EANS-News: Epigenomics AG Releases Q1 Results
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Company Information/3-month report
Berlin, Germany, May 11, 2011 (euro adhoc) - Epigenomics AG (Frankfurt Prime Standard: ECX)today reports its Q1 financials for the period ended 31 March 2011.
Key Financials
| | |Q1/11 |Q1/10 |% change | | | |(unaudited) |(unaudited) | | | | | | | | |Revenue |in mill. |0.62 |0.62 |- | | |EUR | | | | |EBIT |in mill. |(2.74) |(2.61) |5% | | |EUR | | | | |Net Loss |in mill. |(2.89) |(2.59) |12% | | |EUR | | | | | | |At Mar 31, |At Dec 31, | | | | |2011 |2010 | | |Liquid Assets |in mill. |23.49 |26.37 |(11%) | | |EUR | | | |
Financial Highlights
Revenue for the period of EUR 0.6 million were equal to revenues in the
comparative period (Q1 2010: EUR 0.6 million).
Operational costs remained at similar levels at EUR 3.4 million (Q1 2010:
EUR 3.4 million).
Reflecting the increasing focus on commercial activities, R&D costs
decreased significantly by 15% while SG&A costs increased by around 21%
relative to the comparative period.
EBIT (operating loss) increased by 5% to EUR 2.7 million (Q1 2010: EUR 2.6
million).
Net loss for the period amounted to EUR 2.9 million (Q1 2010: EUR 2.6
million)
Cash and cash equivalents amounted to EUR 21.5 million as at 31 March 2011
compared to EUR 24.6 at the year end 2010.
2011 guidance remains unchanged:
o Revenues should be similar or marginally higher level in 2011, with
key drivers coming from license payments, R&D funding, sales in
Europe with growing royalty income coming from partner Septin9-based
tests sales worldwide. Main cost drivers are sales and marketing
activities and the development of Epi proColon 2.0.
o Cash consumption is expected to remain around EUR 10 million - 12
million and should decrease gradually going forward as it is
countered by positive cash flow from operations.Operational highlights
Epigenomics´ major focus for the period was furthering the pre-launch and
operational efforts in advance of a potential FDA approval of Epi proColon
2.0 in the U.S.
In Q1 2011, the Company completed the feasibility phase of its second-
generation test, Epi proColon® 2.0 being developed simultaneously for the
U.S. market and as a second-generation product for the European and ROW
markets. Epigenomics has now entered into the development and verification
phase. Clinical validation studies are planned for H2 2011.
In February 2011, Epigenomics met the FDA to discuss the improved product
concept, its intended use and clinical data required to support an
application for its commercialisation. Epigenomics´ application for Pre-
market Approval is on track for submission by year-end.
Also in February 2011, Epigenomics has signed a collaboration agreement
with QIAGEN for the development and commercialization of a colorectal
cancer blood test. QIAGEN received a 2-year option on a worldwide non-
exclusive commercial license and a research license for the mSEPT9
biomarker and certain DNA methylation technologies for the colorectal
cancer detection in blood.
In March 2011, Epigenomics´ partner Quest Diagnostics Inc received
approval for its Septin9 colorectal cancer blood test ColoVantageTM from
the New York State´s Department of Health. This increases the market
availability of ColoVantage? to the whole of the USA.Post reporting period events
In April 2011, Dr. Thomas Taapken was appointed as Epigenomics´ new CFO
Dr. Taapken joined from publicly listed Biotie Therapies, Turku, Finland.
He has significant experience in transactions including acquisitions,
mergers, divestitures and public offerings.
Also in April 2011, Noel Doheny was appointed as Chief Executive Officer
of Epigenomics´ US subsidiary and will spearhead the activities around the
Company´s US commercial strategy. Mr. Doheny has 30+ years of experience
in the field of diagnostics, with over 20 years in senior management of
companies including Affymetrix and QIAGEN.
In May 2011, Life Technologies agreed to supply Dynabeads® MyOneTM SILANE
and associated reagents for Epigenomics´ second generation colorectal
cancer blood test Epi proColon® 2.0. These magnetic particles for DNA
capture together with further modifications of the test, lead to a
substantially improved clinical performance of the Epi proColon® 2.0 assay
with 91% sensitivity at 87% specificity in a recent feasibility study.
Also in May 2011, a health economic analysis performed by Dr. Uri Ladabaum
of Stanford University and further scientists was presented at Digestive
Disease Week 2011. In the study, the group comes to the conclusion that
screening for colorectal cancer using Septin9 tests is a medically
beneficial and health economically cost-effective strategy when it
addresses the currently unscreened population in the U.S.. Patient
behavior studies are underway at the University of Utah and the Huntsman
Cancer Institutes in collaboration with ARUP Laboratories, Salt Lake City,
UT, U.S.A., that investigate the impact of blood tests on patient
acceptance of colorectal cancer screening and their potential to increase
overall screening compliance. First results of the study indicated that
the majority of the currently unscreened patients would take a Septin9
test for screening.
In May 2011, Quest Diagnostics reported royalty-bearing sales of
approximately 1,500 ColoVantageTM tests in Q1 2011. With approximately
4,000 tests performed in 2011 by the end of April, ColoVantageTM shows
rapidly increasing adoption by physicians and robust performance in the
clinical routine in the U.S.A.Geert Nygaard, Chief Executive Officer of Epigenomics said: "As discussed at time of publication of our Full Year results, our primary focus in 2011 is to further establish the marketing and sales operations of the business and to emphasize the positioning of Epigenomics as a commercially-driven cancer molecular diagnostics company. We are also looking forward to the launch of our second generation Epi proColon® 2.0 test in Europe later this year and, as a key focus of our activities, to complete all necessary steps allowing us to submit the product for FDA review before the end of the year. Before a potential US approval in 2012, our 2011 revenues will be similar to last year´s and we will continue to keep a strong control of costs, as we focus on our commercialization efforts."
The full 3-Months Financial Report 2011 is available for download at http://www.epigenomics.com/en/news-investors/investors/financial-repo rts.html
The Company´s management will be available for investor meetings at the upcoming BioEquity 2011 meeting in Paris on 23-24 May 2011.
-Ends- Notes to the Editor Contact Epigenomics AG Dr. Achim Plum Sen. VP Corporate Development Epigenomics AG Tel +49 (0) 30 24345 368 pr@epigenomics.com www.epigenomics.com Conference Details BioEquity Europe 2011
May 23-24, 2011 Paris, France www.ebdgroup.com/bee
About Epigenomics
Epigenomics (www.epigenomics.com) is a molecular diagnostics company developing and commercializing a pipeline of proprietary products for cancer. The Company´s products enable doctors to diagnose cancer earlier and more accurately, leading to improved outcomes for patients. Epigenomics´ lead product, Epi proColon®, is a blood-based test for the early detection of colorectal cancer, which is currently marketed in Europe and is in development for the U.S.A. The Company´s technology and products have been validated through multiple partnerships with leading global diagnostic companies including Abbott, QIAGEN, Sysmex, and Quest Diagnostics. Epigenomics is an international company with operations in Europe and the U.S.A.
Epigenomics legal disclaimer. This communication expressly or implicitly contains certain forward-looking statements concerning Epigenomics AG and its business. Such statements involve certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of Epigenomics AG to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Epigenomics AG is providing this communication as of this date and does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements contained herein as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
The information contained in this communication does not constitute nor imply an offer to sell or transfer any product, and no product based on this technology is currently available for sale by Epigenomics in the United States or Canada. The analytical and clinical performance characteristics of any Epigenomics product based on this technology which may be sold at some future time in the U.S. have not been established.
end of announcement euro adhoc --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contact:
Dr. Achim Plum
Sen. VP Corporate Development
Epigenomics AG
Tel: +49 30 24345 368
achim.plum@epigenomics.com
Branche: Biotechnology
ISIN: DE000A0BVT96
WKN: A0BVT9
Index: Prime All Share, Technology All Share
Börsen: Frankfurt / regulated dealing/prime standard
Berlin / free trade
Hamburg / free trade
Stuttgart / free trade
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München / free trade