Cerus Corporation Reports First Quarter 2013 Results

Cerus Corporation Reports First Quarter 2013 Results

• Year-over-year INTERCEPT revenue growth of 12%;

• U.S. FDA acceptance of proposed modular Premarket Approval (PMA) application shell for review of INTERCEPT platelets; last module expected to be submitted by March 2014;

• $40.25 million in gross proceeds raised from public offering of common stock

CONCORD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Cerus Corporation (NAS: CERS) today announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2013.

"We ended the first quarter of 2013 with a stronger balance sheet and a clear focus on successfully submitting the INTERCEPT platelet and plasma modular PMA applications in the U.S.," said William 'Obi' Greenman, president and chief executive officer of Cerus Corporation. "With regard to our ongoing sales growth in our current commercial markets, we are on plan to reach our guidance of $41-$43 million in product revenue for the year."

Revenue

Product revenue for the first quarter of 2013 was $9.7 million, a 12% increase over the first quarter of 2012. Continued growth in certain markets and continued placement of INTERCEPT illumination devices drove the revenue growth.

The Company did not recognize any government grant revenue during the first quarter of 2013, as government grants in support of the Company's red blood cell system had been fully utilized by January 2012. During the first quarter of 2012, the Company recognized $0.1 million of government grant revenue.

Gross Margins

Gross margins on product sales for the first quarter of 2013 were 48%, compared to 37% for the first quarter of 2012. The improvement in gross margins on product sales was driven primarily by lower costs for products sold as a result of improved overhead absorption due to higher manufacturing levels during the second half of 2012.

Operating Expenses

Total operating expenses for the first quarter of 2013 were $9.6 million, compared to $7.8 million for the first quarter of 2012. The increase in these operating expenses was due to regulatory activities for the preparation and submission of the first module for the Company's PMA application for INTERCEPT plasma and the preparation and submission of a proposal for a modular PMA application for INTERCEPT platelets, costs for the preparation of planned Phase III clinical trials related to the Company's red blood cell program in Europe and increases in selling, general and administrative expenses in support of growing the commercial business in Europe, the Middle East, and The Commonwealth of Independent States.

Operating expenses are expected to continue to increase in 2013, largely driven by increased research and development expenses. The Company expects to incur increased development and regulatory costs in 2013 in support of the modular PMA submissions to the FDA for the licensure of the INTERCEPT platelet and plasma systems. In addition, the Company expects to incur costs related to preparatory marketing activities in anticipation of the potential future U.S. launch of both products. The planned clinical trials and in vitro studies to support potential regulatory approval of the INTERCEPT red blood cell system will also contribute to the expected increase in operating expenses.

Operating and Net Loss

Operating losses during the first quarter of 2013 were $5.0 million, compared to $4.6 million during the first quarter of 2012. The increase in operating losses was driven by higher operating expenses incurred during the first quarter of 2013 compared to the first quarter of 2012, partially offset by increased product revenue and improved gross margins on product sales during the first quarter of 2013.

Net loss for the first quarter of 2013 was $10.3 million, or $0.17 per share, compared to a net loss of $8.8 million, or $0.17 per share, for the first quarter of 2012. Net losses were impacted by the mark-to-market adjustments of the Company's outstanding warrants to fair value, which resulted in non-cash charges of $5.1 million during the first quarter of 2013 compared to $4.5 million during the first quarter of 2012.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

At March 31, 2013, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $69.2 million. In April 2013, the Company repaid its outstanding $4.2 million of term debt. The Company's $7.0 million revolving line of credit remains outstanding with approximately $4.0 million available for future borrowing.

Recent Highlights

• FDA accepts the INTERCEPT platelet PMA application shell structure and timing

• Swissmedic and Swiss Red Cross present national haemovigilance data showing favourable safety profile for INTERCEPT-treated platelet components

• Cerus signs INTERCEPT platelet agreements with two key blood component suppliers in Germany and Austria

• Cerus closes public offering of common stock, raising $40.25 million in gross proceeds.

QUARTERLY CONFERENCE CALL

The Company will host a conference call and webcast at 4:15 p.m. Eastern time today to discuss its financial results and provide a general business overview and outlook. To access the live webcast, please visit the Investor Relations page of the Cerus website at http://www.cerus.com/ir. Alternatively, you may access the live conference call by dialing 866-235-9006 (U.S.) or 631-291-4549 (international).

A replay will be available on the company's web site, or by dialing 855-859-2056 (U.S.) or 404-537-3406 (international) and entering conference ID number 96997633. The replay will be available approximately three hours after the call through May 13, 2013.

ABOUT CERUS

Cerus Corporation is a biomedical products company focused on commercializing the INTERCEPT Blood System to enhance blood safety. The INTERCEPT system is designed to reduce the risk of transfusion-transmitted diseases by inactivating a broad range of pathogens such as viruses, bacteria and parasites that may be present in donated blood. The nucleic acid targeting mechanism of action enables INTERCEPT treatment to inactivate established transfusion threats, such as hepatitis B and C, HIV, West Nile virus and bacteria, and is designed to inactivate emerging pathogens such as influenza, malaria and dengue. Cerus currently markets and sells the INTERCEPT Blood System for both platelets and plasma in Europe, The Commonwealth of Independent States, the Middle East and selected countries in other regions around the world. In the United States, Cerus is seeking regulatory approval of the INTERCEPT Blood System for plasma and platelets. The INTERCEPT Blood System for red blood cells is in clinical development. See http://www.cerus.com for more information.

INTERCEPT and the INTERCEPT Blood System are trademarks of Cerus Corporation.

Forward-Looking Statements

Except for the historical statements contained herein, this press release contains forward-looking statements concerning Cerus' products, prospects and results, including statements concerning Cerus' expectations regarding future sales growth and its 2013 revenues, the timing and success of modular PMA submissions to the FDA for the INTERCEPT Blood System for plasma and platelets, the potential U.S. commercial launch of the INTERCEPT Blood System for plasma and platelets, future operating expenses, research and development activity, including additional clinical development, in support of Cerus' regulatory submissions and the expenses related thereto, marketing activity and expenses in support of Cerus' planned commercialization activities, and the future development and potential regulatory approval of the INTERCEPT Blood System for red blood cells and the expenses related thereto. Actual results could differ materially from these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including, without limitation, risks associated with the commercialization and market acceptance of, and customer demand for, the INTERCEPT Blood System, the uncertain and time-consuming clinical development and regulatory process, Cerus' ability to successfully initiate and conduct planned clinical trials in the anticipated timeframes, or at all, the fact that Cerus may encounter unanticipated difficulties complying with the prescribed submission timing or other modular PMA requirements related to the INTERCEPT Blood System for plasma and/or platelets, the fact that Cerus may be required to conduct additional clinical development in support of its modular PMA submissions, and that if additional clinical development is required it will require funding that Cerus does not currently have and will significantly delay and could preclude regulatory approval of the INTERCEPT Blood System for plasma and platelets in the United States, adverse market and economic conditions, adverse fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, Cerus' reliance on third parties to market, sell, distribute and maintain its products, Cerus' ability to maintain an effective manufacturing supply chain, intellectual property protection, as well as other risks detailed in Cerus' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Cerus' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 filed with the SEC on March 12, 2013. Cerus disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this press release.

Cerus Corporation
Kevin D. Green, 925-288-6138
Vice President, Finance & CFO

KEYWORDS: United States North America California

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:

The article Cerus Corporation Reports First Quarter 2013 Results originally appeared on Fool.com.

Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Copyright © 1995 - 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.