NeoGenomics' fourth-quarter revenue up 32%

NeoGenomics, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: NGNM), a leading provider of cancer-focused genetic testing services today reported its results for the fourth quarter 2009 and fiscal year ended December 31, 2009.

Fourth Quarter 2009 Highlights:

• Revenue increase of  32% versus Q4 08 to $7.8 million
• Revenue growth rate of 60% after adjusting for in-sourcing by one large customer
• 34% increase in number of tests performed versus Q4 08
• Avg. number of tests/case increased 13% to 1.48 versus 1.31 in Q4 08

Fiscal Year 2009 Highlights:

• Revenue increase of 47% versus FY 08 to $29.5 million
• Revenue growth rate of 70% after adjusting for in-sourcing by one large customer
• 40% increase in the number of tests performed versus 2008

For the fourth quarter 2009, revenue was $7.8 million, a 32% increase over fourth quarter 2008 revenue of $5.9 million.  Revenue increases were driven by significant growth in all key testing services.  Revenue grew by 60% after adjusting for the adverse impact caused by the internalization of bladder cancer FISH testing by the Company's largest customer beginning in mid 2009.  Requisitions increased by approximately 19% while average revenue/requisition increased by 11%.  

The company continued to aggressively invest in growth.  Sales and marketing expenses increased by approximately $1.0 million or 100%, driven by significant additions in the size of the sales force and in marketing capabilities.  As was previously disclosed, NeoGenomics recorded approximately $500,000 in certain restructuring and other charges in Q4 09 and $933,000 of special charges in Q4 08.  After adjusting for these special charges, general and administrative expenses increased by approximately 34% primarily due to our investment in the new Melanoma FISH test.  Net loss for the quarter was ($1,529,000) or ($0.04)/share versus a net loss of ($994,000) or ($0.03)/share in Q4 08.

For the full year 2009, revenue was $29.5 million, a 47 percent increase over 2008 revenue of $20.0 million.  Requisitions increased by approximately 28% while average revenue/requisition increased by 15% primarily as a result of a 10% increase in the number of tests per case and favorable changes in our test mix.  Sales and marketing expenses increased by approximately $3.5 million or 105% in 2009.  General and administrative expenses increased by approximately $1.9 million or 23%, but G&A expenses as a percentage of revenue declined from approximately 41% in 2008 to approximately 34% in 2009.  Net loss in 2009 was ($2.2) million or ($0.06)/share versus a net loss of ($1.4) million or ($0.04)/share in 2008.

NeoGenomics also announced that it has completed the validation study for its new laboratory developed melanoma FISH test, which has been branded MelanoSITE™.  In the study, NeoGenomics analyzed over 500 biopsy specimens of known melanoma, normal and dysplastic nevi cases using four specific DNA probes.  Based on this validation study, the specificity (a measure of true negatives/false positives) was determined to be 97% and the sensitivity (a measure of true positives/false negatives) was determined to be 77%.  The MelanoSITE™ test was launched in mid February with the NeoGenomics' sales force, and it is in the process of being launched through Aurora Diagnostics, Dermatopathology Laboratory of Central States ("DLCS") and Path Logic, each of whom cooperated with us in the validation study.  The Company anticipates that each of these laboratories will offer the MelanoSITE™ test through their own customer networks.  

Douglas VanOort, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "2009 was a year of significant change and transition for NeoGenomics.  We welcomed several new key members to our management team, added substantially to our sales and marketing and operating capabilities, and established a solid foundation for future growth.  We also entered into a strategic agreement with Abbott Laboratories to exclusively develop and launch three new laboratory developed tests utilizing Abbott's intellectual property, and strengthened our balance sheet considerably.  We believe we are currently in a stronger position operationally and financially than we have ever been and, as we have previously disclosed, we expect to become profitable in the second half of 2010."  

VanOort continued, "Our core genetic testing business performed very well in 2009.  Excluding revenues from the one large customer that in-sourced bladder cancer FISH testing, revenue growth in the rest of our business was approximately 70% in 2009.  We are equally excited about our growth prospects for 2010.  We expect revenue increases to be fueled by the significant investments we made in our sales force in 2009, the addition of the MelanoSITE™ test and by the addition of at least five other molecular tests that we expect to bring to market this year.   Although we will continue to invest in growth initiatives such as developing the second test under our agreement with Abbott, we expect that our SG&A expenses as a percentage of revenue will continue to decline in 2010 as we build operating leverage in our business."

Robert Gasparini, President and Chief Scientific Officer, added, "Prior to the validation of the melanoma FISH test, we conducted several focus groups with dermatopathologists throughout the country.  Because melanoma cases with ambiguous histology tend to be difficult to diagnose and are often litigated, we heard overwhelmingly that a test with very high specificity would add a high degree of confidence in determining a normal diagnosis.  We therefore established our cutoff values in order to maximize specificity and the sensitivity values are a result of this priority.  The initial feedback we have received from the dermatopathology community has been extremely positive leading us to believe this is the right test at the right time in the melanoma diagnostic algorithm.  We also believe that this test will reduce the overall healthcare costs associated with treating suspected melanoma patients and improve the quality of care for those patients with melanoma.  While we were very pleased with the results of our initial validation study, we expect to publish the results of an even larger study in a peer-reviewed journal later this year."

The company also announced that the severe weather in many parts of the country has impacted customer accessions and that it expects to report $8.0 - $8.2 million of revenue in Q1 with net losses of ($0.02) – ($0.03) per share.

SOURCE NeoGenomics, Inc.