BELLEVILLE, ON, Sept. 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Bioniche Life Sciences Inc. (TSX: BNC), a research-based, technology-driven Canadian biopharmaceutical company, today announced financial results for its 2009 fiscal year ended June 30, 2009.

"We had a very successful year in terms of revenues generated by our base Animal Health business, experiencing 21% growth in a challenging global economy," said Graeme McRae, Chairman, President CEO of Bioniche Life Sciences Inc. "In addition, subsequent to the end of the fiscal year, we announced a transformative corporate event: The signing of a licensing agreement with Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc. for exclusive rights to develop and market UrocidinTM in the U.S. with an option for global rights."

Urocidin is a patented formulation of Mycobacterial Cell Wall-DNA Complex (MCC) developed by Bioniche for the treatment of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer that is currently undergoing Phase III clinical testing.

Subsequent to the year-end, the Company received an up-front payment of US$20 million from Endo and executed a series of transactions improving its capital structure. At present, the Company reports that its unaudited cash position, inclusive of restricted cash, at the end of August, 2009, was $16.6 million. This strong cash position is the net result of the closing of the License, Development and Supply Agreement as explained above, the repayment of the revolving credit facility and associated fees of $6.2M (US$5.3M), the sale of U.S. licensing rights to a product in the animal health market subsequent to June 30, 2009 for $0.9M (US$0.8M), fourth quarter working capital variations, and repayment of overdue outstanding payables. More information on the partnership transaction and other subsequent events is provided in the Company''s Fiscal 2009 Management''s Discussion and Analysis dated September 17, 2009.

Fiscal 2009 Financial Results Highlights

Consolidated revenues for the fiscal year increased by 21% to $33.3 million, as compared to $27.5 million in Fiscal 2008. Increased sales of animal health products in all markets, combined with favourable exchange rates, contributed to this result. The overall gross profit margin was 57% this fiscal year, as compared to 54% in Fiscal 2008.

For the year ended June 30, 2009, expenses before research and development totaled $17.5 million, compared to $16.7 million for Fiscal 2008. Importantly, the Company reduced its administration and marketing expenses by 10% from $13.4 million in Fiscal 2008 to $12.2 million in Fiscal 2009, as a result of certain temporary cutbacks necessary during a period of financial challenge. Management expects administration and marketing costs to increase again during Fiscal 2010 to assure the sustainability of the business. This, combined with a non-cash items increase and other minor variations, resulted in an increase of $0.8 million, or 5%.

Gross research and development (R D) expenses decreased by $2.7 million in Fiscal 2009, reaching $13.3 million compared to $16.0 million in Fiscal 2008. The majority of these costs continue to be attributed to the ongoing Phase III clinical program for the Company''s Urocidin(TM) bladder cancer therapy and the E. coli O157 cattle vaccine development program.

The basic and fully-diluted net loss per share for Fiscal 2009 was ($0.15) compared to a net loss per share of ($0.26) in Fiscal 2008.

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and foreign exchange were $5.7 million, as compared to $1.4 million in Fiscal 2008. "This is a significant increase year over year that can be directly attributed to the efforts of the Bioniche Animal Health sales and marketing team," said Mr. McRae.

At yesterday''s meeting of the Bioniche Life Sciences Inc. Board of Directors, Mr. Nick Photiades was appointed as an independent Director. Mr. Photiades is a management and strategic planning consultant. In November, 2008, he retired after a long career with the Business Development Bank of Canada, where he was Senior Director, Life Sciences, Venture Capital Division. Mr. Photiades holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics from Concordia University and a Graduate Diploma in Management from McGill University. He has served as a director in several public and private high technology companies, mainly in the biotechnology area; he also served on the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montr al; and presently serves on the St. Mary''s Hospital Foundation Board.

The Company also welcomes a new Chief Financial Officer: Mr. Brian Ford. Brian is an accomplished chartered accountant and financial professional with over 26 years of experience serving private corporations and publicly traded entities. Most recently, he was the Proprietor of PetersFord Consulting, a firm focused on finance and business risk services. Previously, he held several increasingly responsible positions with Ernst Young, his last position being Principal of Business Risk Services in the firm''s Toronto office. He has earned a Graduate Diploma in Accounting from the University of McGill, a B.A. (Economics, History, English) from the University of Guelph, and is a Member of the Ontario Institute of Chartered Accountants. With his multidisciplinary skill set, together with core skills in accounting, auditing, and finance, Brian brings a portfolio of experience that provides significant value to the Company.

About Bioniche Life Sciences Inc.

Bioniche Life Sciences Inc. is a research-based, technology-driven Canadian biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development, manufacturing, and marketing of proprietary products for human and animal health markets worldwide. The fully-integrated company employs approximately 200 skilled personnel and has three operating divisions: Human Health, Animal Health, and Food Safety. The Company''s primary goal is to develop proprietary cancer therapies supported by revenues from marketed products in human and animal health. Bioniche has been named one of the Top 50 Best Small and Medium-Sized Employers in Canada for 2009. For more information, please visit http://www.bioniche.com/.

Except for historical information, this news release may contain forward-looking statements that reflect the Company''s current expectation regarding future events. These forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainties, which may cause, but are not limited to, changing market conditions, the successful and timely completion of clinical studies, the establishment of corporate alliances, the impact of competitive products and pricing, new product development, uncertainties related to the regulatory approval process, and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company''s ongoing quarterly and annual reporting.

Bioniche Life Sciences Inc. Amalgamated under the laws of Ontario CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (see going concern uncertainty) As at June 30 2009 2008 $ $ ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASSETS Current Cash and cash equivalents 5,949,617 4,399,065 Accounts receivable 3,720,123 6,443,299 Inventories 5,407,624 4,738,765 Prepaid expenses and deposits 569,605 640,326 Restricted cash 1,227,374 - Foreign currency embedded derivatives - 59,693 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16,874,343 16,281,148 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Long-term Property, plant and equipment 9,494,013 9,718,157 Intangible assets 6,791,777 7,688,698 Goodwill 456,155 456,155 Long-term accounts receivable 1,025,152 478,852 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 34,641,440 34,623,010 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------- LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS'' EQUITY Current Revolving credit facility 4,447,836 2,593,059 Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 11,607,217 8,341,398 Income and other taxes payable 321,166 104,592 Deferred government assistance 342,269 - Current portion of long-term debt and obligations under capital leases 634,427 458,713 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17,352,915 11,497,762 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Long-term Long-term debt 1,148,706 1,673,853 Obligations under capital leases 1,224,767 1,424,029 Government assistance loans 2,475,975 - Deferred government incentives 3,335,548 3,606,926 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 25,537,911 18,202,570 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Shareholders'' equity Share capital 95,855,503 92,941,966 Special warrants - 2,174,008 Other paid-in capital 8,539,529 6,056,115 Deficit (95,291,503) (84,751,649) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9,103,529 16,420,440 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 34,641,440 34,623,010 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Commitments and contingencies Bioniche Life Sciences Inc. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS'' EQUITY (see going concern uncertainty) Preferred shares - Common shares Series I # $ # $ ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Balance, June 30, 2007 61,711,867 81,078,737 167 161,000 Transition adjustment - - - - Net loss for the year - - - - Issued under employee share ownership plan 808,291 638,500 - - Fair value of stock options vested - - - - Directors'' remuneration 73,560 76,502 - - Share bonus 516,886 408,340 - - Warrants issued in connection with the revolving credit facility - - - - Revolving credit facility principal payments made in shares 2,671,900 1,780,100 - - Warrants issued to a consultant - - - - Adjustment for conversion of fractional shares 6 - - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Balance, June 30, 2008 65,782,510 83,982,179 167 161,000 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Preferred shares - Special paid-in Series II warrants capital # $ $ $ ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Balance, June 30, 2007 9,000,000 8,798,787 2,174,008 5,528,059 Transition adjustment - - - - Net loss for the year - - - - Issued under employee share ownership plan - - - - Fair value of stock options vested - - - 388,731 Directors'' remuneration - - - - Share bonus - - - - Warrants issued in connection with the revolving credit facility - - - 112,000 Revolving credit facility principal payments made in shares - - - - Warrants issued to a consultant - - - 27,325 Adjustment for conversion of fractional shares - - - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Balance, June 30, 2008 9,000,000 8,798,787 2,174,008 6,056,115 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Deficit Total $ $ ----------------------------------------------- Balance, June 30, 2007 (68,630,615) 29,109,976 Transition adjustment 134,674 134,674 Net loss for the year(16,255,708) (16,255,708) Issued under employee share ownership plan - 638,500 Fair value of stock options vested - 388,731 Directors'' remuneration - 76,502 Share bonus - 408,340 Warrants issued in connection with the revolving credit facility - 112,000 Revolving credit facility principal payments made in shares - 1,780,100 Warrants issued to a consultant - 27,325 Adjustment for conversion of fractional shares - - ----------------------------------------------- Balance, June 30, 2008 (84,751,649) 16,420,440 ----------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------- Bioniche Life Sciences Inc. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS'' EQUITY (CONT''D) (see going concern uncertainty) Preferred shares - Common shares Series I # $ # $ ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Balance, June 30, 2008 65,782,510 83,982,179 167 161,000 Transition adjustment - - - - Net loss for the year - - - - Issued under employee share ownership plan 1,171,916 593,447 - - Fair value of stock options vested - - - - Directors'' remuneration 161,672 113,170 - - Warrants issued in connection with the revolving credit facility - - - - Revolving credit facility principal payments made in shares 4,565,049 1,966,920 - - Special warrants expired - - - - Options issued to a consultant - - - - Write-off of employee share purchase loan - 240,000 - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Balance, June 30, 2009 71,681,147 86,895,716 167 161,000 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Preferred shares - Special paid-in Series II warrants capital # $ $ $ ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Balance, June 30, 2008 9,000,000 8,798,787 2,174,008 6,056,115 Transition adjustment - - - - Net loss for the year - - - - Issued under employee share ownership plan - - - - Fair value of stock options vested - - - 247,391 Directors'' remuneration - - - - Warrants issued in connection with the revolving credit facility - - - 61,315 Revolving credit facility principal payments made in shares - - - - Special warrants expired - - (2,174,008) 2,174,008 Options issued to a consultant - - - 700 Write-off of employee share purchase loan - - - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Balance, June 30, 2009 9,000,000 8,798,787 - 8,539,529 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Deficit Total $ $ ----------------------------------------------- Balance, June 30, 2008 (84,751,649) 16,420,440 Transition adjustment (39,350) (39,350) Net loss for the year (10,500,504) (10,500,504) Issued under employee share ownership plan - 593,447 Fair value of stock options vested - 247,391 Directors'' remuneration - 113,170 Warrants issued in connection with the revolving credit facility - 61,315 Revolving credit facility principal payments made in shares - 1,966,920 Special warrants expired - - Options issued to a consultant - 700 Write-off of employee share purchase loan - 240,000 ----------------------------------------------- Balance, June 30, 2009 (95,291,503) 9,103,529 ----------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------- Bioniche Life Sciences Inc. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF LOSS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS (see going concern uncertainty) Years ended June 30 2009 2008 $ $ ------------------------------------------------------------------------- REVENUE Sales 33,281,029 27,468,085 Cost of sales (excluding amortization) 14,431,868 12,695,925 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gross profit 18,849,161 14,772,160 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- EXPENSES Administration 6,108,984 6,710,565 Marketing and selling 6,096,518 6,703,929 Other expenses 863,257 - Interest on long-term debt 323,645 203,210 Other interest, net 357,776 (1,450) Accreted interest on discounted receivables and interest free loans (3,995) (13,819) Amortization of property, plant and equipment 1,342,918 1,202,328 Amortization and write-down of intangible assets 896,921 856,517 Amortization of financial expenses 1,787,104 767,921 Foreign exchange loss (gain) (250,876) 232,822 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17,522,252 16,662,023 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Income (loss) before research and development expenses and other items 1,326,909 (1,889,863) Research and development expenses, gross 13,314,889 15,972,660 Less: government incentives, net (1,861,730) (1,918,380) Change in unrealized loss on foreign currency embedded derivatives 59,693 126,988 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Loss before income taxes (10,185,943) (16,071,131) Provision for income taxes 314,561 184,577 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net loss and comprehensive loss for the year (10,500,504) (16,255,708) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Basic and fully diluted net loss per share (0.15) (0.26) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Weighted average number of common shares outstanding 70,313,509 63,104,876 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bioniche Life Sciences Inc. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (see going concern uncertainty) Years ended June 30 2009 2008 $ $ ------------------------------------------------------------------------- OPERATING ACTIVITIES Net loss for the year (10,500,504) (16,255,708) Add (deduct) non cash items: Amortization 3,926,943 2,826,766 Amortization of deferred government incentives (311,266) - Change in unrealized loss on foreign currency embedded derivatives 59,693 126,988 Accreted interest on discounted receivables and interest-free loans (3,995) (13,819) Write-off of intangible assets 100,000 - Unrealized foreign exchange loss (gain) 184,798 (34,680) Stock-based compensation 487,391 388,731 Warrants issued to consultants 700 27,325 Share bonus and shares issued to directors - 544,507 Employee share ownership plan 532,827 684,556 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- (5,523,413) (11,705,334) Increase in restricted cash (1,227,374) - Net change in non-cash working capital balances 4,068,689 62,188 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cash used in operating activities (2,682,098) (11,643,146) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- INVESTING ACTIVITIES Proceeds from maturity of short-term investments - 9,500,000 Government incentives received on account of property, plant and equipment 79,798 4,641 Purchases of property, plant and equipment (1,116,410) (584,573) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cash provided by (used in) investing activities (1,036,612) 8,920,068 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- FINANCING ACTIVITIES Proceeds from term note - 1,750,000 Proceeds from government assistance 2,545,059 Payment of financing fees - debt (11,036) (88,010) Proceeds from deferred government incentives 413,114 49,965 Proceeds from revolving credit facility 31,474,720 26,759,247 Repayment of revolving credit facility (28,447,761) (22,635,316) Repayment of capital lease obligations (297,771) (217,232) Repayment of long-term debt (407,063) (20,108) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cash provided by financing activities 5,269,262 5,598,546 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net increase in cash and cash equivalents during the year 1,550,552 2,875,468 Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year 4,399,065 1,523,597 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cash and cash equivalents, end of year 5,949,617 4,399,065 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bioniche Life Sciences Inc.

CONTACT: Jennifer Shea, Vice-President, Communications, Investor
Government Relations, Bioniche Life Sciences Inc., Telephone: (613) 966-8058,
Cell: (613) 391-2097, Jennifer.Shea@Bioniche.com