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FENNEC PHARMACEUTICALS INC. - Annual Report: 2007 (Form 10-K)

Form 10-K
Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-K

 

 

(Mark One)

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

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007

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: 001-32295

 

 

ADHEREX TECHNOLOGIES INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

 

 

Canada   20-0442384

(State or Other Jurisdiction of

Incorporation or Organization

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

4620 Creekstone Drive, Suite 200

Research Triangle Park

Durham, North Carolina

  27703
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

(919) 484-8484

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of Each Class

 

Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered

Common Stock, no par value   The American Stock Exchange

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

 

 

Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    YES  ¨    NO  x

Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.    YES  ¨    NO  x

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 if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of Registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  x

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

 

Large accelerated filer  ¨

   Accelerated filer  ¨    Non-accelerated filer  x    Smaller reporting company  ¨

(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

Indicated by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    YES  ¨    NO  x

The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrant, computed by reference to the closing sales price of the Common Shares as reported by The American Stock Exchange on June 30, 2007, (the last business day of the Registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter) was $45,226,358 based upon a total of 83,752,514 shares held as of June 30, 2007 by persons believed to be non-affiliates of the Registrant. (For purposes of this calculation, all of the Registrant’s officers, directors and 10% owners known to the Company are deemed to be affiliates of the Registrant.)

As of March 17, 2008, there were 128,226,787 shares of common stock outstanding.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the Registrant’s definitive Proxy Statement to be filed for its 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders currently scheduled to be held May 14, 2008 are incorporated into Part III of this report.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

ADHEREX TECHNOLOGIES INC.

2007 FORM 10-K ANNUAL REPORT

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

        

Page

PART I

    

Item 1.

  Business    1

Item 1A.

  Risk Factors    8

Item 1B.

  Unresolved Staff Comments    15

Item 2.

  Properties    15

Item 3.

  Legal Proceedings    15

Item 4.

  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders    15

PART II

    

Item 5.

  Market for the Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuers Purchases of Equity Securities    17

Item 6.

  Selected Financial Data    21

Item 7.

  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations    22

Item 7A.

  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk    30

Item 8.

  Financial Statements and Supplementary Data    30

Item 9.

  Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure    30

Item 9A.

  Controls and Procedures    30

Item 9B.

  Other Information    30

PART III

    

Item 10.

  Directors, Executives Officers and Corporate Governance    31

Item 11.

  Executive Compensation    31

Item 12.

  Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters    31

Item 13.

  Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence    31

Item 14.

  Principal Accounting Fees and Services    32

PART IV

    

Item 15.

  Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules    32

SIGNATURES

     35


Table of Contents

NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements that involve significant risks and uncertainties. Our actual results, performance or achievements may be materially different from any results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “could,” “estimate,” “project,” “plan,” and other similar words are one way to identify such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this Annual Report include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to (1) our anticipated commencement dates, completion dates and results of clinical trials; (2) our anticipated progress and costs of our clinical and preclinical research and development programs; (3) our corporate and development strategies; (4) our expected results of operations; (5) our anticipated levels of expenditures; (6) our ability to protect our intellectual property; (7i) the anticipated applications and efficacy of our drug candidates; (8) our ability to attract and retain key employees; (9) our efforts to pursue collaborations with the government, industry groups or other companies; (10) the nature and scope of potential markets for our drug candidates and (11) our anticipated sources and uses of cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included in this Annual Report that address activities, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. We include forward-looking statements because we believe that it is important to communicate our expectations to our investors. However, all forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations of future events and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including those discussed below in Item 1.A., “Risk Factors.” Although we believe the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, we can give no assurance that our expectations will be attained, and we caution you not to place undue reliance on such statements.

 

Item 1. Business.

Overview

We are a biopharmaceutical company focused on cancer therapeutics with preclinical and clinical product candidates. The following product candidates are in the clinical stage of development:

 

   

Eniluracil is a dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (“DPD”) inhibitor that was previously under development by GSK for the treatment of cancer. We are developing eniluracil to enhance the therapeutic value and effectiveness of 5-fluorouracil, or 5-FU, one of the world’s most widely used oncology agents. 5-FU is currently used as first or second-line therapy for a variety of cancers, including colorectal, breast, gastric, head and neck, ovarian, and basal cell cancer of the skin, among others. We are currently focused on the development of eniluracil for the treatment of liver cancer and breast cancer.

 

   

ADH-1 is an anti-cancer drug that selectively targets N-cadherin present on certain tumor cells and the established blood vessels that supply tumors. ADH-1 is currently in a clinical development program in combination with various chemotherapy agents. We are currently focused on the development of ADH-1 for the treatment of melanoma and solid tumors such as ovarian and lung cancers.

 

   

STS is a chemoprotectant that has been shown in Phase I and Phase II clinical studies conducted by investigators at Oregon Health & Science University, or OHSU, to reduce the disabling loss of hearing in both adults and children treated with platinum-based anti-cancer agents. In October 2007, we announced that our collaborative partner, the International Childhood Liver Tumour Strategy Group (known as SIOPEL), a multi-disciplinary group of specialists under the umbrella of the International Society of Pediatric Oncology, launched a randomized Phase III trial to investigate whether STS can reduce the hearing loss in children receiving cisplatin. The study opened initially in the United Kingdom and will include additional SIOPEL centers in up to 33 countries. Under the terms of our agreement, SIOPEL will conduct and fund the clinical activity and we will provide drug and drug distribution for the study. On March 26, 2008, we announced the activation of a Phase III trial with STS to prevent hearing loss in children receiving cisplatin-based chemotherapy in collaboration with the Children’s Oncology Group, or COG. This multi-centered Phase III study is expected to enroll up to 120 patients over approximately three years in up to 230 COG centers in the United States, Canada, Australia and Europe.

Our preclinical portfolio includes: (i) backup peptides and small chemical molecule successors to ADH-1; (ii) peptides and small molecules targeted to inhibiting the metastatic spread of some cancers; and (iii) peptides that combine both angiolytic and antiangiogenic properties. We have synthesized small chemical molecules and peptide antagonists and agonists for a wide array of cadherin adhesion molecules, with drug candidates available to move into future clinical development, particularly in the following areas:

 

   

Peptide N-cadherin antagonists: We have identified small peptide molecules that differ in structure from ADH-1 and that have extended stability in plasma. These molecules offer the potential advantages of extended plasma half-life and enhanced potency compared to ADH-1.

 

   

Small molecule N-cadherin antagonists. We have identified a series of small chemical molecules that, in our preliminary studies, have displayed potent N-cadherin antagonism activity. Unlike ADH-1 and the other peptide N-cadherin antagonists, these molecules are not peptides and are smaller and simpler in structure. Compared to peptides, small chemical molecules are often active after oral administration, more stable and have different potency and toxicity profiles.

 

   

OB-cadherin. OB-cadherin is reported to be involved through several mechanisms in the metastatic spread of certain cancers to sites distant from the original tumor. Metastatic disease is a major determinant of both a patient’s survival and quality-of-life. We have developed OB-cadherin peptide and small molecule antagonists with the potential to reduce or slow down the metastatic spread of tumors, such as breast and prostate cancers.

 

   

VE-cadherin. Like N-cadherin, VE-cadherin is important in the structural integrity of certain tumor blood vessels. We have developed peptide VE-cadherin antagonists that have the potential to be synergistic with our N-cadherin antagonists.

 

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In addition to our current development efforts, we continue to pursue collaborations with other pharmaceutical companies, governmental agencies or corporate collaborators with respect to these and other cadherin molecules. Our drug discovery and development efforts are supported by more than 50 issued U.S. patents and more than 50 issued and pending patents worldwide that we either own or have exclusively licensed.

Adherex Technologies Inc. is incorporated under the Canada Business Corporations Act and has three wholly-owned subsidiaries: Oxiquant, Inc. and Adherex, Inc., both Delaware corporations, and Cadherin Biomedical Inc., a Canadian company.

Eniluracil

Eniluracil was previously under development by GSK for the treatment of cancer and is being developed by Adherex to enhance the therapeutic value and effectiveness of 5-FU, one of the world’s most widely used oncology agents. 5-FU is currently used as the first or second line therapy for colorectal, breast, gastric, head and neck, ovarian and basal cell cancer of the skin, among others. Eniluracil is expected to make 5-FU more effective by increasing its half-life, reducing its side effects and making it orally available.

Normally, 5-FU is rapidly broken down in the body by an enzyme known as dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase, or DPD. Eniluracil irreversibly inhibits DPD, thereby substantially slowing the breakdown of 5-FU and prolonging exposure of the tumor cells to the drug.

While 5-FU is a current mainstay of contemporary oncology treatment, it has some therapeutic drawbacks:

 

   

It must be given intravenously and often by prolonged, multi-day infusion.

 

   

Its use is typically associated with variable blood and tissue levels. Variable levels can reduce its effectiveness and can increase its side effects.

 

   

It can cause severe and often dose-limiting side effects. For example, a breakdown product of 5-FU known as F-BAL is thought to be associated with neurotoxicity and hand-foot syndrome, which are disabling and dose-limiting side effects of therapy with 5-FU and other 5-FU prodrugs like capecitabine.

 

   

Some tumors may be resistant to 5-FU due to intrinsically elevated DPD levels in the tumor cells. In other cases, the tumor may develop resistance to 5-FU as DPD levels rise in the tumor.

When eniluracil is properly used in combination with 5-FU, it may resolve many of the therapeutic drawbacks of 5-FU noted above. For instance, combining eniluracil and 5-FU is expected to have the following benefits:

 

   

5-FU becomes orally active, eliminating the need for intravenous, or IV, administration.

 

   

The blood and tissue levels become more consistent, resulting in improved efficacy.

 

   

The consistent blood and tissue levels may also lead to an improved side effect profile.

 

   

Elimination of F-BAL production may improve the side effect profile, particularly the reduction of hand-foot syndrome.

Thus, the use of eniluracil in combination with 5-FU has the potential to make 5-FU more effective, better tolerated and orally active.

The combination of eniluracil and 5-FU may also expand the range of cancers that currently respond to 5-FU. Some tumors, such as liver, prostate and lung cancers, have inherently high levels of DPD that result in resistance to 5-FU. Eniluracil may eliminate these high levels of DPD activity in the tumor, thereby potentially expanding the use of 5-FU to new cancer indications.

GSK’s clinical development program for the combination of 5-FU and eniluracil met with success in early development. However, three Phase III trials failed, and development was stopped. We believe new scientific data obtained by Adherex subsequent to those Phase III trials may account for the early suboptimal efficacy and provide a basis for enhancing the effectiveness of the combination. This proprietary data formed the basis of a patent application by Adherex, which claims that the combination of eniluracil and 5-FU has the potential to be more effective than 5-FU alone when used in accordance with Adherex’s proprietary methods.

Adherex’s initial development plan for eniluracil is focused on two indications: 1) liver (hepatocellular) cancer, and 2) taxane- and anthracycline-resistant breast cancer. Several other potential cancer indications are also being evaluated.

Liver cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world. In the U.S., there are approximately 19,000 new cases per year. Adherex has received orphan drug designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, for the use of eniluracil in combination with fluoropyrimidines (including 5-FU) to treat liver cancer. The rationale for targeting liver cancer is: 1) liver cancer has intrinsically high levels of DPD, making it resistant to treatment with 5-FU. Eniluracil inhibits DPD and therefore, may make liver cancer more susceptible to therapy with 5-FU, and 2) two Phase II studies conducted by GSK in liver cancer showed extended periods of stable disease and survival, even though these studies were conducted using what now appears to be a suboptimal dose and schedule.

Our second development strategy is in taxane- and anthracycline-resistant breast cancer. Capecitabine (Xeloda®) is currently approved for this indication, yet therapy with capecitabine often results in a painful side effect known as hand-foot syndrome (reported to occur in up to 60% of patients), frequently requiring dose reduction or cessation of therapy. A breakdown product of 5-FU known as F-BAL is thought to be responsible for this side effect. Eniluracil irreversibly inhibits DPD, the enzyme responsible for the breakdown of 5-FU to metabolites such as F-BAL. In GSK’s earlier studies with eniluracil in combination with 5-FU, the incidence of hand-foot syndrome was less than 2%. Adherex may, therefore, be able to seek approval for eniluracil through either a reduced toxicity profile in comparison to capecitabine or an enhanced efficacy profile, or both.

 

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To optimize our proprietary method of administration for the combination of eniluracil and 5-FU, we commenced a Phase I dose escalation study in patients with solid tumors in 2007. As of February 28, 2008, we had not reached the Maximum Tolerated Dose, or MTD, for eniluracil. Upon completion of this study, we plan to commence a Phase II trial in breast cancer. In the fourth quarter of 2006, we also commenced a Phase I/II clinical trial in liver cancer in Asia. Once we obtain the MTD for eniluracil in the Phase I arm of this trial, we will immediately commence the Phase II portion of the trial and expect that it will take approximately six month to complete patient accruals in the Phase II portion of the trial. Together, these two studies are intended to define the optimal dose of eniluracil, the optimal dose ratio and schedule of eniluracil in combination with 5-FU, and the clinical response rate to our proprietary combination of these two drugs.

ADH-1

ADH-1 is a small peptide that selectively targets N-cadherin present on certain tumor cells and the established blood vessels that supply blood to the tumor. Pursuant to a general collaboration agreement, McGill granted us an exclusive worldwide license to certain intellectual property rights relating to ADH-1 and uses thereof. N-cadherin is found throughout the body and, like other cadherins, is important in cell-to-cell binding and in maintaining the structural integrity of cells. ADH-1 appears to inhibit the binding of the N-cadherin protein molecules to each other. Within tumors, the N-cadherin protein can be found on the tumor cells themselves and on the blood vessels that supply blood to the tumor. Therefore, N-cadherin is a single target where antagonizing N-cadherin binding with ADH-1 could have a dual effect; both on the tumor cells directly and on the tumor blood vessels. In our Phase I single-agent studies, radiologic changes consistent with areas of cell death (by either apoptosis or necrosis) were observed following administration of ADH-1.

In 2006, we began conducting preclinical studies of ADH-1 in combination with various chemotherapy agents. In preclinical melanoma studies, significant synergistic anti-tumor activity was observed when systemic ADH-1 was given in combination with regionally-infused melphalan (a generic chemotherapy typically used in this setting), where all of the animals on study achieved complete remission of their tumors, and the tumors remained in complete remission during the entire two-month timeframe of the studies. A similar study was conducted in a melanoma animal model that was resistant to treatment with melphalan. The combination of melphalan and ADH-1 in the melphalan-resistant models also produced striking synergistic effects, with significant tumor growth delay being observed compared to the untreated and melphalan-alone control groups.

Based on this preclinical data, we initiated a clinical program of ADH-1 in combination with various chemotherapeutic agents. In October 2006, we initiated a Phase I study intended to define the dose limiting toxicities and maximum tolerated dose of ADH-1 in combination with three separate chemotherapies: ADH-1 + docetaxel (Taxotere®), ADH-1 + carboplatin (a generically available agent), and ADH-1 + capecitabine (Xeloda®). We have completed patient enrollment in the docetaxel and capecitabine arms and expect to complete patient enrolment in the carboplatin arm shortly. In March 2007, we also initiated a Phase I study combining systemic ADH-1 in combination with regionally-infused melphalan for the treatment of melanoma at Duke University.

In January 2008, we announced the completion of patient enrollment in our Phase I study combining systemic ADH-1 with regionally-infused melphalan for the treatment of melanoma and commenced a Phase IIb expansion of the study. We expect to enroll up to 25 additional patients in the Phase IIb portion of the study. To gain multi-institutional experience, we have also added the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, the Lehigh Valley Hospital in Pennsylvania and the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida as participating clinical trial sites. This Phase IIb expansion trial is anticipated to complete patient accruals by approximately mid-2008.

STS

STS is currently approved by the FDA for use in humans as part of a treatment for cyanide poisoning. We have licensed from OHSU intellectual property rights for the use of STS as a chemoprotectant, and are developing STS as a protectant against the hearing loss often caused by platinum-based anti-cancer agents, in both children and adults. Preclinical and clinical studies conducted by OHSU and others have indicated that STS can effectively reduced the incidence of hearing loss caused by platinum-based anti-cancer agents. We have received Orphan Drug Designation in the United States for the use of STS in the prevention of platinum-induced ototoxicity in pediatric patients. The Company is also considering a trial with STS to study hearing loss in adult patients taking cisplatin-based chemotherapy.

Hearing loss among children receiving platinum-based chemotherapy is frequent, permanent and often severely disabling. The incidence of hearing loss in these children depends upon the dose and duration of chemotherapy, and many of these children require lifelong hearing aids. There is currently no established preventive agent for this hearing loss and only expensive, technically difficult and sub-optimal cochlear (inner ear) implants have been shown to provide some relief. In addition, adults undergoing chemotherapy for several common malignancies, including ovarian cancer, testicular cancer, and particularly head and neck cancer and brain cancer, receive intensive platinum-based therapy and may experience severe, irreversible hearing loss, particularly in the high frequencies.

Investigators at OHSU have conducted Phase I and Phase II studies which have shown STS reduces the hearing loss associated with platinum-based chemotherapy. In one study at OHSU, the need for hearing aids to correct high frequency hearing loss was reduced from about 50% to less than 5%.

In October 2007, we announced that our collaborative partner, the International Childhood Liver Tumour Strategy Group (known as SIOPEL), a multi-disciplinary group of specialists under the umbrella of the International Society of Pediatric Oncology, had launched a randomized Phase III clinical trial to investigate whether STS reduces hearing loss in children receiving cisplatin, a platinum-based chemotherapy often used in children. The study initially opened in the United Kingdom and will include SIOPEL centers in up to 33 further countries. The clinical trial is expected to enroll approximately 100 children with liver (hepatoblastoma) cancer. Patients will receive either cisplatin or cisplatin plus STS. The study, which is being coordinated through the Children’s Cancer and Leukemia Group in the United Kingdom, is intended to compare the level of hearing loss associated with cisplatin alone versus the combination of cisplatin plus STS, as well as the safety, tolerability and anti-tumor activity in both arms of the study. Under the terms of our agreement, SIOPEL will conduct and fund the clinical activity and we will provide drug and drug distribution for the study.

 

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On March 26, 2008, we announced the activation of a Phase III trial with STS to prevent hearing loss in children receiving cisplatin-based chemotherapy in collaboration with the Children’s Oncology Group, or COG. The goal of this Phase III study is to evaluate in a multi-centered, randomized trial whether STS is an effective and safe means of preventing hearing loss in children receiving cisplatin-based chemotherapy for newly diagnosed germ cell, liver (hepatoblastoma), brain (medulloblastoma), nerve tissue (neuroblastoma) or bone (osteosarcoma) cancers. Eligible children will be one to eighteen years of age who are to receive cisplatin according to their disease-specific regimen and, upon enrollment onto this study, will be randomized to receive STS or not. Efficacy of STS will be determined through comparison of hearing sensitivity at follow-up relative to baseline measurements using standard audiometric techniques. The trial is expected to enroll up to 120 patients over approximately three years in up to 230 COG centers in the United States, Canada, Australia and Europe. COG will fund the clinical activities for the study and we will be responsible for providing the drug and drug distribution for the study.

Preclinical Portfolio

Our product candidates are in the early stages of clinical development, so we strive to maintain a robust preclinical portfolio to hedge against unavoidable development risks and to provide possible new product candidates for the future. In considering our product candidates, note that we are subject to the risks of failure that are inherent in the development of therapeutic products based on innovative technologies as described in Item 1A, “Risk Factors.”

Our preclinical portfolio includes: (i) backup peptides and small chemical molecule successors to ADH-1; (ii) peptides and small molecules targeted to inhibiting the metastatic spread of some cancers; and (iii) peptides that combine both angiolytic and antiangiogenic properties. We have synthesized small chemical molecules and peptide antagonists and agonists for a wide array of cadherin adhesion molecules, with drug candidates available to move into future clinical development, particularly in the following areas:

 

   

Peptide N-cadherin antagonists. We have identified small peptide molecules that differ in structure from ADH-1 and that have extended stability in plasma. These molecules offer the potential advantages of extended plasma half-life and enhanced potency compared to ADH-1.

 

   

Small molecule N-cadherin antagonists. We have identified a series of small chemical molecules that, in our preliminary studies, have displayed potent N-cadherin antagonism activity. Unlike ADH-1 and the other peptide N-cadherin antagonists, these molecules are not peptides and are smaller and simpler in structure. Compared to peptides small chemical molecules are often active after oral administration, more stable and have different potency and toxicity profiles.

 

   

OB-cadherin. OB-cadherin is reported to be involved through several mechanisms in the metastatic spread of certain cancers to sites distant from the original tumor. Metastatic disease is a major determinant of both a patient’s survival and quality-of-life. We have developed OB-cadherin peptide and small molecule antagonists with the potential to reduce or slow down the metastatic spread of tumors, such as breast and prostate cancers.

 

   

VE-cadherin. Like N-cadherin, VE-cadherin is important in the structural integrity of certain tumor blood vessels. We have developed peptide VE-cadherin antagonists that have the potential to be synergistic with our N-cadherin antagonists.

In addition to our own development efforts, we intend to continue to pursue collaborations with other pharmaceutical companies, government entities or corporate collaborators with respect to our most promising agents. In 2005, we received approval from the Drug Development Group, or DDG, of the National Cancer Institute’s, or NCI, Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis for a Level III collaboration for the clinical development of our lead biotechnology compound, ADH-1. As part of that collaboration, we executed a Clinical Trial Agreement, or CTA, with the NCI’s Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program and Developmental Therapeutics Program to support additional preclinical studies of ADH-1 in preparation for future NCI-sponsored clinical trials to further evaluate the anti-cancer and vascular targeting effects of ADH-1 both as a single agent and in combination with other anti-cancer agents. We also entered into a standard form screening agreement with the NCI in 2003, under which NCI continues to screen and test select Adherex compounds from our preclinical pipeline for their anti-cancer properties in various preclinical anti-cancer assays and tumor models. The NCI has no obligation to sponsor future clinical trials of ADH-1 or to continue to perform preclinical or screening work for us and may terminate the CTA or screening agreement at any time, as may we.

Intellectual Property

Our general policy is to seek patent protection in the United States, major European countries, Japan, Canada and other jurisdictions as appropriate for our compounds and methods. Our cadherin-based patent portfolio currently includes patents with respect to our unique composition of matter, broad claims with respect to modulating cell adhesion, specific claims for the use of these compounds in various diseases and pharmaceutical formulations of these compounds. We have also sought patent protection with respect to alternate “sites” of cell adhesion activity as well as related compounds, screening methods and antibodies. With respect to the intellectual property licensed from GSK, McGill and OHSU, we work closely with these institutions to continually strengthen and expand our worldwide patent protection.

Currently, we own or have licensed more than 50 issued U.S. patents and more than 50 issued and pending patents worldwide. ADH-1 is currently protected under issued composition of matter patents in the United States that we exclusively licensed from McGill that expire in 2017. Eniluracil is currently protected under issued composition of matter and method patents that we exclusively licensed from GSK that expire in 2014 and 2015 (in combination with 5-fluorouracil). STS is currently protected by method of use patents that we exclusively licensed from OHSU that expire in Europe in 2021 and are currently pending in the United States. None of the above expiry dates take into consideration additional pending patent applications for ADH-1 and eniluracil that, if issued, could provide additional patent protection nor possible patent term extensions or periods of data exclusivity that may be available upon marketing approval in the various countries worldwide. In addition, periods of marketing exclusivity for ADH-1 and STS may also be possible in the United States under orphan drug status. We obtained U.S. Orphan Drug Designation for the use of STS in the prevention of platinum-induced ototoxicity in pediatric patients in 2004 and for the use of ADH-1 in conjunction with melphalan for the treatment of Stage IIB/C, III, and IV malignant melanoma in 2008, and as a result, if approved, will have seven years of exclusivity in the United States from the approval date.

Our success is significantly dependent on our ability to obtain and maintain patent protection for our product candidates, both in the United States and abroad. The patent position of biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, in general, is highly uncertain and involves complex legal

 

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and factual questions, which often results in apparent inconsistencies regarding the breadth of claims allowed and general uncertainty as to their legal interpretation and enforceability. Further, some of our principal candidates, including STS, are based on previously known compounds, and candidates or products that we develop in the future may include or be based on the same or other compounds owned or produced by other parties, some or all of which may not be subject to effective patent protection. In addition, regimens that we may develop for the administration of pharmaceuticals, such as specifications for the frequency, timing and amount of dosages, may not be patentable. Accordingly, our patent applications may not result in patents being issued and issued patents may not afford effective protection. In addition, products or processes that we develop may turn out to be covered by third party patents, in which case we may require a license under such patents if we intend to continue the development of those products or processes.

Corporate Relationships

General Collaboration Agreement with McGill University

In February 2001, we entered into a general collaboration agreement with McGill University. Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, McGill granted us a 27-year exclusive worldwide license to develop, use and market certain cell adhesion technology and compounds. In particular, McGill granted us an exclusive worldwide license to U.S. Patent 6,031,072 covering specific compounds including ADH-1 (composition of matter), U.S. Patent 6,551,994 covering alpha-catenin and beta-catenin inhibiting compounds, related international filings under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (“PCT”), continuations and certain other patents and patent applications.

In consideration, we issued 508,416 shares of our common stock to McGill. We also agreed to pay to McGill future royalties of 2% of any gross revenues from the use of the technology and compounds. In addition, we agreed to fund research at McGill over a period of 10 years totaling CAD$3.3 million. Annual funding commenced in 2001, the first year of the agreement, for a total of CAD$200,000, and increases annually by 10% through 2010, when the required annual funding reaches CAD$500,000. This research commitment can be deferred in any given year if it would exceed 5% of our cash and cash equivalents. To date, there have been no deferrals and we have paid out approximately CAD$1.5 million in research and development milestone funding to McGill pursuant to this agreement and other research-related payments. Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, we are entitled to certain intellectual property rights that result from this research.

The term of the general collaboration agreement expires on September 23, 2028, unless earlier terminated by operation of law or as provided in the agreement. The agreement is terminable by either Adherex or McGill in the event of an uncured breach by either party after 60 days prior written notice. We also have the right to terminate the agreement at any time after September 2006 upon 60 days prior written notice to McGill.

License Agreement with Oregon Health & Science University

In November 2002, we acquired an exclusive license agreement with OHSU through our acquisition of Oxiquant, which had entered into the license agreement with OHSU in September 2002. Pursuant to the license agreement, OHSU granted us an exclusive worldwide license to intellectual property directed to thiol-based compounds including STS and their use in oncology. In consideration, OHSU was issued 250,250 shares of common stock of Oxiquant that were subsequently converted upon the acquisition of Oxiquant into 382,514 shares of Adherex common stock and warrants to purchase shares of Adherex common stock that expired in 2007. In addition, we are required to make the following milestone payments: (i) $50,000 upon completion of Phase I clinical trials, (ii) $200,000 upon completion of Phase II clinical trials, (iii) $500,000 upon completion of Phase III clinical trials, and (iv) $250,000 upon the first commercial sale for any licensed product. We are also required to pay OHSU a 2.5% royalty on net sales of any licensed products and a 15% royalty on any consideration received from sublicensing of the licensed technology.

The term of the license agreement expires on the date of the last to expire claim(s) covered in the patents licensed to us, unless earlier terminated as provided in the agreement. The agreement is terminable by OHSU in the event of a material breach of the agreement by us or our sublicensees after 60 days prior written notice from OHSU. We have the right to terminate the agreement at any time upon 60 days prior written notice and payment of all fees due to OHSU under the agreement.

Development and License Agreement with GlaxoSmithKline

In July 2005, Adherex licensed eniluracil from GlaxoSmithKline, or GSK. Under the original terms of the Development and License Agreement, Adherex received an exclusive license for eniluracil for all indications, and GSK retained options to buy back the compound at various points in time during its development in return for milestone payments and sales royalties to Adherex. GSK made a concurrent equity investment of $3.0 million to assist in its further development.

In March 2007, Adherex purchased all of GSK’s remaining options to buy back eniluracil under the agreement for a $1.0 million fee. Adherex now has full control over the development of eniluracil and is required to pay GSK development and sales milestone payments and sales royalties. Specifically, if we file a New Drug Application with the FDA, we will be obligated to pay GSK development milestones of $5.0 million. Depending upon the commercial success of eniluracil, we may also be required to pay GSK up to an additional $70.0 million in development and sales milestones, plus double-digit royalties based on our annual net sales. If we pursue other indications, we may be required to pay up to an additional $15.0 million to GSK for each indication approved by the FDA.

Competition

Competition in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries is intense. We expect that if any of our product candidates achieve regulatory approval for sale, they will compete on the basis of drug efficacy, safety, patient convenience, reliability, ease of manufacture, price, marketing, distribution and patent protection, among other variables. Our competitors may develop technologies or drugs that are more effective, safer or affordable than any we may develop.

There are a number of different approaches to the development of therapeutics for the treatment of cancer that are currently being used and studied. These approaches include: (i) surgery to excise the cancerous tissue; (ii) radiation therapy, which attacks cancerous cells but does not easily distinguish between healthy and diseased cells; (iii) chemotherapy, which works by preventing a cancerous cell from dividing or by killing cells that

 

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quickly divide; (iv) immunotherapy, which stimulates the body’s immune system to respond to the disease; and (v) hormone therapy, which may slow the growth of cancer cells or even kill them.

We are aware of a number of companies engaged in the research, development and testing of new cancer therapies or means of increasing the effectiveness of existing therapies, including, among many others, Abbott Laboratories, Amgen, Antisoma, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Bristol-Myers Squibb, EntreMed, Genentech, Merck & Co., NeoPharm, Novartis, Johnson & Johnson, OSI Pharmaceuticals, Onyx, OXiGENE, Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer, Roche, Taiho and Sanofi-Aventis. Some of these companies have products that have already received, or are in the process of receiving, regulatory approval or are in later stages of clinical development than our products. Many of them have greater financial resources than we do. Many of these companies have marketed drugs or are developing targeted cancer therapeutics which, depending upon the mechanism of action of such agents, could be viewed as competitors. However, we are not aware of any other N-cadherin targeted compounds in clinical trials. Because cancer treatment often consists of using different drug combinations, it is possible that agents that are either marketed (e.g., Taxotere®) or investigational could be combined with ADH-1 (after achievement of applicable regulatory requirements and approvals) in an effort to improve the efficacy in comparison to the agents used alone. In other words, while a drug with a similar mechanism of action, or with anti-tumor activity in a disease where ADH-1 is also shown to be active, could be viewed as a potential competitor when both drugs are used alone, the combination could prove to be superior to the current standard of care.

We are aware of at least four companies, AstraZeneca, Aventis, OXiGENE and Roche that are clinically developing cancer angiolytics. Their product candidates are tubulin depolymerizing agents that destroy the scaffold-like structure that supports the lining cells (endothelial cells) of blood vessels, causing the endothelial cells to round and cut off blood flow through the blood vessel. They cut off a tumor’s blood supply and lead to tumor cell death. Some other angiolytic agents are known to us to be in preclinical development, including antibodies to tumor blood vessel wall components and agents linked with liposomal cytotoxic agents, but little information about these agents is publicly available at this time. These competing angiolytics work in a very different manner than ADH-1 and, to our knowledge, we are the only company approaching tumor angiolysis from the perspective of peptide-based cadherin antagonism. Tumor angiolysis is an emerging field, and our competitors’ tubulin depolymerizing agents, like our drug candidates, are still in clinical development. OXiGENE has initiated a Phase III study with its angiolytic agent in the United Kingdom. To our knowledge, no other angiolytic compounds have entered late-stage development. Accordingly, it is premature to speculate on the potential advantages and disadvantages of different angiolytic agents because the efficacy and tolerability profiles of these agents are not yet publicly available.

Anti-angiogenic compounds, which aim to prevent the growth of new tumor vessels, may compete with angiolytic compounds like ADH-1, but they may also be complementary. For instance, it may be useful to consider the use of an anti-angiogenic agent in sequential therapy with an angiolytic agent as a way to initially destroy existing tumor vessels and subsequently prevent new tumor blood vessel growth.

Programmed cell death or apoptosis has a critical role in the maintenance of healthy tissues. It has been increasingly recognized that defects in apoptotic mechanisms and pathways commonly occur to allow cancer cells to survive and flourish. In fact, the defects in the apoptotic pathways are fundamental properties of cancer biology. In recent years, the molecular underpinning of apoptosis pathways has received considerable attention and provides another opportunity for potential therapeutic intervention by inducing apoptosis in tumor cells. ADH-1 is thought to trigger apoptosis in cancer cells. Many other such apoptosis inducers are in preclinical and clinical development as oncology therapeutics candidates with companies that include Sanofi-Aventis, Abbott Laboratories, Novartis, Pfizer and Merck & Co.

There are several potential therapies that may be competitive to our eniluracil, including capecitabine (Xeloda®) which is an oral pro-drug of 5-FU marketed by Roche that is converted to 5-FU following absorption from the gastrointestinal tract. Capecitabine is approved by the FDA and many other regulatory agencies worldwide for use in breast and colorectal cancer. UFT, marketed by Merck KGaA, is another oral 5-FU pro-drug that has not been approved by the FDA, but which is marketed in Japan and several European countries.

5-FU is normally rapidly metabolized and broken down by the enzyme DPD. Eniluracil is an irreversible inhibitor of DPD and its use with 5-FU leads to prolonged and elevated levels of 5-FU. Uracil is a competitive inhibitor of DPD. Although not FDA approved as a therapeutic agent, uracil has been used with 5-FU and tegafur, a reversible DPD inhibitor (5-chloro-2, 4-dihydrozypyidine, or CDHP) for the treatment of certain cancers. UFT is an orally active combination of uracil and tegafur that is available in some international markets through Merck KGaA.

S-1, which is marketed by Taiho in Japan and under development by Sanofi-Aventis elsewhere in the world, is an orally active combination of tegafur and oxonic acid, an inhibitor of phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate transferase, an enzyme that reduces the incorporation of 5-FU into RNA. Other reversible DPD inhibitors are in development, including a Roche molecule, Ro 09-4889, which has completed a Phase I clinical study. To our knowledge, no other irreversible DPD inhibitors are currently in development.

We are not aware of any commercially available agents that reduce the incidence of hearing loss associated with the use of platinum-based anti-cancer agents, for which purpose we are developing STS. We are aware of one company, Sound Pharmaceuticals, that is developing agents for noise, age related hearing loss and the side effects of chemotherapy. We are also aware of research relating to the use of high doses of amifostine (another thiol-based drug used to control some of the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy) for the protection of hearing in connection with platinum-based chemotherapy, but such research has generally shown it to be less effective than STS for this purpose. Cochlear implants, which are small electronic devices that are surgically placed in the inner ear to assist with certain types of deafness, are utilized to offer some relief but are often suboptimal.

Many chemotherapeutic agents are currently available and numerous others are being developed. Any chemotherapeutic products that we develop may not be able to compete effectively with existing or future chemotherapeutic agents. Our competitors might obtain regulatory approval for their drug candidates sooner than we do, or their drugs may prove to be more effective than ours are. However, cancer as a disease is not currently controlled by any one anti-cancer agent, and there is typically a need for several agents at any one time and over time.

Many of our existing or potential competitors have substantially greater financial, technical and human resources than we do and may be better equipped to develop, manufacture and market products. In addition, many of these competitors have extensive experience with preclinical testing and human clinical trials and in obtaining regulatory approvals. In addition, many of the smaller companies that compete with us have formed

 

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collaborative relationships with large, established companies to support the research, development, clinical trials and commercialization of any products that they may develop. We may rely on third parties to commercialize the products we develop, and our success will depend in large part on the efforts and competitive merit of these collaborative partners. Academic institutions, government agencies and other public and private research organizations may also conduct research, seek patent protection and establish collaborative arrangements for research, clinical development and marketing of products similar to those we seek to develop. These companies and institutions compete with us in recruiting and retaining qualified scientific and management personnel as well as in acquiring technologies complementary to our projects. The existence of competitive products, including products or treatments of which we are not aware, or products or treatments that may be developed in the future, may adversely affect the marketability of any products that we may develop.

Government Regulation

The production and manufacture of our product candidates and our research and development activities are subject to significant regulation for safety, efficacy and quality by various governmental authorities around the world.

In Canada, these activities are subject to regulation by Health Canada’s Therapeutic Products Directorate, or TPD, and the rules and regulations promulgated under the Food and Drug Act. In the United States, drugs and biological products are subject to regulation by the FDA. The FDA requires licensing of manufacturing and contract research facilities, carefully controlled research and testing of products, governmental review and approval of results prior to marketing therapeutic products. Additionally, the FDA requires adherence to “Good Laboratory Practices” as well as “Good Clinical Practices” during clinical testing and “Good Manufacturing Practices” and adherence to labeling and supply controls. The systems of new drug approvals in Canada and the United States are substantially similar, and are generally considered to be among the most rigorous in the world.

Generally, the steps required for drug approval in Canada and the United States, specifically in cancer related therapies, include:

Preclinical Studies: Preclinical studies, also known as non-clinical studies, primarily involve evaluations of pharmacology, toxic effects, pharmacokinetics and metabolism of a drug in animals to provide evidence of the relative safety and bioavailability of the drug prior to its administration to humans in clinical studies. A typical program of preclinical studies takes 18 to 24 months to complete. The results of the preclinical studies as well as information related to the chemistry and comprehensive descriptions of proposed human clinical studies are then submitted as part of the Investigational New Drug, or IND, application to the FDA, a Clinical Trial Application to the TPD, or similar submission to other foreign regulatory bodies. This is necessary in Canada, the United States and most other countries prior to undertaking clinical studies. Additional preclinical studies are conducted during clinical development to further characterize the toxic effects of a drug prior to submitting a marketing application.

Phase I Clinical Trials: Most Phase I clinical trials take approximately one year to complete and are usually conducted on a small number of healthy human subjects to evaluate the drug’s safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics. In some cases, such as cancer indications, Phase I clinical trials are conducted in patients rather than healthy volunteers.

Phase II Clinical Trials: Phase II clinical trials typically take one to two years to complete and are generally carried out on a relatively small number of patients (generally between 15 and 50 patients) in a specific setting of targeted disease or medical condition, in order to provide an estimate of the drug’s effectiveness in that specific setting. This phase also provides additional safety data and serves to identify possible common short-term side effects and risks in a somewhat larger group of patients. Phase II testing frequently relates to a specific disease, such as breast or lung cancer. Some contemporary methods of developing drugs, particularly molecularly targeted therapies, do not require broad testing in specific diseases, and instead permit testing in subsets of patients expressing the particular marker. In some cases, such as cancer indications, the company sponsoring the new drug may submit a marketing application to seek accelerated approval of the drug based on evidence of the drug’s effect on a “surrogate endpoint” from Phase II clinical trials. A surrogate endpoint is a laboratory finding or physical sign that may not be a direct measurement of how a patient feels, functions or survives, but is still considered likely to predict therapeutic benefit for the patient. If accelerated approval is received, the company sponsoring the new drug must continue testing to demonstrate that the drug indeed provides therapeutic benefit to the patient.

Phase III Clinical Trials: Phase III clinical trials typically take two to four years to complete and involve tests on a much larger population of patients suffering from the targeted condition or disease. These studies involve conducting controlled testing and/or uncontrolled testing in an expanded patient population (several hundred to several thousand patients) at separate test sites (multi-center trials) to establish clinical safety and effectiveness. These trials also generate information from which the overall benefit-risk relationship relating to the drug can be determined and provide a basis for drug labeling. Phase III trials are generally the most time consuming and expensive part of a clinical trial program. In some instances, governmental authorities (such as the FDA) will allow a single Phase III clinical trial to serve as a pivotal efficacy trial to support a Marketing Application.

Marketing Application: Upon completion of Phase III clinical trials, the pharmaceutical company sponsoring the new drug assembles all the chemistry, preclinical and clinical data and submits it to the TPD or the FDA as part of a New Drug Submission in Canada or a New Drug Application in the United States. The marketing application is then reviewed by the regulatory body for approval to market the product. The review process generally takes twelve to eighteen months.

Any clinical trials that we conduct may not be successfully completed, either in a satisfactory time period or at all. The typical time periods described above may vary substantially and may be materially longer. In addition, the FDA and its counterparts in other countries have considerable discretion to discontinue trials if they become aware of any significant safety issues or convincing evidence that a therapy is not effective for the indication being tested. The FDA and its counterparts in other countries may not (i) allow clinical trials to proceed at any time after receiving an IND, (ii) allow further clinical development phases after authorizing a previous phase, or (iii) approve marketing of a drug after the completion of clinical trials.

While European, U.S. and Canadian regulatory systems require that medical products be safe, effective, and manufactured according to high quality standards, the drug approval process in Europe differs from that in the United States and Canada and may require us to perform additional

 

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preclinical or clinical testing regardless of whether FDA or TPD approval has been obtained. The amount of time required to obtain necessary approvals may be longer or shorter than that required for FDA or TPD approval. European Union Regulations and Directives generally classify health care products either as medicinal products, medical devices or in vitro diagnostics. For medicinal products, marketing approval may be sought using either the centralized procedure of the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products, or EMEA, or the decentralized, mutual recognition process. The centralized procedure, which is mandatory for some biotechnology derived products, results in an approval recommendation from the EMEA to all member states, while the European Union mutual recognition process involves country by country approval.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors.

An investment in our common stock involves a significant risk of loss. You should carefully read this entire report and should give particular attention to the following risk factors. You should recognize that other significant risks may arise in the future, which we cannot foresee at this time. Also, the risks that we now foresee might affect us to a greater or different degree than currently expected. There are a number of important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by any of our forward-looking statements in this report. These factors include, without limitation, the risk factors listed below and other factors presented throughout this report and any other documents filed by us with the SEC.

Risks Related to Our Business

We will need to raise substantial additional funds in the future to continue our operations.

We believe that our current cash and cash equivalents will be sufficient to satisfy our anticipated capital requirements through June 30, 2009. Our projections of our capital requirements through June 30, 2009 and beyond, however are subject to substantial uncertainty. Our current and future working capital requirements may change depending upon numerous factors, including: results of our research and development activities; progress or lack of progress in our preclinical studies or clinical trials; our drug substance requirements to support clinical programs; our ability to enter into collaborations that provide us with funding, up-front payments, milestone or other payments; changes in the focus, direction, or costs of our research and development programs; the costs involved in preparing, filing, prosecuting, maintaining, defending and enforcing our patent claims; competitive and technological advances; the potential need to develop, acquire or license new technologies and products; the establishment of marketing and sales capabilities; our business development activities; new regulatory requirements implemented by regulatory authorities; the timing and outcome of any regulatory review process; and our commercialization activities, if any. Any such change could mean additional capital may be required earlier than June 2009 or more capital thereafter may be required than we had anticipated. To finance our operations beyond June 2009, or earlier if necessary, we will need to raise substantial additional funds through either the sale of additional equity, the issuance of debt, the establishment of collaborations that provide us with funding, the out-license or sale of certain aspects of our intellectual property portfolio, or from other sources. We might not be able to raise the necessary capital or such funding may not be available on favorable terms or at all.

We have a history of significant losses and have had no revenues to date through the sale of our products. If we do not generate significant revenues, we will not achieve profitability.

To date, we have been engaged primarily in research and development activities. We have had no revenues to date through the sale of our products, and we do not expect to have significant revenues until we are able to either sell our product candidates after obtaining applicable regulatory approvals or we establish collaborations that provide us with licensing fees, milestone payments, royalties, up-front payments or other revenue. We have incurred significant operating losses every year since our inception on September 3, 1996. We have experienced net losses of approximately $13.4 million for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, $16.4 million for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006 and $13.9 million for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005. As of December 31, 2007 we had an accumulated deficit of approximately $84.4 million. We anticipate incurring substantial additional losses over the next several years due to the need to expend substantial amounts on our continuing clinical trials, anticipated research and development activities, and general and administrative expenses, among other factors. We have not commercially introduced any product and our product candidates are in varying stages of development and testing. Our ability to attain profitability will depend upon our ability to develop products that are safe, effective and commercially viable, to obtain regulatory approval for the manufacture and sale of our product candidates and to license or otherwise market our product candidates successfully. Any revenues generated from such products, assuming they are successfully developed, marketed and sold, may not be realized for a number of years. We may never achieve or sustain profitability on an ongoing basis.

Our product candidates are still in development. Due to the long, expensive and unpredictable drug development process, we might not ever successfully develop and commercialize any of our product candidates.

In order to achieve profitable operations, we, alone or in collaboration with others, must successfully develop, manufacture, introduce and market our product candidates. The time necessary to achieve market success for any individual product is long and uncertain. Our product candidates and research programs are in various stages of clinical development and require significant, time-consuming and costly research, testing and regulatory clearances. In developing our product candidates, we are subject to risks of failure that are inherent in the development of therapeutic products based on innovative technologies. For example, our product candidates might not be effective, as eniluracil was shown to be in earlier clinical trials conducted by GSK, or may be overly toxic, or otherwise might fail to receive the necessary regulatory clearances. The results of preclinical and initial clinical trials are not necessarily predictive of future results. Our product candidates might not be economical to manufacture or market or might not achieve market acceptance. In addition, third parties might hold proprietary rights that preclude us from marketing our product candidates or others might market superior or equivalent products.

We must conduct human clinical trials to assess our product candidates. If these trials are delayed or are unsuccessful, our development costs will significantly increase and our business prospects may suffer.

 

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Before obtaining regulatory approvals for the commercial sale of our product candidates, we must demonstrate, through preclinical studies with animals and clinical trials with humans, that our product candidates are safe and effective for use in each target indication. To date, we have performed only limited clinical trials, and we have only done so with some of our product candidates. Much of our testing has been conducted on animals or on human cells in the laboratory, and the benefits of treatment seen in animals may not ultimately be obtained in human clinical trials. As a result, we will need to perform significant additional research and development and extensive preclinical and clinical testing prior to any application for commercial use. We may suffer significant setbacks in clinical trials, and the trials may demonstrate our product candidates to be unsafe or ineffective. We may also encounter problems in our clinical trials that will cause us to delay, suspend or terminate those clinical trials, which would increase our development costs and harm our financial results and commercial prospects. Identifying and qualifying patients to participate in clinical trials of our potential products is critically important to our success. The timing of our clinical trials depends on the speed at which we can recruit patients to participate in testing our product candidates. We have experienced delays in some of our clinical trials, including a significant delay in the activation of our STS Phase III study with COG, and we may experience significant delays in the future. If patients are unwilling to participate in our trials because of competitive clinical trials for similar patient populations, perceived risk or any other reason, the timeline for recruiting patients, conducting trials and obtaining regulatory approval of potential products will be delayed. Other factors that may result in significant delays include obtaining regulatory or ethics review board approvals for proposed trials, reaching agreement on acceptable terms with prospective clinical trial sites, and obtaining sufficient quantities of drug for use in the clinical trials. Such delays could result in termination of the clinical trials altogether.

Regulatory approval of our product candidates is time-consuming, expensive and uncertain, and could result in unexpectedly high expenses and delay our ability to sell our products.

Development, manufacture and marketing of our products are subject to extensive regulation by governmental authorities in the United States and other countries. This regulation could require us to incur significant unexpected expenses or delay or limit our ability to sell our product candidates, including specifically eniluracil, ADH-1 and STS, our product candidates that are farthest along in development and the regulatory approval process.

Our clinical studies might be delayed or halted, or additional studies might be required, for various reasons, including:

 

   

the drug is not shown to be effective;

 

   

patients experience severe side effects during treatment;

 

   

appropriate patients do not enroll in the studies at the rate expected;

 

   

drug supplies are not sufficient to treat the patients in the studies; or

 

   

we decide to modify the drug during testing.

If regulatory approval of any product is granted, it will be limited to those indications for which the product has been shown to be safe and effective, as demonstrated to the FDA’s satisfaction through clinical studies. Furthermore, approval might entail ongoing requirements for post-marketing studies. Even if regulatory approval is obtained, labeling and promotional activities are subject to continual scrutiny by the FDA and state regulatory agencies and, in some circumstances, the Federal Trade Commission. FDA enforcement policy prohibits the marketing of approved products for unapproved, or off-label, uses. These regulations and the FDA’s interpretation of them might impair our ability to effectively market our products.

We and our third-party manufacturers are also required to comply with the applicable FDA current Good Manufacturing Practices, or GMP, regulations, which include requirements relating to quality control and quality assurance, as well as the corresponding maintenance of records and documentation. Further, manufacturing facilities must be approved by the FDA before they can be used to manufacture our products, and they are subject to additional FDA inspection. If we fail to comply with any of the FDA’s continuing regulations, we could be subject to reputational harm and sanctions, including:

 

   

delays, warning letters and fines;

 

   

product recalls or seizures and injunctions on sales;

 

   

refusal of the FDA to review pending applications;

 

   

total or partial suspension of production;

 

   

withdrawals of previously approved marketing applications; and

 

   

civil penalties and criminal prosecutions.

In addition, identification of side effects after a drug is on the market or the occurrence of manufacturing problems could cause subsequent withdrawal of approval, reformulation of the drug, additional testing or changes in labeling of the product.

 

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If we do not maintain current or enter into new collaborations with other companies, we might not successfully develop our product candidates or generate sufficient revenues to expand our business.

We currently rely on scientific and research collaboration arrangements with academic institutions and other collaborators, including our Development and License Agreement for eniluracil with GSK, a general collaboration agreement with McGill University for ADH-1 and other related compounds, and an exclusive worldwide license from OHSU for STS.

The agreements with McGill and OHSU are terminable by either party in the event of an uncured breach by the other party. We may also terminate our agreement with McGill and OHSU at any time upon prior written notice of specified durations to the licensor. Termination of any of our collaborative arrangements could materially adversely affect our business. In addition, our collaborators might not perform as agreed in the future.

In addition to the collaborative arrangements above, we have received approval from the DDG of the U.S. National Cancer Institute’s Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis for a Level III collaboration for the clinical development of our lead biotechnology compound, ADH-1. The NCI has no obligation to sponsor future clinical trials of ADH-1 or to continue to perform any preclinical work for us and may terminate the collaboration at any time, as may we. The success of our business strategy will be dependent on our ability to maintain current and enter into new collaborations with other industry participants that advance the development and clinical testing of, regulatory approval for and commercialization of our product candidates, as well as collaborations that provide us with funding, such as licensing fees, milestone payments, royalties, up-front payments or otherwise. We may not be successful in maintaining current collaborations or establishing any future collaborations and any collaborations we have or may establish may not lead to the successful development of our product candidates.

Since we conduct a significant portion of our early stage research and development through collaborations, our success may depend significantly on the performance of such collaborators, as well as any future collaborators. Collaborators might not commit sufficient resources to the research and development or commercialization of our product candidates. Economic or technological advantages of products being developed by others, or other factors could lead our collaborators to pursue other product candidates or technologies in preference to those being developed in collaboration with us. The commercial potential of, development stage of and projected resources required to develop our drug candidates will affect our ability to maintain current collaborations or establish new collaborators. There is a risk of dispute with respect to ownership of technology developed under any collaboration. Our management of any collaboration will require significant time and effort as well as an effective allocation of resources. We may not be able to simultaneously manage a large number of collaborations.

We do not presently have the financial or human resources to complete Phase III trials for our lead product candidates.

We do not presently have the financial or human resources internally to complete Phase III trials for any of our lead product candidates. We are currently developing STS in a Phase III trial in collaboration with SIOPEL and COG. SIOPEL and COG may not conduct or complete the clinical trials with STS as currently planned. Such collaborators might not commit sufficient resources to the development of our product candidates, which may lead to significant delays. We have already experienced significant delays in getting the COG trial launched. We may not be able to independently develop or conduct such trials ourselves. We intend to seek a licensing or funding partner for the further development of one or all of our products. If a partner for one or all of these technologies is not found, we may not be able to further advance these products. If a partner is found, the financial terms that they propose may not be acceptable to us.

As we expand the size of our organization, we may experience difficulties in effectively managing our growth, which could adversely impact our business.

Our planned future growth will strain our management, human, operational, financial and other resources. As of December 31, 2007, we had 19 full-time employees. We also use contractors as needed, primarily within the clinical development function with approximately five (5) full time equivalents at December 31, 2007. In order to manage our future growth effectively, we will have to implement and improve operational, financial, manufacturing and management information systems and to expand, train, manage and motivate our employees. To the extent that we are unable to manage our growth effectively, we may not be able to successfully accomplish our business objectives.

We may expand our business through new acquisitions that could disrupt our business, harm our financial condition and dilute current stockholders’ ownership interests in the Company.

Our business strategy includes expanding our products and capabilities, and we may seek acquisitions to do so. Acquisitions involve numerous risks, including:

 

   

substantial cash expenditures;

 

   

potentially dilutive issuance of equity securities;

 

   

incurrence of debt and contingent liabilities, some of which may be difficult or impossible to identify at the time of acquisition;

 

   

difficulties in assimilating the operations of the acquired companies;

 

   

diverting our management’s attention away from other business concerns;

 

   

risks of entering markets in which we have limited or no direct experience; and

 

   

the potential loss of our key employees or key employees of the acquired companies.

We cannot assure you that any acquisition will result in short-term or long-term benefits to us. We may incorrectly judge the value or worth of an acquired company or business. In addition, our future success would depend in part on our ability to assimilate acquired companies and their personnel effectively. We might not be able to make the combination of our business with that of acquired businesses or companies work or be successful. Furthermore, the development or expansion of our business or any acquired business or companies may require a substantial capital

 

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investment by us. We may not have the necessary funds or they might not be available to us on acceptable terms or at all. We may also seek to raise the necessary funds by selling shares of our stock, which could dilute current stockholder’s ownership interest in our Company.

If we lose our key personnel or are unable to attract and retain personnel, we may be unable to effectively manage our business and successfully develop our product candidates.

Our success depends upon certain key personnel, in particular Dr. William P. Peters, our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board, the loss of whose services might significantly delay or prevent the achievement of our scientific or business objectives. Although we have an employment agreement with Dr. Peters through March 2010, and with each of our other key personnel, we cannot be certain that any individual will continue in such capacity for any particular period of time. The loss of any key personnel, or the inability to hire and retain qualified employees, could negatively affect our ability to manage our business. We do not currently carry key person life insurance.

If our licenses to proprietary technology owned by others are terminated or expire, we may suffer increased development costs and delays, and we may not be able to successfully develop our product candidates.

The development of our drug candidates and the manufacture and sale of any products that we develop will involve the use of processes, products and information, some of the rights to which are owned by others. A number of our product candidates are licensed under agreements with GSK, McGill and OHSU. Although we have obtained licenses or rights with regard to the use of certain processes, products and information, the licenses or rights could be terminated or expire during critical periods and we may not be able to obtain, on favorable terms or at all, licenses or other rights that may be required. Some of these licenses provide for limited periods of exclusivity that may be extended only with the consent of the licensor, which may not be granted.

If we are unable to adequately protect our patents and licenses related to our product candidates, or we infringe upon the intellectual property rights of others, we may not be able to successfully develop and commercialize our product candidates.

The value of our technology will depend in part upon our ability, and that of our collaborators, to obtain patent protection or licenses to patents, maintain trade secret protection and operate without infringing on the rights of third parties. Although we have successfully pursued patent applications in the past, it is possible that:

 

   

some or all of our pending patent applications, or those we have licensed, may not be allowed;

 

   

proprietary products or processes that we develop in the future may not be patentable;

 

   

any issued patents that we own or license may not provide us with any competitive advantages or may be successfully challenged by third parties; or

 

   

the patents of others may have an adverse effect on our ability to do business.

It is not possible for us to be certain that we are the original and first creator of inventions encompassed by our pending patent applications or that we were the first to file patent applications for any such inventions. Further, any of our patents, once issued, may be declared by a court to be invalid or unenforceable.

ADH-1 is currently protected under issued composition of matter patents in the United States that we exclusively licensed from McGill that expire in 2017. Eniluracil is currently protected under issued composition of matter and method patents that we exclusively licensed from GSK that expire in 2014 and 2015 (in combination with 5-fluorouracil). STS is currently protected by method of use patents that we exclusively licensed from OHSU that expire in Europe in 2021 and are currently pending in the United States. None of the above expiry dates take into consideration additional pending patent applications for ADH-1 and eniluracil that, if issued, could provide additional patent protection nor possible patent term extensions or periods of data exclusivity that may be available upon marketing approval in the various countries worldwide. In addition, periods of marketing exclusivity for ADH-1 and STS may also be possible in the United States under orphan drug status. We obtained U.S. Orphan Drug Designation for the use of STS in the prevention of platinum-induced ototoxicity in pediatric patients in 2004 and for the use of ADH-1 in conjunction with melphalan for the treatment of Stage IIB/C, III, and IV malignant melanoma in 2008, and as a result, if approved, will have seven years of exclusivity in the United States from the approval date.

We may be required to obtain licenses under patents or other proprietary rights of third parties but the extent to which we may wish or need to do so is unknown. Any such licenses may not be available on terms acceptable to us or at all. If such licenses are obtained, it is likely they would be royalty bearing, which would reduce our income. If licenses cannot be obtained on an economical basis, we could suffer delays in market introduction of planned products or their introduction could be prevented, in some cases after the expenditure of substantial funds. If we do not obtain such licenses, we would have to design around patents of third parties, potentially causing increased costs and delays in product development and introduction or precluding us from developing, manufacturing or selling our planned products, or our ability to develop, manufacture or sell products requiring such licenses could be foreclosed.

Litigation may also be necessary to enforce or defend patents issued or licensed to us or our collaborators or to determine the scope and validity of a third party’s proprietary rights. We could incur substantial costs if litigation is required to defend ourselves in patent suits brought by third parties, if we participate in patent suits brought against or initiated by our collaborators, or if we initiate such suits. We might not prevail in any such action. An adverse outcome in litigation or an interference to determine priority or other proceeding in a court or patent office could subject us to significant liabilities, require disputed rights to be licensed from other parties or require us or our collaborators to cease using certain technology or products. Any of these events would likely have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Much of our technological know-how that is not patentable may constitute trade secrets. Our confidentiality agreements might not provide for meaningful protection of our trade secrets, know-how or other proprietary information in the event of any unauthorized use or disclosure of information. In addition, others may independently develop or obtain similar technology and may be able to market competing products and obtain

 

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regulatory approval through a showing of equivalency to our product that has obtained regulatory approvals, without being required to undertake the same lengthy and expensive clinical studies that we would have already completed.

The vulnerability to off-label use or sale of our product candidates that are covered only by “method of use” patents may cause downward pricing pressure on these product candidates if they are ever commercialized and may make it more difficult for us to enter into collaboration or partnering arrangements for the development of these product candidates.

Some of our product candidates, including STS, are currently only covered by “method of use” patents, which cover the use of certain compounds to treat specific conditions, and not by “composition of matter” patents, which would cover the chemical composition of the compound. Method of use patents provide less protection than composition of matter patents because of the possibility of off-label competition if other companies develop or market the compound for other uses. If another company markets a drug that we expect to market under the protection of a method of use patent, physicians may prescribe the other company’s drug for use in the indication for which we obtain approval and have a patent, even if the other company’s drug is not approved for such an indication. Off-label use and sales could limit our sales and exert pricing pressure on any products we develop covered only by method of use patents. Also, it may be more difficult to find a collaborator to license or support the development of our product candidates that are only covered by method of use patents.

If our third party manufacturers breach or terminate their agreements with us, or if we are unable to secure arrangements with third party manufacturers on acceptable terms as needed in the future, we may suffer significant delays and additional costs.

We have no experience manufacturing products and do not currently have the resources to manufacture any products that we may develop. We currently have agreements with contract manufacturers for clinical supplies of ADH-1, STS, eniluracil and 5-FU, including drug substance providers and drug product suppliers, but they might not perform as agreed in the future or may terminate our agreement with them before the end of the required term. Significant additional time and expense would be required to effect a transition to a new contract manufacturer.

We plan to continue to rely on contract manufacturers for the foreseeable future to produce quantities of products and substances necessary for research and development, preclinical trials, human clinical trials and product commercialization, and to perform their obligations in a timely manner and in accordance with applicable government regulations. If we develop any products with commercial potential, we will need to develop the facilities to independently manufacture such products or secure arrangements with third parties to manufacture them. We may not be able to independently develop manufacturing capabilities or obtain favorable terms for the manufacture of our products. While we intend to contract for the commercial manufacture of our product candidates, we may not be able to identify and qualify contractors or obtain favorable contracting terms. We or our contract manufacturers may also fail to meet required manufacturing standards, which could result in delays or failures in product delivery, increased costs, injury or death to patients, product recalls or withdrawals and other problems that could significantly hurt our business. We intend to maintain a second source for back-up commercial manufacturing, wherever feasible. However, if a replacement to our future internal or contract manufacturers were required, the ability to establish second-sourcing or find a replacement manufacturer may be difficult due to the lead times generally required to manufacture drugs and the need for FDA compliance inspections and approvals of any replacement manufacturer, all of which factors could result in production delays and additional commercialization costs. Such lead times would vary based on the situation, but might be twelve months or longer.

We lack the resources necessary to effectively market our product candidates, and we may need to rely on third parties over whom we have little or no control and who may not perform as expected.

We do not have the necessary resources to market our product candidates. If we develop any products with commercial potential, we will either have to develop a marketing capability, including a sales force, which is difficult and expensive to implement successfully, or attempt to enter into a collaboration, merger, joint venture, license or other arrangement with third parties to provide a substantial portion of the financial and other resources needed to market such products. We may not be able to do so on acceptable terms, if at all. If we rely extensively on third parties to market our products, the commercial success of such products may be largely outside of our control.

We conduct our business internationally and are subject to laws and regulations of several countries which may affect our ability to access regulatory agencies and may affect the enforceability and value of our licenses.

We have conducted clinical trials in the United States, Canada, Europe and the Pacific Rim and intend to, or may, conduct future clinical trials in these and other jurisdictions. There can be no assurance that any sovereign government will not establish laws or regulations that will be deleterious to our interests. There is no assurance that we, as a Canadian corporation, will continue to have access to the regulatory agencies in any jurisdiction where we might want to conduct clinical trials or obtain regulatory approval, and we might not be able to enforce our license or patent rights in foreign jurisdictions. Foreign exchange controls may have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition, since such controls may limit our ability to flow funds into or out of a particular country to meet obligations under licenses, clinical trial agreements or other collaborations.

Risks Related to Our Industry

If we are unable to obtain applicable U.S. and/or foreign regulatory approvals, we will be unable to develop and commercialize our drug candidates.

The preclinical studies and clinical trials of our product candidates, as well as the manufacturing, labeling, sale and distribution, export or import, marketing, advertising and promotion of our product candidates are subject to various regulatory frameworks in the United States, Canada and other countries. Any products that we develop must receive all relevant regulatory approvals and clearances before any marketing, sale or distribution. The regulatory process, which includes extensive preclinical studies and clinical testing to establish product safety and efficacy, can take many years and cost substantial amounts of money. As a result of the length of time, many challenges and costs associated with the drug development process, the historical rate of failures for drug candidates is extremely high. For example, prior development of our compound eniluracil by GSK was not successful. Varying interpretations of the data obtained from studies and tests could delay, limit or prevent regulatory

 

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approval or clearance. Changes in regulatory policy could also cause delays or affect regulatory approval. Any regulatory delays may increase our development costs and negatively impact our competitiveness and prospects. It is possible that we may not be able to obtain regulatory approval of any of our drug candidates or approvals may take longer and cost more to obtain than expected.

Regulatory approvals, if granted, may entail limitations on the uses for which any products we develop may be marketed, limiting the potential sales for any such products. The granting of product approvals can be withdrawn at any time, and manufacturers of approved products are subject to regular reviews, including for compliance with GMP. Failure to comply with any applicable regulatory requirement, which may change from time to time, can result in warning letters, fines, sanctions, penalties, recalling or seizing products, suspension of production, or even criminal prosecution.

Future sales of our product candidates may suffer if they fail to achieve market acceptance.

Even if our product candidates are successfully developed and achieve appropriate regulatory approval, they may not enjoy commercial acceptance or success. Product candidates may compete with a number of new and traditional drugs and therapies developed by major pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Market acceptance is dependent on product candidates demonstrating clinical efficacy and safety, as well as demonstrating advantages over alternative treatment methods. In addition, market acceptance is influenced by government reimbursement policies and the ability of third parties to pay for such products. Physicians, patients, the medical community or patients may not accept or utilize any products we may develop.

We face a strong competitive environment. Other companies may develop or commercialize more effective or cheaper products, which may reduce or eliminate the demand for our product candidates.

The biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry, and in particular the field of cancer therapeutics where we focus, is very competitive. Many companies and research organizations are engaged in the research, development and testing of new cancer therapies or means of increasing the effectiveness of existing therapies, including, among many others, Abbott Laboratories, Amgen, Antisoma, Adventrix, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Bristol-Myers Squibb, EntreMed, Genentech, Johnson & Johnson, Merck & Co., NeoPharm, Novartis, Onyx, OSI Pharmaceuticals, OXiGENE, Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer, Roche, Taiho and Sanofi-Aventis. Many of these companies have marketed drugs or are developing targeted cancer therapeutics which, depending upon the mechanism of action of such agents, could thus be competitors.

Many of our existing or potential competitors have substantially greater financial, technical and human resources than we do and may be better equipped to develop, manufacture and market products. In addition, many of these competitors have extensive experience with preclinical testing and human clinical trials and in obtaining regulatory approvals. Also, some of the smaller companies that compete with us have formed collaborative relationships with large, established companies to support the research, development, clinical trials and commercialization of any products that they may develop. Academic institutions, government agencies and other public and private research organizations may also conduct research, seek patent protection and establish collaborative arrangements for research, clinical development and marketing of products similar to those we seek to develop. These companies and institutions compete with us in recruiting and retaining qualified scientific and management personnel as well as in acquiring technologies complementary to our projects.

We are likely to face competition in the areas of product efficacy and safety, ease of use and adaptability, as well as pricing, product acceptance, regulatory approvals and intellectual property. Competitors could develop more effective, safer and more affordable products than we do, and they may obtain patent protection or product commercialization before we do or even render our product candidates obsolete. The existence of competitive products, including products or treatments of which we are not aware, or products or treatments that may be developed in the future, may adversely affect the marketability of any products that we develop.

We may face product liability claims that could require us to defend costly lawsuits or incur substantial liabilities that could adversely impact our financial condition, receipt of regulatory approvals for our product candidates and our results of operation.

The use of our product candidates in clinical trials and for commercial applications, if any, may expose us to liability claims in the event that such product candidates cause injury or death or result in other adverse effects. These claims could be made by health care institutions, contract laboratories, subjects participating in our clinical studies, patients or others using our product candidates. In addition to liability claims, certain serious adverse events could require interruption, delay and/or discontinuation of a clinical trial and potentially prevent further development of the product candidate. We carry clinical trial insurance with a policy limit of $5.0 million, but the coverage may not be sufficient to protect us from legal expenses and liabilities we might incur. Litigation is very expensive, even if we are successful. In addition, our existing coverage may not be adequate if we further develop products, and future coverage may not be available in sufficient amounts or at reasonable cost. Adverse liability claims may also harm our ability to obtain or maintain regulatory approvals.

We use hazardous material and chemicals in our research and development, and our failure to comply with laws related to hazardous materials could materially harm us.

Our research and development processes involve the controlled use of hazardous materials, such as flammable organic solvents, corrosive acids and corrosive bases. Accordingly, we are subject to federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations governing the use, manufacture, storage, handling and disposal of such materials and certain waste products. While we believe that our safety procedures for handling and disposing of such materials will comply with the standards prescribed by applicable federal, state, local or foreign regulations, the risk of accidental contamination or injury from these materials cannot be completely eliminated. In the event of such an accident, we could be held liable for any damages that result and any such liability could exceed our resources and may not be covered by our general liability insurance. We currently do not carry insurance specifically for hazardous materials claims. We may be required to incur significant costs to comply with environmental laws and regulations, which may change from time to time.

Efforts to reduce product pricing and health care reimbursement and changes to government policies could negatively affect the commercialization of our product candidates.

 

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If any of our product candidates achieve regulatory approval, we may be materially adversely affected by the continuing efforts of governmental and third-party payors to contain or reduce health care costs. For example, if we succeed in bringing one or more products to market, such products may not be considered cost-effective and the availability of consumer reimbursement may not exist or be sufficient to allow the sale of such products on a competitive basis. The constraints on pricing and availability of competitive products may further limit our pricing and reimbursement policies as well as adversely impact market acceptance and commercialization for the products.

In some foreign markets, the pricing or profitability of healthcare products is subject to government control. In recent years, federal, state, provincial and local officials and legislators have proposed or are proposing a variety of price-based reforms to the healthcare systems in the United States and Canada. Some proposals include measures that would limit or eliminate payments from third-party payors to the consumer for certain medical procedures and treatments or allow government control of pharmaceutical pricing. The adoption of any such proposals or reforms could adversely affect the commercial viability of our product candidates.

Any significant changes in the healthcare system in the United States, Canada or abroad would likely have a substantial impact on the manner in which we conduct business and could have a material adverse effect on our ability to raise capital and the viability of product commercialization.

New accounting or regulatory pronouncements may impact our future financial position and results of operations.

There may be new accounting or regulatory pronouncements or rulings, which could have an impact on our future financial position and results of operations. Changing laws, regulations and standards relating to corporate governance and public disclosures can create uncertainty and such uncertainty may lead to increased expenses and exposure to liabilities.

Risks Related to Owning Our Common Shares

We are a passive foreign investment company under U.S. tax law, which has adverse tax consequences for our U.S. shareholders.

As further described in Item 5. “Market for the Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities” – “Material United States Federal and Canadian Income Tax Consequences” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, we have determined that we are currently a Passive Foreign Investment Company, or PFIC, under U.S. tax law and likely will continue to be a PFIC at least until we develop a source of significant operating revenues. As a result, there may be adverse tax consequences to U.S. holders of our common shares. A U.S. holder whose holding period for our shares includes a period during which we are classified as a PFIC generally may be required to treat certain excess distributions with respect to our shares and gains realized on the disposition of our shares as ordinary income earned ratably over the holder’s holding period and may be subject to a special tax and interest charge on amounts treated as earned in the periods in which we are a PFIC. In addition, the holder’s shares may not receive a “stepped-up” basis upon a transfer at death. These PFIC tax rules may not apply if a U.S. holder makes an election for the first taxable year of the holder’s holding period to be taxed currently on the holder’s pro rata share of our ordinary earnings and net capital gain for any year we are a PFIC. Alternatively, a U.S. holder may avoid the special tax and interest charge on excess distributions and gains by making an election to mark the shares to market annually during any period in which we are a PFIC and our shares are treated as marketable shares. If a mark-to-market election is made, amounts included in or deducted from income pursuant to the election and actual gains and losses realized upon disposition generally may be treated as ordinary gains or losses. Whether or not an applicable election is made, if we are classified as a PFIC for the taxable year in which a dividend is paid, or for the preceding taxable year, a dividend paid to a non-corporate U.S. holder may not qualify for the reduced long-term capital gains rates. These tax issues could make our stock less attractive to U.S. investors and therefore negatively affect our stock price and the ability to sell our shares.

The market price of our Common Shares is highly volatile and could cause the value of your investment to significantly decline.

Historically, the market price of our common shares has been highly volatile and the market for our common shares has from time to time experienced significant price and volume fluctuations, some of which are unrelated to our operating performance. From November 12, 2004 to March 17, 2008, the trading price of our stock fluctuated from a high closing price of CAD$2.09 per share to a low closing price of CAD$0.23 per share on the TSX, and from a high closing price of $1.71 per share to a low closing price of $0.20 per share on the AMEX. Historically, our common shares have had a low trading volume, and may continue to have a low trading volume in the future. This low volume may contribute to the volatility of the market price of our common shares. It is likely that the market price of our common shares will continue to fluctuate significantly in the future.

The market price of our stock may be significantly affected by many factors, including without limitation:

 

   

innovations related to our or our competitors’ products;

 

   

actual or potential clinical trial results related to our or our competitors’ products;

 

   

our financial results or those of our competitors;

 

   

reports of securities analysts regarding us or our competitors;

 

   

announcements of licensing agreements, joint ventures, collaborations or other strategic alliances that involve our products or those of our competitors;

 

   

developments or disputes concerning our licensed or owned patents or those of our competitors;

 

   

economic and other external factors generally or stock market trends in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industries specifically;

 

   

developments with respect to the efficacy or safety or our products or those of our competitors; and

 

   

health care reforms and reimbursement policy changes nationally and internationally.

 

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There are a large number of our common shares underlying outstanding warrants and options, and reserved for issuance under our stock option plan, that may be sold in the market, which could depress the market price of our stock and result in substantial dilution to the holders of our common shares.

Sale or issuance of a substantial number of our common shares in the future could cause the market price of our common stock to decline. It may also impair our ability to obtain additional financing. As of December 31, 2007, we had outstanding warrants to purchase approximately 7.6 million of our common shares at an exercise price of CAD$2.15 per share, and outstanding warrants to purchase approximately 48.2 million of our common shares at exercise prices ranging from $0.33 to $1.75. In addition, as of December 31, 2007, there were approximately 15.6 million common shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options granted by us of which approximately 2.9 million were denominated in Canadian dollars and had a weighted average exercise price of CAD$2.18 per common share and approximately 12.7 million denominated in U.S. dollars and had a weighted average exercise price of $0.58 per common share. In addition, on February 27, 2008, we issued 3.2 million stock options with an exercise price of $0.38. We may also issue further warrants as part of any future financings as well as the additional 1.8 million common shares currently remaining available for issuance under our stock option plan.

We are no longer a foreign private issuer and may incur additional expenses associated with compliance with the U.S. securities laws applicable to U.S. domestic issuers.

We must now comply with the provisions of U.S. securities laws applicable to U.S. domestic issuers including, without limitation, the U.S. proxy solicitation rules, Regulation FD and the Section 16 short swing profit rules. As a result, we must now report on the forms required of U.S. companies, such as Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K, rather than the forms we have filed with the SEC in the past as a foreign private issuer, such as Forms 20-F and 6-K. Compliance with these additional securities laws may result in increased expenses. In addition, we will now be subject to additional restrictions on offers and sales of securities outside of the United States, including in Canada. To the extent that we were to offer or sell our securities outside of the United States in the future, we will have to comply with the generally more restrictive Regulation S requirements that apply to U.S. companies.

We have not paid any dividends since incorporation and do not anticipate declaring any dividends in the foreseeable future. As a result, you will not be able to recoup your investment through the payment of dividends on your Common Shares and the lack of a dividend payable on our Common Shares might depress the value of your investment.

We will use all available funds to finance the development of our product candidates and operation of our business. Our directors will determine if and when dividends should be declared and paid in the future based on our financial position at the relevant time, but since we have no present plans to pay dividends, you should not expect receipt of dividends either for your cash needs or to enhance the value of your common shares.

There is no public market for our outstanding warrants.

We have not and do not intend to list any of our outstanding warrants on any securities exchange or to arrange for any quotation system to quote them. We cannot assure you that there will be a liquid trading market for our warrants or that a trading market for our warrants will develop.

Our existing principal stockholders hold a substantial number of our Common Shares and may be able to exercise influence in matters requiring approval of stockholders.

As of December 31, 2007, our current 5% stockholders beneficially own approximately 60% of our Common Shares. In particular, Southpoint Capital Advisors LP owns or exercises control over 41.5 million Common Shares, representing approximately 32% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares and 42% beneficially owned (assuming full exercise of the 20.8 million warrants issued to Southpoint Capital but no other outstanding warrants or options). In addition, Mr. Robert Butts, Co-Founder and Portfolio Manager of Southpoint Capital Advisors LP, serves as a member of our Board of Directors. Southpoint Capital, our other 5% stockholders, as well as other insiders, acting alone or together, might be able to influence the outcomes of matters that require the approval of our stockholders, including but not limited to the election and removal of directors, an acquisition or merger with another company, certain equity transactions, a sale of substantially all of our assets, or amendments to our incorporating documents. These stockholders might make decisions that are adverse to your interests. The concentration of ownership could have the effect of delaying, preventing or deterring a change of control of our company, which could adversely affect the market price of our Common Shares or deprive our other stockholders of an opportunity to receive a premium for their Common Shares as part of a sale of our company.

 

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments

None.

 

Item 2. Properties

We lease two facilities, one of which we sublease to another tenant. The facility we occupy has approximately 18,272 square feet of laboratory and office space in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina and the current monthly lease payments are approximately $30,000 and the lease expires in August 2012. The subleased space consists of approximately 7,636 square feet of laboratory and office space and the current monthly payments are approximately $10,000 and the lease expires in March 2010 and is sublet through March 31, 2008. The sublease agreement is on the same terms as our original lease.

 

Item 3. Legal Proceedings

None.

 

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

None.

 

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Executive Officers of the Registrant

The following table sets forth information concerning our executive officers as of March 17, 2008:

 

Name

   Age   

Position

Dr. William P. Peters

   57    Chief Executive Officer and Chairman

Dr. Robin J. Norris

   61    President and Chief Operating Officer

James A. Klein, Jr.

   45    Chief Financial Officer

D. Scott Murray

   38    Senior Vice President, Corporate Development, General Counsel and Secretary

William P. Peters, MD, PhD, MBA. Dr. Peters has been the Chief Executive Officer of Adherex since March 2003, the Chairman of our Board since February 2004, and a member of the Board since November 2002. From March 2003 to February 2004, Dr. Peters served as the Vice Chairman of the Board. Dr. Peters has served on the faculty at Harvard University, Duke University and Wayne State University. He originated the solid tumor high-dose chemotherapy and bone marrow transplant program at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and was Director of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Professor of Medicine at Duke University from 1984 to 1995 and was an Associate Director of the Cancer Center. He then served as President, Director and CEO of the Karmanos Cancer Institute from 1995 to 2001. Simultaneously, he served as Associate Dean for Cancer at Wayne State University and Senior Vice President for Cancer Services at the Detroit Medical Center. In 2001, he organized the Institute for Strategic Analysis and Innovation at the Detroit Medical Center of which he served as President. Dr. Peters has three Bachelor degrees (Biochemistry, Biophysics and Philosophy) from Pennsylvania State University, received his MPhil, MD and PhD degrees from the Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons in New York and trained clinically at Harvard University Medical School’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. He is board certified in internal medicine and medical oncology. He earned his MBA at the Duke University Fuqua School of Business.

Robin J. Norris, MD. Dr. Norris has been the Chief Operating Officer of Adherex since January 2002, President of Adherex since June 2002 and a member of the Board since November 2002. Prior to joining Adherex, Dr. Norris was Chief Operating Officer and Chairman of the Scientific Advisors Committee of PowderJect plc from March 1998 to December 2001 and Chief Operating Officer of Noven Inc. from March 1995 to March 1998. Dr. Norris received his medical education and degree in the United Kingdom with postgraduate qualifications in obstetrics, general medicine and pharmaceutical medicine. Following eight years of clinical practice, Dr. Norris has spent over 25 years in the pharmaceutical industry, predominantly based in the United States, but with global drug development responsibilities. During his career, Dr. Norris has been responsible for the successful development of a wide range of pharmaceutical products and devices, moving and transitioning them from fundamental “bench-level” research and development through the regulatory process and into the global marketplace.

James A. Klein, Jr., CPA. Mr. Klein joined Adherex as Chief Financial Officer in April 2004. From 1999 to April 2004, Mr. Klein founded and served as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of DataScout Software Inc., a company that develops and commercializes software for the pharmaceutical industry. From 1995 to 1999, Mr. Klein served as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Triangle Pharmaceuticals Inc., a publicly traded pharmaceutical company. Prior to that, Mr. Klein was the International Research and Development Financial Controller for Burroughs Wellcome Co., an international pharmaceutical group. Mr. Klein is a Certified Public Accountant.

D. Scott Murray, BScPharm, LLB, MBA. Mr. Murray has been General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Adherex since February 2003, a Vice President of the Company since September 2003 and Senior Vice President, Corporate Development since February 2007. Prior to joining Adherex, Mr. Murray was an Associate at Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP in Toronto specializing in private and public corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions as well as securities compliance and pharmaceutical regulatory matters. At Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP, Mr. Murray worked with a number of international pharmaceutical corporations, some of the largest securities dealers in North America, various early-stage biotechnology clients and also spent a secondment in the legal department of General Motors of Canada. Prior to joining Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP, Mr. Murray practiced as a pharmacist for over seven years, including several retail pharmacy management positions. Mr. Murray holds a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy degree from Dalhousie University and LLB and MBA degrees from the University of Ottawa.

 

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Part II

 

Item 5. Market for the Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuers Purchases of Equity Securities

Our common stock has been traded on the American Stock Exchange, or AMEX, under the trading symbol “ADH” since November 12, 2004 and on the Toronto Stock Exchange, or TSX, under the trading symbol “AHX” since June 5, 2001. The following table sets forth the quarterly high and low market closing prices, and average daily trading volume on the AMEX and the TSX, for the two most recent full financial years:

 

     American Stock Exchange
(in U.S. dollars)
   Toronto Stock Exchange
(in Canadian dollars)
      High $    Low $    Volume    High $    Low $    Volume

Fiscal 2007:

                 

Quarter ended 12/31/07

   $ 0.43    $ 0.25    114,251    $ 0.43    0.23    16,622

Quarter ended 09/30/07

     0.57      0.26    177,938      0.59    0.27    75,130

Quarter ended 06/30/07

     0.69      0.44    684,122      0.76    0.48    88,394

Quarter ended 03/31/07

     0.54      0.28    481,203      0.65    0.32    100,693

Fiscal 2006:

                 

Quarter ended 12/31/06

     0.44    $ 0.31    119,038      0.52    0.35    40,284

Quarter ended 09/30/06

     0.66      0.32    100,338      0.72    0.35    34,439

Quarter ended 06/30/06

     1.11      0.64    53,284      1.32    0.70    20,125

Quarter ended 03/31/06

     1.40      0.82    50,006      1.64    0.88    23,019

On March 17, 2008, the last reported sale price on the AMEX was $0.35 per share. As of March 17, 2008, the last reported sale on the TSX was CAD$0.30 per share.

Record Holders

As of March 17, 2008, there were approximately 88 shareholders of record of our common stock, one of which was Cede & Co., a nominee for Depository Trust Company, or DTC, and one of which was The Canadian Depository for Securities Limited, or CDS. All of our common shares held by brokerage firms, banks and other financial institutions in the U.S. or Canada as nominees for beneficial owners are considered to be held of record by Cede & Co. in respect of brokerage firms, banks and other financial institutions located in Canada. Cede & Co. and CDS are each considered to be one shareholder of record.

Relative Stock Performance

The following line graph compares the percentage change, from June 30, 2003 to December 31, 2007, in cumulative total shareholder return for $100 (CAD$ for TSX and US$ for AMEX) invested in our common stock with cumulative total return of the AMEX Composite, the AMEX Biotechnology Index and the S&P/TSX Composite Total Return Index. Note the line graph reflects our change in year end from June 30th to December 31st in June 2004. The line graph also reflects the November 12, 2004 commencement of trading on the AMEX stock exchange.

LOGO

Dividend Policy

 

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We have never declared or paid cash dividends on our common stock. We currently expect to retain future earnings, if any, for use in the operation and expansion of business and do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future.

Material United States Federal and Canadian Income Tax Consequences

This section summarizes the material U.S. federal and Canadian federal income tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of the common stock. Nothing contained herein shall be construed as tax advice; you must rely only on the advice of your own tax advisor. We make no assurances as to the applicability of any tax laws with respect to any individual investment. In this section, we have calculated whether it meets certain thresholds related to its status under various U.S. tax rules. Any such calculation is dependent on many facts, not all of which may be known to us and any of which might change, which could change the results of any calculation.

This summary relating to the common stock applies to the beneficial owners who are individuals, corporations, trusts and estates which:

 

   

at all relevant times are: (i) U.S. persons for purposes of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or the Code, as amended, through the date hereof, (ii) non-residents of Canada for purposes of the Income Tax Act (Canada), or the Income Tax Act, and (iii) residents of the United States for purposes of, and entitled to all the benefits under, the Canada-United States Income Tax Convention (1980), or the Tax Treaty, as amended through the date hereof;

 

   

hold common stock as capital assets for purposes of the Code and capital property for the purposes of the Income Tax Act;

 

   

deal at arm’s length with, and are not affiliated with, the Company for purposes of the Income Tax Act; and

 

   

do not and will not use or hold the common stock in carrying on a business in Canada.

Persons who satisfy the above conditions are referred to as “U.S. Shareholders.”

The tax consequences of an investment in common stock by persons who are not U.S. Shareholders may differ materially from the tax consequences discussed in this section. The Income Tax Act contains rules relating to securities held by some financial institutions. This Annual Report does not discuss these rules, and holders that are financial institutions should consult their own tax advisors. This discussion is based upon the following, all as currently in effect:

 

   

the Income Tax Act and regulations under the Income Tax Act;

 

   

the Code and Treasury regulations under the Code;

 

   

the Canada-United States Income Tax Convention (1980);

 

   

the administrative policies and practices published by the Canada Revenue Agency, formerly Revenue Canada;

 

   

all specific proposals to amend the Income Tax Act and the regulations under the Income Tax Act that have been publicly announced by or on behalf of the Minister of Finance (Canada) prior to the date of this report;

 

   

the administrative policies published by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service; and

 

   

judicial decisions.

All of the foregoing is subject to change either prospectively or retroactively. This summary does not take into account estate or gift tax laws, the tax laws of the various provinces or territories of Canada or the tax laws of the various state and local jurisdictions of the United States or foreign jurisdictions.

This discussion summarizes the material U.S. federal and Canadian federal income tax considerations of the ownership and disposition of common stock. This discussion does not address all possible tax consequences relating to an investment in common stock. No account has been taken of your particular circumstances and this summary does not address consequences peculiar to you if you are subject to special provisions of U.S. or Canadian income tax law (including, without limitation, dealers in securities or foreign currency, tax-exempt entities, banks, insurance companies or other financial institutions, persons that hold common stock as part of a “straddle,” “hedge” or “conversion transaction,” and U.S. Shareholders that have a “functional currency” other than the U.S. dollar or that own common stock through a partnership or other pass through entity). Therefore, you should consult your own tax advisor regarding the tax consequences of purchasing and owning common stock.

Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations

Subject to the discussion below regarding Foreign Personal Holding Company Rules, Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules and Controlled Foreign Corporation Rules, this section summarizes U.S. federal income tax consequences of ownership and disposition of the common stock.

U.S. Shareholders are generally required to include in income dividend distributions, if any, paid by a company to the extent of a company’s current or accumulated earnings and profits attributable to the distribution as computed based on U.S. income tax principles. The amount of any cash distribution paid in Canadian dollars will be equal to the U.S. dollar value of the Canadian dollars on the date of distribution based on the exchange rate on such date, regardless of whether the payment is in fact converted to U.S. dollars and without reduction for Canadian withholding tax. For a discussion of Canadian withholding taxes applicable to dividends paid by the Company, see “Material Canadian Federal Income Tax

 

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Considerations.” You will generally be entitled to a foreign tax credit or deduction in an amount equal to the Canadian tax withheld. To the extent distributions paid by a company on the common stock exceed the company’s current or accumulated earnings and profits, they will be treated first as a return of capital up to your adjusted tax basis in the shares and then as capital gain from the sale or exchange of the shares.

On May 28, 2003, the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003, or the 2003 Act, was signed into law. In general, the 2003 Act reduces the maximum rate of U.S. federal income tax on dividends paid to non-corporate U.S. holders to 15% for tax years from 2003 to 2008. In order to qualify for the reduced tax rates on dividends, a non-corporate shareholder must satisfy certain holding period requirements and must not be under an obligation (whether pursuant to a short sale or otherwise) to make related payments with respect to positions in substantially similar or related property. In some circumstances, this holding period may be increased. Additionally, the new tax rates do not apply to dividends, which a non-corporate shareholder elects to treat as investment income for purposes of Section 163(d)(4) of the Code.

Dividends received from a “qualified foreign corporation” are eligible for the reduced dividends tax rates under the 2003 Act. In general, a Canadian corporation entitled to all the benefits of the Tax Treaty will be treated as a qualified foreign corporation. In addition, a foreign corporation will be treated as a qualified foreign corporation with respect to any dividend paid by that corporation if the stock with respect to which the dividend is paid is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States. Regardless of the above rules, however, a foreign corporation will not be treated as a qualified foreign corporation if, for the taxable year of the corporation in which the dividend was paid, or the preceding taxable year, the corporation is classified for U.S. tax purposes as a foreign personal holding company, or FPHC, or a passive foreign investment company, or PFIC. Accordingly, any dividends paid by us in a year that we are a FPHC or a PFIC or in the next taxable year would not qualify for the reduced tax rates on dividends paid to non-corporate U.S. holders under the 2003 Act. As discussed below under “Foreign Personal Holding Company Rules” and “Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules,” we have determined that we are a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes and likely will continue to be a PFIC at least until we develop a source of significant operating revenues.

Dividends paid by the Company generally will constitute foreign source dividend income and “passive income” for purposes of the foreign tax credit, which could reduce the amount of foreign tax credits available to you. The Code applies various limitations on the amount of foreign tax credits that may be available to a U.S. tax payer.

Because of the complexity of those limitations, you should consult your own tax advisor with respect to the availability of foreign tax credits.

Dividends paid by the Company on the common stock generally will not be eligible for the “dividend received” deduction.

If you sell the common stock, you generally will recognize gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized on the sale and your adjusted tax basis in the shares. Any such gain or loss will be long-term or short-term capital gain or loss, depending on whether the shares have been held by you for more than one year, and will generally be U.S. source gain or loss.

Dividends paid by the Company on the common stock generally will be subject to U.S. information reporting, and a backup withholding tax may apply unless you furnish the paying agent or middleman with a duly completed and signed Form W-9. You will be allowed a refund or a credit equal to any amount withheld under the U.S. backup withholding tax rules against your U.S. federal income tax liability, provided you furnish the required information to the Internal Revenue Service.

Foreign Personal Holding Company Rules

Special U.S. tax rules apply to a shareholder of a foreign personal holding company or FPHC. Furthermore, as discussed above, dividends from a FPHC do not qualify for the reduced tax rates on dividends paid to non-corporate U.S. holders under the 2003 Act. The Company would be classified as a FPHC in any taxable year if both of the following tests are satisfied:

 

   

five or fewer individuals who are U.S. citizens or residents own or are deemed to own more than 50% of the total voting power of all classes of our stock entitled to vote or the total value of the our stock; and

 

   

at least 50% (60% in the first year that we are classified as a FPHC) of our gross income consists of “foreign personal holding company income,” which generally includes passive income such as dividends, interest, gains from the sale or exchange of stock or securities, rents and royalties.

We believe that we are not a FPHC. However, we cannot assure you that we will not be classified as a FPHC in the future.

Personal Holding Company Rules

We will not be classified as a personal holding company, or a PHC, for U.S. federal income tax purposes unless at any time during the last half of the Company’s taxable year, five or fewer individuals (without regard to their citizenship or residency) own or are deemed to own (pursuant to certain attribution rules) more than 50% of our stock by value, and at least 60% of our ordinary gross income for the taxable year is “personal holding company income” (generally passive income such as dividends and interest). If we are classified as a PHC, the corporation may be liable for the U.S. PHC tax on the Company’s U.S. source undistributed PHC income. The Company should not meet the PHC tests, and even if the Company were to become a PHC, it does not expect to have material undistributed PHC income. However, we cannot assure you that we will not become a PHC because of uncertainties regarding the application of the constructive ownership rules and the possibility of changes in our shareholder base and income or other circumstances that could change the application of the PHC rules. In addition, if we should become a PHC, we cannot assure you that the amount of its PHC income will be immaterial.

Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules

The passive foreign investment company or PFIC provisions of the Code can have significant tax effects on U.S. Shareholders. We will be classified as a PFIC for any taxable year, if, after the application of certain “look through” rules, either:

 

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75% or more of our gross income is “passive income,” which includes interest, dividends and certain rents and royalties; or

 

   

the average quarterly percentage, by fair market value of our assets that produce or are held for the production of “passive income,” is 50% or more of the fair market value of all of our assets.

Based upon our review of our financial data for the current and prior fiscal years, we have determined that we are currently a PFIC and likely will continue to be a PFIC at least until we develop a source of significant operating revenues.

Our classification as a PFIC for any period during a U.S. Shareholder’s holding period for our shares, absent the holder validly making one of the elections described below, would generally require the U.S. Shareholder to treat all “excess distributions” received during such holding period with respect to those shares as if those amounts were ordinary income earned ratably over such holding period. Excess distributions for this purpose would include all gain realized on the disposition of the shares as well as certain distributions made by us. Amounts treated under this analysis as earned in the year of the disposition or in any year before the first year in which we are a PFIC would be included in the holder’s ordinary income for the year of the disposition. Additionally, amounts treated as earned in a year of distribution would be included in the holder’s ordinary income for the year of the distribution. All remaining amounts would be subject to tax at the highest ordinary income tax rate that would have been applicable in the year in which such amounts were treated as earned, and interest would be charged on the tax payable with respect to such amounts. In addition, if we are classified as a PFIC, shares acquired from a decedent generally would not receive a “stepped-up” basis but would, instead, have a tax basis equal to the lower of the decedent’s basis or the fair market value of those shares or ADSs on the date of the decedent’s death.

The special PFIC tax rules described above will not apply to a U.S. Shareholder if the holder makes a QEF election to have us treated as a qualified electing fund for the first taxable year of the holder’s holding period in which we are a PFIC and we provide certain information to the U.S. Shareholder. A U.S. Shareholder that makes a QEF election with respect to us will be currently taxable on its pro rata share of our ordinary earnings and net capital gain during any years we are a PFIC (at ordinary income and capital gains rates, respectively), regardless of whether or not distributions were received. An electing U.S. Shareholder’s basis in the shares would be increased by the amounts included in income, and subsequent distributions by us of previously included earnings and profits generally would not be treated as a taxable dividend and would result in a corresponding reduction in basis. A U.S. Shareholder making such a timely election will not be taxed on our undistributed earnings and profits for any year that we are not a PFIC. Upon request by a U.S. shareholder, we will provide the information necessary for such holder to make the QEF election.

Alternatively, subject to specific limitations, U.S. Shareholders who actually or constructively own marketable shares in a PFIC may make an election under Section 1296 of the Code to mark those shares to market annually, rather than being subject to the above-described rules. Amounts included in or deducted from income under this mark-to-market election and actual gains and losses realized upon disposition, subject to specific limitations, will be treated as ordinary gains or losses. For this purpose, we believe that our shares will be treated as “marketable securities” within the meaning of Section 1296(e)(1) of the Code.

As discussed above, dividends from a PFIC do not qualify for the reduced tax rates on dividends paid to non-corporate U.S. Shareholders under the 2003 Act.

You should consult your tax advisor with respect to how the PFIC rules affect your tax situation.

Controlled Foreign Corporation Rules

If more than 50% of the voting power or total value of all classes of our shares are owned, directly or indirectly, by U.S. shareholders, each of which owns 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of our shares, we could be treated as a controlled foreign corporation, or CFC under Subpart F of the Code. This classification would require such 10% or greater shareholders to include in income their pro rata shares of our “Subpart F Income,” as defined in the Code. In addition, under Section 1248 of the Code, gain from the sale or exchange of shares by a U.S. Shareholder who is or was a 10% or greater shareholder while we were a CFC at any time during the five year period ending with the sale or exchange will be ordinary dividend income to the extent our earnings and profits attributable to the shares sold or exchanged and not previously taxed under Subpart F.

We believe that we are not a CFC. However, we cannot assure you that we will not become a CFC in the future.

Material Canadian Federal Income Tax Considerations

This section summarizes the material anticipated Canadian federal income tax considerations relevant to the ownership and disposition of the common stock.

Under the Income Tax Act, assuming you are a U.S. Shareholder, and provided the common stock is listed on a prescribed stock exchange, which includes the Toronto Stock Exchange and the American Stock Exchange, you will generally not be subject to Canadian tax on a capital gain realized on an actual or deemed disposition of the common stock unless you alone or together with persons with whom you did not deal at arm’s length owned or had rights to acquire 25% or more of our issued shares of any class at any time during the sixty (60) month period before the actual or deemed disposition.

Dividends paid, credited or deemed to have been paid or credited on the common stock to U.S. Shareholders will be subject to a Canadian withholding tax under the Income Tax Act at a rate of 25% of the gross amount of the dividends. Under the Canada-United States Income Tax Convention (1980), or Convention, the rate of withholding tax on dividends generally applicable to U.S. Shareholders who beneficially own the dividends is reduced to 15%. In the case of U.S. Shareholders that are corporations that beneficially own at least 10% of a company’s voting shares, the rate of withholding tax on dividends generally is reduced to 5%. United States limited liability companies, or LLCs, are not currently entitled to rely on the terms of the Convention, and therefore do not benefit from these reduced rates. Under the terms of a protocol to the Convention signed in September 2007, reduced rates under the Convention will apply to members of look-through entities, such as LLCs and partnerships, who would be

 

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entitled to rely on the Convention if they held the common stock directly. Members of such entities will be regarded as holding their proportionate share of the common stock held by the entity for the purposes of the Convention. The protocol has not yet been ratified. The new provisions will come into effect with respect to withholding taxes at the beginning of the second month after ratification.”

Canada does not currently impose any federal estate taxes or succession duties. However, if you die, there is a deemed disposition of the common stock held at that time for proceeds of disposition generally equal to the fair market value of the common stock immediately before your death. Capital gains realized on the deemed disposition, if any, will have the income tax consequences described above.

 

Item 6. Selected Financial Data.

The selected statement of operations data and balance sheet data with respect to the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 and the six months ended December 31, 2004 and the years ended June 30, 2004 and 2003 as set forth below are derived from our consolidated financial statements as prepared in all material respects with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States and prepared in U.S. dollars. The selected financial data set forth below should be read in conjunction with our “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” contained in Item 7 below and our consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto appended to this Annual Report filed on Form 10-K. These historical results are not necessarily indicative of our future results.

 

Statement of Operations Data:   

Year Ended

December 31,

   

Year Ended

December 31,

   

Year Ended

December 31,

   

Six Months

Ended

December 31,

    Years Ended June 30,  

In thousands, except per share data

   2007     2006     2005     2004     2004     2003  

Revenue

   $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —    

Operating expenses:

            

Research and development

     10,912       14,003       11,678       3,448       3,691       2,992  

Acquired in-process research and development

     —         —         —         —         —         13,094  

General and administration

     3,278       2,883       2,543       2,290       3,486       2,023  
                                                

Loss from operations

     (14,190 )     (16,886 )     (14,221 )     (5,738 )     (7,177 )     (18,109 )

Settlement of Cadherin Biomedical Inc. litigation

     —         —         —         (1,283 )     —         —    

Interest expense

     —         (3 )     (11 )     —         —         (5 )

Interest income

     833       449       361       171       162       72  
                                                

Loss before income taxes

     (13,357 )     (16,440 )     (13,871 )     (6,850 )     (7,015 )     (18,042 )

Recovery of income taxes

     —         —         —         166       130       247  
                                                

Net loss

   $ (13,357 )   $ (16,440 )   $ (13,871 )   $ (6,684 )   $ (6,885 )   $ (17,795 )
                                                

Net loss per share of common stock, basic and diluted

   $ (0.11 )   $ (0.34 )   $ (0.35 )   $ (0.19 )   $ (0.28 )   $ (1.38 )
                                                

Weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding, basic and diluted

     116,571       47,663       39,276       35,989       24,233       12,920  
                                                

 

Balance Sheet Data:    December 31,     December 31,     December 31,     December 31,     June 30,  

In thousands, except per share data

   2007     2006     2005     2004     2004     2003  

Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments

   $ 16,217     $ 5,718     $ 13,144     $ 17,548     $ 20,701     $ 2,360  

Working capital

     14,159       1,200       10,735       16,132       20,091       2,231  

Total assets

     17,209       6,628       14,291       18,573       22,014       3,919  

Common stock

     64,929       46,524       41,306       34,362       33,603       16,726  

Additional paid-in capital

     32,355       24,523       23,110       21,760       21,117       11,147  

Accumulated deficit

     (84,379 )     (71,022 )     (54,582 )     (40,711 )     (34,117 )     (27,244 )

Shareholders’ equity

   $ 14,148     $ 1,268     $ 11,077     $ 16,654     $ 20,454     $ 699  

Number of shares of common stock outstanding

     128,227       50,382       42,629       36,535       35,891       16,069  

 

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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT

The discussion below contains forward-looking statements regarding our financial condition and our results of operations that are based upon our annual consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles within the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) and applicable U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) regulations for financial information. The preparation of these financial statements also conform in all material respects with generally accepted accounting principles in Canada (“Canadian GAAP”) except as described in Note 15 in our annual consolidated financial statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007. The preparation of these financial statements requires our management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, income and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. We evaluate our estimates on an ongoing basis. Our estimates are based on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable.

Overview

We are a biopharmaceutical company focused on cancer therapeutics with preclinical and clinical product candidates. Our clinical product portfolio includes:

 

   

Eniluracil, a dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase, or DPD, inhibitor that we are developing to enhance the therapeutic value and effectiveness of 5-fluorouracil, or 5-FU, one of the world’s most widely used oncology agents. 5-FU is currently used as first or second-line therapy for a variety of cancers, including colorectal, breast, gastric, head and neck, ovarian, and basal cell cancer of the skin, among others. We have two ongoing Phase I clinical trials combining eniluracil and 5-FU which are intended to establish the safety and tolerability of our proprietary combination. We licensed eniluracil from GlaxoSmithKline, or GSK, in July 2005.

 

   

ADH-1, an anti-cancer drug that selectively targets N-cadherin present on certain tumor cells and the established blood vessels that supply tumors. We currently have two Phase I combination clinical studies ongoing, including a study using systemic ADH-1 in combination with three different systemic chemotherapy agents, and a study combining systemic ADH-1 with regional melphalan for the treatment of melanoma. In December 2006, we completed patient enrollment in our Phase Ib/II and Phase II single-agent ADH-1 clinical studies in Europe and North America. We licensed ADH-1 from McGill University in February 2001.

 

   

STS, a chemoprotectant that has been shown in Phase I and Phase II clinical studies conducted by investigators at Oregon Health & Science University, or OHSU, to reduce the disabling loss of hearing in patients treated with platinum-based anti-cancer agents. In 2006, we entered into an agreement with the International Childhood Liver Tumour Strategy Group, known as SIOPEL, a multi-disciplinary group of specialists under the umbrella of the International Society of Pediatric Oncology, for the conduct of a Phase III clinical trial using STS. On October 30, 2007, we announced that SIOPEL had launched the Phase III clinical trial and opened the study for patient enrollment in the United Kingdom. The study will involve SIOPEL centers in up to 33 countries is expected to enroll approximately 100 evaluable children with liver (hepatoblastoma) cancer being treated with cisplatin, a platinum-based chemotherapy drug used to treat various types of pediatric cancers. Under the terms of our agreement, SIOPEL will conduct and fund the clinical activity and we will provide the drug and drug distribution for the study. On March 26, 2008, we announced the activation of a Phase III trial with STS to prevent hearing loss in children receiving cisplatin-based chemotherapy in collaboration with the Children’s Oncology Group, or COG. The goal of this Phase III study is to evaluate in a multi-centered, randomized trial whether STS is an effective and safe means of preventing hearing loss in children receiving cisplatin-based chemotherapy for newly diagnosed germ cell, liver (hepatoblastoma), brain (medulloblastoma), nerve tissue (neuroblastoma) or bone (osteosarcoma) cancers. Eligible children will be one to eighteen years of age who are to receive cisplatin according to their disease-specific regimen and, upon enrollment onto this study, will be randomized to receive STS or not. Efficacy of STS will be determined through comparison of hearing sensitivity at follow-up relative to baseline measurements using standard audiometric techniques. The trial is expected to enroll up to 120 patients over approximately three years in up to 230 COG centers in the United States, Canada, Australia and Europe. COG will fund the clinical activities for the study and we will be responsible for providing the drug and drug distribution for the study. We licensed STS from OHSU in September 2002.

Our preclinical portfolio includes: (1) novel peptides and small chemical molecule successors to ADH-1; (2) peptides and small molecules targeting the cadherin-mediated metastatic spread of some cancers; and (3) peptides that combine both angiolytic and anti-angiogenic properties. We have synthesized small chemical molecules and peptide antagonists and agonists for a wide array of cadherin adhesion molecules, with drug candidates available to move into future clinical development, particularly in the following areas:

 

   

Peptide N-cadherin antagonists. We have identified novel peptide molecules that differ in structure from ADH-1 and that have extended stability in plasma. These molecules offer the potential advantages of extended plasma half-life and enhanced potency compared to ADH-1.

 

   

Small molecule N-cadherin antagonists. We have identified a series of small chemical molecules that, in our preliminary studies, have displayed potent N-cadherin antagonism activity. Unlike ADH-1 and the other peptide N-cadherin antagonists, these molecules are not peptides and are smaller and simpler in structure. Compared to peptides, small chemical molecules are often active after oral administration, more stable and have different potency and toxicity profiles.

 

   

OB-cadherin. OB-cadherin is reported to be involved in the metastatic spread of certain cancers to sites distant from the original tumor. Metastatic disease is a major determinant of both a patient’s survival and quality-of-life. We have developed OB-cadherin peptide and small molecule antagonists with the potential to reduce or slow down the metastatic spread of tumors, such as breast and prostate cancers.

 

   

VE-cadherin. Like N-cadherin, VE-cadherin is important in the structural integrity of certain tumor blood vessels. We have developed peptide VE-cadherin antagonists that have the potential to be synergistic with our N-cadherin antagonists.

In addition to our current development efforts, we continue to pursue collaborations with other pharmaceutical companies, governmental agencies, academic or corporate collaborators with respect to these and other cadherin agonist and antagonist molecules. Our drug discovery and

 

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development efforts are supported by more than 50 issued U.S. patents and more than 50 issued and pending patents worldwide that we either own or have licensed Exclusively.

We have not received any revenues to date through the sale of our products and do not expect to have significant revenues until we are either able to sell our product candidates after obtaining applicable regulatory approvals or we establish collaborations that provide us with licensing fees, milestone payments, royalties, up-front payments or other revenue. As of December 31, 2007, our deficit accumulated during development stage was approximately $84.4 million.

Our operating expenses will depend on many factors, including the progress of our drug development efforts and the potential commercialization of our product candidates. Our research and development expenses, which include expenses associated with our clinical trials, drug manufacturing to support clinical programs, salaries for research and development personnel, stock-based compensation, consulting fees, sponsored research costs, toxicology studies, license fees, milestone payments, and other fees and costs related to the development of product candidates and will depend on the results of clinical trials, availability of financial resources and directions from regulatory agencies which are difficult to predict . Our general and administration expenses include expenses associated with the compensation of employees, stock-based compensation, professional fees, insurance and other administrative matters associated with our facilities in the Research Triangle Park, North Carolina in support of our drug development programs.

Results of Operations

Fiscal 2007 versus Fiscal 2006

 

In thousands of U.S. Dollars

   Fiscal
2007
    %     Fiscal
2006
    %     Increase
(Decrease)
 

Revenue

   $ —         $ —         $ —    

Operating expenses:

          

Research and development

     10,912     77 %     14,003     83 %     (3,091 )

General and administration

     3,278     23 %     2,883     17 %     395  
                                    

Total operating expense

     (14,190 )   100 %     (16,886 )   100 %     (2,696 )

Interest expense

     —           (3 )       3  

Interest income

     833         449         384  
                            

Total other income

     833         446         387  
                            

Net loss and total comprehensive loss

   $ (13,357 )     $ (16,440 )     $ (3,083 )
                            

 

   

Research and development expenses were lower in fiscal 2007 as compared to 2006, primarily due to lower drug manufacturing and clinical trial expense and a reduction in staff. In fiscal 2006, we incurred more drug manufacturing expense to source clinical studies, including the single-agent Phase Ib/II and Phase II studies for ADH-1 which completed enrollment in December 2006. During fiscal 2007, we transitioned the clinical trials of ADH-1 from single-agent clinical trials to combination studies with other chemotherapies, as is often customary in the development of drugs for the treatment of cancer. The combination studies with ADH-1 were less expensive compared to the single-agent ADH-1 studies. During fiscal 2007, we reduced our permanent preclinical and clinical personnel and adopted the use of external contractors for certain functions, thereby decreasing compensation expense. While we had a reduction in expenses for ADH-1 in fiscal 2007, we increased development expenses during fiscal 2007 due to the clinical advancement of eniluracil. In addition, on March 1, 2007, we purchased all of GlaxoSmithKline’s, or GSK, remaining options to buy back eniluracil for a fee of $1.0 million, which is included in research and development expense. As a result, we have assumed full direction and control over the future development of eniluracil. We are required to pay GSK development and sales milestone payments and sales royalties. Specifically, if we file a New Drug Application, or NDA, with the Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, we will be obligated to pay GSK development milestones of $5.0 million. Depending upon the commercial success of eniluracil, we may also be required to pay GSK up to $70.0 million in additional development and sales milestones, plus double-digit royalties based on our annual net sales. If we pursue other indications, we may be required to pay up to an additional $15.0 million to GSK for each indication approved by the FDA.

 

   

General and administrative expenses increased in fiscal 2007 as compared to fiscal 2006 primarily due to stock-based compensation expense. During fiscal 2007, we granted 11.1 million stock options as compared to 0.4 million in fiscal 2006 thereby increasing our fiscal 2007 stock-based compensation expense.

 

   

Interest expense for fiscal 2006 relates to the financing of certain leasehold improvements which were not present in fiscal 2007.

 

   

Interest income increased in fiscal 2007 due to the earnings on additional cash from our February 2007 financing, which resulted in net proceeds of $23.2 million.

 

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Fiscal 2006 versus Fiscal 2005

 

In thousands of U.S. Dollars

   Fiscal
2006
    %     Fiscal
2005
    %     Increase
(Decrease)
 

Revenue

   $ —         $ —         $ —    

Operating expenses:

          

Research and development

     14,003     83 %     11,678     82 %     2,325  

General and administration

     2,883     17 %     2,543     18 %     340  
                                    

Total operating expense

     (16,886 )   100 %     (14,221 )   100 %     2,665  

Interest expense

     (3 )       (11 )       (8 )

Interest income

     449         361         88  
                            

Total other income

     446         350         96  
                            

Net loss and total comprehensive loss

   $ (16,440 )     $ (13,871 )     $ (2,569 )
                            

 

   

Research and development expenses increased in fiscal 2006 as compared to 2005, primarily due to clinical trial expense in fiscal 2006 as compared to fiscal 2005. Fiscal 2006 included a full year of development of eniluracil as compared to only six months during fiscal 2005. In addition, we incurred more clinical trial expense in fiscal 2006 due to the advancement of our single-agent ADH-1 Phase Ib/II and Phase II studies. Increases in R&D expense in fiscal 2006 were offset by lower stock-based compensation expense in fiscal 2006 as compared to fiscal 2005.

 

   

General and administrative increases in fiscal 2006 as compared to fiscal 2005 primarily relate to the adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards, or SFAS No. 123 (revised 2004), Share-Based Payment”, or SFAS123(R), on January 1, 2006. As a result of the adoption of SFAS123(R) in fiscal 2006, no stock-based compensation was recorded in fiscal 2005.

 

   

Interest expense for fiscal 2006 and 2005 relate to the financing of certain leasehold improvements which was terminated in fiscal 2006.

 

   

Interest income increased in fiscal 2006 due to the additional cash from our May 2006 offering and slightly higher interest rates achieved in fiscal 2006.

Quarterly Information

The following table presents selected consolidated financial data for each of the last eight quarters through December 31, 2007, as prepared under U.S. GAAP (dollars in thousands, except per share information):

 

Period

   Net Loss for the
Period
    Basic and Diluted
Net Loss per
Common Share
 

December 31, 2005

   $ (4,149 )   $ (0.10 )

March 31, 2006

   $ (3,177 )   $ (0.07 )

June 30, 2006

   $ (3,854 )   $ (0.08 )

September 30, 2006

   $ (4,648 )   $ (0.09 )

December 31, 2006

   $ (4,761 )   $ (0.09 )

March 31, 2007

   $ (3,968 )   $ (0.05 )

June 30, 2007

   $ (3,179 )   $ (0.03 )

September 30, 2007

   $ (3,202 )   $ (0.02 )

December 31, 2007

   $ (3,008 )   $ (0.02 )

 

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Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

In thousands, except share data

   December 31,
2007
    December 31,
2006
    December 31,
2005
 

Selected Asset and Liability Data:

      

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 16,217     $ 5,718     $ 13,144  

Working capital

     14,159       1,200       10,735  

Selected Asset and Liability Data:

      

Common stock

   $ 64,929     $ 46,524     $ 41,306  

Accumulated deficit

     (84,379 )     (71,022 )     (54,582 )

Shareholders’ equity

     14,148       1,268       11,077  

Selected Cash Flow Data:

      

Net cash used in operating activities

   $ (13,303 )   $ (13,475 )   $ (12,261 )

Net cash provided from financing activities

     23,875       6,054       7,959  

Number of shares of common stock outstanding

     128,227       50,382       42,629  

We have financed our operations since inception on September 3, 1996 through the sale of equity and debt securities and have raised gross proceeds totaling approximately $86.0 million through December 31, 2007. We have incurred net losses and negative cash flow from operations each year, and we had an accumulated deficit of approximately $84.4 million as of December 31, 2007. We have not generated any revenues to date through the sale of products. We do not expect to have significant revenues or income, other than interest income, until we are able to sell our product candidates after obtaining applicable regulatory approvals or we establish collaborations that provide us with licensing fees, royalties, milestone payments or up-front payments.

On February 21, 2007, we completed the sale of equity securities for gross proceeds of $25.0 million. We issued 75.8 million units at a price of $0.33 per unit providing net proceeds of $23.2 million after deducting broker fees and other offering expenses. Each unit sold consisted of one common share and one-half of a common share purchase warrant. This financing included an aggregate of 75.8 million shares of common stock, 37.9 million investor warrants and 6.6 million broker warrants to acquire additional shares of our common stock. Each whole investor warrant entitles the holder to acquire one additional share of our common stock at an exercise price of $0.40 per share for a period of three years. Each whole broker warrant entitles the holder to acquire one unit (the same as the units sold to investors) at an exercise price of $0.33 per unit for a period of two years. During fiscal 2007, we issued 2.1 million shares of common stock pursuant to the exercise of warrants resulting in additional proceeds of approximately $0.7 million.

The net cash flow used in operating activities for the fiscal years 2007 and 2006 were relatively consistent with an average monthly cash burn of $1.1 million for each year. During fiscal 2007, we paid GSK a license fee of $1.0 million to purchase all of GSK’s remaining buy-back options for eniluracil under our development and license agreement with GSK. In addition, we had increased cash payments to vendors during the first half of fiscal 2007 from our improved liquidity as a result of our $25.0 million offering completed in February 2007.

At December 31, 2007, our working capital increased by approximately $13.0 million primarily due to the February 2007 financing. This increase was partially offset by our payments to fund R&D activities and general corporate operations.

We believe that our current cash and cash equivalents of $16.2 million will be sufficient to satisfy our anticipated capital requirements through June 30, 2009. In February 2008, we revised our clinical development strategy and implemented a plan which has allowed us to extend our existing financial resources by delaying certain clinical trial and drug manufacturing commitments. The revisions primarily relate to planned combination studies with ADH-1 and future planned orders for the manufacturing of ADH-1. We do not anticipate these revisions to have a significant impact on our overall development plan. Our projections of further capital requirements are subject to substantial uncertainty. Our working capital requirements may fluctuate in future periods depending upon numerous factors, including: results of our research and development activities; progress or lack of progress in our preclinical studies or clinical trials; unfavorable toxicology in our clinical programs, our drug substance requirements to support clinical programs; our ability to enter into collaborations that provide us with funding, up-front payments, milestone or other payments; our ability to obtain additional financial resources, change in the focus, direction, or costs of our research and development programs; the costs involved in preparing, filing, prosecuting, maintaining, defending and enforcing our patent claims; competitive and technological advances; the potential need to develop, acquire or license new technologies and products; establishment of marketing and sales capabilities; our business development activities; new regulatory requirements implemented by regulatory authorities; the timing and outcome of any regulatory review process; and commercialization activities, if any.

To finance our operations beyond June 30, 2009, we will need to raise substantial additional funds through either the sale of additional equity, the issuance of debt, the establishment of collaborations that provide us with funding, the out-license or sale of certain aspects of our intellectual property portfolio, or from other sources. There can be no assurance that we will be able to raise the necessary capital or that such funding will be available on favorable terms or at all.

 

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Financial Instruments

At December 31, 2007, we held cash and cash equivalents of $16.2 million, which consisted primarily of highly liquid money market funds.

Our investment policy is to manage investments to achieve, in the order of importance, the financial objectives of preservation of principal, liquidity and return on investment. Investments may be made in U.S. or Canadian obligations and bank securities, commercial paper of U.S. or Canadian industrial companies, utilities, financial institutions and consumer loan companies, and securities of foreign banks provided the obligations are guaranteed or carry ratings appropriate to the policy. Securities must have a minimum Dun & Bradstreet rating of A for bonds or R1 low for commercial paper. The policy also provides for investment limits on concentrations of securities by issuer and maximum-weighted average time to maturity of twelve months. This policy applies to all of our financial resources.

The policy risks are primarily the opportunity cost of the conservative nature of the allowable investments. As our main purpose is research and development, we have chosen to avoid investments of a trade or speculative nature.

We classify investments with original maturities at the date of purchase greater than three months which mature at or less than twelve months as current. We carry investments at the fair value with unrealized gains and losses included in accumulated other comprehensive income.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

Since our inception, we have not had any material off-balance sheet arrangements.

Contractual Obligations and Commitments

Since our inception, inflation has not had a material effect on our operations. We had no material commitments for capital expenses as of December 31, 2007.

The following table represents our contractual obligations and commitments at December 31, 2007 (in thousands of U.S. dollars):

 

     Less than 1 year    1-3
years
   4-5
years
   More than 5
years
   Total

Englert Lease (1)

   $ 102    $ 185    $ —      $ —      $ 287

Maplewood Lease (2)

     361      755      663      —        1,779

Drug purchase commitments (3)

     436      184      29      —        649

McGill License (4)

     506      1,332      —        —        1,838

OHSU License (5)

     —        —        —        —        —  

GSK (6)

     —        —        —        —        —  
                                  

Total

   $ 1,405    $ 2,456    $ 692    $ —      $ 4,553
                                  

 

(1) In April 2004, we entered into a lease for facilities in Durham, North Carolina. Amounts shown assume the maximum amounts due under the lease. This facility has now been subleased to another company that is responsible for payments through March 31, 2008; however, in the event of their default or their decision to not extend the lease beyond March 31, 2008, Adherex would become responsible for the obligation. Adherex is contractually obligated under the lease until August 31, 2010.
(2) In August 2005, we entered into a lease for new office and laboratory facilities in Durham, North Carolina. Amounts shown assume the maximum amounts due under the lease. We received lease and capital inducements to enter into the lease, including a 50 percent discount for the first 24 months of the 84-month lease term and capital inducements with a fair market value of $0.5 million.
(3) Commitments to our third party manufacturing vendors that supply drug substance primarily for our clinical studies.
(4) Research obligations are shown in the table. Royalty payments, which are contingent on sales, are not included.
(5) Under the license agreement with OHSU for STS, we are required to pay specified amounts in the event that we complete certain Adherex-initiated clinical trials. For example, upon the completion of the Phase III clinical trial with SIOPEL, which began recruiting patients in October 2007, we may become responsible for a payment to OHSU of up to $0.5 million.
(6) Royalty and milestone payments that we may be required to pay, which are contingent on sales or progress of clinical trials, are not included. Under the terms of the Development and License Agreement with GSK, if we file an NDA with the FDA, we will be required to pay a development milestone of $5.0 million to GSK. Depending upon whether the NDA is approved by the FDA and whether eniluracil becomes a commercial success, we may be required to pay up to an additional $70.0 million in development and sales milestones for the initial approved indication, plus double-digit royalties based on annual net sales. We may also be required to pay up to $15.0 million to GSK for each FDA-approved indication.

 

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Research and Development

Our research and development efforts have been focused on the development of cancer therapeutics and our cadherin technology platform and currently include ADH-1, eniluracil, STS and various cadherin-based preclinical programs.

We have established relationships with contract research organizations, universities and other institutions, which we utilize to perform many of the day-to-day activities associated with our drug development. Where possible, we have sought to include leading scientific investigators and advisors to enhance our internal capabilities. Research and development issues are reviewed internally by our executive management and supporting scientific staff. Major development issues are presented to the members of our Scientific and Clinical Advisory Board for discussion and review.

Research and development expenses totaled $10.9 million and $14.0 million for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

ADH-1 is a small peptide molecule that selectively targets N-cadherin, a protein present on certain tumor cells and the established blood vessels that supply tumors. Based on encouraging data from our preclinical studies, we initiated a clinical program with ADH-1 in combination with various chemotherapeutic agents. In October 2006, we initiated a Phase I study intended to define the dose limiting toxicities and maximum tolerated dose of ADH-1 in combination with three separate chemotherapies: ADH-1 + docetaxel (Taxotere®), ADH-1 + carboplatin (a generically available agent), and ADH-1 + capecitabine (Xeloda®). In March 2007, we initiated a second Phase I study combining systemic ADH-1 in combination with regional melphalan for the treatment of melanoma at Duke University.

Eniluracil, which we licensed from GSK in July 2005, is a DPD inhibitor that was previously under development by GSK for the treatment of cancer. Eniluracil is being developed to enhance the therapeutic value and effectiveness of 5-FU, one of the world’s most widely-used oncology agents. The ongoing Phase I clinical trials of eniluracil in combination with 5-FU are intended to determine the maximum tolerated dose, or MTD, of 5-FU in combination with eniluracil. An MTD has not yet been determined but we expect the U.S. Phase I trial to complete patient enrollment in the first half of 2008. Subject to adequate resources, we plan to commence a randomized, Phase II clinical trial in breast cancer once the MTD has been determined. The ongoing Asian Phase I/II clinical trial of eniluracil in combination with 5-FU in liver (hepatocellular) cancer has been amended to permit a more rapid dose escalation based upon the results of the ongoing U.S. Phase I trial.

STS is a chemoprotectant that has been shown in Phase I and Phase II clinical studies conducted by investigators at OHSU to reduce the loss of hearing in patients, both adults and children, treated with platinum-based chemotherapy agents. In 2006, we entered into an agreement with SIOPEL, a multi-disciplinary group of specialists under the umbrella of the International Society of Pediatric Oncology, for the conduct of a randomized trial of STS. Under the terms of our agreement, SIOPEL will conduct and fund the clinical activity and we will provide the drug and drug distribution for the study. On October 30, 2007, we announced that SIOPEL had launched the Phase III trial and opened the study for patient enrollment in the United Kingdom. The study is expected to enroll approximately 100 evaluable children with liver (hepatoblastoma) cancer at participating SIOPEL centers in up to 33 countries. Patients will be randomized to receive either cisplatin alone, a platinum-based drug associated with frequent hearing loss, or cisplatin plus STS. The study, which will be coordinated through the Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group in the United Kingdom, will compare the level of hearing loss associated with cisplatin alone versus the combination of cisplatin plus STS, as well as the safety, tolerability and anti-tumor activity in both arms of the study. On March 26, 2008, we announced the activation of a Phase III trial with STS to prevent hearing loss in children receiving cisplatin-based chemotherapy in collaboration with the Children’s Oncology Group, or COG. The goal of this Phase III study is to evaluate in a multi-centered, randomized trial whether STS is an effective and safe means of preventing hearing loss in children receiving cisplatin-based chemotherapy for newly diagnosed germ cell, liver (hepatoblastoma), brain (medulloblastoma), nerve tissue (neuroblastoma) or bone (osteosarcoma) cancers. Eligible children will be one to eighteen years of age who are to receive cisplatin according to their disease-specific regimen and, upon enrollment onto this study, will be randomized to receive STS or not. Efficacy of STS will be determined through comparison of hearing sensitivity at follow-up relative to baseline measurements using standard audiometric techniques. The trial is expected to enroll up to 120 patients over approximately three years in up to 230 COG centers in the United States, Canada, Australia and Europe. COG will fund the clinical activities for the study and we will be responsible for providing the drug and drug distribution for the study.

Our product candidates are in various stages of development and still require significant, time-consuming and costly research and development, testing and regulatory clearances. In developing our product candidates, we are subject to risks of failure that are inherent in the development of products based on innovative technologies. For example, it is possible that any or all of these products will be ineffective or toxic, or will otherwise fail to receive the necessary regulatory clearances. There is a risk that our product candidates will be uneconomical to manufacture or market or will not achieve market acceptance. There is also a risk that third parties may hold proprietary rights that preclude us from marketing our product candidates or that others will market a superior or equivalent product. As a result of these factors, we are unable to accurately estimate the nature, timing and future costs necessary to complete the development of these product candidates. In addition, we are unable to reasonably estimate the period when material net cash inflows could commence from the sale, licensing or commercialization of such product candidates, if ever.

 

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The following table provides our research and development expenses for each program for the years ending December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, and cumulatively from inception of the Company on September 3, 1996 to December 31, 2007:

 

In thousands of U.S. dollars

   Fiscal Year
Ended
December 31,
2007
   Fiscal Year
Ended
December 31,
2006
   Fiscal Year
Ended
December 31,
2005
   Cumulative
From

September 3,
1996 to
December 31,
2007

ADH-1

   $ 5,087    $ 9,792    $ 7,743    $ 33,844

Eniluracil

     5,004      2,910      2,395      10,821

Other anti-cancer

     158      249      351      2,347
                           

Total anti-cancer

     10,249      12,951      10,489      47,012

STS

     560      292      443      2,668

Other chemoprotectants and enhancers

     —        —        16      40
                           

Total chemoprotectants and enhancers

     560      292      459      2,708

Other discovery projects

     103      760      730      2,553

Transdermal drug delivery

     —        —        —        138
                           

Total research and development program expense

   $ 10,912    $ 14,003    $ 11,678    $ 52,411
                           

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Effective January 1, 2007, we changed our primary basis of accounting to U.S. GAAP. We made the change to U.S. GAAP to comply with U.S. securities law as a result of our loss of foreign private issuer status with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expense during the reporting period. These estimates are based on assumptions and judgments that may be affected by commercial, economic and other factors. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

An accounting policy is considered to be critical if it requires an accounting estimate to be made based on assumptions about matters that are highly uncertain at the time the estimate is made, and if different estimates reasonably could have been used, or changes in the accounting estimates that are reasonably likely to occur periodically, could materially impact the financial statements. The following description of critical accounting policies, judgments and estimates should be read in conjunction with our December 31, 2007 consolidated financial statements.

Stock-based Compensation

Effective January 1, 2006, we adopted the fair value recognition of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards, or SFAS, No. 123 (revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment”, or SFAS 123(R), using the modified prospective transition method and therefore has not restated results for prior periods. We use the Black-Scholes option-pricing model and recognize compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the vesting periods of our option awards. The estimation of stock awards that will ultimately vest requires judgment, and to the extent actual results or updated estimates differ from our current estimates, such amounts will be recorded as a cumulative adjustment in the period estimates are revised. Significant management judgment is required in determining estimates of future stock price volatility, forfeitures and expected life used in the valuation of the options. We consider many factors when estimating expected forfeitures, including types of awards and historical experience. We estimate volatility based on peer group companies with similar operations and our own historical volatility. Actual results, and future changes in estimates, may differ substantially from our current estimates. For stock options granted to non-employees, we have recognized compensation expense in accordance with the requirements of SFAS No. 123 “Accounting for Stock-based Compensation,” or SFAS 123. SFAS 123 requires that companies recognize compensation expense based on the estimated fair value of options granted to non-employees over their vesting period, which is generally the period during which services are rendered by such non-employees.

Common stock and warrants

Common stock is recorded as the net proceeds received on issuance after deducting all share issue costs and the value of investor warrants. Warrants are recorded at fair value and are deducted from the proceeds of common stock and recorded on the consolidated statements of shareholders’ equity as additional paid-in capital.

At December 31, 2007 and 2006, we had warrants to purchase common stock that were denominated in both U.S. and Canadian dollars, which results in our having warrants outstanding that are denominated outside its U.S. dollar functional currency.

The SEC and the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB have issued recent interpretations for U.S. GAAP that suggest warrants with exercise prices denominated in a different currency from the entity’s functional currency cannot be classified as equity. As a result, these

 

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instruments would be treated as derivatives and recorded as liabilities which are carried at their fair value, with period to period changes in the fair value recorded as a gain or loss in the statement of operations.

In November 2007, the Emerging Issues Task Force or EITF issued EITF No. 07-5, Issue Summary No.1 “Determining Whether an Instrument (or an Embedded Feature) is Indexed to an Entity’s Own Stock”. The Issue Summary discusses the merits of various accounting treatments related to this issue but does not provide any definitive guidance. The EITF considers Issue 07-5 an open issue subject to further discussion at future meetings.

If we had recorded such instruments as derivatives, we would have reported a loss of approximately $50 and $9,452 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively and a gain of $7,592 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005. We calculated the amounts using the Black-Scholes option pricing model and used the following assumptions: volatility rate of 80%, 70% and 70% for fiscal years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively; the actual exercise price of each instrument at December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005; the stock price at December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 and the Canadian risk free interest rate for the remaining life of the related warrants; and a 0% dividend rate for all fiscal years.

Outstanding Share Information

The outstanding share data for the Company as of December 31, 2007 is as follows (in thousands):

 

     December 31,
2007

Common shares

   128,227

Warrants

   55,794

Stock options

   15,663
    

Total

   199,684
    

Canadian Accounting Principles

We present our consolidated financial results in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Significant differences exist between U.S. and Canadian GAAP and are presented in Note 15 in the consolidated financial statements.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2007, the Emerging Issues Task Force, or EITF, issued EITF No. 07-3, “Accounting for Nonrefundable Advance Payments for Goods or Services to Be Used in Future Research and Development Activities”, or EITF 07-3, which provides guidance for up-front payments related to goods and services of research and development costs. EITF 07-3 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2007. We are currently evaluating the impact of EITF 07-3 on our financial statements but do not anticipate a material impact.

In February 2007, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, issued SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities—including an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115”, or SFAS 159, which is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. SFAS 159 permits companies to choose to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value on a per instrument basis, with changes in fair value recognized in earnings each reporting period. This will enable some companies to reduce volatility in reported earnings caused by measuring related assets and liabilities differently. SFAS 159 also establishes presentation and disclosure requirements designed to facilitate comparisons between companies that choose different measurement attributes for similar types of assets and liabilities. We are currently evaluating the impact, if any, that adopting SFAS 159 will have on our results of operations and financial condition.

In July 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Interpretation No. 48 (“FIN 48”), “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes – an Interpretation of SFAS No. 109.” FIN 48 clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise’s financial statements in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes.” FIN 48 also prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in an enterprise’s tax return. We adopted FIN 48, as required, effective January 1, 2007. The adoption of FIN 48 did not have any impact on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements”, or SFAS 157. SFAS 157 establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. The statement is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within that fiscal year. On February 12, 2008, the FASB approved the Financial Staff Position, or FSP, No. SFAS 157-2, “Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 157”, or FSP FAS 157-2, which delays the effective date of SFAS 157 to fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008, and interim periods within those fiscal years for non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities, except for those items that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis (at least annually). We are currently evaluating the impact, if any, that adopting SFAS 157 will have on our results of operations and financial condition.

In December, 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141(R), “Business Combinations”, or SFAS 141(R), which applies prospectively to business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the first annual reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2008. SFAS 141(R) establishes principles and requirements for how the acquirer: i) recognizes and measures in its financial statements the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed and any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree; ii) recognizes and measures the goodwill acquired in the business combination or a gain from a bargain purchase; and iii) determines what information to disclose to enable users of the financial statements

 

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to evaluate the nature and financial effects of the business combination. We do not expect the adoption of SFAS 141 (R) to have an effect on our results of operations and financial condition unless we enter into a business combination after January 1, 2009.

 

Item7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Foreign Exchange Risk

Currently the Company’s principal operations are located in the United States. At December 31, 2007, we had approximately $16.2 million in cash and cash equivalents. To date, derivative financial instruments have not been needed or used. Security of principal versus income historically governed investment decisions, with excess funds invested in short term, government backed securities or bankers acceptances.

At December 31, 2007, we held approximately CAD$1.5 million of cash to fund certain research and development activities in Canada. At this time we do not utilize derivative financial instruments. Should business conditions dictate, we may consider the use of derivative instruments in the future. However, security of principal versus income generation will continue to govern investment decisions.

 

Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

The financial statements required to be filed pursuant to this Item 8 are appended to this Annual Report on Form 10-K. A list of the financial statements file herewith is found at “Index to Financial Statements” on Page F-1.

 

Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

None.

 

Item 9A. Controls and Procedures

Conclusion Regarding the Effectiveness of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e)) are designed only to provide reasonable assurance that information to be disclosed in our Exchange Act Reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. As of the end of the period covered by this report, the Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e). Based upon this evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective to provide the reasonable assurance discussed above.

Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f). Our internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance to our management and board of directors regarding the preparation and fair presentation of published financial statements. A control system, no matter how well designed and operated, can only provide reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met and must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints that require management to consider the benefits of internal controls relative to their costs. Because of these inherent limitations, management does not expect that our internal controls over financial reporting can prevent all error and all fraud. Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the framework found in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on our evaluation under the framework found in Internal Control – Integrated Framework, our management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2007.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There was no change in our internal controls over financial reporting during the fourth quarter of the period covered by this Annual Report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal controls over financial reporting.

 

Item 9B. Other Information

None.

 

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Table of Contents

PART III

 

Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

Information required by this Item concerning our directors is incorporated by reference from the section captioned “Election of Directors” contained in our proxy statement related to the 2008 Annual General Meeting of Stockholders scheduled to be held on May 14, 2008, which we intend to file with the SEC within 120 days of the end of our fiscal year pursuant to General Instruction G(3) of Form 10-K.

The Board of Directors has determined that the members of the Audit Committee are independent as defined in Rule 4200(a)(15) of the National Association of Securities Dealers’ listing standards. The Board of Directors has also determined that Dr. Arthur T. Porter is an “audit committee financial expert” as defined in Item 401(h) of Regulation S-K.

Our Board of Directors adopted a code of business conduct and ethics that applies to all of our directors and employees, including our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and Controller, or persons performing similar functions. We will provide copies of our code of business conduct and ethics without charge upon request. To obtain a copy, please send your written request to Adherex Technologies Inc., 4620 Creekstone Drive, Suite 200, Durham, NC 27703, Attention: Secretary. In addition, you can find the code on our website under the Investors Relations section at www.adherex.com.

The information required by this Item concerning executive officers of the Registrant is set forth at the end of Part I of this report.

The information required by this Item concerning compliance with Section 16(a) of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is incorporated by reference from the section of the proxy statement captioned “Report on Corporate Governance—Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance.”

 

Item 11. Executive Compensation

The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference from the sections captioned “Executive Compensation” and “Compensation of Directors” contained in the proxy statement.

 

Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholders Matters

Equity Compensation Plan Information

The following table provides certain information with respect to securities authorized for issuance under equity incentive plans as of December 31, 2007:

 

Plan Category

   (a)
Number of securities to be issued upon
exercise of outstanding options
warrants and rights (*)
   (b)
Weighted-average exercise price of
outstanding options, warrants and
rights
   (c)
Number of securities remaining
available for future issuance under
equity compensation plans (excluding
securities reflected in Column (a))

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders

   12,724,106

2,938,841

   $

CAD $

0.58

 2.18

   5,000,453

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders

   —        —      —  

Total

   15,662,947      —      5,000,453

 

* The Company’s current stock option plans allows for the issuance of stock options denominated in both United States, or U.S., dollars and Canadian, or CAD, dollars. This table presents the number and weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options by the currency associated with the original grants. The numbers presented include 700,000 options with an exercise price of CAD$2.25 that were specifically approved by the Company’s shareholders on December 16, 2003 and granted to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer outside of the Company’s stock option plan. At December 31, 2007 we had 12,724,106 stock options denominated in U.S. dollars with a weighted-average exercise price of $0.58 and 2,938,841 stock options denominated in CAD dollars with a weighted-average exercise price of CAD$2.18. At December 31, 2007, we had 5,000,453 stock options available for future issuance. On February 27, 2008, the Company issued 3,200,000 options with an exercise price of $0.38.

The other information required by this Item is incorporated by reference from the section captioned “Voting Securities and Principal Holders of Voting Securities” contained the proxy statement.

 

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference from the section captioned “Other Information Regarding Management – Interest of Informed Persons in Material Transactions” and “Report on Corporate Governance – Board of Directors” contained in the proxy statement.

 

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Table of Contents
Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services

The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference from the section captioned “Report on Corporate Governance – Other Board Committees – Audit Committee Report” contained in the proxy statement.

PART IV

 

Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules

 

  (a) The following documents are included as part of this Annual Report file on Form 10-K:

 

  1. Financial Statements – See Index to Financial Statements on page F-1.

 

  2. All schedules are omitted as the information required is inapplicable or the information is presented in the financial statements.

 

  3. Exhibits:

 

Exhibit No.

  

Description

  

Location

1.1    Underwriting and Agency Agreement dated January 19, 2007 between Adherex Technologies Inc. and Versant Partners Inc.    Exhibit 1.1 to Form 8-K of Adherex, filed February 22, 2007
3.1    Articles of Amalgamation dated June 29, 2004    Exhibit 1.7 to the Form 20-F Registration Statement (No. 001-32295) of Adherex, filed September 17, 2004
3.2    By-laws of the Company, as amended on November 2, 2004    Exhibit 1.9 to the Form 20-F/A Registration Statement (No. 001-32295) of Adherex, filed November 5, 2004
4.1    Form of Common Stock Warrant, dated December 19, 2003    Exhibit 4.24 to the Form 20-F Registration Statement (No. 001-32295) of Adherex, filed September 17, 2004
4.2    Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of December 19, 2003, by and between Adherex Technologies Inc. and HBM BioVentures (Cayman) Ltd.    Exhibit 4.9 to the Form 20-F Registration Statement (No. 001-32295) of Adherex, filed September 17, 2004
4.3    Common Stock Warrant issued to The Vengrowth Advanced Life Sciences Fund Inc., dated December 19, 2003    Exhibit 4.25 to the Form 20-F Registration Statement (No. 001-32295) of Adherex, filed September 17, 2004
4.4    Common Stock Warrant issued to HBM BioVentures (Cayman) Ltd., dated December 19, 2003    Exhibit 4.26 to the Form 20-F Registration Statement (No. 001-32295) of Adherex, filed September 17, 2004
4.5    Form of Common Stock Warrant, dated July 20, 2005    Exhibit 4.34 to the Form 20-F Annual Report (No. 001-32295) of Adherex filed for fiscal year ended December 31, 2005
4.6    Warrant Indenture dated February 21, 2007 between Adherex Technologies Inc. and Computershare Trust Company of Canada    Exhibit 4.45 to Form 8-K of Adherex, filed February 21, 2007
4.7    Form of Common Stock Warrant dated February 21, 2007    Exhibit 4.43 to Form 8-K of Adherex, filed February 21, 2007
4.8    Form of Underwriter’s Warrant dated February 21, 2007    Exhibit 4.44 to Form 8-K of Adherex, filed February 21, 2007
10.1    General Collaboration Agreement, dated as of February 26, 2001, by and between Adherex Technologies Inc. and McGill University    Exhibit 4.2 to the Form 20-F Registration Statement (No. 001-32295) of Adherex, filed September 17, 2004
10.2    Exclusive License Agreement, dated as of September 26, 2002, by and between Oregon Health & Science University and Oxiquant, Inc.    Exhibit 4.5 to the Form 20-F Registration Statement (No. 001-32295) of Adherex, filed September 17, 2004

 

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Table of Contents

Exhibit No.

  

Description

  

Location

  10.3    Lease Agreement, dated as of March 8, 2004, by and between Realmark-Commercial, LLC and Adherex, Inc.    Exhibit 4.8 to the Form 20-F Registration Statement (No. 001-32295) of Adherex, filed September 17, 2004
*10.4    Executive Employment Agreement, dated as of December 12, 2001, by and between Adherex Technologies Inc. and Robin J. Norris    Exhibit 4.10 to the Form 20-F Registration Statement (No. 001-32295) of Adherex, filed September 17, 2004
*10.5    Executive Employment Agreement, dated as of February 19, 2003, by and between Adherex Technologies Inc. and William P. Peters    Exhibit 4.12 to the Form 20-F Registration Statement (No. 001-32295) of Adherex, filed September 17, 2004
*10.6    Executive Employment Agreement, dated April 21, 2004, by and between Adherex, Inc. and James A. Klein, Jr.    Exhibit 4.13 to the Form 20-F Registration Statement (No. 001-32295) of Adherex, filed September 17, 2004
  10.7    Second Amendment to Lease Agreement dated September 14, 2004 between Realmark Commercial LLC and Adherex, Inc.    Exhibit 4.29 to the Form 20-F/A Registration Statement (No. 001-32295) of Adherex, filed November 5, 2004
  10.8    Development and License Agreement dated July 14, 2005 between Adherex Technologies Inc. and Glaxo Group Limited**    Exhibit 4.30 to Form 6-K of Adherex, filed July 22, 2005
  10.9    Sublease Agreement, dated as of August 31, 2005, by and between Biostratum, Inc. and Adherex, Inc. (Englert)    Exhibit 4.32 to the Form 20-F Annual Report (No. 001-32295) of Adherex filed for fiscal year ended December 31, 2005
  10.10    Sublease Agreement, dated as of August 31, 2005, by and between Biostratum, Inc. and Adherex, Inc. (Creekstone)    Exhibit 4.33 to the Form 20-F Annual Report (No. 001-32295) of Adherex filed for fiscal year ended December 31, 2005
  10.11   

Amendment No. 1 to Development and License

Agreement dated December 20, 2005 between Glaxo Group Limited and Adherex Technologies Inc.**

   Exhibit 4.36 to the Form 20-F Annual Report (No. 001-32295) of Adherex filed for fiscal year ended December 31, 2005
  10.12   

Partial Assignment of Lease and Lease Amendment

Number Two dated August 31, 2005

   Exhibit 4.38 to the Form 20-F Annual Report (No. 001-32295) of Adherex filed for fiscal year ended December 31, 2005
  10.13    Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership Office Master Lease (Creekstone)    Exhibit 4.39 to the Form 20-F Annual Report (No. 001-32295) of Adherex filed for fiscal year ended December 31, 2005
  10.14   

Consent to Sublease dated August 31, 2005 among

Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership, BioStratum, Inc. and Adherex, Inc.

   Exhibit 4.40 to the Form 20-F Annual Report (No. 001-32295) of Adherex filed for fiscal year ended December 31, 2005
  10.15    Amendment No. 2 to Development and License Agreement dated June 23, 2006 between Glaxo Group Limited and Adherex Technologies Inc.**    Exhibit 4.41 to Form 6-K of Adherex, filed August 9, 2006
  10.16    Amendment No. 3 to Development and License Agreement dated January 17, 2007 between Adherex Technologies Inc. and Glaxo Group Limited    Exhibit 4.42 to Form 6-K of Adherex, filed January 19, 2007
  10.17    Sub-SubLease Agreement dated December 22, 2006 between Biostratum, Inc and NephroGenex, Inc    Exhibit 4.46 to the Form 20-F Annual Report (No. 001-32295) of Adherex filed for fiscal year ended December 31, 2006

 

33


Table of Contents

Exhibit No.

  

Description

  

Location

10.18    Executive Employment Agreement, dated as of February 28, 2007, by and between Adherex, Inc. and D. Scott Murray    Exhibit 4.47 to the Form 20-F Annual Report (No. 001-32295) of Adherex filed for fiscal year ended December 31, 2006
10.19    Amended and Restated Stock Option Plan   

Filed herewith

10.20    Amendment No. 4 to Development and License Agreement dated May 23, 2007 between Adherex Technologies Inc. and Glaxo Group Limited    Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K of Adherex, filed June 19, 2007
21    Subsidiaries    Exhibit 8 to the Form 20-F Registration Statement (No. 001-32295) of Adherex, filed September 17, 2004
23    Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP    Filed herewith
31.1    Certification of Chief Executive Officer of the Company in accordance with Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002    Filed herewith
31.2    Certification of Chief Financial Officer of the Company in accordance with Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002    Filed herewith
32.1    Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Company in accordance with Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002    Filed herewith

 

* Indicates a management contract or compensatory plan.
** The Company has received confidential treatment with respect to certain portions of this exhibit. Those portions have been omitted from this exhibit and are filed separately with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

34


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 of 15(d) the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly causes this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto authorized.

 

Adherex Technologies Inc.
By:  

/s/ William P. Peters

  William P. Peters
  Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Date:   March 28, 2008

Pursuant to the requirement of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signatures

 

Title

 

Date

/s/ WILLIAM P. PETERS

  Chairman, Chief Executive Officer   March 28, 2008
William P. Peters   (principal executive officer) and Director  

/s/ JAMES A. KLEIN, JR.

  Chief Financial Officer   March 28, 2008
James A. Klein, Jr.   (principal financial officer and principal accounting officer)  

/s/ ROBIN J. NORRIS

  President and Chief Operating Officer   March 28, 2008
Robin J. Norris   and Director  

/s/ FRED H. MERMELSTEIN

  Director   March 28, 2008
Fred H. Mermelstein    

/s/ WILLIAM G. BREEN

  Director   March 28, 2008
William G. Breen    

/s/ CLAUDIO F. BUSSANDRI

  Director   March 28, 2008
Claudio F. Bussandri    

/s/ ROBERT W. BUTTS

  Director   March 28, 2008
Robert W. Butts    

/s/ DONALD W. KUFE

  Director   March 28, 2008
Donald W. Kufe    

/s/ MICHAEL G. MARTIN

  Director   March 28, 2008
Michael G. Martin    

/s/ PETER MORAND

  Director   March 28, 2008
Peter Morand    

/s/ ARTHUR T. PORTER

  Director   March 28, 2008
Arthur T. Porter    

 

35


Table of Contents

ADHEREX TECHNOLOGIES INC.

INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

     Page

Independent Auditors’ Report

   F-2

Balance Sheets

   F-3

Statement of Operations

   F-4

Statement of Cash Flows

   F-5

Statement of Stockholders’ Equity

   F-6

Notes to Financial Statements

   F-9

 

F-1


Table of Contents

Independent Auditors’ Report

To the Shareholders of Adherex Technologies Inc.

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Adherex Technologies Inc. as of December 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006, and the related consolidated statements of operations, cash flows and stockholders’ equity for the years ended December 31, 2007, December 31, 2006 and December 31, 2005, and, cumulatively, for the period from September 3, 1996 to December 31, 2007. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits of the Company’s financial statements as of December 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006 and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2007, and cumulatively for the period from September 3, 1996 to December 31, 2007 in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform an audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit of financial statements includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006 and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2007, and cumulatively, for the period from September 3, 1996 to December 31, 2007 in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Chartered Accountants, Licensed Public Accountants

Ottawa, Canada

March 28, 2008

 

F-2


Table of Contents

Adherex Technologies Inc.

(a development stage company)

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(U.S. Dollars and shares in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

     December 31,
2007
    December 31,
2006
 

Assets

    

Current assets

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 16,162     $ 5,665  

Cash pledged as collateral

     55       53  

Accounts receivable

     21       32  

Investment tax credits recoverable

     164       71  

Prepaid expense

     130       41  

Other current assets

     29       33  
                

Total current assets

     16,561       5,895  

Capital assets

     285       293  

Leasehold inducements

     363       440  
                

Total assets

   $ 17,209     $ 6,628  
                

Liabilities and shareholders’ equity

    

Current liabilities

    

Accounts payable

   $ 532     $ 2,074  

Accrued liabilities

     1,830       2,621  

Other current liabilities

     40       —    
                

Total current liabilities

     2,402       4,695  

Other long-term liabilities

     —         40  

Deferred lease inducement

     659       625  
                

Total liabilities

     3,061       5,360  
                

Commitments and contingencies

    

Shareholders’ equity

    

Common stock, no par value; unlimited shares authorized; 128,227 shares and 50,382 shares issued and outstanding, respectively

     64,929       46,524  

Additional paid-in capital

     32,355       24,523  

Deficit accumulated during development stage

     (84,379 )     (71,022 )

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     1,243       1,243  
                

Total shareholders’ equity

     14,148       1,268  
                

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

   $ 17,209     $ 6,628  
                

Signed on behalf of the Board of Directors

 

/s/ Arthur T. Porter

  

/s/ William G. Breen

Director    Director

(The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements)

 

F-3


Table of Contents

Adherex Technologies Inc.

(a development stage company)

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(U.S. dollars and shares in thousands, except per share information)

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2007
    Year Ended
December 31,
2006
    Year Ended
December 31,
2005
    Cumulative
From
September 3,
1996 to

December 31,
2007
 

Revenue

   $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —    

Operating expenses:

        

Research and development

     10,912       14,003       11,678       52,411  

Acquired in-process research and development

     —         —         —         13,094  

General and administration

     3,278       2,883       2,543       19,976  
                                

Loss from operations

     (14,190 )     (16,886 )     (14,221 )     (85,481 )
                                

Other income (expense):

        

Settlement of Cadherin Biomedical Inc. litigation

     —         —         —         (1,283 )

Interest expense

     —         (3 )     (11 )     (19 )

Other income

     —         —         —         98  

Interest income

     833       449       361       2,464  
                                

Total other income

     833       446       350       1,260  
                                

Net loss and total comprehensive loss

   $ (13,357 )   $ (16,440 )   $ (13,871 )     (84,221 )
                                

Net loss per share of common stock, basic and diluted

   $ (0.11 )   $ (0.34 )   $ (0.35 )  
                          

Weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding, basic and diluted

     116,571       47,663       39,276    
                          

(The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements)

 

F-4


Table of Contents

Adherex Technologies Inc.

(a development stage company)

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(U.S. Dollars and shares in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2007
    Year Ended
December 31,
2006
    Year Ended
December 31,
2005
    Cumulative
From
September 3,

1996 to
December 31,
2007
 

Cash flows from (used in):

        

Operating activities:

        

Net loss

   $ (13,357 )   $ (16,440 )   $ (13,871 )   $ (84,221 )

Adjustments for non-cash items:

        

Depreciation and amortization

     81       86       224       1,240  

Non-cash Cadherin Biomedical Inc. litigation expense

     —         —         —         1,187  

Unrealized foreign exchange loss

     —         —         —         9  

Amortization of leasehold inducements

     111       165       108       137  

Non-cash severance expense

     —         —         —         168  

Stock options issued to consultants

     59       101       276       624  

Stock options issued to employees

     2,263       490       —         4,754  

Acquired in-process research and development

     —         —         —         13,094  

Changes in operating assets and liabilities

     (2,460 )     2,123       1,002       1,615  
                                

Net cash (used) in operating activities

     (13,303 )     (13,475 )     (12,261 )     (61,393 )
                                

Investing activities:

        

Purchase of capital assets

     (73 )     (5 )     (102 )     (1,425 )

Disposal of capital assets

     —         —         —         115  

Release of restricted cash

     —         —         22       190  

Restricted cash

     (2 )     —         —         (209 )

Purchase of short-term investments

     —         —         (3,435 )     (22,148 )

Redemption of short-term investments

     —         1,175       2,260       22,791  

Investment in Cadherin Biomedical Inc.

     —         —         —         (166 )

Acquired intellectual property rights

     —         —         —         (640 )
                                

Net cash provided (used) in investing activities

     (75 )     1,170       (1,255 )     (1,492 )
                                

Financing activities:

        

Conversion of long-term debt to equity

     —         —         —         68  

Long-term debt repayments

     —         —         —         (65 )

Capital lease repayments

     —         —         —         (8 )

Issuance of common stock

     23,915       6,096       8,134       76,687  

Registration expense

     —         —         —         (465 )

Financing expenses

     —         (57 )     (141 )     (544 )

Proceeds from convertible note

     —         —         —         3,017  

Other liability repayments

     (40 )     (13 )     (59 )     (87 )

Security deposits received

     —         28       —         28  

Proceeds from exercise of stock options

     —         —         25       51  
                                

Net cash provided in financing activities

     23,875       6,054       7,959       78,682  
                                

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

     —         —         —         365  
                                

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

     10,497       (6,251 )     (5,557 )     16,162  

Cash and cash equivalents - Beginning of period

     5,665       11,916       17,473       —    
                                

Cash and cash equivalents - End of period

   $ 16,162     $ 5,665     $ 11,916     $ 16,162  
                                

Supplemental non-cash information:

        

Leasehold improvements – Maplewood

     —         —       $ 544       —    

(The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements)

 

F-5


Table of Contents

Adherex Technologies Inc.

(a development stage company)

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity

(U.S. dollars and shares in thousands, except per share information)

 

     Common Stock    Non-redeemable
Preferred Stock
of Subsidiary
   Additional
Paid-in
Capital
    Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income
   Deficit
Accumulated
During
Development
Stage
    Total
Shareholders’
Equity
 
     Number     Amount             

Balance at June 30, 1996

   —       $ —      $  —      $ —       $  —      $ —       $ —    

Issuance of common stock

   1,600       —        —        —         —        —         —    

Net loss

   —         —        —        —         —        (37 )     (37 )
                                                   

Balance at June 30, 1997

   1,600       —        —        —         —        (37 )     (37 )

Net loss

   —         —        —        —         —        (398 )     (398 )
                                                   

Balance at June 30, 1998

   1,600       —        —        —         —        (435 )     (435 )

Exchange of Adherex Inc. shares for Adherex Technologies Inc. shares

   (1,600 )     —        —        —         —        —         —    

Issuance of common stock

   4,311       1,615      —        —         —        —         1,615  

Cumulative translation adjustment

   —         —        —        —         20      —         20  

Net loss

   —         —        —        —         —        (958 )     (958 )
                                                   

Balance at June 30, 1999

   4,311       1,615      —        —         20      (1,393 )     242  

Issuance of common stock

   283       793      —        —         —        —         793  

Issuance of equity rights

   —         —        —        171       —        —         171  

Issuance of special warrants

   —         —        —        255       —        —         255  

Settlement of advances:

                 

Issuance of common stock

   280       175      —        —         —        —         175  

Cancellation of common stock

   (120 )     —        —        —         —        —         —    

Cumulative translation adjustment

   —         —        —        —         16      —         16  

Net loss

   —         —        —        —         —        (1,605 )     (1,605 )
                                                   

Balance at June 30, 2000

   4,754       2,583      —        426       36      (2,998 )     47  

Issuance of common stock:

                 

Initial Public Offering (“IPO”)

   1,333       5,727      —        —         —        (38 )     5,689  

Other

   88       341      —        —         —        —         341  

Issuance of special warrants

   —         —        —        1,722       —        —         1,722  

Conversion of special warrants

   547       1,977      —        (1,977 )     —        —         —    

Issuance of Series A special warrants

   —         —        —        4,335       —        —         4,335  

Conversion of Series A special warrants

   1,248       4,335      —        (4,335 )     —        —         —    

Conversion of equity rights

   62       171      —        (171 )     —        —         —    

Cumulative translation adjustment

   —         —        —        —         182      —         182  

Net loss

   —         —        —        —         —        (2,524 )     (2,524 )
                                                   

Balance at June 30, 2001

   8,032       15,134      —        —         218      (5,560 )     9,792  

Cumulative translation adjustment

   —         —        —        —         11      —         11  

Net loss

   —         —        —        —            (3,732 )     (3,732 )
                                                   

Balance at June 30, 2002

   8,032       15,134      —        —         229      (9,292 )     6,071  
                                                   

(The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements)

(continued on next page)

 

F-6


Table of Contents

Adherex Technologies Inc.

(a development stage company)

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity (continued)

(U.S. dollars and shares in thousands, except per share information)

 

     Common Stock     Non-redeemable
Preferred Stock
of Subsidiary
    Additional
Paid-in
Capital
    Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income
    Deficit
Accumulated
During
Development
Stage
    Total
Shareholders’
Equity
 
     Number    Amount            

Balance at June 30, 2002

   8,032    15,134     —       —       229     (9,292 )   6,071  

Common stock issued for Oxiquant acquisition

   8,032    11,077     —       543     —       —       11,620  

Exercise of stock options

   5    4     —       —       —       —       4  

Distribution to shareholders

   —      —       —       —       —       (158 )   (158 )

Stated capital reduction

   —      (9,489 )   —       9,489     —       —       —    

Stock options issued to consultants

   —      —       —       4     —       —       4  

Equity component of June convertible notes

   —      —       —       1,058     —       —       1,058  

Financing warrants

   —      —       —       53     —       —       53  

Cumulative translation adjustment

   —      —       —       —       (159 )   —       (159 )

Net loss

   —      —       —       —       —       (17,795 )   (17,795 )
                                         

Balance at June 30, 2003

   16,069    16,726     —       11,147     70     (27,245 )   698  

Stock options issued to consultants

   —      —       —       148     —       —       148  

Repricing of warrants related to financing

   —      —       —       18     —       —       18  

Equity component of December convertible notes

   —      —       —       1,983     —       —       1,983  

Financing warrants

   —      —       —       54     —       —       54  

Conversion of June convertible notes

   1,728    1,216     —       (93 )   —       —       1,123  

Conversion of December convertible notes

   1,085    569     —       (398 )   —       —       171  

Non-redeemable preferred stock

   —      —       1,045     —       —       —       1,045  

December private placement

   11,522    8,053     —       5,777     —       —       13,830  

May private placement

   4,669    6,356     —       2,118     —       —       8,474  

Exercise of stock options

   18    23     —       —       —       —       23  

Amalgamation of 2037357 Ontario Inc.

   800    660     (1,045 )   363     —       —       (22 )

Cumulative translation adjustment

   —      —       —       —       (219 )   —       (219 )

Net loss

   —      —       —       —       —       (6,872 )   (6,872 )
                                         

Balance at June 30, 2004

   35,891    33,603     —       21,117     (149 )   (34,117 )   20,454  

Stock options issued to consultants

   —      —       —       39     —       —       39  

Stock options issued to employees

   —      —       —       604     —       —       604  

Cost related to SEC registration

   —      (493 )   —       —       —       —       (493 )

Acquisition of Cadherin Biomedical Inc.

   644    1,252     —       —       —       —       1,252  

Cumulative translation adjustment

   —      —       —       —       1,392     —       1,392  

Net loss – six months ended December 31, 2004

   —      —       —       —       —       (6,594 )   (6,594 )
                                         

Balance at December 31, 2004

   36,535    34,362     —       21,760     1,243     (40,711 )   16,654  
                                         

(The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements)

(continued on next page)

 

F-7


Table of Contents

Adherex Technologies Inc.

(a development stage company)

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity (continued)

(U.S. dollars and shares in thousands, except per share information)

 

     Common Stock     Non-redeemable
Preferred Stock
of Subsidiary
   Additional
Paid-in
Capital
   Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income
   Deficit
Accumulated
During
Development
Stage
    Total
Shareholders’
Equity
 
     Number    Amount               

Balance at December 31, 2004

   36,535      34,362       —        21,760      1,243      (40,711 )     16,654  

Financing costs

   —        (141 )     —        —        —        —         (141 )

Exercise of stock options

   15      25       —        —        —        —         25  

Stock options issued to consultants

   —        —         —        276      —        —         276  

July private placement

   6,079      8,134       —        —        —        —         8,134  

Financing warrants

   —        (1,074 )     —        1,074      —        —         —    

Net loss

   —        —         —        —        —        (13,871 )     (13,871 )
                                                  

Balance at December 31, 2005

   42,629      41,306       —        23,110      1,243      (54,582 )     11,077  

Stock options issued to consultants

   —        —         —        100      —        —         100  

Stock options issued to employees

   —        —         —        491      —        —         491  

May private placement

   7,753      5,218       —        822      —        —         6,040  

Net loss

   —        —         —        —        —        (16,440 )     (16,440 )
                                                  

Balance at December 31, 2006

   50,382      46,524       —        24,523      1,243      (71,022 )     1,268  

Stock options issued to consultants

   —        —         —        59      —        —         59  

Stock options issued to employees

   —        —         —        2,263      —        —         2,263  

February financing

   75,759      17,842       —        5,379      —        —         23,221  

Exercise of warrants

   2,086      563       —        131      —        —         694  

Net loss

   —        —         —        —        —        (13,357 )     (13,357 )
                                                  

Balance at December 31, 2007

   128,227    $ 64,929     $ —      $ 32,355    $ 1,243    $ (84,379 )   $ 14,148  
                                                  

(The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements)

 

F-8


Table of Contents

Adherex Technologies Inc.

(a development stage company)

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

(U.S. dollars and shares in thousands, except per share information)

 

1. Nature of Operations

Adherex Technologies Inc. (“Adherex”), together with its wholly owned subsidiaries Oxiquant, Inc. (“Oxiquant”) and Adherex, Inc., both Delaware corporations, and Cadherin Biomedical Inc. (“CBI”), a Canadian corporation, collectively referred to herein as the “Company,” is a development stage biopharmaceutical company with a portfolio of product candidates under development for use in the treatment of cancer.

 

2. Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of presentation

Effective January 1, 2007, the Company changed its primary basis of accounting to United States (“U.S.”) generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”). We made this change to comply with U.S. securities law as a result of the loss of the Company’s foreign private issuer status with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in U.S. dollars. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Adherex and of all its wholly-owned subsidiaries and all material inter-company transactions and balances have been eliminated upon consolidation.

The preparation of these consolidated financial statements also conform in all material respects with generally accepted accounting principles in Canada (“Canadian GAAP”) except as described in Note 16 in the consolidated financial statements.

Share consolidation

On July 20, 2005, the Company announced that the Board of Directors had approved a share consolidation of the Company’s common stock at a ratio of one-for-five. The share consolidation had previously been approved by the Company’s shareholders at the Annual and Special Meeting held on April 29, 2005. The number of shares of Adherex common stock, stock options and warrants issued and outstanding and the basic and diluted weighted-average shares outstanding as well as per share data and per stock option data have been adjusted for all periods presented to reflect the one-for-five share consolidation.

Use of estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that impact the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expense during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Investments

Cash equivalents consist of highly liquid investments with original maturities at the date of purchase of three months or less. Short-term investments mature in less than one year from the balance sheet date.

The Company classifies its cash equivalents and investments as “available-for-sale.” Such investments are recorded at fair value, determined based on quoted market prices, and unrealized gains and losses, which are considered to be temporary, are recorded as other comprehensive income (loss) in a separate component of stockholders’ equity until realized. The cost of securities sold is based on the specific identification method.

The Company places its cash, cash equivalents, and investments with financial institutions with high credit quality investments in accordance with its investment policy designed to protect the principal investment. Therefore, the Company believes that its exposure due to concentration of credit risk is minimal and has not experienced credit losses on investments in these instruments to date.

 

F-9


Table of Contents

Adherex Technologies Inc.

(a development stage company)

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

U.S. dollars and shares in thousands, except per share information

 

Cash pledged as collateral

The Company has pledged cash as collateral on corporate credit accounts in the form of interest-bearing term deposits.

Capital assets

Capital assets are initially recorded at cost and are then amortized using the declining balance method at the following annual rates:

 

Furniture, fixtures and office equipment

   20 %

Computer equipment

   30 %

Computer software

   100 %

Laboratory equipment

   20 %

Leasehold improvements are amortized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

Deferred leasehold inducements

Leasehold inducements consist of periods of reduced rent and other capital inducements provided by the lessor. The leasehold inducements relating to the reduced rent periods are deferred and allocated over the term of the lease. The Company received lease inducements in the form of leasehold improvements and rent-free periods.

Impairment of long-lived assets

The Company tests the recoverability of long-lived assets whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that its carrying amount may not be recoverable. The Company records an impairment loss in the period when it is determined that the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable. The impairment loss is calculated as the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the discounted cash flows from the asset.

Convertible notes

The Company splits convertible notes into their debt and detachable warrant components based on the relative fair value of each component.

Common stock and warrants

Common stock is recorded as the net proceeds received on issuance after deducting all share issue costs and the value of investor warrants. Warrants are recorded at fair value and are deducted from the proceeds of common stock and recorded on the consolidated statements of shareholders’ equity as additional paid-in capital.

At December 31, 2007 and 2006, the Company had warrants to purchase common stock that were denominated in both U.S. and Canadian dollars, which results in the Company having warrants outstanding that are denominated outside its U.S. dollar functional currency.

The SEC and the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) have issued recent interpretations that suggest warrants with exercise prices denominated in a different currency from the entity’s functional currency cannot be classified as equity. As a result, these instruments would be treated as derivatives and recorded as liabilities which are carried at their fair value, with period to period changes in the fair value recorded as a gain or loss in the statement of operations.

In November 2007, the Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) issued EITF No. 07-5, Issue Summary No.1 “Determining Whether an Instrument (or an Embedded Feature) is Indexed to an Entity’s Own Stock”. The Issue Summary discusses the merits of various accounting treatments related to this issue but does not provide any definitive guidance. The EITF considers Issue 07-5 an open issue subject to further discussion at future meetings.

 

F-10


Table of Contents

Adherex Technologies Inc.

(a development stage company)

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

U.S. dollars and shares in thousands, except per share information

 

If the Company had recorded such instruments as derivatives, it would have reported a loss of approximately $50 and $1,860 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively and a gain of $7,592 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005. The Company calculated the amounts using the Black-Scholes option pricing model and used the following assumptions: volatility rate of 80%, 70% and 70% for fiscal years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively; the actual exercise price of each instrument at December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005; the stock price at December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 and the Canadian risk free interest rate for the remaining life of the related warrants; and a 0% dividend rate for all fiscal years.

Revenue recognition

The Company recognizes revenue from multiple element arrangements under development and license agreement, which include license payments, milestones and royalties. Revenue arrangements with multiple deliverables are accounted for in accordance with EITF No. 00-21, “Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables” and Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 101 “Revenue Recognition in Financial Statements” and are divided into separate units of accounting if certain criteria are met. The consideration the Company receives is allocated among the separate units of accounting based on their respective fair values, and the applicable revenue recognition criteria are considered separately for each of the separate units.

Non-refundable up-front payments received in conjunction with the development and license agreement, including license fees and milestones, are deferred and recognized on a straight-line basis over the relevant periods.

The Company records royalty revenue in accordance with the contract terms once it can be reliably measured and the collection is reasonably assured.

Research and development costs and investment tax credits

Research costs, including employee compensation, laboratory fees, lab supplies, and research and testing performed under contract by third parties, are expensed as incurred. Development costs, including drug substance costs, clinical study expenses and regulatory expenses are expensed as incurred.

Investment tax credits, which are earned as a result of qualifying research and development expenditures, are recognized when the expenditures are made and their realization is reasonably assured. They are applied to reduce related capital costs and research and development expenses in the year recognized.

Income taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes under the asset and liability method that requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the carrying amounts and tax basis of assets and liabilities. The Company provides a valuation allowance to reduce its deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not that such assets will not be realized.

In July 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Interpretation No. 48 (“FIN 48”), “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes – an Interpretation of SFAS No. 109.” FIN 48 clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise’s financial statements in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes.” FIN 48 also prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in an enterprise’s tax return. The Company adopted FIN 48, as required, effective January 1, 2007. The adoption of FIN 48 did not have any impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

 

F-11


Table of Contents

Adherex Technologies Inc.

(a development stage company)

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

U.S. dollars and shares in thousands, except per share information

 

Foreign currency translation

All of the Company’s foreign operations are integrated. Financial statements of integrated foreign operations are translated as follows:

Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at exchange rates prevailing at the balance sheet date. Non-monetary items and any related amortization of such items are translated at the rates of exchange in effect when the assets were acquired or the obligations incurred. Expenses denominated in foreign currencies are translated at the relevant exchange rates prevailing during the year. Exchange gains and losses are included in net loss for the year.

Stock-Based compensation plan

Effective January 1, 2006, the Company adopted the fair value recognition requirements of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123 (revised 2004), “Share-based Payment” (“SFAS No. 123(R)”), using the modified prospective transition method and therefore has not restated results for prior periods. The Company recognizes these compensation costs net of an estimated forfeiture rate on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the award, which is generally three years.

Loss per share

Basic net loss per share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted net loss per share is computed using the same method, except the weighted average number shares of common stock outstanding include, convertible debentures, stock options and warrants, if dilutive.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2007, the Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) issued EITF No. 07-3, “Accounting for Nonrefundable Advance Payments for Goods or Services to Be Used in Future Research and Development Activities” (“EITF 07-3”), which provides guidance for up-front payments related to goods and services of research and development costs. EITF 07-3 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2007. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of EITF 07-3 on its financial statements but does not anticipate a material impact.

In February 2007, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities—including an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115” (“SFAS 159”), which is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. SFAS 159 permits companies to choose to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value on a per instrument basis, with changes in fair value recognized in earnings each reporting period. This will enable some companies to reduce volatility in reported earnings caused by measuring related assets and liabilities differently. SFAS 159 also establishes presentation and disclosure requirements designed to facilitate comparisons between companies that choose different measurement attributes for similar types of assets and liabilities. The Company is currently evaluating the impact, if any, that adopting SFAS 159 will have on its results of operations and its financial condition.

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements” (“SFAS 157”). SFAS 157 establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. The statement is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within that fiscal year. On February 12, 2008, the FASB approved the Financial Staff Position (“FSP”) No. SFAS 157-2, “Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 157” (“FSP FAS 157-2”), which delays the effective date of SFAS 157 to fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008, and interim periods within those fiscal years for non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities, except for those items that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis (at least annually). The Company is currently evaluating the impact, if any, that adopting SFAS 157 will have on its results of operations and its financial condition.

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141(R), “Business Combinations” (“SFAS 141(R)”), which applies prospectively to business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the first annual reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2008. An entity may not apply it before that date. SFAS 141(R) establishes principles and requirements for how the acquirer: i) recognizes and measures in its financial statements the

 

F-12


Table of Contents

Adherex Technologies Inc.

(a development stage company)

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

U.S. dollars and shares in thousands, except per share information

 

identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed and any non-controlling interest in the acquiree; ii) recognizes and measures the goodwill acquired in the business combination or a gain from a bargain purchase; and iii) determines what information to disclose to enable users of the financial statements to evaluate the nature and financial effects of the business combination. The Company does not expect the adoption of SFAS 141 (R) to have an effect on its results of operations and its financial condition unless it enters into a business combination after January 1, 2009.

 

3. Capital Assets

The components of our capital assets are presented below:

 

     December 31, 2007    December 31, 2006
     Cost     Accumulated
Amortization
   Cost     Accumulated
Amortization

Furniture, fixtures and office equipment

   $ 92     $ 54    $ 92     $ 44

Computer equipment

     151       95      131       75

Computer software

     146       134      124       124

Laboratory equipment

     622       446      591       405

Leasehold improvements

     4       1      4       1
                             
     1,015     $ 730      942     $ 649
                 

Accumulated amortization

     (730 )        (649 )  
                     

Net book value

   $ 285        $ 293    
                     

Depreciation and amortization expense for capital assets was $81 and $86 for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

 

4. Leasehold Inducements

On August 31, 2005, the Company entered into agreements to lease a new office and laboratory facility (“Maplewood Facility”) and sublease the Company’s existing facility (“Englert Facility”) on similar terms as in the original lease. As an incentive to enter into the Maplewood Facility lease, the Company received free rent and capital inducements. The Company only paid half rent for the Maplewood Facility over the first 24 months of the 84-month lease term and received additional inducements in the form of furniture, equipment and leasehold improvements with a fair market value of approximately $544. As part of the sublease of the Englert Facility, the Company provided furniture, equipment and leasehold improvements with a net book value of $156 and an approximate fair market value of $75. In addition, the Company has written-off the $68 liability related to leasehold improvements at the Englert Facility and included this amount in the deferred rent inducement as the Company’s sublessee is now contractually obligated to make those payments; however, should the sublessee default on such payments, Adherex would then become liable for the remaining amount.

The Company records rent expense by charging the total rental payments plus the value of the capital inducements received against earnings on a straight-line basis over the 84-month term of the lease, which expires on August 31, 2012.

 

5. Shareholders’ Equity

Authorized capital stock

The Company’s authorized capital stock consists of an unlimited number of shares of no par common stock.

Equity financings

On June 5, 2001, the Company completed an IPO issuing 1,333 shares of common stock at a price of CAD$7.50 per share. Net proceeds of this offering credited to common stock amounted to $5,727 after deducting the underwriting fee of $501 and expenses of $354. As additional compensation in connection with the offering, the Company granted the underwriters

 

F-13


Table of Contents

Adherex Technologies Inc.

(a development stage company)

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

U.S. dollars and shares in thousands, except per share information

 

non-assignable support options representing ten percent of the offered shares. Each support option entitled the holder to purchase one share of common stock on or before June 5, 2003 at CAD$7.50. The Company also granted the underwriters an option (“Over-allotment Option”) to purchase up to 200 shares of common stock at the offering price for a period ending 30 days from the close of the offering. On July 5, 2001, the Over-allotment Option expired unexercised.

On December 19, 2003, the Company completed a private placement of equity securities totaling $16,095, comprised of (i) $15,050 for 11,522 units, at a price of CAD$1.75 per unit, comprised of an aggregate of 11,522 shares of common stock and warrants to acquire 5,761 shares of common stock of Adherex with an exercise price of CAD$2.15 per share which expire December 19, 2008, and (ii) $1,045 for 800 Series 1 Preferred Shares and warrants to purchase 400 Series 1 Preferred Shares of 2037357 Ontario Inc. The $5,777 estimated fair value of the warrants has been allocated to additional paid-in capital and the balance of $8,053 has been credited to common stock. The non-redeemable Series 1 Preferred Shares of 2037357 Ontario Inc. (“Preferred Shares”) were exchangeable into 800 shares of common stock of Adherex. Upon such an exchange, all of the then outstanding warrants to purchase the Preferred Shares would be exchanged for an equal number of warrants to purchase Adherex common stock, which would have an exercise price of CAD$2.15 per share and expire on December 19, 2008. The $1,045 was to be spent on specific research and development projects in Ontario, Canada as designated by Adherex. Adherex could compel the exchange of the Preferred Shares into common stock and warrants for common stock of Adherex at any time after January 3, 2005. The Company also issued broker warrants to purchase 1,226 shares of common stock exercisable at a price of CAD$2.15 per share.

2037357 Ontario Inc. has been accounted for in accordance with the substance of the transaction. The $1,045 has been recorded as non-redeemable Preferred Shares and the amounts expended were recorded as expenses in the relevant periods. On June 14, 2004, the preferred shares and warrants were exchanged for 800 shares of Adherex common stock and warrants to purchase 400 shares of Adherex common stock which expire on December 19, 2008. In June 2004, 2037357 Ontario Inc. became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company and was amalgamated with Adherex Technologies Inc. The investment has been split between the estimated fair value of the warrants of $363, which has been included in additional paid-in capital, and the remainder of $660, which has been recorded in common stock.

On May 20, 2004, the Company completed equity financings with total gross proceeds of $9,029 less $555 of issuance costs. The Company issued 4,669 units at a purchase price of CAD$2.65 per unit with each unit consisting of one share of common stock and one-half of a common stock purchase warrant. Each whole warrant entitles the holder to acquire one additional share of common stock at an exercise price of CAD$3.50 and expired May 19, 2007. The $2,118 value of the warrants has been allocated to additional paid-in capital and the balance of $6,356 has been credited to common stock.

On July 20, 2005, the Company completed a private placement of equity securities for gross proceeds of $8,510 for 6,079 units at a price of $1.40 per unit, providing net proceeds of $8,134 after deducting broker fees and other expenses of $376. Each unit consisted of one common share and 0.30 of a common share purchase warrant. The private placement comprised an aggregate of 6,079 shares of common stock, along with 1,824 investor warrants and 57 broker warrants to acquire additional shares of Adherex common stock. Each whole investor warrant entitles the holder to acquire one additional share of common stock of Adherex at an exercise price of $1.75 per share for a period of three years and each whole broker warrant entitled the holder to acquire one share of Adherex common stock at an exercise price of $1.75. The warrants, with a value of $1,074 based on the Black-Scholes option pricing model, have been allocated to additional paid-in capital and the remaining balance of $7,060 has been credited to common stock.

On May 8, 2006, the Company completed a private placement of equity securities for gross proceeds of $6,512 for 7,753 units at a price of $0.84 per unit providing net proceeds of $6,040 after deducting broker fees and certain other expenses. Each unit consisted of one common share and 0.30 of a common share purchase warrant. The private placement comprised an aggregate of 7,753 shares of common stock, along with 2,326 investor warrants and 465 broker warrants to acquire additional shares of Adherex common stock. Each whole investor warrant entitles the holder to acquire one additional share of Adherex common stock at an exercise price of $0.97 per share for a period of four years. Each whole broker warrant entitles the holder to acquire one share of Adherex common stock at an exercise price of $0.97 per share for a period of two years. The warrants, with a value of $822 based on the Black-Scholes option pricing model, have been allocated to additional paid-in capital and the remaining balance of $5,218 has been credited to common stock.

On February 21, 2007, the Company completed the sale of equity securities providing gross proceeds of $25,000 for 75,759 units at a price of $0.33 per unit providing net proceeds of $23,221 after deducting broker fees and other expenses. Each unit consisted of one common share and one-half of a common share purchase warrant. The offering

 

F-14


Table of Contents

Adherex Technologies Inc.

(a development stage company)

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

U.S. dollars and shares in thousands, except per share information

 

comprised an aggregate of 75,759 shares of common stock, 37,879 investor warrants and 6,618 broker warrants to acquire additional shares of Adherex common stock. Each whole investor warrant entitles the holder to acquire one additional share of Adherex common stock at an exercise price of $0.40 per share for a period of three years. Each whole broker warrant entitles the holder to acquire one additional unit at an exercise price of $0.33 per unit for a period of two years. The warrants, with a value of $6,503 based on the Black-Scholes option pricing model, have been allocated to additional paid-in-capital and the remaining balance of $16,718 has been included in common stock.

During the second quarter of fiscal 2007, the Company received gross proceeds of $694 related to the exercise of warrants and issued 2,086 shares of common stock and 1,000 additional investor warrants, which entitle the holder to acquire one additional share of Adherex common stock at an exercise price of $0.40 per share and which expire on February 21, 2010. The warrants exercised during the period included 86 investor warrants with an exercise price of $0.40 per share and 2,000 broker warrants with an exercise price of $0.33 per unit. The warrants, with a value of $131 based on the Black-Scholes option pricing model, have been allocated to additional paid-in capital and the remaining balance of $563 has been included in common stock.

Special warrants

From May 2000 through November 2000, the Company issued special warrants. Each special warrant was sold for CAD$25.00 and entitled the holder thereof to acquire, for no additional consideration, four shares of common stock of the Company. The special warrants also included a price protection adjustment determined by dividing CAD$32.50 by the initial public offering (“IPO”) price of CAD$7.50.

During the year ended June 30, 2000, 16 of 126 special warrants were issued, with the balance of 110 issued in the year ended June 30, 2001. Upon completion of the IPO, on June 5, 2001, these special warrants were converted to 547 shares of common stock, which included 42 shares of common stock issued under the price protection adjustment.

Special A warrants

During October 2000, the Company issued Series A special warrants. Each Series A special warrant was sold at CAD$6.25 and entitled the holder to acquire, for no additional consideration, one share of common stock of the Company. The Series A special warrants also included a price protection adjustment determined by dividing CAD$8.125 by the IPO price.

Upon completion of the IPO on June 5, 2001, these Series A special warrants were converted to 1,248 shares of common stock, which included 96 shares of common stock issued under the price protection adjustment.

In addition, each Series A special warrant included a share purchase warrant entitling the holder to purchase an additional share of common stock at the IPO price, which was also subject to the price protection adjustment, so that 1,248 additional common stock could have been sold at the IPO price. These share purchase warrants expired unexercised on September 3, 2001.

Equity rights

On September 28, 1999, University Medical Discoveries Inc. (“UMDI”) invested $171 for equity of the Company. The form of this equity was to be the same as the first class of securities to raise greater than $683 subsequent to the date of the investment. The date of conversion was dependent on certain milestones being met under a specific research project. On August 24, 2000, the Company and UMDI agreed to convert UMDI’s $171 investment into 62 shares of common stock of the Company.

Triathlon settlement

During fiscal 2000, other advances totaling $175 were settled by the issuance to Triathlon Limited of 280 shares of common stock of the Company. The number of shares issued was determined with reference to the fair value at the time the advances were made.

 

F-15


Table of Contents

Adherex Technologies Inc.

(a development stage company)

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

U.S. dollars and shares in thousands, except per share information

 

Shire BioChem Inc. agreement

On August 17, 2000, the Company entered into a subscription agreement and a license agreement with Shire BioChem Inc. (“BioChem”). Under the subscription agreement, BioChem purchased 80 shares of common stock of the Company for $341. Pursuant to a price protection clause in the agreement, an additional eight shares of common stock were issued on completion of the Company’s IPO on June 5, 2001.

Acquisitions

On November 20, 2002, the Company issued 8,032 shares of commons stock to acquire all of the issued and outstanding securities of Oxiquant, a holding company which held certain intellectual property rights, including rights to sodium thiosulfate.

In connection with the acquisition of the intellectual property of Oxiquant in November 2002, the Company issued 461 warrants with an exercise price of CAD$3.585 that expired on May 20, 2007 and 170 introduction warrants with an exercise price of CAD$2.05 that expired on November 20, 2007. These warrants expired unexercised.

As a prerequisite of the Oxiquant transaction, Adherex licensed all of its cadherin-related intellectual property for non-cancer applications and transferred $158 in cash to Cadherin Biomedical Inc. or CBI, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Adherex at the time, in return for Class A Preferred Shares of CBI. These CBI Class A Preferred Shares were then distributed to all of the Adherex shareholders of record by way of special dividend, effecting a “spin out” of CBI and the non-cancer assets from Adherex.

In order to effect such a distribution under Section 42 of the Canada Business Corporations Act (“CBCA”), the Company was legally required to reduce its stated capital so that the aggregate amount of its liabilities and stated capital did not exceed the realizable value of Adherex’s assets. Management determined that the stated capital needed to be reduced by $9,489, in order to comply with the requirements of Section 42 of the CBCA. The Company decreased common stock and increased additional paid-in capital by $9,489.

In February 2004, the Company and CBI became involved in litigation. On December 3, 2004, the Company and CBI settled the litigation and the Company agreed to acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of CBI and reacquire the non-cancer rights to the cadherin-based intellectual property. As part of the agreement, the Company issued 644 common shares valued at $1,252, net of transaction costs.

Convertible note warrants

On June 23, 2003, the Company issued senior secured convertible notes with a face value totaling $2,219. These notes were convertible into common stock and warrants to acquire common stock of the Company upon completion of an equity fund raising round. Investors also received warrants to purchase an aggregate of 345 shares of common stock of the Company with an exercise price of CAD$2.75 per share that expired on June 23, 2007. The notes bore interest at an annual rate of eight percent compounded semi-annually, and matured one year from issue but were renewable for one additional year at the option of the Company. In connection with this issuance, the Company issued broker warrants to purchase 101 shares of common stock exercisable at a price of CAD$2.35 per share which expired on June 23, 2005 unexercised. As an inducement to consent to the issuance of the December 2003 convertible notes, the exercise price of these warrants was changed from CAD$2.75 per share to CAD$2.05 per share on December 3, 2003.

On December 3, 2003, the Company issued additional senior secured convertible notes with a face value totaling CAD$1,458. These notes were convertible into common stock and warrants to acquire common stock of the Company upon completion of an equity fund raising round. Also, investors received warrants for 271 shares of common stock exercisable at a price of CAD$2.15 per share which expire on December 3, 2007. The notes bore interest at an annual rate of eight percent compounded semi-annually, and matured one year from issue but were renewable for one additional year at the option of the Company. The Company also issued broker warrants to purchase 94 shares of common stock exercisable at a price of CAD$2.15 per share which expired on December 3, 2005.

On December 19, 2003, the Company completed an equity financing resulting in the conversion of the June and the December notes into 2,813 shares of common stock with a carrying value of $1,785 credited to common stock. In

 

F-16


Table of Contents

Adherex Technologies Inc.

(a development stage company)

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

U.S. dollars and shares in thousands, except per share information

 

addition, the Company issued 1,407 warrants to purchase common stock with an exercise price of CAD$2.15 per share which expire on December 19, 2008.

Warrants to Purchase Common Stock

At December 31, 2007, the Company had 7,567 investor warrants to purchase common stock outstanding priced in Canadian dollars with an exercise price of CAD $2.15 that expire on December 19, 2008.

At December 31, 2007, the Company had the following warrants to purchase common stock outstanding priced in U.S. dollars with a weighted average exercise price of $0.47 and a weighted average remaining life of 1.98 years:

 

Warrant Description

   Number
Outstanding at
December 31,
2007
   Exercise Price
In U.S. Dollars
   Expiration Date

Agent warrants

   465    $ 0.97    May 7, 2008

Investor warrants

   1,824    $ 1.75    July 20, 2008

Broker warrants

   4,818    $ 0.33    February 21, 2009

Investor warrants

   38,794    $ 0.40    February 21, 2010

Investor warrants

   2,326    $ 0.97    May 7, 2010
          
   48,227      
          

Stock options

The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors administers the Company’s stock option plan. The Compensation Committee designates eligible participants to be included under the plan and approves the number of options to be granted from time to time under the plan. A maximum of 20,000 options, not including the 700 options issued to the Chief Executive Officer and specifically approved by the shareholders, are authorized for issuance under the plan. The option exercise price for all options issued under the plan is based on the fair value of the underlying shares on the date of grant. All options vest within three years or less and are exercisable for a period of seven years from the date of grant. The stock option plan, as amended, allows the issuance of Canadian and U.S. dollar grants. A summary of the stock option transactions, for both the Canadian and U.S. dollar grants, through the year ended December 31, 2007 is below.

 

F-17


Table of Contents

Adherex Technologies Inc.

(a development stage company)

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

U.S. dollars and shares in thousands, except per share information

 

The following options granted under the stock option plan are exercisable in Canadian dollars:

 

     Number of
Options
    Exercise Price in Canadian Dollars
     Range    Weighted- average

Outstanding at December 31, 2004

   3,763     $ 1.64 - 7.50    $ 2.40

Granted

   —         —        —  

Exercised

   (15 )     1.64 - 1.70      1.66

Cancelled

   (84 )     1.64 - 6.25      2.93
                   

Outstanding at December 31, 2005

   3,664       1.64 - 7.50      2.39

Granted

   —         —        —  

Exercised

   —         —        —  

Cancelled

   (262 )     1.64 - 6.25      2.00
                   

Outstanding at December 31, 2006

   3,402       1.6375 - 7.50      2.42

Granted

   —         —        —  

Exercised

   —         —        —  

Cancelled

   (463 )     1.64 - 7.50      3.93
                   

Outstanding at December 31, 2007

   2,939     $  1.6500 - 3.25    $ 2.18
                   

 

     Options Outstanding    Options Exercisable

Range of

Exercise Price

in Canadian

Dollars

   Number
Outstanding at
December 31,
2007
   Weighted- average
Exercise Price
in Canadian
Dollars
   Weighted-average
Remaining
Contractual Life
(years)
   Number
Outstanding at
December 31,
2007
   Weighted-average
Exercise Price
   Weighted-average
Remaining
Contractual Life
(years)

$1.50 - $2.00

   1,228    $ 1.72    2.19    1,228    $ 1.72   

$2.01 - $2.50

   1,024      2.25    2.99    1,024      2.25   

$2.51 - $3.00

   549      2.81    3.33    549      2.81   

$3.01 - $3.50

   138      3.25    3.17    138      3.25   
                                 
   2,939    $ 2.18    2.73    2,939    $ 2.18    2.73
                                 

The following options granted under the stock option plan are exercisable in U.S. dollars:

 

           Exercise Price in U.S. Dollars
     Number of
Options
    Range    Weighted- average

Outstanding at December 31, 2004

   —         —        —  

Granted

   1,603     $ 0.88 - 1.35    $ 1.14

Exercised

   —         —        —  

Cancelled

   (20 )     1.20      1.20
                   

Outstanding at December 31, 2005

   1,583       0.88 - 1.35      1.14

Granted

   375       0.34 - 0.36      0.35

Exercised

   —         —        —  

Cancelled

   (80 )     0.88 - 1.20      0.97
                   

Outstanding at December 31, 2006

   1,878       0.34 - 1.35      0.99

Granted

   11,109       0.28 - 0.63      0.51

Exercised

   —         —        —  

Cancelled

   (263 )     0.34 - 1.20      0.55
                   

Outstanding at December 31, 2007

   12,724     $ 0.28 - 1.35    $ 0.58
                   

 

F-18


Table of Contents

Adherex Technologies Inc.

(a development stage company)

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

U.S. dollars and shares in thousands, except per share information

 

     Options Outstanding    Options Exercisable

Range of

Exercise

Price in U.S.

Dollars

   Number
Outstanding
at

December 31,
2007
   Weighted-average
Exercise Price
   Weighted-average
Remaining
Contractual Life
(years)
   Number
Outstanding at

December 31,
2007
   Weighted-average
Exercise Price
   Weighted-average
Remaining
Contractual Life
(years)

$0.28 - $0.50

   4,023    $ 0.29    6.30    1,146    $ 0.29   

$0.51 - $1.00

   7,487      0.63    6.29    2,438      0.65   

$1.01 - $1.25

   1,134      1.19    4.38    985      1.19   

$1.26 - $1.50

   80      1.35    4.50    60      1.35   
                                 
   12,724    $ 0.58    6.11    4,629    $ 0.68    5.89
                                 

Stock compensation expense for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 was $2,322, 590 and $276, respectively. The weighted average fair value per share of options granted during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 was $0.43, $0.35 and $1.13, respectively. There was no intrinsic value in stock options outstanding at December 31, 2007.

The fair value of options granted in fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 were estimated on the date the options were granted based on the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, using the following weighted average assumptions:

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2007
    Year Ended
December 31,
2006
    Year Ended
December 31,
2005
 

Expected dividend

   0 %   0 %   0 %

Risk-free interest rate

   4.58 %   4.60 %   3.82 %

Expected volatility

   77.7 %   84.0 %   70.0 %

Expected life

   7 years     7 years     7 years  

The Company uses the historical volatility and adjusts for available relevant market information pertaining to the Company’s share price. As of December 31, 2007, the Company had unrecognized fair value relating to unvested stock options totaling approximately $2,050 which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.4 years.

On February 27, 2008, the Company issued 3,200 stock options to Company executives with an exercise price of $0.38 which all vested on February 28, 2008.

 

6. Research and Development

Investment tax credits earned as a result of qualifying research and development expenditures and government grants have been applied to reduce research and development expenses as follows:

 

F-19


Table of Contents

Adherex Technologies Inc.

(a development stage company)

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

U.S. dollars and shares in thousands, except per share information

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2007
   Year Ended
December 31,
2006
   Year Ended
December 31,
2005
   Cumulative
From
September 3,
1996 to

December 31,
2007
 

Research and development

   $ 10,912    $ 14,003    $ 11,678    $ 54,240  

Investment tax credits

     —        —        —        (1,632 )

National Research Council grants

     —        —        —        (197 )
                             
   $ 10,912    $ 14,003    $ 11,678    $ 52,411  
                             

The Company’s claim for any Scientific Research and Experimental Development (“SR&ED”) deductions and related investment tax credits for income tax purposes are based upon management’s interpretation of the applicable legislation in the Canadian Income Tax Act. These amounts are subject to review and acceptance by the Canada Revenue Agency prior to collection.

 

7. Capital and Operating Lease Commitments

The Company has entered into operating lease agreements for the office and laboratory facilities located in the United States. As of December 31, 2007, the minimum cash payments per the lease agreements are as follows:

 

Year Ending

   Amount

December 31, 2008

   $ 463

December 31, 2009

     477

December 31, 2010

     463

December 31, 2011

     395

December 31, 2012 and thereafter

     268
      

Total minimum rent payments

   $ 2,066
      

The table above includes a lease agreement for the Englert Facility which has been subleased to a third party until March 31, 2008. Under the terms of the operating lease for the office facilities, the Company financed $80 of leasehold improvements through the building’s owner. The amount is being financed over the term of the lease which expires in September 2010 and bears an annual interest rate of six percent. This obligation was assumed by the sublessee when the Company subleased the facility to a third party; however, should the sublessee default, the Company would become liable.

Rental payments on operating leases and interest on capital lease payments are summarized in the table below:

 

Year Ending

   Rent
Amount
   Interest

December 31, 2007

   $ 327    $ —  

December 31, 2006

     264      —  

December 31, 2005

     184      4

 

8. Commitments and Contingencies

McGill Agreement

On February 26, 2001, the Company entered into a general collaboration agreement with McGill that grants the Company a 27-year exclusive, worldwide license to develop, use and market certain cell adhesion technology and compounds. The license agreement provides for the Company to pay future royalties of two percent of gross revenues from the use of the technology and compounds. The agreement also provides for the Company to make payments as follows:

 

   

CAD$100 if the Company has not filed an investigational new drug (“IND”) application, or similar application with Canadian, US, European or a recognized agency, relating to the licensed product prior

 

F-20


Table of Contents

Adherex Technologies Inc.

(a development stage company)

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

U.S. dollars and shares in thousands, except per share information

 

 

to September 23, 2002. On August 1, 2002, McGill acknowledged that work completed on the clinical development of ADH-1 was sufficient to meet the requirements of the September 23, 2002 milestone and thus no payment was required.

 

   

CAD$100 if the Company has not commenced Phase II clinical trials in a recognized jurisdiction on any licensed product prior to September 23, 2004. On September 20, 2004, McGill acknowledged that the Company had met obligations with respect to the September 23, 2004 milestone and thus no payment was required.

 

   

CAD$200 if the Company has not commenced Phase III clinical trials in a recognized jurisdiction on any licensed product prior to September 23, 2006, which was paid in fiscal year 2007.

In addition, the Company is required to fund mutually agreed upon research at McGill over a period of ten years totaling CAD$3,300. Annual funding commenced in 2001 with a total payment of CAD$200 and increases annually by 10 percent through to the tenth year of the agreement when annual funding reaches CAD$500. The additional research commitment can be deferred in any year if it exceeds five percent of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents. As of December 31, 2007, there have been no deferrals. The Company receives certain intellectual property rights resulting from this research.

Oregon Health & Science University agreement

The Company has an exclusive license agreement with Oregon Health & Science University (“OHSU”) for exclusive worldwide license rights to intellectual property directed to thiol-based compounds, including STS and their use in oncology. OHSU will receive certain milestone payments, a 2.5 percent royalty on net sales for licensed products and a 15 percent royalty on any consideration received from sublicensing of the licensed technology. Milestone payment fees payable to OHSU include: $50 upon completion of Phase I clinical trials; $200 upon completion of Phase II clinical trials; $500 upon completion of Phase III clinical trials; and $250 upon first commercial sale for any licensed product. To date, no milestone payments have been paid.

Employment matters

Under the terms of an agreement dated February 19, 2003, the prior Chief Executive Officer of the Company was terminated by mutual agreement. Pursuant to that agreement, the Company agreed to pay a total of $350. The initial payment of $150 was made during the quarter ended March 31, 2003 and was recorded as a General and Administration expense. Additionally, he received $50 per year for four years paid in semi-monthly installments. During fiscal 2007, the Company made the final payment under the agreement and therefore no liability exists at December 31, 2007.

GlaxoSmithKline

On July 14, 2005, the Company entered into a development and license agreement with GSK. The agreement included the in-license by Adherex of GSK’s oncology product, eniluracil, and an option for GSK to license ADH-1. As part of the transaction, GSK invested $3,000 in the Company’s common stock. On October 11, 2006, the GSK option to license ADH-1 expired unexercised. Under the terms of the agreement relating to eniluracil, Adherex received an exclusive license to develop eniluracil for all indications and GSK retained options to buy-back and assume development of the compound at various points in time. On March 1, 2007, the GSK agreement was amended and the Company purchased all of GSK’s remaining buy-back options for a fee of $1,000. The Company is now required to pay GSK development and sales milestones and double-digit royalties. Specifically, if the Company files a NDA with the FDA, the Company may be required to pay development milestones of $5,000 to GSK. Depending upon whether the NDA is approved by the FDA and whether eniluracil becomes a commercial success, the Company may be required to pay up to an additional $70,000 in development and sales milestones for the initially approved indication, plus double digit royalties based on annual net sales. If the Company pursues other indications, it may be required to pay up to an additional $15,000 to GSK per FDA-approved indication.

 

F-21


Table of Contents

Adherex Technologies Inc.

(a development stage company)

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

U.S. dollars and shares in thousands, except per share information

 

9. Income Taxes

The Company operates in several tax jurisdictions. Its income is subject to varying rates of tax and losses incurred in one jurisdiction cannot be used to offset income taxes payable in another. A reconciliation of the combined Canadian federal and provincial income tax rate with the Company’s effective tax rate is as follows:

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2007
    Year Ended
December 31,
2006
    Year Ended
December 31,
2005
 

Domestic loss

   $ (9,104 )   $ (10,931 )   $ (7,834 )

Foreign loss

     (4,253 )     (5,509 )     (6,037 )
                        

Loss before income taxes

     (13,357 )     (16,440 )     (13,871 )
                        

Expected statutory rate (recovery)

     32.02 %     32.01 %     36.12 %

Expected provision for (recovery of) income tax

     (4,277 )     (5,262 )     (5,010 )

Permanent differences

     746       194       35  

Change in valuation allowance

     3,813       3,247       5,129  

Non-refundable investment tax credits

     (22 )     (50 )     (35 )

Share issue costs and effect of change of carryforwards

     (352 )     (48 )     (51 )

Effect of foreign exchange rate differences

     (637 )     705       (68 )

Effect of change in future enacted tax rates

     916       804       —    

Effect of tax rate changes and other

     (187 )     410       —    
                        

Provision for income taxes

   $ —       $ —       $ —    
                        

The Canadian statutory income tax rate of 32.02 percent is comprised of federal income tax at approximately 22.12 percent and provincial income tax at approximately 9.9 percent.

The primary temporary differences which gave rise to future income taxes (recovery) at December 31, 2007, December 31, 2006 and December 31, 2005 are as follows:

 

     December 31,
2007
    December 31,
2006
    December 31,
2005
 

Future tax assets:

      

SR&ED expenditures

   $ 1,931     $ 2,209     $ 2,390  

Income tax loss carryforwards

     19,243       16,300       12,060  

Non-refundable investment tax credits

     1,090       1,029       998  

Share issue costs

     425       150       311  

Reserves

     —         —         518  

Accrued expenses

     153       —         —    

Fixed and intangible assets

     1,058       942       1,106  
                        
     23,900       20,630       17,383  

Less: valuation allowance

     (23,900 )     (20,630 )     (17,383 )
                        

Net future tax assets

   $ —       $ —       $ —    
                        

There are no current income taxes owed, nor are any income taxes expected to be owed in the near term.

At December 31, 2007, the Company has unclaimed Scientific Research and Experimental Development (“SR&ED”) expenditures, income tax loss carry forwards and investments tax credits. The unclaimed amounts and their expiry dates are as listed below:

 

F-22


Table of Contents

Adherex Technologies Inc.

(a development stage company)

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

U.S. dollars and shares in thousands, except per share information

 

     Federal    Province/
State

SR&ED expenditures (no expiry)

   $ 7,169    $ 7,189

Income tax loss carryforwards (expiry date):

     

2008

     592      —  

2009

     3,418      5,566

2010

     4,089      5,700

2014

     5,800      6,535

2015

     6,239      6,976

2021

     26      —  

2022

     233      —  

2023

     1,588      1,455

2024

     4,849      4,768

2025

     10,820      10,793

2026

     13,637      13,572

2027

     8,916      8,916

Investment tax credits (expiry date):

     

2008

     7      —  

2009

     89      —  

2010

     51      —  

2011

     510      —  

2012

     371      —  

2013

     166      —  

2014

     133      —  

2015

     52      —  

2026

     80      —  

2027

     22      —  

The Company adopted FIN 48 effective January 1, 2007. Upon adoption of FIN 48 and through December 31, 2007, the Company had no unrecognized tax benefits. As of the date of adoption, there were no tax positions for which it is reasonably possible that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will significantly increase or decrease within twelve months from the date of adoption of FIN 48 or from December 31, 2007. Accordingly, none have been recorded.

As of December 31, 2007, the Company is subject to federal and state income tax in the United States and federal and provincial tax in Canada. The open statute years available for examination by U.S. taxing authorities are 2004 through 2007; the open statute years available for examination by Canadian taxing authorities are 2003 through 2007. However, since the Company is in a loss carryforward position in both jurisdictions, the Company is generally subject to U.S. and Canadian federal and state or provincial income tax examinations by tax authorities for all years for which a loss carryforward is utilized in subsequent periods. Thus, upon adoption of FIN 48, the Company’s U.S. and Canadian open tax years extend back to 2001 and 1999, respectively.

In the event that the Company concludes that there are unrecognized tax benefits to record and that it is subject to interest and/or penalties arising from uncertain tax positions, the Company will record interest and penalties as a component of other income and expense. No amounts of interest or penalties were recognized in the Company’s consolidated financial statements upon adoption of FIN 48 or as of December 31, 2007 and for the year ended December 31, 2007.

 

F-23


Table of Contents

Adherex Technologies Inc.

(a development stage company)

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

U.S. dollars and shares in thousands, except per share information

 

10. Net Loss Per Share

The outstanding number and type of securities that could potentially dilute basic earnings per share in the future and which were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share, because to do so would have reduced the loss per share (anti-dilutive) for the years presented, are as follows:

 

     December 31,
2007
   December 31,
2006
   December 31,
2005

Stock options

   15,663    5,280    5,246

Convertible note warrants

   —      615    615

Acquisition warrants

   —      461    461

Broker warrants

   6,283    692    227

Investor warrants

   49,511    14,052    11,726
              

Totals

   71,457    21,100    18,275
              

 

11. Segment Information

The Company operates in one business segment, which is the development of pharmaceutical products based on its licensed and proprietary technologies, with substantially all of its capital assets and operations, which were previously located in Canada, now located in the United States in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.

 

12. Research and Development Projects

The Company is in the development stage and conducts research and development in the areas of anti-cancer and chemoprotection:

Anti-Cancer:

 

   

ADH-1 is a molecularly-targeted anti-cancer compound in clinical development that selectively targets N-cadherin, a protein present on certain tumor cells and the established blood vessels that supply the tumors.

 

   

Eniluracil is a compound in clinical development that was previously under development by GSK for oncology indications. Eniluracil is a DPD inhibitor being developed to enhance the therapeutic value and effectiveness of an approved anti-cancer compound called 5-fluorouracil, or 5-FU.

Chemoprotectants and Chemoenhancers:

 

   

STS is a compound in clinical development that has been shown to protect against the disabling loss of hearing in patients being treated with platinum-based anti-cancer agents.

 

F-24


Table of Contents

Adherex Technologies Inc.

(a development stage company)

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

U.S. dollars and shares in thousands, except per share information

 

The following summarizes our research and development expenses, net of any investment tax credits or grants, through December 31, 2007:

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2007
   Year Ended
December 31,
2006
   Year Ended
December 31,
2005
   Cumulative
From
September 3,
1996 to
December 31,
2007

ADH-1

   $ 5,087    $ 9,792    $ 7,743    $ 33,844

Eniluracil

     5,004      2,910      2,395      10,821

Other anti-cancer

     158      249      351      2,347
                           

Total anti-cancer

     10,249      12,951      10,489      47,012

STS

     560      292      443      2,668

Other chemoprotectants and enhancers

     —        —        16      40
                           

Total chemoprotectants and enhancers

     560      292      459      2,708

Other discovery projects

     103      760      730      2,553

Transdermal drug delivery

     —        —        —        138
                           

Total research and development program expense

   $ 10,912    $ 14,003    $ 11,678    $ 52,411
                           

On March 1, 2007, the Company purchased all of GSK’s remaining buy-back options for a fee of $1,000. The Company has made no upfront cash payments for research and development projects and is not obligated to repay research and development amounts to any third parties.

 

13. Financial Instruments

Financial instruments recognized on the balance sheets at December 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006 consist of cash and cash equivalents, cash pledged as collateral, accounts receivable, accounts payable and other current liabilities. The Company does not hold or issue financial instruments for trading purposes and does not hold any derivative financial instruments.

The Company’s investment policy is to manage investments to achieve, in the order of importance, the financial objectives of preservation of principal, liquidity and return on investment. Investments are made in U.S. or Canadian obligations and bank securities, commercial paper of U.S. or Canadian industrial companies, utilities, financial institutions and consumer loan companies, and securities of foreign banks provided the obligations are guaranteed or carry ratings appropriate to the policy. Securities must have a minimum Dun & Bradstreet rating of A for bonds or R1 low for commercial paper.

The policy risks are primarily the opportunity cost of the conservative nature of the allowable investments. As the main purpose of the Company is research and development, the Company has chosen to avoid investments of a trade or speculative nature.

 

F-25


Table of Contents

Adherex Technologies Inc.

(a development stage company)

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

U.S. dollars and shares in thousands, except per share information

 

14. Changes in Operating Assets and Liabilities

The following table details the changes in operating assets and liabilities as per the Statements of Cash Flows:

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2007
    Year Ended
December 31,
2006
    Year Ended
December 31,
2005
 
Accounts receivable    $ 11     $ (17 )   $ 2  

Investment tax credits receivable

     (93 )     58       123  

Prepaid expenses

     (89 )     31       (48 )

Other current assets

     4       19       41  

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

     (2,293 )     2,032       884  
                        

Net changes in operating assets and liabilities

   $ (2,460 )   $ 2,123     $ 1,002  
                        

 

15. Canadian Accounting Principles

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States in U.S. dollars. These principles differ, as they affect the Company, at December 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006 and for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2007, December 31, 2006, and December 31, 2005 in the following material respects from Canadian generally accepted accounting principles. There are no differences in reported cash flow for the periods presented.

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets - Canadian GAAP:     
     December 31,
2007
    December 31,
2006
 

Assets

    

Current assets

   $ 16,561     $ 5,895  

Other assets

     363       440  

Capital assets

     285       293  

Acquired intellectual property rights

     9,028       9,956  
                

Total assets

   $ 26,237     $ 16,584  
                

Liabilities

    

Current liabilities

   $ 2,402     $ 4,695  

Other long-term liabilities

     —         40  

Deferred lease inducement

     659       625  

Future income taxes

     2,474       3,639  
                

Total liabilities

     5,535       8,999  
                

Shareholders’ equity

    

Common stock

     64,891       46,486  

Contributed surplus

     34,583       26,751  

Cumulative translation adjustment

     5,850       5,850  

Deficit accumulated during development stage

     (84,622 )     (71,502 )
                

Total shareholders’ equity

     20,702       7,585  
                

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

   $ 26,237     $ 16,584  
                

 

F-26


Table of Contents

Adherex Technologies Inc.

(a development stage company)

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

U.S. dollars and shares in thousands, except per share information

 

Consolidated Statements of Operations – Canadian GAAP:

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2007
    Year Ended
December 31,
2006
    Year Ended
December 31,
2005
 

Net loss in accordance with U.S. GAAP

   $ (13,357 )   $ (16,440 )   $ (13,871 )

Adjustments to reconcile to Canadian GAAP:

      

Acquired intellectual property rights amortization (2)

     (1,808 )     (2,177 )     (2,723 )

Loss on impairment of intellectual property (2)

     —         (2,021 )     (3,539 )

Future income taxes (2)

     1,165       1,535       2,290  

License fee paid (2)

     1,000       —         —    

License fee amortization (2)

     (120 )     —         —    

Stock-based compensation (3)

     —         —         (1,402 )
                        

Net loss and comprehensive loss in accordance with Canadian GAAP

   $ (13,120 )   $ (19,103 )   $ (19,245 )
                        

Net loss per share of common stock, basic and diluted

   $ (0.11 )   $ (0.40 )   $ (0.49 )
                        

Weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding, basic and diluted

     116,571       47,663       39,276  
                        

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—Canadian GAAP:

 

1. Summary of significant accounting policies

Current accounting pronouncements

On January 1, 2007, the Company adopted the following standards: The Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants (“CICA”) Sections 3855 “Financial Instruments—Recognition and Measurements” 3865 “Hedges” and 1530 “Comprehensive Income”. These sections require certain financial instruments and hedge positions to be recorded at their fair value. They also introduce the concept of comprehensive income and accumulated other comprehensive income.

CICA Section 3855 “Financial Instruments—Recognition and Measurements” establishes standards for recognizing and measuring financial assets, financial liabilities and non-financial derivatives. All financial instruments must be classified into defined categories. This classification determines how each instrument is measured and how gains and losses are recognized. In addition, the recommendations define derivatives and embedded derivatives which meet certain criteria.

CICA Section 3865 “Hedges” replaces AcG-13, “Hedging Relationships” and the guidance formerly in CICA Section 1650, “Foreign Currency Translation”. The recommendations of this section are optional and are only required if the entity is applying hedge accounting. This section establishes standards for the accounting treatment of qualifying hedge relationships and the necessary disclosures. For fair value hedges, the periodic change in value is recognized in income, where the changes in values of the hedged items are also recorded. For a cash flow hedge, the change in value of the effective portion is recognized in “other comprehensive income”.

CICA Section 1530, “Comprehensive Income”, introduces a statement of comprehensive income in the full set of interim and annual financial statements. Comprehensive income will present certain gains and losses outside net income. The adoption of these standards was on a prospective basis with no retroactive restatement of prior periods and had no material impact on the consolidated financial statements. As at December 31, 2007, the Company’s accumulated other comprehensive income balance was $5,820.

 

F-27


Table of Contents

Adherex Technologies Inc.

(a development stage company)

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

U.S. dollars and shares in thousands, except per share information

 

Future accounting pronouncements

The CICA issued the following new recommendations which apply to fiscal years beginning on or after October 1, 2007. The Company expects these new standards relating to presentation and disclosure will have no impact on the financial results of the Company:

Financial Instruments – Disclosures, Section 3862, describes the required disclosures related to the significance of financial instruments on the entity’s financial position and performance and the nature and extent of risks arising from financial instruments to which the entity is exposed and how the entity manages those risks. This section complements the principles of recognition, measurement and presentation of financial instruments of Section 3855, Financial Instruments – Recognition and Measurement.

Financial Instruments – Presentation, Section 3863, establishes standards for presentation of financial instruments and non-financial derivatives. It complements the standards of Section 3861, Financial Instruments – Disclosure and presentation.

Capital Disclosures, Section 1535, establishes the standards for disclosing information about the entity’s capital and how it is managed to enable users of financial statements to evaluate the entity’s objectives, policies and procedures for managing capital.

General Standards on Financial Presentation, Section 1400, has been amended to assess and disclose an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern. The change is effective for interim and annual financial statements beginning on or after January 1, 2008.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Section 3064, which will replace Section 3062, Goodwill and Intangible Assets, establishes revised standards for the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of goodwill and intangible assets. The new standard also provides guidance for the treatment of start-up costs and requires that the costs be expensed as incurred. The new standard applies to annual and interim financial statements relating to fiscal years beginning on or after October 31, 2008. Management is currently assessing the impact of these new standards on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

2. Acquired intellectual property rights

Under U.S. GAAP, the cost of acquired technology is charged to expense as in-process research and development (“IPRD”) when acquired if the feasibility of such technology has not been established and no future alternative use exists. Canadian GAAP requires the capitalization and amortization of the costs of acquired technology. This difference decreases the net loss from operations under Canadian GAAP in the year the IPRD is acquired and reduces the net loss under Canadian GAAP in subsequent periods because there is no amortization expense.

Under Canadian GAAP, a future tax liability is also recorded upon acquisition of the technology to reflect the tax effect of the difference between the carrying amount of the technology in the financial statements and the tax basis of these assets, which is nil. As the intellectual property is amortized, the future tax liability is also reduced to reflect the change in this temporary difference between the tax and accounting values of the assets. Under U.S. GAAP, because the technology is expensed immediately as IPRD, there is no difference between the tax basis and the financial statement carrying value of the assets and therefore no future tax liability exists.

On November 20, 2002 Adherex acquired certain intellectual property through the acquisition of Oxiquant, a holding company with no active business. The intellectual property was valued at CAD$31,162 reflecting net liabilities assumed of CAD$401 and provision for future income tax liability of CAD$11,390, resulting in a total consideration of CAD$19,371. The assets consisted primarily of three product candidates including; mesna, N-Acetylcysteine (“NAC”) and Sodium Thiosulfate (“STS”). The acquired intellectual property was deemed to have a ten year useful life, amortized on a straight-line basis.

At December 31, 2005, the Company determined the carrying value of the intellectual property relating to mesna, which had a book value of $3,539, and a related future income tax benefit of $1,294, was fully impaired and written off based on the Company’s lack of any further developmental plans. This decision was based on the addition of eniluracil to the Company’s product portfolio, along with the financial resources additionally devoted to the development of

 

F-28


Table of Contents

Adherex Technologies Inc.

(a development stage company)

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

U.S. dollars and shares in thousands, except per share information

 

ADH-1. The loss on impairment is calculated as the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds its discounted cash flows.

At December 31, 2006, the Company determined the carrying value of the intellectual property relating to NAC, which had a book value of $2,021, and a related future income tax benefit of $739, was fully impaired and written off because the Company has no plans for further development of NAC and will allocate its resources to ADH-1, eniluracil and STS. The loss on impairment is calculated as the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds its undiscounted cash flows.

On March 1, 2007, the Company purchased all of GSK’s remaining options to buy back eniluracil under our development and license agreement for a cash fee of $1,000. Under U.S. GAAP, the cost of the license fee paid to GSK was charged to expense as the feasibility of such technology had not been established and no future alternative use existed. Canadian GAAP requires the capitalization and amortization of the costs of such license fees. The license fee is being amortized over the estimated life of seven years on a straight-line basis.

During the year ended December 31, 2007, the Company reduced the future tax liability by $660 which was the amortization expense for the intellectual property. In addition, at December 31, 2007, the Company reduced the future tax liability by $505 to adjust for lower tax rates projected over the remaining estimated life of the intellectual property.

 

3. Stock-based compensation

Canadian GAAP required the fair value of employee and director stock options to be expensed in the statement of operations commencing for fiscal years beginning after January 1, 2004, under CICA Section 3870 Stock-Based Compensation and Other Stock-Based Payments (“CICA 3870”). For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006, the Company adopted FASB Statement No. 123 (Revised 2004), Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation which requires companies to record the fair value of employee and director stock options as expense in the statement of operations. As a result, there are no differences between Canadian and U.S. GAAP for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007 or December 31, 2006.

 

F-29