BOTHELL, Wash., Aug. 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- BioLife Solutions, Inc. (OTCBB: BLFS), a leading developer, manufacturer and marketer of proprietary clinical grade hypothermic storage and cryopreservation freeze media for cells and tissues, and contract aseptic media manufacturer, today announced record results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2012.

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Summary of Q2 2012 Achievements

• The Company recorded its eighth sequential record revenue quarter, with revenue surpassing $1 million for the first time.
• The Company commenced deliveries to its new contract manufacturing customer.
• The Company completed the expansion of its corporate office and operations workspace and also the build-out of its second current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) clean room suite.
• To manage growing demand and projections, the Company added team members to its production team and both direct and indirect sales professionals in the period.

Mike Rice, Chief Executive Officer, commented: "Sales momentum continued to accelerate as we made significant investments in our infrastructure during the quarter that will position us for future growth, profitability and positive cash flows. Revenue in all of our channels was up over the same quarter last year, especially in the drug discovery and regenerative medicine segments. We also drove significant growth in our distribution channel with growing adoption of our flagship biopreservation media products. Overall, we are pleased that we are now well-positioned to capitalize on what could be substantial growth as some of our customers' regenerative medicine therapies are approved in the future."

Second Quarter Financial Results

Total revenue for the second quarter of 2012 was $1.1 million, compared to $623,000 in the same period of 2011. The increase of 76% from 2011 to 2012 was due primarily to higher sales to customers in the drug discovery and regenerative medicine market segments, which were both up significantly over 2011, and the commencement of deliveries to the new contract manufacturing customer during the second quarter. Sales to direct customers in the second quarter of 2012 increased 22% compared to the second quarter of 2011 and sales to distributors increased 79% compared to the second quarter of 2011.

Gross margin in the second quarter of 2012 was 41.5% compared to 53.6% in the second quarter of 2011. Gross margin was impacted this quarter by a combination of an increase in personnel costs included in cost of goods sold related to the ramp up of the production operation to facilitate the expected significant demand ramp from the contract manufacturing customer and by lower overall margin on contract manufacturing revenue. In addition, the Company incurred some one-time costs in the 2012 second quarter related to the facility expansion that was completed in early July. Total operating expenses in the second quarter of 2012 were $762,000, compared to $594,000 in the second quarter of 2011. The primary driver for the increase in expenses was due to higher personnel costs in 2012 as the Company continues to strategically add to its sales and marketing team. This was offset somewhat by a reduction in consulting expenses due to the termination of a consulting agreement in the third quarter of 2011.

Other income/expense is primarily related to interest expense on the Company's notes payable.

For the second quarter of 2012, the Company reported a net loss of $499,000, or $(0.01) per share, compared with a net loss of $437,000, or $(0.01) per share, for the second quarter of 2011. Loss from operations in the second quarter of 2012 was $307,000, compared to the $260,000 loss from operations in the second quarter of 2011.

The Company ended the second quarter with $155,000 in cash. During the six months ended June 30, 2012, the Company reported cash provided by operations of $686,000. Included in this amount was an increase of $785,000 in deferred rent, which represents the amount the Company's landlord paid for certain tenant improvements related to the facility expansion. Excluding the increase in deferred rent, the Company used $99,000 in cash during the six months ended June 30, 2012, compared with $544,000 during the same period in 2011. The Company also recorded cash used in investing activities of $1.0 million, resulting primarily from purchases of property and equipment related. This is compared to purchases of equipment of $43,000 during the same period in 2011. Finally, during the six months ended June 30, 2012, the Company increased the total amount borrowed from investors by $475,000 compared to an increase of $620,000 during the same period in 2012. Of this amount, $300,000 was received in the second quarter of 2012.

Outlook for 2012

Management reiterates its prior revenue guidance of $4.1 million, with significant sales to its contract-manufacturing customers. The Company also expects steady increases in revenue from existing and new direct customers, specifically in the regenerative medicine market segment, and continued growth through the Company's distribution network.

The Company expects a rebound in gross margin from the second quarter, but expects gross margin to continue to be somewhat lower than 2011 as shipments to the contract manufacturing customer stabilize during the rest of 2012, with lower overall gross margin resulting from contract manufacturing revenue. Management also expects increased operating expenses associated with selling and product development activity for the remainder of 2012. 

Finally, management continues to believe the Company will achieve positive cash flow from operations by the end of 2012.

About BioLife Solutions

BioLife Solutions develops, manufactures and markets patented hypothermic storage and cryopreservation solutions for cells and tissues.  The Company's proprietary HypoThermosol^® and CryoStor^® platform of solutions are marketed to academic and commercial organizations involved in cell therapy, tissue engineering, cord blood banking, drug discovery, and toxicology testing. BioLife's products are serum-free and protein-free, fully defined, and are formulated to reduce preservation-induced, delayed-onset cell damage and death.  BioLife's enabling technology provides academic and clinical researchers significant improvements in post-thaw cell, tissue, and organ viability and function.  For more information please visit www.biolifesolutions.com, and follow BioLife on Twitter.

This news release contains forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  These forward-looking statements include any statements that relate to the intent, belief, plans or expectations of the Company or its management, or that are not a statement of historical fact.  Any forward-looking statements in this news release are based on current expectations and beliefs and are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. Some of the specific factors that could cause BioLife Solutions' actual results to differ materially are discussed in the Company's recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  BioLife Solutions disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the date of this press release.

SOURCE BioLife Solutions, Inc.