Derma Sciences reports financial and operating results for 2013

Derma Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: DSCI), a medical device and pharmaceutical company focused on advanced wound care, today reported financial and operating results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2013. Highlights of the second quarter of 2013 and recent weeks include:

“During the quarter we continued to execute on both our financial goals and strategic initiatives, and I am very pleased with our results and our momentum”

• Advanced wound care (AWC) product sales of $7.9 million, up 36% over the prior-year second quarter
• AWC products represented 44% of net sales, compared with 33% of net sales in the second quarter of 2012
• Traditional wound care (TWC) product sales of $10.2 million, down 13% from the prior-year second quarter
• Net sales of $18.1 million, up 3% over the prior-year second quarter
• Gross margin of 36.8%, up 1.6 percentage points from the second quarter of 2012
• Net loss of $7.3 million, or $0.43 per share, compared with a net loss of $2.8 million, or $0.23 per share, in the prior-year second quarter
• DSC127 Phase 3 trials continue to advance toward data readout in the second quarter of 2015
• Completion of the DSC127 pharmacokinetic study with no systemic drug detected following dermal administration and ulcer safety evaluations showing complete closure in four of 18 subjects by five weeks

Management Commentary

"During the quarter we continued to execute on both our financial goals and strategic initiatives, and I am very pleased with our results and our momentum," said Edward J. Quilty, chairman and chief executive officer of Derma Sciences. "Our AWC business is performing on plan, with TCC and MEDIHONEY® anchoring 36% sales growth (33% on an organic basis) of these high-margin, innovative and proprietary products. Our AWC selling organization continues to improve its segment contribution. We continue to expect the AWC segment will post sales growth of between 30% and 40% for the full year."

Mr. Quilty continued, "We have made substantial progress in site initiation and site activation, and are actively recruiting and enrolling patients into our two Phase 3 trials with our drug candidate DSC127 for diabetic foot ulcer healing. Sites are quickly coming online and our expectation for data readout from both trials in the second quarter of 2015 remains unchanged."

"We were pleased our DSC127 pharmacokinetic study proceeded as expected, with no drug detected systemically in the blood samples of study subjects following topical administration. In addition, we were encouraged to see that all 18 subjects who were treated and completed the study demonstrated a reduction in total treated ulcer area, compared with baseline measurements. In ulcer safety evaluations, four of the subjects, or 22% of the total, achieved full closure within the five-week study period. We continue to be optimistic about the prospects for DSC127."

"TWC products contributed positive cash flow during the quarter. As expected, our sales in Canada were impacted by the prior year loss of business along with a significant reduction in sales during the quarter as a result of our exclusive distributor rebalancing its inventory. Our TWC segment has two new private-label customers and we will begin having sales to these customers shortly. This week, we will begin the first of two shipments of a total of approximately $1.2 million of private-label OTC MEDIHONEY and XTRASORB® dressings to a nationwide drugstore chain. In addition, we are accelerating our efforts to expand development of other honey-based OTC dressings with our manuka honey supply partner Comvita Limited. We continue to expect growth of our TWC products to be flat to 2% growth for the full year, with incremental private label business covering the Canada sales shortfall," Mr. Quilty concluded.

Financial Results

Net sales for the second quarter of 2013 were $18.1 million, compared with $17.6 million for the second quarter of 2012, an increase of 3%. This included AWC net sales of $7.9 million, an increase of 36% compared with $5.8 million in the prior-year quarter. Sales of TWC products were $10.2 million for the quarter, down 13% from $11.8 million in the prior year. TWC product sales were impacted by lower sales in Canada, partially offset by higher sales of private-label products.

Gross profit for the second quarter of 2013 was $6.7 million, or 36.8% of net sales, compared with gross profit for the second quarter of 2012 of $6.2 million, or 35.2% of net sales. The increase in gross margin dollars and percentage reflected increased sales of higher-margin AWC products, which accounted for 44% of net sales in the 2013 quarter compared with 33% of net sales in the 2012 quarter.

Selling, general and administrative expense for the second quarter of 2013 was $10.8 million, compared with $9.2 million for the second quarter of 2012. The increase was principally due to higher expenditures associated with AWC growth initiatives, together with higher stock-based compensation expense, TCC-related amortization expense and professional and legal service expense, partially offset by the non-recurrence of MedEfficiency related acquisition expenses.

Research and development expense for the second quarter of 2013 was $3.2 million, compared with $1.5 million in the second quarter of 2012, with the increase due to expenses associated with conducting the DSC127 Phase 3 program.

The net loss for the second quarter of 2013 was $7.3 million, or $0.43 per share, compared with a net loss for the second quarter of 2012 of $2.8 million, or $0.23 per share. The increase in net loss was principally due to higher research and development expense, the non-recurrence of the MedEfficiency acquisition related tax benefit in 2012, higher stock-based compensation expense, higher legal costs and additional expense for amortization of intangible assets, principally related to the TCC acquisition, less the non-recurrence of MedEfficiency acquisition related expenses.

For the six months ended June 30, 2013, net sales were $36.9 million, compared with $32.9 million in the prior-year period, an increase of 12%. The Company reported a net loss for the six months ended June 30, 2013 of $13.6 million, or $0.81 per share, compared with a net loss of $5.3 million, or $0.46 per share, for the prior-year period.

As of June 30, 2013, Derma Sciences had cash, cash equivalents and investments of $39.4 million, compared with cash, cash equivalents and investments of $45.8 million as of December 31, 2012.

Conference Call and Webcast

Derma Sciences management will host a conference call to discuss second quarter financial results and answer questions beginning at 11:00 a.m. Eastern time today. In addition, management will provide a business update and discuss recent and upcoming milestones.

To participate in the conference call, dial (888) 563-6275 (domestic) or (706) 634-7417 (international). All listeners should provide the following passcode: 26708698. Individuals interested in listening to the live conference call via the Internet may do so by logging onto the Company's website, www.dermasciences.com.

Following the conclusion of the conference call, a replay will be available through August 18, 2013 and can be accessed by dialing (855) 859-2056 from within the U.S. or (404) 537-3406 from outside the U.S. All listeners should provide passcode 26708698. The webcast will be available for 30 days.

Source: Derma Sciences