/EINPresswire.com/ -- SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA--(Marketwired - Mar 1, 2017) - Lattice Biologics Ltd. (TSX VENTURE:LBL) (OTCQB:LBLTF) ("Lattice Biologics" or the "Company") announces financial results for the first quarter ended December 31, 2016:

Highlights:

• Record Gross Margins increased 44% Q1 2017 over Q1 2016
• Continued sales focus to higher margin product mix
• Acellular Dermal Products sales growth 306% Q1 2017 over Q1 2016
• DBM Putty sales growth 14.2% Q1 2017 over Q1 2016
• First commercial sale of newly launched amnion based products now account for 5% of Q1 2017 sales
• Restructured sales force to include 4 direct sales representatives, and new international distributors

Q1 2017 Business Update:

The Company remains focused on raising additional capital to: assist with its working capital constraint; fulfill open purchase orders; launch the Company's new product lines; and support R&D efforts. Appropriate working capital conditions will allow the Company to expand current operations by accepting and processing a greater number of donors each month, launch new higher-margin product lines, and to create a direct sales force of 15-20 new sales representatives in 2017.

Furthermore, Lattice Biologics is proactively working to complete key additions to its Scientific Advisory Boards (SABs) which are comprised of strategic Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) in each of the Company's targeted surgical specialties. These professionals play a significant role in influencing industry perception and opinion and can be instrumental in the recruitment of new surgeon partners and generation of critical clinical data.

"I am extremely pleased with our R&D team's efforts to create a next generation amniotic fluid based product. We can now super-concentrate amniotic based stem cells up to 20 million cells per mL, while still increasing cell viability, and removing unwanted contaminants. We are working closely with leading KOL's in the field to further our clinical data in multiple new areas and to increase our understanding of this revolutionary new product," states CEO Guy Cook.

Lattice Biologics maintains its commitment to honoring the gift of donation by implementing a strong quality control environment for the recovery and processing of donors. The Company has significantly expanded its processing throughput, and has substantial inventory reserves to meet customer demand.

As indicated above, the Company continues efforts to diversify the sales mix across the new higher margin product lines added in 2016 and expected new products in 2017.

First Quarter 2017 Financial Results (all figures denoted in USD):

The product launches have been well received by surgeons and the Company continues to replace unprofitable legacy contracts and focus on the newer higher margin products. Lattice Biologics' total revenue was $891,451 in the three months ended December 31, 2016 compared to $1,065,654 for the three months ended December 31, 2015, a decrease of 16%, however gross margin increased 44% over the same period, as shown in the following quarter sales table:

		Dec-31			Sep-30			Jun-30			Mar-31			Dec-31			Sep-30			Jun-30			Mar-31
		2016			2016			2016			2016			2015			2015			2015			2015
ADM dermis	$	208,912	23%	$	130,575	18%	$	220,365	23%	$	48,336	5%	$	51,430	5%	$	92,659	9%	$	53,544	6%	$	15,110	1%
DBM putty		58,110	7%		151,071	21%		246,235	25%		104,856	10%		50,856	5%		21,175	2%		8,984	1%		84,392	8%
Bone scaffold		567,841	64%		411,131	56%		505,603	52%		847,326	84%		954,496	89%		918,983	89%		840,033	92%		956,592	90%
Other		56,588	6%		40,128	5%		117	0%		6,457	1%		8,872	1%		4,348	0%		11,995	1%		9,701	1%
Total revenue	$	891,451	100%	$	732,905	100%	$	972,320	100%	$	1,006,975	100%	$	1,065,654	100%	$	1,037,165	100%	$	914,556	100%	$	1,065,795	100%

The following table sets out selected unaudited financial information, prepared in accordance with IFRS. The information contained herein is drawn from interim financial statements of the Company for each of the following quarterly periods ending:

		Dec-31		Sep-30		Jun-30		Mar-31		Dec-31		Sep-30		Jun-30		Mar-31
		2016		2016		2016		2016		2015		2015		2015		2015
Revenue	$	891,451	$	732,905	$	972,320	$	1,006,975	$	1,065,654	$	1,037,165	$	914,556	$	1,065,795
Cost of sales		564,831		558,396		744,094		818,884		839,787		800,669		743,300		896,222
Gross profit		326,620		174,509		228,226		188,091		225,867		236,496		171,256		169,573
Operating costs (i)		917,809		1,267,507		836,955		965,394		798,166		859,641		722,889		676,498
EBITDA (ii)		(571,408)		(1,072,009)		(577,075)		(763,988)		(558,984)		(604,732)		(533,221)		(488,513)

Certain adjustments have been made to the quarterly information for the first three quarters of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, as compared to data contained in the quarterly filings for such quarters. These changes relate to certain adjustments for cost of sales and operating costs that were not recognized until the fourth quarter of such fiscal year.

1. Operating costs are defined as all general and administrative costs, professional fees, rent, salaries and benefits, sales and marketing, and utilities expenses.
2. EBITDA is defined as gross profit less operating costs (as defined above).

Lattice Biologics Ltd.

Guy Cook, Chief Executive Officer

Telephone No: (480) 563-0800

About Lattice Biologics Ltd.:

Lattice Biologics Ltd. is an emerging precision medicine leader in the field of cellular therapies and tissue engineering, with an emphasis on bone, skin, and cartilage regeneration. As a manufacturer of the highest quality allografts, Lattice is focused on next generation products to improve surgical outcomes.

Versatile allografts for a variety of surgical applications:

• Enhancing fusion in spine surgery
• Enhancing breast reconstruction post mastectomy for breast cancer patients
• Sports medicine indications, including ACL repair
• Promotion of bone regeneration in foot and ankle surgery
• Promotion of cranial healing following neurosurgery
• Enhancing wound repair in burn victims
• Subchondral bone defect repair in knee and other joint surgeries

The Company is currently exploring new technologies in regenerative and personalized medicine:

• All natural amniotic fluid supplement for arthritic joints
  • Demonstrates lasting pain relief and improved outcomes
• Personalized Cancer Diagnostics - revolutionary high-throughput precision chemotherapy screening
  • See study details

Lattice Biologics operates headquarters, laboratory and manufacturing facilities in Scottsdale, Arizona as well as offices in Toronto Ontario. The Company maintains all necessary licensures to process and sell its tissue engineered products within the U.S. and internationally. This includes Certificates to Foreign Governments from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and registrations for 29 countries, which allow the export of bone, tendon, meniscus, ligament, soft tissue, and cartilage products outside of the U.S.

Lattice Biologics (TSX VENTURE:LBL) (OTCQB:LBLTF) became a publicly traded company on January 4, 2016.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information:

Certain information contained in this news release constitutes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the 'safe harbour' provisions of Canadian securities laws. All statements herein, other than statements of historical fact, are to be considered forward looking. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "planned", "potential", "future", "expected", "could", "possible", "goal", "intends", "will" or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, without limitation: information pertaining to the Company's strategy, plans, or future financial performance, such as statements with respect to future revenues or products, and other statements that express management's expectations or estimates of future performance. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Lattice to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of factors and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management as of the date such statements are made, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. The factors and assumptions that could prove to be incorrect, include, but are not limited to: that market prices will be consistent with expectations, the continued availability of capital and financing, and that general economic, market and business conditions will be consistent with expectations. The forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. We disclaim any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, except as required by law. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

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