BELLUS Health Inc.

NasdaqGS:BLU Stock Report

Market Cap: US$1.9b

This company has been acquired

The company may no longer be operating, as it has been acquired. Find out why through their latest events.

BELLUS Health Management

Management criteria checks 3/4

BELLUS Health's CEO is Roberto Bellini, appointed in Jan 2010, has a tenure of 13.42 years. total yearly compensation is $5.88M, comprised of 6.6% salary and 93.4% bonuses, including company stock and options. directly owns 1.42% of the company’s shares, worth $26.58M. The average tenure of the management team and the board of directors is 2.5 years and 13.5 years respectively.

Key information

Roberto Bellini

Chief executive officer

US$5.9m

Total compensation

CEO salary percentage6.60%
CEO tenure13.4yrs
CEO ownership1.4%
Management average tenure2.5yrs
Board average tenure13.5yrs

Recent management updates

Recent updates

Seeking Alpha • Sep 07

Bellus: Expected Phase 3 Start Makes This A Long-Term Play

Summary BELLUS Health intends to initiate two phase 3 studies in Q4 of 2022; these will be CALM-1 and CALM-2 studies using BLU-5937 for treatment of patients with refractory chronic cough. Final results from the phase 3 CALM-1 and CALM-2 studies using BLU-5937 for treatment of patients with refractory chronic cough are expected 2nd half of 2024. Initiation of a phase 1 study using a once-daily extended release formulation of BLU-5937 for refractory chronic cough is expected in Q4 of 2022. BELLUS has pro forma cash of $384.6 million, which it believes is enough to fund its operations into the 2nd half of 2025. BELLUS Health Inc. (BLU) is a great long-term biotech play to look into. The reason why I state that is because it intends to initiate two phase 3 studies in Q4 of 2022 known as CALM-1 and CALM-2. It will be using its drug BLU-5937 for the treatment of patients with refractory chronic cough ((RCC)). The reason why it is able to advance this program is because of a positive end-of-phase 2 meeting with the FDA. Investors may have to wait a bit to see the final results of the phase 3 studies, because final results won't be released until the 2nd half of 2024. However, the company just raised additional cash in July 2022, and it believes it has enough to fund its operations into the 2nd half of 2025. This should be enough to carry it through the data readouts from both of the CALM-1 and CALM-2 studies. Even better, the use of the CALM program can be used for potential approval in the U.S. and the European Union. With so much time until the results, it might even be prudent to wait and see two conditions before buying in. First, the market conditions don't worsen, especially with already two negative quarters of GDP. Plus, the fact that even though it states it has enough cash until then, I believe it may need to raise additional cash again at least once before it runs out in 2025. This may give one an entry point if they intend to wait and see if the stock does pull back a bit, because of these two conditions. Still, looking at it from a long-term perspective, I believe that this offers significant value. Success With End-Of-Phase 2 Meeting Brings Advancement To Phase 3 BELLUS Health has already completed a successful end of phase 2 meeting with the FDA recently for the use of BLU-5937 for the treatment of patients with refractory chronic cough ((RCC)). Not only that but it has already received guidance from the European Medicines Agency ((EMA)) as well. With both of these steps having been done, it has decided how it will design both of its CALM-1 and CALM-2 studies. Both of these phase 3 studies are going to be using BLU-5937 for the treatment of patients with RCC and will be initiated in Q4 of 2022. I believe that the launching of these studies may act as a catalyst for the stock. Not as much as when clinical results are released but the stock may react to such news. A chronic cough is a type of cough that lasts for 8 weeks or more in adults and then roughly about 4 weeks in children. Consider that this type of disease is not just a hassle to deal with, but also that it may cause substantial health problems. Such health problems these patients have to go through: Interruption of sleep Feeling exhausted and out of breath Vomiting after excessive cough Feeling lightheaded Rib fractures occurring It is a large market and if BELLUS can find a way to help these patients experience relief it could make a lot of revenues. The global chronic cough market is expected to reach $9.85 billion by 2027. This is a pretty good amount of potential revenue for a first indication for it. The phase 3 studies will consist of a primary endpoint dealing with 24-hour cough frequency measured at 12 and 24 weeks. How will cough frequency be counted for this study to be adequate? Well, there will be the use of VitaloJAK cough monitoring system. It has been a device used in research since 2005 and in phase 2/phase 3 studies globally since 2014. The reason why BELLUS Health got the meeting that it did with the FDA and talks with the EMA, is because of the positive results it achieved in the phase 2b SOOTHE study that was completed. In this study, it achieved statistical significance of the primary endpoint having achieved 34% placebo-adjusted reduction in 24-hour cough frequency observed with a p-value of p ≤ 0.005 at day 28. Not only did it achieve the primary endpoint for this study, but it did so with low rates of taste-related adverse events with all doses. The percentage of taste-related adverse events was ≤6.5%. There is another small catalyst expected in Q4 of 2022. This involves the initiation of a phase 1 study which will look at once-daily extended release formulation of BLU-5937. It remains to be seen if this extended release formulation will do better, but it does give the biotech a chance at expanding its potential in treating patients with refractory chronic cough. Financials According to the 6-K SEC Filing, BELLUS Health had cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments totaling $220.1 million as of June 30, 2022. However, as I stated in the beginning above, it was able to raise cash in July 2022 with an offering. It enacted an offering of its common shares, resulting in the net proceeds of $176 million, including the full exercise of the over-allotment option. Thus, including the recent July 2022 cash raise, it has pro forma cash of $384.6 million. Based on the cash on hand, it believes it can fund its operations to the 2nd half of 2025. This might be enough to carry it through the data readouts of both phase 3 CALM studies, which are expected in the 2nd half of 2024. As I stated above, I believe that it may need to raise cash again before the expected data readouts. While I don't believe it will be done early, I think it may need to raise cash again at least by the end of 2024/early 2025 as my estimate. The only way it would need to raise cash earlier than expected is if it enacts another strategic transaction that is not yet known. Other than that, I think it does have enough cash for a few years. Risks To Business
Seeking Alpha • Jul 12

BELLUS details late-stage plans for cough candidate after FDA meeting

Following an End-of-Phase 2 with the FDA, Canadian biotech BELLUS Health (NASDAQ:BLU) announced plans to conduct two pivotal trials as part of its Phase 3 development for lead candidate BLU-5937 in refractory chronic cough (“RCC”). The CALM-1 and CALM-2 studies will be designed to evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of BLU-5937 in nearly 675 adult patients. The company plans to enroll the first patient in 4Q 2022 for the two placebo-controlled studies, which will run parallelly testing 25 mg BID, 50 mg BID doses of BLU-5937. The primary endpoints of CALM-1 and CALM-2 are 24H cough frequency measured at 12-weeks and 24-weeks, respectively. Topline data from CALM-1 are expected in 2H 2024. Read: Bellus (BLU) shares climbed in December after the company announced favorable mid-stage data for BLU-5937 in RCC.
Seeking Alpha • Dec 14

BELLUS Proof Of Data In Chronic Cough Using BLU-5937 Brings Hope To Patients

BELLUS achieved primary endpoint of phase 2b SOOTHE study using BLU-5937 in patients with refractory chronic cough. An end of phase 2b meeting with the FDA for BLU-5937 in refractory chronic cough is expected in Q2 of 2022, with phase 3 study likely to start in 2nd half of 2022. The global chronic cough market is expected to reach $9.85 billion by 2027. Merck, Bayer AG and others have similar types of P2X3 drugs, but BELLUS may possibly have an advantage on tolerability/taste alterations profile.
Seeking Alpha • Aug 27

Bellus Health - Betting Big On Chronic Cough Treatment

Bellus’ lead drug candidate, BLU-5937, has the potential to capture significant market share if the drug attains commercialization. Bellus has adequate cash on its books, lasting until at least the duration of 2022. The company has no long-term debt. Bellus claims 100% ownership of the intellectual property rights for both BLU-5937 and related P2X3 antagonists. Assuming a base case revenue of $320 million in the year 2028 and a P/S ratio of 6.0x, the company’s intrinsic value comes out to be $774 million or $9.80 per share, indicating an upside close to 3x.

CEO Compensation Analysis

How has Roberto Bellini's remuneration changed compared to BELLUS Health's earnings?
DateTotal CompensationSalaryCompany Earnings
Mar 31 2023n/an/a

-US$87m

Dec 31 2022US$6mUS$389k

-US$76m

Sep 30 2022n/an/a

-US$73m

Jun 30 2022n/an/a

-US$71m

Mar 31 2022n/an/a

-US$70m

Dec 31 2021US$2mUS$327k

-US$71m

Sep 30 2021n/an/a

-US$64m

Jun 30 2021n/an/a

-US$47m

Mar 31 2021n/an/a

-US$37m

Dec 31 2020US$3mUS$299k

-US$32m

Sep 30 2020n/an/a

-US$34m

Jun 30 2020n/an/a

-US$35m

Mar 31 2020n/an/a

-US$33m

Dec 31 2019US$2mUS$280k

-US$26m

Sep 30 2019n/an/a

-US$18m

Jun 30 2019n/an/a

-US$14m

Mar 31 2019n/an/a

-US$9m

Dec 31 2018US$568kUS$206k

-US$7m

Sep 30 2018n/an/a

-US$6m

Jun 30 2018n/an/a

-US$5m

Mar 31 2018n/an/a

-US$4m

Dec 31 2017US$622kUS$253k

-US$1m

Sep 30 2017n/an/a

-US$613k

Jun 30 2017n/an/a

US$234k

Mar 31 2017n/an/a

-US$219k

Dec 31 2016US$288kUS$266k

-US$2m

Compensation vs Market: Roberto's total compensation ($USD5.88M) is about average for companies of similar size in the US market ($USD5.11M).

Compensation vs Earnings: Roberto's compensation has increased whilst the company is unprofitable.

CEO

Roberto Bellini (43 yo)

13.4yrs
Tenure
US$5,884,787
Compensation

Mr. Roberto Francesco Bellini has been the Chief Executive Officer and President of BELLUS Health Inc, since January 1, 2010. Mr. Bellini served as an Executive Vice President of Picchio Pharma Inc. until...

Leadership Team

NamePositionTenureCompensationOwnership
Roberto Bellini
President13.4yrsUS$5.88m1.42%
$ 26.6m
Ramzi Benamar
Chief Financial Officer2.5yrsUS$1.67mno data
Andreas Orfanos
Chief Operating Officer1.2yrsUS$2.51mno data
Denis Garceau
Chief Scientific Officer2yrsUS$1.52m0.25%
$ 4.7m
Catherine Bonuccelli
Chief Medical Officer3.8yrsUS$1.76mno data
Daniel Matthews
Director of Investor Relations & Communicationsno datano datano data
Tony Matzouranis
Chief Business Officer2yrsUS$626.31k0.13%
$ 2.4m
Sebastien Roy
Corporate Secretary12.3yrsno datano data
2.5yrs
Average Tenure
50yo
Average Age

Experienced Management: BLU's management team is considered experienced (2.5 years average tenure).

Board Members

NamePositionTenureCompensationOwnership
Roberto Bellini
President14.4yrsUS$5.88m1.42%
$ 26.6m
Francesco Bellini
Chairman of the Board21.4yrsUS$752.59k0.35%
$ 6.5m
Franklin Berger
Independent Director13.1yrsUS$367.33k0.55%
$ 10.3m
Joseph Rus
Independent Director14yrsUS$341.85k0.047%
$ 877.1k
Clarissa Desjardins
Independent Director5.8yrsUS$271.94k0.082%
$ 1.5m
Youssef Bennani
Independent Director6.1yrsUS$286.17k0.13%
$ 2.4m
Pierre Larochelle
Independent Lead Director14yrsUS$550.99k0.18%
$ 3.4m
William Mezzanotte
Independent Director2.3yrsUS$253.58kno data
13.5yrs
Average Tenure
63yo
Average Age

Experienced Board: BLU's board of directors are seasoned and experienced ( 13.5 years average tenure).

Company Analysis and Financial Data Status

DataLast Updated (UTC time)
Company Analysis2023/06/28 03:25
End of Day Share Price 2023/06/28 00:00
Earnings2023/03/31
Annual Earnings2022/12/31

Data Sources

The data used in our company analysis is from S&P Global Market Intelligence LLC. The following data is used in our analysis model to generate this report. Data is normalised which can introduce a delay from the source being available.

PackageDataTimeframeExample US Source *
Company Financials10 years
  • Income statement
  • Cash flow statement
  • Balance sheet
Analyst Consensus Estimates+3 years
  • Forecast financials
  • Analyst price targets
Market Prices30 years
  • Stock prices
  • Dividends, Splits and Actions
Ownership10 years
  • Top shareholders
  • Insider trading
Management10 years
  • Leadership team
  • Board of directors
Key Developments10 years
  • Company announcements

* Example for US securities, for non-US equivalent regulatory forms and sources are used.

Unless specified all financial data is based on a yearly period but updated quarterly. This is known as Trailing Twelve Month (TTM) or Last Twelve Month (LTM) Data. Learn more.

Analysis Model and Snowflake

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Industry and Sector Metrics

Our industry and section metrics are calculated every 6 hours by Simply Wall St, details of our process are available on Github.

Analyst Sources

BELLUS Health Inc. is covered by 11 analysts. 3 of those analysts submitted the estimates of revenue or earnings used as inputs to our report. Analysts submissions are updated throughout the day.

AnalystInstitution
Brian SkorneyBaird
Justin ZelinBTIG
Pooya HemamiEdison Investment Research