QUEBEC CITY, Jan. 23, 2015 /PRNewswire/ - DiagnoCure, Inc.
(TSX: CUR) (OTCQX: DGCRF) (the "Corporation") today reported
financial and operational results for the fourth quarter 2014 and
fiscal year ended October 31, 2014. The Corporation
announced a net loss of $461,710 or
$0.01 per share for the fourth
quarter ended October 31, 2014, compared to $1,334,099 or $0.03
per share for the same period in 2013 and a net loss of
$2,032,151 or $0.05 per share for fiscal year 2014 compared to
$3,566,942 or $0.08 per share for the same period in 2013. At
the end of the quarter, cash and short-term investments stood at
$2,227,326 compared to $4,190,296 at the end of fiscal year 2013.
PCA3
DiagnoCure's biomarkers continue to draw attention in the
clinical community. In December 2014,
Dr John T. Wei and colleagues
published the results of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Early
Detection Research Network (EDRN) validation of PCA3 trial in the
Journal of Clinical Oncology. In the study, Wei and colleagues
evaluated 859 men scheduled for diagnostic prostate biopsy between
2009 and 2011. The researchers evaluated the positive predictive
value of the PCA3 urine test at initial biopsy and the negative
predictive value at repeat biopsy. When they looked at men with a
PCA3 score of less than 20, 46% would have avoided a biopsy while
only 3% would have had an undiagnosed high-grade cancer. These new
results further support the potential role of PCA3 in reducing the
burden of unnecessary biopsies resulting from PSA screening
alone. Results such as these further galvanize DiagnoCure's
unrelenting efforts to ensure that its worldwide exclusive licensee
fully exploits the commercial potential of this product.
Prostate cancer multimarker test
Positive results of the 500-patient clinical trial completed
during fiscal year 2014 on DiagnoCure's new multi-marker prostate
cancer test ("PCP") will be featured in presentations at two major
urology events over the next few months. After a thorough review of
market opportunities, DiagnoCure believes it is making significant
steps in establishing partnerships for commercialization of this
new diagnostic test.
GCC
The body of compelling clinical data of GCC continues to grow
with the results of a systematic pooled data analysis published
online on December 23, 2014 in the
Clinical Colorectal Cancer journal. Untreated stage IIA colon
cancer patients considered at high risk based on their GCC lymph
node ratio (LNR) status were demonstrated to have significantly
inferior outcomes compared with those with low GCC LNR values. This
study thus confirmed that quantitative assessment of GCC mRNA
levels in lymph nodes can be used to detect the presence of occult
metastases, allowing prediction of disease recurrence, which could
not be achieved with traditional methods. Beside the recent
agreement signed with Shuwen Biotech, the Corporation has
maintained discussions with potential commercial partners aimed at
making this test available to patients around the world.
Results for the Fiscal Year Ended October 31, 2014
Total revenues for fiscal 2014 were $553,140 compared with $671,228 for 2013. This decrease of $118,088 or 18% is mainly attributable to PCA3
royalties reflecting a decrease in U.S. royalty revenues.
Operating expenses decreased by $1,652,879 to $2,585,291 for 2014 from $4,238,170 for 2013. This decrease is mainly
attributable to reduction in professional fees and amortization and
impairment of intangible assets. Total operating expenses decreased
primarily as a result of the following:
- Research and development expenses, net of investment tax
credits, decreased by $1,064,123 to
$1,083,124 for 2014 from $2,147,247 for 2013. This decrease in research
and development expenses is mostly attributable to the amortization
charge of the GCC intangible asset following the review of its
useful life and to the amortization and impairment of the Shc
intangible asset, since the Corporation recognized a full
impairment charge in fiscal year 2013.
- General and administrative expenses decreased by $563,448, to $1,346,011 for 2014 from $1,909,459 in fiscal 2013. This decrease is
attributable to reduction in professional fees and stock-based
compensation expenses.
Based on the above, for fiscal 2014, DiagnoCure recorded a net
loss and comprehensive loss of $2,032,151 or $0.05
per share, compared with $3,566,942
or $0.08 per share for fiscal 2013.
These results reflect activities undertaken during fiscal 2014 on
PCA3, Previstage GCC, research and development and business
development. As at October 31, 2014,
cash and short-term investments stood at $2,227,326 down from $4,190,296 as at October 31, 2013. This
decrease of $1,962,970 is due to the
use of liquidities to finance the operating activities of fiscal
2014. With the operating expenses reduction announced on
October 30, 2014, Management
estimates the cash burn of fiscal 2015 to be $1.2M and is satisfied that it has adequate cash
resources to finance the Corporation's activities, and will
continue to monitor its cash levels.
Results of the Fourth Quarter 2014
Total revenues for the fourth quarter of 2014 were $122,254 compared with $149,465 for the same period of 2013. This
decrease of $27,211 or 18% is mostly
attributable to PCA3 royalties, reflecting a decrease in royalty
revenues from Europe.
Operating expenses decreased by $899,600 to $583,964 for the third quarter of 2014 from
$1,483,564 for the same period of
2013. This decrease is mainly attributable to reduction in
professional fees, amortization and impairment of intangible
assets. Total operating expenses decreased primarily as a result of
the following:
- Research and development expenses, net of investment tax
credits, decreased by $683,867 to
$275,110 for the fourth quarter of
2014 from $958,977 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 and impairment charges of the Shc intangible asset,
since the Corporation recognized a full impairment charge in the
last quarter of fiscal 2013.
- General and administrative expenses decreased by $181,168 to $287,204 for the fourth quarter of 2014 from
$468,372 for the same period of 2013.
This decrease is attributable to reduction in professional fees and
stock-based compensation expenses.
Financial
Data
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the periods
of
|
Three months
ended
October 31
|
Year
ended October
31
|
2014
|
2013
|
2014
|
2013
|
|
$
|
$
|
$
|
$
|
Revenue under license
and royalty agreements
|
122,254
|
149,465
|
553,140
|
671,228
|
Total
revenues
|
122,254
|
149,465
|
553,140
|
671,228
|
Operating expenses
(before stock-based compensation, depreciation, amortization and
impairment)
|
489,682
|
787,036
|
2,186,400
|
2,800,532
|
Net loss (before
stock-based compensation, depreciation, amortization and
impairment)
|
(367,428)
|
(637,571)
|
(1,633,260)
|
(2,129,304)
|
Stock-based
compensation
|
10,810
|
40,411
|
62,463
|
128,116
|
Depreciation of
property, plant and equipment
|
13,896
|
15,403
|
57,529
|
69,908
|
Amortization of
intangible asset
|
69,576
|
200,021
|
278,899
|
798,921
|
Impairment of
intangible asset
|
―
|
440,693
|
―
|
440,693
|
Net loss
|
(461,710)
|
(1,334,099)
|
(2,032,151)
|
(3,566,942)
|
Basic and diluted net
loss per share
|
(0.01)
|
(0.03)
|
(0.05)
|
(0.08)
|
Weighted average
number of common shares outstanding
|
43,040,471
|
43,040,471
|
43,040,471
|
43,040,471
|
Consolidated
Balance Sheets
|
|
|
|
|
As of October
31
|
|
2014
|
2013
|
Cash and temporary
investments
|
2,227,326
|
4,190,296
|
Total
assets
|
5,532,382
|
7,849,267
|
Shareholders'
equity
|
5,039,573
|
7,009,261
|
Number of common
Shares outstanding
|
43,040,471
|
43,040,471
|
About DiagnoCure
DiagnoCure (TSX: CUR; OTCQX: DGCRF) is a life sciences
corporation that develops and provides molecular and genomic tests
to support effective clinical decisions enabling personalized
medicine in oncology. Previstageâ GCC and the
Corporation new multimarker prostate cancer test are currently
available for licensing. The Corporation has granted a worldwide
exclusive license on PCA3 for the development and commercialization
of a prostate cancer test which is now 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.