IRVINE, Calif., Nov. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Oncocyte Corporation (NASDAQ:OCX), a precision diagnostics company with the mission to improve patient outcomes by providing personalized insights that inform critical decisions throughout the patient care journey, today reports financial results for the third quarter 2022, ended September 30, 2022.

Third Quarter and Recent Highlights:

SWOG Cancer Research Network selected the DetermaIO^TM test to be used in its S1418 clinical trial, a prospectively designed biomarker study of breast cancer tissues.
DetermaIO sample volume from Early Adopters grew at 117% quarter over quarter.
DetermaRx^TM test sample volume increased by 51%, compared to third quarter of 2021 and onboarded physician base increased by 62%, as compared to the same period in 2021.
Received recommendation from the Advisory Panel for the DetermaRx test to be cross walked to CPT code 81522, increasing reimbursement rate by 23% beginning January 2023.
Announced that Palmetto GBA, a Medicare administrative contractor for the Molecular Diagnostics Services program (MolDX), has conveyed the validity of a Local Coverage Determination (LCD) reconsideration request for broader coverage for DetermaRx to include risk-stratification to assess the risk of recurrence for the early-stage non-small cell lung cancer patient to determine the best course of action for patient management.
Completed initial phase of our cost reduction initiatives to streamline the company.

"We have maintained our momentum against our major milestones across our portfolio, leveraging our newly streamlined organization, as we announced in August. Our reimbursement efforts for our VitaGraft^TM products are in a productive dialogue with MolDx as we get close to a final determination," said Ron Andrews, Chief Executive Officer of Oncocyte. "We have learned a lot about the potential utility for our VitaGraft Liver test during our Early Access Program launch and have identified a compelling opportunity from the experts we have engaged to date. We also continued to make solid progress with DetermaRx in the third quarter, delivering 51% year over year growth in sample volumes and successfully onboarding new physicians and accounts."

"Looking ahead, we remain on track to submit our dossier for DetermaIO reimbursement in coming weeks. Additionally, our corporate development activities are yielding several interesting opportunities, and we have engaged Perella Weinburg Partners as our advisor to assist us in identifying and evaluating a range of potential strategic alternatives.On a parallel path, we continue to explore avenues to bolster our cash runway and to reduce our spend. We believe that Oncocyte has a bright future in front of us as the product development efforts from the past few years transition to market launches of several new high-value, reimbursed tests over coming quarters."

Third Quarter 2022 Financial Results

Total revenue was $1.0 million for the third quarter of 2022, compared to $2.1 million for the prior quarter. Third quarter revenues associated with DetermaRx were $1.0 million, an increase of $0.1 million sequentially, and $0.5 million year over year. Operating expenses for the third quarter 2022 were $8.0 million, compared to $12.7 million, a decrease of $4.7 million from the same period in the prior year. Research and Development expense for the third quarter 2022 was $4.4 million, an increase of $1.3 million from the same period a year ago. The increase in R&D expense was due to full integration of the Chronix R&D team, the growth and enrollment of our clinical trials, and added headcount related to the buildout of our IVD product development capabilities in the first quarter. General and Administrative expense for the third quarter of 2022 was $5.8 million, an increase of $0.3 million for the same period in 2021. Sales and Marketing expense in the quarter was $4.0 million, an increase of $1.1 million year over year, primarily attributable to an increase in headcount and continued ramp in sales and marketing activities related to the transplant business, as well as support the commercialization efforts within oncology.

Net loss was $9.3 million for the third quarter of 2022 and net loss per share was $0.08 on a weighted-average basic and diluted share count of 118.6 million, compared to a net loss of $13.8 million and a net loss per share of $0.15 on a weighted-average basic and diluted share count of 91.5 million in the same period of the prior year.

Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and marketable securities were $34.2 million as of September 30, 2022.

Webcast and Conference Call Information

Oncocyte will host a conference call to discuss the third quarter 2022 financial results after market close on Thursday, November 10, 2022 at 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time / 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time. The conference call can be accessed by dialing (877) 407-9716 for U.S. callers or (201) 493-6779 for international callers, using conference ID: 13732984. The live webinar can be accessed at https://investors.oncocyte.com.

About Oncocyte

Oncocyte is a precision diagnostics company with a mission to improve patient outcomes by providing personalized insights that inform critical decisions throughout the patient care journey.

Through its proprietary tests and pharmaceutical services business, the Company aims to help save lives by accelerating the diagnosis of cancer and advancing cancer care. The Company's tests are designed to help provide clarity and confidence to physicians and their patients at every stage. DetermaRx™ identifies early-stage lung cancer patients who are at high risk for cancer recurrence and who may benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy. DetermaIO™ is a gene expression test that assesses the tumor microenvironment to predict response to immunotherapies. The Company's pipeline of tests in development also includes DetermaTx™, which will assess mutational status of a tumor, DetermaCNI™, a blood-based monitoring test, DetermaMx™, a long-term recurrence monitoring test, and VitaGraft™, a blood-based solid organ transplantation monitoring test. In addition, Oncocyte's pharmaceutical services provide companies that are developing new cancer treatments a full suite of molecular testing services to support the drug development process.

DetermaRx™, DetermaIO™, DetermaTx™, DetermaCNI™, DetermaMx™ and VitaGraft™ are trademarks of Oncocyte Corporation.

Forward-Looking Statements

Any statements that are not historical fact (including, but not limited to statements that contain words such as "will," "believes," "plans," "anticipates," "expects," "estimates," "may," and similar expressions) are forward-looking statements. These statements include those pertaining to, among other things, reimbursement efforts for VitaGraft products, the anticipated submission of the Company's dossier for DetermaIO reimbursement in coming weeks, potential strategic alternatives, plans to bolster the Company's cash runway and reduce its spend, anticipated market launches of new high value, reimbursed tests over coming quarters , and other statements about the future expectations, beliefs, goals, plans, or prospects expressed by management. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, the potential impact of COVID-19 on Oncocyte or its subsidiaries' financial and operational results, risks inherent in the development and/or commercialization of diagnostic tests or products, uncertainty in the results of clinical trials or regulatory approvals, the capacity of Oncocyte's third-party supplied blood sample analytic system to provide consistent and precise analytic results on a commercial scale, potential interruptions to supply chains, the need and ability to obtain future capital, maintenance of intellectual property rights in all applicable jurisdictions, obligations to third parties with respect to licensed or acquired technology and products, the need to obtain third party reimbursement for patients' use of any diagnostic tests Oncocyte or its subsidiaries commercialize in applicable jurisdictions, and risks inherent in strategic transactions such as the potential failure to realize anticipated benefits, legal, regulatory or political changes in the applicable jurisdictions, accounting and quality controls, potential greater than estimated allocations of resources to develop and commercialize technologies, or potential failure to maintain any laboratory accreditation or certification. Actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements and accordingly such statements should be evaluated together with the many uncertainties that affect the business of Oncocyte, particularly those mentioned in the "Risk Factors" and other cautionary statements found in Oncocyte's Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings, which are available from the SEC's website. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they were made. Oncocyte undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made, except as required by law.

Investor & Media Contact

Caroline Corner

ICR Westwicke

415.202.5678

Caroline.corner@westwicke.com


ONCOCYTE CORPORATION
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands)


	September 30, 2022			December 31, 2021

ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$	32,053		$	35,605
Accounts receivable		1,990			1,437
Marketable equity securities		419			904
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		2,174			1,197
Total current assets		36,636			39,143

NONCURRENT ASSETS
Right-of-use and financing lease assets, net		2,337			2,779
Machinery and equipment, net, and construction in progress		9,256			5,748
Goodwill		18,684			18,684
Intangible assets, net		88,365			91,245
Restricted cash		1,700			1,700
Other noncurrent assets		366			264
TOTAL ASSETS	$	157,344		$	159,563

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Accounts payable	$	1,826		$	2,447
Accrued compensation		4,067			3,376
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities		3,809			2,425
Accrued severance from acquisition		2,314			2,352
Accrued liabilities from acquisition		109			1,388
Loans payable, net of deferred financing costs		-			1,313
Right-of-use and financing lease liabilities, current		827			819
Total current liabilities		12,952			14,120

NONCURRENT LIABILITIES
Right-of-use and financing lease liabilities, noncurrent		2,935			3,545
Contingent consideration liabilities		59,524			76,681

TOTAL LIABILITIES		75,411			94,346

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Series A Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock, no par value; stated value $1,000 per share; 12 shares authorized, 6 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2022; aggregate liquidation preference of $6,001 as of September 30, 2022		5,076			-

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Preferred stock, no par value, 5,000 shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding		-			-
Common stock, no par value, 230,000 shares authorized; 118,619 and 92,232 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively		292,536			252,954
Accumulated other comprehensive income		19			37
Accumulated deficit		(215,698	)		(187,774	)
Total shareholders' equity		76,857			65,217
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY	$	157,344		$	159,563

ONCOCYTE CORPORATION
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands, except per share data)

	Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	September 30,						September 30,
		2022			2021			2022			2021

Net revenue	$	1,017		$	984		$	4,508		$	4,138

Cost of revenues		1,215			860			3,641			2,948
Cost of revenues – amortization of acquired intangibles		976			990			2,888			2,371
Gross profit		(1,174	)		(866	)		(2,021	)		(1,181	)

Operating expenses:
Research and development		4,421			3,142			15,123			9,040
Sales and marketing		4,005			2,931			10,764			7,858
General and administrative		5,763			5,495			16,927			18,193
Change in fair value of contingent consideration		(6,142	)		1,170			(17,157	)		2,260
Total operating expenses		8,047			12,738			25,657			37,351

Loss from operations		(9,221	)		(13,604	)		(27,678	)		(38,532	)

OTHER INCOME (EXPENSES), NET
Interest expense, net		(14	)		(50	)		(65	)		(167	)
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable equity securities		(160	)		(138	)		(485	)		248
Pro rata loss from equity method investment in Razor		-			-			-			(270	)
Gain on extinguishment of debt (PPP loan)		-			-			-			1,141
Other income (expenses), net		62			(8	)		304			10
Total other income (expenses), net		(112	)		(196	)		(246	)		962

LOSS BEFORE INCOME TAXES		(9,333	)		(13,800	)		(27,924	)		(37,570	)

Income tax benefit		-			-			-			9,358

NET LOSS	$	(9,333	)	$	(13,800	)	$	(27,924	)	$	(28,212	)

Accretion of Series A redeemable convertible preferred stock		(222	)		-			(294	)		-

NET LOSS ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCKHOLDERS: BASIC AND DILUTED	$	(9,555	)	$	(13,800	)	$	(28,218	)	$	(28,212	)

Net loss per share: basic and diluted	$	(0.08	)	$	(0.15	)	$	(0.26	)	$	(0.32	)

Weighted average shares outstanding: basic and diluted		118,610			91,453			108,158			87,812

ONCOCYTE CORPORATION
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)

	Nine Months Ended
	September 30,
		2022			2021

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net loss	$	(27,924	)	$	(28,212	)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation expense		1,062			582
Amortization of intangible assets		2,880			2,371
Pro rata loss from equity method investment in Razor		-			270
Stock-based compensation		7,423			5,136
Unrealized (gain) loss on marketable equity securities		485			(248	)
Amortization of debt issuance costs		12			46
Change in fair value of contingent consideration		(17,157	)		2,260
Change in fair value of Series A redeemable convertible preferred stock second tranche obligation		(352	)		-
Deferred income tax benefit		-			(9,358	)
Gain on extinguishment of debt (PPP loan)		-			(1,141	)

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable		(553	)		(824	)
Lease liabilities		(156	)		169
Prepaid expenses and other assets		(745	)		(787	)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		422			(1,592	)
Accrued severance and liabilities from Chronix Biomedical acquisition		(1,317	)		2,452
Net cash used in operating activities		(35,920	)		(28,876	)

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisition of Insight Genetics, net of cash acquired		-			(607	)
Acquisition of Razor Genomics asset, net of cash acquired		-			(6,648	)
Acquisition of Chronix Biomedical, net of cash acquired		-			(4,459	)
Construction in progress and purchases of equipment		(3,538	)		(1,846	)
Net cash used in investing activities		(3,538	)		(13,560	)

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from exercise of stock options		-			2,573
Proceeds from sale of common shares		32,812			65,262
Financing costs to issue common shares		(389	)		(2,676	)
Proceeds from sale of redeemable convertible Series A preferred shares		4,875			-
Financing costs to issue redeemable convertible Series A preferred shares		(93	)		-
Proceeds from sale of common shares under at-the-market transactions		31			12,724
Financing costs for at-the-market sales		(1	)		(390	)
Proceeds from exercise of warrants		-			2,631
Common shares received and retired for employee taxes paid		-			(239	)
Repayment of loan payable		(1,325	)		(1,125	)
Repayment of financing lease obligations		(4	)		(127	)
Net cash provided by financing activities		35,906			78,633

NET (DECREASE) INCREASE IN CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH		(3,552	)		36,197

CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH, BEGINNING		37,305			8,843
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH, ENDING	$	33,753		$	45,040

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION
Cash paid for interest	$	24		$	96

SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE OF NONCASH FINANCING AND INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Common stock issued for acquisition of Razor Genomics asset	$	-		$	5,756
Deferred tax liability generated from the acquisition of Razor Genomics asset		-			7,564
Common stock issued for acquisition of Chronix Biomedical		-			3,299
Deferred tax liability generated from the acquisition of Chronix		-			1,794
Initial fair value of contingent consideration at acquisition date		-			42,295
Assumed liability from Chronix Acquisition		-			3,489
Construction in progress, machinery and equipment purchases included in accounts payable, accrued liabilities and landlord liability		1,032			193

Oncocyte Corporation

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measure
Adjusted Loss from Operations
(Amounts in Thousands)

	For the Three Months Ended
		September 30,		December 31,			September 30,
		2022			2021			2021
		(unaudited)		(unaudited)			(unaudited)
GAAP loss from operations - as reported	$	(9,221	)	$	(35,680	)	$	(13,604	)
Stock-based compensation expense		3,181			1,706			1,849
Change in fair value of contingent consideration		(6,142	)		25,006			1,170
Severance charge		1,046			255			-
Depreciation and amortization expense		1,367			1,251			1,246
Non-GAAP loss from operations, as adjusted	$	(9,769	)	$	(7,462	)	$	(9,339	)

Oncocyte Reports Third Quarter 2022 Financial Results