BOTHELL, Wash., Aug. 12, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- BioLife Solutions, Inc. (OTCQB: 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 revenue for the second quarter of 2013 of $2.3 million, including core HypoThermosol^® and CryoStor^® product revenue of $0.9 million. The increase in total revenue represented 8% sequential growth over the first quarter of 2013 and 112% growth over the second quarter of 2012.

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Summary of Achievements for the Second Quarter of 2013

• Total revenue of $2.3 million marked twelve consecutive quarters of record revenue with an increase of 112% over the second quarter of 2012 and 8% over the first quarter of 2013.
• Core product revenue was $0.9 million, setting a new record for the Company, driven by demand from the regenerative medicine market segment.
• We announced a strategic relationship with HemaCare Corporation, wherein HemaCare will market BioLife's HypoThermosol and CryoStor biopreservation media products and HemaCare's blood derived cells to the research and clinical communities.
• We were named by Seattle Business Magazine as one of the best places to work in Washington State. For more information please visit BioLife Solutions - 100 Best Companies.

Mike Rice, BioLife Solutions President and CEO, remarked on the Company's second quarter revenue by stating, "We are pleased with the growth in total revenue and our core product revenue during the second quarter of 2013. Several orders were from new customers as we continue to see evidence of adoption of our proprietary HypoThermosol and CryoStor biopreservation media products."

Mr. Rice continued, "We saw growth in a number of our strategic markets during the second quarter, including regenerative medicine, where our HypoThermosol^® cell/tissue storage medium and CryoStor^® cryopreservation freeze media products are being used in more than fifty clinical trial-stage cell and tissue-based therapies. We also gained several new customers in the hair restoration field, where HypoThermosol is increasingly being used for ex vivo storage of hair grafts during the transplantation procedure. The 1,000+ member International Society of Hair Transplantation Surgeons (ISHRS) estimates that nearly 300,000 procedures were performed in 2010, representing a niche, but attractive, $25 million addressable market. Finally, we fulfilled all orders for a strategic contract manufacturing services customer, marking our highest quarter to date for contract manufacturing services revenue."

Second Quarter 2013 and Year to Date Financial Results

Total revenue for the second quarter and first half of 2013 was $2.3 million and $4.5 million, respectively, compared to $1.1 million and $1.9 million in the same periods of 2012. The increase was due primarily to increased contract manufacturing revenue and higher direct product sales to the regenerative medicine and biobanking markets. In addition, the increase in the total revenue for the first half of 2013 included license revenue of $0.6 million.

Gross margin as a percentage of revenue decreased to 35.6% and 43.5%, respectively, in the second quarter and first half of 2013 compared to 41.5% and 48.9% for the same periods in 2012. The decrease was due primarily to the increase in contract manufacturing product sales, which has a higher cost of sales, compared to core product sales, offset by recognition of the license revenue during the first quarter with no associated costs.

Operating expenses in the second quarter and first half of 2013 were $0.9 million and $1.8 million, respectively, compared with $0.8 million and $1.4 million for the same periods of 2012. This increase was primarily attributable to higher corporate costs, higher depreciation and rent costs related to the new facility, and higher office-related expenses.

During the second quarter of 2013 and the first half of 2013, the Company reported an operating loss of $0.08 million and operating income of $0.1 million, compared to operating losses of $0.3 million and $0.5 million in the second quarter and first half of 2012. Net loss was $0.3 million, or $0.00 per share, for each of the second quarter and first half of 2013, compared to a loss of $0.5 million, or $0.01 per share, for the second quarter of 2012 and $0.8 million, or $0.01 per share, in the first half of 2012, respectively.

Outlook for 2013

We continue to expect total 2013 revenue to be in the range of $6.5 million to $7.0 million, with gross margin as a percentage of revenue of approximately 38% - $41%, and increased operating expenses in 2013 of 10% - 20% over 2012. We continue to expect improvement in operating and net income (loss) over 2012. We believe cash generated from customer collections will provide sufficient funds to operate our business.

BioLife Solutions develops, manufactures and markets hypothermic storage and cryopreservation solutions for cells, tissues, and organs.  The Company's proprietary HypoThermosol^® and CryoStor^® platform of solutions are highly valued in the biobanking, drug discovery, and regenerative medicine markets. BioLife's products are serum-free and protein-free, fully defined, and are formulated to reduce preservation-induced cell damage and death.  BioLife's enabling technology provides academic and clinical researchers significant improvement in shelf life and post-preservation viability and function of cells, tissues, and organs.  For more information please visit www.biolifesolutions.com, and follow BioLife on Twitter.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, statements concerning our financial and business outlook for 2013, and other anticipated developments related to us, our business or customers. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements. These statements are based on management's current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements, including the factors described in our risk factors set forth in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. We undertake no obligation to update the forward-looking statements contained herein or to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date hereof, other than as may be required by applicable law.

SOURCE BioLife Solutions, Inc.