Accelerate Diagnostics Reports Fourth Quarter and Full-Year 2023 Financial Results

TUCSON, Ariz., March 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Accelerate Diagnostics, Inc. (Nasdaq: AXDX) today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2023.

"In 2023, we made significant progress with the development of our next-generation rapid Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing system, Accelerate Wave(TM). We continue to advance this important development program and believe that we remain on plan to begin our clinical trials in the second quarter of 2024," commented Jack Phillips, President and CEO of Accelerate Diagnostics, Inc. "In addition, we continue to expand and secure our Accelerate Pheno(®) customer base, with an upgrade path to Wave adoption. Based on consistent customer feedback, Accelerate Wave is anticipated to set the new standard for rapid, same-shift, susceptibility testing," Mr. Phillips continued.

2023 Fourth Quarter Results

    --  Notable Wave program achievements during the quarter included:
        --  Completed Wave system integration.
        --  Significantly advanced antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST)
            performance of gram-negative positive blood culture menu for
            approximately 200 bug-drug combinations and running approximately
            5,000 unique strains of gram-negative organisms with average
            time-to-results below 4.5 hours.
    --  Completed extensive reviews with U.S. and EMEA customers to validate
        Wave's product specifications and menu roll-out strategy. Approximately
        90% of customers have expressed interest in adopting Accelerate Wave for
        both rapid positive blood culture and isolated colony testing given
        unique perceived benefits compared to existing and emerging automated
        susceptibility platforms.
    --  In the United States, added six new contracted Pheno instruments during
        the quarter, ending the quarter with 340 clinically live Pheno
        revenue-generating instruments and another 71 contracted Pheno
        instruments in the process of being implemented.
    --  Executed a collaboration and quality agreement with Bruker Corporation
        for the Accelerate Arc(TM) system, made significant progress towards
        completing U.S. clinical trials and anticipate submission to the U.S.
        Food and Drug Administration (FDA) during the first quarter of 2024.
    --  Net sales for the quarter were $3.0 million, compared to $3.0 million
        for the same quarter of the prior year. Sales for the quarter included a
        decrease in instrument sales of 11% over the same quarter of the prior
        year driven by the timing and number of contracts in the funnel, while
        revenues from consumable products increased by 9% compared to the same
        period in the prior year.
    --  Gross margin was approximately 21% for the quarter, compared to
        approximately 28% for the same quarter of the prior year. The decline in
        gross margins resulted from inflation in manufacturing related costs and
        other factors.
    --  Selling, general, and administrative (SG&A) costs for the quarter were
        $5.8 million, compared to $8.8 million for the same quarter of the prior
        year. The decline in SG&A costs is a result of lower employee-related
        expenses. SG&A costs include non-cash stock-based compensation of $1.0
        million and $2.0 million, respectively, for the same periods.
    --  Research and development (R&D) costs for the quarter were $5.6 million,
        compared to $6.0 million for the same quarter of the prior year. The
        decline in R&D costs is a result of lower employee-related expenses as
        well as lower third-party development costs for our next generation
        susceptibility instrument Accelerate Wave. R&D costs include non-cash
        stock-based compensation of $0.3 million and $0.4 million, respectively,
        for the same periods.
    --  Net loss was $13.0 million for the quarter, resulting in $0.89 net loss
        per share.
    --  Cash used in the fourth quarter was $7.9 million. This reflects a
        continued reduction in operating cash use over the prior quarters of
        2023, following cost cutting measures implemented throughout the year.

2023 Full Year Results

    --  Secured approximately 65% of current U.S. Pheno customers to multi-year
        contracts for rapid susceptibility testing, reflecting customers'
        commitment to Accelerate rapid AST technology and interest in Wave.
    --  Net Sales were $12.1 million for the year, compared to $12.8 million in
        the prior year. While year-over-year revenues for consumable products
        increased by approximately 5%, overall annual revenue was down
        year-over-year due to a challenging capital sales environment in all our
        sales regions.
    --  Gross margin was approximately 21% for the year, compared to
        approximately 26% for the prior year. The overall decline in gross
        margin primarily resulted from a $1.2 million inventory write-down of
        excess inventory during the third quarter of 2023. Gross margin for the
        year, excluding inventory write-down and non-cash equity-based
        compensation was approximately 33%.
    --  Selling, general, and administrative (SG&A) costs were $31.2 million for
        the year, compared to $39.2 million for the prior year.  The decline in
        SG&A costs is a result of lower employee-related expenses during the
        year. SG&A costs include non-cash stock-based compensation of $3.7
        million and $8.5 million, respectively, for the same periods.
    --  Research and development (R&D) costs were $25.4 million for the year,
        compared to $26.9 million for the prior year. The decline in R&D costs
        is a result of lower employee-related expenses as well as lower
        third-party development for our next-generation rapid AST system,
        Accelerate Wave. R&D costs include non-cash stock-based compensation of
        $1.4 million and $1.4 million, respectively, for the same periods.
    --  GAAP net loss was $61.6 million for the year, resulting in $4.94 net
        loss per share.
    --  Cash used for the year was $46.3 million, which includes approximately
        $8 million of debt restructuring related expenses.
    --  Ended the year with total cash, investments, and cash equivalents of
        $13.2 million.

Full financial results for the year ended December 31, 2023 will be filed on Form 10-K through the Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) website at http://www.sec.gov.

Audio Webcast and Conference Call

Management will host a conference call on Thursday, March 28, 2024, at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time to review 2023 fourth quarter and full year results.

To listen to the 2023 fourth quarter and full year results, call by phone, +1.877.883.0383 and enter Elite Entry Number: 7172610. International participants may dial +1.412.902.6506. Please dial in 10-15 minutes prior to the start of the conference.

A replay of the call will be available by telephone at +1.877.344.7529 (U.S.) or +1.412.317.0088 (International) using the replay code 7585609 until April 18, 2024.

This conference call will also be webcast and can be accessed from the company's website at ir.axdx.com. A replay of the audio webcast will be available for 30 days.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release contains certain financial measures that are not recognized measures under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"), which include SG&A, R&D, and operating income (loss) amounts excluding stock-based compensation expenses.

Our management and board of directors use expenses excluding the cost of stock-based compensation and certain impairment transactions to understand and evaluate our operating performance and trends, to prepare and approve our annual budget and to develop short-term and long-term operating and financing plans. Accordingly, we believe that expenses excluding the cost of stock-based compensation and certain impairment transactions provides useful information for investors in understanding and evaluating our operating results in the same manner as our management and our board of directors. Expenses excluding the cost of stock-based compensation and certain impairment transactions is a non-GAAP financial measure and should be considered in addition to, not as superior to, or as a substitute for, SG&A expenses, R&D expenses, and operating income (loss) reported in accordance with GAAP. The following tables present a reconciliation of Cost of sales, SG&A expenses, R&D expenses and operating income (loss) excluding stock-based compensation and certain impairment transactions to comparable GAAP measures for the periods indicated:


                                                              Three Months Ended December 31,                    Twelve Months Ended December 31,


                                                              (in thousands)                     (in thousands)


                                                         2023           2022                2023             2022



     Cost of sales                                    $2,394         $2,381              $9,509           $9,449



     Inventory impairment charges included in cost of                                   1,184


     sales



     Non-cash equity-based compensation as a              53             95                 300              665


     component of cost of sales



     Cost of sales less impairment charges and non-   $2,341         $2,286              $8,025           $8,784


     cash equity-based compensation


                                                             Three Months Ended December 31,                Twelve Months Ended December 31,


                                                             (in thousands)                  (in thousands)


                                                        2023       2022                2023       2022



     Sales, General and Administrative               $5,792     $8,772             $31,225    $39,193



     Non-cash equity-based compensation as a          1,045      1,984               3,691      8,541


     component of sales, general and administrative



     Sales, general and administrative less non-cash $4,747     $6,788             $27,534    $30,652


     equity-based compensation


                                                     Three Months Ended December 31,                Twelve Months Ended December 31,


                                                     (in thousands)                  (in thousands)


                                                2023       2022                2023       2024



     Research and Development                $5,570     $6,030             $25,353    $26,915



     Non-cash equity-based compensation as a    266        367               1,396      1,419


     component of research and development



     Research and development less non-cash  $5,304     $5,663             $23,957    $25,496


     equity-based compensation


                                                           Three Months Ended December 31,                   Twelve Months Ended December 31,


                                                           (in thousands)                     (in thousands)


                                                      2023       2022                2023          2022



     Loss from operations                       $(10,729) $(13,961)          $(54,028)    $(62,805)



     Non-cash equity-based compensation as a        1,364      2,446               5,387        10,625


     component of loss from operations



     Loss from operations less non-cash equity-  $(9,365) $(11,515)          $(48,641)    $(52,180)


     based compensation

About Accelerate Diagnostics, Inc.

Accelerate Diagnostics, Inc. is an in vitro diagnostics company dedicated to providing solutions for the global challenges of antibiotic resistance and sepsis. The Accelerate Pheno(®) system and Accelerate PhenoTest(®) BC kit combine several technologies aimed at reducing the time clinicians must wait to determine the most optimal antibiotic therapy for deadly infections. The FDA cleared system and kit fully automate the sample preparation steps to report phenotypic antibiotic susceptibility results in approximately 7 hours direct from positive blood cultures. Recent external studies indicate the solution offers results 1-2 days faster than existing methods, enabling clinicians to optimize antibiotic selection and dosage specific to the individual patient days earlier.

The "ACCELERATE DIAGNOSTICS" and "ACCELERATE PHENO" and "ACCELERATE PHENOTEST" and "ACCELERATE ARC" and "ACCELERATE WAVE" diamond shaped logos and marks are trademarks or registered trademarks of Accelerate Diagnostics, Inc.

For more information about the company, its products and technology, or recent publications, visit axdx.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain of the statements made in this press release and the related conference call are forward-looking or may have forward-looking implications within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the company intends that such forward-looking statements be subject to the safe harbors created thereby. These forward-looking statements, which can be identified by the use of words such as "may," "will," "expect," "believe," "anticipate," "estimate," or "continue," or variations thereon or comparable terminology, include but are not limited to, statements about: the company's future development plans and growth strategy, including plans and objectives relating to its future operations, products and performance; projections as to when certain key business milestones may be achieved, including the company's belief that it remains on plan to begin its clinical trials for the Accelerate Wave system in the second quarter of 2024; expectations regarding the potential or benefits of the company's products and technologies, including the company's anticipation that the Accelerate Wave system will set the new standard for rapid, same-shift, susceptibility testing; projections of future demand for the company's products, including the Accelerate Wave system; the company's continued investment in new product development to both enhance its existing products and bring new ones to market; the company's expectations relating to current supply chain impacts and inflationary pressures; the company's expectations regarding its commercial partnerships, such as with Bruker Corporation, including anticipated benefits from such collaboration; the company's intentions and plans relating to regulatory approvals, including the company's anticipated submission to the FDA during the first quarter of 2024 for the Accelerate Arc system; the company's liquidity and capital requirements; and the company's belief that cost cutting measures implemented throughout 2023 will continue to drive cash burn reductions into 2024. Actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected or implied in these forward-looking statements due to significant risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to: volatility throughout the global economy and the related impacts to the businesses of the company's suppliers and customers, whether due to customer demand fluctuations, supply chain constraints and inflationary pressures or otherwise; difficulties in resolving the company's continuing financial condition and ability to obtain additional capital to meet its financial obligations; the company's ability to obtain any regulatory approvals; and less than expected operating and financial benefits resulting from cost cutting measures. Other important factors that could cause the company's actual results to differ materially from those in its forward-looking statements include those discussed in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), including in the "Risk Factors" sections of the company's most recently filed periodic reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q and subsequent filings with the SEC. These forward-looking statements are also based on certain additional assumptions, including, but not limited to, that the company will retain key management personnel; the company will be successful in the commercialization of its products; the company will obtain sufficient capital to commercialize its products and continue development of complementary products; the company will be successful in obtaining marketing authorization for its products from the FDA and other regulatory agencies and governing bodies; the company will be able to protect its intellectual property; the company's ability to respond effectively to technological change; the company's ability to accurately anticipate market demand for its products; and that there will be no material adverse change in the company's operations or business and general market and industry conditions. Except as required by federal securities laws, the company undertakes no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements to reflect new events, uncertainties or other contingencies. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and should not be relied upon as representing the company's plans and expectations as of any subsequent date.


                          
              
                ACCELERATE DIAGNOSTICS, INC.

                                  
              
                CONSOLIDATED

                                 
              
                BALANCE SHEETS

                              
              (in thousands, except share data)




                                                                                          December 31,


                                                                                    2023    2022


                                   
              
                ASSETS



     Current assets:



     Cash and cash equivalents                                                  $12,138 $34,905



     Investments                                                                  1,081  10,656



     Trade accounts receivable, net                                               2,622   2,416



     Inventory                                                                    3,310   5,194



     Prepaid expenses                                                               380     818



     Purchase obligation put option asset                                         3,419



     Other current assets                                                         1,516   2,025



     Total current assets                                                        24,466  56,014



     Property and equipment, net                                                  2,389   3,478



     Finance lease assets, net                                                    1,518   2,422



     Operating lease right of use assets, net                                     1,177   1,859



     Other non-current assets                                                     1,816   1,242



     Total assets                                                               $31,366 $65,015




                   
              
                LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIT



     Current liabilities:



     Accounts payable                                                            $4,796  $4,501



     Accrued liabilities                                                          3,243   2,682



     Accrued interest                                                               164     472



     Deferred revenue and income, current                                         1,545     547



     Current portion of convertible notes                                           726  56,413



     Finance lease, current                                                         583   1,113



     Operating lease, current                                                       977     829



     Total current liabilities                                                   12,034  66,557



     Finance lease, non-current                                                     262     782



     Operating lease, non-current                                                   570   1,545



     Deferred income, non-current                                                 1,122



     Other non-current liabilities                                                1,164     874



     Accrued interest, related-party                                                  -    663



     Long-term debt, related-party                                                    - 16,858



     Convertible notes, non-current                                              36,102



     Total liabilities                                                           51,254  87,279





     Commitments and contingencies (see Note 15)


                                                       
              
                ACCELERATE DIAGNOSTICS, INC.

                                                               
              
                CONSOLIDATED

                                                        
              
                BALANCE SHEETS (CONTINUED)

                                                           
              (in thousands, except share data)




                                                                                                                                 December 31,


                                                                                                                         2023       2022



     Stockholders' deficit:



     Preferred shares, $0.001 par value;



     5,000,000
               preferred shares authorized with no shares issued and                                            -         4


     outstanding as of December 31, 2023 and 3,954,546 issued 
              and


     outstanding on December 31, 2022



     Common stock, $0.001 par value;



     450,000,000
               common shares authorized with 14,569,500 shares issued and                                    14         10


     outstanding on December 31, 2023 and 200,000,000 common shares


     authorized with 9,747,755 shares issued and outstanding on December 31,


     2022



     Contributed capital                                                                                             694,634    630,428



     Treasury stock                                                                                                 (45,067)  (45,067)



     Accumulated deficit                                                                                           (668,857) (607,239)



     Accumulated other comprehensive loss                                                                              (612)     (400)



     Total stockholders' deficit                                                                                    (19,888)  (22,264)



     Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit                                                                     $31,366    $65,015




                                            
              See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.


                                         
              
                ACCELERATE DIAGNOSTICS, INC. CONSOLIDATED

                                      
              
                STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS





     (in thousands, except per share data)                                                                               Years Ended December 31,


                                                                                                                   2023       2022              2021



     
                Net sales                                                                                    $12,059    $12,752           $11,782





     
                Cost of sales:



     Cost of sales of products and services                                                                      8,325      9,449             7,663



     Inventory write-down                                                                                        1,184                       4,500



     Total cost of sales                                                                                         9,509      9,449            12,163





     Gross profit (loss)                                                                                         2,550      3,303             (381)





     
                Costs and expenses:



     Research and development                                                                                   25,353     26,915            21,943



     Sales, general and administrative                                                                          31,225     39,193            49,236



     Total costs and expenses                                                                                   56,578     66,108            71,179





     Loss from operations                                                                                     (54,028)  (62,805)         (71,560)





     
                Other (expense) income:



     Interest expense                                                                                          (5,926)   (2,274)         (15,545)



     Interest expense related-party                                                                            (1,817)   (1,497)



     (Loss) gain on extinguishment of debt                                                                     (6,499)     3,565             9,793



     (Loss) on extinguishment of debt related party                                                            (6,755)



     Gain on fair value adjustment                                                                              12,955



     Foreign currency exchange gain (loss)                                                                          71        117             (413)



     Interest income                                                                                             1,123        551                88



     Other expense, net                                                                                            108      (227)             (20)



     Total other (expense) income, net                                                                         (6,740)       235           (6,097)





     Net loss before income taxes                                                                             (60,768)  (62,570)         (77,657)



     (Provision) benefit for income taxes                                                                        (850)        77              (45)



     Net loss                                                                                                $(61,618) $(62,493)        $(77,702)





     Basic and diluted net loss per share                                                                      $(4.94)   $(7.61)         $(12.59)



     Weighted average shares outstanding                                                                        12,477      8,216             6,173





     
                Other comprehensive loss:



     Net loss                                                                                                $(61,618) $(62,493)        $(77,702)



     Net unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale investments                                                   29       (14)             (34)



     Foreign currency translation adjustment                                                                     (241)     (326)            (117)



     Comprehensive loss                                                                                      $(61,830) $(62,833)        $(77,853)


                                                           
              
               ACCELERATE DIAGNOSTICS, INC. CONSOLIDATED

                                                                    
              
               STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

                                                                               
             (in thousands)




                                                                                                                            
            
       Years Ended December 31,


                                                                                                                                   2023       2022                2021



     
                Cash flows from operating activities:



     Net loss                                                                                                                $(61,618) $(62,493)          $(77,702)



     Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:



     Depreciation and amortization                                                                                               3,254      3,000               2,518



     Provision for bad debts                                                                                                       301        204                 123



     Amortization of investment discount                                                                                             -        98                 226



     Equity-based compensation expense                                                                                           5,387     10,625              22,047



     Amortization of debt discount and issuance costs                                                                            3,278        474              11,542



     Amortization of debt discount related party                                                                                 1,033        834



     Unrealized (gain) loss on equity investments                                                                                (114)       211



     Loss (gain) on disposal of property and equipment                                                                             150        133                (75)



     Loss (gain) on extinguishment of debt                                                                                       6,499    (3,565)            (9,793)



     Loss on extinguishment of debt with related party                                                                           6,755



     Gain on fair value adjustments                                                                                           (12,955)



     Paid-in-kind interest                                                                                                       1,718



     Inventory write-down                                                                                                        1,184                         4,500



     (Increase) decrease in assets:



     Deferred compensation plan                                                                                                   (39)     (298)              (484)



     Accounts receivable                                                                                                         (234)     (100)              (893)



     Inventory                                                                                                                     446      (236)              (415)



     Prepaid expense and other assets                                                                                              965       (62)              1,014



     Increase (decrease) in liabilities:



     Accounts payable                                                                                                              295      2,920                 273



     Accrued liabilities and other                                                                                               (411)     (861)              (469)



     Accrued interest                                                                                                              716      (437)              (283)



     Accrued interest from related-party                                                                                           784        663



     Deferred revenue and income                                                                                                 2,120         96                  75



     Deferred compensation                                                                                                         290         66                 473



     Net cash used in operating activities                                                                                    (40,196)  (48,728)           (47,323)



     
                Cash flows from investing activities:



     Purchases of equipment                                                                                                    (1,035)     (554)              (603)



     Purchase of marketable securities                                                                                               -  (27,506)           (30,081)



     Proceeds from sales of marketable securities                                                                                    -                          250



     Maturities of marketable securities                                                                                         9,695     40,477              38,738



     Net cash provided by investing activities                                                                                   8,660     12,417               8,304



     
                Cash flows from financing activities:



     Proceeds from issuance of common stock to related party                                                                     4,000



     Proceeds from issuance of common and preferred stock, net                                                                       -    32,872              42,880



     Proceeds from exercise of options                                                                                               -         7               1,620



     Proceeds from issuance of common stocks under employee purchase plan                                                            -       224                 326



     Proceeds from issuance of 5.00% Notes                                                                                      10,000



     Payment of debt                                                                                                                 -      (80)              (360)



     Payments on finance leases                                                                                                (1,250)   (1,201)



     Transaction costs related to debt and equity issuances                                                                    (3,731)     (192)            (1,240)



     Net cash provided by financing activities                                                                                   9,019     31,630              43,226


                                                                                
          
                ACCELERATE DIAGNOSTICS, INC. CONSOLIDATED

                                                                                  
           
                STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS (CONTINUED)

                                                                                                
              (in thousands)




                                                                                                                                                         
           
        Years Ended December 31,


                                                                                                                                                         2023                          2022              2021



     Effect of exchange rate on cash                                                                                                                   (250)                        (312)             (90)





     (Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents                                                                                               (22,767)                      (4,993)            4,117



     Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period                                                                                                   34,905                        39,898            35,781



     Cash and cash equivalents, end of period                                                                                                        $12,138                       $34,905           $39,898





     
                Non-cash investing activities:



     Net transfer of instruments from inventory to property and equipment, net                                                                          $401                          $168              $688





     
                Non-cash financing activities:



     Exchange of 2.50% Notes and accrued interest for 5.00% Notes                                                                                    $56,893 
        $                      -   
       $        -



     Debt premium on issuance of 5.00% Notes                                                                                                          $6,023 
        $                      -   
       $        -



     Derivative liability                                                                                                                            $38,160 
        $                      -   
       $        -



     Reclassification of bifurcated conversion option to contributed capital                                                                         $26,908 
        $                      -   
       $        -



     Extinguishment of derivative liability in connection with                                                                                          $380 
        $                      -   
       $        -


     extinguishment of 5.00% Notes



     Issuance of common stock in connection with extinguishment of 5.00% Notes                                                                          $819 
        $                      -   
       $        -



     Capital contribution from the exchange of secured note                                                                                          $25,366                       $29,847    
       $        -


     and accrued interest through the issuance of common


     stock with related party



     Extinguishment of 2.50% Notes through issuance of                                                                                          
     $        -                      $10,180           $38,902


     common stock



     2.50% Notes extinguished in connection with exchange transaction                                                                           
     $        -                      $49,624     
       $       -



     Fair value of new note issued in connection with the exchange transaction                                                                  
     $        -                      $16,024     
       $       -



     Fair value of common stock warrant issued in                                                                                               
     $        -                       $3,753     
       $       -


     connection with the exchange transaction



     Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for finance                                                                                                                        $3,096     
       $       -


     lease obligations                                                                                                                                  $200





     
                Supplemental cash flow information:



     Interest paid                                                                                                                                      $122                        $2,214            $4,288



     Income taxes paid, net of refunds                                                                                                                  $363  
        $                     -    
       $       -




                                                                              
         See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

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SOURCE Accelerate Diagnostics, Inc.