Response Genetics, Inc. Announces Third Quarter Financial Results

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Response Genetics, Inc. (Nasdaq: RGDX), a company focused on the development and sale of molecular diagnostic tests for helping determine a patient's response to cancer therapy, today announced its consolidated financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2012.

Total revenues for the quarter ended September 30, 2012 increased to $5.40 million, compared to $3.84 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2012 and $5.10 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2011.  The Company's pharmaceutical client revenue increased by $1.37 million and the ResponseDX® revenue increased by $189 thousand relative to the quarter ended June 30, 2012. 

The Company's net loss for the quarter ended September 30, 2012 decreased by $1.3 million to $1.4 million compared to a net loss of $2.7 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2012 and a net loss of $1.4 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2011.  This is the third consecutive quarter the Company decreased its net loss. 

The Company also increased its gross margin in three consecutive quarters from approximately 25% for the fourth quarter of 2011, to approximately 32% for the quarter ended March 31, 2012 to approximately 37% for the quarter ended June 30, 2012, to approximately 49% for the quarter ended September 30, 2012.  Gross margin is Net Revenue less Cost of Revenue.

Excluding cost of revenue, total operating expenses for the third quarter were $4.0 million, compared to $4.1 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2012 and $4.0 million for the same period last year.

"We are very pleased with the financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2012, which improved again relative to the prior quarter.  Since the fourth quarter of last year, we continued to realize consecutive quarter-over-quarter positive results from the many changes implemented by the Company.  Gross margins have increased nearly two-fold from the fourth quarter of last year, and operating loss has continued to decrease significantly, or nearly two-fold, since last quarter and by a factor of nearly 2.8 from the fourth quarter of last year," said Thomas Bologna, the Company's Chairman & Chief Executive Officer.

Total revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 were $13.2 million compared to $17.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011.  The decrease is largely a result of the expected decrease in pharmaceutical client revenue of $3.9 million from $8.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 to $4.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012. Additionally, early in 2012, the Company made the strategic decision to focus much of its pharmaceutical resources on working with GSK as it moves its drugs, for which the Company did extensive patient testing, through the FDA approval process.  The Company's ResponseDX® revenue was $8.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, compared to $9.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, largely as a result of tactical changes the Company is undergoing in building and directing its sales force. 

The Company's net loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 was $7.3 million, compared with a net loss of $1.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011. 

Excluding cost of revenue, total operating expenses for the nine months were $12.5 million, compared to $11.4 million for the same period last year.  The increase in total operating expense of $1.1 million was due to an increase in general and administrative expenses of $0.2 million and an increase in research and development expenses of $0.9 million.

The Company's cash position increased substantially to $10.8 million at September 30, 2012 compared to $2.6 million at June 30, 2012.

Mr. Bologna concluded, "In the third quarter we also increased our cash position significantly to nearly $11,000,000.  Today we have a strong balance sheet coupled with steady and consecutive quarter-over-quarter financial performance.  Going forward, we believe we are well positioned, both strategically and financially, to continue building a strong organization to capitalize on the promise of personalized medicine."

Conference Call Details 

To access the conference call by phone on November 13 at 10:00 a.m. EST, dial (800) 537-0745 or (253) 237-1142 for international participants.  A telephone replay will be available beginning approximately two hours after the call through November 20, 2012, and may be accessed by dialing (855) 859-2056 or (404) 537-3406.  The conference passcode for both the live call and replay is 57580014. 

To access the live and archived webcast of the conference call, go to the Investor Relations section of the Company's Web site at http://investor.responsegenetics.com.  It is advised that participants connect at least 15 minutes prior to the call to allow for any software downloads that might be necessary.

About Response Genetics, Inc.
Response Genetics, Inc. (the "Company") is a CLIA-certified clinical laboratory focused on the development and sale of molecular diagnostic testing services for cancer.  The Company's technologies enable extraction and analysis of genetic information derived from tumor cells stored as formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded specimens.  The Company's principal customers include oncologists and pathologists.  In addition to diagnostic testing services, the Company generates revenue from the sale of its proprietary analytical pharmacogenomic testing services of clinical trial specimens to the pharmaceutical industry.  The Company's headquarters is located in Los Angeles, California.  For more information, please visit www.responsegenetics.com.

Forward-Looking Statement Notice

Except for the historical information contained herein, this press release and the statements of representatives of the Company related thereto contain or may contain, among other things, certain forward-looking statements, within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

Such forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties.  Such statements may include, without limitation, statements with respect to the Company's plans, objectives, projections, expectations and intentions, such as the ability of the Company, to provide clinical testing services to the medical community, to continue to strengthen and expand its sales force, to continue to build its digital pathology initiative, to attract and retain qualified management, to continue to strengthen marketing capabilities, to expand the suite of ResponseDX® products, to continue to provide clinical trial support to pharmaceutical clients, to enter into new collaborations with pharmaceutical clients, to enter into areas of companion diagnostics, to continue to execute on its business strategy and operations, to continue to analyze cancer samples and the potential for using the results of this research to develop diagnostic tests for cancer, the usefulness of genetic information to tailor treatment to patients, and other statements identified by words such as "project," "may," "could," "would," "should," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "plan" or similar expressions.

These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the Company's management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, including those detailed in the Company's filings with the Securities Exchange Commission.  Actual results, including, without limitation, actual sales results, if any, or the application of funds, may differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.  These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that are subject to change based on various factors (many of which are beyond the Company's control).  The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

                                                                                                                             

The condensed consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2011 is derived from the audited consolidated financial statements at the date included in the Company's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011.  The condensed consolidated balance sheet at September 30, 2012 is derived from the unaudited financial statements included in the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2012.

The condensed consolidated statement of operations at September 30, 2011 and 2012 are derived from the unaudited financial statements included in the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2012.

SOURCE Response Genetics, Inc.