On February 13, 2025 Applied DNA Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: APDN) ("Applied DNA" or the "Company"), a leader in PCR-based DNA technologies, reported financial results for its first quarter of fiscal 2025 ended December 31, 2024 (Press release, Applied DNA Sciences, FEB 13, 2025, View Source [SID1234650241]). The Company’s Form 10-Q, once filed, can be viewed on the SEC Filings page of its Investor Relations website.
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Recent Corporate and Operational Updates:
Corporate:
In December 2024, the Company announced a strategic restructuring of its business operations, including the potential divestiture of its DNA Tagging and Security Products and Services ("DNA Tagging") business segment.
Today, the Company announced its exit from its DNA Tagging business segment and completion of a workforce reduction of approximately 20% of its total headcount related primarily to employees within its DNA Tagging segment. The workforce reduction will result in an approximate 13% reduction in annual payroll costs, offset by one-time separation costs totaling approximately $300,000, which are expected to be recorded in the quarter ending March 31, 2025. The Company will continue to service certain of its existing DNA Tagging customer contracts.
LineaRx (Therapeutic DNA Production and Services subsidiary)
The buildout of the Company’s initial GMP facility located in Stony Brook, New York ("Site 1"), was completed on January 31, 2025, and certified for commercial operation with ISO 7-compliant with ISO 5-compliant workspaces. As currently configured, Site 1 enables the enzymatic manufacture of Linea DNA IVT templates used in the production of mRNA clinical trial materials:
The initial projected manufacturing capacity of Site 1 is approximately ten grams per annum, which supports potential annual revenues in the range of $10 million to $30 million, depending on product mix[1].
Site 1 gives the Company the new ability to service clients across all customer product stages with relevant grades of DNA: RUO for research and development; GLP for discovery and early pre-clinical studies; GMP for late pre-clinical studies and clinical phases.
The Company is in the late stage of process development with a U.S.-based therapeutics developer. If development is completed successfully, the Company anticipates its receipt of a first GMP order for IVT templates in the quarter ending June 30, 2025.
The Company’s Linea DNA platform secured its first-in-human clinical validation with Linea DNA used as a critical component in the manufacture of a CAR-T therapy under a Czech Republic State Institute for Drug Control-approved Phase I clinical trial sponsored by the Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion (UHKT). The trial represents the first instance of regulatory consent of Linea DNA’s use in a clinical setting and demonstrates Linea DNA’s ability to empower faster manufacturing timelines than conventional plasmid DNA-based therapy development.
Applied DNA Clinical Labs (MDx Testing Services subsidiary)
Completed certifications necessary to expand the TR8 PGx testing service to all S. States that recognize New York’s CLEP/CLIA certification for genetic testing. Samples collected from outside of New York State will be tested at Applied DNA’s diagnostic laboratory in Stony Brook.
Management Commentary
"Our first quarter performance reflects the implementation of a strategic restructuring to support our growth through our synthetic DNA manufacturing strategy," stated Dr. James A. Hayward, Chairman and CEO of Applied DNA. "We are taking difficult but necessary steps to optimize our corporate structure to lower our cash burn rate and stabilize our financial position to ensure our ability to execute against near-term operational goals."
"As we move through fiscal 2025, we are focused on commercializing the DNA production capacity of our recently certified GMP Site 1 facility," concluded Dr. Hayward. "We are preparing for initial orders of clinical grade materials, the acquisition of which we believe will validate the economics of our proprietary low-CAPEX approach to enzymatic DNA production in front of an industry that is actively seeking cell-free, synthetic alternatives to traditional pDNA production processes. We believe our capacity for the GMP production of DNA in an economical, fast, and scalable manner to advance the rapid development of genetic medicines is a unique competitive advantage in the marketplace and is the lynchpin to our future success."
First Quarter Fiscal 2025 Financial Highlights
Total revenues: $1.2 million, an increase of 34% compared to $891 thousand for the first quarter of fiscal 2024.
Operating loss: $3.0 million, compared to an operating loss of $3.8 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2024.
Net loss: $2.7 million, compared to a net loss of $1.1 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2024.
Adjusted EBITDA: improved to negative $2.9 million, compared to negative $3.2 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2024.
Cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2024: $9.3 million, which includes $5.7 million of net proceeds (after deducting placement agent fees and other offering expenses) from the registered direct offering that closed on October 31, 2024.
February 13 Investor Update Conference Call Information
The Company will hold a conference call and webcast to update investors on its restructuring and GMP roadmap on February 13, 2025, at 4:30 PM ET. To participate in the conference call, please follow the instructions below. While every attempt will be made to answer investors’ questions on the Q&A portion of the call, not all questions may be answered.
To participate, please ask to be joined to the ‘Applied DNA Sciences’ call:
Domestic callers (toll free): 844-887-9402
International callers: 412-317-6798
Canadian callers (toll free): 866-605-3852
Live and replay of webcast: link
Telephonic replay (available 1 hour following the conclusion of the live call through February 20, 2025):
Domestic callers (toll free): 1-877-344-7529
Canadian callers (toll free): 1-855-669-9658
Participant Passcode: 7896562
An accompanying slide presentation that will be embedded in the webcast can be accessed under ‘News & Events’ tab and ‘Company Events’ section of the Applied DNA investor relations website at View Source