Helius Medical Technologies, Inc. Reports First Quarter 2022 Financial Results and Provides Update on U.S. Commercial Launch of PoNS®

Rhea-AI Summary

Helius Medical Technologies (HSDT) reported a 126% increase in Q1 2022 revenue to $190,000, up from $84,000 in Q1 2021. The U.S. commercial launch of PoNS for multiple sclerosis began, with 23 prescriptions written. Operating loss widened to $4.6 million compared to $3.5 million in Q1 2021. Cash used in operations rose to $4.7 million from $2.9 million. The company anticipates being cash flow positive by Q4 2023, projecting sequential revenue growth beyond the first quarter.

Positive

• 126% increase in Q1 2022 revenue to $190,000
• 23 prescriptions written for PoNS therapy
• Plans for future revenue growth throughout 2022 and 2023
• Projected cash flow positive operations by Q4 2023

Negative

• Operating loss increased to $4.6 million from $3.5 million
• Operating expenses rose to $4.6 million from $3.6 million
• Cash decreased to $6.3 million from $11 million at year-end 2021
• Increased cash used in operations to $4.7 million from $2.9 million

-- Company to host call at 9:00am today with CEO, CFO, CMO and VP Sales & Marketing --

NEWTOWN, Pa., May 12, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Helius Medical Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:HSDT) (“Helius” or the “Company”), a neurotech company focused on neurological wellness, today reported financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2022.

First Quarter and Recent Business Updates

• U.S. commercial launch of PoNS® for multiple sclerosis (“MS”) commenced with 23 prescriptions written and 2 filled.
• Finalizing activities for participation of several clinical trial sites for the Company-sponsored Therapeutic Experience Program (“TEP”), an open label observational interventional trial designed to evaluate the impact of subjects’ adherence on PoNS Therapy outcomes in patients with MS.
• Increased to 41 clinic locations in Canada.
• Q1 2022 revenue increased by 126% to $190 thousand compared to $84 thousand in Q1 2021.
• Projected cash flow positive operations by Q4 2023
  

“The U.S. commercial launch of PoNS for multiple sclerosis is officially under way. PoNS is an important therapy, and we are energized by the strong reception in the marketplace, with 23 prescriptions written as of today and therapy actively being scheduled. Regarding our TEP program, we plan to soon provide PoNS devices to NYU-Langone Health and we are completing setup activities to enroll several highly regarded centers of excellence, which we expect to announce soon. In Canada, our authorized sites grew to 41 clinic locations under our commercial expansion plan. It's a busy and exciting time at Helius, and we are confident there is much more to come,” said Dane Andreeff, President and Chief Executive Officer of Helius.

First Quarter 2022 Financial Results

Total revenue for the first quarter of 2022 was $190 thousand, an increase of 126% compared to $84 thousand in the first quarter of 2021 and was comprised primarily of product sales in both periods.

Gross profit for the first quarter of 2022 was $66 thousand, compared to gross profit of $69 thousand in the first quarter of 2021, reflecting increased fixed costs in the current year period in preparation for our anticipated revenue growth.

Operating expenses for the first quarter of 2022 increased to $4.6 million, compared to $3.6 million in the first quarter of 2021. The planned increase was primarily due to increased compensation expenses related to personnel additions in late 2021 and the first quarter 2022 to support the U.S. commercial launch.

Operating loss for the first quarter of 2022 increased $1.1 million to a loss of $4.6 million, compared to an operating loss of $3.5 million in the first quarter of 2021.

Net loss was $4.3 million for the first quarter of 2022, compared to a net loss of $3.4 million in the corresponding prior year period. The basic and diluted net loss per share for the first quarter was $1.15 per share, compared to a net loss of $1.65 per share for the first quarter of 2021.

Cash and Liquidity

Cash used in operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2022, was $4.7 million compared to $2.9 million in the first quarter of 2021. The increase year over year resulted primarily from the increased operating expenses as well as the amount and timing of bonus and franchise tax payments in 2022.

As of March 31, 2022, the Company had cash of $6.3 million, compared to $11.0 million at December 31, 2021.

No shares were sold under the Lincoln Park Capital Purchase Agreement during the first quarter of 2022 and approximately $14.4 million remained available for sale under the agreement at March 31, 2022. The Company had no debt outstanding as of March 31, 2022.

Second Quarter and Near-Term Guidance

The Company currently expects second quarter revenue to be modestly above the first quarter levels, factoring in potential delays for some portion of U.S. patients to pursue insurance coverage prior to filling their prescriptions. As we continue to build momentum and expand our sales coverage, the Company expects future quarterly revenue to continue increasing sequentially quarter over quarter throughout the year and through 2023 as the U.S. commercialization of PoNS develops. Based upon its current pricing structure, projected prescription rates and anticipated reimbursement timeline in the U.S., the Company believes it can be cash flow positive by the fourth quarter 2023.

Conference Call

As previously announced, management will host a conference call as follows:
Date:		Thursday, May 12, 2022
Time:		9:00 AM ET
Toll-free (U.S.)		(866) 374-5140
International		(404) 400-0571
Conference ID		33919561
Webcast:		https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/4ew556jx
The webcast will be archived under the Newsroom section of the Company’s investor relations website.

About Helius Medical Technologies, Inc.

Helius Medical Technologies is a leading neurotech company in the medical device field focused on neurologic deficits using non-implantable platform technologies that amplify the brain’s ability to compensate and promotes neuroplasticity, aiming to improve the lives of people dealing with neurologic diseases. The Company’s first commercial product is the Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator (PoNS). For more information, visit www.heliusmedical.com.

About the PoNS Device and PoNS Therapy

The Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator (PoNS) is an innovative non-surgical medical device, inclusive of a controller and mouthpiece, which delivers electrical stimulation to the surface of the tongue to improve balance and gait. The PoNS device is indicated for use in the United States as a short-term treatment of gait deficit due to mild-to-moderate symptoms from multiple sclerosis (“MS”) and is to be used as an adjunct to a supervised therapeutic exercise program in patients 22 years of age and over by prescription only. Helius is advancing PoNS post-approval research in MS through a recently launched Therapeutic Experience Program (TEP) designed to partner with neurologists and neurorehabilitation therapists at 10-12 US centers of excellence, who express an interest in becoming “early adopters” of PoNS therapy.

PoNS is also authorized for sale in Canada for two indications: (i) for use as a short-term treatment (14 weeks) of chronic balance deficit due to mild-to-moderate traumatic brain injury (“mmTBI”) and is to be used in conjunction with physical therapy; and (ii) for use as a short term treatment (14 weeks) of gait deficit due to mild and moderate symptoms from MS and is to be used in conjunction with physical therapy. PoNS is also authorized for sale in Australia for short term use by healthcare professionals as an adjunct to a therapeutic exercise program to improve balance and gait.

Cautionary Disclaimer Statement: 

This press release does not and shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction. Any offer, if at all, will be made only by means of a prospectus, including a prospectus supplement, forming a part of the effective registration statement.

Certain statements in this news release are not based on historical facts and constitute forward-looking statements or forward-looking information within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Canadian securities laws. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as “believe,” “continue,” “expect,” “will,” “goal,” “aim to” and similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements include, among others, statements regarding the Company’s future growth and operational progress, including commercial activities for the PoNS device, projected revenue from sales of our products, progress of commercialization of the PoNS device in the U.S., the ability and timing of our customers’ ability to seek reimbursement for the PoNS device in the U.S., expectations for the Therapeutic Experience Program, clinical development plans, product development activities, and our future expenses and cash flow, including our ability to have cash flow positive operations by Q4 2023.

There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations include uncertainties associated with the Company’s capital requirements to achieve its business objectives, availability of funds, including that funding from our purchase agreement with Lincoln Park Capital Fund, LLC may be limited or be insufficient to fund our operations, the ability to find additional sources of funding, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, manufacturing, labor shortage and supply chain risks, the Company’s ability to train physical therapists in the supervision of the use of the PoNS treatment, the Company’s ability to secure contracts with rehabilitation clinics, the Company’s ability to obtain national Medicare coverage and to obtain a reimbursement code so that the PoNS device is covered by Medicare and Medicaid, the Company’s ability to build internal commercial infrastructure, secure state distribution licenses, build a commercial team and build relationships with Key Opinion Leaders, neurology experts and neurorehabilitation centers, market awareness of the PoNS device, future clinical trials and the clinical development process, ongoing government regulation and other factors, and other risks detailed from time to time in the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2022 and its other filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and the Canadian securities regulators, which can be obtained from either at www.sec.gov or www.sedar.com.

The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from such statements except to the extent required by law.

Investor Relations Contact:

Lisa M. Wilson, In-Site Communications, Inc.
T: 212-452-2793
E: lwilson@insitecony.com

Helius Medical Technologies, Inc.

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss
(Amounts in thousands except shares and per share data)

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2022				2021
Revenue:
Product sales	$	183			$	77
License revenue		7				7
Total operating revenue		190				84
Cost of sales:
Cost of product sales		124				15
Gross profit		66				69
Operating expenses:
Research and development		1,764				1,316
Selling, general and administrative		2,819				2,197
Amortization expense		47				57
Total operating expenses		4,630				3,570
Operating loss		(4,564	)			(3,501	)
Other income:
Other income		1				—
Foreign exchange gain		217				139
Total other income		218				139
Net loss		(4,346	)			(3,362	)
Other comprehensive loss:
Foreign currency translation adjustments		(202	)			(128	)
Comprehensive loss	$	(4,548	)		$	(3,490	)
Net loss per share
Basic	$	(1.15	)		$	(1.65	)
Diluted	$	(1.15	)		$	(1.65	)
Weighted average shares outstanding
Basic		3,787,871				2,040,839
Diluted		3,787,871				2,040,839

Helius Medical Technologies, Inc.
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Except for share data, amounts in thousands)

		March 31, 2022				December 31, 2021
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash		$	6,310			$	11,005
Accounts receivable, net			60				66
Other receivables			185				185
Inventory, net			520				476
Prepaid expenses			951				862
Total current assets			8,026				12,594
Property and equipment, net			380				409
Other assets
Goodwill			777				763
Intangible assets, net			291				333
Other non-current assets			4				—
Operating lease right-of-use asset, net			140				3
Total other assets			1,212				1,099
TOTAL ASSETS		$	9,618			$	14,102
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities
Accounts payable		$	1,111			$	1,069
Accrued liabilities			1,008				1,433
Operating lease liability			51				3
Deferred revenue			29				148
Total current liabilities			2,199				2,653
Non-current liabilities
Operating lease liability			99				—
Deferred revenue			190				193
TOTAL LIABILITIES			2,488				2,846
Commitments and contingencies
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021			—				—
Class A common stock, $0.001 par value; 150,000,000 shares authorized; 3,794,797 and 3,780,674 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively			4				4
Additional paid-in capital			149,834				149,412
Accumulated deficit			(141,381	)			(137,035	)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss			(1,327	)			(1,125	)
TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY			7,130				11,256
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY		$	9,618			$	14,102

FAQ

What were Helius Medical Technologies' Q1 2022 earnings results?

Helius Medical Technologies reported a revenue of $190,000 in Q1 2022, a 126% increase from $84,000 in Q1 2021.

What is HSDT's outlook for Q2 2022 revenue?

The company expects second quarter revenue to be modestly above the first quarter levels.

When does Helius expect to become cash flow positive?

Helius anticipates being cash flow positive by the fourth quarter of 2023.

How many prescriptions for PoNS were written as of May 2022?

As of May 2022, Helius had 23 prescriptions written for PoNS therapy.