AnPac Bio Granted Continued Listing by NASDAQ Hearing Panel, Subject to Meeting $1 Bid Price Compliance Rule On or Before Nov. 23, 2022

Rhea-AI Summary

AnPac Bio-Medical Science Co., Ltd. (ANPC) announced that Nasdaq granted an extension for continued listing after a hearing on October 20, 2022. The company must demonstrate compliance with the $1 Bid Price Rule by November 23, 2022, or risk delisting. Previous notices indicated the company's failure to meet this requirement and a lack of sufficient Shareholders’ Equity. AnPac Bio, focusing on early cancer screening, currently has 155 issued patents and operates multiple accredited laboratories.

Positive

• Nasdaq granted an extension for continued listing, allowing trading to continue.
• Company plans to regain compliance with the $1 Bid Price Rule through a share reverse split.

Negative

• Failure to comply with the $1 Bid Price Rule could lead to delisting.
• Previous determination by Nasdaq indicated the company lacked sufficient Shareholders’ Equity.

PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 04, 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 October 31, 2022, the Company has been notified by the Nasdaq Hearings Panel of the Listing Qualifications Department of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) that the Company’s request for continued listing on The Capital Market has been granted, subject to the following:

On or before November 23, 2022, the Company shall demonstrate compliance with Listing Rule 5550(a)(2), the $1 Bid Price Rule. In order to fully comply with the terms of this exception, the Company must be able to demonstrate compliance with all requirements for continued listing on The Nasdaq Stock Market. In the event the Company is unable to do so, its securities may be delisted from The Nasdaq Stock Market.

The decision was made by the Nasdaq Hearings Panel following a hearing held on October 20, 2022, during which the Company presented its plan (including share reverse split) to regain compliance with $1 Bid Rule. 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 November 23, 2022.

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.

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 had not regained compliance with the $1 Bid Rule, and Nasdaq staff believed that the Company was not eligible for a second 180-day Compliance Period because Nasdaq staff believed that the Company had 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 had a Shareholders’ Equity above $5,000,000, it might obtain another 180-day period. 

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 is the status of AnPac Bio's listing on Nasdaq?

AnPac Bio's listing was granted an extension until November 23, 2022, to comply with the $1 Bid Price Rule.

What happens if AnPac Bio does not comply with Nasdaq requirements by November 23, 2022?

If AnPac Bio fails to comply with the $1 Bid Price Rule by November 23, 2022, it risks being delisted from Nasdaq.

What strategy is AnPac Bio implementing to regain compliance with Nasdaq rules?

AnPac Bio is presenting a plan that includes a share reverse split to regain compliance with the $1 Bid Price Rule.

When did AnPac Bio receive notification about compliance issues from Nasdaq?

AnPac Bio received a notification on September 9, 2022, regarding its non-compliance with the $1 Bid Price Rule.

How many patents does AnPac Bio have?

AnPac Bio has 155 issued patents as of March 31, 2022.