AnPac Bio Appeals NASDAQ Delisting Notice; Hearing Granted and Scheduled for October 20, 2022

Rhea-AI Summary

AnPac Bio, a biotechnology firm focused on cancer screening, announced it has filed a request for a hearing with the NASDAQ Hearings Panel. This request arose after a notification from NASDAQ to delist the company’s securities due to non-compliance with the $1 bid price requirement. The company aims to present its financial data and plan to regain compliance in a hearing scheduled for October 20, 2022. The company has not met the $5 million Shareholders’ Equity requirement for a second compliance period.

Positive

• AnPac Bio has 155 issued patents as of March 31, 2022.
• The company ranked first globally in multi-cancer screening sample volume as of January 2021.

Negative

• Failed to regain compliance with the $1 Bid Rule within the 180-day compliance period.
• Nasdaq believes the company does not meet the minimum $5 million Shareholders’ Equity requirement.

PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AnPac Bio-Medical Science Co., Ltd. (“AnPac Bio,” the “Company” or “we”) (ANPC), a biotechnology company with operations in the United States and China focused on early cancer screening and detection, announced that on September 16, 2022, the Company filed a request for a hearing before the NASDAQ Hearings Panel to present its financial data including Shareholders’ Equity and plan with the applicable listing requirements. This request was due to a Staff determination letter (the “Letter”) on September 9, 2022 from the Listing Qualifications Department of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) notifying the Company of the Staff’s determination to delist the Company’s securities from The Nasdaq Capital Market due to the Company’s failure to regain compliance with the $1 per share bid price requirement of Listed Securities required for continued listing as set forth in Listing Rule 5450(a)(1) (the “$1 Bid Rule”), following the 180 calendar day compliance period set forth in Listing Rule 5810(c)(3)(A) (the “Compliance Period”). On September 16, 2022, Company received a letter from Nasdaq granting the appeal and scheduling the Nasdaq Hearings Panel for October 20, 2022.  In the meantime, the Company will continue to be listed and its shares will continue to be traded on Nasdaq, pending a final written decision by the Nasdaq Hearings Panel after the October 20, 2022 hearing.

On September 9, 2022, the Company received a Staff determination letter (the “Letter”) from the Listing Qualifications Department of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) notifying the Company of the Staff’s determination to delist the Company’s securities from The Nasdaq Capital Market due to its failure to regain compliance with the $1 Bid Rule within the 180 calendar day Compliance Period. Earlier, on March 8, 2022, Nasdaq staff notified the Company that the bid price of its listed security had closed at less than $1 per share over the previous 30 consecutive business days, and, as a result, did not comply with the $1 Bid Rule. In accordance with Listing Rule 5810(c)(3)(A), the Company was provided 180 calendar days, or until September 5, 2022, to regain compliance with the $1 Bid Rule. Since then, the Company has not regained compliance with the $1 Bid Rule, and Nasdaq staff believes that the Company is not eligible for a second 180 day Compliance Period because Nasdaq staff believes that the Company has not demonstrated compliance with the minimum $5,000,000 Shareholders’ Equity initial listing requirement for The Nasdaq Capital Market. Nasdaq had written to the Company earlier that if Company has a Shareholders’ Equity above $5,000,000, it may obtain another 180 day period.

At the October 20, 2022 hearing, the Company intends to present its financial data including Shareholders’ Equity and its plan (including share reverse split) to regain compliance with $1 Bid Rule to seek a second 180 day period. There can be no assurance that the Panel will grant the Company’s request for a suspension of delisting or continued listing, even if the Company’s financial data evidences sufficient Shareholders’ Equity.

About AnPac Bio

AnPac Bio is a biotechnology company focused on early cancer screening and detection, with 155 issued patents as of March 31, 2022. With two certified clinical laboratories in China and one CLIA and CAP accredited clinical laboratory in the United States, AnPac Bio performs a suite of cancer screening and detection tests, including CDA (Cancer Differentiation Analysis), bio-chemical, immunological, and genomics tests. According to a report by Frost & Sullivan, AnPac Bio ranked first globally in multi-cancer screening and detection test sample volume (accumulative to January 2021). AnPac Bio’s CDA technology platform has been shown in retrospective validation studies to be able to detect the risk of over 20 different cancer types with high sensitivity and specificity.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact: 

Company:

Phil Case, Marketing and Investor Relations
Phone: +1-267-810-6776 (US)
Email: phil_case@AnPacbio.com

Investor Relations:

Ascent Investor Relations LLC
Tina Xiao, President
Phone: +1-917-609-0333 (US)
Email: tina.xiao@ascent-ir.com   

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are relating to the Company’s future financial and operating performance. The Company has attempted to identify forward-looking statements by terminologies including “believes,” “estimates,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “plans,” “projects,” “intends,” “potential,” “target,” “aim,” “predict,” “outlook,” “seek,” “goal” “objective,” “assume,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “positioned,” “forecast,” “likely,” “may,” “could,” “might,” “will,” “should,” “approximately” or other words that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations, assumptions and uncertainties involving judgments about, among other things, future economic, competitive and market conditions and future business decisions, all of which are difficult or impossible to predict accurately and many of which are beyond the Company’s control. These statements also involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company’s actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by any forward-looking statement. Known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to, our ability to comply with Nasdaq Listing Rules, the implementation of our business model and growth strategies; trends and competition in the cancer screening and detection market; our expectations regarding demand for and market acceptance of our cancer screening and detection tests and our ability to expand our customer base; our ability to obtain and maintain intellectual property protections for our CDA technology and our continued research and development to keep pace with technology developments; our ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approvals from the NMPA, the FDA and the relevant U.S. states and have our laboratories certified or accredited by authorities including the CLIA; our future business development, financial condition and results of operations and our ability to obtain financing cost-effectively; potential changes of government regulations; general economic and business conditions in China and elsewhere; our ability to hire and maintain key personnel; our relationship with our major business partners and customers; and the duration of the coronavirus outbreaks and their potential adverse impact on the economic conditions and financial markets and our business and financial performance, such as resulting from reduced commercial activities due to quarantines and travel restrictions instituted by China, the U.S. and many other countries around the world to contain the spread of the virus. Additionally, all forward-looking statements are subject to the “Risk Factors” detailed from time to time in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F and other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Because of these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions, undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements. In addition, these statements speak only as of the date of this press release and, except as may be required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason.

FAQ

What did AnPac Bio announce on September 19, 2022?

AnPac Bio announced it filed a request for a hearing with the NASDAQ Hearings Panel regarding its compliance with listing requirements.

Why is AnPac Bio facing delisting from NASDAQ?

The company is facing delisting due to its failure to comply with the $1 per share bid price requirement.

When is AnPac Bio's hearing with NASDAQ scheduled?

The hearing is scheduled for October 20, 2022.

What financial criteria is AnPac Bio trying to meet?

AnPac Bio is attempting to demonstrate compliance with the $5 million Shareholders’ Equity requirement.

What is the stock symbol for AnPac Bio?

The stock symbol for AnPac Bio is ANPC.