Natera, Inc. (NASDAQ:NTRA) Q2 2023 Earnings Call Transcript

We do know there are some accounts that sort of use both products, but there’s always going to be competition. And I think this is a very large market. And we think particularly in this setting, because of the stickiness dynamic that I described and because of the extensive leads that we have in peer-reviewed publications and coverage and just setting up our infrastructure, that the first-mover advantage is going to be incredibly important here. From the IP standpoint, as we’ve said before, we have a very strong portfolio of intellectual property related to cell-free DNA particularly in the field of oncology. And you’re seeing, I think, the first of those wins now with the suit that we described – the win that we described. And I think there’s other ongoing suits.

If someone’s infringing on our IP, we intend to defend ourselves.

Tejas Savant: Very helpful. Thanks guys. Appreciate the time.

Operator: Next question from Catherine Schulte from Baird. Please go ahead.

Catherine Schulte: Hi guys. Thanks for the questions. I guess first, just blended ASP took a pretty big jump up in the quarter, even if I back out the $4 million benefit that Mike called out. I know Steve already talked about Signatera ASPs. But could you just talk to the ASP trends within your women’s health business in the quarter?

Steve Chapman: Yes. First, I’ll make a couple of comments, and then maybe, Mike, you can kind of get into the details. And so I think there’s opportunities that we’ve talked about before on improving ASP that come from just sort of turning the crank on some of the billing operations things and improving our processes and protocols. And obviously, we’re working on those. In addition, we’re also seeing, I think, the kind of first beginnings of some good coverage for expanded carrier screening. I think that’s still very early and there’s still a lot of opportunity there to improve the ASP, but certainly, there’s some upside. Mike, do you want to talk about any of the specifics?

Michael Brophy: Yes, sure. I mean, I think in addition to the drivers that you mentioned, the Signatera ASPs were up again [indiscernible] up again in the quarter. And we had a modestly stronger kind of pharma contribution this quarter, which if you’re kind of measuring this on a total revenue basis. We tend to amplify ASPs. I think in terms of like on a per unit kind of revenue divided by test reported basis, I do feel like the step-ups we’ve seen here look sustainable to us. These are fairly organic moves other than the one kind of timing benefit we got on carrier screening. We feel really good about kind of the organic drivers for Signatera clinical ASP, for example. So really pleased with the results.

Catherine Schulte: Okay. Great. And then the FDA is expected to put out a proposed rule on LDT regulation this month. Have you guys had any conversation with the FDA around that potential and any other thoughts you have there?

Steve Chapman: Yes. I mean the way that we’ve kind of set this up is we’ve tried to thoroughly validate all of our tests and deliver very high-quality peer-reviewed publications. And in the event that there is some change from a regulatory standpoint, we think we’re very well positioned there. We’re obviously in touch with various agencies and governing bodies and doing, I think, what we can to try to stay informed on what’s happening to make sure that we’re prepared. But the key is you have to have very thoroughly validated products an extensive peer-reviewed publications, and we have that. And that puts us in a great position should the guidelines change in anyway.

Catherine Schulte: All right. Great. Thank you.

Operator: Next question from Rachel Vatnsdal from JPMorgan. Please go ahead Rachel.