Stellar Biotech Reports First Quarter 2016 Financial Results And Operational Highlights
PORT HUENEME, CA--(Marketwired - Feb 8, 2016) - Stellar Biotechnologies, Inc. ("Stellar" or "the Company") (NASDAQ: SBOT) (TSX VENTURE: KLH), the leader in sustainable manufacture of Keyhole Limpet Hemocyanin ("KLH"), announces its financial results for its first fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2015.
Operational Highlights for First Quarter 2016
Revenue Increase: Revenue for the three months ended December 31, 2015 increased 130% over the comparable period in 2014, driven primarily by an increase in customers and greater sales volume.
Listing on Nasdaq Capital Market: On November 5, 2015, Stellar's common shares began trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market ("Nasdaq") under the symbol "SBOT." Stellar believes that the Nasdaq uplisting will enhance the Company's visibility to the broader investment community and provide greater access to institutional investors. Stellar's common shares will continue to trade on the TSX Venture Exchange in Canada under the symbol "KLH."
Recent Developments
Proposed Joint Venture with Neovacs to Manufacture Conjugated Therapeutic Vaccines with Stellar KLH: On January 20, 2016, Stellar and Neovacs, S.A., entered into a term sheet to form a joint venture for the manufacture of conjugated therapeutic vaccines using Stellar's proprietary KLH. The purpose of the proposed joint venture is to produce Neovacs' Kinoid product candidates, including IFNa-Kinoid, as well as potentially manufacture other KLH-based immunotherapies on behalf of third party customers. There can be no assurance that the Joint Venture will be consummated or, if consummated, will achieve the expected results.
"We are pleased to report good momentum heading into 2016, with what we believe are positive indicators for our core KLH business," said Frank Oakes, President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chairman of Stellar Biotechnologies, Inc. "We are focusing on continuing to increase sales revenue, and we are working to expand our commercial and clinical opportunities with new collaborations such as the recently proposed joint venture with Neovacs in France."
First Quarter Ended December 31, 2015 Financial Results:
Revenues: Stellar generated total revenues of $488,160 for the three months ended December 31, 2015, compared to $212,661 for the three months ended December 31, 2014, an increase of 130%. The increase in revenue resulted primarily from increases in product sales caused by an increase in the number of customers and increased sales volume including sales under supply agreements and custom manufactured products.
Expenses: Total expenses were $1.8 million for the three months ended December 31, 2015, compared to $1.5 million for the same period in 2014. Costs of revenues increased to $396,976 for the first quarter of 2015, compared to $177,101 for the same period in 2014, consistent with increased product sales and contract services revenue. Research and development expenses decreased to $288,849 for the three months ended December 31, 2015, compared to $418,821 for the same period in 2014 due to our refocus from internal R&D to manufacturing our Stellar KLH⢠products in response to increased customer demand. General and administration expenses increased to $1,109,689 for the three months ended December 31, 2015, compared to $942,153 for the same period in 2014. The increase resulted from a combination of increased corporate expenses, including our Nasdaq listing fees, compensation increases, increased share based compensation and increased investor relations activity, offset by decreased business development travel.
Net Loss: Net loss was $1.63 million, or ($0.19) loss per basic share, for the three months ended December 31, 2015, compared to $1.34 million, or ($0.17) loss per basic share, for the three months ended December 31, 2014. The increase in net loss was primarily due to fluctuations in noncash gain/loss in fair value of warrant liability.
Capital Resources: Working capital was $8.97 million as of December 31, 2015, compared to working capital of $7.49 million as of September 30, 2015. Cash and cash equivalents totaled $3.89 million at December 31, 2015, compared to cash and cash equivalents of $3.96 million at September 30, 2015, which represented a decrease of $67,953. Short-term investments totaled $5.02 million at December 31, 2015, compared to short-term investments of $5.02 million at September 30, 2015, which represented an increase of $1,629.
Shareholders' Equity: Stellar had positive shareholders' equity of $9.6 million and approximately 8.45 million shares outstanding as of December 31, 2015, compared to shareholders' equity of $8.0 million and approximately 7.98 million shares outstanding at September 30, 2015. The increase in shareholders' equity was the result of the exercise of warrants during the quarter, offset by net loss.
Conference Call and Webcast Information:
Date: Wednesday, February 10, 2016
Time: 1:30 PM ET/10:30 AM PT
Participant Dial-in: 1-913-981-5510
Conference Call Participant Passcode: 9642481
Webcast Link: https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/1359/13282
Q&A submission: Questions for management may be submitted via the chat feature of the live online webcast.
Please log in at least 10 minutes before the start time to ensure timely participation and appropriate web interface platform.
For the live and archived webcast link, please visit the investor presentation section on Stellar Biotechnologies' website at: http://ir.stellarbiotechnologies.com/events-calendar
A replay of the call will be available approximately two hours after the live call through February 24, 2016. To access the replay, dial (888) 203-1112 (U.S. and Canada) or (719) 457-0820 (international) and entering passcode 9642481. The webcast replay will be available shortly after the conference call; to review visit the "Investors" section of the Stellar's Company website at: http://ir.stellarbiotechnologies.com/events-calendar.
Stellar Biotechnologies will its Form 10-Q for the period ending December 31, 2015 with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on Monday, February 8, 2016. To view the Company's filings under Form 20-F, Form 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K, please visit the U.S. SEC website (www.sec.gov/). To view the Company's filings with the Canadian Securities Administrators ("CSA"), including the Management Discussion and Analysis and related consolidated financial statements, please visit the CSA's SEDAR website (www.sedar.com).
About Stellar Biotechnologies, Inc.
Stellar Biotechnologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: SBOT) (TSX VENTURE: KLH) is the leader in sustainable manufacture of Keyhole Limpet Hemocyanin (KLH), an important immune-stimulating protein used in wide-ranging therapeutic and diagnostic markets. KLH is both an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) in many new immunotherapies (targeting cancer, immune disorders, Alzheimer's and inflammatory diseases) as well as a finished product for measuring immune status. Stellar Biotechnologies is unique in its proprietary methods, facilities, and KLH technology. We are committed to meeting the growing demand for commercial-scale supplies of GMP grade KLH, ensuring environmentally sound KLH production, and developing KLH-based active immunotherapies.
Visit www.stellarbiotech.com and the KLH knowledge base www.klhsite.org.
Operational Highlights for First Quarter 2016
Revenue Increase: Revenue for the three months ended December 31, 2015 increased 130% over the comparable period in 2014, driven primarily by an increase in customers and greater sales volume.
Listing on Nasdaq Capital Market: On November 5, 2015, Stellar's common shares began trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market ("Nasdaq") under the symbol "SBOT." Stellar believes that the Nasdaq uplisting will enhance the Company's visibility to the broader investment community and provide greater access to institutional investors. Stellar's common shares will continue to trade on the TSX Venture Exchange in Canada under the symbol "KLH."
Recent Developments
Proposed Joint Venture with Neovacs to Manufacture Conjugated Therapeutic Vaccines with Stellar KLH: On January 20, 2016, Stellar and Neovacs, S.A., entered into a term sheet to form a joint venture for the manufacture of conjugated therapeutic vaccines using Stellar's proprietary KLH. The purpose of the proposed joint venture is to produce Neovacs' Kinoid product candidates, including IFNa-Kinoid, as well as potentially manufacture other KLH-based immunotherapies on behalf of third party customers. There can be no assurance that the Joint Venture will be consummated or, if consummated, will achieve the expected results.
"We are pleased to report good momentum heading into 2016, with what we believe are positive indicators for our core KLH business," said Frank Oakes, President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chairman of Stellar Biotechnologies, Inc. "We are focusing on continuing to increase sales revenue, and we are working to expand our commercial and clinical opportunities with new collaborations such as the recently proposed joint venture with Neovacs in France."
First Quarter Ended December 31, 2015 Financial Results:
Revenues: Stellar generated total revenues of $488,160 for the three months ended December 31, 2015, compared to $212,661 for the three months ended December 31, 2014, an increase of 130%. The increase in revenue resulted primarily from increases in product sales caused by an increase in the number of customers and increased sales volume including sales under supply agreements and custom manufactured products.
Expenses: Total expenses were $1.8 million for the three months ended December 31, 2015, compared to $1.5 million for the same period in 2014. Costs of revenues increased to $396,976 for the first quarter of 2015, compared to $177,101 for the same period in 2014, consistent with increased product sales and contract services revenue. Research and development expenses decreased to $288,849 for the three months ended December 31, 2015, compared to $418,821 for the same period in 2014 due to our refocus from internal R&D to manufacturing our Stellar KLH⢠products in response to increased customer demand. General and administration expenses increased to $1,109,689 for the three months ended December 31, 2015, compared to $942,153 for the same period in 2014. The increase resulted from a combination of increased corporate expenses, including our Nasdaq listing fees, compensation increases, increased share based compensation and increased investor relations activity, offset by decreased business development travel.
Net Loss: Net loss was $1.63 million, or ($0.19) loss per basic share, for the three months ended December 31, 2015, compared to $1.34 million, or ($0.17) loss per basic share, for the three months ended December 31, 2014. The increase in net loss was primarily due to fluctuations in noncash gain/loss in fair value of warrant liability.
Capital Resources: Working capital was $8.97 million as of December 31, 2015, compared to working capital of $7.49 million as of September 30, 2015. Cash and cash equivalents totaled $3.89 million at December 31, 2015, compared to cash and cash equivalents of $3.96 million at September 30, 2015, which represented a decrease of $67,953. Short-term investments totaled $5.02 million at December 31, 2015, compared to short-term investments of $5.02 million at September 30, 2015, which represented an increase of $1,629.
Shareholders' Equity: Stellar had positive shareholders' equity of $9.6 million and approximately 8.45 million shares outstanding as of December 31, 2015, compared to shareholders' equity of $8.0 million and approximately 7.98 million shares outstanding at September 30, 2015. The increase in shareholders' equity was the result of the exercise of warrants during the quarter, offset by net loss.
Conference Call and Webcast Information:
Date: Wednesday, February 10, 2016
Time: 1:30 PM ET/10:30 AM PT
Participant Dial-in: 1-913-981-5510
Conference Call Participant Passcode: 9642481
Webcast Link: https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/1359/13282
Q&A submission: Questions for management may be submitted via the chat feature of the live online webcast.
Please log in at least 10 minutes before the start time to ensure timely participation and appropriate web interface platform.
For the live and archived webcast link, please visit the investor presentation section on Stellar Biotechnologies' website at: http://ir.stellarbiotechnologies.com/events-calendar
A replay of the call will be available approximately two hours after the live call through February 24, 2016. To access the replay, dial (888) 203-1112 (U.S. and Canada) or (719) 457-0820 (international) and entering passcode 9642481. The webcast replay will be available shortly after the conference call; to review visit the "Investors" section of the Stellar's Company website at: http://ir.stellarbiotechnologies.com/events-calendar.
Stellar Biotechnologies will its Form 10-Q for the period ending December 31, 2015 with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on Monday, February 8, 2016. To view the Company's filings under Form 20-F, Form 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K, please visit the U.S. SEC website (www.sec.gov/). To view the Company's filings with the Canadian Securities Administrators ("CSA"), including the Management Discussion and Analysis and related consolidated financial statements, please visit the CSA's SEDAR website (www.sedar.com).
About Stellar Biotechnologies, Inc.
Stellar Biotechnologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: SBOT) (TSX VENTURE: KLH) is the leader in sustainable manufacture of Keyhole Limpet Hemocyanin (KLH), an important immune-stimulating protein used in wide-ranging therapeutic and diagnostic markets. KLH is both an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) in many new immunotherapies (targeting cancer, immune disorders, Alzheimer's and inflammatory diseases) as well as a finished product for measuring immune status. Stellar Biotechnologies is unique in its proprietary methods, facilities, and KLH technology. We are committed to meeting the growing demand for commercial-scale supplies of GMP grade KLH, ensuring environmentally sound KLH production, and developing KLH-based active immunotherapies.
Visit www.stellarbiotech.com and the KLH knowledge base www.klhsite.org.