On July 24, 2023 Champions Oncology, Inc. (Nasdaq: CSBR), a leading global technology-enabled biotech that is transforming drug discovery through innovative AI-driven pharmaco-pheno-multiomic integration, reported its financial results for the fiscal year and fourth quarter ended April 30, 2023 (Press release, Champions Oncology, JUL 24, 2023, View Source [SID1234633381]).

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Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2023 Financial and Recent Business Highlights:
•Fourth quarter revenue increased 2% to $13.1 million
•Record annual revenue of $53.9 million, an increase of 10% year-over-year
•Year-over-year fourth quarter and annual bookings increase of 15%
•Announced the formation of our wholly owned bio-tech subsidiary, Corellia AI, to develop novel therapeutics

Ronnie Morris, CEO of Champions, commented, "Overall we had another year of business expansion, developing our platforms and investing in our drug discovery efforts. As mentioned during the year, the down-turn in the economy, and specifically the biotech sector, was going to weigh on our year end results. However, demand for our services reaccelerated and our long term prospects are strong." Morris added, "launching our wholly owned subsidiary, Corellia, to advance our therapeutic discovery initiative is a significant milestone for Champions as we add early stage biotech capabilities utilizing our data to facilitate future growth."

David Miller, CFO of Champions added, "We realized another year of record annual revenue, growing to $54 million, coming in at the low end of our revenue guidance. As addressed during the year, an increase in study cancellations led to revenue growth below our historic performance rates and impacted profitability. While pressures still remain, our pipeline of opportunities has reaccelerated and we remain well positioned for a return to profitability in the second half of the current fiscal year and the long term."

Fourth Fiscal Quarter Financial Results

Total revenue for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023 was $13.1 million, an increase of 2%, compared to $12.9 million for the same period last year. The increase in revenue was due to continued demand and larger study sizes for our pharmacology studies, including in-vivo and ex-vivo services. Total costs and operating expenses for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023 were $15.6 million compared to $13.2 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022, an increase of $2.4 million or 18%.

For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023, Champions reported a loss from operations of $2.5 million, which includes $209,000 in stock-based compensation, $583,000 in depreciation and

Exhibit 99.1
amortization, and an $807,000 asset impairment charge compared to a loss from operations of $311,000, inclusive of $188,000 in stock-based compensation and $568,000 in depreciation and amortization in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022. Excluding stock-based compensation, depreciation and amortization expenses, and an asset impairment charge, Champions reported an adjusted EBITDA loss for the quarter of $922,000, compared to adjusted EBITDA of $445,000 in the prior year period.

Cost of oncology solutions was $7.3 million for the three months ended April 30, 2023, an increase of $1.1 million, or 18% compared to $6.2 million for the three months ended April 30, 2022. The increase in cost of sales was primarily due to an increase in compensation and lab supply expenses. For the three months ended April 30, 2023, gross margin was 44% compared to 52% for the three months ended April 30, 2022. The lower margin resulted from the increase in compensation which was incurred to support bookings growth that failed to convert to revenue at the expected conversion rates.
Research and development expense was $2.9 million for the three months ended April 30, 2023, an increase of $263,000, or 10%, compared to $2.6 million in the prior year. The increase was primarily due to compensation and lab expenses as we increased investment in our drug discovery program. Sales and marketing expense for the three months ended April 30, 2023 was $1.8 million, an increase of $234,000, or 14%, compared to $1.6 million for the three months ended April 30, 2022. The increase was the result of an increase in compensation and marketing initiatives. General and administrative expense was $2.7 million for the three months ended April 30, 2023 compared to $2.8 million for the three months ended April 30, 2022, a slight decrease of $16,000, or 1%. An asset impairment charge of $807,000 was recorded as a one-time charge to write-off the remaining balance of the capitalized software development costs for our Lumin Bioinformatics SaaS platform.

Net cash used in operating activities for the quarter was approximately $693,000 resulting primarily from an operating loss and changes in our working capital accounts in the ordinary course of business. Net cash used in investing activities was $760,000 primarily from purchases of additional lab equipment. Net cash used in financing activities was approximately $75,000 related to the Company’s stock repurchase program. The Company ended the quarter with a strong cash position of $10.1 million and no debt.

Year-to-Date Financial Results

Total revenue for fiscal year 2023 was $53.9 million, an increase of 10%, compared to $49.1 million for fiscal year 2022. The increase in revenue was due to the expansion of our platforms, business lines, and demand for our services. Total operating expenses increased 22% to $59.1 million for fiscal year 2023, as compared to $48.5 million for the prior year.

For the twelve months ended April 30, 2023, Champions reported a net loss from operations of $5.3 million, inclusive of $864,000 in stock-based compensation expense, $2.2 million in depreciation and amortization expenses, and an asset impairment charge of $807,000 compared to income from operations of $607,000, inclusive of $912,000 in stock-based compensation expense and $1.6 million in depreciation and amortization expenses for the prior year. Excluding stock-based compensation, depreciation and amortization, and asset impairment, Champions reported an adjusted EBITDA loss of $1.3 million for fiscal year 2023 compared to adjusted EBITDA of $3.1 million in the prior year.

Cost of oncology solutions was $29.5 million for the twelve months ended April 30, 2023, an increase of $5.9 million or 25%, compared to $23.6 million, for the twelve months ended April 30, 2022. The increase in cost of oncology services was mainly due to an increase in compensation and supply expenses. Gross margin was 45% for the twelve months ended April 30, 2023 compared to 52% for the twelve months ended April 30, 2022. The lower margin resulted from the increase in compensation which was incurred to support bookings growth that failed to convert to revenue at the expected conversion rates due to an increase in study cancellations.

Research and development expense was $11.5 million for fiscal year 2023, an increase of $2.2 million, or 23%, compared to $9.4 million for the prior year. The increase was mainly due to the investment in therapeutic discovery programs with the increase coming primarily from compensation, lab supply expenses, and early drug development milestone expenses. Sales and marketing expense for fiscal year 2023 was $7.0 million, an increase of $623,000, or 10%, compared to $6.4 million for fiscal year 2022. The increase was primarily due to compensation expense driven by the continued expansion of our business development teams and marketing initiatives, including increased conference attendance due to the easing of Covid restrictions. General and administrative expense was $10.2 million for fiscal year 2023, an increase of $1.1 million, or 12%, compared to $9.1 million for fiscal year 2022. General and administrative expenses were primarily comprised of compensation, insurance, professional fees, IT, and depreciation and amortization expenses. The increase in general and administrative expense was primarily due to increases in IT expenses to support the overall growth of the company and an increase in non-cash depreciation and amortization expenses. A one-time asset impairment charge of $807,000 was recorded to write-off the remaining balance of our capitalized software development costs for our Lumin Bioinformatics SaaS platform.

Net cash generated from operations was $4.0 million for fiscal year 2023. Cash generated from operations was primarily due to changes in working capital accounts in the ordinary course of business and an increase in deferred revenue as a result of strong bookings. Net cash used in investing activities was $2.9 million primarily from investment in additional lab equipment. The Company ended the year in a strong cash position of $10.1 million and has no debt.

Conference Call Information:

The Company will host a conference call today at 4:30 p.m. EDT (1:30 p.m. PDT) to discuss its fourth quarter financial results. To participate in the call, please call 877-545-0523 (domestic) or 973-528-0016 (international) ten minutes ahead of the call and enter the access code 477670. A replay of the call will be available by dialing 877-481-4010 (Domestic) or 919-882-2331 (International) and entering passcode: 48774, or by accessing the investors section of the company’s website within 72 hours.

Full details of the Company’s financial results will be available on, or before, Monday July 24, 2023 in the Company’s Form 10-K at View Source