Sinovac first quarter sales increase 5.3% to $4.7 million

Sinovac Biotech Ltd. (NASDAQ: SVA), a leading provider of biopharmaceutical products in China, announced today its unaudited first quarter financial results for the period ended March 31, 2011.

First Quarter 2011 Financial Highlights

• Sales increased 5.3% year-over-year to $4.7 million, compared to $4.4 million. Excluding H1N1 vaccine, sales rose 50% compared to the prior year period.
• Cash and cash equivalents totaled $91.0 million as of March 31, 2011, compared to $101.6 million as of December 31, 2010.

Business Highlights

• Sinovac has enrolled 168 healthy volunteers in three different groups (36 adults, 36 young children and 96 infants) in the Phase I clinical trial for EV71 vaccine. The inoculations with different dosages have been completed in the young children group and are underway in the infant group, which is expected to be completed in the next few weeks. The preliminary results showed good safety and tolerance profile without severe adverse reaction.
• In April 2011, Sinovac submitted the application to the SFDA to commence clinical trials for its rubella vaccine.  
• In April 2011, the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) conducted the final GMP site inspection of Sinovac's animal rabies vaccine production plant in Tangshan Yian, which was conducted under the production mode.  The preliminary site inspection results were positive and are subject to a public notification period that ends on May 18, 2011, after which Tangshan Yian will apply for the GMP Certificate, the New Drug Certificate and the production license in advance of commercializing the vaccine.

Dr. Weidong Yin, Chairman, President and CEO of Sinovac, commented, "Following the adjustment to our sales strategy and sales team structure, our sales in China rebounded during the first quarter, which is a positive sign for 2011. We will continuously commit our resources to achieving sales growth."

Dr. Yin continued, "We are pleased to see the R&D projects moving forward smoothly. The Phase I trial for our proprietary EV71 vaccine is progressing well with the inoculations in the young children completed and infants to be completed in the coming weeks. We plan to complete the data and statistical analysis and report the trial results in the coming months.  Thereafter, we will commence the following phases of the EV71 clinical trial."

Dr. Yin concluded, "Following the Ministry of Agriculture's GMP site inspection of our animal rabies vaccine production facility, the outcome appears to be positive and is in the public notification process. We are on track to launch our animal rabies vaccine within the year. The capacity expansion construction at Changping facility is progressing on schedule. Sinovac Dalian submitted the clinical trial application for its rubella vaccine last month."

Financial Review for First Quarter Ended March 31, 2011

Sales for the first quarter 2011 were $4.7 million, up 5.3% from $4.4 million for the first quarter of 2010. Excluding sales from the H1N1 vaccine, first quarter 2011 sales were up 50% as compared to the same period in 2010. In line with historical trends, first quarter sales are comparatively lower than other quarters given the typical seasonality of the Company's vaccine sales in China. Sinovac's first quarter

Sinovac's sales breakdown by product was as follows.

Gross profit for the first quarter of 2011 was $3.1 million, with a gross margin of 66.1%, compared to $3.6 million and a gross margin of 80.1% for the same period of 2010. After deducting depreciation of land use rights, amortization of licenses, permits, the gross margin was 63.5% and 77.8% for the first quarter of 2011 and 2010, respectively. The gross profit margin was adversely affected by lower plant utilization in the first quarter of 2011 as reduced demand caused the Company to scale back production.

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the first quarter 2011 were $4.1 million, compared to $3.1 million in the same period of 2010. SG&A expenses as a percentage of first quarter 2011 sales were 87.75%, compared to 69.9% during the first quarter of the prior year.  The SG&A expenses as a percentage of revenue was in line with the increased sales in private pay market in the first quarter of 2011. However, the overall increase was resulted from an increase in selling expenses due to the adding of new sales personnel in the first quarter 2011.

Net research and development expenses for the first quarter 2011 were $2.1 million, compared to $1.1 million in the same period of 2010. The increased R&D expenses in the first quarter of 2011 were primarily related to the continued development of the pipeline vaccines, including the expenses on EV71 vaccine, which has entered the Phase I clinical trial, the trial production of the animal rabies vaccine and mumps vaccine, and other R&D projects.

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment and amortization of license and permits for the first quarter 2011 were $384,000, compared to $250,000 for the same period of last year.  The change compared to 2010 was primarily attributable to the Sinovac Dalian assets acquired in January 2010, with an additional 25% interest acquired in December 2010 for a majority interest of 55%, and Changping facility acquired in February 2010.

Total operating expenses for the first quarter of 2011 were $6.5 million, compared to $4.4 million in the comparative period in 2010.

The operating loss for the three months ended March 31, 2011 was $3.4 million, compared to $0.8 million for the same period of the prior year.  The increased operating loss in the first quarter of 2011 was primarily attributable to the higher cost of sales, increased administrative expenses from Sinovac Dalian and 100%-owned research and development Company, and higher R&D expenses.

Net loss for the first quarter of 2011 included $70,000 of interest and financing expenses, $154,000 of interest and other income, and $310,000 of income tax expenses. Net loss for the same period of 2010 included $124,000 of interest and financing income, $142,000 of interest and other income, and $269,000 of income tax recovery. Net loss attributable to shareholders for first quarter of 2011 was $2.8 million, or $0.05 per diluted share, as compared to $307,000, or $0.01 per diluted share, in the same period of 2010.

As of March 31, 2011, Sinovac's cash and cash equivalents totaled $91.0 million, compared to $101.6 million as of December 31, 2010.

SOURCE Sinovac Biotech Ltd.