.
Based in Mountain View, Calif., NeuroPace is a commercial-stage medical device company focused on transforming the lives of people suffering from epilepsy by reducing or eliminating the occurrence of debilitating seizures. Its novel and differentiated RNS System is the first and only commercially available, brain-responsive platform that delivers personalized, real-time treatment at the seizure source. This platform can drive a better standard of care for patients suffering from drug-resistant epilepsy and has the potential to offer a more personalized solution and improved outcomes to the large population of patients suffering from other brain disorders.

Forward Looking Statements
In addition to background and historical information, this press release contains “forward-looking statements” based on NeuroPace’s current expectations, forecasts and beliefs, including the statements related to EMU patient volume trends, drivers of replacement implant revenue, the DIXI Medical partnership, and under the caption “Updated 2022 Financial Guidance” above. These forward-looking statements are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks, and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Actual outcomes and results could differ materially due to a number of factors, including the ongoing uncertainty of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as COVID recovery impact, on its business. These and other risks and uncertainties include those described more fully in the section titled “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation” and elsewhere in its public filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 filed with the SEC on March 10, 2022 and its quarterly report on Form 10-Q to be filed with the SEC on November 8, 2022, as well as any reports that it may file with the SEC in the future. Forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are based on information available to NeuroPace as of the date hereof. NeuroPace undertakes no obligation to update such information except as required under applicable law. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing NeuroPace’s views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release and should not be relied upon as a prediction of future events. In light of the foregoing, investors are urged not to rely on any forward-looking statement in reaching any conclusion or making any investment decision about any securities of NeuroPace.

Investor Contact:
Gilmartin Group
Philip Taylor
investors@neuropace.com

NeuroPace, Inc.
Condensed Statements of Operations
(unaudited)

 Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts) 2022   2021   2022   2021 
Revenue$11,157  $10,339  $32,731  $34,186 
Cost of goods sold 3,192   2,832   9,041   8,827 
Gross profit 7,965   7,507   23,690   25,359 
Operating expenses       
Research and development 5,611   4,329   16,857   12,866 
Selling, general and administrative 12,553   9,421   37,768   27,215 
Total operating expenses 18,164   13,750   54,625   40,081 
Loss from operations (10,199)  (6,243)  (30,935)  (14,722)
Interest income 423   136   778   262 
Interest expense (1,906)  (1,826)  (5,588)  (5,548)
Other income (expense), net (103)  (150)  (191)  (5,379)
Net loss$(11,785) $(8,083) $(35,936) $(25,387)
Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted$(0.48) $(0.34) $(1.47) $(1.81)
Weighted-average shares used in computing net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted 24,728,701   24,101,399   24,514,820   14,061,958 

NeuroPace, Inc.
Condensed Balance Sheets
(unaudited)

 September 30, December 31,
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts) 2022   2021 
Assets   
Current assets   
Cash and cash equivalents$5,688  $19,187 
Short-term investments 79,724   96,397 
Accounts receivable 7,876   7,091 
Inventory 8,581   7,822 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 2,501   2,319 
Total current assets 104,370   132,816 
Property and equipment, net 894   603 
Operating lease right-of-use asset 15,067    
Restricted cash 122   122 
Other assets 21   21 
Total assets$120,474  $133,562 
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity   
Current liabilities   
Accounts payable$1,175  $1,378 
Accrued liabilities 7,550   7,923 
Operating lease liability 692    
Total current liabilities 9,417   9,301 
Deferred rent, noncurrent    911 
Long-term debt 51,954   49,847 
Operating lease liability, net of current portion 15,694    
Total liabilities 77,065   60,059 
Stockholders’ equity   
Common stock, $0.001 par value 25   24 
Additional paid-in capital 504,425   497,522 
Accumulated other comprehensive income (1,334)  (272)
Accumulated deficit (459,707)  (423,771)
Total stockholders’ equity 43,409   73,503 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity$120,474  $133,562