Third Wave develops and markets molecular diagnostic reagents for a variety of DNA and RNA analysis applications to meet the needs of our customers. The company offers a number of products based on its Invader(R) chemistry for clinical testing. Third Wave offers in vitro diagnostic kits, and analyte specific, general purpose, and research use only reagents for nucleic acid analysis

Company reports 10th consecutive quarter of clinical revenue

MADISON, Wis.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 1, 2008--Third Wave Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: TWTI) today announced its financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2008.

Third Wave reported clinical molecular diagnostic revenue of $7.4 million for the first quarter of 2008, an increase of 24% from the same period of 2007. The company reported research revenue of $1.0 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2008. Third Wave's total revenue for the first quarter of 2008 was $8.4 million, compared to $6.7 million for the same period of last year.

Third Wave reported a net loss of $7.6 million, or ($0.17) a share, for the quarter ended March 31, 2008, compared to net income of $4.8 million, or $0.11 a share, for the same period of 2007. The prior-year quarter included a one-time, $10.75-million settlement payment from the former Stratagene Corp. Without the inclusion of the settlement payment, the company's pro-forma net loss for the first quarter of 2007 was $6.0 million, or ($0.14) a share.

Third Wave reported gross margins of 74% for the quarter ended March 31, 2008, compared to gross margins of 70% and 74% for the prior-year quarter and previous quarter, respectively. Total operating expenses for the first quarter of 2008 were $15.4 million, compared to $13.0 million for the same period of 2007. The year-over year increase in operating expenses was due to expenditures on the company's HPV clinical trial.

Third Wave ended the first quarter of 2008 with cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $28.9 million, compared to $35.7 million at Dec. 31, 2007. The company also has in place a $25-million line of credit.

"We were very pleased to announce earlier this week that Third Wave made its two HPV product submissions to the FDA," said Kevin T. Conroy, president and chief executive of Third Wave. "Our submissions were based on the strong data generated by the company's HPV clinical trial, which achieved all primary clinical endpoints for those tests. Third Wave will continue to invest in creating a sustainable competitive advantage through unique HPV products and our automated HPV instrument offering."

The company announced that it plans to present data from its HPV clinical trial during the annual American Association of Clinical Chemistry meeting being held July 27-31 in Washington, D.C.

"We also continue to be pleased with the ongoing growth in our clinical business," Mr. Conroy said. "This quarter marked the tenth consecutive quarter of clinical revenue growth and our clinical customer base has grown to 223 from 185 a year ago. A key driver of Third Wave's growth has been our InPlex(TM) CF reagents, which are now the most widely reported method in use. With the FDA's clearance of our InPlex(TM) CF Molecular Test during the first quarter, we anticipate that our ability to market the InPlex format's differentiated performance and ease of use will continue to drive increased market share and revenue growth."

2008 Outlook Update

Third Wave reaffirms its previously announced guidance for 2008 of total revenues of $36-37.5 million. The company continues to expect clinical molecular diagnostic revenue to grow to $33-34.5 million during 2008. Research revenue for 2008 will be at least $3 million.