Impact of Inflation and Other Issues:
The current high inflationary environment has impacted us in various ways. Due to the current competitive labor market and rising inflation, our labor costs have risen significantly in order to attract and retain qualified employees throughout our organization. In addition, we have experienced raw material price increases primarily related to the oil-based chemicals used in the polymer manufacturing process as well additional requests for higher fuel surcharges from most suppliers. Rising energy costs, including electricity and fossil fuels, have also made it more expensive to support our operations, manufacturing, and commercial activities. We have also experienced increases in our transportation costs; however, we have been able to substantially mitigate these cost increases by implementing bulk shipping methods. In addition, we have been able to mitigate most supply chain issues that existed during the COVID-19 pandemic by ordering larger quantities of inventory as they were available. Inflationary pressures may continue to impact our product gross margins in the future.
Comparison for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023:
Revenues:
Revenue from product sales was approximately $8,990,000 in the three months ended March 31, 2024, as compared to approximately $7,910,000 in the three months ended March 31, 2023, an increase of approximately $1,080,000, or 14%. Distributor sales increased approximately $614,000, or 20%. Direct sales increased approximately $466,000, or 10%. In addition, as a result of the increase in the average exchange rate of the Euro to the U.S. dollar, 2024 product sales were positively impacted by approximately $98,000. For the three months ended March 31, 2024, the average exchange rate of the Euro to the U.S. dollar was $1.09 as compared to an average exchange rate of $1.07 for the three months ended March 31, 2023.
Grant income was approximately $797,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2024 as compared to approximately $1,539,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2023, a decrease of approximately $742,000, or 48%. This decrease was due to the completion of several grants during 2023.
Total revenues were approximately $9,786,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2024, as compared to total revenues of approximately $9,449,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2023, an increase of approximately $337,000, or 4%.
Cost of Revenues:
For the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, cost of revenue was approximately $3,216,000 and $3,994,000, respectively, a decrease of approximately $778,000. This decrease was primarily due to the decrease in cost of revenue related to the Company’s grant related activities following the completion of several grants in 2023. Product cost of revenue was approximately $2,420,000 and $2,531,000, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, a decrease of approximately $111,000. This decrease is due primarily to greater efficiencies now being realized at our new manufacturing facility in Princeton, New Jersey. Product gross margins were approximately 76% during the three months ended March 31, 2024 (which excludes the impact of a one-time, non-recurring inventory adjustment of approximately $304,000 recorded in the first quarter of 2024), as compared to 68% during the three months ended March 31, 2023.
Research and Development Expenses:
For the three months ended March 31, 2024, research and development expenses were approximately $2,248,000 as compared to research and development expenses of approximately $4,214,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2023, a decrease of approximately $1,966,000. This decrease was due to a decrease in clinical trial costs of approximately $911,000 related to completion of the STAR-T trial in 2023, a decrease of approximately $850,000 in start-up expenses related to the new facility that were incurred in the first quarter of 2023 that did not recur in the first quarter of 2024, a decrease in non-grant related salaries of approximately $127,000 and a decrease in other non-grant related research and development activities of approximately $78,000.
Legal, Financial and Other Consulting Expenses:
Legal, financial and other consulting expenses were approximately $681,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2024, as compared to approximately $669,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2023, an increase of approximately $12,000. This increase was due to