NexImmune Announces Research Collaboration with Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Related to Neuroendocrine Tumor Targets

On February 1, 2022 NexImmune, Inc. (Nasdaq: NEXI), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing a novel approach to immunotherapy designed to orchestrate a targeted immune response by directing the function of antigen-specific T cells, reported a collaboration with Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (Press release, NexImmune, FEB 1, 2022, View Source [SID1234607582]). The collaboration will focus on the discovery and development of novel therapies targeting immune checkpoint proteins for the treatment of neuroendocrine tumors and other cancers. Dr. Steven K. Libutti, Director of Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Vice Chancellor of Cancer Programs, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, and Senior Vice President of Oncology Services, RWJBarnabas Health, will be the principal investigator.

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"Neuroendocrine tumors are being diagnosed with increasing frequency in the United States and represent a large unmet medical need," said Dr. Jerry Zeldis, NexImmune’s Executive Vice President, R&D. "With Dr. Libutti, we hope to discover and develop novel treatments utilizing our AIM ACT platform that may improve the timely and effective treatment of neuroendocrine neoplasia."

"HHLA2 and B7x are expressed by a number of tumors and can modulate cancer development and progression by inhibiting T cell function. Our work with NexImmune allows us to utilize a novel immunotherapy platform with the goal of improving survival using better and safer treatments in patients with few treatment options," stated Dr. Libutti.

BIO-TECHNE RELEASES SECOND QUARTER FISCAL 2022 RESULTS

On February 1, 2022 Bio-Techne Corporation (NASDAQ: TECH) reported its financial results for the second quarter ended December 31, 2021 (Press release, Bio-Techne, FEB 1, 2022, View Source [SID1234607581]).

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Second Quarter FY2022 Snapshot

Second quarter organic revenue increased by 17% (20% reported) to $269.3 million and 19% (23% reported) in the first half of fiscal 2022 to $527.0 million.
Sustained operational excellence in Protein Sciences which achieved 19% organic growth (19% reported) in the second fiscal quarter, including a 27% increase in ProteinSimple branded analytical solutions and over 180% growth in GMP Proteins.
Adjusted operating income increased 18% (22% reported) when compared to the prior year to $102.8 million, resulting in an adjusted operating margin of 38.3%.
Strengthened Cell & Gene Therapy workflow offering with future Wilson Wolf purchase agreement, the manufacturer of G-Rex branded bioreactor vessels which complement our GMP Proteins in creating high quality immune cells.
GAAP EPS was $1.94 versus $1.15 one year ago. Delivered record adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.88 versus $1.62 one year ago.
The Company’s financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP). Adjusted diluted EPS, adjusted earnings, adjusted gross margin, adjusted operating income, adjusted tax rate, organic growth, and adjusted operating margin are non-GAAP measures that exclude certain items detailed later in this press release under the heading "Use of non-GAAP Adjusted Financial Measures." A reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures is included in this press release.

"Our second quarter continued where our first quarter left off, with the Bio-Techne team delivering strong growth on an even more challenging year-over-year comparison," said Chuck Kummeth, President and Chief Executive Officer of Bio-Techne. "We are extremely proud of achieving 17% organic growth for the quarter and see continued momentum in the business, especially in our biopharma end-markets."

Kummeth added, "Our teams continue to innovate and execute in amazing ways which is contributing to our ever-improving bottom line, with our adjusted operating margin now over 38%. This quarter marks the first time in our 44-year history where we have achieved over $1 billion in trailing twelve-month revenue. The Wilson Wolf future investment and acquisition agreement we signed in December has the potential to further extend our 2026 revenue target beyond $2 billion and positions our Cell and Gene Therapy workflow with the strongest global footprint in this exploding new market."

Second Quarter Fiscal 2022

Revenue

Net sales for the second quarter increased 20% to $269.3 million. Organic growth was 17% compared to the prior year, with acquisitions contributing 3% to revenue growth and foreign currency exchange having an immaterial impact.

GAAP Earnings Results

GAAP EPS was $1.94 per diluted share, versus $1.15 in the same quarter last year. GAAP EPS was favorably impacted by a non-recurring gain of approximately $28.4 million on our ChemoCentryx investment. GAAP operating income for the second quarter of fiscal 2022 increased 22.3% to $62.3 million, compared to $51.0 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2021. GAAP operating margin was 23.2%, compared to 22.7% in the second quarter of fiscal 2021. GAAP operating margin compared to prior year was positively impacted by volume leverage.

Non-GAAP Earnings Results

Adjusted EPS increased to $1.88 per diluted share, versus $1.62 in the same quarter last year, an increase of 16%. Adjusted EPS increased primarily due to revenue growth. Adjusted operating income for the second quarter of fiscal 2022 increased 18% compared to the second quarter of fiscal 2021. Adjusted operating margin was 38.3%, compared to 38.8% in the second quarter of fiscal 2021. Adjusted operating margin compared to the prior year was unfavorably impacted by acquisitions and strategic investments to support future growth, which were partially offset by volume leverage.

Segment Results

Management uses adjusted operating results to monitor and evaluate performance of the Company’s business segments, as highlighted below.

Protein Sciences Segment

The Company’s Protein Sciences segment is one of the world’s leading suppliers of specialized proteins such as cytokines and growth factors, immunoassays, antibodies and reagents, to the biotechnology and academic research communities. Additionally, the segment provides an array of platforms useful in various areas of protein analysis. Protein Sciences segment’s second quarter fiscal 2022 net sales were $205.0 million, an increase of 19% from $172.2 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2021. Organic growth for the segment was 19%, with foreign currency exchange having an immaterial impact on revenue. Protein Sciences segment’s operating margin was 45.5% in the second quarter of fiscal 2022 compared to 46.7% in the second quarter of fiscal 2021. The segment’s operating margin compared to the prior year was negatively impacted by strategic investments to support future growth.

Diagnostics and Genomics Segment

The Company’s Diagnostics and Genomics segment provides blood chemistry and blood gas quality controls, hematology instrument controls, immunoassays and other bulk and custom reagents for the in vitro diagnostic market. The Diagnostics and Genomics segment also develops and provides in situ hybridization products as well as exosome-based diagnostics for various pathologies, including prostate cancer. The Diagnostics and Genomics segment’s second quarter fiscal 2022 net sales were $64.5 million, an increase of 23% from $52.5 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2021. Organic growth for the segment was 7%, with acquisitions contributing 16% to revenue growth and foreign currency exchange having an immaterial impact. The Diagnostics and Genomics segment’s operating margin was 16.9% in the second quarter of fiscal 2022 compared to 15.5% in the second quarter of fiscal 2021. The segment’s operating margin was favorably impacted by volume leverage and product mix, which were partially offset by additional investments made in the business to support future growth.

Conference Call

Bio-Techne will host an earnings conference call today, February 1, 2022 at 8:00 a.m. CST. To listen, please dial 1-877-407-9208 or 1-201-493-6784 for international callers, and reference conference ID 13726340. The earnings call can also be accessed via webcast through the following link View Source

A recorded rebroadcast will be available for interested parties unable to participate in the live conference call by dialing 1-844-512-2921 or 1-412-317-6671 (for international callers) and referencing Conference ID 13726340. The replay will be available from 11:00 a.m. CST on Tuesday, February 1, 2022 until 11:00 p.m. CST on Tuesday, March 1, 2022.

Use of non-GAAP Adjusted Financial Measures:

This press release contains financial measures that have not been calculated in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. (GAAP). These non-GAAP measures include:

Organic growth
Adjusted diluted earnings per share
Adjusted earnings
Adjusted tax rate
Adjusted gross margin
Adjusted operating income
Adjusted operating margin
We provide these measures as additional information regarding our operating results. We use these non-GAAP measures internally to evaluate our performance and in making financial and operational decisions, including with respect to incentive compensation. We believe that our presentation of these measures provides investors with greater transparency with respect to our results of operations and that these measures are useful for period-to-period comparison of results.

Our non-GAAP financial measure of organic growth represents revenue growth excluding revenue from acquisitions within the preceding 12 months, the impact of foreign currency, as well as the impact of partially owned consolidated subsidiaries. Excluding these measures provides more useful period-to-period comparison of revenue results as it excludes the impact of foreign currency exchange rates, which can vary significantly from period to period, and revenue from acquisitions that would not be included in the comparable prior period. Revenues from partially owned subsidiaries consolidated in our financial statements are also excluded from our organic revenue calculation, as those revenues are not fully attributable to the Company. Revenue from partially owned subsidiaries was $0.5 million and $0.9 million for the quarter and six months ended December 31, 2021, respectively.

Our non-GAAP financial measures for adjusted gross margin, adjusted operating margin, and adjusted net earnings, in total and on a per share basis, exclude stock-based compensation, the costs recognized upon the sale of acquired inventory, amortization of acquisition intangibles, acquisition related expenses inclusive of the changes in fair value of contingent consideration, and other non-recurring items including non-recurring costs, goodwill and long-lived asset impairments, and gains. Stock-based compensation is excluded from non-GAAP adjusted net earnings because of the nature of this charge, specifically the varying available valuation methodologies, subjection assumptions, variety of award types, and unpredictability of amount and timing of employer related tax obligations. The Company excludes amortization of purchased intangible assets, purchase accounting adjustments, including costs recognized upon the sale of acquired inventory and acquisition-related expenses inclusive of the changes in fair value contingent consideration, and other non-recurring items including gains or losses on legal settlements, goodwill and long-lived asset impairment charges, and one-time assessments from this measure because they occur as a result of specific events, and are not reflective of our internal investments, the costs of developing, producing, supporting and selling our products, and the other ongoing costs to support our operating structure. Additionally, these amounts can vary significantly from period to period based on current activity. The Company also excludes revenue and expense attributable to partially owned consolidated subsidiaries in the calculation of our non-GAAP financial measures as the revenues and expenses are not fully attributable to the Company.

The Company’s non-GAAP adjusted operating margin and adjusted net earnings, in total and on a per share basis, also excludes stock-based compensation expense, which is inclusive of the employer portion of payroll taxes on those stock awards, restructuring, impairments of equity method investments, gain and losses from investments, and certain adjustments to income tax expense. Impairments of equity investments are excluded as they are not part of our day-to-day operating decisions. Additionally, gains and losses from other investments that are either isolated or cannot be expected to occur again with any predictability are excluded. Costs related to restructuring activities, including reducing overhead and consolidating facilities, are excluded because we believe they are not indicative of our normal operating costs. The Company independently calculates a non-GAAP adjusted tax rate to be applied to the identified non-GAAP adjustments considering the impact of discrete items on these adjustments and the jurisdictional mix of the adjustments. In addition, the tax impact of other discrete and non-recurring charges which impact our reported GAAP tax rate are adjusted from net earnings. We believe these tax items can significantly affect the period-over-period assessment of operating results and not necessarily reflect costs and/or income associated with historical trends and future results.

Investors are encouraged to review the reconciliations of adjusted financial measures used in this press release to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures as provided with the financial statements attached to this press release.

BIO-TECHNE DECLARES DIVIDEND AND NEW SHARE REPURCHASE PROGRAM

On February 1, 2022 Bio-Techne Corporation (NASDAQ: TECH) reported that its Board of Directors has decided to pay a dividend of $0.32 per share for the quarter ended December 31, 2021 (Press release, Bio-Techne, FEB 1, 2022, View Source [SID1234607580]). The quarterly dividend will be payable February 25, 2022, to all common shareholders of record on February 11, 2022. Future cash dividends will be considered by the Board of Directors on a quarterly basis.

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Bio-Techne also announced today that its board of directors has approved a new share repurchase program authorizing the repurchase of up to $400 million of common stock. The new share repurchase program begins February 2, 2022 and replaces the previous program. The timing and number of shares to be repurchased will depend on factors such as the share price, economic and market conditions, and corporate and regulatory requirements. The share repurchase program may be suspended, amended, or discontinued at any time and does not obligate the Company to acquire any specific dollar amount or number of shares of common stock.

38,220 Orion Corporation A shares converted into B shares

On February 1, 2022 Orion Corporation reported that 38,220 A shares have been converted into 38,220 B shares (Press release, Orion , FEB 1, 2022, View Source,Register%20on%201%20February%202022. [SID1234607579]). The conversion has been entered into the Trade Register on 1 February 2022 .

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The total number of shares in Orion Corporation is 141,134,278 which, after the conversion, consists of 34,774,986 A shares and 106,359,292 B shares. The number of votes of the company’s shares is after the conversion 801,859,012.

SpringWorks Therapeutics to Present at Upcoming Investor Conferences

On February 1, 2022 SpringWorks Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: SWTX), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing life-changing medicines for patients with severe rare diseases and cancer, reported that management will present at the following upcoming investor conferences (Press release, SpringWorks Therapeutics, FEB 1, 2022, View Source [SID1234607577]):

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2022 Guggenheim Oncology Conference on Thursday, February 10 from 10:00-10:25 am ET.
Cowen 42nd Annual Health Care Conference on Monday, March 7 from 1:30-2:00 pm ET.
Barclays Global Healthcare Conference on Wednesday, March 16 from 9:30-10:00 am ET.
Webcasts of these events will be available on the Events & Presentations page within the Investors & Media section of the company’s website at View Source Replays of the webcasts will be available on SpringWorks’ website for a limited time following each conference.