REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Nov. 03, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Avinger, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVGR) (the “Company”), a leading developer of innovative treatments for peripheral artery disease (“PAD”), today reported results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2016.

Third Quarter and Recent Highlights

  • Revenue of $5.3 million, a 95% increase compared to the third quarter of 2015
  • Added 17 Lumivascular™ accounts, expanding the installed base of the Company's Lumivascular platform to 143 accounts
  • Completed a public offering of common stock which resulted in net proceeds of $31.5M
  • Established national sales agreements with HealthTrust Purchasing Group and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
  • Launched upgraded Lightbox L250 imaging console and began shipments of Pantheris® with enhanced plaque cutting capability
  • Received expanded FDA indications for Pantheris as a diagnostic imaging device

“We are very pleased with our sales execution this quarter, which reflects the proactive changes made to the sales organization, as well as our recent success in signing contracts with large healthcare providers,” said Jeff Soinski, Avinger’s president and CEO. “Additionally, we closed a significant financing this quarter which allows us to continue to focus on driving adoption of our Lumivascular technology.”

Dr. John B. Simpson, Avinger's founder and executive chairman, stated, “In addition to ramping our revenues, we also have increased and upgraded our product offerings, and have made good progress on our R&D pipeline with regulatory filings planned in upcoming quarters. Our new catheters and Lightbox reflect our continued focus on responding to physician feedback, and our planned future products should allow us to better treat patients with more complex lesions in more tortuous locations, smaller vessels below the knee and eventually in the coronary arteries.”

Third Quarter 2016 Financial Results

Total revenue was $5.3 million for the third quarter ended September 30, 2016, a 95% increase from the third quarter of 2015 and a 14% increase from the second quarter of 2016. Revenue related to Lightbox imaging consoles was $1.4 million, a 65% increase compared to the third quarter of 2015 and a 43% increase from the second quarter of 2016. Revenue from disposable devices was $3.9 million, a 110% increase compared to the third quarter of 2015 and a 5% increase from the second quarter of 2016. Revenue results reflect the second full quarter of Pantheris sales following FDA clearance on March 1, 2016 as well as continued strong adoption of the Lumivascular platform by new hospital customers.

Gross margin for the third quarter of 2016 was 30%, down from 36% in the comparable quarter of 2015 and increased from 22% in the second quarter of 2016. The year-over-year decrease was primarily attributable to the growth of the Company’s manufacturing infrastructure associated with the commercial launch of Pantheris and a higher proportion of Lumivascular accounts participating in the Company’s placement-to-purchase and rental programs, and the improvement compared to the second quarter of 2016 related primarily to reduced warranty costs and the higher gross margin associated with revenues related to Lightbox imaging consoles.

Operating expenses for the third quarter of 2016 were $13.0 million, compared to $10.8 million in the third quarter of 2015. This growth was primarily attributable to expansion of the Company’s commercial organization and marketing expenses associated with the launch of Pantheris.

Loss from operations for the third quarter of 2016 was $11.4 million, compared to $9.9 million for the third quarter of 2015, and net loss for the third quarter of 2016 was $13.0 million, compared to $13.3 million for the third quarter of 2015. Loss per share for the third quarter of 2016 was $0.73, compared to $1.08 for the third quarter of 2015. The decreased loss per share primarily reflects the issuance of 9.9 million shares in the Company’s follow-on public offering which closed on August 16, 2016.

Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure, was a loss of $9.3 million for the third quarter of 2016, compared to a loss of $8.3 million for the third quarter of 2015.

Cash and cash equivalents totaled $43.3 million as of September 30, 2016, compared to $43.1 million as of December 31, 2015.

2016 Outlook
The Company has narrowed its expected range for 2016 revenues to $20 million to $21 million, representing year-over-year growth ranging from 87% to 96%. This compares to the previous range of $19 million to $23 million.

Net loss per share for 2016 is projected to be $(3.28) to $(3.46), which reflects the increased weighted-average share count of 16.5 million. This is compared to the previous guidance of $(4.35) to $(4.55).

Consistent with the Company’s previous guidance, Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure, for 2016 is projected to be a loss of $40 million to $43 million.

No reconciliation of the Company’s 2016 Adjusted EBITDA guidance, which excludes estimates for stock-based compensation expense, depreciation and amortization, is included in the financial schedules attached to this press release. The Company is not able to accurately forecast the excluded items at the level of precision that would be required to be included in the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure without unreasonable efforts.

Conference Call
Avinger will hold a conference call today, November 3, 2016 at 1:30pm PT/4:30pm ET to discuss its third quarter 2016 financial results. Individuals may listen to the call by dialing (844) 776-7820 for domestic callers or (661) 378-9536 for international callers and referencing Conference ID: 96290958. To listen to a live webcast, please visit the investor relations section of Avinger's website at: www.avinger.com.

A replay of the call will be available beginning November 3, 2016 at 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET through 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET  on November 4, 2016. To access the replay, dial (855) 859-2056 or (404) 537-3406 and reference Conference ID: 96290958. The webcast will also be available on Avinger's website for one year following the completion of the call.

About Avinger, Inc.
Avinger, Inc. is a commercial-stage medical device company that designs, manufactures and sells image-guided, catheter-based systems for the treatment of patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD). PAD is characterized by a build-up of plaque in the arteries that supply blood to the legs and feet. The company’s mission is to dramatically improve the treatment of vascular disease through the introduction of products based on its Lumivascular platform, the only intravascular image-guided system of therapeutic catheters available in this market. Avinger’s current Lumivascular products include the Lightbox imaging console, the Ocelot family of catheters, which are designed to penetrate total arterial blockages, known as chronic total occlusions, or CTOs, and Pantheris, the first-ever image-guided atherectomy device, designed to precisely remove arterial plaque in PAD patients. For more information, please visit www.avinger.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include statements regarding the long-term outlook for the adoption of Lumivascular technology, future regulatory filings and product offerings, the use of Lumivascular technology in more complex lesions and in the coronary arteries, expectations for growth, and financial and operating guidance. Such statements are based on current assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially. These risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, include our dependency on a limited number of products; ability to demonstrate the benefits of our lumivascular platform; the resource requirements related to Pantheris; the outcome of clinical trial results; potential exposure to third-party product liability and intellectual property litigation; lack of long-term data demonstrating the safety and efficacy of our lumivascular platform products; reliance on third-party vendors; dependency on physician adoption; reliance on key personnel; and requirements to obtain regulatory approval to commercialize our products; as well as the other risks described in the section entitled “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in our second quarter Form 10-Q filing made with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 5, 2016. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof and should not be unduly relied upon. Avinger disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement our condensed financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), we also provide Adjusted EBITDA in this release. Management of the company believes that Adjusted EBITDA, considered together with GAAP financial information, provides useful information for investors by excluding  stock-based compensation expense, depreciation and amortization, which are not indicative of the company's core operating performance. Reconciliations of Adjusted EBITDA used in this release to the most directly comparable GAAP measures for the respective periods can be found in the reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP financial information immediately following the financial tables. We use Adjusted EBITDA for financial and operational decision-making purposes and as a means to evaluate period-to-period comparisons. We believe that Adjusted EBITDA provides useful information about our operating results, enhance the overall understanding of past financial performance and future prospects and allow for greater transparency with respect to key metrics used by management in its financial and operational decision making. Non-GAAP financial measures have limitations as analytical tools, are likely different than those provided by other companies in our industry  and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for our financial results prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Avinger, Inc.   
Statements of Operations Data   
(in thousands, except per share data)   
(unaudited)   
              
    Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended   
    September 30, September 30,   
     2016   2015   2016   2015    
Revenues $  5,316  $  2,721  $  14,535  $  7,856    
Cost of revenues    3,742     1,750     10,747     4,672    
 Gross profit    1,574     971     3,788     3,184    
     30%  36%  26%  41%   
Operating expenses:           
 Research and development    3,591     3,955     11,505     11,766    
 Selling, general and administrative    9,414     6,892     31,036     19,802    
  Total operating expenses    13,005     10,847     42,541     31,568    
Loss from operations    (11,431)    (9,876)    (38,753)    (28,384)   
              
Interest income    27     11     88     23    
Interest expense    (1,553)    (1,334)    (3,959)    (4,002)   
Other income (expense), net    (12)    (2,058)    (7)    (1,525)   
Loss before provision for income taxes    (12,969)    (13,257)    (42,631)    (33,888)   
Provision for income taxes    -      (7)    -      -     
Net loss and comprehensive loss    (12,969)    (13,250)    (42,631)    (33,888)   
Adjustment to net loss resulting from convertible preferred stock modification    -      -      -      (2,384)   
Net loss and comprehensive loss attributable to common stockholders $  (12,969) $  (13,250) $  (42,631) $  (36,272)   
              
Net loss attributable to common stockholders per share, basic and diluted $  (0.73) $  (1.08) $  (2.97) $  (3.32)   
              
Weighted average common shares used to           
 compute net loss per share, basic and diluted    17,694     12,280     14,378     10,935    
              


Avinger, Inc. 
Balance Sheets Data 
(in thousands) 
(unaudited) 
        
     September 30,   December 31,  
     2016   2015  
Assets     
Current assets:     
  Cash and cash equivalents $  43,281  $  43,059  
  Accounts receivable, net    4,693     2,060  
  Inventories    7,080     5,405  
  Prepaid expenses and other current assets    773     533  
 Total current assets    55,827     51,057  
        
Property and equipment, net    4,401     2,822  
Other assets    211     225  
 Total assets $  60,439  $  54,104  
        
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity     
Current liabilities:     
  Accounts payable $  1,326  $  1,113  
  Accrued compensation    2,823     3,083  
  Accrued expenses and other current liabilities    2,822     3,285  
 Total current liabilities    6,971     7,481  
        
Borrowings    40,713     29,565  
Other long-term liabilities    840     1,469  
  Total liabilities    48,524     38,515  
        
Stockholders’ equity:     
 Preferred stock   -     -   
 Common stock    23     13  
 Additional paid-in capital    250,784     211,837  
 Accumulated deficit    (238,892)    (196,261) 
  Total stockholders’ equity    11,915     15,589  
  Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $  60,439  $  54,104  
        


Avinger, Inc.
Adjusted EBITDA
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
        
    Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
    September 30, September 30,
     2016   2015   2016   2015 
Loss from operations$  (11,431) $  (9,876) $  (38,753) $  (28,384)
Add: Stock-based compensation   1,712     1,211     5,301     3,691 
Add: Depreciation and amortization   404     320     1,095     960 
 Adjusted EBITDA$  (9,315) $  (8,345) $  (32,357) $  (23,733)
   

 

 

INVESTOR CONTACT

Matt Ferguson
Avinger, Inc.
(650) 241-7917
ir@avinger.com

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