Full Press Release Details
Vice President, Finance & CFO
Cerus Corporation Reports
Fourth Quarter and Year-End 2013 Results
February 25, 2014 - Cerus Corporation (NASDAQ: CERS) today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2013.
The coming year will be a pivotal one for Cerus, in which we anticipate a possible second-half approval decision for INTERCEPT plasma in the United
States, and prepare for a possible INTERCEPT platelet approval decision in 2015, said William Obi Greenman, president and chief executive officer of Cerus Corporation. We are also pursuing strategic changes to certain
distributor relationships in order to improve future growth opportunities in several existing commerical markets. As a result of these strategic changes, we are providing 2014 revenue guidance of $38-40 million, reflecting our expectation for a
temporary negative sales impact during the first half of 2014.
Product revenue for the fourth quarter of 2013 was $9.2 million, a 12% decrease from the fourth quarter of 2012. The decrease in product revenue was driven by
sales declines for both disposable kits and illuminators in several key distributor markets.
Product revenue for the year ended December 31, 2013
was $39.7 million and represented an 8% increase over product revenue recognized during the year ended December 31, 2012. The year-over-year increase in product revenue was driven primarily by growth in demand for INTERCEPT disposable kits,
notably plasma kits, as certain existing platelet customers began purchasing plasma kits during 2013.
The Company did not recognize any government grant
revenue during 2013, as government grants in support of the Company s red blood cell system had been fully utilized by January 2012. Government grant revenue for the year ended December 31, 2012 was $0.1 million.
Gross margins on product sales for the fourth quarter of 2013 were 47%, compared to 51% for the fourth quarter of 2012. Gross margins on product sales for the
year ended December 31, 2013 were 43%, compared to 44% for same period in 2012. As of January 2014, we are operating under an amendment to our existing agreement with Fresenius-Kabi, the manufacturer of our disposable kits, which is expected to
provide more stability in our cost of goods sold going forward, compared with the quarterly volatility we previously experienced. In addition, under the new terms, we expect a more efficient supply chain as Fresenius-Kabi will be sourcing and
purchasing work-in-process for certain components from us.
Total operating expenses for the fourth quarter of 2013 were $12.1 million, compared to $9.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2012. Total operating expenses
for the year ended December 31, 2013 were $45.4 million, compared to $33.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2012. The increase in operating expenses for both the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2013 was related to
increased costs incurred in connection with development efforts in support of the PMA submissions for both our platelet and plasma programs, increased selling, general and administrative expenses in anticipation of a potential United States launch
and increased clinical costs for our ongoing red blood cell clinical efforts, both in Europe and the United States. We expect operating expenses will increase during 2014 as we decide to bring on additional resources with evolving insight into the
United States approval process and possible subsequent commercial launch for our platelet and plasma products, and as we make decisions around the speed of enrollment for our European red blood cell clinical trials and the license-enabling
manufacturing development work needed to obtain CE mark for our red blood cell product candidate.
Operating and Net Loss
Operating losses during the fourth quarter of 2013 were $7.8 million, compared to $3.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2012. Operating losses during the year
ended December 31, 2013 were $28.3 million, compared to $17.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2012.
Net loss for the fourth quarter of
2013 was $5.9 million, or $0.10 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $1.7 million, or $0.07 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2012. Net loss for the year ended December 31, 2013 was $43.3 million, or $0.64 per share, compared
to a net loss of $15.9 million, or $0.33 per diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2012. Net losses were impacted by the mark-to-market adjustments of Cerus outstanding warrants to fair value, which resulted in non-cash gains of
$1.7 million during the fourth quarter of 2013 compared to $2.0 million during the comparable prior year period, and non-cash losses of $15.1 million during the year ended December 31, 2013 compared to non-cash gains of $2.1 million for the
comparable period in 2012.
Cash and Investments
December 31, 2013, the Company had cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $57.7 million compared to $26.7 million at December 31, 2012. Throughout 2013, the Company raised capital using a combination of equity offerings and
its revolving credit facility to support the ongoing European business and to strengthen its balance sheet in support of the U.S. PMA process for its platelet and plasma products.
Other Recent Highlights
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 29781713. The replay will be available approximately three hours after the call through March 10, 2014.
Cerus Corporation is a biomedical products
company focused in the field of blood safety. 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 red blood cell system is in clinical development. See http://www.cerus.com for more
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 its 2014 revenues and future growth
opportunities, the anticipated impact resulting from strategic changes to Cerus distributor relationships, including the negative sales impact and the length thereof, the potential approval of the modular PMA by the FDA for the INTERCEPT Blood
System for plasma and the timing thereof, the potential approval of the modular PMA by the FDA for the INTERCEPT Blood System for platelets and the timing thereof, potential CE Mark approval for the red blood cell system, the potential launch in the
United States of the INTERCEPT Blood System for plasma and platelets, future operating expenses, research and development activity and expenses in support of Cerus regulatory submissions, the expected financial and other benefits from
Cerus amended agreement with its manufacturer of disposable kits, and the future development of the INTERCEPT Blood System for red blood cells. 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, including the risk that the anticipated negative sales impact from the strategic
changes to Cerus distributor relationships could last longer or be more severe than anticipated; the uncertain and time-consuming development and regulatory process, including the risks that Cerus may be required to complete additional
clinical trials in order to obtain approval of its modular PMA submissions, that Cerus may
otherwise encounter unanticipated difficulties complying with the prescribed submission timing or other modular PMA requirements related to the INTERCEPT Blood System for plasma or for platelets
or that Cerus PMA submissions might not be approved by the FDA in a timely manner or at all; 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 Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2013 filed with the SEC on November 1, 2013. Cerus disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained
in this press release.
Financial Tables Attached
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED UNAUDITED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands except per share information)
| Three Months Ended December 31, | Twelve Months Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||
| 2013 | 2012 | 2013 | 2012 | |||||||||||||
| Product Related: | ||||||||||||||||
| Product revenue | $ | 9,232 | $ | 10,528 | $ | 39,657 | $ | 36,695 | ||||||||
| Cost of product revenue | 4,939 | 5,117 | 22,602 | 20,616 | ||||||||||||
| Gross profit on product revenue | 4,293 | 5,411 | 17,055 | 16,079 | ||||||||||||
| Government grant and cooperative agreements revenue | 91 | |||||||||||||||
| Operating expenses: | ||||||||||||||||
| Research and development | 4,618 | 2,164 | 15,187 | 7,603 | ||||||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative | 7,430 | 6,794 | 29,965 | 25,665 | ||||||||||||
| Amortization of intangible assets | 51 | 51 | 202 | 202 | ||||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | 12,099 | 9,009 | 45,354 | 33,470 | ||||||||||||
| Loss from operations | (7,806 | ) | (3,598 | ) | (28,299 | ) | (17,300 | ) | ||||||||
| Non-operating income (expense), net | 1,999 | 1,993 | (14,820 | ) | 1,625 | |||||||||||
| Loss from operations before income taxes | (5,807 | ) | (1,605 | ) | (43,119 | ) | (15,675 | ) | ||||||||
| Provision for income taxes | 53 | 111 | 218 | 242 | ||||||||||||
| Net loss | $ | (5,860 | ) | $ | (1,716 | ) | $ | (43,337 | ) | $ | (15,917 | ) | ||||
| Net loss per common share: | ||||||||||||||||
| Basic | $ | (0.08 | ) | $ | (0.03 | ) | $ | (0.64 | ) | $ | (0.29 | ) | ||||
| Diluted | $ | (0.10 | ) | $ | (0.07 | ) | $ | (0.64 | ) | $ | (0.33 | ) | ||||
| Weighted average common shares outstanding used for computing net loss per common share: | ||||||||||||||||
| Basic | 70,882 | 55,663 | 67,569 | 54,515 | ||||||||||||
| Diluted | 73,887 | 55,912 | 67,569 | 55,061 |
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED UNAUDITED BALANCE SHEETS
| December 31, 2013 | December 31, 2012 | |||||||
| Cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments | $ | 57,676 | $ | 26,696 | ||||
| Accounts receivable, net | 6,125 | 4,444 | ||||||
| Inventories | 13,063 | 10,180 | ||||||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 1,290 | 2,676 | ||||||
| Property and equipment, net | 2,189 | 1,698 | ||||||
| Goodwill and intangible assets, net | 2,660 | 2,862 | ||||||
| Other assets | 378 | 363 | ||||||
| Total assets | $ | 83,381 | $ | 48,919 | ||||
| Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | $ | 15,487 | $ | 14,805 | ||||
| Deferred revenue | 181 | 77 | ||||||
| Debt - current | 3,366 | 4,828 | ||||||
| Warrant liability | 20,390 | 5,903 | ||||||
| Debt - non-current | 2,896 | |||||||
| Other non-current liabilities | 1,162 | 1,303 | ||||||
| Total liabilities | 40,586 | 29,812 | ||||||
| Stockholders equity | 42,795 | 19,107 | ||||||
| Total liabilities and stockholders equity | $ | 83,381 | $ | 48,919 |