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Ceapro Inc. Reports Financial Results for First Quarter 2024 and Provides Corporate Update

Q1 2024 marked by significant advancement of R&D projects focused on avenanthramide Phase 1-2a clinical study and the processing of yeast beta glucan along with the building of pilot scale units for PGX Technology

Q1 2024 sales of $2,800,000 vs $3,500,000 in Q1 2023

– Announced approval by shareholders of merger of equals with Aeterna Zentaris to create a diversified biopharmaceutical company; expected to close in the second quarter of 2024, subject to the closing conditions

EDMONTON, Alberta, May 29, 2024 (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 first quarter ended March 31, 2024.

“We are excited by the advancement of several key milestones related to new product and technology development. We are making progress on multiple fronts including the team at Montreal Heart Institute completing the first arm of the Phase 1 clinical study with avenanthramides and the team at Ceapro working to complete the scale-up of the PGX Technology at the Edmonton facility using fully defined yeast beta glucan. With the return of the re-ordering pattern from one major customer and the expected shared benefits that should result from the upcoming merger of equals with Aeterna Zentaris, we believe we are poised to significantly propel the Company into its next phase of growth and unlock value as a diversified biopharmaceutical company,” stated Gilles Gagnon, M.Sc., MBA, President and CEO of Ceapro.

Corporate and Operational Highlights

Pipeline Development

Focus maintained on the development of avenanthramides and the scale-up of the PGX Technology

Avenanthramides:

Clinical

Formulation, Stability Studies and Analytics

Yeast Beta Glucan (YBG)

Specifications have been standardized and the product is being used for the PGX scale-up projects in Edmonton and Austria.

Technology:

Pressurized Gas eXpanded Technology (PGX):

Corporate:

Financial Highlights for the First Quarter Ended March 31, 2024

“As we expect renewed growth with our active ingredients revenue generating base business and subject to the closing and successful integration of the merger with Aeterna Zentaris, the Company expects to complete prioritized projects using cash on hand while continuing to assess different market initiatives to bring new business and unlock value,” concluded Mr. Gagnon.

 
CEAPRO INC.
Condensed Interim Consolidated Balance Sheets
Unaudited
           
    March 31,   December 31,  
    2024   2023  
    $   $  
ASSETS          
Current Assets          
Cash   4,746,901   8,843,742  
Trade receivables   1,677,934   167,295  
Other receivables   204,911   216,763  
Inventories (note 3)   4,778,701   5,308,987  
Prepaid expenses and deposits   485,826   310,191  
Total Current Assets   11,894,273   14,846,978  
Non-Current Assets          
Restricted cash   10,000   10,000  
Investment tax credits receivable   984,200   984,200  
Deposits   74,369   74,369  
Licences (note 4)   8,884   9,625  
Property and equipment (note 5)   15,783,093   15,421,884  
Deferred tax assets   654,850   98,778  
Total Non-Current Assets   17,515,396   16,598,856  
TOTAL ASSETS   29,409,669   31,445,834  
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY          
Current Liabilities          
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities   1,273,963   1,342,156  
Current portion of lease liabilities (note 6)   401,288   396,232  
Total Current Liabilities   1,675,251   1,738,388  
Non-Current Liabilities          
Long-term lease liabilities (note 6)   1,750,106   1,852,345  
Total Non-Current Liabilities   1,750,106   1,852,345  
TOTAL LIABILITIES   3,425,357   3,590,733  
Equity          
Share capital (note 7 (b))   16,721,867   16,721,867  
Contributed surplus   4,982,466   4,963,067  
Retained earnings   4,279,979   6,170,167  
Total Equity   25,984,312   27,855,101  
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY   29,409,669   31,445,834  
CEAPRO INC.
Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Net Loss and Comprehensive Loss
Unaudited
       
    2024   2023  
Three Months Ended March 31,   $   $  
Revenue (note 13)   2,773,788   3,494,811  
Cost of goods sold   1,555,382   1,888,973  
Gross margin   1,218,406   1,605,838  
Research and product development   1,432,824   573,687  
General and administration   2,229,528   1,521,445  
Sales and marketing   4,559   8,179  
Finance costs (note 9)   84,419   88,800  
Loss from operations   (2,532,924 ) (586,273 )
Other income (note 10)   (86,664 ) (95,875 )
Loss before income taxes   (2,446,260 ) (490,398 )
Deferred tax benefit   (556,072 ) (105,348 )
Net loss and comprehensive loss for the period   (1,890,188 ) (385,050 )
Net loss per common share (note 16):      
Basic   (0.02 ) (0.00 )
Diluted   (0.02 ) (0.00 )
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding (note 16):      
Basic   78,293,177   78,251,844  
Diluted   78,293,177   78,251,844  
CEAPRO INC.
Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Unaudited
       
    2024   2023  
Three Months Ended March 31,   $   $  
OPERATING ACTIVITIES      
Net loss for the period   (1,890,188 ) (385,050 )
Adjustments for items not involving cash      
Finance costs   29,419   33,800  
Depreciation and amortization   484,351   485,253  
Deferred income tax benefit   (556,072 ) (105,348 )
Share-based payments   19,399   134,083  
    (1,913,091 ) 162,738  
CHANGES IN NON-CASH WORKING CAPITAL ITEMS      
Trade receivables   (1,510,639 ) (90,938 )
Other receivables   11,852   10,389  
Inventories   530,286   (488,465 )
Prepaid expenses and deposits   (161,825 ) (34,397 )
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities relating to operating activities   (165,513 ) (646,806 )
    (1,295,839 ) (1,250,217 )
Net loss for the period adjusted for non-cash and working capital items   (3,208,930 ) (1,087,479 )
Interest paid   (29,419 ) (33,800 )
CASH USED IN OPERATIONS   (3,238,349 ) (1,121,279 )
INVESTING ACTIVITIES      
Purchase of property and equipment   (747,499 ) (24,643 )
Deposits relating to the purchase of equipment   (13,810 ) (17,419 )
CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES   (761,309 ) (42,062 )
FINANCING ACTIVITIES      
Stock options exercised     2,000  
Repayment of lease liabilities   (97,183 ) (86,188 )
CASH USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES   (97,183 ) (84,188 )
Decrease in cash   (4,096,841 ) (1,247,529 )
Cash at beginning of the period   8,843,742   13,810,998  
Cash at end of the period   4,746,901   12,563,469  
       

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.

Forward-looking information

The information in this news release has been prepared as at May 29, 2024. Certain statements made herein, including statements relating to matters that are not historical facts and statements of the Company’s beliefs, intentions and expectations about developments, results and events which will or may occur in the future, constitute “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information relates to future events or future performance, reflect current expectations or beliefs regarding future events and is typically identified by words such as “aim”, “anticipate”, “assume”, “believe”, “continue”, “could”, “expect”, “forecast”, “future”, “intend”, “maintain”, “may”, “outlook”, “plan”, “potential”, “project”, “synergies”, “will”, and similar expressions suggesting future outcomes or statements regarding an outlook.

Forward-looking information is based upon certain assumptions and other important factors that, if untrue, could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company or the combined company to be materially different from future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such information. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate. Such information being based on numerous assumptions.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information, which speak only as of the date made. For a more detailed discussion of such risks and other factors that may affect Ceapro’s ability to achieve the expectations set forth in the forward-looking information contained in this news release, see Ceapro’s management information circular dated February 9, 2024, MD&A filed under Ceapro’s profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca, as well as Ceapro’s other filings with the Canadian securities regulators. Other than as required by law, the Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation to, update the forward-looking information in this news release.

For more information contact:

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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