Aceragen, Inc. - Quarter Report: 2009 June (Form 10-Q)
Table of Contents
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
þ | QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2009,
or
o | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For transition period from .
Commission File Number: 001-31918
IDERA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware | 04-3072298 | |
(State or other jurisdiction of | (I.R.S. Employer Identification | |
incorporation or organization) | No.) |
167 Sidney Street
Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139
(Address of principal executive offices)
(617) 679-5500
(Registrants telephone number, including area code)
Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139
(Address of principal executive offices)
(617) 679-5500
(Registrants telephone number, including area code)
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 þ No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted
on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted
pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months
(or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
Yes o No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an
accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of
large accelerated filer, accelerated filer and smaller reporting company in Rule 12b-2 of the
Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer o | Accelerated filer þ | Non-accelerated filer o (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) |
Smaller reporting company o |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the
Exchange Act.) Yes o No þ
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuers classes of common stock, as of
the latest practicable date.
Common Stock, par value $.001 per share | 23,459,676 | |
Class | Outstanding as of July 31, 2009 |
IDERA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
FORM 10-Q
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Ex-31.1 Section 302 Certification of CEO | ||||||||
Ex-31.2 Section 302 Certification of CFO | ||||||||
Ex-32.1 Section 906 Certification of CEO | ||||||||
Ex-32.2 Section 906 Certification of CFO |
IMO® and Idera® are our trademarks. All
other trademarks and service marks appearing in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q are the property
of their respective owners.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements within the meaning
of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of historical fact,
included or incorporated in this report regarding our strategy, future operations, collaborations,
intellectual property, financial position, future revenues, projected costs, prospects, plans, and
objectives of management are forward-looking statements. The words believes, anticipates,
estimates, plans, expects, intends, may, could, should, potential, likely,
projects, continue, will, and would and similar expressions are intended to identify
forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying
words. We cannot guarantee that we actually will achieve the plans, intentions or expectations
disclosed in our forward-looking statements and you should not place undue reliance on our
forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause our actual
results to differ materially from those indicated or implied by forward-looking statements. These
important factors include those set forth below under Part II, Item 1A Risk Factors. These
factors and the other cautionary statements made in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q should be
read as being applicable to all related forward-looking statements whenever they appear in this
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. In addition, any forward-looking statements represent our estimates
only as of the date that this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q is filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission and should not be relied upon as representing our estimates as of any
subsequent date. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements. We
disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as
a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
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PART I FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. | FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
June 30, | December 31, | |||||||
(in thousands, except per share amounts) | 2009 | 2008 | ||||||
ASSETS |
||||||||
Current assets: |
||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 48,218 | $ | 45,165 | ||||
Short-term investments |
2,223 | 10,441 | ||||||
Receivables |
1,911 | 474 | ||||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
966 | 876 | ||||||
Total current assets |
53,318 | 56,956 | ||||||
Property and equipment, net |
1,547 | 1,824 | ||||||
Non-current portion of prepaid expenses |
104 | 104 | ||||||
Restricted cash |
414 | 516 | ||||||
Total assets |
$ | 55,383 | $ | 59,400 | ||||
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY |
||||||||
Current liabilities: |
||||||||
Accounts payable |
$ | 1,496 | $ | 1,345 | ||||
Accrued expenses |
2,717 | 1,199 | ||||||
Current portion of capital lease |
18 | 18 | ||||||
Current portion of deferred revenue |
21,135 | 22,295 | ||||||
Total current liabilities |
25,366 | 24,857 | ||||||
Capital lease obligation, net of current portion |
20 | 31 | ||||||
Deferred revenue, net of current portion |
2,310 | 12,165 | ||||||
Other liabilities |
221 | 180 | ||||||
Total liabilities |
27,917 | 37,233 | ||||||
Commitments and contingencies |
||||||||
Stockholders equity: |
||||||||
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, Authorized 5,000 shares
Series A convertible preferred stock, Designated
1,500 shares; Issued and outstanding 1 share at
June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008 |
| | ||||||
Common stock, $0.001 par value, Authorized 70,000 shares
at June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008; Issued and
outstanding 23,455 and 23,413 shares at June 30, 2009
and December 31, 2008, respectively |
23 | 23 | ||||||
Additional paid-in capital |
365,068 | 363,405 | ||||||
Accumulated deficit |
(337,635 | ) | (341,225 | ) | ||||
Accumulated other comprehensive gain (loss) |
10 | (36 | ) | |||||
Total stockholders equity |
27,466 | 22,167 | ||||||
Total liabilities and stockholders equity |
$ | 55,383 | $ | 59,400 | ||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
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Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended | |||||||||||||||
June 30, | June 30, | |||||||||||||||
(in thousands, except per share amounts) | 2009 | 2008 | 2009 | 2008 | ||||||||||||
Alliance revenue |
$ | 11,497 | $ | 7,876 | $ | 17,800 | $ | 12,660 | ||||||||
Operating expenses: |
||||||||||||||||
Research and development |
5,413 | 3,752 | 9,890 | 8,286 | ||||||||||||
General and administrative |
2,133 | 3,243 | 4,282 | 5,671 | ||||||||||||
Total operating expenses |
7,546 | 6,995 | 14,172 | 13,957 | ||||||||||||
Income (loss) from operations |
3,951 | 881 | 3,628 | (1,297 | ) | |||||||||||
Other income (expense): |
||||||||||||||||
Investment income, net |
31 | 410 | 102 | 816 | ||||||||||||
Interest expense |
| (5 | ) | | (87 | ) | ||||||||||
Foreign currency exchange loss |
| | | (267 | ) | |||||||||||
Income (loss) before income taxes |
3,982 | 1,286 | 3,730 | (835 | ) | |||||||||||
Income tax (provision) benefit |
(140 | ) | 50 | (140 | ) | | ||||||||||
Net income (loss) |
$ | 3,842 | $ | 1,336 | $ | 3,590 | $ | (835 | ) | |||||||
Net income (loss) per share (Note 15): |
||||||||||||||||
Basic |
$ | 0.16 | $ | 0.06 | $ | 0.15 | $ | (0.04 | ) | |||||||
Diluted |
$ | 0.16 | $ | 0.05 | $ | 0.15 | $ | (0.04 | ) | |||||||
Shares used in computing basic net income (loss) per common share |
23,407 | 22,481 | 23,393 | 22,190 | ||||||||||||
Shares used in computing diluted net income (loss) per common share |
23,956 | 25,507 | 24,103 | 22,190 | ||||||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
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Six Months Ended | ||||||||
June 30, | ||||||||
(in thousands) | 2009 | 2008 | ||||||
Cash Flows from Operating Activities: |
||||||||
Net income (loss) |
$ | 3,590 | $ | (835 | ) | |||
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash (used in) provided by
operating activities - |
||||||||
Stock-based compensation |
1,507 | 1,302 | ||||||
Non-employee stock options |
(6 | ) | 470 | |||||
Depreciation expense |
281 | 257 | ||||||
Amortization expense |
14 | 45 | ||||||
Issuance of common stock for services rendered |
11 | 12 | ||||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities - |
||||||||
Accounts receivable |
(1,437 | ) | (223 | ) | ||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
(90 | ) | (16 | ) | ||||
Accounts payable and accrued expenses |
1,710 | 94 | ||||||
Deferred revenue |
(11,015 | ) | 29,871 | |||||
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities |
(5,435 | ) | 30,977 | |||||
Cash Flows from Investing Activities: |
||||||||
Purchase of available-for-sale securities |
| (11,062 | ) | |||||
Proceeds from maturity of available-for-sale securities |
8,250 | 11,145 | ||||||
Decrease in restricted cash |
102 | | ||||||
Purchase of property and equipment |
(4 | ) | (254 | ) | ||||
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities |
8,348 | (171 | ) | |||||
Cash Flow from Financing Activities: |
||||||||
Proceeds from exercise of common stock options and warrants and employee stock
purchases |
191 | 6,389 | ||||||
Payments on note payable |
| (1,143 | ) | |||||
Repurchase of common stock |
(40 | ) | (95 | ) | ||||
Payments on capital lease |
(11 | ) | (11 | ) | ||||
Net cash provided by financing activities |
140 | 5,140 | ||||||
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents |
3,053 | 35,946 | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period |
45,165 | 12,588 | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period |
$ | 48,218 | $ | 48,534 | ||||
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information: |
||||||||
Cash paid for interest |
$ | | $ | 87 | ||||
Cash paid for income taxes |
$ | 30 | $ | 50 | ||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
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(1) (a) Organization
Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Idera or the Company) is a biotechnology company engaged
in the discovery and development of DNA- and RNA-based drug candidates targeted to Toll-Like
Receptors, or TLRs, to treat infectious diseases, autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, cancer, and
asthma and allergies, and for use as vaccine adjuvants. Drug candidates are compounds that the
Company is developing and that have not been approved for any commercial use. TLRs are specific
receptors present in immune system cells. Certain TLRs recognize the DNA or RNA of pathogens such
as bacteria or viruses and initiate an immune response. Relying on its expertise in DNA and RNA
chemistry, the Company has designed and created proprietary TLR agonists, antagonists, and
antisense to modulate immune responses. A TLR agonist is a compound that stimulates an immune
response through the targeted TLR. A TLR antagonist is a compound that blocks activation of an
immune response through the targeted TLR. Compounds that we refer to as TLR antisense inhibit
production of a specific TLR or of a protein involved in activating a TLR-mediated immune response
by inhibiting the translation of the messenger RNA that encodes the target protein.
Ideras business strategy is to advance applications of its TLR-targeted drug candidates
in multiple disease areas simultaneously. The Company is advancing some of these applications
through internal programs, and it seeks to advance other applications through collaborative
alliances with pharmaceutical companies. Collaborators provide the necessary resources and drug
development experience to advance the Companys compounds in their programs. Upfront payments and
milestone payments received from collaborations help to provide Idera with the financial resources
for its internal research and development programs.
The Companys internal programs are focused on developing TLR-targeted drug candidates
for the potential treatment of infectious diseases, autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, and
cancer. IMO-2125, a TLR9 agonist, is the Companys lead drug candidate for infectious diseases. The
Company is conducting a Phase 1 clinical trial of IMO-2125 in patients with chronic hepatitis C
virus, or HCV, infection who have not responded to current standard of care therapy. The trial is
designed to assess the safety of IMO-2125. In addition, the trial is designed to evaluate the
effects of IMO-2125 on HCV RNA levels and on parameters of immune system activation. The Company
also is preparing to conduct a clinical trial of IMO-2125 to assess the safety of IMO-2125 in
combination with ribavirin in treatment-naïve patients with chronic HCV infection. This clinical
trial is also designed to evaluate the effects of IMO-2125 and ribavirin combination treatment on
HCV RNA levels and on parameters of immune system activation. The Company expects to commence this
trial in the second half of 2009.
As part of its infectious disease program, the Company is evaluating RNA-based compounds
that act as agonists of TLR7 and/or TLR8. The Company refers to its TLR7 and TLR8 agonists as
stabilized immune modulatory RNA , or SIMRA, compounds. It is evaluating the mechanism of action
of its SIMRA compounds in preclinical studies in human cell-based assays and in vivo in non-human
primates.
In the Companys autoimmune and inflammatory disease program, it has identified DNA-based
compounds that act as antagonists of TLR7 and TLR9. The Company has evaluated some of these
compounds in mouse models of lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, colitis,
and pulmonary inflammation. Idera has selected IMO-3100 as a lead TLR antagonist drug candidate,
and is currently conducting preclinical development studies in anticipation of submitting an
Investigational New Drug, or IND, application to the United States Food and Drug Administration, or
FDA, by the end of 2009. The Company has formed an Autoimmune Disease Scientific Advisory Board to
assist it in developing the clinical development strategy for IMO-3100 and other antagonist
candidates in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. The Company also
is studying the potential application of TLR antisense in autoimmune
and inflammatory diseases.
The Companys cancer treatment research program is focused on potential applications of
its TLR7 and/or TLR8 agonists. The Company is studying its TLR7 and TLR8 agonists in preclinical
models of cancer and has observed antitumor activity as monotherapy and in combination with
selected targeted agents.
Idera is also collaborating with three pharmaceutical companies to advance its
TLR-targeted compounds in additional disease areas. The Company is collaborating with Merck KGaA
for cancer
treatment excluding cancer
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vaccines, with Merck & Co., Inc., or Merck & Co., for vaccine
adjuvants, and with Novartis International Pharmaceutical, Ltd., or Novartis, for treatment of
asthma and allergies. Merck KGaA and Merck & Co. are not related.
The Company has incurred operating losses in all fiscal years except 2002 and 2008 and
had an accumulated deficit of $337.6 million at June 30, 2009. The Company may incur substantial
operating losses in future periods. The Company does not expect to generate significant funds
internally until it successfully completes development and obtains marketing approval for its
products, either alone or in collaborations with third parties, which the Company expects will take
a number of years. In order to commercialize its therapeutic products, the Company needs to address
a number of technological challenges and to comply with comprehensive regulatory requirements.
The Company is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties similar to those of other
companies of the same size within the biotechnology industry, such as uncertainty of clinical trial
outcomes, uncertainty of additional funding and a history of operating losses.
(b) Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
On January 1, 2009, the Company adopted Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) 07-1,
Accounting for Collaborative Arrangements Related to the Development and Commercialization of
Intellectual Property (EITF 07-1) on a retrospective basis for all collaborative arrangements
existing as of January 1, 2009. EITF 07-1 defines collaborative arrangements and establishes
reporting requirements for transactions between participants in collaborative arrangements and
between participants in the arrangement and third parties. The adoption of EITF 07-1 did not have a
material impact on the Companys financial statements.
An important part of the Companys business strategy is to enter into research and
development collaborations with biotechnology and pharmaceutical corporations that bring expertise
and resources to the potential research and development and commercialization of drugs based on the
Companys technology. Under the Companys research and development collaborations, the Company has
generally licensed specified portions of its intellectual property and provided research and
development services to the collaborator during the period of continued involvement in the early
portion of the collaborations. The collaborators have generally been responsible for drug
development activities initiated after the collaboration is effective. The collaborators are also
generally responsible for any commercialization activities that may be initiated if any of the drug
candidates receive marketing approval from the appropriate regulatory authority.
Under the Companys existing collaborative arrangements, the Company is generally
entitled to receive non-refundable license fees, milestone payments, reimbursements of internal and
external research and development expenses and patent-related expenses and royalties on product
sales. The Company classifies all of these cash in-flows as revenue in its statement of operations
since it considers licensing intellectual property and providing research and development and
patent-related services to be part of its central business operations. Revenue recognized under the
Companys collaborative arrangements, as defined by EITF 07-1, is as follows for the three and six
months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008:
Three Months Ended June 30, | Six Months Ended June 30, | |||||||||||||||
(In thousands) | 2009 | 2008 | 2009 | 2008 | ||||||||||||
Merck KGaA |
$ | 9,986 | $ | 4,878 | $ | 14,778 | $ | 7,648 | ||||||||
Merck & Co. |
1,465 | 2,637 | 2,944 | 4,276 | ||||||||||||
Novartis |
7 | 321 | 12 | 651 | ||||||||||||
Total |
$ | 11,458 | $ | 7,836 | $ | 17,734 | $ | 12,575 | ||||||||
During the three months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008, the Company incurred approximately
$1,674,000 and $563,000, respectively, in third-party expenses in connection with its collaborative
arrangements. During the six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008, the Company incurred
approximately $2,152,000 and $947,000, respectively, in third-party expenses in connection with its
collaborative arrangements. Third party expenses are classified as research and development and
general and administrative expenses in the Companys statement of operations.
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The Companys revenue recognition policy complies with Staff Accounting Bulletin
(SAB) No. 104, Revenue Recognition. When evaluating multiple element arrangements, the Company
considers whether the components of the arrangement represent separate units of accounting as
defined in EITF Issue No. 00-21, Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables.
The Company recognizes revenue from non-refundable upfront fees received under
collaboration agreements, not specifically tied to a separate earnings process, ratably over the
term of the contractual obligation or the estimated continuing involvement of the Company under the
research arrangement. If the estimated period of continuing involvement is subsequently modified,
the period over which the up-front fee is recognized is modified accordingly on a prospective
basis.
The Company recognizes revenue from reimbursements received in connection with research
and development collaboration agreements as related research and development costs are incurred,
and contractual services are performed, provided collectability is reasonably assured. Amounts
contractually owed under these research and development collaboration agreements, including any
earned but unbilled receivables, are included in trade accounts receivable in the accompanying
balance sheets. The Companys principal costs under these agreements are generally for the
Companys personnel and related expenses of conducting research and development, as well as for
research and development performed by outside contractors or consultants or related research and
development materials provided by third parties.
For payments that are specifically associated with a separate earnings process, the
Company recognizes revenue when the specific performance obligation is completed. Performance
obligations typically consist of significant milestones in the development life cycle of the
related technology, such as initiating clinical trials, filing for approval with regulatory
agencies and obtaining approvals from regulatory agencies. The Company recognizes revenue from
milestone payments received under collaboration agreements when earned, provided that the milestone
event is substantive, its achievability was not reasonably assured at the inception of the
agreement, the Company has no further performance obligations relating to the event and
collectability is reasonably assured. In the event that the agreement provides for payment to be
made beyond to the Companys standard payment terms, revenue is recognized when payment is
received.
Amounts received prior to satisfying the above revenue recognition criteria are recorded
as deferred revenue in the accompanying balance sheets. Amounts not expected to be recognized
within the next twelve months are classified as long-term deferred revenue.
Although the Company follows detailed guidelines in measuring revenue, certain judgments
affect the application of the Companys revenue policy. For example, in connection with its
existing collaboration agreements, the Company has recorded on its balance sheet short-term and
long-term deferred revenue based on its best estimate of when such revenue will be recognized.
Short-term deferred revenue consists of amounts that are expected to be recognized as revenue in
the next twelve months. Amounts that the Company does not expect to recognize prior to the next
twelve months are classified as long-term deferred revenue. However, this estimate is based on the
Companys collaboration agreements and its current operating plan and, if either should change in
the future, the Company may recognize a different amount of revenue over the next twelve-month
period.
The estimate of deferred revenue also reflects managements estimate of the periods of
its continuing involvement in its collaborations and the estimated periods over which its
performance obligations will be completed. In some instances, the timing of satisfying these
obligations can be difficult to estimate. Accordingly, the estimates may change in the future. Such
changes to estimates would result in a change in revenue recognition amounts. If these estimates
and judgments change over the course of these agreements, it may affect the timing and amount of
revenue that the Company recognizes and records in future periods.
Additional information on the Companys collaborative arrangements is included in Notes
(10), (11) and (12).
During the second quarter of 2009, the Company adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board
(FASB) Staff Position No. FAS 107-1 and APB 28-1, Interim Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial
Instruments (FSP FAS 107-1). FSP FAS 107-1 amended Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
No. 107, Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments, and APB Opinion No. 28, Interim
Financial Reporting, to require disclosures about the fair value of financial instruments in
interim as well as in annual financial statements. The adoption of FSP FAS 107-1 did not have a
significant impact on the Companys financial position or results of operations.
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During the second quarter of 2009, the Company adopted FASB Staff Position No. FAS 157-4,
Determining Fair Value When the Volume and Level of Activity for the Asset or Liability Have
Significantly Decreased and Identifying Transactions That Are Not Orderly (FSP FAS 157-4). FSP
FAS 157-4 provides additional guidelines for making fair value measurements, provides authoritative
guidance in determining whether a market is active or inactive and whether a transaction is
distressed. FSP FAS 157-4 requires additional disclosures of the input and valuation techniques
used to measure fair value and the defining of the major security types comprising debt and equity
securities held based upon the nature and risk of the security. The adoption of FSP FAS 157-4 did
not impact the Companys financial position or results of operations.
During the second quarter of 2009, the Company adopted FASB Staff Position No. FAS 115-2 and
FAS 124-2, Recognition and Presentation of Other-Than-Temporary Impairments (FSP FAS 115-2). FSP
FAS 115-2 changes existing accounting requirements for other-than-temporary impairment of debt
securities. The adoption of FSP FAS 115-2 did not impact the Companys financial position or
results of operations.
During the second quarter of 2009, the Company adopted FASB Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards (SFAS) No. 165, Subsequent Events (SFAS 165). SFAS 165 is similar to the subsequent
events guidance in the current auditing literature except that it clarifies and discloses the
period during which companies monitor subsequent events in order to determine what impact, if any,
the subsequent events have on the information disclosed in the financial statements and footnotes.
The adoption of SFAS 165 did not impact the Companys financial position or results of operations.
(c) Subsequent Events
The Company evaluates subsequent events occurring between the most recent balance sheet date
and the date that the financial statements are available to be issued in order to determine whether
the subsequent events are to be disclosed in the Companys financial statements and footnotes. The
financial statements are considered to be available to be issued at the time that they are filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
(2) Unaudited Interim Financial Statements
The accompanying unaudited financial statements included herein have been prepared by the
Company in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial
information and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Accordingly, certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements
prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles have been
condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. In the opinion of management, all
adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, considered necessary for a fair
presentation of interim period results have been included. The Company believes that its
disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. Interim results for the
three- and six-month period ended June 30, 2009 are not necessarily indicative of results that may
be expected for the year ended December 31, 2009. For further information, refer to the financial
statements and footnotes thereto included in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2008, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
March 11, 2009.
(3) Reclassifications
Certain amounts in the prior years financial statements have been reclassified to be
consistent with the current years presentation.
(4) Cash Equivalents and Investments
The Company considers all highly liquid investments with maturities of 90 days or less
when purchased to be cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents at June 30, 2009 consisted of
cash, money market funds and certificates of deposit and at December 31, 2008 consisted of cash and
money market funds.
The Company accounts for investments in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards (SFAS) No. 115, Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities (SFAS
No. 115). Management
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determines the appropriate classification of marketable securities at the time
of purchase. In accordance with SFAS No. 115, investments that the Company does not have the
positive intent to hold to maturity are classified as available-for-sale and reported at fair
market value. Unrealized gains and losses associated with available-for-sale investments are
recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive gain (loss) on the accompanying balance sheets. The
amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts, and any realized gains and losses and declines
in value judged to be other than temporary, and interest and dividends for all available-for-sale
securities are included in Investment income, net on the accompanying statements of operations.
The Company had no held-to-maturity investments, as defined by SFAS No. 115, at either June 30,
2009 or December 31, 2008. The cost of securities sold is based on the specific identification
method.
The Company had no realized gains or losses from available-for-sale securities in three
or six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008. There were no losses or other-than-temporary declines
in value included in Investment income, net for any securities for the three or six months ended
June 30, 2009 and 2008.
The Company had no long-term investments as of June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008. The
Company had no auction rate securities as of June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008.
The Companys short-term available-for-sale investments at market value consisted of the
following at June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008:
June 30, 2009 | ||||||||||||||||
Gross | Gross | |||||||||||||||
Amortized | Unrealized | Unrealized | Estimated | |||||||||||||
(in thousands) | Cost | Losses | Gains | Fair Value | ||||||||||||
Corporate bonds due in one year or less |
$ | 2,213 | $ | | $ | 10 | $ | 2,223 | ||||||||
December 31, 2008 | ||||||||||||||||
Gross | Gross | |||||||||||||||
Amortized | Unrealized | Unrealized | Estimated | |||||||||||||
(in thousands) | Cost | Losses | Gains | Fair Value | ||||||||||||
Corporate bonds due in one year or less |
$ | 10,477 | $ | 44 | $ | 8 | $ | 10,441 | ||||||||
(5) Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities
In accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements, as amended,
the Company measures fair value at the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to
transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.
SFAS No. 157 prioritizes the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or
liability (the inputs) into a three-tier fair value hierarchy. This fair value hierarchy gives
the highest priority (Level 1) to quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or
liabilities and the lowest priority (Level 3) to unobservable inputs in which little or no market
data exists, requiring companies to develop their own assumptions. Observable inputs that do not
meet the criteria of Level 1, and include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active
markets or quoted prices for identical assets and liabilities in markets that are not active, are
categorized as Level 2. Level 3 inputs are those that reflect the Companys estimates about the
assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, based on the best
information available in the circumstances. Valuation techniques for assets and liabilities
measured using Level 3 inputs may include unobservable inputs such as projections, estimates and
managements interpretation of current market data. These unobservable Level 3 inputs are only
utilized to the extent that observable inputs are not available or cost-effective to obtain.
The table below presents the assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a
recurring basis at June 30, 2009 categorized by the level of inputs used in the valuation of each
asset and liability.
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Quoted | ||||||||||||||||
Prices | ||||||||||||||||
in Active | ||||||||||||||||
Markets | Significant | |||||||||||||||
for Identical | Other | Significant | ||||||||||||||
Assets or | Observable | Unobservable | ||||||||||||||
Liabilities | Inputs | Inputs | ||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | Total | (Level 1) | (Level 2) | (Level 3) | ||||||||||||
Assets |
||||||||||||||||
Money market fund |
$ | 46,342 | $ | 46,342 | $ | | $ | | ||||||||
Investments |
2,223 | | 2,223 | | ||||||||||||
Total |
$ | 48,565 | $ | 46,342 | $ | 2,223 | $ | | ||||||||
Liabilities |
$ | | $ | | $ | | $ | |
The money market fund consists of U.S. treasury debt securities and repurchase agreements
collateralized by U.S. treasury debt and is classified as Level 1 since it is actively traded daily
at $1.00 net asset value per share.
The fair value of short-term investments is generally determined from quoted market
prices received from pricing services based upon quoted prices from active markets and/or other
significant observable market transactions at fair value. Since these prices may not represent
actual transactions of identical securities, they are classified as Level 2. Since all investments
are classified as available-for-sale securities, any gains or losses are recorded in other
comprehensive gains or losses in the equity section of the balance sheet.
There were no unrealized losses on investments at June 30, 2009.
See Note (4).
(6) Property and Equipment
At June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, net property and equipment at cost consists of
the following:
June 30, | December 31, | |||||||
(in thousands) | 2009 | 2008 | ||||||
Leasehold improvements |
$ | 514 | $ | 514 | ||||
Laboratory equipment and other |
2,698 | 2,694 | ||||||
Total property and equipment, at cost |
3,212 | 3,208 | ||||||
Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization |
1,665 | 1,384 | ||||||
Property and equipment, net |
$ | 1,547 | $ | 1,824 | ||||
As of June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, laboratory equipment and other includes
approximately $79,000 of office equipment financed under a capital lease with accumulated
depreciation of approximately $33,000 and $25,000, respectively. Total depreciation expense, which
includes amortization of assets recorded under capital leases, was approximately $140,000 and
$134,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively, and approximately
$281,000 and $256,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively.
(7) Restricted Cash
As part of the operating lease entered into by the Company in October 2006, the Company
was required to restrict $619,000 of cash for a security deposit. The restricted cash was reduced
by approximately $102,000 in June 2009 upon the second anniversary of the lease commencement date.
As a result, at June 30, 2009 restricted cash was $516,000. The remaining restricted cash is held
in certificates of deposit securing a line of credit for the lessor. The restricted cash is
expected to be further reduced by approximately $102,000 upon each of the third and fourth
anniversaries of the lease commencement date of June 2007, subject to certain conditions.
(8) Note Payable
In June 2007, the Company executed a promissory note in the aggregate principal amount of
$1,278,000 (the Note) in favor of General Electric Capital Corporation (GE). The Note was fully
secured by specific laboratory, manufacturing, office and computer equipment and was subject to the
terms of a master security agreement dated April 23, 2007 by and between the Company and GE. The
Note bore interest at a fixed rate of 11% per annum, and was payable in 48 consecutive monthly
installments of principal and accrued interest, with the first installment
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having been paid out of
the proceeds of the borrowing.
In March 2008, the Company paid approximately $1,189,000 to GE as payment in full of all
obligations outstanding under the Note. The payment represented approximately $1,121,000 of
principal plus accrued interest through the date of payment of approximately $12,000 and a
prepayment premium of approximately $56,000. The Note has been cancelled.
(9) Comprehensive Income (Loss)
The following table includes the components of comprehensive income (loss) for the three
and six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008.
Three months ended June 30, | Six months ended June 30, | |||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | 2009 | 2008 | 2009 | 2008 | ||||||||||||
Net income (loss) |
$ | 3,842 | $ | 1,336 | $ | 3,590 | $ | (835 | ) | |||||||
Other comprehensive gain (loss) |
43 | (45 | ) | 46 | (55 | ) | ||||||||||
Total comprehensive income (loss) |
$ | 3,885 | $ | 1,291 | $ | 3,636 | $ | (890 | ) | |||||||
Other comprehensive gain (loss) represents the net unrealized gains or (losses) on
available-for-sale investments.
(10) License Agreement with Merck KGaA
In December 2007, the Company entered into an exclusive, worldwide license agreement with
Merck KGaA to research, develop and commercialize products containing its TLR9 agonists for the
treatment of cancer, excluding cancer vaccines, which agreement became effective February 4, 2008.
Under the terms of the agreement, Idera granted Merck KGaA worldwide exclusive rights to its lead
TLR9 agonists, IMO-2055 and IMO-2125, and to a specified number of novel, follow-on TLR9 agonists
to be identified by Merck KGaA and the Company under a research collaboration, for use in the
treatment, cure and/or delay of the onset or progression of cancer in humans. Under the terms of
the agreement: Merck KGaA paid the Company in February 2008 a $40.0 million upfront license fee in
Euros of which $39.7 million was received due to foreign currency exchange rates in effect at that
time; Merck KGaA agreed to reimburse future development costs for certain of the Companys on-going
IMO-2055 clinical trials, which will continue to be conducted by Idera; Merck KGaA agreed to pay up
to 264 million in development, regulatory approval, and commercial success milestone payments if
products containing the Companys TLR9 agonist compounds are successfully developed and marketed
for treatment, cure and/or delay of the onset or progression of cancer in humans; and Merck KGaA
agreed to pay royalties on net sales of products containing the Companys TLR9 agonists that are
marketed. In February 2009, the Company amended its license agreement with Merck KGaA so that Idera
could initiate and conduct on behalf of Merck KGaA additional clinical trials of IMO-2055, until
such time as Merck has filed an IND application with the FDA and assumes sponsorship of these
trials. Under the amendment, Merck KGaA has agreed to reimburse the Company for costs associated
with any additional trials that the Company initiates and conducts.
The Company is recognizing the $40.0 million upfront payment as revenue over the
twenty-eight-month research term. The Company has estimated that this is its period of continuing
involvement under the research arrangement. This estimated period was not impacted by the February
2009 amendment.
In February 2009, the Company achieved a milestone under its agreement with Merck KGaA
upon the dosing of the first patient in a clinical trial of IMO-2055 in combination with
Erbitux® and Camptosar ® in patients with colorectal
cancer. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company received a payment of $4.0 million from Merck
KGaA in the second quarter of 2009 and recognized the revenue in the second quarter of 2009.
(11) License Agreement with Merck & Co., Inc.
In December 2006, the Company entered into an exclusive license and research
collaboration agreement with
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Merck & Co. to research, develop, and commercialize vaccine products
containing the Companys TLR7, 8 and 9 agonists in the fields of cancer, infectious diseases, and
Alzheimers disease. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company granted Merck & Co. worldwide
exclusive rights to a number of the Companys TLR7, 8 and 9 agonists for use in combination with
Merck & Co.s therapeutic and prophylactic vaccines under development in the fields of cancer,
infectious diseases, and Alzheimers disease. The Company also agreed with Merck & Co. to engage in
a two-year research collaboration to generate novel agonists targeting TLR7 and TLR8 and
incorporating both Merck & Co. and Idera chemistry for use in vaccines in the defined fields, which
may be extended by Merck & Co. for two additional one-year periods. In November 2008, Merck & Co.
extended this research collaboration for an additional one-year period to December 2009. Under the
terms of the agreement: Merck & Co. paid the Company a $20.0 million upfront license fee; Merck &
Co. purchased $10.0 million of the Companys common stock at $5.50 per share; and Merck & Co.
agreed to fund the research and development collaboration. Merck & Co. also agreed to pay the
Company milestone payments as follows: up to $165.0 million if vaccines containing the Companys
TLR9 agonist compounds are successfully developed and marketed in each of the oncology, infectious
disease and Alzheimers disease fields; up to $260.0 million if vaccines containing the Companys
TLR9 agonist compounds are successfully developed and marketed for follow-on indications in the
oncology field and if vaccines containing the Companys TLR7 or TLR8 agonists are successfully
developed and marketed in each of the oncology, infectious disease, and Alzheimers disease fields;
and if Merck & Co. develops and commercializes additional vaccines using the Companys agonists, it
would be entitled to receive additional milestone payments. In addition, Merck & Co. agreed to pay
the Company royalties on net product sales of vaccines using the Companys TLR agonist technology
that are developed and marketed.
The Company is recognizing the $20.0 million upfront payment as revenue over the two-year
initial research term and the additional two-year-period over which the research term could be
extended. The Company has estimated that this is its period of continuing involvement under the
research arrangement.
(12) Collaboration and License Agreement with Novartis International Pharmaceutical, Ltd.
In May 2005, the Company entered into a research collaboration and option agreement and a
separate license, development, and commercialization agreement with Novartis to discover, develop,
and potentially commercialize TLR9 agonists that are identified as potential treatments for asthma
and allergies. In addition, beginning on May 31, 2007, if specified conditions are satisfied,
Novartis may expand the collaboration to include additional human disease areas, other than
oncology and infectious diseases. Under the terms of the agreements, upon execution of the
agreements, Novartis paid the Company a $4.0 million upfront license fee; Novartis agreed to fund
substantially all research activities during the research collaboration phase; if Novartis elects
to exercise its option to develop and commercialize licensed TLR9 agonists in the initial
collaboration disease areas, Novartis is potentially obligated to pay the Company up to $132.0
million based on the achievement of clinical development, regulatory approval, and annual net sales
milestones; Novartis is potentially obligated to pay the Company additional milestone payments if
Novartis elects to expand the collaboration to include additional disease areas and then develops
and commercializes licensed TLR9 agonists in the additional disease areas based on the achievement
of clinical development and regulatory approval milestones; and Novartis is also obligated to pay
the Company royalties on net sales of all products, if any, commercialized by Novartis, its
affiliates and sublicensees. Novartis license rights under the agreements to products that it
elects to develop and commercialize are worldwide, exclusive rights.
The Company and Novartis agreed that the term of the research and collaboration phase
would be two years commencing in May 2005. The Company initially was recognizing the $4.0 million
upfront payment as revenue over the two-year term of the research collaboration. In February 2007,
the Company received notice that Novartis had elected to extend the research collaboration by an
additional year until May 2008, and for such extension Novartis paid the Company an additional $1.0
million. In connection with this amendment, the Company extended the time period over which it was
amortizing the upfront payment and the $1.0 million extension payment. In 2008, the research
collaboration was extended until December 31, 2008. The Company amortized the upfront payment and
the extension payment through the third quarter of 2008 by which time Novartis had initiated a
Phase 1 clinical study of QAX935, a novel agonist of TLR9, and the Companys continuing obligations
under the agreement were completed.
(13) Stock-Based Compensation
The Company accounts for share-based payments to employees under SFAS No. 123R,
Share-Based Payment,
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(SFAS No. 123R). This statement requires the Company to recognize all
share-based payments to employees in the financial statements based on their fair values. Under
SFAS No. 123R, the Company is required to record compensation expense over an awards vesting
period based on the awards fair value at the date of grant. The Companys policy is to charge the
fair value of stock options as an expense on a straight-line basis over the vesting period. The
Company included charges of $764,000 and $644,000 in its statements of operations for the three
months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively, and $1,507,000 and $1,302,000 in its statements
of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively, representing the stock
compensation expense computed in accordance with SFAS No. 123R.
The Companys stock compensation plans include the 1995 Stock Option Plan, the 1995
Director Stock Option Plan, the 1995 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, the 1997 Stock Incentive Plan,
the 2005 Stock Incentive Plan and the 2008 Stock Incentive Plan, all of which have been approved by
the Companys stockholders. No additional options are being granted under the 1995 Stock Option
Plan, the 1995 Director Stock Option Plan, the 1997 Stock Incentive Plan and the 2005 Stock
Incentive Plan. In 2001, the Company also granted options to purchase shares of Common Stock
pursuant to agreements that were not approved by stockholders.
The fair value of each option award is estimated on the date of grant using the
Black-Scholes option-pricing model and expensed over the requisite service period on a
straight-line basis. The following assumptions apply to the 70,000
and 654,250 options granted to
employees and directors during the six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively:
Six Months Ended June 30, | ||||||||
2009 | 2008 | |||||||
Average risk free interest rate |
2.7 | % | 3.3 | % | ||||
Expected dividend yield |
| | ||||||
Expected lives |
5 years | 5 years | ||||||
Expected volatility |
69.0 | % | 65.3 | % | ||||
Weighted average grant date fair value of options granted during the period (per share) |
$ | 3.96 | $ | 7.62 |
The Company awarded stock options to non-employees to purchase 10,000 shares of common
stock during the first six months of 2009. These options had a Black-Scholes fair value of $58,000
at the time of grant based on a risk free interest rate of 3.7%, an expected life of 10 years, and
an expected volatility of 88%. The Company awarded stock options to non-employees to purchase
87,250 shares of common stock during the first six months of 2008. These options had a
Black-Scholes fair value of $1,055,000 at the time of grant based on a risk free interest rate of
3.9%, an expected life of 10 years, and an expected volatility of 94%. The fair value of the
nonvested portion of the non-employee options is remeasured each quarter in accordance with EITF
No. 96-18, Accounting for Equity Instruments That Are Issued to Other than Employees for
Acquiring, or in Conjunction with Selling, Goods or Services (EITF No. 96-18). As a result of
this remeasurement, the expense for non-employee options was zero and $368,000 for the three months
ended June 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively, and $470,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2008.
There was a $6,000 credit as a reduction of expense for non-employee stock options for the six
months ended June 30, 2009.
(14) Alternative Minimum Tax
Merck KGaA paid the Company in February 2008 a $40.0 million upfront license fee in Euros
of which $39.7 million was received due to foreign currency exchange rates in effect at that time.
In the three months ended March 31, 2008, the Company made an estimated quarterly tax payment of
$50,000 since it believed that this payment generated income subject to the alternative minimum
tax, or AMT. In the three months ended June 30, 2008, the Company reversed the $50,000 recorded as
income tax expense as the Company no longer expected to have income subject to AMT. During the
three and six months ended June 30, 2009, the Company recognized $140,000 in AMT taxes.
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(15) Net Income (Loss) per Common Share
The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted income (loss) per
share:
Three Months Ended June 30, | Six Months Ended June 30, | |||||||||||||||
(in thousands, except per share amounts) | 2009 | 2008 | 2009 | 2008 | ||||||||||||
Numerator for basic and
dilutive net income (loss) per
share: |
||||||||||||||||
Net income (loss) |
$ | 3,842 | $ | 1,336 | $ | 3,590 | $ | (835 | ) | |||||||
Denominator for basic income
(loss) per share: |
||||||||||||||||
Weighted average common shares
outstanding |
23,407 | 22,481 | 23,393 | 22,190 | ||||||||||||
Effect of dilutive securities: |
||||||||||||||||
Common stock options and
warrants |
549 | 3,026 | 710 | | ||||||||||||
Denominator for diluted net
income
(loss) per share |
23,956 | 25,507 | 24,103 | 22,190 | ||||||||||||
Basic net income (loss) per share |
$ | 0.16 | $ | 0.06 | $ | 0.15 | $ | (0.04 | ) | |||||||
Diluted net income
(loss) per share |
$ | 0.16 | $ | 0.05 | $ | 0.15 | $ | (0.04 | ) | |||||||
For the three and six months ended June 30, 2009 and the three months ended June
30, 2008, 2,232,841, 2,206,653 and 100,426 shares, respectively, were not included in the
computation of diluted net income per share as the effects of certain stock options are
antidilutive. For the six months ended June 30, 2008, diluted net loss per share of common stock is
the same as basic net loss per share of common stock, as the effects of the Companys potential
common stock equivalents are antidilutive. Total antidilutive securities were 2,206,653 and
6,388,313 for the six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively, and consist of shares of
underlying stock options and warrants. Net income (loss) applicable to common stockholders is the
same as net income (loss) for all periods presented.
(16) Stockholders Equity
In January 2008, the Company sent notice to holders of the Companys warrants to purchase
common stock that were issued in August 2004 with an expiration date of August 27, 2009 (the
August 2004 Warrants) that under the terms of the warrant agreement, it intended to redeem on
March 31, 2008 any August 2004 Warrants not exercised as of that date for a redemption price of
$0.08 per share of common stock underlying the August 2004 Warrants. The Company was entitled to
exercise this redemption right because the closing price of the Companys common stock for twenty
consecutive trading days ending December 20, 2007 was greater than $10.72 or 200% of the exercise
price of the warrant. The August 2004 Warrants were exercisable by cash payment only and had an
exercise price of $5.36 per share of common stock. Following such notice and through March 31,
2008, the Company received approximately $1,472,000 in proceeds from the exercise of August 2004
Warrants to purchase 274,650 shares of common stock. As of March 31, 2008, all August 2004 Warrants
had been exercised.
During the six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008, the Company issued 1,159,168 shares of
common stock in connection with warrant and stock option exercises resulting in total proceeds to
the Company of $191,000 and $6,389,000, respectively.
(17) Related Party Transactions
During the three months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008, the Company recorded expense of
$6,000 and $47,000, respectively, for consulting services provided by Dr. Robert W. Karr, a
director of the Company. During the six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008, the Company recorded
expense of $7,000 and $94,000, respectively, for consulting services provided by Dr. Karr.
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ITEM 2. | MANAGEMENTS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS |
GENERAL
We are engaged in the discovery and development of DNA- and RNA-based drug candidates
targeted to Toll-Like Receptors, or TLRs, to treat infectious diseases, autoimmune and inflammatory
diseases, cancer, and asthma and allergies, and for use as vaccine adjuvants. Drug candidates are
compounds that we are developing and have not been approved for any commercial use. TLRs are
specific receptors present in immune system cells. Certain TLRs recognize the DNA or RNA of
pathogens such as bacteria or viruses and initiate an immune response. Relying on our expertise in
DNA and RNA chemistry, we have designed and created proprietary TLR agonists, antagonists and
antisense to modulate immune responses. A TLR agonist is a compound that stimulates an immune
response through the targeted TLR. A TLR antagonist is a compound that blocks activation of an
immune response through the targeted TLR. Compounds that we refer to as TLR antisense inhibit
production of a specific TLR or of a protein involved in activating a TLR-mediated immune response
by inhibiting the translation of the messenger RNA that encodes the target protein.
Our business strategy is to advance applications of our TLR-targeted drug candidates in
multiple disease areas simultaneously. We are advancing some of these applications through internal
programs, and we seek to advance other applications through collaborative alliances with
pharmaceutical companies. Collaborators provide the necessary resources and drug development
experience to advance our compounds in their programs. Upfront payments and milestone payments
received from collaborations help to provide us with the financial resources for our internal
research and development programs.
Our internal programs are focused on developing TLR-targeted drug candidates for the
potential treatment of infectious diseases, autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, and cancer.
IMO-2125, a TLR9 agonist, is our lead drug candidate for infectious diseases. We are conducting a
Phase 1 clinical trial of IMO-2125 in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus, or HCV, infection
who have not responded to current standard of care therapy. We also are preparing to conduct a
clinical trial of IMO-2125 in combination with ribavirin in treatment-naïve patients with chronic
HCV infection. As part of our infectious disease program, we are also evaluating RNA-based
compounds that act as agonists of TLR7 and/or TLR8. We have evaluated the mechanism of action of
our TLR7 and TLR8 agonist compounds in preclinical studies in human cell-based assays and in vivo
in non-human primates.
In our autoimmune and inflammatory disease program, we have identified DNA-based
compounds that act as antagonists of TLR7 and TLR9. We have evaluated some of these compounds in
mouse models of lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, colitis, and pulmonary
inflammation. We have selected IMO-3100 as a lead TLR antagonist drug candidate, and are currently
conducting preclinical development studies in anticipation of submitting an Investigational New
Drug, or IND, application to the United States Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, by the end of
2009. We are also studying the potential application of TLR antisense in autoimmune
and inflammatory diseases.
Our cancer treatment research program is focused on potential applications of our TLR7
and/or TLR8 agonists. We are studying our TLR7 and TLR8 agonists in preclinical models of cancer
and have observed antitumor activity as monotherapy and in combination with selected targeted
agents.
We are also collaborating with three pharmaceutical companies to advance our TLR-targeted
compounds in additional disease areas. We are collaborating with Merck KGaA for cancer treatment
excluding cancer vaccines, with Merck & Co., Inc., or Merck & Co., for vaccine adjuvants, and with
Novartis International Pharmaceutical, Ltd., or Novartis, for treatment of asthma and allergies.
Merck KGaA and Merck & Co. are not related.
At June 30, 2009, we had an accumulated deficit of $337.6 million. We may incur
substantial operating losses in future periods. We do not expect to generate significant funds
until we successfully complete development and obtain marketing approval for products, either alone
or in collaborations with third parties, which we expect will take a number of years. In order to
commercialize our products, we need to address a number of technological challenges and to comply
with comprehensive regulatory requirements. We expect that our research and development expenses in
2009 will be higher than our research and development expenses in 2008 as we expand our IMO-2125
development program, conduct IND-enabling preclinical evaluations of IMO-3100, accelerate our
early-stage programs on TLR antagonists and on agonists of TLR7 and TLR8, and continue evaluation
of TLR antisense.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES
This managements discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of
operations is based on our financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with
accounting principles generally accepted in the
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United States. The preparation of these financial
statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts
of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of
the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting
period. On an ongoing basis, management evaluates its estimates and judgments, including those
related to revenue recognition. Management bases its estimates and judgments on historical
experience and on various other factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances,
the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and
liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these
estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
We regard an accounting estimate or assumption underlying our financial statements as a
critical accounting estimate where (i) the nature of the estimate or assumption is material due
to the level of subjectivity and judgment necessary to account for highly uncertain matters or the
susceptibility of such matters to change; and (ii) the impact of the estimates and assumptions on
financial condition or operating performance is material.
Our significant accounting policies are described in Note 2 of the Notes to Financial
Statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008. Not all of these
significant accounting policies, however, fit the definition of critical accounting estimates. We
believe that our accounting policies relating to revenue recognition and stock-based compensation,
as described under the caption Item 7. Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
and Results of Operations Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates in our Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, fit the definition of critical accounting
estimates and judgments.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2009 and 2008
Alliance Revenue
Our alliance revenues were comprised primarily of revenue earned under various
collaboration and licensing agreements including license fees, research and development revenues,
including reimbursement of internal and third-party expenses, milestones, and other patent-related
reimbursements.
The following is a summary of our alliance revenues:
Three Months Ended June 30, | Percentage | Six Months Ended June 30, | Percentage | |||||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | Increase | (in thousands) | Increase | |||||||||||||||||||||
2009 | 2008 | (Decrease) | 2009 | 2008 | (Decrease) | |||||||||||||||||||
License fees |
$ | 5,553 | $ | 5,881 | (6) | % | $ | 11,105 | $ | 10,142 | 9 | % | ||||||||||||
Research and
development |
1,921 | 984 | 95 | % | 2,657 | 1,495 | 78 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Milestones |
3,996 | 1,000 | 300 | % | 3,996 | 1,000 | 300 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Other |
27 | 11 | 145 | % | 42 | 23 | 83 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Total alliance revenue |
$ | 11,497 | $ | 7,876 | 46 | % | $ | 17,800 | $ | 12,660 | 41 | % | ||||||||||||
Total alliance revenues increased by approximately $3,621,000, or 46%, for the three
months ended June 30, 2009 compared to the same period in 2008 and increased by approximately
$5,140,000, or 41%, for the six months ended June 30, 2009 compared to the same period in 2008.
License fees primarily include license fee revenue recognized under our collaborations
with Merck KGaA, Merck & Co., and Novartis. License fee revenue is comprised of a portion of
upfront license fee payments and, if applicable, any research period extension payment we have
received from collaborative alliances with which we are still involved. License fee revenue is
recognized on a straight-line basis over the period of our continuing
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involvement in the
collaborations. We received a $40,000,000 upfront payment from Merck KGaA in Euros in February 2008
of which we received $39,733,000 due to foreign currency exchange rates and a $20,000,000 upfront
payment from Merck & Co. in December 2006. We also received from Novartis a $4,000,000 upfront
payment in July 2005 and an additional $1,000,000 payment, to extend the research portion of the
agreement, in May 2007.
License fees decreased by $328,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2009 compared to
the same period in 2008 primarily due to license fee revenue recognized under our May 2005 research
collaboration with Novartis included in the three months ended June 30, 2008 but not the three
months ended June 30, 2009 as we completed our research obligations under that collaboration in the
third quarter of 2008. License fees increased by $963,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2009
compared to the same period in 2008 primarily due to an additional $1,619,000 in license fee
revenue we recognized in the six months ended June 30, 2009 compared to the same period in 2008
under our collaboration with Merck KGaA, which became effective February 4, 2008. This increase in
the six months ended June 30, 2009 compared to the same period in 2008 was offset, in part, by
license fee revenue recognized under our May 2005 research collaboration with Novartis included in
the six months ended June 30, 2008 but not the six months ended June 30, 2009 as we completed our
research obligations in the third quarter of 2008. We also recognized $1,250,000 in license fee
revenue under our collaboration with Merck & Co. during both the three months ended June 30, 2009
and 2008 and $2,500,000 in license fee revenue under our collaboration with Merck & Co. during both
the six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008.
The $937,000 and $1,162,000 increase in research and development revenue in the three and
six months ended June 30, 2009 is due to reimbursable clinical trial costs associated with clinical
trials we are conducting under our collaboration agreement with Merck KGaA offset by a decrease in
revenue from research reimbursements under our collaboration agreement with Merck & Co.
The increase in alliance revenue in the three- and six-month periods is also attributable to a
milestone earned in 2009 under our collaboration with Merck KGaA as a result of the dosing in
February 2009 of the first patient in the clinical trial of IMO-2055 in combination with
Erbitux® and Camptosar® in patients with colorectal
cancer. In the 2008 periods, our milestone revenue is attributable to a milestone earned under our
collaboration with Merck & Co. relating to a preclinical milestone achieved with one of our novel
TLR9 agonists used as an adjuvant in cancer vaccines.
Research and Development Expenses
Research and development expenses increased by $1,661,000, or 44%, from $3,752,000 for
the three months ended June 30, 2008 to $5,413,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2009 and
increased by $1,604,000, or 19%, from $8,286,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2008 to
$9,890,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2009. The increase in research and development
expenses in the three and six months ended June 30, 2009 compared to the three and six months ended
June 30, 2008 was primarily due to increased clinical costs associated with IMO-2055, a portion of
which are reimbursable under our agreement with Merck KGaA, increased clinical costs associated
with IMO-2125 and increased non-clinical safety study costs associated with IMO-3100. The increase
in the six-month period was offset, in part, by decreased manufacturing and non-clinical safety
studies associated with IMO-2125.
Three Months Ended June 30, | Percentage | Six Months Ended June 30, | Percentage | |||||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | Increase | (in thousands) | Increase | |||||||||||||||||||||
2009 | 2008 | (Decrease) | 2009 | 2008 | (Decrease) | |||||||||||||||||||
IMO-2055 External
Development Expense |
$ | 1,662 | $ | 555 | 199 | % | $ | 2,134 | $ | 1,111 | 92 | % | ||||||||||||
IMO-2125 External Development Expense |
575 | 529 | 9 | % | 1,074 | 1,792 | (40) | % | ||||||||||||||||
Other Drug Development Expense |
1,425 | 960 | 48 | % | 3,206 | 1,983 | 62 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Basic Discovery Expense |
1,751 | 1,708 | 3 | % | 3,476 | 3,400 | 2 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Total Research and Development Expense |
$ | 5,413 | $ | 3,752 | 44 | % | $ | 9,890 | $ | 8,286 | 19 | % | ||||||||||||
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In the preceding table, research and development expense is set forth in the following
four categories:
IMO-2055 External Development Expenses. IMO-2055 is a lead compound being developed for
oncology applications under our collaboration with Merck KGaA that we entered into in December
2007. These external expenses include payments to independent contractors and vendors for drug
development activities conducted after the initiation of IMO-2055 clinical trials but exclude
internal costs such as payroll and overhead expenses. Since 2003, when we commenced clinical
development of IMO-2055 and through June 30, 2009, we have incurred approximately $16.5 million in
external expenses in connection with IMO-2055.
External development expenses for IMO-2055 increased by $1,107,000, or 199%, from
$555,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2008 to $1,662,000 for the three months ended June 30,
2009 and increased by $1,023,000, or 92%, from $1,111,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2008 to
$2,134,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2009. The increases in the three- and six-month
periods were primarily attributable to increases in costs, which are reimbursable under our
collaboration with Merck KGaA, associated with our Phase 1b clinical trials in non-small cell lung
cancer patients, which we initiated in December 2007, and in colorectal cancer patients, for which
we commenced dosing in February 2009, and costs associated with our Phase 1 clinical trial in
healthy subjects that we initiated in April 2009. These increases were offset, in part, by a
decrease in IMO-2055 expenses associated with our Phase 2 Stage A clinical trial in renal
cell carcinoma patients which was completed in the second quarter of 2009.
In December 2007, we initiated a Phase 1b clinical trial of IMO-2055 in combination with
Avastin® and Tarceva® in non-small cell lung cancer patients whose cancer had progressed during a
prior course of standard therapy. This clinical trial was designed with a target enrollment of up
to 40 patients. IMO-2055 is being administered at four escalating dose levels with fixed standard
dose regimens of Avastin and Tarceva. We intend to report preliminary data from the dose-escalation
portion of the trial at a scientific meeting in the third quarter of 2009. Based on the dose
escalation portion, a dose level of IMO-2055 has been selected for expanded patient recruitment to
evaluate further the safety and pharmacokinetics of the combination.
In February 2009, we began dosing the first patient in a Phase 1b clinical trial of IMO-2055
in combination with Erbitux and Camptosar in patients with colorectal cancer whose cancer had
progressed during a prior course of standard therapy. Patients currently are being recruited for
this clinical trial, which was designed with a target enrollment of up to 50 patients. In
April 2009, we initiated a Phase 1 clinical trial of IMO-2055 monotherapy in healthy subjects, and
all scheduled patient visits were completed by June 2009. The objective of the Phase 1 healthy
subjects trial is to characterize further the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles of
IMO-2055 after single and multiple weekly subcutaneous and intravenous administrations.
We reported preliminary data from a Phase 2 Stage A clinical trial of IMO-2055
monotherapy in renal cell carcinoma in October 2008. The study contained four arms, comprised of
treatment-naïve and second-line patients randomly assigned to receive IMO-2055 subcutaneously at
either 0.16 mg/kg/week or 0.64 mg/kg/week. The primary objective of tumor response based on
Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors, or RECIST, was not achieved in the study. Based on
the final data analysis, the median progression-free survival for each of the four arms in the
trial was 4.5 months, 4.3 months, 3.4 months and 1.9 months. IMO-2055 treatment was generally
well-tolerated with good dose intensity in all arms of the study. We intend to present data from
this clinical trial at a scientific conference in the second half of 2009.
We have agreed with Merck KGaA that we will continue to conduct on its behalf the
on-going Phase 1b non-small cell lung cancer trial, the on-going Phase 1b colorectal cancer trial,
and the Phase 1 clinical trial in healthy subjects. We may initiate and conduct on behalf of Merck
KGaA additional clinical trials of IMO-2055. Merck KGaA has agreed to reimburse us for costs
associated with these clinical trials that we incur after February 4, 2008, which is the date our
agreement with Merck KGaA became effective, and with any additional trials that we may initiate and
conduct on behalf of Merck KGaA. Approximately $1,627,000 and $261,000 of expenses in the three
months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively, and $2,067,000 and $364,000 of expenses in the
six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively, related to the Phase 1b non-small cell lung
cancer trial, the Phase 1b colorectal cancer trial, and the Phase 1 clinical trial in healthy
subjects all of which are reimbursable by Merck KGaA.
IMO-2125 External Development Expenses. These expenses include external expenses that we
have incurred in connection with IMO-2125, our lead compound initially being developed for chronic
HCV infection. These external
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expenses reflect payments to independent contractors and vendors for
drug development activities conducted after the initiation of IMO-2125 trials development but
exclude internal costs such as payroll and overhead expenses. We commenced clinical development of
IMO-2125 in May 2007 and since then we have incurred approximately $5.6 million in external
development expenses through June 30, 2009, including costs associated with the initiation of our
Phase 1 clinical trial and related nonclinical studies and manufacturing and related process
development.
External development expenses for IMO-2125 increased by $46,000, or 9%, from $529,000 in
the three months ended June 30, 2008 to $575,000 in the three months ended June 30, 2009 and
decreased by $718,000, or 40%, from $1,792,000 in the six months ended June 30, 2008 to $1,074,000
in the six months ended June 30, 2009. The increase in the three-month period was attributable to
increased expenses related to our ongoing Phase 1 clinical trial of IMO-2125 in patients with
chronic HCV infection who have not responded to the current standard of care therapy, which we
commenced in September 2007, and expenses incurred in 2009 in preparation for our Phase 1 clinical
trial in treatment naïve patients with chronic HCV infection. This increase in the three-month
period was offset by a decrease in manufacturing costs and nonclinical safety studies of IMO-2125.
The decrease in IMO-2125 expenses in the six months ending June 30, 2009 compared to the six months
ending June 30, 2008 was primarily attributable to lower manufacturing costs and lower nonclinical
safety studies of IMO-2125. This decrease was offset by higher expenses in 2009 as compared to the
same period in 2008 related to our ongoing Phase 1 clinical trial of IMO-2125 in patients with
chronic HCV infection who have not responded to the current standard of care therapy and expenses
incurred in 2009 in preparation for our Phase 1 clinical trial in treatment naïve patients with
chronic HCV infection.
In our Phase 1 study of IMO-2125 in patients with chronic HCV infection who have not
responded to the current standard of care therapy, we are currently recruiting patients and plan to
enroll approximately 40 patients in four cohorts at escalating IMO-2125 dose levels, with four
weeks of treatment. Of the ten patients per cohort, eight will be randomized to receive IMO-2125
treatment and two will be randomized to receive placebo treatment. The trial is designed to assess
the safety of IMO-2125 after subcutaneous administration at each dose level. In addition, the trial
is designed to evaluate the effects of IMO-2125 on HCV RNA levels and on parameters of immune
system activation.
In this trial, we are enrolling the first five patients per cohort sequentially and
allowing each patient to complete at least two weekly injections prior to enrollment of the next
patient. Following a safety review of these first five patients in each cohort, the remaining
patients of the cohort are enrolled. Due to this enrollment procedure, completion of each cohort
has taken longer than anticipated. Currently, we are recruiting patients into the fourth cohort of
the trial. We currently expect interim results from this trial will be available late in 2009.
In addition to the on-going Phase 1 clinical trial of IMO-2125, we also are preparing to
conduct a Phase 1 clinical trial to assess the safety of IMO-2125 in combination with ribavirin in
treatment-naïve patients with chronic HCV infection. We plan to enroll approximately 45 patients in
three cohorts at escalating IMO-2125 dose levels, with four weeks of treatment. Of the 15 patients
per cohort, 12 will be randomized to receive weekly IMO-2125 by subcutaneous administration and
daily oral ribavirin, and three will be randomized to receive placebo and daily oral ribavirin.
This clinical trial also is designed to evaluate the effects of IMO-2125 and ribavirin combination
treatment on HCV RNA levels and on parameters of immune system activation. We expect to commence
this trial during the second half of 2009.
Other Drug Development Expenses. These expenses include external expenses associated with
preclinical development of identified compounds in anticipation of advancing these compounds into
clinical development. In addition, these expenses include internal costs, such as payroll and
overhead expenses, associated with preclinical development and products in clinical development.
The external expenses associated with preclinical compounds include payments to contract vendors
for manufacturing and the related stability studies, preclinical studies including animal
toxicology and pharmacology studies and professional fees. Expenses associated with products in
clinical development include costs associated with our Hepatitis C Clinical Advisory Board, our
Oncology Clinical Advisory Board, and our Autoimmune Disease Scientific Advisory Board.
Other drug development expenses increased by $465,000, or 48%, from $960,000 for the
three months ended June 30, 2008 to $1,425,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2009 and
increased by $1,223,000, or 62%, from $1,983,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2008 to
$3,206,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2009. The increases in the three and six months ended
June 30, 2009 compared to the same periods in 2008 was primarily due to increased costs for
nonclinical safety studies and manufacturing associated with IMO-3100 and other compounds.
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We selected IMO-3100 as a lead TLR antagonist drug candidate in August 2008. The increase in
the six-month period was offset, in part, by decreases in consulting and employee and
employee-related expenses.
Basic Discovery Expenses. These expenses include our internal and external expenses relating
to the discovery and development of our TLR-targeted programs, including agonists and antagonists
of TLRs 7, 8 and 9 and TLR antisense. These expenses reflect payments for laboratory supplies,
external research, and professional fees, as well as payroll and overhead expenses. Basic discovery
expenses increased by $43,000, or 3%, from $1,708,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2008 to
$1,751,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2009 and increased by $76,000, or 2%, from
$3,400,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2008 to $3,476,000 for the six months ended June 30,
2009. The increases for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009 compared to the same periods
in 2008 were primarily attributable to higher employee expenses, primarily related to stock
compensation, and higher external collaborative research. These increases were offset, in part, by
a decrease in overhead expenses.
We do not know if we will be successful in developing any drug candidate from our research and
development programs. At this time, without knowing the results of our ongoing clinical trials and
without an established plan for future clinical tests of drug candidates, we cannot reasonably
estimate or know the nature, timing and costs of the efforts that will be necessary to complete the
remainder of the development of, or the period, if any, in which material net cash inflows may
commence from, any drug candidate from our research and development programs. Moreover, the
clinical development of any drug candidate from our research and development programs is subject to
numerous risks and uncertainties associated with the duration and cost of clinical trials, which
vary significantly over the life of a project as a result of unanticipated events arising during
clinical development.
General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses decreased by $1,110,000 or 34%, from $3,243,000 in the
three months ended June 30, 2008 to $2,133,000 in the three months ended June 30, 2009 and
decreased by $1,389,000 or 24%, from $5,671,000 in the six months ended June 30, 2008 to $4,282,000
in the six months ended June 30, 2009. General and administrative expenses consisted primarily of
salary expense, stock compensation expense, consulting fees and professional legal fees associated
with our patent applications and maintenance, our corporate regulatory filing requirements, and our
business development initiatives.
The decreases in general and administrative expenses in the three and six months ended June
30, 2009 compared to the three and six months ended June 30, 2008 were primarily due to lower
consulting expenses, patent expenses and stock-based compensation expense for consultants in the
2009 periods. The decrease in the six month-period was also attributable to lower corporate legal
fees. These decreases were offset, in part, by higher employee expenses, primarily related to
stock-based compensation.
Investment Income, net
Investment income, net decreased by approximately $379,000, or 92%, from $410,000 in the three
months ended June 30, 2008 to $31,000 in the three months ended June 30, 2009 and decreased by
approximately $714,000, or 88%, from $816,000 in the six months ended June 30, 2008 to $102,000 in
the six months ended June 30, 2009. This decrease resulted from lower interest rates and lower
average investment balances in the three and six months ended June 30, 2009.
Interest Expense
We did not have interest expense in the three and six months ended June 30, 2009. In the three
months ended June 30, 2008, interest expense was $5,000 and in the six months ended June 30, 2008,
interest expense was $87,000. The interest expense in the six months ended June 30, 2008 was
primarily related to interest and a prepayment premium associated with a note payable. We repaid
the note payable in full in March 2008 and the note was cancelled.
Foreign Currency Exchange Loss
We had no foreign currency exchange loss in the three or six months ended June 30, 2009 or the
three months ended June 30, 2008. Foreign currency exchange loss was $267,000 in the six months
ended June 30, 2008. In February 2008, Merck KGaA paid us a $40,000,000 upfront license fee
denominated in Euros. We received $39,733,000 U.S. dollars due to foreign currency exchange rates
in effect at the time we received the payment, which resulted in the foreign currency exchange
loss.
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Income Tax (Provision) Benefit
For the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, we recorded approximately $140,000 as income
tax expense as a result of income subject to the alternative minimum tax, or AMT. In the three
months ended March 31, 2008, we made an estimated quarterly tax payment and recorded income tax
expense of $50,000 as a result of the payment from Merck KGaA generating income we believed would
be subject to the alternative minimum tax. In the three months ended June 30, 2008, we reversed the
$50,000 recorded as income tax expense as we no longer expected to have income subject to AMT in
2008.
Net Income (Loss)
As a result of the factors discussed above, our net income was $3,842,000 for the three months
ended June 30, 2009 compared to $1,336,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2008 and our net
income was $3,590,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2009 compared to a net loss of $835,000 for
the six months ended June 30, 2008. We have incurred losses of $77.4 million since January 1, 2001.
We also incurred net losses of $260.2 million prior to December 31, 2000 during which time we were
involved in the development of non-TLR targeted antisense technology. Since our inception, we had
an accumulated deficit of $337.6 million through June 30, 2009. We may continue to incur
substantial operating losses in the future.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Sources of Liquidity
We require cash to fund our operating expenses, to make capital expenditures and to pay debt
service. Historically, we have funded our cash requirements primarily through the following:
| equity and debt financing; | ||
| license fees and research funding under collaborative and license agreements; | ||
| interest income; and | ||
| lease financings. |
In January 2008, we sent notice to holders of our warrants to purchase common stock that were
issued in August 2004 with an expiration date of August 27, 2009, or the August 2004 Warrants, that
under the terms of the warrant agreement, we intended to redeem on March 31, 2008 any August 2004
Warrants not exercised as of that date for a redemption price of $0.08 per share of common stock
underlying the August 2004 Warrants. We were entitled to exercise this redemption right because the
closing price of our common stock for twenty consecutive trading days ending December 20, 2007 was
greater than $10.72 or 200% of the exercise price of the warrant. The August 2004 Warrants were
exercisable by cash payment only and had an exercise price of $5.36 per share of common stock.
Following the January 2008 notice of redemption and through March 31, 2008, we received
approximately $1.5 million in proceeds from the exercise of August 2004 Warrants to purchase
274,650 shares of common stock. As of March 31, 2008, all August 2004 Warrants had been exercised.
During the six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008, we received total proceeds of $191,000 and
$6,389,000, respectively, from purchases under our employee stock plan and warrant and stock option
exercises.
In December 2007, we entered into an exclusive, worldwide license agreement with Merck KGaA to
research, develop and commercialize products containing our TLR9 agonists for the treatment of
cancer, excluding cancer vaccines. Under the terms of the agreement, in February 2008 Merck KGaA
paid us a $40.0 million upfront license fee in Euros of which we received $39.7 million due to
foreign currency exchange rates. In the second quarter of 2009, we received a milestone payment of
$4.0 from Merck KGaA.
In June 2007, we executed a promissory note in the aggregate principal amount of $1.3 million
in favor of General Electric Capital Corporation, or GE. The promissory note was secured by
specific laboratory, manufacturing, office and computer equipment and was subject to the terms of a
master security agreement between us and GE. The promissory note bore interest at a fixed rate of
11% per annum, and was payable in 48 consecutive monthly installments of principal and accrued
interest, with the first installment having been paid out of the proceeds of the borrowing. In
March 2008, we paid approximately $1.2 million to GE as payment in full of all obligations
outstanding under our promissory note with GE. The payment represented approximately $1.1 million
of
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principal amount outstanding plus accrued interest through the date of payment and a prepayment
premium of approximately $0.1 million. The note has been cancelled.
Cash Flows
As of June 30, 2009, we had approximately $50,441,000 in cash and cash equivalents and
investments, a net decrease of approximately $5,165,000 from December 31, 2008. Operating
activities used $5,435,000 of cash during the first half of 2009, reflecting our $3,590,000 net
income for the period, as adjusted for non-cash expenses, including depreciation, stock-based
compensation, and changes in deferred revenue and our accounts receivable and payable and prepaid
expenses and other current assets.
The net cash provided by investing activities during the first half of 2009 of $8,348,000
reflects the proceeds of approximately $8,250,000 from securities that matured in the first half of
2009 and an increase in available cash of $102,000 as a result of a reduction to our restricted
cash requirements for a security deposit under the terms of our facility operating lease, offset in
part by purchases of laboratory and computer equipment in the first half of 2009.
The net cash provided by financing activities during the first half of 2009 of $140,000
reflects proceeds of $191,000 received from the exercise of stock options and employee stock
purchases during the first half of 2009 offset by payments against our capital leases and the
repurchase of 6,615 shares of our common stock.
Funding Requirements
We have incurred operating losses in all fiscal years except 2002 and 2008 and had an
accumulated deficit of $337.6 million at June 30, 2009. We had cash, cash equivalents and
short-term investments of $50.4 million at June 30, 2009. We believe that based on our current
operating plan our existing cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments will be sufficient to
fund our operations at least through December 31, 2010. We may incur substantial operating losses
in future periods. These losses, among other things, have had and will continue to have an adverse
effect on our stockholders equity, total assets and working capital.
We have received no revenues from the sale of drugs. To date, almost all of our revenues have
been from collaboration and license agreements. We have devoted substantially all of our efforts to
research and development, including clinical trials, and we have not completed development of any
drugs. Because of the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with developing drugs, we are
unable to predict the extent of any future losses, whether or when any of our products will become
commercially available, or when we will become profitable, if at all.
We do not expect to generate significant additional funds internally until we successfully
complete development and obtain marketing approval for products, either alone or in collaboration
with third parties, which we expect will take a number of years. In addition, we have no committed
external sources of funds. Should we be unable to raise sufficient funds in the future, we may be
required to significantly curtail our operating plans and possibly relinquish rights to portions of
our technology or products. In addition, increases in expenses or delays in clinical development
may adversely impact our cash position and require further cost reductions. No assurance can be
given that we will be able to operate profitably on a consistent basis, or at all, in the future.
We believe that the key factors that will affect our internal and external sources of cash
are:
| the success of our clinical and preclinical development programs; | ||
| the success of our existing strategic collaborations with Merck KGaA, Merck & Co. and Novartis; | ||
| the cost, timing and outcome of regulatory reviews; and | ||
| our ability to enter into new strategic collaborations with biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies and the success of such collaborations. |
Additional financing may not be available to us when we need it or may not be available to us
on favorable terms. We could be required to seek funds through arrangements with collaborators or
others that may require us to relinquish rights to some of our technologies, drug candidates or
drugs that we would otherwise pursue on our own. In addition, if we raise additional funds by
issuing equity securities, our then existing stockholders will experience dilution. Debt financing,
if available, may involve agreements that include covenants limiting or restricting our ability to
take specific actions, such as incurring additional debt, making capital expenditures or declaring
dividends, and are likely to include rights that are senior to the holders of our common stock. Any
additional debt financing or
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equity that we raise may contain terms, such as liquidation and other preferences, or liens or
other restrictions on our assets, which are not favorable to us or our stockholders. The terms of
any financing may adversely affect the holdings or the rights of existing stockholders. If we are
unable to obtain adequate funding on a timely basis or at all, we may be required to significantly
curtail one or more of our discovery or development programs.
Contractual Obligations
We have contractual obligations in the form of operating and capital leases.
ITEM 3. | QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK |
As of June 30, 2009, we have no significant foreign currency exposure, as compared to the U.S.
dollar, which is our functional currency.
We maintain investments in accordance with our investment policy. The primary objectives of
our investment activities are to preserve principal, maintain proper liquidity to meet operating
needs and, within this context, maximize yields. Although our investments are subject to credit
risk, our investment policy specifies credit quality standards for our investments and limits the
amount of credit exposure from any single issue, issuer or type of investment. We do not own
derivative financial investment instruments in our investment portfolio.
Based on a hypothetical ten percent adverse movement in interest rates, the potential losses
in future earnings, fair value of risk sensitive financial instruments, and cash flows are
immaterial, although the actual effects may differ materially from the hypothetical analysis.
ITEM 4. | CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES |
(a) Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures. Our management, with the participation
of our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our
disclosure controls and procedures as of the period covered by this report. The term disclosure
controls and procedures, as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act, means
controls and other procedures of a company that are designed to ensure that information required to
be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is
recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SECs rules
and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures
designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it
files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the companys
management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, as appropriate to
allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Management recognizes that any controls and
procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of
achieving their objectives and management necessarily applies its judgment in evaluating the
cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. Based on the evaluation of our
disclosure controls and procedures as of June 30, 2009, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief
Financial Officer concluded that, as of such date, our disclosure controls and procedures were
effective at the reasonable assurance level.
(b) Changes in Internal Controls. No change in our internal control over financial reporting
(as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act) occurred during the
fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2009 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to
materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
PART II OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1A. | RISK FACTORS |
Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider
the risks and uncertainties described below in addition to the other information included or
incorporated by reference in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q before purchasing our common stock.
If any of the following risks actually occurs, our business, financial condition or results of
operations would likely suffer, possibly materially. In that case, the trading price of our common
stock could fall, and you may lose all or part of the money you paid to buy our common stock.
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Risks Relating to Our Financial Results and Need for Financing
We have incurred substantial losses and expect to continue to incur losses. We will not be
successful unless we reverse this trend.
We have incurred losses in every year since our inception, except for 2002 and 2008 when our
recognition of revenues under license and collaboration agreements resulted in our reporting net
income for those years. As of June 30, 2009, we had an accumulated deficit of $337.6 million. We
have incurred losses of $77.4 million since January 1, 2001. We also incurred losses of $260.2
million prior to December 31, 2000 during which time we were primarily involved in the development
of non-TLR targeted antisense technology. These losses, among other things, have had and will
continue to have an adverse effect on our stockholders equity, total assets and working capital.
We have never had any products of our own available for commercial sale and have received no
revenues from the sale of drugs. To date, almost all of our revenues have been from collaborative
and license agreements. We have devoted substantially all of our efforts to research and
development, including clinical trials, and we have not completed development of any drugs. Because
of the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with developing drugs, we are unable to predict
the extent of any future losses, whether or when any of our products will become commercially
available, or when we will become profitable, if at all. We may incur substantial operating losses
in future periods.
We will need additional financing, which may be difficult to obtain. Our failure to obtain
necessary financing or doing so on unattractive terms could adversely affect our research and
development programs and other operations.
We will require substantial funds to conduct research and development, including preclinical
testing and clinical trials of our drug candidates. We will also require substantial funds to
conduct regulatory activities and to establish commercial manufacturing, marketing and sales
capabilities. We believe that, based on our current operating plan, our existing cash, cash
equivalents, and short-term investments will be sufficient to fund our operations at least through
December 31, 2010.
We will need to raise additional funds to operate our business beyond such time, including
completing any on-going clinical trials involving IMO-2125 or other drug candidates we may develop.
We believe that the key factors that will affect our ability to obtain additional funding are:
| the success of our clinical and preclinical development programs; | ||
| the success of our existing strategic collaborations with Merck KGaA, Merck & Co. and Novartis; | ||
| the cost, timing and outcome of regulatory reviews; | ||
| the receptivity of the capital markets to financings by biotechnology companies; and | ||
| our ability to enter into additional strategic collaborations with biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies and the success of such collaborations. |
If we cannot obtain adequate funds, we may terminate, modify or delay preclinical or clinical
trials of one or more of our drug candidates, fail to establish or delay the establishment of
manufacturing, sale or marketing capabilities, or curtail research and development programs for new
drug candidates.
Additional financing may not be available to us when we need it or may not be available to us
on favorable terms. We could be required to seek funds through collaborative alliances or through
other means that may require us to relinquish rights to some of our technologies, drug candidates
or drugs that we would otherwise pursue on our own. In addition, if we raise additional funds by
issuing equity securities, our then existing stockholders will experience dilution. The terms of
any financing may adversely affect the holdings or the rights of existing stockholders. Debt
financing, if available, may involve agreements that include covenants limiting or restricting our
ability to take specific actions, such as incurring additional debt, making capital expenditures or
declaring dividends, and are likely to include rights that are senior to the holders of our common
stock. Any additional debt financing or equity that we raise may contain terms, such as liquidation
and other preferences, or liens or other restrictions on our assets, which are not favorable to us
or our stockholders. If we are unable to obtain adequate funding on a timely
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basis or at all, we may be required to significantly curtail one or more of our discovery or
development programs or possibly relinquish rights to portions of our technology, drug candidates
and/or products. For example, we significantly curtailed expenditures on our research and
development programs during 1999 and 2000 because we did not have sufficient funds available to
advance these programs at planned levels.
Risks Relating to Our Business, Strategy and Industry
We are depending heavily on the success of our lead drug candidate for infectious diseases,
IMO-2125, and our collaborative alliances. If we or our collaborators are unable to successfully
develop and commercialize our drug candidates, or experience significant delays in doing so, our
business will be materially harmed.
We are investing a significant portion of our time and financial resources in the development
of our clinical stage lead drug candidate for infectious diseases, IMO-2125. We anticipate that our
ability to generate product revenues will depend heavily on the successful development and
commercialization of IMO-2125 and other drug candidates, including drug candidates being developed
by our collaborators. The commercial success of these drug candidates will depend on several
factors, including the following:
| acceptable safety profile during clinical trials; | ||
| demonstration of statistically recognized efficacy in clinical trials; | ||
| ability to combine IMO-2125 safely and successfully with other antiviral agents; | ||
| receipt of marketing approvals from the FDA and equivalent foreign regulatory authorities; | ||
| establishment of commercial manufacturing arrangements with third-party manufacturers; | ||
| the successful commercial launch of the drug candidates, whether alone or in collaboration with other products; | ||
| acceptance of the products by the medical community and third-party payors; | ||
| competition from other companies and their therapies; | ||
| successful protection of our intellectual property rights from competing products in the United States and abroad; and | ||
| a continued acceptable safety and efficacy profile of our drug candidates following approval. |
Our efforts to commercialize IMO-2125 are at an early stage, as we are currently conducting an
initial Phase 1 safety clinical trial of this drug candidate in a defined patient population and
preparing a second Phase 1 clinical trial. If we are not successful in commercializing this or our
other drug candidates, or are significantly delayed in doing so, our business will be materially
harmed.
If our clinical trials are unsuccessful, or if they are delayed or terminated, we may not be able
to develop and commercialize our products.
In order to obtain regulatory approvals for the commercial sale of our products, we are
required to complete extensive clinical trials in humans to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of
our drug candidates. Clinical trials are lengthy, complex and expensive processes with uncertain
results. We may not be able to complete any clinical trial of a potential product within any
specified time period. Moreover, clinical trials may not show our potential products to be both
safe and efficacious. The FDA and other regulatory authorities may not approve any of our potential
products for any indication. We may not be able to obtain authority from the FDA or other
equivalent foreign regulatory agencies to complete these trials or commence and complete any other
clinical trials.
The results from preclinical testing of a drug candidate that is under development may not be
predictive of results that will be obtained in human clinical trials. In addition, the results of
early human clinical trials may not be predictive of results that will be obtained in larger scale,
advanced stage clinical trials. Furthermore, interim results of a clinical trial do not necessarily
predict final results and failure of any of our clinical trials can occur at any stage of testing.
Companies in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries, including companies with greater
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experience in preclinical testing and clinical trials than we have, have suffered significant
setbacks in clinical trials, even after demonstrating promising results in earlier trials.
Moreover, companies developing drugs targeted to TLRs have experienced setbacks in clinical trials.
For example in June 2007, Coley Pharmaceutical Group, which since has been acquired by Pfizer,
Inc., discontinued four clinical trials in lung cancer for PF-3512676, its investigational TLR9
agonist compound, in combination with cytotoxic chemotherapy. In addition, in January 2007, Coley
Pharmaceutical Group announced that it had suspended its development of a TLR9 agonist,
Actilon®, for HCV infection. In July 2007, Anadys Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and its
partner Novartis announced that they had decided to discontinue the development of ANA975, the
investigational TLR7 agonist compound for HCV infection. Dynavax Technologies Corporation announced
in March 2008 that two investigational new drug applications for its investigational hepatitis B
vaccine, HEPLISAV®, which includes a proprietary TLR9 agonist, had been placed
on clinical hold by the FDA. Dynavax Technologies Corporation also announced in May 2008
discontinuation of the clinical development program for TOLAMBA®, which
comprises a TLR9 agonist covalently attached to ragweed antigen.
There are to date few data on the long-term clinical safety of our lead compounds under
conditions of prolonged use in humans, or on any long-term consequences subsequent to human use.
Effects seen in preclinical studies, even if not observed in clinical trials, may result in
limitations or restrictions on our clinical trials. We may experience numerous unforeseen events
during, or as a result of, preclinical testing, nonclinical testing, or the clinical trial process
that could delay or inhibit our ability to receive regulatory approval or to commercialize our
products, including:
| regulators or Institutional Review Boards may not authorize us to commence a clinical trial or conduct a clinical trial at a prospective trial site; | ||
| nonclinical or clinical data may not be readily interpreted, which may lead to delays and/or misinterpretation; | ||
| our nonclinical tests, including toxicology studies, or clinical trials may produce negative or inconclusive results, and we may decide, or regulators may require us, to conduct additional nonclinical testing or clinical trials or we may abandon projects that we expect may not be promising; | ||
| the rate of enrollment or retention of patients in our clinical trials may be lower than we expect; | ||
| we might have to suspend or terminate our clinical trials if the participating patients experience serious adverse events or undesirable side effects or are exposed to unacceptable health risks; | ||
| regulators or Institutional Review Boards may require that we hold, suspend or terminate clinical research for various reasons, including noncompliance with regulatory requirements and any issues identified through inspections of manufacturing or clinical trial operations or clinical trial sites; | ||
| regulators may hold or suspend our clinical trials while collecting supplemental information on, or clarification of, our clinical trials or other clinical trials, including trials conducted in other countries or trials conducted by other companies; | ||
| we, along with our collaborators and subcontractors, may not employ, in any capacity, persons who have been debarred under the FDAs Application Integrity Policy. Employment of such debarred persons, even if inadvertent, may result in delays in the FDAs review or approval of our products, or the rejection of data developed with the involvement of such person(s); | ||
| the cost of our clinical trials may be greater than we currently anticipate; and | ||
| our products may not cause the desired effects or may cause undesirable side effects or our products may have other unexpected characteristics. |
As an example, in 1997, after reviewing the results from the clinical trial of GEM91, a first
generation antisense compound and our lead drug candidate at the time, we determined not to
continue the development of GEM91 and suspended clinical trials of this drug candidate.
The rate of completion of clinical trials is dependent in part upon the rate of enrollment of
patients. For example,
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in Stage A of our Phase 2 clinical trial of IMO-2055 in renal cell cancer, enrollment was slower
than projected due to the then-recent approval of two new therapies, Sutent®
and Nexavar®, developed by other companies for treatment of the same patient
populations. In addition, in our on-going Phase 1 clinical trial of IMO-2125 in patients with
chronic HCV infection who have not responded to the current standard of care therapy, completion of
each cohort has taken longer than anticipated due to the enrollment procedure. Patient accrual is a
function of many factors, including:
| the size of the patient population; | ||
| the proximity of patients to clinical sites; | ||
| the eligibility criteria for the study; | ||
| the nature of the study, including the pattern of patient enrollment; | ||
| the existence of competitive clinical trials; and | ||
| the availability of alternative treatments. |
We do not know whether clinical trials will begin as planned, will need to be restructured or
will be completed on schedule, if at all. Significant clinical trial delays also could allow our
competitors to bring products to market before we do and impair our ability to commercialize our
products.
Delays in commencing clinical trials of potential products could increase our costs, delay any
potential revenues and reduce the probability that a potential product will receive regulatory
approval.
Our drug candidates and our collaborators drug candidates will require preclinical and other
nonclinical testing and extensive clinical trials prior to submission of any regulatory application
for commercial sales. In 2007, we commenced a Phase 1b clinical trial of IMO-2055 in oncology, and
we commenced a Phase 1 clinical trial of IMO-2125 for chronic HCV infection. In 2008, our
collaborator Novartis commenced a Phase 1 clinical trial of QAX935, a novel agonist of TLR9, and in
2009 we commenced a Phase 1 clinical trial and a Phase 1b clinical trial of IMO-2055 under our
collaboration with Merck KGaA. In conducting clinical trials, we cannot be certain that any planned
clinical trial will begin on time, if at all. Delays in commencing clinical trials of potential
products could increase our product development costs, delay any potential revenues and reduce the
probability that a potential product will receive regulatory approval.
Commencing clinical trials may be delayed for a number of reasons, including delays in:
| manufacturing sufficient quantities of drug candidate that satisfy the required quality standards for use in clinical trials; | ||
| demonstrating sufficient safety to obtain regulatory approval for conducting a clinical trial; | ||
| reaching an agreement with any collaborators on all aspects of the clinical trial; | ||
| reaching agreement with contract research organizations, if any, and clinical trial sites on all aspects of the clinical trial; | ||
| resolving any objections from the FDA or any regulatory authority on an IND application or proposed clinical trial design; | ||
| obtaining Institutional Review Board approval for conducting a clinical trial at a prospective site; and | ||
| enrolling patients in order to commence the clinical trial. |
The technologies on which we rely are unproven and may not result in any approved and marketable
products.
Our technologies or therapeutic approaches are relatively new and unproven. We have focused
our efforts on the research and development of RNA- and DNA-based compounds targeted to TLRs.
Neither we nor any other company have obtained regulatory approval to market such compounds as
therapeutic drugs, and no such products currently are being marketed. It is unknown whether the
results of preclinical studies with TLR-targeted compounds
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will be indicative of results that may be obtained in clinical trials, and results we have obtained
in the initial small-scale clinical trials we have conducted to date may not be predictive of
results in subsequent large-scale clinical trials. Further, the chemical and pharmacological
properties of RNA- and DNA-based compounds targeted to TLRs may not be fully recognized in
preclinical studies and small-scale clinical trials, and such compounds may interact with human
biological systems in unforeseen, ineffective, or harmful ways that we have not yet identified. As
a result of these factors, we may never succeed in obtaining a regulatory approval to market any
product. Furthermore, the commercial success of any of our products for which we may obtain
marketing approval from the FDA or other regulatory authorities will depend upon their acceptance
by the medical community and third-party payors as clinically useful, safe, and cost-effective. In
addition, if products based upon TLR technology being developed by our competitors have negative
clinical trial results or otherwise are viewed negatively, the perception of our TLR technology and
market acceptance of our products could be impacted negatively. For example, Dynavax Technologies
announced in March 2008 that two investigational new drug applications for its investigational
hepatitis B vaccine, HEPLISAV, which includes a proprietary TLR9 agonist, had been placed on
clinical hold by the FDA. Dynavax Technologies also announced in May 2008 discontinuation of the
clinical development program for TOLAMBA, which comprises a TLR9 agonist covalently attached to a
ragweed antigen. In addition, Pfizer, Inc. and Anadys Pharmaceuticals, Inc. each have performed
early clinical trials of TLR-targeted compounds for the treatment of chronic HCV infection, and
both programs were discontinued. We cannot be certain whether such discontinuations will negatively
impact the perception of our TLR technology.
Our efforts to educate the medical community on our potentially unique approaches may require
greater resources than would be typically required for products based on conventional technologies
or therapeutic approaches. The safety, efficacy, convenience and cost-effectiveness of our products
as compared to competitive products will also affect market acceptance.
We face substantial competition, which may result in others discovering, developing or
commercializing drugs before or more successfully than us.
The biotechnology industry is highly competitive and characterized by rapid and significant
technological change. We face, and will continue to face, intense competition from pharmaceutical
and biotechnology companies, as well as academic and research institutions and government agencies.
Some of these organizations are pursuing products based on technologies similar to our
technologies. Other of these organizations have developed and are marketing products, or are
pursuing other technological approaches designed to produce products, that are competitive with our
drug candidates in the therapeutic effect these competitive products have on diseases targeted by
our drug candidates. Our competitors may discover, develop or commercialize products or other novel
technologies that are more effective, safer or less costly than any that we are developing. Our
competitors may also obtain FDA or other regulatory approval for their products more rapidly than
we may obtain approval for ours. As examples, the FDA recently approved drugs developed by other
companies, Sutent and Nexavar for use in renal cell cancer, which is the indication for which we
evaluated IMO-2055 monotherapy in our Phase 2 clinical trial. Pfizer, Inc. is conducting clinical
trials of PF-3512676, a TLR9 agonist for treating cancer. In addition, Dynavax Technologies
Corporation has announced initiation of a clinical trial for its TLR9 agonist 1018 ISS for cancer.
Both Pfizer, Inc., and Dynavax Technologies Corporation have clinical programs, either
independently or with collaborators, in therapeutic fields other than cancer, such as asthma and
allergy treatments and for use as vaccine adjuvants, that also potentially compete with our drug
candidates.
Many of our competitors are substantially larger than we are and have greater capital
resources, research and development staffs and facilities than we have. In addition, many of our
competitors are more experienced than we are in drug discovery, development and commercialization,
obtaining regulatory approvals, and drug manufacturing and marketing.
We anticipate that the competition with our products and technologies will be based on a
number of factors including product efficacy, safety, availability, and price. The timing of market
introduction of our products and competitive products will also affect competition among products.
We expect the relative speed with which we can develop products, complete the clinical trials, and
approval processes and supply commercial quantities of the products to the market to be important
competitive factors. Our competitive position will also depend upon our ability to attract and
retain qualified personnel, to obtain patent protection or otherwise develop proprietary products
or processes, and protect our intellectual property, and to secure sufficient capital resources for
the period between technological conception and commercial sales.
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Competition for technical and management personnel is intense in our industry, and we may not be
able to sustain our operations or grow if we are unable to attract and retain key personnel.
Our success is highly dependent on the retention of principal members of our technical and
management staff, including Dr. Sudhir Agrawal. Dr. Agrawal serves as our President, Chief
Executive Officer and Chief Scientific Officer. Dr. Agrawal has made significant contributions to
the field of oligonucleotide-based drug candidates, and has led the discovery and development of
our compounds targeted to TLRs. He is named as an inventor on over 400 patents and patent
applications worldwide. Dr. Agrawal provides us leadership for management, research and development
activities. The loss of Dr. Agrawals services would be detrimental to our ongoing scientific
progress and the execution of our business plan.
We are a party to an employment agreement with Dr. Agrawal that expires on October 19, 2011,
but automatically extends annually for an additional year. This agreement may be terminated by us
or Dr. Agrawal for any reason or no reason at any time upon notice to the other party. We do not
carry key man life insurance for Dr. Agrawal.
Furthermore, our future growth will require hiring a number of qualified technical and
management personnel. Accordingly, recruiting and retaining such personnel in the future will be
critical to our success. There is intense competition from other companies and research and
academic institutions for qualified personnel in the areas of our activities. If we are not able to
continue to attract and retain, on acceptable terms, the qualified personnel necessary for the
continued development of our business, we may not be able to sustain our operations or growth.
Regulatory Risks
We may not be able to obtain marketing approval for products resulting from our development
efforts.
All of the drug candidates that we are developing or may develop in the future will require
additional research and development, extensive preclinical studies and clinical trials, and
regulatory approval prior to any commercial sales. This process is lengthy, often taking a number
of years, is uncertain, and is expensive. Since our inception, we have conducted clinical trials of
a number of compounds. Currently, we are conducting clinical trials of IMO-2125 as part of our
internal programs and IMO-2055 on behalf of Merck KGaA.
We may need to address a number of technological challenges in order to complete development
of our products. Moreover, these products may not be effective in treating any disease or may prove
to have undesirable or unintended side effects, unintended alteration of the immune system over
time, toxicities or other characteristics that may preclude our obtaining regulatory approval or
prevent or limit commercial use.
We are subject to comprehensive regulatory requirements, which are costly and time consuming to
comply with; if we fail to comply with these requirements, we could be subject to adverse
consequences and penalties.
The testing, manufacturing, labeling, advertising, promotion, export and marketing of our
products are subject to extensive regulation by governmental authorities in Europe, the United
States and elsewhere throughout the world.
In general, submission of materials requesting permission to conduct clinical trials may not
result in authorization by the FDA or any equivalent foreign regulatory agency to commence clinical
trials. Further, permission to continue ongoing trials may be withdrawn by the FDA or other
regulatory agencies at any time after initiation, based on new information available after the
initial authorization to commence clinical trials. In addition, submission of an application for
marketing approval to the relevant regulatory agency following completion of clinical trials may
not result in the regulatory agency approving the application if applicable regulatory criteria are
not satisfied, and may result in the regulatory agency requiring additional testing or information.
Any regulatory approval of a product may contain limitations on the indicated uses for which
the product may be marketed or requirements for costly post-marketing testing and surveillance to
monitor the safety or efficacy of the product. Any product for which we obtain marketing approval,
along with the facilities at which the product is manufactured, any post-approval clinical data,
and any advertising and promotional activities for the product will be subject to continual review
and periodic inspections by the FDA and other regulatory agencies.
Both before and after approval is obtained, violations of regulatory requirements may result
in:
| the regulatory agencys delay in approving, or refusal to approve, an application for marketing of a product; |
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| restrictions on our products or the manufacturing of our products; | ||
| withdrawal of our products from the market; | ||
| warning letters; | ||
| voluntary or mandatory recall; | ||
| fines; | ||
| suspension or withdrawal of regulatory approvals; | ||
| product seizure; | ||
| refusal to permit the import or export of our products; | ||
| injunctions or the imposition of civil penalties; and | ||
| criminal penalties. |
We have only limited experience in regulatory affairs and our products are based on new
technologies; these factors may affect our ability or the time we require to obtain necessary
regulatory approvals.
We have only limited experience in filing the applications necessary to gain regulatory
approvals. Moreover, the products that result from our research and development programs will
likely be based on new technologies and new therapeutic approaches that have not been extensively
tested in humans. The regulatory requirements governing these types of products may be more
rigorous than for conventional drugs. As a result, we may experience a longer regulatory process in
connection with obtaining regulatory approvals of any product that we develop.
Risks Relating to Collaborators
We need to establish additional collaborative alliances in order to succeed.
If we do not reach agreements with additional collaborators in the future, we may fail to meet
our business objectives. We believe collaborations can provide us with expertise and resources. If
we cannot enter into additional collaboration agreements, we may not be able to obtain the
expertise and resources necessary to achieve our business objectives. We face, and will continue to
face, significant competition in seeking appropriate collaborators. Moreover, collaborations are
complex and time consuming to negotiate, document and implement. We may not be successful in our
efforts to establish and implement collaborations or other alternative arrangements. The terms of
any collaborations or other arrangements that we establish, if any, may not be favorable to us.
The failure of these collaborative alliances could delay our drug development or impair
commercialization of our products and could materially harm our business and might accelerate our
need for additional capital.
Any collaboration that we enter into may not be successful. The success of our collaborative
alliances, if any, will depend heavily on the efforts and activities of our collaborators. Possible
future collaborations have risks, including the following:
| disputes may arise in the future with respect to the ownership of rights to technology developed with future collaborators; | ||
| disagreements with future collaborators could delay or terminate the research, development or commercialization of products, or result in litigation or arbitration; | ||
| future collaboration agreements are likely to be for fixed terms and subject to termination by our collaborators in the event of a material breach or lack of scientific progress by us; | ||
| future collaborators are likely to have the first right to maintain or defend our intellectual property rights and, although we would likely have the right to assume the maintenance and defense of our intellectual property rights if our collaborators do not, our ability to do so may be compromised by |
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our collaborators acts or omissions; |
| future collaborators may challenge our intellectual property rights or utilize our intellectual property rights in such a way as to invite litigation that could jeopardize or invalidate our intellectual property rights or expose us to potential liability; | ||
| future collaborators may change the focus of their development and commercialization efforts. Pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies historically have re-evaluated their priorities following mergers and consolidations, which have been common in recent years in these industries. The ability of our products to reach their potential could be limited if future collaborators decrease or fail to increase spending relating to such products; | ||
| future collaborators may underfund or not commit sufficient resources to the testing, marketing, distribution or development of our products; and | ||
| future collaborators may develop alternative products either on their own or in collaboration with others, or encounter conflicts of interest or changes in business strategy or other business issues, which could adversely affect their willingness or ability to fulfill their obligations to us. |
Given these risks, it is possible that any collaborative alliance into which we enter may not
be successful.
Our existing collaborations and any collaborations we enter into in the future may not be
successful.
An important element of our business strategy includes entering into collaborative alliances
with corporate collaborators, primarily large pharmaceutical companies, for the development,
commercialization, marketing, and distribution of some of our drug candidates. In December 2007, we
entered into an exclusive, worldwide license agreement with Merck KGaA to research, develop, and
commercialize products containing our TLR9 agonists for treatment of cancer, excluding cancer
vaccines. In December 2006, we entered into an exclusive license and research collaboration with
Merck & Co. to research, develop, and commercialize vaccine products containing our TLR7, 8, and 9
agonists in the fields of cancer, infectious diseases, and Alzheimers disease. In May 2005, we
entered into a collaboration with Novartis to discover, develop and potentially commercialize TLR9
agonists that are identified as potential treatments for asthma and allergies. The failure of these
collaborations or any others we enter into in the future could delay our drug development or impair
commercialization of our products and could materially harm our business and might accelerate our
need for additional capital.
The success of our collaborative alliances, if any, will depend heavily on the efforts and
activities of our collaborators. Our existing collaborations have risks, including the following:
| our collaborators control the development of the drug candidates being developed with our technologies and compounds including the timing of development; | ||
| our collaborators may control the public release of information regarding the developments, and we may not be able to make announcements or data presentations on a schedule favorable to us; | ||
| disputes may arise in the future with respect to the ownership of rights to technology developed with our collaborators; | ||
| disagreements with our collaborators could delay or terminate the research, development or commercialization of products, or result in litigation or arbitration; | ||
| we may have difficulty enforcing the contracts if any of our collaborators fail to perform; | ||
| our collaborators may terminate their collaborations with us, which could make it difficult for us to attract new collaborators or adversely affect the perception of us in the business or financial communities; | ||
| our collaboration agreements are likely to be for fixed terms and subject to termination by our collaborators in the event of a material breach or lack of scientific progress by us; |
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| our collaborators may have the first right to maintain or defend our intellectual property rights and, although we would likely have the right to assume the maintenance and defense of our intellectual property rights if our collaborators do not, our ability to do so may be compromised by our collaborators acts or omissions; | ||
| our collaborators may challenge our intellectual property rights or utilize our intellectual property rights in such a way as to invite litigation that could jeopardize or invalidate our intellectual property rights or expose us to potential liability; | ||
| our collaborators may change the focus of their development and commercialization efforts. Pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies historically have re-evaluated their priorities following mergers and consolidations, which have been common in recent years in these industries. The ability of our products to reach their potential could be limited if our collaborators decrease or fail to increase spending relating to such products; | ||
| our collaborators may underfund or not commit sufficient resources to the testing, marketing, distribution or development of our products; and | ||
| our collaborators may develop alternative products either on their own or in collaboration with others, or encounter conflicts of interest or changes in business strategy or other business issues, which could adversely affect their willingness or ability to fulfill their obligations to us. |
Collaborations with pharmaceutical companies and other third parties often are terminated or
allowed to expire by the other party. Such terminations or expirations may adversely affect us
financially and could harm our business reputation in the event we elect to pursue collaborations
that ultimately expire or are terminated in such a manner.
Risks Relating to Intellectual Property
If we are unable to obtain patent protection for our discoveries, the value of our technology and
products will be adversely affected.
Our patent positions, and those of other drug discovery companies, are generally uncertain and
involve complex legal, scientific, and factual questions. Our ability to develop and commercialize
drugs depends in significant part on our ability to:
| obtain patents; | ||
| obtain licenses to the proprietary rights of others on commercially reasonable terms; | ||
| operate without infringing upon the proprietary rights of others; | ||
| prevent others from infringing on our proprietary rights; and | ||
| protect trade secrets. |
We do not know whether any of our patent applications or those patent applications that we
license will result in the issuance of any patents. Our issued patents and those that may be issued
in the future, or those licensed to us, may be challenged, invalidated or circumvented, and the
rights granted thereunder may not provide us proprietary protection or competitive advantages
against competitors with similar technology. Furthermore, our competitors may independently develop
similar technologies or duplicate any technology developed by us. Because of the extensive time
required for development, testing, and regulatory review of a potential product, it is possible
that, before any of our products can be commercialized, any related patent may expire or remain in
force for only a short period following commercialization, thus reducing any advantage provided by
the patent.
Because patent applications in the United States and many foreign jurisdictions are typically
not published until 18 months after filing, or in some cases not at all, and because publications
of discoveries in the scientific literature often lag behind actual discoveries, neither we nor our
licensors can be certain that we or they were the first to make the inventions claimed in issued
patents or pending patent applications, or that we or they were the first to file for protection of
the inventions set forth in these patent applications.
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Third parties may own or control patents or patent applications and require us to seek licenses,
which could increase our development and commercialization costs, or prevent us from developing or
marketing products.
We may not have rights under some patents or patent applications related to our products.
Third parties may own or control these patents and patent applications in the United States and
abroad. Therefore, in some cases, to develop, manufacture, sell or import some of our products, we
or our collaborators may choose to seek, or be required to seek, licenses under third-party patents
issued in the United States and abroad or under patents that might issue from United States and
foreign patent applications. In such an event, we would be required to pay license fees or
royalties or both to the licensor. If licenses are not available to us on acceptable terms, we or
our collaborators may not be able to develop, manufacture, sell or import these products.
We may lose our rights to patents, patent applications or technologies of third parties if our
licenses from these third parties are terminated. In such an event, we might not be able to develop
or commercialize products covered by the licenses.
Currently, we have not in-licensed any patents or patent applications related to our
TLR-targeted drug candidate programs. However in the field of antisense technology we are party to
six royalty-bearing license agreements under which we have acquired rights to patents, patent
applications and technology of third parties. Under these licenses we are obligated to pay
royalties on net sales by us of products or processes covered by a valid claim of a patent or
patent application licensed to us. We also are required in some cases to pay a specified percentage
of any sublicense income that we may receive. These licenses impose various commercialization,
sublicensing, insurance and other obligations on us.
Our failure to comply with these requirements could result in termination of the licenses.
These licenses generally will otherwise remain in effect until the expiration of all valid claims
of the patents covered by such licenses or upon earlier termination by the parties. The issued
patents covered by these licenses expire at various dates ranging from 2014 to 2022. If one or more
of these licenses is terminated, we may be delayed in our efforts, or be unable, to develop and
market the products that are covered by the applicable license or licenses.
We may become involved in expensive patent litigation or other proceedings, which could result in
our incurring substantial costs and expenses or substantial liability for damages or require us to
stop our development and commercialization efforts.
There has been substantial litigation and other proceedings regarding patent and other
intellectual property rights in the biotechnology industry. We may become a party to various types
of patent litigation or other proceedings regarding intellectual property rights from time to time
even under circumstances where we are not practicing and do not intend to practice any of the
intellectual property involved in the proceedings. For instance, in 2002, 2003, and 2005, we became
involved in interference proceedings declared by the United States Patent and Trademark Office for
certain of our antisense and ribozyme patents. All of these interferences have since been resolved.
We are neither practicing nor intending to practice the intellectual property that is associated
with any of these interference proceedings.
The cost to us of any patent litigation or other proceeding even if resolved in our favor,
could be substantial. Some of our competitors may be able to sustain the cost of such litigation or
proceedings more effectively than we can because of their substantially greater financial
resources. If any patent litigation or other proceeding is resolved against us, we or our
collaborators may be enjoined from developing, manufacturing, selling or importing our drugs
without a license from the other party and we may be held liable for significant damages. We may
not be able to obtain any required license on commercially acceptable terms or at all.
Uncertainties resulting from the initiation and continuation of patent litigation or other
proceedings could have a material adverse effect on our ability to compete in the marketplace.
Patent litigation and other proceedings may also absorb significant management time.
Risks Relating to Product Manufacturing, Marketing and Sales and Reliance on Third Parties
Because we have limited manufacturing experience and no manufacturing facilities or infrastructure,
we are dependent on third-party manufacturers to manufacture products for us. If we cannot rely on
third-party manufacturers, we will be required to incur significant costs and devote significant
efforts to establish our own manufacturing facilities and capabilities.
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We have limited manufacturing experience and no manufacturing facilities, infrastructure or
clinical or commercial scale manufacturing capabilities. In order to continue to develop our
products, apply for regulatory approvals and ultimately commercialize products, we need to develop,
contract for or otherwise arrange for the necessary manufacturing capabilities.
We currently rely upon third parties to produce material for nonclinical, preclinical and
clinical testing purposes and expect to continue to do so in the future. We also expect to rely
upon third parties to produce materials that may be required for the commercial production of our
products. Our current and anticipated future dependence upon others for the manufacture of our drug
candidates may adversely affect our future profit margins and our ability to develop drug
candidates and commercialize any drug candidates on a timely and competitive basis. We currently do
not have any long term supply contracts and rely on only one contract manufacturer.
There are a limited number of manufacturers that operate under the FDAs cGMP regulations
capable of manufacturing our products. As a result, we may have difficulty finding manufacturers
for our products with adequate capacity for our needs. If we are unable to arrange for third-party
manufacturing of our products on a timely basis, or to do so on commercially reasonable terms, we
may not be able to complete development of our products or market them.
Reliance on third-party manufacturers entails risks to which we would not be subject if we
manufactured products ourselves, including:
| reliance on the third party for regulatory compliance and quality assurance; | ||
| the possibility of breach of the manufacturing agreement by the third party because of factors beyond our control; | ||
| the possibility of termination or nonrenewal of the agreement by the third party, based on its own business priorities, at a time that is costly or inconvenient for us; | ||
| the potential that third-party manufacturers will develop know-how owned by such third party in connection with the production of our products that is necessary for the manufacture of our products; and | ||
| reliance upon third-party manufacturers to assist us in preventing inadvertent disclosure or theft of our proprietary knowledge. |
Additionally, contract manufacturers may not be able to manufacture our TLR-targeted drug
candidates at a cost or in quantities necessary to make them commercially viable. To date, our
third-party manufacturers have met our manufacturing requirements, but we cannot be assured that
they will continue to do so. Furthermore, changes in the manufacturing process or procedure,
including a change in the location where the drug is manufactured or a change of a third-party
manufacturer, may require prior FDA review and approval in accordance with the FDAs cGMP
regulations. There are comparable foreign requirements. This review may be costly and
time-consuming and could delay or prevent the launch of a product. The FDA or similar foreign
regulatory agencies at any time may also implement new standards, or change their interpretation
and enforcement of existing standards for manufacture, packaging or testing of products. If we or
our contract manufacturers are unable to comply, we or they may be subject to regulatory action,
civil actions or penalties.
We have no experience selling, marketing or distributing products and no internal capability to do
so.
If we receive regulatory approval to commence commercial sales of any of our products, we will
face competition with respect to commercial sales, marketing and distribution. These are areas in
which we have no experience. To market any of our products directly, we would need to develop a
marketing and sales force with technical expertise and with supporting distribution capability. In
particular, we would need to recruit a large number of experienced marketing and sales personnel.
Alternatively, we could engage a pharmaceutical or other healthcare company with an existing
distribution system and direct sales force to assist us. However, to the extent we entered into
such arrangements, we would be dependent on the efforts of third parties. If we are unable to
establish sales and distribution capabilities, whether internally or in reliance on third parties,
our business would suffer materially.
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If third parties on whom we rely for clinical trials do not perform as contractually required or as
we expect, we may not be able to obtain regulatory approval for or commercialize our products and
our business may suffer.
We do not have the ability to independently conduct the clinical trials required to obtain
regulatory approval for our products. We depend on independent clinical investigators, contract
research organizations and other third-party service providers in the conduct of the clinical
trials of our products and expect to continue to do so. We have contracted with contract research
organizations to manage our current Phase 1 clinical trials of IMO-2125 in patients with chronic
HCV infection. We rely heavily on these parties for successful execution of our clinical trials,
but do not control many aspects of their activities. We are responsible for ensuring that each of
our clinical trials is conducted in accordance with the general investigational plan and protocols
for the trial. Moreover, the FDA requires us to comply with standards, commonly referred to as good
clinical practices, for conducting, recording and reporting clinical trials to assure that data and
reported results are credible and accurate and that the rights, integrity and confidentiality of
clinical trial participants are protected. Our reliance on third parties that we do not control
does not relieve us of these responsibilities and requirements. Third parties may not complete
activities on schedule or may not conduct our clinical trials in accordance with regulatory
requirements or our stated protocols. The failure of these third parties to carry out their
obligations could delay or prevent the development, approval and commercialization of our products.
If we seek to conduct any of these activities ourselves in the future, we will need to recruit
appropriately trained personnel and add to our infrastructure.
The commercial success of any drug candidates that we may develop will depend upon the degree of
market acceptance by physicians, patients, third-party payors and others in the medical community.
Any products that we ultimately bring to the market, if they receive marketing approval, may
not gain market acceptance by physicians, patients, third-party payors and others in the medical
community. If these products do not achieve an adequate level of acceptance, we may not generate
significant product revenue and we may not become profitable. The degree of market acceptance of
our drug candidates, if approved for commercial sale, will depend on a number of factors,
including:
| the prevalence and severity of any side effects, including any limitations or warnings contained in the products approved labeling; | ||
| the efficacy and potential advantages over alternative treatments; | ||
| the ability to offer our drug candidates for sale at competitive prices; | ||
| relative convenience and ease of administration; | ||
| the willingness of the target patient population to try new therapies and of physicians to prescribe these therapies; | ||
| the strength of marketing and distribution support and the timing of market introduction of competitive products; and | ||
| publicity concerning our products or competing products and treatments. |
Even if a potential product displays a favorable efficacy and safety profile, market
acceptance of the product will not be known until after it is launched. Our efforts to educate the
medical community and third-party payors on the benefits of our drug candidates may require
significant resources and may never be successful. Such efforts to educate the marketplace may
require more resources than are required by conventional technologies marketed by our competitors.
If we are unable to obtain adequate reimbursement from third-party payors for any products that we
may develop or acceptable prices for those products, our revenues and prospects for profitability
will suffer.
Most patients rely on Medicare, Medicaid, private health insurers, and other third-party
payors to pay for their medical needs, including any drugs we may market. If third-party payors do
not provide adequate coverage or reimbursement for any products that we may develop, our revenues
and prospects for profitability will suffer. Congress enacted a limited prescription drug benefit
for Medicare recipients in the Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act of 2003. While the
program established by this statute may increase demand for our products, if
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we participate in this program, our prices will be negotiated with drug procurement organizations
for Medicare beneficiaries and are likely to be lower than we might otherwise obtain. Non-Medicare
third-party drug procurement organizations may also base the price they are willing to pay on the
rate paid by drug procurement organizations for Medicare beneficiaries.
A primary trend in the United States healthcare industry is toward cost containment. In
addition, in some foreign countries, particularly the countries of the European Union, the pricing
of prescription pharmaceuticals is subject to governmental control. In these countries, pricing
negotiations with governmental authorities can take six months or longer after the receipt of
regulatory marketing approval for a product. To obtain reimbursement or pricing approval in some
countries, we may be required to conduct a clinical trial that compares the cost effectiveness of
our drug candidates or products to other available therapies. The conduct of such a clinical trial
could be expensive and result in delays in commercialization of our products. These further
clinical trials would require additional time, resources and expenses. If reimbursement of our
products is unavailable or limited in scope or amount, or if pricing is set at unsatisfactory
levels, our prospects for generating revenue, if any, could be adversely affected and our business
may suffer.
Third-party payors are challenging the prices charged for medical products and services, and
many third-party payors limit reimbursement for newly-approved healthcare products. In particular,
third-party payors may limit the indications for which they will reimburse patients who use any
products that we may develop. Cost control initiatives could decrease the price we might establish
for products that we may develop, which would result in lower product revenues to us.
We face a risk of product liability claims and may not be able to obtain insurance.
Our business exposes us to the risk of product liability claims that is inherent in the
manufacturing, testing and marketing of human therapeutic drugs. We face an inherent risk of
product liability exposure related to the testing of our drug candidates in human clinical trials
and will face an even greater risk if we commercially sell any products. Regardless of merit or
eventual outcome, liability claims and product recalls may result in:
| decreased demand for our drug candidates and products; | ||
| damage to our reputation; | ||
| regulatory investigations that could require costly recalls or product modifications; | ||
| withdrawal of clinical trial participants; | ||
| costs to defend related litigation; | ||
| substantial monetary awards to clinical trial participants or patients, including awards that substantially exceed our product liability insurance, which we would then have to pay using other sources, if available, and would damage our ability to obtain liability insurance at reasonable costs, or at all, in the future; | ||
| loss of revenue; | ||
| the diversion of managements attention away from managing our business; and | ||
| the inability to commercialize any products that we may develop. |
Although we have product liability and clinical trial liability insurance that we believe is
adequate, this insurance is subject to deductibles and coverage limitations. We may not be able to
obtain or maintain adequate protection against potential liabilities. If we are unable to obtain
insurance at acceptable cost or otherwise protect against potential product liability claims, we
will be exposed to significant liabilities, which may materially and adversely affect our business
and financial position. These liabilities could prevent or interfere with our commercialization
efforts.
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Risks Relating to an Investment in Our Common Stock
Our corporate governance structure, including provisions in our certificate of incorporation and
by-laws, our stockholder rights plan and Delaware law, may prevent a change in control or
management that stockholders may consider desirable.
Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law and our certificate of incorporation,
by-laws, and stockholder rights plan contain provisions that might enable our management to resist
a takeover of our company or discourage a third party from attempting to take over our company.
These provisions include:
| a classified board of directors, | ||
| limitations on the removal of directors, | ||
| limitations on stockholder proposals at meetings of stockholders, | ||
| the inability of stockholders to act by written consent or to call special meetings, and | ||
| the ability of our board of directors to designate the terms of and issue new series of preferred stock without stockholder approval. |
In addition, Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law imposes restrictions on our
ability to engage in business combinations and other specified transactions with significant
stockholders. These provisions could have the effect of delaying, deferring, or preventing a change
in control of us or a change in our management that stockholders may consider favorable or
beneficial. These provisions could also discourage proxy contests and make it more difficult for
you and other stockholders to elect directors and take other corporate actions. These provisions
could also limit the price that investors might be willing to pay in the future for shares of our
common stock.
Our stock price has been and may in the future be extremely volatile. In addition, because an
active trading market for our common stock has not developed, our investors ability to trade our
common stock may be limited. As a result, investors may lose all or a significant portion of their
investment.
Our stock price has been volatile. During the period from January 1, 2008 to July 31, 2009,
the closing sales price of our common stock ranged from a high of $15.41 per share to a low of
$4.66 per share. The stock market has also experienced significant price and volume fluctuations,
particularly within the past year, and the market prices of biotechnology companies in particular
have been highly volatile, often for reasons that have been unrelated to the operating performance
of particular companies. The market price for our common stock may be influenced by many factors,
including:
| results of clinical trials of our drug candidates or those of our competitors; | ||
| the regulatory status of our drug candidates; | ||
| failure of any of our drug candidates, if approved, to achieve commercial success; | ||
| the success of competitive products or technologies; | ||
| regulatory developments in the United States and foreign countries; | ||
| our success in entering into collaborative agreements; | ||
| developments or disputes concerning patents or other proprietary rights; | ||
| the departure of key personnel; | ||
| variations in our financial results or those of companies that are perceived to be similar to us; | ||
| our cash resources; | ||
| the terms of any financing conducted by us; | ||
| changes in the structure of healthcare payment systems; |
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| market conditions in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors and issuance of new or changed securities analysts reports or recommendations; and | ||
| general economic, industry and market conditions. |
In addition, our common stock has historically been traded at low volume levels and may
continue to trade at low volume levels. As a result, any large purchase or sale of our common stock
could have a significant impact on the price of our common stock and it may be difficult for
investors to sell our common stock in the market without depressing the market price for the common
stock or at all.
As a result of the foregoing, investors may not be able to resell their shares at or above the
price they paid for such shares. Investors in our common stock must be willing to bear the risk of
fluctuations in the price of our common stock and the risk that the value of their investment in
our stock could decline.
ITEM 2. | UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS. |
(b) Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
The Companys repurchase of shares of its common stock during the three months ended June 30, 2009,
are as follows:
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities | ||||||||||||||||
Total Number of Shares | Maximum Number (or | |||||||||||||||
Total Number | Average | (or units) Purchased as | Approximate Dollar Value) of | |||||||||||||
of Shares | Price Paid | Part of | Shares (or units) that may yet be | |||||||||||||
(or units) | per Share | Publicly Announced | purchased Under the Plans or | |||||||||||||
Period | Purchased (1) | (or unit) | Plans or Programs (2) | Programs | ||||||||||||
April 1, 2009 to April 30, 2009 |
| | | | ||||||||||||
May 1, 2009 to May 31, 2009 |
| | | | ||||||||||||
June 1, 2009 to June 30, 2009 |
6,615 | $ | 6.18 | | |
(1) | The amount listed in this column represents shares of common stock surrendered by an employee to us in satisfaction of tax withholding obligations incurred upon the lapse of restrictions on shares of common stock during the period in accordance with the terms of a restricted stock agreement previously entered into between us and such employee. | |
(2) | We currently have no plan or program to repurchase our equity securities, aside from additional shares that will be surrendered to us in satisfaction of tax withholding obligations incurred upon the future lapse of restrictions on shares of common stock in accordance with the terms of a restricted stock agreement entered into between us and an employee. |
ITEM 4. | SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS. |
On June 16, 2009, the proposals listed below were voted on and approved at the annual meeting
of stockholders.
Proposal | For | Against/Withheld | Abstain | |||||||||
To elect Dr. Robert W. Karr to serve as a Class II Director
until the 2012 annual meeting of stockholders |
18,709,090 | 122,975 | | |||||||||
To elect Dr. James B. Wyngaarden to serve as a Class II
Director until the 2012 annual meeting of stockholders |
18,418,113 | 413,952 | | |||||||||
To ratify the selection by our audit committee of Ernst & Young
LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for
the fiscal year ending December 31, 2009 |
18,772,080 | 12,590 | 47,395 |
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ITEM 6. | EXHIBITS. |
The list of Exhibits filed as part of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q is set forth on the
Exhibit Index immediately preceding such Exhibits, and is incorporated herein by this reference.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
IDERA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. |
||||
Date: August 4, 2009 | /s/ Sudhir Agrawal | |||
Sudhir Agrawal | ||||
President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Scientific Officer (Principal Executive Officer) |
||||
Date: August 4, 2009 | /s/ Louis J. Arcudi, III | |||
Louis J. Arcudi, III | ||||
Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |
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Exhibit Index
Exhibit No. | ||
31.1
|
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. | |
31.2
|
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. | |
32.1
|
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. | |
32.2
|
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |