Echo Therapeutics Announces Third Quarter 2012 Financial Results

PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Echo Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: ECTE), a company developing its needle-free Symphony^® tCGM System as a non-invasive, wireless, transdermal continuous glucose monitoring system, today announced its financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2012. Echo's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as filed with the SEC, will be available by visiting the Investors section of Echo's website at www.echotx.com.

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Recent Corporate Highlights

• In preparation for its planned first quarter 2013 ISO audit, Echo made substantial advances towards finalizing its quality management systems.  ISO certification is a key step towards achieving compliance with European regulatory requirements.
• Echo initiated the process of conducting clinical studies at investigational sites in Europe and the U.S. to support CE Mark and other commercialization efforts.
• Echo hired key development, product, and clinical personnel to prepare for and accelerate its plans for Symphony's European and U.S. regulatory clearance and commercialization.

"We had a very productive third quarter, with significant progress made towards the Company's clinical, development and regulatory objectives needed to commercialize our Symphony system," commented Patrick T. Mooney, M.D., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Echo Therapeutics.  "As we look toward 2013, we remain focused on obtaining European clearance of Symphony and its commercial launch, as well as initiating our pivotal studies to support PMA submission in the U.S."

Third Quarter 2012 Financial Results
Echo's net loss for the third quarter of 2012 was $4.3 million, or $0.11 per share, compared to $1.5 million, or $0.04 per share, for the third quarter of 2011.  The operating loss for the third quarter of 2012 was $3.6 million compared to $2.3 million for the third quarter of 2011.  Research and development expenses were $2.1 million for the third quarter of 2012 compared to $0.7 million for the third quarter of 2011.  The increase in research and development expenses was primarily related to increased development, regulatory and clinical expenses, as well as manufacturing preparation costs.  General and administration expenses were flat from period to period and attributable to personnel and facility costs, as well as legal and other public company expenses. 

Echo reported a cash balance of approximately $1.4 million as of September 30, 2012.  In August of 2012, Echo's financial position was augmented by a $20 million credit facility with Platinum-Montaur Life Sciences, LLC.  To date, Echo has received $3 million in cash proceeds from that facility. 

Conference Call
Management will host a conference call today starting at 9:00 AM EST.  To listen in and/or participate in the call, please dial 877.317.6789 and reference the conference number 10020170.  The archived audiocast will be available for fourteen days following the call by visiting the Events section of Echo's website at www.echotx.com.

About Echo Therapeutics
Echo Therapeutics is developing the Symphony tCGM System as a non-invasive, wireless, transdermal continuous glucose monitoring system.  Our target is patients who could benefit from glucose monitoring in the hospital setting, including critical care.  Significant opportunity also exists for patients with diabetes to use Symphony in the outpatient setting.  Echo is also developing its needle-free skin preparation component of Symphony, the Prelude^® SkinPrep System, as a platform technology to enhance drug delivery of topical pharmaceuticals.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Statements
The statements in this press release that are not historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements that are based on current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual future results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Those risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks related to regulatory approvals and the success of Echo's ongoing studies, including the safety and efficacy of Echo's Symphony tCGM System, the failure of future development and preliminary marketing efforts related to Echo's Symphony tCGM and Prelude SkinPrep Systems, Echo's ability to secure additional commercial partnering arrangements, risks and uncertainties relating to Echo's and its partners' ability to develop, market and sell diagnostic and transdermal drug delivery products based on its skin permeation platform technologies, including the Symphony tCGM and Prelude SkinPrep Systems, the availability of substantial additional equity or debt capital to support its research, development and product commercialization activities, and the success of its research, development, regulatory approval, marketing and distribution plans and strategies, including those plans and strategies related to its Symphony tCGM and Prelude SkinPrep Systems. These and other risks and uncertainties are identified and described in more detail in Echo's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, without limitation, its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and its Current Reports on Form 8-K. Echo undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements.

For More Information:
Christine H. Olimpio                                         
Director, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications
(215) 717-4104                                                 

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SOURCE Echo Therapeutics, Inc.