Exhibit 99.1
![LOGO](https://capedge.com/proxy/8-K/0001193125-19-142962/g746016g01o52.jpg)
Avedro, Inc. Announces First Quarter 2019 Financial Results
Updates Full Year 2019 Revenue Guidance
WALTHAM, Mass., May 9, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Avedro, Inc. (Nasdaq: AVDR) (Avedro), today reported financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2019.
Recent Highlights
| • | | First quarter 2019 revenue of $8.8 million – an increase of 70% year over year |
| • | | Gross margin increased to 74.0% vs. 49.2% in the prior year |
| • | | Completed enrollment for theEpi-On pivotal clinical trial |
| • | | Added coverage from five regional insurance providers, increasing total payor coverage to approximately 181 million lives, greater than 95% of the total addressable patient population for keratoconus in the United States |
| • | | Strong and growing awareness of keratoconus in the United States |
| ○ | | Over 80 presentations on keratoconus and cross-linking at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) annual meeting held last week |
| ○ | | Social media and website traffic significantly higher, including a greater than 150% increase year over year for the patient-focused site, www.livingwithkeratoconous.com |
“We are pleased with our first quarter performance which reflects strong customer adoption of our sight-preserving cross-linking technology, revenue growth and a solid increase in gross margin. With the recent implementation of the product-specific J Code for our Photrexa formulations, customers are now experiencing fewer drug-related reimbursement inquiries from the payors,” said Reza Zadno, President and CEO. “Through investments in our commercial and reimbursement teams and pipeline of next-generation products, we are well positioned to drive meaningfultop-line growth and continued margin expansion throughout 2019 and beyond.”
First Quarter Financial Results
Revenue for the quarter ended March 31, 2019, increased 70% to $8.8 million, from $5.2 million during the same period in 2018. The increase in revenue was primarily driven by an increase in U.S. revenue which amounted to $3.3 million, and by a $0.3 million increase innon-U.S. revenue.
Gross margin was 74.0% for the first quarter of 2019, as compared to 49.2% in the same period in 2018.
Operating expenses for the first quarter of 2019 increased 76.0%, or $6.3 million, compared to the first quarter of 2018. The increase in operating costs was primarily due to the expansion of our sales and reimbursement teams and an increase in research and development expenses from ongoing clinical trials.
Operating loss was $8.0 million in the first quarter of 2019, as compared to $5.7 million in the same period in 2018.
Net loss was $8.4 million in the first quarter of 2019, as compared to $6.6 million in the same period in 2018.