CEMI - Chembio Diagnostics Reports Third Quarter 2019 Financial Results

MEDFORD, N.Y., Nov. 07, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Chembio Diagnostics, Inc. (Nasdaq: CEMI), a leading point-of-care diagnostics company focused on infectious diseases, today reported financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2019.

Recent Accomplishments & Highlights

• Achieved total revenue of $9.7 million and product revenue of $8.5 million for the third quarter of 2019, representing changes of -1% and 2%, respectively, compared to the prior year period;
• Signed a definitive agreement to acquire Orangelife, a Brazilian point-of-care diagnostics company, enabling commercial expansion into the state, private, and pharmacy markets in Brazil;
• Received World Health Organization (WHO) Prequalification approval for SURE CHECK HIV Self-Test, permitting the commercialization of the product across Africa;
• Received WHO Prequalification approval for Malaysian manufacturing facility, allowing the production of Stat-Pak HIV 1/2 tests in Malaysia;
• Entered into a collaboration with Takeda Pharmaceutical, a global pharmaceutical company, to develop a quantitative point-of-care test to detect an undisclosed biomarker; and
• Strengthened balance sheet by closing a $20 million term loan with Perceptive Advisors.

“During the third quarter, the Chembio team continued to execute on our three corporate priorities: expanding our commercialization, advancing our R&D pipeline, and preparing for additional growth,” said John Sperzel, Chembio’s Chief Executive Officer. “Total revenue during the third quarter was impacted by lower product sales in Africa; however, we are pleased with the significant product sales increases in the United States, Latin America, and Asia Pacific, and we believe the Orangelife acquisition will provide another growth vehicle for the company.”

Third Quarter 2019 Financial Results
Total revenue for the third quarter of 2019 was $9.7 million, a decrease of 1% compared to the prior year period. Net product sales for the third quarter of 2019 were $8.5 million, an increase of 2% compared to the prior year period. License and royalty, and R&D and grant revenue for the third quarter of 2019 was $1.2 million, a decrease of 20% compared to the prior year period.

Gross product margin for the third quarter of 2019 was $1.9 million compared to $1.1 million in the prior year period. Gross product margin percent for the third quarter of 2019 was 22% compared to 13% for the prior year period. The increased gross product margin percent for the third quarter of 2019 resulted primarily from reduced labor costs and favorable average selling prices due to geographic mix.

Research and development expenses increased by $0.3 million, or 17%, for the third quarter of 2019 compared to the prior year period from the acquisition of Chembio Diagnostics Germany GmbH in the fourth quarter of 2018. Selling, general and administrative expenses increased by $1.4 million, or 47%, for the three months ended September 30, 2019 compared to the prior year period. The increase in selling, general and administrative expenses resulted primarily from the acquisition of Chembio Diagnostics Germany, higher non-cash equity compensation costs, and rent and other costs related to leasing our new facility in Hauppauge, NY.

Net loss for the third quarter of 2019 was $3.8 million, or $0.22 per diluted share, compared with a net loss of $2.3 million, or $0.16 per diluted share, for the prior year period. 

Cash and cash equivalents as of September 30, 2019 totaled $21.9 million.

Conference Call
Chembio will host a conference call today beginning at 4:30pm ET to discuss financial results and recent business highlights, including the contemplated acquisition of Orangelife. Investors interested in listening to the call may do so by dialing 844-602-0380 from the U.S. or 862-298-0970 from outside the U.S.  To listen to a live webcast, please visit the Investor Relations section of Chembio's website at www.chembio.com. Following the call, a replay will be available on the Investor Relations section of the company’s website for 90 days. A telephone replay will be available by dialing 877-481-4010 from the U.S. or (919) 882-2331 from outside the U.S. using the conference ID: 53958 until 4:30pm ET on November 14, 2019.

About Chembio Diagnostics
Chembio is a leading point-of-care diagnostics company focused on detecting and diagnosing infectious diseases. The company’s patented DPP technology platform, which uses a small drop of blood from the fingertip, provides high-quality, cost-effective results in 15-20 minutes. Coupled with Chembio’s extensive scientific expertise, its novel DPP technology offers broad market applications beyond infectious disease, a number of which are under active development with collaboration partners. Chembio’s products are sold globally, directly and through distributors, to hospitals and clinics, physician offices, clinical laboratories, public health organizations, government agencies, and consumers. Learn more at www.chembio.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
Statements contained in the last paragraph under “Recent Accomplishments & Highlights” that are not historical facts may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of the company and its management. Such statements, which are estimates only, reflect management's current views, are based on certain assumptions, and involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results, events, or performance may differ materially from the above forward-looking statements due to a number of important factors, and will be dependent upon a variety of factors, including, but not limited to: the ability of Chembio to timely close the Orangelife acquisition; the ability of Chembio to maintain existing, and timely obtain additional, regulatory approvals; and the risks of doing business with a foreign country, including geopolitical, international and other challenges as well as potential material adverse effects of tariffs and other changes in U.S. trade policy.. Chembio undertakes no obligation to publicly update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date hereof or to reflect any change in Chembio's expectations with regard to these forward-looking statements or the occurrence of unanticipated events. Factors that may impact Chembio's success are more fully disclosed in Chembio's most recent public filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, particularly under the heading “Risk Factors.”

DPP is our registered trademark. For convenience, this trademark appears in this release without ® symbols, but that practice does not mean that we will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, our rights to the trademark.

Investor Relations Contact
Lynn Pieper Lewis
Gilmartin Group
(415) 937-5402
investor@chembio.com