Nuo Therapeutics Reports Second Quarter 2015 Results and Operational Update

Adopts Strategic Realignment Plan With Increased Commercial Focus on VA Sales

Appoints Dean Tozer President and Chief Executive Officer

GAITHERSBURG, Md., Aug. 13, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nuo Therapeutics, Inc. (OTCQX:NUOT), a pioneer in biodynamic therapies, today reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2015 and provided a strategic and operational update.

Second Quarter and Recent Corporate Highlights

• Dean Tozer appointed President and Chief Executive Officer, effective August 15, 2015
• Realignment plan and work force reduction emphasize increased focus on commercial effort in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) while reducing overall company headcount
• Company has been in contact with Deerfield Management Company, L.P. and intends to promptly engage in substantive discussions with Deerfield to modify our credit agreement to address anticipated covenant defaults

Second Quarter 2015 Financial Summary

• Total revenues were $2.9 million, compared with $2.3 million in the second quarter of 2014
• Net loss of $0.9 million, compared with a net loss of $11.3 million in the second quarter of 2014

"We continue to see promising signs of demand for Aurix from VA facilities, particularly those with specialized Spinal Cord Injury units," said Dean Tozer, incoming President and Chief Executive Officer of Nuo Therapeutics. "We now have seven VA facilities and one Air Force Base that have treated patients with Aurix™, and an eighth VA facility starting patient trials later this month. Our initial launch team of three VA-focused sales professionals has gained notable traction in a relatively short period and provided us with a good understanding of the sales cycle and the process to get Aurix reviewed, trialed and adopted by VA facilities. As a result, we are increasing the number of VA-focused representatives from three to eight."

Tozer added, "In order to support this effort, we have also decided to alter our approach to the data collection process for our Coverage with Evidence Determination (CED) program (Au Study) from a commercial effort to one that is managed primarily by our clinical affairs team. We have established clearly defined objectives and timelines for determining whether Aurix can be economically viable under the current CED program. This includes establishing an economically appropriate reimbursement rate in 2016 and beyond. Finally, we have implemented a workforce reduction measure that will reduce our full-time employee base by approximately 30%. This will give us increased flexibility over our cost structure and lower our longer term cash burn while enabling us to deploy the resources necessary to capitalize on the opportunities that exist in the VA."

Financial Results for the Quarter Ended June 30, 2015

Total revenues for the second quarter of 2015 were $2.9 million, compared to $2.3 million in the second quarter of 2014. The year-over-year increase in total revenues was primarily related to increased sales and royalties associated with the Company's Angel product line.

Gross margin was 18% for both the second quarter of 2015 and 2014.

Total operating expenses for the quarter were $5.0 million, compared to $10.3 million in the second quarter of 2014. Second quarter 2014 operating expenses included a one-time charge totaling approximately $4.7 million related to the impairment of trademarks and in-process research and development. The additional decline in operating expenses was related to reductions in research and development and general and administrative expenses which were partially offset by increased sales and marketing expenses associated with the development of Nuo's commercial organization.

The Company reported a net loss for the quarter of $0.9 million, or $0.01 per share, compared with a net loss of $11.3 million or $0.09 per share in the second quarter of 2014. Second quarter 2015 net loss included an unrealized non-cash gain related to the change in fair value of derivative liabilities totaling $4.5 million. This compares to an unrealized non-cash loss of $0.9 million in the second quarter of 2014.

As of June 30, 2015, we had approximately $6.9 million in cash and cash equivalents. Pursuant to the terms of our facility agreement with Deerfield, we are required to maintain cash on deposit of not less than $5.0 million. In addition, the terms of the agreement require us to pay Deerfield the accrued interest amount of approximately $2.6 million on October 1, 2015. We believe, between the date of this release and September 1, 2015, that the amount of cash and cash equivalents we maintain on deposit will likely not be sufficient to satisfy the $5.0 million requirement. We also believe that we will be required to make the October 1, 2015 interest payment in cash, as our ability to pay in shares of our common stock is contingent upon a number of conditions we do not anticipate satisfying. Our inability to either maintain sufficient cash on deposit, or make the required interest payment when due, will result in a technical default under the facility agreement.

Management has been in contact with Deerfield and intends to engage promptly in substantive discussions with Deerfield to modify the facility agreement, if possible, and avoid these technical defaults thereby permitting us to continue our operations. We cannot provide any assurance that Deerfield will agree to modify the facility agreement, whether any proposed modifications to the agreement would be on terms favorable, or acceptable, to us, or whether Deerfield will declare an event of default under the agreement and foreclose on our assets by enforcing their rights under the security agreement. If we cannot agree on modifications to the facility agreement, we may be required to cease operations or, alternatively, seek protection under federal bankruptcy statutes. Even if we can reach an agreement to modify the facility agreement in a manner that is acceptable to us, management believes that we will be required to identify additional sources of capital to continue our operations beyond December 31, 2015.

Please see the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed today for further information.

About Nuo Therapeutics

Nuo Therapeutics, Inc. (the "Company") is a biomedical company that pioneers leading-edge biodynamic therapies for wound care. The Company's flagship product, Aurix is a biodynamic hematogel that harnesses a patient's innate regenerative abilities for the management of a variety of wounds. For additional information please visit www.nuot.com.

About Aurix

Aurix is the first platelet and plasma therapy system to be cleared by FDA for the management of a broad range of ulcers and exuding wounds, including:

• All types (diabetic foot ulcer, venous leg ulcer, pressure ulcer, etc.),
• All morphologies (partial thickness, full thickness and complex wounds),
• All severities (tunneling, sinus tract, bone, tendon and hardware exposure).

Unlike other cellular-based treatment options, Aurix is an autologous biodynamic hematogel that is derived from a patient's own platelets and plasma. The product is used at the point-of-care to stimulate the natural wound healing process from deep within the wound bed. For additional information, please visit www.AurixSystem.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" pursuant to the safe harbor provisions under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, any statement that may predict, forecast, indicate, or imply future results, performance or achievements, and may contain the words "believes", "forecasted," "projects," "is expected," "remain confident," "will", "estimate," "target," "plan," "should", "would," "is likely," "may," and/or similar expressions. The information contained in the forward-looking statements, including without limitation those about the Company's estimated revenue, product sales, product placements, gross margin, operating expenses and other income or expenses, is inherently uncertain, and the Company's actual results may differ materially from these forward-looking statements.   These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements concerning the Company's ability to successfully launch and rebrand its wound care system in the timeframe and to the extent anticipated, product placement with the VA System, enlistment of wound care centers, the Company's ability to estimate the potential of the wound care market and to commercialize any of its rebranded products / therapies, successfully execute its Aurix sales and commercialization strategies, the Company's ability to commercialize Aurix as expected and derive financial and commercial benefits of such launch, to achieve Aurix expected reimbursement rates beyond 2015, the Company's ability to comply with the debt covenants and restrictions under its existing loan facilities including from Deerfield Management Company, L.P., the Company's ability to modify the terms of the facility agreement with Deerfield on terms that are favorable to us, the Company's ability to continue as a going concern, the Company's ability to successfully implement the realignment plan, the Company's ability, following the implementation of its realignment plan, to increase product sales and devote sufficient resources towards servicing existing customers, the Company's ability to realize expected benefits from the Arthrex licensing arrangement, the Company's ability to collect the data necessary for the grant of the unconditional coverage, the Company's ability to continue in its efforts to expand in the wound care market, and its ability to successfully negotiate with physician offices as anticipated and to realize the anticipated sales growth from such treatment. Forward-looking statements are also subject to many risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results and the timing of certain events to differ materially from any future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, risks as to whether the Company may achieve future favorable CMS determinations relating to the reimbursement rates for Aurix, the Company's ability to successfully realize sales of the Angel Technology resulting in the royalty stream to the Company, the Company's ability to expand patient populations as contemplated, its ability to provide Medicare patients with access as expected, the Company's ability to realize its expectations of favorable future dialogue with potential strategic partners, its ability to identify, proceed with and consummate strategic initiatives , its ability to successfully manage contemplated clinical trials, its ability to manage and address the capital needs, human resources, management, compliance and other challenges of a larger, more complex and integrated business enterprise, the viability and effectiveness of the Company's sales approach and overall marketing strategies, its ability to secure Medicare reimbursements at adequate levels; its ability to realize commercial success or acceptance by the medical community, the Company's ability to raise additional capital or issue additional securities and to continue as a going concern, and the Company's ability to execute on its strategy to market the Aurix System as contemplated, and other risks and uncertainties described in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including the most recent reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K, and any amendments thereto. Undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking information. Nuo Therapeutics operates in a highly competitive and rapidly changing business and regulatory environment, thus new or unforeseen risks may arise. Except as is expressly required by the federal securities laws, Nuo Therapeutics undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, changed circumstances or future events or for any other reason.