TEX) B: QUANTECH LTD. RELEASES FIRST QUARTER RESULTS FOR FISCAL Y B: QUANTECH LTD. RELEASES FIRST QUARTER RESULTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 1999 ST. PAUL, Minn., Nov. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Quantech Ltd. (OTC Bulletin Board: QQQQ), a development stage company, today reported a net loss for the three months ended Sept. 30, 1998, of $1,543,318, equal to 60 cents per share, compared with a loss of $588,420, equal to 24 cents per share, for the first quarter in fiscal 1998. The company said the increase in the net loss was primarily due to a $546,902 one-time non-cash interest expense charge related to the conversion feature of promissory notes, together with expenses for test development, preparation of 510(k) submissions to the FDA and engineering design work on Quantech's DBx commercial instrument and related disposables. "The interest charge distorts the net loss as it had to be booked when Quantech's convertible notes could have been converted at a discount to market price," said Robert Case, Quantech's CEO. "Instead, the notes were converted at market price in the second quarter, but this does not change the non-cash charge for the prior period. Excluding the interest charge, the increased loss in the first quarter reflects stepped-up activity that has resulted from the tremendous technical progress we have made since last year. Expenses will continue to increase as Quantech accelerates test development and related FDA submissions and completes commercial development of its testing instrument." Based in St. Paul, Minn., Quantech is completing development of its DBx system for the emergency department STAT testing market. Quantech's proprietary digital biosensor surface plasmon resonance (SPR) detection technology allows the DBx, on a single user-friendly instrument, to perform a menu of tests that traditionally has required a number of different systems run by trained laboratory personnel. Quantech's first tests will be used to detect and quantify cardiac markers, which aid physicians in assessing whether a patient has suffered a heart attack, and pregnancy. Additional tests are under development to provide the DBx with a complete menu of clinically related, whole blood STAT tests that will supply quantitative results in 10 to 20 minutes. Because of its ease of use, speed and broad menu capability, the DBx will serve the testing needs of hospital emergency departments and other critical care units. "Safe Harbor" statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Any statements which are not historical facts contained in this release are forward looking statements that involve risk and uncertainties, including but not limited to those relating to product demand, pricing, market acceptance, the effect of economic conditions, the validity and enforceability of intellectual property rights, the outcome of government regulatory proceedings, competitive products, risks in product and technology development, the ability to complete transactions, and other risks identified in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. QUANTECH LTD. (A Development Stage Company) STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (unaudited) |