New Brunswick, New Jersey
May 17, 2005
Senesco Technologies, Inc. ("Senesco" or the "Company")
(AMEX:SNT) reported financial results for the three months ended
March 31, 2005.
The net loss
for the three month period ended March 31, 2005 was $679,403, or
$0.05 per share, compared with a net loss of $417,011, or $0.03
per share, in the comparable period in fiscal 2004. The increase
was primarily attributable to a decrease in other non-cash
income and an increase in operating expenses.
The Company
reported revenues of $12,500 during the three month period ended
March 31, 2005, compared with $4,167 in the prior year's third
quarter. The recorded revenue consisted of the amortized portion
of the initial fee on a development and license agreement.
Total
operating expenses for the three month period ended March 31,
2005 were $705,030, compared with $614,684 for the third quarter
of fiscal 2004. This increase was primarily the result of an
increase in general and administrative expenses and research and
development expenses, which was partially offset by a decrease
in stock-based compensation. The Company expects operating
expenses to increase over the next twelve months as it continues
to expand its research and development activities.
Research and
development expenses for the three month period ended March 31,
2005 were $364,080, compared with $320,559 recorded in fiscal
2004 third quarter. The increase was primarily the result of an
increase in payroll and benefits related to the addition of a
Vice President of research in July 2004, and an increase in the
number of research projects related to human health. These
increases were partially offset by a decrease in the
amortization of an initial fee paid by the Company in connection
with an agricultural research project. The initial fee was fully
amortized in March, 2004.
General and
administrative expenses for the three month period ended March
31, 2005 and March 31, 2004 were $340,950 and $294,125,
respectively. The increase was primarily the result of an
increase in payroll and benefits, investor relations, and
professional fees, which was partially offset by a decrease in
stock-based compensation.
Senesco had
cash and investments of approximately $2.3 million and working
capital of $2.0 million as of March 31, 2005. Subsequent to the
close of the quarter, the Company raised $3.4 million in a
private placement of common stock and warrants.
Recent
Research and Development Highlights
During the
quarter, the Company was issued four Patents from the U.S.
Patent and Trademark Office, including its first pertaining to
uses in human health. The other three issued Patents focus on
the Company's proprietary gene technology for use in
agriculture. Senesco now has five issued U.S. Patents.
On May 12,
2005, the Company added two preclinical human health research
programs to further characterize the role of its proprietary
technologies, one for bladder cancer and the other for
inflammatory bowel disease ("IBD"). The goal of these studies is
to add more data to the Company's growing body of work in the
research of both cancer and inflammatory disease.
On April 29,
2005, the Company reported that mice treated with Senesco's
proprietary technology had shown a marked survival benefit in
the lethal sepsis study conducted at the University of Virginia.
In the model used, groups that received Senesco's Factor 5A
inhibitor, survival ranged from 20% to 100% of the mice,
depending upon the mouse strain and dosing regime. None of the
untreated mice survived.
On April 13,
2005, the Company announced that its trials of Senesco/Rahan
banana plants have shown increased tolerance to the Black
Sigatoka disease, as measured on an index of tolerance widely
used in the industry for this disease.
These field
trial data corroborate the Company's earlier findings that its
proprietary Factor 5A technology confers resistance to fungal
pathogens by preventing premature plant cell death. In addition
to these banana disease tolerance data, Senesco and Rahan have
previously shown both an increase in banana fruit shelf life and
increase in growth rates of banana plants in field trials.
Senesco
takes its name from the scientific term for the aging of plant
cells: senescence. The Company has developed technology that
regulates cell life. Delaying cell breakdown in plants extends
freshness after harvesting, while increasing crop yields and
resistance to environmental stress for flowers, fruits and
vegetables. The Company believes that its technology can be used
to develop superior strains of crops without any modification
other than delaying natural plant senescence. Senesco has
undertaken preclinical research in certain areas of human
health.
Accelerating apoptosis may have applications to development of
cancer treatments. Delaying apoptosis may have applications to
certain diseases such as glaucoma, ischemia and arthritis, among
others. Senesco partners with leading-edge companies and earns
research and development fees for applying its technology to
enhance its partners' products. Senesco is headquartered in New
Brunswick, New Jersey, and utilizes research laboratories at
universities and research centers throughout North America.
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