Ondine Biopharma Corporation Announces 2009 Year End Financial Results

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - March 24, 2010) - Ondine Biopharma Corporation (the "Company" or "Ondine") (TSX: OBP)(AIM: OBP) a medical technology company developing photodisinfection based products, today announced its financial results for the year ended December 31, 2009. All amounts are stated in Canadian dollars unless otherwise indicated.

"2009 was a remarkably productive year, despite the challenging financial markets. Significant progress was made on a number of fronts. Our performance demonstrates the dedication, commitment and creativity of the Ondine team", said Carolyn Cross, Chairman and CEO. "In the second quarter, Ondine sold its dental healthcare business for cash and residual economic benefits in order to focus resources on developing products for the large Hospital Acquired Infection ("HAI") market. In the second half of the year, Ondine reinforced this commitment to the HAI sector with the acquisition of Advanced Photodynamic Technologies, Inc. ("APT") and quickly integrated APT's HAI product development pipeline into the Ondine platform.

Ondine's most recent highlight was the submission and acceptance for filing of the PMA submission to the FDA for the Periowave Photodisinfection System, which is the first product developed and commercialized by Ondine that utilizes our platform technology. A key strength of Ondine's antimicrobial photodisinfection platform is its ability to address the growing superbug and antibiotic resistance problem, with cost effective, convenient user friendly approaches for clinicians and patients alike. We are very excited, therefore, to begin 2010 as a the leader in photodisinfection, focused on the HAI market."

HIGHLIGHTS

- Filed PMA Submission with FDA for Periowave™, and subsequently received acceptance of filing notification

- Disposition of Dental Assets to Periowave Dental Technologies Inc. for cash, royalties and potential milestone payments

- Acquired Advanced Photodynamic Technologies, Inc. through an equity exchange to become the global leader in photodisinfection (aPDT)

- Raised $3 million through equity financings and disposition of investment

- Achieved product development milestones for dental and medical markets, including additional Health Canada Licenses.

2009 FINANCIAL RESULTS

For the year ended December 31, 2009 (the "Current Year") the Company recorded a loss of $4.60 million, or $0.06 per common share, a decrease of $5.67 million (55%) when compared with the loss of $10.27 million, or $0.17 per common share, for the year ended December 31, 2008 (the "Prior Year"). Product sales revenue for Periowave™ laser base stations and treatment kits for the Current Year was $0.58 million generating a gross margin of $0.36 million (62.3%) compared to product sales of $0.91 million and gross profit margin of $0.18 million (20.4%) for the Prior Year. The Company prepares its consolidated financial statements in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles.

DEVELOPMENTS DURING 2009

Acquisitions and dispositions

On June 5, 2009, the Company completed the sale of its dental healthcare business (the "Dental Sale") to Periowave Dental Technologies Inc. ("PDT"), a Toronto-based privately held company. In addition to the net cash of $623,000 received from the closing of the Dental Sale in 2009, the Company benefits from the sale in a variety of other ways, including the gross margin the Company earns as continuing manufacturer of the Periowave™ product under a manufacturing and supply agreement with PDT; fees the Company receives pursuant to the terms of a management services agreement with PDT; and the royalties the Company earns on PDT's sales of Periowave™. The Company is also entitled to a net-receipts royalty if PDT enters into a licensing agreement for Periowave™ with a third party; milestone payments based on cumulative sales thresholds achieved by PDT; and, in lieu of future royalties and milestone payments, a share, based on a sliding scale over time, of the net sales proceeds if PDT sells the Dental Healthcare Business to a third party.

On December 7, 2009, the Company completed the acquisition of Advanced Photodynamic Technologies, Inc. ("APT") by issuing 8,856,458 of the Company's common shares for all of the common shares of APT. The former shareholders of APT are also entitled to receive contingent share consideration of up to an additional 11,187,105 common shares if all milestones are met and 5% of the net proceeds received by the Company from future third party transactions for the commercialization or acquisition of certain of APT's intellectual property. Products under development by APT are designed for the HAI market and utilize technology similar to the Company's existing Photodisinfection technology and include treatments for chronic sinusitis, local treatment of head and neck cancer, and for in situ disinfection of endotracheal tubes to prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) - the second-most common HAI in North America

Financings

The financing summary for 2009 includes the following transactions:

- During February 2009, the Company raised gross proceeds of $517,210 through two tranches of a non-brokered private placement by issuing 8,620,168 common shares at $0.06 per share.

- On June 2, 2009, the Company closed a non-brokered private placement by issuing 14,851,250 common shares at $0.12 per share for $1,782,150 (US$1.5 million), in exchange for 39,042 ordinary shares of Grafton Resource Investments Ltd. (the "Grafton Fund", a closed-end mutual fund) at US$38.42 per fund share. The Company subsequently sold the Grafton shares for total cash proceeds of $1,138,000, recognizing a pre-tax loss of $644,000 on these sales.

- On June 26, 2009, the Company closed a non-brokered private placement by issuing 8,395,275 units at $0.11 per unit (an "$0.11 Unit") for aggregate gross proceeds of $923,480. Each $0.11 Unit consists of one common share of the Company and one share purchase warrant entitling the holder to acquire one common share of the Company at an exercise price of $0.15 until June 26, 2011.

- On December 23, 2009, the Company closed a non-brokered private placement by issuing 8,000,000 units at $0.05 per unit (a "$0.05 Unit") for aggregate gross proceeds of $400,000. Each $0.05 Unit consists of one common share of the Company and one share purchase warrant entitling the holder to acquire one common share of the Company at an exercise price of $0.05 until December 23, 2010.

Clinical and Regulatory

The following developments were announced:

- In March 2009, a Health Canada license for the Company's handheld Periowave™ photodisinfection system was obtained. This system utilizes a new model of laser, which is a hand held version of the countertop laser base station. It is expected this new system will be commercialized in the second quarter of 2010.

- In March 2009, Ondine announced positive results of a study demonstrating the first successful decontamination of heavily MRSA-infected wounds in animals. The study was carried out by a team of collaborative researchers at the University College London, UK, and utilized Ondine's MRSAid™ photodisinfection system.

- In April 2009, additional Health Canada Licenses were obtained for our MRSAid™ Photodisinfection System which is designed to reduce MRSA colonization of the anterior nasal passages. Ondine's non-antibiotic MRSAid™ system is designed to block carriage of these resistant microbes before transmission can occur between patients, visitors and healthcare workers.

Management Changes

- January 2009: Carolyn Cross, was appointed Chairman of Ondine's Board of Directors and continued as Chief Executive Officer of the Company; Dr. Nicolas Loebel was appointed President of the Company; Mr. Thomas Dawson was appointed Chief Operating Officer of the Company; and Dr Cale Street was appointed Vice-President of Research of Ondine's wholly-owned subsidiary, Ondine Research Laboratories, Inc. ("ORL"). Pierre Leduc resigned from his position as Executive Chairman of the Board.

- May 21, 2009: Ms. Margaret Shaw was elected as a director of the Company.

- December 7, 2009: Dr. Merrill Biel was appointed as a Director of the Company.

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

Regulatory

On March 17, 2010, the Company announced that it had received notification from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that the Company's premarket approval (PMA) submission for Periowave™ has been accepted for filing. The FDA's action means that the PMA application is sufficiently complete and ready for substantive review. The PMA was submitted with the objective of obtaining regulatory clearance for the marketing of the Periowave™ Photodisinfection System in the United States for the treatment of chronic periodontitis in adults as an adjunct to standard methods of care. The submission incorporates the results of many years of preclinical and clinical development.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Consolidated statements of operations for the fourth quarter of 2009 ("Fourth Quarter 2009") compared to the fourth quarter of 2008 ("Fourth Quarter 2008") are as follows (unaudited - in thousands except per share amounts):

---------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  Three months ended
                                                       December 31,
                                                    2009         2008
                                                       $            $
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Revenue
Product sales                                         39          302
Cost of sales                                         23          164
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Gross Margin                                          16          138
Consulting revenue                                   215            -
Royalty revenue                                       18            -
---------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     249          138
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Expenses (recovery)
Research and development                             782        1,114
General and administration                           538          614
Marketing and sales                                  (10)         311
Depreciation and amortization                         68           89
Write-down of inventory deposit                       87            -
Write-down of capital assets                           -          143
---------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  (1,465)      (2,271)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Other
Loss on sale of investment                           (15)           -
Loss on disposal of equipment                        (21)           -
Interest income                                        -            8
Foreign exchange gain (loss)                          (3)           1
---------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     (39)           9
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Loss before income taxes                          (1,255)      (2,124)
Income tax recovery                                   29            -
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Loss for the period                               (1,226)      (2,124)
Unrealized (loss) gain on short-term investments       -           (1)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Comprehensive loss for the period                 (1,226)      (2,125)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Basic and diluted loss per common share            (0.01)       (0.03)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Weighted average number of shares outstanding     96,542       61,359
---------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------

Sales during the Current Year were less than the Prior Year principally due to the closing of the Dental Sale on June 5, 2009 as the assets acquired by purchaser, PDT, included product inventory. The Company realised a $0.68 million gain on the Dental Sale. Subsequent to the closing, the Company continued to be the manufacturer of the Periowave™ product with all sales being made to PDT at fixed margins under the terms of a manufacturing and supply agreement. Sales during the second half of the Current Year were $0.07 million compared to $0.45 million during the second half of the Prior Year. The improvement in gross profit margin in the Current Year, as compared to the Prior Year, is principally due to cost of sales for the Prior Year including a provision for excess and obsolete inventory of $0.47 million. During the Current Year, the Company further reduced its expenses, primarily in connection with its cost control program. The Company's expenses during the Current Year were also significantly reduced by the Dental Sale, which eliminated substantially all of its marketing and sales costs for the balance of the year compared to marketing and sales expenses of $0.78 million during the second half of the Prior Year.

During the Current Year the Company entered into a number of other transactions for which there were no comparable transactions in the Prior Year, resulting in consulting revenue of $0.43 million, primarily due to fees earned pursuant to the terms of a management services agreement with PDT and an aggregate loss of $0.64 million on the sale of the Company's investment in the Grafton Fund. Other significant variances in the results for the Current Year, as compared to the Prior Year, were caused by the write-down of capital assets in the Prior Year, which did not occur in the Current Year, the write-down of $0.23 million in an inventory deposit in the Prior Year compared to a write-down of $0.09 million in the Current Year; and a decrease of $0.14 million in interest and other income during the Current Year compared to the Prior Year. Although the Company substantially reduced its expenses in the Current Year, when compared to the Prior Year, the Company continued to incur significant costs during the Current Year in connection with its activities intended to obtain regulatory clearance to market Periowave™ in the United States.

The $0.90 million decrease in loss for Fourth Quarter 2009, when compared to Fourth Quarter 2008, was primarily due to Fourth Quarter 2009 including consulting revenue of $0.22 million, which did not occur in Fourth Quarter 2008, and expense reductions in research and development (R&D) of $0.33 million; general and administration (G&A) of $0.08 million; and in marketing and sales of $0.32 million resulting from the elimination of those expenses during the last half of the Current Year due to the Dental Sale. The bulk of the reduction of R&D expenses related to activities no longer required in the Fourth Quarter 2009. The reduction in G&A expenses resulted primarily from a reduction in salaries and wages, due to a reduction in staff, being partially offset by an increase in consulting fees due to the transaction costs of the acquisition of APT. In addition, Fourth Quarter 2008 included a $0.14 million write-down of capital assets that was not duplicated in Fourth Quarter 2009. These decreases in loss were partially offset by a $0.12 million decrease in gross margin, primarily due to the decrease in sales, and Fourth Quarter of 2009 including a write-down of inventory deposit of $0.09 million that did not occur in Fourth Quarter 2008. Sales during Fourth Quarter 2009 were less than Fourth Quarter 2008 principally due to the closing of the Dental Sale on June 5, 2009 as the assets acquired by purchaser, PDT, included product inventory.

The Company intends to continue to focus its resources on development of a selective number of new applications of its platform PDD technology, principally the MRSAid™ product for decolonization of MRSA in the anterior nares and the product for in situ disinfection of endotracheal tubes to prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), which was acquired in December 2009 as part of the acquisition of APT. During Fourth Quarter 2009, the Company continued to invest in research and development including, among other things, the continued development of our MRSAid™ product and the tasks that enabled the Company to file a PMA submission with the FDA for the marketing Periowave™ in the United States. The Company believes that the experience gained in the preparatory work required for the PMA submission, including extensive development of the quality management system and the worldwide clinical study work done to date, is expected to be of benefit in obtaining regulatory approval for the new PDD products currently under development.

As at December 31, 2009 the Company had cash and cash equivalents totaling $1.05 million compared with $1.03 million as at December 31, 2008. During the Current Year the Company used cash of approximately $3.44 million for operating activities; received an interest free loan of $0.4 million from Carolyn Cross, Chairman and CEO, that was repaid during the year; received net cash proceeds of $1.70 million from the issuance of equity securities; $0.62 million from the Dental Sale; and $1.14 million from the sale of the Grafton Fund investment.

Based on the Company's current level of activities and its future plans, the Company will need to raise additional capital in the near term to continue with its planned operating activities. Although there has been some improvement in certain sectors of the capital markets, the Company continues to believe that future market conditions may make it more difficult and time consuming than normal for companies at its stage of development to secure additional funding. Assurances cannot be given that additional funding will be available on terms that are acceptable to the Company. In the interim, the Company will continue to control its expenses and defer capital outlays in order to extend the period it can operate utilizing its existing cash balances. Should the Company be unable to obtain additional cash in a timely manner, it would have to severely curtail or cease its activities and their can be no assurances that the Company would be able to continue in business.

As at December 31, 2009 the Company had 110,548,457 common shares outstanding.

Additional analysis of the Company's financial results for the Current Year, including analysis of the results for the three months ended December 31, 2009, is included in our management's discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations (MDA) for the year ended December 31, 2009, which will be available on the Company's website and on www.sedar.com.

About Ondine Biopharma Corporation

Ondine is developing non-antibiotic therapies for the treatment of a broad spectrum of bacterial, fungal and viral infections. The Company is focused on developing leading edge products utilizing its patented light-activated technology. Photodisinfection provides broad-spectrum antimicrobial efficacy without encouraging the formation and spread of antibiotic resistance. The Company is based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with a research and development laboratory in Bothell, Washington, USA. For additional information, please visit the Company's website at: www.ondinebiopharma.com.

Forward-Looking Statements:

Certain statements contained in this release containing words like "believe", "intend", "may", "expect" and other similar expressions, are forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the Company's forward-looking statements include the following: market acceptance of our technologies and products; our ability to obtain financing; our financial and technical resources relative to those of our competitors; our ability to keep up with rapid technological change; government regulation of our technologies; our ability to enforce our intellectual property rights and protect our proprietary technologies; the ability to obtain and develop partnership opportunities; the timing of commercial product launches; the ability to achieve key technical milestones in key products and other risk factors identified from time to time in the Company's public filings.

Ondine Biopharma Corporation
Incorporated under the laws of British Columbia
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

As at December 31                           (Expressed in Canadian dollars)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         2009          2008
                                                            $             $
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASSETS
Current
Cash and cash equivalents                           1,055,773     1,033,248
Accounts receivable                                   152,929       416,352
Inventories                                           205,512       283,877
Prepaid expenses and deposits                         143,796       321,202
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total current assets                                1,558,010     2,054,679
Capital assets                                        451,094       651,878
Intangible assets                                     610,012       239,853
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    2,619,116     2,946,410
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities            1,102,681     1,334,572
Income taxes payable                                    1,482        37,800
Current portion of deferred tenant inducement          46,437        45,276
Deferred revenue                                       95,391             -
Future income tax                                      32,576        82,355
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total current liabilities                           1,278,567     1,500,003
Deferred tenant inducement, net of current
 portion                                               62,711       109,149
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total liabilities                                   1,341,278     1,609,152
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shareholders' equity
Share capital                                      54,767,640    51,336,368
Contributed surplus                                 5,191,921     4,087,139
Deficit                                           (58,681,723)  (54,086,249)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total shareholders' equity                          1,277,838     1,337,258
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    2,619,116     2,946,410
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------


Ondine Biopharma Corporation
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF LOSS
AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

For the years ended December 31              (Expressed in Canadian dollars)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         2009          2008
                                                            $             $
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
REVENUE
Product sales                                         581,527       912,326
Cost of sales                                         219,192       726,490
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gross margin                                          362,335       185,836
Consulting revenue                                    430,471             -
Royalty revenue                                        18,233             -
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      811,039       185,836
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
EXPENSES
Research and development                            2,845,867     4,516,247
General and administration                          1,964,310     3,398,195
Marketing and sales                                   443,608     2,018,389
Depreciation and amortization                         251,224       340,825
Write-down of inventory deposit                        87,323       232,000
Write-down of capital assets                                -       143,000
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   (5,592,332)  (10,648,656)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other income/(expense)
Sale of Dental Business                               683,388             -
Loss on sale of investment                           (644,455)            -
Loss on disposal of equipment                         (21,481)            -
Interest and miscellaneous income                      13,808       155,533
Foreign exchange gain                                  95,514        37,566
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      126,774       193,099
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Loss before income taxes                           (4,654,519)  (10,269,721)
Income tax recovery                                    59,045             -
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Loss and comprehensive loss for the year           (4,595,474)  (10,269,721)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Basic and diluted loss per common share                 (0.06)        (0.17)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Weighted average number of common shares
 outstanding                                       82,724,439    61,275,413
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------


Ondine Biopharma Corporation

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

                                           (Expressed in Canadian dollars)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         Accum-
                                                        ulated
                                                         Other       Total
                                   Contrib-             Compre-      Share-
           Number of      Share       uted             hensive     holders'
              Common    Capital    Surplus     Deficit  Income      Equity
              Shares          $          $           $       $           $
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance,
 December
 31, 2007 61,027,675 51,193,823  3,467,847 (43,816,528) (1,204) 10,843,938
Common
 shares
 issued for
 cash:
  Exercise
   of
   options   331,501     82,875          -           -       -      82,875
Stock-based
 compen-
 sation            -          -    678,962           -       -     678,962
Reall-
 ocation of
 contr-
 ibuted
 surplus
 arising
 from
 stock-
 based
 compen-
 sation on
 exercise
 of stock
 options           -     59,670    (59,670)          -       -           -
Loss for
 the year          -          -          - (10,269,721)      - (10,269,721)
Reclass-
 ification of
 unrealized
 loss on
 short term
 investments       -          -          -           -   1,204       1,204
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance,
 December
 31, 2008 61,359,176 51,336,368  4,087,139 (54,086,249)      -   1,337,258
Common
 shares
 issued for
 cash (net
 of issue
 costs) :
 February
  2009
  Private
  Placement 8,620,168    497,671         -           -       -     497,671
Units
 issued for
 cash (net
 of issue
 costs)
 June 2009
  Private
  Placement 8,395,275    503,054    347,293          -       -     850,347
 December
  2009
  Private
  Placement 8,000,000    253,644    144,113          -       -     397,757
Common
 shares
 issued for
 acquis-
 ition
 of an
 invest-
 ment    14,851,250    1,714,669    27,870           -       -   1,742,539
Common
 shares
 issued
 (net of
 issue
 costs) for
 acquis-
 ition
 of APT   8,856,458      438,927         -           -       -     438,927
Common
 shares
 issued
 for
 research
 and
 develop-
 ment
 agree-
 ment      466,130        23,307         -           -       -      23,307
Stock-
 based
 compen-
 sation          -             -   585,506           -       -     585,506
Loss for
 the year        -             -         -  (4,595,474)      -  (4,595,474)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance,
 December
 31,
 2009  110,548,457    54,767,640 5,191,921 (58,681,723)      -   1,277,838
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------


Ondine Biopharma Corporation

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

For the years ended December 31             (Expressed in Canadian dollars)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   2009                2008
                                                      $                   $
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Loss for the year                            (4,595,474)        (10,269,721)
Add items not affecting cash:
 Depreciation and amortization                  251,224             340,825
 Gain on sale of assets                        (683,388)                  -
 Loss on sale of investment                     644,455                   -
 Write-down of inventory deposit                 87,323                   -
 Write-down of capital assets                         -             143,000
 Loss on disposition of capital assets           21,481                   -
 Stock-based compensation                       585,506             678,962
 Deferred
MORE ON THIS TOPIC