BioCardia, Inc. - Quarter Report: 2023 March (Form 10-Q)

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, or report, contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws that involve risks and uncertainties. Certain statements contained in this report are not purely historical including, without limitation, statements regarding our expectations, beliefs, intentions, anticipations, commitments or strategies regarding the future that are forward-looking. These statements include those discussed in Item 2, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, including “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates,” “Results of Operations,” “Liquidity and Capital Resources,” and “Future Funding Requirements,” and elsewhere in this report.

In this report, the words “may,” “could,” “would,” “might,” “will,” “should,” “plan,” “forecast,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “continue,” “future,” “moving toward” or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions also identify forward-looking statements. Our actual results could differ materially from those forward-looking statements contained in this report as a result of a number of risk factors including, but not limited to, those listed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, which is incorporated by reference herein, and elsewhere in this report. You should carefully consider these risks, in addition to the other information in this report and in our other filings with the SEC. All forward-looking statements and reasons why results may differ included in this report are made as of the date of this report, and we undertake no obligation to update any such forward-looking statement or reason why such results might differ after the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, except as required by law.

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

BioCardia, Inc.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities consisted of the following (in thousands):

Warrants - Set forth below is a table of activity of warrants for common stock and the related weighted average exercise price per warrant.

Lincoln Park Capital stock purchase agreement - On March 29, 2021, we entered into a purchase agreement with Lincoln Park Capital Fund, LLC (Lincoln Park) (Purchase Agreement) and a registration rights agreement (Registration Rights Agreement), pursuant to which we have the right to sell to Lincoln Park shares of our common stock having an aggregate value of up to $20 million, subject to certain limitations and conditions in the Purchase Agreement.

Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement in March 2021, Lincoln Park purchased 373,832 shares of common stock, at a price of $5.35 per share, for a total gross purchase price of $2 million (Initial Purchase) and we issued 80,000 shares of common stock as commitment shares, which included 5,000 commitment shares issued on a pro rata basis for the initial $2 million purchase.

As of March 31, 2023, we had not sold any common stock to Lincoln Park under the Purchase Agreement other than the Initial Purchase.

Cantor Fitzgerald Sales agreement - On April 12, 2022, we entered into a sales agreement (Sales Agreement) with Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. (Cantor) as the sales agent, pursuant to which we may offer and sell, from time to time, through Cantor, shares of common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $10.5 million (ATM Offering). We are not obligated to sell any common stock shares pursuant to the Sales Agreement. Under the terms of the Sales Agreement, we pay Cantor a commission of 3% of the aggregate proceeds from the sale of shares and reimburse certain legal fees. We filed a prospectus supplement under our existing registration statement covering the offer and sale of up to $10.5 million of common stock, of which approximately $8.5 million was still available for offer and sale as of March 31, 2023.

During the three months ended March 31, 2023, we sold 106,241 shares of common stock under the ATM Offering at then-market prices for total gross proceeds of $244,000, with net issuance costs of $13,000.

The share-based compensation expense is recorded in research and development, and selling, general and administrative expenses based on the employee's or non-employee’s respective function. No share-based compensation was capitalized during the periods presented. Share-based compensation expense for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 was recorded as follows (in thousands):

The following table summarizes the activity of stock options and related information:

Unrecognized share-based compensation for employee and nonemployee options granted through March 31, 2023 is approximately $1.8 million to be recognized over a remaining weighted average service period of 2.2 years.

Share-Based Compensation (RSUs)

The following summarizes the activity of non-vested RSUs:

RSUs vested and settled are converted into the Company’s common stock on a one-for-one basis. RSUs are generally subject to forfeiture if employment terminates prior to the release of vesting restrictions. The related compensation expense, which is based on the grant date fair value of our common stock multiplied by the number of units granted, is recognized ratably over the period during which the vesting restrictions lapse. Unrecognized share-based compensation for employee and nonemployee RSUs granted through March 31, 2023 is approximately $1,000 to be recognized over a remaining weighted average service period of 0.1 years.

Basic net loss per share is calculated by dividing the net loss by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding and fully vested restricted stock units. Diluted net loss per share is computed by dividing the net loss by the weighted-average number of common share equivalents outstanding for the period determined using the treasury-stock method. Common stock equivalents are comprised of unvested restricted stock units, warrants to purchase common stock and options outstanding under the stock option plans. For all periods presented, there is no difference in the number of shares used to calculate basic and diluted shares outstanding since the effects of potentially dilutive securities are antidilutive due to the net loss position.

The following outstanding common stock equivalents were excluded from the computation of diluted net loss per share for the periods presented because including them would have been antidilutive:

During the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, there was no income tax expense or benefit for federal or state income taxes in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations due to our net loss and a full valuation allowance on the resulting deferred tax assets.

As of March 31, 2023, we retain a full valuation allowance on our deferred tax assets in all jurisdictions. The realization of our deferred tax assets depends primarily on our ability to generate future taxable income which is uncertain. We do not believe that our deferred tax assets are realizable on a more-likely-than-not basis; therefore, the net deferred tax assets have been fully offset by a valuation allowance.

On April 9, 2020, we entered into a Litigation Funding Agreement (Funding Agreement) with BSLF, L.L.C. (Funder), an entity owned and controlled by Andrew Blank, Chair of BioCardia’s board of directors, for the purpose of funding our legal proceedings and any and all claims, actions and/or proceedings relating to or arising from the case captioned Boston Scientific Corp., et al., v. BioCardia Inc., Case No. 3:19-05645-VC, U.S.D.C., N. D. Cal (the Litigation). On April 12, 2021, all parties to the Litigation entered into a confidential settlement agreement and all claims were dismissed.

In March 2022, we entered into settlement agreements with our litigation service providers and the Funder to terminate the Funding Agreement and conclude on all remaining matters thereunder (the Litigation Funding Settlement). Under the terms of the confidential agreements, litigation and corporate counsel provided credits and refunds of legal fees, which offset the amounts owed to us by the Funder under the Funding Agreement, and provided up to $300,000 in future discounts on legal services which are remitted to the Funder on a quarterly basis. During the three months ended March 31, 2023, and 2022, we received discounts totaling $33,000 and zero, respectively, with $33,000 and $18,000 recorded as a related party payable in accrued expenses and other current liabilities as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively.

Contingencies - We may be subject to various claims, complaints, and legal actions that arise from time to time in the normal course of business. Management is not aware of any current legal or administrative proceedings that are likely to have an adverse effect on our business, financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

Uncertainties - The results for the three months ended March 31, 2023 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the year ending December 31, 2023 or for any other interim period or for any other future year, particularly in light of COVID-19 and its impact on domestic and global economies. Governmental and business reactions to the pandemic, and resulting economic disruptions, have the potential to materially impact our business and influence our business decisions. While the impact of COVID-19 did not have a material adverse effect on our financial position or results of operations for the periods presented, our future assessment of the magnitude and duration of COVID-19 and related factors, could result in material impacts to our financial statements in future reporting periods.

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

The following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. This discussion contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Any and all statements contained in this Quarterly Report that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed forward-looking statements. Terms such as “may,” “might,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “project,” “estimate,” “pro-forma,” “predict,” “potential,” “strategy,” “anticipate,” “attempt,” “develop,” “plan,” “help,” “believe,” “continue,” “intend,” “expect,” “future” and terms of similar import (including the negative of any of the foregoing) may be intended to identify forward-looking statements. However, not all forward-looking statements may contain one or more of these identifying terms. Forward-looking statements in this Quarterly Report may include, without limitation, statements regarding (i) the plans and objectives of management for future operations, including plans or objectives relating to the development of our cell therapy systems and our clinical trials, (ii) a projection of income (including income/loss), earnings (including earnings/loss) per share, capital expenditures, dividends, capital structure or other financial items, (iii) our ability to raise additional capital, (iv) our future financial performance, including any such statement contained in a discussion and analysis of financial condition by management or in the results of operations included pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC and (vi) the assumptions underlying or relating to any statement described in points (i) – (iv) above. Our actual results may differ materially from those discussed below. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those identified below and elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, those listed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, which is incorporated by reference herein. Historical results are not necessarily indicative of future results. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason after the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q to conform these statements to actual results or to changes in our expectations.    

Overview

We are a clinical-stage company developing cellular and cell-derived therapeutics for the treatment of cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases with significant unmet medical needs. We are advancing two cell therapy platforms derived from bone marrow in clinical trials today. Our CardiAMP® autologous mononuclear cell therapy platform is being advanced for two clinical indications: ischemic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and refractory angina resulting from chronic myocardial ischemia (CMI). Our neurokinin-1 receptor positive (NK1R+) allogeneic mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy platform is being advanced as an “off the shelf” cell therapy for two clinical indications: the treatment of ischemic HFrEF and for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

Our autologous CardiAMP and our allogeneic NK1R+ cell therapies intended for cardiac indications of HFrEF and CMI are enabled by our Helix™ minimally invasive intramyocardial therapeutic delivery platform. We selectively partner this therapeutic delivery platform with others seeking to develop biotherapeutic interventions for local delivery to the heart.

To date, we have devoted substantially all of our resources to research and development efforts relating to our therapeutic candidates and biotherapeutic delivery systems, including conducting clinical trials, developing manufacturing and sales capabilities, in-licensing related intellectual property, providing general and administrative support for these operations and protecting our intellectual property. We have also generated modest revenues from sales of our approved products. We have funded our operations primarily through the sales of equity and convertible debt securities, and certain government and private grants.

CardiAMP Autologous Cell Therapy for Ischemic Heart Failure and for Chronic Myocardial Ischemia (BCDA-02)

The CardiAMP Cell Therapy Heart Failure Trial is a Phase III, multi-center, randomized, double-blinded, sham-controlled study of up to 260 patients at up to 40 centers in the United States and Canada, which includes a 10-patient roll-in cohort. The Phase III pivotal trial, which was granted Breakthrough designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is designed to provide the primary support for the safety and efficacy of the CardiAMP Cell Therapy System for the treatment of heart failure with HFrEF (BCDA-01). The primary endpoint is an outcomes composite score based on a three-tiered Finkelstein-Schoenfeld hierarchical analysis. The tiers, starting with the most serious events, would be (1) all-cause death, including cardiac death equivalents such as heart transplant or left ventricular assist device placement, ordered by time to event; (2) non-fatal Major Adverse Coronary and Cerebrovascular Events (MACCE), excluding those deemed procedure-related occurring within the first seven days post-procedure (heart failure hospitalization, stroke or myocardial infarction), ordered by time to event, and (3) change from baseline in 6MW at 12 months. Additional prespecified secondary hierarchical and nonhierarchical endpoints are also being assessed. This trial is active at 20 clinical sites, including four sites in Canada and 120 patients have been enrolled to date.

Working with leading biostatistics and regulatory consultants, we submitted a supplement to the FDA in February 2023 with a proposed adaptive SAP for the CardiAMP Heart Failure trial. This was submitted as a Sprint Discussion under the Breakthrough designation guidance provided by the FDA. We met with the FDA CBER on March 29, 2023, documented the minutes of our discussion with the Agency and on April 26, 2023 submitted a detailed supplement for the implementation of an adaptive statistical analysis plan.

We anticipate that the next DSMB meeting will be scheduled in June 2023 and will utilize an adaptive design should the FDA approve the supplement as expected. In advance of the next DSMB review, we anticipate all data that contributes to the primary efficacy endpoint in the study submission will have been monitored by our clinical staff, verifying all clinical data required for interpretation in the DSMB review.

Should this next DSMB review or another future DSMB review include an adaptive statistical analysis plan, it could result in the DSMB being able to recommend the trial enrollment be stopped early for anticipated success with fewer patients or that confirmation of the study should continue as planned to the next DSMB review. Should we meet the primary endpoint with fewer patients than currently planned, the FDA Breakthrough designation granted to this program may reduce the need to have a significant additional number of patients to demonstrate safety prior to market approval and allow BioCardia to obtain additional safety data after market approval.

In July 2022, we had our second consultation with Japan’s Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Agency regarding potential approval of the CardiAMP Cell Therapy System for the treatment of ischemic heart failure based on existing data. After working with distinguished physician leaders, we are in the process of completing a formal submission towards approval in Japan. The submission has been submitted for translation into Japanese and is expected to be submitted to Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) by our regulatory consultants in the second quarter of 2023.  There is potential for subsequent submissions and consultations with PMDA based on the outcome from the current submission.

The CardiAMP Chronic Myocardial Ischemia Trial is a Phase III, multi-center, randomized, double-blinded, controlled study of up to 343 patients at up to 40 clinical sites. The Phase III pivotal trial is designed to provide the primary support for the safety and efficacy of the CardiAMP Cell Therapy System for the indication of chronic myocardial ischemia (BCDA-02). This therapeutic approach uses many of the same novel aspects as the CardiAMP Heart Failure Trial and is expected to leverage our experience and investment in the heart failure trial. The trial has been activated at two clinical sites and three patients have been treated. We are working to complete the roll-in cohort and work with the FDA to enhance the trial design before expanding this beyond four clinical centers.

The Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has designated that both of our CardiAMP pivotal trials qualify for Medicare national coverage at up to $20,000 per patient. The covered costs under Medicare include patient screening, the CardiAMP Cell Therapy System and procedure, and clinical follow-up at one and two years after the procedure. Private insurance plans covering 50 million insured Americans follow the CMS reimbursement policy and are similarly anticipated to cover these costs. This coverage significantly reduces our cost of conducting these pivotal trials.

Allogeneic NK1R+ MSC Cell Therapy Platform

Our second therapeutic platform is our investigational culture expanded bone marrow derived allogeneic, Neurokinin-1 Receptor Positive Mesenchymal Stem Cells (NK1R+ MSC) for which the FDA approved two INDs in 2022. This “off the shelf” cell therapy is being advanced for ischemic heart failure of HFrEF (BCDA-03) and acute respiratory distress (BCDA-04). Variations of this allogeneic therapy may have the potential for numerous other therapeutic applications. These cells are compelling in part because they express the Neurkinin-1 receptor for the neuropeptide Substance P, an important neuropeptide associated with inflammation throughout the body and a primary mediator of inflammation in the airways. We manufacture these cells for clinical studies at its manufacturing facility in Sunnyvale which was certified for manufacturing in 2022. Clinical grade cells are available for both indications being pursued today.

Allogeneic NK1R+ MSC for Heart Failure and for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

In December 2022, the FDA approved our Investigational New Drug (IND) application to initiate a first-in-human Phase I/II clinical trial to deliver these allogeneic cells for the treatment of HFrEF (BCDA-03). The trial is designed for patients with New York Heart Association Class II and III ischemic heart failure with ischemic HFrEF whose own cell composition makes them ineligible for the Company’s Phase III CardiAMP® Heart Failure Trial studying autologous cell therapy that has received FDA Breakthrough Device Designation. Efficiencies are expected in conducting this trial as patients who have been screened but are ineligible for enrollment in the CardiAMP Heart Failure trial would likely be eligible for this allogeneic trial. Clinical grade allogeneic cells have been manufactured and are ready for use and the cells will be delivered by our proprietary delivery system. We expect to begin enrolling patients in the second quarter of 2023.

In April 2022, the FDA approved the Company’s Investigational New Drug (IND) for a Phase I/II trial for the use of this allogeneic cell therapy for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) caused by COVID-19 (BCDA-04). Fortunately, the number of patients with COVID-19 induced ARDS has decreased and the Company intends to work with the FDA to modify its inclusion criteria to include other patients with ARDS without requiring them to have previously had COVID-19.

The first part of the clinical trial will evaluate increasing dosages of the cells and the optimal dose will be taken to Phase II in a randomized study in adult patients recovering from ARDS. This therapy is intended to address the enormous unmet need of sustained local and systemic inflammation after a patient is taken off respirator support with goals of accelerating recovery, enhancing survival and reducing both relapse and rehospitalization. Clinical grade cells have been manufactured and are available for this study, but this trial initiation is expected to follow the initiation of the BCDA-03 trial of these allogeneic MSC for HFrEF.

Helix™ Biotherapeutic Delivery System

BioCardia’s Helix Biotherapeutic Delivery System (Helix) delivers therapeutics into the heart muscle with a penetrating helical needle from within the heart. It enables local delivery of cell and gene-based therapies, including our own cell therapies to treat cardiac cardiovascular indications. The Helix catheter is CE marked in Europe and is under investigational use in the United States. The Helix design has served as a platform for our development of a number of transendocardial delivery system that are not clinically available yet. These are guided to the heart using a number of navigation platforms we have also developed.

BioCardia selectively partners its Helix Biotherapeutic Delivery Systems and broader biotherapeutic delivery capabilities with firms developing other cell, gene, and protein therapeutic programs. These partnered programs provide additional data, intellectual property rights, and opportunities to participate in the development of combination products for the treatment of cardiac diseases.

COVID-19 Considerations

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have experienced significant disruption to our business and delays in our development programs and regulatory and commercialization timelines, including adverse impact to our operations at certain clinical sites involved in our ongoing clinical studies. The COVID-19 pandemic could continue to adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and/or liquidity in the future. These adverse impacts could include delayed or slowed enrollment of our, or our collaborators’, planned or ongoing clinical trials, delayed or cancelled clinical site initiations, delayed regulatory review for regulatory approvals, delayed commercialization of one or more of our product candidates, if approved, and workforce shortages. Our production capabilities, or those of our partners or suppliers, and our supply chains could also be adversely impacted.

Additionally, while the potential continuing economic impact brought by, and the duration of, the COVID-19 pandemic is difficult to assess or predict, the impact of COVID-19 and related responses of governments, business and other institutions on the global financial markets may reduce the Company’s ability to access capital, which could negatively impact the Company’s liquidity and ability to raise the capital to complete its preclinical and clinical studies on a timely basis, or at all. In addition, a recession, market correction or depression resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic or the response to it could materially affect our business and the value of our common stock. 

Financial Overview

Revenue

We currently have a portfolio of enabling and delivery products, from which we have generated modest revenue. Net product revenues include commercial sales of our AVANCE steerable introducer and collaboration agreement revenues include revenue from partnering agreements with corporate and academic institutions. Under these partnering agreements, we provide our Helix biotherapeutic delivery system and customer training and support for use in preclinical and clinical studies.

Research and Development Expenses

Our research and development expenses consist primarily of:

We expense all research and development costs in the periods in which they are incurred. Costs for certain development activities are recognized based on an evaluation of the progress of completion of specific tasks using information and data provided to us by our vendors and clinical sites. Nonrefundable advance payments for goods or services to be received in future periods for use in research and development activities are deferred and capitalized. The capitalized amounts are then expensed as the related goods are delivered and the services are received. 

We plan to increase our research and development expenses for the foreseeable future as we continue the pivotal CardiAMP autologous cell therapy trials in heart failure and chronic myocardial ischemia, and begin our allogeneic cell therapy trials in heart failure and acute respiratory distress syndrome. We typically use our employee and infrastructure resources across multiple research and development programs, and accordingly, we have not historically allocated resources specifically to our individual programs. There are also significant synergies between these programs.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses consist primarily of salaries and related costs for employees in executive, finance and administration, sales, corporate development and administrative support functions, including share-based compensation expenses and benefits. Other selling, general and administrative expenses include sales commissions, rent, accounting and legal services, obtaining and maintaining patents, the cost of consultants, occupancy costs, insurance premiums and information systems costs.

Other Income (Expense)

Other income and expense consist primarily of interest income we earn on our cash and cash equivalents. 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Our management’s discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based on our financial statements, which we have prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The preparation of our financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities. We evaluate these estimates and judgments on an ongoing basis. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various judgements that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not clear from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. 

We define our critical accounting policies as those that require us to make subjective estimates and judgments about matters that are uncertain and are likely to have a material impact on our financial condition and results of operations as well as the specific manner in which we apply those principles. Our critical accounting policies are described in Item 7 in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the SEC on March 29, 2023, which is incorporated by reference herein. 

Results of Operations

Comparison of Three Months Ended March 31, 2023 and 2022

The following table summarizes our results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 (in thousands): 

Revenue. Revenue increased to $64,000 in the three months ended March 31, 2023 as compared to $60,000 in the three months ended March 31, 2022, primarily due to the timing of revenue from new and existing collaborative partners coupled with the fulfilment of deliverables and completion of collaborative agreements. The amount and timing of collaboration revenues is largely dependent on our partners’ development activities and may be inconsistent and create significant quarter-to-quarter variation in our revenues.

Research and Development Expenses. Research and development expenses increased to $2,384,000 in the three months ended March 31, 2023 as compared to $2,186,000 in the three months ended March 31, 2022, primarily due to increasing expenses in support of the CardiAMP Heart Failure Trial.  

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses. Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased to $1,190,000 in the three months ended March 31, 2023 as compared to $1,201,000 in three months ended March 31, 2022.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

We have incurred net losses each year since our inception and as of March 31, 2023, we had an accumulated deficit of approximately $144.1 million. We anticipate that we will continue to incur net losses for the next several years.

We have funded our operations principally through the sales of equity and convertible debt securities. As of March 31, 2023, we had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $4.9 million. 

The following table shows a summary of our cash flows for the periods indicated (in thousands): 

Cash Flows from Operating Activities. The decrease in overall spending for operating activities of approximately $353,000 in the three months ended March 31, 2023 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2022 related primarily to improved working capital management. Cash flow from operating activities for any period is subject to many variables including the timing of cash receipts, payments to suppliers, and vendor payment terms.

Cash Flows from Investing Activities. Net cash used in investing activities of $10,000 and $29,000 during the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 respectively, consisted of purchases of property and equipment, primarily lab and office equipment.

Cash Flows from Financing Activities. Net cash provided by financing activities of $64,000 during the three months ended March 31, 2023 related primarily to proceeds from the sale of common stock. 

Lincoln Park Capital Stock Purchase Agreement

On March 29, 2021, we entered into a purchase agreement with Lincoln Park Capital Fund, LLC (Lincoln Park) (Purchase Agreement) and a registration rights agreement (Registration Rights Agreement), pursuant to which we have the right to sell to Lincoln Park shares of our common stock having an aggregate value of up to $20 million, subject to certain limitations and conditions in the Purchase Agreement.

Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement in March, 2021, Lincoln Park purchased 373,832 shares of common stock, at a price of $5.35 per share, for a total gross purchase price of $2 million (Initial Purchase) and we issued 80,000 shares of common stock as commitment shares, which included 5,000 commitment shares issued on a pro rata basis for the initial $2 million purchase.

As of March 31, 2023, we had not sold any common stock to Lincoln Park under the Purchase Agreement other than the Initial Purchase.

Cantor Fitzgerald ATM Offering

On April 12, 2022, we entered into a sales agreement (Sales Agreement) with Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. (Cantor) as the sales agent, pursuant to which we may offer and sell, from time to time, through Cantor, shares of common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $10.5 million (ATM Offering). We are not obligated to sell any common stock shares pursuant to the Sales Agreement. Under the terms of the Sales Agreement, we pay Cantor a commission of 3% of the aggregate proceeds from the sale of shares and reimburse certain legal fees. We filed a prospectus supplement under our existing registration statement covering the offer and sale of up to $10.5 million of common stock, of which approximately $8.5 million was still available for offer and sale as of March 31, 2023.

During the three months ended March 31, 2023, we sold 106,241 shares of common stock under the ATM Offering at then-market prices for total gross proceeds of $244,000, with net issuance costs of $13,000.

Future Funding Requirements

To date, we have generated modest revenues. We do not know when, or if, we will generate any revenue from our development stage biotherapeutic programs. We do not expect to generate any revenue from sales of our autologous and allogeneic cell therapy candidates unless and until we obtain regulatory approval. At the same time, we expect our expenses to increase in connection with our ongoing development activities, particularly as we continue the research, development and clinical trials of, and seek regulatory approval for, our therapeutic candidates. In addition, subject to obtaining regulatory approval for any of our therapeutic candidates and companion diagnostic, we expect to incur significant commercialization expenses for product sales, marketing, manufacturing and distribution. We anticipate that we will need additional funding in connection with our continuing operations.      

Based upon our current operating plan, we believe that the cash and cash equivalents of $4.9 million as of March 31, 2023 are not sufficient to fund our planned expenditures and meet our obligations beyond the third quarter of 2023. In order to continue development of our therapeutic candidates beyond the third quarter of 2023, we plan to raise additional capital, potentially including non-dilutive collaboration and licensing arrangements, debt or equity financing, or a combination from these sources. We have based our estimates on assumptions that may prove to be wrong, and we may use our available capital resources sooner than we currently expect. Because of the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with the development and commercialization of our therapeutic candidates, we are unable to estimate the amounts of increased capital outlays and operating expenditures necessary to complete the development of our therapeutic candidates.

Our future capital requirements will depend on many factors, including:

Until such time that we can generate meaningful revenue from the sales of approved therapies and products, if ever, we expect to finance our operating activities through public or private equity or debt financings, government or other third-party funding, marketing and distribution arrangements, and other collaborations, strategic alliances and licensing arrangements or a combination of these approaches. To the extent that we raise additional capital through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, the ownership interests of our common stockholders will be diluted, and the terms of these securities may include liquidation or other preferences that adversely affect the rights of our common stockholders. Debt financing, if available, may involve agreements that include conversion discounts or covenants limiting or restricting our ability to take specific actions, such as incurring debt, making capital expenditures or declaring dividends. If we raise additional funds through government or other third-party funding, marketing and distribution arrangements or other collaborations, or strategic alliances or licensing arrangements with third parties, we may have to relinquish valuable rights to our technologies, future revenue streams, research programs, products, or therapeutic candidates or to grant licenses on terms that may not be favorable to us.

Our condensed consolidated financial statements as of March 31, 2023 have been prepared on the basis that we will continue as a going concern, which contemplates the realization of assets and satisfaction of liabilities in the ordinary course of business. Due to the factors described above, there is substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date these financial statements are issued. Our ability to continue as a going concern will depend in a large part, on our ability to raise additional capital. If adequate funds are not available, we may be required to reduce operating expenses, delay or reduce the scope of our product development programs, obtain funds through arrangements with others that may require us to relinquish rights to certain of our technologies or products that we would otherwise seek to develop or commercialize ourselves, or cease operations. While we believe in the viability of our strategy to raise additional funds, there can be no assurances that we will be able to obtain additional capital on acceptable terms and in the amounts necessary to fully fund our operating needs.

The condensed consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty. If we are unable to continue as a going concern, we may be forced to liquidate assets. In such a scenario, the values received for assets in liquidation or dissolution could be significantly lower than the values reflected in our condensed consolidated financial statements. 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

During the periods presented, we did not have, nor do we currently have, any off-balance sheet arrangements as defined under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

See Note 2 of our notes to condensed consolidated financial statements for information regarding recent accounting pronouncements that are of significance or potential significance to us.

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

There have been no material changes in our market risks during the three months ended March 31, 2023.

Our exposure to market risk is currently limited to our cash and cash equivalents, all of which have maturities of less than three months. The goals of our investment policy are preservation of capital, maintenance of liquidity needs, and fiduciary control of cash and investments. We also seek to maximize income from our investments without assuming significant risk or departing from our investment policy. We currently do not hedge interest rate exposure. Because of the short-term nature of our cash equivalents, we do not believe that an increase in market rates would have a material negative impact on the value of our portfolio.

Interest Rate Risk

As of March 31, 2023, based on current interest rates and total borrowings outstanding, a hypothetical 100 basis point increase or decrease in interest rates would have an immaterial pre-tax impact on our results of operations.

Foreign Currency Exchange Risks

We are a U.S. entity and our functional currency is the U.S. dollar. The vast majority of our revenues were derived from sales in the United States. We have business transactions in foreign currencies; however, we believe we do not have significant exposure to risk from changes in foreign currency exchange rates at this time. We do not currently engage in hedging or similar transactions to reduce our foreign currency risks. We will continue to monitor and evaluate our internal processes relating to foreign currency exchange, including the potential use of hedging strategies.

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

In connection with the preparation of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as of March 31, 2023, an evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act). Based on that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of March 31, 2023, our disclosure controls and procedures were, in design and operation, effective at a reasonable assurance level.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There were no changes to our internal control over financial reporting identified in connection with the evaluation required by rule 13a-15(d) and 15d-15(d) of the Exchange Act that occurred during the three months ended March 31, 2023 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

The Company may be subject to various claims, complaints, and legal actions that arise from time to time in the normal course of business. Management does not believe that the Company is party to any current pending legal proceedings. There can be no assurance that existing or future legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business or otherwise will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.  

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

In addition to the other information set forth in this report, you should carefully consider the factors discussed in Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, which could materially affect our business, financial condition, or future results, are incorporated by reference herein. The risks described in this report, our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed periodically with the SEC are not the only risks facing our Company. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition or future results.  

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. EXHIBIT INDEX

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.