RITA Medical Systems Reports Third Quarter Results

November 7, 2006 at 12:00 AM EST
RITA Medical Systems Reports Third Quarter Results

Company Achieves Record $12.9 Million Revenue

Achieved a 40% Sequential Reduction in the GAAP Net Loss

Generated Profitable Quarterly Results on a Non-GAAP Pro-Forma Basis

Achieved Positive Cash Flow From Operations for the Quarter and Year to Date

FREMONT, Calif., Nov. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- RITA Medical Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: RITA), a publicly-traded medical device company focused solely on cancer therapies, today reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2006.

    Highlights

     --   Launched and immediately achieved volume shipments of the new LC
          Bead(TM) product in the U.S. during the third quarter 2006
     --   In October began clinical feasibility study of the new Assure(TM)
          RFA electrode device designed to treat breast cancer in conjunction
          with breast conserving lumpectomy procedure
     --   In October received FDA clearance for Habib 4X Laparoscopic(TM)
          resection device with product shipments expected to begin late in
          the fourth quarter 2006
     --   Achieved positive EBITDA (excluding non-cash SFAS123R expenses) of
          $705,000 in the third quarter of 2006 and $666,000 year to date
     --   Achieved positive cash flow and positive cash flow from operations
          in the third quarter of 2006 and year-to-date 2006
     --   Increased cash and cash equivalents balance at September 30, 2006 to
          $6.4 million from $5.5 million at December 31, 2006, and doubled the
          cash and equivalents balance in one year from $3.2 million at
          September 30, 2005

Revenue was $12.9 million for the third quarter ended September 30, 2006, compared to revenue of $11.2 million in the third quarter of 2005, a 15% year over year increase. This compares sequentially to revenue of $12.8 million in the second quarter of 2006. The year over year increase was led by significant growth of the Habib 4X™ resection device and the commencement of volume sales of the new LC Bead™ products in the third quarter, together with the initiation of direct sales in several key European markets in late 2005, rather than through distributors in those markets.

The GAAP net loss for the third quarter of 2006 was $928,000, or a GAAP net loss per share of $0.02, a significant improvement from the GAAP net loss in the second quarter of 2006 of $1.6 million or a GAAP net loss per share of $0.04. The GAAP net loss for the third quarter of 2005 was $705,000 or a GAAP net loss per share of $0.02.

The third quarter and second quarter 2006 GAAP net losses included SFAS 123R stock compensation expenses of $672,000 and $782,000, respectively, which were due to the Company's adoption of SFAS 123R on January 1, 2006. However, the comparable 2005 losses excluded any impact from the Company's adoption of SFAS 123R, which was only effective for periods beginning on or after January 1, 2006.

The pro-forma net income for the third quarter of 2006 was $111,000, or a pro-forma net income per fully diluted share of $0.00, compared with a pro-forma net loss in the third quarter of 2005 of $115,000 or a pro-forma net loss per share of $0.00. The pro-forma net income and loss excludes FASB 123R stock compensation expense and amortization expense of acquisition intangibles. A reconciliation of the differences between the GAAP net losses and the pro-forma net losses is included in an accompanying table.

For the first nine months of 2006 revenue was $38.2 million compared with revenue of $34.3 million for the first nine months of 2005, for 11.2% year over year growth. The GAAP net loss for the first nine months of 2006 was $4.5 million, or a GAAP net loss per share of $0.10, which included SFAS 123R stock compensation expense of $2.2 million. The GAAP net loss in the first nine months of 2005 was $3.8 million or a GAAP net loss per share of $0.09. However, the GAAP net loss for the first nine months of 2005 excluded any impact from the Company's adoption of SFAS 123R, which was only effective for periods beginning on or after January 1, 2006.



Cash and cash equivalents were $6.4 million at September 30, 2006, compared with $5.5 million at December 31, 2005, and $3.2 million at September 30, 2005. The increases were primarily due to stock option exercises by former employees in the first quarter of 2006 and fourth quarter of 2005 and positive cash flow from operations for the nine month period ended September 30, 2006. Cash flow from operations was positive $875,000 during the first nine months ended September 30, 2006, compared to a negative $3.4 million during the first nine months ended September 30, 2005.

"I am pleased with our results for the quarter and for the first nine months of the year, and our outlook for the remainder of 2006 is robust. We improved our cash position, which doubled compared to one year ago, and made the investments in R&D and products that we committed to at the start of the year. We believe that this stronger financial position enables us to continue to be aggressive in our new product development endeavors. The increase we have seen in our localized therapy product sales is positive affirmation of our strategy to offer our customers a full continuum of cancer care solutions for their patients," said Mr. Joseph DeVivo, President and CEO of RITA.

"We have analyzed the year over year decline in our specialty access catheter (SAC) product line and believe we can reverse the trend with a combination of strategies, including re-focusing our sellers who were engaged in a successful effort to launch the LC Bead product, and through dedicated clinical marketing specialist activities. We believe that we can reinvigorate this important part of the business with our existing SAC product portfolio and the planned introduction of new SAC products next year.

"We look to continue our success at executing our business plan in the fourth quarter of the year with the anticipated completion of several exciting product and clinical milestones. As we have previously mentioned, we will introduce a laparoscopic version of our popular Habib 4x™ resection device late in the fourth quarter, ahead of our earlier plan. Early laboratory experiences with a number of thought leaders have been very positive and we believe that the product will have wide appeal to surgeons.

"In the second quarter of 2006 we announced the planned introduction of the Uniblate™ radiofrequency electrode product. Uniblate will allow us to compete more aggressively in specific segments of the ablation market and we believe will increase our market share. In the fourth quarter we intend to complete product development and file the necessary regulatory submissions required for product launch. Depending on the timing of the regulatory submission responses we will begin initial clinical utilization of Uniblate in the fourth quarter but do not anticipate volume sales and shipments of the product until the first quarter of 2007.

"We initiated clinical feasibility trials of the Starburst Assure™ RFA electrode in October 2006. The Assure device is designed exclusively for radiofrequency-assisted lumpectomy for breast cancer. The first clinical cases have been performed and the Assure electrode was used to ablate the wall of the lumpectomy cavity of patients undergoing breast conserving surgery. The lumpectomy cavity RFA is performed during the original surgery at the time of the excision of the primary tumor. The feasibility study is designed to assess the potential of lumpectomy cavity RFA using the Assure device to spare women the trauma associated with additional surgery when close or inadequate margins are identified through pathology examination following a lumpectomy procedure."



Mr. DeVivo further commented, "The Assure device is a novel RFA electrode designed specifically for the breast by our research and development team and the feasibility trial is the first step in our efforts to commercialize this new device. The start of the trial is a very important milestone for RITA and we are very grateful to Drs. Piga and Cabula and the entire team who performed these first-ever clinical cases. Our next milestone is to complete enrollment in this study which we believe we can do on schedule.

"Looking ahead to 2007, we expect to continue our strong growth, leveraging our business model to further improve operating results year over year," concluded Mr. DeVivo.

     Outlook
     The current outlook ranges for the fourth quarter ending December 31,
     2006 are as follows:

     --   Revenue - $13.6 million to $14.2 million
     --   GAAP net loss - $925,000 million to $1.55 million
     --   Stock compensation expense included in the GAAP net loss range -
          $700,000 to $750,000
     --   Pro-forma net income or loss (excluding stock compensation expense
          and amortization expense of acquisition intangibles) - $125,000
          income to $450,000 loss

     The current outlook ranges for the year ending December 31, 2006 are as
     follows:

     --   Revenue - $51.8 million to $52.4 million
     --   GAAP net loss - $5.4 million to $6.0 million
     --   Stock compensation expense included in the GAAP net loss range -
          $2,850,000 to $2,900,000
     --   Pro-forma net loss (excluding stock compensation expense and
          amortization expense of acquisition intangibles) - $1.1 million to
          $1.6 million

Additional details pertaining to outlook for the fourth quarter of 2006 and full year 2006 are included in an accompanying table. Additionally, a reconciliation of the differences between the outlook for the GAAP net losses and the pro-forma net income or losses are included in an accompanying table.

Conference Call today

RITA management will host a conference call and webcast today, Tuesday, November 7, 2006, at 2 PM Pacific Time to discuss the Company's third quarter results and its outlook for the remainder of 2006. The Company also intends to provide some preliminary outlook information for 2007 during the call. The dial-in number for the conference call is (800) 257-1927 for domestic callers and (303) 262-2075 for international callers. A live audio webcast is available at the Company's website www.ritamedical.com by clicking the "audio webcast" link; no password is required to access the webcast, although webcast participants are encouraged to go to the site at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the call to register, download and install any necessary audio software.



An audio replay of the conference call will also be available beginning approximately one hour after the call's conclusion and will remain available for 7 days. The audio replay can be accessed by dialing (800) 405-2236 for domestic callers and (303) 590-3000 for international callers; the passcode for both is 11073387#. An online replay of the audio webcast will be available for one year immediately following the broadcast by accessing the same link on our website.

Information regarding the Company's sales by product line and region for the periods ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 is presented in an accompanying table. Any additional financial and other statistical information discussed during the call can be accessed by listening to the audio replay as described above or from the accompanying tables.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The Company uses, and this press release contains and the related conference call will include, the non-GAAP metrics of pro-forma net loss and EBITDA for the periods ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, and pro-forma net loss outlook for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2006. The calculations of pro-forma net loss and EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, and also excluding FASB 123R stock compensation expense, collectively "EBITDA") have no basis in GAAP. The Company believes that all of these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information to investors, permitting a better evaluation of the Company's ongoing and underlying business performance, including the evaluation of its performance against its competitors in the healthcare industry. A complete reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures for historical periods to the most directly comparable GAAP measures is presented in the accompanying tables. Additionally, a reconciliation between the GAAP net loss and the pro- forma net loss for the Company's outlook for the quarter and the year ending December 31, 2006 is included in an accompanying table.

About RITA Medical Systems, Inc.

RITA Medical Systems develops, manufactures and markets innovative products that provide local oncology therapy options for cancer patients including radiofrequency ablation (RFA) systems and embolization products for treating cancerous tumors as well as percutaneous vascular and spinal access systems for systemic treatments. The Company's oncology product lines include implantable ports, some of which feature its proprietary Vortex® technology; tunneled central venous catheters; and safety infusion sets and peripherally inserted central catheters used primarily in cancer treatment protocols. The Company's complete line of radiofrequency products also includes the HABIB 4X resection device and will include the new Laparoscopic Habib 4X resection device, both of which are designed to coagulate highly vascularized tissue to facilitate a fast dissection in order to minimize blood loss and blood transfusion during surgery. The proprietary RITA RFA system uses radiofrequency energy to heat tissue to a high enough temperature to ablate it or cause cell death. In March 2000, RITA became the first RFA company to receive specific FDA clearance for unresectable liver lesions in addition to its previous general FDA clearance for the ablation of soft tissue. In October 2002, RITA again became the first company to receive specific FDA clearance, this time for the palliation of pain associated with metastatic lesions involving bone. The Company also distributes LC Bead embolic microspheres in the United States. The LC Bead microspheres are injected into selected vessels to block the blood flow feeding a tumor, causing it to shrink over time, and are often used in combination with RFA. The RITA Medical Systems website is at www.ritamedical.com.



The statements in this news release related to the use of the Company's technology and the Company's future financial and operating performance, including without limitation the Company's outlook for its financial results for the quarter and the year ending December 31, 2006; the Company's ability to timely develop, obtain regulatory approval, and introduce new radiofrequency and vascular access products, including the Laparoscopic Habib 4X, Uniblate, and Assure products; physician adoption of the Company's products for treatment of types of cancer other than liver and bone cancers, including breast cancer; the Company's ability to achieve its revenue goals, including its ability to improve revenue growth by selling directly in certain European markets; the Company's ability to market and sell the LC Bead product; the Company's ability to achieve profitability; and the Company's ability to achieve future improvements in operating performance, are forward- looking statements involving risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to: the Company's 2004 material weaknesses in its internal control over financial reporting which were reported in its Annual Report on Form 10K for the year ended December 31, 2004; the timing of product introductions or modifications, including delays caused by technical or regulatory issues; the Company's limited experience selling directly in certain European markets; the Company's limited experience in manufacturing its products in substantial quantities and its reliance on one or two suppliers for several of its products, including Habib 4X; the Company's lack of experience distributing the LC Bead product and its ability to meet its minimum LC Bead purchase requirements; the Company's historical and future operating results and its lack of profitability; market acceptance of the Company's products for existing or new indications; the Company's dependence on international sales; competitive pressures; the ability of users of the Company's products to receive reimbursement from third-party payors, governmental programs or private insurance plans; product liability or other patient-related claims, defects, recalls or failures; and general economic and political conditions. Information regarding these and other risks and uncertainties is included in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

                           RITA MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
                 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                (In thousands, except per share data, unaudited)

                                         Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
                                           September 30,     September 30,
                                             2006     2005     2006     2005
    Sales                                 $12,905  $11,191  $38,224  $34,351
    Cost of goods sold*                     4,613    4,522   14,328   13,950
           Gross profit                     8,292    6,669   23,896   20,401

    Operating expenses:
        Research and development*           1,363      894    4,049    2,932
        Selling, general and
         administrative*                    7,758    6,299   23,779   20,482
        Restructuring charges                  --       --       --       60
           Total operating expenses         9,121    7,193   27,828   23,474

    Loss from operations                     (829)    (524)  (3,932)  (3,073)

    Interest expense                         (179)    (206)    (526)    (704)
    Interest income and (other expense),
     net                                       80       25       20       (3)

    Net loss                                $(928)   $(705) $(4,438) $(3,780)

    Net loss per common share, basic and
     diluted                               $(0.02)  $(0.02)  $(0.10)  $(0.09)

    Shares used in computing net loss per
    common share, basic and diluted        43,227   41,794   43,143   41,601


    * Figures presented include the
     following amounts of stock
     compensation expense:


          Cost of goods sold                  $35      $--     $108      $--
          Research and development
           expense                            129       --      341       --
          Selling, general and
           administrative expense:
           Option and ESPP valuation          508       51    1,702       85
              Total stock
               compensation expense          $672      $51   $2,151      $85


                           RITA MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
                      CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                            (In thousands, unaudited)


                                                 September 30,    December 31,
                                                      2006             2005
    Assets
    Current assets:
       Cash and cash equivalents                     $6,434           $5,522
       Accounts and note receivable, net              7,442            7,264
       Inventories                                    5,703            5,380
       Prepaid assets and other current
        assets                                        1,149              941
           Total current assets                      20,728           19,107
    Long term note receivable, net                       --               58
    Property and equipment, net                       1,724            1,959
    Goodwill                                         91,339           91,339
    Intangible assets                                21,878           23,502
    Other assets                                        420              502
    Total assets                                   $136,089         $136,467

    Liabilities and stockholders' equity
    Current liabilities:
       Accounts payable and accrued
        liabilities                                  $6,174           $5,397
       Current portion of long term debt                 --              113
           Total current liabilities                  6,174            5,510
    Long term liabilities                             9,772            9,762
    Stockholders' equity                            120,143          121,195
    Total liabilities and stockholders'
     equity                                        $136,089         $136,467


                           RITA MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
                        SALES BY REGION AND PRODUCT LINE
                            (In thousands, unaudited)

                                         Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
                                           September 30,     September 30,
                                             2006     2005     2006     2005
    Domestic Sales
          Localized therapy products*      $5,635   $3,685  $15,123  $11,178
          Specialty Access Catheter
           Products                         5,146    5,923   16,239   17,817
          Total                            10,781    9,608   31,362   28,995

    International Sales
          Localized therapy products*       1,633    1,029    5,157    3,226
          Specialty Access Catheter
           Products                           491      554    1,705    2,130
          Total                             2,124    1,583    6,862    5,356

    Total Sales
          Localized therapy products*       7,268    4,714   20,280   14,404
          Specialty Access Catheter
           Products                         5,637    6,477   17,944   19,947
          Total                           $12,905  $11,191  $38,224  $34,351

    * Localized therapy products include RF products, consisting of
      radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and radiofrequency resection products
      such as the HABIB 4X(TM) device, and the LC Bead embolization products.


                           RITA MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
            PRO FORMA CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                (In thousands, except per share data, unaudited)

                                         Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
                                           September 30,     September 30,
                                            2006     2005     2006     2005
    Sales                                 $12,905  $11,191  $38,224  $34,351
    Cost of goods sold                      4,519    4,378   14,044   13,519
           Gross profit                     8,386    6,813   24,180   20,832

    Operating expenses:
        Research and development            1,234      894    3,708    2,932
        Selling, general and
         administrative                     6,942    5,853   21,153   19,211
        Restructuring charges                  --       --       --       60
           Total operating expenses         8,176    6,747   24,861   22,203

    Loss from operations                      210       66     (681)  (1,371)

    Interest expense                         (179)    (206)    (526)    (704)
    Interest income and (other expense),
     net                                       80       25       20       (3)

    Pro-forma Net Income (Loss)              $111    $(115) $(1,187) $(2,078)

    Pro-forma Net Income (Loss) per
     common share,                          $0.00   $(0.00)  $(0.02)  $(0.04)
      basic and diluted


     Reconciliation of Actual GAAP Net Loss to Non-GAAP Pro Forma Net Loss
     (in $000)


                                        Three Months Ended  Nine Months Ended
                                          September 30,     September 30,
                                            2006    2005      2006      2005
    GAAP Net Income (Loss)                 $(928)  $(705)  $(4,438)  $(3,780)

    Add:  Stock Compensation:  Option and
     ESPP valuation
              Cost of Goods                   35      --       108        --
              Research and Development       129      --       341        --
              Selling, General and
               Administrative                508      51     1,702        85
              Total Stock Compensation       672      51     2,151        85

              Sub-total  GAAP Net Loss
                          excluding        $(256)  $(654)  $(2,287)  $(3,695)
                          stock
                          compensation
                          expense

    Add:  Amortization of Acquisition
     Intangibles
              Cost of Goods                   59     144       176       431
              Research and Development        --      --        --        --
              Selling, General and
               Administrative                308     395       924     1,186
              Total Amort. Of Acquisition
               Intangibles                   367     539     1,100     1,617

    Non-GAAP Pro Forma Net Income (Loss)    $111   $(115)  $(1,187)  $(2,078)


    Reconciliation of GAAP Loss to Earnings before Interest, Taxes,
    Depreciation, Amortization and Stock Compensation Expense

    (in $000)

    ("EBITDA")

                                         Three Months Ended  Nine Months Ended
                                              September 30,    September 30,
                                             2006    2005      2006      2005
    GAAP Net Loss                          $(928)  $(705)  $(4,438) $(3,780)

    Add: Depreciation                         307     319       984      817

    Add: Amortization
                    Acquisition Intangibles   367     539     1,100    1,617
                    Other Intangibles         174     173       524      505

    Add: Interest Expense                     179     206       526      704

    Deduct: Interest Income                  (66)    (28)     (181)    (115)

                    Sub-total                 $33    $504  $(1,485)   $(252)

    Add: Stock Compensation Expense re:
         Option and ESPP valuation
         (FAS123R in 2006)                    672      51     2,151       85

    EBITDA (without Stock compensation
     expense)                                $705    $555      $666   $(167)


    Outlook Ranges - Reconciliation of GAAP Net Loss to Non-GAAP Pro Forma Net
    Loss
    (in $000)


                                   Three Months Ended    Twelve Months Ended
                                    December 31, 2006     December 31, 2006

    GAAP Net Loss                   $(925) to $(1,550)  $(5,350) to  $(6,000)

    Add:  Stock Compensation
     Expense                          700  to     750     2,850  to    2,900

    Sub-total
           GAAP Net Loss excluding  $(225) to   $(800)  $(2,500) to  $(3,100)
           stock compensation
            expense

    Add:  Amortization of
           Acquisition Intangibles    350  to     350     1,500  to    1,500

    Pro-forma Net Loss               $125  to   $(450)  $(1,000) to  $(1,600)


    Outlook Ranges - Additional
     Details
    (Dollars in $000)


    Revenue                        $13,600  to  $14,200  $51,800  to  $52,400

    Gross Profit Percentage          61.0%  to    62.5%    62.0%  to    62.5%

    R&D; SG&A Expenses              $8,900  to   $9,100  $34,500  to  $34,700
    (excluding FASB 123R stock
     compensation expense)

    Other Expense, primarily
     interest                         $200  to     $200     $800  to     $800

    FASB 123R Stock Compensation
     Expense                          $700  to     $750   $2,850  to   $2,900

    GAAP Net Loss (including FASB
     123R)                           $(925) to  $(1,550) $(5,350) to  $(6,000)

    Pro-forma Net Loss                $125  to    $(450) $(1,000) to  $(1,600)
     (excluding FASB 123R and amortization of
     acquisition related intangibles)

SOURCE RITA Medical Systems, Inc.
11/07/2006
CONTACT: Joseph DeVivo, President and CEO of RITA Medical Systems, Inc.,
+1-510-771-0400; or Investors, Doug Sherk, dsherk@evcgroup.com, or Jenifer


Kirtland, or jkirtland@evcgroup.com, +1-415-896-6820, or Media, Steve
DiMattia, +1-646-277-8706, or sdimattia@evcgroup.com, all of EVC Group, for
RITA
Web site: http://www.ritamedical.com
(RITA)