Phoenix, June 8, 2006 - Zila, Inc. released results for its third quarter of fiscal 2006 that ended April 30, 2006. Highlights of those results, compared with the third quarter of fiscal 2005 ended April 30, 2005, are as follows:
Net revenues for the third quarter of fiscal 2006 were $6.8 million, a decrease of 44%, compared to net revenues of $12.0 million. Zila Pharmaceuticals revenues increased $1.5 million, or 98%. Zila Nutraceuticals revenues decreased $6.8 million, or 65%. Several months ago, Zila, Inc. began a process to evaluate the feasibility of divesting Zila Nutraceuticals in order to focus on its high potential pharmaceutical and biotechnology products. Sales by Zila Nutraceuticals were negatively affected during the third quarter because several of our customers, among others, were involved in this process and reduced or eliminated product purchases while they evaluated their strategic interest in acquiring the business.
Gross margins decreased to 56% in the third quarter of fiscal 2006 from 67% in the prior year period driven primarily by a decline at Zila Nutraceuticals due to promotional discounts offered for new SKU introductions. Gross profit dollars decreased by $4.3 million, or 53%, to $3.8 million from $8.1 million.
Marketing and selling expenses in the third quarter of fiscal 2006 decreased by approximately 12%, to $4.0 million, from $4.6 million. While we reduced Zila Nutraceuticals' spending for advertising and promotion, Zila Pharmaceuticals' marketing efforts and spending increased in support of the ViziLite(R) Plus product launch.
Research and development spending, primarily in connection with Zila's OraTest(R) program, increased by approximately 62%, to $2.7 million from $1.6 million, as we advanced the OraTest Phase III clinical trial.
General and administrative costs were flat at $3.4 million despite one-time charges related to our evaluation of the Zila Nutraceuticals divestiture and other business development activities.
Net loss for the quarter increased to $8.1 million, or $0.18 per share, compared to a loss of $2.2 million, or $0.05 per share.
The Company also closed a $40 million credit facility with Black Diamond Commercial Finance consisting of a $20 million two-year term loan that was funded at close (on March 24, 2006) and a $20 million expansion facility, which the Company may utilize subject to meeting certain conditions. Zila used the proceeds to refinance its existing debt, to provide additional liquidity and for other general corporate purposes.
"Several years ago we established a strategy to grow our highest potential business: our oral cancer detection products and technologies within our Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology units. In order to achieve this objective, we aggressively invested and grew our Nutraceutical business and generated the cash required to get our Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology businesses off the ground and to a point where the potential for market approvals and acceptance was far more certain. The plan has worked and we believe we have reached a point where it is prudent to evaluate a more targeted focus on the company's highest potential products," said Zila Chairman, President and CEO Douglas D. Burkett, Ph.D. "We are exploring the possibility of aligning Zila's revenue and infrastructure with our high potential cancer detection business. Over the last few quarters we have systematically achieved the critical milestones within our oral cancer detection businesses that were determining events in our plan. These include, among others, the following:
FDA clearance of TBlue630
Sustained growth of ViziLite and now ViziLite Plus through distributors and through favorable metrics achieved by our own sales representatives
Insurance reimbursement nationally by a leading national dental insurer: CIGNA Dental
The Special Protocol Assessment ("SPA") Agreement with FDA for the OraTest Phase III clinical trial
The conduct to date of the OraTest clinical trial
These events have led us to explore the divestiture of Zila Nutraceuticals to enable us to effectively focus on our cancer detection business. We have received several competitive offers and as part of this process, we are currently negotiating with one party. It is our intent to either close a transaction with that party or continue our negotiations with other interested bidders to determine whether we are able to close a transaction under acceptable terms. If we choose to not divest the business in the near term, we believe it will return to a positive EBITDA performance within the next several months although no assurance can be given in this regard.
We have previously discussed the possibility of a strategic alliance or acquisition to increase our ability to deliver ViziLite Plus and OraTest into the dental marketplace. We believe that in order to establish our oral cancer detection products as the standard of care, our sales capability must be dramatically grown, preferably by also including the addition of synergistic products. We continue to work toward this goal."
Zila Nutraceuticals
Net revenues for Zila Nutraceuticals for the three months ended April 30, 2006 decreased 65% to $3.6 million compared to $10.4 million for the three months ended April 30, 2005. The revenue decline was driven largely by a decrease in sales to several of our customers during an ongoing evaluation period regarding their strategic interest, and others, in acquiring the business unit. Ester-C sales at retail remained strong during the quarter with the latest 12 week data showing no losses in market share and 52 week data showing modest market share gains.
Gross margins for Zila Nutraceuticals decreased to 63% for the three months ended April 30, 2006 compared to 70% for the three months ended April 30, 2005.
Zila Nutraceuticals continued expanding the international presence of Ester-C by signing an agreement with distributor Lohaspia in Korea and Taiwan and Gee Lawson in the EU. The Company also developed a new and improved form of its Ester-C product, which extends patent protection for this new form of Ester-C until 2019. Ester-C is the most widely recognized branded nutraceutical ingredient in the United States. The new product offers all the benefits of Zila's traditional Ester-C plus an additional metabolite designed to enhance its antioxidant and immune enhancing potential.
Zila Pharmaceuticals
Net revenues for Zila Pharmaceuticals for the three months ended April 30, 2006 increased 98%, to $3.1 million, compared to $1.6 million in the prior year period.
The increase in net revenues in the Pharmaceuticals Business Unit was driven by increases in all product lines, led by a 206% increase in ViziLite sales to $1.2 million. Additionally, sales for the IST subsidiary (net of intercompany sales) were $0.8 million compared to $0.2 million last year and Peridex(R) sales increased 21% to $1.2 million.
Gross margins for Zila Pharmaceuticals decreased slightly to 48% in the third quarter of fiscal 2006 from 49% in the third quarter of fiscal 2005.
Dr. Frank Bellizzi, was recently appointed President of the Pharmaceutical division as well as EVP of Business Development of Zila, Inc. He brings over 15 years of experience, within and beyond the Life Science industry, focusing on operations, finance, strategic business development and investment banking.
Zila Biotechnology
Total operating expenses for Zila Biotechnology were $3.1 million for the three months ended April 30, 2006, a 48% increase over the $2.1 million for the three months ended April 30, 2005.
Earlier in the year, we received an SPA from the FDA for our Phase III clinical trial of OraTest, which provides trial sponsors with a binding written agreement that the design and analysis of the study are adequate to support a license application submission if the study is performed according to the SPA.
During the second quarter of fiscal 2006, we commenced the enrollment of patients in the Phase III clinical study of OraTest, our oral cancer detection drug. We expect enrollment to be complete in less than one year. The study advanced ahead of schedule in the third quarter as we have now enrolled over 1,000 patients in the trial. An interim analysis is expected to occur this summer.
Nine Months Ended April 30, 2006
Net sales for the nine months ended April 30, 2006 decreased 21% to $26.1 million compared to $32.8 million for the comparable period of fiscal 2005. The decline was the result of a decline in sales of $10.7 million within our Nutraceuticals Business Unit which more than offset the $3.9 million increase in sales that was produced by our Pharmaceuticals Business Unit. As a result, gross profit decreased to $15.0 million for the nine months ended April 30, 2006 from $21.8 million in the comparable prior year period. Net loss attributable to common shareholders increased to $20.4 million from $7.5 million in the comparable period of the prior year, due to the sales and gross margin changes described above, as well as increased marketing and selling costs, general and administrative costs and research and development costs in the fiscal 2006 period.
About Zila
Zila, Inc., headquartered in Phoenix, is an innovator in preventive healthcare technologies and products, focusing on enhanced body defense and the detection of pre-disease states. Zila has three business units:
Zila Biotechnology, a research, development and licensing business specializing in pre-cancer/cancer detection through its patented Zila Tolonium Chloride and OraTest(R) technologies.
Zila Pharmaceuticals, a manufacturer and marketer of products to promote oral health and prevent oral disease, including ViziLite(R) Plus oral examination kits and Peridex(R) prescription periodontal rinse.
Zila Nutraceuticals, manufacturer and marketer of Ester-C(R) and Ester-E(R), branded, highly effective forms of Advanced Protection vitamins C and E.