Ceapro Inc. Reports 2023 Second Quarter and Six-Month Financial Results and Provides Corporate Update

– $5.5 million first six-month 2023 sales vs. $11.7 million for the same period in 2022; sales lagging by one quarter due to stocking campaign by one major customer in 2022 and further Marketplace reorganization

Ended the quarter with $11.3 million in cash allowing funding for planned pipeline and technology developments

– Ongoing strategic corporate discussions progressing and continued planning for uplisting to Nasdaq

EDMONTON, Alberta, Aug. 29, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ceapro Inc. (TSX-V: CZO; OTCQX: CRPOF) (“Ceapro” or the “Company”), a growth-stage biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of active ingredients for healthcare and cosmetic industries, today announced financial results and operational highlights for the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2023.

“While sales from the base business are trailing by one quarter for the first half of 2023 as compared to the previous all-time record period last year, we are very encouraged by the significant advancements in new products and technologies development. Further, over the past quarter we remained very active with our activities related to strategic corporate initiatives. Our business remains solid, and we believe we are positioned now for the return of a more consistent re-ordering pattern from one of our major customers. We are also very pleased with the recent signing of an extended supply and distribution agreement reinforcing our relationship with longtime partner Symrise while securing our base business for the upcoming years,” stated Gilles Gagnon, M.Sc., MBA, President and CEO.

Corporate and Operational Highlights

Pipeline Development

The Company’s focus is on avenanthramides, beta glucan from oat and yeast and new chemical complexes/delivery systems.

Clinical Development:

Avenanthramides (AVS)

           Formulation:

  • Stability studies are ongoing for the 30mg and 240mg pills formulation manufactured, packaged and labeled by Corealis Inc. GMP Manufacturing Services.

Phase 1-2a Clinical Trial:

  • Recruitment and enrollment of healthy subjects for Phase 1 is planned for mid-November 2023 upon the complete development of a bioassay for the “live” analytical measurement of avenanthramides in blood and urine during the hospital stay of healthy subjects. Testing AVS in urine has never been done before and this newly developed test requires standardized stability data.

Pre-Clinical Development:

Avenanthramides & Oat Beta Glucan

Wound Healing-Tissue Regeneration:

  • Announced positive results from animal studies conducted by the Angiogenesis Foundation. Studies showed statistically significant results characterizing the bioactivity of both Ceapro’s oat-derived bioactive products on wound healing and tissue regeneration. Tissue treated with Avenanthramides (“AV”) and oat beta glucan (“BG”) bioactives at concentration as low as 1% healed to become more like normal skin as compared to untreated scar tissue. These unprecedented results will not only support additional claims for commercially available formulations using Ceapro’s oat-based products but should also trigger interest from medical supply companies.
  • Subsequent to the quarter, announced next steps with new studies with the Angiogenesis Foundation to focus on speed of healing and molecular profiling of tissue regeneration induced by oat-derived bioactive products.

Yeast Beta Glucan (YBG) – Potential Inhalo-Therapeutic

  • Announced encouraging results from research collaboration study with McMaster University evaluating PGX-processed YBG (PGX-YBG) for interstitial lung diseases. Data presented in May 2023 at two major international conferences (American Thoracic Society in Washington and at the Pharmaceutical Science annual symposium in Toronto) demonstrated that PGX-YBG is respirable and able to safely and reliably reprogram macrophages in the lungs in pre-clinical mouse models.
  • Following discussions with experts, while it is desirable to immediately initiate the design of the protocol for a Phase 1 trial, a required next step is to conduct toxicological studies with a contract research organization before presenting a file to Health Authorities for a Phase 1 clinical study to assess PGX-YBG microparticles as a potential much-needed therapeutic option for a broad spectrum of fibrotic lung diseases.

Immune/energy booster:

  • Completed specifications for YBG as a natural health product.
  • Achieved batch to batch consistency at demo level.
  • Ongoing studies for testing and standardization of loading capacity of CoQ10 by YBG which is a requirement for dose selection when assessing safety and efficacy.

Yeast beta glucan is the product that will be used for the PGX scale-up project at pilot scale levels of 50L and 100L vessels.

Technology

Malted Technology (Avenanthramides)

  • Successfully achieved the malting procedure for a first batch at small commercial scale level. Obtention of batch-to-batch consistency should allow for the offer of enriched formulations with high concentration of avenanthramides to serve some nutraceutical markets.

Pressurized Gas eXpanded Technology (PGX)

  • Fully reassessed the pilot scale-up project. Instead of doing it sequentially from demo scale 10L to pilot 50L and 100L, the pilot scale-up project is now designed to be conducted in parallel in two different locations. The 50 Liters will be installed and tested in Edmonton while the 100 Liters will be developed and tested within the facility of a European based global leader in design, construction and commissioning of high-pressure supercritical processing plants. This approach should save time and money. The 50L should be installed by year-end and commissioned during the first quarter of 2024 while the 100L should be ready during Q3, 2024. Yeast beta glucan will be used for the pilot testing at all levels. Successful results from these experiments would pave the way for commercialization of YBG as an immune booster and as a basis for the construction of a large commercial scale unit in Canada.

Corporate

  • Appointed Mr. Michel Regnier as Senior Vice President, Technical Operations. Mr. Regnier is an experienced and respected Operations Executive and Professional Engineer with 20+ years of progressive technical and leadership experience in the medical device, pharmaceutical and aerospace materials manufacturing industries.
  • Continued to assess possible corporate strategies to support the accelerated growth of the Company along with stated objective of uplisting to Nasdaq.

Subsequent to the Quarter

  • Signed an extended supply and distribution agreement reinforcing vote of confidence and relationship with long time partner, Symrise.

Financial Highlights for the Second Quarter and the Six-Month Period Ended June 30, 2022

  • Sales of $1,869,000 for the second quarter of 2023 and $5,364,000 for the first six months of 2023 compared to $5,500,000 and $11,672,000 for the comparative periods in 2022. The decrease in sales revenue for the first 6 months was primarily driven by an overall decrease in sales volume of 61% mainly due to a one-time stocking campaign by one major customer in 2022.
  • Net loss after tax of $1,154,000 for the second quarter of 2023 and $1,539,000 for the first six months of 2023 compared to an after-tax net profit of $1,805,000 and $3,618,000 for the comparative periods in 2022.
  • Cash used in operations of $2,213,000 for the first six months of 2023 vs cash generated from operations of $3,958,000 in 2022.
  • Positive working capital balance of $17,425,000 as of June 30, 2023.
  • Cash on hand of $11,306,000 as of June 30, 2023. ($11,368,000 in 2022)

“Despite a slower start to the year, our business remains solid, and we expect the reordering pattern from one major customer to resume shortly. Given our healthy balance sheet and the re-affirmed vote of confidence from our longtime partner Symrise, we will continue to leverage on our base business to enable the development of new products and technologies like the planned Phase 1-2a clinical trial with avenanthramides, the scale-up of the PGX Technology for the development of YBG as an immune modulator and the commercial scale-up of a malting technology to enable the production and selling of enriched oat flour with high concentration of avenanthramides to serve important nutraceutical market segments. The Company expects to complete these projects using cash on hand in 2023 while continuing to assess different, strategic market initiatives to unlock value,” concluded Mr. Gagnon.

CEAPRO INC.    
Condensed Interim Consolidated Balance Sheets    
Unaudited    
     
  June 30, December 31,
  2023 2022
  $ $
     
ASSETS    
Current Assets    
Cash and cash equivalents 11,306,260 13,810,998
Trade receivables 1,563,404 2,820,300
Other receivables 77,132 64,808
Inventories (note 4) 5,144,636 3,757,040
Prepaid expenses and deposits 143,961 135,133
     
Total Current Assets 18,235,393 20,588,279
     
Non-Current Assets    
   Investment tax credits receivable 854,895 854,895
Deposits 76,954 76,954
Licences (note 5) 11,106 12,588
Property and equipment (note 6) 15,304,089 16,201,755
     
Total Non-Current Assets 16,247,044 17,146,192
     
TOTAL ASSETS 34,482,437 37,734,471
     
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY    
Current Liabilities    
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 424,283 1,730,377
Current portion of lease liabilities (note 7) 386,316 370,460
     
Total Current Liabilities 810,599 2,100,837
     
Non-Current Liabilities    
Long-term lease liabilities (note 7) 2,052,972 2,248,577
Deferred tax liabilities 674,772 1,095,968
     
Total Non-Current Liabilities 2,727,744 3,344,545
     
TOTAL LIABILITIES 3,538,343 5,445,382
     
Equity    
Share capital (note 8 (b)) 16,697,712 16,694,625
Contributed surplus (note 8 (e)) 4,905,808 4,714,404
Retained earnings 9,340,574 10,880,060
     
Total Equity 30,944,094 32,289,089
     
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY 34,482,437 37,734,471
     

CEAPRO INC.        
Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Net (Loss) Income and Comprehensive (Loss) Income
Unaudited        
     
  Three Months Ended June 30,   Six Months Ended June 30,  
  2023   2022   2023   2022  
    Restated     Restated  
    (note 3)     (note 3)  
  $ $   $   $  
         
Revenue (note 14) 1,868,758   5,500,399   5,363,569   11,672,023  
Cost of goods sold 798,488   1,674,091   2,687,461   4,131,193  
         
Gross margin 1,070,270   3,826,308   2,676,108   7,540,830  
         
Research and product development 926,775   543,924   1,500,462   899,205  
General and administration 1,625,066   1,069,275   3,146,511   1,838,320  
Sales and marketing 13,458   9,248   21,637   14,547  
Finance costs (note 10) 32,644   32,175   121,444   120,210  
         
(Loss) income from operations (1,527,673 ) 2,171,686   (2,113,946 ) 4,668,548  
         
Other income (note 11) (57,389 ) (191,841 ) (153,264 ) (68,803 )
         
(Loss) income before tax (1,470,284 ) 2,363,527   (1,960,682 ) 4,737,351  
         
Deferred tax (benefit) expense (315,848 ) 558,461   (421,196 ) 1,119,356  
         
Total net (loss) income and comprehensive (loss) income for the period (1,154,436 ) 1,805,066   (1,539,486 ) 3,617,995  
         
Net (loss) income per common share (note 17):        
Basic (0.01 ) 0.02   (0.02 ) 0.05  
Diluted (0.01 ) 0.02   (0.02 ) 0.05  
         
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding (note 17):        
Basic 78,253,177   77,734,865   78,252,514   77,710,854  
Diluted 78,253,177   78,474,139   78,252,514   78,405,883  
         

CEAPRO INC.    
Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows    
Unaudited    
     
  2023   2022  
    Restated  
    (note 3)  
Six Months Ended June 30, $   $  
OPERATING ACTIVITIES    
Net (loss) income for the period (1,539,486 ) 3,617,995  
Adjustments for items not involving cash    
Finance costs 66,444   65,210  
Depreciation and amortization 971,183   939,191  
Deferred income tax (benefit) expense (421,196 ) 1,119,356  
Share-based payments 192,491   39,924  
  (730,564 ) 5,781,676  
CHANGES IN NON-CASH WORKING CAPITAL ITEMS    
Trade receivables 1,256,896   (1,267,909 )
Other receivables (12,324 ) (44,873 )
Inventories (1,387,596 ) (418,152 )
Prepaid expenses and deposits 35,116   (7,059 )
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities relating to operating activities (1,307,917 ) (20,582 )
  (1,415,825 ) (1,758,575 )
Net (loss) income for the period adjusted for non-cash and working capital items (2,146,389 ) 4,023,101  
Interest paid (66,444 ) (65,210 )
CASH (USED IN) GENERATED FROM OPERATIONS (2,212,833 ) 3,957,891  
INVESTING ACTIVITIES    
Purchase of property and equipment (72,035 ) (239,995 )
Deposits relating to the purchase of equipment (43,944 )  
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities relating to investing activities 1,823   (47,754 )
CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES (114,156 ) (287,749 )
FINANCING ACTIVITIES    
Stock options exercised 2,000   60,160  
Repayment of lease liabilities (179,749 ) (143,294 )
CASH USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES (177,749 ) (83,134 )
(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents (2,504,738 ) 3,587,008  
     
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period 13,810,998   7,780,989  
     
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period 11,306,260   11,367,997  
     

The complete financial statements are available for review on SEDAR at https://sedar.com/Ceapro and on the Company’s website at www.ceapro.com.

About Ceapro Inc.

Ceapro Inc. is a Canadian biotechnology company involved in the development of proprietary extraction technology and the application of this technology to the production of extracts and “active ingredients” from oats and other renewable plant resources. Ceapro adds further value to its extracts by supporting their use in cosmeceutical, nutraceutical, and therapeutics products for humans and animals. The Company has a broad range of expertise in natural product chemistry, microbiology, biochemistry, immunology and process engineering. These skills merge in the fields of active ingredients, biopharmaceuticals and drug-delivery solutions. For more information on Ceapro, please visit the Company’s website at www.ceapro.com.

For more information contact:

Jenene Thomas
JTC Team, LLC
Investor Relations and Corporate Communications Advisor
T (US): +1 (833) 475-8247
E: czo@jtcir.com

Issuer:
Gilles R. Gagnon, M.Sc., MBA
President & CEO
T: 780-421-4555

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

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