Barry Michaels
Analyst · Jefferies
Thank you, Keith. While I will comment on the company’s financial results for the first quarter of fiscal 2016 ended June 30th, 2015. It’s not my intention to replace the full financial disclosure enclosed in the company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission earlier today. I encourage all shareholders to refer to that document for additional information. Allow me to first address our financial condition in terms of liquidity and capital resources. During the quarter ended June 30th, 2015, we’re raised net proceeds of approximately $43.2 million to the sale of 10.8 million shares of our common stock in an underwritten secondary offering. At the close of our first quarter, the company had cash and cash equivalents of $86 million and an accumulated deficit of 130.8 million with negative cash flows from operations of $6.3 million. This compares favorably with last year’s cash and cash equivalents balance of 44.9 million. Although as expected, negative cash flows from operations increased over last year’s value of $3.4 million as we invested an additional plant, equipment and staff in connection with our commercialization of our exVive3D Liver Tissue and expanded our development efforts in kidney and skin. Total current assets of $87 million and current liabilities of 5.2 million resulted in working capital of $81.8 million versus prior year total current assets of 45.7 million and current liabilities of $3.1 million which resulted in working capital of $42.6 million. Net cash used in investing activities was approximately 1.1 million and $200,000 for the quarters ended June 30th, 2015 and 2014 respectively. The majority of net cash used in investing activities to date has been for the purchases of laboratory equipment particularly noting that the company launches first commercial product and expanded its research capabilities in the back half of fiscal 2015 and continues to build out its product development, manufacturing and commercial teams. Net cash provided by financing activities was approximately 43.3 million and 300,000 for the quarter ended in June 30th, 2015 and 2014 respectively. In short, we essentially have no debt and our capital structure includes as of June 30th, 2015 approximately 92.4 million shares of common stock issued and outstanding and fully diluted shares of approximately 103.5 million shares including approximately 1.1 million warrant shares and a stock option pool of approximately 10 million shares of which 1.1 million shares are yet to be issued as of that date. Let me now move to commenting on revenue. For the three months ended June 30th, 2015, total revenues of $306,000 or 207,000 or approximately 209% higher than our total revenue for the three months ended June 30th, 2014. Product and service revenue of $209,000 for the first quarter of fiscal 2016 versus none for the first quarter of fiscal 2015 represents as expected revenue from the initial shipment of our exVive3D Human Liver Tissue and from the exVive3D Human Liver Tissue research services. The company announced that the commercial launch of its exVive3D Human Liver Tissue in November 2014. The majority of revenues for the first quarter of fiscal 2016 were derived from research service agreements related to the exVive3D Human Liver Tissue or as revenues for the first quarter of fiscal 2015 were derived mainly from existing collaborations and from research funded by grants. Additional future revenues are expected to come from collaboration – excuse me from collaborative partnerships and please note that the company continues in its development of a 3D printed kidney tissue that a potential to significantly improve research ability to study kidney function in an in vitro model. The kidney tissue remains on track for our September 2016 release and we believe the pricing and profitability on that product and service will command a premium given anticipated demand and minimal competitive in vitro products or services. Additionally the company continues to advance simple bioprinted tissues for the potential direct treatment of patients which are currently as a preclinical research phase. As I comment on operating and other expenses, please remember that the primary driver of anticipated growth in our cash based operations are – expenses are people individuals within the manufacturing, sales and support functions necessary to support our commercial operations. Operating expenses increased by $2.3 million or 35% from approximately 6.5 million for the three months ended June 30th, 2014 to 8.8 million for the three months ended June 30th, 2015. Of this increase, $900,000 related to increased sales, general and administrative expense while the other $1.4 million related to increased investment and research and development. These increases can be attributed to the company’s continued implementation of its business plan including hiring additional staff to support research and development initiatives, incremental investments associated with strategic and commercial project initiatives and with the commercial launch of our exVive3D Human Liver Tissue in 2014. Expenses related to operating as a public company, expansion of our facilities and increased stock compensation expense relative to employees and certain consulting services. More specifically, our research and development expenses increased 50% from approximately 2.8 million for the three months ended June 30th, 2014 to 4.2 million for the three months ended June 30th, 2015 as a company increased its research staff to support its obligations under existing collaborative research agreements and to expand its product development team and activities commence with launching commercial research services associated with the commercial launch of the company’s first product in the third quarter of fiscal 2015. Full time research and development staffing increased from 36 full time employees as of June 30th, 2014 to 54 full time employees as of June 30th, 2015 resulting in an increase in staffing expense of approximately $700,000 an increase in stock based compensation of nearly $100,000 and an increase in lab supply cost of $300,000 and an increase in facility cost of approximately $200,000. Selling, general and administrative expenses for the three months ended June 30th were approximately 4.6 million, an increase of $900,000 or 24% or the expenses in the same period of the previous year of approximately 3.7 million. This increase was primarily related to an increase in staffing expenses of $800,000 due to an increase in administrative headcount from 14 fulltime employees to 32 fulltime employees to provide strategic infrastructure and developing collaborative relationships and preparation for commercialization of research derived product introductions as well as an increase in stock based compensation of $100,000 due to addition grants. Other expense was less than a $100,000 for the three months ended June 30th, 2015 and 2014 respectively and consistent primarily of losses related to the revaluation of warrant derivative liabilities. The majority of the underlying warrants to which the derivative relates have been exercised or converted to equity instruments in previous years significantly less than the impact of subsequent changes in our stock price.