Biotest AG: Biotest increases sales by 26%

DGAP-News: Biotest AG / Key word(s): Quarter Results
08.05.2020 / 09:00
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

PRESS RELEASE

Biotest increases sales by 26%

- EBIT strongly improved

- Three promising initiatives to fight against SARS-CoV-2

Dreieich, 08 May 2020. In the first three months of 2020, the Biotest Group generated revenue of € 97.7 million, after € 77.5 million in the same period of the previous year. The strong increase of 26.1 % is reflected in the Therapy and Plasma & Services segments. In the Therapy segment, increased volumes and higher sales prices of key products caused the revenue increase. The higher revenue in the Plasma & Services segment resulted primarily from higher toll manufacturing.

EBIT improved over the prior-year period by € 11.3 million and reached
€ 1.4 million in the first three months of 2020 (same period of the previous year:
€ -9.9 million). It includes expenses for the Biotest Next Level project of
€ -18.4 million (same period of the previous year: € -12.9 million). The significantly better EBIT compared to the previous year is primarily due to higher revenue.

At € –11.1 million, the financial result for the first quarter of 2020 was significantly lower than in the same period of the previous year (€ 9.0 million). The main reasons for this were the expenses in the amount of € –3.6 million (income in the same period of the previous year: € 9.9 million) from the fair value adjustments on financial instruments at the balance sheet date, which mainly reflects the surrender claim against trustee from the sale of shares in ADMA Biologics Inc., USA, as well as higher interest expenses due to the new financing agreement closed in 2019.

Earnings after taxes of the Biotest Group therefore de-creased to € -10.8 million in the first quarter of 2020 com-pared with € -1.2 million in the first quarter of the previous year.

Three promising initiatives to fight the COVID-19 infection
In this extremely difficult situation, Biotest has launched three promising initiatives to contribute to the Corona crisis solution.

1. Due to the great similarity of the clinical picture to the patients treated in the CIGMA study, Biotest sees Trimodulin as having considerable potential for patients with severe pneumonia after a COVID-19 infection. The CIGMA study is a large-scale Phase II study in mechanically ventilated patients with severe pneumonia (severe Community Acquired Pneumonia = sCAP). This group of diseases also includes pneumonia caused by the current coronavirus in critically ill patients. Trimodulin is administered as an adjunct to standard therapy such as antiviral or antibiotic therapy, and intensive care. In the CIGMA study, a relative reduction in mortality of 50-70% was observed in a sub-group of patients with high inflammation markers or reduced immune function. The same conditions also occur in COVID-19 patients with severe course of the disease. That is why Biotest is now expanding its planned phase III study in sCAP to include COVID-19 patients. At the same time, an accelerated phase II study in COVID-19 patients is planned in order to drastically accelerate the development in response to the current COVID-19 pandemic. Biotest has al-ready applied for European funding for the activities necessary to speed up the development.

2. In addition, Biotest is working on a new medication against COVID-19 derived from hyperimmune plasma. A test is currently being developed that is intended to screen all plasma donations for antibodies against COVID-19. The donations with the most antibodies can then be used in a production pool for a new hyperimmunoglobulin against COVID-19. This medication could then be used therapeutically for severe courses of COVID-19. In this context, Biotest has en-tered into an industry-wide cooperation. Together with Bio Products Laboratory, CSL, LFB, Octapharma and Takeda, the alliance aims to develop a non-company specific trademarked polyclonal hyper-immunoglobulin medication against SARS-CoV-2.

3. The Hungarian subsidiary of Biotest AG has been exclusively retained by the national Hungarian Health Initiative to collect plasma from convalescent Covid-19 patients. This convalescent plasma contains a high titer of specific anti-bodies against SARS-CoV-2 virus and can be used as therapeutic for very sick Covid-19 patients.

The Quarterly statement is available on the company's website at
http://www.biotest.com/de/en/investor_relations/news_and_publications/public
ations/quarterly_reports.cfm

About Biotest
Biotest is a provider of plasma proteins and biological drugs. With a value added chain that extends from pre-clinical and clinical development to worldwide sales, Biotest has specialised primarily in the areas of clinical immunology, haematology and intensive medicine. Biotest develops and markets immunoglobulins, coagulation factors and albumin based on human blood plasma. These are used for diseases of the immune and haematopoietic systems. Biotest has more than 1,800 employees worldwide. The ordinary and preference shares of Biotest AG are listed in the Prime Standard on the German stock exchange.


IR contact
Dr Monika Buttkereit
Phone: +49-6103-801-4406
Mail: investor_relations@biotest.de

PR contact
Dirk Neumüller
Phone: +49-6103-801-269
Mail: pr@biotest.com

Biotest AG, Landsteinerstr. 5, 63303 Dreieich, Germany, www.biotest.com

Ordinary shares: securities' ID No. 522720; ISIN DE0005227201
Preference shares: securities' ID No. 522723; ISIN DE0005227235
Listing: Frankfurt (Prime Standard)
Open Market: Berlin, Düsseldorf, Hamburg/ Hanover, Munich, Stuttgart, Tradegate

Disclaimer
This document contains forward-looking statements on overall economic development as well as on the business, earnings, financial and assets position of Biotest AG and its subsidiaries. These statements are based on current plans, estimates, forecasts and expectations of the company and are thus subject to risks and elements of uncertainty that could result in significant deviation of actual developments from expected developments. The forward-looking statements are only valid at the time of publication. Biotest does not intend to update the forward-looking statements and assumes no obligation to do so.

08.05.2020 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

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