Bottom fishing TWTI didn't appear to work, but it once again crushes estimates calling for a seven cent loss and this time raises guidance:
  >>MADISON, Wis., July 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Third Wave Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq: TWTI - News) today reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2004.
  Third Wave reported total revenues of $12.6 million and a net loss of $106,000, or $0.00 per diluted share, for the second quarter ended June 30, 2004, compared to total revenues of $8.8 million and a net loss of $2.2 million, or ($0.05) per diluted share, for the same period of 2003. The company also recorded deferred revenue of $5.1 million related to a product shipment to a key customer that is subject to acceptance by that customer.
  Third Wave's year-to-date total revenues for the period ended June 30, 2004, were $27.9 million, with net income of $2.7 million, or $0.07 per diluted share. Total revenues during the same period of 2003 were $17.3 million, with a net loss of $5.1 million, or ($0.13) per diluted share.
  The company reported gross margins of 72% for the quarter ended June 30, 2004, up from 62% percent for the same period of 2003. Total operating expenses for the second quarter of 2004 were $13.4 million, compared to $11.1 million for the same period of 2003. Included in the second-quarter 2004 operating expenses were non-cash charges of $2.0 million related to the write- off of select assets and other one-time charges. Total operating expenses for the six-month period ended June 30, 2004, were $25.2 million, compared to $22.6 million for the same period of 2003. Third Wave ended the quarter with a cash balance of $69.0 million, an increase of $9.1 million from the prior quarter. The increase in cash during the second quarter includes a prepayment of $5.1 million that is related to deferred revenue at June 30, 2004, pending acceptance of the product by this customer.
  "Third Wave delivered another strong financial performance in the second quarter of 2004 and, more importantly, continued to demonstrate growth in our clinical molecular diagnostic business," said John Puisis, president and chief executive officer of Third Wave. "In addition to the important financial milestones we achieved, Third Wave accomplished a significant product milestone with the introduction of our Invader® HCV genotyping reagents. We are very pleased with our progress in transitioning the company to a clinical molecular diagnostic business."
  Second-Quarter 2004 Financial Highlights
  Third Wave achieved a number of key financial milestones during the second quarter. 
       * Continued growth in total clinical molecular diagnostic revenue to $3.4        million for the quarter ended June 30, 2004, a 13% increase from the        prior quarter and a 31% increase from the same period of 2003.  U.S.        clinical molecular diagnostic revenue increased 88% from the same        period of last year, while Japanese clinical revenue decreased as a        result of the company's deliberate move to reduce the historic reliance        on custom assay sales and to transition the revenue mix towards higher-        margin, standard products.
       * Sustained strength in the company's gross margins, which remained above        70% for the second consecutive quarter.
       * Continued strengthening of the company's cash position with a second-        quarter increase of $9.1 million, bringing the company's cash balance        to $69.0 million.  The company's cash balance has increased by $11.2        million during the first six months of 2004.  The second quarter also        was the third consecutive quarter for which the company has reported        positive cash flow from operations.
  Second-Quarter 2004 Product and Customer Highlights
  During the second quarter, Third Wave achieved a significant product milestone by entering the infectious disease market with the introduction of its Invader® Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) genotyping reagents. The release of Third Wave's HCV genotyping product was made in conjunction with the annual Clinical Virology Symposium in Clearwater, Fla. Mayo Clinic, and Third Wave in collaboration with the Cleveland Clinic Foundation each presented data at the symposium that demonstrates the complete concordance of the Invader® HCV genotyping reagents compared to currently available commercial assays. The studies also highlight the Invader® HCV genotyping reagents' accuracy, robustness, ease of use, and one-hour time to results.
  Early response to the new Invader® HCV genotyping product is favorable. Clinical laboratories such as Spectrum Laboratory Network, Greensboro, N.C., and academic medical centers including UCLA Medical Center are among the first purchasers of the product. Several dozen additional laboratories are currently evaluating the HCV genotyping product and the company expects to make additional customer adoption announcements throughout the balance of 2004.
  Update on 2004 Strategic Plan and Product Objectives
  Third Wave remains committed to its product development and commercialization strategy outlined earlier this year. Moving forward in 2004, the company plans to continue to make progress toward the following key goals: 
       * Advance product development in each of the following areas:
             - Women's Health
                  * Release HPV detection product (2H 2004)                   Update: Third Wave remains on target to release an initial                   HPV detection product during the second half of 2004.
             - Infectious Disease
                  * Establish a clinical trials program for an HCV viral load                   prototype assay (2004)                   Update: Third Wave is making significant progress advancing                   its HCV viral load program through feasibility and clinical                   studies.  The company will continue the prototype program in                   the third quarter and begin clinical studies against                   in-market products.  Third Wave remains on schedule to                   initiate a clinical trial program for its HCV viral load                   assay during the second half of 2004.
             - Chromosomal Analysis
                  * Broad release of a prenatal chromosomal analysis product                   (Q4 2004)                   Update: Third Wave remains on track to broadly launch this                   product during the fourth quarter of 2004.  The company is                   also working on a suite of additional chromosomal analysis                   products.  More details will be provided later in 2004.
             - Pharmacogenetics
                  * Introduce various CYP450 products for the identification of                   drug response variability to minimize adverse drug reactions                   and optimize therapy (2004)                   Update: The company remains on track to launch additional                   pharmacogenetic products by the end of 2004.
       * Further expand product pipeline opportunities based on customer input        Update: Third Wave continues to evaluate and develop additional        products in infectious disease, oncology and genetics/pharmacogenetics        that complement one or more of the company's existing products, meet an        unmet customer need, or both.  The company intends to articulate its        product development in a more expanded fashion during the second half        of 2004.
       * Continue to service strategic research relationships        Update: Third Wave continues to foster productive collaborations with        several of the world's foremost genomic researchers, including Dr.        Yusuke Nakamura of the International HapMap Project, Japanese        Millennium Project and the BioBank Japan Project; Japan's National        Cancer Center; and other thought-leading institutions around the world.
  In conjunction with the company's second-quarter 2004 update, Third Wave announced separately this morning that its board of directors has authorized the initiation of a stock repurchase plan that permits the company to purchase up to 5% of the company's outstanding shares.
  2004 Guidance Update
  Third Wave raises its guidance on total product revenue to approximately $42.0 million for the year 2004. The company continues its primary focus on its transition to a clinical molecular diagnostic business and believes that its clinical product revenue will continue to grow steadily, as anticipated. The company maintains its previous guidance of $15.0 million in clinical molecular diagnostic product revenue.
  Conference Call & Webcast
  Company management will host a conference call on Tuesday, July 27, 2004, at 10 a.m. EDT to discuss first-quarter results and ongoing corporate activities. Domestic callers should dial (800) 299-7089 and international callers should dial (617) 801-9714. The access code for both domestic and international callers is 94565507. Please dial in five to 10 minutes prior to the start of conference call. A live webcast and a replay of the conference call will be available at twt.com. The conference call, webcast and replay are open to all interested parties.
  About Third Wave Technologies
  Third Wave Technologies is a leader in the development and marketing of molecular diagnostics for a variety of DNA and RNA analysis applications, providing physicians and researchers with superior tools to diagnose and treat disease. Third Wave's Invader® technology provides the company's customers with exceptional accuracy, scalability and ease of use. The company offers a number of clinical products based on its Invader® technology for genetic testing related to multiple disease areas. For more information about Third Wave and its products, please visit the company's website at twt.com.
  All statements in this news release that are not historical are forward- looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as amended. Such forward-looking statements are subject to factors that could cause actual results to differ materially for Third Wave from those projected. Those factors include risks and uncertainties relating to technological approaches of Third Wave and its competitors, product development, manufacturing, market acceptance, cost and pricing of Third Wave products, dependence on collaborative partners and commercial customers, successful performance under collaborative and commercial agreements, competition, the strength of the Third Wave intellectual property, the intellectual property of others and other risk factors identified in the documents Third Wave has filed, or will file, with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies of the Third Wave filings with the SEC may be obtained from the SEC Internet site at www.sec.gov. Third Wave expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in Third Wave's expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statements are based. Third Wave Technologies, Invader and the Third Wave logo are trademarks of Third Wave Technologies, Inc. 
                          Third Wave Technologies, Inc.                            Statement of Operations                  (In thousands, except for per share amounts)                                  (Unaudited)
                                           Three Months Ended  Six Months Ended                                                June 30,          June 30,                                             2004     2003     2004     2003     Revenues:       Product                              $12,544   $8,515  $27,758  $16,701       Development                                0      250        0      500       License & royalty                         40       28       81       54       Grant                                     48       24       69       54                                             12,632    8,817   27,908   17,309
      Operating expenses:       Cost of goods sold         Product cost of goods sold           3,114    2,999    6,810    5,712         Intangible amortization                376      376      752      752       Total cost of goods sold               3,490    3,375    7,562    6,464
        Research and development               3,363    2,912    6,307    5,832       Selling and marketing                  2,696    2,521    5,321    4,861       General and administrative             3,080    2,246    5,265    5,417       Impairment                               759        0      759        0                                              9,898    7,679   17,652   16,110
      Total operating expenses                13,388   11,054   25,214   22,574
      Income (loss) from operations             (756)  (2,237)   2,694   (5,265)
      Other income (expense):       Interest income                          143      160      270      331       Interest expense                         (59)     (92)    (116)    (184)       Other                                    566        8     (105)      34                                                650       76       49      181
      Net income (loss)                        ($106) ($2,161)  $2,743  ($5,084)
      Net income (loss) per diluted share     ($0.00)  ($0.05)   $0.07   ($0.13)
      Weighted average diluted shares      outstanding                            40,325   39,699   41,875   39,362
                          Third Wave Technologies, Inc.                                 Balance Sheets                                  (Unaudited)
                                                     June 30,        December 31                                                      2004             2003     Assets:       Cash, cash equivalents, and        short-term investments                      $68,998           $57,816       Other current assets                           5,854             3,941       Equipment and leasehold improvements, net      6,359             8,527       Intangible assets, net of amortization         4,899             5,651       Goodwill and indefinite lived intangible        assets                                        1,497             1,497       Other assets                                   2,862             2,990         Total assets                               $90,469           $80,422
      Liabilities and shareholders' equity       Accounts payable, accrued expenses        and other liabilities                       $11,697           $11,553       Deferred revenue                               5,644                68       Debt                                           9,713             9,513       Shareholders' equity                          63,415            59,288         Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $90,469           $80,422<<
 
  Cheers,  Tuck |