YS Biopharma Announces Unaudited Financial Results for the First Half of Fiscal Year 2024

YS Biopharma Co., Ltd. (NASDAQ: YS) (“YS Biopharma”) along with its subsidiaries (“YS Group” or the “Company”), a global biopharmaceutical company dedicated to discovering, developing, manufacturing, and delivering new generations of vaccines and therapeutic biologics for infectious diseases and cancer, today announced its unaudited consolidated financial results for the first half of the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024 (the “first half of fiscal year 2024").

[22-January-2024]

GAITHERSBURG, Md., Jan. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- YS Biopharma Co., Ltd. (NASDAQ: YS) (“YS Biopharma”) along with its subsidiaries (“YS Group” or the “Company”), a global biopharmaceutical company dedicated to discovering, developing, manufacturing, and delivering new generations of vaccines and therapeutic biologics for infectious diseases and cancer, today announced its unaudited consolidated financial results for the first half of the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024 (the “first half of fiscal year 2024").

Dr. David Shao, Director, President, and CEO of the Company, commented, “During the first half of fiscal year 2024, though we continued to experience the lingering impact of inventory issues from previous COVID-related disruptions at our YSJA rabies vaccine manufacturing facilities, we executed various operational enhancements to overcome past setbacks. By improving our raw material supply, refining our inventory management, and optimizing the production throughput, our vaccine production operation has returned to normal, and our inventory situation is improving. With higher production throughput and a healthier inventory level of finished products, we expect that the second quarter of our fiscal year 2024 will be the last to be impacted by the previously incurred production delays. Meanwhile, we expect YSJA rabies vaccine revenues in the third quarter, ended December 31, 2023, to increase approximately 50% sequentially from the second quarter, ended September 30, 2023. Our promising array of product candidates are advancing in the development, and we are optimistic about the potential of our PIKA rabies vaccine to provide us with an important new advantage.”

“At the same time, we are fortifying our corporate governance and streamlining our decision-making process to bolster our foundation for long-term and sustainable growth,” Dr. Shao continued. “We have taken steps to diversify our Board composition with the addition of global pharmaceutical industry leadership and US capital market expertise to our company, a move which has thus far been lauded by our shareholders. Under the stewardship of our board of directors, we will continue to innovate and capitalize on resurgent demand from the market.”

Ms. Brenda Wu, CFO of the Company, added, “For the first half of fiscal year 2024, our revenues were RMB273.1 million, mainly due to COVID-related disruptions affecting raw material supply chains, manufacturing operations, and production output at our YSJA rabies vaccine production facilities. Our gross profit for the period was RMB220.9 million, and we expanded our gross profit margin by 4.3 percentage points to 80.9%. Our cash and cash equivalents totaled RMB259.9 million at the end of the period. Looking ahead, we will continue to strategically enhance our business and capitalize on growth opportunities as we strive to deliver long-term value for our shareholders.”

Business Updates

YSJA™ Rabies Vaccine

YS Biopharma’s marketed vaccine product, YSJA rabies vaccine, was the first aluminum-free lyophilized rabies vaccine launched in China. Since the Company commenced production at its current GMP-compliant facilities in February 2020, and, since it commenced the product’s commercialization in late 2020, market intake of the Company’s YSJA rabies vaccine has been consistent and strong. As of September 30, 2023, YS Biopharma had sold more than 23.5 million doses of YSJA rabies vaccines to approximately 1,718 Chinese Center(s) for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) customers, which represents over 59.6% of CDC customers in China since October 2020.

Clinical Pipeline

YS Biopharma continues to advance its portfolio of innovative product candidates under various clinical development stages, including PIKA rabies vaccine, PIKA recombinant COVID-19 vaccine, PIKA YS-ON-001, and PIKA YS-HBV-002.

PIKA Rabies Vaccine

  • On October 31, 2023, the Company announced that it had completed the enrollment of subjects in its Phase III clinical trial of the PIKA rabies vaccine. The trial includes a total of 4,500 participants from Pakistan and the Philippines, and will assess the safety, immunogenicity, and lot-to-lot consistency of the PIKA rabies vaccine. Interim results are expected in the first half of 2024.

PIKA Recombinant COVID-19 Vaccine

  • In March 2023, the Company reported positive interim safety and immunogenicity data for the PIKA recombinant COVID-19 vaccine from Phase II of the Phase II/III clinical studies which were completed in the Philippines and the UAE. The safety and efficacy of the Company’s PIKA adjuvant technology was validated in the Phase II/III trial, which involved roughly 6,000 participants. The Company anticipates that the results from the Phase III clinical trials will be released during the first half of 2024.
  • The Company will continue to monitor the evolving global situation surrounding COVID-19, and will utilize appropriate commercialization strategies for the PIKA recombinant COVID-19 vaccine accordingly.

PIKA YS-ON-001

  • PIKA YS-ON-001 is designed as an immunological therapeutical agent against cancers. The Company has completed the Phase I clinical trial of PIKA YS-ON-001 in China.

PIKA YS-HBV-002

  • On September 15, 2023, the Company announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office had issued it a patent covering its PIKA YS-HBV-002, an immunotherapeutic vaccine designed to treat patients suffering from chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.
  • The Company expects to complete an Investigational New Drug (IND) application and commence the clinical development of PIKA YS-HBV-002 as a novel immunotherapy for the treatment of chronic HBV infection in 2024.

First Half of Fiscal Year 2024 Financial Results

Total Revenues

Total revenues were RMB273.1 million (US$38.0 million) in the first half of fiscal year 2024, compared to RMB399.5 million in the same period of fiscal year 2023, representing a decrease of 31.6%. This was primarily due to COVID-related disruptions affecting the Company’s manufacturing operations and production, which reduced batch approvals and doses available for sale; offset by the increases in product price by approximately RMB3.0 per dose.

Gross Profit

Gross profit was RMB220.9 million (US$30.8 million), representing an 80.9% gross margin, compared to RMB305.8 million, or a 76.5% gross margin, in the same period of fiscal year 2023.

Selling and Marketing Expenses

Selling and marketing expenses in the first half of fiscal year 2024 were RMB157.7 million (US$22.0 million), compared to RMB150.2 million in the same period of fiscal year 2023. This increase was primarily attributable to an increase in promotional and marketing services fees as the Company continued to promote its YSJA rabies vaccine.

General and Administrative Expenses

General and administrative expenses in the first half of fiscal year 2024 were RMB67.6 million (US$9.4 million), compared to RMB49.6 million in the same period of fiscal 2023. This change was primarily attributable to increases in 1) professional service fees, due to the Company’s status as a publicly-listed entity, 2) management salaries, and 3) provision for trade receivables and inventories.

Research and Development Expenses

Research and development expenses were RMB178.9 million (US$24.9 million) in the first half of fiscal year 2024, compared to RMB123.9 million in the same period of fiscal 2023. The increase was primarily driven by an increase in testing and clinical trial fees associated with the Company’s COVID-19 vaccine, PIKA rabies vaccine, and hepatitis B vaccines.

Net Loss

Net loss for the first half of fiscal year 2024 was RMB174.5 million (US$24.3 million), compared with RMB11.1 million in the same period of 2023.

Balance Sheet

As of September 30, 2023, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of RMB259.9 million (US$36.2 million), compared with RMB370.4 million as of March 31, 2023.

About YS Group

YS Group is a global biopharmaceutical company dedicated to discovering, developing, manufacturing, and delivering new generations of vaccines and therapeutic biologics for infectious diseases and cancer. It has developed a proprietary PIKA® immunomodulating technology platform and a new generation of preventive and therapeutic biologics targeting Rabies, Coronavirus, Hepatitis B, Influenza, Shingles, and other virus infections. YS Biopharma operates in China, the United States, Singapore, and the Philippines, and is led by a management team that combines rich local expertise and global experience in the biopharmaceutical industry. For more information, please visit investor.ysbiopharm.com.

Exchange Rate Information

This announcement contains translations of certain RMB amounts into U.S. dollars at a specified rate solely for the convenience of the reader. Unless otherwise noted, all translations from RMB to U.S. dollars are made at a rate of RMB7.1798 to US$1.00, the exchange rate set forth in the central parity rate release of the People’s Bank of China on September 30, 2023.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements’’ within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical or current fact included in this press release are forward-looking statements, including but not limited to statements regarding the expected growth of the Company, the development progress of all product candidates, the progress and results of all clinical trials, the Company’s ability to source and retain talent, and the cash position of the Company following the closing of the Business Combination. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as “estimate,” “plan,” “project,” “forecast,” “intend,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “seek,” “target” or other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether identified in this press release, and on the current expectations of YS Biopharma’s management and are not predictions of actual performance.

These statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Although YS Biopharma believes that it has a reasonable basis for each forward-looking statement contained in this press release, YS Biopharma cautions you that these statements are based on a combination of facts and factors currently known and projections of the future, which are inherently uncertain. In addition, there are risks and uncertainties described in the final prospectus relating to the Business Combination, and other documents filed by YS Biopharma from time to time with the SEC. These filings may identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements.

YS Biopharma cannot assure you that the forward-looking statements in this press release will prove to be accurate. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, among others, the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the Business Combination, costs related to the transaction, the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the risk that the transaction disrupts current plans and operations as a result of the consummation of the transaction, the outcome of any potential litigation, government or regulatory proceedings, the sales performance of the marketed vaccine product and the clinical trial development results of the product candidates of YS Biopharma, and other risks and uncertainties, including those included under the heading “Risk Factors” in the post-effective amendment No. 1 to Form F-1 filed with the SEC on August 8, 2023 which became effective on August 10, 2023, and other filings with the SEC. There may be additional risks that YS Biopharma does not presently know or that YS Biopharma currently believes are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In light of the significant uncertainties in these forward-looking statements, nothing in this press release should be regarded as a representation by any person that the forward-looking statements set forth herein will be achieved or that any of the contemplated results of such forward-looking statements will be achieved. The forward-looking statements in this press release represent the views of YS Biopharma as of the date of this press release. Subsequent events and developments may cause those views to change. However, while YS Biopharma may update these forward-looking statements in the future, there is no current intention to do so, except to the extent required by applicable law. You should, therefore, not rely on these forward-looking statements as representing the views of YS Biopharma as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. Except as may be required by law, YS Biopharma does not undertake any duty to update these forward-looking statements.

Investor Relations Contact

Robin Yang
Partner, ICR, LLC
Tel: +1 (212) 537-4035
Email: YSBiopharma.IR@icrinc.com

YS BIOPHARMA CO., LTD AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

March 31,

September 30,

September 30,

2023

2023

2023

(RMB)

(RMB)

(US$)

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

ASSETS

Current assets

Cash

370,108,059

259,905,532

$

36,199,550

Restricted cash

261,766

-

-

Accounts receivable, net

463,051,792

429,368,934

59,802,353

Advance to suppliers, net

6,763,326

21,168,706

2,948,370

Inventories, net

185,380,952

212,820,371

29,641,546

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

10,412,769

11,341,675

1,579,664

Total current assets

1,035,978,664

934,605,218

130,171,483

Non-current assets

Property, plant and equipment, net

571,756,443

561,678,490

78,230,381

Operating lease right-of-use assets, net

11,132,428

9,607,109

1,338,075

Deferred tax assets, net

1,905,581

2,725,934

379,667

Intangible assets, net

78,056,792

74,638,356

10,395,604

Other assets, non-current

20,923,703

28,027,997

3,903,729

Total non-current assets

683,774,947

676,677,886

94,247,456

Total assets

1,719,753,611

1,611,283,104

$

224,418,939

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Current liabilities

Bank loans and other borrowings - current

193,736,563

182,741,935

$

25,452,232

Accounts payable

80,439,489

84,978,140

11,835,725

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

377,536,644

388,071,992

54,050,530

Operating lease liabilities - current

4,753,547

5,027,649

700,249

Deferred government grants - current

2,295,701

2,295,701

319,744

Total current liabilities

658,761,944

663,115,417

92,358,480

Non-current liabilities

Bank loans and other borrowings – non-current

293,790,596

361,965,073

50,414,367

Operating lease liabilities - non-current

6,348,890

4,462,505

621,536

Deferred government grants - non-current

23,606,507

22,458,657

3,128,034

Warrants liability

8,792,389

2,185,122

304,343

Total non-current liabilities

332,538,382

391,071,357

54,468,280

Total liabilities

991,300,326

1,054,186,774

146,826,760

Shareholders’ equity

Ordinary shares, par value US$0.00002 per share;
9,950,000,000 shares authorized; 93,058,197 shares
issued and outstanding;

12,297

12,297

1,713

Additional paid-in capital

2,656,891,036

2,656,891,036

370,050,842

Accumulated deficit

(1,874,037,965)

(2,048,560,763)

(285,322,817)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

(54,412,083)

(51,246,240)

(7,137,559)

Total shareholders’ equity

728,453,285

557,096,330

77,592,179

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

1,719,753,611

1,611,283,104

$

224,418,939

* Gives retroactive effect to reflect the reorganization in February 2021 and business combination in March 2023.

YS BIOPHARMA CO., LTD AND SUBSIDIARIES

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

Six Months Ended September 30,

2022

2023

2023

(RMB)

(RMB)

(US$)

Revenues

399,534,723

273,092,454

$

38,036,220

Cost of revenues

93,700,779

52,187,142

7,268,607

Gross profit

305,833,944

220,905,312

30,767,613

Operating expenses:

Selling and marketing

150,228,079

157,700,204

21,964,429

General and administrative

49,587,013

67,610,523

9,416,770

Research and development

123,861,107

178,853,200

24,910,610

Total operating expenses

323,676,199

404,163,927

56,291,809

Loss from operations

(17,842,255)

(183,258,615)

(25,524,196)

Other income (expenses):

Late fees for social security insurance

(299,417)

(446,176)

(62,143)

Government grants

22,456,691

14,627,559

2,037,321

Interest income

266,433

1,957,620

272,657

Interest expense

(15,215,867)

(14,926,098)

(2,078,902)

Fair value changes of warrant liability

-

6,851,308

954,248

Other income (expense), net

74,675

(148,749)

(20,718)

Total other expense, net

7,282,515

7,915,464

1,102,463

Loss before income taxes

(10,559,740)

(175,343,151)

(24,421,733)

Income tax (expense) benefit

(565,625)

820,353

114,258

Net loss

(11,125,365)

(174,522,798)

(24,307,475)

Accretion to redemption value of convertible redeemable
preferred shares

(72,083,238)

-

-

Net loss attributable to YS Group

(83,208,603)

(174,522,798)

$

(24,307,475)

Net loss

(11,125,365)

(174,522,798)

$

(24,307,475)

Other comprehensive (loss) income: foreign currency
translation adjustment

(168,653,952)

3,165,843

440,937

Total comprehensive loss

(179,779,317)

(171,356,955)

$

(23,866,538)

Loss per share*:

– Basic and Diluted

(0.18)

(1.88)

$

(0.26)

Weighted average number of ordinary shares
outstanding*:

– Basic and Diluted

61,785,466

93,058,197

93,058,197

*Gives retroactive effect to reflect the reorganization in February 2021 and business combination in March 2023.

YS BIOPHARMA CO., LTD AND SUBSIDIARIES

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ (DEFICIT)/EQUITY

Six Months Ended September 30,

Ordinary shares

Additional
paid-in

Accumulated

Accumulated
other
comprehensive

Total
stockholders’

Shares

Amount

capital

Deficit

loss

equity

(RMB)

(RMB)

(RMB)

(RMB)

(RMB)

Balance as of March 31,
2023

93,058,197

12,297

2,656,891,036

(1,874,037,965)

(54,412,083)

728,453,285

Net loss

(174,522,798)

(174,522,798)

Foreign currency
translation adjustment

3,165,843

3,165,843

Balance as of

September 30, 2023
(in RMB) (unaudited)

93,058,197

12,297

2,656,891,036

(2,048,560,763)

(51,246,240)

557,096,330

Balance as of September
30, 2023 (In
US$)
(unaudited)

93,058,197

1,713

370,050,842

(285,322,817)

(7,137,559)

77,592,179

Six Months Ended September 30,

Ordinary shares*

Additional
paid-in

Accumulated

Accumulated
other
comprehensive

Total
stockholders’

Shares

Amount

capital

Deficit

income/(loss)

deficit

(RMB)

(RMB)

(RMB)

(RMB)

(RMB)

Balance as of March 31,
2022

61,827,884

7,978

808,502,018

(1,590,567,163)

83,087,979

(698,969,188)

Accretion to redemption
value of convertible

redeemable preferred
shares

-

-

-

(72,083,238)

-

(72,083,238)

Net loss

-

-

-

(11,125,365)

-

(11,125,365)

Share-based
compensation

(143,750)

-

(85,316)

-

-

(85,316)

Foreign currency
translation adjustment

-

-

231,807

-

(168,653,952)

(168,422,145)

Balance as of
September 30, 2022
(in RMB) (unaudited)

61,684,134

7,978

808,648,509

(1,673,775,766)

(85,565,973)

(950,685,252)

Balance as of September
30, 2022 (In
US$)
(unaudited)

61,684,134

1,124

113,897,365

(235,749,706)

(12,051,884)

(133,903,101)

*Gives retroactive effect to reflect the reorganization in February 2021 and business combination in March 2023.

YS BIOPHARMA CO., LTD AND SUBSIDIARIES

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

Six Months Ended September 30,

2022

2023

2023

(RMB)

(RMB)

(US$)

Cash flows from operating activities:

Net loss

(11,125,365)

(174,522,798)

$

(24,307,475)

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating
activities:

Deferred income taxes

565,625

(820,353)

(114,258)

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment

13,818,386

16,514,915

2,300,192

Amortization of intangible assets

3,409,643

3,418,436

476,119

Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment

64,179

-

-

Share-based compensation

(85,316)

-

-

Bad debt provision of accounts receivable

6,447,109

5,341,696

743,990

Write-down of inventories to net realizable value

-

10,678,694

1,487,325

Non-cash lease expense

2,409,286

2,452,349

341,562

Fair value changes of warrant liability

-

(6,851,308)

(954,248)

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

Inventories

4,838,379

(38,118,113)

(5,309,077)

Accounts receivable

(166,251,393)

28,341,162

3,947,347

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

4,102,924

(22,438,580)

(3,125,237)

Accounts payable

6,583,078

4,538,651

632,142

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

37,289,942

29,330,997

4,085,211

Deferred government grants

(8,026,551)

(1,147,850)

(159,872)

Operating lease liabilities

(1,435,079)

(2,549,633)

(355,112)

Net cash used in operating activities

(107,395,153)

(145,831,735)

(20,311,391)

Cash flows from investing activities:

Proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment

-

155,191

21,615

Purchases of property, plant and equipment

(15,017,753)

(23,576,885)

(3,283,780)

Purchases of intangible assets

(4,006,598)

-

-

Net cash used in investing activities

(19,024,351)

(23,421,694)

(3,262,165)

Cash flows from financing activities:

Proceeds from bank loans and other borrowings

102,513,927

201,211,920

28,024,725

Repayment of bank loans and other borrowings

(50,606,602)

(156,356,071)

(21,777,218)

Net cash provided by financing activities

51,907,325

44,855,849

6,247,507

Effect of foreign exchange rate on cash

30,471,942

13,933,287

1,940,621

Net decrease in cash

(44,040,237)

(110,464,293)

(15,385,428)

Cash at the beginning of the period

271,067,503

370,369,825

51,584,978

Cash at the end of the period

227,027,266

259,905,532

$

36,199,550

Reconciliation of cash and restricted cash

Cash

226,765,500

259,905,532

36,199,550

Restricted cash

261,766

-

-

Total cash and restricted cash shown in the statements of
cash flows

227,027,266

259,905,532

36,199,550

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:

Interest paid

12,723,051

10,132,047

$

1,411,188

Non-cash transactions:

Accretion to redemption value of convertible redeemable
preferred shares

72,083,238

-

$

-

Operating right-of-use assets recognized for related operating
lease liabilities

-

811,094

$

112,969

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SOURCE YS Biopharma Co., Ltd.


Company Codes: NASDAQ-NMS:YS
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