AxoGen, Inc. Reports 2017 Fourth Quarter and Full Year Financial Results


Record Q4 Revenue of $17.0 million, representing 49% growth over prior year
Record Full year 2017 Revenue of $60.4 million, representing 47% growth over prior year

ALACHUA, Fla., Feb. 28, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AxoGen, Inc. (NASDAQ:AXGN), a global leader in developing and marketing innovative surgical solutions for peripheral nerves, today reported financial results and business highlights for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2017.

Fourth Quarter 2017 Financial Results and Recent Business Highlights

  • Revenue of $17.0 million, up 49% compared to $11.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2016
  • Gross margin of 84.6% compared to 84.0% in the fourth quarter of 2016
  • Adjusted EBITDA loss of $531,000 compared to adjusted EBITDA loss of $2.2 million in Q4 2016
  • Announced expanded application in Breast Reconstruction Neurotization
  • Adjusted net loss for the fourth quarter of 2017 was $2.5 million, or $0.07 per share, compared with adjusted net loss of $3.2 million, or $0.10 per share, in the fourth quarter of 2016
  • Raised $15.6 million in net proceeds through a public offering of common stock on November 20

“We are pleased to report another successful quarter and a solid finish to 2017,” said Karen Zaderej, president and CEO of AxoGen. “These results reflect the strength of our growing platform for nerve repair where we see continued momentum in our core trauma, nerve protection and oral and maxillofacial markets. We enter 2018 with an expanding sales force that will allow us to continue growth in our core markets while also supporting our newest application in breast reconstruction neurotization.”

Additional Fourth Quarter and Recent Operational Highlights

  • Increased active accounts in the fourth quarter to 591, up 31% from 452 a year ago
  • Ended the quarter with 60 direct sales representatives and 20 independent distributors
  • Conducted four national education programs in the fourth quarter
  • Increased the number of clinical presentations related to our surgical portfolio by three to a total of 21 for the year
  • Announced FDA clearance for AxoGuard ® Nerve Cap and will begin a clinical study evaluating its application in the surgical management of pain 
  • Began training surgeons on the ReSensation™ technique for breast reconstruction neurotization
  • Ended the quarter with $36.5 million in cash compared to $22 million at the end of the Q3 2017. The $14.5 million net increase in cash was the result of the company’s $15.6 million equity raise in November, partially offset by net use of cash in Q4 of $1.1 million  
  • Ended the quarter with $25 million of total bank debt, equivalent to the end of Q3 2017

Full Year 2017 Summary Financial Results and Business Highlights

  • 2017 Revenue of $60.4 million, an increase of 47% compared to $41.1 million for the prior year
  • Gross margin of 84.6% compared to 84.3% in 2016
  • Adjusted EBITDA loss of $3.8 million compared to adjusted EBITDA loss of $6.3 million in 2016
  • Increased total addressable market across all current applications to $2.2 billion. The increase is a result of expanded use in oral and maxillofacial surgery and the addition of breast reconstruction neurotization.  
  • Total clinical publications increased by nine to 53, including important data in the areas of mixed and motor, and long gap nerve repair, as well as oral and maxillofacial surgery
  • Completed 15 national education programs in 2017 and expect to conduct 18 programs in 2018
  • Expanded leadership team with the appointment of Jon Gingrich as Chief Commercial Officer
  • Named Employee Engagement Best Practices Award Winner by DecisionWise International

“We continue to produce record revenues and are pleased with 2017 results that demonstrate our ability to consistently and successfully execute our strategy,” said Zaderej. “Our efforts to increase market awareness, provide quality surgeon education programs, expand our commercial presence and effectiveness, and further develop clinical data are helping surgeons develop confidence in the adoption of the AxoGen platform for nerve repair.”

2018 Financial Guidance
Management expects that 2018 revenue will grow at least 40% over 2017 revenue and gross margins will remain above 80%.

Upcoming Investor Events
Members of the AxoGen senior management team will participate at the following upcoming conferences:

  • Canaccord Genuity Musculoskeletal Conference in New Orleans on March 6
  • 30th Annual ROTH Conference in Dana Point, CA on March 13

Conference Call
The Company will host a conference call and webcast for the investment community today at 4:30 p.m. ET. Investors interested in participating by phone are invited to call toll free at 1-877-407-0993 or use the direct dial-in number 1-201-689-8795. Those interested in listening to the conference call live via the Internet can do so by visiting the Investors page of the Company’s website at www.axogeninc.com and clicking on the webcast link on the Investors home page.

Following the conference call, a replay will be available on the Company’s website at www.axogeninc.com under Investors.

About AxoGen
AxoGen (AXGN) is the leading company focused specifically on the science, development and commercialization of technologies for peripheral nerve regeneration and repair. We are passionate about helping to restore peripheral nerve function and quality of life to patients with physical damage or discontinuity to peripheral nerves by providing innovative, clinically proven and economically effective repair solutions for surgeons and health care providers. Peripheral nerves provide the pathways for both motor and sensory signals throughout the body. Every day, people suffer traumatic injuries or undergo surgical procedures that impact the function of their peripheral nerves. Physical damage to a peripheral nerve, or the inability to properly reconnect peripheral nerves, can result in the loss of muscle or organ function, the loss of sensory feeling, or the initiation of pain.

AxoGen's platform for peripheral nerve repair features a comprehensive portfolio of products, including Avance® Nerve Graft, an off-the-shelf processed human nerve allograft for bridging severed peripheral nerves without the comorbidities associated with a second surgical site, AxoGuard® Nerve Connector, a porcine submucosa extracellular matrix (ECM) coaptation aid for tensionless repair of severed peripheral nerves, AxoGuard® Nerve Protector, a porcine submucosa ECM product used to wrap and protect damaged peripheral nerves and reinforce the nerve reconstruction while preventing soft tissue attachments, and Avive® Soft Tissue Membrane, a minimally processed human umbilical cord membrane that may be used as a resorbable soft tissue covering to separate tissue layers and modulate inflammation in the surgical bed. Along with these core surgical products, AxoGen also offers AcroVal® Neurosensory & Motor Testing System and AxoTouch® Two-Point Discriminator. These evaluation and measurement tools assist health care professionals in detecting changes in sensation, assessing return of sensory, grip, and pinch function, evaluating effective treatment interventions, and providing feedback to patients on peripheral nerve function. The AxoGen portfolio of products is available in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and several other European and international countries.

Cautionary Statements Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
This Press Release contains “forward-looking” statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on management's current expectations or predictions of future conditions, events, or results based on various assumptions and management's estimates of trends and economic factors in the markets in which we are active, as well as our business plans. Words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” “projects,” “forecasts,” “continue,” “may,” “should,” “will,” and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, statements regarding our assessment on our internal control over financial reporting, our growth, our 2018 guidance, product development, product potential, financial performance, sales growth, product adoption, market awareness of our products, data validation, our visibility at and sponsorship of conferences and educational events. The forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, which may cause results to differ materially from those set forth in the statements. Forward-looking statements in this release should be evaluated together with the many uncertainties that affect AxoGen's business and its market, particularly those discussed in the risk factors and cautionary statements in AxoGen's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results may differ materially from those projected. The forward-looking statements are representative only as of the date they are made and, except as required by law, AxoGen assumes no responsibility to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Contacts:
AxoGen, Inc.
Peter J. Mariani, Chief Financial Officer
InvestorRelations@AxoGenInc.com

The Trout Group – Investor Relations                                             
Brian Korb
646.378.2923
bkorb@troutgroup.com

AXOGEN, INC.   
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS 
      
December 31,December 31,  
 2017  2016   
Assets     
      
Current assets:    
Cash and cash equivalents$  36,506,624  $  30,014,405   
Accounts receivable, net   11,064,720     8,052,203   
Inventory   7,315,942     5,458,840   
Prepaid expenses and other   853,381     511,804   
Total current assets   55,740,667     44,037,252   
     
Property and equipment, net   2,197,039     1,494,247   
Intangible assets   936,992     828,979   
 $  58,874,698  $  46,360,478   
      
      
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity     
      
Current liabilities:  
Borrowings under revolving loan agreement$  4,000,000  $  4,025,023   
Accounts payable and accrued expenses   8,952,061     7,002,165   
Current maturities of long term obligations   735,017     20,899   
Deferred revenue, current   31,668     33,282   
Total current liabilities   13,718,746     11,081,369   
Long Term Obligations, net of current maturities and deferred financing fees   19,905,286     20,265,745   
Deferred revenue   68,631    92,215   
Total liabilities   33,692,663    31,439,329   
Shareholders’ equity:   343,503     330,088   
Common stock, $.01 par value; 50,000,000 shares authorized;  34,350,329 and 33,008,865 shares issued and outstanding   
Additional paid-in capital   153,167,817    132,474,884   
Accumulated deficit   (128,329,285)    (117,883,823)  
Total shareholders’ equity    25,182,035    14,921,149   
 $  58,874,698  $  46,360,478   
      
      
AXOGEN, INC.
CONSONLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS 
Three Months and Years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016
  
      
 Three Months Ended Years Ended
 December 31, December 31, December 31, December 31,
 2017   2016   2017   2016 
Revenues$  16,971,005  $  11,408,672  $  60,426,395  $  41,107,538 
Cost of goods sold   2,614,458     1,829,804     9,311,585     6,467,250 
Gross profit   14,356,547     9,578,868     51,114,810     34,640,288 
Costs and expenses:       
Sales and marketing   10,120,605     8,349,206     37,635,871     28,425,503 
Research and development   1,971,569     1,178,502     6,699,120     4,212,023 
General and administrative   4,071,349     2,770,561     14,731,105     10,132,624 
Total costs and expenses   16,163,523     12,298,269     59,066,096     42,770,150 
Loss from operations   (1,806,976)    (2,719,401)    (7,951,286)    (8,129,862)
Other income (expense):       
Interest expense   (576,971)    (2,130,694)    (2,216,845)    (5,386,268)
Interest expense—deferred financing costs   (109,846)    (780,135)    (246,557)    (875,389)
Other income (expense)   (5,386)    3,246     (30,774)    (19,625)
Total other income (expense)   (692,203)    (2,907,583)    (2,494,176)    (6,281,282)
Net loss$  (2,499,179) $  (5,626,984) $  (10,445,462) $  (14,411,144)
Weighted Average Common Shares outstanding – basic and diluted   33,845,684     32,567,893     33,322,767     30,702,164 
Loss Per Common share - basic and diluted$  (0.07) $  (0.17) $  (0.31) $  (0.47)
        
  Adjusted net loss$  (2,499,179) $  (3,176,379) $  (10,445,462) $  (11,960,539)
Adjusted net loss per Common share$  (0.07) $  (0.10) $  (0.31) $  (0.39)
        
      
AXOGEN, INC.
RECONCILIATION OF GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
Three Months and Years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016
 
      
 Three Months Ended Years Ended
 December 31, December 31, December 31, December 31,
 2017   2016   2017   2016 
Net loss$  (2,499,179) $  (5,626,984) $  (10,445,462) $  (14,411,144)
  Depreciation and amortization expense 140,772   98,484   487,611   361,617 
  Amortization expense of intangible assets 18,534   26,821   78,993   74,871 
  Income Taxes   5,347     -     29,321     21,426 
  Interest expense 576,971   2,130,694   2,216,845   5,386,268 
  Interest expense - deferred financing costs 109,846   780,135   246,557   875,389 
  EBITDA - non GAAP$  (1,647,709) $  (2,590,850) $  (7,386,135) $  (7,691,573)
        
  Non Cash Stock Compensation Expense 1,116,926   343,913   3,608,918   1,390,277 
  Adjusted EBITDA - non GAAP$  (530,783) $  (2,246,937) $  (3,777,217) $  (6,301,296)
            
      
AXOGEN, INC.
RECONCILIATION OF NET LOSS TO ADJUSTED NET LOSS 
Three Months and Years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016
 
      
 Three Months Ended Years Ended
 December 31, December 31, December 31, December 31,
 2017   2016   2017   2016 
Net loss$  (2,499,179)    (5,626,984) $  (10,445,462)    (14,411,144)
  Prepayment fees net of accrued interest   -   1,700,131     -   1,700,131 
  Write off of deferred financing fees   -   750,474     -   750,474 
  Adjusted Net Loss$  (2,499,179) $  (3,176,379) $  (10,445,462) $  (11,960,539)
Adjusted net loss per Common share$  (0.07) $  (0.10) $  (0.31) $  (0.39)
      
      
AXOGEN, INC. 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS 
Years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 
  
      
 2017  2016   
Cash flows from operating activities:     
Net loss$  (10,445,462) $  (14,411,144)  
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used for operating activities:     
Depreciation    487,611     361,617   
Amortization of intangible assets   78,993     74,871   
Amortization of deferred financing costs   246,557     124,915   
Write off of deferred financing costs   -     750,474   
Provision for bad debts   223,323     79,593   
Stock-based compensation   3,608,918     1,390,277   
Interest added to note   -     1,924,279   
Change in assets and liabilities:     
Accounts receivable   (3,235,840)    (3,348,807)  
Inventory   (1,857,102)    (1,524,880)  
Prepaid expenses and other   (341,577)    (86,879)  
Accounts payable and accrued expenses   1,926,664     3,411,507   
Deferred liabilities   70,316     17,582   
Net cash used for operating activities   (9,237,599)    (11,236,595)  
      
  Cash flows from investing activities:     
Purchase of property and equipment   (1,105,212)    (931,634)  
Acquisition of intangible assets   (187,006)    (225,768)  
Net cash used for investing activities   (1,292,218)    (1,157,402)  
  Cash flows from financing activities:     
Proceeds from issuance of common stock   15,662,905     18,668,092   
Borrowing on revolving loan   57,599,165     6,684,894   
Payments on revolving loan   (57,624,188)    (6,684,894)  
Repayments of long term debt   (20,899)    (2,446,676)  
Debt issuance costs   (29,472)    (800,847)  
Proceeds from exercise of stock options   1,434,524     1,078,333   
Net cash provided by financing activities   17,022,035     16,498,902   
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents   6,492,218     4,104,905   
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year   30,014,405     25,909,500   
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period$  36,506,623  $  30,014,405   
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow activity:     
Cash paid for interest$  2,198,286  $  5,769,372   
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities:     
Payments of fixed assets in accounts payable$  55,385  $  32,153   
Payments of long term debt with proceeds from term loan of $21,000,000 and revolver loan of $4,000,000$  -  $  25,000,000   
Capital lease additions$  61,959  $  -