First Wave BioPharma, Inc. - Quarter Report: 2018 September (Form 10-Q)
DRAFT
|
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
[X] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT
TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF
1934
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2018
OR
[ ] TRANSITION REPORT
UNDER SECTION 13 OF 15(d) OF THE EXCHANGE ACT OF
1934
From the transition period
from to
Commission File Number 001-37853
AZURRX BIOPHARMA, INC.
(Exact name of small business issuer as specified in its
charter)
Delaware
|
46-4993860
|
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or
organization)
|
(IRS Employer Identification No.)
|
760 Parkside Avenue
Downstate Biotechnology Incubator, Suite 304
Brooklyn, New York 11226
(Address of principal executive offices)
(646) 699-7855
(Issuer’s telephone number)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed
all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months
(or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to
file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing
requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes [X] No [ ]
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted
electronically and posted on its corporate web site, if any, every
Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant
to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (Sec.232.405 of this chapter) during
the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes
[X] No [ ]
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large
accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer,
smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the
definitions of “large accelerated filer,”
“accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting
company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule
12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer
|
[ ]
|
Accelerated filer
|
[ ]
|
Non-accelerated filer
|
[ ]
|
Smaller reporting company
|
[ ]
|
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
|
Emerging growth company
|
[X]
|
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the
registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period
for complying with any new or revised financial accounting
standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange
Act. [
]
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company
(as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes [ ] No [X]
As of November 9, 2018, there
were 16,940,462 shares
of the registrant’s common stock, $0.0001 par value, issued
and outstanding.
DRAFT
|
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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PART I
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS
In our opinion, the accompanying unaudited
consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments
(consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) necessary to
present fairly our financial position, results of operations, and
cash flows for the interim periods presented. We have condensed
such financial statements in accordance with the rules and
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission
(“SEC”). Therefore, such financial statements do
not include all disclosures required by accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States of America. In preparing
these consolidated financial statements, the Company has evaluated
events and transactions for potential recognition or disclosure
through the date the consolidated financial statements were issued
by filing with the SEC.
These
financial statements should be read in conjunction with our audited
financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2017 included
in our Annual Report filed on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on
March 16, 2018.
The
results of operations for the three and nine months ended September
30, 2018 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be
expected for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018.
AZURRX
BIOPHARMA,
INC.
|
|
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Consolidated
Balance Sheets (unaudited)
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|
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September 30,
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December 31,
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2018
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2017
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ASSETS
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|
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|
|
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Current
Assets:
|
|
|
Cash
|
$4,427,640
|
$573,471
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Other
receivables
|
1,197,196
|
1,104,134
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Prepaid
expenses
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58,457
|
274,963
|
Total Current
Assets
|
5,683,293
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1,952,568
|
|
|
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Property,
equipment, and leasehold improvements, net
|
136,963
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133,987
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|
|
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Other
Assets:
|
|
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In process
research and development, net
|
271,486
|
307,591
|
License
agreements, net
|
488,460
|
1,038,364
|
Goodwill
|
1,952,724
|
2,016,240
|
Deposits
|
45,442
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30,918
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Total Other
Assets
|
2,758,112
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3,393,113
|
Total
Assets
|
$8,578,368
|
$5,479,668
|
|
|
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LIABILITIES
AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
|
|
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Current
Liabilities:
|
|
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Accounts payable
and accrued expenses
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$826,410
|
$1,187,234
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Accounts payable
and accrued expenses - related party
|
639,635
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868,105
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Note
payable
|
-
|
159,180
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Convertible
debt
|
-
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257,365
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Interest
payable
|
-
|
7,192
|
Total Current
Liabilities
|
1,466,045
|
2,479,076
|
|
|
|
Contingent
consideration
|
1,580,000
|
1,340,000
|
Total
Liabilities
|
3,046,045
|
3,819,076
|
|
|
|
Stockholders'
Equity:
|
|
|
Convertible
preferred stock - Par value $0.0001 per share; 10,000,000 shares
authorized and 0 shares issued and outstanding at September 30,
2018 and December 31, 2017; liquidation preference approximates par
value
|
-
|
-
|
Common stock - Par
value $0.0001 per share; 100,000,000 shares authorized; 16,940,462
and 12,042,574 shares issued and outstanding, respectively, at
September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017
|
1,694
|
1,205
|
Additional paid-in
capital
|
50,123,691
|
37,669,601
|
Subscriptions
receivable
|
-
|
(1,071,070)
|
Accumulated
deficit
|
(43,497,239)
|
(33,983,429)
|
Accumulated other
comprehensive loss
|
(1,095,823)
|
(955,715)
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Total Stockholders'
Equity
|
5,532,323
|
1,660,592
|
Total Liabilities
and Stockholders' Equity
|
$8,578,368
|
$5,479,668
|
See accompanying notes to
consolidated financial statements
AZURRX
BIOPHARMA, INC.
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Consolidated
Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss
(unaudited)
|
|
|||
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Three
Months
|
Three
Months
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Nine
Months
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Nine
Months
|
|
Ended
|
Ended
|
Ended
|
Ended
|
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09/30/18
|
09/30/17
|
09/30/18
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09/30/17
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|
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Research
and development expenses
|
$1,168,874
|
$966,685
|
$3,772,679
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$2,244,244
|
General
and administrative expenses
|
1,317,132
|
2,009,432
|
5,400,712
|
5,564,800
|
Fair
value adjustment, contingent consideration
|
80,000
|
(250,000)
|
240,000
|
110,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss
from operations
|
(2,566,006)
|
(2,726,117)
|
(9,413,391)
|
(7,919,044)
|
|
|
|
|
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Other:
|
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Interest
expense
|
(5,629)
|
(408,106)
|
(100,418)
|
(696,327)
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Total
other
|
(5,629)
|
(408,106)
|
(100,418)
|
(696,327)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss
before income taxes
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(2,571,635)
|
(3,134,223)
|
(9,513,809)
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(8,615,371)
|
|
|
|
|
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Income
taxes
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-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
loss
|
(2,571,635)
|
(3,134,223)
|
(9,513,809)
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(8,615,371)
|
|
|
|
|
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Other
comprehensive loss:
|
|
|
|
|
Foreign
currency translation adjustment
|
(36,215)
|
439,299
|
(140,108)
|
439,299
|
Total
comprehensive loss
|
$(2,607,850)
|
$(2,694,924)
|
$(9,653,917)
|
$(8,176,072)
|
|
|
|
|
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Basic
and diluted weighted average shares outstanding
|
16,889,519
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11,242,616
|
14,895,323
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10,318,709
|
|
|
|
|
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Loss
per share - basic and diluted
|
$(0.15)
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$(0.28)
|
$(0.64)
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$(0.83)
|
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial
statements
AZURRX
BIOPHARMA, INC.
|
|
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Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity
(unaudited)
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|
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|
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|
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Accumulated
|
|
|
Convertible
|
|
|
Additional
|
|
|
Other
|
|
|
|
Preferred Stock
|
Common Stock
|
Paid In
|
Subscriptions
|
Accumulated
|
Comprehensive
|
|
||
|
Shares
|
Amount
|
Shares
|
Amount
|
Capital
|
Receivable
|
Deficit
|
Loss
|
Total
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance, January 1, 2017
|
-
|
$-
|
9,631,088
|
$963
|
$27,560,960
|
$-
|
$(22,887,047)
|
$(1,461,875)
|
$3,213,001
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common stock and
warrants issued in private placement
|
|
|
1,542,858
|
154
|
5,009,071
|
|
|
|
5,009,225
|
Common stock issued
from conversion of convertible debt
|
|
|
189,256
|
19
|
717,107
|
|
|
|
717,126
|
Stock-based
compensation
|
|
|
|
|
588,151
|
|
|
|
588,151
|
Restricted
stock granted to consultants
|
|
|
58,500
|
6
|
225,179
|
|
|
|
225,185
|
Warrants
issued to consultants
|
|
|
|
|
576,902
|
|
|
|
576,902
|
Warrants
issued in association with convertible debt issuances
|
|
|
|
|
246,347
|
|
|
|
246,347
|
Beneficial
conversion feature on convertible debt issuances
|
|
|
|
|
395,589
|
|
|
|
395,589
|
Foreign
currency translation adjustment
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
439,299
|
439,299
|
Net
loss
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(8,615,371)
|
|
(8,615,371)
|
Balance, September 30, 2017
|
-
|
$-
|
11,421,702
|
$1,142
|
$35,319,306
|
$-
|
$(31,502,418)
|
$(1,022,576)
|
$2,795,454
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance, January 1, 2018
|
-
|
$-
|
12,042,574
|
$1,205
|
$37,669,601
|
$(1,071,070)
|
$(33,983,429)
|
$(955,715)
|
$1,660,592
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common stock issued
from public offering
|
|
|
4,160,000
|
416
|
9,577,647
|
|
|
|
9,578,063
|
Common stock issued
to consultants
|
|
|
118,818
|
12
|
360,759
|
|
|
|
360,771
|
Common stock issued
for warrant exercises
|
|
|
503,070
|
49
|
1,253,623
|
1,071,070
|
|
|
2,324,742
|
Stock-based
compensation
|
|
|
|
|
306,966
|
|
|
|
306,966
|
Restricted
stock granted to employees/directors
|
|
|
90,000
|
9
|
457,677
|
|
|
|
457,686
|
Convertible debt
converted into common stock
|
|
|
26,000
|
3
|
68,670
|
|
|
|
68,673
|
Warrant
modification
|
|
|
|
|
428,748
|
|
|
|
428,748
|
Foreign
currency translation adjustment
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(140,108)
|
(140,108)
|
Net
loss
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(9,513,809)
|
|
(9,513,809)
|
Balance, September 30, 2018
|
-
|
$-
|
16,940,462
|
$1,694
|
$50,123,691
|
$-
|
$(43,497,239)
|
$(1,095,823)
|
$5,532,323
|
|
See
accompanying notes to consolidated financial
statements
AZURRX
BIOPHARMA, INC.
|
|
|
Consolidated
Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nine
Months
|
Nine
Months
|
|
Ended
|
Ended
|
|
09/30/18
|
09/30/17
|
Cash
flows from operating activities:
|
|
|
Net
loss
|
$(9,513,809)
|
$(8,615,371)
|
Adjustments
to reconcile net loss to net cash used in
|
|
|
operating
activities:
|
|
|
Depreciation
|
46,073
|
35,851
|
Amortization
|
558,716
|
520,734
|
Fair
value adjustment, contingent consideration
|
240,000
|
110,000
|
Stock-based
compensation
|
306,966
|
588,151
|
Restricted
stock granted to employees/directors
|
457,686
|
-
|
Restricted
stock granted/accrued to consultants
|
360,771
|
225,179
|
Warrants
issued to consultants
|
-
|
576,902
|
Accreted
interest on convertible debt
|
-
|
96,558
|
Convertible
debt beneficial conversion feature
|
-
|
368,850
|
Accreted
interest on debt discount - warrants
|
97,837
|
229,695
|
Warrant
modification
|
428,748
|
-
|
Changes
in assets and liabilities:
|
|
|
Other
receivables
|
(134,052)
|
861,507
|
Prepaid
expenses
|
216,236
|
165,213
|
Deposits
|
(15,000)
|
5,625
|
Accounts
payable and accrued expenses
|
(571,616)
|
115,602
|
Interest
payable
|
(7,192)
|
-
|
Net cash used in
operating activities
|
(7,528,636)
|
(4,715,504)
|
|
|
|
Cash
flows from investing activities:
|
|
|
Purchase
of property and equipment
|
(48,359)
|
(31,953)
|
Net cash used in
investing activities
|
(48,359)
|
(31,953)
|
|
|
|
Cash
flows from financing activities:
|
|
|
Net
proceeds from issuances of common stock and warrants
|
9,578,063
|
5,009,225
|
Net
proceeds from common stock issued for warrant
exercises
|
2,324,742
|
-
|
Proceeds
from issuances of convertible debt
|
-
|
1,000,000
|
Repayments
of convertible debt
|
(286,529)
|
-
|
Repayments
of note payable
|
(159,180)
|
(155,187)
|
Net
cash provided by financing activities
|
11,457,096
|
5,854,038
|
|
|
|
Increase in
cash
|
3,880,101
|
1,106,581
|
|
|
|
Effect of exchange
rate changes on cash
|
(25,932)
|
66,146
|
|
|
|
Cash,
beginning balance
|
573,471
|
1,773,525
|
|
|
|
Cash,
ending balance
|
$4,427,640
|
$2,946,252
|
|
|
|
Supplemental
disclosures of cash flow information:
|
|
|
Cash
paid for interest
|
$2,581
|
$1,224
|
|
|
|
Cash
paid for income taxes
|
$-
|
$-
|
|
|
|
Non-cash investing
and financing activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Conversion
of convertible debt into common stock
|
$68,673
|
$717,107
|
See
accompanying notes to consolidated financial
statements
Note 1 - The Company, Recent Development, and Basis of
Presentation
The Company
AzurRx BioPharma, Inc. (“AzurRx” or “Parent”) was incorporated on January 30, 2014 in
the State of Delaware. In June 2014, the Company acquired 100% of
the issued and outstanding capital stock of AzurRx BioPharma SAS
(formerly “ProteaBio Europe
SAS”), a company
incorporated in October 2008 under the laws of France that had been
a wholly-owned subsidiary of Protea Biosciences, Inc., or Protea
Sub, in turn a wholly-owned subsidiary of Protea Biosciences Group,
Inc., a publicly-traded company. AzurRx and its wholly-owned
subsidiary, AzurRx Biopharma SAS (“ABS”), are collectively referred to as the
“Company.”
AzurRx,
through its ABS subsidiary, is engaged in the research and
development of non-systemic biologics for the treatment of patients
with gastrointestinal disorders. Non-systemic biologics are
non-absorbable drugs that act locally, i.e. the intestinal lumen,
skin or mucosa, without reaching an individual’s systemic
circulation.
Within
our current product pipeline, our two most advanced therapeutic
programs are described below:
MS1819-SD
MS1819-SD is a
yeast derived recombinant lipase for exocrine pancreatic
insufficiency (“EPI”) associated with chronic pancreatitis
(“CP”) and cystic fibrosis
(“CF”). A lipase is an enzyme that breaks up fat
molecules. MS1819-SD is considered recombinant because it was
created from new combinations of genetic material in
yeast called Yarrowia
lipolytica. The Company
recently completed an open-label, dose escalation Phase IIa trial
of MS1819-SD in France, Australia, and New Zealand to investigate
both the safety of escalating doses of MS1819-SD, and the efficacy
of MS1819-SD through the analysis of each patient’s
coefficient of fat absorption (“CFA”) and its change from baseline. A total of
11 patients with EPI were enrolled in the study and initial data
show a strong safety and efficacy profile. Both clinical activity
and a clear dose response were observed, with the highest MS1819-SD
dose cohort showing greater than 21% improvement in CFA in
evaluable patients. Additionally, maximal absolute CFA response to
treatment was up to 57%, with an inverse relationship to baseline
CFA. Favorable trends were also observed on other evaluated
endpoints, including Bristol stool scale, number of daily
evacuations and weight of stool, and these were consistent with the
CFA results. On October
16, 2018, the Company announced that the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (“FDA”) cleared the Company’s
Investigational New Drug (“IND”) application for MS1819-SD in patients
with EPI due to CF. The Company
currently anticipates formal data from the Phase IIa study in the
fall of 2018 and expects to begin a planned Phase IIb study focused
on enrolling patients with CF by the end of
2018.
B-Lactamase Program
The Company’s b-lactamase program focuses on
products with an enzymatic combination of bacterial origin for the
prevention of hospital-acquired infections and
antibiotic-associated diarrhea (“AAD”)
by resistant bacterial strains induced by parenteral administration
of several antibiotic classes. Currently, the Company has two
compounds in pre-clinical development in this program, AZX1101 and
AZX1103. Both AZX1101 and AZX1103 are composed of several distinct
enzymes that break up individual classes of antibiotic molecules.
AZX1103 is a b-lactamase enzyme combination that has shown positive
pre-clinical activity, with degradation of amoxicillin in the
presence of clavulanic acid in the upper gastrointestinal tract in
the Gottingen minipig model. Currently, the Company is focused on
advancing pre-clinical development of AZX1103 and expects to file
an Investigational New Drug application (an “IND”)
for AZX1103 with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
(“FDA”)
in 2019. At this time, the Company is currently assessing its plans
for the continuation of the development of
AZX1101.
Recent
Developments
Public Offering of Common Stock
On May 3, 2018, the Company completed an
underwritten, public offering of 4,160,000 shares of its common
stock, par value $0.0001 per share, at a public offering price per
share of $2.50, resulting in gross proceeds of $10.4 million (the
“May
2018 Public Offering”)
with associated expenses of approximately $800,000. The May 2018
Public Offering was completed pursuant to the terms of an
underwriting agreement executed by the Company and Oppenheimer
& Co. Inc. (“Oppenheimer”) on May 1, 2018. After deducting the
underwriting discount paid to Oppenheimer, legal fees, and other
offering expenses payable by the Company, the Company received net
proceeds of approximately $9.6 million.
In addition to the underwriting discount received
by Oppenheimer, the Company also issued unregistered warrants to
Oppenheimer to purchase up to 208,000 shares of its common stock
(the “Underwriter
Warrants”). The
Underwriter Warrants, valued at $349,232, became exercisable six
months from the date of issuance, expire on May 1, 2023 and have an
exercise price of $2.55 per share. As a result of certain investors
participating in the Offering, the Company also paid a financial
advisory fee to Alexander Capital, LP, consisting of a cash payment
of approximately $104,000 and the issuance of warrants valued at
$67,194, substantially similar to the Underwriter Warrants, to
purchase up to 36,400 shares of its common stock at an exercise
price of $2.75 per share.
Sanction of Cystic Fibrosis Therapeutics Development Network f or
the Study of MS1819-SD in CF Patients
On
November 1, 2018, the Company announced that the Company's Phase II
study protocol to investigate MS1819-SD in CF patients with EPI has
received sanction from the Therapeutics Development Network, a
collaborative network of CF clinical trial specialists supported by
the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
Basis
of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation
The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated
financial statements have been prepared in accordance with
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of
America (“U.S. GAAP”). In our opinion, the accompanying
unaudited interim consolidated financial statements include all
adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, which are
necessary to present fairly our financial position, results of
operations, and cash flows. The consolidated balance sheet at
December 31, 2017, has been derived from audited financial
statements of that date. The unaudited interim consolidated results
of operations are not necessarily indicative of the results that
may occur for the full fiscal year. Certain information and
footnote disclosure normally included in financial statements
prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been omitted pursuant to
instructions, rules, and regulations prescribed by the Securities
and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). We believe that the
disclosures provided herein are adequate to make the information
presented not misleading when these unaudited interim consolidated
financial statements are read in conjunction with the audited
financial statements and notes previously distributed in our Annual
Report Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, filed with
the SEC on March 16, 2018.
The
unaudited interim consolidated financial statements include the
accounts of AzurRx and its wholly-owned subsidiary, AzurRx Europe
SAS. Intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated
upon consolidation.
The
accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements
have been prepared as if the Company will continue as a going
concern. The Company has incurred significant operating losses and
negative cash flows from operations since inception, had working
capital at September 30, 2018 of approximately $4,217,000, and had
an accumulated deficit of approximately $43,497,000 at September
30, 2018. The Company currently believes that its cash on hand will
sustain its operations until June 2019. The Company is dependent on
obtaining, and continues to pursue, additional working capital
funding from the sale of securities in order to continue to execute
the its development plan and continue operations. Without adequate
working capital, the Company may not be able to meet its
obligations and continue as a going concern. The financial
statements do not include any adjustments that might result from
the outcome of this uncertainty.
Note 2 - Significant Accounting Policies and Recent Accounting
Pronouncements
Use of Estimates
The
accompanying consolidated financial statements are prepared in
conformity with U.S. GAAP and include certain estimates and
assumptions which affect the reported amounts of assets and
liabilities at the date of the financial statements (including
goodwill, intangible assets and contingent consideration), and the
reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting
period, including contingencies. Accordingly, actual results may
differ from those estimates.
Concentrations
Financial
instruments that potentially expose the Company to concentrations
of credit risk consist of cash. The Company primarily maintains its
cash balances with financial institutions in federally-insured
accounts in the U.S. The Company may from time to time have cash in
banks in excess of FDIC insurance limits. At September 30, 2018 and
December 31, 2017, the Company had $3,902,190 and $78,859,
respectively, in one account in the U.S. in excess of these limits.
The Company has not experienced any losses to date resulting from
this practice.
The
Company also has exposure to foreign currency risk as its
subsidiary in France has a functional currency in
Euros.
Equity-Based Payments to Non-Employees
The
Company accounts for equity instruments, including restricted
stock, stock options and warrants, issued to non-employees in
accordance with authoritative guidance for equity-based payments to
non-employees. All transactions in which goods or services are
received in exchange for equity instruments are accounted for based
on the fair value of the consideration received or the fair value
of the equity instrument issued, whichever is more reliably
measurable. The measurement date of the fair value of the equity
instrument issued is the earlier of (i) the date of grant if
nonforfeitable and fully vested, or (ii) the date the
non-employee's performance is completed and there is no further
associated performance commitment. The fair value of unvested
equity instruments granted to non-employees is re-measured at each
reporting date, and the resulting change in value, if any, is
recognized as expense during the period the related services are
rendered. The expense is recognized in the same manner as if we had
paid cash for the services provided by the
non-employees.
Research and Development
Research and
development (“R&D”) costs are charged to
operations when incurred and are included in operating expenses.
R&D costs consist principally of compensation of employees and
consultants that perform the Company’s research activities,
the fees paid to maintain the Company’s licenses, and the
payments to third parties for clinical trial and additional product
development and testing.
Foreign Currency Translation
For
foreign subsidiaries with operations denominated in a foreign
currency, assets and liabilities are translated to U.S. dollars,
which is the functional currency, at period end exchange rates.
Income and expense items are translated at average rates of
exchange prevailing during the periods presented. Gains and losses
from translation adjustments are accumulated in a separate
component of shareholders’ equity.
Revenue Recognition
The
Company is still in its development stage and is not generating
revenues. When revenues are generated, the Company will follow the
provisions of FASB Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC” or the “Codification”) Topic 606,
Revenue From Contracts With Customers.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In June 2018, the
Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting
Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2018-07, Compensation -
Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Nonemployee
Share-Based Payment Accounting, which amends the Codification to
expand the scope of FASB ASC Topic 718, Compensation—Stock
Compensation, to include share-based payment transactions for
acquiring goods and services from non-employees. Guidance on
accounting for non-employee share-based payment arrangements, which
differs significantly in many respects from that for employee
share-based payment transactions, was included in FASB ASC Subtopic
505-50, Equity—Equity Based Payments to Non-Employees. The
ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15,
2018, including interim periods. The Company is currently assessing
this pronouncement and believes this will not have a significant
impact on the Company’s financial
statements.
In July
2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-11, Earnings per Share (Topic 260),
Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity (Topic 480) and Derivatives
and Hedging (Topic 815). ASU 2017-11 provides guidance on
accounting for financial instruments with down round features and
clarifies the deferral of certain provisions in Topic 480. ASU
2017-11 will become effective for annual periods beginning after
December 15, 2018 and interim periods within those periods. Early
adoption is permitted. The adoption of this pronouncement did not
have an impact on the Company’s financial
statements.
In
January 2017, the FASB issued guidance to simplify the subsequent
measurement of goodwill impairment. The new guidance eliminates the
two-step process that required identification of potential
impairment and a separate measure of the actual impairment.
Goodwill impairment charges, if any, would be determined by
reducing the goodwill balance by the difference between the
carrying value and the reporting unit’s fair value
(impairment loss is limited to the carrying value). This standard
is effective for annual or any interim goodwill impairment tests
beginning after December 15, 2019. The Company believes that the
adoption of this pronouncement will not have an impact on the
Company’s measurement of goodwill impairment.
In
February 2016, the FASB issued an ASU which requires lessees to
recognize lease assets and lease liabilities arising from operating
leases on the balance sheet. This ASU is effective for annual and
interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018 using a
modified retrospective approach, with early adoption permitted. The
Company believes that the adoption of this pronouncement will not
have a material impact on the Company's financial statements. We
believe that the most significant changes relate to the recognition
of new right-of-use assets and lease liabilities on the balance
sheet for office space and research facilities.
Note
3 - Fair Value
Disclosures
Fair
value is the price that would be received from the sale of an asset
or paid to transfer a liability assuming an orderly transaction in
the most advantageous market at the measurement date. U.S. GAAP
establishes a hierarchical disclosure framework that prioritizes
and ranks the level of observability of inputs used in measuring
fair value.
At
September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Company had Level 3
instruments consisting of contingent consideration in connection
with the Protea Europe SAS acquisition, see Note 7.
The
following tables summarize the Company’s financial
instruments measured at fair value on a recurring
basis:
|
Fair
Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using
|
|||
|
Total
|
Level
1
|
Level
2
|
Level
3
|
At September 30,
2018:
|
|
|
|
|
Contingent
consideration
|
$1,580,000
|
$-
|
$-
|
$1,580,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
At December 31,
2017:
|
|
|
|
|
Contingent
consideration
|
$1,340,000
|
$-
|
$-
|
$1,340,000
|
The
following table provides a reconciliation of the fair value of
liabilities using Level 3 significant unobservable
inputs:
|
Contingent
|
|
Consideration
|
Balance at December
31, 2017
|
$1,340,000
|
Change in fair
value
|
240,000
|
Balance at
September 30, 2018
|
$1,580,000
|
The
contingent consideration was valued by incorporating a series of
Black-Scholes Option Pricing Models (“BSM”) into a discounted cash flow
framework. Significant unobservable inputs used in this calculation
at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 included projected net
sales over a period of patent exclusivity (seven years), discounted
by (i) the Company’s weighted average cost of capital (32.6%
and 32.4%, respectively), (ii) the contractual hurdle amount of
$100 million that replaces the strike price input in the
traditional BSM, (iii) asset volatility (85.3% and 83.1%,
respectively), that replaces the equity volatility in the
traditional BSM, (iv) risk-free rates (ranging from 2.48% to 3.02%
and 1.8% to 2.4%, respectively), and (v) an option-adjusted spread
(1.29% and 0.6%, respectively) that is applied to these payments to
account for the payer’s risk and arrive at a fair value of
the expected payment.
The
fair value of the Company's financial instruments are as
follows:
|
|
Fair
Value Measured at Reporting Date Using
|
|
||
|
Carrying
Amount
|
Level
1
|
Level
2
|
Level
3
|
Fair
Value
|
At September 30,
2018:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
|
$4,427,640
|
$-
|
$4,427,640
|
$-
|
$4,427,640
|
Other
receivables
|
$1,197,196
|
$-
|
$-
|
$1,197,196
|
$1,197,196
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At December 31,
2017:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
|
$573,471
|
$-
|
$573,471
|
$-
|
$573,471
|
Other
receivables
|
$1,104,134
|
$-
|
$-
|
$1,104,134
|
$1,104,134
|
Notes
payable
|
$159,180
|
$-
|
$-
|
$159,180
|
$159,180
|
Convertible
debt
|
$257,365
|
$-
|
$-
|
$387,201
|
$387,201
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The
fair value of other receivables approximates carrying value as
these consist primarily of French R&D tax credits that are
normally received within nine months from year end and amounts due
from our collaboration partner Laboratoires Mayoly Spindler SAS
(“Mayoly”). See
Note 15.
The
fair value of note payable approximates carrying value due to the
terms of such instruments and applicable interest
rates.
The
fair value of convertible debt is based on the par value plus
accrued interest through the date of reporting due to the terms of
such instruments and interest rates, or the current interest rates
of similar instruments.
Note
4 - Other Receivables
Other
receivables consisted of the following:
|
September
30,
|
December
31,
|
|
2018
|
2017
|
R&D tax
credits
|
$924,815
|
$954,897
|
Other
|
272,381
|
149,237
|
Total other
receivables
|
$1,197,196
|
$1,104,134
|
The
R&D tax credits are refundable tax credits for research
conducted in France. Other consists primarily of amounts due from
collaboration partner Mayoly, (see Note 15), and non-income tax
related items from French government entities.
Note
5 - Property, Equipment and Leasehold Improvements
Property, equipment
and leasehold improvements consisted of the following:
|
September
30,
|
December
31,
|
|
2018
|
2017
|
Laboratory
equipment
|
$190,406
|
$165,611
|
Computer
equipment
|
67,693
|
44,364
|
Office
equipment
|
37,263
|
36,334
|
Leasehold
improvements
|
29,163
|
29,163
|
Total property,
plant and equipment
|
324,525
|
275,472
|
Less accumulated
depreciation
|
(187,562)
|
(141,485)
|
Property, plant and
equipment, net
|
$136,963
|
$133,987
|
Depreciation
expense for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 was
$15,653 and $12,727, respectively. Depreciation expense for the
nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 was $46,073 and
$35,851, respectively. Depreciation expense is included in general
and administrative (“G&A”) expense.
Note
6 - Intangible Assets and Goodwill
Intangible assets
are as follows:
|
September
30,
|
December
31,
|
|
2018
|
2017
|
In process research
and development
|
$422,638
|
$436,385
|
Less accumulated
amortization
|
(151,152)
|
(128,794)
|
In process research
and development, net
|
$271,486
|
$307,591
|
|
|
|
License
agreements
|
$3,447,955
|
$3,560,107
|
Less accumulated
amortization
|
(2,959,495)
|
(2,521,743)
|
License agreements,
net
|
$488,460
|
$1,038,364
|
Amortization
expense for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 was
$181,217 and $164,877, respectively. Amortization expense for the
nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 was $558,716 and
$520,734, respectively.
As of
September 30, 2018, amortization expense is expected to be as
follows for the next five years:
2018 (balance of
year)
|
$181,203
|
2019
|
351,282
|
2020
|
35,220
|
2021
|
35,220
|
2022
|
35,220
|
2023
|
35,220
|
Goodwill
is as follows:
|
Goodwill
|
Balance at December
31, 2017
|
$2,016,240
|
Foreign currency
translation
|
(63,516)
|
Balance at
September 30, 2018
|
$1,952,724
|
Note
7 - Contingent Consideration
On June
13, 2014, the Company executed a stock purchase agreement (the
“SPA”) with
Protea Biosciences Group, Inc. (“Protea Group”). Pursuant to the
SPA, the Company is obligated to pay Protea certain contingent
consideration in U.S. dollars upon the satisfaction of certain
events, including (i) a one-time milestone payment of $2,000,000
due within (10) days of receipt of the first approval by the FDA of
a New Drug Application (“NDA”) or Biologic License
Application (“BLA”) for a Business Product (as
such term is defined in the SPA). (ii) royalty payments equal to
2.5% of net sales of Business Product up to $100,000,000 and 1.5%
of net sales of Business Product in excess of $100,000,000, and
(iii) 10% of the Transaction Value (as defined in the SPA) received
in connection with a sale or transfer of the pharmaceutical
development business of Protea Europe, see Note 3.
Note 8 - Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses
Accounts payable
and accrued expenses consisted of the following:
|
September
30,
|
December
31,
|
|
2018
|
2017
|
Trade
payables
|
$503,924
|
$705,041
|
Accrued
expenses
|
164,400
|
262,200
|
Accrued
payroll
|
158,086
|
219,993
|
Total accounts
payable and accrued expenses
|
$826,410
|
$1,187,234
|
Note
9 - Note Payable
On
October 30, 2017, the Company entered into a nine-month financing
agreement for its directors and officer’s liability insurance
in the amount of $237,137 that bears interest at an annual rate of
5.537%. Monthly payments, including principal and interest, are
$26,960 per month. The balance due under this financing agreement
at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 was $0 and $159,180,
respectively.
Note
10 - Original Issue Discounted Convertible Notes and
Warrants
LPC OID Debenture
On
April 11, 2017, the Company entered into a Note Purchase Agreement
with Lincoln Park Capital Fund, LLC (“LPC”), pursuant to which the
Company issued a 12% Senior Secured Original Issue Discount
Convertible Debenture (the “Debenture”) to LPC. The
principal and original issue discount of $1,120,000 due under the
terms of the Debenture were due on the Maturity Date, which is
defined as the earlier to occur of (i) November 10, 2017 or (ii) on
the fifth business day following the receipt by the Company or its
wholly-owned subsidiary, ABS, of certain tax credits that the
Company received prior to November 10, 2017 (the “Tax Credit”). In
connection with the issuance of the Debenture, the Company issued
to LPC a warrant giving LPC the right to purchase 164,256 shares of
the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $4.2592
per share (“LPC Series A
Warrant”) that terminates five years after the date of
issuance.
On
November 10, 2017, the Company and LPC modified the Debenture to
extend the Maturity Date to November 29, 2017, subject to the
Company’s right to extend the Maturity Date to July 11, 2018
(the “Extension
Option”) in exchange for 30,000 shares of the
Company’s common stock which were valued at $90,300 and
charged to interest expense. The Company exercised its Extension
Option on November 29, 2017 and issued LPC an additional warrant to
purchase 164,256 shares of the Company’s common stock at an
exercise price of $3.17 per share (“LPC Series B Warrant”) that
terminates five years after the date of issuance. The Company
accounted for the LPC Series B Warrant feature of the Debenture
based upon the relative fair value of the warrants on the date of
issuance of the Debenture of $164,325, which was recorded as
additional paid in capital and a discount to the
Debenture.
The
principal and original issue discount amount of the Debenture is
convertible into shares of the Company’s common stock at
LPC’s option, at a conversion price equal to $3.872
(“Conversion
Price”). Provided certain conditions related to
compliance with the terms of the Debenture are satisfied, the
closing price of the Company’s common stock exceeds 150% of
the Conversion Price, the median daily volume for the preceding 30
days exceeds 50,000 shares per day, among other conditions, the
Company may, at its option, force conversion of the Debenture for
an amount equal to the outstanding balance of the principal and
original issue discount of the Debenture. During the year ended
December 31, 2017, LPC elected to convert $717,126 of the Debenture
pursuant to which LPC received 189,256 shares of common stock. On
January 10, 2018, LPC elected to convert $100,672 of the Debenture
pursuant to which LPC received 26,000 shares of common
stock.
On July
11, 2018, the Company paid off the remaining amount due under the
terms of this Debenture in the amount of $286,529.
The
obligations under the Debenture were guaranteed by ABS, as well as
a security agreement providing LPC with a secured interest in the
Tax Credit.
For the
three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, the Company
recorded $5,505 and $408,048, respectively, of interest expense
related to the amortization of the debt discount and beneficial
conversion feature related to the warrant features of the
Debenture. For the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017,
the Company recorded $97,837 and $695,103, respectively, of
interest expense related to the amortization of the debt discount
and beneficial conversion feature related to the warrant features
of the Debenture.
At
December 31, 2017, Convertible Debt consisted of:
|
December
31,
|
|
2017
|
Convertible
debt
|
$352,713
|
Accreted OID
interest
|
34,488
|
Unamortized debt
discount - warrants
|
(129,836)
|
Total convertible
debt
|
$257,365
|
Note 11 - Equity
Common Stock
At
September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Company had
16,940,462 and 12,042,574, respectively, of shares of its common
stock issued and outstanding.
Stock Option Plan
The
Company’s board of directors and stockholders have adopted
and approved the Amended and Restated 2014 Omnibus Equity Incentive
Plan (the “2014
Plan”), which took effect on May 12, 2014. During the
three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, no stock options
were granted under the 2014 Plan. During the nine months ended
September 30, 2018 and 2017, the Company granted 539,000 and
190,000, respectively, of stock options under the 2014 Plan, see
Note 13.
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock
At
September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, there were no Series A
Convertible Preferred Stock (“Series A Preferred”)
outstanding and all terms of the Series A Preferred are still in
effect.
June 2017 Private Placement
On June
5, 2017, the Company entered into Securities Purchase Agreements
(the “Purchase
Agreements”) with certain accredited investors
(“Investors”),
pursuant to which the Company issued an aggregate of 1,428,572
units for $3.50 per unit, with each unit consisting of one share of
Common Stock, one Series A Warrant to purchase 0.25 shares of
Common Stock at $4.00 per share exercisable immediately through
December 31, 2017, and one Series A-1 Warrant to purchase 0.75
shares of Common Stock at $5.50 per share exercisable beginning six
months from the date of issuance through June 5, 2022 (together,
“Units”) (the
“Financing”).
At closing of the Financing, the Company issued Units resulting in
the issuance of an aggregate of 1,428,572 shares of Common Stock,
Series A Warrants to purchase up to 357,144 shares of Common Stock,
and Series A-1 Warrants to purchase up to 1,071,431 shares of
Common Stock, resulting in gross proceeds of
$5,000,000.
Placement agent
fees of $350,475 were paid to Alexander Capital L.P. (“Alexander Capital”), based
on 8% of the aggregate principal amount of the Units issued to
certain investors identified by Alexander Capital (“Alexander Investors”),
which amount includes both an 8% success fee and a 1% expense fee,
and Series A-1 Warrants to purchase 77,950 shares of Common Stock
were issued to Alexander Capital (the “Placement Agent
Warrants”), reflecting warrants for that number of
shares of Common Stock equal to 7% of the aggregate number of
shares of Common Stock purchased by Alexander Investors. The
Placement Agent Warrants are exercisable beginning December 2, 2017
at a fixed price of $6.05 per share, through June 5, 2022. The
Company also incurred $4,000 in other fees associated with this
placement. The placement agent and other fees are netted against
the proceeds in the Consolidated Statements of Changes in
Stockholders' Equity.
On June
20, 2017, the Company and Investors executed an amendment to the
Purchase Agreements authorizing the Company to issue up to $400,000
in additional Units, and on July 5, 2017, the Company issued
additional Units resulting in gross proceeds of $400,000
(“Subsequent
Closing”). Placement agent fees of $36,000 were paid
to Alexander Capital, as well as additional Placement Agent
Warrants to purchase 5,760 shares of Common Stock. In connection
with the Subsequent Closing, the Company issued 114,287 shares of
Common Stock, Series A and Series A-1 Warrants to purchase 28,572
and 85,715 shares, respectively. The placement agent fees are
netted against the proceeds in the Consolidated Statements of
Changes in Stockholders' Equity.
Restricted Stock
During
the three months ended September 30, 2018, 30,000 shares of
restricted common stock were granted or accrued to employees and
consultants with a total value of $77,100. During the three months
ended September 30, 2018, 5,000 shares of restricted common stock
were canceled to employees and consultants with a total value of
$15,200. During the three months ended September 30, 2018, 43,750
shares of restricted common stock vested with a value of $97,424 of
which an aggregate of 30,000 shares with a value of $77,100 have
been issued to our directors as a part of Board compensation.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2018,
409,000 shares of
restricted common stock were granted or accrued to employees and
consultants with a total value of $1,241,560. During the nine
months ended September 30, 2018, 5,000 shares of restricted common
stock were canceled to employees and consultants with a total value
of $15,200. During the nine months ended September 30, 2018,
202,584 shares of restricted common stock vested with a value of
$653,406 of which an aggregate of 90,000 shares with a value of
$267,600 have been issued to our directors as a part of Board
compensation. The restricted common stock granted have vesting
terms ranging from immediately to three years or based on the
Company achieving certain milestones as set forth
below.
As of September 30, 2018, the Company had
unrecognized restricted common stock expense of $1,204,653.
$426,863 of this unrecognized expense will be recognized over the
average remaining vesting term of the restricted common stock of
2.48 years. $497,604 of this unrecognized expense will vest in the
fourth quarter of 2018 as the FDA has accepted the MS1819 IND application in the
U. S. $178,853 of this unrecognized expense vests upon the
first dosing of a CF patient with
MS1819 anywhere in the world. $101,333 vests upon the
enrollment of the first 30 patients in
a CF trial. As of September 30, 2018, the probability of these
milestones being reached could not be
determined.
During
the three months ended September 30, 2017, 222,444 shares of
restricted common stock were granted to employees and consultants
with a total value of $895,368. During the three months ended
September 30, 2017, 42,077 restricted shares of common stock vested
with a value of $171,581. During the nine months ended September
30, 2017, 280,944 shares of restricted common stock were granted to
employees and consultants with a total value of $1,116,853. During
the nine months ended September 30, 2017, 93,464 restricted shares
of common stock vested with a value of $367,319.
On July
24, 2017, the Company entered into a consulting agreement that
includes a grant of 40,000 shares of restricted common stock to the
consultant contingent upon the approval of the Board, which as of
November 9, 2018 has not been obtained.
On
January 2, 2018, the Company entered into a consulting agreement
that includes a grant of 43,000 shares of restricted common stock
upon the approval of the Board. The Board approved this restricted
stock grant on June 28, 2018 and the shares were issued on July 19,
2018.
Note
12 - Warrants
In January 2018,
the Company offered warrant holders the opportunity to exercise
their warrants at a reduced strike price of $2.50, and if so
elected, would also have the opportunity to reprice other warrants
that they continue to hold unexercised to $3.25. The offer, which
was effective January 12, 2018, was for the repricing only and did
not modify the life of the warrants. Warrant holders of
approximately 503,000 shares exercised their warrants and also had
other warrants modified on approximately 197,000 shares, which
resulted in a charge of approximately $429,000 in the nine months
ended September 30, 2018. Cash proceeds on the exercise of these
warrants as well as the stock subscriptions as of December 31, 2017
of $1,071,070 amounted to approximately $2,300,000 in January
2018.
Stock
warrant transactions for the periods January 1 through September
30, 2018 and 2017 are as follows:
|
|
Exercise
|
Weighted
|
|
|
Price
Per
|
Average
|
|
Warrants
|
Share
|
Exercise
Price
|
|
|
|
|
Warrants
outstanding and exercisable at January 1, 2017
|
1,858,340
|
$4.76 - $7.37
|
$5.66
|
|
|
|
|
Granted during the
period
|
2,040,824
|
$3.53 - $6.50
|
$5.16
|
Expired during the
period
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Exercised during
the period
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Warrants
outstanding and exercisable at September 30, 2017
|
3,899,164
|
$3.53 - $7.37
|
$5.40
|
|
|
|
|
Warrants
outstanding and exercisable at January 1, 2018
|
3,371,385
|
$3.17 - $7.37
|
$5.28
|
|
|
|
|
Granted during the
period
|
244,400
|
$2.55 - $2.75
|
$2.58
|
Expired during the
period
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Exercised during
the period
|
(503,070)
|
$2.50
|
$2.50
|
Warrants
outstanding and exercisable at September 30, 2018
|
3,112,715
|
$2.55 - $7.37
|
$4.83
|
|
Number
of
|
Weighted
Average
|
Weighted
|
|
Shares
Under
|
Remaining
Contract
|
Average
|
Exercise
Price
|
Warrants
|
Life
in Years
|
Exercise
Price
|
$2.55 - $3.99
|
881,372
|
3.85
|
|
$4.00 - $4.99
|
196,632
|
3.26
|
|
$5.00 - $5.99
|
1,815,041
|
3.21
|
|
$6.00 - $6.99
|
187,750
|
3.01
|
|
$7.00 - $7.37
|
31,920
|
2.21
|
|
Total
|
3,112,715
|
3.37
|
$4.83
|
During the three months ended September 30, 2018,
no warrants were issued to investment bankers. During the nine
months ended September 30, 2018, 244,400 warrants were
issued to investment bankers in
association with the May 2018 Public Offering with a value of $416,426 that had no effect on
expenses or stockholders’ equity.
During
the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, no warrants
were issued to consultants.
During
the three months ended September 30, 2017, no warrants were issued
to consultants. 24,599 warrants issued to consultants were earned
and expensed in the three months ended September 30, 2017 with a
value of $64,962. During the nine months ended September 30, 2017,
250,000 warrants were issued to consultants. 239,037 warrants
issued to consultants were earned and expensed in the nine months
ended September 30, 2017 with a value of $550,012. The earned and
expensed amounts were included in G&A expenses.
During
the three months ended September 30, 2017, 114,283 warrants were
issued in association with the June 2017 Private Placement of the
Company’s common stock with a value of $185,452, which had no
effect on expenses or stockholders’ equity. During the nine
months ended September 30, 2017, 1,542,858 warrants were issued in
association with the June 2017 Private Placement of the
Company’s common stock with a value of $2,503,673, which had
no effect on expenses or stockholders’ equity.
During
the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, 83,710 warrants
were issued to investment bankers in association with the June 2017
Private Placement of the Company’s common stock that vested
immediately with a value of $154,529, which had no effect on
expenses or stockholders’ equity.
The
weighted average fair value of warrants granted to non-employees
during the three months ended September 30, 2017 was $2.13. The
weighted average fair value of warrants granted to non-employees
during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 was $1.70
and $2.40, respectively. The fair value was estimated on the grant
dates using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the
following weighted-average assumptions:
|
September
30,
|
September
30,
|
|
2018
|
2017
|
Expected life (in
years)
|
5
|
5
|
Volatility
|
84%
|
87%
|
Risk-free interest
rate
|
2.70%
|
1.82% - 1.92%
|
Dividend
yield
|
-%
|
-%
|
The
expected term of the warrants is based on the actual term of the
warrants. Volatility is based on the historical volatility of
several public entities that are similar to the Company. The
Company bases volatility this way because it does not have
sufficient historical transactions in its own shares on which to
solely base expected volatility. The risk-free interest rate is
based on the U.S. Treasury rates at the date of grant with maturity
dates approximately equal to the expected term at the grant date.
The Company has not historically declared any dividends and does
not expect to in the future.
Note
13 - Stock-Based Compensation Plan
Under
the 2014 Plan, the fair value of options granted is estimated on
the grant date using the Black-Scholes option valuation model. This
valuation model for stock-based compensation expense requires the
Company to make assumptions and judgments about the variables used
in the calculation, including the expected term (weighted-average
period of time that the options granted are expected to be
outstanding), the volatility of the common stock price and the
assumed risk-free interest rate. The Company recognizes stock-based
compensation expense for only those shares expected to vest over
the requisite service period of the award. No compensation cost is
recorded for options that do not vest and the compensation cost
from vested options, whether forfeited or not, is not
reversed.
During the three months ended September 30, 2018,
no stock options were granted. 7,500 options vested in the three
months ended September 30, 2018 having a fair value of
$29,018. 90,000 stock options
were canceled with exercise prices ranging from of $3.04 to
$3.60.
During
the nine months ended September 30, 2018, 539,000 stock options
were granted with an exercise price of $3.04 and a term of five
years. 111,250 options vested in the nine months ended September
30, 2018 having a fair value of $306,966. 90,000 stock options were
canceled with exercise prices ranging from of $3.04 to $3.60. The
weighted average fair value of stock options granted to employees
during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 was
$2.07.
During
the three months ended September 30, 2017, 355,000 stock options
were granted with exercise prices ranging from $3.60 to $4.39 and
terms ranging from five to ten years. 7,500 options vested in the
three months ended September 30, 2017 having a fair value of
$29,018. The weighted average fair value of stock options granted
to employees during the three months ended September 30, 2017 was
$2.48.
During
the nine months ended September 30, 2017, 545,000 stock options
were granted with exercise prices ranging from $3.60 to $4.48 and
terms ranging from five to ten years. 150,000 options vested in the
nine months ended September 30, 2017 having a fair value of
$580,351. The weighted average fair value of stock options granted
to employees during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 was
$2.96.
The
fair values were estimated on the grant dates using the
Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following
weighted-average assumptions:
|
September
30,
|
September
30,
|
|
2018
|
2017
|
Expected life (in
years)
|
5
|
5 - 10
|
Volatility
|
85%
|
71% - 90%
|
Risk-free interest
rate
|
2.82%
|
1.78 - 2.48%
|
Dividend
yield
|
-%
|
-%
|
The
expected term of the options is based on expected future employee
exercise behavior. Volatility is based on the historical volatility
of several public entities that are similar to the Company. The
Company bases volatility this way because it does not have
sufficient historical transactions in its own shares on which to
solely base expected volatility. The risk-free interest rate is
based on the U.S. Treasury rates at the date of grant with maturity
dates approximately equal to the expected term at the grant date.
The Company has not historically declared any dividends and does
not expect to in the future.
The
Company realized no income tax benefit from stock option exercises
in each of the periods presented due to recurring losses and
valuation allowances.
Stock
option activity under the 2014 Plan for the periods January 1
through September 30, 2017 and 2018 is as follows:
|
|
Weighted
|
Weighted
Average
|
Aggregate
|
|
Number
|
Average
|
Remaining
Contract
|
Intrinsic
|
|
of
Shares
|
Exercise
Price
|
Life
in Years
|
Value
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock
options outstanding at January 1, 2017
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Granted during the
period
|
545,000
|
$4.05
|
7.38
|
$-
|
Expired during the
period
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
Exercised during
the period
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
Stock
options outstanding at September 30, 2017
|
545,000
|
$4.05
|
7.38
|
$-
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exercisable
at September 30, 2017
|
150,000
|
$4.48
|
7.38
|
$-
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-vested
stock options outstanding at January 1, 2017
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Granted during the
period
|
395,000
|
$3.89
|
6.64
|
$-
|
Expired during the
period
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
Exercised during
the period
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
Non-vested
stock options outstanding at September 30, 2017
|
395,000
|
$3.89
|
6.64
|
$-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock
options outstanding at January 1, 2018
|
545,000
|
$4.05
|
7.13
|
$-
|
|
|
|
|
|
Granted during the
period
|
539,000
|
$3.04
|
5.00
|
$-
|
Expired during the
period
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
Canceled during the
period
|
(90,000)
|
$3.26
|
4.41
|
$-
|
Exercised during
the period
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
Stock
options outstanding at September 30, 2018
|
994,000
|
$3.58
|
5.67
|
$-
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exercisable
at September 30, 2018
|
260,000
|
$4.29
|
7.47
|
$-
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-vested
stock options outstanding at January 1, 2018
|
387,500
|
$3.89
|
6.39
|
$-
|
|
|
|
|
|
Granted during the
period
|
539,000
|
$3.04
|
5.00
|
$-
|
Vested during the
period
|
(111,250)
|
$3.67
|
5.64
|
$-
|
Expired during the
period
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
Canceled during the
period
|
(81,250)
|
$3.26
|
4.41
|
$-
|
Exercised during
the period
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
Non-vested
stock options outstanding at September 30, 2018
|
734,000
|
$3.32
|
5.04
|
$-
|
390,318
shares were available for future issuance under the 2014 Plan as of
September 30, 2018.
As
of September 30, 2018, the Company had unrecognized stock-based
compensation expense of $1,645,847. $38,690 of this unrecognized
expense will be recognized over the average remaining vesting term
of the options of 0.35 years. $1,105,491 of this unrecognized
expense will vest in the 4th quarter of 2018 as the FDA has
accepted the MS1819 IND application in the United States. $501,666
of this unrecognized expense vests upon the first dosing of a
cystic fibrosis patient with MS1819-SD anywhere in the world. As of
September 30, 2018, the probability of these milestones being
reached could not be determined.
Note 14 - Interest Expense
During
the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, the Company
incurred $5,629 and $408,106, respectively, of interest expense.
During the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, $5,505
and $408,048, respectively, of this amount was in connection with
the convertible notes issued by the Company in the form of
amortization of debt discount and beneficial conversion feature
related to the warrants. During the three months ended September
30, 2018 and 2017, the Company also incurred $124 and $58,
respectively, of miscellaneous interest expense.
During
the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, the Company
incurred $100,418 and $696,327, respectively, of interest expense.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, $97,837
and $695,103, respectively, of this amount was in connection with
the convertible notes issued by the Company in the form of
amortization of debt discount and beneficial conversion feature
related to the warrants. During the nine months ended September 30,
2018 and 2017, the Company also incurred $2,581 and $1,224,
respectively, of miscellaneous interest expense.
Note
15 - Agreements
TransChem Sublicense Agreement
On
August 7, 2017, the Company entered into a Sublicense Agreement
with TransChem, Inc. (“TransChem”), pursuant to
which TransChem granted the Company an exclusive license to patents
and patent applications relating to Helicobacter pylori
5’methylthioadenosine nucleosidase inhibitors (the
“Licensed
Patents”) currently held by TransChem (the
“Sublicense
Agreement”). The Company may terminate the Sublicense
Agreement and the licenses granted therein for any reason and
without further liability on 60 days’ notice. Unless
terminated earlier, the Sublicense Agreement will expire upon the
expiration of the last Licensed Patents. Upon execution, the
Company paid an upfront fee to TransChem and agreed to reimburse
TransChem for certain expenses previously incurred in connection
with the preparation, filing, and maintenance of the Licensed
Patents. The Company also agreed to pay TransChem certain future
periodic sublicense maintenance fees, which fees may be credited
against future royalties. The Company may also be required to pay
TransChem additional payments and royalties in the event certain
performance-based milestones and commercial sales involving the
Licensed Patents are achieved. The Licensed Patents will allow the
Company to develop compounds for treating gastrointestinal, lung
and other infections which are specific to individual bacterial
species. H.pylori bacterial infections are a major cause of chronic
gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, gastric cancer and other diseases.
Amounts paid under this Sublicense Agreement during the three and
nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 are $136,880 and
$226,880, respectively, and are included in R & D
expense.
Mayoly Agreement
During
the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, the Company was
reimbursed $96,119 and $220,607, respectively, from Mayoly under
the Mayoly Agreement. During the nine months ended September 30,
2018 and 2017, the Company was reimbursed $621,724 and $581,325,
respectively, from Mayoly under the Mayoly Agreement.
The
Mayoly Agreement includes a €1,000,000 payment due to Mayoly
upon the U.S. FDA approval of MS1819-SD. At this time, based on
management’s assessment of ASC Topic 450, Contingencies, the
Company has not recorded any contingent liability related to this
payment.
Employment Agreements
Johan (Thijs) Spoor
On
January 3, 2016, the Company entered into an employment agreement
with its President and Chief Executive Officer, Johan (Thijs)
Spoor. The employment agreement provides for a term expiring
January 2, 2019.
Mr.
Spoor was originally entitled to 380,000 10-year stock options
pursuant to the 2014 Plan. In the first quarter of 2017, 100,000
options having a value of $386,900 were granted and expensed. On
September 29, 2017, Mr. Spoor was granted 100,000 shares of
restricted common stock subject to vesting conditions as follows:
(i) 75% upon FDA acceptance of a U.S. IND application for
MS1819-SD, and (ii) 25% upon the Company completing a Phase IIa
clinical trial for MS1819-SD, in satisfaction of the
Company’s obligation to issue the additional 280,000 options
to Mr. Spoor described above, with an estimated fair value at the
grant date of $425,000 to be expensed when the probability of these
milestones can be determined.
On
September 29, 2017, the Board approved a 2016 annual incentive
bonus equal to 40% of Mr. Spoor’s current base salary
pursuant to his employment agreement in the amount of
$170,000.
On June
28, 2018, the Board approved a 2017 annual incentive bonus pursuant
to his employment agreement in the amount of $212,500.
Maged Shenouda
On
September 26, 2017, the Company entered into an employment
agreement with Maged Shenouda, a member of the Company’s
Board of Directors, pursuant to which Mr. Shenouda serves as the
Company’s Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Shenouda’s
employment agreement provides for the issuance of stock options to
purchase 100,000 shares of the Company’s common stock,
issuable pursuant to the 2014 Plan. These options will vest as
follows so long as Mr. Shenouda is serving as either Executive
Vice-President of Corporate Development or as Chief Financial
Officer (i) 75% upon FDA acceptance of a U.S. IND application for
MS1819-SD, and (ii) 25% upon the Company completing a Phase IIa
clinical trial for MS1819-SD. The option is exercisable for $4.39
per share and will expire on September 25, 2027.
On June
28, 2018, the Board approved a 2017 annual incentive bonus pursuant
to his employment agreement in the amount of $82,500.
Dr. James E. Pennington
On May
28, 2018, the Company entered into an employment agreement with Dr.
Pennington to serve as the Company’s Chief Medical Officer.
The employment agreement with Dr. Pennington provides for a base
annual salary of $250,000. In addition to his salary, Dr.
Pennington is eligible to receive an annual milestone bonus,
awarded at the sole discretion of the Board based on his attainment
of certain financial, clinical development, and/or business
milestones established annually by the Board or Compensation
Committee. The employment agreement is terminable by either party
at any time. In the event of termination by the Company other than
for cause, Dr. Pennington is entitled to three months’
severance payable over such period. In the event of termination by
the Company other than for cause in connection with a Change of
Control, Dr. Pennington will receive six months’ severance
payable over such period.
Note
16 - Leases
The
Company leases its office and research facilities under operating
leases which are subject to various rent provisions and escalation
clauses expiring at various dates through 2020. The escalation
clauses are indeterminable and considered not material and have
been excluded from minimum future annual rental payments. Rental
expense, which is calculated on a straight-line basis, amounted to
$40,224 and $28,294, respectively, in the three months ended
September 30, 2018 and 2017. Rental expense, which is calculated on
a straight-line basis, amounted to $108,217 and $93,858,
respectively, in the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and
2017.
Minimum
future annual rental payments are as follows:
2018 (balance of
the year)
|
$37,680
|
2019
|
$117,912
|
2020
|
$87,831
|
Note
17 - Income Taxes
The
Company is subject to taxation at the federal level in both the
United States and France and at the state level in the United
States. At September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Company
had no tax provision for either jurisdictions.
The Tax
Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the “2017 Tax Act”), which was
signed into law on December 22, 2017, has resulted in significant
changes to the U.S. corporate income tax system. These changes
include a federal statutory rate reduction from 35% to 21% and the
elimination or reduction in the deductibility of certain credits
and limitations, such as net operating losses, interest expense,
and executive compensation. The federal statutory rate reduction
took effect on January 1, 2018. On December 22, 2017, Staff
Accounting Bulletin No. 118 (“SAB 118”) was issued to
address the application of U.S. GAAP in situations when a
registrant does not have the necessary information available,
prepared, or analyzed (including computations) in reasonable detail
to complete the accounting for certain income tax effects of the
2017 Tax Act. In accordance with SAB 118, the Company continues to
evaluate the impact of the 2017 Tax Act, which may impact its
current conclusions.
At
September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Company had gross
deferred tax assets of approximately $12,026,000 and $9,918,000,
respectively. As the Company cannot determine that it is more
likely than not that the Company will realize the benefit of the
deferred tax asset, a valuation allowance of approximately
$12,026,000 and $9,918,000, respectively, has been established at
June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017.
At
September 30, 2018, the Company has gross net operating loss
(“NOL”)
carryforwards for U.S. federal and state income tax purposes of
approximately $19,105,000 and $19,180,000, respectively. The
Company’s ability to use its NOL carryforwards may be limited
if it experiences an “ownership change” as defined in
Section 382 (“Section
382”) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended. An ownership change generally occurs if certain
stockholders increase their aggregate percentage ownership of a
corporation’s stock by more than 50 percentage points over
their lowest percentage ownership at any time during the testing
period, which is generally the three-year period preceding any
potential ownership change.
At
September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Company had
approximately $15,461,000 and $12,374,000, respectively, in net
operating losses which it can carryforward indefinitely to offset
against future French income.
At
September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Company had taken no
uncertain tax positions that would require disclosure under ASC
740, Accounting for Income Taxes.
Note
18 - Net Loss per Common Share
Basic
net loss per share is computed by dividing net loss available to
common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares
outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share reflect,
in periods in which they have a dilutive effect, the impact of
common shares issuable upon exercise of stock options and warrants
and conversion of convertible debt that are not deemed to be
anti-dilutive. The dilutive effect of the outstanding stock options
and warrants is computed using the treasury stock
method.
At
September 30, 2018, diluted net loss per share did not include the
effect of 3,112,715 shares of common stock issuable upon the
exercise of outstanding warrants and 994,000 shares of common stock
issuable upon the exercise of outstanding options as their effect
would be antidilutive during the periods prior to
conversion.
At
September 30, 2017, diluted net loss per share did not include the
effect of 3,899,164 shares of common stock issuable upon the
exercise of outstanding warrants, 545,000 shares of common stock
issuable upon the exercise of outstanding options, or 100,000
shares of common stock issuable upon the conversion of convertible
debt as their effect would be antidilutive during the periods prior
to conversion.
Note
19 - Related Party Transactions
During
the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company employed the services
of JIST Consulting (“JIST”), a company controlled by
Johan (Thijs) Spoor, the Company’s current Chief Executive
Officer and President, as a consultant for business strategy,
financial modeling, and fundraising. Included in accounts payable
at both September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 is $478,400 for
JIST relating to Mr. Spoor’s services. Mr. Spoor received no
other compensation from the Company other than as specified in his
employment agreement.
During
the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company's then President,
Christine Rigby-Hutton, was employed through Rigby-Hutton
Management Services (“RHMS”). Ms. Rigby-Hutton resigned
from the Company effective April 20, 2015. Included in accounts
payable at both September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 is $38,453
for RHMS for Ms. Rigby-Hutton’s services.
From
October 1, 2015 through December 31, 2015, the Company used the
services of Edward Borkowski, a member of our Board of Directors
and the Company’s Audit Committee Chair, as a financial
consultant. Included in accounts payable at December 31, 2017 is
$90,000 for Mr. Borkowski’s services. This amount was paid to
Mr. Borkowski during the nine months ended September 30,
2018.
Starting on October
1, 2016 until his appointment as the Company’s Chief
Financial Officer on September 25, 2017, the Company used the
services of Maged Shenouda as a financial consultant. Expense
recorded in G&A expense in the accompanying statements of
operations related to Mr. Shenouda for the three months ended
September 30, 2018 and 2017 was $0 and $30,000, respectively.
Expense recorded in G&A expense in the accompanying statements
of operations related to Mr. Shenouda for the nine months ended
September 30, 2018 and 2017 was $0 and $80,000, respectively.
Included in accounts payable at September 30, 2018 and December 31,
2017 is $50,000 and $70,000, respectively, for Mr. Shenouda’s
services.
ITEM
2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS
OF OPERATIONS
References in this report to “AzurRx,”
“Company,” “we,” “us,”
“our,” or similar references mean AzurRx BioPharma,
Inc. and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis. References to
“AzurRx BioPharma” refer to AzurRx BioPharma, Inc. on
an unconsolidated basis. References to “AzurRx SAS”
refer to AzurRx BioPharma SAS, AzurRx BioPharma’s
wholly-owned subsidiary through which we conduct our European
operations. References to the “SEC” refer to the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission.
Forward-Looking Statements
You should read the following discussion and analysis of our
financial condition and results of operations in conjunction with
our consolidated financial statements and the related notes
included elsewhere in this interim report. Our consolidated
financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S.
GAAP. The following discussion and analysis contains
forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A
of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange
Act”), including, without limitation, statements regarding
our expectations, beliefs, intentions or future strategies that are
signified by the words “expect,”
“anticipate,” “intend,”
“believe,” or similar language. All forward-looking
statements included in this document are based on information
available to us on the date hereof, and we assume no obligation to
update any such forward-looking statements. Our business and
financial performance are subject to substantial risks and
uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those
projected in the forward-looking statements. In evaluating our
business, you should carefully consider the information set forth
under the heading “Risk Factors” included in our Annual
Report filed on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017,
filed with the SEC on March 16, 2018. Readers are cautioned not to
place undue reliance on these forward-looking
statements.
Overview
AzurRx BioPharma, Inc. was incorporated on January
30, 2014 in the State of Delaware. In June 2014, the Company
acquired 100% of the issued and outstanding capital stock of AzurRx
BioPharma SAS (formerly “ProteaBio Europe
SAS”), a company
incorporated in October 2008 under the laws of France that had been
a wholly-owned subsidiary of Protea Biosciences, Inc., or Protea
Sub, in turn a wholly-owned subsidiary of Protea Biosciences Group,
Inc., a publicly-traded company (“ABS”).
AzurRx,
through its ABS subsidiary, is engaged in the research and
development of non-systemic biologics for the treatment of patients
with gastrointestinal disorders. Non-systemic biologics are
non-absorbable drugs that act locally, i.e. the intestinal lumen,
skin or mucosa, without reaching an individual’s systemic
circulation. Our current product pipeline consists of two
therapeutic programs under development, each of which are described
below:
MS1819-SD
MS1819-SD is a yeast derived recombinant lipase
for exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (“EPI”) associated with chronic pancreatitis
(“CP”) and cystic fibrosis
(“CF”). A lipase is an enzyme that breaks up fat
molecules. MS1819-SD is considered recombinant because it was
created from new combinations of genetic material in yeast called
Yarrowia lipolytica. We recently completed an open-label, dose
escalation Phase IIa trial of MS1819-SD in France, Australia, and
New Zealand to investigate both the safety of escalating doses of
MS1819-SD, and the efficacy of MS1819-SD through the analysis of
each patient’s coefficient of fat absorption
(“CFA”) and its change from baseline. A total of
11 CP patients with EPI were enrolled in the study and final data
shows a strong safety and efficacy profile. Although the study was not powered for efficacy,
in a pre-planned analysis, the highest dose cohort of MS1819-SD
showed statistically significant and clinically meaningful
increases in CFA compared to baseline with a mean increase of 21.8%
and a p value of p=0.002 on a per protocol
basis. Favorable trends were also observed on other evaluated
endpoints, including the Bristol stool scale, number of daily
evacuations and stool weight, which were consistent with the CFA
results. Additionally, maximal
absolute CFA response to treatment was up to 57%, with an inverse
relationship to baseline CFA. Favorable trends were also observed
on other evaluated endpoints, including Bristol stool scale, number
of daily evacuations and weight of stool, and these were consistent
with the CFA results.
B-Lactamase Program
Our b-lactamase program focuses on products with
an enzymatic combination of bacterial origin for the prevention of
hospital-acquired infections and antibiotic-associated diarrhea
(“AAD”) by resistant bacterial strains induced by
parenteral administration of several antibiotic classes. Currently,
we have two compounds in pre-clinical development in this program,
AZX1101 and AZX1103. Both AZX1101 and AZX1103 are composed of
several distinct enzymes that break up individual classes of
antibiotic molecules. AZX1103 is a b-lactamase enzyme combination
that has shown positive pre-clinical activity, with degradation of
amoxicillin in the presence of clavulanic acid in the upper
gastrointestinal tract in the Gottingen minipig model. Currently,
we are focused on advancing pre-clinical development of AZX1103 and
expect to file an Investigational New Drug application (an
“IND”) for AZX1103 with the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (“FDA”) in 2019. At this time, the Company is
currently assessing its plans for the continuation of the
development of AZX1101.
Recent Developments
Update and Completion of the Phase IIa Trial of
MS1819-SD
On June
29, 2018, we announced the successful completion of our Phase IIa
trial of MS1819-SD, and on September 24, 2018, we announced, in
partnership with Mayoli Spindler, a European pharmaceutical
company, that we achieved, in a pre-planned analysis, the highest dose cohort of MS1819-SD showed
statistically significant and clinically meaningful increases in
CFA compared to baseline with a mean increase of 21.8% and a p
value of p=0.002 on a per protocol basis. A total of 11 CP patients
with EPI were enrolled in the study and final data showed a strong
safety and efficacy profile. Additionally, maximal absolute CFA
response to treatment was up to 57%, with an inverse relationship
to baseline CFA. Favorable trends were also observed on other
evaluated endpoints, including Bristol stool scale, number of daily
evacuations and weight of stool, and these were consistent with the
CFA results. We expect to begin a planned Phase IIb study focused
on enrolling patients with CF in the second half of
2018.
On
October 16, 2018, we announced that the FDA cleared our IND
application for MS1819-SD in patients with EPI due to CF. We also
announced that we plan to initiate the multi-center Phase II study
that was the subject of the IND in the U.S. and Europe in the
fourth quarter of 2018 and expect it to conclude in
2019.
Sanction of Cystic Fibrosis Therapeutics Development Network f or
the Study of MS1819-SD in CF Patients
On
November 1, 2018, the Company announced that the Company's Phase II
study protocol to investigate MS1819-SD in CF patients with EPI has
received sanction from the Therapeutics Development Network, a
collaborative network of CF clinical trial specialists supported by
the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
We have experienced net losses and negative cash
flows from operations since our inception. As of September 30,
2018, we had cash of approximately $4,428,000 and had an
accumulated deficit of approximately $43,497,000. We believe that
our cash on hand will sustain operations until June 2019. We are dependent on obtaining, and are
continuing to pursue, funding necessary to continue our operations
from outside sources, including obtaining additional funding from
the sale of securities. Without adequate funding, we may not be
able to meet our obligations. We believe these conditions raise
substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going
concern.
We have funded our operations to date primarily
through the completion of our initial public offering in October
2016 (“IPO”), the issuance of debt and convertible
debt securities, as well as the issuance of common stock in various
private placement transactions and our public offering in May 2018.
We expect to incur substantial expenditures in the foreseeable
future for the development of our product candidates. We will
require additional financing to develop, prepare regulatory filings
and obtain regulatory approvals, fund operating losses, and, if
deemed appropriate, establish manufacturing, sales and marketing
capabilities.
We
are focused on expanding our product pipeline through
collaborations, and also through potential acquisitions. We are
continually evaluating potential asset acquisitions and business
combinations. To finance such potential acquisitions, we might
raise additional equity capital, incur additional debt, or both,
which capital may not be available on a timely basis or on
acceptable terms.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
The
following table summarizes our contractual obligations over the
periods indicated, as well as our total contractual
obligations:
Contractual
Obligation
|
Total
|
2018
(Balance of Year)
|
2019
|
2020
|
2021
|
2022
|
Operating
Leases
|
$243,423
|
$37,680
|
$117,912
|
$87,831
|
$-
|
$-
|
Cash Flows for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018 and
2017
Net
cash used in operating activities for the nine months ended
September 30, 2018 was $7,528,636, which
primarily reflected our net loss of $9,513,809 plus
adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating
activities of depreciation and amortization expense of $604,789,
non-cash fair value adjustment of the contingent consideration of
$240,000, non-cash stock-based compensation of $306,966, non-cash
restricted stock granted to employees/directors of $457,686,
non-cash restricted stock granted/accrued to consultants of
$360,771, non-cash debt discount - warrants on a 12% Senior Secured
Original Issue Discount Convertible Debenture issued to Lincoln
Park Capital (“LPC”) in April 2017 (the
“LPC
Debenture”) of $97,837, and a non-cash warrant
modification expense of $428,748. Changes in assets and liabilities
are due to an increase in other receivables of $134,052 due
primarily to the billings to our research partner Laboratoires
Mayoly Spindler SAS (“Mayoly”), an increase in deposits
of $15,000 due to a new office space lease for the startup of U.S.
R&D, a decrease in accounts payable and accrued expenses of
$571,616 due
primarily to paying off balances, a decrease in interest payable of
$7,192, offset by a decrease in prepaid expense of
$216,236 due
primarily to the expensing of prepaid insurance.
Net
cash used in operating activities for the nine months ended
September 30, 2017 was $4,715,504, which primarily reflected our
net loss of $8,615,371 plus adjustments to reconcile net loss to
net cash used in operating activities of depreciation and
amortization expense of $556,585, non-cash fair value adjustment of
the contingent consideration of $110,000, non-cash stock-based
compensation of $588,151, non-cash restricted stock granted to
consultants of $225,179, non-cash warrant expense of $576,902,
non-cash accreted interest on OID Notes and debt discount -
warrants of $695,103, a decrease in other receivables of $861,507
due primarily to the collection of the French R&D tax credit, a
decrease in prepaid expenses of $165,213 due primarily to the
expensing of prepaid insurance, and an increase in accounts payable
and accrued expenses of $115,602.
Net
cash used in investing activities for the nine months ended
September 30, 2018 and 2017 was $48,359 and $31,953, respectively,
which consisted of the purchase of property and
equipment.
Net
cash provided by financing activities for the nine months ended
September 30, 2018 was $11,457,098, which consisted of $2,324,742 from the issuance of Common
Stock in connection with the exercise of certain repriced warrants
in May 2018, $9,578,065 from the sale of Common Stock offered in
our public offering in May 2018, offset by repayments of
convertible debt of $286,529 and a note payable of $159,180. Net
cash provided by financing activities for the nine months ended
September 30, 2017 was $5,854,038, which consisted of the gross
proceeds resulting from the issuance of the Debentures to LPC of
$1,000,000 and the net proceeds resulting from the Unit Financing
of $5,009,225, offset by repayment of note payable of
$155,187.
Consolidated Results of Operations for the Three and Nine Months
Ended September 30, 2018 and 2017
Research and
development (“R&D”) expense was
$1,168,874 and
$966,685, respectively, for the
three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, an increase of
$202,189 due primarily to the startup of an R&D function in the
U.S. R&D expense was $3,772,679
and $2,244,244, respectively, for the nine months ended September
30, 2018 and 2017, which is an increase of $1,528,435. The increase
in R&D expense for the nine months ended September 30,
2018 as compared to the same period in 2017 are primarily due to
patient enrollment thresholds having been met, thus triggering
milestone-based payments for the ongoing Phase II study of
MS1819-SD in chronic pancreatitis, the production of new batches of
material for both the MS1819-SD program and the b-lactamase
program, and the startup of an R&D function in the U.S. We
expect R&D expense to increase in future periods as our product
candidates continue through clinical trials and we seek strategic
collaborations.
General
and administrative (“G&A”) expense was
$1,317,132 and $2,009,432,
respectively, for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and
2017, a decrease of $692,300. The decrease for the three months
ended September 30, 2018 as compared to the same period in 2017 was
due primarily to a decrease in legal, accounting, and other
professional fees of $101,129 due to less usage of these services,
a decrease in compensation of $121,606 due to timing differences in
recording bonus, and a decrease in non-cash restricted stock,
stock-based compensation, and warrants granted accumulating to
$481,570 due to less
restricted stock/stock options vesting and less warrants issued to
consultants.
G&A expense was $5,400,712 and $5,564,800,
respectively, for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and
2017, a decrease of $164,088. The decrease for the nine months
ended September 30, 2018 as compared to the same period in 2017 was
due primarily to a decrease in non-cash restricted stock,
stock-based compensation, and warrants granted accumulating to
$864,762 due to less grants made in 2018 than in the same period in
2017, and a decrease in legal and other professional fees of
$171,902 due to less usage
of these services offset by a warrant
modification expense of $428,748, an increase in compensation of
$375,394 due to the addition of a Chief Financial Officer well as
increased bonuses, and an increase in investor relations of $59,775
due to efforts to increase the visibility of the Company. We expect
G&A expense to increase going forward in anticipation of the
commercialization of our product candidates.
Fair
value adjustment of our contingent consideration was $80,000 and
($250,000), respectively, for the three months ended September 30,
2018 and 2017. Fair value adjustment of our contingent
consideration was $240,000 and $110,000, respectively, for the nine
months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017. The difference in fair
value adjustments in the three-month and nine-month periods ended
September 30, 2018 as compared to the same period in 2017 is due
primarily to increased risk-free and corporate bond rates, a
greater probability of achieving success due to the completion of
the Phase IIa study of MS1819-SD, and getting closer to the time of
expected royalty payments..
Interest expense
was $5,629 and $408,106,
respectively, for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and
2017, a decrease of $402,477. Interest
expense was $100,418 and $696,327, respectively, for the nine
months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, a decrease of
$595,909. The lower interest expense in the three and nine
months ended September 30, 2018 as compared to the same periods in
2017 is due to the lower amounts of LPC Debenture
outstanding.
Net
loss was $2,571,635 and
$3,134,223 respectively, for the three months ended September 30,
2018 and 2017. Net loss was $9,513,809
and $8,615,371, respectively, for the nine months ended September
30, 2018 and 2017. The changes in net loss for the three and nine
months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same period in 2017
are due to the changes in expenses as noted
above.
ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES
ABOUT MARKET RISKS
Not
applicable.
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
As required by Rule 13a-15(b) under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
(the “Exchange
Act”) our Chief Executive
Officer (“CEO”) and our Chief Financial Officer
(“CFO”) conducted an evaluation as of the end of
the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, of the
effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as defined
in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act. Based on
that evaluation, our CEO and our CFO each concluded that our
disclosure controls and procedures are effective to provide
reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in
the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act, (i) is
recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time
periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission's rules
and forms and (ii) is accumulated and communicated to our
management, including our CEO and our CFO, as appropriate to allow
timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in our internal control over financial
reporting identified in management’s evaluation pursuant to
Rules 13a-15(d) or 15d-15(d) of the Exchange Act during the period
covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q that materially
affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our
internal control over financial reporting.
PART II
OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM
1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
|
None.
ITEM 1A.
RISK FACTORS
|
Our results of operations and financial condition
are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties described in our
Annual Report on Form 10-K for our fiscal year ended December 31,
2017, filed on March 16, 2018. You should carefully consider these
risk factors in conjunction with the other information contained in
this Quarterly Report. Should any of these risks materialize, our
business, financial condition and future prospects could be
negatively impacted. As of November 9, 2018, there have been no
material changes to the disclosures made in the above referenced
Form 10-K.
ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF
PROCEEDS
|
None.
ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES
|
None.
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
|
|
Not
applicable.
ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION
|
None.
ITEM 6. EXHIBITS
|
(b)
|
Exhibits
|
Exhibit No.
|
|
Description
|
|
|
|
|
Certification
of the Principal Executive Officer, pursuant to Section
302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
|
|
|
Certification
of the Principal Financial Officer, pursuant to Section 302 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
|
|
|
Certification
of the Principal Executive Officer and Principal
Financial Officer, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted
pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002
|
|
|
|
|
101.INS
|
|
XBRL
Instance Document
|
101.SCH
|
|
XBRL
Taxonomy Extension Schema
|
101.CAL
|
|
XBRL
Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase
|
101.DEF
|
|
XBRL
Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase
|
101.LAB
|
|
XBRL
Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase
|
101.PRE
|
|
XBRL
Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase
|
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly
authorized.
|
|
AZURRX BIOPHARMA, INC.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By
|
/s/ Johan M. (Thijs) Spoor
|
|
|
|
Johan M. (Thijs) Spoor
President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By
|
/s/ Maged Shenouda
|
|
|
|
Maged Shenouda
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
|
Date: November 9, 2018
|
|
|
|
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