QUEBEC CITY,
June 4, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -
DiagnoCure, Inc. (TSX: CUR) (OTCQX: DGCRF) (the "Corporation")
today reported financial and operational results for the second
quarter 2014 ended April 30, 2014.
The Corporation announced a net loss of $536,597 or $0.01
per share for this quarter compared with a loss of $849,344 or $0.02
per share for the same period last year. During the second quarter
ended April 30, 2014, total revenues
decreased by 21% compared with the same quarter of 2013, due to a
decrease in PCA3 royalties paid to DiagnoCure. Operating expenses
decreased by $346,516 or 34%, to
$667,090 for the second quarter of
2014 from $1,013,606 for the same
period of 2013. At the end of the quarter, cash, cash equivalents
and short-term investments stood at $2,950,360.
"Our management team has continued to maintain
careful control over expenses while pursuing new opportunities",
said Dr. Vincent Zurawski,
DiagnoCure's Lead Director. "We are continuing to monitor the PCA3
situation closely, bearing in mind the best interest of DiagnoCure"
added Dr. Yves Fradet, President and
CMO of the Corporation.
While the commercial advancement of the PCA3
test remains a concern for DiagnoCure, the clinical community
continues to advocate the use of the test in the management and
diagnosis of prostate cancer. For example, the U.S. National
Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) recognized its utility and
specificity in predicting biopsy outcomes, recommending the test in
its recently updated Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN
Guidelines) for Prostate Cancer Early Detection.
PCA3's attributes were also featured during a
panel discussing tests that distinguish aggressive from
non-aggressive prostate cancer before biopsy during the annual
meeting of the American Urological Association (AUA) held from
May 16-21 in Orlando. Dr. Yves
Fradet, as one of the panelists, discussed the value of PCA3
in selecting men for biopsy, and Dr. John T. Wei, Professor of Urology at the
University of Michigan, discussed the
advantages of integrating PCA3 and other biomarkers into clinical
practice. Dr. Martin G. Sanda
provided insights about an ongoing study of the National Cancer
Institute (NCI) Early Detection Research Network Group (EDRN) aimed
at evaluating the economic advantages of introducing PCA3 and
TMPRSS2-ERG tests into clinical practice before a prostate
biopsy.
Furthermore, the Corporation can announce that
the clinical study of its new multi-marker prostate cancer test is
progressing on schedule and is expected to be completed by the end
of September 2014.
Additionally, as part of its business
development efforts, DiagnoCure is pleased to report that the
Corporation has granted an exclusive license to Shuwen Biotech Co.,
Ltd. for commercialization of the Previstage™ GCC colorectal cancer
staging test in the Greater China Region (China, Hong
Kong, and Taiwan). This
agreement includes a clear commercial development plan in which
both corporations are committed to close collaboration that is
expected to lead to the expansion of the clinical use of the test.
Because similar discussions are underway with third parties,
details of the financial terms of this agreement are not being
disclosed.
"Shuwen Biotech is a leading molecular
diagnostic company in China led by
its Chairman and CEO Jay Z. Zhang, a
diagnostic industry veteran, formerly Senior Vice President at
Myriad Genetics. Collaborating with Jay and his team will
undoubtedly create value for both corporations and most importantly
help colon cancer patients receive the most appropriate treatment"
said Dr. Fradet.
"The ability to collaborate with DiagnoCure and
to market GCC in the Greater China Region provides Shuwen with an
exciting opportunity, because we strongly believe in the benefits
of Previstage™ GCC to help in staging and better control of
colorectal cancer, a condition afflicting unfortunately a growing
number of patients in China" said
Jay Z. Zhang, Chairman and CEO of
Shuwen Biotech Co. Ltd.
Results of the Second Quarter 2014
Total revenues for the second quarter of 2014
were $130,493 compared with
$164,262 for the same period of 2013.
This decrease of $33,769 or 21% is
attributable to PCA3 royalties, reflecting a reduction of 32% in
U.S. royalty revenues and an increase of 1% in European royalty
revenues as compared to the same period in 2013.
Operating expenses decreased by $346,516 or 34%, to $667,090 for the second quarter of 2014 from
$1,013,606 for the same period of
2013. This decrease is mainly attributable to reduction in
professional fees and amortization of the intangible asset. Total
operating expenses decreased primarily as a result of the
following:
- Research and development expenses, net of investment tax
credits, decreased by $159,957, to
$260,917 for the second quarter of
2014 from $420,874 for the same
period of 2013. This decrease in research and development expenses
is attributable to the amortization charge of the GCC intangible
asset following the review of its useful life and to the
amortization of the Shc intangible asset, since the Corporation
recognized a full impairment charge in the last quarter of fiscal
year 2013.
- General and administrative expenses decreased by $206,280, to $350,146 for the second quarter of 2014 from
$556,426 for the same period of 2013.
This decrease is attributable to reduction in professional
fees.
Financial Data |
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the three months periods
ended
April 30 |
|
2014 |
2013 |
|
$ |
$ |
License and royalty revenues |
130,493 |
164,262 |
Total revenues |
130,493 |
164,262 |
Operating expenses (before stock-based
compensation, depreciation and amortization) |
562,199 |
774,042 |
Net loss (before stock-based compensation,
depreciation and amortization) |
(431,706) |
(609,780) |
Stock-based compensation |
20,527 |
22,094 |
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment |
14,620 |
17,865 |
Amortization of intangible asset |
69,744 |
199,605 |
Net loss and comprehensive loss |
(536,597) |
(849,344) |
Basic and diluted net loss per share |
(0.01) |
(0.02) |
Weighted average number of common shares
outstanding |
43,040,471 |
43,040,471 |
|
|
|
Consolidated Balance Sheets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
April 30, 2014 |
October 31, 2013 |
Cash, cash equivalents and short term
investments |
2,950,360 |
4,190,296 |
Total assets |
6,525,804 |
7,849,267 |
Shareholders' equity |
5,981,065 |
7,009,261 |
Number of commons shares outstanding |
43,040,471 |
43,040,471 |
About DiagnoCure
DiagnoCure (TSX: CUR; OTCQX: DGCRF) is a life
sciences corporation that develops and commercializes high-value
cancer diagnostic tests that increase clinician and patient
confidence in making critical treatment decisions. In 2008, the
Corporation launched a colorectal cancer staging test through its
U.S. CLIA laboratory. PrevistageTM GCC is currently
available for licensing. The Corporation has granted a worldwide
exclusive license on the diagnostic applications of its proprietary
molecular biomarker PCA3 to Gen-Probe, now a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Hologic Inc. Hologic Gen-Probe's PROGENSA® PCA3
prostate cancer test is commercialized in Europe under CE mark and is approved for
commercialization in Canada and
the United States. For more
information, please visit www.diagnocure.com.
Forward‐looking statements
This release may contain forward‐looking
statements that involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and
assumptions that may cause actual results to differ materially from
those expected. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the
use of the conditional or forward-looking terminology such as
"anticipates", "assumes", "believes", "estimates", "expects",
"intend", "may", "plans", "projects", "should", "will", or the
negative thereof or other variations thereon. Forward-looking
statements also include any other statements that do not refer to
historical facts. All such forward-looking statements are made
pursuant to the "safe-harbour" provisions of applicable Canadian
securities laws. By their very nature, forward‐looking statements
are based on expectations and hypotheses and also involve risks and
uncertainties, known and unknown, many of which are beyond
DiagnoCure's control. Forward-looking statements are presented for
the purpose of assisting investors and others in understanding
certain key elements of the Corporation's current objectives,
strategic priorities, expectations and plans, and in obtaining a
better understanding of the Corporation's business and anticipated
operating environment. Readers are cautioned that such information
may not be appropriate for other purposes and that they should not
place undue reliance on these forward‐looking statements. For
instance, any forward-looking statements regarding the outcome of
research and development projects, clinical studies and future
revenues, including those related to PROGENSA® PCA3, are based on
management expectations and such outcome may vary materially
depending on global political and economic conditions, dependence
on collaboration partners, uncertainty of healthcare reimbursement,
and marketing and distribution challenges. In addition, the reader
is referred to the applicable general risks and uncertainties
described in DiagnoCure's most recent Annual Information Form under
the heading "Risk Factors". DiagnoCure undertakes no obligation to
publicly update or revise any forward‐looking statements contained
herein unless required by the applicable securities laws and
regulations.
SOURCE DiagnoCure inc.