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Corbus Pharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc. - Quarter Report: 2018 June (Form 10-Q)

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

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

 

For the quarterly period June 30, 2018

 

or

 

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

 

For the transition period from________ to_________.

 

Commission File Number:

001-37348

 

Corbus Pharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   46-4348039

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

 

500 River Ridge Drive

Norwood, MA

  02062
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip code)

 

(617) 963-0100

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

 

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

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§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, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer [  ]   Accelerated filer [X]
         
Non-accelerated filer [  ] (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) Smaller reporting company [  ]
         
      Emerging growth company [X]

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. [X]

 

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

 

As of August 3, 2018, 57,206,090 shares of the registrant’s common stock, $0.0001 par value, were issued and outstanding.

 

 

 

   
 

 

CORBUS PHARMACEUTICALS HOLDINGS, INC.

 

Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the Quarter Ended June 30, 2018

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

  Page
PART I  
   
FINANCIAL INFORMATION  
   
1. Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements  
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2018 (unaudited) and December 31, 2017 3
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 (unaudited) 4
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Stockholders’ Equity for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2018 5
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 (unaudited) 6
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements 7
2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 22
3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk 31
4. Controls and Procedures 32
   
PART II  
   
OTHER INFORMATION  
   
1. Legal Proceedings 33
1A. Risk Factors 33
2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds 33
3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities 33
4. Mine Safety Disclosures 33
5. Other Information 33
6. Exhibits 34

 

 2 
 

 

PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Financial Statements.

 

Corbus Pharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

   June 30, 2018   December 31, 2017 
   (Unaudited)     
ASSETS          
Current assets:          
Cash and cash equivalents  $64,676,538   $62,537,495 
Restricted cash       158,991 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets   2,876,261    2,808,244 
Total current assets   67,552,799    65,504,730 
Property and equipment, net   2,671,258    1,432,655 
Other assets   64,427    40,776 
Total assets  $70,288,484   $66,978,161 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY          
Current liabilities:          
Notes payable  $83,704   $332,861 
Accounts payable   3,081,212    3,130,295 
Accrued expenses   5,804,815    4,741,519 
Deferred revenue   4,480,687     
Total current liabilities   13,450,418    8,204,675 
Deferred rent, noncurrent   1,352,906    989,550 
Other liabilities       375 
Total liabilities   14,803,324    9,194,600 
Commitments and Contingencies          
Stockholders’ equity          
Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017        
Common stock, $0.0001 par value; 150,000,000 shares authorized, 57,192,496 and 55,603,427 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively   5,719    5,560 
Additional paid-in capital   144,942,278    123,476,102 
Accumulated deficit   (89,462,837)   (65,698,101)
Total stockholders’ equity   55,485,160    57,783,561 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity  $70,288,484   $66,978,161 

 

See notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

 3 
 

 

Corbus Pharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

(Unaudited)

 

   For the Three Months Ended   For the Six Months Ended 
   June 30,   June 30, 
   2018   2017   2018   2017 
Revenue from awards  $853,646   $350,186   $1,804,088   $1,643,883 
Operating expenses:                    
Research and development   10,259,868    5,763,660    20,025,229    12,129,772 
General and administrative   2,987,549    1,878,090    6,037,581    4,258,215 
Total operating expenses   13,247,417    7,641,750    26,062,810    16,387,987 
Operating loss   (12,393,771)   (7,291,564)   (24,258,722)   (14,744,104)
Other income (expense), net:                    
Interest income, net   266,297    5,271    469,717    6,637 
Foreign currency exchange gain (loss)   58,123    (10,594)   24,269    (24,859)
Other income (expense), net   324,420    (5,323)   493,986    (18,222)
Net loss  $(12,069,351)  $(7,296,887)  $(23,764,736)  $(14,762,326)
Net loss per share, basic and diluted  $(0.21)  $(0.15)  $(0.42)  $(0.31)
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding, basic and diluted   57,157,955    50,193,726    56,764,935    48,298,135 

 

See notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

 4 
 

 

Corbus Pharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Stockholders’ Equity

(Unaudited)

 

       Additional       Total 
   Common Stock   Paid-in   Accumulated   Stockholders’ 
   Shares   Amount   Capital   Deficit   Equity 
Balance at December 31, 2017 (audited)   55,603,427   $5,560   $123,476,102   $(65,698,101)  $57,783,561 
Issuance of common stock, net of issuance costs of $453,167   1,500,000    150    11,246,684        11,246,834 

Stock-based compensation expense

           3,701,010        3,701,010 
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options   89,069    9    303,257        303,266 
Fair value of warrant issued in connection with Investment Agreement           6,215,225        6,215,225 
Net loss               (23,764,736)   (23,764,736)
Balance at June 30, 2018   57,192,496   $5,719   $144,942,278   $(89,462,837)  $55,485,160 

 

See notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

 5 
 

 

Corbus Pharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Unaudited)

 

   Six Months Ended 
   June 30, 
   2018   2017 
Cash flows from operating activities:          
Net loss  $(23,764,736)  $(14,762,326)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:          

Stock-based compensation expense

   3,701,010    2,882,227 
Depreciation and amortization   206,314    64,452 
Loss on foreign exchange   40,654    24,859 
Deferred rent   363,355    (4,915)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:          
Decrease in customer receivable   12,500,000    1,000,000 
(Increase) decrease in prepaid expenses   (102,792)   85,406 
Increase in other assets   (23,651)   (65,026)
Increase in accounts payable   628,212    589,421 
Increase (decrease) in accrued expenses   1,064,995    (521,037)
Decrease in deferred revenue   (1,769,313)   (1,643,883)
Net cash used in operating activities   (7,155,952)   (12,350,822)
Cash flows from investing activities:          
Purchases of property and equipment   (1,944,865)   (81,816)
Net cash used in investing activities   (1,944,865)   (81,816)
Cash flows from financing activities:          
Principal payments on notes payable   (249,157)   (232,716)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock   12,003,266    41,370,512 
Issuance costs paid for common stock financings   (671,168)   (662,788)
Principal payments on capital lease obligation   (2,072)   (1,865)
Net cash provided by financing activities   11,080,869    40,473,143 
Net increase in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash   1,980,052    28,040,505 
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of the period   62,696,486    15,192,257 
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of the period  $64,676,538   $43,232,762 
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information and non-cash transactions:          
Cash paid during the period for interest  $2,763   $2,562 
Fair value of warrant issued in connection with Investment Agreement  $6,215,225   $ 
Stock issuance costs included in accounts payable or accrued expenses  $7,500   $26,235 
Purchases of property and equipment included in accounts payable   35,148     
Write off of fully amortized leasehold improvements  $191,244   $ 

 

See notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

 6 
 

 

Corbus Pharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

Six Months Ended June 30, 2018

 

1. NATURE OF OPERATIONS

 

Business

 

Corbus Pharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) is a clinical stage pharmaceutical company, focused on the development and commercialization of novel therapeutics to treat rare, chronic, and serious inflammatory and fibrotic diseases. Since its inception, the Company has devoted substantially all of its efforts to business planning, research and development, recruiting management and technical staff, acquiring operating assets and raising capital. The Company’s business is subject to significant risks and uncertainties and the Company will be dependent on raising substantial additional capital before it becomes profitable and it may never achieve profitability.

 

The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries. During the first half of 2018, the Company formed a subsidiary in each of the United Kingdom and Australia. All significant intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated in consolidation. In the opinion of management of the Company, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements reflect all adjustments (which include only normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of the Company as of June 30, 2018, the results of its operations for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 and its cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017. The December 31, 2017 condensed consolidated balance sheet was derived from audited financial statements. The Company prepared the condensed consolidated financial statements following the requirements of the SEC for interim reporting. Accordingly, certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted. It is suggested that these condensed consolidated financial statements be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, filed on March 12, 2018. The results of operations for such interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the operating results for the full fiscal year.

 

2. LIQUIDITY

 

The Company anticipates operating losses to continue for the foreseeable future due to, among other things, costs related to research funding, development of its product candidates and its preclinical and clinical programs, strategic alliances and the development of its administrative organization. The Company has incurred recurring losses since inception and as of June 30, 2018, had an accumulated deficit of $89,462,837.

 

On January 26, 2018, the Company entered into the Cystic Fibrosis Program Related Investment Agreement (“Investment Agreement”) with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (“CFF”), a non-profit drug discovery and development corporation, pursuant to which the Company received a development award for up to $25 million in funding (the “2018 CFF Award”) to support a Phase 2b Clinical Trial (the “Phase 2b Clinical Trial”) of lenabasum in patients with cystic fibrosis, of which the Company received $12.5 million in the first half of 2018, of which $6.25 million was received in the second quarter of 2018.

 

The Company expects the remainder of the 2018 CFF Award will be paid to the Company incrementally upon the achievement of the remaining milestones related to the progress of the Phase 2b Clinical Trial, as set forth in the Investment Agreement (See Note 8).

 

The Company expects the cash and cash equivalents of $64,676,538 at June 30, 2018 to be sufficient to meet its operating and capital requirements at least 12 months from the filing of this 10-Q.

 

 7 
 

 

Should the Company be unable to raise sufficient additional capital, the Company may be required to undertake cost-cutting measures including delaying or discontinuing certain clinical activities. The Company will need to raise significant additional capital to continue to fund the clinical trials for lenabasum. The Company may seek to sell common or preferred equity or convertible debt securities, enter into a credit facility or another form of third-party funding, or seek other debt financing. The sale of equity and convertible debt securities may result in dilution to the Company’s stockholders and certain of those securities may have rights senior to those of the Company’s common shares. If the Company raises additional funds through the issuance of preferred stock, convertible debt securities or other debt financing, these securities or other debt could contain covenants that would restrict the Company’s operations. Any other third-party funding arrangement could require the Company to relinquish valuable rights.

 

The source, timing and availability of any future financing will depend principally upon market conditions, and, more specifically, on the progress of the Company’s clinical development programs. Funding may not be available when needed, at all, or on terms acceptable to the Company. Lack of necessary funds may require the Company, among other things, to delay, scale back or eliminate some or all of the Company’s planned clinical trials.

 

3. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

A summary of the significant accounting policies followed by the Company in the preparation of the financial statements is as follows:

 

Use of Estimates

 

The process of preparing financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates and changes in estimates may occur. The most significant estimates are related to stock-based compensation, the accrual of research, product development and clinical obligations, the recognition of revenue under the Investment Agreement (See Note 8), and the valuation of the CFF Warrant discussed in Note 11.

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

The Company considers only those investments which are highly liquid, readily convertible to cash, and that mature within three months from date of purchase to be cash equivalents. At June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, cash equivalents were comprised of money market funds. For purposes of preparing the statement of cash flows, the Company considers payments of amounts previously accrued for stock issuance costs or property, plant, and equipment as payments for those original purposes.

 

Restricted cash as of December 31, 2017 in the amount of $108,991 was classified in current assets and included a collateral account for the Company’s corporate credit cards. This collateral account was closed in the first quarter of 2018 and accordingly the cash became unrestricted. Additionally, as of December 31, 2017, restricted cash included a stand-by letter of credit issued in favor of a landlord for $50,000 which was classified in current assets as of December 31, 2017. This stand-by letter of credit was terminated in the first quarter of 2018 in connection with the August 2017 Lease Agreement discussed in Note 5, and accordingly, the cash became unrestricted.

 

 8 
 

 

Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash consists of the following:

 

   June 30, 2018   December 31, 2017 
Cash  $1,486,733   $206,510 
Money market fund   63,189,805    62,330,985 
Cash and cash equivalents   64,676,538    62,537,495 
           
Restricted cash       158,991 
Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash shown in the statement of cash flows  $64,676,538   $62,696,486 

 

Financial Instruments

 

The carrying amounts reported in the consolidated balance sheet for cash and cash equivalents, receivables, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate their fair value based on the short-term nature of these instruments. The carrying values of the notes payable approximate their fair value due to the fact that they are at market terms.

 

Property and Equipment

 

The estimated life for the Company’s property and equipment is as follows: three years for computer hardware and software and three to five years for office furniture and equipment. The Company’s leasehold improvements and assets under capital lease are amortized over the shorter of their useful lives or the respective leases. See Note 4 for details of property and equipment and Note 5 for operating and capital lease commitments.

 

Research and Development Expenses

 

Costs incurred for research and development are expensed as incurred.

 

Nonrefundable advance payments for goods or services that have the characteristics that will be used or rendered for future research and development activities pursuant to executory contractual arrangements with third party research organizations are deferred and recognized as an expense as the related goods are delivered or the related services are performed.

 

 9 
 

 

Accruals for Research and Development Expenses and Clinical Trials

 

As part of the process of preparing its financial statements, the Company is required to estimate its expenses resulting from its obligations under contracts with vendors, clinical research organizations and consultants and under clinical site agreements in connection with conducting clinical trials. The financial terms of these contracts are subject to negotiations, which vary from contract to contract and may result in payment terms that do not match the periods over which materials or services are provided under such contracts. The Company’s objective is to reflect the appropriate expenses in its financial statements by matching those expenses with the period in which services are performed and efforts are expended. The Company accounts for these expenses according to the timing of various aspects of the expenses. The Company determines accrual estimates by taking into account discussion with applicable personnel and outside service providers as to the progress of clinical trials, or the services completed. During the course of a clinical trial, the Company adjusts its clinical expense recognition if actual results differ from its estimates. The Company makes estimates of its accrued expenses as of each balance sheet date based on the facts and circumstances known to it at that time. The Company’s clinical trial accruals are dependent upon the timely and accurate reporting of contract research organizations and other third-party vendors. Although the Company does not expect its estimates to be materially different from amounts actually incurred, its understanding of the status and timing of services performed relative to the actual status and timing of services performed may vary and may result in it reporting amounts that are too high or too low for any particular period. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, there were no material adjustments to the Company’s prior period estimates of accrued expenses for clinical trials.

 

Concentrations of Credit Risk

 

The Company has no significant off-balance-sheet concentration of credit risk such as foreign exchange contracts, option contracts or other hedging arrangements. The Company may from time to time have cash in banks in excess of Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insurance limits. However, the Company believes the risk of loss is minimal as these banks are large financial institutions.

 

Segment Information

 

Operating segments are identified as components of an enterprise about which separate discrete financial information is available for evaluation by the chief operating decision maker, or decision making group, in making decisions regarding resource allocation and assessing performance. To date, the Company has viewed its operations and manages its business as principally one operating segment, which is developing and commercializing therapeutics to treat rare life-threating, inflammatory fibrotic diseases. As of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, all of the Company’s assets were located in the United States, except for approximately $1.3 million of cash which was held in our subsidiary in the United Kingdom as of June 30, 2018.

 

Income Taxes

 

For federal and state income taxes, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized based upon temporary differences between the financial statement and the tax basis of assets and liabilities. Deferred income taxes are based upon prescribed rates and enacted laws applicable to periods in which differences are expected to reverse. A valuation allowance is recorded to reduce a net deferred tax benefit when it is not more likely than not that the tax benefit from the deferred tax assets will be realized. Accordingly, given the cumulative losses since inception, the Company has provided a valuation allowance equal to 100% of the deferred tax assets in order to eliminate the deferred tax assets amounts. Tax positions taken or expected to be taken in the course of preparing the Company’s tax returns are required to be evaluated to determine whether the tax positions are “more-likely-than-not” of being sustained by the applicable tax authority.

 

Tax positions not deemed to meet a more-likely-than-not threshold, as well as accrued interest and penalties, if any, would be recorded as a tax expense in the current year. There were no uncertain tax positions that require accrual or disclosure to the financial statements as of June 30, 2018 or December 31, 2017.

 

 10 
 

 

Impairment of Long-lived Assets

 

The Company continually monitors events and changes in circumstances that could indicate that carrying amounts of long-lived assets may not be recoverable. An impairment loss is recognized when expected undiscounted cash flows of an asset are less than an asset’s carrying value. Accordingly, when indicators of impairment are present, the Company evaluates the carrying value of such assets in relation to the operating performance and future undiscounted cash flows of the underlying assets. An impairment loss equal to the excess of the fair value of the asset over its carrying amount, is recorded when it is determined that the carrying value of the asset may not be recoverable. No impairment charges were recorded during the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017.

 

Stock-based Payments

 

The Company recognizes compensation costs resulting from the issuance of stock-based awards to employees, non-employees and directors as an expense in the statement of operations over the service period based on a measurement of fair value for each stock-based award. The fair value of each option grant to employees is estimated as of the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The fair value is amortized as compensation cost on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the awards, which is generally the vesting period. Stock options granted to non-employee consultants are revalued at the end of each reporting period until vested using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model and the changes in their fair value are recorded as adjustments to expense over the related vesting period.

 

Foreign Currency

 

Transaction gains and losses arising from currency exchange rate fluctuations on transactions denominated in a currency other than the U.S. Dollar functional currency are recorded in the Company’s statement of operations. Such transaction gains and losses may be realized or unrealized depending upon whether the transaction settled during the period or remains outstanding at the balance sheet date.

 

Net Loss Per Common Share

 

Basic and diluted net loss per share of the Company’s common stock has been computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period. For periods in which there is a net loss, options and warrants are anti-dilutive and therefore are excluded from diluted loss per share calculations. The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017:

 

  

Three Months Ended

June 30

  

Six Months Ended

June 30

 
   2018   2017   2018   2017 
Basic and diluted net loss per share of common stock:                    
Net loss  $(12,069,351)  $(7,296,887)  $(23,764,736)  $(14,762,326)
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding   57,157,955    50,193,726    56,764,935    48,298,135 
Net loss per share of common stock-basic and diluted  $(0.21)  $(0.15)  $(0.42)  $(0.31)

 

The impact of the following potentially dilutive securities outstanding during June 30, 2018 and 2017 have been excluded from the computation of dilutive weighted average shares outstanding as the inclusion would be anti-dilutive.

 

 11 
 

 

   June 30, 
   2018   2017 
Warrants   2,288,500    1,288,500 
Stock options   9,468,991    7,700,862 
Total   11,757,491    8,989,362 

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

Revenue Recognition

 

In May 2014, the FASB issued guidance codified in Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 606, Revenue Recognition — Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC 606”) which amends the guidance in former ASC 605, Revenue Recognition (“ASC 605”), and is effective for public companies for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Specifically, the new standard differs from ASC 605 in many respects, such as in the accounting for variable consideration received, including milestone payments or contingent payments. Under the Company’s accounting policy prior to the adoption of ASC 606 in the first quarter of 2018, milestone payments were initially recognized only in the period that the payment-triggering event occurred or was achieved (See Note 8). ASC 606, however, may require a company to recognize such payments before the payment-triggering event is completely achieved based on the Company’s estimate of the amount of consideration to which it will be entitled in exchange for transferring the services, subject to management’s assessment of whether it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur when the uncertainty associated with the variable consideration is subsequently resolved.

 

The Company adopted ASC 606 in the first quarter of 2018 using the modified retrospective method according to which the cumulative effect of initially applying ASC 606 is recognized at the date of initial application, and elected to utilize a practical expedient and did not restate contracts that were completed as of the date of adoption. Since the Company has concluded its performance obligations and has completed recognizing revenue under the 2015 CFFT Award discussed in Note 8 in the third quarter of 2017, there was no cumulative effect to record at the date of the Company’s adoption of ASC 606 and no revenue to recognize for the first quarter of 2018 related to the 2015 CFFT Award. Revenue for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 was $853,646 and $1,804,088, respectively, recognized in accordance with ASC 606 and pertains only to the 2018 CFF Award discussed in Note 8. The total impact to revenue for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 as a result of the adoption of ASC 606 was lower revenue of approximately $465,000 and $14,000, respectively.

 

The Company will assess any new agreements it enters into under ASC 606, including whether such agreements fall under the scope of such standard. This standard applies to all contracts with customers, except for contracts that are within the scope of other standards, such as leases, insurance, collaboration arrangements and financial instruments. Under ASC 606, an entity recognizes revenue when its customer obtains control of promised goods or services, in an amount that reflects the consideration which the entity expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. To determine revenue recognition for arrangements that an entity determines are within the scope of ASC 606, the entity performs the following five steps: (i) identify the contract(s) with a customer; (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (iii) determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (v) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation. The Company only applies the five-step model to contracts when it is probable that the entity will collect the consideration it is entitled to in exchange for the goods or services it transfers to the customer. At contract inception, once the contract is determined to be within the scope of ASC 606, the Company assesses the goods or services promised within each contract and determines those that are performance obligations, and assesses whether each promised good or service is distinct. The Company then recognizes as revenue the amount of the transaction price that is allocated to the respective performance obligation when (or as) the performance obligation is satisfied.

 

 12 
 

 

Revenue associated with the performance obligation is being recognized as revenue as the research and development services are provided using an input method, according to the costs incurred as related to the research and development activities and the costs expected to be incurred in the future to satisfy the performance obligation. The transfer of control occurs over this time period and, in management’s judgment, is the best measure of progress towards satisfying the performance obligation. The research and development services related to this performance obligation are expected to be performed over an approximately two and a half-year period expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2020. Amounts received prior to revenue recognition are recorded as deferred revenue. Amounts expected to be recognized as revenue within the 12 months following the balance sheet date are classified as current portion of deferred revenue in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Amounts not expected to be recognized as revenue within the 12 months following the balance sheet date would be classified as deferred revenue, net of current portion. Amounts recognized as revenue, but not yet received or invoiced are generally recognized as contract assets.

 

Accounting for Leases

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) (“ASU 2016-02”). Under ASU 2016-02, a lessee will be required to recognize assets and liabilities for all leases with lease terms of more than 12 months. Consistent with current GAAP, the recognition, measurement, and presentation of expenses and cash flows arising from a lease by a lessee primarily will depend on its classification as a finance or operating lease. However, unlike current GAAP, which requires only capital leases to be recognized on the balance sheet, ASU 2016-02 will require both types of leases to be recognized on the balance sheet. ASU 2016-02 will take effect for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018, with early application permitted. The adoption of ASU 2016-02 will have an impact on the Company’s financial position as the Company has an operating lease commitment for office space as of June 30, 2018 with future non-cancelable lease payments amounting to $5,264,290 (see Note 5) for which ASU 2016-02 would apply.

 

4. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT

 

Property and equipment consisted of the following:

 

   June 30, 2018   December 31, 2017 
         
Computer hardware and software  $229,688   $136,522 
Office furniture and equipment   816,385    287,048 
Leasehold improvements   2,004,144    191,244 
Construction in progress       1,181,730 
Property and equipment, gross   3,050,217    1,796,544 
Less: accumulated depreciation   (378,959)   (363,889)
Property and equipment, net  $2,671,258   $1,432,655 

 

Depreciation expense was $124,416 and $32,963 for the three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively and $206,314 and $64,452 for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. In the first quarter of 2018, the Company wrote off $191,244 of fully amortized leasehold improvements related to the termination of the September 2016 Amendment in February 2018 as discussed in Note 5.

 

On December 30, 2015, the Company entered into a lease agreement for a copier machine. The cost of the machine was approximately $12,000 and is included in office furniture and equipment category in the table above. The lease payments commenced when the machine was placed in service in January 2016. The machine is being amortized over the life of the lease, which is for a three-year term and includes a bargain purchase option at the end of the term. See Note 5 for details of this capital lease commitment.

 

 13 
 

 

5. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

 

Operating Lease Commitment

 

In September 2016, the Company amended its commercial lease for office space to expand into an additional 4,088 square feet of office space within the existing building for an aggregate total of 10,414 square feet of leased office space (“September 2016 Amendment”). The Company began occupying this space in early November 2016 and the final lease payment was to be due in January 2021. Additionally, the September 2016 Amendment required an increase in the standby letter of credit to $50,000 (See Note 4). The September 2016 Amendment was terminated upon the commencement date of the August 2017 Lease Agreement discussed below.

 

On August 21, 2017, the Company entered into a lease agreement (“August 2017 Lease Agreement”) with the same landlord, pursuant to which the Company agreed to lease 32,733 square feet of office space (“Leased Premises”). The initial term of the August 2017 Lease Agreement is for a period of seven years which began with the Company’s occupancy of the Leased Premises in February 2018. The base rent for the Leased Premises ranges from approximately $470,000 for the first year to approximately $908,000 for the seventh year. Per the terms of the August 2017 Lease Agreement, the landlord agreed to reimburse the Company for $1,080,189 of leasehold improvements. The reimbursements have been deferred and will be recognized as a reduction of rent expense over the term of the lease. Additionally, the August 2017 Lease Agreement required a standby irrevocable letter of credit of $400,000, which may be reduced, if the Company is not in default under the August 2017 Lease Agreement, to $300,000 and $200,000 on the third and fourth anniversary of the commencement date, respectively. The Company entered into an unsecured letter of credit for $400,000 in connection with the August 2017 Lease Agreement for which it incurred interest expense of $1,774 and $3,549 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, respectively.

 

The Company records the total rent payable during the lease term on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease and records the difference between the rents paid and the straight-line rent as deferred rent, which is classified in deferred rent, noncurrent in the Company’s balance sheet as of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017.

 

Pursuant to the terms of the Company’s non-cancelable lease agreements in effect at June 30, 2018, the future minimum rent commitments are as follows:

 

2018 (remainder of year)  $235,000 
2019   623,958 
2020   784,243 
2021   830,600 
2022   855,150 
Thereafter   1,935,339 
Total  $5,264,290 

 

Total rent expense for the three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 was $147,752 and $58,508, respectively. Total rent expense for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 was $294,743 and $117,016, respectively.

 

Capital Lease Commitment

 

The lease payments under the capital lease agreement for the copier machine commenced when the machine was placed in service in January 2016. The lease is for a three-year term and includes a bargain purchase option at the end of the term. In the accompanying balance sheet as of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the current portion of this capital lease obligation is classified in accrued expenses and the long-term portion of the capital lease obligation is classified in other long-term liabilities. Pursuant to the terms of this capital lease agreement, the future minimum capital lease commitments are as follows as of June 30, 2018:

 

 14 
 

 

2018 (remainder of year)   $ 2,271  
2019     379  
Total future minimum lease payments     2,650  
Less: interest     (91 )
Future capital lease obligations     2,559  
Less: current portion     (2,559 )
Long-term portion   $  

 

6. NOTES PAYABLE

 

In October 2016, the Company entered into a loan agreement with a financing company for $348,750 to finance one of the Company’s insurance policies. The terms of the loan stipulated equal monthly payments of principal and interest payments of $39,114 over a nine-month period. Interest accrued on this loan at an annual rate of 2.25%. This loan was fully repaid in July 2017.

 

In November 2017, the Company entered into a loan agreement with a financing company for $415,265 to finance one of the Company’s insurance policies. The terms of the loan stipulate equal monthly payments of principal and interest payments of $41,975 over a ten-month period. Interest accrues on this loan at an annual rate of 2.35%.

 

Prepaid expenses as of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 included $142,476 and $368,976, respectively, related to this insurance policy.

 

For the three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, interest expense for notes payable totaled $904 and $602, respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, interest expense for notes payable totaled $2,564 and $1,879, respectively.

 

7. ACCRUED EXPENSES

 

Accrued expenses consisted of the following:

 

   June 30, 2018   December 31, 2017 
         
Accrued clinical operations and trials costs  $3,515,639   $2,003,799 
Accrued product development costs   1,197,250    1,255,439 
Accrued compensation   916,626    1,335,672 
Accrued other   175,300    146,609 
Total  $5,804,815   $4,741,519 

 

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8. DEVELOPMENT AWARDS AND DEFERRED REVENUE

 

2015 CFFT Award

 

On April 20, 2015, the Company entered into an award agreement (the “2015 CFFT Award Agreement “) with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Thereapeutics, Inc (“CFFT”), a non-profit drug discovery and development affiliate of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (“CFF”) pursuant to which the Company received a development award (the “2015 CFFT Award”) for up to $5 million in funding. The funding from the 2015 CFFT Award supported a first-in-patient Phase 2 clinical trial of the Company’s oral anti-inflammatory drug lenabasum in adults with cystic fibrosis (“CF”). The Company has received $5.0 million in payments since the inception of the 2015 CFFT Award as outlined below. The payments received under the 2015 CFFT Award were recorded as deferred revenue when the triggering event to receive those amounts had occurred and were amortized on a straight-line basis over the expected duration of the remaining performance period under the 2015 CFFT Award which concluded in the third quarter of 2017.

 

Upon the execution of the 2015 CFFT Award Agreement, the Company received a payment of $1,250,000 in May 2015. In November 2015, the Company received a second payment of $1,250,000 upon the achievement of a milestone for dosing the first patient. In August 2016, the Company received a third payment from the CFFT in the amount of $1,000,000 for achieving a milestone in July 2016 related to dosing the median clinical trial patient. In January 2017, the Company received a fourth payment from the CFFT in the amount of $1,000,000 for achieving a milestone in December 2016 related to completing the final visit for the final patient, which was billed by the Company to CFFT in December 2016 and was classified in grants receivable as of December 31, 2016. The Company received the final payment from CFFT in the amount of $500,000 in November 2017 for achieving the final milestone in September 2017 related to the issuance to CFFT of the final integrated statistical report for to the Phase 2 CF clinical trial. At that time the Company had completed all its performance obligations under the contract and therefore the performance period had concluded.

 

In accordance with ASC 605, the Company recorded $350,816 and $1,643,883 of revenue during the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, respectively, under the 2015 CFFT Award Agreement. No revenue was recorded under the 2015 CFFT Award Agreement during the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 as the final performance period concluded in the third quarter of 2017. Under ASC 605, milestone payments were initially recognized only in the period that the payment-triggering event occurred or was achieved. Effective January 1, 2018, ASC 605 was superceded by ASC 606 (See Note 3). The Company adopted ASC 606 in the first quarter of 2018 using the modified retrospective method according to which the cumulative effect of initially applying ASC 606 is recognized at the date of initial application. Since the Company concluded its performance obligations and completed recognizing revenue under the 2015 CFFT Award Agreement in the third quarter of 2017, there was no cumulative effect to record at the date of the Company’s adoption of ASC 606.

 

Pursuant to the terms of the 2015 CFFT Award Agreement, the Company is obligated to make royalty payments to CFFT contingent upon commercialization of lenabasum in the Field of Use (as defined in the 2015 CFFT Award Agreement) as follows: (i) a royalty payment equal to five times the amount the Company receives under the 2015 CFFT Award Agreement, up to $25 million, payable in three equal annual installments following the first commercial sale of lenabasum, the first of which is due within 90 days following the first commercial sale of lenabasum, (ii) a royalty payment to CFFT equal to the amount the Company receives under the 2015 CFFT Award Agreement, up to $5 million, due in the first calendar year in which the aggregate cumulative net sales of lenabasum in the Field of Use exceed $500 million, and (iii) royalty payment(s) to CFFT of up to approximately $15 million if the Company transfers, sells or licenses lenabasum in the Field of Use other than for certain clinical or development purposes, or if the Company enters into a change of control transaction, with such payment(s) to be credited against the royalty payments due upon commercialization. The Field of Use is defined in the 2015 CFFT Award as the treatment in humans of CF, asbestosis, bronchiectasis, byssinosis, chronic bronchitis/COPD hypersensitivity pneumonitis, pneumoconiosis, primary ciliary dyskinesis, sarcoidosis and silicosis. Either CFFT or the Company may terminate the agreement for cause, which includes the Company’s material failure to achieve certain commercialization and development milestones. The Company’s payment obligations, if any, would survive the termination of the 2015 CFFT Award Agreement.

 

 16 
 

 

2018 CFF Award

 

On January 26, 2018, the Company entered into the Cystic Fibrosis Program Related Investment Agreement with the CFF (“Investment Agreement”), a non-profit drug discovery and development corporation, pursuant to which the Company received an award for up to $25 million in funding (the “2018 CFF Award”) to support a Phase 2b Clinical Trial (the “Phase 2b Clinical Trial”) of lenabasum in patients with cystic fibrosis, of which the Company has received $6.25 million in the first quarter of 2018 and an additional $6.25 million in the second quarter of 2018 upon the Company’s achievement of milestones related to the progress of the Phase 2b Clinical Trial, as set forth in the Investment Agreement.

 

The Company expects that the remainder of the 2018 CFF Award will be paid incrementally upon the Company’s achievement of the remaining milestones related to the progress of the Phase 2b Clinical Trial, as set forth in the Investment Agreement.

 

Pursuant to the terms of the Investment Agreement, the Company is obligated to make certain royalty payments to CFF, including a royalty payment of one and one-half times the amount of the 2018 CFF Award, payable in cash within sixty days upon the first receipt of approval of lenabasum in the United States and a second royalty payment of one and one-half times the amount of the 2018 CFF Award upon approval in another major market, as set forth in the Investment Agreement (the “Approval Royalty”). At the Company’s election, the Company may satisfy the first of the two Approval Royalties in registered shares of the Company’s common stock.

 

Additionally, the Company is obligated to make (i) royalty payments to CFF of two and one-half percent of net sales from lenabasum due within sixty days after any quarter in which such net sales occur in the Field, as defined in the Investment Agreement, (ii) royalty payments to CFF of one percent of net sales of Non-Field Products, as defined in the Investment Agreement due within sixty days after any quarter in which such net sales occur, and (iii) royalty payments to CFF of ten percent of any amount the Company and its stockholders receive in connection with the license, sale, or other transfer to a third party of lenabasum, if indicated for the treatment or prevention of CF, or a change of control transaction, except that such payment shall not exceed five times the amount of the 2018 CFF Award, with such payments to be credited against any other net sales royalty payments due. Either CFF or the Company may terminate the Investment Agreement for cause, which includes the Company’s material failure to achieve certain commercialization and development milestones. The Company’s payment obligations survive the termination of the Investment Agreement.

 

Pursuant to the terms of the Investment Agreement, the Company issued a warrant to CFF to purchase an aggregate of 1,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock (the “CFF Warrant”). The CFF Warrant is exercisable at a price equal to $13.20 per share and is immediately exercisable for 500,000 shares of the Company’s common stock. Upon completion of the final milestone set forth in the Investment Agreement and receipt of the final payment from CFF to the Company pursuant to the Investment Agreement, the CFF Warrant will be exercisable for the remaining 500,000 shares of the Company’s common stock. The CFF Warrant expires on January 26, 2025. Any shares of the Company’s common stock issued upon exercise of the CFF Warrant will be unregistered and subject to a one-year lock-up.

 

The Company recorded $853,646 and $1,804,088 of revenue during the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, respectively, under the Investment Agreement. The Company assessed the 2018 CFF Award for accounting under ASC 606, which it adopted in the first quarter of 2018 (Note 3). To determine revenue recognition for arrangements that an entity determines are within the scope of ASC 606, the entity performs the following five steps: (i) identify the contract(s) with a customer; (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (iii) determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (v) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation.

 

 17 
 

 

The Company assessed this arrangement in accordance with ASC 606 and concluded that the contract counterparty, CFF, is a customer. The Company identified the following material promise under the arrangement: research and development activities and related services under the Phase 2b Clinical Trial. Based on these assessments, the Company identified one performance obligation at the outset of the Investment Agreement, which consists of: Phase 2b Clinical Trial research and development activities and related services.

 

To determine the transaction price, the Company included the total aggregate payments under the Investment Agreement which amount to $25 million and reduced the revenue to be recognized by the payment to the customer of $6,215,225 in the form of the CFF Warrant representing its fair value, leaving the remaining $18,784,775 as the transaction price as of the outset of the arrangement, which will be recognized as revenue over the performance period as discussed below. The $6,215,225 fair value of the warrant was also recorded as an increase to additional paid in capital. The Company billed and collected $12,500,000 in milestone payments during the first half of fiscal 2018 which was recorded as an increase to deferred revenue. A roll forward of deferred revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2018 is presented below:

 

   June 30, 2018     
Beginning balance  $      
Billing to CFF upon achievement of milestones   12,500,000      
Fair value of CFF Warrant   (6,215,225)     
Recognition of revenue   (1,804,088)     
Ending balance  $4,480,687      

 

The CFF Warrant is accounted for as a payment to the customer under ASC 606. See Note 11 for further information related to the CFF Warrant. The Company notes that the Investment Agreement contains an initial payment that was received upon contract execution and subsequent milestone payments, which are a form of variable consideration that require evaluation for constraint considerations. The Company concluded that the related performance milestones are generally within the Company’s control and as result are considered probable. Revenue associated with the performance obligation is being recognized as revenue as the research and development services are provided using an input method, according to the costs incurred as related to the research and development activities on each program and the costs expected to be incurred in the future to satisfy the performance obligation. The transfer of control occurs over this time period and, in management’s judgment, is the best measure of progress towards satisfying the performance obligation. The research and development services related to this performance obligation are expected to be performed over an approximately two and a half year period expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2020. The amounts received that have not yet been recognized as revenue are recorded in deferred revenue and the amounts recognized as revenue, but not yet received or invoiced are generally recognized as contract assets on the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheet.

 

9. COMMON STOCK

 

The Company has authorized 150,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, of which 57,192,496 shares and 55,603,427 shares were issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.

 

During the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, the Company issued 52,604 and 89,069 shares of common stock upon the exercise of stock options to purchase common stock and the Company received proceeds of $146,612 and $303,266 from these exercises, respectively. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, the Company issued 76,768 and 237,317 shares of common stock upon the exercise of stock options to purchase common stock and the Company received proceeds of $20,555 and $100,803 from these exercises, respectively.

 

 18 
 

 

On January 5, 2018, the Company entered into a sales agreement with Cantor Fitzgerald under which the Company may direct Cantor Fitzgerald as its sales agent to sell common stock up to an aggregate offering of up to $50 million under an “At the Market Offering” (“January 2018 Sales Agreement”). Sales of common stock under the January 2018 Sales Agreement were made pursuant to an effective registration statement for an aggregate offering of up to $50 million. During the first quarter of 2018, the Company sold 1,500,000 shares of its common stock to an institutional investor under the January 2018 Sales Agreement for which the Company received net proceeds of approximately $11.2 million. The Company did not sell any shares under the January 2018 Sales Agreement in the second quarter of 2018. In the first half of 2017, the Company sold 1,413,633 shares of its common stock under a sales agreement that the Company entered into in November 2016 with Cantor Fitzgerald (“Sales Agreement”) for net proceeds of $13,268,208. The Sales Agreement was terminated in October 2017.

 

On February 28, 2017, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement providing for the issuance and sale by the Company of 3,887,815 shares of its common stock in a registered direct offering to institutional and accredited investors at a purchase price of $7.00 per share with gross proceeds to the Company totaling $27,214,705 less issuance costs of $36,291.

 

10. STOCK OPTIONS

 

In April 2014, the Company adopted the Corbus Pharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc. 2014 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2014 Plan”). Pursuant to the 2014 Plan, the Company’s Board of Directors may grant incentive and nonqualified stock options and restricted stock to employees, officers, directors, consultants and advisors. On January 1, 2017, pursuant to an annual evergreen provision contained in the 2014 Plan, the number of shares reserved for future grants was increased by 3,127,722 shares. As of December 31, 2017, there was a total of 13,043,739 shares reserved for issuance under the 2014 Plan and there were 4,460,334 shares available for future grants. Options issued under the 2014 Plan generally vest over 4 years from the date of grant in multiple tranches and are exercisable for up to 10 years from the date of issuance.

 

Pursuant to the terms of an annual evergreen provision in the 2014 Plan, the number of shares of common stock available for issuance under the 2014 Plan shall automatically increase on January 1 of each year by at least seven percent (7%) of the total number of shares of common stock outstanding on December 31st of the preceding calendar year, or, pursuant to the terms of the 2014 Plan, in any year, the Board of Directors may determine that such increase will provide for a lesser number of shares. In accordance with the terms of the 2014 Plan, effective as of January 1, 2018, the number of shares of common stock available for issuance under the 2014 Plan increased by 2,500,000 shares, such amount being less than seven percent (7%) of the outstanding shares of common stock on December 31, 2017. As of January 1, 2018, the 2014 Plan had a total reserve of 15,543,739 shares and there were 6,960,334 shares available for future grants. As of June 30, 2018, there were 5,247,240 shares available for future grants.

 

Stock-based Compensation

 

For stock options issued and outstanding for the three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, the Company recorded non-cash, stock-based compensation expense of $1,816,094 ($1,799,658 for employees and $16,436 for non-employees) and $1,299,071 ($1,239,304 for employees and $59,767 for non-employees), respectively, net of estimated forfeitures. For stock options issued and outstanding for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, the Company recorded non-cash, stock-based compensation expense of $3,701,010 ($3,640,447 for employees and $60,563 for non-employees) and $2,882,227 ($2,123,611 for employees and $758,616 for non-employees), respectively, net of estimated forfeitures.

 

 19 
 

 

The fair value of each option award for employees is estimated on the date of grant and for non-employees is estimated at the end of each reporting period until vested using the Black-Scholes option pricing model that uses the assumptions noted in the following table. The Company uses historical data, as well as subsequent events occurring prior to the issuance of the financial statements, to estimate option exercises and employee terminations in order to estimate its forfeiture rate. The expected term of options granted under the 2014 Plan, all of which qualify as “plain vanilla” per SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin 107, is determined based on the simplified method due to the Company’s limited operating history, and is 6.25 years based on the average between the vesting period and the contractual life of the option. For non-employee options, the expected term is the contractual term. The risk-free rate is based on the yield of a U.S. Treasury security with a term consistent with the option.

 

The weighted average assumptions used principally in determining the fair value of options granted to employees were as follows:

 

   Six Months Ended June 30, 
   2018   2017 
Risk free interest rate   2.40%   1.95%
Expected dividend yield   0%   0%
Expected term in years   6.25    6.25 
Expected volatility   87.9%   84.9%

 

A summary of option activity for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and is presented below:

 

Options  Shares   Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
  

Weighted
Average
Remaining

Contractual
Term in
Years

   Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
 
Outstanding at December 31, 2017   7,844,966   $3.75           
Granted   1,988,500    7.82           
Exercised   (89,069)   3.40           
Forfeited   (275,406)   7.78           
Outstanding at June 30, 2018   9,468,991   $4.49    3.41   $18,702,009 
Vested at June 30, 2018   5,362,440   $2.58    2.07   $16,383,991 

 

The weighted average grant-date fair value of options granted during the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 was $5.82 and $6.27 per share, respectively. The aggregate intrinsic value of options exercised during the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 was approximately $320,541 and $1,929,499, respectively. The total fair value of options that were vested as of June 30, 2018 and 2017 was $11,075,357 and $4,326,038, respectively. As of June 30, 2018, there was approximately $18,072,652 of total unrecognized compensation expense, related to non-vested share-based option compensation arrangements. The unrecognized compensation expense is estimated to be recognized over a period of 2.88 years as of June 30, 2018.

 

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11. WARRANTS

 

No warrants were exercised during the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

 

At June 30, 2018, there were warrants outstanding to purchase 2,288,500 shares of common stock with a weighted average exercise price of $6.33 and a weighted average remaining life of 3.39 years, including the warrant issued to CFF pursuant to the terms of the Investment Agreement (Note 8). The Company issued a warrant to CFF to purchase an aggregate of 1,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock (the “CFF Warrant”). The CFF Warrant is exercisable at a price equal to $13.20 per share and is immediately exercisable for 500,000 shares of the Company’s common stock. Upon completion of the final milestone set forth in the Investment Agreement and receipt of the final payment from CFF to the Company pursuant to the Investment Agreement, the CFF Warrant will be exercisable for the remaining 500,000 shares of the Company’s common stock. The CFF Warrant expires on January 26, 2025. Any shares of the Company’s common stock issued upon exercise of the CFF Warrant will be unregistered and subject to a one-year lock-up. The CFF Warrant is classified as equity as it meets all the conditions under GAAP for equity classification. In accordance with GAAP, the Company has calculated the fair value of the warrant for initial measurement and will reassess whether equity classification for the warrant is appropriate upon any changes to the warrants or capital structure, at each balance sheet date. The weighted average assumptions used in determining the $6,215,225 fair value of the CFF Warrant were as follows:

 

Risk free interest rate   2.60%
Expected dividend yield   0%
Expected term in years   7.00 
Expected volatility   83.5%

 

12. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

 

On September 20, 2016, the Company entered into a consulting agreement (the “2016 Consulting Agreement”) with Orchestra Medical Ventures, LLC (“Orchestra”), of which a member of our Board of Directors, David Hochman, is Managing Partner. Under this agreement, Orchestra rendered a variety of consulting and advisory services relating principally to identifying and evaluating strategic relationships, licensing opportunities, and business strategies. The term of the 2016 Consulting Agreement commenced on September 20, 2016 and expired on March 20, 2017. Pursuant to the terms of the 2016 Consulting Agreement, the Company paid to Orchestra cash compensation in an aggregate amount of $100,000, of which $50,000 was expensed in the first half of 2017. In connection with this agreement, the Company granted an equity incentive award to Mr. Hochman consisting of options to purchase 50,000 shares (“Option Shares”) of common stock (the “Option Award”) pursuant to the Company’s 2014 Equity Compensation Plan, of which fifty percent (50%) vested on the three (3) month anniversary of the date of grant of the Option Award and the remainder of the Option Shares vested on the six (6) month anniversary of the date of grant of the Option Award. The Option Shares were granted with an exercise price of $7.14 per share. The Company recorded stock-based compensation expense of approximately $222,000 during the year ended December 31, 2016 and $171,000 during the first quarter of 2017 in respect of the Option Award. No stock-based compensation expense was recorded after the first quarter of 2017 related to the Option Shares as they were fully vested in March 2017.

 

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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 together with our financial statements and the related notes and the other financial information included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those discussed below and elsewhere in this Quarterly Report, particularly those under “Risk Factors.”

 

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 under Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements include statements with respect to our beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, expectations, anticipations, assumptions, estimates, intentions and future performance, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may be beyond our control, and which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be forward-looking statements. You can identify these forward-looking statements through our use of words such as “may,” “can,” “anticipate,” “assume,” “should,” “indicate,” “would,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “expect,” “seek,” “estimate,” “continue,” “plan,” “point to,” “project,” “predict,” “could,” “intend,” “target,” “potential” and other similar words and expressions of the future.

 

There are a number of important factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statement made by us. These factors include, but are not limited to:

 

  our lack of operating history and history of operating losses;
     
  our current and future capital requirements and our ability to satisfy our capital needs;
     
  our ability to complete required clinical trials of our product and obtain approval from the FDA or other regulatory agents in different jurisdictions;
     
  our ability to maintain or protect the validity of our patents and other intellectual property;
     
  our ability to retain key executive members;
     
  our ability to internally develop new inventions and intellectual property;
     
  interpretations of current laws and the passages of future laws;
     
  acceptance of our business model by investors;
     
  the accuracy of our estimates regarding expenses and capital requirements; and
     
  our ability to adequately support growth.

 

The foregoing does not represent an exhaustive list of matters that may be covered by the forward-looking statements contained herein or risk factors that we are faced with that may cause our actual results to differ from those anticipate in our forward-looking statements. Please see “Risk Factors” for additional risks which could adversely impact our business and financial performance.

 

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All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary notice. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this report or the date of the document incorporated by reference into this report. We have no obligation, and expressly disclaim any obligation, to update, revise or correct any of the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. We have expressed our expectations, beliefs and projections in good faith and we believe they have a reasonable basis. However, we cannot assure you that our expectations, beliefs or projections will result or be achieved or accomplished.

 

Overview

 

We are a Phase 3, clinical stage pharmaceutical company, focused on the development and commercialization of novel therapeutics to treat rare, chronic and serious inflammatory and fibrotic diseases with clear unmet medical needs. Our product lenabasum is a novel synthetic, oral, endocannabinoid-mimetic drug designed to resolve chronic inflammation and halt fibrotic processes without causing immunosuppression. We are currently developing lenabasum to treat four life-threatening diseases: systemic sclerosis (SSc), cystic fibrosis (CF), dermatomyositis (DM) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

 

Lenabasum is a synthetic, rationally-designed oral small-molecule drug that selectively binds to the cannabinoid receptor type 2, or CB2, found on activated immune cells, fibroblasts and other cell types including muscle and bone cells. Lenabasum stimulates the production of Specialized Pro-Resolving Lipid Mediators (SPMs) that act to resolve inflammation and halt fibrosis by activating endogenous pathways. These pathways are activated in healthy individuals during the course of normal immune responses but are dysfunctional in patients with chronic inflammatory and fibrotic diseases. By its binding to CB2, lenabasum drives innate immune responses from the activation phase into the resolution phase. CB2 plays a central role in modulating and resolving inflammation by, in effect, turning heightened inflammation “off” and restoring homeostasis. This has been demonstrated in animal models lacking CB2 as well as humans with genetic polymorphism in the CB2 gene, as these exhibit excessive inflammation and fibrosis in response to activators of the innate immune system.

 

Lenabasum has generated positive clinical data in three consecutive Phase 2 studies in diffuse cutaneous SSc, CF and skin-predominant DM. Lenabasum is currently being evaluated in a Phase 3 SSc study that is expected to enroll 354 patients, a Phase 3 DM study that is expected to commence at the end of 2018 and to enroll 150 patients, a Phase 2b CF study that is expected to enroll 415 patients (that is being supported by a development award for up to $25 million in funding (the “2018 CFF Award”) from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (“CFF”)), and a Phase 2 SLE study that is expected to enroll 100 patients and is being funded by a grant through the National Institutes of Health (“NIH”) grant. Open-label extension studies are ongoing in SSc and DM following the completion of the Phase 2 studies in these indications.

 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or the FDA, has granted lenabasum Orphan Designation as well as Fast Track Status for SSc and CF, and Orphan Drug Designation for DM. The European Medicines Authority, or the EMA, has granted lenabasum Orphan Designation for SSc and CF.

 

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Since our inception, we have devoted substantially all of our efforts to business planning, research and development, recruiting management and technical staff, acquiring operating assets and raising capital. Our research and development activities have included conducting pre-clinical studies, developing manufacturing methods and the manufacturing of our drug lenabasum for clinical trials and conducting clinical studies in patients. Two of the four clinical programs for lenabasum are being supported by non-dilutive awards and grants. The National Institutes of Health, or NIH, has funded the majority of the clinical development costs for the DM Phase 2 clinical trial and is funding the SLE Phase 2 clinical trials. In cystic fibrosis, the Phase 2b clinical trial is being supported by the 2018 CFF Award and the Phase 2 clinical trial was partially funded by a $5 million award (the “2015 CFFT Award Agreement”) from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutics, Inc., or CFFT, a non-profit drug discovery and development affiliate of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

 

Financial Operations Overview

 

We are a clinical stage pharmaceutical company and have not generated any revenues from the sale of products. We have never been profitable and at June 30, 2018, we had an accumulated deficit of approximately $89,463,000. Our net losses for the three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 were approximately $12,069,000 and $7,297,000, respectively and for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 our net losses were approximately $23,765,000 and $14,762,000, respectively. We expect to continue to incur significant expenses and increasing operating losses for the foreseeable future. We expect our expenses to increase significantly in connection with our ongoing activities to develop, seek regulatory approval of and commercialize lenabasum. Accordingly, we will need additional financing to support our continuing operations. We will seek to fund our operations through public or private equity or debt financings or other sources, which may include government grants and collaborations with third parties. Adequate additional financing may not be available to us on acceptable terms, or at all. Our failure to raise capital as and when needed would have a negative impact on our financial condition and our ability to pursue our business strategy. We will need to generate significant revenues to achieve profitability, and we may never do so.

 

We expect to continue to incur significant expenses and increasing operating losses for at least the next several years. We expect our expenses will increase substantially in the remainder of 2018 and in the future in connection with our ongoing activities, as we:

 

  conduct clinical trials for lenabasum in scleroderma, cystic fibrosis, systemic lupus erythematosus and other indications;
     
  continue our research and development efforts;
     
  manufacture clinical study materials and develop commercial scale manufacturing capabilities;
     
  seek regulatory approval for our product candidates;
     
  add personnel to support development of our product candidates; and
     
  operate as a public company

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

Our condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The preparation of these financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.

 

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On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates and judgments for all assets and liabilities, including those related to stock-based compensation expense. We base our estimates and judgments on historical experience, current economic and industry conditions and on various other factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. This forms the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

 

Revenue Recognition

 

In May 2014, the FASB issued guidance codified in Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 606, Revenue Recognition — Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC 606”) which amends the guidance in former ASC 605, Revenue Recognition (“ASC 605”), and is effective for public companies for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Specifically, the new standard differs from ASC 605 in many respects, such as in the accounting for variable consideration received, including milestone payments or contingent payments. Under our accounting policy prior to the adoption of ASC 606 in the first quarter of 2018, milestone payments were initially recognized only in the period that the payment-triggering event occurred or was achieved. ASC 606, however, may require a company to recognize such payments before the payment-triggering event is completely achieved based on the company’s estimate of the amount of consideration to which it will be entitled in exchange for transferring the services, subject to management’s assessment of whether it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur when the uncertainty associated with the variable consideration is subsequently resolved.

 

We adopted ASC 606 in the first quarter of 2018 using the modified retrospective method according to which the cumulative effect of initially applying ASC 606 is recognized at the date of initial application, and elected to utilize a practical expedient and did not restate contracts that were completed as of the date of adoption. Since we have concluded our performance obligations and have completed recognizing revenue under the 2015 CFFT Award discussed in the third quarter of 2017, there was no cumulative effect to record at the date of the our adoption of ASC 606 and no revenue to recognize for the first quarter of 2018 related to the 2015 CFFT Award. Revenue for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 was $853,646 and $1,804,088, respectively, recognized in accordance with ASC 606 and pertains only to the 2018 CFF Award.

 

We will assess any new agreements we enter into under ASC 606, including whether such agreements fall under the scope of such standard. This standard applies to all contracts with customers, except for contracts that are within the scope of other standards, such as leases, insurance, collaboration arrangements and financial instruments. Under ASC 606, an entity recognizes revenue when its customer obtains control of promised goods or services, in an amount that reflects the consideration which the entity expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. To determine revenue recognition for arrangements that an entity determines are within the scope of ASC 606, the entity performs the following five steps: (i) identify the contract(s) with a customer; (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (iii) determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (v) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation. The five-step model is applied to contracts when it is probable that the entity will collect the consideration it is entitled to in exchange for the goods or services it transfers to the customer. At contract inception, once the contract is determined to be within the scope of ASC 606, we assess the goods or services promised within each contract and determine those that are performance obligations, and assess whether each promised good or service is distinct. We then recognize as revenue the amount of the transaction price that is allocated to the respective performance obligation when (or as) the performance obligation is satisfied.

 

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Revenue associated with the performance obligation is being recognized as revenue as the research and development services are provided using an input method, according to the costs incurred as related to the research and development activities and the costs expected to be incurred in the future to satisfy the performance obligation. The transfer of control occurs over this time period and, in management’s judgment, is the best measure of progress towards satisfying the performance obligation. The research and development services related to this performance obligation are expected to be performed over an approximately two and a half-year period expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2020. Amounts received prior to revenue recognition are recorded as deferred revenue. Amounts expected to be recognized as revenue within the 12 months following the balance sheet date are classified as current portion of deferred revenue in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Amounts not expected to be recognized as revenue within the 12 months following the balance sheet date are classified as deferred revenue, net of current portion. Amounts recognized as revenue, but not yet received or invoiced are generally recognized as contract assets.

 

We believe that full consideration has been given to all relevant circumstances that we may be subject to, and the consolidated financial statements accurately reflect our best estimate of the results of operations, financial position and cash flows for the periods presented.

 

Results of Operations

 

Comparison of Three Months Ended June 30, 2018 and 2017

 

Revenue

 

To date, we have not generated any revenues from the sales of products. We do not expect to generate revenue from product sales unless and until we successfully complete development and obtain regulatory approval for the marketing of lenabasum, which we expect will take a number of years and is subject to significant uncertainty.

 

We have recognized $853,646 and $350,186 of revenue in the three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Amounts recognized in revenue in 2017 were related to an award agreement (the “2015 CFFT Award Agreement) we entered into in fiscal 2015 with the CFFT, pursuant to which we received a development award (the “2015 CFFT Award”) for up to $5 million in funding. We received a total of $5 million in payments under the 2015 CFFT Award. The payments received under the 2015 CFFT Award were recorded as deferred revenue when the triggering event to receive those amounts occurred and were amortized on a straight-line basis over the expected duration of the remaining performance period under the 2015 CFFT Award, which concluded in the third quarter of 2017.

 

Amounts recognized in revenue for the three months ended June 30, 2018 were in connection with the our entry on January 26, 2018 into the Cystic Fibrosis Program Related Investment Agreement (“Investment Agreement) with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (“CFF”), a non-profit drug discovery and development corporation, pursuant to which we received a development award for up to $25 million in funding (the “2018 CFF Award”) to support a Phase 2b Clinical Trial (the “Phase 2b Clinical Trial”) of lenabasum in patients with cystic fibrosis of which we received an aggregate $12.5 million in the first half of 2018 upon our achievement of a milestones related to the progress of the Phase 2b Clinical Trial, as set forth in the Investment Agreement. The remainder of the 2018 CFF Award is payable to us incrementally upon the achievement of the remaining milestones related to the progress of the Phase 2b Clinical Trial, as set forth in the Investment Agreement.

 

We assessed the 2018 CFF Award for accounting under ASC 606, which we adopted in the first quarter of 2018. To determine revenue recognition for arrangements that an entity determines are within the scope of ASC 606, the entity performs the following five steps: (i) identify the contract(s) with a customer; (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (iii) determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (v) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation.

 

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Research and Development Expenses

 

Research and development expenses are incurred for the development of lenabasum and consist primarily of payroll and payments to contract research and development companies. To date, these costs are related to generating pre-clinical data and the cost of manufacturing lenabasum for clinical trials and conducting clinical trials. These costs are expected to increase significantly in the future as lenabasum is continued to be evaluated in additional later stage clinical trials.

 

Research and development expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2018 totaled approximately $10,260,000, an increase of approximately $4,496,000 over the $5,764,000 recorded for the three months ended June 30, 2017. The increase was primarily attributable to increases of $3,392,000 in clinical trial costs, $936,000 in compensation costs, and $168,000 in stock-based compensation expense.

 

General and Administrative Expenses

 

General and administrative expenses consist primarily of payroll, rent and professional services such as accounting and legal services. We anticipate that our general and administrative expenses will increase significantly during the remainder of 2018 and in the future as we increase our headcount to support our continued research and development and the potential commercialization of our product candidates. We also anticipate increased expenses related to audit, legal, and tax-related services associated with maintaining compliance with NASDAQ exchange listing and SEC requirements, director and officer insurance, and investor relations costs associated with being a public company.

 

General and administrative expense for the three months ended June 30, 2018 totaled approximately $2,988,000, an increase of approximately $1,110,000 over the $1,878,000 recorded for the three months ended June 30, 2017. The increase was primarily attributable to increases of approximately $501,000 in compensation costs, $349,000 in stock-based compensation expense, $206,000 in legal costs, and $103,000 in consulting expense, partially offset by an aggregate net decrease of approximately $49,000 for other general and administrative expenses.

 

Other Income, Net

 

Other income, net consists primarily of interest income we earn on interest-bearing accounts, interest expense incurred on our outstanding debt, and realized and unrealized foreign currency exchange gains and losses.

 

Other income, net for the three months ended June 30, 2018 totaled approximately $324,000, as compared to other expense, net for the three months ended June 30, 2017 of approximately $5,000, and was primarily attributable to an increase in net interest income of approximately $261,000 due to increased cash balances in the first half of 2018 as compared to the first half of 2017, plus increases in foreign currency exchange transaction gains of approximately $69,000.

 

Comparison of Six Months Ended June 30, 2018 and 2017

 

Revenue

 

We have recognized $1,804,088 and $1,643,883 of revenue in the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Amounts recognized in revenue in 2017 were related to the 2015 CFFT Award. We received a total of $5 million in payments under the 2015 CFFT Award. The payments received under the 2015 CFFT Award were recorded as deferred revenue when the triggering event to receive those amounts occurred and were amortized on a straight-line basis over the expected duration of the remaining performance period under the 2015 CFFT Award, which concluded in the third quarter of 2017.

 

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Amounts recognized in revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2018 were in connection with the 2018 CFF Award. We received an aggregate of $12.5 million in the first half of 2018 upon our achievement of a milestones related to the progress of the Phase 2b Clinical Trial, as set forth in the Investment Agreement. The remainder of the 2018 CFF Award is payable to us incrementally upon the achievement of the remaining milestones related to the progress of the Phase 2b Clinical Trial, as set forth in the Investment Agreement. We assessed the 2018 CFF Award for accounting under ASC 606, which we adopted in the first quarter of 2018. To determine revenue recognition for arrangements that an entity determines are within the scope of ASC 606, the entity performs the following five steps: (i) identify the contract(s) with a customer; (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (iii) determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (v) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation.

 

Research and Development Expenses

 

Research and development expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2018 totaled approximately $20,025,000, an increase of approximately $7,895,000 over the $12,130,000 recorded for the six months ended June 30, 2017. The increase was primarily attributable to increases of $5,501,000 in clinical trial costs, $1,797,000 in compensation costs, and $597,000 in stock-based compensation expense.

 

General and Administrative Expenses

 

General and administrative expense for the six months ended June 30, 2018 totaled approximately $6,038,000, an increase of approximately $1,780,000 over the $4,258,000 recorded for the six months ended June 30, 2017. The increase was primarily attributable to increases of approximately $849,000 in compensation costs, $361,000 in consulting expense, $225,000 in legal costs, $222,000 in stock-based compensation expense and an aggregate net increase of approximately$123,000 for other general and administrative expenses.

 

Other Income, Net

 

Other income, net for the six months ended June 30, 2018 totaled approximately $494,000, as compared to other expense, net for the six months ended June 30, 2017 of approximately $18,000, and was primarily attributable to an increase in net interest income of approximately $463,000 due to increased cash balances in the first half of 2018 as compared to the first half of 2017, offset partially by increases in foreign currency exchange transaction losses of approximately $49,000.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Since inception, we have experienced negative cash flows from operations. We have financed our operations primarily through sales of equity-related securities. In addition, the majority of the costs of the Phase 2 DM and SLE clinical trials have been or are expected to be funded by NIH grants, and our Phase 2 cystic fibrosis clinical trial was partially funded by the 2015 CFFT Award. Our Phase 2b cystic fibrosis trial is being supported by the 2018 CFF Award. At June 30, 2018, our accumulated deficit since inception was approximately $89,463,000.

 

At June 30, 2018, we had total current assets of approximately $67,553,000 and total current liabilities of approximately $13,450,000, resulting in working capital of approximately $54,103,000. Of our total cash and cash equivalents of $64.7 million at June 30, 2018, $63.4 million was held within the United States.

 

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Net cash used in operating activities for the six months ended June 30, 2018 was approximately $7,156,000, which includes a net loss of approximately $23,765,000, adjusted for non-cash expenses of approximately $4,311,000 largely related to stock-based compensation expense, and approximately $12,297,000 of cash provided by net working capital items principally related to the receipt of $12,500,000 under the 2018 CFF Award during the first half of 2018 and increases in accounts payable and accrued expenses.

 

Cash used in investing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2018 totaled approximately $1,945,000, which was largely related to the construction costs and purchases of furniture and fixtures for our office space that we began occupying in February 2018.

 

Cash provided by financing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2018 totaled approximately $11,081,000. On January 5, 2018, we entered into a Controlled Equity OfferingSM Sales Agreement (“January 2018 Sales Agreement”) with Cantor Fitzgerald pursuant to which Cantor Fitzgerald is serving as our sales agent to sell up to $50 million of shares of our common stock through an “at the market offering,” of which we sold 1,500,000 shares for net proceeds of approximately $11.2 million in the first quarter of 2018. We did not sell any shares under the January 2018 Sales Agreement in the second quarter of 2018.

 

During the six months ended June 30, 2018, we issued 89,069 shares of common stock upon the exercise of stock options to purchase common stock and we received proceeds of $303,266 from these exercises. Cash provided by financing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2018 included principal payments on notes payable of approximately $249,000 in connection with our loan agreement with a financing company. The terms of the loan that we entered into in November 2017 stipulate equal monthly payments of principal and interest payments of $41,975 over a ten-month period. Interest accrues on this loan at an annual rate of 2.35%.

 

We expect our cash and cash equivalents of approximately $64.7 million at June 30, 2018 and the up to $25 million of proceeds that we expect to receive under the 2018 CFF Award, of which we have received $12.5 million to date through June 30, 2018 related to the progress of the Phase 2b Clinical Trial, as set forth in the Investment Agreement, to be sufficient to meet our operating and capital requirements into the fourth quarter of 2019, based on current planned expenditures. The remainder of the up to $25 million 2018 CFF Award is payable to us incrementally upon the achievement of the remaining milestones related to the progress of the Phase 2b Clinical Trial, as set forth in the Investment Agreement.

 

We will need to raise significant additional capital to continue to fund operations and the clinical trials for lenabasum.

 

We may seek to sell common stock, including sales under our January 2018 Sales Agreement, preferred stock or convertible debt securities, enter into a credit facility or another form of third-party funding or seek other debt financing. In addition, we may seek to raise cash through collaborative agreements or from government grants. The sale of equity and convertible debt securities may result in dilution to our stockholders and certain of those securities may have rights senior to those of our common shares. If we raise additional funds through the issuance of preferred stock, convertible debt securities or other debt financing, these securities or other debt could contain covenants that would restrict our operations. Any other third-party funding arrangement could require us to relinquish valuable rights.

 

The source, timing and availability of any future financing will depend principally upon market conditions, and, more specifically, on the progress of our clinical development programs. Funding may not be available when needed, at all, or on terms acceptable to us. Lack of necessary funds may require us, among other things, to delay, scale back or eliminate expenses including some or all of our planned clinical trials.

 

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Contractual Obligations and Commitments

 

The following table presents information about our known contractual obligations as of June 30, 2018. It does not reflect contractual obligations that may have arisen or may arise after that date. Except for historical facts, the information in this section is forward-looking information.

 

   Payments due by period 
Contractual Obligations  Total   Remainder of
Fiscal 2018
   Fiscal
2019-2020
   Fiscal
2021-2022
   After
Fiscal 2022
 
Operating lease obligations (1)  $5,264,290   $235,000   $1,408,201   $1,685,750   $1,935,339 
Capital lease obligations (2)   2,650    2,271    379         
Total  $5,266,940   $237,271   $1,408,580   $1,685,750   $1,935,339 

 

  (1) On August 21, 2017, we entered into a lease agreement (“the August 2017 Lease Agreement”) with the initial term of a period of seven years which commenced in February 2018. The base rent pursuant to the August 2017 Lease Agreement ranges from approximately $470,000 for the first year to approximately $908,000 for the seventh year. The September 2016 Amendment was terminated upon the commencement date of the August 2017 Lease Agreement. Additionally, the August 2017 Lease Agreement required us to provide a standby irrevocable letter of credit of $400,000, which may be reduced, if we are not in default under the August 2017 Lease Agreement, to $300,000 and $200,000 on the third and fourth anniversary of the commencement date, respectively, We entered into an unsecured letter of credit with a commercial bank for $400,000 in connection with the August 2017 Lease Agreement.
     
  (2) On December 30, 2015, we entered into a lease agreement for a copier machine. The machine was placed in service in January 2016. The lease is for a three-year term and includes a bargain purchase option at the end of the term.

 

We may enter into contracts in the normal course of business with clinical research organizations for clinical trials and clinical supply manufacturing and with vendors for pre-clinical research studies, research supplies and other services and products for operating purposes. These contracts generally provide for termination on notice, and therefore, we believe that our non-cancelable obligations under these agreements are not material. As of June 30, 2018, other than the items in the table above, we had no material contractual obligations or commitments that will affect our future liquidity.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

We do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on our financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources that is material to investors, other than future royalty payments under development award agreements discussed as follows:

 

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2015 CFFT Award

 

Pursuant to the terms of the 2015 CFFT Award agreement, we are obligated to make royalty payments to CFFT contingent upon commercialization of lenabasum in the Field of Use (as defined in the 2015 CFFT Award Agreement) as follows: (i) a royalty payment equal to five times the amount we receive under the 2015 CFFT Award Agreement, up to $25 million, payable in three equal annual installments following the first commercial sale of lenabasum, the first of which is due within 90 days following the first commercial sale of lenabasum, (ii) a royalty payment to CFFT equal to the amount we receive under the 2015 CFFT Award Agreement, up to $5 million, due in the first calendar year in which the aggregate cumulative net sales of lenabasum in the Field of Use exceed $500 million, and (iii) royalty payment(s) to CFFT of up to approximately $15 million if we transfer, sell or license lenabasum in the Field of Use other than for certain clinical or development purposes, or if we enter into a change of control transaction, with such payment(s) to be credited against the royalty payments due upon commercialization. The Field of Use is defined in the CFFT Award Agreement as the treatment in humans of CF, asbestosis, bronchiectasis, byssinosis, chronic bronchitis/COPD hypersensitivity pneumonitis, pneumoconiosis, primary ciliary dyskinesis, sarcoidosis and silicosis. Either CFFT or we may terminate the 2015 CFFT Award Agreement for cause, which includes our material failure to achieve certain commercialization and development milestones. Our payment obligations, if any, would survive the termination of the 2015 CFFT Award Agreement.

 

2018 CFF Award

 

Pursuant to the terms of the Investment Agreement, we are obligated to make certain royalty payments to CFF, including a royalty payment of one and one-half times the amount of the 2018 CFF Award, payable in cash within sixty days upon the first receipt of approval of lenabasum in the United States and a second royalty payment of one and one-half times the amount of the 2018 CFF Award upon approval in another major market, as set forth in the Investment Agreement (the “Approval Royalty”). At our election, we may satisfy the first of the two Approval Royalties in registered shares of our common stock.

 

Additionally, we are obligated to make (i) royalty payments to CFF of two and one-half percent of net sales from lenabasum due within sixty days after any quarter in which such net sales occur in the Field, as defined in the Investment Agreement, (ii) royalty payments to CFF of one percent of net sales of Non-Field Products, as defined in the Investment Agreement due within sixty days after any quarter in which such net sales occur, and (iii) royalty payments to CFF of ten percent of any amount that we and our stockholders receive in connection with the license, sale, or other transfer to a third party of lenabasum, if indicated for the treatment or prevention of CF, or a change of control transaction, except that such payment shall not exceed five times the amount of the 2018 CFF Award, with such payments to be credited against any other net sales royalty payments due. Either CFF or we may terminate the Investment Agreement for cause, which includes our material failure to achieve certain commercialization and development milestones. Our payment obligations survive the termination of the Investment Agreement.

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

 

Our exposure to market risk is limited to our cash and cash equivalents, all of which have maturities of three months or less. The primary objectives of our investment activities are to preserve principal, provide liquidity and maximize income without significantly increasing risk. Our primary exposure to market risk is interest income sensitivity, which is affected by changes in the general level of U.S. interest rates. However, because of the short-term nature of the instruments in our portfolio, a sudden change in market interest rates would not be expected to have a material impact on our financial condition and/or results of operation. We do not have other derivative financial instruments.

 

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Foreign Exchange Risk

 

The majority of our operations are based in the United States and, accordingly our transactions are denominated in U.S. Dollars. However, we have foreign currency exposures related to our cash valued in the United Kingdom in British Pounds because our functional currency is the U.S. Dollar in our foreign-based subsidiaries. Our foreign denominated assets and liabilities are remeasured each reporting period with any exchange gains and losses recorded in our consolidated statements of operations.

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures.

 

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

Evaluation of Our Disclosure Controls

 

Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act, as amended) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report were effective in ensuring that information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and that the information required to be disclosed by us in such reports is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

Evaluation of Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

There was no change in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act) that occurred during the period to which this report relates that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting. Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risks that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. From time to time, we make changes to our internal control over financial reporting that are intended to enhance its effectiveness and which do not have a material effect on our overall internal control over financial reporting.

 

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PART II — OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings.

 

None.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors.

 

There have been no material changes in risk factors from what was reported in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed for the quarter ended March 31, 2018.

 

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.

 

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Item 6. Exhibits.

 

Exhibit

No.

  Description
     
10.1   Amended and Restated Employment Agreement between Corbus Pharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc. and Yuval Cohen, dated April 11, 2018 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 13, 2018).
     
10.2   Amended and Restated Employment Agreement between Corbus Pharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc. and Mark Tepper, dated April 11, 2018 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 13, 2018).
     
10.3   Amended and Restated Employment Agreement between Corbus Pharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc. and Barbara White, dated April 11, 2018 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 13, 2018).
     
10.4   Amended and Restated Employment Agreement between Corbus Pharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc. and Sean Moran, dated April 11, 2018 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 13, 2018).
     
31.1   Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a).*
     
31.2   Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a).*
     
32.1   Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) or Rule 15d-14(b).**
     
32.2   Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) or Rule 15d-14(b).**
     
101.INS   XBRL Instance Document.*
     
101.SCH   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.*
     
101.CAL   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.*
     
101.DEF   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.*
     
101.LAB   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.*
     
101.PRE   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.*

 

* Filed herewith.
** Furnished, not filed.

 

 34 
 

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit

No.

  Description
     
10.1   Amended and Restated Employment Agreement between Corbus Pharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc. and Yuval Cohen, dated April 11, 2018 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 13, 2018).
     
10.2   Amended and Restated Employment Agreement between Corbus Pharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc. and Mark Tepper, dated April 11, 2018 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 13, 2018).
     
10.3   Amended and Restated Employment Agreement between Corbus Pharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc. and Barbara White, dated April 11, 2018 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 13, 2018).
     
10.4   Amended and Restated Employment Agreement between Corbus Pharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc. and Sean Moran, dated April 11, 2018 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 13, 2018).
     
31.1   Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a).*
     
31.2   Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a).*
     
32.1   Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) or Rule 15d-14(b).**
     
32.2   Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) or Rule 15d-14(b).**
     
101.INS   XBRL Instance Document.*
     
101.SCH   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.*
     
101.CAL   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.*
     
101.DEF   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.*
     
101.LAB   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.*
     
101.PRE   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.*

 

* Filed herewith.
** Furnished, not filed.

 

 35 
 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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.

 

  Corbus Pharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc.
   
Date: August 8, 2018 By: /s/ Yuval Cohen
  Name:  Yuval Cohen
  Title: Chief Executive Officer
    (Principal Executive Officer)
     
Date: August 8, 2018 By: /s/ Sean Moran
  Name: Sean Moran
  Title: Chief Financial Officer
    (Principal Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer)

 

 36