Guardant Health Reports Third Quarter 2018 Financial Results

Revenue growth of 95% over prior year period

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Nov. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Guardant Health, Inc. (Nasdaq:GH), a leading precision oncology company focused on helping conquer cancer globally through use of its proprietary blood tests, vast data sets and advanced analytics, today reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2018.

Recent Highlights

  • Revenues of $21.7 million for the third quarter of 2018, representing a 95% increase over the third quarter of 2017
  • Reported 7,027 tests to clinical customers and 2,505 tests to biopharmaceutical customers in the third quarter, representing increases of 14% and 67% respectively, over the third quarter 2017
  • Lung cancer study published in JAMA Oncology demonstrated Guardant360 outperformed tissue biopsy alone in identification of targetable mutations
  • Awarded Medicare coverage for the Guardant360 assay in non-small cell lung cancer through a local coverage determination from Palmetto GBA, a Medicare Administrative Contractor; successfully received first payment
  • Completed initial public offering, raising approximately $249.5 million of net proceeds, after underwriting fees and other expenses

“Our third quarter accomplishments reflect the ongoing strength of our business,” said Helmy Eltoukhy, PhD, Chief Executive Officer. “We are continuing to build proof points for a blood-first paradigm ahead of traditional tissue genotyping, as demonstrated by the study from the University of Pennsylvania which was recently published in JAMA Oncology.”

“In addition, we are pleased with the successful completion of our IPO,” continued Dr. Eltoukhy.  “We are grateful for the support of our investors who participated in the offering, and we are focused on the creation of long-term shareholder value through unprecedented access to cancer’s molecular information throughout all stages of the disease.”

Third Quarter 2018 Financial Results
Revenue was $21.7 million in the three months ended September 30, 2018, a 95% increase from $11.1 million in the three months ended September 30, 2017.  Precision oncology revenue increased 78% driven by higher testing volume and increases in revenue per test. Tests for clinical customers increased 14% (after excluding tests in the third quarter of 2017 from a customer that began processing tests in-house in March 2018 based on a joint development agreement) and tests for biopharmaceutical customers increased 67%.

Gross profit, or total revenue less cost of precision oncology testing and cost of development services, was $11.6 million for the third quarter of 2018, an increase of $9.1 million from $2.5 million in the corresponding prior year period.  Gross margin, or gross profit divided by total revenue, was 53.7%, as compared to 22.2% in the corresponding prior year period.  

Operating expenses were $35.8 million for the third quarter of 2018, as compared to $31.1 million in the corresponding prior year period, an increase of 15%.

Net loss attributable to Guardant Health, Inc. common stockholders was $24.5 million in the third quarter of 2018, as compared to $33.3 million in the corresponding period of the prior year. Net loss per share attributable to Guardant Health, Inc. common stockholders was $1.94 in the third quarter of 2018, as compared to $2.76 in the corresponding period of the prior year.

Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities were $274.3 million as of September 30, 2018. In October 2018, Guardant completed an initial public offering, raising approximately $249.5 million net of underwriting fees and other expenses.

2018 Financial Guidance
Guardant Health expects full year 2018 revenue to be in the range of $82.0 million to $84.0 million.

Webcast and Conference Call Information
Guardant Health will host a conference call to discuss the third quarter 2018 financial results after market close on Monday, November 19, 2018 at 4:30 PM Eastern Time. The conference call can be accessed live over the phone (866) 417-5537 for U.S. callers or (409) 217-8233 for international callers (Conference ID: 9156645). The webcast can be accessed at http://investors.guardanthealth.com.

About Guardant Health
Guardant Health is a leading precision oncology company focused on helping conquer cancer globally through use of its proprietary blood tests, vast data sets and advanced analytics.  Its Guardant Health Oncology Platform is designed to leverage its capabilities in technology, clinical development, regulatory and reimbursement to drive commercial adoption, improve patient clinical outcomes and lower healthcare costs.  In pursuit of its goal to manage cancer across all stages of the disease, Guardant Health has launched multiple liquid biopsy-based tests, Guardant360 and GuardantOMNI, for advanced stage cancer patients, which fuel its development programs for recurrence and early detection, LUNAR-1 and LUNAR-2, respectively. Since its launch in 2014, Guardant360 has been used by more than 5,000 oncologists, over 40 biopharmaceutical companies and all 27 of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network centers.

Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding Guardant Health’s expected financial results for the year ended December 31, 2018, which involve risks and uncertainties that could cause Guardant Health’s actual results to differ materially from the anticipated results and expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations, forecasts and assumptions, and actual outcomes and results could differ materially from these statements due to a number of factors. These and additional risks and uncertainties that could affect Guardant Health’s financial and operating results and cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements made in this press release include those discussed under the captions “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation” and elsewhere in its Quarterly Report for the period ended September 30, 2018 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) relating to its Registration Statement on Form S-1 and in its other reports filed with the SEC. The forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to Guardant Health as of the date hereof, and Guardant Health disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements provided to reflect any change in its expectations or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Guardant Health’s views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.           

Investor Contact:
Lynn Lewis or Carrie Mendivil
[email protected]

Guardant Health, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in thousands, except per share data)
(unaudited)

  Three Months Ended September 30,
  Nine Months Ended September 30,  
    2018       2017         2018         2017    
                               
Revenue:        
Precision oncology testing $   18,298     $   10,253     $   50,311     $   27,927  
Development services   3,394       879       7,455       1,913  
Total revenue   21,692       11,132       57,766       29,840  
                               
Costs and operating expenses:        
Cost of precision oncology testing (2)(3)   9,671       7,603       27,222       20,928  
Cost of development services   380       1,058       2,041       1,542  
Research and development expense (2)(3)   14,253       7,246       34,062       17,442  
Sales and marketing expense (2)(3)   13,464       7,808       36,351       22,941  
General and administrative expense (2)(3)   8,129       16,095       23,645       27,982  
Total costs and operating expenses   45,897       39,810       123,321       90,835  
Loss from operations   (24,205 )     (28,678 )     (65,555 )     (60,995 )
Interest income   958       657       2,932       1,222  
Interest expense   (304 )     (303 )     (952 )     (2,398 )
Loss on debt extinguishment                     (5,075 )
Other income (expense), net   43       (266 )     4,587       (915 )
Loss before provision for income taxes   (23,508 )     (28,590 )     (58,988 )     (68,161 )
Provision for income taxes               3        
Net loss   (23,508 )     (28,590 )     (58,991 )     (68,161 )
Fair value adjustment of redeemable noncontrolling interest   (950 )           (950 )      
Net loss attributable to Guardant Health, Inc. $   (24,458 )   $   (28,590 )   $   (59,941 )   $   (68,161 )
Deemed dividend related to repurchase of Series A convertible
preferred stock
        (4,716 )           (4,716 )
Deemed dividend related to change in conversion rate of Series D
convertible preferred stock
                    (1,058 )
                               
         
Net loss attributable to Guardant Health, Inc. common stockholders $   (24,458 )   $   (33,306 )   $   (59,941 )   $   (73,935 )
Net loss per share attributable to Guardant Health, Inc. common
stockholders, basic and diluted
$   (1.94 )   $   (2.76 )   $   (4.87 )   $   (5.76 )
Weighted-average shares used in computing net loss per share
attributable to Guardant Health, Inc. common stockholders,
basic and diluted
  12,582       12,073       12,300       12,831  
                               
         

(2) Amounts include stock-based compensation expense as follows:

     
  Three Months Ended September 30,  
  Nine Months Ended September 30,  
    2018     2017         2018       2017  
Cost of precision oncology testing $   112   $   (25 )   $   254   $   104
Research and development expense   617     17       1,035     307
Sales and marketing expense   428     (526 )     1,061     14
General and administrative expense   674     1,342       1,938     1,673
         
Total stock-based compensation expenses $   1,831   $   808     $   4,288   $   2,098
         

(3) Amounts include compensation expenses associated with repurchase of common stock as follows:

  Three Months Ended September 30,     Nine Months Ended September 30,
    2018     2017       2018       2017  
Cost of precision oncology testing $   —   $   72   $   —   $   72
Research and development expense       250         250
Sales and marketing expense       659         659
General and administrative expense       9,672     157     9,672
         
Total compensation expense associated with
repurchase of common stock
$   —   $   10,653   $   157   $   10,653
         

 Guardant Health, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
(unaudited)

     
  September 30,
2018

  December 31,
2017
 
       
ASSETS    
Current assets:    
Cash and cash equivalents $   113,957     $   72,280  
Short-term marketable securities   157,385       149,040  
Accounts receivable   14,640       12,787  
Inventory   7,075       7,287  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets   4,024       1,541  
Total current assets   297,081       242,935  
Long-term marketable securities   2,963       73,254  
Property and equipment, net   30,318       16,036  
Capitalized license fees   8,044       8,739  
Deferred offering costs   4,257        
Other assets   1,936       1,974  
Total Assets $   344,599     $   342,938  
               
LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTEREST
AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
   
Current liabilities:    
Accounts payable $   13,081     $   4,998  
Accrued compensation   7,430       4,911  
Accrued expenses   7,482       6,406  
Capital lease, current   102       199  
Deferred revenue   3,955       3,113  
Total current liabilities   32,050       19,627  
Capital lease, net of current portion   137       460  
Deferred rent, net of current portion   7,623       6,537  
Obligation related to royalty   7,446       7,708  
Other long-term liabilities   206        
Total Liabilities   47,462       34,332  
               
     
Redeemable noncontrolling interest   41,950        
Stockholders’ equity:    
Convertible preferred stock, par value of $0.00001 per share; 80,104,464 shares authorized
as of September 30, 2018 (unaudited) and December 31, 2017; 78,627,369 shares issued
and outstanding as of September 30, 2018 (unaudited) and December 31, 2017 with
aggregate liquidation preference of $501,410 as of September 30, 2018 (unaudited)
  499,974       499,974  
Common stock, par value of $0.00001 per share; 111,853,396 shares authorized as of
September 30, 2018 (unaudited) and December 31, 2017; 13,002,822 and 11,896,882
shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2018 (unaudited) and December 31, 2017
         
Additional paid-in capital   11,421       4,900  
Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (531 )     (532 )
Accumulated deficit   (255,677 )     (195,736 )
Total Stockholders’ Equity   255,187       308,606  
Total Liabilities, Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest and Stockholders’ Equity $   344,599     $   342,938