Earnings call transcript: Biofrontera Q3 2025 reveals revenue dip, strategic shifts

Biofrontera Inc. (BFRI) reported its financial results for the third quarter of 2025, showing a notable decline in revenue and an increase in net losses compared to the same period last year. The company is navigating these challenges while focusing on strategic initiatives, including new product developments and operational agreements. The stock saw a slight dip in premarket trading, reflecting investor sentiment in response to the earnings report and future projections.

Key Takeaways

• Biofrontera's Q3 2025 revenue fell by 22% year-over-year.
• The company is preparing an FDA application for a new treatment indication.
• Full U.S. rights for key products have been acquired, impacting future revenue streams.
• The company anticipates reaching cash flow breakeven by 2026.
• A price increase is planned before the end of the year.

Company Performance

Biofrontera's performance in the third quarter of 2025 was marked by a decrease in total revenues to $7.0 million, a 22% drop from Q3 2024. The year-to-date revenues were slightly down at $24.6 million compared to $24.8 million in the previous year. The net loss widened to $6.6 million, up from $5.7 million in Q3 2024, reflecting ongoing challenges in the dermatology market. Despite these setbacks, Biofrontera is advancing its strategic objectives, including the expansion of its product portfolio and operational capabilities.

Financial Highlights

• Revenue: $7.0 million, down 22% from Q3 2024
• Net loss: $6.6 million, compared to $5.7 million in Q3 2024
• Adjusted EBITDA: Negative $6.0 million, versus negative $4.6 million in Q3 2024
• Cost of revenues decreased by 58% due to a new pricing agreement

Outlook & Guidance

Biofrontera is optimistic about its future, with expectations of strong revenue growth in the fourth quarter of 2025. The company aims to reach cash flow breakeven in fiscal year 2026 and is planning a price increase to bolster its financial standing. The submission of an FDA application for new indications is anticipated in the second quarter of 2026, with commercialization efforts for basal cell carcinoma treatment expected by the end of 2026.

Executive Commentary

CEO Hermann Luebbert stated, "We remain on track to achieve our full year sales objectives," highlighting the company's focus on meeting its financial targets. CFO Fred Leffler emphasized the importance of recent financial transactions by saying, "These proceeds enhance our flexibility and provide additional resources to support continued growth." Luebbert also expressed confidence in the company's trajectory towards cash flow breakeven by 2026.

Risks and Challenges

• Revenue decline: Continued revenue drops could impact financial stability.
• Market competition: Increased competition in the dermatology sector may affect market share.
• Regulatory hurdles: Delays in FDA approvals could postpone new product launches.
• Economic pressures: Macro-economic factors, such as inflation, could increase operational costs.
• Integration risks: Successfully integrating new agreements and acquisitions is crucial for future growth.

Biofrontera's earnings call outlined a challenging yet promising path forward, with strategic initiatives aimed at overcoming current financial hurdles and positioning the company for future success.

Full transcript - Biofrontera Inc (BFRI) Q3 2025:

Conference Operator: Welcome to the Biofrontera third quarter 2025 financial results and business update conference call. All participants will be in a listen-only mode. Should you need assistance, please signal a conference specialist by pressing the star key followed by zero. After today's presentation there will be an opportunity to ask questions. Please note this event is being recorded. I would now like to turn the conference over to Ben Shamsian with Lytham Partners investor relations. Please go ahead.

Ben Shamsian, Investor Relations, Lytham Partners, Lytham Partners: Thank you. Good morning and welcome to Biofrontera's third quarter fiscal year 2025 financial results and Business Update Conference Call. Please note that certain information discussed during today's call by management is covered under the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act. We caution listeners that Biofrontera's management will be making forward looking statements and that actual results may differ materially from those stated or implied by these forward looking statements due to the risks and uncertainties associated with the company's business. All risks and uncertainties are detailed and are qualified by the cautionary statements contained in Biofrontera's press releases and SEC filings. Also, this conference call contains time sensitive information that is accurate only as of the date of the live broadcast, November 13, 2025.

Biofrontera undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of the conference call except as required by law. During today's call there will be references to certain non-GAAP financial measures. Biofrontera believes these measures provide useful information for investors including yet should not be considered as a substitute for GAAP, nor should they be viewed as a substitute for operating results determined in accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation of non-GAAP to GAAP results is included in the press release we just issued yesterday. Please note, Management will be referencing adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure defined as net income or loss excluding interest, income and expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization and certain other non-recurring or non-cash items.

With that said, I would like to turn the call over to Hermann Luebbert, CEO, Chairman and Founder of Biofrontera. Hermann, please proceed.

Hermann Luebbert, CEO, Chairman and Founder, Biofrontera: Yeah, thank you Ben and my thanks to everyone who is joining us this morning. Before I begin with my company update, I want to address our 2025 revenues. Until September 30, our year to date revenues were approximately flat to the same period in 2024. This is a wonderful achievement as we have offered few buying opportunities in 2025 and we did not have the equivalent price increase that we had on October 1, 2024. A price increase presents buy in opportunities to customers and lacking these opportunities, our revenues in the third quarter of this year were 22% lower than in Q3 last year. However, this is a transient effect which has begun to normalize in recent weeks and as a result we anticipate strong revenue growth in the fourth quarter in 2025 and consequently throughout 2025. We remain on track to achieve our full year sales objectives.

Fred Leffler, our CFO, will discuss the numbers in a few minutes in much more detail now. With that said, I would like to focus on our recent achievements and upcoming catalysts for revenue and profitability growth. We continue to make great progress in advancing Biofrontera as a premier dermatology company. Our revamped sales approach centered on refined customer segmentation, a more focused commercial strategy and data-driven sales execution has proven effective as shown by the stable revenues. Without the booster of a price increase, both physicians and patients gained a deeper understanding of Ameluz PDT's clinical value and efficacy. The installed base of RhodoLED lamps continues to expand, supporting recurring high margin sales of Ameluz gel for years to come. For those new to Biofrontera, the Ameluz PDT treatment currently has indication only for the treatment of actinic keratosis or AK, on the face and scalp.

AK's are precancerous skin lesions which may progress to potentially fatal squamous cell carcinomas. Our therapy consists of the Ameluz gel in combination with photodynamic therapy or PDT using our RhodoLED lamps. As of now, we have approximately 750 RhodoLED lamps installed in dermatology offices. This expanding platform provides us with an incredible opportunity to meaningfully accelerate avenues for once Ameluz is approved for more indications, our clinical pipeline continues to advance and further strengthen the long term potential of the Ameluz franchise. In the coming weeks we will submit a new FDA application for Ameluz to treat superficial basal cell carcinoma. This represents an important expansion opportunity for Ameluz, with commercialization expected in the fourth quarter 2026.

We also completed patient enrollment in our phase 3 trial evaluating Ameluz for actinic keratosis on the extremities, neck and trunk and in our phase 2b trial for moderate to severe acne vulgaris. AKs are ultraviolet light induced lesions and while most occur on face and scalp, a significant number will also appear on other body parts that are frequently exposed to the sun. Adding the treatment of such lesions to our label will add tremendous opportunity as physicians want to be able to treat a case wherever they occur without worrying about reimbursement difficulties which they may face if they treat outside of the FDA label. Acne vulgaris is a chronic inflammatory skin condition affecting the unit, which results from a combination of factors. While it's a very common condition during adolescence, it is becoming increasingly common in adults and can persist even into the 40s and 50s.

For patients under 40 years of age, acne is the most frequent reason to see a dermatologist. For those older than 40, actinic keratosis is the most frequent diagnosis in dermatology offices. Together, these indications highlight our ambition to grow the clinical and commercial potential of Ameluz across multiple high value dermatologic indications. Earlier this year we received patent approval for the new improved formulation of Ameluz, extending our patent protection through December 2043. Biofrontera is the only company that has organized FDA controlled clinical studies for PDT and dermatology in the U.S. in recent years and the extended patent life is relevant to recover the investment and profit from the resulting possibilities. We recently completed our transformational agreement with Biofrontera AG. By acquiring all U.S. rights, approvals and patents for Ameluz and Rhodoled, we now have full control over our most important assets from production to commercialization.

This transaction is expected to significantly enhance our gross margins and strengthen our long term profitability. The new royalty structure, 12% when U.S. Ameluz revenue is below $65 million per year and 15% when it exceeds that threshold, replaces the prior transfer pricing model of 25%-35%, creating meaningful financial leverage as we continue to grow the Ameluz brand in the U.S. market. Already on June 1 last year when we took over the responsibility for all clinical trials, we negotiated a reduced transfer price reflected in the cost of revenue for the first six months, which were about $2.6 million lower than in the previous year, mostly due to the reduced transfer price lower than in the previous year. Shifting now to the royalty model will not only dramatically decrease our cost of sales further, but also significantly delay the time of the payments.

Transfer prices are due when we buy product. Royalties become into effect after such products are sold into the market. As part of the transaction, we also secured an $11 million investment from well established healthcare focused institutional investors. Combined with the recent addition of the proceeds from the divestment of the Xepi antibiotic cream, this capital positions us with a clear runway to sustained growth and profitability. We did complete the sale of Xepi license last week, receiving $3 million at closing with the possibility of an additional $7 million as certain milestones are achieved. Xepi has been an inactive product for years due to manufacturing difficulties and therefore the divestment will not result in the loss of a portion of our sales.

We believe the proceeds from this and the financing I mentioned a moment ago and of our continued commercial execution will bring us to cash flow breakeven for fiscal year 2026. I would like to thank our entire team for their continued dedication to execution and growth which has enabled us to deliver the strong results Fred will talk about at this time. I'm pleased to turn the call over to Fred to go through the financial details of the third quarter and first nine months. Fred.

Fred Leffler, CFO, Biofrontera: Thank you Hermann and it's great to be talking with everyone again. I'll start with our results for the three months ended September 30, 2025. Total revenues for the third quarter of 2025 were $7.0 million, compared with $9.0 million for the third quarter of 2024. The 22% year-over-year sales decline in the third quarter reflects the temporary comparison effect as customers advanced purchases in the third quarter of 2024 ahead of the company's price increase that took effect on October 1 of 2024. Total operating expenses were $13.3 million for the third quarter of 2025 compared with $14 million for the third quarter of 2024. Cost of revenues decreased by $2.8 million, or 58%, as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2024.

This was primarily due to the reduced cost agreed upon with Biofrontera AG in relation to taking over clinical trial and other costs. Selling, general and administrative expenses were $10.4 million for the third quarter of 2025 compared with $8.4 million for the third quarter of 2024. The increase was primarily driven by increased legal costs due to platinum claims, partially offset by $0.5 million in personnel savings within both the direct sales team and the general and administrative staff, and a $0.3 million decrease in other miscellaneous general and administrative expenses. The net loss for the third quarter of 2025 was $6.6 million compared to a net loss of $5.7 million for the prior year quarter. This increase in net loss is attributed to the higher legal costs offset by a better gross margin.

Adjusted EBITDA for the third quarter of 2025 was negative $6.0 million compared with negative $4.6 million for the third quarter of 2024. We look at our adjusted EBITDA and non-GAAP financial measure as a better indication of ongoing operations and this measurement is defined as net income or loss excluding interest income expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization and certain other non-recurring or non-cash items. Please refer to the table from our press release this morning which presents a GAAP to non-GAAP reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA for 2025 and 2024. Now I will turn to our results for the nine months ended September 30th, 2025. Total revenues were $24.6 million for the first nine months of 2025 compared with $24.8 million for the first nine months of 2024.

Total operating expenses were $40.5 million for the first nine months of 2025 compared with $40.3 million for the same period in 2024. Increased legal expenses were offset by reduced operational costs. Cost of revenues decreased from the prior year to $8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2025 compared to $13.3 million for the same period last year due to the reduced transfer price agreement with Biofrontera AG in February of 2024 in relation to taking over clinical development costs. Selling, general and administrative expenses increased to $29.6 million compared to $25.6 million in the prior year. The increase was primarily attributable to increased legal expenses driven by patent claim related legal costs.

The increased legal expenses were partially offset by savings in personnel expenses of $1.1 million due to headcount fluctuations in our direct sales and administrative teams, as well as a decrease of $0.4 million in expenses related to sales support functions and a decrease of $0.4 million in equity issuance costs. The net loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2025 was $16.2 million compared to a loss of $16.4 million the prior year. Adjusted EBITDA for the same period was negative $15.7 million for the first nine months compared with negative $13.9 million for the first nine months of 2024. Turning to our balance sheet, as of September 30, 2025 the company had cash and cash equivalents of $3.4 million subsequent to quarter end.

As Hermann mentioned, we further strengthened our liquidity position with additional cash inflows including $2.5 million representing the final tranche of the previously announced $11 million financing from AIGH Capital and Rosalind Advisors and $3 million from the at the closing of our Xepi divest share. These proceeds enhance our flexibility and provide additional resources to support continued growth and execution of our strategic initiatives as we take over the manufacturing of Ameluz we will have better control of the entire process and shorter lead times for the product. This puts us in a better operational and financial position, especially when it comes to inventory levels and working capital. Add to which the restructuring deal now allows us to better address impacts of any potential tariffs. As of our latest shipment, Ameluz is still exempt from any reciprocal tariffs that have been discussed.

As we announced in past releases and Hermann mentioned as well, the support of the $11 million investment has enabled us to get to this point. I want to thank everyone at Rosalind Advisors and AIGH Capital for their trust in us, the financial commitment and the support to expand our opportunities in making Ameluz and the lamps available for medical treatments. The first tranche that was on our balance sheet as a liability has been reclassed into permanent equity after the special shareholder meeting which took place in September of this year. With that overview of our business and recent financial performance, Hermann and I are ready to take questions from our covering analysts.

Ben Shamsian, Investor Relations, Lytham Partners, Lytham Partners: Operator.

Conference Operator: Thank you. We will now begin the question and answer session. To ask a question, you may press Star then one on your touchtone phone. If you are using a speakerphone, please pick up your handset before pressing the keys. To withdraw your question, please press Star then two. Your first question today will come from Bruce Jackson with The Benchmark Company. Please go ahead.

Bruce Jackson, Analyst, The Benchmark Company: Hi, good morning and thank you for taking my questions.

Conference Operator: First.

Bruce Jackson, Analyst, The Benchmark Company: I wanted to ask, are you contemplating any price increases in the future and if so, when?

Hermann Luebbert, CEO, Chairman and Founder, Biofrontera: Yeah, good morning, Bruce. Yes, we are contemplating a price increase and we are planning this before year end.

Bruce Jackson, Analyst, The Benchmark Company: Okay. A couple of additional questions on the new product pipeline. You've completed enrollment in the trial for AK of the extremities. When do you think the data will be available and what is the plan for submitting the data to the FDA?

Hermann Luebbert, CEO, Chairman and Founder, Biofrontera: I think the data will be available probably in January. To submit to the FDA, we are waiting for the results of a maximal use pharmacokinetics study which is currently ongoing. Also in this study, the last patient has been treated and last patient out will be in the next couple of days. We expect the results of that one about a month later than from the pivotal trial, so in February. By the end of February we should have everything that we need and then putting all of that together into the dossier and fixing it all up for FDA submission will take some time. We think that we'll be able to submit this to the FDA in Q2.

Bruce Jackson, Analyst, The Benchmark Company: Okay.

Fred Leffler, CFO, Biofrontera: Okay.

Bruce Jackson, Analyst, The Benchmark Company: And then the similar question for the, for the acne trial, when will we see some data and then what is the next step for that program from a regulatory standpoint?

Hermann Luebbert, CEO, Chairman and Founder, Biofrontera: The next step after that. Data will be pretty much in parallel with the data in the periphery. Also early next year, the next step then will be an end of phase 2 meeting with the FDA. Then based on that end of phase 2 meeting and based on how the FDA positions themselves, we plan the phase 3 studies.

Bruce Jackson, Analyst, The Benchmark Company: Okay.

Fred Leffler, CFO, Biofrontera: Okay, got it.

Bruce Jackson, Analyst, The Benchmark Company: Last question for me on the plan for breaking even, should we think of it similar to the seasonality that we see on the income statement, where the individual quarters in 2026 might bounce around between losses and gains and then the fourth quarter will be fairly large, resulting in a break even profit situation for the full year. How should we be modeling that?

Fred Leffler, CFO, Biofrontera: Hey, Bruce. Yes, right here. Yep, that's exactly right.

Bruce Jackson, Analyst, The Benchmark Company: Okay. Thank you very much for taking my questions.

Hermann Luebbert, CEO, Chairman and Founder, Biofrontera: Thank you.

Conference Operator: This concludes our question and answer session. I would like to turn the conference back over to Hermann Luebbert for any closing remarks.

Hermann Luebbert, CEO, Chairman and Founder, Biofrontera: Yes, thank you for the questions and thanks everybody again to all our shareholders and to the healthcare professionals and especially the patients that we are proud to serve to help the company progress. Thank you for your time this morning and your interest in the company. Thank you.

Conference Operator: The conference has now concluded. Thank you for attending today's presentation. You may now disconnect.

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