Annual Statements Open main menu

Arbutus Biopharma Corp - Quarter Report: 2015 June (Form 10-Q)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

Form 10-Q

 

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2015

 

OR

 

o TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the Transition Period from            to

 

Commission File Number: 001-34949

 

Arbutus Biopharma Corporation

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

British Columbia, Canada 980597776

(State or Other Jurisdiction of

Incorporation or Organization)

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

   
100-8900 Glenlyon Parkway, Burnaby, BC, Canada V5J 5J8
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
 
604-419-3200
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes [x] No [ ]

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes [x] No [ ]

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer [  ] Accelerated filer [ x ]

Non-accelerated filer [   ]

(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

Smaller reporting company [  ]

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes [  ] No [x]

 

As of July 31, 2015, the registrant had 54,328,414 common shares, no par value, outstanding.

 

 
 

ARBUTUS BIOPHARMA CORP.

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Page

 

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION 3
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) 3
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS 21
ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK 39
ITEM 4. DISCLOSURE CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES AND INTERNAL CONTROLS OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING 39
   
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION 40
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS 40
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS 40
ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS 41
ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES 41
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES 41
ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION 41
ITEM 6. EXHIBITS 41

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

PART I.   FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

ARBUTUS BIOPHARMA CORPORATION

(formerly Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corporation)

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Unaudited)

(Expressed in US Dollars and in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

(Prepared in accordance with US GAAP)

   June 30
2015
  December 31
2014
Assets          
Current assets:          
Cash and cash equivalents  $207,205   $72,187 
Short-term investments (note 2)   -    39,974 
Accounts receivable   6,332    1,903 
Accrued revenue   323    538 
Investment tax credits receivable   55    86 
Prepaid expenses and other assets   1,787    1,730 
Total current assets   215,702    116,418 
           
Long-term investments (note 2)   10,012    - 
Property and equipment   12,469    12,959 
Less accumulated depreciation   (10,433)   (11,199)
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation   2,036    1,760 
Intangible assets (note 3)   390,017    - 
Goodwill (note 3)   156,053    - 
Total assets  $773,820    118,178 
           
Liabilities and stockholders' equity          
Current liabilities:          
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities (note 5)  $6,920   $9,328 
Deferred revenue (note 4)   5,605    5,779 
Warrants (note 2)   3,606    5,099 
Total current liabilities   16,131    20,206 
Deferred revenue, net of current portion (note 4)   8,045    9,937 
Contingent consideration (note 8)   5,136    - 
Deferred tax liability (note 3)   156,007    - 
Total liabilities   185,319    30,143 
Stockholders’ equity:          
Common shares (note 3 and note 6)          
Authorized - unlimited number with no par value          
Issued and outstanding:
54,303,402 (December 31, 2014 - 22,438,169)
   821,660    290,004 
Additional paid-in capital   27,844    26,208 
Deficit   (232,739)   (205,864)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (28,264)   (22,313)
Total stockholders' equity   588,501    88,035 
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity  $773,820    118,178 

 

Nature of business and future operations (note 1)

Contingencies and commitments (note 8)

 

See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

3
 

ARBUTUS BIOPHARMA CORPORATION

(formerly Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corporation)

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss

(Unaudited)

(Expressed in US Dollars and in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

(Prepared in accordance with US GAAP)

  

Three months ended

June 30

 

Six months ended

June 30

   2015  2014  2015  2014
Revenue (note 4)                    
Collaborations and contracts  $2,310   $1,144   $5,830   $4,833 
Licensing fees, milestone and royalty payments   1,130    667    2,292    1,408 
Total revenue   3,440    1,811    8,122    6,241 
                     
Expenses                    
Research, development, collaborations and contracts   9,690    9,298    20,247    17,502 
General and administrative   7,662    1,787    10,378    3,837 
Depreciation of property and equipment   147    149    267    283 
Acquisition costs (note 3)   361    -    9,656    - 
Total expenses   17,860    11,234    40,548    21,622 
                     
Loss from operations   (14,420)   (9,423)   (32,426)   (15,381)
                     
Other income (losses)                    
Interest income   81    257    283    404 
Foreign exchange gains (losses)   (2,571)   (2,728)   4,467    (1,285)
(Increase) decrease in fair value of warrant liability (note 2)   2,024    5,813    801    (7,803)
                     
Net loss  $(14,886)  $(6,081)  $(26,875)  $(24,065)
                     
Loss per common share                    
Basic and diluted  $(0.27)  $(0.28)  $(0.64)  $(1.15)
                     
Weighted average number of common shares                    
Basic and diluted   54,255,804    22,063,438    42,297,517    20,938,503 
                     
Comprehensive loss                    
Cumulative translation adjustment   3,223    3,774    (5,951)   1,616 
Comprehensive loss  $(11,663)  $(2,307)  $(32,826)  $(22,449)

 

See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

4
 

ARBUTUS BIOPHARMA CORPORATION

(formerly Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corporation)

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Stockholders’ Equity

(Unaudited)
(Expressed in US Dollars and in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

(Prepared in accordance with US GAAP)

   Number
of shares
  Share
capital
  Additional paid-in
capital
  Deficit  Accumulated
other comprehensive
loss
  Total
stockholders'
equity
Balance, December 31, 2014   22,438,169   $290,004   $26,208   $(205,864)  $(22,313)  $88,035 
                               
Stock-based compensation   -    5,324    1,906    -    -    7,230 
                               
Issuance of common shares pursuant to exercise of options   373,168    2,956    (1,397)   -    -    1,559 
                               
Issuance of common shares pursuant to exercise of warrants   18,750    384    -    -    -    384 
                               
Issuance of common shares in conjunction with the private offering, net of issuance costs of $9,700,000   7,500,000    142,177    -    -    -    142,177 
                               
Issuance of equity instruments in conjunction with the acquisition of Arbutus Inc. (note 3)   23,973,315    380,815    1,127    -    -    381,942 
                               
Currency translation adjustment   -    -    -    -    (5,951)   (5,951)
                               
Net loss   -    -    -    (26,875)   -    (26,875)
                               
Balance, June 30, 2015   54,303,402   $821,660   $27,844   $(232,739)  $(28,264)  $588,501 

 

See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

5
 

ARBUTUS BIOPHARMA CORPORATION

(formerly Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corporation)

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow

(Unaudited)
(Expressed in US Dollars and in thousands)

(Prepared in accordance with US GAAP)

   Three months ended
June 30
  Six months ended
June 30
   2015  2014  2015  2014
OPERATING ACTIVITIES                    
Net loss for the period  $(14,886)  $(6,081)  $(26,875)  $(24,065)
Items not involving cash:                    
Depreciation of property and equipment   147    149    267    283 
Stock-based compensation - research, development, collaborations
and contract expenses
   1,377    792    2,705    1,640 
Stock-based compensation - general and administrative expenses   4,046    289    4,525    629 
Unrealized foreign exchange (gains) losses   2,639    1,391    (4,418)   1,332 
Change in fair value of warrant liability   (2,024)   (5,813)   (801)   7,803 
Net change in non-cash operating items:                    
Accounts receivable   (1,738)   1,231    (4,624)   (178)
Accrued revenue   1,304    220    178    12 
Deferred expenses   -    57    -    112 
Prepaid expenses and other assets   (519)   243    (298)   725 
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities   (7,351)   (943)   (5,343)   108 
Deferred revenue   334    455    (957)   12,744 
                     
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities   (16,671)   (8,010)   (35,641)   1,145 
                     
INVESTING ACTIVITIES                    
Disposition (acquisition) of short and long-term investments   (9,944)   (42,992)   27,419    (42,992)
Cash acquired through acquisition (note 3)   -    -    324    - 
Acquisition of property and equipment   (383)   (246)   (524)   (581)
                     
Net cash provided by (used) in investing activities   (10,327)   (43,238)   27,219    (43,573)
                     
FINANCING ACTIVITIES                    
Proceeds from issuance of common shares, net of issuance costs   2    -    142,177    56,477 
Issuance of common shares pursuant to exercise of options   939    148    1,559    2,072 
Issuance of common shares pursuant to exercise of warrants   19    86    44    974 
                     
Net cash provided by financing activities   960    234    143,780    59,523 
                     
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents   967    1,924    (340)   (545)
                     
Increase in cash and cash equivalents   (25,071)   (49,090)   135,018    16,550 
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period   232,276    134,357    72,187    68,717 
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period  $207,205   $85,267   $207,205   $85,267 
                     
Supplemental cash flow information                    
Non-cash transactions:                    
Fair value of warrants exercised on a cashless basis  $-   $(116)  $-   $(116)
Investment tax credits received  $25   $-   $25   $- 
Acquisition of Arbutus Inc. excluding cash acquired  $-   $-   $381,618   $- 

 

See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

6
 

ARBUTUS BIOPHARMA CORPORATION

(formerly Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corporation)

 

Notes to condensed consolidated financial statements

(Unaudited)

(Expressed in US dollars – tabular amounts in thousands)

1.Nature of business and future operations

Arbutus Biopharma Corporation (the “Company” or “Arbutus”) is a Canadian biopharmaceutical business dedicated to discovering, developing, and commercializing a cure for patients suffering from chronic hepatitis B infection (“HBV”), a disease of the liver caused by hepatitis B virus (“HBV”). The Company is also developing a pipeline focused on advancing novel RNA interference therapeutics (RNAi) leveraging the Company’s expertise in Lipid Nanoparticle (“LNP”) technology.

Effective July 31, 2015, the corporate name changed from Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corporation (“Tekmira”) to Arbutus Biopharma Corporation. Also effective July 31, 2015, the corporate name of the wholly-owned subsidiary, OnCore Biopharma, Inc. (“OnCore”) changed to Arbutus Biopharma Inc. (“Arbutus Inc.”). Including Arbutus Inc., the Company has five wholly-owned subsidiaries: Protiva Biotherapeutics Inc. (“Protiva”), Protiva Biotherapeutics (USA) Inc. (“Protiva USA”), Protiva Agricultural Development Company Inc. (“PADCo”), and Enantigen Therapeutics, Inc. (“Enantigen”).

The success of the Company is dependent on obtaining the necessary regulatory approvals to bring its products to market and achieve profitable operations. The continuation of the research and development activities and the commercialization of its products are dependent on the Company’s ability to successfully complete these activities and to obtain adequate financing through a combination of financing activities and operations. It is not possible to predict either the outcome of future research and development programs or the Company’s ability to fund these programs in the future.

 

2.Significant accounting policies

Basis of presentation

These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles of the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial statements and accordingly, do not include all disclosures required for annual financial statements. These statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2014 and included in the Company’s 2014 annual report on Form 10-K. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements reflect, in the opinion of management, all adjustments and reclassifications necessary to present fairly the financial position, results of operations and cash flows at June 30, 2015 and for all periods presented. The results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015 and June 30, 2014 are not necessarily indicative of the results for the full year. These condensed consolidated financial statements follow the same significant accounting policies as those described in the notes to the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2014, except as described below.

Principles of Consolidation

These condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and four of its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Arbutus Inc., Protiva, Protiva USA, and Enantigen. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated on consolidation.

The Company records its investment in PADCo using the equity method. The Company has determined that PADCo is a variable interest entity (“VIE”) of which it is not the primary beneficiary. The Company is not the primary beneficiary as it does not have the power to make decisions that most significantly affect the economic performance of the VIE nor does not have the right to receive benefits or the obligation to absorb losses that in either case could potentially be significant to the VIE. PADCo is described further in note 4(b).

Replacement awards

Replacement awards are share-based payment awards exchanged for awards held by employees of Arbutus Inc. As part of the Company’s acquisition of Arbutus Inc. (formerly OnCore), Arbutus (formerly Tekmira) shares were exchanged for Arbutus Inc.’s shares subject to repurchase rights held by Arbutus Inc.’s employees – see note 3.

As at the date of acquisition of Arbutus Inc., the Company determined the total fair value of replacement awards and attributed a portion of the replacement awards to pre-combination service as part of the total acquisition consideration, and a portion to post-combination service, which is recognized as compensation expense over the expiry period of repurchase provision rights subsequent to the acquisition date.

The replacement awards consist of common shares that were issued at acquisition. Accordingly, as stock compensation expense related to these awards is recognized, share capital is increased by a corresponding amount.

7
 

ARBUTUS BIOPHARMA CORPORATION

(formerly Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corporation)

 

Notes to condensed consolidated financial statements

(Unaudited)

(Expressed in US dollars – tabular amounts in thousands)

Goodwill and intangible assets

The costs incurred in establishing and maintaining patents for intellectual property developed internally are expensed in the period incurred.

Intangible assets consist of in-process research and development arising from the Company’s acquisition of Arbutus Inc. – see note 3. In-process research and development (IPR&D) intangible assets are classified as indefinite-lived and are not amortized. IPR&D becomes definite-lived upon the completion or abandonment of the associated research and development efforts. Intangible assets with finite useful lives are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives, which are the respective patent terms. Amortization begins when intangible assets with finite lives are put into use. If there is a major event indicating that the carrying value of intangible assets may be impaired, then management will perform an impairment test and if the recoverable value, based on undiscounted future cash flows, exceeds the carrying value, then such assets are written down to their fair values.

Goodwill represents the excess of purchase price over the value assigned to the net tangible and identifiable intangible assets of Arbutus Inc. – see note 3. Goodwill has an indefinite accounting life and is therefore not amortized. Instead, goodwill is subject to a two-step impairment test on an annual basis, unless the Company identifies impairment indicators that would require earlier testing. The first step compares the fair value of the reporting unit to its carrying amount, which includes the goodwill. When the fair value of a reporting unit exceeds its carrying amount, goodwill of the reporting unit is considered not to be impaired, and the second step of the impairment test is unnecessary. If the carrying amount exceeds the implied fair value of the goodwill, the second step measures the amount of the impairment loss. If the carrying amount exceeds the fair value of the goodwill, an impairment loss is recognized equal to that excess.

Income or loss per share

Income or loss per share is calculated based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted loss per share does not differ from basic loss per share since the effect of the Company’s stock options and warrants is anti-dilutive. Diluted income per share is calculated using the treasury stock method which uses the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period and also includes the dilutive effect of potentially issuable common shares from outstanding, in-the-money stock options and warrants. During the six months ended June 30, 2015, potential common shares of 2,774,398 (June 30, 2014 – 2,558,925) were excluded from the calculation of income per common share because their inclusion would be anti-dilutive.

Fair value of financial instruments

The Company measures certain financial instruments and other items at fair value.

To determine the fair value, the Company uses the fair value hierarchy for inputs used in measuring fair value that maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that the most observable inputs be used when available. Observable inputs are inputs market participants would use to value an asset or liability and are developed based on market data obtained from independent sources. Unobservable inputs are inputs based on assumptions about the factors market participants would use to value an asset or liability. The three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value are as follows:

 

    Level 1 inputs are quoted market prices for identical instruments available in active markets.

 

    Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability either directly or indirectly. If the asset or liability has a contractual term, the input must be observable for substantially the full term. An example includes quoted market prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets.

 

    Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability and will reflect management’s assumptions about market assumptions that would be used to price the asset or liability.

8
 

ARBUTUS BIOPHARMA CORPORATION

(formerly Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corporation)

 

Notes to condensed consolidated financial statements

(Unaudited)

(Expressed in US dollars – tabular amounts in thousands)

The following tables present information about the Company’s assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis, in thousands, and indicates the fair value hierarchy of the valuation techniques used to determine such fair value:

   Level 1  Level 2  Level 3  June 30, 2015
Assets                    
Cash and cash equivalents  $207,205    -    -   $207,205 
Term deposit   10,012    -    -    10,012 
Total  $217,217             $217,217 
                     
Liabilities                    
Warrants   -    -   $3,606   $3,606 
Contingent consideration   -    -   $5,136   $5,136 
Financial instrument   -    -    -    - 
Total   -    -   $8,742   $8,742 

 

    Level 1    Level 2    Level 3    December 31, 2014 
Assets                    
Cash and cash equivalents  $72,187    -    -   $72,187 
Guaranteed investment certificates   39,974    -    -    39,974 
Total  $112,161    -    -   $112,161 
                     
Liabilities                    
Warrants   -    -   $5,099   $5,099 
Financial instrument   -    -    -    - 
Total   -    -   $5,099   $5,099 

The Company acquired a term deposit in May 2015 with an original maturity of 24-months and it has been classified as a long-term investment on the balance sheet. For the period ended June 30, 2015, the fair value of the term deposit is $10,012,000 which includes the principal and accrued interest earned as at the balance sheet date.

The Company used a discounted cash flow model to determine the fair value of the financial instrument, related to Monsanto’s call option to acquire the equity or all of the assets of PADCo, as described in note 4(b). The fair value was determined at the date of recognition, and at each reporting date. The initial fair value of the financial liability was nil, and there has been no change to its fair value as at June 30, 2015.

Contingent consideration is a liability assumed by the Company from its acquisition of Arbutus Inc. – see notes 3 and 8. The Company used a discounted cash flow model to determine the fair value of the contingent consideration as at the acquisition date, and at each subsequent reporting date. The Company’s preliminary estimate of the contingent consideration was $4,736,000 for the reporting date of March 31, 2015. As at June 30, 2015, the Company has reassessed the preliminary initial fair value of the contingent consideration to be $5,136,000.

 

9
 

ARBUTUS BIOPHARMA CORPORATION

(formerly Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corporation)

 

Notes to condensed consolidated financial statements

(Unaudited)

(Expressed in US dollars – tabular amounts in thousands)

The following table presents the changes in fair value of the Company’s warrants, in thousands:

   Liability at beginning of the period  Opening liability of warrants issued in the period  Fair value of warrants exercised in the period 

Increase (decrease) in fair

value of warrants

 

Foreign exchange 

(gain) loss

 

Liability at end

of the period

 Six months ended June 30, 2014   $5,379    -   $(6,607)  $7,803   $15   $6,590 
 Six months ended June 30, 2015   $5,099    -   $(341)  $(801)  $(351)  $3,606 

The change in fair value of warrant liability for the six months ended June 30, 2015 is recorded in the statement of operations and comprehensive loss.

The weighted average Black-Scholes option-pricing assumptions and the resultant fair values, in thousands, for warrants outstanding at June 30, 2015 and at December 31, 2014 are as follows:

   June 30, 2015  December 31, 2014
           
Dividend yield   0.00%   0.00%
Expected volatility   69.32%   85.22%
Risk-free interest rate   0.59%   1.00%
Expected average term (years)   0.4    0.5 
Fair value of warrants outstanding  $9.50   $12.80 
Aggregate fair value of warrants outstanding  $3,606   $5,099 
Number of warrants outstanding   379,500    398,250 

Foreign currency translation and reporting currency

Functional currency

The functional currency of the Company and its integrated subsidiaries (Protiva and Protiva USA) is the Canadian dollar. Foreign currency monetary assets and liabilities are translated into Canadian dollars at the rate of exchange prevailing at the balance sheet date. Non-monetary assets and liabilities are translated at historical exchange rates. The previous month’s average rate of exchange is used to translate revenue and expense transactions. Exchange gains and losses are included in income or loss for the period.

The local currency of Arbutus Inc. (including its subsidiary, Enantigen) is the United States dollars which has been determined to be its functional currency, as it is the currency of the primary economic environment in which Arbutus Inc. operates and expends cash. Foreign currency monetary assets and liabilities are translated into United States dollars at the exchange rate prevailing at the balance sheet date. Non-monetary assets and liabilities are translated at historical exchange rates. The previous month’s average rate of exchange is used to translate revenue and expense transactions. Exchange gains and losses are included in income or loss for the period.

Reporting currency

The Company is using United States dollars as its reporting currency. All assets and liabilities are translated using the exchange rate at the balance sheet date. Revenues, expenses and other income (losses) are translated using the average rate for the period, except for large transactions, for which the exchange rate on the date of the transaction is used. Equity accounts are translated using the historical rate. The translation differences from the Company’s functional currency to the Company’s reporting currency of U.S. dollars are unrealized gains and losses; therefore, the differences are recorded in other comprehensive income (loss), and do not impact the calculation of Income or Loss per Share.

10
 

ARBUTUS BIOPHARMA CORPORATION

(formerly Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corporation)

 

Notes to condensed consolidated financial statements

(Unaudited)

(Expressed in US dollars – tabular amounts in thousands)

Recent accounting pronouncements

From time to time, new accounting pronouncements are issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) or other standard setting bodies that are adopted by the Company as of the specified effective date. Unless otherwise discussed, the Company believes that the impact of recently issued standards that are not yet effective will not have a material impact on its financial position or results of operations upon adoption.

 

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASC 606). The standard is intended to clarify the principles for recognizing revenue and to develop a common revenue standard for U.S. GAAP and IFRS by creating a new Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. This guidance supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in ASC 605, Revenue Recognition, and supersedes some cost guidance included in Subtopic 605-35, Revenue Recognition – Construction-Type and Production-Type Contracts. The core principle of the accounting standard is that an entity recognizes revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those good or services. The amendments should be applied by either (1) retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented; or (2) retrospectively with the cumulative effect of initially applying this ASU recognized at the date of initial application. In April 2015, the FASB voted to propose a deferral of the effective date of the ASU by one year. The new guidance would be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017 instead of December 15, 2016, which for the Company means January 1, 2018. Entities are permitted to adopt in accordance with the original effective date if they choose. The Company has not yet determined the extent of the impact of adoption.

 

In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-15, Presentation of Financial Statements – Going Concern (Subtopic 205-40): Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern. The update is intended to provide guidance in GAAP about management’s responsibility to evaluate whether there is substantial doubt about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern and to provide related footnote disclosures. Under amendments to GAAP, the assessment period is within one year after the date that the financial statements are issued (or available to be issued). The amendments are effective for the annual period ending after December 15, 2016, which for the Company means January 1, 2017, and for annual periods and interim periods thereafter. Early application is permitted. The Company does not plan to early adopt this update. The extent on the impact of this adoption has not yet been determined.

 

3.Merger with Arbutus Biopharma Inc. (formerly OnCore BioPharma, Inc.)

 

On January 11, 2015, the Company entered into a Merger Agreement to acquire 100% of the outstanding shares of Arbutus Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Enantigen (see note 8). Arbutus Inc. was a privately owned U.S. company focused on discovery, development and commercialization of an all-oral cure regimen for patients with HBV. The merger was approved by the Company’s shareholders on March 3, 2015 and consummated on March 4, 2015. Arbutus Inc.’s results of operations and fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed are included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements from the date of acquisition.

 

The transaction has been accounted for using the acquisition method based on ASC 805, Business Combinations, on the basis that Arbutus (formerly Tekmira) is the acquirer, based on managements’ analysis and evaluation of the form of the acquisition, the relative contribution and rights of the predecessor groups post-closing, and the relative number of shares issued by the Company on acquisition of Arbutus Inc.. Under the acquisition method, the consideration transferred is measured at the market price as at the acquisition date. The excess of the purchase price over the preliminary value assigned to the net assets acquired has been recorded as goodwill. Acquisition costs are expensed as incurred. The company recorded $9,656,000 of acquisition costs for the six-months ended June 30, 2015.

 

The Company issued a total of 23,973,315 common shares with a total value of $381,942,000 as consideration, which is comprised of 20,347,906 common shares issued without subjects and 3,625,412 common shares issued to Arbutus Inc.’s founding executives and subject to repurchase provision. The fair value of the common shares issued without subjects has been determined to be the Company’s NASDAQ closing price of $18.26 on the date prior to the acquisition’s consummation, March 4, 2015. The total fair value of the common shares issued subject to repurchase provision has been determined to be $66,196,000, using the Black-Scholes pricing model with assumed risk-free interest rate of 0.74%, volatility of 81%, a zero dividend yield and an expected life of 4 years. Of the total fair value, $9,262,000 has been attributed as pre-combination service and included as part of the total acquisition consideration. The post-combination attribution of $56,934,000 will be recognized as compensation expense over the period of expiry of repurchase provision rights through to August 2018. The Company has included $5,324,000 compensation expense related to the expiration of repurchase provision rights from the acquisition date through to June 30, 2015. In July 2015, in conjunction with amendments to the the employment contracts of Arbutus Inc.’s founding executives, the Company amended the repurchase provision rights period of expiry from August 2018 to August 2017. This amendment results in an acceleration of compensation expense recognized in each subsequent period by approximately $1,893,000 per quarter, effective Q3 2015.

 

As at June 30, 2015, 3,625,412 shares were issued and outstanding which are subject to repurchase provision. Subsequent to the acquisition date, the repurchase rights expire at a rate of 453,177 shares every 3 months commencing on November 30, 2015.

11
 

ARBUTUS BIOPHARMA CORPORATION

(formerly Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corporation)

 

Notes to condensed consolidated financial statements

(Unaudited)

(Expressed in US dollars – tabular amounts in thousands)

 

The Company has further reserved 184,332 shares for the future exercise of Arbutus Inc. stock options. The total fair value of Arbutus Inc. stock options has been determined to be $3,287,000, using the Black-Scholes pricing model with the same assumption inputs used by the Company to determine the fair value of Arbutus options. Of the total fair value, $1,127,000 has been attributed as pre-combination service and included as part of the total acquisition consideration. The post-combination attribution of $2,160,000 will be recognized as compensation expense over the vesting period of the stock options through to December 2018. The Company has included $190,000 compensation expense related to the vesting of Arbutus Inc. stock options from the acquisition date through to June 30, 2015.

 

The aggregate fair value of consideration transferred to acquire Arbutus Inc.’s outstanding shares has been determined to be $381,942,000, and has been attributed to preliminary fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed as summarized in the following table, in thousands:

 

Consideration paid:     
Common shares issued without subjects  $371,553 
Common shares issued subject to repurchase provision   9,262 
Common shares issuable for Arbutus Inc. stock options   1,127 
   $381,942 
      
Identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed:     
Cash  $324 
Prepaid expenses and other assets   116 
Accounts receivable   8 
Property and equipment   147 
Acquired intangible assets   390,017 
Goodwill   156,053 
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities   (3,580)
Other noncurrent liabilities (note 8)   (5,136)
Deferred income tax liability   (156,017)
Total purchase price allocation  $381,942 

 

The preliminary fair value of intangible assets is estimated to be $390,017,000 using the income approach. The income approach uses valuation techniques to discount future economic benefits attributed to the subject intangible asset to a present value. Present value is based on current market expectations about those future amounts and includes management’s estimates of risk-adjusted future incremental earnings that may be achieved upon regulatory approval, promotion, and distribution associated with the rights and includes estimated cash flows of approximately 20 years and a discount rate of approximately 13.8%. The identifiable intangible assets acquired consist of in-process research and development (IPR&D) HBV assets, as summarized in the table below:

 

   $
IPR&D – Cyclophilins   35,124 
IPR&D – Immune Modulator   189,182 
IPR&D – Antigen Inhibitors   35,520 
IPR&D – cccDNA   130,191 
Total IPR&D  $390,017 

 

12
 

ARBUTUS BIOPHARMA CORPORATION

(formerly Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corporation)

 

Notes to condensed consolidated financial statements

(Unaudited)

(Expressed in US dollars – tabular amounts in thousands)

 

All IPR&D acquired are currently classified as indefinite-lived and so is not currently being amortized. IRP&D becomes definite-lived upon the completion or abandonment of the associated research and development efforts, and will be amortized from that time over an estimated useful life based on respective patent terms. The fair value of each IPR&D asset will continue to be evaluated on a quarterly basis for indicators of impairment.

 

Based on the preliminary fair values above, an amount of $156,053,000 has been allocated to goodwill, which represents the excess of the purchase price over the final value assigned to the net assets acquired. Goodwill is attributable to synergies expected to arise after the Company’s acquisition of Arbutus Inc. The full amount of the goodwill has been assigned to Arbutus, which is the reporting unit management has determined the goodwill to be associated with. The goodwill is not deductible for tax purposes, and is not amortized, but will be evaluated for impairment on an annual basis.

 

The amount of net loss of Arbutus Inc. included in the consolidated statements of operations from the acquisition date, through the period ended June 30, 2015 was $4,072,000. Arbutus Inc. did not earn any revenues from the acquisition date through the period ended June 30, 2015.

 

The following table presents the unaudited pro forma results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014. The pro forma financial information combines the results of operations of Arbutus, Arbutus Inc., Protiva, Protiva USA, and Enantigen as though the businesses had been combined as of the beginning of fiscal 2014. The pro forma financial information is presented for informational purposes only, and is not indicative of the results of operations that would have been achieved if the merger had taken place at the beginning of fiscal 2014. The pro forma financial information presented includes acquisition costs, amortization charges for acquired tangible assets, but does not include amortization charges for acquired intangible assets as these assets have not yet been put in use.

 

   Three Months Ended
June 30,
  Six Months Ended
June 30,
   2015  2014  2015  2014
Pro forma information            
Gross Revenue  $3,440   $1,811   $8,122   $6,241 
Loss from operations   (14,420)   (13,844)   (39,491)   (24,278)
Net loss   (14,886)   (10,479)   (33,940)   (32,962)
Basic and diluted loss per share   (0.27)   (0.23)   (0.67)   (0.73)

 

4.Collaborations, contracts and licensing agreements

The following tables set forth revenue recognized under collaborations, contracts and licensing agreements, in thousands:

   Three months ended June 30  Six months ended June 30
   2015  2014  2015  2014
Collaborations and contracts                    
DoD (a)  $1,862   $861   $4,907   $4,101 
Monsanto (b)   269    283    517    526 
BMS (d)   -    -    -    206 
Dicerna (e)   179    -    406    - 
Total research and development collaborations and contracts   2,310    1,144    5,830    4,833 
                     
Licensing fees, milestone and royalty payments                    
Monsanto licensing fees and milestone payments (b)   805    626    1,647    1,171 
Acuitas milestone payments (c)   -    -    -    150 
Dicerna licensing fee (e)   263    -    526    - 
Spectrum royalty payments (f)   62    41    119    87 
Total licensing fees, milestone and royalty payments   1,130    667    2,292    1,408 
Total revenue  $3,440   $1,811   $8,122   $6,241 

13
 

ARBUTUS BIOPHARMA CORPORATION

(formerly Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corporation)

 

Notes to condensed consolidated financial statements

(Unaudited)

(Expressed in US dollars – tabular amounts in thousands)

The following table sets forth deferred collaborations and contracts revenue:

   June 30, 2015  December 31, 2014
           
DoD (a)  $563   $313 
Monsanto current portion (b)   3,746    4,245 
Dicerna current portion (e)   1,296    1,221 
Deferred revenue, current portion   5,605    5,785 
Monsanto long-term portion (b)   7,336    8,666 
Dicerna long-term portion (e)   709    1,271 
Total deferred revenue  $13,650   $15,722 

 

(a) Contract with United States Government’s Department of Defense (“DoD”) to develop TKM-Ebola

On July 14, 2010, the Company signed a contract with the DoD to advance TKM-Ebola, an RNAi therapeutic utilizing the Company’s lipid nanoparticle technology to treat Ebola virus infection.

In the initial phase of the contract, funded as part of the Transformational Medical Technologies program, the Company was eligible to receive up to $34,700,000. This initial funding is for the development of TKM-Ebola including completion of preclinical development, filing an Investigational New Drug application with the United States Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) and completing a Phase 1 human safety clinical trial. On May 8, 2013, the Company announced that the contract had been modified to support development plans that integrate recent advancements in lipid nanoparticle (“LNP”) formulation and manufacturing technologies. The contract modification increased the stage one targeted funding by an additional $6,970,000. On April 22, 2014, the Company and the DoD signed a contract modification to further increase the stage one targeted funding by $2,100,000 to $43,819,000. The additional funding is to compensate the Company for unrecovered overheads related to the temporary stop-work period that occurred in 2012 and to provide additional overhead funding should it be required. In May 2015, the Company and the DoD signed a contract modification to further increase stage one funding by up to $1,000,000.

 

The DoD has the option of extending the contract beyond the initial funding period to support the advancement of TKM-Ebola through to the completion of clinical development and FDA approval. Based on the contract’s budget this would provide the Company with up to $140,000,000 in funding for the entire program. In October 2014, the Company and the DoD exercised an option to add $7,000,000 for the manufacture of TKM-Ebola-Guinea (the “Ebola-Guinea Amendment”), developed by the Company, targeting the Ebola-Guinea strain responsible for the current outbreak in West Africa.

 

In March 2015, the Company and the DoD signed a contract modification to provide up to $2,250,000 to fund the Company for TKM-Ebola-Guinea IND submission expenses.

 

Under the contract, the Company is reimbursed for costs incurred, including an allocation of overhead costs, and is paid an incentive fee. At the beginning of the fiscal year the Company estimates its labour and overhead rates for the year ahead. At the end of the year the actual labour and overhead rates are calculated and revenue is adjusted accordingly. The Company’s actual labour and overhead rates will differ from its estimated rates based on actual costs incurred and the proportion of the Company’s efforts on contracts and internal products versus indirect activities. Within minimum and maximum collars, the amount of incentive fee the Company can earn under the contract varies based on costs incurred versus budgeted costs. During the contractual period, incentive fee revenue and total costs are impacted by management’s estimate and judgments which are continuously reviewed and adjusted as necessary using the cumulative catch-up method. At June 30, 2015, the Company believes it can reliably estimate the final contract costs so has recognized the portion of expected incentive fee which has been earned to date.

 

On July 20, 2015, the Company announced given the unclear development path for TKM-Ebola, development activities will be suspended and a joint re-evaluation of the development contract with the DoD is underway.

 

14
 

ARBUTUS BIOPHARMA CORPORATION

(formerly Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corporation)

 

Notes to condensed consolidated financial statements

(Unaudited)

(Expressed in US dollars – tabular amounts in thousands)

 

(b) Option and Services Agreements with Monsanto Company (“Monsanto”)

 

On January 13, 2014, the Company and Monsanto signed an Option Agreement and a Services Agreement (together, the “Agreements”). Under the Agreements, Monsanto has an option to obtain a license to use the Company’s proprietary delivery technology and related intellectual property for use in agriculture. Over the option period, which is expected to be approximately four years, the Company will provide lipid formulations for Monsanto’s research and development activities, and Monsanto will make certain payments to the Company to maintain its option rights. The maximum potential value of the transaction, following the successful completion of milestones, is $86,200,000.

 

In May 2015, the arrangement was amended to extend the option period by approximately five months, with payments up to $2,000,000 for the extension period. From inception of the contract to June 30, 2015, the Company had received $18,550,000 from MonsantoThe amounts received relate to research services and use of the Company’s technology over the option period, and are recognized as revenue on a straight-line basis over the extended option period.

 

Under the Agreements, the Company has established a wholly-owned subsidiary, PADCo. The Company has determined that PADCo is a variable interest entity (“VIE”); however, Monsanto is the primary beneficiary of the arrangement. PADCo was established to perform research and development activities, which have been funded by Monsanto in return for a call option to acquire the equity or all of the assets of PADCo. At any time during the option period, Monsanto may choose to exercise its option, in which case Monsanto would pay the Company an option exercise fee and would receive a worldwide, exclusive right to use the Company’s proprietary delivery technology in the field of agriculture. Monsanto may elect to terminate this option at their discretion. The Company retains all rights to therapeutics uses of all current intellectual property and intellectual property developed under the Agreements. The Company’s initial investment is not significant, and has no implied or unfunded commitments and the maximum exposure to loss is limited to the amount of investment in the entity. The Company has included its investment in PADco in Other Assets. There were no significant assets or liabilities for PADCo as at June 30, 2015. There was no equity income or loss with respect to PADCo recorded for the six months ended June 30, 2015.

(c) License and collaboration with Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Alnylam”) and Acuitas Therapeutics Inc. (“Acuitas”, formerly AlCana Technologies Inc.)

Milestone receipts and payments

In the six months ended June 30, 2014, the Company earned a $150,000 milestone from Acuitas, subsequent to Acuitas receiving a milestone payment from Alnylam with respect to Alnylam initiating a Phase III trial for ALN-TTR02.

Arbitration with Alnylam and Ascletis Pharmaceuticals (Hangzhou) Co. Ltd. (“Ascletis”)

On June 21, 2013, the Company transferred manufacturing process technology to Ascletis to enable them to produce ALN-VSP, a product candidate licensed to them by Alnylam. The Company believes that under the new licensing agreement with Alnylam, the technology transfer to Ascletis triggers a $5,000,000 milestone obligation from Alnylam to the Company. However, Alnylam has demanded a declaration that the Company has not yet met its milestone obligations. The Company disputes Alnylam’s position. To remedy this dispute, the Company and Alnylam have commenced arbitration proceedings as provided for under the agreement. The hearing date for this arbitration took place in May 2015, and a decision of the arbitrator is pending. The Company has not recorded any revenue in respect of this milestone.

(d) Bristol-Myers Squibb (“BMS”) collaboration

On May 10, 2010 the Company announced the expansion of its research collaboration with BMS. Under the new agreement, BMS uses small interfering RNA (“siRNA”) molecules formulated by the Company in LNP technology to silence target genes of interest. BMS is conducting the preclinical work to validate the function of certain genes and share the data with the Company. The Company could use the preclinical data to develop RNAi therapeutic drugs against the therapeutic targets of interest. The Company received $3,000,000 from BMS concurrent with the signing of the agreement and recorded the amount as deferred revenue. The Company was required to provide a pre-determined number of LNP batches over the four-year agreement. BMS had a first right to negotiate a licensing agreement on certain RNAi products developed by the Company that evolve from BMS validated gene targets.

Revenue from the May 10, 2010 agreement with BMS was being recognized as the Company produces the related LNP batches.

The revenue earned for the six months ended June 30, 2014 was related to BMS batches shipped during the period. In August 2014, the agreement expired and both companies’ obligations under the agreement ended.

15
 

ARBUTUS BIOPHARMA CORPORATION

(formerly Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corporation)

 

Notes to condensed consolidated financial statements

(Unaudited)

(Expressed in US dollars – tabular amounts in thousands)

 

(e) License and Development and Supply Agreement with Dicerna Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Dicerna”)

 

On November 16, 2014, the Company signed a License Agreement and a Development and Supply Agreement (together, the “Agreements”) with Dicerna to develop, manufacture, and commercialize products directed to the treatment of Primary Hyperoxaluria 1 (“PH1”). In consideration for the rights granted under the Agreements, Dicerna paid the Company an upfront cash payment of $2,500,000. The Company is also entitled to receive payments from Dicerna on manufacturing and services provided, as well as further payments with the achievement of development and regulatory milestones of up to $22,000,000, in aggregate, and potential commercial royalties. Further, under the Agreements, a joint development committee has been established to provide guidance and direction on the progression of the collaboration.

 

The Company determined the deliverables under the Agreements included the rights granted, participation in the joint development committee, materials manufactured and other services provided, as directed under the joint development committee. The Company has determined that manufacturing services and other services provided have standalone value, as a separate statement of work is executed and invoiced for each manufacturing or service work order. The relative fair values are determined as a batch price or fee is estimated upon the execution of each work order, with actual expenditures charged at comparable market rates with embedded margins on each work order. Manufacturing work orders are invoiced at the time of execution of the work order, at the initiation of manufacture, and at the release of materials. Revenue from service work orders is recognized as the services are performed. The license and participation in the joint development committee have been determined by the Company to not have standalone value due to the uniqueness of the subject matter under the Agreements. Therefore, these deliverables are treated as one unit of accounting and recognized as revenue over the performance period, which the Company has estimated to be approximately 28 months.

 

The Company believes the development and regulatory milestones are substantive, due to the existence of substantive uncertainty upon the execution of the arrangement, and that the achievement of the development and regulatory events are based, in part, on the Company’s performance and the occurrence of a specific outcome resulting from performance. The Company has not received any milestone payments to date.

 

(f) Agreements with Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Spectrum”)

On May 6, 2006, the Company signed a number of agreements with Talon Therapeutics, Inc. (“Talon”, formerly Hana Biosciences, Inc.) including the grant of worldwide licenses (the “Talon License Agreement”) for three of the Company’s chemotherapy products, Marqibo®, AlocrestTM (Optisomal Vinorelbine) and BrakivaTM (Optisomal Topotecan).

On August 9, 2012, the Company announced that Talon had received accelerated approval for Marqibo from the FDA for the treatment of adult patients with Philadelphia chromosome negative acute lymphoblastic leukemia in second or greater relapse or whose disease has progressed following two or more anti-leukemia therapies. Marqibo is a liposomal formulation of the chemotherapy drug vincristine. There are no further milestones related to Marqibo but the Company is eligible to receive total milestone payments of up to $18,000,000 on Alocrest and Brakiva.

Talon was acquired by Spectrum in July 2013. The acquisition does not affect the terms of the license between Talon and the Company. On September 3, 2013, Spectrum announced that they had shipped the first commercial orders of Marqibo. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2015, the Company recorded $62,000 and $119,000 in Marqibo royalty revenue (three and six months ended June 30, 2014 - $41,000 and $87,000 respectively). For the six months ended June 30, 2015, the Company accrued 2.5% in royalties due to TPC in respect of the Marqibo royalty earned by the Company – see note 8, contingencies and commitments.

16
 

ARBUTUS BIOPHARMA CORPORATION

(formerly Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corporation)

 

Notes to condensed consolidated financial statements

(Unaudited)

(Expressed in US dollars – tabular amounts in thousands)

 

5.Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities is comprised of the following, in thousands:

   June 30, 2015  December 31, 2014
           
Trade accounts payable  $2,802   $2,044 
Research and development accruals   1,914    2,391 
License fee accruals   -    250 
Professional fee accruals   604    1,294 
Deferred lease inducements   364    250 
Payroll accruals   491    2,873 
Other accrued liabilities   745    226 
   $6,920   $9,328 

6.Financing

On March 25, 2015, the Company announced that it had completed an underwritten public offering of 7,500,000 common shares, at a price of $20.25 per share, representing gross proceeds of $151,875,000. The Company also granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase an additional 1,125,000 shares for an additional $22,781,000 to cover any over-allotments. The underwriters did not exercise the option. The cost of financing, including commissions and professional fees, was $9,700,000, resulting in net proceeds of $142,177,000.

 

7.Concentrations of credit risk

Credit risk is defined by the Company as an unexpected loss in cash and earnings if a collaborative partner is unable to pay its obligations in due time. The Company’s main source of credit risk is related to its accounts receivable balance which principally represents temporary financing provided to collaborative partners in the normal course of operations.

The Company does not currently maintain a provision for bad debts as the majority of accounts receivable are from collaborative partners or government agencies and are considered low risk.

The carrying amount of financial assets represents the maximum credit exposure. The maximum exposure to credit risk at June 30, 2015 was the accounts receivable balance of $6,332,000 (December 31, 2014 - $1,903,000).

All accounts receivable balances were current as at June 30, 2015 and at December 31, 2014.

 

8.Contingencies and commitments

Product development partnership with the Canadian Government

The Company entered into a Technology Partnerships Canada ("TPC") agreement with the Canadian Federal Government on November 12, 1999. Under this agreement, TPC agreed to fund 27% of the costs incurred by the Company, prior to March 31, 2004, in the development of certain oligonucleotide product candidates up to a maximum contribution from TPC of $7,179,000  (C$9,323,000). As at June 30, 2015, a cumulative contribution of $2,965,000  (C$3,702,000) has been received and the Company does not expect any further funding under this agreement. In return for the funding provided by TPC, the Company agreed to pay royalties on the share of future licensing and product revenue, if any, that is received by the Company on certain non-siRNA oligonucleotide product candidates covered by the funding under the agreement. These royalties are payable until a certain cumulative payment amount is achieved or until a pre-specified date. In addition, until a cumulative amount equal to the funding actually received under the agreement has been paid to TPC, the Company agreed to pay 2.5% royalties on any royalties the Company receives for Marqibo. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2015, the Company earned royalties on Marqibo sales in the amount of $62,000 and $119,000 respectively (three and six months ended June 30, 2014 – $41,000 and $87,000 respectively) (see note 4(f)), resulting in $3,000 being recorded by the Company as royalty payable to TPC (June 30, 2014 - $2,000). The cumulative amount paid or accrued up to June 30, 2015 was $9,000, resulting in the contingent amount due to TPC being $2,956,000 (C$3,692,000).

License agreement with Marina Biotech, Inc. (“Marina”)

On November 29, 2012 the Company announced a worldwide, non-exclusive license to a novel RNAi payload technology called Unlocked Nucleobase Analog (“UNA”) from Marina for the development of RNAi therapeutics.

17
 

ARBUTUS BIOPHARMA CORPORATION

(formerly Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corporation)

 

Notes to condensed consolidated financial statements

(Unaudited)

(Expressed in US dollars – tabular amounts in thousands)

 

UNA technology can be used in the development of RNAi therapeutics, which treats disease by silencing specific disease causing genes. UNAs can be incorporated into RNAi drugs and have the potential to improve them by increasing their stability and reducing off-target effects.

Under the license agreement the Company paid Marina an upfront fee of $300,000 during the year ended December 31, 2012. A further license payment of $200,000 was paid in 2013 and the Company will make milestone payments of up to $3,250,000 and royalties on each product developed by the Company that uses Marina’s UNA technology. The payments to Marina are expensed to research, development, collaborations and contracts expense.

Effective August 9, 2013, Marina’s UNA technology was acquired by Arcturus Therapeutics, Inc. (“Arcturus”) and the UNA license agreement between the Company and Marina was assigned to Arcturus. The terms of the license are otherwise unchanged. On December 22, 2014, the Company received clearance from Health Canada to conduct a Phase I Clinical Study with TKM-HBV, which utilizes Arcturus’ UNA technology. This triggered the accrual of $250,000 as at December 31, 2014 related to the milestone payable to Arcturus upon the dosing of first subject in a Phase I clinical trial of TKM-HBV, which occurred and was paid by the Company in January 2015.

 

Arbitration with the University of British Columbia (“UBC”)

 

Certain early work on lipid nanoparticle delivery systems and related inventions was undertaken at UBC. These inventions are licensed to the Company by UBC under a license agreement, initially entered in 1998 as amended in 2001, 2006 and 2007. The Company has granted sublicenses under the UBC license to Alnylam as well as to Spectrum.  Alnylam has in turn sublicensed back to the Company under the licensed UBC patents for discovery, development and commercialization of RNAi products. In 2009, the Company entered into a supplemental agreement with UBC, Alnylam and Acuitas, in relation to a separate research collaboration to be conducted among UBC, Alnylam and Acuitas to which the Company has license rights. The settlement agreement signed in late 2012 to resolve the litigation among the Company, Alnylam, and Acuitas, provided for the effective termination of all obligations under such supplemental agreement as between and among all litigants.

 

On November 10, 2014, UBC filed a notice of arbitration against the Company and on January 16, 2015, filed a Statement of Claim, which alleges entitlement to $3,500,000 in allegedly unpaid royalties based on publicly available information, and an unspecified amount based on non-public information. UBC also seeks interest and costs, including legal fees. The Company is currently disputing UBC’s allegations, and no dates have been scheduled for this arbitration. The Company has not recorded an estimate of the possible loss associated with this arbitration, due to the uncertainties related to both the likelihood and amount of any possible loss or range of loss. Costs related to the arbitration have been recorded by the Company as incurred.

 

18
 

ARBUTUS BIOPHARMA CORPORATION

(formerly Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corporation)

 

Notes to condensed consolidated financial statements

(Unaudited)

(Expressed in US dollars – tabular amounts in thousands)

 

Contingent consideration from Arbutus Inc. acquisition of Enantigen and License Agreements between Enantigen and Blumberg and Drexel

 

In October 2014, Arbutus Inc. acquired all of the outstanding shares of Enantigen pursuant to a stock purchase agreement. Through this transaction, Arbutus Inc. acquired a HBV surface antigen secretion inhibitor program and a capsid assembly inhibitor program, each of which are now assets of Arbutus, following the Company’s merger with Arbutus Inc. – see note 3.

 

Under the stock purchase agreement, Arbutus Inc. agreed to pay up to a total of $21,000,000 to Enantigen’s selling stockholders upon the achievement of certain triggering events related to Enantigen’s two programs in pre-clinical development related to HBV therapies. The first triggering event is the enrollment of first patient in Phase 1b clinical trial in HBV patients, which the Company does not expect to occur in the next twelve-month period.

 

The regulatory milestone payments have an estimated fair value of approximately $5,136,000 and have been treated as contingent consideration payable in the preliminary purchase price allocation (note 3), based on information available at the date of acquisition, using a probability weighted assessment of the likelihood the milestones would be met and the estimated timing of such payments, and then the potential contingent payments were discounted to their present value using a probability adjusted discount rate that reflects the early stage nature of the development program, time to complete the program development, and overall biotech indices.

 

The Company is currently undertaking valuation assessments of assets acquired and liabilities assumed from Arbutus Inc., which includes a valuation assessment of the contingent consideration.

 

Drexel and Blumberg:

 

In February 2014, Arbutus Inc. entered into a license agreement with Blumberg and Drexel that granted an exclusive, worldwide, sub-licensable license to three different compound series: cccDNA inhibitors, capsid assembly inhibitors and HCC inhibitors.

 

In partial consideration for this license, Arbutus Inc. paid a license initiation fee of $150,000 and issued warrants to Blumberg and Drexel. Under this license agreement, Arbutus Inc. also agreed to pay up to $3,500,000 in development and regulatory milestones per licensed compound series, up to $92,500,000 in sales performance milestones per licensed product, and royalties in the mid-single digits based upon the proportionate net sales of licensed products in any commercialized combination. The Company is obligated to pay Blumberg and Drexel a double digit percentage of all amounts received from the sub-licensees, subject to customary exclusions.

 

In November 2014, Arbutus Inc. entered into an additional license agreement with Blumberg and Drexel pursuant to which it received an exclusive, worldwide, sub-licensable license under specified patents and know-how controlled by Blumberg and Drexel covering epigenetic modifiers of cccDNA and STING agonists. In consideration for these exclusive licenses, Arbutus Inc. made an upfront payment of $50,000. Under this agreement, the Company will be required to pay up to $1,000,000 for each licensed product upon the achievement of a specified regulatory milestone and a low single digit royalty, based upon the proportionate net sales of compounds covered by this intellectual property in any commercialized combination. The Company is also obligated to pay Blumberg and Drexel a double digit percentage of all amounts received from its sub-licensees, subject to exclusions.

 

Research Collaboration and Funding Agreement with Blumberg

 

In October 2014, Arbutus Inc. entered into a research collaboration and funding agreement with Blumberg under which the Company will provide $1,000,000 per year of research funding for three years, renewable at the Company’s option for an additional three years, for Blumberg to conduct research projects in HBV and liver cancer pursuant to a research plan to be agreed upon by the parties. Blumberg has exclusivity obligations to Arbutus with respect to HBV research funded under the agreement. In addition, the Company has the right to match any third party offer to fund HBV research that falls outside the scope of the research being funded under the agreement. Blumberg has granted the Company the right to obtain an exclusive, royalty bearing, worldwide license to any intellectual property generated by any funded research project. If the Company elects to exercise its right to obtain such a license, the Company will have a specified period of time to negotiate and enter into a mutually agreeable license agreement with Blumberg. This license agreement will include the following pre negotiated upfront, milestone and royalty payments: an upfront payment in the amount of $100,000; up to $8,100,000 upon the achievement of specified development and regulatory milestones; up to $92,500,000 upon the achievement of specified commercialization milestones; and royalties at a low single to mid-single digit rates based upon the proportionate net sales of licensed products from any commercialized combination.

19
 

ARBUTUS BIOPHARMA CORPORATION

(formerly Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corporation)

 

Notes to condensed consolidated financial statements

(Unaudited)

(Expressed in US dollars – tabular amounts in thousands)

 

NeuroVive Pharmaceutical AB (“NeuroVive”)

 

In September 2014, Arbutus Inc. entered into a license agreement with NeuroVive that granted them an exclusive, worldwide, sub-licensable license to develop, manufacture and commercialize, for the treatment of HBV, oral dosage form sanglifehrin based cyclophilin inhibitors (including OCB-030). Under this license agreement, the Company has been granted a non-exclusive, royalty free right and license and right of reference to NeuroVive’s relevant regulatory approvals and filings for the sole purpose of developing, manufacturing and commercializing licensed products for the treatment of HBV. Under this license agreement, the Company has (1) an option to expand its exclusive license to include treatment of viral diseases other than HBV and (2) an option, exercisable upon specified conditions, to expand its exclusive license to include development, manufacture and commercialization of non-oral variations of licensed products for treatment of viral diseases other than HBV. NeuroVive retains all rights with respect to development, manufacture and commercialization of licensed products and non-oral variations of licensed products for all indications (other than HBV) for which the Company has not exercised its option.

 

In partial consideration for this license, Arbutus Inc. paid NeuroVive a license fee of $1,000,000. The Company is also obligated to pay up to $47,000,000 in clinical development and regulatory milestones per indication and up to $102,500,000 in sales performance milestones per licensed product and indication. If the Company is acquired by a third party in a transaction that meets certain criteria, then the Company or its acquiror will be obligated to pay all remaining development, regulatory and sales milestone payments, regardless of whether the applicable milestone events have been achieved, for each licensed product that entered clinical development before such acquisition. As describe in note 3, the acquisition of Arbutus Inc. by the Company was completed by way of a Merger Agreement, which does not trigger any of the aforementioned milestone payments. The Company has agreed to pay NeuroVive tiered royalties in the mid-single to low-double digit range based upon the proportionate gross sales of patented licensed products from any commercialized combination. If the Company terminates this license agreement in its entirety for convenience prior to the first commercial sale of any licensed product, the Company will be obligated to pay NeuroVive a termination fee of $2,000,000.

 

Cytos Biotechnology Ltd (“Cytos”)

 

On December 30, 2014, Arbutus Inc. entered into an exclusive, worldwide, sub-licensable (subject to certain restrictions with respect to licensed viral infections other than hepatitis) license to six different series of compounds. The licensed compounds are Qbeta-derived virus-like particles that encapsulate TLR9, TLR7 or RIG-I agonists and may or may not be conjugated with antigens from the hepatitis virus or other licensed viruses.  The Company has an option to expand this license to include additional viral infections other than influenza and Cytos will retain all rights for influenza, all non-viral infections, and all viral infections (other than hepatitis) for which it has not exercised its option. 

 

In partial consideration for this license, the Company is obligated to pay Cytos up to a total of $67,000,000 for each of the six licensed compound series upon the achievement of specified development and regulatory milestones; for hepatitis and each additional licensed viral infection, up to a total of $110,000,000 upon the achievement of specified sales performance milestones; and tiered royalty payments in the high-single to low-double digits, based upon the proportionate net sales of licensed products in any commercialized combination.

20
 

 

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

You should read the following discussion and analysis by our management of our financial position and results of operations in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto included as part of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 and our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2015. Our consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and are presented in U.S. dollars.

 

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

The information in this report contains forward-looking information and forward-looking statements (collectively, forward-looking statements) within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements in this report include statements about our strategy, future operations, clinical trials, prospects and the plans of management; the discovery, development and commercialization of a cure for HBV; the formation of a discrete business unit to manage, develop and maximize the value (both short-term and long term) of our non-HBV assets (including new product development and partnering opportunities); our beliefs and development path and strategy to achieve a cure for HBV; our intention to conduct a rolling Phase II clinical program for HBV (using an iterative process of combination drug candidates), the use of results from this program to design additional treatment regimens for next cohorts and to conduct a Phase III clinical trial intended to ultimately support regulatory filings for marketing approval; our intention to continue expanding our HBV pipeline through internal development, acquisitions and in-licenses; the research benefits of the collaboration with The Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, including expansion of our HBV pipeline through internal development, acquisitions and in-licenses; expected results from our TKM-HBV Phase I clinical trial in the second half of 2015; our plans to modify the clinical program for TKM-PLK1 to study the effect on viral parameters in chronic HBV patients enrolled in the HCC trial; the completion of our OCB-030 studies in order to file an IND, or equivalent, by year end 2015; the direct progression of CYT-003 into patients; expectations of filing an IND, or equivalent, and initial Phase I studies with one of two core protein inhibitors as oral therapeutics for the treatment of chronic HBV infection in 2016; expectations of filing an IND, or equivalent, for our HBV surface antigen secretion inhibitors in 2016; expectations of filing an IND, or equivalent, for cccDNA formation inhibitors in 2016; our belief in the significant value of our non-HBV assets and the maximization of these asset values; our expanded Phase I/II clinical trial with TKM-PLK1 and expected reporting of final data in the second half of 2015; Fast Track designation from the US FDA for the development of TKM-Ebola; the partial clinical hold on TKM-Ebola by the FDA, our response to the partial clinical hold and expectations of resolving the matter; the joint re-evaluation of our Ebola related DoD development contract; partnering or external funding opportunities to maximize TKM-Ebola-Guinea, TKM-Marburg, TKM-HTG, TKM-ALDH; the effects of our products on the treatment of chronic Hepatitis B infection, cancer, infectious disease, alcohol use disorder, and other diseases; the potential of RNAi to generate a new class of therapies; our RNAi pipeline and the advancement thereof with a focus on realizing the value of these assets; new product development and partnering opportunities in LNP technology; the expected efficacy of our various HBV therapies; our continued commitment to our non-HBV assets, both clinical and preclinical, and realization of value for these non-HBV assets; the quantum and triggering of payments to our partners, including payments to Dicerna, Cytos, Blumberg, Drexel, Enantigen’s selling stockholders and NeuroVive; future changes in the fair value of our warrant liability; the expected return from strategic alliances, licensing agreements, and research collaborations, such as the potential value of a transaction with the DoD, Monsanto Company and a grant from the U.S. National Institutes of Health; our intent to retain earnings, if any, to finance the growth and development of their business and not to pay dividends or to make any other distributions in the near future; arbitration proceedings with Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in connection with ALN-VSP; arbitration proceedings with the University of British Columbia in connection with alleged unpaid royalties; anticipated royalty receipts; statements with respect to revenue and expense fluctuation and guidance; and the quantum and timing of potential funding.

 

With respect to the forward-looking statements contained in this report, we have made numerous assumptions regarding, among other things: LNP’s status as a leading RNAi delivery technology; our research and development capabilities and resources; the effectiveness of our products as a treatment for chronic Hepatitis B infection, cancer, infectious disease, alcohol use disorder, or other diseases; the timing and quantum of payments to be received under contracts with our partners including Alnylam, Spectrum, Dicema, Monsanto and the DoD; assumptions related to our share price volatility, expected lives of warrants and warrant issuances and/or exercises; and our financial position and our ability to execute our business strategy. While we consider these assumptions to be reasonable, these assumptions are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, market and social uncertainties and contingencies.

 

Our actual results could differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of important factors, including the risk factors discussed in this report and the risk factors discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K under the heading “Risk Factors,” and the risks discussed in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and Canadian Securities Regulators. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect management’s analysis, judgment, belief or expectation only as of the date hereof. We explicitly disclaim any obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date hereof, except as required by law.

 

OVERVIEW

 

Arbutus Biopharma Corporation (“Arbutus”, “we”, “us”, and “our”) is a publicly traded industry-leading therapeutic solutions company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing a cure for patients suffering from chronic hepatitis B (HBV) infection, a disease of the liver caused by hepatitis B. Effective July 31st, 2015, our corporate name changed from Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corporation to Arbutus Biopharma Corporation. Also effective July 31st, 2015, the corporate name of our wholly owned subsidiary, OnCore Biopharma, Inc. changed to Arbutus Biopharma Inc. (“Arbutus Inc.”).  Including Arbutus Inc., we have five wholly owned subsidiaries: Protiva Biotherapeutics Inc. (“Protiva”), Protiva Agricultural Development Company Inc. (“PADCo”), Protiva Biotherapeutics (USA) Inc. (“Protiva USA”) and Enantigen Therapeutics, Inc. (“Enantigen”).  Unless stated otherwise or the context otherwise requires, references herein to “Arbutus”, “we”, “us” and “our”  refer to Arbutus Biopharma Corporation, and, unless the context requires otherwise, one or more subsidiaries through which we conduct business.

 

In March of 2015, we completed a merger whereby Arbutus Inc. became our wholly owned subsidiary. The transaction was approved by 99.5% of votes cast by our shareholders voting at a Special Meeting held on Tuesday, March 3, 2015, and representing 51.2% of our common shareholders. In connection with the transaction, we issued 23,973,315 common shares to the shareholders of Arbutus Inc. in exchange for their Arbutus Inc. securities, and Arbutus Inc. became our wholly-owned subsidiary.

 

Together with our subsidiaries, we have an industry leading pipeline focused on finding a cure for chronic HBV infection. This HBV pipeline consists of multiple drug candidates, with complementary mechanisms of action. Our unique strategy is to target the three pillars we believe are necessary to deliver an HBV cure, including: (i)  suppressing HBV viral replication, (ii) restoring host response by suppressing HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) or activating/stimulating the host immune system directed at HBV, and (iii) eliminating covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA), the reservoir of viral genomic material.

 

We believe our chances for success in HBV are increased and risk is mitigated by having a portfolio of assets targeting these three strategies. More importantly, we believe combination therapies are the key to HBV treatment and a potential cure, and clinical development can be accelerated when multiple components of a combination therapy regimen are controlled by the same company. This is why, together with our subsidiaries, we have retained exclusive worldwide development and commercialization rights to all of our drug candidates and programs in HBV.

 

21
 

 

Arbutus is also recognized as a world leader in RNA interference (RNAi) delivery technology. We have focused on advancing novel RNAi-based therapeutics. RNA interference is considered one of the most important discoveries in the field of biomedical science in the last decade. RNAi has the potential to generate a new class of therapies that take advantage of the body’s own natural processes to silence genes and, by extension, treat serious human diseases that often rely on the production of certain proteins at the genetic level. With this ability to eliminate disease-causing proteins from cells, RNAi therapies represent opportunities for therapeutic intervention that have not been achievable with conventional therapeutics.

 

In addition to our HBV pipeline, we also have an RNAi product pipeline which is focused on anti-virals, oncology and metabolic product platforms, in areas where there is a significant medical need and commercial opportunity. Our proprietary LNP Delivery Platform allows for the delivery of RNAi drugs. By encapsulating the RNAi trigger molecules in lipid nanoparticles (LNP) our LNP technology enables efficient delivery and uptake into target cells. Our LNP technology represents the most widely adopted delivery method in RNAi. To date, it has enabled nine clinical trials and has been administered to more than 250 patients.

 

We have formed a discrete business unit to manage, develop and maximize the value of our non-HBV assets. This business unit will be independently financed through current and potential collaborations and partnerships, and includes preclinical RNAi product candidates, intellectual property and related know how of the LNP delivery technology platform and strategic partnerships exploiting the LNP technology. Because LNP can enable a wide variety of nucleic acid triggers, including mRNA, we continue to seek new product development and partnering opportunities based on what we believe is our industry-leading delivery expertise.  

 

We remain committed to continuing to support the work of our product development partners and intellectual property licensees with the goal of realizing the short-term and long term financial potential of these partnerships.

 

Voluntary Delisting from the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX)

 

Our common shares were voluntarily delisted from the Toronto Stock Exchange ("TSX") as of the close of business on Tuesday, March 3, 2015. Prior to the voluntary delisting, our common shares traded on the TSX under the symbol “TKM”. We continue to be listed on the NASDAQ. In conjunction with our name change to Arbutus Biopharma Corporation our ticker symbol was changed to “ABUS”.

 

Public Offering of Common Shares

 

On March 25, 2015, we completed an underwritten public offering of 7.5 million common shares at a price of US$20.25 per share for aggregate gross proceeds of US$151.9 million before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and other offering expenses. We also granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 1.125 million common shares, which, if exercised, would have resulted in additional gross proceeds of US$22.8 million. The 30-day option was not exercised and is no longer available.

 

Our Product Candidates

 

We have what we believe is an industry-leading pipeline focused on curing HBV. Our belief is that to achieve an HBV cure, a combination of products that affect the main drivers of HBV need to be utilized. Specifically, this means that to be successful, we believe we need to have products that address HBV persistence — in antiviral replication, immune reactivation and the presence of cccDNA.

 

Once multiple compounds within the portfolio with sufficient anti-HBV activity have been identified, we intend, subject to discussions with regulatory authorities, to conduct a rolling Phase II clinical program. These studies will likely evaluate combinations of two or more drug candidates in small cohorts of patients with chronic HBV infection to identify active combinations and those that do not have sufficient antiviral activity. We also plan to evaluate different treatment durations to determine the optimal duration for a finite duration therapy. We expect to use these results to design additional treatment regimens for the next cohorts. We plan to continue this iterative process until we select combination therapy regimens and treatment durations to conduct Phase III clinical trials intended to ultimately support regulatory filings for marketing approval.

 

We intend to continue to expand our HBV pipeline through internal development, acquisitions and in-licenses. We believe that a major engine for internal innovation is our collaboration with The Baruch S. Blumberg Institute (“Blumberg”), one of the leading non-profit research institutes in the world focused on HBV. We believe that this collaboration will provide us with access to cutting-edge research in new target identification, assay development, mechanism of action studies and lead generation efforts focused on hepatitis B virus. This relationship also provides us with access to research that we believe is equal to, or surpasses that of other biotechnology or pharmaceutical companies, and can add value to our current and future R&D efforts in HBV.

 

 

HBV Product Pipeline

 

TKM-HBV

 

HBV causes the most common serious liver infection in the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 350 million people worldwide are chronically infected with the virus, and other estimates suggest this could include up to 1.4 million people in the United States. Individuals chronically infected with HBV are at an increased risk of developing significant liver disease, including cirrhosis, or permanent scarring of the liver, as well as liver failure and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or liver cancer. According to the Hepatitis B Foundation, HBV is the cause of up to 80% of liver cancers. Individuals with liver cancer typically have a five-year survival rate of about 15%. The WHO estimates that more than 780,000 people die every year due to the consequences of hepatitis B infection.

 

Our extensive experience in antiviral drug development has been applied to our TKM-HBV program to develop an RNAi therapeutic for chronic hepatitis B infection. Small molecule nucleotide therapy has been the standard of care for chronic HBV infected patients. However, many of these patients continue to express a viral protein called HBV surface antigen (HBsAg). This protein causes inflammation in the liver leading to cirrhosis and, in some cases, HCC and death.

 

TKM-HBV is designed to address an unmet medical need and reduce HBsAg expression in patients chronically infected with HBV. Reducing HBsAg is thought to be a key prerequisite to enable a patient’s immune system to raise an adequate antibody response against the virus. The ability of TKM-HBV to inhibit numerous viral elements in addition to HBsAg increases the likelihood of successfully controlling the viral infection.

 

 

22
 

 

TKM-HBV is being developed as a multi-component RNAi therapeutic that simultaneously targets three sites on the HBV genome. Targeting three distinct and highly conserved sites on the HBV genome is intended to facilitate potent knockdown of all viral messenger RNA (mRNA) transcripts and viral antigens across a broad range of HBV genotypes and reduce the risk of developing antiviral resistance.

 

We presented results from our preclinical studies at the 10th Annual Meeting of the Oligonucleotide Therapeutics Society Meeting held in San Diego, California, on October 15, 2014. Among the results reported was the potent and rapid reduction in HBsAg demonstrated by TKM-HBV in several well-validated models. In these models, TKM-HBV treatment resulted in reductions in both intrahepatic and serum HBsAg, as well as reductions in HBV DNA, covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA), Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and HBcAg (Hepatitis B c antigen). A rapid 1 log reduction in serum HBsAg was achieved with a single 1 mg/kg dose of TKM-HBV in the humanized mouse model, which closely mimics chronic human hepatitis B infection. 1-2 log viral reductions from similar single-dose LNP treatments in two other true-infection animal models were also demonstrated.

 

Preclinical studies conducted on infected primary human hepatocytes showed that TKM-HBV had robust and consistent activity against different viral strains representing the major clinical genotypes A, B, C and D. Our data shows that inclusion of three RNAi triggers results in a more broadly effective knockdown of hepatitis B viral elements than a single trigger alone. The mode of action of TKM-HBV complements standard of care nucleoside/nucleotide (NUC) therapy, and lack of drug antagonism has been demonstrated with entecavir, lamivudine and tenofovir on infected primary human hepatocytes, making combination therapy a viable option.

 

Our data supports the utility of TKM-HBV as a potential new therapeutic option for treating patients with chronic HBV infection. In early 2015, we advanced two TKM-HBV product candidates into a Phase I trial. Both product candidates employ the same unique combination of three RNAi trigger molecules. However, they differ in their LNP composition. One formulation employs a third generation LNP, and the other employs a new, fourth generation LNP, which incorporates novel lipid chemistry and demonstrates improved potency. The multi-component RNAi therapeutic is expected to result in broad and effective inhibition of HBV.

 

The TKM-HBV Phase I clinical trial is a randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled study, involving single ascending doses of TKM-HBV. The study will assess the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of intravenous administration of two formulations of TKM-HBV in healthy adult subjects. For each formulation, there are five planned cohorts for a total of 20 subjects (40 in total for both formulations). Four subjects will be enrolled per cohort with three subjects receiving TKM-HBV, and one receiving placebo. We expect the results from the Phase I clinical trial in healthy human volunteers to determine which product formulation will advance into chronically infected patients in a multi-dosing trial in the second half of 2015.

 

TKM-PLK1

 

Our oncology product platform, TKM-PLK1, targets polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1), a protein involved in tumor cell proliferation and a validated oncology target. Inhibition of PLK1 expression prevents the tumor cell from completing cell division, resulting in cell cycle arrest and death of the cancer cell. We are currently evaluating our oncology product candidate, TKM-PLK1, in clinical trials with patients who have Gastrointestinal Neuroendocrine Tumors (GI-NET), Adrenocortical Carcinoma (ACC) and Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). Based on a hypothesis that inhibition of PLK-1 could have utility in treating HBV, we have modified the clinical program for TKM-PLK1 to study the effect of PLK1 on viral parameters in chronic HBV patients enrolled in the HCC trial.

 

Cyclophilin Inhibitor — OCB-030

 

Cyclophilins are proteins that have been shown to play a role in several biological processes, including viral infection. By inhibiting cyclophilin, we believe the ability of HBV to replicate can be impaired and the host immune response toward HBV may be enhanced. We have licensed from NeuroVive Pharmaceutical AB, or (“NeuroVive”), the exclusive rights to develop and commercialize cyclophilin inhibitor drug candidates, including OCB-030, for the treatment of hepatitis B. We are engaged in pre-clinical studies which we expect to be completed in order to file an IND, or an equivalent filing with foreign regulatory authorities, by year end 2015.

 

TLR9 Agonist (CYT-003)

 

Pharmaceutical activation of toll-like receptors (TLRs) is a novel and attractive approach for the treatment of chronic HBV because agonism of these receptors triggers innate immune responses and also stimulates adaptive immunity.  It is hoped that immune stimulation by TLR agonists can overcome the multiple immunologic blocks that allows chronic HBV infection, including direct activation of the host’s innate antiviral response, to overcome the functional weakness in HBV-specific immune cell responses.

 

Licensed from Cytos Biotechnology Ltd., (“Cytos”), CYT003 is a biological carrier which is filled with the immunostimulatory oligonucleotide called G10. G10 a toll-like receptor-9 (TLR-9) agonist. CYT-003 has been shown to directly activate B cells and stimulates human (plasmacytoid dendritic cells) pDC to secrete Interferon alpha. CYT-003 also activates other antigen presenting cells indirectly and promotes the development of TH1 type cytokine response. This is thought to be potentially beneficial in promoting anti-HBV T cell immunity. CYT-003 has previously been utilised in human trials in other indications and therefore could move quickly into the clinic in HBV infected patients. We initiated preclinical studies to demonstrate proof of concept first half of 2015. If the preclinical studies show utility in HBV, we will progress straight into patients given the existing safety database and the open INDs.

 

Core Protein/ Capsid Assembly Inhibitors

 

We are developing two core protein inhibitors (also known as capsid assembly inhibitors) as oral therapeutics for the treatment of chronic HBV infection. By inhibiting assembly of the viral capsid, the ability of hepatitis B virus to replicate is impaired, which subsequently reduces the amount of new virus produced, and which may have an effect on cccDNA. We acquired exclusive, worldwide rights to these drug candidates through an in-license from Blumberg and Drexel University, or (“Drexel”), and through Arbutus Inc.’s recent acquisition of Enantigen Therapeutics, Inc., or (“Enantigen”). We expect to file an IND with the FDA, or an equivalent filing with foreign regulatory authorities, and initiate Phase 1 studies with one of these compounds in 2016.

 

23
 

 

Surface Antigen Secretion Inhibitors

 

We are developing multiple small molecule orally bioavailable HBV surface antigen secretion inhibitors. By inhibiting the secretion of HBV surface antigen from infected cells, we expect that the immune response of patients treated with this therapy can re-engage and thereby mount a more robust response to a hepatitis B virus infection. We acquired these drug candidates from Enantigen. We expect to file an IND, or its equivalent in another territory, for a lead compound in 2016.

 

  

STING Agonists

 

We are developing STING (stimulator of interferon genes) agonists. By activating interferon genes, we anticipate that the body can produce additional interferon alpha and beta, which have antiviral properties. Our development program, which is currently in the discovery research stage, is based on proof of concept data in mice generated by Blumberg which showed that STING agonists can elicit an antiviral response and inhibit HBV replication in mouse liver cells. In collaboration with Blumberg, our plan is to identify potent, orally active small molecule human STING agonists that possess the desired characteristics to progress into human clinical studies.

 

cccDNA Formation Inhibitors

 

We are developing multiple series of cccDNA formation inhibitors. The inhibition of cccDNA formation would reduce the amount of cccDNA in the infected liver cell and could ultimately eliminate the reservoir of HBV genomic material required for continued viral replication. We acquired the exclusive, worldwide rights to this program through an in-license from Blumberg. This program is currently in early optimization and we anticipate filing an IND with the FDA, or its equivalent in another territory, in 2016.

 

cccDNA Epigenetic Modifiers

 

In addition to cccDNA formation inhibitors, we are developing cccDNA epigenetic modifiers. By controlling cccDNA transcription, we anticipate that we may be able to inhibit the formation of new virus and sub viral particles from cccDNA. This development program, which is currently in the discovery research stage, is based on proof of concept data generated by Blumberg using known inhibitors of enzymes involved in DNA information processing.

 

Non-HBV Assets Clinical Programs TKM-PLK1, TKM-Ebola, TKM-Ebola-Guinea (LNP Enabled)

 

We believe there is significant value in our non-HBV assets and we remain committed to maximizing this value. We intend to continue our clinical programs to the appropriate stage to support this objective. We also remain interested in advancing our ongoing metabolic and rare disease preclinical programs to maximize their value, and in continuing to leverage our knowledge and expertise in LNP technology, where applicable.

 

TKM-PLK1

 

Our oncology product platform, TKM-PLK1, targets PLK1, a protein involved in tumor cell proliferation and a validated oncology target. Inhibition of PLK1 expression prevents the tumor cell from completing cell division, resulting in cell cycle arrest and death of the cancer cell. Evidence that patients with elevated levels of PLK1 in their tumors exhibit poorer prognosis and survival rates has been documented in the medical literature. TKM-PLK1 is being evaluated in the following oncology indications where there are limited or ineffective therapies available: Gastrointestinal Neuroendocrine Tumors (GI-NET), Adrenocortical Carcinoma (ACC) and Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC).

 

GI-NET and ACC

 

GI-NET is the gastrointestinal subset of neuroendocrine tumors. According to a paper by Yao et al., (2008), a historical analysis of the U.S. National Cancer Institute, SEER database reveals the incidence of neuroendocrine tumors has increased faster in the last few decades than any other neoplasm, with a growth rate of greater than 3% expected to continue in the near term. The prevalence of GI-NET in the U.S. is estimated to be approximately 55,000 individuals. Prognosis for advanced or metastatic GI-NET, the target population for TKM-PLK1, is poor with 25-54% of patients surviving less than one year.

 

ACC is an ultra-rare form of cancer that develops in the adrenal gland. Data from the U.S. National Cancer Institute indicates there are approximately 500 patients in the U.S. with ACC. Survival prognosis for patients with ACC is poor. A large percentage of patients are not good surgical candidates and there is a lack of effective systemic therapies.

 

We presented updated Phase I TKM-PLK1 data at the 6th Annual NET Conference hosted by the North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society (NA-NETS) in Charleston, South Carolina on October 4, 2013. This data set included a total of 36 patients in a population of advanced cancer patients with solid tumors. Doses ranged from 0.15 mg/kg to 0.90 mg/kg during the dose escalation portion of the trial, with the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of 0.75 mg/kg. Serious adverse events (SAEs) were experienced by four subjects in this heavily pre-treated, advanced cancer patient population, with three of four subjects continuing on study. Forty percent (6 out of 15) of patients evaluable for response, treated at a dose equal to or greater than 0.6 mg/kg, showed clinical benefit. Three out of the four ACC patients (75%) treated with TKM-PLK1 achieved stable disease, including one patient who saw a 19.3% reduction in target tumor size after two cycles of treatment. This subject is still in the study receiving TKM-PLK1. Of the two GI-NET patients enrolled, both experienced clinical benefit: one patient had a partial response based on Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) criteria, and the other GI-NET patient achieved stable disease and showed a greater than 50% reduction in Chromogranin-A (CgA) levels, a key biomarker used to predict clinical outcome and tumor response.

 

24
 

 

Based on encouraging results from the dose escalation portion and expansion cohort from our Phase I TKM-PLK1 clinical trial, we expanded into a Phase I/II clinical trial with TKM-PLK1, which is specifically enrolling patients within the two therapeutic indications: advanced GI-NET or ACC. This multi-center, single arm, open label study is designed to measure efficacy using RECIST criteria for GI-NET patients and ACC patients as well as evaluate the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of TKM-PLK1. TKM-PLK1 is administered weekly with each four-week cycle consisting of three once-weekly doses followed by a rest week. In the fall of 2014, we achieved our enrollment target of patients with advanced GI-NET or ACC tumors. These patients will continue treatment and be followed to determine if TKM-PLK1 produces a meaningful clinical benefit.

 

We provided an update on this Phase I/II clinical study in December 2014. To date, 55 patients, in both the Phase I and Phase I/II studies have been treated at doses of ≥ 0.6 mg/kg, which is considered to be in the efficacious dose range based on preclinical studies. Of these, 31 patients comprise the target population of GI-NET or ACC patients.

 

While we are still awaiting maturation of data, we continue to see evidence of anti-tumor activity in some treated subjects, including one ACC patient with an almost complete resolution of their disease. We expect to report final data from these studies in the second half of 2015.

 

HCC

 

HCC is one of the most common cancers, one of the most deadly and a common outcome of chronic HBV infection, with over 650,000 deaths each year worldwide according to the Globocan 2012 database.  US incidence is estimated at 27,000 individuals with annual growth rates greater than 2%. HCC is an aggressive, hard-to-treat disease with one-year survival rates of less than 50% and five-year rates as low as 4% (National Cancer Institute). To date, Nexavar (sorafenib) is the only agent approved to treat HCC with an improvement in overall survival of just two to three months.

 

In May 2014, we initiated another Phase I/II clinical trial with TKM-PLK1, enrolling patients with advanced HCC. Patient dosing has commenced and we have completed the first treatment in cohorts one and two with HCC. This Phase I/II clinical trial is a multi-center, single arm, open label dose escalation study designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of TKM-PLK1 as well as determine the maximum tolerated dose in patients with advanced HCC. It will also include a preliminary assessment of the anti-tumor activity of TKM-PLK1 in this patient population. It is expected that approximately 38 patients with advanced HCC tumors will be enrolled in this Phase I/II clinical trial. Based on a hypothesis that inhibition of PLK-1 could have utility in treating HBV, we are planning to modify the clinical program for TKM-PLK1 to study the effect of PLK1 on viral parameters in chronic HBV patients enrolled in the HCC trial.

 

TKM-Ebola

 

TKM-Ebola, an anti-Ebola RNAi therapeutic, is being developed under a $140 million contract, signed in July 2010, with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Joint Project Manager Medical Countermeasure Systems BioDefense Therapeutics (JPM-MCS-BDTX). Preclinical studies published in the medical journal The Lancet in 2010 demonstrated that when RNAi triggers targeting the Ebola virus and delivered by our LNP technology were used to treat previously infected non-human primates, the result was 100 percent protection from an otherwise lethal dose of Zaire Ebola virus (Geisbert et al., The Lancet, Vol. 375, May 29, 2010).

 

In May 2013, our collaboration with the JPM-MCS-BDTX was modified and expanded to include advances in LNP formulation technology. The contract modification increased the first stage of funding from $34.7 million to $41.7 million. In April 2014, we signed a second contract modification to increase this funding by $2.1 million to a total of $43.8 million to compensate Arbutus for unrecovered costs that occurred in 2012 and to provide additional funding should it be required. In May 2015 a further $1.0 million of funding was made available for stage one of the contract.

 

TKM-Ebola is being developed under specific U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulatory guidelines called the “Animal Rule.” This allows, in circumstances where it is unethical or not feasible to conduct human efficacy studies, marketing approval to be granted based on adequate and well-controlled animal studies when the results of those studies establish that the drug is reasonably likely to produce clinical benefit in humans.  Demonstration of the product’s safety in humans is still required.

 

We were granted Fast Track designation from the FDA for the development of TKM-Ebola in March 2014. The FDA’s Fast Track is a process designed to facilitate the development and expedite the review of drugs in order to get important new therapies to the patient earlier.

 

In May 2014, we successfully completed the single ascending dose portion of the TKM-Ebola Phase I clinical trial in healthy human volunteers. Results demonstrated that administration of the TKM-Ebola therapeutic, in the absence of any steroid containing pre-medication, was well-tolerated at a dose level of 0.3 mg/kg, determined to be the maximum tolerated dose.

25
 

 

In July 2014, we received notice from the FDA placing the IND for TKM-Ebola on clinical hold until additional information is supplied, and the multiple ascending dose portion of the trial protocol is modified to ensure the safety of healthy volunteers. The clinical hold was subsequently modified to a partial clinical hold to permit the administration of TKM-Ebola to patients with a suspected or confirmed Ebola virus infection. Under the FDA’s expanded access program, several patients with a confirmed or suspected Ebola virus infection were treated with TKM-Ebola. Data are being collected and will be provided to the FDA under our IND. Health Canada also established a similar framework for the potential use of TKM-Ebola in the same group of patients.

 

In December 2014, the U.S. Congress amended the Rare and Tropical Disease list to include Ebola as a candidate for a potential Accelerated Review Voucher.

 

In April 2015, the FDA notified us that the partial clinical hold had been modified to permit repeat dosing of healthy volunteers at a dose of 0.24 mg/kg/day. However, the IND remains on partial clinical hold with regard to doses above 0.24 mg/kg/day in healthy volunteers. Given the unclear development path for TKM-Ebola, development activities have been suspended and a joint re-evaluation of the development contract with the U.S. DoD is underway.

 

TKM-Ebola-Guinea, an Anti-Ebola RNAi Therapeutic Targeting Ebola-Guinea Strain of Ebola Virus

 

In September 2014, we joined an international consortium led by the International Severe Acute Respiratory and Emerging Infection Consortium (ISARIC) at the University of Oxford, UK, to potentially provide an RNAi based investigational therapeutic for expedited clinical studies in West Africa.

 

In October 2014, the genomic sequence of the virus responsible for the recent outbreak in West Africa was determined from several viral isolates and the strain was called Ebola-Guinea. The results of this work were published in the New England Journal of Medicine (Baize S., et al. Emergence of Zaire Ebola Virus Disease in Guinea; New England Journal of Medicine , October 9, 2014, vol. 371 No. 15). In November 2014, the nomenclature for the strain was further refined and is now known as Ebola-Makona. (Kuhn, JH., et al. Nomenclature- and Database-Compatible Names for the Two Ebola Virus Variants that Emerged in Guinea and the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2014; Viruses , Nov 24, 2014, 6, 4760-4799).  We rapidly developed a modified RNAi therapeutic to target the strain responsible for the epidemic in West Africa. The new product, TKM-Ebola-Guinea, is designed to exactly match the genomic sequence of the Makona strain with two RNAi molecule triggers.

 

In December 2014, we entered into a Manufacturing and Clinical Trial Agreement with the University of Oxford to provide the new TKM-Ebola-Guinea therapeutic product for clinical studies in West Africa. GMP manufacture of TKM-Ebola-Guinea has been completed and up to 100 treatment courses are available.  In March 2015, a Phase II single arm trial called RAPIDE (Rapid Assessment of Potential Interventions & Drugs for Ebola), was initiated in Sierra Leone, with TKM-Ebola-Guinea.  The study was led by ISARIC with funding from the Wellcome Trust. In June 2015 we announced closing of the enrollment for the trial as it reached a futility boundary, which was a predefined statistical endpoint. Data analysis is ongoing and the full results are pending.

 

The U.S. Department of Defense JPM-MCS-BDTX has also exercised an option, valued at $7.0 million, in our current contract to manufacture TKM-Ebola-Guinea. We have been awarded the option for scale-up and GMP manufacture of the product for approximately 500 treatment courses. This development activity together with other DoD funded Ebola related activities has been suspended and a joint re-evaluation of the development contract is underway.

 

In March 2015, we signed a contract modification to provide up to $2,250,000 to fund TKM-Ebola-Guinea IND submission expenses.

 

In April 2015, we, along with our collaborators at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) at Galveston, USA, published positive Ebola treatment data in the journal Nature (Thi EP., et al . Lipid Nanoparticle siRNA Treatment of Ebola-Virus-Makona-Infected Nonhuman Primates; Nature, April 22, 2015). Data demonstrated 100% survival of nonhuman primates previously infected with the West African Makona strain of Ebola virus even when treatment did not begin until three days after viral exposure a time point at which animals were five to six days away from death. These efficacy results are comparable to those obtained with TKM-Ebola, which also demonstrated up to 100% protection from an otherwise lethal dose of the virus.

 

We are exploring partnering or external funding opportunities to maximize the value of our Ebola related assets.

 

Non-HBV Preclinical Candidates (LNP enabled)

 

We are currently evaluating several additional preclinical candidates with potential in diverse therapeutic areas. Given the extremely high efficiency of delivery for third and fourth generation liver-centric LNP formulations, we are focused on rare diseases where the molecular target is found in the liver, early clinical proof-of-concept can be achieved and development opportunities may be accelerated. Our research team intends to continue to generate preclinical data to support the advancement of the most promising of these targets.

 

TKM-Marburg

 

Like Ebola, Marburg is a member of the filovirus family of hemorrhagic fever viruses. Natural outbreaks with the Marburg-Angola strain have resulted in mortality in approximately 90% of infected individuals. Currently, there are no approved therapeutics for the treatment of Marburg infection.

26
 

 

In 2010, along with UTMB, we were awarded a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant to support research to develop RNAi therapeutics to treat Ebola and Marburg hemorrhagic fever viral infections. In November 2013, we announced data showing 100% survival in non-human primates infected with the Angola strain of the Marburg virus in two separate studies. These results build upon a study published earlier in the Journal of Infectious Disease showing 100% protection in guinea pig models of infection with Angola, Ci67 and Ravn strains of the Marburg virus using a broad spectrum RNAi therapeutic enabled by Arbutus’ LNP.

 

In February 2014, along with UTMB, and other collaborators, we were awarded additional funding from the NIH in support of this research. Data was published demonstrating complete protection of non-human primates against lethal Marburg-Angola strain, (Science Translational Medicine. Thi EP., et al. Marburg Virus Infection in Nonhuman Primates: Therapeutic Treatment by Lipid-Encapsulated siRNA. 2014 Aug 20; 6 (250))

 

We are exploring partnering or external funding opportunities to maximize the value of this asset.

 

TKM-HTG

 

The most advanced program in our metabolic product platform is TKM-HTG targeted towards the rapid and sustained reductions of triglycerides to address the limitations of existing Hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) treatments. Hypertriglyceridemia is a type of dyslipidemia where there are high blood levels of triglycerides. Patients with severe HTG, (classified as triglyceride levels greater than 1000 mg/dL) are at risk of acute pancreatitis as well as the risk of cardiovascular disease. Approximately one million adults in the U.S. and 18 million worldwide suffer from severe HTG. (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, Centre for Disease Control, NHANES 2003-2004 data). High triglyceride levels are medically linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, fatty liver disease, insulin resistance and pancreatitis.

 

Currently in preclinical studies, TKM-HTG is a dual component RNAi investigational therapeutic that simultaneously targets two important genes - Apolipoprotein C3 (ApoC3) and Angiopoietin like protein 3 (ANGPTL3) – which are expressed in the liver and are known to play a significant and complementary role in triglyceride metabolism. The most important findings obtained in our pre-clinical studies are the super-additive effects on plasma triglycerides by silencing ApoC3 and ANGPTL3 genes in a well validated model of HTG. We presented this and related data at the Keystone Symposia Conference: Liver Metabolism and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Diseases, in Whistler, Canada, March 22-27, 2015.

 

In our preclinical studies, we employed two well validated models of HTG including a human ApoC3 transgenic (Tg) mouse model and a high-fat containing diet fed mouse model. In the human ApoC3-Tg mouse model, silencing of ApoC3 gene was accomplished, which resulted in rapid, potent and sustained plasma triglyceride (TG) lowering, with the lowest effective dose at 0.03 mg/kg. Duration of gene silencing and TG lowering effects from a single administration of the ApoC3 RNAi trigger lasted for more than two weeks. In addition, beneficial cholesterol profile changes and significant glucose lowering effects were also observed. In the high-fat containing diet fed mouse model, silencing of both the ApoC3 and ANGPTL3 genes, resulted in super-additive plasma triglycerides lowering effects. Doses of 0.125 mg/kg + 0.125 mg/kg in combination were superior to either 0.25 mg/kg or 0.5 mg/kg for the individual RNAi-triggers.

 

We are exploring partnering or external funding opportunities to maximize the value of this asset.

 

TKM-ALDH

 

TKM-ALDH is designed to knockdown or silence aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) to induce long term acute sensitivity to ethanol, for use in severe alcohol use disorder. Aldehyde dehydrogenase is a key enzyme in ethanol metabolism. Inhibition of ALDH activity, through the silencing of ALDH results in the build-up of acetaldehyde leading to adverse physiological effects. Human proof of concept for ALDH inhibition already exists in the form of the approved drug disulfiram. However, disulfiram’s efficacy is compromised by poor compliance because it has to be taken daily. We believe TKM-ALDH will induce prolonged ethanol sensitivity that will enable it to overcome the compliance limitations associated with daily dosing.

 

We are exploring partnering or external funding opportunities to maximize the value of this asset.

 

Ongoing Advancements in LNP Technology

 

We plan to continue to develop our proprietary LNP delivery technology and receive clinical validation from LNP-based products currently in clinical trials. The most advanced LNP-enabled therapeutic, which is being developed by Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., has entered a Phase III clinical trial. Our LNP technology remains an important element of our business development activities moving forward. We recently announced the latest (fourth) generation of the platform which comprises a rational re-design of the lipid architecture, as well as formulation and process advances. These attributes can be utilized in programs entering the clinic and are expected to yield significant increases in potency and therapeutic index.

 

Because LNP can enable a wide variety of nucleic acid triggers, including messenger RNA (mRNA), we continue to see new product development and partnering opportunities based on what we believe is our industry-leading delivery expertise. In February 2014, we presented new preclinical data at the AsiaTIDES scientific symposium in Tokyo, Japan demonstrating that mRNA can be effectively delivered to target proteins expressed.

27
 

 

Technology, Product Development and Licensing Agreements

 

In the field of RNAi therapeutics, we have licensed our LNP delivery technology to Alnylam, and to Merck & Co., Inc. (which has since been acquired by Alnylam). Alnylam has provided royalty bearing access of our LNP delivery technology to some of its partners. We have a licensing and collaboration agreement with Dicerna Pharmaceuticals, Inc.  In addition, we have ongoing research relationships with Monsanto, U.S. government grants and contracts and other undisclosed pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Outside the field of RNAi, we have a legacy licensing agreement with Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

 

We have rights under the RNAi intellectual property of Alnylam to develop 13 RNAi therapeutic products. In addition, we have a broad non-exclusive license to use Unlocked Nucleobase Analogs (UNAs) from Arcturus Therapeutics, Inc., for the development of RNAi therapeutic products directed to any target in any therapeutic indication.

 

Strategic Alliances

 

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Alnylam”)

 

Alnylam has a license to use our Intellectual Property (IP) to develop and commercialize products and may only grant access to our LNP technology to its partners if it is part of a product sublicense. Alnylam’s license rights are limited to patents that we have filed, or that claim priority to a patent that was filed, before April 15, 2010. Alnylam does not have rights to our patents filed after April 15, 2010 unless they claim priority to a patent filed before that date. Alnylam will pay low single digit royalties as Alnylam’s LNP-enabled products are commercialized. Alnylam currently has three LNP-based products in clinical development: ALN-TTR02 (patisiran), ALN-VSP, and ALN-PCS02.

 

In November 2013, Alnylam presented positive results from its Phase II clinical trial with patisiran (ALN-TTR02), an RNAi therapeutic targeting transthyretin (TTR) for the treatment of TTR-mediated amyloidosis (ATTR), which is enabled by our LNP technology. Alnylam also announced the initiation of the APOLLO Phase III trial of patisiran, with the study now open for enrollment to evaluate efficacy and safety of patisiran in ATTR patients with Familial Amyloidotic Polyneuropathy (FAP).

 

In December 2013, we received a $5 million milestone from Alnylam, triggered by the initiation of the APOLLO Phase III trial of patisiran. We have entered an arbitration proceeding with Alnylam, as provided for under our licensing agreement, to resolve a matter related to a disputed $5 million milestone payment to us by Alnylam for its ALN-VSP product. We have not recorded any revenue in respect of this milestone.

 

In April 2014, Alnylam presented positive new data from its Phase II clinical trial with patisiran. These results provide support for Alnylam's Phase III APOLLO trial in which patisiran is being evaluated for its potential efficacy and safety in ATTR patients with FAP. Alnylam has disclosed that it continues to enroll patients in its APOLLO Phase III trial, with over 20 sites in nine countries, which are now open and active. The Phase III trial is intended to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of patisiran in support of marketing authorization in countries around the world.

 

In October 2014, Alnylam reported positive clinical data for the ongoing patisiran Phase II Open Label Extension (OLE) study in patients with FAP, which is also enabled by our LNP technology. The results demonstrated sustained knockdown of serum TTR of up to 90% and a favorable tolerability profile out to one year of treatment.

 

In April 2015, Alnylam announced positive data from the ongoing open-label study with patisiran which demonstrated continued evidence for possible halting of neuropathy progression after the first 12 months of treatment. In addition, patisiran treatment showed robust mean knockdown of serum TTR of up to 88%.  Alnylam's ongoing OLE study is an open-label, multi-center trial designed to evaluate the long-term safety and tolerability of patisiran administration in FAP patients that were previously enrolled in a Phase 2 study.

 

In July 2015, Alnylam announced initiation of a Phase III open label OLE study with patisiran (“APOLLO-OLE”) to evaluate the long-term safety and tolerability of patisiran in ATTR amyloidosis patients with FAP who were previously enrolled in the APOLLO Phase III study.

 

The patisiran program represents the most clinically advanced application of our LNP delivery technology. Furthermore, Alnylam’s results demonstrate that multi-dosing with our LNP has been well-tolerated with treatments out to 17 months.

 

Our licensing agreement with Alnylam grants us IP rights for the development and commercialization of RNAi therapeutics for specified targets. In consideration for these three exclusive and 10 non-exclusive licenses, we have agreed to pay single-digit royalties to Alnylam on product sales, with milestone obligations of up to $8.5 million on the non-exclusive licenses and no milestone obligations on the three exclusive licenses.

 

Acuitas Therapeutics Inc. (“Acuitas”)

 

Consistent with the terms of the settlement agreement signed in November 2012, we finalized and entered a cross-license agreement with Acuitas (formerly AlCana Technologies, Inc.) in December 2013. The terms of the cross-license agreement provide Acuitas with access to certain of our earlier IP generated prior to April 2010. At the same time, the terms provide us with certain access to Acuitas’ technology and licenses in the RNAi field, along with a percentage of each milestone and royalty payment with respect to certain products. Acuitas has agreed that it will not compete in the RNAi field for a period of five years, ending in November 2017.

28
 

 

Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Spectrum”)

 

In September 2013, we announced that our licensee, Spectrum, had launched Marqibo® through its existing hematology sales force in the United States. Since then commercial sales have occurred. Arbutus is entitled to mid-single digit royalty payments based on Marqibo®’s commercial sales. Marqibo®, which is a novel sphingomyelin/cholesterol liposome-encapsulated formulation of the FDA-approved anticancer drug vincristine, was originally developed by Arbutus. We out-licensed the product to Talon Therapeutics in 2006, and in July 2013, Talon was acquired by Spectrum. Marqibo®’s approved indication is for the treatment of adult patients with Philadelphia chromosome-negative acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph-ALL) in second or greater relapse or whose disease has progressed following two or more lines of anti-leukemia therapy. Spectrum has ongoing trials evaluating Marqibo® in three additional indications, which are: first line use in patients with Ph-ALL, Pediatric ALL and Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

 

Monsanto Company (“Monsanto”)

 

In January 2014, we signed an Option Agreement and a Service Agreement with Monsanto, and granted Monsanto an option to obtain a license to use our proprietary LNP delivery technology. The transaction supports the application of LNP technology and related IP for use in agriculture. The potential value of the transaction could reach $86.2 million following the successful completion of milestones. In January 2014, we received $14.5 million of the $17.5 million in near term payments. We received additional payments of $1.5 million each in June 2014 and October 2014 following the achievement of specific program objectives, and $1.05 million in May 2015.

 

Marina Biotech, Inc.  (“Marina”) / Arcturus Therapeutics, Inc. (“Arcturus”)

 

In November 2012, we disclosed that we had obtained a worldwide, non-exclusive license to a novel RNAi trigger technology called Unlocked Nucleobase Analog (UNA) from Marina for the development of RNAi therapeutics. UNAs can be incorporated into RNAi drugs and have the potential to improve them by increasing their stability and reducing off-target effects. In August 2013, Marina assigned its UNA technology to Arcturus and the UNA license agreement was then assigned to Arcturus. The terms of the license are otherwise unchanged.

 

To date, we have paid Marina $0.5 million in license fees and there are milestones of up to $3.2 million plus royalties for each product that we develop using UNA technology licensed from Marina.  We announced on January 21, 2015, that we had initiated a Phase I clinical trial with TKM-HBV. As TKM-HBV utilizes UNA technology in-licensed from Arcturus, the initiation of the trial triggered a single milestone payment of $250,000 paid by us to Arcturus. 

 

Merck & Co., Inc. ("Merck") and Alnylam license agreement

 

As a result of the settlement between Protiva and Merck in 2008, we acquired a non-exclusive royalty-bearing world-wide license agreement with Merck. Under the license, Merck will pay up to $17 million in milestones for each product they develop covered by our IP, except for the first product for which Merck will pay up to $15 million in milestones, and will pay royalties on product sales. Merck’s license rights are limited to patents that Protiva filed, or that claim priority to one of Protiva’s patents that was filed, before October 9, 2008. Merck does not have rights to Protiva patents filed after October 9, 2008 unless they claim priority to a patent filed before that date. On March 6, 2014, Alnylam announced that they acquired all assets and licenses from Merck, which included our license agreement.

 

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (“BMS”)

 

In May 2010, we announced a research collaboration with BMS. Under this agreement, BMS conducted preclinical work to validate the function of certain genes and shared the data with us to potentially develop RNAi therapeutic drugs against therapeutic targets of interest. We formulated the required RNAi trigger molecules enabled by our LNP technology to silence target genes of interest.  BMS paid us $3.0 million concurrent with the signing of the agreement. We provided a predetermined number of LNP batches over the four-year agreement.  In May 2011, we announced a further expansion of the collaboration to include broader applications of our LNP technology and additional target validation work. In May 2014, the collaboration expired and all parties’ obligations ended.

 

U.S. National Institutes of Health (“NIH”)

 

On October 13, 2010 we announced that together with collaborators at UTMB, we were awarded a new NIH grant, worth $2.4 million, to support research to develop RNAi therapeutics to treat Ebola and Marburg hemorrhagic fever viral infections using our LNP delivery technology. In February 2014, we along with UTMB and other collaborators were awarded additional funding of $3.4 million over five years from the NIH in support of this research.

29
 

 

Halo-Bio RNAi Therapeutics, Inc. ("Halo-Bio")

 

In August 2011, Protiva entered into a license and collaboration agreement with Halo-Bio. Under the agreement, Halo-Bio granted to Protiva an exclusive license to its multivalent ribonucleic acid MV-RNA technology. The agreement was amended on August 8, 2012 to adjust future license fees and other contingent payments. To date, we have recorded $0.5 million in fees under the Protiva license from Halo-Bio. Protiva terminated the agreement with Halo-Bio in July 2013. There are no further payments due or contingently payable to Halo-Bio.

 

Dicerna Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Dicerna”)

 

In November 2014, we signed a licensing agreement and a development and supply agreement with Dicerna to license our LNP delivery technology for exclusive use in Dicerna's primary hyperoxaluria type 1 (PH1) development program. Dicerna will use our third generation LNP technology for delivery of DCR-PH1, Dicerna's product incorporating its Dicer substrate RNA (DsiRNA) molecule, for the treatment of PH1, a rare, inherited liver disorder that often results in kidney failure and for which there are no approved therapies. Under the agreements, Dicerna paid a $2.5 million upfront and will potentially make payments of $22 million in aggregate development milestones, plus tiered mid-single-digit royalty payments on future PH1 sales. This partnership also includes a supply agreement under which we will provide clinical drug supply and regulatory support for the rapid advancement of this product candidate.

 

Cytos Biotechnology Ltd (“Cytos”)

 

On December 30, 2014, Arbutus Inc., our wholly owned subsidiary, entered into an exclusive, worldwide, sub-licensable (subject to certain restrictions with respect to licensed viral infections other than hepatitis) license to six different series of compounds. The licensed compounds are Qbeta-derived virus-like particles that encapsulate TLR9, TLR7 or RIG-I agonists and may or may not be conjugated with antigens from the hepatitis virus or other licensed viruses.  We have an option to expand this license to include additional viral infections other than influenza and Cytos will retain all rights for influenza, all non-viral infections, and all viral infections (other than hepatitis) for which we have not exercised an option. 

 

In partial consideration for this license, we will be obligated to pay Cytos up to a total of $67 million for each of the six licensed compound series upon the achievement of specified development and regulatory milestones; for hepatitis and each additional licensed viral infection, up to a total of $110 million upon the achievement of specified sales performance milestones; and tiered royalty payments in the high-single to low-double digits, based upon the proportionate net sales of licensed products in any commercialized combination.

 

The Baruch S. Blumberg Institute (“Blumberg”) and Drexel University (“Drexel”)

 

In February 2014, Arbutus Inc., our wholly owned subsidiary, entered into a license agreement with Blumberg and Drexel that granted an exclusive (except as to certain know-how and subject to retained non-commercial research rights), worldwide, sub-licensable license to three different compound series: cccDNA inhibitors, capsid assembly inhibitors and HCC inhibitors.

 

In partial consideration for this license, Arbutus Inc. paid a license initiation fee of $150,000 and issued warrants to Blumberg and Drexel. No warrants were outstanding as at the date Arbutus merged with Arbutus Inc. Under this license agreement, Arbutus Inc. also agreed to pay up to $3.5 million in development and regulatory milestones per licensed compound series, up to $92.5 million in sales performance milestones per licensed product, and royalties in the mid-single digits based upon the proportionate net sales of licensed products in any commercialized combination. We are obligated to pay Blumberg and Drexel a double digit percentage of all amounts received from the sub-licensees, subject to customary exclusions.

 

In November 2014, Arbutus Inc. entered into an additional license agreement with Blumberg and Drexel pursuant to which it received an exclusive (subject to retained non-commercial research rights), worldwide, sub-licensable license under specified patents and know-how controlled by Blumberg and Drexel covering epigenetic modifiers of cccDNA and STING agonists. In consideration for these exclusive licenses, Arbutus Inc. made an upfront payment of $50,000. Under this agreement, we will be required to pay up to $1.0 million for each licensed product upon the achievement of a specified regulatory milestone and a low single digit royalty, based upon the proportionate net sales of compounds covered by this intellectual property in any commercialized combination. We are also obligated to pay Blumberg and Drexel a double digit percentage of all amounts received from its sub-licensees, subject to exclusions.

 

License Agreements between Enantigen (“Enantigen”) and Blumberg and Drexel

 

In October 2014, Arbutus Inc., our wholly owned subsidiary, acquired all of the outstanding shares of Enantigen pursuant to a stock purchase agreement. Through this transaction, Arbutus Inc. acquired a HBV surface antigen secretion inhibitor program and a capsid assembly inhibitor program, each of which are now assets of Arbutus, following our merger with Arbutus Inc.

  

Under the stock purchase agreement, we agreed to pay up to a total of $21.0 million to Enantigen’s selling stockholders upon the achievement of specified development and regulatory milestones, for the first two products that contain either a capsid compound, or a HBV surface antigen compound that is covered by a patent acquired under this agreement; or a capsid compound from an agreed upon list of compounds. The amount paid could be up to a total of $101.5 million in sales performance milestones in connection with the sale of the first commercialized product by us for the treatment of HBV, regardless of whether such product is based upon assets acquired under this agreement; and low single digit royalty on net sales of such first commercialized HBV product, up to a maximum royalty payment of $1.0 million that, if paid, would be offset against our milestone payment obligations.

 

Under the stock purchase agreement, we also agreed that Enantigen would fulfill its obligations as they relate to the three patent license agreements with Blumberg and Drexel. Pursuant to each patent license agreement, Enantigen is obligated to pay Blumberg and Drexel up to approximately $500,000 in development and regulatory milestones per licensed product, royalties in the low single digits, and a percentage of revenue it receives from its sub-licensees.

30
 

 

Research Collaboration and Funding Agreement with Blumberg

 

In October 2014, Arbutus Inc., our wholly owned subsidiary, entered into a research collaboration and funding agreement with Blumberg under which we will provide $1.0 million per year of research funding for three years, renewable at our option for an additional three years, for Blumberg to conduct research projects in HBV and liver cancer pursuant to a research plan to be agreed upon by the parties. Blumberg has exclusivity obligations to Arbutus with respect to HBV research funded under the agreement. In addition, we have the right to match any third party offer to fund HBV research that falls outside the scope of the research being funded under the agreement. Blumberg has granted us the right to obtain an exclusive, royalty bearing, worldwide license to any intellectual property generated by any funded research project. If we elect to exercise our right to obtain such a license, we will have a specified period of time to negotiate and enter into a mutually agreeable license agreement with Blumberg. This license agreement will include the following pre negotiated upfront, milestone and royalty payments: an upfront payment in the amount of $100,000; up to $8.1 million upon the achievement of specified development and regulatory milestones; up to $92.5 million upon the achievement of specified commercialization milestones; and royalties at a low single to mid-single digit rates based upon the proportionate net sales of licensed products from any commercialized combination.

 

NeuroVive Pharmaceutical AB (“NeuroVive”)

 

In September 2014, Arbutus Inc., our wholly owned subsidiary, entered into a license agreement with NeuroVive that granted us an exclusive, worldwide, sub-licensable license to develop, manufacture and commercialize, for the treatment of HBV, oral dosage form sanglifehrin based cyclophilin inhibitors (including OCB-030). Under this license agreement we have been granted a non-exclusive, royalty free right and license and right of reference to NeuroVive’s relevant regulatory approvals and filings for the sole purpose of developing, manufacturing and commercializing licensed products for the treatment of HBV. Under this license agreement, we have (1) an option to expand our exclusive license to include treatment of viral diseases other than HBV and (2) an option, exercisable upon specified conditions, to expand our exclusive license to include development, manufacture and commercialization of non-oral variations of licensed products for treatment of viral diseases other than HBV. NeuroVive retains all rights with respect to development, manufacture and commercialization of licensed products and non-oral variations of licensed products for all indications (other than HBV) for which we have not exercised our option.

 

In partial consideration for this license, Arbutus Inc. paid NeuroVive a license fee of $1 million. We are also obligated to pay up to $47.0 million in clinical development and regulatory milestones per indication and up to $102.5 million in sales performance milestones per licensed product and indication. If we are acquired by a third party in a transaction that meets certain criteria, then we or our acquirer will be obligated to pay all remaining development, regulatory and sales milestone payments, regardless of whether the applicable milestone events have been achieved, for each licensed product that entered clinical development before such acquisition. As described in “Overview”, Arbutus Inc. became our wholly owned subsidiary by way of a Merger Agreement, which does not trigger any of the aforementioned milestone payment We agreed to pay NeuroVive tiered royalties in the mid-single to low-double digit range based upon the proportionate gross sales of patented licensed products from any commercialized combination. If we terminate this license agreement in its entirety for convenience prior to the first commercial sale of any licensed product, we will be obligated to pay NeuroVive a termination fee of $2 million.

  

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES

 

Share purchase warrant valuation / The valuation of share purchase warrants is a critical accounting estimate due to the value of liabilities recorded and the many assumptions that are required to calculate the liability, resulting in the classification of our warrant liability as a level 3 financial instrument.

 

We classify warrants in our consolidated balance sheet as liabilities and revalue them at each balance sheet date. Any change in valuation is recorded in our statement of operations. We use the Black-Scholes pricing model to value the warrants. Determining the appropriate fair-value model and calculating the fair value of registered warrants requires considerable judgment. A small change in the estimates used may cause a relatively large change in the estimated valuation. Due to ongoing changes in our business and general stock market conditions, we continuously assess our warrant fair value assumptions. We adjust the estimated expected life as appropriate, based on the pattern of exercises of our warrants. As at December 31, 2014, for the purpose of calculating the fair value, the expected life of outstanding warrants was three months for warrants expiring in June 2016, and nine months for warrants expiring in February 2017. Based on the pattern of decreasing exercises of warrants, we have increased the expected life to nine months and twelve nine months for outstanding warrants expiring in June 2016 and February 2017, respectively, effective January 1, 2015. The remaining expected life is three months and six months for outstanding warrants expiring in June 2016 and February 2017, respectively, as at June 30, 2015. For the three and six month period ended June 30, 2015, we recorded a gain to earnings due to the decrease in fair value of warrant liability of $2,024,000 and $801,000 respectively.

 

Business combination / The purchase price allocation is a critical accounting estimates due to the many assumptions that are required to calculate the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed during a business combination.

 

We account for our business combination using the acquisition method. Under this method, estimates we make to determine the fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed include judgments in our determinations of acquired intangible assets and assessment of the fair value of existing property and equipment. Assumed liabilities can include other contingency reserves existing at the time of acquisition. Goodwill is recognized as of the acquisition date as the excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair values of net identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed at their acquisition date. Acquisition related expenses are separately recognized from business combination and are expensed as incurred.

31
 

 

When establishing fair values, we make significant estimates and assumptions, especially with respect to intangible assets. Intangible assets acquired and recorded by us may include patents, intellectual property, and in-process research and development. Estimates include, but are not limited to the forecasting of future cash flows and discount rates. Our estimates for the fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed are preliminary for the period ended June 30, 2015. We are currently undertaking a valuation assessment by engaging a third-party firm to assist us to determine the fair values. Our preliminary estimates of fair values are based upon assumptions that we believe to be reasonable, but which are inherently uncertain and unpredictable; therefore, actual results may differ from estimates impacting our earnings.

 

There are no other changes to our critical accounting policies and estimates from those disclosed in our annual MD&A contained in our 2014 Annual Report filed on Form 10-K.

 

RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

 

From time to time, new accounting pronouncements are issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) or other standard setting bodies that we adopt as of the specified effective date. Unless otherwise discussed, we believe that the impact of recently issued standards that are not yet effective will not have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations upon adoption.

 

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASC 606). The standard is intended to clarify the principles for recognizing revenue and to develop a common revenue standard for U.S. GAAP and IFRS by creating a new Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. This guidance supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in ASC 605, Revenue Recognition, and supersedes some cost guidance included in Subtopic 605-35, Revenue Recognition – Construction-Type and Production-Type Contracts. The core principle of the accounting standard is that an entity recognizes revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those good or services. The amendments should be applied by either (1) retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented; or (2) retrospectively with the cumulative effect of initially applying this ASU recognized at the date of initial application. In April 2015, the FASB voted to propose a deferral of the effective date of the ASU by one year. The new guidance would be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017 instead of December 15, 2016, which for the Company means January 1, 2018. Entities are permitted to adopt in accordance with the original effective date if they choose. We have not yet determined the extent of the impact of adoption.

 

In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-15, Presentation of Financial Statements – Going Concern (Subtopic 205-40): Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern. The update is intended to provide guidance in GAAP about management’s responsibility to evaluate whether there is substantial doubt about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern and to provide related footnote disclosures. Under amendments to GAAP, the assessment period is within one year after the date that the financial statements are issued (or available to be issued). The amendments are effective for the annual period ending after December 15, 2016, which for the Company means January 1, 2017, and for annual periods and interim periods thereafter. Early application is permitted.  We do not plan to early adopt this update. The extent of the impact of this adoption has not yet been determined.

 

SUMMARY OF QUARTERLY RESULTS

 

The following table presents our unaudited quarterly results of operations for each of our last eight quarters. These data have been derived from our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, which were prepared on the same basis as our annual audited financial statements and, in our opinion, include all adjustments necessary, consisting solely of normal recurring adjustments, for the fair presentation of such information.

32
 

 

(in millions $ except per share data) – unaudited

 

   Q2  Q1  Q4  Q3  Q2  Q1  Q4  Q3
   2015  2015  2014  2014  2014  2014  2013  2013
                                         
Revenue                                        
Collaborations and contracts:                                        
DoD  $1.8   $3.0   $2.8   $1.5   $0.9   $3.2   $2.6   $2.8 
Monsanto   0.3    0.3    0.3    0.3    0.2    0.3    -    - 
Dicerna   0.2    0.2    0.3    0.2    -    -    -    - 
Other   -    -    -    1.6    -    0.2    (0.1)   0.1 
                                         
    2.3    3.5    3.4    3.6    1.1    3.7    2.6    2.9 
Alnylam milestone payments   -    -    -    -    -    0.2    5.0    - 
Monsanto licensing fees and milestone payments   0.8    0.8    0.9    0.7    0.6    0.5    -    - 
Dicerna licensing fee   0.3    0.3    -    -    -    -    -    - 
Spectrum milestone and royalty payments   0.1    0.1    0.1    0.1    0.0    0.0    0.0    - 
                                         
Total revenue   3.4    4.7    4.4    4.4    1.8    4.4    7.6    2.9 
                                         
Expenses   (17.9)   (22.7)   (15.1)   (11.2)   (11.2)   (10.4)   (9.9)   (6.6)
Other income (losses)   (0.5)   6.0    4.5    (1.8)   3.3    (12.0)   (0.2)   (2.2)
                                         
Net loss   (14.9)   (12.0)   (6.2)   (8.6)   (6.1)   (18.0)   (2.6)   (5.9)
                                         
Basic and diluted net loss per share  $(0.27)  $(0.40)  $(0.27)  $(0.39)  $(0.28)  $(0.91)  $(0.15)  $(0.41)

 

 

Quarterly Trends

 

Revenue / Our revenue is derived from research and development collaborations and contracts, licensing fees, milestone and royalty payments. Over the past two years, our principal source of ongoing revenue has been our contract with the DoD to advance TKM-Ebola which began in July 2010. We expect revenue to continue to fluctuate particularly due to the development stage of the TKM-Ebola contract and the irregular nature of licensing and milestone receipts.

 

In Q3 2010 we signed a contract with the DoD to develop TKM-Ebola and have since incurred significant program costs related to equipment, materials and preclinical and clinical studies. These costs are included in our research, development, collaborations and contracts expenses. These costs are fully reimbursed by the DoD, and this reimbursement amount is recorded as revenue. DoD revenue from the TKM-Ebola program also compensates us for labor and overheads and provides an incentive fee. As described in our critical accounting policies in our Annual Report, we estimate the labor and overhead rates to be charged under our TKM-Ebola contract and update these rate estimates throughout the year. In April 2014, we signed a contract modification to increase the stage one targeted funding by $2.1 million to $43.8 million. The additional funding is to compensate us for unrecovered costs related to the temporary stop-work period that occurred in 2012 and to provide additional overhead funding should it be required. In Q1 2014, we earned $3.2 million in DoD revenue, due partially to an increase in activity as we moved into a Phase I Clinical Trial. In Q2 2014, we earned $0.9 million in DoD revenue due to lower contract activity as our clinical trial data was with the FDA for review. DoD revenue increased in Q3 2014 with an increase in activity as we prepared a response to the FDA’s partial clinical hold on our Phase I Clinical Trial. In October 2014, the DoD exercised a contract option adding $7.0 million to the contract for the scale-up and manufacture of TKM-Ebola-Guinea, our product targeting the Ebola-Makona (formerly known as Ebola-Guinea) strain responsible for the current outbreak in West Africa. DoD revenue increased in Q4 2014 and Q1 2015 as we purchased materials and manufactured TKM-Ebola-Guinea. In Q2 2015, material purchases and subcontract work related to TKM-Ebola-Guinea were less significant. In July 2015, we announced that activities have been suspended while a joint re-evaluation of the development contract is conducted.

 

In January 2014, we signed an Option Agreement and a Services Agreement with Monsanto for the use of our proprietary delivery technology and related intellectual property in agriculture. Over the option period, which is expected to be approximately four years, Monsanto will make payments to us to maintain their option rights. In Q1 2014, we received $14.5 million of the $17.5 million near term payments, of which $4.5 million relates to research services and $10.0 million for the use of our technology. In June 2014 and October 2014, we received further payments of $1.5 million each, following the completion of specified program developments. In May 2015, we received an additional $1.05 million related  to research services. The payments are being recognized as revenue on a straight-line basis over the option period.

 

In November 2014, we signed a License Agreement and a Development and Supply Agreement with Dicerna for the use of our proprietary delivery technology and related technology intended to develop, manufacture, and commercialize products related to treatment of PH1. In Q4 2014, we received an upfront payment of $2.5 million, which is being recognized over the period over which we provide services to Dicerna, estimated to complete in Q1 2017. We recognized collaboration revenue of $0.2 million in each of Q1 and Q2 2015 which relates to materials and services provided to Dicerna.

 

In Q4 2013 we earned a $5.0 million milestone from Alnylam following their initiation of a Phase III trial enabled by our LNP technology.

 

In Q4 2013, we began to earn royalties from Spectrum with respect to the commercial sales of Marqibo.

 

Included in “other collaborations and contract revenue” is revenue from a BMS batch formulation agreement. In Q4 2013, we offered to extend the BMS agreement end date from May 2014 to December 2014. Extending the agreement would have given BMS more time to order LNP batches. Revenue recognized in 2013 has been reduced and the balance of deferred revenue as at December 31, 2013 has been increased to account for BMS potentially ordering more batches under the agreement. This agreement is reflected in the $0.1 million of negative “other revenue” in Q4 2013 when the offer was made to extend the agreement and a cumulative revenue adjustment was recorded. In August 2014, we received notification from BMS that the extension would not occur. As such, the collaboration expired and both parties’ obligations under the agreement ended. Revenue recognized in Q3 2014 relates to the release of the deferred revenue balance of $1.6 million.

33
 

 

Expenses / Expenses consist primarily of clinical and pre-clinical trial expenses, personnel expenses, consulting and third party expenses, reimbursable collaboration expenses, consumables and materials, patent filing expenses, facilities, stock-based compensation and general corporate costs.

 

Our expenses have increased in the past eight quarters due to an increase in our research and development activities as we seek to move more products into the clinic. In Q3 2013, we initiated a Phase I/II Clinical Trial for TKM-PLK1 in patients with GI-NET or ACC. In Q1 2014, we dosed the first subject in human clinical trials of TKM-Ebola. In Q2 2014, we initiated a Phase I/II Clinical Trial for TKM-PLK1 in patients with HCC. In Q4 2014, we filed a Canadian Clinical Trial Application (CTA) for TKM-HBV and received clearance to conduct a Phase I Clinical Trial, as well as initiated manufacturing of TKM-Ebola-Guinea for emergency use in West Africa – see overview. In Q1 2015, we initiated a Phase I Clinical Trial for TKM-HBV and incurred significant material costs related to the TKM-Ebola-Guinea contract with the DoD. In addition, we incurred $9.3 million in costs for professional fees related to completing the merger with Arbutus Inc. (formerly OnCore) In Q2 2015, we incurred an incremental $2.9 million R&D expenses related to our HBV programs acquired through the merger with Arbutus Inc. (formerly OnCore).

 

Other income (losses) / Other income (losses) consist primarily of changes in the fair value of our warrant liability and foreign exchange differences. Other losses increased in Q3 2013, Q1 2014, and Q3 2014 due primarily to the increase in fair value of our warrant liability. Increases in our share price from the previous reporting date result in an increase in the fair value of our warrant liability, and vice versa. We expect to see future changes in the fair value of our warrant liability and these changes will largely depend on the change in the Company’s share price, any change in our assumed rate of share price volatility, our assumptions for the expected lives of the warrants and warrant exercises.

 

In Q2 2015, we recorded $2.6 million foreign exchange loss, due to the depreciation of U.S. dollar against Canadian dollar from the previous period. This is offset by a $2.0 million decrease in the fair value of warrant liability for the period.

 

Net (loss) income / Fluctuations in our net loss are explained by changes in revenue, expenses and other income (losses) as discussed above.

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

The following summarizes the results of our operations for the periods shown, in thousands:

 

   

Three Months Ended

June 30,

   

Six Months Ended

June 30,

 
    2015     2014     2015     2014  
Total revenue   $ 3,440     $ 1,811     $ 8,122     $ 6,241  
Operating expenses     17,860       11,234       40,548       21,622  
Loss from operations     (14,420     (9,423     (32,426     (15,381
Net loss   $ (14,886   $ (6,081   $ (26,875   $ (24,065
Basic and diluted loss per share     (0.27     (0.28     (0.64     (1.15

 

Revenue / Revenue is summarized in the following table, in thousands:

 

    Three months ended June 30,  
    2015     % of Total     2014     % of Total  
DoD   $ 1,862       54 %   $ 861       47 %
Monsanto     269       8 %     283       16 %
BMS     -       0 %     -       0 %
Dicerna      179       5 %     -       0 %
Total collaborations and contracts revenue     2,310       67 %     1,144       63 %
                                 
Monsanto licensing fee and milestone payments     805       23 %     626       35 %
Acuitas milestone payment     -       0 %     -       0 %
Dicerna licensing fee     263       8 %     -       0 %
Spectrum milestone and royalty payments     62       2 %     41       2 %
                                 
Total revenue   $ 3,440             $ 1,811          

 

    Six months ended June 30,  
    2015     % of Total     2014     % of Total  
DoD   $ 4,907       60 %   $ 4,101       66 %
Monsanto     517       6 %     526       9 %
BMS     -       0 %     206       3 %
Dicerna      406       5 %     -       0 %
Total collaborations and contracts revenue     5,830       72 %     4,833       78 %
                                 
Monsanto licensing fee and milestone payments     1,647       20 %     1,171       19 %
Acuitas milestone payment     -       0 %     150       2 %
Dicerna licensing fee     526       6 %     -       0 %
Spectrum milestone and royalty payments     119       1 %     87       1 %
                                 
Total revenue   $ 8,122             $ 6,241          

 

34
 

 

 

Revenue contracts are covered in more detail in the overview section of this discussion.

 

DoD revenue

 

DoD revenues and related contract expenses were higher in Q2 2015 as compared to Q2 2014 largely due to low contract activity in Q2 2014 as we had completed a Phase I clinical trial and were awaiting FDA review of our data. DoD revenues and related contract expenses were higher in first half of 2015 as compared to 2014 as we incurred costs and recorded revenue for the manufacture of TKM-Ebola-Guinea.

In July 2015, we announced that activities have been suspended while a joint re-evaluation of the DoD development contract is conducted.

 

Monsanto revenue

 

In January 2014, we received $14.5 million, of which $4.5 million relates to research services and $10.0 million for the use of our technology. In June and October 2014, we received payments of $1.5 million each, following the completion of specified program developments. In May 2015, we received $1.05 million for research services. We are recognizing these payments on a straight-line basis over the option period. In Q2 2015 and the first half of 2015, we recorded an aggregate of $1.1 million and $2.2 million respectively in revenue for the use of our technology and for research activities.

 

Dicerna revenue

 

In November 2014, we signed a License Agreement and a Development and Supply Agreement with Dicerna for the use of our proprietary delivery technology and related technology intended to develop, manufacture, and commercialize products related to treatment of PH1. In Q4 2014, we received an upfront payment of $2.5 million, which is being recognized over the period we provide services to Dicerna, estimated to complete in Q1 2017. We recognized collaboration revenue of $0.2 million and $0.4 million respectively for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015 earned on materials manufactured and services provided to Dicerna.

 

Alnylam revenue

 

In Q1 2014, we recognized $0.15 million in milestone revenue from Acuitas following their receipt of a milestone from Alnylam with the initiation of a Phase III trial enabled by our LNP technology.

35
 

 

BMS revenue

 

In May 2010 we signed a formulation agreement with BMS under which BMS paid us $3.0 million to make a certain number of LNP formulations over the following four year period. The contract expired in 2014 with no further obligation for either party. Revenue recognized in Q1 2014 relates to the batches shipped to BMS during the period.

 

Spectrum revenue

 

In September 2013, Spectrum announced that they had shipped the first commercial orders of Marqibo. We continue to earn royalties on the sales of Marqibo, which uses a license to our technology.

 

Expenses / Expenses are summarized in the following table, in thousands:

 

    Three months ended June 30,    
    2015     % of Total     2014     % of Total    
                           
Research, development, collaborations and contracts   $ 9,690       68 %   $ 9,298       83 %
General and administrative     7,662       29 %     1,787       16 %
Depreciation     147       1 %     149       1 %
Acquisition costs     361       2 %     -       0 %
Total operating expenses   $ 17,860             $ 11,234            

 

    Six months ended June 30,  
    2015     % of Total     2014     % of Total  
                         
Research, development, collaborations and contracts   $ 20,247       56 %   $ 17,502       81 %
General and administrative     10,378       19 %     3,837       18 %
Depreciation     267       1 %     283       1 %
Acquisition costs     9,656       24 %     -       0 %
Total operating expenses   $ 40,548             $ 21,622          

 

Research, development, collaborations and contracts

 

Research, development, collaborations and contracts expenses consist primarily of clinical and pre-clinical trial expenses, personnel expenses, consulting and third party expenses, consumables and materials, as well as a portion of stock-based compensation and general corporate costs.

 

In the first half of 2015, we increased our spending on TKM-HBV as we initiated a Phase I clinical trial. In addition, we incurred costs for the manufacture of TKM-Ebola-Guinea under our DoD contract – see overview. In Q2 2015, we incurred incremental costs related to increase in activities for our HBV programs subsequent to the merger with Arbutus Inc., as well as incremental costs related to our collaboration programs with Monsanto and Dicerna.

 

R&D compensation expense increased in Q2 and in the first half of 2015 as compared to Q2 and in the first half of 2014 due to an increase in the number of employees in support of our expanded portfolio of product candidates, as well as from our merger with Arbutus Inc. In addition, in the first half of 2015 we incurred a total of $5.3 million of incremental non-cash compensation expense related to the expiry of repurchase rights on shares issued as part of the consideration paid for the merger with Arbutus Inc. (refer to notes to the financial statements), of which $1.3 million has been included as part of research, development, collaborations and contracts expense, and $4.0 million included as part of general and administrative expense.

  

A significant portion of our research, development, collaborations and contracts expenses are not tracked by project as they benefit multiple projects or our technology platform and because our most-advanced programs are not yet in late-stage clinical development. However, our collaboration agreements contain cost-sharing arrangements pursuant to which certain costs incurred under the project are reimbursed. Costs reimbursed under collaborations typically include certain direct external costs and hourly or full-time equivalent labor rates for the actual time worked on the project. In addition, we have been reimbursed under government contracts for certain allowable costs including direct internal and external costs. As a result, although a significant portion of our research, development, collaborations and contracts expenses are not tracked on a project-by-project basis, we do, however, track direct external costs attributable to, and the actual time our employees worked on, our collaborations and government contracts.

 

General and administrative

 

General and administrative expenses were higher in Q2 and in the first half of 2015 compared to Q2 and in the first half of 2014 due largely to an increase in compensation expense linked to our increase in employee base and incremental corporate expenses to support the growth of the Company following the completion of our merger with Arbutus Inc. This includes an incremental non-cash compensation expense we incurred related to the expiry of repurchase rights on shares issued as part of consideration paid for the merger with Arbutus Inc. (see above). Expenses were also higher in Q2 2015 and in the first half of 2015 due to legal costs incurred in relation to the May 2015 arbitration hearing against Alnylam.

36
 

 

Depreciation of property and equipment

 

Most of our recent property and equipment additions were related to our TKM-Ebola program and are not recorded as Company assets. As such, a large portion of our property and equipment is reaching full amortization. In 2015, we spent $0.5 million on property and equipment mostly related to lab equipment and information technology improvements to support integration following our merger with Arbutus Inc.

 

Acquisition costs

 

In 2015, we incurred $9.7 million in costs for professional fees related to completing the merger with Arbutus Inc. – see overview. This is a one-time cost specific to the merger with Arbutus Inc., and we do not expect to incur recurring acquisition costs.

 

 

Other income (losses) / Other income (losses) are summarized in the following table, in thousands:

  

 

Three Months Ended

June 30,

 

Six Months Ended

June 30,

 
  2015   2014   2015   2014  
         
Interest income   $ 81     $ 257     $ 283     $ 404  
Foreign exchange gains (losses)     (2,571 )       (2,728 )       4,467       (1,285
(Increase) decrease in fair value of warrant liability     2,024       5,813       801       (7,803
Total other income (losses)   $ (466   $ 3,342     $ 5,551     $ (8,684 )

 

Foreign exchange gains

 

For the three months ended June 30, 2015, we recorded a foreign exchange loss of $2.6 million , which is primarily an unrealized loss related to a depreciation in the value of our U.S. dollar funds from the previous period, when converted to our functional currency of Canadian dollars. In the first half of 2015, we recorded foreign exchange gains of $4.5 million as the U.S. dollar strengthened by 8% against the Canadian dollar in that period. Cumulative translation adjustments, which result from converting from our functional currency of Canadian dollars to our reporting currency of U.S. dollars, do not impact our net loss calculation and are not included in foreign exchange gains (losses).

 

Increase in fair value of warrant liability

 

In conjunction with equity and debt financing transactions in 2011 and an equity private placement that closed on February 29, 2012, we issued warrants to purchase our common share. We are accounting for the warrants under the authoritative guidance on accounting for derivative financial instruments indexed to, and potentially settled in, a company’s own stock, on the understanding that in compliance with applicable securities laws, the registered warrants require the issuance of registered securities upon exercise and do not sufficiently preclude an implied right to net cash settlement. At each balance sheet date the warrants are revalued using the Black-Scholes model and the change in value is recorded in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income (loss).

 

Generally, a decrease in our share price from the previous reporting date results in a decrease in the fair value of our warrant liability and vice versa.

 

We expect to see future changes in the fair value of our warrant liability and these changes will largely depend on the change in the Company’s share price, any change in our assumed rate of share price volatility, our assumptions for the expected lives of the warrants and warrant issuances or exercises.

  

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

The following table summarizes our cash flow activities for the periods indicated, in thousands:

 

   

Three Months Ended

June 30,

 

Six Months Ended

June 30,

    2015   2014   2015   2014
         
Net loss for the period   $ (14,886 )     $ (6,081 )     $ (26,875 )     $ (24,065 )  
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities     6,185       (3,192 )       2,278       11,687  
Changes in operating assets and liabilities     (7,970     1,263       (11,044     13,523  
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities     (16,671 )       (8,010 )       (35,641 )       1,145  
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities     (10,327     (43,238     27,219       (43,573
Net cash provided by financing activities     960       234       143,780       59,523  
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash & cash equivalents     967       1,924       (340     (545)  
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents     (25,071 )       (49,090 )       135,018       16,550  
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period     232,276       134,357       72,187       68,717  
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period     207,205       85,267       207,205       85,267  

 

37
 

 

Since our incorporation, we have financed our operations through the sales of shares, units, debt, revenues from research and development collaborations and licenses with corporate partners, interest income on funds available for investment, and government contracts, grants and tax credits.

 

At June 30, 2015, we had an aggregate of approximately $217.2 million in cash and cash equivalents and long-term investments as compared to an aggregate of $112.2 million in cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments at December 31, 2014.

 

For the six months ended June 30, 215, operating activities used $35.6 million in cash as compared to $1.1 million of cash provided in the six months ended June 30, 2014. The increase in cash used from operating activities is primarily related to the significant costs incurred related to the acquisition of Arbutus Inc. in March 2015, as well as cash received from Monsanto in January 2014.

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2015, investing activities provided $27.2 million in cash as we sold the guaranteed investment certificates we acquired in 2014. In May 2015, we acquired a $10.0 million term deposit.

 

On March 25, 2015, we completed an underwritten public offering of 7,500,000 common shares, at a price of $20.25 per share, representing gross proceeds of $151.9 million. The cost of financing, including commissions and professional fees, was approximately $9.7 million, which gave us net proceeds of $142.2 million. We plan to use these proceeds to develop and advance product candidates through clinical trials, as well as for working capital and general corporate purposes.

 

Cash requirements / At December 31, 2014 we held $72.2 million in cash and cash equivalents, $40.0 in short-term investments, totaling $112.2 million. On March 25, 2015, we raised net proceeds of $142.2 million from a public offering. Our aggregate cash and long-term investment balance as at June 30, 2015 was $217.2 million. We believe we have sufficient cash resources for at least the next 12 months. In the future, substantial additional funds will be required to continue with the active development of our pipeline products and technologies. In particular, our funding needs may vary depending on a number of factors including:

 

  · the need for additional capital to fund future business development programs;
  · revenues earned form our current collaborative partnership and licensing agreements with Monsanto and Dicerna;
  · revenues earned from our DoD contract to develop TKM-Ebola and TKM-Ebola-Guinea;
  · revenues earned from our legacy collaborative partnerships and licensing agreements, including milestone payments from Alnylam and royalties from sales of Marqibo from Spectrum;
  · the extent to which we continue the development of our product candidates, add new product candidates to our pipeline, or form collaborative relationships to advance our products;
  · our decisions to in-license or acquire additional products or technology for development, in particular for our HBV and RNAi therapeutics programs;
  · our ability to attract and retain corporate partners, and their effectiveness in carrying out the development and ultimate commercialization of our product candidates;
  · whether batches of drugs that we manufacture fail to meet specifications resulting in delays and investigational and remanufacturing costs;
  · the decisions, and the timing of decisions, made by health regulatory agencies regarding our technology and products;
  · competing technological and market developments; and
  · costs associated with prosecuting and enforcing our patent claims and other intellectual property rights, including litigation and arbitration arising in the course of our business activities.

 

We will seek to obtain funding to maintain and advance our business from a variety of sources including public or private equity or debt financing, collaborative arrangements with pharmaceutical companies and government grants and contracts. There can be no assurance that funding will be available at all or on acceptable terms to permit further development of our products.

 

If adequate funding is not available, we may be required to delay, reduce or eliminate one or more of our research or development programs or reduce expenses associated with non-core activities. We may need to obtain funds through arrangements with collaborators or others that may require us to relinquish most or all of our rights to product candidates at an earlier stage of development or on less favorable terms than we would otherwise seek if we were better funded. Insufficient financing may also mean failing to prosecute our patents or relinquishing rights to some of our technologies that we would otherwise develop or commercialize.

 

Material commitments for capital expenditures / As at the date of this discussion we do not have any material commitments for capital expenditure.

 

38
 

 

OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS

 

We do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on our financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources that is material to investors.

 

CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS

 

Other than as disclosed elsewhere in this MD&A, there have not been any material changes to our contractual obligations from those disclosed in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.

 

IMPACT OF INFLATION

 

Inflation has not had a material impact on our operations.

 

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

 

We have not entered into any related party transactions in the periods covered by this discussion.

 

OUTSTANDING SHARE DATA

 

At July 31, 2015, we had 54,328,414 common shares issued and outstanding, outstanding options to purchase an additional 2,369,898 common shares and outstanding warrants to purchase an additional 379,500 common shares. 

 

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

There have been no material changes in our quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk from those disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014.

 

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

As of June 30, 2015, an evaluation of the effectiveness of our “disclosure controls and procedures” (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) was carried out by our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO). The scope of the effectiveness of disclosure controls and procedures do not include any disclosure controls and procedures of Arbutus Inc., which was acquired on March 4, 2015, that are also part of Arbutus Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting. This exclusion is in accordance with SEC’s guidance that a recently acquired business may be omitted from the scope of the assessment in the year of acquisition. Based upon this evaluation, the CEO and CFO have concluded that as of June 30, 2015, our disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is (i) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) rules and forms and (ii) accumulated and communicated to the management of the registrant, including the CEO and CFO, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

It should be noted that while the CEO and CFO believe that our disclosure controls and procedures provide a reasonable level of assurance that they are effective, they do not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures or internal control over financial reporting will prevent all errors and fraud. A control system, no matter how well conceived or operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met.

 

No change in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a–15(f) and 15d–15(f) under the Exchange Act) occurred during the three months ended June 30, 2015 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

39
 

 

PART II.   OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS 

 

We are involved with various legal matters arising in the ordinary course of business. We make provisions for liabilities when it is both probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. Such provisions are reviewed at least quarterly and adjusted to reflect the impact of any settlement negotiations, judicial and administrative rulings, advice of legal counsel, and other information and events pertaining to a particular case. Litigation is inherently unpredictable. Although the ultimate resolution of these various matters cannot be determined at this time, we do not believe that such matters, individually or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect on our consolidated results of operations, cash flows, or financial condition.

 

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc. (“Alnylam”)

 

On June 21, 2013, we transferred manufacturing process technology to Ascletis Pharmaceuticals (Hangzhou) Co., Ltd. (“Ascletis”) to enable them to produce ALN-VSP, a product candidate licensed to them by Alnylam. We believe that under a licensing agreement with Alnylam, the technology transfer to Ascletis triggers a $5 million milestone obligation from Alnylam to Arbutus. However, Alnylam has demanded a declaration that we have not yet met our milestone obligations. We dispute Alnylam’s position. To remedy this dispute, the parties have commenced arbitration proceedings, as provided for under the agreement.  In addition to seeking a declaration that we have met our obligations under the agreement, we have also stated a claim for breach of contract, breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, and fraud.  The hearing for this arbitration took place in May, 2015 and a decision is expected in Q3.

 

University of British Columbia (“UBC”)

 

Certain early work on lipid nanoparticle delivery systems and related inventions was undertaken at the University of British Columbia (UBC). These inventions are licensed to us by UBC under a license agreement, initially entered in 1998 as amended in 2001, 2006 and 2007. We have granted sublicenses under the UBC license to Alnylam as well as to Talon.  Alnylam has in turn sublicensed back to us under the licensed UBC patents for discovery, development and commercialization of RNAi products. In mid-2009, we and our subsidiary Protiva entered into a supplemental agreement with UBC, Alnylam and AlCana Technologies, Inc., in relation to a separate research collaboration to be conducted among UBC, Alnylam and AlCana to which we have license rights. The settlement agreement signed in late 2012 to resolve the litigation among Alnylam, AlCana, Arbutus and Protiva provided for the effective termination of all obligations under such supplemental agreement as between and among all litigants.

 

On November 10, 2014, the University of British Columbia filed a demand for arbitration against Arbutus Biopharma Corp., BCICAC File No.: DCA-1623.  We received UBC’s Statement of Claims on January 16, 2015.  In its Statement of Claims, UBC alleges that it is entitled to $3.5 million in allegedly unpaid royalties based on publicly available information, and an unspecified amount based on non-public information.  UBC also seeks interest and costs, including legal fees. We dispute UBC’s allegation.  No dates have been scheduled for this arbitration.

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

 

Other than as described below, there have been no material changes in our risk factors from those disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014.

 

The FDA may place holds on our clinical trial programs which may prevent or delay us from completing our clinical trial programs or lead to the imposition of further clinical holds or the failure of our product candidates to obtain marketing approval.

 

In July 2014, we received notice from the FDA that the TKM-Ebola IND had been placed on clinical hold. The FDA is seeking data to elucidate the mechanism of potential cytokine release and a modification to the protocol for the multiple ascending dose portion of the trial to ensure the safety of healthy volunteers. In August 2014, the FDA modified its clinical hold to a “partial clinical hold,” allowing for the potential use of TKM-Ebola in individuals who have confirmed or suspected Ebola infection. In April 2015, the FDA notified us that the partial clinical hold had been modified to permit repeat dosing of healthy volunteers at a dose of 0.24 mg/kg/day. However, the IND for TKM-Ebola remains on partial clinical hold with regard to doses above 0.24 mg/kg/day in healthy volunteers.

 

There can be no assurance that the FDA will lift the partial hold with regard to doses above 0.24mg/kg on the TKM-Ebola IND on a timely basis, or at all. Additionally, the FDA could impose additional requirements that may significantly increase the time and expense of obtaining FDA approval, which could delay or prevent marketing of the therapeutic.

40
 

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS 

 

None.

   

ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

 

None.

  

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES 

 

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION 

 

On July 31, 2015, we changed our name from Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corporation to Arbutus Biopharma Corporation and in order to reflect the name change, we amended our Articles.

 

Effective as of May 29, 2015, we entered into an Agreement to Serve as Chief Development Officer with William T. Symonds, who was already serving in such role for our company. The Agreement provides that Mr. Symonds will serve as our Chief Development Officer, will receive a salary of $190,000 per year, and will be reimbursed for certain expenses incurred in performing services for our company. Mr. Symonds’ employment under the Agreement is “at-will” employment and may be terminated at any time with or without cause or notice.

 

The Symonds Agreement also provides that during the term of his employment, Mr. Symonds will not work or consult, whether directly or indirectly, on the research, development or commercialization of any treatment for hepatitis B virus infection in humans with any entity other than our company. During the term of his employment, Mr. Symonds may also not solicit for employment, interfere with or attempt to entice away from our company or any of our subsidiaries, any individual who either (x) is employed by us or any of our subsidiaries at the time of such solicitation, interference or enticement, or (y) has been so employed within three (3) months prior to such solicitation, interference or enticement, or (ii) solicit, divert, call on, induce or otherwise harm our relationship, or attempt to solicit, divert, call on, induce, or otherwise harm our relationship, with any person who has had at any time during the term of the Agreement a business relationship with us or its affiliates, including without limitation, a sales representative, supplier, lender, borrower, guarantor, landlord, tenant, lessor, lessee, but excluding employees.

 

Effective as of August 4, 2015, we entered into the following executive employment agreements:

 

(a)an Agreement with Bruce Cousins to serve as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, who was already serving in such role for our company. The Agreement provides that Mr. Cousins will serve as our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, will receive a base salary of $350,000 per year, and will be reimbursed for certain expenses incurred in performing services for our company. In addition, Mr. Cousins is eligible to be considered for an annual discretionary bonus of up to 40 percent of base salary; which will be subject to the terms of the bonus plan and approval of the our Board of Directors, in their sole discretion, on an annual basis.

 

(b)an Agreement with Michael Abrams Ph.D to serve as Managing Director. The Agreement provides that Dr. Abrams will serve as our Managing Director, will receive a base salary of $347,000 per year, and will be reimbursed for certain expenses incurred in performing services for our company. In addition, Dr. Abrams is eligible to be considered for an annual discretionary bonus of up to 40 percent of base salary; which will be subject to the terms of the bonus plan and approval of the our Board of Directors, in their sole discretion, on an annual basis.

 

(c)an Agreement with Dr. Mark Kowalski to serve as Chief Medical Officer. The Agreement provides that Dr. Kowalski will serve as our Chief Medical Officer, will receive a base salary of $365,000 per year, and will be reimbursed for certain expenses incurred in performing services for our company. In addition, Dr. Kowalski is eligible to be considered for an annual discretionary bonus of up to 40 percent of base salary; which will be subject to the terms of the bonus plan and approval of the our Board of Directors, in their sole discretion, on an annual basis.

 

(d)an Agreement with Peter Lutwyche Ph.D to serve as Chief Technical Operations Officer. The Agreement provides that Dr. Lutwyche will serve as our Chief Technical Operations Officer, will receive a base salary of $300,000 per year, and will be reimbursed for certain expenses incurred in performing services for our company. In addition, Dr. Lutwyche is eligible to be considered for an annual discretionary bonus of up to 40 percent of base salary; which will be subject to the terms of the bonus plan and approval of the our Board of Directors, in their sole discretion, on an annual basis.

 

Each of the foregoing executive employment agreements also provides that during the term of employment, each of the above will not, for the term of employment and any restricted period thereafter without the written and informed consent of the company: (i) canvass or solicit the business of (or procure or assist the canvassing or soliciting of the business of) any “contact” (as defined in the agreement), or otherwise solicit, induce or encourage any contact to curtail or cease its relationship with the company, for any purpose which is competitive with our business; (ii) accept (or procure or assist the acceptance of) any business from any contact which business is competitive with our business; (iii) be employed by or supply (or procure or assist the supply of) any goods or services to any contact for any purpose which is competitive with our business and (iv) employ, engage, offer employment or engagement to or solicit the employment or engagement of or otherwise entice away from or solicit, induce or encourage to leave the employment or engagement of the company, any individual who is employed or engaged by us whether or not such individual would commit any breach of such executive’s contract or terms of employment or engagement by leaving the employ or the engagement of the company, provided that such executive shall be permitted, solely in a personal capacity, to provide letters of reference for individuals who are employed by us.

 

If the employment of any of the named executives above is terminated for any reason, other than for death or disability, we shall pay or provide to such executive (or to their authorized representative or estate) on or before the time required by law, but in no event more than 30 days after the date of termination: (i) unpaid expense reimbursements; (ii) accrued but unused vacation to the extent payment is required by law or Company policy; (iii) any vested benefits such executive may have under any employee benefit plan of the Company; (iv) any earned but unpaid base salary and (v) any earned but unpaid annual bonus for the prior fiscal year.

 

If the employment of any of the named executives above is terminated without cause, then we shall pay to such executive their accrued benefits as of the date of termination. In addition, subject to any change of control requirements and such executive providing the Company with a fully effective general release of claims in a form and manner satisfactory to the Company that includes but is not limited to the terms set forth in Exhibit B to the executive employment agreements for each of the above within the 60-day period following the date of termination, we shall pay to such executive an amount calculated as follows: (i) an amount equal to eighteen (18) months’ base salary, less withholding; plus (ii) a bonus payment equal to the average of the actual bonus payments, if any, made to such executive from the previous three (3) calendar years preceding the date of termination, pro-rated for the then current calendar year up to and including the date of termination; plus (iii) provided that such executive is enrolled in the our insurance benefits plans, for continuation of coverage under our insurance benefits plans that such executives and their dependents are eligible to receive for the earlier of: (A) a period of up to 24 months from the date of termination, or (B) until such executives become eligible to receive health insurance benefits under any other employer’s group health plan, or reimburse such executives for premiums paid, if any, for continuation of coverage under equivalent private coverage.

 

We shall pay the severance amount within 60 days after the date of termination, provided that if that 60-day period extends over two calendar years, we shall make the payment in the second calendar year, and further provided that we, in our sole discretion, in the circumstances, may pay the severance amount by way of one or more lump sum payments, by way of salary continuance or by a combination of both. The severance amount is inclusive of any entitlement to minimum standard severance under the British Columbia Employment Standards Act.

 

Each of the executives above are eligible for certain payments upon their termination or resignation in connection with a change of control of the Company.

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

 

See the Exhibit Index hereto.

 

41
 

 

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 on August 6, 2015.

 

  ARBUTUS BIOPHARMA CORPORATION
     
  By: /s/ Mark Murray
    Mark Murray
    President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

42
 

 

 EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit

Number

                                              Description
     
3.1*   Articles of the Registrant, as amended.
     
10.1††*   First Amendment to Protiva-Monsanto Services Agreement by and among Protiva Biotherapeutics, Inc., Protiva Agricultural Development Company Inc. and Monsanto Company, dated as of May 22, 2015.
     
10.2††*   Third Amendment to Option Agreement by and among Monsanto Canada, Inc., Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Protiva Biotherapeutics, Inc. and Protiva Agricultural Development Company Inc., dated as of May 22, 2105.
     
10.3††*   Modification Contract P00035, dated May 1, 2015, to Award Contract previously filed as Exhibit 4.16 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2010 filed with the SEC on June 3, 2011.
     
10.4††*   Modification Contract P00036, dated May 13, 2015, to Award Contract previously filed as Exhibit 4.16 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2010 filed with the SEC on June 3, 2011.
     
10.5††*   Modification Contract P00037, dated May 13, 2015, to Award Contract previously filed as Exhibit 4.16 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2010 filed with the SEC on June 3, 2011.
     
10.6*±   Executive Employment Agreement, dated effective as of July 11, 2015, between OnCore Biopharma, Inc. and Patrick T. Higgins.
     
10.7*±   Share Repurchase Agreement, dated effective as of July 11, 2015, between Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corporation and Patrick T. Higgins.
     
10.8*±   Executive Employment Agreement, dated effective as of July 11, 2015, between OnCore Biopharma, Inc. and Michael J. Sofia.
     
10.9*±   Share Repurchase Agreement, dated effective as of July 11, 2015, between Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corporation and Michael J. Sofia.
     
10.10*±   Agreement to Serve as Chief Development Officer, dated as of May 29, 2015, between Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corporation and William T. Symonds.
     
10.11*±   Executive Employment Agreement, dated as of August 4, 2015, between Arbutus Biopharma Corporation and Bruce Cousins.
     
10.12*±   Executive Employment Agreement, dated as of August 4, 2015, between Arbutus Biopharma Corporation and Michael Abrams.
     
10.13*±   Executive Employment Agreement, dated as of August 4, 2015, between Arbutus Biopharma Corporation and Mark Kowalski.
     
10.14*±   Executive Employment Agreement, dated as of August 4, 2015, between Arbutus Biopharma Corporation and Peter Lutwyche.
     
31.1*   Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14 or 15d-14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
     
31.2*   Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14 or 15d-14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
     
32.1*   Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
     
32.2*   Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
     
101   Interactive Data Files

 

 

* Filed herewith.

 †† Confidential treatment has been requested as to portions of this exhibit.

± Indicates a management contract or compensatory plan arrangement.