-- Multiple New Programs Signed in Fourth Quarter 2025 Including Two Commercial Site Transfer Programs, for Total of Five New Programs in 2025 Transition Period --
-- Organizational Initiatives Drive Further Improvement in Margins --
Conference Call Today at 8:30am ET
CHASKA, Minn., March 16, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lifecore Biomedical, Inc. (NASDAQ:LFCR) ("Lifecore" or the "Company"), a fully integrated injectables contract development and manufacturing organization ("CDMO"), today announced strong results for the fourth quarter and transition period ended December 31, 2025.
CEO Commentary
"2025 was a highly productive year for Lifecore Biomedical, during which we strengthened our pipeline, leadership, and standing as a differentiated CDMO. We advanced strategic priorities throughout the year, positioning Lifecore for sustained growth as we aim to deliver a 12% revenue CAGR and improved EBITDA margins above 25% in the mid-term. We achieved several significant milestones during the year, driven by the addition of impactful new programs to our development portfolio and by initiatives that strengthened our operations and contributed to improved EBITDA margins. Lifecore believes these initiatives, along with others underway, will continue to drive margin expansion as we advance toward our mid‑term EBITDA margin goal.
"Our financial performance was also strong during the transition period. During the fourth quarter of 2025, we recorded revenues of $35.7 million, a 10% increase as compared to the most comparable prior year quarter ended November 24, 2024. For the approximately seven month "transition" period from May 26, 2025, through December 31, 2025, we recorded revenues of $75.5 million, an increase of 20% compared to the comparable prior year period ended December 31, 2024. We are very proud of our accomplishments in 2025 and look forward to achieving sustainable growth in the years ahead," stated Paul Josephs, President and Chief Executive Officer of Lifecore.
Financial Snapshot and Recent Developments
Revenue for the seven-month period of $75.5 million, in line with the Company's previous guidance of $74.0, $76.0 million and 20% above $63.0 million for the prior year comparable period ended December 31, 2024.
Gross profit margin for the seven-month period of 31%, 5% above 26% for the prior year comparable period ended December 31, 2024.
Operating expenses for the seven-month period of $24.4 million, a decrease of $11.1 million, or 31%, compared to $35.6 million for the prior year comparable period ended December 31, 2024.
Cash from operations of $7.3 million and free cash flow* of $3.6 million in the seven-month period, which includes a $4.7 million payment to fully satisfy the preferred stock registration delay fees.
Net loss for the seven-month period of $18.0 million, in line with the Company's previous guidance of $18.4, $16.4 million and improved from a net loss of $30.6 million in the prior year comparable period ended December 31, 2024.
Adjusted EBITDA* for the seven-month period of $13.1 million, in line with the Company's previous guidance of $12.0, $14.0 million, and $10.5 million above $2.6 million for the prior year comparable period ended December 31, 2024.
Ended the fourth quarter with approximately $38.9 million in liquidity, including cash of $17.5 million and revolving credit availability of $21.4 million.
Signed three new programs in fourth quarter of 2025, including two commercial site transfer programs, for a total of five new programs during transition period.
Implemented key initiatives throughout the organization that have improved EBITDA margins and are expected to continue to drive margin improvement toward the goal of >25% in the mid-term.
Completed the preparatory work for new enterprise resource planning ("ERP") system, which successfully launched in January 2026, and which is expected to strengthen inventory control, support financial management, and help reduce costs as the Company grows.
*
Adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow are non-GAAP financial measures and exclude certain items from net income or loss and operating cash flows, respectively, the nearest comparable measures calculated and presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"). Please see "Non-GAAP Financial Information" below for more information, including definitions of Adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow and reconciliations to net loss and operating cash flows, respectively, for the periods noted in this press release.
Supplemental Financial Data
To provide meaningful period-over-period comparisons, Lifecore has compared the seven‑month transition period ended December 31, 2025, to the unaudited seven‑month period ended December 31, 2024. This presentation is intended to comply with Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") requirements applicable to fiscal year changes and is intended to assist investors with understanding the changes in the Company's operating results and financial condition.
Supplemental Revenue and Gross Profit Data
Seven months endedDecember 31,
Change
2025
2024
Amount
%
(dollars in thousands)
(unaudited)
Revenues:
CDMO
$
51,489
$
49,053
$
2,436
5
%
HA manufacturing
24,032
13,903
10,129
73
%
Total revenues
75,521
62,956
12,565
20
%
Cost of sales
51,832
46,629
5,203
11
%
Gross profit
23,689
16,327
7,362
45
%
Gross profit percentage
31.4
%
25.9
%
5.5
%
Supplemental Operating Expenses Data
Seven months endedDecember 31,
Change
2025
2024
Amount
%
(dollars in thousands)
(unaudited)
Research and development
$
4,965
$
4,720
$
245
5
%
Selling, general and administrative
19,457
30,846
(11,389
)
(37
)%
Total operating expenses
$
24,422
$
35,566
$
(11,144
)
(31
)%
Transformation Strategy Outlook and Financial Guidance for Calendar Year 2026
"Our financial and business performance during the 2025 transition period was strong, and we continue to position the Company for sustained, long‑term growth. We expect calendar year 2026 to reflect a period of continued operational progress and disciplined execution," said Josephs. For 2026, Lifecore expects total revenue to be in the range of $120, $125 million, net loss to be in the range of $32.9, $28.9 million, and Adjusted EBITDA to be in the range of $20.5, $25 million.
This guidance is based on the expectation that Lifecore would adjust for items similar to its historic definition of Adjusted EBITDA. This guidance takes into consideration existing market forces, contracts, and customer order timing, as well as the Company's current beliefs and estimations with respect to success and timing related to growing and diversifying the Company's new business development revenue.
This 2026 guidance reflects several factors within the Company's customer base. These are: 1) the anticipated loss of a customer due to a change in that customer's supply strategy; 2) a customer decision to build excess hyaluronic acid inventory in 2025 to effect its transition of aseptic volume demand to Lifecore in 2027; and 3) a commercial launch that was targeted for 2026 but that has been delayed due to customer funding challenges.
Lifecore expects to generate modest revenue growth in 2027, with significant revenue growth continuing into 2028, driven by expansion of existing customer programs, including a planned doubling of aseptic demand from its largest customer, along with increasing revenue contributions from development programs and the commercialization of its late‑stage pipeline. During this period, Lifecore also expects to broaden and diversify its customer base to include additional specialty pharma and large pharma companies to generate a more balanced revenue mix, increase its capacity utilization and reduce its dependency on any one customer.
Through 2029, Lifecore's strategies are expected to achieve sustained growth, resulting in a targeted 12% revenue CAGR for the 2025, 2029 period, and reaching the Company's targeted EBITDA margin of greater than 25%.
Lifecore continues to expect significant revenue growth in future years based on management's visibility to leading revenue indicators, such as identified contractually committed volumes of one of its key customers, expansion opportunities in Lifecore's commercial business, growing traction in the number of customer deals and technology transfers, commercialization of the Company's late stage pipeline, and an increasing number of deals at later stages of development. Lifecore's outlook regarding revenue growth is based on current expectations regarding the likelihood of success and expected launch timelines from the late-stage development portfolio. However, in light of current customer and program concentrations, projected growth starting in 2027 may be impacted, positively or negatively, by changes in the timing or specifics of expected customer programs.
The Company's outlook assumes continued efficiency and cost containment discipline, consistent with the Company's efforts over the last 18 months that have resulted in improving EBITDA margins, six consecutive quarters of sequential declines in operating expense, and improved cash flow to fund the Company's ongoing operations that will drive the expected revenue growth starting in 2027. The outlook does not contemplate that Lifecore will use its cash resources or raise additional financing in 2026 or in the near-term to (i) fund the redemption of the Series A Redeemable Preferred Stock, or (ii) substantially reduce its debt balance, including through prepayments, which may carry prepayment penalties. Each holder of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock may demand redemption beginning June 29, 2026, and payment of the redemption amount, which is the same as the liquidation preference, is due within 180 days. Any redemption amounts not paid will accrue interest at a rate of 1.0% per month until paid in full. The aggregate Series A Convertible Preferred Stock liquidation preference as of June 29, 2026, is $50.2 million. The dividends on the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock are payable-in-kind in the form of additional shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, resulting over time in an increasing number of shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock outstanding and therefore an increasing redemption amount. Under Lifecore's current term loan credit facility with Alcon Research, LLC, interest is currently payable-in-kind, but beginning in May 2026, a portion of the interest will become payable in cash at a rate of 3% per year through maturity in May 2029, with the remaining 7% rate of interest continuing to be payable-in-kind, thereby increasing the outstanding debt balance.
Please see "Non-GAAP Financial Information" below for more information on Adjusted EBITDA, including information regarding reconciliations to net income or loss.
Earnings Webcast
Lifecore Biomedical will host a conference call today, March 16, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. ET to discuss the Company's financial results for the fourth quarter and transition period ended December 31, 2025. The webcast can be accessed via Lifecore's Investor Events & Presentations page at: https://ir.lifecore.com/events-presentations. An archived version of the webcast will be available on the website for 30 days.
About Lifecore Biomedical
Lifecore Biomedical, Inc. (NASDAQ:LFCR) is a fully integrated contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) that offers highly differentiated capabilities in the development, fill and finish of sterile injectable pharmaceutical products in syringes, vials, and cartridges, including complex formulations. As a leading manufacturer of premium, injectable-grade hyaluronic acid, Lifecore brings more than 40 years of expertise as a partner for global and emerging biopharmaceutical and biotechnology companies across multiple therapeutic categories to bring their innovations to market. For more information about the company, visit Lifecore's website at www.lifecore.com.
Non-GAAP Financial Information
In addition to providing financial measurements based on generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (GAAP), this press release contains non-GAAP financial information. Adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow are non-GAAP measures and exclude certain items from net income or loss and operating cash flows, respectively, which are the most directly comparable financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. The year ended December 31, 2025 is a non-GAAP, pro forma and unaudited period that is derived from historical financial information required by GAAP that is included in the Company's Form 10‑KT for the transition period ended December 31, 2025.
See the section entitled "Non-GAAP Financial Reconciliations" below for the Company's definitions of Adjusted EBITDA and free cash flows for the fourth quarter and transition period ended December 31, 2025, the comparable prior quarter ended November 24, 2024, and the unaudited comparable prior seven-month period ended December 31, 2024, and reconciliations thereof to net income or loss and operating cash flows for the relevant periods.
See "2026 Guidance" below for the Company's reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to GAAP net income or loss for calendar year 2026.
See "Reconciliation of Results for Periods Presented in Accordance with GAAP to Pro Forma Unaudited Results" for the Company's definition of the year ended December 31, 2025 and a reconciliation of that period to periods presented in accordance with GAAP.
The Company has disclosed these non-GAAP financial measures to supplement its consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with GAAP. These non-GAAP financial measures exclude/include certain items that are included in the Company's results reported in accordance with GAAP because we believe they are not reflective of our core operations or indicative of our ongoing operations. Management believes these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful additional information to investors about trends in the Company's operations and are useful for period-over-period comparisons. Management uses Adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow, in addition to GAAP financial measures, to monitor trends in the Company's operations, understand and compare operating results, and monitor cash flows across accounting periods, for financial and operational decision making, for planning and forecasting purposes, and with respect to Adjusted EBITDA as a measure of performance for compensation decisions.
These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the comparable GAAP measures. In addition, these non-GAAP financial measures may not be the same as similar measures provided by other companies due to the potential differences in methods of calculation and items being excluded/included. These non-GAAP financial measures should be read in conjunction with the Company's consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with GAAP.
Important Cautions Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding future events and our future results that are subject to the safe harbor created under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other safe harbors under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Words such as "anticipate", "estimate", "expect", "project", "aim," "designed to," "plan", "intend", "believe", "may", "might", "will", "should", "can have", "likely" and similar expressions are used to identify forward-looking statements. In addition, all statements regarding our future financial and operating performance and strategy, including our goals of achieving a 12+% revenue CAGR and increasing Adjusted EBITDA* margins to more than 25% in the mid-term; positioning of the Company for sustained, long-term growth; key initiatives that are expected to continue to drive margin improvement; expected benefits of our new ERP system; financial guidance for 2026 and longer-term outlook; three-pronged strategy for growth comprised of maximizing our existing customer business, advancing programs currently within our late-stage development pipeline towards commercialization, and winning impactful new business that will continue to fill our project pipeline; anticipated revenue growth and improved capacity utilization; the future diversification of our customer base and reduction of dependency on any one customer; visibility and nature of leading revenue indicators; launch timelines from our late-stage development portfolio; continued efficiency and cost containment discipline; significant inflection point in existing commercial customer demand beginning in 2027; and use of cash resources or need to raise additional financing in 2026 or in the near-term, are forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, including such factors as, among others, the timing and amount of future expenses, revenue, net income (loss), Adjusted EBITDA, cash flow and capital requirements, and timing and availability of and the need for additional financing; our ability to maintain or expand our relationships with our current customers, including the impact of changes in consumer demand for the products we manufacture for our customers; our ability to grow and diversify our business with new customers, including the potential loss of development customers if they do not receive required funding or regulatory approvals or for other reasons; our ability to comply with covenants under our credit agreements and to pay required interest and principal payments when due; our ability to fund any redemptions of shares of the outstanding Series A Convertible Preferred Stock if requested by holders in accordance with their terms; our ability to raise additional capital for ongoing needs, including through equity financing, debt financing, collaborations, strategic alliances or licensing arrangements; the impact of macroeconomic events or circumstances on our operations and financial performance, including inflation, tariffs, interest rates, social unrest and global instability; the performance of our third-party suppliers; pharmaceutical industry market forces that may impact our customers' success and continued demand for the products we produce for those customers; our ability to recruit or retain key scientific, technical, business development, and management personnel and our executive officers; our ability to comply with stringent U.S. and foreign government regulation in the manufacture of pharmaceutical products, including current Good Manufacturing Practice, or cGMP; the outcome and cost of existing and any new litigation or regulatory proceedings; and other risk factors set forth from time to time in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), including, but not limited to, the Annual Report on Form 10-KT for the transition period ended December 31, 2025 (the "December 2025 10-KT"). For additional information about factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements, please refer to our filings with the SEC, including the risk factors contained in the December 2025 10-KT. Forward-looking statements represent management's current expectations as of the date hereof and are inherently uncertain. Except as required by law, we do not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements made by us to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.
Lifecore Biomedical, Inc. Contact Information:
Stephanie Diaz (Investors & Media)Vida Strategic Partners415-675-7401[email protected]
Ryan D. Lake (CFO)Lifecore Biomedical952-368-6244[email protected]
LIFECORE BIOMEDICAL, INC.CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
December 31,2025
May 25,2025
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
$
17,469
$
8,265
Accounts receivable, net
13,233
15,151
Accounts receivable, related party
12,929
13,537
Current portion of note receivable
—
8,000
Contract assets
7,655
6,979
Inventory
29,085
32,291
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
1,921
1,454
Total current assets
82,292
85,677
Property, plant and equipment, net
127,304
129,006
Goodwill
13,881
13,881
Other assets
8,700
10,778
Total assets
$
232,177
$
239,342
LIABILITIES, CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable
$
5,839
$
8,220
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
17,734
21,958
Total current liabilities
23,573
30,178
Debt, net of current portion
5,694
5,801
Debt, net of current portion, related party
135,588
121,198
Debt derivative liability, related party
26,564
24,991
Other liabilities
6,698
9,741
Total liabilities
198,117
191,909
Commitments and contingencies
Series A Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value; 2,000,000 shares authorized; 47,466 and 45,736 shares issued and outstanding, redemption value $48,356 and $46,308
48,262
46,097
Stockholders' (deficit) equity:
Common Stock, $0.001 par value; 75,000,000 shares authorized; 37,477,386 and 37,026,234 shares issued and outstanding
37
37
Additional paid-in capital
208,962
206,539
Accumulated deficit
(223,201
)
(205,240
)
Total stockholders' (deficit) equity
(14,202
)
1,336
Total liabilities, convertible preferred stock and stockholders' (deficit) equity
$
232,177
$
239,342
LIFECORE BIOMEDICAL, INC.CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
Three months ended
May 26, 2025 through
May 27, 2024 through
Year ended
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
December 31,2025
November 24,2024
December 31,2025
