Accelerate Diagnostics, Inc - Quarter Report: 2011 April (Form 10-Q)
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
[X] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended April 30, 2011
or
[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from ___to ___
Commission File Number: 0-11485
ACCELR8 TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
COLORADO
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84-1072256
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(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
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(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
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7000 N Broadway, Bldg. 3-307, Denver, CO 80221
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(303) 863-8088
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
_________________
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes X No ____
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.
Large accelerated filer [ ]
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Accelerated filer [ ]
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Non-accelerated filer [ ]
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Smaller reporting company [X]
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes No X
As of April 30, 2011 there were 10,775,276 shares of common stock outstanding.
INDEX
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Page
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PART 1.
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FINANCIAL INFORMATION
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Item 1.
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Financial Statements
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Condensed Balance Sheets April 30, 2011 (unaudited) and July 31, 2010
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3
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Condensed Statements of Operations for the three and nine months ended April 30, 2011 and 2010 (unaudited)
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4
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Condensed Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended April 30, 2011 and 2010 (unaudited)
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5
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Notes to Unaudited Condensed Financial Statements
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6-13
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Item 2.
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Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
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14
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Item 3.
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Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
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22
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Item 4.
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Controls and Procedures
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23
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Part II.
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OTHER INFORMATION
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Item 1.
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Legal Proceedings
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23
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Item 1A.
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Risk Factors
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23
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Item 2.
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Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
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23
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Item 3.
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Defaults Upon Senior Securities
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23
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Item 4.
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Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
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24
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Item 5.
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Other Information
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24
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Item 6.
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Exhibits
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24
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SIGNATURES
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25-30
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CERTIFICATION OF OFFICERS
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Accelr8 Technology Corporation | 2 |
Accelr8 Technology Corporation | ||||||||
Condensed Balance Sheets
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ASSETS
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April 30, 2011 (Unaudited)
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July 31, 2010
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Current assets:
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Cash and cash equivalents
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$ | 372,261 | $ | 283,273 | ||||
Trade Accounts receivable
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428,291 | 415,807 | ||||||
Inventory
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30,548 | 32,620 | ||||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
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32,165 | 19,395 | ||||||
Total current assets
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863,265 | 751,095 | ||||||
Long Term Accounts Receivable, Net of current portion
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1,343,396 | 1,337,238 | ||||||
Property and equipment, net
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4,127 | 4,474 | ||||||
Investments, net
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1,324,828 | 1,208,538 | ||||||
Intellectual property, net (Note 3)
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2,823,380 | 2,967,621 | ||||||
Total assets
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$ | 6,358,996 | $ | 6,268,966 | ||||
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
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Current liabilities:
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Accounts payable
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$ | 94,786 | $ | 32,135 | ||||
Accrued compensation and other liabilities
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37,780 | 23,291 | ||||||
Deferred revenue
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0 | 20,225 | ||||||
Total current liabilities
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132,566 | 75,651 | ||||||
Long-term liabilities:
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Deferred compensation
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1,381,078 | 1,283,537 | ||||||
Total liabilities
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1,513,644 | 1,359,188 | ||||||
Commitments and Contingencies
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Shareholders’ equity
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Common Stock, no par value; 19,000,000 shares authorized; 10,775,276 (2011) and
10,757,317 (2010) shares issued and outstanding
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14,138,820 | 14,138,820 | ||||||
Contributed capital
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1,175,520 | 1,156,843 | ||||||
Accumulated (deficit)
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(10,195,388 | ) | (10,112,285 | ) | ||||
Shares held for employee benefit (1,129,110 shares at cost)
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(273,600 | ) | (273,600 | ) | ||||
Total shareholders’ equity
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4,845,352 | 4,909,778 | ||||||
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
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$ | 6,358,996 | $ | 6,268,966 |
See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements
Accelr8 Technology Corporation | 3 |
Accelr8 Technology Corporation | ||||||||||||||||
For the Three and Nine Months ended April 30, 2011 and 2010
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(Unaudited)
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3 Months Ended April 30
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9 Months Ended April 30
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2011
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2010
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2011
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2010
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Revenues:
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OptiChem® revenues
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$ | 25,772 | $ | 19,873 | $ | 40,813 | $ | 85,417 | ||||||||
Technical development fees
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214,500 | 0 | 734,908 | 00 | ||||||||||||
Qualified Therapeutic Discovery Grant
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0 | 0 | 244,479 | 0- | ||||||||||||
Total Revenues
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240,272 | 19,873 | 1,020,200 | 85,417 | ||||||||||||
Costs and expenses:
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Research and development
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126,918 | 108,415 | 345,602 | 400,879 | ||||||||||||
General and administrative
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181,881 | 231,549 | 606,693 | 689,764 | ||||||||||||
Amortization
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63,463 | 62,775 | 189,860 | 188,148 | ||||||||||||
Marketing and sales
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1,246 | 0 | 7,739 | 0 | ||||||||||||
Depreciation
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599 | 2,624 | 1,797 | 7,857 | ||||||||||||
Total costs and expenses
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374,107 | 405,363 | 1,151,691 | 1,286,648 | ||||||||||||
Income (Loss) from operations
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(133,835 | ) | (385,490 | ) |
(131,491
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) | (1,201,231 | ) | ||||||||
Other income:
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Interest and dividend income
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4,077 | 1,638 | 11,481 | 4,256 | ||||||||||||
Unrealized gain (loss) on investments
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5,764 | 22,708 | 36,907 | 40,727 | ||||||||||||
Total other income
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9,841 | 24,346 | 48,388 | 44,983 | ||||||||||||
Net Income (Loss)
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$ | (123,994 | ) | $ | (361,144 | ) | $ | (83,103 | ) | $ | (1,156,248 | ) | ||||
Net loss per share:
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Basic and diluted net loss per share
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$ | (.01 | ) | $ | (.03 | ) | $ | (.01 | ) | $ | (.111 | ) | ||||
Weighted average shares outstanding
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10,759,335 | 10,452,054 | 10,757,975 | 10,229,837 |
Accelr8 Technology Corporation | 4 |
Accelr8 Technology Corporation | ||||||||
Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
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For the Nine Months Ended April 30, 2011 and 2010
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(Unaudited)
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2011
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2010
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Cash flows from operating activities:
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Net Income (loss)
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$ | (83,103 | ) | $ | (1,156,248 | ) | ||
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) to net cash (used in) operating activities:
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Depreciation
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1,797 | 7,857 | ||||||
Amortization
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189,860 | 188,148 | ||||||
Fair value of stock options granted for services
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18,677 | 20,523 | ||||||
Unrealized holding (gain) loss on investments
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(36,907 | ) | (40,727 | ) | ||||
Reinvested earnings – interest and dividends
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(4,383 | ) | (4,005 | ) | ||||
(Increase) decrease in assets:
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Accounts receivable
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(18,642 | ) | (20,195 | ) | ||||
Inventory
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2,072 | 19,100 | ||||||
Prepaid expense and other
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(12,770 | ) | (9,677 | ) | ||||
Increase (decrease) in liabilities:
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Accounts payable
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62,651 | 20,245 | ||||||
Accrued liabilities
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14,489 | 3,969 | ||||||
Deferred revenue
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(20,225 | ) | (50,167 | ) | ||||
Deferred compensation
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97,540 | 100,983 | ||||||
Net cash provided (used in) operating activities
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211,056 | (920,194 | ) | |||||
Cash flows from financing activities:
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Sale of common stock
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0 | 335,000 | ||||||
Cash flows from investing activities:
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Purchases of equipment and patents
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(47,068 | ) | (35,764 | ) | ||||
Contribution to deferred compensation trust
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(75,000 | ) | (75,000 | ) | ||||
Net cash used in investing activities
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(122,068 | ) | (110,764 | ) | ||||
Increase (Decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
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88,988 | (695,958 | ) | |||||
Beginning balance
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283,273 | 862,076 | ||||||
Ending balance
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$ | 372,261 | $ | 166,118 |
See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements
Accelr8 Technology Corporation | 5 |
ACCELR8 TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 1. Basis of Presentation
The financial statements included herein have been prepared by Accelr8 Technology Corporation (the "Company") without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in the financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted as allowed by such rules and regulations. The Company believes that the disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with our annual audited financial statements dated July 31, 2010, included in our annual report on Form 10-K as filed with the SEC on September 23, 2010.
Management believes that the accompanying unaudited financial statements are prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles, which require the use of management estimates, and contain all adjustments (including normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly the operations and cash flows for the periods presented. The results of operations for the three months and nine months ended April 30, 2011 may not be indicative of the results of operations for the year ended July 31, 2011.
Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Concentration of Credit Risk
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash equivalents, accounts receivable, and notes receivable, including receivables from major customers. The Company places its cash equivalents with a high credit quality financial institution. The Company periodically maintains cash balances at a commercial bank in the excess of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insurance limit of $250,000. At April 30, 2011 and 2010, the Company’s uninsured cash balance was approximately $0 and $0. The Company grants credit to domestic and international clients in various industries. Exposure to losses on accounts receivable is principally dependent on each client's financial position. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its clients' financial condition.
Accelr8 Technology Corporation | 6 |
The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, investments and other long-term liabilities approximates fair value at April 30, 2011 and July 31, 2010. The carrying value of all other financial instruments potentially subject to valuation risk, principally consisting of accounts receivable and accounts payable, also approximate fair value.
Income Taxes
The Company has no unrecognized tax benefits. Should the Company determine that any penalty and interest be accrued as a result of current or future tax positions taken on its returns, such penalties and interest will be accrued in its financial statements as other non-interest expense and as interest expense during the period in which such determination is made.
The Company files federal and state income tax returns. These returns are subject to examination by taxing authorities for all tax years after 2006.
Note 3. Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
The Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") has codified a single source of U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), the Accounting Standards Codification™ . Unless needed to clarify a point to readers, we will refrain from citing specific section references when discussing application of accounting principles or addressing new or pending accounting rule changes. There are no recently issued accounting standards that are expected to have a material effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
Note 4. Intellectual Property
Intellectual property consisted of the following:
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April 30, 2011
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July 31, 2010
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OptiChem® Technologies
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$ | 4,454,538 | $ | 4,454,538 | ||||
Patents
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576,522 | 530,904 | ||||||
Trademarks
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49,019 | 49,019 | ||||||
Total intellectual property
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5,080,079 | 5,034,461 | ||||||
Accumulated amortization
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(2,256,699 | ) | (2,066,840 | ) | ||||
Net intellectual property
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$ | 2,823,380 | $ | 2,967,621 |
Accelr8 Technology Corporation | 7 |
Intellectual properties are recorded at cost and are being amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives of 20 years, which approximates the patent and patent application life of the OptiChem(R) technologies. Amortization expense was $189,860 and $188,148, respectively, for the nine months ended April 30, 2011 and 2010.
The Company routinely evaluates the recoverability of its long-lived assets based upon estimated future cash flows from or estimated fair value of such long-lived assets. If in management's judgment, the anticipated undiscounted cash flows or estimated fair value are insufficient to recover the carrying amount of the long-lived asset, the Company will determine the amount of the impairment, and the value of the asset will be written down. Management believes that the fair value of the technology exceeds the carrying value. However, it is possible that future impairment testing may result in intangible asset write-offs, which could adversely affect the Company's financial condition and results of operations.
Note 5. Research and Option Agreement and License and Supply Agreements
The Company originally signed a licensing agreement for microarraying slides using OptiChem® coatings with Schott Jenaer Glas GmbH (“SCHOTT”) on November 4, 2004. On November 24, 2008 the Company extended the non-exclusive Slide H license for three more years, to expire on November 23, 2011. The Company also extended a non-exclusive license to SCHOTT for Slide HS to expire at the same time as the extended slide H license. The royalty-bearing license extensions had a license fee of a total of $50,000, and prepaid royalty of $50,000 for a total of $100,000. Royalties earned during the nine months ended April 30, 2011 and 2010 were $19,809 and $77,688 respectively.
The Company entered into a seven-year license with NanoString Technologies Inc. on October 5, 2007. The license grants to NanoString the right to apply OptiChem® coatings to NanoString's proprietary molecular detection products. Pursuant to the license agreement, NanoString paid the Company a non-refundable fee of $100,000 of which $50,000 was credited against future royalties. Under the royalty-bearing license, NanoString is to pay the Company a royalty at the rate of eight percent (8%) of net sales for sales up to $500,000 of NanoString licensed products. The royalty rate on the second $500,000 of net sales is six percent (6%), and the royalty thereafter is four percent (4%). Royalties in the aggregate amount of $21,004 and $4,729 respectively were earned during the nine months ended April 30, 2011 and 2010.
Effective June 14, 2010, the Company entered into an Evaluation Agreement and Letter of Intent with Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics, Inc. (“Novartis”). Pursuant to the Evaluation Agreement, Novartis will evaluate the results of the Company’s BACcel system in identifying the type and quantity of bacterial pathogens in clinical specimens.
Pursuant to the Letter of Intent, the Company and Novartis agreed to negotiate in good faith a formal business relationship and definitive agreement regarding the design, development, commercialization and support strength of each party within 160 days of the date of the Letter of Intent. The Letter of Intent is non-binding and grants Novartis the exclusive right (the “Exclusive Right”) to evaluate and negotiate a license to the Company’s intellectual property for a period of three months after the submission of the final research report prepared pursuant to the Evaluation Agreement.
Accelr8 Technology Corporation | 8 |
On November 24, 2010, the Company and Novartis entered into an Amendment No. 1 to an Evaluation Agreement (the “Amended Evaluation Agreement”) and an Amendment No. 1 to a Letter of Intent (the “Amended Letter of Intent”) to extend the termination dates of these agreements.
Pursuant to the Amended Evaluation Agreement, Novartis will continue to evaluate the results of the Company’s BACcel system in identifying the type and quantity of bacterial pathogens in clinical specimens. In connection with the Amended Evaluation Agreement, Novartis agreed to pay the Company $140,000. The Amended Evaluation Agreement will terminate on June 30, 2011.
The Amended Letter of Intent extends the Exclusive Right for three additional thirty-day periods through April 13, 2011 and Novartis paid the Company an aggregate of $210,000for such extension. On or about April 13, 2011, Novartis extended the Exclusive Right an additional 78 days and will pay the Company an additional $70,000 fee for each 30-day period of such extension. The exclusivity payments made pursuant to the Original Letter of Intent, as amended pursuant to the Amended Letter of Intent, if any, shall be credited against any license fee, development milestone or other payment made by Novartis to the Company at any point in the future.
On July 9, 2010 the Company additionally entered into a non-exclusive patent-life OptiChem® license to Nanosphere, Inc. (“Nanosphere”). The license grants to Nanosphere the right to apply OptiChem® coatings to Nanosphere’s proprietary analytical products. The products may include FDA-regulated diagnostics devices, unlike the other current licenses. The payments due under the license aggregate $1,865,000, of which $165,000 has been paid. The license requires the additional payments of $350,000, $600,000 and $750,000 in July 2011, 2012, and 2013, respectively.
Note 6. Employee Stock Based Compensation
On April 30, 2011, there were Common Stock options outstanding at prices ranging from $1.45 to $4.50 with expiration dates between May 6, 2011 and October 28, 2018. For the three months ended April 30, 2011 and 2010, stock options exercisable into 960,000 and 1,040,000 shares of Common Stock, respectively, were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because their effect was antidilutiveOn August 26, 2009, 100,000 options to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock at a price of $1.50 per share were exercised by an officer and director of the Company on a cashless basis. Upon exercise, 47,468 of these shares were surrendered in a cashless exchange. The share price on the date of exercise was $3.16 per share.
Accelr8 Technology Corporation | 9 |
On or about April 20, 2011, 50,000 options to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock at a price of $2.25 per share were exercised by a consultant of the Company on a cashless basis. Upon exercise, 32,041 of these shares were surrendered in a cashless exchange. The share price on the date of exercise was $3.51 per share. For the nine month periods ended April 30, 2011 and 2010, the Company accounted for stock based compensation to employees and directors under the modified prospective application method. Using this method we apply the standard to new awards, and to awards modified, repurchased, or cancelled. Additionally, compensation costs for the unvested portion of awards are recognized as compensation expense as the requisite service is rendered.
The fair value of options granted under the stock option agreements and stock-based compensation plans discussed above is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions used for grants for the nine months ended April 30, 2011 and 2010: no dividend yield; risk free interest rate of 2.37% to 5%; expected life of 3-10 years; and expected volatility of 44% to 77%. The weighted average remaining contractual life of options outstanding at April 30, 2011 and 2010 was 2.91 and 4.13 years, respectively.
As of April 30, 2011, and 2010 the total unrecognized share-based compensation cost related to unvested stock options was $0. For the three month period ended April 30, 2011 and 2010 the Company recognized $6,545 and $1,405, respectively in stock based compensation costs related to the issuance or renewal of stock options to employees. For the nine months ended April 30, 2011 and 2010, the Company recognized $18,677 and $20,523, respectively in stock based compensation costs.
Note 7. Subsequent Event
Subsequent to the quarter ended April 30, 2011, investors exercised warrants to acquire an aggregate of 178,573 shares of our common stock at a price of $1.00 per share.
Accelr8 Technology Corporation | 10 |
Forward Looking Information
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and the Company, intends that such forward-looking statements be subject to the safe harbors created thereby. These forward-looking statements, which can be identified by the use of words such as "may," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," or "continue," or variations thereon or comparable terminology, include the plans and objectives of Management for future operations, including plans and objectives relating to the products and future economic performance of the Company. In addition, all statements other than statements of historical facts that address activities, events, or developments the Company expects, believes, or anticipates will or may occur in the future, and other such matters, are forward-looking statements.
The forward-looking statements included herein are based on current expectations that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are based on assumptions that the Company will retain key management personnel, the Company will be successful in the development of the BACcel™ system, the Company will obtain sufficient capital to complete the development of the BACcel™ system, the Company will find a long term strategic partner to assist in developing, manufacturing and taking the BACcel™ system to market, the Company will be able to protect its intellectual property, the Company's ability to respond to technological change, that the Company will continue as a going concern, that the Company will accurately anticipate market demand for the Company's products and that there will be no material adverse change in the Company's operations or business. Assumptions relating to the foregoing involve judgments with respect to, among other things, future economic, competitive and market conditions and future business decisions, all of which are difficult or impossible to predict accurately and many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Although the Company believes that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements are reasonable, any of the assumptions could prove inaccurate and, therefore, there can be no assurance that the results contemplated in forward-looking statements will be realized. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the Company's unaudited condensed financial statements and related notes included elsewhere herein. The Company's future operating results may be affected by various trends and factors which are beyond the Company's control. These include, among other factors, general public perception of issues and solutions, and other uncertain business conditions that may affect the Company's business. The Company cautions the reader that a number of important factors discussed herein, and in other reports, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission including but not limited to the risks in the section entitled "Risk Factors" are in its 10-K for the year ended July 31, 2010, could affect the Company's actual results and cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in forward-looking statements.
Overview
Our vision is to develop and commercialize an innovative, integrated system to rapidly identify bacteria and their mechanisms of antibiotic resistance in critically ill patients. Our business strategy for primary products in vertical markets is to prove the validity of our technology and recruit an industry leader as a commercial partner or licensee. We also plan to spin off specific OEM technology components through additional licensed applications that do not compete with our platform licensees.
Accelr8 Technology Corporation | 11 |
We envision our continuing role as licensor and alliance partner as one of leading the technical development of new technology, validating the application methods, expanding platform applications, and integrating additional capabilities into our proprietary platforms.
Since 2007, we have focused our efforts on the development of an innovative rapid diagnostic platform, the BACcel™ system, intended for rapid diagnosis in life-threatening bacterial infections. Our goal is to reduce the failure rate of initial therapy by shortening the lab turnaround time to less than 8 hours, rather than the 2-3 days now required. Rapid testing would provide guidance in time to influence initial therapy from the first day.
The BACcel™ system applies our proprietary technology to eliminate time-consuming bacterial culturing, thus eliminating the major source of delay with current testing methods. Proprietary technologies include our patented “Quantum Microbiology” analytical methods, and our patented OptiChem® surface coatings. The BACcel™ system includes a fixed instrument and proprietary single-use (disposable) test cassettes. Each cassette tests a single patient specimen and then must be discarded.
The BACcel™ system uses long-accepted clinical microbiology principles, but applies our proprietary technology to adapt them to analyze live bacteria extracted directly from a patient specimen. The instrumentation uses an automated digital microscope to measure the responses of extracted live bacterial cells to various test conditions. The system analyzes thousands of these individual cells to arrive at organism identification and antibiotic resistance characteristics.
Based on internal and external independent lab data, Management believes that the BACcel™ system will identify the organisms present in a patient's specimen and count the number of organisms of each type in less than 2 hours after receiving a specimen. Management believes that the BACcel™ system will then additionally report major categories of antibiotic resistance mechanism present for each type of organism within a total of 4-6 hours after receiving a specimen. The clinical purpose is to narrow the drug choices available for initial therapy by rapidly reporting presumptive identification and major resistance types, thus ruling out antibiotic classes that are most likely to fail.
Management believes that the BACcel™ system is the only new diagnostic technology under development that will address a clinically adequate range of species and antibiotic resistance mechanisms needed to help manage critical infectious diseases. Management also believes that other rapid technologies, such as gene detection, are better suited to screening non-infected carriers of a small number of species and resistance mechanisms, but are too limited to compete with the BACcel™ platform for managing infected and especially critically ill ICU patients.
Accelr8 Technology Corporation | 12 |
During the quarter ended January 31, 2011 and continuing through the quarter ended April 30, 2011, the Company selected suppliers who are demonstrating functional subsystems for integration into an automated BACcel(tm) product. Subsystems include fluid robotics and automated imaging. The Company believes that when the BACcel™ is ready to be deployed into the marketplace, it will conduct a product launch that will begin in international clinical markets and research markets in the US.
During the nine months ended April 30, 2011 and in May 2011, the Company and third parties have presented the results of various studies using the BACcel(tm) system.
Preliminary analysis in a prospective pilot clinical study at the Denver Health Medical Center yielded data that the principle investigators presented at the annual meeting of the American Thoracic Society in May 2011. This study is being performed under Institutional Review Board authorization and patient informed consent. In it, the investigators examine a series of new respiratory specimens acquired from ICU patients started on mechanical ventilation. They compare results from BACcel(tm) rapid analysis with standard cultures performed on portions of the same specimens. The study's purpose is to assess BACcel(tm) analytical accuracy and speed if to help manage severe infections in ICU patients.
The study examined ICU patients who were at risk of developing a lung infection (pneumonia) by being in an ICU and on a ventilator. Investigators acquired specimens on a fixed schedule every 48 hours and did not wait for symptoms to appear. The purpose was to identify a new infection as early as possible.
As a pilot study, the treating physician did not receive BACcel(tm) results, but proceeded with patient care in standard fashion. Investigators acquired 77 specimens from 35 patients, limited by each patient's duration on the ventilator.
The BACcel(tm) system used a test panel intended to detect 3 species that are prone to express or acquire multi-drug resistance. For each target species, the BACcel(tm) system counted the number of each target organism in a specimen volume in less than 2 hours. It then analyzed two major drug resistance expression types for each target species in another 2 hours, for a total turnaround time from specimen to complete answer in 4 hours. Results were 40-66 hours faster than standard cultures that used part of the same specimens.
A small number of infections emerged (9), as expected because of the surveillance study design and pilot stage. In one of these cases, the BACcel(tm) result agreed with clinical diagnostic scoring (detected a true case) but culturing failed. The BACcel(tm) result agreed with the independent clinical diagnosis. The potentially dangerous pathogen identified by the BACcel(tm) system was very close to the minimum quantitative criterion. Management believes that this observation illustrates the advantage of precise quantitation possible with the BACcel(tm) system but not available with typical hospital lab procedures. Overall diagnostic accuracy for identification and resistance characterization by the BACcel(tm) system achieved 86% sensitivity and 97% specificity. The investigators concluded that 63% of cases would have benefited if the BACcel(tm) results had been used to guide therapy by assuring initial control of the emergent infections.
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Principal investigators at the Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis presented results of another study at European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases 2011, also in May, held in Milan, Italy. The study includes results from the BACcel™ system in identifying a new type of resistance in hospital “Staph” pathogens, known as “hVISA,” that cannot be detected by routine laboratory tests. The resistance type affects vancomycin, which is the antibiotic most commonly used if MRSA strains of Staph are known or suspected, but may also be present in non-MRSA Staph infections. The new resistance type thus presents a potentially serious threat. Researchers have not been yet able to assess the level of danger because standard lab methods cannot detect its presence. One of the purposes of the study was to assess the BACcel™ system’s and other methods’ speed and accuracy in the hope of closing this important gap in public health epidemiology.
Research collaborators from Denver Health and Barnes-Jewish Hospital also presented further data from two additional studies at American Society for Microbiology (“ASM”) 2011, held in late May in New Orleans. One study presented additional detail on the hVISA resistance identification test. The study used strains identified using a complex control method and screening a large number of "Staph" hospital strains. The screening found 15 hVISA strains. The new BACcel(tm) assay correctly classified 14 of the 15 as hVISA, and 14 of 14 Staph other clinical isolates negative for this hidden form of resistance and required only 4 hours for its analysis.
The second ASM study screened 281 randomly collected clinical lower respiratory specimens and identified 62 for complete detailed analysis of pathogen content. The purpose was to test the accuracy and timing for the BACcel(tm) system. The study targeted the same three major pathogenic bacterial species and resistance types as in the study presented at the American Thoratic Society (Staphylococcus aureus -- “Staph” including MRSA), Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter species). Together, these three species account for more than half of hospital acquired multi-resistant infections. The total time from specimen to results only required 4 hours, instead of the typical 3-day time for cultures using the same specimens. Identification was correct in 182 of 186 tests, and antibiotic resistance classification in 31 of 32 tests.
Management believes that the combined results from the four presentations in May demonstrate, for the first time for any technology, simultaneous multi-species, multi-resistance testing well within a standard hospital work shift duration.
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In the next twelve months, the Company intends to continue technical validation of the BACcel™ system methods by collaborating with outside institutions, and continue to publish the findings from these studies as we seek a partner or licensee for commercializing the BACcel™ rapid diagnostics platform.
During the nine months ended April 30, 2011, the Company received a grant in the amount of $244,479 as part of a new Internal Revenue Code 48D program created by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. This program provides a tax credit or cash grant for qualifying research and development expenditures related to advanced medical technology discovery and development. The amount was the maximum amount of capital that could be granted to any single project under the program.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
The Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") (Topic 105, "Generally Accepted Accounting Principles"), became the single source for authoritative nongovernmental U.S. generally accepted accounting principles on July 1, 2009. The Company has adopted FASB ASC for periods ending after September 15, 2009.
In January 2010, the FASB issued ASU No. 2010-06, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (Topic 820): Improving Disclosures about Fair Value Measurements. ASU 2010-06 amends Subtopic 820-10 to clarify existing disclosures, require new disclosures, and includes conforming amendments to guidance on employers’ disclosures about postretirement benefit plan assets. ASU 2010-06 is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2009, except for disclosures about purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements in the roll forward of activity in Level 3 fair value measurements. Those disclosures are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010 and for interim periods within those fiscal years. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s financial statements.
In December 2010, the FASB issued ASU No. 2010-29 Disclosure of Supplementary Pro Forma Information for Business Combinations. The ASU amends Topic 805, Business Combinations. The new standard provides for changes to the disclosure of pro forma information for business combinations. These changes clarify that if a public entity presents comparative financial statements, the entity should disclose revenue and earnings of the combined entity as though the business combination that occurred during the current year had occurred as of the beginning of the comparable prior annual reporting period only. Also, the existing supplemental pro forma disclosures were expanded to include a description of the nature and amount of material, nonrecurring pro forma adjustments directly attributable to the business combination included in the reported pro forma revenue and earnings. This update is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.
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In May 2011, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2011-04, Fair Value Measurement(Topic 820) Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in US GAAP and IFRS, which amends current fair value measurement and disclosure guidance to include increased transparency around valuation inputs and investment categorization. The guidance will be effective for fiscal 2013, and is not expected to have a material impact on the financial statements.
CHANGES IN RESULTS OF OPERATIONS: THREE MONTHS ENDED APRIL 30, 2011 COMPARED TO THREE MONTHS ENDED APRIL 30, 2010.
During the three months ended April 30, 2011, OptiChem(R) revenues were $25,772 as compared to $19,873 during the three month period ended April 30, 2010, an increase of $5,899 or 29.7%. The increase was due to fewer royalties earned from sales of slides H and HS sold by Schott totaling $8,845 and deferred and currently earned revenues from Nanostring totaling $16,927.
Technical development fees during the three-month period ended April 30, 2011 were $ 214,500 as compared to $0 during the three-month period ended April 30, 2010, an increase of $214,500 or 100%. Technical development fees are being generated through an Evaluation Agreement with our technical partner Novartis in its evaluation of the BACcel™ system and payments from the exclusivity it has pursuant to a letter of intent with the Company.
Research and development expenses for the three months ended April 30, 2011 were $126,918 as compared to $108,415 during the three months ended April 30, 2010, an increase of $18,503 or 17.1%. This increase was primarily due to increased consulting fees paid to consultants conducting research and development and lab supplies totaling $21,276.
During the three months ended April 30, 2011, general and administrative expenses were $181,881 as compared to $231,549 during the three months ended April 30, 2010, a decrease of $49,668 or 21.5%. The decrease was primarily due to reductions in employee health insurance benefits of $17,619, deferred compensation of $16,820 and corporate shareholder and insurance expenses of $11,885 The increase in amortization was negligible for the three months ended April 30, 2011 as compared to the three month period ended April 30, 2010.
Marketing and sales expenses for the three months ended April 30, 2011 were $1,246 as compared to $0 during the three months ended April 30, 2010, a increase of $1,246. Marketing expenses are primarily travel related costs.
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Depreciation for the three months ended April 30, 2011 was $599 as compared to $2,624 during the three months ended April 30, 2010, a decrease of $2,025 or 77.2%. The decreased depreciation was the result of some assets becoming fully depreciated during the three months ended April 30, 2011, coupled with few purchases of on-site lab equipment during the quarter ended April 30, 2011.
As a result of the above factors, loss from operations for the three months ended April 30, 2011 was $133,835 as compared to a loss of $385,490 during the three months ended April 30, 2010, a decreased loss of $251,655 or 65.3%.
Interest and dividend income during the three months ended April 30, 2011 was $4,077 as compared to $1,638 during the three months ended April 30, 2010, an increase of $2,439 or 148.9%. Interest income increased primarily as a result of recognition of income related to the discounted Nanosphere long term accounts receivable.
An unrealized holding gain on investments held in the deferred compensation trust for the three months ended April 30, 2011 was $5,764 as compared to an unrealized gain of $22,708 during the three months ended April 30, 2010, a decrease of $16,944 or 74.6%. The change was a result of market fluctuations in the price of marketable securities held in the deferred compensation trust.
As a result of these factors, net loss for the three months ended April 30, 2011 was $123,994 as compared to $361,144 during the three months ended April 30, 2010, a decreased loss of $237,150 or 65.7%.
CHANGES IN RESULTS OF OPERATIONS: NINE MONTHS ENDED APRIL 30, 2011 COMPARED TO NINE MONTHS ENDED APRIL 30, 2010.
During the nine months ended April 30, 2011, OptiChem(R) revenues were $40,813 as compared to $85,417 during the nine month period ended April 30, 2010, a decrease of $44,604 or 52.2%. The decrease was due to reduced revenues from Schott of $57,878 and increased recognition of Nanostring royalties of $16,275.
Technical development fees during the nine-month period ended April 30, 2011 were $734,908 as compared to $0 during the nine-month period ended April 30, 2010, a increase of $734,908 or 100%. Technical development fees are being generated through an Evaluation Agreement with our technical partner Novartis in its evaluation of the BACcel™ system and payments from the exclusivity it has pursuant to a letter of intent with the Company.
During the nine months ended April 30, 2011, the Company received a grant in the amount of $244,479 as part of a new Internal Revenue Code 48D program created by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
Research and development expenses for the nine months ended April 30, 2011 were $345,602 as compared to $400,879 during the nine months ended April 30, 2010, a decrease of $55,277 or 13.8%. This decrease was primarily due to reductions in salary expenses of $48,654 and clinical trial and lab expenditures of $15,209.
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During the nine months ended April 30, 2011, general and administrative expenses were $606,693 as compared to $689,764 during the nine month period ended April 30, 2010, a decrease of $83,071 or 12.0%. The decrease was primarily due to decreases in corporate and shareholder expenses of $7,068, employee health insurance benefits of $57,532 and consulting fees of $14,219. Marketing and sales expenses for the nine months ended April 30, 2011 were $7,739 as compared to $0 during the nine months ended April 30, 2010, an increase of $7,739 or 100%. The Marketing and sales expenses were primarily due to travel related costs in connection with industry conferences and visiting Novartis, our technological development partner.
Depreciation for the nine months ended April 30, 2011 was $1,797 as compared to $7,857 during the nine months ended April 30, 2010, a decrease of $6,060 or 77.1%. The decreased depreciation expense was the result of assets becoming fully depreciated. [As a result of the above factors, loss from operations for the nine months ended April 30, 2011 was $131,491 as compared to a loss of $1,201,231 during the nine months ended April 30, 2010, a decreased of losses of $1,069,740 or 89.1%.
Investment and dividend income during the nine months ended April 30, 2011 was $11,481 as compared to $4,256 during the nine months ended April 30, 2010 an increase of $7,225 or 169.8%. Interest income increased due to the recognition of income related to the discounted long term receivable from Nanosphere.
An unrealized holding gain on investments held in the deferred compensation trust for the nine months ended April 30, 2011 was a gain of $36,907, as compared to a gain of $40,727 for the nine months ended April 30, 2010, a decrease of $3,820. The change was the result of market fluctuations in the price of marketable securities held in the deferred compensation trust.
As a result of these factors, net loss for the nine months ended April 30, 2011 was $83,013 as compared to $1,156,248 during the nine months ended April 30, 2010, a decreased loss of $1,073,145 or 92.8%.
Capital Resources and Liquidity
During the nine months ended April 30, 2011 we generated positive cash flows from operating activities of $211,056 compared to a net use of cash for the nine months ended April 30, 2010 totaling $920,194.
The Company has historically funded its operations generally through its existing cash balances, cash flow generated from operations and sales of equity securities. Our primary use of capital has been for the research and development of the BACcel(TM) system.
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During the three months and nine months ended April 30, 2010 the Company raised $335,000 from the issuance of 478,575shares of common stock at $0.70 and related issuance of 489,293 three year warrants exercisable at $1.00 per share.
The independent auditor's report accompanying the Company's July 31, 2010 consolidated financial statements contains an explanatory paragraph expressing substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern. The audited July 31, 2009 consolidated financial statements have been prepared "assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern," which contemplates that the Company will realize its assets and satisfy its liabilities and commitments in the ordinary course of business. Our accompanying financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recoverability and classification of recorded asset amounts or the amounts and classification of liabilities that might be necessary should we be unable to continue as a going concern.
Notwithstanding our investments in research and development, there can be no assurance that the BACcel(TM) system or any of our other products will be successful, or even if they are successful, will provide sufficient revenues to continue our current operations. Our working capital requirements are expected to increase in line with the growth of our business. We have no lines of credit or other bank or off balance sheet financing arrangements. We believe that the plan of operations for the next twelve months will require additional capital of approximately $1,200,000. Management believes that current cash balances plus cash flow from operations will not be sufficient to fund our capital and liquidity needs for the next twelve months and we will be required to obtain additional capital through the issuance of debt or equity securities or other means to execute our plans. Additional issuances of equity or convertible debt securities will result in dilution to our current common stockholders.
At April 30, 2011 as compared to July 31, 2010, cash and cash equivalents increased by $88,988 from $283,273 to $372,261, or approximately 31.4% and the Company's working capital increased $55,255 or 8.1% from $675,444 to $730,699. During the same period, shareholders' equity decreased from $4,909,778 to $4,845,352.
The net cash provided by operating activities was $211,056 during the nine months ended April 30, 2011 compared to cash used in operating activities of $920,194 during the nine months ended April 30, 2010. The principal element that gave rise to the increase of cash provided by operating activities was the reduced net loss of $1,073,145 adjusted by items not currently requiring the use of cash such as depreciation and amortization totaling $191,651 and other changes in accrual accounts totaling $102,502.
Management believes that current cash balances, cash flow, and obtaining additional capital through financing, joint ventures or additional equity capital from operations will be sufficient to fund our capital and liquidity needs until approximately December 2011.
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Interest Rate Risk
The Company’s interest income is sensitive to fluctuations in the general level of U.S. interest rates. As such, changes in U.S. interest rates affect the interest earned on the Company’s cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
An evaluation was conducted under the supervision and with the participation of the Company's Management, including Thomas V. Geimer, the Company's Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") and Chief Financial Officer ("CFO"), of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”). Based on that evaluation, Mr. Geimer concluded that as of April 30, 2011, the Company's disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of such date to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms. Mr. Geimer also confirmed that there was no change in the Company's internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended April 30, 2011.
Not Applicable.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
Not Applicable.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
Not Applicable.
Not applicable.
None.
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On or about April 13, 2011, Novartis extended the Exclusive Right to negotiate for a business arrangement with the Company for the BACcel(TM) system for an additional 78 days. For such extension, Novartis will pay the Company an additional $70,000 fee for each 30 day period of such extension. The exclusivity payments made pursuant to the Original Letter of Intent, as amended pursuant to the Amended Letter of Intent, if any, shall be credited against any license fee, development milestone or other payment made by Novartis to the Company at any point in the future.
Item 6. Exhibits
Exhibit No.
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Description
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31.1
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Certification of Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
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31.2
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Certification of Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
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32.1
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Certification of Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act 0f 2002.
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Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
Dated: | ACCELR8 TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION |
June 14, 2011 | /s/ Thomas V. Geimer |
Thomas V. Geimer, Secretary, Chief Executive Officer and | |
Chief Financial Officer | |
June 14, 2011 | /s/ Bruce H. McDonald |
Bruce H. McDonald, Principal Accounting Officer | |
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