Full Press Release Details
Vericel Reports First Quarter 2026 Financial Results and Raises Full-Year Financial Guidance
Total Revenue Increased 30% to $68.4 Million, with MACI Revenue Growth of 22% and Burn Care Revenue Growth of 91%
Gross Margin of 72% and Adjusted EBITDA Growth of 195%
Free Cash Flow of $15.1 Million
Full-Year 2026 Revenue Guidance Raised by $10 Million to $326 to $336 Million
Conference Call Today at 8 30am Eastern Time
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., May 7, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) - Vericel Corporation (NASDAQ VCEL), a leader in advanced therapies for the sports medicine and severe burn care markets, today reported financial results and business highlights for the first quarter ended March 31, 2026.
First Quarter 2026 Financial Highlights
Total net revenue growth of 30% to $68.4 million
MACI net revenue growth of 22% to $56.4 million
Burn Care net revenue growth of 91% to $12.0 million
Net loss of $6.3 million, or $0.12 per diluted share
Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA increased 195% to $9.6 million, or 14% of revenue
Operating cash flow of $16.4 million
Free cash flow of $15.1 million
Approximately $211 million in cash and investments, and no debt
Business Highlights and Updates
Record first quarter total revenue, MACI revenue and Burn Care revenue
MACI revenue growth of 20% or more for the fourth consecutive quarter, with a four-quarter trailing revenue growth rate of 23%
Epicel first quarter revenue growth of 119%
Double-digit MACI biopsy and implant growth, with record first quarter MACI biopsies, implants and biopsy and implanting surgeons, and the second highest number of MACI biopsies and biopsy surgeons in any quarter since launch
Announced BARDA award valued at up to $197 million for procurement and advanced development of NexoBrid
Received FDA approval for MACI commercial manufacturing at the Company's new state-of-the-art advanced therapy manufacturing facility
Remain on track to submit MACI marketing authorization application to U.K. MHRA in 2026
"The Company delivered outstanding financial and business results in the first quarter, as we generated strong revenue and profit growth and achieved several key business objectives," said Nick Colangelo, President and CEO of Vericel. "With a record first quarter performance across both of our commercial franchises, we believe that the Company is well-positioned for another year of high revenue and profit growth, an inflection in cash generation, and continued progress on our long-term growth initiatives."
2026 Financial Guidance
Total revenue of $326 to $336 million, compared to previous guidance of $316 to $326 million
MACI revenue of $282 to $288 million, compared to previous guidance of $280 to $286 million
Burn Care revenue of $44 to $48 million, compared to previous guidance of $36 to $40 million
Reaffirmed full-year profitability guidance of gross margin of approximately 75% and adjusted EBITDA margin of approximately 27%
First Quarter 2026 Results
Total net revenue for the quarter ended March 31, 2026 increased 30% to $68.4 million, compared to $52.6 million in the first quarter of 2025. Total net product revenue for the quarter included $56.4 million of MACI (autologous cultured chondrocytes on porcine collagen membrane) net revenue, $10.9 million of Epicel (cultured epidermal autografts) net revenue, and $1.1 million of NexoBrid (anacaulase-bcdb) net revenue, compared to $46.3 million of MACI net revenue, $5.0 million of Epicel net revenue, and $1.3 million of NexoBrid net revenue, respectively, in the first quarter of 2025.
Gross profit for the quarter ended March 31, 2026 was $49.3 million, or 72% of net revenue, compared to $36.3 million, or 69% of net revenue, for the first quarter of 2025.
Total operating expenses for the quarter ended March 31, 2026 were $57.3 million, compared to $49.1 million for the same period in 2025. The increase in operating expenses was primarily due to increased headcount and related employee expenses, including the MACI sales force expansion, and additional costs related to the Company's new Burlington facility.
Net loss for the quarter ended March 31, 2026 was $6.3 million, or $0.12 per diluted share, compared to $11.2 million, or $0.23 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2025.
Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA for the quarter ended March 31, 2026 was $9.6 million, or 14% of net revenue, compared to $3.2 million, or 6% of net revenue, for the first quarter of 2025. A table reconciling non-GAAP measures is included in this press release for reference.
Conference Call Information
Today's conference call will be available live at 8 30 a.m. Eastern Time. The live webcast can be accessed on the Investor Relations section of the Vericel website at http investors.vcel.com events-presentations. Presentation slides for the conference call will be available on the webcast and on the Vericel website. A replay of the webcast will be available until May 6, 2027.
To participate by telephone, dial 800-330-6730 or +1-312-471-1351 if connecting from outside the U.S. When connected, please use passcode 244506.
About Vericel Corporation
Vericel is a leading provider of advanced therapies for the sports medicine and severe burn care markets. The Company combines innovations in biology with medical technologies, resulting in a highly differentiated portfolio of innovative cell therapies and specialty biologics that repair injuries and restore lives. Vericel markets three products in the United States. MACI (autologous cultured chondrocytes on porcine collagen membrane) is an autologous cellularized scaffold product indicated for the repair of symptomatic, single or multiple full-thickness cartilage defects of the knee with or without bone involvement in adults. Epicel (cultured epidermal autografts) is a permanent skin replacement for the treatment of patients with deep dermal or full thickness burns greater than or equal to 30% of total body surface area. Vericel also holds an exclusive license for North American rights to NexoBrid (anacaulase-bcdb), a biological orphan product containing proteolytic enzymes, which is indicated for eschar removal in adults and pediatric patients with deep partial-thickness and or full-thickness thermal burns. For more information, please visit www.vcel.com.
GAAP v. Non-GAAP Measures
Vericel's reported earnings are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, or GAAP, and represent earnings as reported to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Vericel has provided in this release certain financial information that has not been prepared in accordance with GAAP. Vericel's management believes that the non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA, which includes adjustments for specific items that are generally not indicative of our core operations, and free cash flow described in this release, provide additional information that is useful to investors in understanding Vericel's underlying performance, business and performance trends, and helps facilitate period-to-period comparisons and comparisons of its financial measures with other companies in Vericel's industry. However, the non-GAAP financial measures that Vericel uses may differ from measures that other companies may use. Non-GAAP financial measures are not required to be uniformly applied, are
not audited and should not be considered in isolation or as substitutes for results prepared in accordance with GAAP.
Forward-Looking Statements
Vericel cautions you that all statements other than statements of historical fact included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that we expect, believe or anticipate will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Although we believe that we have a reasonable basis for the forward-looking statements contained herein, they are based on current expectations about future events affecting us and are subject to risks, assumptions, uncertainties and factors relating to our operations and business environment, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control. Our actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements in this press release. These statements are often, but are not always, made through the use of words or phrases such as "anticipates," "intends," "estimates," "plans," "expects," "continues," "believe," "guidance," "outlook," "target," "future," "potential," "goals" and similar words or phrases, or future or conditional verbs such as "will," "would," "should," "could," "may," or similar expressions.
Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, uncertainties associated with our expectations regarding future revenue, growth in revenue, market penetration for MACI, MACI Arthro, Epicel, and NexoBrid, growth in profit, gross margins and operating margins, the ability to continue to scale our manufacturing operations to meet the demand for our cell therapy products, the ability to sustain profitability, contributions to adjusted EBITDA, the expected target surgeon audience, potential fluctuations in sales and volumes and our results of operations over the course of the year, timing and conduct of clinical trial and product development activities, timing and likelihood of the FDA's potential approval of the use of MACI to treat cartilage defects in the ankle, the timing and likelihood of obtaining market approval for MACI in the United Kingdom, the estimate of the commercial growth potential of our products and product candidates, competitive developments, changes in third-party coverage and reimbursement, including recent and future healthcare reform measures and private payor initiatives, surgeon adoption of MACI Arthro, physician and burn center adoption of NexoBrid, labor strikes, supply chain disruptions or other events or factors that might affect our ability to manufacture MACI or Epicel or affect MediWound's ability to manufacture and supply sufficient quantities of NexoBrid to meet customer demand, including but not limited to conflicts in the Middle East region involving Israel or those related to disruptions of land or sea transportation routes or distribution or shipping channels, uncertainties associated with the potential benefits of the Company's agreement with BARDA for the procurement and development of NexoBrid and the availability of funding from BARDA under that agreement, negative impacts on the global economy and capital markets resulting from the conflicts in Ukraine and Iran and a potential regime change in Iran, as well as other hostilities in the Middle East, changes in trade policies and regulations, including the potential for increases or changes in duties, and current and potentially new tariffs or quotas, lingering effects of adverse developments affecting financial institutions, companies in the financial services industry or the financial services
industry generally, changes in governmental monetary and fiscal policies, including, but not limited to, Federal Reserve policies in connection with continued inflationary pressures, the impact from future regulatory, judicial and legislative changes affecting our industry or the broader market, including those included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, and a U.S. government shutdown.
These and other significant factors are discussed in greater detail in Vericel's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, filed with the SEC on February 26, 2026, Vericel's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, filed with the SEC on May 7, 2026, and in other filings with the SEC. These forward-looking statements reflect our views as of the date hereof and Vericel does not assume and specifically disclaims any obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements to reflect a change in its views or events or circumstances that occur after the date of this release except as required by law.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except per share amounts - unaudited)
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||||||
| 2026 | 2025 | |||||||||||
| Product sales, net | $ | 68,425 | $ | 52,598 | ||||||||
| Total revenue | 68,425 | 52,598 | ||||||||||
| Cost of product sales | 19,159 | 16,325 | ||||||||||
| Gross profit | 49,266 | 36,273 | ||||||||||
| Research and development | 8,104 | 7,261 | ||||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative | 49,226 | 41,804 | ||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | 57,330 | 49,065 | ||||||||||
| Loss from operations | (8,064) | (12,792) | ||||||||||
| Other income (expense) | ||||||||||||
| Interest income | 1,851 | 1,657 | ||||||||||
| Interest expense | (160) | (153) | ||||||||||
| Other income | 71 | 42 | ||||||||||
| Total other income | 1,762 | 1,546 | ||||||||||
| Net loss | $ | (6,302) | $ | (11,246) | ||||||||
| Net loss per common share | ||||||||||||
| Basic | $ | (0.12) | $ | (0.23) | ||||||||
| Diluted | $ | (0.12) | $ | (0.23) | ||||||||
| Weighted-average common shares outstanding | ||||||||||||
| Basic | 50,773 | 49,905 | ||||||||||
| Diluted | 50,773 | 49,905 |
RECONCILIATION OF REPORTED NET LOSS (GAAP)
TO ADJUSTED EBITDA (NON-GAAP MEASURE)
(in thousands - unaudited)
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||||||
| 2026 | 2025 | |||||||||||
| Net loss | $ | (6,302) | $ | (11,246) | ||||||||
| Stock-based compensation expense | 11,294 | 11,505 | ||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 3,267 | 2,686 | ||||||||||
| Net interest income | (1,692) | (1,504) | ||||||||||
| Pre-occupancy lease expense and tech transfer | 2,989 | 1,801 | ||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP) | $ | 9,556 | $ | 3,242 |
RECONCILIATION OF FREE CASH FLOW (NON-GAAP MEASURE)
(in thousands - unaudited)
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||||||
| 2026 | 2025 | |||||||||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | $ | 16,383 | $ | 6,600 | ||||||||
| Capital expenditures | (1,257) | (14,212) | ||||||||||
| Free cash flow (Non-GAAP) | $ | 15,126 | $ | (7,612) | ||||||||
| Net cash used in investing activities | $ | (4,201) | $ | (15,142) | ||||||||
| Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities | $ | (2,979) | $ | 3,198 |
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands - unaudited)
| March 31, | December 31, | |||||||
| 2026 | 2025 | |||||||
| ASSETS | ||||||||
| Current assets | ||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 109,295 | $ | 100,092 | ||||
| Short-term investments | 36,045 | 37,407 | ||||||
| Accounts receivable (net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $13 and $13, respectively) | 72,383 | 84,634 | ||||||
| Inventory | 18,351 | 17,560 | ||||||
| Other current assets | 7,990 | 7,744 | ||||||
| Total current assets | 244,064 | 247,437 | ||||||
| Property and equipment, net | 107,113 | 108,397 | ||||||
| Intangible assets, net | 5,469 | 5,625 | ||||||
| Right-of-use assets | 63,409 | 64,774 | ||||||
| Long-term investments | 65,284 | 61,395 | ||||||
| Other long-term assets | 288 | 341 | ||||||
| Total assets | $ | 485,627 | $ | 487,969 | ||||
| LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY | ||||||||
| Current liabilities | ||||||||
| Accounts payable | $ | 19,009 | $ | 15,828 | ||||
| Accrued expenses | 13,967 | 19,236 | ||||||
| Current portion of operating lease liabilities | 14,063 | 13,969 | ||||||
| Other current liabilities | 116 | 116 | ||||||
| Total current liabilities | 47,155 | 49,149 | ||||||
| Operating lease liabilities | 80,362 | 82,284 | ||||||
| Other long-term liabilities | 1,879 | 1,896 | ||||||
| Total liabilities | 129,396 | 133,329 | ||||||
| Total shareholders' equity | 356,231 | 354,640 | ||||||
| Total liabilities and shareholders' equity | $ | 485,627 | $ | 487,969 |