Volcano Reports 24 Percent Increase in First Quarter Revenues; IVUS Disposable Revenues Increase ...(ption and win market share. Volcano ...)

Volcano also said its product development programs remain on track, including the expected commercial launch in the second half of 2009 of its first image-guided therapy offering, a balloon and IVUS on the same catheter. Volcano also expects U.S. and European regulatory approval in the second half of 2009 for its initial Optical Coherence Tomography product incorporating the technology that the company acquired with its purchase of CardioSpectra at the end of 2007.

"Our new product initiatives are designed to offer a variety of modalities built around our s5i offering and to position Volcano to address a number of very sizeable therapy markets with innovative platform technologies," Huennekens noted. "We will also continue to explore strategic opportunities that provide offerings for our existing customer base and meet our growth rate, gross margin and valuation objectives," he added.

Guidance for 2008

The company updated its prior guidance for 2008. Volcano said it now expects revenues for the year will be in the range of approximately $164-$168 million. This compares with prior guidance of $158-$162 million, and represents an increase of approximately 26-29 percent over revenues in 2007. Gross margin is expected to be in the range of 60-61 percent, with the company expecting to exit 2008 with margins in the range of 63-64 percent. Operating expenses, including stock-based compensation, the $2.9 million in due diligence expense recorded in the first quarter, and approximately $3.1 million of intangible amortization, are expected to be 65-66 percent of revenues.

On a GAAP basis, the company expects to report a net loss of approximately $0.06-$0.10 per share. This compares to prior guidance for a net loss of $0.02-$0.04 per share. The decrease in guidance for earnings per share, despite the expected increase in revenues, reflects the due diligence expense, reduced interest income due to declining interes
'/>"/>