Armata Pharmaceuticals, Inc. - Quarter Report: 2015 March (Form 10-Q)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2015

OR

For the transition period from _________________ to _______________________

Commission file number: 000-23930

AMPLIPHI BIOSCIENCES CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (804) 827-2524

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 (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).

Yes   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 as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes ¨    No x

The number of shares of the Registrant’s Public Common Stock outstanding at May 8, 2015 was 281,623,970.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

AmpliPhi Biosciences Corporation

Consolidated Balance Sheets

See accompanying condensed notes to consolidated financial statements.

AmpliPhi Biosciences Corporation

Consolidated Statements of Operations

See accompanying condensed notes to consolidated financial statements.

AmpliPhi Biosciences Corporation

Consolidated Statements of Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock and Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit)

See accompanying condensed notes to consolidated financial statements.

AmpliPhi Biosciences Corporation

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

See accompanying condensed notes to consolidated financial statements.

AmpliPhi Biosciences Corporation

Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

March 31, 2015
(Unaudited)

1. Organization and Description of the Business

AmpliPhi Biosciences Corporation (the “Company”) was incorporated in the state of Washington in 1989 under the name Targeted Genetics Corporation. In February 2011, Targeted Genetics Corporation changed its name to AmpliPhi Biosciences Corporation. The Company, headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, is dedicated to developing novel antibacterial solutions called bacteriophage (phage). Phages are naturally occurring viruses that preferentially target and kill their bacterial targets.

As a development stage company, we have incurred net losses since our inceptions, have negative operating cash flows, and have an accumulated deficit of $376.5 million and $362.0 million as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively. The Company completed a $13.0 million private placement of common shares in March 2015, which provided the Company net proceeds of approximately $12.2 million after commissions to placement agents. We believe that with this capital infusion, there are adequate resources sufficient to fund operations through the second quarter of 2016. This estimate is based on the Company’s product development calendar, projected staffing expenses, working capital requirements, and capital expenditure plans.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

The Company’s significant accounting policies are described in Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014. Since the date of those financial statements, there have been no material changes to the Company’s significant accounting policies. The interim consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries Biocontrol, Ampliphi d.o.o., and AmpliPhi Australia. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). Any reference in these notes to applicable guidance is meant to refer to the authoritative United States generally accepted account principles as found in the Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) an Accounting Standards Update (ASU) of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB).

Unaudited Interim Financial Statements

The accompanying financial statements are unaudited. The interim unaudited financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as the annual audited financial statements and, in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments, which include only normal recurring adjustments, necessary for the fair statement of the Company’s financial position as of March 31, 2015 and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014. The financial data and other information disclosed in these notes related to the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the year ending December 31, 2015, any other interim periods or any future year or period.

Use of Estimates

Management considers many factors in selecting appropriate financial accounting policies and controls, and in developing the estimates and assumptions that are used in the preparation of these financial statements. Management must apply significant judgment in this process. In addition, other factors may affect estimates, including expected business and operational changes, sensitivity and volatility associated with the assumptions used in developing estimates, and whether historical trends are expected to be representative of future trends. The estimation process often may yield a range of potentially reasonable estimates of the ultimate future outcomes and management must select an amount that falls within that range of reasonable estimates. This process may result in actual results differing materially from those estimated amounts used in the preparation of the financial statements if these results differ from historical experience, or other assumptions do not turn out to be substantially accurate, even if such assumptions are reasonable when made. In preparing these financial statements, management used significant estimates in the following areas, among others: the determination of the fair value of stock-based awards, the fair value of liability-classified preferred stock derivatives, the fair value of liability-classified warrants, the valuation of long-lived assets, including in-process research and development (IPR&D), patents and goodwill, accrued expenses and the recoverability of the Company's net deferred tax assets and related valuation allowance.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents consist primarily of deposits with commercial banks and financial institutions. The Company considers cash equivalents to be short-term investments that have a maturity at the time of purchase of three months or less, are readily convertible into cash and have an insignificant level of valuation risk attributable to potential changes in interest rates. Cash equivalents are recorded at cost plus accrued interest, which approximates fair market value.

Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable amounts are stated at their face amounts less any allowance. Provisions for doubtful accounts are estimated based on assessment of the probable collection from specific customer accounts and other known factors. As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, management determined no allowance for doubtful accounts was required.

In-Process Research & Development and Goodwill

In-process research & development (IPR&D) assets represent capitalized incomplete research projects that the Company acquired through business combinations. Such assets are initially measured at their acquisition date fair values. The fair value of the research projects is recorded as intangible assets on the consolidated balance sheet rather than expensed regardless of whether these assets have an alternative future use. The amounts capitalized are being accounted for as indefinite-lived intangible assets, subject to impairment testing until completion or abandonment of research and development efforts associated with the projects. Upon successful completion of each project, the Company will make a determination as to the then remaining useful life of the intangible asset and begin amortization.

Costs of investments in purchased companies in excess of the underlying fair value of net assets at the date of acquisition are recorded as goodwill and assessed annually for impairment. If considered impaired, goodwill will be written down to fair value and a corresponding impairment loss recognized.

We review the carrying value of IPR&D and goodwill for potential impairment on an annual basis and at any time that events or business conditions indicate that it may be impaired. As permitted under Accounting Standards Codification Topic 350 (“ASC 350”), through December 31, 2014, we have elected to base our assessment of potential impairment on qualitative factors. Based on our assessment, IPR&D and goodwill were not impaired as of December 31, 2014.

Warrant and Preferred Shares Conversion Feature Liability

The Company accounts for warrants and preferred shares conversion feature with anti-dilution (“down-round”) provisions under the applicable accounting guidance which requires the warrants and the preferred shares conversion feature to be recorded as a liability and adjusted to fair value at each reporting period.

Foreign Currency Translations and Transactions

The functional currency of our wholly owned subsidiaries is the U.S. dollar.

Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

The Company recorded no comprehensive income other than net income for the periods reported.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 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, which defines management's responsibility to assess an entity's ability to continue as a going concern, and to provide related footnote disclosures if there is substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. The pronouncement is effective for annual reporting periods ending after December 15, 2016 with early adoption permitted. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's financial statements. 

3. Fair Value of Financial Assets and Liabilities — Derivative Instruments

ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement (ASC 820), establishes a fair value hierarchy for instruments measured at fair value that distinguishes between assumptions based on market data (observable inputs) and the Company’s own assumptions (unobservable inputs). Observable inputs are inputs that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Company. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect the Company’s assumptions about the inputs that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, and are developed based on the best information available in the circumstances.

ASC 820 identifies fair value as the exchange price, or exit price, representing the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. As a basis for considering market participant assumptions in fair value measurements, ASC Topic 820 establishes a three-tier fair value hierarchy that distinguishes among the following:

To the extent that the valuation is based on models or inputs that are less observable or unobservable in the market, the determination of fair value requires more judgment. Accordingly, the degree of judgment exercised by the Company in determining fair value is greatest for instruments categorized in Level 3. A financial instrument's level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement. 

Items measured at fair value on a recurring basis include common stock warrants and embedded derivatives related to the Company’s redeemable convertible preferred stock. During the periods presented, the Company has not changed the manner in which it values liabilities that are measured at fair value using Level 3 inputs. The following fair value hierarchy table presents information about each major category of the Company's financial liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis:

There were no transfers between Level 1, Level 2 or Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy for the quarter ended March 31, 2015 and the year ended December 31, 2014.

The following table sets forth a summary of changes in the fair value of the Company's Series B redeemable convertible preferred stock derivative and warrant liability, which represents a recurring measurement that is classified within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy, wherein fair value is estimated using significant unobservable inputs:

The fair value of the warrants on the date of issuance and on each re-measurement date for warrants classified as liabilities is estimated using the Monte Carlo valuation model. For this liability, the Company develops its own assumptions that do not have observable inputs or available market data to support the fair value. This method of valuation involves using inputs such as the fair value of the Company’s common stock, stock price volatility, the contractual term of the warrants, risk–free interest rates and dividend yields. Due to the nature of these inputs, the valuation of the warrants is considered a Level 3 measurement. The following assumptions were used at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014:

The warrant liability is recorded on the Company's Balance Sheet and is marked-to-market at each reporting period, with the change in fair value recorded as a component of gain (loss) on warrant and derivative liabilities in the Statement of Operations.

The fair value of the Series B redeemable convertible preferred stock derivative liability on each measurement date is estimated using the Monte Carlo valuation model. For this liability, the Company develops its own assumptions that do not have observable inputs or available market date to support the fair value. This method of valuation involves using inputs such as the fair value of the Company’s common stock, stock price volatility, the contractual term of the warrants, risk–free interest rates and dividend yields. Due to the nature of these inputs, the valuation of the Series B preferred conversion liability is considered a Level 3 measurement. The following assumptions were used at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014:

The Series B preferred conversion liability is recorded on its own line on the Company's Balance Sheet and is marked-to-market each reporting period, with the change in fair value recorded as a component of gain (loss) on warrant and derivative liabilities in the Statement of Operations.

4. Net Loss per Common Share

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted net income (loss) per share for the periods indicated:

The following outstanding securities at March 31, 2015 and 2014 have been excluded from the computation of diluted weighted shares outstanding, as they would have been anti-dilutive:

5. Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock

On June 13, 2013, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a resolution designating 10,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock as Series B redeemable convertible preferred stock (Series B) with an initial stated value of $1.40 and par value of $0.01. Each Series B preferred share is convertible into 10 shares of common stock and is entitled to the number of votes equal to the number of shares of common stock. These Series B shares may be converted to common stock by the holder of the shares at any time. The Series B shares shall be automatically converted into common shares upon the closing of an underwritten initial public offering, with aggregate proceeds to the Company of at least $7 million and a price per share to the public of at least the Series B stated value upon the closing of which, the shares of common stock of the Company shall be listed for trading on a major national stock exchange.

Holders of the preferred stock are entitled to receive cumulative dividends at the rate of 10%, compounded per annum, of the applicable purchase price per share if and when declared by the board of directors. No dividends have been declared through March 31, 2015.

At any time on or after June 26, 2018, the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of the preferred stock may require the Company to redeem all of the outstanding shares of the preferred stock for an amount equal to the original issue price per share plus any declared and unpaid dividends.

Holders of the Series B are entitled to a liquidation preference in an amount equal to $1.40 per share plus all accrued and unpaid dividends in the event of a liquidation, dissolution, or winding-up of the Company, or in the event the Company merges with or is acquired by another entity.

In connection with the private placement of Series B redeemable convertible preferred stock, the Company recorded a liability for an embedded derivative that required bifurcation under the applicable accounting guidance. The embedded derivative includes a redemption feature, multiple dividend features, as well as multiple conversion features with a down-round ratchet provision.

The Company re-measured the fair value of the conversion feature and recorded a loss of $7,105,000 for the quarter ended March 31, 2015 to adjust the liability associated with the conversion feature to its estimated fair value of $19,425,000 as of March 31, 2015.

6. Warrants

In connection with the March 16, 2015 private placement of 78,787,880 shares of the Company’s common stock at a price per share of $0.165, the Company issued an aggregate of warrants to purchase 19,696,971 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $0.215 per share to the purchasers of the common stock. In addition, the Company issued warrants to purchase an aggregate of 4,727,273 shares of common stock to the placement agents. These warrants expire in March 2020 and contain certain provisions that contain a contingent cash payment of $2.5 million in liquidated damages to the holders of the warrants in the event the Company fails to take such action to either (i) increase the number of shares of Common Stock the Company is authorized to issue or (ii) effect a reverse split of the Common Stock, in either event sufficient to permit the exercise in full of the Warrants in accordance with their terms. Due to these provisions, the Company accounted for these warrants as liability instruments. The Company measured the fair value of these warrants on March 16, 2015 and recorded an initial warrant liability of $4,211,000, of which $3,396,000 represented the initial fair value of the warrants issued to investors and $815,000 as the initial fair value of the warrants issued to the placement agents. The Company recorded other expenses of $213,000 in the quarter ended March 31, 2015 related to the portion of the initial fair value of the placement agent attributable to the initial fair value of the warrants issued to investors in the quarter.

In connection with the December 2013 private placement of 72,007,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at a price per share of $0.25, the Company issued an aggregate of warrants to purchase 4,320,420 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $0.25 per share to the placement agents. These warrants, which expire December 2018, contain provisions that protect holders from a decline in the issue price of the Company’s common stock (“down-round” provision) and contain net settlement provisions. Due to these provisions, the Company accounted for these warrants as liability instruments. As a result of the March 16, 2015 private placement of common stock at a price of $0.165 per share, the “down-round” provision of these warrants resulted in an adjustment to their exercise price to $0.165 as of March 16, 2015.

In connection with the private placement of Series B redeemable convertible preferred stock, which occurred through two closings on June 26, 2013 and July 15, 2013, the Company issued an aggregate of warrants to purchase 30,040,194 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $0.14 per share. These warrants, which expire in June 2018 and in July 2018, respectively, contain provisions that protect holders from a decline in the issue price of the Company’s common stock (“down-round” provision) and contain net settlement provisions. Due to these provisions, the Company accounts for these warrants as liability instruments. The Company measured the fair value of these warrants on June 26, 2013 and July 15, 2013 and recorded initial warrant liabilities of $4,285,000 and $674,000, respectively, as part of the private placement proceeds and expensed $759,000 for warrants issued to the placement agent.

On December 22, 2011, in connection with the Biocontrol business combination, the Company issued warrants to purchase up to 1,355,164 shares of its common stock. These warrants expire in December 2016 and are exercisable at a price of $0.46 per share. As the terms of these warrants require that they be settled in registered shares of common stock, the Company accounts for these warrants as liability instruments.

The Company estimates the fair values of all warrants accounted for as liability instruments using a Monte Carlo valuation model.

From February through May 2013, in connection with the issuance of new convertible promissory notes, the Company issued warrants to purchase up to 7,030,387 shares of its common stock. These warrants expire February through May 2018 and are exercisable at a price of $0.14 per share. The Company classifies these warrants as equity instruments.

The following table provides the number of warrants, exercise price and aggregate proceeds to the Company if exercised as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014:

The Company re-measured the fair value of the warrant liability and recorded a loss of $4,690,000 for the quarter ended March 31, 2015, reflecting an increase in the liability associated with the warrants at their estimated fair value, which totaled $14,727,000 as of March 31, 2015.

7. Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit)

On March 16, 2015, the Company issued and sold 78,787,880 shares of common stock in a private placement at a price of $0.165 per share, for aggregate proceeds of $13.0 million. In conjunction with this private placement, the Company issued an aggregate of warrants to purchase 19,696,971 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $0.215 per share to the purchasers of the common stock. The Company paid $833,000 in fees to its placement agents, along with the issuance of warrants to purchase 4,727,273 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $0.215 per share. The Company valued these warrants as liability instruments and recorded a liability of $4,211,000 as of March 16, 2015. In the first quarter of 2015, the Company recorded $213,000 of other expenses representing the portion of the initial warrant value of the placement agent warrants related to the initial fair value of the warrants issued to the purchasers of the common stock. The remainder of the initial fair value of the warrants of $3,998,000 was treated as a reduction of additional paid-in-capital. In addition, $218,000 of the fees paid to its placement agent were expensed as other expenses in the quarter ended March 31, 2015 as they also represented issuance costs related to the initial fair value of the warrants issued to the purchasers of the common stock.

8. Stock-Based Compensation

The Company’s Stock Incentive Plan provides for the issuance of long-term incentive awards, or awards, in the form of non-qualified and incentive stock options, or Options, stock appreciation rights, stock grants and restricted stock units. The awards may be granted by the Company’s Board of Directors to its employees, directors and officers and to consultants, agents, advisors and independent contractors who provide services to the Company. The exercise price for Options must not be less than the fair market value of the underlying shares on the date of grant. Options expire no later than ten years from the date of grant and generally vest and become exercisable over a four-year period following the date of grant. Every non-employee member of the Company’s Board of Directors receives an annual non-qualified Option or restricted stock unit grant. Upon the exercise of Options, the Company issues the resulting shares from shares reserved for issuance under the Company’s Incentive Plan.

Stock-based compensation expense is reduced by an estimated forfeiture rate derived from historical employee termination behavior. If the actual number of forfeitures differs from the Company’s estimates, the Company may record adjustments to increase or decrease compensation expense in future periods.

The estimated grant-date fair value of the Company’s stock-based awards is amortized ratably over the awards’ service periods. Stock-based compensation expense recognized was as follows:

The following table summarizes stock option activity for the three months ended March 31, 2015:

The intrinsic value of options exercisable as of March 31, 2015 was $2.4 million, based on the Company’s closing stock price of $0.30 per share and a weighted average exercise price of $0.18 per share.

The Company uses the Black-Scholes option-pricing model to estimate the fair value of stock options at the grant date. The Black-Scholes model requires the Company to make certain estimates and assumptions, including estimating the fair value of the Company’s common stock, assumptions related to the expected price volatility of the Company’s stock, the period during which the options will be outstanding, the rate of return on risk-free investments and the expected dividend yield for the Company’s stock.

There were no grants of stock options to employees or directors during the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014.

As of March 31, 2015, there was $0.4 million of total unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested options that will be recognized over the weighted average remaining period of 1.91 years.

Shares Reserved For Further Issuance

As of March 31, 2015, the Company had reserved shares of its common stock for future issuance as follows:

9. Collaborative and Other Agreements

In June 2013, the Company entered into a Collaborative Research and Development Agreement with the United States Army Medical Research and Materiel Command and the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research. The Collaborative Research and Development Agreement will focus on developing and commercializing bacteriophage therapeutics to treat S. aureus, E. coli and P. aeruginosa infections. The Company paid Walter Reed Army Institute of Research $207,000 and $309,000 for services provided under the Collaborative Research and Development Agreement during the years ended December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. For the quarter ended March 31, 2015, the Company recorded no payments under the Collaborative Research and Development Agreement.

In March 2013, the Company entered into an Exclusive Channel Collaboration Agreement with Intrexon Corporation. This agreement allows the Company to utilize Intrexon’s synthetic biology platform for the identification, development and production of bacteriophage-containing human therapeutics. The Company paid a one-time technology access fee in 2013 to Intrexon of $3,000,000 in common stock. The Company shall pay Intrexon, in cash or stock, milestone fees for the initiation and commencement of the first Phase 2 trial of $2,500,000 and $5,000,000 upon the first regulatory approval of any product in any major market country. With regard to each product sold by the Company, the Company will pay, in cash, tiered royalties on a quarterly basis based on net sales of AmpliPhi Products, calculated on a product-by-product basis. No milestones have been met and no milestone payments have been paid to Intrexon through December 31, 2014. The Company paid Intrexon $941,000 and $357,000 for services provided under this agreement for the years ended December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. For the quarter ended March 31, 2015, the Company recorded $22,000 in expenses under the Exclusive Channel Collaboration Agreement, with cash payments totaling $3,000 in the first quarter of 2015.

In April 2013, the Company entered into a collaboration agreement with the University of Leicester to develop a phage therapy that targets and kills all toxin types of C. difficle. In August 2013, the Company entered into a collaboration agreement with both the University of Leicester and the University of Glasgow to carry out certain animal model development work. Under these agreements, which are referred to collectively as the Leicester Development Agreements, the Company provides payments to the University of Leicester to carry out in vitro and to the University of Glasgow to carry out animal model development work on the University of Leicester’s development of a bacteriophage therapeutic to resolve C. difficile infections. The Company licensed related patents, materials and know-how from the University of Leicester. Under the Leicester Development Agreements, the University of Leicester will provide the bacteriophage and act as overall project coordinator for the development work. All rights, title and interest to any intellectual property developed under the Leicester Development Agreements belong to the Company. Under the Leicester License Agreement, the Company has exclusive rights to certain background intellectual property of the University of Leicester, for which it will pay the University of Leicester royalties based on product sales and make certain milestone payments based on product development. In October 2014, the Company renewed this collaboration, effective as of November 9, 2014. This agreement expires November 12, 2015. The Company made payments to the University of Leicester under this agreement of $182,000 and $168,000 for the years ended December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. For the quarter ended March 31, 2015, the Company recorded payments to the University of Leicester in the amount of $50,000 under the Leicester Development Agreements and recorded payments to the University of Glasgow in the amount of $61,000 under the Leicester Development Agreements.

10. Severance Charge

On September 15, 2014, by mutual agreement of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of the Company and Philip J. Young, Mr. Young stepped down from his role as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, effective September 15, 2014. In accordance with Mr. Young’s employment agreements, the Company recorded a severance charge in 2014 of $1,864,000 related to severance-period compensation and benefits and stock-based compensation expense related to the accelerated vesting of stock options. The severance accrual as of December 31, 2014 and March 31, 2015 is as follows:

11. Legal Proceedings

The Company is not involved in any legal proceedings that it expects to have a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

12. Subsequent Events

On May 8, 2015, the Company negotiated and executed an amendment with holders representing more than two-thirds of its June 2013, July 2013, and December 2013 warrants to eliminate certain down-round price protection features included in these warrants agreements. As a result of this amendment and subject to the Company authorizing sufficient shares of common stock to allow for their exercise, the June 2013, July 2013 and December 2013 warrants will be reclassified from liability instruments to equity instruments as of the amendment date.

On April 30, 2015, the Company announced that M. Scott Salka has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Salka will replace Interim Chief Executive Officer, Jeremy Curnock Cook, effective May 18, 2015. Mr. Curnock Cook will remain in his role as Chairman. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Salka served as CEO of Aspyrian Therapeutics Inc., a company focused on developing near-infrared photoimmunotherapy (PIT) therapies. Prior to this role, he was the CEO of Ambit Biosciences (acquired by Daiichi Sankyo in 2014). Prior to joining Ambit in 2001, he served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of two privately held genomics companies, Arcaris, Inc. and 454 Corporation (sold to Roche in 2007). He also previously co-founded one of the first commercial genomics companies, Sequana Therapeutics, Inc., a pioneer in the effort to commercialize the international Human Genome Project.

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

The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with “Selected Consolidated Financial Data” and the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and related Notes included in Part I Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.

This discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Such statements, which include statements concerning product development plans, the use of bacteriophages to kill bacterial pathogens, future revenue sources, selling and marketing expenses, general and administrative expenses, clinical trial and other research and development expenses, capital resources, capital expenditures, tax credits and carry-forwards, and additional financings or borrowings, are subject to risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, those discussed below and elsewhere in this Form 10-Q, particularly in Part II Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. The forward-looking statements set forth in this Form 10-Q are as of the close of business on May 13, 2015, and we do not intend to update this forward-looking information.

Overview

AmpliPhi Biosciences is a biotechnology company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of novel phage therapeutics. Our proprietary pipeline is based on the use of bacteriophages, a family of viruses that infect only bacteria. Phages have powerful and highly selective mechanisms of action that permit them to target and kill specific bacterial pathogens, including the so-called multi-drug-resistant or “Superbug” strains.

We are combining our proprietary approach and expertise in identifying, characterizing and developing naturally occurring bacteriophages with that of our collaboration partners in bacteriophage biology, drug engineering, development and manufacturing, to develop second-generation bacteriophage products. We believe that phages represent a promising means to treat bacterial infections, especially those that have developed resistance to current medicines.

Our lead programs consist of three product candidates: AmpliPhage-001 for the treatment of P. aeruginosa lung infections in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients; AmpliPhage-002, for the treatment of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) infections; and AmpliPhage-004 for the treatment of C. difficile infections.

We have incurred net losses since our inception and our operations to-date have been primarily limited to research and development and raising capital. We have raised approximately $43.6 million in capital since November 2010 to support our operations, including the March 2015 private placement of shares of our common stock, which raised approximately $13 million, prior to placement agent fees of approximately $0.8 million.

To date, we have not generated any product revenue and have primarily financed our operations through the sale and issuance of convertible notes and the private placement of our equity securities. As of March 31, 2015, we had a cumulative deficit of $376.5 million. We anticipate that a substantial portion of our capital resources and efforts in the foreseeable future will be focused on completing the development and obtaining regulatory approval of our product candidates. 

We expect our research and development expenses to increase as we continue development of our product candidates. We also expect to incur additional expenses associated with operating as a public company. As a result, we expect to continue to incur significant and increasing operating losses at least for the next several years. We do not expect to generate product revenue unless and until we successfully complete development and obtain marketing approval for at least one of our product candidates.

We currently expect to use our existing cash and cash equivalents for the continued research and development of our product candidates and for working capital and other general corporate purposes.

We may also use a portion for the potential acquisition of, or investment in, product candidates, technologies, formulations or companies that complement our business, although we have no current understandings, commitments or agreements to do so. We expect that these funds will not be sufficient to enable us to complete all necessary development of any potential product candidates. Accordingly, we will be required to obtain further funding through other public offerings, debt financing, collaboration and licensing arrangements or other sources. Adequate additional funding may not be available to us on acceptable terms, or at all. If we are unable to raise capital when needed or on attractive terms, we would be forced to delay, reduce or eliminate our research and development programs.

Results of Operations

Revenue

For the quarters ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, we recognized $0.1 million in revenue related to sublicensing agreements involving our former gene therapy program.

Research and Development

Research and development expenses of $1.0 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2015 were unchanged from those for the quarter ended March 31, 2014. An increase in expenses related to our Slovenia cGMP manufacturing facility, which commenced operations in late first quarter 2014, were offset by lower R&D consulting costs in the period.

Research and development expenses for full-year 2015 are expected to increase as compared to 2014. Our plans are to devote substantial resources to research and development in future periods as we prepare to start clinical trials and continue our discovery efforts.

General and Administrative

General and administrative expenses were $1.4 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2015 compared to $1.6 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2014. The $0.2 million decrease was due to lower legal and accounting fees and a reduction in cash and stock compensation expenses primarily attributable to the departure of our prior Chief Executive Officer in the third quarter of 2014.

We currently expect our general and administrative expenses to increase in 2015 compared to 2014 due to planned increases in staffing and the hiring of a new Chief Executive Officer.

Other Income (Expense)

We recorded a loss of $11.8 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2015 for the change in fair value on revaluation of our warrant and preferred stock conversion liabilities. This loss was primarily attributable to an increase in the value of our common stock price at March 31, 2015 as compared to December 31, 2014.

For the quarter ended March 31, 2014, we recorded a loss of $8.8 million related to the change in fair value of these liabilities. This loss was also primarily attributable to an increase in the price of our common stock at March 31, 2014 as compared to December 31, 2013.

We will continue to adjust the liability related to our warrants until the earlier of exercise or expiration of the warrants. We will continue to adjust the liability related to our preferred stock conversion feature until the conversion of our Series B Redeemable Convertible Stock into common shares.

We also recorded expenses of $0.4 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2015 related to placement agent costs from our March 16, 2015 private placement of common stock. This expense was related to placement agent fees and the initial fair value of warrants issued to the placement agent assigned to the fair value of warrants issued to the common stock investors.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

We have incurred net losses since inception through March 31, 2015 of $376.5 million, of which $315.5 million was incurred as a result of the Company’s prior focus on gene therapy in fiscal years 2010 and earlier. We have not generated any product revenues and do not expect to generate revenue from product candidates in the near term.

We had cash and cash equivalents of $16.6 million and $6.6 million at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively.

Net cash used in operating activities for the quarter ended March 31, 2015 was $2.3 million. We recorded net losses for the quarter of $14.5 million, including a non-cash loss on warrant and derivative liabilities of $11.8 million. Other items included in net cash used in operating activities included non-cash charges related to stock-based compensation expenses, depreciation expenses, and patent amortization expense, which collectively approximated $0.1 million. Decreases in accounts payable, accrued expenses, and other and deferred revenue represented an aggregate $0.3 million use of funds, and were partially offset by a decrease in accrued severance of $0.1 million and a decrease in prepaid expenses of $0.1 million.

Cash flow from financing activities totaled $12.4 million, which represented gross proceeds of $13.0 million from the March 16, 2015 private placement of common stock and warrants to purchase common stock, less commissions and other cash expenses related to the issuance of approximately $0.8 million.

Net cash used in operating activities for the quarters ended March 31, 2014 was $3.7 million. Cash used in operations was attributable to the net loss for the quarter after adding back non-cash charges for loss on derivative liabilities, amortization of patents, stock-based compensation expense, and depreciation expenses offset by a decrease in accrued liabilities and increases in prepaid expenses and receivables. Net cash used in investing activities for the quarter ended March 31, 2014 was $0.2 million due to purchases of equipment. There were no cash flows provided by financing activities for the quarter ended March 31, 2014.

We expect to need to raise additional capital or incur indebtedness to continue to fund our future operations. We may seek to raise capital through a variety of sources, including:

Our ability to raise additional funds will depend on our clinical and regulatory events, our ability to identify promising in-licensing opportunities and factors related to financial, economic and market conditions, many of which are beyond our control. We cannot be certain that sufficient funds will be available to us when required or on satisfactory terms. If adequate funds are not available, we may be required to significantly reduce or refocus our operations or to obtain funds through arrangements that may require us to relinquish rights to certain of our products, technologies or potential markets, any of which could delay or require that we curtail our development programs or otherwise have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. To the extent that additional capital is raised through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, the issuance of such securities would result in ownership dilution to our existing stockholders.

If we are unable to secure additional financing on a timely basis or on terms favorable to us, we may be required to cease or reduce certain research and development projects, to sell some or all of our technology or assets or to merge all or a portion of our business with another entity. Insufficient funds may require us to delay, scale back or eliminate some or all of our activities, and if we are unable to obtain additional funding, there is uncertainty regarding our continued existence.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

As of March 31, 2015, we did not have any relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, such as entities often referred to as structured finance or special purpose entities, which would have been established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements or other contractually narrow or limited purposes. In addition, we do not engage in trading activities involving non-exchange traded contracts. Therefore, we are not materially exposed to any financing, liquidity, market or credit risk that could arise if we had engaged in these relationships. 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

None.

Item 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

We are a smaller reporting company as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act and are not required to provide the information required under this item.

Item 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Our management, with the participation of our Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act), as of the end of the period covered by this report. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management, including our Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Based on this evaluation, our Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer, have concluded that our financial disclosure controls and procedures were effective during the period covered by this report.  

Changes in Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting.

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the first quarter of 2015 that has materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

From time to time we are involved in legal proceedings or subject to claims arising in the ordinary course of our business. Although the results of litigation and claims cannot be predicted with certainty, we do not believe we are a party to any legal proceedings that, if determined adversely to us, would individually or taken together have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, financial condition or cash flows. Regardless of the outcome, litigation can have an adverse impact on us because of defense and settlement costs, diversion of management resources and other factors.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

There have been no material changes from the risk factors disclosed in Part I, Item 1A, of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 as filed with the SEC on April 15, 2015.

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

None.

Item 6. Exhibits

* Furnished electronically with this report.

AMPLIPHI BIOSCIENCES CORPORATION

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.