• 7% year-over-year growth in fourth quarter global procedures and recurring revenue
• Substantial progress in delineating and initiating strategic innovation plans
• Increasing quantity and quality of peer-reviewed clinical validation
• Strong financial position to reach profitability without the need for additional financings
• Conference call today at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time

ST. LOUIS, March 06, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Stereotaxis, Inc. (OTCQX:STXS), the global leader in innovative robotic technologies for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias, today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2017.

“I am proud of our accomplishments in 2017 in three key areas: financial discipline, improved commercial execution, and reinvigorating Stereotaxis’ commitment to innovation and collaboration,” said David Fischel, Chairman and CEO. “In the three quarters of 2017 since joining Stereotaxis, our operating expenses were on average 19% lower year-over-year, an annualized saving of approximately $5.9 million. I am confident that the reduction in expenses did not cut Stereotaxis muscle. On the contrary we reduced expenses while being much more active, nimble and effective in a broad range of commercial and innovation initiatives.”

“Our commercial focus remains supporting electrophysiologists build successful robotic ablation practices. We have a well-defined, multipronged strategy to do so. Highlights of the past year include support for the successful establishment of a global physician Society for Cardiac Robotic Navigation, creatively enhancing our clinical support capabilities, recruiting the first participants in what we expect to be a robust robotic ablation fellowship program, reinvigorating our social media presence through the celebration of our 100,000 procedure milestone, and a marked increase in the quality and quantity of peer-reviewed publications detailing the clinical benefits of our technology. Thirty-seven clinical publications showcased the value of our technology in 2017, nearly double the numbers in previous years, the most impactful being data from a 779 patient meta-analysis demonstrating statistically significant and clinically meaningful superiority for robotic versus manual ablation in ventricular tachycardia. We are seeing a substantial increase in enrollment in our randomized, well-designed, prospective MAGNETIC-VT trial to corroborate our superiority in VT, and recently randomized our 100^th patient after entering 2017 with only 14 patients enrolled. Separately, we were positively included in a European Heart Rhythm Association consensus document on occupational safety. The early impact of these commercial efforts is evident in the accelerated procedure growth shown in the quarter.”

“Our commitment to significant innovation, through internal efforts and improved collaboration, is crucial. We have identified and are advancing a strategic innovation plan that addresses each of the five core technologies utilized in a robotic cardiac ablation procedure and is designed to improve patient care, physician choice, and technology availability. While this progress is not yet visible, and will take time to implement, we are confident the strategy is clinically and commercially sound. Additional details will be provided as appropriate.”

2017 Fourth Quarter and Full Year Financial Results
Revenue for the fourth quarter of 2017 totaled $7.6 million, up from $7.3 million in the prior year quarter. Recurring revenue was $6.9 million in the quarter, up 7% from $6.5 million in the prior year quarter. Recurring revenue benefited from 7% year-over-year growth in global procedures, with all major geographies contributing to the acceleration in procedure growth. Recurring revenue for the full year 2017 of $26.9 million represents a 2% increase above the $26.4 million recorded for the same period in 2016. Procedures for the full year 2017 grew 3% over the full year 2016, the first year of annual procedure growth since 2012. System revenue in the fourth quarter was $0.6 million, down from $0.8 million in the prior year quarter. System revenue of $4.3 million for the full year 2017 was down from $5.8 million in 2016, primarily reflecting the expiration of an Odyssey distribution agreement and the timing of Niobe system installations in 2016.

In the fourth quarter of 2017, Stereotaxis recorded a non-cash inventory-related charge of $3.8 million to systems cost of goods sold. Including this charge, gross margin in the quarter was $2.2 million, or 29% of revenue, versus $5.3 million, or 73% of revenue, in the fourth quarter of 2016. Excluding the non-cash inventory-related charge, gross margin for the fourth quarter would have been 80%.

Operating expenses in the fourth quarter were $5.9 million, down 20% from $7.4 million in the prior year quarter. The reduction in operating expenses continues to reflect the year-over-year impact of lower executive compensation and more efficient management of expenses across the organization, but does not represent any material changes in the organization’s personnel, infrastructure or capabilities. Operating loss in the fourth quarter was $(3.7) million, compared to $(2.1) million in the prior year fourth quarter. Excluding the non-cash inventory-related charge, the company would have shown an operating profit of $0.1 million. Net loss for the fourth quarter of $(2.6) million includes $1.2 million of mark-to-market warrant revaluation income. Excluding the mark-to-market warrant revaluation income and inventory-related charge, the Company would have reported net income of less than $0.1 million for the quarter. Cash burn for the fourth quarter was $0.8 million.  

Cash Balance and Liquidity
At December 31, 2017, Stereotaxis had cash and cash equivalents of $3.7 million, no debt, and $2.7 million in unused borrowing capacity on its revolving credit facility, for total liquidity of $6.4 million. In a separate press release this morning Stereotaxis announced that it has raised $10.0 million from the non-dilutive induced early exercise of outstanding warrants. On a pro-forma basis, including the capital from the exercise of these warrants, Stereotaxis had $13.7 million in cash and cash equivalents and no debt as of December 31, 2017.    

Full Year 2018 Expectations
Stereotaxis enters 2018 with a solid plan for progress and a healthy financial foundation to execute on the plan. Operating expenses are expected to moderately increase in 2018, primarily driven by R&D spending on strategic innovation initiatives. While the benefits of these initiatives are unlikely to impact revenue in 2018 they are expected to meaningfully contribute in 2019 and beyond. Stereotaxis’ balance sheet will allow the Company to deliver on its commercial and innovation initiatives over the coming years and reach profitability without the need for additional financings.

Conference Call and Webcast
Stereotaxis will host a conference call and webcast today, March 6, 2018, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. To access the conference call, dial 1-877-627-6581 (US and Canada) or 1-719-325-4790 (International) and give the participant pass code 3267778. Participants are asked to call 5-10 minutes prior to the start time. To access the live and replay webcast, please visit the investor relations section of the Stereotaxis website at www.stereotaxis.com.

About Stereotaxis
Stereotaxis is the global leader in innovative robotic technologies designed to enhance the treatment of arrhythmias and perform endovascular procedures. Its mission is the discovery, development and delivery of robotic systems, instruments, and information solutions for the interventional laboratory. These innovations help physicians provide unsurpassed patient care with robotic precision and safety, improved lab efficiency and productivity, and enhanced integration of procedural information. Over 100 issued patents support the Stereotaxis platform. The core components of Stereotaxis’ systems have received regulatory clearance in the United States, European Union, Japan, Canada, China, and elsewhere. For more information, please visit www.stereotaxis.com.    

This press release includes statements that may constitute "forward-looking" statements, usually containing the words "believe”, "estimate”, "project”, "expect" or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements inherently involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Factors that would cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, the Company's ability to raise additional capital on a timely basis and on terms that are acceptable, its ability to continue to manage expenses and cash burn rate at sustainable levels, its ability to continue to work with lenders to extend, repay or refinance indebtedness, or to obtain additional financing, in either case on acceptable terms, continued acceptance of the Company's products in the marketplace, the effect of global economic conditions on the ability and willingness of customers to purchase its systems and the timing of such purchases, competitive factors, changes resulting from healthcare reform in the United States, including changes in government reimbursement procedures, dependence upon third-party vendors, timing of regulatory approvals, and other risks discussed in the Company's periodic and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. By making these forward-looking statements, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release. There can be no assurance that the Company will recognize revenue related to its purchase orders and other commitments in any particular period or at all because some of these purchase orders and other commitments are subject to contingencies that are outside of the Company's control. In addition, these orders and commitments may be revised, modified, delayed or canceled, either by their express terms, as a result of negotiations, or by overall project changes or delays.

Stereotaxis Contacts:                                                           
David Fischel
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Martin C. Stammer                                                                            
Chief Financial Officer

314-678-6100
investors@stereotaxis.com