Microbix Biosystems Inc. (
TSX: MBX, OTCQB: MBXBF)
(“
Microbix®” or the
Company”), a
life sciences innovator, manufacturer, and exporter, provides an
update on U.S. and reciprocal tariff outcomes as well as business
conditions and its outlook for the balance of its fiscal 2025.
As has been widely reported, on April 2 the
United States government imposed tariffs on certain goods (i.e.,
steel, aluminum, & automobiles) being imported into the U.S.
from Canada. More happily, Microbix currently understands that no
tariffs will be applicable to any products that it is selling into
the U.S., as they remain exempt under the USMCA trade agreement.
Microbix believes this is a positive outcome, particularly given
that other exporting economies, such as the EU, UK, and China, will
face U.S. tariffs from 10 to over 50%, providing Microbix a further
competitive advantage with its U.S. customers. Microbix will also
pursue Canadian procurement opportunities that may emerge as a
result of trade tensions.
The possibility of reciprocal tariffs by Canada
on life sciences equipment and consumables made in the U.S. remains
a concern. Microbix purchases approximately C$ 1.5 million of
equipment and over C$ 4.0 million of consumables each year and it
is working to determine what proportion of such purchases are U.S.
made and could thereby be vulnerable to any reciprocal tariffs
imposed by Canada.
Regardless of tariffs, the outlook for sales of
QAPs™ remains positive, with strong sales growth still expected for
its three segments of lab proficiency-testing (EQA) agencies,
test-makers, and clinical labs. For the QAPs business, sales growth
continues to be expected over the balance of fiscal 2025 and
beyond.
The outlook for sales of test-ingredients
(Antigens) however, has become less favourable. While sales into
North America, Western Europe, and elsewhere, remain on-track,
sales into China have abruptly halted. It is believed that the main
reason for this change is an unusually light burden of respiratory
infectious diseases over the 2025 Chinese New Year holidays having
led to fewer test sales and a reduced need for ingredients
replenishment by test-makers. Other factors, such as tariff
geopolitics and revisions to local testing guidelines may also be
contributing. In consequence, year-over-year Antigens sales growth
is no longer expected over the balance of 2025, although we believe
the longer-term outlook remains positive.
Microbix continues to broaden its capabilities
and capacity in order to maximize its revenue and profit-building
opportunities. Its new project and collaboration announcements,
such as QAPs to support groundbreaking diagnostics test programs,
its entry into supporting molecular pathology, oncology, and
genetics tests, its adoption of synthetic biology, and its
recombinant antigens program are indicative.
Microbix also remains strongly capitalized and
highly solvent. At the end of March 2025, Microbix retained cash
and equivalents of over C$ 14 million, even after repayment of the
last C$ 1.2 million of mortgage debt on its owned production
building in late March and ongoing daily share repurchases under
its normal-course issuer bid (NCIB). Results for Q2 of fiscal 2025
are expected to be reported in mid-May.
About Microbix Biosystems
Inc.Microbix Biosystems Inc. creates proprietary
biological products for human health, with over 120 skilled
employees and sales now targeting C$ 2.0 million or more per month.
It makes and exports a wide range of critical ingredients and
devices for the global diagnostics industry, notably antigens for
immunoassays and its laboratory quality assessment products (QAPs™)
that support clinical lab proficiency testing, enable assay
development and validation, or help ensure the quality of clinical
diagnostic workflows. Its antigens drive the antibody tests of
approximately 100 diagnostics makers, while QAPs are sold to
clinical lab accreditation organizations, diagnostics companies,
and clinical labs. Microbix QAPs are now available in over 30
countries, supported by a network of international distributors.
Microbix is ISO 9001 & 13485 accredited, U.S. FDA registered,
Australian TGA registered, Health Canada establishment licensed,
and provides IVDR-compliant CE marked products.
Microbix also applies its biological expertise
and infrastructure to develop other proprietary products and
technologies, most notably Kinlytic® urokinase, a biologic
thrombolytic drug used to treat blood clots, and reagents or media
to support molecular diagnostic testing (e.g., its DxTM™ for
patient-sample collection). Microbix is traded on the TSX and
OTCQX, and headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.
Forward-Looking InformationThis
news release includes “forward-looking information,” as such term
is defined in applicable securities laws. Forward-looking
information includes, without limitation, comments about tariffs or
market demand, Microbix’s business and business results, goals or
outlook, risks associated with financial results and stability,
development projects such as those referenced in its corporate
presentation, regulatory compliance and approvals, access to and
sales to foreign jurisdictions, engineering and construction,
production (including control over costs, quality, quantity and
timeliness of delivery), foreign currency and exchange rates,
maintaining adequate working capital and raising further capital on
acceptable terms or at all, and other similar statements concerning
anticipated future events, conditions or results that are not
historical facts. These statements reflect management’s current
estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations; they are not
guarantees of future performance. The Company cautions that all
forward-looking information is inherently uncertain, and that
actual performance may be affected by many material factors, some
of which are beyond the Company’s control. Accordingly, actual
future events, conditions and results may differ materially from
the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or
implied in the forward-looking information. All statements are made
as of the date of this news release and represent the Company’s
judgement as of the date of this new release, and the Company is
under no obligation to update or alter any forward-looking
information.
Please visit
www.microbix.com or www.sedarplus.ca for recent Microbix
news and filings.
For further information, please contact Microbix
at:
Cameron Groome, CEO(905) 361-8910 |
Jim Currie, CFO(905) 361-8910 |
Deborah Honig, Investor RelationsAdelaide Capital Markets(647)
203-8793 ir@microbix.com |
Copyright © 2025 Microbix Biosystems Inc.
Microbix®, DxTM™, Kinlytic®, and QAPs™ are trademarks of Microbix
Biosystems Inc.
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