MRI Interventions Reports 62% Increase in 2019 Third Quarter Revenue

Performance marks fourth consecutive quarter of record revenue and case volume

IRVINE, Calif., Nov. 12, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MRI Interventions, Inc. (NYSE American: MRIC) (the “Company”) today announced financial results for its third fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2019.

2019 Third Quarter Highlights

  • Increased revenue 62% year-over-year to a record $2.9 million.
    -- Functional neurosurgery revenue increased 28% to $1.9 million.
    -- Biologics and drug delivery revenue increased 188% to $564,000.
    -- Therapy revenue increased to $64,000.
    -- Capital equipment sales and related service revenue increased 144% to $395,000; resulting in 57 active surgical centers.
  • Supported a record 233 cases, compared with 197 in the preceding quarter and 175 in the 2018 third quarter, a year-over-year growth of 33%.
  • Increased to 10 centers using the Company’s two cases per day protocol.
  • Completed the 3,000th ClearPoint Neuro Navigation System case.
  • Signed an additional product development agreement in the biologics and drug delivery space; shipped product or performed services for 15 programs during 2019.
  • Continued cash management program, using cash in operations of $964,000, a significant portion of which was used to support our continued growth.
  • Appointed healthcare veteran B. Kristine Johnson to the board of directors.
  • Increased full-year 2019 revenue forecast to a range of $10.5 million to $11.5 million.

Joe Burnett, President and Chief Executive Officer of MRI Interventions, Inc., said, “The third quarter continued our string of setting quarterly revenue and ClearPoint case records in 2019, with revenue increasing 62% to a record $2.9 million and the supported case total reaching 233. We also crossed a major milestone, reporting our 3,000th ClearPoint case during the quarter, which further demonstrates the maturity of our ClearPoint system in the clinical environment. In addition to new site launches, the strong case growth this year has been driven in part by a growing number of centers adopting our two case per day protocol, which leverages best practices in patient case management and tools in our ClearPoint 2.0 software platform to maximize the economic value of MRI scanner time available at those centers. We now have 10 centers using this protocol, and we continue to work with additional centers’ transition to this approach. Currently 29 of our installed base of 57 active surgical centers have our ClearPoint 2.0 software installed, continuing the rapid adoption since its full market release earlier this year.”

Mr. Burnett further noted, “We also made exciting progress on a number of other key initiatives, including continued growth in therapeutic revenues recognized from the sale of CLS’s FDA-cleared laser ablation products for non-neuro applications under our distribution agreement for sales in the U.S. and Canada. We signed an additional co-development agreement with a new partner in the biologics and drug delivery space and have now shipped product or performed services for 15 biologics and drug delivery partners in 2019. We continue to be committed to our four-pillar growth strategy, which saw our core functional neurosurgery business grow 28% in the third quarter, supplemented by the growth in sales of biologics and drug delivery products, and capital equipment and related services. In fact, all four of our product segments saw significant revenue growth in the third quarter, which demonstrates our diversification into a platform company, with all elements of our business contributing to this result.”

Financial Results – Three Months Ended September 30, 2019

Functional neurosurgery revenue, which consists of disposable product sales related to cases utilizing the ClearPoint system, increased 28% to a record $1.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019, from $1.4 million for the same period in 2018. The increase was primarily due to an expanded customer base and increased utilization by our existing customers of MRI scanner availability.

Biologics and drug delivery revenue, which include sales of disposable products and services related to customer-sponsored clinical trials and services, increased 188% to $564,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2019, from $196,000 for the third quarter of 2018.

Capital equipment revenue, consisting of sales of ClearPoint reusable hardware and software, and related service revenue, increased 144% to $395,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2019, from $162,000 for the same period in 2018, due primarily to an increase in sales of new ClearPoint system installations, ClearPoint 2.0 software upgrades and service contract sales.

Gross margin for the three months ended September 30, 2019 was 66%, a slight decline from gross margin of 69% for the same period in 2018, but an increase from 60% in the second quarter of 2019, primarily due to shifts in product mix that vary on a quarterly basis between high-margin single use disposable sales and capital equipment sales which carry a lower margin.

Research and development costs were $762,000 for three months ended September 30, 2019, compared to $617,000 for the same period in 2018, an increase of 23%. Sales and marketing expenses were $1.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019, compared to $765,000 for the same period in 2018, an increase of 39%, attributable primarily to increases in incentive compensation tied to increased sales, and in the expansion of our field clinical team. General and administrative expenses were $1.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019, compared to $1.1 million for the same period in 2018, a decrease of 4%.

Outlook

“Based on our strong third quarter and year-to-date results combined with confidence in our anticipated fourth quarter sales, we are increasing our full-year 2019 revenue forecast to a range of $10.5 million to $11.5 million, from our previous forecast calling for a range of $10.0 million to $11.0 million,” said Mr. Burnett.

Teleconference Information

Investors and analysts are invited to listen to a live broadcast review of the Company's 2019 third quarter financial results today at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time (1:30 p.m. Pacific time) that may be accessed by visiting the Company's website at www.mriinterventions.com and selecting “Investors” / “News” / “IR Calendar.” Investors and analysts who would like to participate in the conference call may do so via telephone at (877) 407-9034, or at (201) 493-6737 if calling from outside the U.S. or Canada.

For those who cannot access the live broadcast, a replay will be available shortly after the completion of the call until November 26, 2019 by calling (877) 660-6853, or (201) 612-7415 if calling from outside the U.S. or Canada, and then entering conference I.D. number 413671. An online archive of the broadcast will be available on the Company's website at www.mriinterventions.com, on the “Investor Relations” page.

About MRI Interventions, Inc.

MRI Interventions is a leading platform company for MRI-guided neurosurgery procedures, including deep-brain stimulation, ablation, aspiration, biopsy, and gene therapy delivery. The ClearPoint Neuro Navigation System is FDA cleared and CE marked, and is installed in 57 active surgical centers in the U.S. To date, more than 3,000 procedures have been performed leveraging the sub-millimetric accuracy of the ClearPoint platform. For more information, please visit www.mriinterventions.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements herein concerning MRI Interventions, Inc.’s plans, growth and strategies may include forward-looking statements within the context of the federal securities laws. Statements regarding the company's future events, developments and future performance, as well as management's expectations, beliefs, plans, estimates or projections relating to the future, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of these laws. Uncertainties and risks may cause the company's actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by forward-looking statements. Particular uncertainties and risks include those relating to: future revenues from sales of the company’s ClearPoint Neuro Navigation System products; the company’s ability to market, commercialize and achieve broader market acceptance for the company’s ClearPoint Neuro Navigation System products; and estimates regarding the sufficiency of the company’s cash resources. More detailed information on these and additional factors that could affect the company’s actual results are described in the “Risk Factors” section of the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, the company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2019, both of which have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2019, which the company intends to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or before November 14, 2019.

Contact:
Harold A. Hurwitz, Chief Financial Officer
(949) 900-6833

Matt Kreps
Darrow Associates Investor Relations
(214) 597-8200
mkreps@darrowir.com

MRI INTERVENTIONS, INC. 
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Unaudited)

  For The Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
  2019   2018  
Revenues:            
Product revenues $ 2,594,428   $ 1,739,804  
Service and other revenues    333,038      67,238  
Total revenues    2,927,466      1,807,042  
Cost of revenues    983,042      553,221  
Research and development costs    761,881      617,241  
Sales and marketing expenses    1,063,143      764,599  
General and administrative expenses    1,029,929      1,078,171  
Operating loss    (910,529 )    (1,206,190 )
Other income (expense):            
Gain from change in fair value of derivative liabilities    -       22,295  
Other income, net    728      2,643  
Interest expense, net   (213,167 )   (246,824 )
Net loss $   (1,122,968 ) $ (1,428,076 )
Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders:            
Basic and diluted $   (0.08 ) $ (0.13 )
Weighted average shares outstanding:            
Basic and diluted     14,053,508     11,006,959  


  For The Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
  2019   2018  
Revenues:          
Product revenues $  6,952,575   $  4,691,002  
Service and other revenues    1,053,807      385,742  
Total revenues    8,006,382      5,076,744  
Cost of revenues    2,899,837      1,743,981  
Research and development costs    2,044,224      1,828,846  
Sales and marketing expenses    3,246,912      2,653,044  
General and administrative expenses    2,991,305      3,119,617  
Operating loss    (3,175,896 )    (4,268,744 )
Other income (expense):          
Gain from change in fair value of derivative liabilities   -      64,318  
Other income, net   8,100      1,284  
Interest expense, net   (726,292 )   (742,387 )
Net loss   (3,894,088 ) $ (4,945,529 )
Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders:          
Basic and diluted   (0.31 ) $ (0.45 )
Weighted average shares outstanding:          
Basic and diluted   12,477,790     10,903,675  
             

MRI INTERVENTIONS, INC. 
Consolidated Balance Sheets

  September 30,
2019
(Unaudited)
    December 31,
2018
 
ASSETS              
Current assets:              
Cash and cash equivalents $   6,235,168     $ 3,101,133  
Accounts receivable, net     2,129,085       1,233,896  
Inventory, net     3,180,250       2,105,976  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets     364,273       213,684  
Total current assets     11,908,776       6,654,689  
               
Property and equipment, net     474,226       377,706  
Software license inventory     451,900       801,900  
Operating lease rights of use   400,755       -  
Other assets   153,141       22,538  
Total assets $ 13,388,798     $ 7,856,833  
               
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY              
Current liabilities:              
Accounts payable $   1,671,722     $ 500,929  
Accrued compensation     993,150       764,960  
Operating lease liabilities, current portion   113,263       -  
Other accrued liabilities     403,054       390,838  
Deferred revenue     1,097,644       350,963  
Total current liabilities   4,278,833       2,007,690  
               
Accrued interest     934,829       857,500  
2014 junior secured notes payable, net   -       1,939,850  
2010 junior secured notes payable, net     1,867,265       1,540,791  
Operating lease liabilities     299,915       -  
Total liabilities   7,380,842       6,345,831  
Commitments and contingencies              
Stockholders’ equity:              
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value; 25,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018   -       -  
Common stock, $0.01 par value; 200,000,000 shares authorized; 14,991,892 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2019; and 11,018,364 issued and outstanding at December 31, 2018   149,918       110,183  
Additional paid-in capital     116,951,956       108,600,405  
Accumulated deficit     (111,093,918 )     (107,199,586 )
Total stockholders’ equity     6,007,956       1,511,002  
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $   13,388,798     $ 7,856,833  
               

MRI INTERVENTIONS, INC.  
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)

  For The Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     
  2019     2018  
Cash flows from operating activities:              
Net loss $ (3,894,088 )   $ (4,945,529 )
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash flows from operating activities:              
Depreciation    105,310        81,206  
Share-based compensation    576,012        968,488  
Expenses paid through the issuance of common stock   -        77,500  
Gain from change in fair value of derivative liabilities   -        (64,318 )
Amortization of debt issuance costs and original issue discounts    523,969       409,287  
Amortization of lease rights of use, net of accretion in lease liabilities    76,871       -  
Increase (decrease) in cash resulting from changes in:              
Accounts receivable    (895,189 )      (105,911 )
Inventory, net    (908,413 )      (204,171 )
Prepaid expenses and other current assets    (150,589 )      (69,130 )
Other assets    11,899        1,000  
Accounts payable and accrued expenses    1,506,279        (361,886 )
Lease liabilities    (82,448 )     -  
Deferred revenue    746,682        165,254  
Net cash flows from operating activities    (2,383,705 )      (4,048,210 )
Cash flows from investing activities:              
Purchases of property and equipment   (10,190 )      (62,651 )
Acquisition of licensing rights   (150,000 )     -  
Net cash flows from investing activities   (160,190 )      (62,651 )
Cash flows from financing activities:              
Proceeds from private offering, net of offering costs   7,427,848       -  
Proceeds from warrant and option exercises   387,426       531,977  
Repayment of senior secured note payable   -       (2,000,000 )
Repayment of 2014 junior secured notes payable   (1,975,000 )     -  
Repayment of 2010 junior secured notes payable   (162,344 )     -  
Net cash flows from financing activities   5,677,930        (1,468,023
Net change in cash and cash equivalents    3,134,035        (5,578,884 )
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period    3,101,133        9,289,831  
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $  6,235,168     $  3,710,947  
               
SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION              
Cash paid for:              
Income taxes $ -     $ -  
Interest $ 82,621     $ 92,222  
               

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Source: MRI Interventions, Inc.