CEMI - Chembio Diagnostics Reports Third Quarter 2020 Financial Results

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y., Nov. 05, 2020 (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, 2020.

Recent Accomplishments & Highlights

• Achieved total revenue of $10.3 million and product revenue of $8.4 million for the third quarter of 2020, representing growth of 6% and a decrease of 1% respectively, compared to the prior year period
• Submitted an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the DPP SARS-CoV-2 Antigen test system, which was funded with the support of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response; Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) under Contract No. 75A50120C00138
• Submitted an EUA application to the FDA for the DPP SARS-CoV-2 IgM/IgG test system
• Received FDA Pre-Market Approval (PMA) for the DPP HIV-Syphilis System, the first rapid test approved in the U.S. to aid in diagnosis of both HIV and Syphilis from single patient sample

“Over the past months we have executed our COVID-19 product development and regulatory strategy ahead of our expectations. The potential launch of antigen and antibody test systems that leverage the DPP platform will provide much needed and expanded access to decentralized COVID-19 testing amid the resurgance of cases across the U.S. Running both types of tests on the same Micro Reader analyzer will enable clinicians to address the needs of a broader patient population throughout all phases of the pandemic,” said Richard Eberly, Chembio’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “Our third quarter results demonstrate improvement in total revenues, which include revenue from DPP COVID-19 IgM/IgG systems shipped outside the U.S. in the second quarter.”

“We have significantly expanded our U.S commercial team with experienced industry professionals and are continuing to do so. We are also actively launching the DPP HIV-Syphilis System,” Mr. Eberly continued. “Looking forward, we are excited about Chembio’s future, serving multiple end markets that combined represent the most significant opportunity in the company’s history.”

Third Quarter 2020 Financial Results
Total revenue for the third quarter of 2020 was $10.3 million, an increase of 6% compared to the prior year period. Net product sales for the third quarter of 2020 were $8.4 million, a decrease of 1% compared to the prior year period. License and royalty revenue and R&D and grant revenue for the third quarter of 2020 totaled $1.9 million, an increase of 54% compared to the prior year period.

Gross product margin for the third quarter of 2020 was $0.9 million, compared to $1.9 million for the prior year period. Gross product margin percentage for the third quarter of 2020 was 11.2%, compared to 21.9% for the prior year period. Gross product margin in the third quarter of 2020 was impacted by a high concentration of sales outside the U.S. where average selling prices are lower, and operational inefficiencies, including those triggered by the recall of products starting at the end of the second quarter of 2020 together with activities related to qualifying automated manufacturing lines.

Research and development expenses increased by $0.1 million, or 6%, in the third quarter of 2020 compared to the prior year period. Selling, general and administrative expenses increased by $0.9 million, or 20%, in the third quarter of 2020 compared to the prior year period.

Net loss for the third quarter of 2020 was $5.5 million, or $0.28 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $3.8 million, or $0.22 per diluted share, for the prior year period.

Cash and cash equivalents as of September 30, 2020 totaled $28.7 million.

Conference Call
Chembio will host a conference call today beginning at 4:30 pm ET to discuss its financial results and recent business highlights. Investors interested in listening to the call may do so by dialing 844-602-0380 from the United States or 862-298-0970 from outside the United States. To listen to a live webcast of the call, 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 Chembio’s website for 90 days. A telephone replay will be available until 4:30 pm ET on November 19, 2020 by dialing 877-481-4010 from the United States or 919-882-2331 from outside the United States and using the conference ID: 38202.

About the DPP Rapid Test Platform
Chembio’s proprietary DPP technology platform provides high-quality, rapid diagnostic results in 15 to 20 minutes using a small drop of blood from the fingertip or alternative samples. Through advanced multiplexing, the DPP platform can detect up to eight, distinct test results from a single patient sample, delivering greater clinical value than other rapid tests. For certain applications, Chembio’s easy-to-use, highly portable, battery-operated DPP Micro Reader optical analyzer then reports accurate results in approximately 15 seconds, making it well-suited for decentralized testing where real-time results enable patients to be clinically assessed while they are still on-site. Objective results produced by the DPP Micro Reader reduce the possibility of the types of human error that can be experienced in the visual interpretations required by many rapid tests.

Chembio’s portfolio of DPP-based point-of-care tests with FDA regulatory approvals include the DPP HIV-Syphilis System (PMA approved), DPP HIV 1/2 Assay (PMA approved and CLIA waived), DPP Zika IgM System (510(k)), and DPP Ebola Antigen System (EUA). Additionally, DPP-based tests have received regulatory approvals from the World Health Organization, CE-Mark, Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária (ANVISA), and other global organizations, where they aid in the detection and diagnosis of several other critical diseases and conditions.

All DPP tests are developed and manufactured in the United States and are the subject of a range of domestic and global patents and patents pending.

About Chembio Diagnostics
Chembio is a leading point-of-care diagnostics company focused on detecting and diagnosing infectious diseases, including COVID-19, sexually transmitted disease, and fever and tropical disease. Coupled with Chembio’s extensive scientific expertise, its novel DPP technology offers broad market applications beyond infectious disease. 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
Certain statements contained in the first paragraph following the bulleted items under “Recent Accomplishments & Highlights: above are not historical facts and may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations with respect to the availability and functionality of COVID-19 tests. Such statements, which are expectations 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 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 following, any of which could be exacerbated even further by the continuing COVID-19 outbreak in the United States and globally: the ability of Chembio to maintain existing, and timely obtain additional, regulatory approvals, particularly for its proposed DPP COVID-19 diagnostic tests; Chembio’s dependence upon, and limited experience with, COVID-19 diagnostic tests; the highly competitive and rapidly developing market for testing solutions for COVID-19, which includes a number of competing companies with strong relationships with current and potential customers, including governmental authorities, and with significantly greater financial and other resources that are available to Chembio; and the risks of doing business with foreign governmental entities, 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 forward-looking statements in this release to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date hereof or to reflect any change in Chembio's expectations with regard to the forward-looking statements or the occurrence of unanticipated events. Factors that may impact Chembio's success are more fully disclosed in Chembio's 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, 2019 and its subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, particularly under the heading “Risk Factors.”

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

Investor Relations Contact
Philip Taylor
Gilmartin Group
(415) 937-5406
investor@chembio.com