Fluidigm Announces Second Quarter 2020 Financial Results


Second Quarter Revenue Decreased 8 Percent to $26.1 Million

Filed for FDA Emergency Use Authorization for COVID-19 Saliva-based Test

Multi-Site U.S. Study of COVID-19 Patients Utilizes Mass Cytometry Technology and Maxpar Direct Immune Profiling Assay

Fluidigm Selected for $37 Million Project under National Institutes of Health RADx Initiative

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Aug. 06, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fluidigm Corporation (Nasdaq:FLDM) today announced financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2020.

Financial Highlights

Second Quarter 2020

  • Second quarter revenue decreased 8 percent to $26.1 million from $28.2 million in the second quarter of 2019. Product and service revenue decreased 20 percent to $22.5 million. Total revenue included $3.5 million of other revenue.  
  • GAAP net loss for the quarter was $13.0 million, compared with a GAAP net loss of $13.8 million for the second quarter of 2019.
  • Non-GAAP net loss was $5.2 million for the quarter, compared with a $7.1 million non-GAAP net loss for the second quarter of 2019.

“As COVID-19 infection rates soar and test demand outpaces capacity, Fluidigm has swiftly pivoted to meet the testing and immune profiling research needs brought on by this pandemic. More significantly, we filed for Emergency Use Authorization for our extraction-free saliva test, shipped microfluidics consumables that our customers used to produce over 100,000 COVID-19 assays, and were selected for a project to expand COVID-19 testing under the National Institutes of Health Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics initiative. At the same time, researchers are harnessing mass cytometry technology and the Maxpar Direct Immune Profiling Assay in large national government-supported COVID-19 patient studies to better understand immune response to this disease,” said Chris Linthwaite, Fluidigm President and CEO.

“This quarter, we also drove actions to preserve liquidity, adding non-dilutive funding and closely managing our operating expenses,” added Linthwaite. “Moving forward, we are well-positioned to expand our efforts further in infectious disease along with our focus on biomarker discovery, disease research, and treatment paradigms linked to understanding immune function and response in a wide range of diseases.”

A reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures can be found in the tables of this news release.

Second Quarter 2020 Results

Revenue by category:

CategoryRevenue by CategoryYear-over-Year Change% of Total Revenue
Instruments$8.6 million(30%)33%
Consumables$8.8 million(20%)34%
Service$5.1 million4%20%
Other$3.5 millionN/A13%

Product and service revenue by market:

  • Mass cytometry product and services revenue decreased 28 percent to $12.5 million from $17.5 million in the prior year period due to lower sales of instruments and consumables.
     
  • Microfluidics product and services revenue decreased 8 percent to $10.0 million from $10.7 million in the prior year period primarily due to lower sales of consumables partially offset by higher sales of instruments.

Revenue by geographic area:

Geographic AreaRevenue by GeographyYear-over-Year Change% of Total Revenue
Americas*$13.9 million25%54%
EMEA$6.6 million(42)%25%
Asia-Pacific$5.6 million(5%)21%


*Americas geographic area includes Other Revenue of $3.5 million

Product and service margin:
Product and service margin was 52.5 percent in the second quarter of 2020 compared to 54.5 percent in the year ago period and 53.8 percent in the first quarter of 2020. Non-GAAP product and service margin was 67.1 percent in the second quarter of 2020 compared to 66.4 percent in the year ago period and 67.3 percent in the first quarter of 2020. The year-over-year increase in non-GAAP product and service margin was primarily due to lower service costs and improved manufacturing efficiencies across our consumables products partially offset by unfavorable product mix and higher mass cytometry instrument costs due to lower factory utilization.

GAAP product and service margin, both sequentially and year-over-year, was impacted by fixed amortization over lower revenue more than offsetting lower service costs and improved manufacturing efficiencies.

Cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, and restricted cash as of June 30, 2020:
Cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, and restricted cash as of June 30, 2020, were $46.5 million. Cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, and restricted cash as of March 31, 2020, were $49.6 million.

Operational and Business Progress

SARS-CoV-2 virus detection utilizing microfluidics

  • Fluidigm filed FDA Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the saliva-based Advanta™ Dx SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR Assay for COVID-19.
  • Shipped microfluidics consumables that our customers used to produce over 100,000 COVID-19 assays.
  • Fluidigm was selected for a project of up to $37 million under the National Institutes of Health Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (NIH RADx) initiative. The project will expand Fluidigm production capacity and throughput capabilities for microfluidics technology in COVID-19 testing. Initial funding of up to $12 million is available based on achievement of milestones under the executed letter contract, with the remainder pending completion of definitive contract.

COVID-19 immune profiling studies utilizing mass cytometry technology and Maxpar Direct Immune Profiling Assay

  • Through July, CyTOF® technology was included in 13 COVID-19 publications and five clinical trials.
  • CyTOF technology was used in an NIH sponsored clinical study of up to 2,000 adult COVID-19 patients with 10 leading U.S. medical institutions.
  • University of Paris researchers published findings of a unique phenotype specific to severe and critical COVID-19 patients. In-depth phenotypic analysis of immune cells was completed using the Fluidigm® Maxpar® Direct™ Immune Profiling Assay™ enabling the team at University of Paris to go from experiment conception to pre-print publication in 25 days.

Product launches, collaborations and publications:

  • The company launched six Maxpar Direct expansion panels tailored for infectious disease and immune-oncology research. These panels can be combined with the Maxpar Direct Immune Profiling Assay.   
  • Launched an additional software product through a distribution agreement with De Novo Software™. The software offers mass cytometry customers a streamlined solution for high-parameter data analysis with outputs into Microsoft® Office applications, while maintaining high-resolution graphics and reports.
  • Announced a collaboration with Bethyl Laboratories to expand verified antibody offerings for the Hyperion™ Imaging System, based on Imaging Mass Cytometry™.
  • Total publications and reviews involving CyTOF technology exceeded 1,100, with more than 50 publications in Imaging Mass Cytometry. Clinical trials using CyTOF technology exceeded 100.

Conference Call Information

Fluidigm will host a conference call today, August 6, 2020, at 2:00 p.m. PT, 5:00 p.m. ET, to discuss second quarter 2020 financial results and operational progress. Individuals interested in listening to the conference call may do so by dialing the following:

US domestic callers: (877) 556-5248
Outside US callers: (720) 545-0029
Please reference Conference ID: 2068836

A live webcast of the conference call will be available online from the Investor Relations page of the company’s website at Events & Presentations. The link will not be active until 1:45 p.m. PT, 4:45 p.m. ET, on August 6, 2020.

After the live webcast, the call will be archived on Fluidigm’s Investor Relations page at investors.fluidigm.com. In addition, a telephone replay of the teleconference will be available approximately 90 minutes after the end of the call.

The replay dial-in numbers are:

US domestic callers: (855) 859-2056
Outside US: (404) 537-3406
Please reference Conference ID: 2068836

The telephone replay will be available until August 13.

Statement Regarding Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information

Fluidigm has presented certain financial information in accordance with U.S. GAAP and on a non-GAAP basis for the three-month periods ended June 30, 2020, and June 30, 2019. Management believes that non-GAAP financial measures, taken in conjunction with GAAP financial measures, provide useful information for both management and investors by excluding certain non-cash and other expenses that are not indicative of the company’s core operating results. Management uses non-GAAP measures to compare the company’s performance relative to forecasts and strategic plans and to benchmark the company’s performance externally against competitors. Non-GAAP information is not prepared under a comprehensive set of accounting rules and should only be used to supplement an understanding of the company’s operating results as reported under U.S. GAAP. Fluidigm encourages investors to carefully consider its results under GAAP, as well as its supplemental non-GAAP information and the reconciliation between these presentations, to more fully understand its business. Reconciliations between GAAP and non-GAAP operating results are presented in the accompanying tables of this release.

Use of Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, among others, statements regarding opportunities for Fluidigm technology and products, including expected uses and demand for COVID-19 testing and research, potential for growth in revenues in the infectious disease markets, anticipated benefits of contractual relationships, including customers using Fluidigm technology for SARS-CoV-2 virus detection and epigenetic tests, and expectations for newly launched and recently acquired products and services. Forward‑looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from currently anticipated results, including but not limited to the potential adverse effects of the coronavirus pandemic on our business and operating results during 2020; the suitability and acceptance of our tools and technology by the research community pursuing solutions for the novel coronavirus pandemic; our ability and/or the ability of the institutions utilizing our products and technology to obtain FDA and any other requisite approvals to use our products and technology for diagnostic testing purposes; customers and prospective customers continuing to curtail or suspend activities utilizing our products; interruptions or delays in the supply of components or materials for, or manufacturing of, our products resulting from the pandemic or other factors; challenges inherent in developing, manufacturing, launching, marketing, and selling new products; risks relating to reliance on sales of capital equipment for a significant proportion of revenues in each quarter; potential product performance and quality issues; the possible loss of key employees, customers, or suppliers; intellectual property risks; competition; uncertainties in contractual relationships; risks relating to company research and development, sales, marketing, and distribution plans and capabilities; reductions in research and development spending or changes in budget priorities by customers; seasonal variations in customer operations; unanticipated increases in costs or expenses; and risks associated with international operations. Information on these and additional risks and uncertainties and other information affecting Fluidigm's business and operating results is contained in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, and in its other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. Fluidigm disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements except as may be required by law.

About Fluidigm

Fluidigm (Nasdaq:FLDM) is an industry-leading biotechnology tools provider with a vision to improve life through comprehensive health insight. We focus on the most pressing needs in translational and clinical research, including cancer, immunology, and immunotherapy. Using proprietary CyTOF and microfluidics technologies, we develop, manufacture, and market multi-omic solutions to drive meaningful insights in health and disease, identify biomarkers to inform decisions, and accelerate the development of more effective therapies. Our customers are leading academic, government, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and plant and animal research laboratories worldwide. Together with them, we strive to increase the quality of life for all. For more information, visit fluidigm.com.

Fluidigm, the Fluidigm logo, Advanta, CyTOF, Direct, Hyperion, Imaging Mass Cytometry, Immune Profiling Assay, and Maxpar are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Fluidigm Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Fluidigm products are provided for Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.

Available Information
We use our website (fluidigm.com), investor site (investors.fluidigm.com), corporate Twitter account (@fluidigm), Facebook page (facebook.com/Fluidigm), and LinkedIn page (linkedin.com/company/fluidigm-corporation) as channels of distribution of information about our products, our planned financial and other announcements, our attendance at upcoming investor and industry conferences, and other matters. Such information may be deemed material information, and we may use these channels to comply with our disclosure obligations under Regulation FD. Therefore, investors should monitor our website and our social media accounts in addition to following our press releases, SEC filings, public conference calls, and webcasts.

Contact:

Investors:
Agnes Lee
Vice President, Investor Relations
Fluidigm Corporation
650 416 7423
agnes.lee@fluidigm.com

Media:
Mark Spearman
Senior Director, Corporate Communications
650 243 6621
mark.spearman@fluidigm.com


FLUIDIGM CORPORATION      
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)      
(Unaudited)      
          
   Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30,
   2020 2019 2020 2019
Revenue:         
  Product revenue   $17,405  $23,235  $36,386  $48,062 
  Service revenue  5,140  4,961  10,326  10,245 
Product and service revenue  22,545  28,196  46,712  58,307 
  Other revenue  3,513    6,963   
Total revenue  26,058  28,196  53,675  58,307 
Costs and expenses:         
  Cost of product revenue  9,483  11,100  19,123  22,489 
  Cost of service revenue  1,237  1,733  2,762  3,465 
Cost of product and service revenue  10,720  12,833   21,885   25,954 
  Research and development  8,448  7,865  17,147  16,237 
  Selling, general and administrative  20,616  22,134  43,311  44,958 
Total costs and expenses  39,784  42,832  82,343  87,149 
Loss from operations  (13,726) (14,636) (28,668) (28,842)
Interest expense  (897) (491) (1,797) (3,192)
Loss on extinguishment of debt        (9,000)
Other income (expense), net  463  231  (355) 715 
Loss before income taxes  (14,160) (14,896) (30,820) (40,319)
Income tax benefit  1,145  1,143  1,825  1,101 
Net loss  $(13,015) $(13,753) $(28,995) $(39,218)
Net loss per share, basic and diluted  $(0.18) $(0.20) $(0.41) $(0.61)
Shares used in computing net loss per share, basic and diluted  70,916  69,158  70,691  63,923 
              



FLUIDIGM CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
     
   
  June 30, 2020 December 31, 2019 (1)
ASSETS    
Current assets:    
Cash and cash equivalents (Note 2) $42,965  $21,661 
Short-term investments (Note 2) 2,431  36,978 
Accounts receivable, net 9,983  18,981 
Inventories 18,900  13,884 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets (Note 2) 4,171  4,592 
Total current assets 78,450  96,096 
Property and equipment, net 7,865  8,056 
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net 39,027  4,860 
Other non-current assets (Note 2) 5,034  5,492 
Developed technology, net 45,644  46,200 
Goodwill 106,328  104,108 
Total assets $282,348  $264,812 
     
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY    
Current liabilities:    
Accounts payable $9,384  $6,510 
Accrued compensation and related benefits 6,757  5,160 
Operating lease liabilities, current 2,170  1,833 
Other accrued liabilities 5,758  7,515 
Deferred revenue, current portion 14,279  11,803 
Total current liabilities 38,348  32,821 
Convertible notes, net 54,013  53,821 
Deferred tax liability, net 9,655  11,494 
Operating lease liabilities, non-current 39,139  4,323 
Deferred revenue, non-current 7,936  8,168 
Other non-current liabilities 538  573 
Total liabilities 149,629  111,200 
Total stockholders' equity 132,719  153,612 
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $282,348  $264,812 
     
Notes:    
(1) Derived from audited consolidated financial statements    
(2) Cash and cash equivalents, available for sale securities and restricted cash consist of:    
Cash and cash equivalents $42,965  $21,661 
Short-term investments 2,431  36,978 
Restricted cash (included in prepaid and other current assets, and other non-current assets) 1,075  2,075 
Total cash and cash equivalents, available for sale securities and restricted cash $46,471  $60,714 
     


FLUIDIGM CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
     
  Six Months Ended June 30,
  2020 2019
Operating activities    
Net loss $(28,995) $(39,218)
Depreciation and amortization 2,016  2,351 
Stock-based compensation expense 6,000  5,263 
Amortization of developed technology 5,936  5,600 
Amortization of debt discounts, premium and issuance costs 275  2,037 
Loss on extinguishment of debt   9,000 
Loss on disposal of property and equipment 148  29 
Other non-cash items 1,773  467 
Changes in assets and liabilities, net 5,762  (10,672)
Net cash used in operating activities (7,085) (25,143)
     
Investing activities    
Acquisition, net of cash acquired (5,154)  
Purchases of investments   (44,614)
Proceeds from sales and maturities of investments 34,411   
Purchases of property and equipment (1,671) (685)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities 27,586  (45,299)
     
Financing activities    
Payment of debt issuance costs (375) (15)
Proceeds from employee equity programs, net 383  1,202 
Net cash provided by financing activities 8  1,187 
     
Effect of foreign exchange rate fluctuations on cash and cash equivalents (205) (25)
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash 20,304  (69,280)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period 23,736  95,401 
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period $44,040  $26,121 
     
Cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and available for sale securities consist of:    
Cash and cash equivalents $42,965  $24,046 
Short-term investments 2,431  44,815 
Restricted cash (included in prepaid and other current assets, and other non-current assets) 1,075  2,075 
Total cash and cash equivalents, available for sale securities and restricted cash $46,471  $70,936 
     


FLUIDIGM CORPORATION        
RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION    
(In thousands, except per share amounts)        
(Unaudited)        
         
         
ITEMIZED RECONCILIATION BETWEEN GAAP AND NON-GAAP NET LOSS
         
  Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30,
  2020 2019 2020 2019
         
Net loss (GAAP) $(13,015) $(13,753) $(28,995) $(39,218)
Stock-based compensation expense 3,634  2,992  6,000  5,263 
Amortization of developed technology (a) 2,968  2,800  5,936  5,600 
Depreciation and amortization 924  1,160  2,016  2,351 
Interest expense (b) 897  491  1,797  3,192 
Loss on disposal of property and equipment 148  (41) 148  29 
Loss on extinguishment of debt       9,000 
Benefit from acquisition related income taxes (c) (742) (742) (1,484) (1,484)
Net loss (Non-GAAP) $(5,186) $(7,093) $(14,582) $(15,267)
Shares used in net loss per share calculation -        
basic and diluted (GAAP and Non-GAAP) 70,916  69,158  70,691  63,923 
         
Net loss per share - basic and diluted (GAAP) $(0.18) $(0.20) $(0.41) $(0.61)
Net loss per share - basic and diluted (Non-GAAP) $(0.07) $(0.10) $(0.21) $(0.24)
         
ITEMIZED RECONCILIATION BETWEEN GAAP AND NON-GAAP PRODUCT AND SERVICE MARGIN
         
  Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30,
  2020 2019 2020 2019
Product and service gross profit (GAAP) $11,825  $15,363  $24,827  $32,353 
Amortization of developed technology (a) 2,800  2,800  5,600  5,600 
Depreciation and amortization (d) 403  444  796  897 
Stock-based compensation expense (d) 108  108  179  235 
Product and service gross profit (Non-GAAP) $15,136  $18,715  $31,402  $39,085 
         
Product and service margin percentage (GAAP) 52.5% 54.5% 53.1% 55.5%
Product and service margin percentage (Non-GAAP) 67.1% 66.4% 67.2% 67.0%
         
ITEMIZED RECONCILIATION BETWEEN GAAP AND NON-GAAP OPERATING EXPENSES
         
  Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30,
  2020 2019 2020 2019
Operating expenses (GAAP) $29,064  $29,999  $60,458  $61,195 
Stock-based compensation expense (e) (3,526) (2,884) (5,821) (5,028)
Depreciation and amortization (e) (689) (716) (1,556) (1,454)
Loss on disposal of property and equipment (e) (148) 41  (148) (29)
Operating expenses (Non-GAAP) $24,701  $26,440  $52,933  $54,684 
         
         
ITEMIZED RECONCILIATION BETWEEN GAAP AND NON-GAAP LOSS FROM OPERATIONS
 
         
  Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30,
  2020 2019 2020 2019
Loss from operations (GAAP) $(13,726) $(14,636) $(28,668) $(28,842)
Stock-based compensation expense 3,634  2,992  6,000  5,263 
Amortization of developed technology (a) 2,968  2,800  5,936  5,600 
Depreciation and amortization (e) 924  1,160  2,016  2,351 
Loss on disposal of property and equipment (e) 148  (41) 148  29 
Loss from operations (Non-GAAP) $(6,052) $(7,725) $(14,568) $(15,599)
         
         
(a) represents amortization of developed technology in connection with the DVS acquisitions
(b) represents interest expense, primarily on convertible debt        
(c) represents the tax impact on the purchase of intangible assets in connection with the DVS acquisition
(d) represents expense associated with cost of product revenue      
(e) represents expense associated with research and development, selling, general and administrative activities