WEST CHESTER, Ohio, Nov. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AtriCure, Inc. , a medical device company and leader in cardiac surgical ablation systems, today announced revenues of $12.1 million for its third quarter ended September 30, 2007. The net loss for the quarter was $2.6 million, the most favorable performance since becoming a public company.
“We are encouraged by our momentum, operating leverage and overall financial performance during the third quarter. The men and women of AtriCure have amassed greater penetration and stronger market presence in each of our current business sectors. Additionally, we believe that our left atrial appendage clip system will develop into a new business sector and represents a new high growth opportunity for our Company,” said David J. Drachman, President and Chief Executive Officer. “We strongly believe that no other atrial fibrillation company is better prepared or positioned than AtriCure to deliver results for patients, physicians and shareholders.”
Third Quarter 2007 Financial Results
Third quarter 2007 revenues were $12.1 million, a 28.8% increase over third quarter 2006 revenues of $9.4 million and, impacted by seasonality, a 2.4% decrease as compared to second quarter 2007 revenues of $12.4 million. Revenues from domestic open-heart products were $6.7 million, a 21.9% increase compared to $5.5 million in the third quarter of 2006 and relatively consistent with revenues for the second quarter of 2007. Revenues from domestic minimally invasive products were $3.5 million, representing a 28.0% increase over third quarter 2006 revenues of $2.8 million and a $0.5 million decrease over second quarter 2007 revenues of $4.0 million. International revenues were a record $1.8 million, a 64.6% increase over third quarter 2006 revenues and a 20.3% sequential quarter increase.
Third quarter 2007 gross profit was $9.3 million and gross margin was 77.1%, compared to gross profit of $7.5 million and a gross margin of 79.8% for the third quarter of 2006. The gross margin for the second quarter of 2007 was 79.4%. The decrease in gross margin as compared to the third quarter of 2006 and sequentially, was primarily due to an increased mix of international revenues which generally provide a lower gross margin than domestic revenues, and the introduction of new products which initially drive a higher product cost.
Operating expenses were $12.2 million for the third quarter of 2007 as compared with $10.9 million for the third quarter of 2006. The increase in operating expenses was primarily due to an increase in sales and marketing expenses. The net loss for the third quarter of 2007 was $2.6 million as compared to $3.2 million for the third quarter of 2006 and $2.8 million for the second quarter of 2007. Net loss per share was $0.18 for the third quarter of 2007 as compared with a loss per share of $0.26 for the third quarter of 2006. The net loss for the second quarter of 2007 was $2.8 million, or $0.22 per share.
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments were $21.2 million at September 30, 2007 and there were 14.1 million shares of common stock outstanding.
Initial Human Implants - Left Atrial Appendage Clip System
In September 2007, AtriCure’s left atrial appendage clip was successfully implanted during an open-heart surgical procedure. To date, as part of a European clinical study, AtriCure’s left atrial appendage clip has been successfully implanted in a small series of patients during open-heart surgical procedures in Zurich, Switzerland.
Minimally Invasive Isolator Synergy(TM) System Released
During the quarter, AtriCure released its next generation minimally invasive clamp system, Isolator Synergy(TM). This system incorporates two pulsing pairs of electrodes in the jaws of the clamp. AtriCure believes this enhanced technology allows physicians to ensure full thickness ablations in thicker, more diseased tissues and creates more durable lines of block. The open-heart version was released during the first quarter of 2007 and has been widely adopted.
Financial Guidance
For the full year 2007, the Company is narrowing its revenue guidance range and lowering its net loss per share guidance. The Company expects annual 2007 revenues to be in the range of $48.0 to $48.7 million and net loss per share to be in the range of $0.92 to $0.97 per share. For the fourth quarter 2007, revenues are expected to be between $12.8 and $13.5 million.
Conference Call
AtriCure will host a conference call at 10:00 a.m. ET on Tuesday, November 6, 2007, to discuss third quarter 2007 results. A live web cast of the conference call will be available online from the investor relations page of AtriCure’s corporate web site at www.atricure.com. Pre-registration is available for this call at the following URL: https://www.theconferencingservice.com/prereg/key.process?key=PWTAHHJ3Q. Pre- registering is not mandatory, but is recommended as it will provide you immediate entry into the call and will facilitate the timely start of the call. Pre-registration only takes a few moments and you may pre-register at any time, including up to and after the call start time. Alternatively, if you prefer being placed into the call by an operator, please call 888-713-4218 for domestic callers and 617-213-4870 for international callers at least 15 minutes prior to the call start time and use reservation number 91207687.
The web cast will remain available on AtriCure’s web site through December 6, 2007. A telephonic replay of the call will also be available until December 6, 2007. The replay numbers are 888-286-8010 for domestic callers and 617-801-6888 for international callers. Please use reservation code 85213467.
About AtriCure, Inc.
AtriCure, Inc. is a medical device company and leader in developing, manufacturing and selling innovative cardiac surgical ablation systems designed to create precise lesions, or scars, in cardiac, or heart, tissues. Medical journals have described the adoption by leading cardiothoracic surgeons of the AtriCure Isolator(R) bipolar ablation clamps as a treatment alternative during open-heart surgical procedures to create lesions in cardiac tissue to block the abnormal electrical impulses that cause atrial fibrillation, or AF, a rapid, irregular quivering of the upper chambers of the heart. Additionally, leading cardiothoracic surgeons have described the AtriCure Isolator(R) clamps as a promising treatment alternative for patients who may be candidates for sole-therapy minimally invasive procedures. AF affects more than 2.5 million Americans and predisposes them to a five-fold increased risk of stroke.
The FDA has cleared the AtriCure Isolator(R) bipolar ablation system, including the new Isolator Synergy(TM) ablation clamps, for the ablation, or destruction, of soft tissues in general and cardiac related surgical procedures, but to date has not cleared or approved the system for the treatment of AF. The FDA has cleared the AtriCure multifunctional bipolar Pen for the ablation of cardiac tissue and for temporary pacing, sensing, stimulating and recording during the evaluation of cardiac arrhythmias, but the multifunctional bipolar Pen has not been approved for the treatment of AF.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward- looking statements include statements that address activities, events or developments that AtriCure expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future, such as earnings estimates, other predictions of financial performance, launches by AtriCure of new products and market acceptance of AtriCure’s products. Forward-looking statements are based on AtriCure’s experience and perception of current conditions, trends, expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate under the circumstances and are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond AtriCure’s control. These risks and uncertainties include the rate and degree of market acceptance of AtriCure’s products, AtriCure’s ability to develop and market new and enhanced products, the timing of and ability to obtain and maintain regulatory clearances and approvals for its products, the timing of and ability to obtain reimbursement of procedures utilizing AtriCure’s products, competition from existing and new products and procedures or AtriCure’s ability to effectively react to other risks and uncertainties described from time to time in AtriCure’s SEC filings, such as fluctuation of quarterly financial results, reliance on third party manufacturers and suppliers, litigation (including the purported class action lawsuit) or other proceedings, government regulation and stock price volatility. AtriCure does not guarantee any forward-looking statement, and actual results may differ materially from those projected. AtriCure undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
CONTACT: Julie A. Piton, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of
AtriCure, Inc., +1-513-755-4561, jpiton@atricure.com
Web site: http://www.atricure.com//
