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Progenity Launches Strategic Transformation into Biotech Company, Eliminating Costs of Progenity Genetics Lab and Focusing on Robust, Innovative R&D PipelineClosure of genetics lab and other operational improvements expected to result in approximately 70% reduction of annual capital required for operations – from more than $180 million currently to targeted operating expenses of ~$50 million in 2022 Continuing to seek opportunities to generate non-dilutive capital through partnerships and strategic alternatives for non-core assets, including Avero Diagnostics, which may help fund the company Focused on delivering on exciting 2021 and 2022 R&D pipeline with the PreecludiaTM test, gastrointestinal (GI) health, and oral biopharmaceutical program milestones SAN DIEGO, June 02, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Progenity, Inc. (Nasdaq: PROG), an innovative biotechnology company, today announced a transformation strategy that will focus the company primarily on its robust R&D pipeline and better position the business for future growth. To achieve this vision, simplify its business model, and unlock shareholder value, the company will seek to reallocate resources to R&D and materially reduce operating expenditures by approximately 70%.
Drug Pipeline
PreecludiaTM
Ongoing Development
“The strategic transformation presented today seeks to significantly reduce our burn rate by eliminating major costs and reducing our cash needs considerably to a normalized rate of $4-5 million per month (before taking into account non-dilutive sources of capital). Our innovative R&D pipeline has always been core to our future growth plan and has the potential to transform and address significant markets by improving patient outcomes,” said Harry Stylli, PhD, CEO, Chairman of the Board of Directors, and co-founder of Progenity. “Leading with innovation also enables Progenity to exercise greater control over our costs, as a significant proportion of the company’s spend is discretionary and milestone driven. We believe that we can deploy capital more efficiently by focusing on the differentiated innovation assets in our portfolio that have the greatest potential to drive shareholder value and generate non-dilutive dollars through scalable partnerships.” Stylli continued, “It is especially difficult to say goodbye to valued team members. We are grateful for their dedication and support over these past years. We also appreciate the healthcare providers, patients, and other stakeholders that have placed trust in us at critical life moments for more than a decade.” As part of the strategic transformation, Progenity will continue to evaluate its operations to better position the business for future growth and continued innovation. In light of the impact of this strategic transformation, the company is withdrawing previously announced financial guidance for 2021. Webcast and Conference Call Information Progenity will host a webcast and conference call to discuss the strategic transformation and answer investment community questions today, Wednesday, June 2, 2021 at 8:30 a.m. ET / 5:30 a.m. PT. The live call may be accessed by dialing 833-519-1237 for domestic callers and 914-800-3810 for international callers and entering the conference code: 1285219. A live webcast and archive of the call will be available online on the investor relations section of the company website at www.progenity.com. About Progenity For more information about Progenity’s products and pipeline visit www.progenity.com, or follow the company on LinkedIn or Twitter. Forward Looking Statements This press release contains “forward-looking statements,” which statements are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties and are based on estimates and assumptions. All statements, other than statements of historical facts included in this press release, including statements regarding the Company’s transformation activities and expected benefits and costs savings; potential benefits from a strategic and cost realignment, including potential future growth; potential future strategic transactions; potential addressable market sizes; our ability to deliver value for shareholders; the timing for future milestones, including the commencement of clinical trials and validation of Preecludia; the potential for our innovation pipeline; the development of our DDS and OBDS platforms; the potential benefits of the DDS and OBDS platforms; the development pipeline of therapeutic candidates that use the DDS and OBDS platforms; and the development of drug-device combination products, are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “may,” “might,” “will,” “objective,” “intend,” “should,” “could,” “can,” “would,” “expect,” “believe,” “design,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “plan” or the negative of these terms, and similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements expressed or implied in this press release, including: whether we will realize anticipated benefits of our strategic transformation; whether we are able to develop any products that meet our desired target product profile and address the relevant clinical need or commercial opportunity; whether any products that we develop will prove to be effective in preclinical and/or clinical trials or otherwise; whether we will obtain necessary regulatory authorizations, in a timely manner or at all; competition from existing products or new products; the timing of regulatory review and our ability to obtain regulatory marketing authorizations of our product candidates; preclinical and/or clinical trials may produce negative or inconclusive results, and we may decide, or regulators may require us, to conduct additional clinical trials or abandon product development programs; the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and associated shelter-in-place orders; the loss or retirement of key scientific or management personnel; and those risks described in “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, filed with the SEC on March 18, 2021, and other subsequent documents we file with the SEC, including but not limited to our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. We claim the protection of the Safe Harbor contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 for forward-looking statements. We expressly disclaim any obligation to update or alter any statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Investor Contact: Media Contact: |