New CEO and President of Acerus Shares Company’s Future Plans

There is a “window within the next 24 months,” if investors invest now to see the best value in Acerus’ (TSX:ASP) shares CEO and president, Edward Guiditis said.

At the Bloom Burton & Co. Healthcare Investor Conference which took place in Toronto from May 2-3, the Investing News Network (INN) spoke with Guiditis about Acerus’s future including global opportunities for its products, new product initiatives, and other product milestones. To listen to the full interview, watch the video above.

“There is obviously an opportunity in a market like China that we’re certainly thinking about and exploring as we move forward,” Guiditis told INN. He added the company is looking to “advance” Natesto in some European territories through its current partnership with Medac—a privately-held global pharmaceutical company based in Germany.

In early April 2018, Acerus presented at the annual CHINABIO partnering forum pushing forward the partnering in China conversation. The company is also looking for additional licensing and other opportunities to partner with its pipeline Guiditis said.

Acerus expects to hear back from regulatory departments through its global partnerships, including countries such as South Korea in 2019, which could result in a big impact on the company’s net revenue stream for the year.

Guiditis said that over the next couple years the company plans to take its R&D pipeline to the “next level” while ensuring commercial products are optimized to perform well to gain traction in the US and the rest of the world.

The company plans to do this by developing its new cannabinoid initiative—which is currently awaiting patents—and using its current nasal gel delivery platform in use in other areas; eventually looking into other platform opportunities when the company gains “a bigger capital base.”

Aside from this development, 2019 should be the year to see Natesto grow further in Canada along with the company’s OTX platform and more natural healthcare products, which should contribute to the “top line,” Guiditis said.

On Tuesday (May 15), Acerus released its first quarter financial results with a 60 percent revenue increase, a new public reimbursement for its product Natesto and launching a new product UriVarx. More highlights include in-licensing two products, UriVarx and Stendra to further this the company’s men and women’s health platform and appointing a new president and CEO, Edward Guiditis.

Acerus received public reimbursement listing for Natesto in Quebec, which contributes to 40 percent of Canada’s overall testosterone prescription market. Natesto is the product which contributed to the 60 percent revenue growth from the first quarter in 2017, up from CA$1 million to CA$1.6 million.

Natesto uses the company’s nasal gel technology to make it the first testosterone nasal gel available in Canada and the US for as a therapy for adult males diagnosed with hypogonadism—it received Health Canada and US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval in 2016. Since approval, the drug has received numerous licensing deals around the world, including the most recent with Carnot Laboratorios in April for 19 countries in Central and Latin America.

The company hopes to go from the current state of two products in two major territories to eight plus products in 50 plus territories in 2020, Guiditis said.

Acerus is a Canadian-based pharmaceutical company actively working on every step of drug development from pre-clinical to distribution, with a focus in two areas: men and women’s health. Altogether the company has three commercialized products, aside from the two mentioned—Natesto and Urivarx—which are licensed globally, there is also Estrace, a therapy for symptomatic relief of menopausal symptoms.

The company also has a pipeline of five products for its two focus areas, though Guiditis said investors shouldn’t be surprised if the company expands with an additional one or two therapeutic areas within the next five years.

Investor Takeaway

“From what we’ve seen in the last three to four months, [the share price] now has clear momentum beginning to build, trading at about two times what it was almost three months ago,” Guiditis said.

While this year should have a good news flow for investors, follow Acerus’ news for updates with, its cannabinoid initiative which is awaiting patents, and exploring other uses for its nasal gel delivery platform.

In 2019, look out for plans of growing Natesto further in Canada, its OTX platform and more natural healthcare products. More patient investors can expect to see more news from the company over the next five years.

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Securities Disclosure: I, Gabrielle Lakusta, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

Editorial Disclosure: The Investing News Network does not guarantee the accuracy or thoroughness of the information reported in the interviews it conducts. The opinions expressed in these interviews do not reflect the opinions of the Investing News Network and do not constitute investment advice. All readers are encouraged to perform their own due diligence.