Innovative Medical Services (Nasdaq:PURE), San Diego, a biosciences
company that develops and markets technology-based products involving
water purification/treatment, pest control and anti-microbial
applications, has reported its operating results for the second quarter
and first half of FY2003.
For the three months ended Jan. 31, 2003, revenues totaled
$633,500, compared with revenues of $834,200 in the second quarter of
FY2002. The company recorded a net loss from operations of ($1,233,300),
or ($0.14) per share, in the most recent quarter, compared with a net
loss from operations of ($406,200), or ($0.06) per share, in the
prior-year quarter. Approximately 52 percent of the loss recorded in the
second quarter of FY2003 is attributed to non-cash start-up costs
associated with the acquisition of Nickel Ltd. distribution and
licensing agreements.
For the six months ended Jan. 31, 2003, the company reported a net
loss from operations of ($1,696,000), or ($0.20) per share, on revenues
of $1,360,800. These results compared with a net loss from operations of
($785,200), or ($0.11) per share, and revenues of $1,698,000, in the
first half of FY2002.
Water treatment division revenues increased 28 percent during the
quarter to $601,600, versus $470,900 in the quarter ended Jan. 31, 2002.
Revenues from the company's biosciences divisions declined 91
percent to $31,900, compared with $363,300 in the prior-year quarter.
The increase in water treatment division revenues reflects higher
commercial and residential water treatment product sales. Increased
sales in the Nutripure dealer program were primarily responsible for
this increase in revenue. The company expects further growth in water
treatment division revenues during the second half of FY2003 as the
dealer program continues to expand and sales of the Nutripure 2000
countertop water filtration system to a national mass merchandiser
increase.
Sales in the company's biosciences divisions trailed
prior-year levels in the most recent quarter. A decline in pesticide
product sales resulted from the restructuring of the company's
sales and marketing strategy in order to focus on large end-users,
including leading pest control service companies. Management expects
benefits of the restructuring to be evident in higher pest control
product sales during the second half of FY2003.
Silver ionization revenues declined this quarter due to a lack of
sales of Axen to Dodo & Co. ("Dodo"), a Korean cosmetics
manufacturer and marketer. As previously disclosed, we believe Dodo
continues in the bankruptcy reorganization process. Until the matter is
resolved and Dodo restabilizes, Innovative Medical Services will not
ship additional product to Dodo. No Axen was shipped to Dodo during the
quarter ended Jan. 31, 2003, whereas sales to Dodo comprised the
majority of Axen sales in the prior-year quarter.
"While our operating results during the first half of Fiscal
2003 were disappointing, we do not believe they are indicative of the
company's prospects for sales and profitability," stated
Michael Krall, CEO of Innovative Medical Services.
"Our Nutripure dealer program is gaining momentum in response
to changes in strategy that have been implemented by a strengthened
management team in recent months, and we expect sales growth to
accelerate in the water treatment division during the second half of the
fiscal year. Meanwhile, steps have been taken to reverse the decline in
biosciences product sales that was evident in the first and second
quarters. Our previously announced licensing agreement with Nickel Ltd.
has already resulted in the market launch in Europe of anti-bacterial
products containing the 30 part-per-million (ppm) formulation of our
Axen technology, and we will soon be introducing a number of
Nickel's Clean Plus(R) janitorial and sanitation products to
distributors and mass merchandisers in the United States.
"We have overhauled key sales and marketing strategies for our
pesticide products in a manner that is intended to decrease expenses and
increase sales by targeting major wholesalers and national pest control
service companies," continued Krall. "A number of leading pest
control organizations are currently evaluating the private-label
potential of our least-toxic pesticides.
"We continue to believe that the 30-ppm formulation of our
Axen silver ion anti-microbial disinfectant, when approved by the EPA,
holds great promise for our company. Management remains optimistic that
such regulatory approval will be forthcoming during the next several
weeks. Once EPA approval is granted, we should be able to expand
Axen's efficacy claims as a hard surface disinfectant to include a
30-second kill time on standard indicator bacteria, a 24-hour residual
kill on standard indicator bacteria, and enhanced kill times for
resistant strains of bacteria, fungi, and a number of viruses. These
efficacy claims, combined with Axen's lowest EPA toxicity rating,
will significantly exceed those stated on the labels of many leading
disinfectants on the market today. We expect to see a shift toward
increased Axenohl and Innovex product sales in the coming quarter.
"EPA approval for Axen-30 will also allow Innovative Medical
Services to move forward with its plans to import and sell Nickel
Ltd.'s new Bac'Out(R) line of wet wipes, liquids and sprays
into the United States under our distribution agreement with that
company. We expect to pursue additional EPA and FDA regulatory approvals
for other Axen applications involving wound care, topical infection
care, personal disinfecting products, food processing, food safety, and
municipal water treatment. We continue to believe that our silver ion
technologies will become the largest revenue generator for our company
over the long term," concluded Krall.
About Innovative Medical Services
Innovative Medical Services (IMS) is a biosciences company that
develops and markets technology-based products involving water
purification/treatment, pest control and anti-microbial applications.
The company is currently America's leader in pharmaceutical water
purification products and services using reverse osmosis technology. IMS
has expanded beyond its niche pharmacy market by developing and
marketing its Innovex line of EPA-approved pest control products
utilizing Triglycylboride(TM) technology and its Axenohl(TM)
anti-microbial disinfectant based upon its patented ionic silver
technology.
Innovative Medical Services is headquartered in El Cajon, Calif.
(San Diego metropolitan area) and its common stock is listed on The
Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol PURE.
For more information call 619/596-8600 or visit
http://mwww.imspure.com.
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