Tim Goodnow
Analyst · Guggenheim. Please go ahead
Thank you, Trip, and good afternoon and thank you all for joining us today. On the call, we will discuss the implementation of our commercial collaboration with Ascensia Diabetes Care, our promising upcoming clinical activities as well as pipeline and regulatory updates. Nick will provide detailed first quarter financial results. Before I conclude. And then we'll open up the call for the Q&A. The first quarter of 2021 marks the beginning of Senseonics operating as a strategically realigned business. We're enthusiastic about the opportunity to advance the value of the Eversense system through our commercial collaboration with leading diabetes technology company Ascensia. To remind you, our commercial collaboration established the transfer of marketing, market access, sales, distribution, reimbursement and customer service functions to Ascensia for all of Senseonics products over the next few years. With Ascensia driving commercialization of these products, our focus within Senseonics is now centered solely around the strength of our organization, research, development and manufacturing of our innovative long-term implantable CGM systems and the associated clinical and regulatory activities. We have a strong partner in Ascensia to drive the commercialization of Senseonics' products. This agreement meets the needs of and benefits both organizations. Ascensia now has Eversense in their portfolio, a highly differentiated product participating in one of the fastest growing markets in medical technology and Senseonics is able to have its Eversense globally commercialized with an immediate size and scale of a more mature business and global diabetes leader. The collaboration agreement aligns our incentives providing Ascensia with a tiered share of revenue generated from Eversense sales as we have previously described. In the first quarter of 2021, Senseonics generated revenue of $2.8 million including approximately $310,000 in the US and over $2.5 million in Europe. Ascensia's commercial efforts have been expanding since their initial sales support of Eversense late last year. The early experience has played a valuable role in following [ph] the next phase of our collaboration, the restart of full scale commercialization in the US on April 1 which complements the transfer of commercial activities that occurred in February. With that, let me describe some of our recent progress. There are many proof points that demonstrate the strength of Ascensia's commitment to Eversense. This is evident, not only in the shared mission to improve and make the lives of patients with diabetes better, but also through their investment in Senseonics. Most important, but not as visible externally is their collaborative and strategic approach to the commercial partnership. Following the collaboration announcement, our integration plan called for initial activities in the US through the first quarter to familiarize Ascensia with the Eversense product sales and clinical processes. Our own experience and subsequent discussions with Ascensia around optimizing the sales and marketing strategies and tactics for Eversense have formed the design of a high-touch comprehensive approach. For example, early learnings highlighted the skill set and experience required for sales professionals to be successful in the CGM space, which may differ from the long-standing BGM market. In late March, Ascensia completed the hiring and training of the US sales force increasing to 25 marketing and sales professionals and approximately an additional 25 team members in commercial support roles including sales, inside sales, clinical training, market access and customer care professionals. This group was recruited to fit the specific skills that required to sell Eversense and we anticipate that backgrounds [ph] with in office sales, procedural training and the reimbursement process should ease their ramp up to proficiency with our product. The team is strategically positioned across geographies, based on an assessment of the diabetes patient population, patient access and our Eversense opportunity. Currently, the team is in process of managing and setting up their territories including calling on current Eversense providers and prescribers. We are encouraged to see that as the quarter progressed, some clinic access restrictions implemented throughout COVID were being removed or eased allowing them to return to being able to work in person with healthcare providers. At the same time, they have been pursuing virtual introductions. As Senseonics had step back last year from pursuing new sales of Eversense, Ascensia is now pursuing the immediate opportunity to restart growth in the patient base with clinicians who were the early Eversense adopters. When these introductions to existing accounts are complete. The team will then prioritize outreach to new accounts with an initial focus on the top insulin CGM and pump prescribing physicians. Given the unique nature of our implantable product, the current awareness of the technology and growing patient access, their team has identified several strategic opportunities where we anticipate focus and investment can drive further adoption of Eversense. Patients play a key role in choosing their CGM system and continuing to raise awareness for Eversense is an important factor for adoption. Ascensia is prioritizing expanding this awareness among both patients and clinicians. To address this opportunity most effectively and efficiently, they have launched a comprehensive direct-to-consumer advertising campaign. Not only is it expected to create impressions among the target patient audience, but is also to be a strong supplement to the direct healthcare provider outreach. The systems necessary for lead capture and management are now in place. Our shared goal is to deliver the benefits of Eversense to more patients with diabetes and this program represents a proven avenue to introduce patients to the technology. As of April 1, we are now moving to the next phase of our integration plan. This means that the full commercial strength of one of the leaders in diabetes technology now markets Eversense as a key product focus providing patient, healthcare provider, distribution and payer support. Many commercial health plans and Medicare have recognized the value of our implantable CGM and have implemented formal coverage policies that provide reimbursement for the product and for the implant [ph] procedure. We have completed much of the heavy lift of earning coverage for Eversense with a strong established coverage base. We are also excited to announce that Centene Corporation, a top 10 US healthcare insurance company is now covering Eversense. This coverage provides Ascensia with a strong foundation to increase HCP's confidence that more and more of their patients will be covered. In addition, and as we announced, the 2021 physician fee schedule includes coverage for the Eversense system and the implant procedures, offering the benefits of our CGM system to the entire qualifying Medicare population with diabetes. To that end, we are pleased to announce that the University Hospital's accountable care organization or ACO in Cleveland, Ohio, is the first accountable care organization to adopt Eversense in their practice. ACOs are integrated healthcare provider networks that offer superior care to Medicare beneficiaries at a lower cost. Under a shared savings program with the government if ACOs can prove to CMS that they can reduce the cost of care, improve quality and improve patient experience, they are entitled to keep 50% of the savings that they've created. To date, the General ACO [ph] program has been considered a clinical and economic success with nearly 500 participating ACOs saving $1.5 billion managing approximately 10 million patients. We believe Eversense has the potential to be another avenue of savings for such programs. One specific metric of success that is used in the valuation that ACOs performance is in the HbA1c control of their diabetes population. We feel strongly as we have demonstrated with Eversense's ability to drive A1c reduction in patients combined with its unique features, Eversense can be a particular benefit to the Medicare population with continuous three month glucose monitoring that doesn't require the biweekly hassle of inserting and removing a sensor. The insertions are done by providers that can address any dexterity challenges, on body vibrations alerts and can address any visual or auditory issues. And the high sensor accuracy, especially at the important low glucose, all of which we believe supports greater adherence to CGM and therapy optimization. We believe that the benefits of Eversense give it the potential to be the preferred CGM for this population and will directly aid ACOs like University Hospitals at meeting their A1C and outcomes objectives. Ascensia is also launching additional efforts to win coverage from the remaining payers not yet covering Eversense. In the meantime, and in line with industry conventions, in order to support those patients who do not currently have coverage for Eversense were of high deductibles. Ascensia is implementing new Eversense access programs, first for patients with commercial coverage for Eversense. The patient assistance program is designed to reduce the patient's out-of-pocket costs such as co-pays, co-insurance or deductibles that are associated with starting Eversense. This program will help accelerate growth and has a positive economic contribution for the partnership. Second, for patients who have insurance that is not yet covering Eversense, the prior authorization program is designed to help patients submit claims petitioning to receive coverage for their system on a case-by-case basis. If there is no formal coverage policy in place with their health insurance plan. These programs are yet another example of our joint commitment to ensure we provide the necessary support to get this innovative solution to patients who choose or need to be our long-term CGM therapy. Outside of the United States, we've talked about before and we're happy to report that Ascensia's initial European commercial transition in February was executed according to plan. We were able to provide patients with sustained access to Eversense and customer service. The priority here is for the successful transfer of existing payer contracts and tenders. Ascensia is now active in Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, the Netherlands and Poland. Given their international presence, Ascensia has a large sales force of more than 250 sales professionals who are very excited to have a next generation glucose monitoring system added to their portfolio. Additionally, recently we signed an agreement to accelerate the transition of Scandinavian distribution rights from Rubin Medical. This transition is now planned to happen towards the end of this second quarter. Following the successful execution of the commercial transition planned in the US and Europe, we remain on track and continue to expect Senseonics global net revenue for 2021 to be in the range of $12 million to $15 million. Another positive aspect of the commercial collaboration agreement is our ability to focus on advancing our implantable sensor platform. Market research of CGM patients has consistently indicated that the two most desired features in a CGM system are sensor accuracy and longer sensor duration. Studies have continually demonstrated our positive accuracy throughout our sensor life and we have achieved a substantial lead in sensor wear compared to the other available technologies offering 180 days sensor life compared to the next closest competitor of just 14 days. We believe each sensor wear duration extension for our product represents a step-wise market penetration and market expansion opportunity for us. Our loyal patient base continues to highlight the lifestyle benefits provided by Eversense and we are confident we can offer additional advancements with future generation products. Next, I'll speak to our PROMISE pivotal study and the publication of the study results. We're excited to announce that next month, we will be presenting two of the -- at two of the key diabetes conferences the data from the large PROMISE study that supports the 180 day Eversense PMA supplement. First off will be the ATPV [ph] meeting followed quickly by the annual ADA meeting both in June. Dr. Satish Garg, of the University of Colorado and the Barbara Davis Diabetes Center is presenting the clinical data on behalf of all of the PROMISE study investigators. Dr. Garg will describe the accuracy and safety results from the 181 subjects who participated across eight clinical research sites in the United States. We're excited to report these results and as we have previously shared, the data demonstrated performance matching that of the current 90-day product and achieved it would reduce calibration yet with the useful life extend all the way out to 180 days. Though these are virtual meetings, they are two key diabetes conferences of the year and represent an important forum to showcase the clinical benefits of Eversense. At the ADA meeting, Ascensia is also sponsoring a product serial [ph] that will feature prominent KOLs and patients to discuss the advantages of the Eversense technology. On the regulatory front, we are pleased to share that in mid-April, in line with the previous communicated expectations amid continued emergency use authorizations relating to the COVID pandemic, the FDA has now assigned a lead reviewer to our PMA supplement application for the submitted 180 day Eversense product. We believe the data to be published at the upcoming meetings and as submitted in our application demonstrate a favorable safety and accuracy profile for the product and we are hopeful aid [ph] the agency in an efficient review cycle. While we are pleased with the strength of the submission, there is potential for standard review timelines based on recent public comments by agency officials on the continued residual general impact of COVID and Emergency Use Authorization Application. It's always difficult to precisely predict timelines for agency reviews especially amid the current unprecedented environment, but we are hopeful for a straightforward review process. And progress on our next generation technology platform. This is a sensor that will last for up to a year, and it continues well. This is a top priority on the development front. The team is in the process of working to lockdown a chemical and technical configuration for this sensor. A sensor that lasts for a year requiring just one calibration for week will be a game changer for people with diabetes. Following the technical optimization, we expect to file a submission with the FDA for IDE approval to initiate the pivotal clinical testing. We are pleased with the progress that we're making to date and continue to plan to file a submission in the fourth quarter of this year. I will now turn the call over to Nick to go over the calls, the details of our first quarter financial results.