Agile Therapeutics Completes Pay-off of Debt and Remains Focused on Business Plan Execution

Rhea-AI Summary

Agile Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: AGRX) announced the complete repayment of its debt facility with Perceptive Advisors, making the company debt-free. The repayment schedule, initiated in 2020, concluded on March 11, 2024. Agile aims to focus on expanding Twirla® and advancing its business plan, signaling readiness for new opportunities.

Positive

• Agile Therapeutics, Inc. has successfully cleared its debt with Perceptive Advisors, enhancing its financial position.
• The repayment schedule, which began in 2020, was completed on March 11, 2024, marking a significant milestone for the company.
• The elimination of debt provides Agile Therapeutics with increased flexibility on its balance sheet for future growth and opportunities.
• The company's CEO, Al Altomari, expressed gratitude towards Perceptive Advisors for their collaboration and professionalism during the debt repayment process.
• Agile Therapeutics remains committed to advancing its business plan and expanding its flagship product, Twirla®.

Negative

• None.

Financial Analyst

The repayment of Agile Therapeutics' debt to Perceptive Advisors is a significant financial event that could enhance the company's financial stability and investor appeal. By eliminating its debt, Agile has potentially reduced its interest expenses, which can positively impact its net income and earnings per share (EPS). This debt-free status might also improve Agile's creditworthiness, potentially leading to more favorable terms for future financing if needed. However, it's crucial to assess the company's cash flow statements to understand if this repayment has substantially depleted its cash reserves, which could affect its operational flexibility.

Investors may view this development as a sign of strong fiscal management, particularly in the context of a challenging market for biotech firms. A debt-free balance sheet is often associated with reduced financial risk, which could be factored into the company's stock valuation. Nonetheless, the market will continue to monitor Agile's performance in commercializing Twirla and executing its business plan to determine the long-term sustainability of its growth trajectory.

Market Research Analyst

Agile Therapeutics' announcement of repaying its debt is an indicator of strategic financial management, especially in the competitive women's healthcare market. The company's focus on growing Twirla, a contraceptive patch, suggests that it anticipates solid market demand and aims to capitalize on it. The ability to operate without the constraints of debt could provide Agile with a competitive edge in terms of investing in marketing, R&D, or even pursuing strategic acquisitions or partnerships.

Market analysts will be interested in observing how Agile's debt elimination aligns with industry trends, where several biotech companies are striving for leaner balance sheets to enhance agility and investor confidence. The move could also be seen as a preemptive strategy to strengthen the company's position before any potential market downturns, which are particularly impactful in the biotech sector due to its high capital expenditure requirements and long product development cycles.

Economist

From an economic perspective, Agile Therapeutics' repayment of debt to Perceptive Advisors could reflect broader economic conditions. In a challenging market environment for biotech, Agile's ability to fulfill its debt obligations and emerge debt-free may indicate underlying economic resilience and prudent cash management. This could also signal a strategic move to de-leverage in anticipation of tighter credit markets or rising interest rates, which would make future borrowing more expensive.

Moreover, the company's actions could have positive implications for the labor market within the biotech sector, as financial stability may enable Agile to maintain or even expand its workforce. It's also pertinent to consider the company's operational efficiency and how the absence of debt might affect its investment in innovation, which is a key driver of economic growth in the high-tech healthcare industry.

Elimination of Remaining Debt to Perceptive Advisors Leaves the Company’s Balance Sheet Debt Free

PRINCETON, N.J., March 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Agile Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: AGRX) (“Agile” or the “Company”), a women's healthcare company, today announced that it has paid-off the remainder of its debt facility with Perceptive Advisors (“Perceptive”). This significant milestone completes the repayment schedule contemplated by the Loan Agreement between the Company and Perceptive, which originated in 2020 and ended as of March 11, 2024. The Company remains focused on growing Twirla^® and advancing the Company’s business plan.

“Eliminating the entirety of our debt with Perceptive is a pivotal moment for us, signaling our readiness to embrace new opportunities while continuing to execute our business plan and grow Twirla,” said Agile Chief Executive Officer and Chairperson Al Altomari. “We believe this step will provide us with more flexibility on our balance sheet as we move forward.”

Altomari continued, “We’d like to thank our partners at Perceptive, who worked professionally, collaboratively and constructively with us to achieve this milestone during a challenging market environment for biotechnology.”

About Agile Therapeutics, Inc.
Agile Therapeutics is a women's healthcare company dedicated to fulfilling the unmet health needs of today’s women. Our product and product candidates are designed to provide women with contraceptive options that offer freedom from taking a daily pill, without committing to a longer-acting method. Our initial product, Twirla^®, (levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol), a transdermal system, is a non-daily prescription contraceptive. Twirla is based on our proprietary transdermal patch technology, called Skinfusion^®, which is designed to allow drug delivery through the skin. For more information, please visit the company website at www.agiletherapeutics.com. The Company may occasionally disseminate material, nonpublic information on the Company’s website and LinkedIn account.

Forward-Looking Statements
Certain information contained in this press release includes “forward-looking statements”, within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. We may, in some cases use terms such as “predicts,” “believes,” “potential,” “continue,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “expects,” “plans,” “intends,” “may,” “could,” “might,” “likely,” “will,” “should” or other words that convey uncertainty of the future events or outcomes to identify these forward-looking statements. Our forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs and expectations of our management team that involve risks, potential changes in circumstances, assumptions, and uncertainties, including statements regarding the Company’s ability to grow Twirla, advance its business plan, and flexibility on the Company’s balance sheet. Any or all of the forward-looking statements may turn out to be wrong or be affected by inaccurate assumptions we might make or by known or unknown risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties including risks related to our ability to raise enough capital to fund our operations in the near term and long term, including our ability to obtain funding through public or private equity offerings, debt financings or other sources, on terms acceptable to us or at all, our ability to come into compliance with the Nasdaq Capital Market listing requirements, the other risks set forth in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including for a more detailed description of the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, as well as risks relating to our business in general, please refer to our Annual Report on Form 10-K and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are made only as of the date of this press release. We undertake no obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstance.

Contact:
Matt Riley
Head of Investor Relations & Corporate Communications
mriley@agiletherapeutics.com

What is the ticker symbol for Agile Therapeutics, Inc.?

The ticker symbol for Agile Therapeutics, Inc. is AGRX.

When did Agile Therapeutics, Inc. complete the repayment of its debt facility with Perceptive Advisors?

Agile Therapeutics, Inc. completed the repayment of its debt facility with Perceptive Advisors on March 11, 2024.

What is the significance of Agile Therapeutics, Inc. becoming debt-free?

Agile Therapeutics, Inc. becoming debt-free signifies a strengthened financial position and increased flexibility on its balance sheet for future growth and opportunities.

Who expressed gratitude towards Perceptive Advisors for their collaboration during the debt repayment process?

Al Altomari, the CEO of Agile Therapeutics, expressed gratitude towards Perceptive Advisors for their collaboration during the debt repayment process.

What is Agile Therapeutics, Inc.'s focus following the debt repayment?

Following the debt repayment, Agile Therapeutics, Inc. aims to focus on expanding Twirla® and advancing its business plan.