Austin, TX - November 12, 2021

 

Astrotech Corporation (Nasdaq: ASTC) reported its financial results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2022, which ended September 30, 2021

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The first quarter of fiscal year 2022 saw a continued increase in commercial sales of 1st Detect’s TRACER 1000™, the first and only mass spectrometry-based explosives trace detector (ETD) certified for air and cargo security. This quarter, 1st Detect achieved a significant milestone whereby we received our first purchase order for the TRACER 1000 to be deployed at an international airport security checkpoint for passenger screening. Following installation, the TRACER 1000 will now be operating in twenty locations in thirteen countries throughout Europe and Asia.

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This quarter, Astrotech completed the build-out of its new research and development facility in Austin, Texas, consolidating our operations into a single facility. We also completed production of our first batch of TRACER 1000 instruments with Sanmina, a leading global contract manufacturer. Sanmina has already helped us reduce cost of the TRACER 1000 and we have leveraged their expertise to improve manufacturability and reliability of our systems. Together, we continue to look for additional opportunities for further improvements.

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Meanwhile, the market for the AgLAB-1000™ series of instruments continues to show promise while development accelerates with the hiring of hemp and cannabis industry veteran and mass spectrometry expert, Joe Levinthal, as AgLAB’s Chief Science Officer. Our recent attendance at MJBizcon, one of the hemp and cannabis industry’s premier events, has furthered our expectation that there is opportunity to enhance the efficiency of hemp and cannabis production, and to provide self-managed compliance testing in real time for processors. 

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Finally, BreathTech is expecting to begin human trials of its BreathTest-1000™ with the Cleveland Clinic in the first calendar quarter, taking us one step closer to entering the battle against COVID-19.

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“Now that we have completed the consolidation of our operations in Austin, Texas and fully transitioned manufacturing to Sanmina, we are in a good position to focus on our growth. The air cargo market continues to expand, we are beginning to get interest from the checkpoint market as air travel continues to rebound, we are nearing a product launch at AgLAB, and we are beginning human trials at BreathTech in the near-term. With development of our core technology complete and a strong balance sheet to capitalize on our promising existing and future market opportunities, we are excited about the prospects for the company,” stated Thomas B. Pickens III, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Astrotech Corporation.

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First Quarter Fiscal Year 2022 Highlights

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Management continues efforts to accelerate growth and optimize our resources.

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• Astrotech’s balance sheet remains strong for our expected future growth with $59 million in cash and liquid investments.

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• For the first quarter fiscal year 2022, commercial sales related to the TRACER 1000 are up to $187 thousand, representing an increase of 34% from one year ago

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• We recently announced our first purchase order for the TRACER-1000 to be deployed at an airport security checkpoint.

 

• We continue to garner interest from the cargo security marketplace as it continues to expand compared to pre-COVID-19 levels.

 

• We are nearing the launch of our first commercial AgLAB instrument.

 

• Production of our Tracer 1000 has been fully transitioned to Sanmina.

 

• We completed the consolidation of all operations to our new research facility in Austin, Texas, optimizing our staff and real estate footprint while significantly reducing our real estate cost.

 

About Astrotech

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Astrotech (NASDAQ: ASTC) is a mass spectrometry company that launches, manages, and commercializes scalable companies based on its innovative core technology through its wholly-owned subsidiaries. 1st Detect develops, manufactures, and sells trace detectors for use in the security and detection market. AgLAB is developing chemical analyzers for use in the agriculture market. BreathTech is developing a breath analysis tool to provide early detection of lung diseases. Astrotech is headquartered in Austin, Texas. For information, please visit www.astrotechcorp.com.

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About AgLAB-1000™ and BreathTest-1000™

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This press release contains information about our new products under development, AgLAB-1000 and BreathTest-1000. Product development involves a high degree of risk and uncertainty, and there can be no assurance that our new products will be successfully developed, achieve their intended benefits, receive full market authorization, or be commercially successful. In addition, FDA approval will be required to market BreathTest-1000 in the United States. Obtaining FDA approval is a complex and lengthy process, and there can be no assurance that FDA approval for BreathTest-1000 will be granted on a timely basis or at all.

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Forward-Looking Statements

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This press release contains forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the Safe Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, trends, and uncertainties that could cause actual results to be materially different from the forward-looking statement. These factors include, but are not limited to, the severity and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the U.S. and worldwide economy, the timing, scope and effect of further U.S. and international governmental, regulatory, fiscal, monetary and public health responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company’s use of proceeds from the common stock offerings, whether we can successfully complete the development of our new products and proprietary technologies, whether we can obtain the FDA and other regulatory approvals required to market our products under development in the United States or abroad, and whether the market will accept our products and services, as well as other risk factors and business considerations described in the Company’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings including the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K.  Any forward-looking statements in this document should be evaluated in light of these important risk factors. Although the Company believes the expectations reflected in its forward-looking statements are reasonable and are based on reasonable assumptions, no assurance can be given that these assumptions are accurate or that any of these expectations will be achieved (in full or at all) or will prove to have been correct. Moreover, such statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, which may cause actual results to differ materially from those implied or expressed by the forward-looking statements.  In addition, any forward-looking statements included in this press release represent the Company’s views only as of the date of its publication and should not be relied upon as representing its views as of any subsequent date. The Company assumes no obligation to correct or update these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

 

Company Contact: Eric Stober, Chief Financial Officer, Astrotech Corporation, (512) 485-9530

 

 

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