On November 7, 2016 Caladrius Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:CLBS) ("Caladrius" or the "Company"), a cell therapy company combining an industry-leading development and manufacturing services provider through its subsidiary PCT, LLC a Caladrius Company ("PCT") with a select therapeutic development pipeline, reported financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 (Filing, Q3, Caladrius Biosciences, 2016, NOV 7, 2016, View Source [SID1234516370]).
Business and financial highlights for the third quarter of 2016 and recent weeks include:
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Achieved total quarterly revenues of $9.3 million, up 58% compared with $5.9 million for the third quarter of 2015;
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Received Fast Track designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for CLBS03 (autologous expanded regulatory T cells, or Tregs) for the treatment of type 1 diabetes (T1D), making it the first known therapeutic candidate for the treatment of T1D to receive the designation;
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Completed enrollment of the first patient cohort of The Sanford Project: T-Rex Study, the Company’s Phase 2 clinical trial of CLBS03 for the treatment of recent-onset T1D in adolescents;
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Received a favorable recommendation from the independent Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) to proceed with enrollment of the second cohort of the T-Rex Study following the safety evaluation of the first cohort of 19 patients;
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Entered into a new five-year strategic manufacturing services agreement under which PCT will produce SPEAR T-cell therapies for Adaptimmune Therapeutics plc; and
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Entered into agreements with several accredited investors, including previous investors and strategic collaborator Sanford Health, to sell up to $25 million in common equity priced at market without warrants.
Management Commentary
"Throughout 2016, we consistently increased revenues at our PCT subsidiary and are poised to achieve our stated goal of 2016 annual revenue in excess of $30 million, which represents annual growth of more than 30%. In addition, year-to-date we secured over $50 million in strategic and/or committed financings, about half of which was non-dilutive with the remainder under favorable terms relative to the market rates for companies like ours. We also paid back to our lender over $9 million of long-term debt, significantly reduced our operating expenses and monetized non-core assets, all while advancing our key immune modulation program’s Phase 2 clinical study of CLBS03 to treat T1D," stated David J. Mazzo, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Caladrius.
"We are particularly pleased with the progress of The Sanford Project: T-Rex Study in T1D. We completed enrollment of the first cohort of 19 patients and were delighted that the DSMB recommended continuation of the study based on a favorable safety assessment. We have begun enrolling patients into the second cohort of this 111-patient study earlier than originally expected and plan to reach the 50% enrollment mark in mid-2017. Enrollment of the 70th patient, which triggers an $8.4 million capital infusion under the terms of the September private placements, is expected to occur shortly thereafter. We continue to benefit from the support of Sanford Research. In addition to their equity investment, Sanford has agreed to extend operational support at their clinical sites for the remainder of the study. We continue to be excited by the promise of CLBS03, a novel therapeutic being developed to address the significant unmet medical need in this chronic disease that affects children and young adults. We have made significant achievements across a number of key areas that we believe position Caladrius for continued growth and success throughout the balance of 2016 and beyond," concluded Dr. Mazzo.
Third Quarter Financial Highlights
Total revenues for the third quarter of 2016 increased 58% to $9.3 million compared with $5.9 million for the third quarter of 2015 and increased 12% compared with $8.3 million for the second quarter of 2016. Gross margin on revenues was 8% in the third quarter of 2016 compared with 18% in the third quarter of 2015, directly impacted by the non-payment of approximately $600,000 in billings for work the Company performed and billed to a single customer during the third quarter of 2016, which customer is currently experiencing financial difficulties. Accordingly, the Company has delayed revenue recognition until such time as payment is reasonably assured. The Company continues to work with this client to obtain payment and will recognize any such receipts as revenue in the periods received.

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Research and development (R&D) expenses for the third quarter of 2016 decreased 58% to $2.6 million compared with $6.3 million for the third quarter of 2015. The majority of current quarter expenses were dedicated to the Company’s immune modulation platform and, specifically, costs related to the T-Rex Study. The decline in R&D expenses over the prior year quarter was primarily related to the discontinuation of non-core R&D programs announced at the beginning of 2016 and related reductions in R&D staffing and departmental costs.
Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2016 were $4.9 million, a small reduction from $5.1 million reported for the same period in 2015. This reflected significantly lower operational and compensation-related costs during the current year quarter compared with the prior year quarter, partially offset by higher equity-based compensation expenses compared with the prior year quarter.
The operating loss for the third quarter of 2016 was $6.9 million compared with an operating loss of $10.4 million for the third quarter of 2015, reflecting higher revenues and lower R&D expenses.
The Company reported a net loss attributable to Caladrius common stockholders for the third quarter of 2016 of $6.9 million, or $1.09 per share, compared with a net loss attributable to Caladrius common stockholders for the third quarter of 2015 of $11.4 million, or $2.06 per share.
Nine Month Financial Highlights
Total revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 increased 68% to $25.1 million compared with $14.9 million for the first nine months of 2015. Gross margin for the first nine months of 2016 was 13% compared with 6% for the first nine months of 2015.
R&D expenses for the first nine months of 2016 decreased to $12.5 million compared with $20.7 million for the first nine months of 2015. The decline in R&D expenses over the first nine months of 2015 was primarily related to the discontinuation of non-core R&D programs announced at the beginning of 2016 and related reductions in R&D staffing and departmental costs.
SG&A expenses decreased to $16.1 million for the first nine months of 2016 compared with $25.0 million for the same period in 2015. This reflected operational and compensation-related cost reductions, as well as equity-based compensation expenses that were significantly below the prior year SG&A expense levels.
The operating loss for the first nine months of 2016 was $25.4 million compared with an operating loss of $54.1 million for the first nine months of 2015.
The net loss attributable to Caladrius common stockholders for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 was $26.7 million, or $4.45 per share, compared with a net loss attributable to Caladrius common stockholders for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 of $47.7 million, or $10.40 per share.
Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Highlights
As of September 30, 2016, Caladrius had cash and cash equivalents of $18.6 million, which included $10.6 million received from the previously announced equity financing in September 2016 and the payment of $3.0 million to Oxford Finance LLC for repayment of long-term debt. Net cash used in operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 was $20.3 million, compared with $30.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015. Caladrius also invested $2.3 million in capital expenditures, primarily related to improvements to PCT’s Allendale, N.J. manufacturing facility.
2016 Financial Guidance
The Company updates its previous 2016 guidance as follows:
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Consolidated 2016 Annual Revenues: affirms guidance to exceed $30 million or a greater than 30% increase compared with 2015.
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Capital Improvements at PCT’s Allendale, N.J. Facility: affirms guidance that improvements will be completed in 2017, and updates guidance that approximately $2 million will be spent in calendar 2016. Overall cost to complete capital improvements in 2017, including the implementation of commercial grade quality systems, to be provided when 2017 guidance is announced.
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CLBS03 Phase 2 Study Costs in 2016: affirms guidance of $6 million to $7 million.
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Consolidated 2016 Operating Activities Cash Burn: affirms guidance of $25 million to $28 million, or between $5 million and $8 million in the fourth quarter of 2016, but with a trend toward the lower end of the range.