Guardant Health Reports Third Quarter 2018 Financial Results


Revenue growth of 95% over prior year period

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Nov. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Guardant Health, Inc. (Nasdaq:GH), a leading precision oncology company focused on helping conquer cancer globally through use of its proprietary blood tests, vast data sets and advanced analytics, today reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2018.

Recent Highlights

  • Revenues of $21.7 million for the third quarter of 2018, representing a 95% increase over the third quarter of 2017
  • Reported 7,027 tests to clinical customers and 2,505 tests to biopharmaceutical customers in the third quarter, representing increases of 14% and 67% respectively, over the third quarter 2017
  • Lung cancer study published in JAMA Oncology demonstrated Guardant360 outperformed tissue biopsy alone in identification of targetable mutations
  • Awarded Medicare coverage for the Guardant360 assay in non-small cell lung cancer through a local coverage determination from Palmetto GBA, a Medicare Administrative Contractor; successfully received first payment
  • Completed initial public offering, raising approximately $249.5 million of net proceeds, after underwriting fees and other expenses

“Our third quarter accomplishments reflect the ongoing strength of our business,” said Helmy Eltoukhy, PhD, Chief Executive Officer. “We are continuing to build proof points for a blood-first paradigm ahead of traditional tissue genotyping, as demonstrated by the study from the University of Pennsylvania which was recently published in JAMA Oncology.”

“In addition, we are pleased with the successful completion of our IPO,” continued Dr. Eltoukhy.  “We are grateful for the support of our investors who participated in the offering, and we are focused on the creation of long-term shareholder value through unprecedented access to cancer’s molecular information throughout all stages of the disease.”

Third Quarter 2018 Financial Results
Revenue was $21.7 million in the three months ended September 30, 2018, a 95% increase from $11.1 million in the three months ended September 30, 2017.  Precision oncology revenue increased 78% driven by higher testing volume and increases in revenue per test. Tests for clinical customers increased 14% (after excluding tests in the third quarter of 2017 from a customer that began processing tests in-house in March 2018 based on a joint development agreement) and tests for biopharmaceutical customers increased 67%.

Gross profit, or total revenue less cost of precision oncology testing and cost of development services, was $11.6 million for the third quarter of 2018, an increase of $9.1 million from $2.5 million in the corresponding prior year period.  Gross margin, or gross profit divided by total revenue, was 53.7%, as compared to 22.2% in the corresponding prior year period.  

Operating expenses were $35.8 million for the third quarter of 2018, as compared to $31.1 million in the corresponding prior year period, an increase of 15%.

Net loss attributable to Guardant Health, Inc. common stockholders was $24.5 million in the third quarter of 2018, as compared to $33.3 million in the corresponding period of the prior year. Net loss per share attributable to Guardant Health, Inc. common stockholders was $1.94 in the third quarter of 2018, as compared to $2.76 in the corresponding period of the prior year.

Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities were $274.3 million as of September 30, 2018. In October 2018, Guardant completed an initial public offering, raising approximately $249.5 million net of underwriting fees and other expenses.

2018 Financial Guidance
Guardant Health expects full year 2018 revenue to be in the range of $82.0 million to $84.0 million.

Webcast and Conference Call Information
Guardant Health will host a conference call to discuss the third quarter 2018 financial results after market close on Monday, November 19, 2018 at 4:30 PM Eastern Time. The conference call can be accessed live over the phone (866) 417-5537 for U.S. callers or (409) 217-8233 for international callers (Conference ID: 9156645). The webcast can be accessed at http://investors.guardanthealth.com.

About Guardant Health
Guardant Health is a leading precision oncology company focused on helping conquer cancer globally through use of its proprietary blood tests, vast data sets and advanced analytics.  Its Guardant Health Oncology Platform is designed to leverage its capabilities in technology, clinical development, regulatory and reimbursement to drive commercial adoption, improve patient clinical outcomes and lower healthcare costs.  In pursuit of its goal to manage cancer across all stages of the disease, Guardant Health has launched multiple liquid biopsy-based tests, Guardant360 and GuardantOMNI, for advanced stage cancer patients, which fuel its development programs for recurrence and early detection, LUNAR-1 and LUNAR-2, respectively. Since its launch in 2014, Guardant360 has been used by more than 5,000 oncologists, over 40 biopharmaceutical companies and all 27 of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network centers.

Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding Guardant Health’s expected financial results for the year ended December 31, 2018, which involve risks and uncertainties that could cause Guardant Health’s actual results to differ materially from the anticipated results and expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations, forecasts and assumptions, and actual outcomes and results could differ materially from these statements due to a number of factors. These and additional risks and uncertainties that could affect Guardant Health’s financial and operating results and cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements made in this press release include those discussed under the captions "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation" and elsewhere in its Quarterly Report for the period ended September 30, 2018 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") relating to its Registration Statement on Form S-1 and in its other reports filed with the SEC. The forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to Guardant Health as of the date hereof, and Guardant Health disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements provided to reflect any change in its expectations or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Guardant Health’s views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.           

Investor Contact:
Lynn Lewis or Carrie Mendivil
investors@guardanthealth.com


Guardant Health, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in thousands, except per share data)
(unaudited)

 Three Months Ended September 30,
 Nine Months Ended September 30,  
  2018   2017     2018     2017   
                
Revenue:    
Precision oncology testing$  18,298  $  10,253  $  50,311  $  27,927 
Development services 3,394   879   7,455   1,913 
Total revenue 21,692   11,132   57,766   29,840 
                
Costs and operating expenses:    
Cost of precision oncology testing (2)(3) 9,671   7,603   27,222   20,928 
Cost of development services 380   1,058   2,041   1,542 
Research and development expense (2)(3) 14,253   7,246   34,062   17,442 
Sales and marketing expense (2)(3) 13,464   7,808   36,351   22,941 
General and administrative expense (2)(3) 8,129   16,095   23,645   27,982 
Total costs and operating expenses 45,897   39,810   123,321   90,835 
Loss from operations (24,205)  (28,678)  (65,555)  (60,995)
Interest income 958   657   2,932   1,222 
Interest expense (304)  (303)  (952)  (2,398)
Loss on debt extinguishment          (5,075)
Other income (expense), net 43   (266)  4,587   (915)
Loss before provision for income taxes (23,508)  (28,590)  (58,988)  (68,161)
Provision for income taxes       3    
Net loss (23,508)  (28,590)  (58,991)  (68,161)
Fair value adjustment of redeemable noncontrolling interest (950)     (950)   
Net loss attributable to Guardant Health, Inc.$  (24,458) $  (28,590) $  (59,941) $  (68,161)
Deemed dividend related to repurchase of Series A convertible
preferred stock
    (4,716)     (4,716)
Deemed dividend related to change in conversion rate of Series D
convertible preferred stock
          (1,058)
                
     
Net loss attributable to Guardant Health, Inc. common stockholders$  (24,458) $  (33,306) $  (59,941) $  (73,935)
Net loss per share attributable to Guardant Health, Inc. common
stockholders, basic and diluted
$  (1.94) $  (2.76) $  (4.87) $  (5.76)
Weighted-average shares used in computing net loss per share
attributable to Guardant Health, Inc. common stockholders,
basic and diluted
 12,582   12,073   12,300   12,831 
                
     

(2) Amounts include stock-based compensation expense as follows:

   
 Three Months Ended September 30,  
 Nine Months Ended September 30,  
  2018  2017     2018    2017  
Cost of precision oncology testing$  112 $  (25) $  254 $  104
Research and development expense 617  17   1,035  307
Sales and marketing expense 428  (526)  1,061  14
General and administrative expense 674  1,342   1,938  1,673
     
Total stock-based compensation expenses$  1,831 $  808  $  4,288 $  2,098
     

(3) Amounts include compensation expenses associated with repurchase of common stock as follows:

 Three Months Ended September 30,   Nine Months Ended September 30,
  2018  2017    2018    2017  
Cost of precision oncology testing$  — $  72 $  — $  72
Research and development expense   250    250
Sales and marketing expense   659    659
General and administrative expense   9,672  157  9,672
     
Total compensation expense associated with
repurchase of common stock
$  — $  10,653 $  157 $  10,653
     


 Guardant Health, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
(unaudited)

   
 September 30,
2018

 December 31,
2017
 
    
ASSETS  
Current assets:  
Cash and cash equivalents$  113,957  $  72,280 
Short-term marketable securities 157,385   149,040 
Accounts receivable 14,640   12,787 
Inventory 7,075   7,287 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 4,024   1,541 
Total current assets 297,081   242,935 
Long-term marketable securities 2,963   73,254 
Property and equipment, net 30,318   16,036 
Capitalized license fees 8,044   8,739 
Deferred offering costs 4,257    
Other assets 1,936   1,974 
Total Assets$  344,599  $  342,938 
        
LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTEREST
AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
  
Current liabilities:  
Accounts payable$  13,081  $  4,998 
Accrued compensation 7,430   4,911 
Accrued expenses 7,482   6,406 
Capital lease, current 102   199 
Deferred revenue 3,955   3,113 
Total current liabilities 32,050   19,627 
Capital lease, net of current portion 137   460 
Deferred rent, net of current portion 7,623   6,537 
Obligation related to royalty 7,446   7,708 
Other long-term liabilities 206    
Total Liabilities 47,462   34,332 
        
   
Redeemable noncontrolling interest 41,950    
Stockholders’ equity:  
Convertible preferred stock, par value of $0.00001 per share; 80,104,464 shares authorized
as of September 30, 2018 (unaudited) and December 31, 2017; 78,627,369 shares issued
and outstanding as of September 30, 2018 (unaudited) and December 31, 2017 with
aggregate liquidation preference of $501,410 as of September 30, 2018 (unaudited)
 499,974   499,974 
Common stock, par value of $0.00001 per share; 111,853,396 shares authorized as of
September 30, 2018 (unaudited) and December 31, 2017; 13,002,822 and 11,896,882
shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2018 (unaudited) and December 31, 2017
     
Additional paid-in capital 11,421   4,900 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (531)  (532)
Accumulated deficit (255,677)  (195,736)
Total Stockholders’ Equity 255,187   308,606 
Total Liabilities, Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest and Stockholders’ Equity$  344,599  $  342,938