CARLSBAD, Calif. – May 1, 2023 — Aurora Spine Corporation (“Aurora Spine” or the “Company”) (TSXV: ASG) (OTCQB: ASAPF), a designer and manufacturer of innovative medical devices that improve spinal surgery outcomes, today announced the financial results for fiscal 2022 ended December 31, 2022. All figures are in U.S. dollars.
Financial and Business Highlights
- 41% Annual Sales Growth – The Company has experienced strong sales in each quarter in 2022. Compared to the previous year sales grew more than 41% from $10.5 million in 2021 to $14.9 million in 2022. The increases have been led by a 21% increase of ZIP sales to the pain management market and a 200% increase in sales of the SiLO Joint fusion system.
- Increased Margin – Margins increased to 52.5% for 2022 from 45.8% in 2021 due to higher margin sales to surgery centers and increased pricing on certain products.
- Dexa-C release – The Company released the Dexa-C cervical implant on a limited basis in Q1 2022 and it accounted for 8% of overall sales in 2022.
- Patent Issued – The issuance of United States Patent No: 11,331,199 entitled “Spinal Implant for Motion Preservation or Fusion”. This patent covers Aurora’s ZIPFlex™ Technology for a minimally invasive posterior interlaminar implant for motion preservation that could be adapted into a fusion or non-fusion device while implanted in a patient via a small modular attachment.
- FDA 510(K) Clearance – The Company received FDA 510(k) clearance for its patented SiLO TFX MIS Sacroiliac Joint Fixation System.
- FDA 510(K) Clearance – Received FDA 510(k) clearance for its DEXA SOLO-L™ spinal fusion system. The 3D printed standalone anterior lumbar interbody fusion device (ALIF) was developed as part of the world’s first bone density matched implant based on Aurora’s patented DEXA Technology Platform.
- Zip Stenosis Indication – The Company received FDA clearance of a new Lumbar Spinal Stenosis Indication for Use for its ZIP™ family of MIS implants.
- Award – The Company received the 2022 Best New Spine Technology Award for its DEXA bone density-matched spine implant innovation at the annual North American Spine Society (NASS) meeting.
- Training – The Company continued to conduct advanced training sessions and cadaver labs that introduced leading orthopedic, neurosurgical, and pain management physicians to the ZIP™ and SiLO™ implants.
Management Commentary
Mr. Trent Northcutt, President and Chief Executive Officer of Aurora Spine, stated, “Fiscal 2022 was an exceptional year for Aurora Spine. We were able to emerge from the pandemic and deliver our proprietary products to the marketplace. We were also very successful in obtaining FDA clearances for a few key products, including the SiLO TFX, which we believe will pave the way for future growth. As a result, the company now has several new products and platforms that enabled us to pivot and focus more on commercialization and profitability. Along those lines, the company has made some key improvements and additions to bolster its sales efforts. We believe we are still in the early stages in many of our initiatives, including SiLO TFX, which has recently been successfully implanted into patients.”
Mr. Northcutt continued, “Our other product lines, including ZIP and DEXA, have also contributed nicely to our results. ZIP continues to grow its applications, as it received FDA clearance for a new stenosis indication. In addition, we received positive interim results from a clinical study that is using the ZIP for interspinous fusion therapy as a treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis. So far initial results show the ZIP to be effective and safe and this data will assist us in detailing it to surgeons and pain interventionalists. Looking at DEXA, we were very honored to receive the 2022 Best New Spine Technology Award at this year’s NASS meeting. We have several kits for DEXA-C in the marketplace and was a great contributor to Aurora during 2022 on a beta-launch basis. We have several more kits ready to ship and are in the midst of placing them over the next few months.”
Mr. Northcutt concluded, “We are very pleased with the progress we are making at Aurora Spine. We accomplished many things in 2022, including several successful product launches and we believe 2023 will be another year of growth. As we look to 2023 and beyond, we have been working diligently in making key improvements to get the company to the next level and experience continued growth for many years to come. Our focus is now executing on growing revenues through the commercialization of the products that received approvals in 2022, especially SiLO TFX. We have many positive accomplishments in 2022 and are well positioned to capitalize in 2023 and beyond.”
Mr. Chad Clouse, Chief Financial Officer of Aurora Spine, added, “Fiscal 2022 was a strong financial year for Aurora, with revenues growing 41% and achieving improved gross margins. We also invested heavily back into the business, using our cash flow to improve our sales team, attend more industry tradeshows, but also ramp up several clinical studies, which will provide additional data on our products. Also, subsequent to the fiscal year end, the company also received approximately $700,000 in proceeds from exercised warrants, which has enhanced our capital structure.”
Financial Results
Total revenues for the fourth quarter of 2022 were $3.61 million an increase of 21.7% when compared to $2.96 million in the same quarter one year ago. The improvement in revenues over 2021 were due to more procedures conducted in ambulatory surgical and pain centers that incorporated Aurora products like the ZIP and SiLO. In addition, due to increased marketing and development (clinical studies) efforts, the company experienced increases in ZIP sales in the quarter. Total revenues for fiscal 2022 were $14.88 million compared to $10.54 million for fiscal 2021, an increase of 41.1%, primarily due to increased activity at surgical centers and pain centers, where patients stays are much shorter in duration through the usage of Aurora products like ZIP and SiLO.
Gross margin on total revenues were 50.6% for the fourth quarter of 2022, compared to 46.0% in Q4 of 2021. Gross margin on total revenues for fiscal year 2022 were 52.5%, compared to 45.8% for fiscal 2021. The year-over-year improvement in gross margins is attributable to the company’s strategy of selling more proprietary, Aurora Spine products and into the markets with improved pricing, like ambulatory surgery centers. As the company continues to focus on growing sales of proprietary products, gross margin has the capabilities for additional improvements, dependent upon sales mix and shipping costs.
Total operating expenses were $2.67 million for the fourth quarter of 2022, compared to $2.267 million in the fourth quarter of 2021. Total operating expenses for fiscal 2022 were $9.379 million, which included $1.010 million of non-cash expenses, compared to $7.543 million, which included $0.790 million of non-cash expenses for fiscal 2021. Operating expenses increased during the fourth quarter primarily due to an increase in ZIP study fees.
EBITDAC (a non-GAAP figure non IFRS measure defined as Earnings before Interest, Tax, Depreciation, Amortization and Stock based compensation) was $(0.36) million for the fourth quarter of 2022, compared to $(0.57) million in the fourth quarter of 2021. EBITDAC was $(0.26) million for fiscal 2022, compared to $(1.76) million in fiscal 2021. EBITDAC improvements were due to higher revenue and gross margin levels from selling more proprietary products.
Net loss was $(0.840) million for the fourth quarter of 2022, compared to the fourth quarter of 2021 with a loss of $(0.903) million. Basic and diluted net (loss) income per share was $(0.01) per share in the fourth quarter of 2022 and $(0.01) per share for the fourth quarter of 2021. Net loss was $(1.501) million for fiscal 2022, compared to a loss of $(2.359) million in fiscal 2021. Basic and diluted net (loss) income per share was $(0.02) per share for fiscal 2022 and $(0.04) per share in fiscal 2021.
Full financial statements can be found on SEDAR at (www.sedar.com).
Conference Call Details
Date and Time: Monday, May 1, 2023, at 12:00 pm ET/9:00 am PT
Call-in Information: Interested parties can access the conference call by dialing (844) 861-5497 or (412) 317-5794.
Webcast: Interested parties can access the conference call via a live webcast, which is available via the following link: https://app.webinar.net/bnqyeKXxQ2N or in the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at https://www.aurora-spine.com/investors-v02.
Replay: A teleconference replay of the call will be available until May 8, 2023, at (877) 344-7529 or (412) 317-0088, replay access code 7462834. Additionally, a replay of the webcast will be available in the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at https://www.aurora-spine.com/investors-v02 or at https://app.webinar.net/bnqyeKXxQ2N for 90 days.
About Aurora Spine
Aurora Spine is focused on bringing new solutions to the spinal implant market through a series of innovative, minimally invasive, regenerative spinal implant technologies. Additional information can be accessed at www.aurora-spine.com or www.aurorapaincare.com.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking information that involves substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties, most of which are beyond the control of Aurora Spine, including, without limitation, those listed under “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information” in Aurora Spine’s final prospectus (collectively, “forward-looking information”). Forward-looking information in this news release includes information concerning the proposed use and success of the company’s products in surgical procedures. Aurora Spine cautions investors of Aurora Spine’s securities about important factors that could cause Aurora Spine’s actual results to differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statements included in this news release. Any statements that express, or involve discussions as to, expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not historical facts and may be forward-looking and may involve estimates, assumptions and uncertainties which could cause actual results or outcomes to differ unilaterally from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. No assurance can be given that the expectations set out herein will prove to be correct and, accordingly, prospective investors should not place undue reliance on these forward–looking statements. These statements speak only as of the date of this press release and Aurora Spine does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances.
Contact:
Aurora Spine Corporation
Trent Northcutt
President and Chief Executive Officer
(760) 424-2004
Chad Clouse
Chief Financial Officer
(760) 424-2004
www.aurora-spine.com
Adam Lowensteiner
LYTHAM PARTNERS, LLC
Phoenix | New York
Telephone: 646-829-9700