ACURA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC - Quarter Report: 2006 September (Form 10-Q)
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20649
Form
10-Q
(Mark
One)
þ
|
QUARTERLY
REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
ACT OF
1934.
|
For
the quarterly period ended September 30, 2006
or
¨
|
TRANSACTION
REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
ACT OF
1934
|
For
the transition period from ______________________
to_______________________
Commission
File Number 1-10113
Acura
Pharmaceuticals,
Inc.
|
||
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in
its charter)
|
||
New
York
|
11-0853640
|
|
(State
or other Jurisdiction
of
|
(I.R.S.
Employer Identification
No.)
|
|
incorporation
or
organization)
|
||
616
N. North Court, Suite
120
|
||
Palatine,
Illinois
|
60067
|
|
(Address
of Principal Executive
Offices)
|
(Zip
Code)
|
|
847
705 7709
|
||
(Registrant's
telephone number, including
area code)
|
(Former
name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last
report.)
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to
be
filed by Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the
preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required
to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements
for
the past 90 days.
Yes
þ
No
o
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in
Rule
12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes
o
No
þ
As
of
November 2, 2006 the registrant had 330,564,049 shares of Common Stock, $.01
par
value, outstanding.
ACURA
PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
INDEX
PART 1. FINANCIAL INFORMATION | ||
Page
|
||
Item
1.
|
Financial
Statements
|
1
|
Consolidated
Balance Sheets
|
|
|
September
30, 2006 (Unaudited) and December 31, 2005
|
1
|
|
|
||
Consolidated
Statements of Operations (Unaudited)
|
|
|
Three
and nine months ended September 30, 2006 and September 30, 2005
|
2
|
|
|
||
Consolidated
Statement of Stockholders’ Deficit (Unaudited)
|
|
|
Nine
months ended September 30, 2006
|
3
|
|
|
||
Consolidated
Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)
|
|
|
Nine
months ended September 30, 2006 and September 30, 2005
|
4
|
|
|
||
Notes
to Consolidated Financial Statements
|
5-12
|
|
|
||
Item
2.
|
Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
|
12
|
|
||
Risk
Factors Relating to the Company
|
22
|
|
|
||
Item
4.
|
Controls
and Procedures
|
31
|
|
||
PART
II. OTHER INFORMATION
|
|
|
|
||
Item
2.
|
Changes
in Securities, Use of Proceeds and Issuer Purchases of Equity
Securities
|
32
|
|
||
Item
6.
|
Exhibits
|
32
|
|
||
Signatures
|
33
|
|
|
PART
I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item
1. Financial
Statements
ACURA
PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
CONSOLIDATED
BALANCE SHEETS
(in
thousands, except par values)
Unaudited
|
|||||||
September
30,
|
December
31,
|
||||||
ASSETS |
2006
|
2005
|
|||||
CURRENT ASSETS | |||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
$
|
228
|
$
|
260
|
|||
Prepaid
insurance
|
187
|
179
|
|||||
Prepaid
expenses and other current assets
|
55
|
5
|
|||||
Total
current assets
|
470
|
444
|
|||||
PROPERTY,
PLANT & EQUIPMENT, NET
|
1,194
|
1,341
|
|||||
DEPOSITS
|
7
|
7
|
|||||
TOTAL
ASSETS
|
$
|
1,671
|
$
|
1,792
|
|||
LIABILITIES
AND STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIT
|
|||||||
CURRENT
LIABILITIES
|
|||||||
Senior
secured term notes payable
|
$
|
11,124
|
$
|
2,550
|
|||
Current
maturities of capital lease obligations
|
27
|
31
|
|||||
Accrued
expenses
|
771
|
341
|
|||||
Total
current liabilities
|
11,922
|
2,922
|
|||||
SECURED
TERM NOTES PAYABLE
|
--
|
5,000
|
|||||
CAPITAL
LEASE OBLIGATIONS, less current maturities
|
13
|
32
|
|||||
COMMITMENTS
AND CONTINGENCIES
|
|||||||
TOTAL
LIABILITIES
|
11,935
|
7,954
|
|||||
STOCKHOLDERS'
DEFICIT
|
|||||||
Common
stock - $.01 par value;
|
|||||||
650,000
shares authorized;
|
|||||||
330,364
and 329,293 shares issued and outstanding
|
|||||||
at
September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, respectively .
|
3,303
|
3,293
|
|||||
Additional
paid-in capital
|
288,688
|
287,885
|
|||||
Unearned
compensation
|
--
|
(5,724
|
)
|
||||
Accumulated
deficit
|
(302,255
|
)
|
(291,616
|
)
|
|||
STOCKHOLDERS'
DEFICIT
|
(10,264
|
)
|
(6,162
|
)
|
|||
TOTAL
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIT
|
$
|
1,671
|
$
|
1,792
|
See
accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.
1
ACURA
PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
UNAUDITED
(in
thousands, except per share data)
For
the nine months ended
September
30,
|
For
the three months ended
September
30
|
||||||||||||
2006
|
2005
|
2006
|
2005
|
||||||||||
Research
and development
|
$
|
4,174
|
$
|
2,527
|
$
|
1,630
|
$
|
845
|
|||||
Marketing,
general and administrative
|
4,754
|
2,120
|
1,031
|
628
|
|||||||||
LOSS
FROM OPERATIONS
|
(8,928
|
)
|
(4,647
|
)
|
(2,661
|
)
|
(1,473
|
)
|
|||||
OTHER
INCOME (EXPENSE)
|
|||||||||||||
Interest
expense
|
(800
|
)
|
(434
|
)
|
(305
|
)
|
(171
|
)
|
|||||
Interest
income
|
14
|
30
|
4
|
6
|
|||||||||
(Loss)
gain on asset disposals
|
(10
|
)
|
85
|
7
|
3
|
||||||||
Other
|
(142
|
)
|
1
|
(142
|
)
|
-
|
|||||||
TOTAL
OTHER EXPENSE
|
(938
|
)
|
(318
|
)
|
(436
|
)
|
(162
|
)
|
|||||
NET
LOSS
|
$
|
(9,866
|
)
|
$
|
(4,965
|
)
|
$
|
(3,097
|
)
|
$
|
(1,635
|
)
|
|
DEEMED
DIVIDEND
|
(774
|
)
|
-
|
(774
|
)
|
-
|
|||||||
NET
LOSS ATTRIBUTABLE TO
COMMON
STOCKHOLDERS
|
$
|
(10,640
|
)
|
$
|
(4,965
|
)
|
$
|
(3,871
|
)
|
$
|
(1,635
|
)
|
|
Basic
and diluted loss per common share
|
$
|
(0.03
|
)
|
$
|
(0.22
|
)
|
$
|
(0.01
|
)
|
$
|
(0.07
|
)
|
|
Weighted
average number of outstanding common shares
|
343,947
|
22,906
|
346,835
|
23,169
|
See
accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.
2
ACURA
PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIT
NINE
MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2006
UNAUDITED
(in
thousands)
Common
Stock
|
Additional
|
Unearned
|
Accumulated
|
||||||||||||||||
Shares
|
Amount
|
Paid-in
Capital
|
Compensation
|
Deficit
|
Total
|
||||||||||||||
Balance
at December 31, 2005
|
329,293
|
$
|
3,293
|
$
|
287,885
|
$
|
(5,724
|
)
|
$
|
(291,616
|
)
|
$
|
(6,162
|
)
|
|||||
Net
loss
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(9,866
|
)
|
(9,866
|
)
|
|||||||||||
Deemed
dividend related to debt modification
|
-
|
-
|
774
|
-
|
(774
|
)
|
-
|
||||||||||||
Adoption
of FAS 123R
|
-
|
-
|
(5,724
|
)
|
5,724
|
-
|
-
|
||||||||||||
Other
stock-based compensation
|
-
|
-
|
4,416
|
-
|
-
|
4,416
|
|||||||||||||
Issuance
of restricted stock units
|
-
|
-
|
680
|
-
|
-
|
680
|
|||||||||||||
Issuance
of common shares for interest
|
847
|
8
|
588
|
-
|
-
|
596
|
|||||||||||||
Issuance
of common shares for exercise of options
|
200
|
2
|
70
|
-
|
-
|
72
|
|||||||||||||
Issuance
of common shares for cashless exercise of warrant
|
24 | - |
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|||||||||||||
Balance
at September 30, 2006
|
330,364
|
$
|
3,303
|
$
|
288,689
|
$
|
(-
|
)
|
$
|
(302,256
|
)
|
$
|
(10,264
|
)
|
See
accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.
3
ACURA
PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
FOR
THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,
UNAUDITED
(in
thousands, except supplemental disclosures)
|
2006
|
2005
|
|||||
Cash
flows from Operating Activities:
|
|||||||
Net
loss
|
$
|
(9,866
|
)
|
$
|
(4,965
|
)
|
|
Adjustments
to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating
activities
|
|||||||
Depreciation
and amortization
|
89
|
97
|
|||||
Non-cash
stock compensation expense
|
5,096
|
766
|
|||||
Stock
issued for interest
|
596
|
391
|
|||||
Loss
(gain) on asset disposals
|
10
|
(85
|
)
|
||||
Changes
in assets and liabilities
|
|||||||
Prepaid
expenses and other current assets
|
(58
|
)
|
86
|
||||
Other
assets and deposits
|
-
|
(5
|
)
|
||||
Accrued
expenses
|
430
|
(528
|
)
|
||||
Total
adjustments
|
6,163
|
722
|
|||||
Net
cash used in operating activities
|
(3,703
|
)
|
(4,243
|
)
|
|||
Cash
flows from Investing Activities:
|
|||||||
Capital
expenditures
|
(21
|
)
|
(34
|
)
|
|||
Proceeds
from asset disposals
|
69
|
187
|
|||||
Net
cash provided by investing activities
|
48
|
153
|
|||||
Cash
flows from Financing Activities:
|
|||||||
Proceeds
from issuance of senior secured term notes payable
|
3,574
|
1,300
|
|||||
Proceeds
from the exercise of stock options
|
72
|
4
|
|||||
Payments
on capital lease obligations
|
(23
|
)
|
(21
|
)
|
|||
Net
cash provided by financing activities
|
3,623
|
1,283
|
|||||
Decrease
in cash and cash equivalents
|
(32
|
)
|
(2,807
|
)
|
|||
Cash
and cash equivalents at beginning of period
|
260
|
3,103
|
|||||
Cash
and cash equivalents at end of period
|
$
|
228
|
$
|
296
|
|||
Cash
paid for interest
|
$
|
201
|
$
|
44
|
|||
See
accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.
4
ACURA
PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (CONTINUED)
SUPPLEMENTAL
DISCLOSURES of NONCASH
INVESTING
AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES
UNAUDITED
(in
thousands, except supplemental disclosures)
Nine
Months ended September 30, 2006
1. |
The
Company issued 653,284 shares of Common Stock as payment of $463,000
of
Secured Term Note Payable accrued
interest.
|
2. |
The
Company issued 193,447 shares of Common Stock as payment of $133,000
of
Bridge Loan accrued interest.
|
3. |
Warrants
to purchase 165,934 shares of Common Stock were exercised in March
2006 at
an exercise price of $0.48 per share in a cashless exercise transaction
resulting in the issuance of 19,065 shares of Common
Stock.
|
4. |
Warrants
to purchase 30,698 shares of Common Stock were exercised in May 2006
at an
exercise price of $0.47 per share in a cashless exercise transaction
resulting in the issuance of 4,729 shares of Common
Stock.
|
5. |
A
warrant to purchase 150,000 shares of Common Stock was modified due
to its
anti-dilution clause resulting in a $142,000 stock compensation
expense.
|
Nine
Months ended September 30, 2005
1. |
The
Company issued 632,588 shares of Common Stock as payment of $391,000
of
Secured Term Note Payable accrued
interest.
|
2. |
The
Company issued 278,572 shares of Common Stock as result of the conversion
of 278,572 shares of the Company’s Series C-1 Junior Preferred
Stock.
|
See
accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.
5
ACURA
PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
NOTES
TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SEPTEMBER
30, 2006 AND 2005
NOTE
1 - BASIS OF PRESENTATION
The
accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of Acura
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and subsidiary (the "Company") have been prepared in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial
information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation
S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes
required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of
America for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all
adjustments, consisting of normal recurring accrual adjustments, considered
necessary to present fairly the financial position, results of operations and
changes in cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2006, assuming
that the Company will continue as a going concern, have been made. The results
of operations for the nine month period ended September 30, 2006 are not
necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year
ending December 31, 2006. The unaudited consolidated financial statements should
be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and footnotes
thereto for the year ended December 31, 2005 included in the Company's Annual
Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
NOTE
2 - LIQUIDITY MATTERS
The
accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming the Company will
continue as a going concern. At
September 30, 2006, the Company had unrestricted cash and cash equivalents
of
$0.2 million, a working
capital deficit of $11.5 million, and an accumulated deficit of $302.3 million.
At December 31, 2005, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $0.3 million,
a working
capital deficit of $2.5
million
and an accumulated
deficit of $291.6 million.
The
Company incurred a loss from operations of $8.9 million and a net loss of $9.9
million during the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and a loss from
operations of $11.6 million
and a net loss of $12.1 million
during the year ended December 31, 2005. Historically,
the Company has incurred significant losses and until such time as its product
candidates are commercialized, of which no assurance can be given, the Company
will continue incurring losses. These
factors, among others, raise substantial doubt about the Company's ability
to
continue as a going concern.
The
Company estimates that its current cash reserves, including the net proceeds
from the Bridge Loan Agreements described in Note 9 will be sufficient to fund
the development of the Aversion®
Technology and related operating expenses through mid-November 2006. To fund
further operations and product development activities, the Company must raise
additional financing, or enter into alliances or collaboration agreements with
third parties resulting in cash payments to the Company relating to its
Aversion® Technology.
The
Company is seeking to secure working capital providing gross proceeds to the
Company in the range of approximately $15 million to $20 million through the
private offering of the Company’s securities. The terms of any such securities
offering, including, without limitation, the type of equity securities (or
securities convertible into equity securities) and the price per share, have
not
been determined and will, in large part, be determined based upon negotiations
between the Company and prospective investors in such private offering. No
assurance can be given that the Company will be successful in obtaining any
such
financing or in securing collaborative agreements with third parties on
acceptable terms, if at all, or if secured, that such financing or collaborative
agreements will provide for cash payments to the Company sufficient to continue
to fund operations. In the absence of such financing or third-party
collaborative agreements, the Company will be required to scale back or
terminate operations and/or seek protection under applicable bankruptcy laws.
Even
assuming the Company is successful in securing
additional sources of financing, there can be no assurance that the Company's
development efforts will result in commercially viable products. The Company's
failure to successfully develop the Aversion®
Technology in a timely manner, to obtain issued U.S. patents relating to the
Aversion®
Technology and to avoid infringing third-party patents and other intellectual
property rights will have a material adverse impact on its financial condition
and results of operations.
6
In
view
of the matters described above, recoverability of a major portion of the
recorded asset amounts shown in the Company's accompanying consolidated balance
sheets is dependent upon continued operations of the Company, which in turn
are
dependent upon the Company's ability to meet its financing requirements on
a
continuing basis, to maintain present financing, and to succeed in its future
operations. The Company's financial statements do not include any adjustment
relating to the recoverability and classification of recorded asset amounts
or
amounts and classification of liabilities that might be necessary should the
Company be unable to continue in existence.
NOTE
3 - NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
Share-Based
Payment
On
December 16, 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) released
FASB Statement No. 123 (revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment, (“FASB 123R”)”.
These changes in accounting replaced existing requirements under FASB Statement
No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” (“FASB 123”), and eliminated
the ability to account for share-based compensation transaction using APB
Opinion No.25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” (“APB 25”). The
compensation cost relating to share-based payment transactions will be measured
based on the fair value of the equity or liability instruments issued. This
Statement did not change the accounting for similar transactions involving
parties other than employees.
The
Company adopted FASB 123R effective January 1, 2006 under the modified
prospective method, which recognizes compensation cost beginning with the
effective date (a) based on the requirements of FASB 123R for all share-based
payments granted after the effective date and to awards modified, repurchased,
or cancelled after that date and (b) based on the requirements of FASB Statement
No. 123 for all awards granted to employees prior to the effective date of
FAS
123R that remain unvested on the effective date. The only cumulative effect
of
initially applying this Statement for the Company was to reclassify $5.7 million
of previously recorded unearned compensation into paid-in capital. The Company
has estimated that an additional $102,000 will be expensed over the applicable
remaining vesting periods for all share-based payments granted to employees
on
or before December 31, 2005 which remained unvested on January 1, 2006. The
Company anticipates that more compensation costs will be recorded in the future
if the use of options and restricted stock units for employees and director
compensation continues as in the past.
Income
Taxes
In
July
2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Interpretation
No. 48 ("FIN 48") regarding "Accounting for Uncertainties in Income Taxes,"
which defines the threshold for recognizing the benefits of tax-return positions
in the financial statements as "more-likely-than-not" to be sustained by the
taxing authorities. FIN 48 also requires explicit disclosure requirements about
a Company's uncertainties related to their income tax position, including a
detailed rollforward of tax benefits taken that do not qualify for financial
statement recognition. This Interpretation is effective for fiscal years
beginning after December 31, 2006. The Company is assessing the possible impact
of FIN 48.
NOTE
4 -
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
The
Company’s research and development (“R&D”) expenses were primarily
associated with its Aversion® Technology. R&D expenses include internal
R&D activities and external contract research organizations (“CROs”).
Internal R&D expenses include facility overhead, maintenance, repair
and depreciation, laboratory supplies, pre-clinical laboratory experiments,
equipment maintenance, repairs and depreciation, salaries, benefits, incentive
compensation and other administrative expenses. CRO expenses include
preclinical laboratory experiments, clinical trials, clinical trial and
regulatory consulting, regulatory counsel and patent counsel. R&D
expenses are charged to operations as incurred. The Company reviews and
accrues clinical trial expenses based on work performed and relies on an
estimate of the costs applicable to the stage of completion of a clinical trial.
Accrued clinical costs are subject to revisions as such trials progress to
completion. Revisions are charged to expense in the period in which the
facts that give rise to the revision become known. The Company has binding
research and development commitments with a CRO, of which $115,000 has yet
to be
incurred and recorded, at September 30, 2006. This amount is expected to be
spent by December 2006. The Company had no binding research and development
commitments with third parties at December 31, 2005.
7
NOTE
5 - INCOME TAXES
The
Company accounts for income taxes under the liability method in accordance
with
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 109 ("SFAS No. 109"),
"Accounting for Income Taxes." Under this method, deferred income tax assets
and
liabilities are determined based on differences between financial reporting
and
tax bases of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax
rates
and laws that will be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse.
At
December 31, 2005, the Company has net operating loss carryforwards aggregating
approximately $129.7 million expiring during the years 2009 through 2024. The
tax loss carryforwards of the Company and its subsidiary may be subject to
limitation by Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code with respect to the
amount utilizable each year. This limitation reduces the Company's ability
to
utilize net operating loss carryforwards each year. The amount of the limitation
has not been quantified. SFAS 109 requires a valuation allowance against
deferred tax assets if, based on the weight of available evidence, it is more
likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets may not be realized.
At both September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, a valuation allowance equal
to
100% of the net deferred income tax assets was used and primarily pertains
to
uncertainties with respect to future utilization of net operating loss
carryforwards. In the event the Company were to determine that it would be
able
to realize some or all its deferred income tax assets in the future, an
adjustment to the deferred income tax asset would increase income in the period
such determination was made.
NOTE
6 - STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
The
Company has several stock-based compensation plans covering stock options and
restricted stock units for its employees and directors. On January 1, 2006,
the
Company adopted FASB 123R. This change in accounting replaces existing
requirements under FASB 123 and eliminates the ability to account for
share-based compensation transaction using APB 25. The compensation cost
relating to share-based payment transactions is now measured based on the fair
value of the equity or liability instruments issued. For purposes of estimating
the fair value of each stock option unit on the date of grant, the Company
utilized the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The Black-Scholes option
valuation model was developed for use in estimating the fair value of traded
options, which have no vesting restrictions and are fully transferable. In
addition, option valuation models require the input of highly subjective
assumptions including the expected volatility factor of the market price of
the
Company’s common stock (as determined by reviewing its historical public market
closing prices). Because the Company's employee stock options have
characteristics significantly different from those of traded options and because
changes in the subjective input assumptions can materially affect the fair
value
estimate, in management's opinion, the existing models do not necessarily
provide a reliable measure of the fair value of its employee stock options.
Included
in the results for the nine months ended September 30, 2006, is $5.1 million
of
stock-based compensation expense relating to the February 2006 grant of
restricted stock units to the Company’s independent directors, stock based
compensation expenses relating to vesting of stock options and restricted stock
units granted to Company employees prior to 2006, and a dilution adjustment
on a
previously issued warrant to a former Company employee pursuant to dilution
protections contained in such warrant.
Pro
forma Table
The
following pro forma table illustrates the effect on net loss and loss per share
if the Company had applied the fair value recognition provisions of FASB 123
for
stock based compensation expense during the periods indicated (in thousands).
Nine
Months Ended
|
Three
Months Ended
|
||||||
September
30, 2005
|
September
30, 2005
|
||||||
Net
loss as reported
|
$
|
(4,965
|
)
|
$
|
(1,635
|
)
|
|
Add:
Stock-based employee compensation expense included in reported net
loss
|
766
|
173
|
|||||
Deduct:
Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under
fair
value-based method for all awards
|
(1,156
|
)
|
(267
|
)
|
|||
Net
loss, pro forma
|
$
|
(5,355
|
)
|
$
|
(1,729
|
)
|
|
Weighted
average number of outstanding shares
|
22,906
|
23,169
|
|||||
Earnings
per share
|
|||||||
Basic
and diluted loss per share, as reported
|
$
|
(0.22
|
)
|
$
|
(0.07
|
)
|
|
Basic
and diluted loss per share, pro forma
|
$
|
(0.23
|
)
|
$
|
(0.08
|
)
|
|
Pro
forma compensation expense may not be indicative of
future expense.
8
Restricted
Stock Unit Award Plan
On
December 22, 2005, the Board of Directors adopted the Company’s 2005 Restricted
Stock Unit Award Plan (the “2005 RSU Plan”) for its employees and non-employee
directors and granted 27.5 million Restricted Stock Units (“RSU”) to its
employees. In February 2006, 2.0 million RSUs valued at $680,000 were issued
to
non-employee directors. A RSU represents the contingent obligation of the
Company to deliver a share of its common stock to the holder of the RSU on
a
distribution date. RSUs for up to 30 million shares of common stock are
authorized for issuance under the 2005 RSU Plan. The Company believes that
the
2005 RSU Plan does not require shareholder approval. Nevertheless, the Company
intends to seek shareholder ratification for the 2005 RSU Plan at its next
Annual Shareholders’ Meeting.
The
RSU
Plan is administered by the Company’s Board of Directors or a Committee
appointed by the Board of Directors. RSUs granted under the 2005 RSU Plan vest
on a schedule determined by the Board of Directors or such Committee as set
forth in a restricted stock unit award agreement. Unless otherwise set forth
in
such award agreement, the RSUs fully vest upon a change in control (as defined
in the 2005 RSU Plan) of the Company or upon termination of an employee’s
employment with the Company without cause or due to death or disability, and
in
the case of a non-employee director, such person’s death or disability or if
such person is not renominated as a director (other than for “cause” or refusal
to stand for re-election) or is not elected by the Company’s stockholders, if
nominated. Vesting of an RSU entitles the holder thereof to receive a share
of
common stock of the Company on a distribution date (after payment of the $0.01
par value per share).
Absent
a
change of control, one-fourth of vested shares of common stock underlying an
RSU
award will be distributed (after payment of $0.01 par value per share) on
January 1 of each of 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014. If a change in control occurs
(whether prior to or after 2011), the vested shares underlying the RSU award
will be distributed at or about the time of the change in control. No dividends
accrue on the shares underlying the RSUs prior to issuance by the Company.
The
recipients of RSU awards need not be employees or directors of the Company
on a
distribution date. RSUs may generally not be transferred, except recipients
of
RSUs may designate beneficiaries to inherit their RSU’s upon their death.
At
September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, the Company had 17.7 million and
9.9
million, respectively, of outstanding vested RSUs.
NOTE
7-
EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE
The
computation of basic earnings (loss) per share of common stock is based upon
the
weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. The
Company’s vested RSUs outstanding during the period have been included in the
computation. Diluted earnings per share are based on the same number of common
shares and vested RSUs adjusted for the effect of other potentially dilutive
securities. Excluded from the share computation at September 30, 2006 and 2005
are approximately 47.3 million and 344.2 million, respectively, of outstanding
options, warrants, non-vested RSUs and the effects of outstanding convertible
preferred stock which would have been antidilutive.
9
NOTE
8 - ACCRUED EXPENSES
Accrued
expenses are summarized as follows (in thousands):
|
September
30,
|
December
31,
|
|||||
2006
|
2005
|
||||||
Payroll,
payroll taxes and benefits
|
$
|
69
|
$
|
50
|
|||
Legal
fees
|
24
|
74
|
|||||
Audit
examination and tax preparation fees
|
61
|
65
|
|||||
Franchise
taxes
|
15
|
20
|
|||||
Property
taxes
|
59
|
52
|
|||||
Clinical,
regulatory, trademarks, and patent consulting fees
|
61
|
78
|
|||||
Clinical
studies
|
407
|
-
|
|||||
Marketing
studies
|
25
|
-
|
|||||
Directors
fees
|
-
|
2
|
|||||
Other
fees and services
|
50
|
-
|
|||||
Total
accrued expenses
|
$
|
771
|
$
|
341
|
NOTE
9 - NOTES PAYABLE, BRIDGE LOAN AGREEMENTS, AND STOCK WARRANTS
At
September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, notes payable consisted of the
following (in thousands):
|
September
30,
|
December
31,
|
|||||
2006
|
2005
|
||||||
Secured
term note payable (a)
|
$
|
5,000
|
$
|
5,000
|
|||
Bridge
loan agreements (b)
|
6,124
|
2,550
|
|||||
Capital
lease obligations
|
40
|
63
|
|||||
11,164
|
7,613
|
||||||
Less:
Current maturities
|
(11,151
|
)
|
(2,581
|
)
|
|||
Long
term portion of capital lease obligations and notes
payable
|
$
|
13
|
$
|
5,032
|
(a) |
Secured
Term Note Payable
|
The
Company was a party to a loan agreement with Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
("Watson") pursuant to which Watson made term loans to the Company in the
aggregate principal amount of $21.4 million as evidenced by two promissory
notes
(the "Watson Notes”). As part of a 2004 refinancing transaction, the Watson
Notes were amended to, among other things, extend the maturity date of such
notes from June 30, 2006 to June 30, 2007, to provide for satisfaction of future
interest payments under the Watson Notes in the form of the Company's Common
Stock, and to reduce the principal amount of the Watson Notes from $21.4 million
to $5.0 million (resulting in a gain to the Company) (the Watson Notes as so
amended, the “2004 Note”). Simultaneous with refinancing, the 2004 Note was
purchased from Watson by certain of the Company’s stockholders in consideration
for a payment to Watson of $1.0 million. The 2004 Note in the principal amount
of $5.0 million is secured by a lien on all of the Company's and its
subsidiary’s assets, carries a floating rate of interest equal to the prime rate
plus 4.5% and matures on June 30, 2007. The carrying interest rate at September
30, 2006 was 12.75%. The
2004
Note contains a cross default provision with each of the outstanding Bridge
Loans.
10
(b) |
Bridge
Loan Agreements
|
As
of
September 30, 2006 the Company is a party to four (4) loan agreements completed
in January 2006, November, 2005, September, 2005 and June, 2005 pursuant to
which the Company has received bridge financing on nine occasions in the
aggregate principal amount $6,124,000 (the “Bridge Loans”) from Essex Woodlands
Health Ventures V, L.P., Care Capital Investments II, LP, Care Capital Offshore
Investments II, LP, Galen Partners International III, L.P., Galen Partners
III,
L.P., Galen Employee Fund III, L.P. and certain other shareholders of the
Company listed on the signature page to such Bridge Loan agreements.
Additionally, the Company has received an additional financing in October,
2006
in the principal amount of $620,000 from the same lenders. The net proceeds
from
the Bridge Loans, after the satisfaction of related legal expenses, have been
used by the Company to continue development of the Company’s Aversion®
Technology and to fund related operating expenses. The Bridge Loans are secured
by a lien on all of the Company’s assets, senior in right of payment and lien
priority to all of the Company’s other indebtedness. The Bridge Loans bear
interest at the rate of ten percent (10%) per annum and mature on December
1,
2006. The Lenders have agreed to accept in satisfaction of the interest payment
due on September 30, 2006 and the next interest payment a number of shares
of
Common Stock of the Company based on the average of the closing bid and asked
prices of the Common Stock for the five trading days ending on the relevant
interest payment date (or the immediately preceding trading date, if the
relevant interest payment date is not a trading date). The Bridge Loans are
subject to mandatory pre-payment upon the Company’s completion of equity or debt
financing or any sale, transfer, license or similar arrangement pursuant to
which the Company sells, licenses or otherwise grant rights in any material
portion of the Company’s intellectual property to any third party, provided that
the consummation of any such transaction results in certain minimum amounts
of
cash proceeds to the Company, net of all costs and expenses. Notwithstanding
the
aforementioned mandatory prepayment provision, in August 2006, the Company
amended the Bridge Loans to allow the holders to elect to convert all or any
portion of the principal and accrued interest outstanding under the loans into
the Company's common stock upon a successful equity financing of at least $10
million, including the face value of the converted loans. Such conversion
would be at the issuance price of the common stock issued in such
financing. This amendment resulted in the accounting extinguishment of the
outstanding Bridge Loans and the issuance of new Bridge Loans (with identical
provisions, other than the new conversion feature) - which resulted in a
$774,000 loss upon such accounting extinguishment. As the Bridge Loan
holders are also the Company's controlling shareholders or their affiliates,
the
accounting loss has been reflected as a non-cash deemed dividend in the
accompanying financial statements. The Bridge Loans restrict the Company’s
ability to issue any shares of the Company’s currently authorized Series A, B or
C convertible preferred stock without the prior consent of the bridge lenders,
and grants the bridge lenders preemptive rights relating to the issuance of
the
Company’s Series A, B and C convertible preferred stock. The Bridge Loans
contain cross default provisions with the 2004 Note and each of the other
outstanding Bridge Loans. The Bridge Loans also contain normal and customary
affirmative and negative covenants, including restrictions on the Company’s
ability to incur additional debt or grant any lien on the Company’s assets or
the assets of its subsidiary, subject to certain permitted
exclusions.
(c) |
Stock
Warrants
|
At
December 31, 2005, the Company had outstanding common stock purchase warrants
exercisable for an aggregate of 16,242,000 shares of common stock. Of such
warrants, 5,391,000 were
issued in connection with the issuance of convertible debentures, bridge loans
and financing commitments from 1998 through 2003, 10,701,000 were issued to
Watson Pharmaceuticals in connection with their agreement to amend the Watson
Loan at December 20, 2002, and 150,000 were issued in 2003 as part of the
settlement terms with a former executive officer of the Company. In March 2006,
warrants to purchase 166,934 shares of common stock were exercised at an
exercise price of $0.48 per share in a cashless exercise transaction resulting
in the issuance of 19,065 shares of common stock. In May 2006, warrants to
purchase 30,698 shares of common stock were exercised at an exercise price
of
$0.47 per share in a cashless exercise transaction resulting in the issuance
of
4,729 shares of common stock. In August 2006, the warrant issued in 2003 as
part
of the settlement with a former Company employee was increased by 286,000
warrants as result of anti-dilution provision of such warrant resulting in
a
$142,000 stock compensation charge classified as other expense in the income
statement. At September 30, 2006, the Company had outstanding common stock
purchase warrants exercisable for an aggregate 16,331,000 shares of common
stock
and approximately 310,000, 154,000 and 15,867,000 warrants will expire if
unexercised during the years 2007, 2008 and years thereafter, respectively.
The
exercise prices of the warrants range from $0.12 to $0.66 per
share.
NOTE
10 - CONVERSION OF PREFERRED SHARES INTO COMMON SHARES
Effective
November 10, 2005, all of the issued and outstanding preferred shares of the
Company were automatically and mandatorily converted into the Company’s common
stock, $.01 par value per share (the “Common Stock”) in accordance with the
terms of the Company’s Restated Certification of Incorporation (the “Preferred
Stock Conversion”). In accordance with the conversion provisions contained in
the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, all issued and outstanding shares
of
the Company’s Series A, B, C-1, C-2 and C-3 Preferred Stock (collectively, the
“Preferred Stock”) were converted automatically into the Company’s Common Stock
upon the Company’s receipt of the written consent to the Preferred Stock
Conversion from the holders of at least 51% of the shares of the Company’s
Series A Preferred Stock. On November 10, 2005, the Company received the consent
to the Preferred Stock Conversion from GCE Holdings LLC, the assignee of
Preferred Stock prior to its conversion into Common Stock formerly held by
each
of Care Capital Investments II, LP, Care Capital Offshore Investments II, LP,
Essex Woodlands Health Ventures V, L.P., Galen Partners International III,
L.P.,
Galen Partners III, L.P. and Galen Employee Fund III, L.P., such entity holding
in the aggregate in excess of 51% of the issued and outstanding shares of the
Company’s Series A Preferred Stock. In accordance with the terms of the
Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation, all shares of the Company’s
Preferred Stock were automatically converted into an aggregate of approximately
305.4 million shares of the Company’s Common Stock. At December 31, 2005 and
September 30, 2006, the Company had approximately 72.0 million shares of
Convertible Preferred Stock authorized and available for issuance.
11
NOTE
11 - COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Employment
Contracts
The
Employment Agreements of Andrew D. Reddick, Ron J. Spivey, Ph.D., and Peter
A.
Clemens were automatically renewed on October 3, 2006, each for a term expiring
December 31, 2007. The term of the Employment Agreement provides for automatic
one (1) year renewals in the absence of written notice to the contrary from
the
Company or Mr. Reddick, Mr. Spivey or Mr. Clemens of at least ninety (90) days
prior to the expiration of the initial term or any subsequent renewal period.
Trademarks
In
September 2006, the Company received a notice of opposition filed by Purdue
Pharma L.P. with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) relating to the
Company’s pending application to register “OxyADF”. In October 2006, the Company
filed a notice of withdrawal with the USPTO relating to such pending
registration.
Item
2.
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations
This
discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the Company's
financial statements and accompanying notes included elsewhere in this Report.
Historical operating results are not necessarily indicative of results that
may
occur in future periods.
Forward
Looking Statements
Certain
statements in this Report including, without limitation, in this Item 2
constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Reform Act"). Such
forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and
other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements
of
the Company, or industry results, to be materially different from any future
results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such
forward-looking statements. The most significant of such factors include, but
are not limited to, the Company’s ability to secure additional financing to fund
continued product development and operations, the Company’s ability to enter
into contractual arrangements with qualified pharmaceutical partners to license,
develop and commercialize the Company’s technology and product candidates, and
the Company’s ability to fulfill the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (“FDA”)
requirements for approving the Company’s product candidates for commercial
distribution in the United States, including, without limitation, the adequacy
of the results of the clinical studies completed to date and the results of
other clinical studies, to support FDA approval of the Company’s product
candidates, the adequacy of the development program for the Company’s product
candidates, changes in regulatory requirements, adverse safety findings relating
to the Company’s product candidates, the risk that the FDA may not agree with
the Company’s analysis of its clinical studies and may evaluate the results of
these studies by different methods or conclude that the results of the studies
are not statistically significant, clinically meaningful or that there were
human errors in the conduct of the studies or otherwise, the risk that further
studies of the Company’s product candidates are not positive, and the
uncertainties inherent in scientific research, drug development, clinical trials
and the regulatory approval process. Other
important factors that may also affect future results include, but are not
limited to: the Company’s ability to attract and retain highly skilled
personnel; its ability to secure and protect its patents, trademarks and
proprietary rights; its ability to avoid infringement of patents, trademarks
and
other proprietary rights or trade secrets of third parties; litigation or
regulatory action that could require the Company to pay significant damages
or
change the way it conducts its business; the Company’s ability to compete
successfully against current and future competitors; its dependence on
third-party suppliers of raw materials; its ability to secure U.S. Drug
Enforcement Administration quotas and source controlled substances that
constitute the active ingredients of the Company’s products in development;
difficulties or delays in clinical trials for Company products or in the
manufacture of Company products; and other risks and uncertainties detailed
in
this Report. The Company is at development stage and may not ever have any
products or technologies that generate revenue. When used in this Report, the
words "estimate," "project," "anticipate," "expect," "intend," "believe," and
similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking
statements.
12
Company
Overview
The
Company is a specialty pharmaceutical development company primarily engaged
in
development of proprietary abuse deterrent, abuse resistant and tamper resistant
technologies ("Aversion®
Technology") intended to discourage abuse or misuse of orally administered
opioid analgesic products. The
Company utilizes several contract research organizations (“CROs”) and an
academic institution for laboratory and clinical evaluation and testing of
product candidates incorporating the Aversion®
Technology. The Company also conducts research, development, laboratory,
stability, manufacturing and warehousing activities relating to the
Aversion®
Technology
at its Culver, Indiana operations facility (the "Culver Facility"). The Culver
Facility is registered by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (the
“DEA”) to
perform research, development and manufacture for certain Schedule II - V
controlled substances in bulk and finished dosage forms.
The
Company is primarily focused on (i) development
and evaluation, in concert with CROs, product candidates utilizing the Company's
Aversion®
Technology; (ii) manufacture, quality assurance testing and release, and
stability studies of clinical trial supplies and NDA submission batches of
certain finished dosage form product candidates utilizing Aversion®
Technology; (iii) prosecution of the Company’s patent applications and published
patents relating to Aversion®
Technology with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“PTO”) and
foreign equivalents; and (iv) negotiation and execution of license and
development agreements with pharmaceutical company partners providing that
such
licensees will further develop certain finished dosage product candidates
utilizing the Aversion®
Technology and file for regulatory approval with the United States Food and
Drug
Administration (“FDA”) and other regulatory authorities and commercialize such
products.
The
Company was historically engaged in research, development and manufacture of
proprietary, high-yield, short cycle time, environmentally sensitive opioid
synthesis processes (the "Opioid Synthesis Technologies" and, collectively
with
the Aversion®
Technology,
the “Technologies”) intended for use in the commercial production of certain
bulk opioid active pharmaceutical ingredients. In early 2005, the Company
suspended development and commercialization efforts relating to the Opioid
Synthesis Technologies pending the deputy DEA Administrator's determination
relating to the Company’s Import Registration filed with the DEA in early 2001.
Company’s
Present Financial Condition, Focus and Status
At
September 30, 2006, the Company had unrestricted cash and cash equivalents
of
$0.2 million compared to $0.3 million at December 31, 2005. The Company had
a
working capital deficit of $11.5 million at September 30, 2006 and working
capital deficit of $2.5
million at
December 31, 2005. The Company had an accumulated deficit of $302.3 million
and
$291.6
million at September
30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, respectively. The
Company incurred a loss from operations of $8.9 million and a net loss of $9.9
million during the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and a loss from
operations of $4.6 million
and a net loss of $5.0 million
during the nine months ended September 30, 2005.
On
November 2, 2006, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of approximately
$300,000.
The
Company estimates that its current cash reserves, including the net proceeds
from the October 2006 Bridge Loan, will fund continued development of the
Aversion®
Technology and related operating expenses through mid-November 2006.
13
The
Company has incurred net losses since 1992 and the Company's consolidated
financial statements for each of the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and
2003 were prepared on a going-concern basis, expressing substantial doubt about
the Company's ability to continue as a going-concern as a result of recurring
losses and negative cash flows. The Company's future profitability will depend
on several factors, including (i)
the
Company’s ability to secure additional financing to fund continued operations;
(ii) the
successful completion of the formulation development, clinical testing and
acceptable regulatory review of product candidates utilizing the
Aversion®
Technology; (iii) the receipt of issued patents from the U.S. Patent and
Trademark Office (“PTO”) for the material claims in the Company's patent
applications relating to the Aversion®
Technology;
(iv) the Company's ability to negotiate and execute appropriate licensing,
development and commercialization agreements with interested third parties
relating to the Company’s product candidates; and, (v) the successful
commercialization by licensees of products incorporating the
Aversion®
Technology without infringing the patents and other intellectual property rights
of third parties.
Status
of Patent Applications, Patent Publications, and Issued
Patents
As
of the
date of this Report, the Company has three U.S. non-provisional patent
publications, one U.S. provisional patent application, and two international
patent publications pending relating to its Aversion®
Technology. Additionally, the Company has seven (7) US patents issued and one
(1) US patent application pending related to its Opioid Synthesis
Technologies.
As of
the date of this Report, the Company retained ownership of all intellectual
property and commercial rights to its product candidates and
Technologies.
Status
of Strategy with Commercial Partners
To
generate revenue the
Company plans to enter into development and commercialization agreements with
strategically focused pharmaceutical company partners (the "Partners") providing
that such Partners license product candidates utilizing the Company’s
Aversion®
Technology and further develop, register and commercialize multiple formulations
and strengths of such product candidates. The Company expects to receive
milestone payments and a share of profits and/or royalty payments derived from
the Partners' sale of products incorporating the Aversion®
Technology. Future
revenue, if any, will be derived from milestone payments and a share of profits
and/or royalty payments relating to such collaborative partners' sale of
products incorporating the Aversion®
Technology. As of the date of this Report, the Company did not have any executed
collaborative agreements with Partners, nor can there be any assurance that
the
Company will successfully enter into such collaborative agreements in the
future.
Status
of Development of OxyADF Tablets
The
Company’s lead product candidate, OxyADF Tablets, utilizing the Company’s
proprietary Aversion® Technology, is an orally administered immediate release
tablet containing oxycodone HCl as its sole active analgesic ingredient with
an
anticipated indication for treating acute moderate to moderately severe
pain.
Product
candidates formulated with Aversion® Technology are intended to reduce or
discourage misuse of all three common routes of abuse of tablet and capsule
pharmaceutical products including (i) intravenous injection of dissolved tablets
or capsules, (ii) inhalation/nasal snorting of crushed tablets or capsules
and
(iii) intentional consumption of excessive numbers of tablets or capsules by
oral administration.
OxyADF
Tablets are being developed pursuant to an active investigational new drug
application (“IND”) on file with the United States Food and Drug Administration
(“FDA”). The FDA has confirmed that OxyADF Tablets are an appropriate product
candidate for submission as a 505(b)(2) new drug application (“NDA”). To date
the Company, in concert with CROs, has completed patient enrollment in two
phase
I clinical trials (Study AP-ADF-101and Study AP-ADF-107), one phase II clinical
trial (Study AP-ADF-103), a pivotal bioequivalence trial (Study AP-ADF-104)
and
a pivotal laboratory study relating to the development of OxyADF Tablets. The
results from studies AP-ADF-103, AP-ADF-104 and the pivotal laboratory study
are
summarized below.
14
OxyADF
Tablets contain a second active ingredient in a sub-therapeutic amount. This
second active ingredient has a well established side effect profile in long
term
administration at doses more than ten-fold greater than the amount contained
in
the proposed maximum recommended daily dose of OxyADF Tablets. When OxyADF
Tablets are administered at the intended recommended dose of 1 or 2 tablets
every 4-6 hours, it is expected that legitimate acute pain patients will not
feel the affects of this extra active ingredient. However, when either a
legitimate acute pain patient or a potential drug abuser consumes excess
quantities of OxyADF Tablets, we expect he/she will experience an unpleasant
combination of symptoms, including warmth or flushing, itching, sweating and/or
chills, headache and a general feeling of discomfort. It is expected that these
symptoms will begin approximately 10-15 minutes after the excess dose is
consumed and self-resolve approximately 75-90 minutes later. The Company does
not expect that the undesirable effects from this extra active ingredient will
be “fool-proof” in discouraging excess oral consumption of OxyADF Tablets but
anticipates that it will cause most people to experience unpleasant effects
if
excess quantities of OxyADF Tablets are consumed orally. As described below,
the
Company is currently evaluating the effects of this second active ingredient
in
clinical studies involving subjects with no history of opioid abuse and in
subjects with a history of opioid abuse.
Prospective
drug abusers may attempt to dissolve currently marketed oxycodone containing
tablets in water or other common solvents, filter the dissolved solution, and
then inject the resulting fluid intravenously to obtain a euphoric effect.
In
addition to its two active ingredients, OxyADF Tablets also include several
inactive ingredients. These inactive ingredients are commonly used
pharmaceutical excipients with no therapeutic effect but with specific
non-therapeutic functions. When dissolved in water or other common solvents,
the
functional excipients in OxyADF Tablets will form a viscous gel that traps
the
oxycodone ingredient in the OxyADF Tablet matrix. The Company believes this
gel
forming feature will substantially limit the ability of prospective I.V. drug
abusers to extract oxycodone from an OxyADF Tablet. As described below, the
Company has compared the relative difficulty of extracting oxycodone from OxyADF
Tablets to several currently marketed oxycodone containing
products.
In
addition, prospective drug abusers may easily crush or grind currently marketed
oxycodone containing products and snort or inhale the crushed powder. The
crushed powder may then be snorted and the oxycodone in the powder will be
rapidly absorbed through the nasal mucosa often resulting in a euphoric effect.
OxyADF Tablets have three features intended to discourage nasal snorting. First,
OxyADF Tablets are formulated with a functional excipient intended to induce
moderate burning and irritation of the nose and nasal mucosal membranes if
the
tablets are crushed and the prospective drug abuser attempts to snort the
crushed tablets. Second, when OxyADF Tablets are crushed and snorted, the
Company expects the moisture in the nasal passages will form a viscous gel
with
the crushed tablet powder, trapping the oxycodone in the gel and therefore
reducing the amount of oxycodone available to be absorbed through the mucosal
membranes. Third, the Company expects that the viscous gel formed in the nasal
passages will result in a sticky mass producing an unpleasant sensation in
the
nose of the prospective abuser. Therefore, the Company expects potential nasal
abusers of OxyADF Tablets to experience burning and irritation of the nasal
passages, a lower level of oxycodone available for mucosal absorption and a
physically unpleasant gelatinous mass in the nose.
Study
AP-ADF-103:
To
assess the safety and tolerability of OxyADF Tablets in comparison to oxycodone
HCl Tablets without an ingredient to discourage excess oral consumption, the
Company conducted a Phase II single-center, randomized, double-blind,
multiple-dose study in 66 healthy adult male and female volunteers (“Study
AP-ADF-103”). In Study AP-ADF-103, subjects were randomly assigned to one of
three treatment groups (n=22 per treatment group). A run-in phase was conducted
on an outpatient basis for five days and included at-home dosing four times
daily and adverse event and tolerability assessments. The treatment phase
followed the run-in phase and was conducted on an inpatient basis for five
days.
The treatment phase included dosing with OxyADF Tablets (with or without the
second active ingredient) as well as post-treatment safety and tolerability
assessments. The tolerability of OxyADF Tablets was evaluated with a Side
Effects and Symptoms Questionnaire (SESQ) and a OxyADF Tablet Tolerability
Rating Scale. Safety was evaluated by Adverse Events and clinical laboratory
and
vital signs assessments were conducted periodically during the study. During
the
run-in phase, comparable tolerability was demonstrated in subjects who took
OxyADF Tablets with and without the second active ingredient. The mean post-dose
SESQ total score during the run-in phase was very low in all groups (highest
possible score = 33; Group results = 0.84 - 1.6) indicating that OxyADF Tablets
were generally well-tolerated when taken at recommended doses. During the
treatment phase, 64% of subjects in Groups 2 and 3 (oxycodone HCl + the second
active ingredient) reported side effects and symptoms and 50% of subjects in
Group 1 (oxycodone alone) reported side effects and symptoms. Most of the side
effects and symptoms observed during the treatment phase were mild or moderate
in severity. Irrespective of treatment group, approximately three quarters
of
subjects reported either “no effect” or “easy to tolerate” on the OxyADF
Tolerability Rating Scale. Oxycodone HCl administered four times a day, with
or
without the second active ingredient was determined to be well tolerated.
Adverse events were reported by 77% of subjects throughout both phases of the
study. The majority of subjects (55%) reported adverse events during the
treatment phase that were considered mild in severity. No severe adverse events
were reported in any treatment group and no clinically important trends over
time were observed in any treatment group for vital signs measurements (blood
pressure, heart rate, and respiratory rate). The Company intends to include
the
data and results from Study AP-ADF-103 in its 505(b)(2) NDA submission for
OxyADF Tablets to the FDA.
15
Study
AP-ADF-104:
The
Company, in concert with a CRO, has completed a pivotal bioequivalence study
for
OxyADF Tablets (“Study AP-ADF-104”) using tablets from batches manufactured by
the Company at its Culver Facility at a scale of sufficient size to fulfill
the
FDA’s requirements for a 505(b)(2) NDA submission. Study AP-ADF-104 was a
pivotal, single-dose, open-label, randomized, two-period crossover
bioequivalence study conducted under fasting conditions to compare the
pharmacokinetic characteristics of OxyADF Tablets (oxycodone HCl 5mg) to the
FDA
reference listed drug, Roxicodone® Tablets, 15 mg. Subjects received two
separate drug administrations in assigned periods, one treatment per period,
according to a randomization schedule. Dosing days were separated by a washout
period of at least 7 days. An equal number of subjects were randomly assigned
to
each possible sequence of treatments. Drug administration consisted of an oral
dose of three OxyADF Tablets or one Roxicodone® 15mg Tablet. Thirty-nine (39) of
forty (40) healthy adult subjects completed the study. The results demonstrated
that OxyADF Tablets are bioequivalent to Roxicodone® Tablets. The 90% confidence
intervals for peak exposure based on ln(Cmax)
and
overall systemic exposure based on ln(AUClast)
and
ln(AUCinf)
of
oxycodone were well within the FDA’s acceptable range for bioequivalence. The
Company intends to include the data and results of Study AP-ADF-104 in its
505(b)(2) NDA submission for OxyADF Tablets to the FDA.
Pivotal
Laboratory Study:
The
Company, in concert with a leading independent laboratory CRO (the “Laboratory
CRO”), completed a pivotal study to assess certain properties of OxyADF using
tablets from batches manufactured by the Company at its Culver Facility at
a
scale of sufficient size to fulfill the FDA’s requirements for a 505(b)(2) NDA
submission. The
Laboratory CRO was contracted to quantitatively and qualitatively measure the
relative difficulty of extracting oxycodone HCl for purposes of intravenous
(IV)
injection from various opioid tablet products. The Laboratory CRO was provided
with a list all ingredients contained in each product, allotted 80 hours total
time to complete the evaluations and allowed to use any methodology desired
to
extract oxycodone HCl from the tablets. Products tested were OxyADF Tablets,
OxyContin® (oxycodone HCL) Tablets, 40mg, generic oxycodone HCl Tablets, 5 mg
and Percocet® (oxycodone HCl/acetaminophen) Tablets 5mg/325 mg. Results were
reported as (i) percent of drug extracted, (ii) time to extract drug and (iii)
difficulty to extract drug on a scale of 1-10, 1 being easy and 10 being
extremely difficult. OxyContin® and generic oxycodone HCl tablets resulted in
71-92% drug extracted in 3- 6 minutes and were rated 1-2 in relative difficulty.
Percocet® Tablets resulted in 75% oxycodone HCl extracted in 29 minutes and was
rated 3-4 in relative difficulty. OxyADF Tablets resulted in a “trace” of
oxycodone HCl extracted in 355 minutes and was rated 10 in relative difficulty.
The
Company intends to utilize the data and results from this pivotal laboratory
study in its 505(b)(2) NDA submission for OxyADF Tablets to the
FDA.
OxyADF
Tablet Development Plan:
In
written correspondence after the Company’s end of Phase II meeting for OxyADF
Tablets, the FDA has stated that certain additional clinical studies will be
required prior to their acceptance of a 505(b)(2) NDA submission for OxyADF
Tablets. Additional required clinical studies include completion of Study
AP-ADF-102, a phase II clinical trial currently in progress in approximately
25
subjects with a history of opioid abuse, Study AP-ADF-105, a placebo controlled,
pivotal phase III clinical trial in approximately 300-400 acute pain patients,
and four or five phase I clinical studies with approximately 25-50 normal
subjects per study. Estimating the dates of initiation and completion of
clinical studies and the costs to complete development of the Company's product
candidates, including OxyADF Tablets, would be speculative and potentially
misleading. The Company expects to reassess its future research and development
plans pending review of data received from current in progress development
activities and the availability of cash resources to fund such development
activities. The cost and pace of future research and development activities
are
linked and subject to change. At this stage there can be no assurance that
any
of the Company’s research and development efforts, including those for OxyADF
Tablets, will lead to a 505(b)(2) NDA submission or that if NDA submissions
are
made with the FDA, that any such submission will be approved by the
FDA.
Results
of Operations for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2006 and September 30,
2005
The
Company is a specialty pharmaceutical development company primarily engaged
in
development of proprietary abuse deterrent, abuse resistant and tamper resistant
formulation technologies ("Aversion®
Technology") intended to discourage abuse of orally administered opioid
analgesic products. To generate revenue, the
Company plans to enter into development and commercialization agreements with
strategically focused pharmaceutical company partners (the "Partners") providing
that such Partners license product candidates utilizing the Company’s
Aversion®
Technology and further develop, register and commercialize multiple formulations
and strengths of such product candidates. The
Company had no revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005
and relied upon bridge loans provided by its current primary shareholders to
fund operations and development activities.
16
Research
and Development Expenses
The
Company’s research and development expenses for the nine months ended September
30, 2006 and September 30, 2005 were as follows (in thousands):
9
MONTHS ENDED
9/30/06
R&D
EXPENSES
|
9
MONTHS ENDED
9/30/05
R&D
EXPENSES
|
9
MONTHS ENDED
9/30/06
and 9/30/05
R&D
EXPENSES
CHANGE
($)
|
9
MONTHS ENDED
9/30/06
and 9/30/05
R&D
EXPENSES
CHANGE
(%)
|
$4,174
|
$2,527
|
$1,647
|
65%
|
Research
and development expense in the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and
September 30, 2005 consisted primarily of development of our
Aversion®
Technology, including costs of preclinical, clinical trials, clinical supplies
and related formulation and design costs, salaries and other personnel related
expenses, and facility costs. Included in the 2006 and 2005 results are non-cash
stock-based compensation charges of $1,811 and $210, respectively, and included
in the 2005 result is a $284 benefit from the reversal of an incentive
compensation accrual. Excluding the stock-based compensation expense and the
accrued incentive compensation benefit, there was a $238 decrease in overall
research and development expenses primarily attributed to lower wage and
incentive costs of $190 reflecting fewer Company employees and $48 lower
facility operating costs in 2006. The increase in stock-based compensation
expense of $1,601 relates to the fair value of stock options and restricted
stock units, net of expected forfeitures, granted prior to 2006 which continue
to vest and expense over the related employees requisite service
periods.
Marketing
, General and Administrative Expenses
Marketing,
general and administrative expenses for the nine
months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 were as follows (in
thousands):
9
MONTHS ENDED
9/30/06
MARKETING,
G&A EXPENSES
|
9
MONTHS ENDED
9/30/05
MARKETING,
G&A EXPENSES
|
9
MONTHS ENDED
9/30/06
and 9/30/05
MARKETING,
G&A EXPENSES
CHANGE
($)
|
9
MONTHS ENDED
9/30/06
and 9/30/05
MARKETING,
G&A EXPENSES
CHANGE
(%)
|
$4,754
|
$2,120
|
$2,634
|
124%
|
During
the nine months ended September 30, 2006, the marketing expenses consisted
of
Aversion®
Technology market research studies and payroll costs. The Company’s general and
administrative expenses consisted of legal, audit and other professional fees,
corporate insurance, and payroll costs. Included in the 2006 and 2005 results
is
$3,143 and $556, respectively, of stock-based compensation expense and included
in the 2005 result is a $211 benefit from the reversal of an incentive
compensation accrual. Excluding the stock-based compensation expense and
incentive compensation benefit, the marketing, general and administrative
expenses decreased by $164 primarily attributed to reductions in legal, audit
and other professional services, and corporate insurance costs. Of the increase
in stock-based compensation expense, $680 was from the February 2006 grant
of
two million restricted stock units to the Company's independent directors.
The
remaining increase in stock-compensation expense of $1,907 relates to the fair
value of stock options and restricted stock units, net of expected forfeitures,
granted prior to 2006 which continue to vest and expense over the related
employees requisite service periods.
17
Interest
Expense, net of Interest Income
The
Company’s interest expense, net of interest income for the nine months ended
September 30, 2006 and September 30, 2005 was as follows (in
thousands):
9
MONTHS ENDED
9/30/06
INTEREST
EXPENSE,
NET
OF INTEREST
INCOME
|
9
MONTHS ENDED
9/30/05
INTEREST
EXPENSE,
NET
OF INTEREST
INCOME
|
9
MONTHS ENDED
9/30/06
and 9/30/05
INTEREST
EXPENSE,
NET
OF INTEREST
INCOME
CHANGE
($)
|
9
MONTHS ENDED
9/30/06
and 9/30/05
INTEREST
EXPENSE,
NET
OF INTEREST
INCOME
CHANGE
(%)
|
$786
|
$404
|
$382
|
95%
|
The
Company incurs interest at the prime interest rate plus 4.5%, payable quarterly
in common stock, on its $5.0 million Secured Term Note Payable and incurs 10.0%
annual interest, payable quarterly in cash, on its $6.124 million Bridge Loans,
except for the interest due September 30, 2006 which was made in shares of
the
Company’s common stock. The increase in net interest expense in 2006 resulted
from the addition of $4.6 million of bridge loans since September 30, 2005
and
increases in the prime interest rate.
Net
Loss
The
Company’s net loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and September
30, 2005 was as follows (in thousands):
9
MONTHS ENDED
9/30/06
NET
LOSS
|
9
MONTHS ENDED
9/30/05
NET
LOSS
|
9
MONTHS ENDED
9/30/06
and 9/30/05
NET
LOSS
CHANGE
($)
|
9
MONTHS ENDED
9/30/06
and 9/30/05
NET
LOSS
CHANGE
(%)
|
$9,866
|
$4,965
|
$4,901
|
99%
|
Included
in the net loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 is a $142,000
stock
compensation expense resulting from the anti-dilution clause contained in a
warrant agreement.
18
Results
of Operations for the Three Months Ended September 30, 2006 and September 30,
2005
Research
and Development Expenses
The
Company’s research and development expenses for the three months ended September
30, 2006 and September 30, 2005 were as follows (in thousands):
3
MONTHS ENDED
9/30/06
R&D
EXPENSES
|
3
MONTHS ENDED
9/30/05
R&D
EXPENSES
|
3
MONTHS ENDED
9/30/06
and 9/30/05
R&D
EXPENSES
CHANGE
($)
|
3
MONTHS ENDED
9/30/06
and 9/30/05
R&D
EXPENSES
CHANGE
(%)
|
$1,630
|
$845
|
$785
|
93%
|
Research
and development expense in the three months ended September 30, 2006 and
September 30, 2005 consisted primarily of development of our
Aversion®
Technology, including costs of preclinical, clinical trials, clinical supplies
and related formulation and design costs, salaries and other personnel related
expenses, and facility costs. Included in the 2006 and 2005 results are non-cash
stock-based compensation charges of $358 and $48, respectively. Excluding the
stock-based compensation expense, there is a $495 increase in overall expenses
primarily attributed to clinical research studies initiated in the third quarter
of 2006 offset by $20 lower wage and incentive costs from reflecting fewer
Company employees in 2006. The increase in stock-based compensation expense
of
$310 relates to the fair value of stock options and restricted stock units,
net
of expected forfeitures, granted prior to 2006 which continue to vest and
expense over the related employees requisite service periods.
Marketing
, General and Administrative Expenses
Marketing,
general and administrative expenses for the three months ended September
30, 2006 and 2005 were as follows (in thousands):
3
MONTHS ENDED
9/30/06
MARKETING,
G&A
EXPENSES
|
3
MONTHS ENDED
9/30/05
MARKETING,
G&A
EXPENSES
|
3
MONTHS ENDED
9/30/06
and 9/30/05
MARKETING,
G&A
EXPENSES
CHANGE
($)
|
3
MONTHS ENDED
9/30/06
and 9/30/05
MARKETING,
G&A
EXPENSES
CHANGE
(%)
|
$1,031
|
$628
|
$403
|
64%
|
During
the three months ended September 30, 2006, the marketing expenses consisted
of
Aversion®
Technology market research studies and payroll costs. The Company’s general and
administrative expenses consisted of legal, audit and other professional fees,
corporate insurance, and payroll costs. Included in the 2006 and 2005 results
is
$519 and $125, respectively, of stock-based compensation expense. Excluding
stock-based compensation expenses, the marketing, general and administrative
expenses are essentially unchanged for these three month periods. The increase
in stock-compensation expense of $394 relates to the fair value of stock options
and restricted stock units, net of expected forfeitures, granted prior to 2006
which continue to vest and expense over the related employees requisite service
periods.
19
Interest
Expense, net of Interest Income
The
Company’s interest expense, net of interest income for the three months ended
September 30, 2006 and September 30, 2005 was as follows (in
thousands):
3
MONTHS ENDED
9/30/06
INTEREST
EXPENSE,
NET
OF INTEREST
INCOME
|
3
MONTHS ENDED
9/30/05
INTEREST
EXPENSE,
NET
OF INTEREST
INCOME
|
3
MONTHS ENDED
9/30/06
and 9/30/05
INTEREST
EXPENSE,
NET
OF INTEREST
INCOME
CHANGE
($)
|
3
MONTHS ENDED
9/30/06
and 9/30/05
INTEREST
EXPENSE,
NET
OF INTEREST
INCOME
CHANGE
(%)
|
$301
|
$165
|
$136
|
82%
|
The
Company incurs interest at the prime interest rate plus 4.5%, payable quarterly
in common stock, on its $5.0 million Secured Term Note Payable and incurs 10.0%
interest, payable quarterly in cash, on its $6.124 million Bridge Loans, except
for the interest due September 30, 2006 which was made in shares of the
Company’s common stock. The increase in net interest expense in 2006 resulted
from both the addition of $4.6 million of bridge loans since September 30,
2005
and increases in the prime interest rate.
Net
Loss
The
Company’s net loss for the three months ended September 30, 2006 and September
30, 2005 was as follows (in thousands):
3
MONTHS ENDED
9/30/06
NET
LOSS
|
3
MONTHS ENDED
9/30/05
NET
LOSS
|
3
MONTHS ENDED
9/30/06
and 9/30/05
NET
LOSS
CHANGE
($)
|
3
MONTHS ENDED
9/30/06
and 9/30/05
NET
LOSS
CHANGE
(%)
|
$3,097
|
$1,635
|
$1,462
|
89%
|
Included
in the net loss for the three months ended September 30, 2006 is a $142,000
stock compensation expense resulting from the anti-dilution clause contained
in
a warrant agreement.
Liquidity
and Capital Resources
At
September 30, 2006, the Company had unrestricted cash and cash equivalents
of
$0.2
million compared to $0.3 million at December 31, 2005. The Company had a working
capital deficit of $11.5 million at September 30, 2006 compared to a working
capital deficit of $2.5 million at December 31, 2005, primarily due to the
current classification of $5.0 million of secured term notes payable due in
June
2007 and an increase of $3.6 million of bridge loans both as discussed in
Footnote 9 to the consolidated financial statements.
Commercial
Focus, Cash Reserves and Funding Requirements
As
of
November 2, 2006, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of approximately
$300,000. Such cash reserves will be dedicated to the development of the
Company's Aversion®
Technology, the prosecution of the Company's patent publications and
applications relating to the Aversion®
Technology and for related operating expenses. The Company has suspended further
development and commercialization efforts relating to the Opioid Synthesis
Technologies.
20
The
Company must rely on its current cash reserves to fund the development of its
Aversion®
Technology and related operating expenses. The Company's future sources of
revenue, if any, will be derived from contract signing fees, milestone payments
and royalties and/or profit sharing payments from licensees for the Company's
Aversion®
Technology.
The Company estimates that its current cash reserves, including the net proceeds
from the October 2006 Bridge Loan, will fund continued development of the
Aversion®
Technology and related operating expenses through mid-November 2006. To fund
further operations and product development activities the Company must raise
additional financing, or enter into alliances or collaboration agreements with
third parties resulting in cash payments to the Company. The
Company is seeking to secure working capital providing gross proceeds to the
Company in the range of approximately $15 million to $20 million through the
private offering of the Company’s securities. The terms of any such securities
offering, including, without limitation, the type of equity securities (or
securities convertible into equity securities) and the price per share, have
not
been determined and will, in large part, be determined based upon negotiations
between the Company and prospective investors in such private offering. No
assurance can be given that the Company will be successful in obtaining any
such
financing or in securing collaborative agreements with third parties on
acceptable terms, if at all, or if secured, that such financing or collaborative
agreements will provide for payments to the Company sufficient to continue
to
fund operations. In the absence of such financing or third-party collaborative
agreements, the Company will be required to scale back or terminate operations
and/or seek protection under applicable bankruptcy laws.
Even
assuming the Company is successful in securing additional sources of financing
to fund the continued development of the Aversion®
Technology, or enters into alliances or collaborative agreements relating to
the
Aversion®
Technology, there can be no assurance that the Company's development efforts
will result in commercially viable products. The Company's failure to
successfully develop the Aversion®
Technology in a timely manner, to obtain issued U.S. patents relating to the
Aversion®
Technology and to avoid infringing third-party patents and other intellectual
property rights will have a material adverse impact on its financial condition
and results of operations.
In
view
of the matters described above, recoverability of a major portion of the
recorded asset amounts shown in the Company's accompanying consolidated balance
sheets is dependent upon continued operations of the Company, which in turn
are
dependent upon the Company's ability to meet its financing requirements on
a
continuing basis, to maintain present financing, and to succeed in its future
operations. The Company's financial statements do not include any adjustment
relating to the recoverability and classification of recorded asset amounts
or
amounts and classification of liabilities that might be necessary should the
Company be unable to continue in existence.
The
following table presents the Company's expected cash requirements for
contractual obligations outstanding as of September 30, 2006 (In
thousands):
Total
|
|
Due
in Fourth Quarter of
2006
|
|
Due
in
2007
|
|
Due
in
2008
|
|
Due
Thereafter
|
||||||||
Term
notes
|
$
|
11,124
|
$
|
6,124
|
$
|
5,000
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
-
|
||||||
Cash
interest on term notes
|
102
|
102
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|||||||||||
Capital
leases
|
40
|
8
|
25
|
7
|
-
|
|||||||||||
Operating
leases
|
12
|
7
|
5
|
-
|
-
|
|||||||||||
Employment
agreements
|
185
|
185
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|||||||||||
Total
Contractual Cash Obligations
|
$
|
11,463
|
$
|
6,426
|
$
|
5,030
|
$
|
7
|
$
|
-
|
Critical
Accounting Policies
Note
A of
the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, as contained in the Company’s
2005 Annual Report on Form 10-K, includes a summary of the Company's significant
accounting policies and methods used in the preparation of the financial
statements. The application of these accounting policies involves the exercise
of judgment and use of assumptions as to future uncertainties and, as a result,
actual results could differ from these estimates. The Company does not believe
there is a consequential likelihood that materially different amounts would
be
reported under different conditions or using different assumptions. The
Company's critical accounting policies described in that Annual Report are
the
same ones applicable to 2006.
21
Risk
Factors Relating To The Company
The
Company Received a "Going Concern" Opinion from Its Registered Independent
Public Accounting Firm, Has a History of Operating Losses and May Not Achieve
Profitability Sufficient to Generate a Positive Return on Shareholders'
Investment
We
have
incurred net losses of approximately $9.7 million for the nine months ended
September 30, 2006, $12.1
million
for the year ended December 31, 2005 and $70.0 million and $48.5 million for
2004 and 2003, respectively. As of
September 30, 2006,
our
accumulated deficit was approximately $301.3
million.
The Company's consolidated financial statements for the years ended December
31,
2005 and 2004 were prepared on a “going concern” basis; however, in its report
dated February 1, 2006 regarding those financial statements, our registered
independent public accounting firm expressed substantial doubt about the
Company's ability to continue as a going concern as a result of recurring
losses, net capital deficiency and negative cash flows. Our future profitability
will depend on many factors, including: (i) the Company’s ability to secure
additional financing to fund continued operations, (ii) the successful
completion of the formulation development, clinical testing and acceptable
regulatory review of product candidates utilizing the Aversion® Technology;
(iii) the receipt of issued patents from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
(“PTO”) for the material claims in the Company's patent applications relating to
the Aversion® Technology;
(iv) the Company's ability to negotiate and execute appropriate licensing,
development and commercialization agreements with qualified third parties
relating to the Company’s product candidates; and (v) the successful
commercialization by licensees of products incorporating the Aversion®
Technology without infringing the patents and other intellectual property rights
of third parties. We cannot assure you that we will ever have a product approved
by the FDA, that we will bring any product to market or, if we are successful
in
doing so, that we will ever become profitable.
We
Require Additional Funding
Our
requirements for additional new funding will depend on many factors, including:
(i) the time required and expenses incurred in the development and
commercialization of products incorporating our Aversion® Technology; (ii) the
structure of any future collaborative or development agreements relating to
the
Aversion® Technology, including the timing and amount of payments, if any, that
may be received under possible future collaborative agreements; (iii) our
ability to develop additional product candidates utilizing the Aversion®
Technology; (iv) our ability to negotiate agreements with qualified third
parties for development, manufacture, marketing, sale and distribution of
products utilizing our Aversion® Technology; (v) the prosecution, defense and
enforcement of patent claims and other intellectual property rights relating
to
the Aversion® Technology; and (vi) the successful commercialization by licensees
of products incorporating our Aversion® Technology without infringing
third-party patents or other intellectual property rights.
To
continue funding operations the Company must raise additional financing, or
enter into alliances or collaborative agreements with third parties providing
for net cash proceeds to the Company. The
Company is seeking to secure working capital providing gross proceeds to the
Company in the range of approximately $15 million to $20 million through the
private offering of the Company’s securities. The terms of any such securities
offering, including, without limitation, the type of equity securities (or
securities convertible into equity securities) and the price per share, have
not
been determined and will, in large part, be determined based upon negotiations
between the Company and prospective investors in such private offering. No
assurance can be given that the Company will be successful in obtaining any
such
financing or in securing collaborative agreements with third parties on
acceptable terms, if at all, or if secured, that such financing or collaborative
agreements will provide for payments to the Company sufficient to continue
to
fund operations. In the absence of such financing or third-party collaborative
agreements, the Company will be required to scale back or terminate operations
and/or seek protection under applicable bankruptcy laws. Even assuming the
Company is successful in securing additional sources of financing to fund the
continued development of the Aversion® Technology, or enters into alliances or
collaborative agreements relating to the Aversion® Technology, there can be no
assurance that the Company's development efforts will result in commercially
viable products.
22
We
Have No Near Term Sources of Revenue and Must Rely on Current Cash Reserves,
Third-Party Financing, and Technology Licensing Fees to Fund Operations
Pending
the negotiation of appropriate licensing agreements with pharmaceutical company
partners, of which no assurance can be given, the Company must rely on its
current cash reserves, third-party financing and technology licensing fees
to
fund the Company's operations. No
assurance can be given that current cash resources will be sufficient to fund
the continued development of our product candidates until such time as we
generate revenue from the license of products incorporating the Aversion®
Technology to third parties. Moreover, no assurance can be given that we will
be
successful in raising additional financing to fund operations or, if funding
is
obtained, that such funding will be sufficient to fund operations until the
Company's product candidates incorporating our Aversion® Technology, may be
commercialized.
We
Are Subject to Restrictions on the Incurrence of Additional Indebtedness, Which
May Adversely Impact the Company's Ability to Fund Operations and Clinical
Trials
Pursuant
to the terms of the Company's outstanding secured term Loan Agreement the
Company is limited as to the type and amount of future indebtedness it may
incur. The restriction on the Company's ability to incur additional indebtedness
in the future may adversely impact the Company's ability to fund the development
of its product candidates and commercialization of its products.
Our
Product Candidates Are Based on Technology That Could Ultimately Prove
Ineffective
Our
lead
product candidate, OxyADF Tablets incorporating our Aversion® Technology is a
tablet formulation intended for oral administration and has an active IND on
file with FDA. The Company is focusing a majority of its product development
activities on OxyADF Tablets. Additional clinical and non-clinical testing
will
be required to continue development of OxyADF Tablets and for the preparation
and submission of a 505(b)(2) new drug application (“NDA”) with the FDA. There
can be no assurance that OxyADF Tablets or any other product candidate developed
using the Aversion® Technology
will lead to a NDA submission to the FDA and that if a NDA is submitted, that
the FDA will accept such submission and subsequently approve such regulatory
application to allow for commercial distribution of the product.
The
Company is committing substantially all of its resources and available capital
to the development of OxyADF Tablets and the prosecution of its patent
applications for the Aversion® Technology. The failure of the Company to
successfully develop a product candidate utilizing the Aversion® Technology,
to successfully obtain one or more commercially viable issued patent claims
from
the PTO relating to the Aversion® Technology
and to avoid infringing third-party patents and intellectual property rights
in
the commercialization of products utilizing the Aversion® Technology
will have a material adverse effect on the Company's operations and financial
condition.
If
Pre-Clinical or Clinical Testing For Our Product Candidates Are Unsuccessful
or
Delayed, We Will Be Unable to Meet Our Anticipated Development and
Commercialization Timelines
To
obtain
FDA approval to commercially market any of our product candidates, we must
submit to the FDA a NDA demonstrating, among other things, that the product
candidate is safe and effective for its intended use. This demonstration
requires significant pre-clinical and clinical testing. As we do not possess
the
resources or employ all the personnel necessary to conduct such testing we
rely
on contract research organizations for the majority of this testing with our
product candidates. As a result, we have less control over the timing and other
aspects of our development program than if we performed the testing entirely
on
our own. Third parties may not perform their responsibilities on our anticipated
schedule. Delays in our development programs could significantly increase our
product development costs and delay product commercialization. In addition,
many
of the factors that may cause, or lead to a delay in the development program,
may also ultimately lead to denial of regulatory approval of a product
candidate.
23
The
commencement of clinical trials with our product candidates may be delayed
for
several reasons, including but not limited to delays in demonstrating sufficient
pre-clinical safety required to obtain regulatory approval to commence a
clinical trial, reaching agreements on acceptable terms with prospective
collaborative partners, manufacturing and quality assurance release of a
sufficient supply of a product candidate for use in our clinical trials and/or
obtaining institutional review board approval to conduct a clinical trial at
a
prospective site. Once a clinical trial has begun, it may be delayed, suspended
or terminated by us or the FDA or other regulatory authorities due to several
factors, including ongoing discussions with the FDA or other regulatory
authorities regarding the scope or design of our clinical trials, failure to
conduct clinical trials in accordance with regulatory requirements, lower than
anticipated recruitment or retention rate of patients in clinical trials,
inspection of the clinical trial operations or trial sites by the FDA or other
regulatory authorities, the imposition of a clinical hold by FDA, lack of
adequate funding to continue clinical trials; and/or negative or unanticipated
results of clinical trials.
Clinical
trials, where required by the FDA for commercial approval, may not demonstrate
safety or efficacy of our product candidates. Success in pre-clinical testing
and early clinical trials does not ensure that later clinical trials will be
successful. Results of later clinical trials may not replicate the results
of
prior clinical trials and pre-clinical testing. Even if the results of our
pivotal clinical trials are positive, we and our collaborative partners may
have
to commit substantial time and additional resources to conduct further
pre-clinical and clinical studies before we can submit NDAs or obtain regulatory
approval for our product candidates.
Clinical
trials may be expensive and difficult to design and implement, in part because
they are subject to rigorous regulatory requirements. Further, if participating
subjects or patients in clinical studies suffer drug-related adverse reactions
during the course of such trials, or if we, our collaborative partner(s) or
the
FDA believes that participating patients are being exposed to unacceptable
health risks, we or our collaborative partner(s) may have to suspend the
clinical trials. Failure can occur at any stage of the trials, and our
collaborative partner(s) could encounter problems causing the abandonment of
clinical trials or the need to conduct additional clinical studies, relating
to
a product candidate.
Even
if
our clinical trials are completed as planned, their results may not support
our
targeted product label claims. The clinical trial process may fail to
demonstrate that our product candidates are safe and effective for their
intended use. Such failure would cause us or our collaborative partner to
abandon a product candidate and may delay the development of other product
candidates.
We
May Not Obtain Required FDA Approval; the FDA Approval Process Is Time-Consuming
and Expensive
The
development, testing, manufacturing, marketing and sale of pharmaceutical
products are subject to extensive federal, state and local regulation in the
United States and other countries. Satisfaction of all regulatory requirements
typically takes many years, is dependent upon the type, complexity and novelty
of the product candidate, and requires the expenditure of substantial resources
for research, development and testing. Substantially all of the Company's
operations are subject to compliance with FDA regulations. Failure to adhere
to
applicable FDA regulations by the Company or its licensees, if any, would have
a
material adverse effect on the Company's operations and financial condition.
In
addition, in the event the Company is successful in developing product
candidates for sale in other countries, the Company would become subject to
regulation in such countries. Such foreign regulations and product approval
requirements are expected to be time consuming and expensive.
We
may
encounter delays or rejections during any stage of the regulatory approval
process based upon the failure of clinical or laboratory data to demonstrate
compliance with, or upon the failure of the products to meet, the FDA's
requirements for safety, efficacy and quality; and those requirements may become
more stringent due to changes in regulatory agency policy or the adoption of
new
regulations. After submission of a marketing application, in the form of a
new
drug application (“NDA”), or a 505(b)(2) NDA the FDA may deny the application,
may require additional testing or data and/or may require post-marketing testing
and surveillance to monitor the safety or efficacy of a product. The FDA
commonly takes one to two years to grant final approval for a NDA, or 505(b)(2)
NDA. Further, the terms of approval of any marketing application, including
the
labeling content, may be more restrictive than we desire and could affect the
marketability of the products incorporating the Aversion®
Technology.
Even
if
we comply with all FDA regulatory requirements, we may never obtain regulatory
approval for any of our product candidates. If we fail to obtain regulatory
approval for any of our product candidates, we will have fewer saleable products
and corresponding lower revenues. Even if we receive regulatory approval of
our
products, such approval may involve limitations on the indicated uses or
marketing claims we may make for our products.
24
The
FDA
also has the authority to revoke or suspend approvals of previously approved
products for cause, to debar companies and individuals from participating in
the
drug-approval process, to request recalls of allegedly violative products,
to
seize allegedly violative products, to obtain injunctions to close manufacturing
plants allegedly not operating in conformity with current Good Manufacturing
Practices (cGMP) and to stop shipments of allegedly violative products. As
any
future source of Company revenue will be derived from the sale of FDA approved
products, the taking of any such action by the FDA would have a material adverse
effect on the Company.
We
Must Maintain FDA Approval to Manufacture Our Products Candidates at Our
Facility; Failure to Maintain Compliance with FDA Requirements May Prevent
or
Delay the Manufacture of Our Product Candidates and Costs of Manufacture May
Be
Higher Than Expected
We
have
constructed and installed the equipment necessary to manufacture clinical trial
supplies of our Aversion® Technology
product candidates in tablet formulations at our Culver, Indiana facility.
To be
used in clinical trials, all of our product candidates must be manufactured
in
conformity with current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) regulations as
interpreted and enforced by the FDA. All such product candidates must be
manufactured, packaged, and labeled and stored in accordance with cGMPs.
Modifications, enhancements or changes in manufacturing sites of marketed
products are, in many circumstances, subject to FDA approval, which may be
subject to a lengthy application process or which we may be unable to obtain.
Our Culver, Indiana facility, as well as those of any third-party manufacturers
that we may use, are periodically subject to inspection by the FDA and other
governmental agencies, and operations at these facilities could be interrupted
or halted if such inspections are unsatisfactory. Failure to comply with FDA
or
other governmental regulations can result in fines, unanticipated compliance
expenditures, recall or seizure of products, total or partial suspension of
production or distribution, suspension of FDA review of our products,
termination of ongoing research, disqualification of data for submission to
regulatory authorities, enforcement actions, injunctions and criminal
prosecution.
If
We Retain Collaborative Partners and Our Partners Do Not Satisfy Their
Obligations, We Will Be Unable to Develop Our Partnered Product Candidates
To
complete the development and regulatory approval of our products and
commercialize our product candidates, if any are approved by the FDA, we plan
to
enter into development and commercialization agreements with strategically
focused pharmaceutical company partners providing that such partners license
our
Aversion® Technologies and further develop, register, manufacture and
commercialize multiple formulations and strengths of each product candidate
utilizing our Aversion® Technology. We expect to receive a share of profits
and/or royalty payments derived from such collaborative partners' sale of
products incorporating our Aversion® Technology. Currently, we do not have any
such collaborative agreements, nor can there be any assurance that we will
actually enter into collaborative agreements in the future. Our inability to
enter into collaborative agreements, or our failure to maintain such agreements,
would limit the number of product candidates that we can develop and ultimately,
decrease our potential sources of any future revenues. In the event we enter
into any collaborative agreements, we may not have day-to-day control over
the
activities of our collaborative partners with respect to any product candidate.
Any collaborative partner may not fulfill its obligations under such agreements.
If a collaborative partner fails to fulfill its obligations under an agreement
with us, we may be unable to assume the development of the product covered
by
that agreement or to enter into alternative arrangements with a third-party.
In
addition, we may encounter delays in the commercialization of the product
candidate that is the subject of a collaboration agreement. Accordingly, our
ability to receive any revenue from the product candidates covered by
collaboration agreements will be dependent on the efforts of our collaborative
partner. We could be involved in disputes with a collaborative partner, which
could lead to delays in or termination of, our development and commercialization
programs and result in time consuming and expensive litigation or arbitration.
In addition, any such dispute could diminish our collaborative partners’
commitment to us and reduce the resources they devote to developing and
commercializing our products. If any collaborative partner terminates or
breaches its agreement, or otherwise fails to complete its obligations in a
timely manner, our chances of successfully developing or commercializing our
product candidates would be materially and adversely effected. Additionally,
due
to the nature of the market for our product candidates, it may be necessary
for
us to license all or a significant portion of our product candidates to a single
collaborator, thereby eliminating our opportunity to commercialize other product
candidates with other collaborative partners.
25
The
Market May Not Be Receptive to Products Incorporating Our Aversion®
Technology
The
commercial success of products incorporating our Aversion® Technology that are
approved for marketing by the FDA and other regulatory authorities will depend
on acceptance by health care providers and others that such products are
clinically useful, cost-effective and safe. There can be no assurance given,
even if we succeed in the development of products incorporating our Aversion®
Technology and receive FDA approval for such products, that products
incorporating the Aversion® Technology would be accepted by health care
providers and others. Factors that may materially affect market acceptance
of
products incorporating our Aversion® Technology include: (i) the relative
advantages and disadvantages of our Aversion® Technology compared to competitive
abuse deterrent technologies; (ii) the relative timing to commercial launch
of
products utilizing our Aversion® Technology compared to products incorporating
competitive abuse deterrent technologies; (iii) the relative timing of the
receipt of marketing approvals and the countries in which such approvals are
obtained; (iv) the relative safety and efficacy of products incorporating our
Aversion® Technology compared to competitive products; and/or (v) the
willingness of third party payors to reimburse for or otherwise pay for products
incorporating our Aversion® Technology.
Our
product candidates, if successfully developed and commercially launched, will
compete with both currently marketed and new products marketed by other
companies. Health care providers may not accept or utilize any of our product
candidates. Physicians and other prescribers may not be inclined to prescribe
the products utilizing our Aversion® Technology
unless our products bring clear and demonstrable advantages over other products
currently marketed for the same indications. If our products licensed to
partners do not achieve market acceptance, we may not be able to generate
significant revenues or become profitable.
In
the Event That We Are Successful in Bringing Any Products to Market, Our
Revenues May Be Adversely Affected If We Fail to Obtain Acceptable Prices or
Adequate Reimbursement For Our Products From Third-Party Payors
Our
ability to commercialize pharmaceutical products successfully may depend in
part
on the availability of reimbursement for our products from government health
administration authorities, private health insurers, and other third-party
payors and administrators, including Medicaid and Medicare. We cannot predict
the availability of reimbursement for newly-approved products incorporating
our
Aversion® Technology. Third-party payors and administrators, including state
Medicaid programs and Medicare, are challenging the prices charged for
pharmaceutical products. Government and other third-party payors increasingly
are limiting both coverage and the level of reimbursement for new drugs.
Third-party insurance coverage may not be available to patients for any of
our
products. The continuing efforts of government and third-party payors to contain
or reduce the costs of health care may limit our commercial opportunity. If
government and other third-party payors do not provide adequate coverage and
reimbursement for any product incorporating our Aversion® Technology, health
care providers may not prescribe them or patients may ask to have their health
care providers to prescribe competing products with more favorable
reimbursement. In some foreign markets, pricing and profitability of
pharmaceutical products are subject to government control. In the United States,
we expect that there will continue to be federal and state proposals for similar
controls. In addition, we expect that increasing emphasis on managed care in
the
United States will continue to put pressure on the pricing of pharmaceutical
products. Cost control initiatives could decrease the price that we receive
for
any products in the future. Further, cost control initiatives could impair
our
ability or the ability of our partners to commercialize our products and our
ability to earn revenues from this commercialization.
We
May Not Be Successful in Commercializing Our Opioid Synthesis
Technologies
Historically
the Company was engaged in research, development and manufacture of proprietary,
high yield, short cycle time, environmentally sensitive opioid manufacturing
processes (the "Opioid Synthesis Technologies") intended for use in the
commercial manufacturing of certain bulk opioid active pharmaceutical
ingredients. In early 2005 the Company suspended further development and
commercialization efforts relating to its Opioid Synthesis Technologies. We
have
determined based on our limited cash reserves, the additional funding required
for facility improvements for commercial scale up for our Opioid Synthesis
Technologies, the projected timeline for resolution of our application to the
DEA for a narcotic raw material import registration (the “Import Registration”),
and other factors that suspending activities relating to the Opioid Synthesis
Technologies is in our best interest. We expect to re-evaluate the development
and commercialization of the Opioid Synthesis Technologies after the deputy
DEA
Administrator makes a determination relating to our Import Registration. No
assurance can be given that development and commercialization efforts relating
to the Opioid Synthesis Technologies will resume in the future, or even if
such
activities resume, that the Opioid Synthesis Technologies will be capable of
commercial scale up or will be commercialized.
26
Our
Success Depends on Our Ability to Protect Our Intellectual
Property
Our
success depends in significant part on our ability to obtain patent protection
for our Aversion® Technology,
in the United States and in other countries, and to enforce these patents.
The
patent positions of pharmaceutical firms, including us, are generally uncertain
and involve complex legal and factual questions. There is no assurance that
any
of our patent application claims for our Aversion® Technology will issue or, if
issued, that such patent claims will be valid and enforceable against
third-party infringement or that our products will not infringe any third-party
patent or intellectual property. Moreover, even if patent claims do issue on
our
Aversion® Technology,
the claims allowed may not be sufficiently broad to protect the products
incorporating the Aversion® Technology.
In addition, issued patent claims may be challenged, invalidated or
circumvented. Even if issued, our patent claims may not afford us protection
against competitors with similar technology or permit the commercialization
of
our products without infringing third-party patents or other intellectual
property rights.
Our
success also depends on our not infringing patents issued to competitors or
others. We may become aware of patents and patent applications belonging to
competitors and others that could require us to alter our technologies. Such
alterations could be time consuming and costly. We may not be able to obtain
a
license to any technology owned by or licensed to a third party that we require
to manufacture or market one or more products incorporating our Aversion®
Technology. Even if we can obtain a license, the financial and other terms
may
be disadvantageous.
Our
success also depends on our maintaining the confidentiality of our trade secrets
and know-how. We seek to protect such information by entering into
confidentiality agreements with employees, potential collaborative partners,
raw
material suppliers, potential investors and consultants. These agreements may
be
breached by such parties. We may not be able to obtain an adequate, or perhaps,
any remedy to such a breach. In addition, our trade secrets may otherwise become
known or be independently developed by our competitors. Our inability to protect
our intellectual property or to commercialize our products without infringing
third-party patents or other intellectual property rights would have a material
adverse effect on our operations and financial condition.
We
May Become Involved in Patent Litigation or Other Intellectual Property
Proceedings Relating to Our Aversion® Technology or Product Candidates Which
Could Result in Liability for Damages or Delay or Stop Our Development and
Commercialization Efforts
The
pharmaceutical industry has been characterized by significant litigation and
other proceedings regarding patents, patent applications and other intellectual
property rights. The types of situations in which we may become parties to
such
litigation or proceedings include: (i) we may initiate litigation or other
proceedings against third parties to enforce our patent rights or other
intellectual property rights; (ii) we may initiate litigation or other
proceedings against third parties to seek to invalidate the patents held by
such
third parties or to obtain a judgment that our product candidates do not
infringe such third parties' patents; (iii) if our competitors file patent
applications that claim technology also claimed by us, we may participate in
interference or opposition proceedings to determine the priority of invention;
and (iv) if third parties initiate litigation claiming that our product
candidates infringe their patent or other intellectual property rights, we
will
need to defend against such proceedings.
The
costs
of resolving any patent litigation or other intellectual property proceeding,
even if resolved in our favor, could be substantial. Many of our competitors
will be able to sustain the cost of such litigation and proceedings more
effectively than we can because of their substantially greater resources.
Uncertainties resulting from the initiation and continuation of patent
litigation or other intellectual property proceedings could have a material
adverse effect on our ability to compete in the marketplace. Patent litigation
and other intellectual property proceedings may also consume significant
management time.
27
Our
Aversion® Technology may be found to infringe upon claims of patents owned by
others. If we determine or if we are found to be infringing on a patent held
by
another, we might have to seek a license to make, use, and sell the patented
technologies. In that case, we might not be able to obtain such license on
terms
acceptable to us, or at all. If a legal action is brought against us, we could
incur substantial defense costs, and any such action might not be resolved
in
our favor. If such a dispute is resolved against us, we may have to pay the
other party large sums of money and our use of our Aversion® Technology and the
testing, manufacturing, marketing or sale of one or more of our products could
be restricted or prohibited. Even prior to resolution of such a dispute, use
of
our Aversion® Technology and the testing, manufacturing, marketing or sale of
one or more of our products could be restricted or prohibited.
Moreover,
other parties could have blocking patent rights to products made using the
Aversion® Technology.
The Company is aware of certain United States and international pending patent
applications owned by third parties claiming abuse deterrent technologies,
including at least one pending patent application which, if issued in its
present form, may encompass our lead product candidate. If such patent
applications result in issued patents, with claims encompassing our
Aversion® Technology
or products, the Company may need to obtain a license to such patents, should
one be available, or alternatively, alter the Aversion® Technology
so as to avoid infringing such third-party patents. If the Company is unable
to
obtain a license on commercially reasonable terms, the Company could be
restricted or prevented from commercializing products utilizing the
Aversion® Technology.
Additionally, any alterations to the Aversion® Technology
in view of pending third-party patent applications could be time consuming
and
costly and may not result in technologies or products that are non-infringing
or
commercially viable.
The
Company expects to seek and obtain licenses to such patents or patent
applications when, in the Company's judgment, such licenses are needed. If
any
such licenses are required, there can be no assurances that the Company would
be
able to obtain any such license on commercially favorable terms, or at all,
and
if these licenses are not obtained, the Company might be prevented from making,
using and selling the Aversion® Technology
and products. The Company's failure to obtain a license to any technology that
it may require would materially harm the Company's business, financial condition
and results of operations. We cannot assure that the Company's products and/or
actions in developing products incorporating our Aversion® Technology
will not infringe third-party patents.
We
May Be Exposed to Product Liability Claims and May Not Be Able to Obtain
Adequate Product Liability Insurance
Our
business exposes us to potential product liability risks, which are inherent
in
the testing, manufacturing, marketing and sale of pharmaceutical products.
Product liability claims might be made by consumers, health care providers
or
pharmaceutical companies or others that sell our products. These claims may
be
made even with respect to those products that are manufactured in licensed
and
regulated facilities or that otherwise possess regulatory approval for
commercial sale.
We
are
currently covered by clinical trial product liability insurance on a claims-made
basis. This coverage may not be adequate to cover any product liability claims.
Product liability coverage is expensive. In the future, we may not be able
to
maintain or obtain such product liability insurance at a reasonable cost or
in
sufficient amounts to protect us against losses due to liability claims. Any
claims that are not covered by product liability insurance could have a material
adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of
operations.
The
pharmaceutical industry is characterized by frequent litigation. Those companies
with significant financial resources will be better able to bring and defend
any
such litigation. No assurance can be given that we would not become involved
in
such litigation. Such litigation may have material adverse consequences to
the
Company's financial conditions and operations.
We
Face Significant Competition Which May Result in Others Developing or
Commercializing Products Before or More Successfully Than We
Do
The
pharmaceutical industry is highly competitive and is affected by new
technologies, governmental regulations, health care legislation, availability
of
financing, litigation and other factors. If our product candidates receive
FDA
approval, they will compete with a number of existing and future drugs and
therapies developed, manufactured and marketed by others. Existing or future
competing products may provide greater therapeutic convenience or clinical
or
other benefits for a specific indication than our products, or may offer
comparable performance at lower costs. If our products are unable to capture
and
maintain market share, we will not achieve significant product revenues and
our
financial condition will be materially adversely affected.
28
We
will
compete for market share against fully integrated pharmaceutical companies
or
other companies that collaborate with larger pharmaceutical companies, academic
institutions, government agencies and other public and private research
organizations. Many of these competitors have products already approved,
marketed or in development. In addition, many of these competitors, either
alone
or together with their collaborative partners, operate larger research and
development programs, have substantially greater financial resources, experience
in developing products, obtaining FDA and other regulatory approvals,
formulating and manufacturing drugs, and commercializing drugs than we
do.
We
are
concentrating substantially all of our efforts on developing product candidates
incorporating our Aversion® Technology. The commercial success of products using
our Aversion® Technology will depend, in large part, on the intensity of
competition and the relative timing and sequence of new product approvals from
other companies developing, marketing, selling and distributing opioid analgesic
products and other drugs and technologies that compete with the products
incorporating our Aversion® Technology. Alternative technologies and products
are being developed to improve or replace the use of opioids analgesics. In
the
event that such alternatives to opioid analgesics are widely adopted, then
the
market for products incorporating our Aversion® Technology may be substantially
decreased subsequently reducing the Company’s opportunity to generate future
revenues and profits.
Key
Personnel Are Critical to Our Business, and Our Future Success Depends on Our
Ability to Retain Them
We
are
highly dependent on our management and scientific team, including Andrew D.
Reddick, our President and Chief Executive Officer, and Ron J. Spivey, Ph.D.
our
Senior Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer. We may not be able to
attract and retain personnel on acceptable terms given the intense competition
for such personnel among biotechnology, pharmaceutical and healthcare companies,
universities and non-profit research institutions. While we have employment
agreements with certain employees, all of our employees are at-will employees
who may terminate their employment with the Company at any time. We do not
have
key personnel insurance on any of our officers or employees. The loss of any
of
our key personnel, or the inability to attract and retain such personnel, may
significantly delay or prevent the achievement of our product and technology
development and business objectives and could materially adversely affect our
business, financial condition and results of such operations.
The
U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration ("DEA") Limits the Availability of the
Active Ingredients Used in Our Product Candidates and, as a Result, Our Quota
May Not Be Sufficient to Complete Clinical Trials or to Meet Commercial Demand
or May Result in Development Delays
The
DEA
regulates certain finished products and bulk active pharmaceutical ingredients.
Certain opioid active pharmaceutical ingredients in our current product
candidates are classified by the DEA as Schedule II substances under the
Controlled Substances Act of 1970. Consequently, their manufacture, research,
shipment, storage, sale and use are subject to a high degree of regulation.
Furthermore, the amount of Schedule II substances we can obtain for clinical
trials and commercial distribution is limited by the DEA and our quota may
not
be sufficient to complete clinical trials or meet commercial demand. There
is a
risk that DEA regulations may interfere with the supply of the products used
in
our clinical trials, and, in the future, our ability to produce and distribute
our products in the volume needed to meet commercial demand.
We
May Not Obtain DEA Approval for Our Import Registration
Since
early 2001 we have been engaged in the application process to obtain an Import
Registration from the DEA to import narcotic raw materials directly from foreign
countries for use in commercial manufacturing certain bulk opioid APIs. No
assurance can be given that the Import Registration application will be approved
by the DEA or that if granted by DEA, the Import Registration would be upheld
following an appellate challenge.
29
The
Market Price of Our Common Stock May Be Volatile
The
market price of our common stock, like the market price for securities of
pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, has historically
been highly volatile. The market from time to time experiences significant
price
and volume fluctuations that are unrelated to the operating performance of
particular companies. Factors, such as fluctuations in our operating results,
future sales of our common stock, announcements of technological innovations
or
new therapeutic products by us or our competitors, announcements regarding
collaborative agreements, clinical trial results, government regulation,
developments in patent or other proprietary rights, public concern as to the
safety of drugs developed by us or others, changes in reimbursement policies,
comments made by securities analysts and general market conditions may have
a
significant effect on the market price of our common stock. In the past,
following periods of volatility in the market price of a company's securities,
securities class action litigation has often been instituted. A securities
class
action suit against us could result in substantial costs, potential liabilities
and the diversion of management's attention and resources.
The
Company's common stock trades on the OTC Bulletin Board, a NASD-sponsored
inter-dealer quotation system. As the Company's common stock is not quoted
on a
stock exchange and is not qualified for inclusion on the NASD Small-Cap Market,
our common stock could be subject to a rule by the Securities and Exchange
Commission that imposes additional sales practice requirements on broker-dealers
who sell such securities to persons other than established customers and
accredited investors. For transactions covered by this rule, the broker-dealer
must make a special suitability determination for the purchaser and have
received the purchaser's written consent for a transaction prior to sale.
Consequently, the rule may affect the ability of broker-dealers to sell the
Company's common stock and the ability of purchasers in the offering to sell
the
common stock received upon conversion of the Preferred Shares in the secondary
market. There is no guarantee that an active trading market for our common
stock
will be maintained on the OTC Bulletin Board. Investors may be not able to
sell
their shares of common stock quickly or at the latest market price if trading
in
our common stock is not active.
Our
Quarterly Results of Operations Will Fluctuate, and These Fluctuations Could
Cause Our Stock Price to Decline
Our
quarterly operating results are likely to fluctuate in the future. These
fluctuations could cause our stock price to decline. The nature of our business
involves variable factors, such as the timing of the research, development
and
regulatory pathways of our product candidates that could cause our operating
results to fluctuate.
No
Dividends
The
Company has not declared and paid cash dividends on its common stock in the
past, and the Company does not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the
foreseeable future. The Company's senior term loan indebtedness prohibits the
payment of cash dividends.
Control
of the Company
GCE
Holdings LLC beneficially owns approximately 78% of
the
Company's outstanding common stock. In addition, pursuant to the terms of the
Amended and Restated Voting Agreement dated February 6, 2004, as amended,
between the Company and the former holders of the Company's outstanding
convertible preferred stock, all such shareholders have agreed that the Board
of
Directors shall be comprised of not more than seven members, four of whom shall
be the designees of GCE Holdings LLC (the
assignee of all Preferred Stock prior to its conversion into common stock
formerly held by each of Care Capital Investments II, LP, Care Capital Offshore
Investments II, LP, Essex Woodlands Health Ventures V, L.P., Galen Partners
International III, L.P., Galen Partners III, L.P. and Galen Employee Fund III,
L.P.),
As a
result, GCE Holdings LLC, in view of its ownership percentage of the Company
and
by virtue of its controlling position on the Company's Board of Directors,
will
be able to control or significantly influence all matters requiring approval
by
our shareholders, including the approval of mergers or other business
combination transactions. The interests of GCE Holdings LLC may not always
coincide with the interests of other shareholders and such entity may take
action in advance of its interests to the detriment of our other
shareholders.
30
Item
4.
Controls and Procedures
Evaluation
of Disclosure Controls and Procedures. The
Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the
participation of the Company's management, including the Company's Chief
Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the
design and operation of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14 as of the end of the period covered by
this
Report. Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief
Financial Officer concluded that the Company's disclosure controls and
procedures are effective in timely alerting them to material information
relating to the Company (including its consolidated subsidiary) required to
be
included in the Company's periodic Securities and Exchange Commission filings.
No significant changes were made in the Company's internal controls or in other
factors that could significantly affect these controls subsequent to the date
of
their evaluation.
Changes
in Internal Control over Financial Reporting. There
was
no change in the Company's internal control over financial reporting that
occurred during the period covered by this Report that has materially affected,
or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control
over financial reporting.
31
PART
II
Item
2. Changes
in Securities, Use of Proceed and Issuer Purchases of Equity
Securities
Issuance
of Common Shares
During
the quarter ended September 30, 2006, the Company issued its Common Stock in
the
amount of a) 201,109
shares
as payment of $161,000 of
interest payable due September 30, 2006 on the Company’s $5.0 million Secured
Term Note Payable
and b) 193,447 shares as payment of $133,000 of interest payable due September
30, 2006 on the Company's Bridge Loans .
Exemption
from Registration
The
Company issued the above-described Common Stock in reliance upon the exemption
from registration provided by Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended and/or Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933. Each
of the recipients of such shares represented to the Company that such holder
was
an accredited investor as defined in Rule 501(a) of the Securities Act of 1933
and that the securities issued pursuant thereto were being acquired for
investment purposes.
Item
6. Exhibits
The
exhibits required to be filed as part of this Report are listed below.
31.1 |
Certification
of Periodic Report by Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14
and
15d-14 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934.
|
31.2 |
Certification
of Periodic Report by Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14
and
15d-14 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934.
|
32.1 |
Certification
of Periodic Report by the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial
Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to
Section
906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002.
|
32
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant
has
duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto
duly authorized.
Date: November 3, 2006 | ||
ACURA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. | ||
|
|
|
By: | /s/ Andrew D. Reddick | |
Andrew D. Reddick |
||
President & Chief Executive Officer |
|
|
|
By: | /s/ Peter A. Clemens | |
Peter A. Clemens |
||
Senior VP & Chief Financial Officer |
33