Orthovita, Inc. (NASDAQ: VITA), an orthobiologics and biosurgery company, reported financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2010. As previously reported, product sales for the third quarter of 2010 were $23.3 million, a 5% increase over product sales of $22.3 million in the third quarter of 2009.

Sales of Vitoss? Synthetic Bone Graft Substitute products increased 1% in the third quarter of 2010 compared to the year-earlier quarter. Within the Vitoss product family, sales of Vitoss Bioactive Foam products increased 12%, but this increase was largely offset by decreases in Vitoss Morsels and Foam products. U.S. sales of Cortoss? Bone Augmentation Material and the Aliquot? Delivery System used with Cortoss were $1.0 million in the third quarter of 2010 compared to $0.4 million in the third quarter of 2009. The Company initiated a limited launch of Cortoss and Aliquot in the U.S. in the third quarter of 2009. Sales of the Company's biosurgery products increased 4% during the third quarter of 2010 compared to the year-earlier quarter.

Antony Koblish, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, ?As we described in our second quarter financial release, in August 2010 we implemented a restructuring of our sales organization in an effort to better align our core direct and third-party distribution channels with changes in the spine and orthopedic markets, particularly the shift of vertebral augmentation procedures from the inpatient to the outpatient setting. Our direct sales representatives are marketing our three product platforms to the inpatient hospital market, where they are leveraging their relationships to cross-market our products within a select group of high-potential hospital accounts. We are shifting to greater reliance on distributors to market Cortoss to the outpatient market. While we are in the early stages of making this transition, we are encouraged that we achieved modest year-over-year increases in third quarter 2010 product sales. However, based on our financial results for the first nine months of 2010 and the continuing weakness in the spine market, we currently expect 2010 product sales to be between $94.0 and $96.0 million, and we have narrowed our guidance for our 2010 net loss to be between $1.0 million and $2.0 million. Prior to this revision, our guidance had been for 2010 product sales to be between $96.0 and $100.0 million and our net income/loss to range from net income of $1.0 million to a net loss of $2.0 million.?

Gross profit for the quarter ended September 30, 2010 was $15.1 million, or 65% of product sales, compared to $15.1 million, or 68% of product sales, for the third quarter of 2009. The reduction in gross profit as a percentage of product sales was due to higher charges in 2010 for unused manufacturing capacity and increased reserves for expiring inventory.

During the third quarter of 2010, Orthovita recorded operating income of $0.7 million compared to an operating loss of $1.0 million in the third quarter of 2009. The net loss for the third quarter of 2010 was $0.3 million, or $0.00 per common share, compared to a net loss of $1.7 million, or $0.02 per common share, in the third quarter of 2009. The considerable improvement in operating income and net loss reflects cost reduction efforts implemented in late June 2010 that included a 10% reduction in headcount and decreases in certain other discretionary expenses.

Orthovita's earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization and stock-based compensation expense, or Adjusted EBITDA, was $2.4 million in the third quarter of 2010, or $0.03 per basic and diluted share, compared to $0.5 million, or $0.01 per basic and diluted share, in the third quarter of 2009. A reconciliation of our reported GAAP net loss to Adjusted EBITDA is included with the Summary Financial Information included with this release.

Nancy C. Broadbent, Chief Financial Officer, commented, ?The restructuring of our sales organization and streamlining of headcount and other expenses at the end of the second quarter of 2010 enabled us to improve our operating performance and balance sheet during difficult market conditions. As a result, we achieved an operating profit and significantly reduced our net loss during the third quarter of 2010. Moreover, we added $2.3 million to our cash and short-term investments at September 30, 2010 compared to June 30, 2010.?

For the first nine months of 2010, product sales increased 4% to $71.3 million compared to $68.5 million for the first nine months of 2009. Sales of Vitoss products declined by 3% during the nine months ended September 30, 2010 compared to the corresponding period in 2009, which included an 11% increase in Vitoss Bioactive Foam products offset by declines in Vitoss Morsels and Foam products. For the first nine months of 2010, U.S. sales of Cortoss and Aliquot were $3.2 million compared to $0.4 million during the first nine months of 2009. As noted above, the Company initiated a limited launch of Cortoss and Aliquot in the U.S. in the third quarter of 2009. Product sales for the first nine months of 2010 and 2009 included $1.1 million and $0.6 million, respectively, from sales to one customer of the Company's Vitomatrix? bone graft material for use as a raw material in dental products. The supply agreement with this customer was terminated in March 2010, and no further sales relating to this agreement are expected. For the first nine months of 2010, biosurgery product sales increased 8% compared to the corresponding year-earlier period.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, gross profit was $47.5 million, or 67% of product sales, compared to $46.7 million, or 68% of product sales, for the first nine months of 2009. Gross profit was higher in the 2010 period compared to the 2009 period as a result of higher sales; however, gross profit as a percent of product sales was lower for the first nine months of 2010 compared to the corresponding year-earlier period due to higher charges for unused manufacturing capacity and increased reserves for expiring inventory.

During the first nine months of 2010, Orthovita recorded operating income of $0.7 million compared to a $1.5 million operating loss for the first nine months of 2009. The net loss for the first nine months of 2010 was $2.0 million, or $0.03 per common share, compared to a net loss of $3.6 million, or $0.05 per common share, for the first nine months of 2009.

Adjusted EBITDA for the first nine months of 2010 was $5.1 million, or $0.07 per basic and diluted share, compared to $2.4 million, or $0.03 per basic and diluted share, for the first nine months of 2009. A reconciliation of our reported GAAP net loss to Adjusted EBITDA is included with the Summary Financial Information included with this release.

Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments were $20.9 million at September 30, 2010, compared to $23.1 million at December 31, 2009. For the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, the net cash and cash equivalents used in operating activities was $1.7 million and $6.0 million, respectively.

Conference Call

Antony Koblish, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Nancy C. Broadbent, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Orthovita, will host a conference call at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, November 3, 2010 to review and discuss the third quarter 2010 financial results and updated full-year guidance. The phone number to join the conference call from within the U.S. is (888) 815-2919, and from outside the U.S. is (706) 643-3675; the conference identification number is 16286234. Listeners are advised to dial in ten minutes prior to the scheduled start time for the conference call. A replay of the conference call will be available for two weeks beginning November 3, 2010 at 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time, and ending November 17, 2010, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. You may listen to the replay by dialing within the U.S. (800) 642-1687 or by dialing from outside the U.S. (706) 645-9291. The replay identification number is 16286234.

About the Company

Orthovita, Inc. is a specialty spine and orthopedic company with a portfolio of orthobiologic and biosurgery products. Our products are based on novel and unique proprietary biomaterials that have innovative mechanisms of action in the body. Our orthobiologic platform offers products for the fusion, regeneration and fixation of human bone. Our biosurgery platform offers products for controlling intra-operative bleeding, also known as hemostasis. Our current fusion and regeneration products are based on our proprietary VitossTM Bone Graft Substitute technology and address the non-structural bone graft market with synthetic, bioactive alternatives to patient- and cadaver-derived bone tissue. CortossTM Bone Augmentation Material, an injectable, polymer composite that mimics the mechanical properties of weight-bearing human cortical bone, provides the basis for our fixation portfolio. Our hemostasis portfolio includes VitagelTM Surgical Hemostat, a proprietary, collagen-based matrix that controls bleeding and facilitates healing, and Vitasure? Absorbable Hemostat, a plant-based product that can be deployed quickly throughout surgery.

Disclosure Notice

This press release may contain forward-looking statements regarding Orthovita's current expectations of future events that involve risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, achieving product sales and net loss projections for 2010, the demand and market acceptance of our products, sales growth of our products, our ability to manage and optimize our hybrid sales model, and other aspects of our business. Such statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to a number of substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or timeliness to differ materially from those addressed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause such a difference are listed from time to time in reports filed by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including but not limited to risks described in our most recently filed Form 10-K under the caption "Risk Factors.? Further information about these and other relevant risks and uncertainties may be found in Orthovita's filings with the SEC, all of which are available from the SEC as well as other sources. Orthovita undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements.

           
ORTHOVITA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Summary Financial Information (Unaudited)
(In thousands except per share amounts)
   
 

Statements of Operation Data:

Three months ended Nine months ended
September 30, September 30,
as a as a as a as a
percentage percentage percentage percentage
  2010   of sales   2009   of sales   2010   of sales   2009   of sales
 
PRODUCT SALES $ 23,327 100 % $ 22,295 100 % $ 71,256 100 % $ 68,477 100 %
 
COST OF SALES   8,238   35 %   7,150   32 %   23,745   33 %   21,827   32 %
 
GROSS PROFIT   15,089   65 %   15,145   68 %   47,511   67 %   46,650   68 %
 
OPERATING EXPENSES:
General and administrative expenses 2,930 13 % 3,444 15 % 9,742 14 % 9,148 13 %
Selling and marketing expenses 10,324 44 % 10,819 49 % 33,438 47 % 33,433 49 %
Research and development expenses   1,156   5 %   1,886   8 %   3,658   5 %   5,543   8 %
Total operating expenses   14,410   62 %   16,149   72 %   46,838   66 %   48,124   70 %
 
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS) 679 3 % (1,004 ) -5 % 673 1 % (1,474 ) -2 %
 
INTEREST EXPENSE (957 ) -4 % (756 ) -3 % (2,682 ) -4 % (2,342 ) -3 %
INTEREST INCOME 8 0 % 28 0 % 26 0 % 238 0 %
OTHER INCOME   3   0 %   5   0 %   3   0 %   5   0 %
 
LOSS BEFORE INCOME TAXES (267 ) -1 % (1,727 ) -8 % (1,980 ) -3 % (3,573 ) -5 %
 
INCOME TAXES   (16 ) 0 %   (14 ) 0 %   (46 ) 0 %   (43 ) 0 %
 
NET LOSS $ (283 ) -1 % $ (1,741 ) -8 % $ (2,026 ) -3 % $ (3,616 ) -5 %
 
NET LOSS PER SHARE, BASIC AND DILUTED $ (0.00 ) $ (0.02 ) $ (0.03 ) $ (0.05 )
 
 
SHARES USED IN COMPUTING BASIC AND DILUTED NET LOSS PER COMMON SHARE   76,740     76,279     76,644     76,088  
 
ORTHOVITA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Summary Financial Information (Unaudited)
(In thousands except per share amounts)
 
 

Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Information:

Adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization and stock-based compensation expense) for the third quarter of 2010 was $2.4 million compared to $0.5 million for the third quarter of 2009. Adjusted EBITDA for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 was $5.1 million compared to $2.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009.
 
Adjusted EBITDA is presented with the expectation that it will assist investors and analysts in comparing our performance across reporting periods on a consistent basis by excluding items that we do not believe are indicative of our core operating performance. In addition, we use Adjusted EBITDA as a factor in evaluating the effectiveness of our current and planned business strategies. A reconciliation of our reported net loss to Adjusted EBITDA in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) is as follows:
       
Three months ended Nine months ended
September 30 September 30,
  2010       2009     2010       2009  
Reported GAAP Net Loss $ (283 ) $ (1,741 ) $ (2,026 ) $ (3,616 )

Adjustments:

Minus: interest income (8 ) (28 ) (26 ) (238 )
Plus: interest expense 957 756 2,682 2,342
Plus: income taxes 16 14 46 43
Plus: Depreciation and amortization 1,193 858 2,998 2,527
Plus: Stock-based compensation   524       640     1,444       1,366  
 
Adjusted EBITDA $ 2,399     $ 499   $ 5,118     $ 2,424  
 
 
Adjusted EBITDA per common share, basic $ 0.03     $ 0.01   $ 0.07     $ 0.03  
 
Adjusted EBITDA per common share, diluted $ 0.03     $ 0.01   $ 0.07     $ 0.03  
 
Shares used in computing basic Adjusted EBITDA per common share   76,740       76,279     76,644       76,088  
 
Shares used in computing diluted Adjusted EBITDA per common share   76,842       78,157     76,833       76,822  
 
Adjusted EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool. Some of these limitations are:

(1)

Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect our cash expenditures, or future requirements for capital expenditures or contractual commitments;

(2)

Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect changes in or cash requirements for our working capital needs;

(3)

Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect the interest expense or the cash requirements necessary to service interest on our $35 million principal balance of outstanding notes payable;

(4)

Although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized will often have to be replaced in the future and Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect cash requirements for replacement of such assets; and

(5)

Stock-based compensation is and will remain a key element of our overall long-term incentive compensation program.

 
Because of these limitations, Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for performance measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. We primarily rely on our GAAP results and use Adjusted EBITDA only as a supplemental analysis.
   
ORTHOVITA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Summary Financial Information (Unaudited)
(continued)
(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
September 30, 2010 December 31, 2009

Balance Sheet Data:

 
Cash and cash equivalents $ 11,977 $ 7,757
Short-term investments 8,877 15,349

Accounts receivable, net

11,679 12,324
Inventories 26,571 26,058
Other current assets   698     784  
Total current assets 59,802 62,272
 
Property and equipment, net 17,399 17,940
License and technology intangibles, net 10,257 11,376
Other assets   897     1,041  
Total assets $ 88,355   $ 92,629  
 
 
Current liabilities 8,775 13,367
Notes payable, net of debt discount 34,331 34,095
Other long-term liabilities   387     408  
Total liabilities 43,493 47,870
Total shareholders' equity   44,862     44,759  
Total liabilities and shareholder's equity $ 88,355   $ 92,629  
 
 

Cash Flow Data:

Nine months ended September 30,
  2010     2009  
 
Net cash used in operating activities $ (1,595 ) $ (5,969 )
 
Net cash provided by investing activities $ 5,029   $ 4,304  
 
Net cash provided by financing activities $ 875   $ 1,239  

Orthovita, Inc.
Nancy C. Broadbent
Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
610-640-1775 or 800-676-8482