First Wave BioPharma, Inc. - Quarter Report: 2019 March (Form 10-Q)
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 March 31, 2019
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 every Interactive Data File required to be submitted
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 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
|
[X]
|
Smaller reporting company
|
[X]
|
|
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]
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the
Act:
Title of each class
|
Trading Symbol(s)
|
Name of each exchange on which registered
|
Common
Stock, par value $0.0001 per share
|
AZRX
|
Nasdaq
Capital Market
|
As of May 15, 2019, there were 21,060,055 shares of the
registrant’s common stock, $0.0001 par value, issued and
outstanding.
|
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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, 2018 included
in our Annual Report filed on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on
April 1, 2019.
The
results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2019 are
not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2019.
AZURRX BIOPHARMA,
INC.
|
|
|
Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31,
|
December 31,
|
|
2019
|
2018
|
ASSETS
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current
Assets:
|
|
|
Cash
|
$413,858
|
$1,114,343
|
Other
receivables
|
2,051,028
|
3,172,676
|
Prepaid
expenses
|
338,656
|
512,982
|
Total
Current Assets
|
2,803,542
|
4,800,001
|
|
|
|
Property,
equipment, and leasehold improvements, net
|
125,135
|
128,854
|
|
|
|
Other
Assets:
|
|
|
In
process research and development, net
|
-
|
258,929
|
License
agreements, net
|
-
|
311,548
|
Patents
|
3,802,745
|
-
|
Goodwill
|
1,887,358
|
1,924,830
|
Operating
lease right-of-use assets
|
288,653
|
-
|
Deposits
|
49,077
|
45,233
|
Total
Other Assets
|
6,027,833
|
2,540,540
|
Total
Assets
|
$8,956,510
|
$7,469,395
|
|
|
|
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current
Liabilities:
|
|
|
Accounts
payable and accrued expenses
|
$2,580,709
|
$2,070,396
|
Accounts
payable and accrued expenses - related party
|
643,428
|
670,095
|
Note
payable
|
160,584
|
255,032
|
Convertible
debt
|
1,728,442
|
-
|
Other
current liabilities
|
643,530
|
-
|
Total
Current Liabilities
|
5,756,693
|
2,995,523
|
|
|
|
Other
liabilities
|
486,492
|
-
|
Total
Liabilities
|
6,243,185
|
2,995,523
|
|
|
|
Stockholders'
Equity:
|
|
|
Convertible
preferred stock - Par value $0.0001 per share; 10,000,000 shares
authorized and 0 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2019
and December 31, 2018; liquidation preference approximates par
value
|
-
|
-
|
Common
stock - Par value $0.0001 per share; 100,000,000 shares authorized;
18,537,958 and 17,704,925 shares issued and outstanding,
respectively, at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018
|
1,853
|
1,771
|
Additional
paid-in capital
|
56,134,666
|
53,139,259
|
Accumulated
deficit
|
(52,177,801)
|
(47,517,046)
|
Accumulated
other comprehensive loss
|
(1,245,393)
|
(1,150,112)
|
Total
Stockholders' Equity
|
2,713,325
|
4,473,872
|
Total
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
|
$8,956,510
|
$7,469,395
|
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial
statements
AZURRX BIOPHARMA,
INC.
|
|
|
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss
(unaudited)
|
||
|
|
|
|
Three Months
|
Three Months
|
|
Ended
|
Ended
|
|
03/31/19
|
03/31/18
|
|
|
|
Research
and development expenses
|
$2,118,533
|
$1,678,029
|
General
and administrative expenses
|
2,485,111
|
1,916,333
|
Fair
value adjustment, contingent consideration
|
-
|
(10,000)
|
|
|
|
Loss
from operations
|
(4,603,644)
|
(3,584,362)
|
|
|
|
Other:
|
|
|
Interest
expense
|
(57,111)
|
(48,635)
|
Total
other
|
(57,111)
|
(48,635)
|
|
|
|
Loss
before income taxes
|
(4,660,755)
|
(3,632,997)
|
|
|
|
Income
taxes
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
|
Net
loss
|
(4,660,755)
|
(3,632,997)
|
|
|
|
Other
comprehensive loss:
|
|
|
Foreign
currency translation adjustment
|
(95,281)
|
106,020
|
Total
comprehensive loss
|
$(4,756,036)
|
$(3,526,977)
|
|
|
|
Basic
and diluted weighted average shares outstanding
|
17,719,902
|
12,447,438
|
|
|
|
Loss
per share - basic and diluted
|
$(0.26)
|
$(0.29)
|
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial
statements
AZURRX BIOPHARMA,
INC.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity
(unaudited)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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, 2018
|
-
|
$-
|
12,042,574
|
$1,205
|
$37,669,601
|
$(1,071,070)
|
$(33,983,429)
|
$(955,715)
|
$1,660,592
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common
stock issued to consultants
|
|
|
751
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
Common
stock issued for warrant exercises
|
|
|
503,070
|
49
|
1,253,623
|
1,071,070
|
|
|
2,324,742
|
Stock-based
compensation
|
|
|
|
|
29,018
|
|
|
|
29,018
|
Restricted
stock granted to employees/directors
|
|
|
30,000
|
3
|
113,697
|
|
|
|
113,700
|
Convertible
debt converted into common stock
|
|
|
26,000
|
3
|
68,670
|
|
|
|
68,673
|
Warrant
modification
|
|
|
|
|
428,748
|
|
|
|
428,748
|
Foreign
currency translation adjustment
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
106,020
|
106,020
|
Net
loss
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(3,632,997)
|
|
(3,632,997)
|
Balance, March 31, 2018
|
-
|
$-
|
12,602,395
|
$1,260
|
$39,563,357
|
$-
|
$(37,616,426)
|
$(849,695)
|
$1,098,496
|
Balance, January 1, 2019
|
-
|
$-
|
17,704,925
|
$1,771
|
$53,139,259
|
$-
|
$(47,517,046)
|
$(1,150,112)
|
$4,473,872
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common
stock issued to consultants
|
|
|
27,102
|
2
|
59,998
|
|
|
|
60,000
|
Common
stock issued to Mayoly for patents
|
|
|
775,931
|
77
|
1,740,882
|
|
|
|
1,740,959
|
Stock-based
compensation
|
|
|
|
|
511,335
|
|
|
|
511,335
|
Restricted
stock granted to employees/directors
|
|
|
30,000
|
3
|
296,282
|
|
|
|
296,285
|
Warrant
modification
|
|
|
|
|
325,320
|
|
|
|
325,320
|
Received
from stockholder in relation to warrant modification
|
|
|
|
|
61,590
|
|
|
|
61,590
|
Foreign
currency translation adjustment
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(95,281)
|
(95,281)
|
Net
loss
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(4,660,755)
|
|
(4,660,755)
|
Balance, March 31, 2019
|
-
|
$-
|
18,537,958
|
$1,853
|
$56,134,666
|
$-
|
$(52,177,801)
|
$(1,245,393)
|
$2,713,325
|
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial
statements
AZURRX BIOPHARMA,
INC.
|
|
|
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(unaudited)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months
|
Three Months
|
|
Ended
|
Ended
|
|
03/31/19
|
03/31/18
|
Cash
flows from operating activities:
|
|
|
Net
loss
|
$(4,660,755)
|
$(3,632,997)
|
Adjustments
to reconcile net loss to net cash used in
|
|
|
operating
activities:
|
|
|
Depreciation
|
17,114
|
14,763
|
Amortization
|
561,289
|
191,681
|
Fair
value adjustment, contingent consideration
|
-
|
(10,000)
|
Stock-based
compensation
|
511,335
|
29,018
|
Restricted
stock granted to employees/directors
|
296,285
|
113,700
|
Restricted
stock granted to consultants
|
60,000
|
-
|
Accreted
interest on convertible debt
|
24,658
|
-
|
Accreted
interest on debt discount - warrants
|
29,104
|
46,795
|
Warrant
modification
|
-
|
428,748
|
Changes
in assets and liabilities:
|
|
|
Other
receivables
|
(149,508)
|
120,877
|
Prepaid
expenses
|
172,886
|
59,625
|
Right
of use assets
|
(289,830)
|
-
|
Deposits
|
(4,125)
|
-
|
Accounts
payable and accrued expenses
|
514,950
|
423,523
|
Other
liabilities
|
288,800
|
-
|
Net
cash used in operating activities
|
(2,627,797)
|
(2,214,267)
|
|
|
|
Cash
flows from investing activities:
|
|
|
Purchase
of property and equipment
|
(13,352)
|
(29,521)
|
Net
cash used in investing activities
|
(13,352)
|
(29,521)
|
|
|
|
Cash
flows from financing activities:
|
|
|
Issuances
of common stock
|
-
|
2,324,742
|
Issuances
of convertible debt
|
2,000,000
|
-
|
Received
from stockholder in relation to warrant modification
|
61,590
|
|
Repayments
of note payable
|
(94,448)
|
(79,041)
|
Net
cash provided by financing activities
|
1,967,142
|
2,245,701
|
|
|
|
(Decrease)
increase in cash
|
(674,007)
|
1,913
|
|
|
|
Effect
of exchange rate changes on cash
|
(26,478)
|
(910)
|
|
|
|
Cash,
beginning balance
|
1,114,343
|
573,471
|
|
|
|
Cash,
ending balance
|
$413,858
|
$574,474
|
|
|
|
Supplemental
disclosures of cash flow information:
|
|
|
Cash
paid for interest
|
$3,933
|
$1,840
|
|
|
|
Cash
paid for income taxes
|
$-
|
$-
|
|
|
|
Non-cash
investing and financing activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Conversion
of convertible debt into common stock
|
$-
|
$68,673
|
|
|
|
Common
stock issued for patents purchased from Mayoly
|
$1,740,959
|
$-
|
|
|
|
Warrant
modification related to convertible debt issuance
|
$325,320
|
$-
|
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial
statements
Note 1 - The Company 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 SAS (formerly
“ProteaBio Europe
SAS”), a company
incorporated in October 2008 under the laws of France. AzurRx and
its wholly-owned subsidiary, AzurRx SAS (“ABS”), are collectively referred to as the
“Company.”
The
Company 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. The
Company’s current product pipeline consists of two
therapeutic proteins under development:
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. In June
2018, the Company 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 showed 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. Additionally, maximal absolute CFA response
to treatment was up to 57%, with an inverse relationship to
baseline CFA. In October 2018, 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. In connection with the
FDA’s clearance of the IND, in the fourth quarter of 2018 the
Company initiated the multi-center Phase II OPTION study in the
United States and Europe (the “OPTION Study”), which the Company
expects will include approximately 30 patients. The Company dosed
the first patients in the OPTION Study in February 2019 and reached
50% of its enrollment target for the OPTION Study in April 2019.
The Company expects to conclude and announce topline results from
the OPTION Study in the summer of 2019.
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. The Company is also
currently assessing its plans for the continuation of the
development of AZX1101.
Recent Developments
Asset Purchase Agreement with Mayoly
On March 27, 2019, the Company entered into
an Asset Purchase Agreement with Mayoly (the “Mayoly APA”), pursuant to which the Company purchased all
rights, title and interest in and to MS1819-SD. Upon execution of
the Mayoly APA, the Joint Development and License Agreement (the
“JDLA”) previously executed by AzurRx SAS and
Mayoly was terminated. In addition, the Company granted to Mayoly
an exclusive, royalty-bearing right to revenue received from
commercialization of MS1819-SD within certain
territories.
In
accordance with the Mayoly APA, the Company provided to Mayoly the
following consideration for the purchase of MS1819-SD:
(i)
the
Company assumed certain of Mayoly’s liabilities with respect
to MS1819-SD;
(ii)
the
Company forgave all amounts currently owed to AzurRx SAS by Mayoly
under the JDLA;
(iii)
the
Company agreed to pay, within 30 days after the execution of the
Mayoly APA, all amounts incurred by Mayoly for the maintenance of
patents related to MS1819-SD from January 1, 2019 through the date
of the Mayoly APA;
(iv)
the Company made an initial payment to Mayoly of
€800,000, which amount was paid by the issuance of 400,481
shares of the Company’s common stock at a price of $2.29 per
share (the “Closing Payment
Shares”) and
the Company recognized $917,101 as part of stockholders’
equity; and
(v)
the Company agreed to pay to Mayoly an additional
€1,500,000, payable in a mix of cash and shares of the
Company’s common stock as follows (the
“Milestone
Payments”): (y) on
December 31, 2019, a cash payment of €400,000 and 200,240
shares of common stock (the “2019 Escrow
Shares”) and (z) on
December 31, 2020, a cash payment of €350,000 and 175,210
shares of common stock (the “2020 Escrow
Shares” and, together
with the 2019 Escrow Shares, the “Escrow
Shares”) and
the Company recognized $823,858 as part of stockholders’
equity.
The Closing Payment Shares and the Escrow Shares
were all issued upon execution of the Mayoly APA;
provided, however, per the terms of the Mayoly APA, the Escrow
Shares will be held in escrow until the applicable Milestone
Payment date, at which time the respective Escrow Shares will be
released to Mayoly. See Note 6.
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, 2018, 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”).
The Company believes 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, 2018, filed with the SEC on April 1,
2019.
The unaudited
interim consolidated financial statements include the accounts of
AzurRx and its wholly-owned subsidiary, AzurRx SAS. Intercompany
transactions and balances have been eliminated upon
consolidation.
Going Concern Uncertainty
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 negative working capital
at March 31, 2019 of approximately $2,953,000, and had an
accumulated deficit of approximately $52,178,000 at March 31, 2019.
The Company is dependent on obtaining, and continues to pursue,
additional working capital funding from the sale of securities and
debt in order to continue to execute 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 March 31, 2019 and
December 31, 2018, the Company had approximately $133,984 and
$754,261, 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.
Leases
Effective January
1, 2019, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update
(“ASU”) No.
2016-02, "Leases." This ASU requires substantially all leases be
recorded on the balance sheet as right of use assets and lease
obligations. The Company adopted the ASU using a modified
retrospective adoption method at January 1, 2019, as outlined in
ASU No. 2018-11, "Leases - Targeted Improvements." Under this
method of adoption, there is no impact to the comparative condensed
consolidated statement of operations and condensed consolidated
balance sheet. The Company determined that there was no
cumulative-effect adjustment to beginning retained earnings on the
consolidated balance sheet. In addition, the Company elected the
package of practical expedients permitted under the transition
guidance within the new standard, which among other things, allowed
carryforward of historical lease classifications. Adoption of this
standard did not materially impact the Company’s results of
operations and had no impact on the consolidated statement of cash
flows.
Equity-Based Payments to Non-Employees
Equity-based
payments to non-employees are measured at fair value on the grant
date per ASU No. 2018-07, Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based
Payment Accounting.
Research and Development
Research and
development costs are charged to operations when incurred and are
included in operating expenses. Research and development 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.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
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.
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.
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
March 31, 2019:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
|
$413,858
|
$-
|
$413,858
|
$-
|
$413,858
|
Other
receivables
|
$2,051,028
|
$-
|
$-
|
$2,051,028
|
$2,051,028
|
Note
payable
|
$160,584
|
$-
|
$-
|
$160,584
|
$160,584
|
Convertible
debt
|
$1,728,442
|
$-
|
$-
|
$1,728,442
|
$1,728,442
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At
December 31, 2018:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
|
$1,114,343
|
$-
|
$1,114,343
|
$-
|
$1,114,343
|
Other
receivables
|
$3,172,676
|
$-
|
$-
|
$3,172,676
|
$3,172,676
|
Note
payable
|
$255,032
|
$-
|
$-
|
$255,032
|
$255,032
|
The fair value of
other receivables approximates carrying value as these consist
primarily of French R&D tax credits that are normally received
the following year and amounts due from our collaboration partner
Mayoly, see Note 14.
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:
|
March 31,
|
December 31,
|
|
2019
|
2018
|
R&D
tax credits
|
$2,038,311
|
$2,162,373
|
Other
|
12,717
|
1,010,303
|
Total
other receivables
|
$2,051,028
|
$3,172,676
|
The research and
development (“R &
D”) tax credits are the 2017 and 2018 refundable tax
credits for research conducted in France. The tax credits for the
years 2016 through 2018 are currently being examined by the French
tax authorities which is in the normal course of business. At
December 31, 2018, Other consists primarily of amounts due from
collaboration partner Mayoly.
Note
5 - Property, Equipment and Leasehold Improvements
Property, equipment
and leasehold improvements consisted of the following:
|
March 31,
|
December 31,
|
|
2019
|
2018
|
Laboratory
equipment
|
$193,661
|
$190,406
|
Computer
equipment
|
78,986
|
75,417
|
Office
equipment
|
37,264
|
37,262
|
Leasehold
improvements
|
35,711
|
29,163
|
Total
property, plant and equipment
|
345,622
|
332,248
|
Less
accumulated depreciation
|
(220,487)
|
(203,394)
|
Property,
plant and equipment, net
|
$125,135
|
$128,854
|
Depreciation
expense for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and December 31,
2018 was $17,114 and $14,763, respectively. Depreciation expense is
included in general and administrative (“G&A”) expenses.
Note
6 - Intangible Assets and Goodwill
Patents
Pursuant to the
Mayoly APA entered into on March 27, 2019, in which the Company
purchased all rights, title and interest in and to MS1819-SD (see
Note 14), the Company recorded Patents in the amount of $3,802,745
as follows:
Common
stock issued at signing to Mayoly
|
$1,740,959
|
Due
to Mayoly at 12/31/19 - €400,000
|
449,280
|
Due
to Mayoly at 12/31/20 - €350,000
|
393,120
|
Assumed
Mayoly liabilities and forgiveness of Mayoly debt
|
1,219,386
|
|
$3,802,745
|
Intangible assets
are as follows:
|
March 31,
|
December 31,
|
|
2019
|
2018
|
In
process research and development
|
$-
|
$416,600
|
Less
accumulated amortization
|
-
|
(157,671)
|
In
process research and development, net
|
$-
|
$258,929
|
|
|
|
License
agreements
|
$-
|
$3,398,702
|
Less
accumulated amortization
|
-
|
(3,087,154)
|
License
agreements, net
|
$-
|
$311,548
|
|
|
|
Patents
|
$3,802,745
|
$-
|
Less
accumulated amortization
|
-
|
-
|
Patents,
net
|
$3,802,745
|
$-
|
Amortization
expense for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 was
$561,289 and $191,681, respectively. Amortization expense for the
three months ended March 31, 2019 included $384,234 from In process
research and development and License agreements written off as a
result of the Mayoly APA.
As of March 31,
2019, amortization expense is expected to be as follows for the
next five years:
2019
|
$395,661
|
2020
|
527,548
|
2021
|
527,548
|
2022
|
527,548
|
2023
|
527,548
|
Goodwill
is as follows:
|
Goodwill
|
Balance
at January 1, 2018
|
$2,016,240
|
Foreign
currency translation
|
(91,410)
|
Balance
at December 31, 2018
|
1,924,830
|
Foreign
currency translation
|
(37,472)
|
Balance
at March 31, 2019
|
$1,887,358
|
Note 7 - Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses
Accounts payable
and accrued expenses consisted of the following:
|
March 31,
|
December 31,
|
|
2019
|
2018
|
Trade
payables
|
$2,243,574
|
$1,532,110
|
Accrued
expenses
|
69,930
|
285,061
|
Accrued
payroll
|
267,205
|
253,225
|
Total
accounts payable and accrued expenses
|
$2,580,709
|
$2,070,396
|
Note
8 - Note Payable
On December 14,
2018, the Company entered into a 9-month financing agreement for
its directors and officer’s liability insurance in the amount
of $286,203 that bears interest at an annual rate of 5.99%. Monthly
payments, including principal and interest, are $32,599 per month.
The balance due under this financing agreement at March 31, 2019
was $160,584.
Note
9 – Convertible Notes and Original Issue Discounted
Convertible Notes with Warrants
ADEC Notes
On February 14,
2019, the Company entered into a Note Purchase Agreement (the
“NPA”) with
ADEC Private Equity Investments, LLC (“ADEC”), pursuant to which
the Company issued to ADEC two Senior Convertible Notes
(“Note A” and
“Note B,”
respectively, each a “Note,” and together, the
“Notes”), in
the principal amount of $1,000,000 per Note, resulting in gross
proceeds to the Company of $2,000,000. ADEC is controlled by Burke
Ross, a significant stockholder of the Company.
The Notes accrue
interest at a rate of 10% per annum (the “Interest Rate”); provided,
however, that in the event the Company elects to repay the full
balance due under the terms of both Notes prior to December 31,
2019, then the interest rate will be reduced to 6% per annum.
Interest is payable at the time all outstanding Principal Amounts
owed under each Note is repaid. The Notes will mature on the
earlier to occur of (i) the tenth business day following the
receipt by ABS of certain tax credits that the Company expects to
receive prior to July 2019 in the case of Note A (the “2019 Tax Credit”) and July
2020 in the case of Note B (the “2020 Tax Credit”),
respectively, or (ii) December 31, 2019 in the case of Note A and
December 31, 2020 in the Case of Note B (the “Maturity Dates”). As a
condition to entering into the NPA, ABS and ADEC also entered into
a Pledge Agreement, pursuant to which ABS agreed to pledge an
interest in the 2019 and 2020 Tax Credits to ADEC in order to
guarantee payment of all amounts due under the terms of the
Notes.
Prior to their
respective Maturity Dates, each of the Notes is convertible, at
ADEC’s option, into shares of the Company’s common
stock, at a conversion price equal to the principal and accrued
interest due under the terms of the Notes divided by $2.50
(“Conversion
Shares”); provided, however, that pursuant to the term
of the Notes, ADEC may not convert all or a portion of the Notes if
such conversion would result in Mr. Ross and/or entities affiliated
with him beneficially owning in excess of 19.99% of the
Company’s shares of common stock issued and outstanding
immediately after giving effect to the issuance of the Conversion
Shares.
As additional
consideration for entering into the NPA, pursuant to a Warrant
Amendment Agreement, the Company agreed to reduce the exercise
price of 1,009,565 outstanding warrants previously issued by the
Company to ADEC and its affiliates (the “Warrants”) to $1.50 per
share. The Warrant Amendment does not alter any other terms of the
Warrants. This resulted in a debt discount of $325,320 that will be
accreted to additional interest expense over the lives of the
Notes.
In connection with
the above transaction, the Company also entered into a registration
rights agreement with ADEC, pursuant to which the Company agreed to
file a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange
Commission no later than 45 days after the closing date of February
14, 2019 in order to register, on behalf of ADEC, the Conversion
Shares. ADEC subsequently agreed to extend the date to file a
registration statement to April 30, 2019. The registration
statement was filed on April 25, 2019.
During the three
months ended March 31, 2019, the Company accrued $24,658 of
interest expense in connection with these convertible notes. During
the three months ended March 31, 2019, the Company recorded $29,104
of interest expense in the form of amortization of debt discount
related to the repriced 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.
On July 11, 2018,
the Company paid off the remaining amount due under the terms of
this Debenture in the amount of $286,529.
For the three
months ended March 31, 2018, the Company recorded $46,795 of
interest expense related to the amortization of the debt discount
related to the warrant features of the Debenture.
Convertible Debt
consisted of:
|
March 31,
|
December 31,
|
|
2019
|
2018
|
Convertible
debt
|
$2,000,000
|
$-
|
Unamortized
debt discount - revalued warrants
|
(296,216)
|
-
|
Total
convertible debt
|
$1,703,784
|
$-
|
Note
10 – Other Liabilities
Other liabilities
consisted of the following:
|
March 31,
|
December 31,
|
Current
|
2019
|
2018
|
Due
to Mayoly
|
$449,280
|
$-
|
Lease
liabilities
|
194,250
|
-
|
|
$643,530
|
$-
|
|
March 31,
|
December 31,
|
Long-term
|
2019
|
2018
|
Due
to Mayoly
|
$393,120
|
$-
|
Lease
liabilities
|
93,372
|
-
|
|
$486,492
|
$-
|
Note 11 - Equity
On July 13, 2016,
the Company amended its Certificate of Incorporation to increase
the authorized shares of its common stock, $0.0001 par value, to
100,000,000 shares from 9,000,000 shares and increase the
authorized shares of its preferred stock, $0.0001 par value, to
10,000,000 shares from 1,000,000 shares.
Common Stock
At March 31, 2019
and December 31, 2018, the Company had 18,537,958 and 17,704,925,
respectively, of shares of its common stock issued and
outstanding.
Voting
Each holder of
common stock has one vote for each share held.
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
March 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company did not grant any stock
options under the 2014 Plan.
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock
At March 31, 2019
and December 31, 2018, there were no Series A Convertible Preferred
Stock (“Series A
Preferred”) outstanding. However, all terms of the
Series A Preferred are still in effect.
Restricted Stock
During the three
months ended March 31, 2019, 102,583 restricted shares of common
stock vested with a fair value of $296,285. 58,833 of these 102,583
shares having a fair value of $178,852 vested during the three
months ended March 31, 2019 due to the Company dosing the first
patients in the Company's Phase II study to investigate MS1819-SD
in CF patients. 30,000 of these 102,583 shares having a fair value
of $72,600 vested during the three months ended March 31, 2019 and
have been issued to our directors as a part of Board compensation.
13,750 of these 102,583 shares having a fair value of $44,833
vested during the three months ended March 31, 2019 due to the
terms of such grants.
During the three
months ended March 31, 2019, the Company issued 27,102 shares of
its common stock to a consultant as payment of $60,000 of accounts
payable.
As
of March 31, 2019, the Company had unrecognized restricted common
stock expense of $438,528. $337,193 of this unrecognized expense
will be recognized over the average remaining vesting term of the
restricted common stock of 2.04 years. $101,335 of this
unrecognized expense vests upon the enrollment of the first 30
patients in a CF trial. This milestone was not considered probable
at March 31, 2019.
During the three
months ended March 31, 2018, 61,500 shares of restricted common stock
were granted or accrued to employees and consultants with a total
value of $202,810. During the three months ended March 31, 2018,
66,917 restricted shares of common stock vested with a value of
$222,310 of which an aggregate of 30,000 shares with a value of
$94,200 have been issued to our directors as a part of Board
compensation.
Note
12 - Warrants
In February 2019,
as additional consideration for issuing convertible notes with ADEC
and pursuant to a Warrant Amendment Agreement, the Company agreed
to reduce the exercise price of certain outstanding warrants
previously issued by the Company to ADEC and its affiliates, see
Note 9.
Stock warrant
transactions for the periods January 1 through March 31, 2019 and
2018 are as follows:
|
|
Exercise
|
Weighted
|
|
|
Price Per
|
Average
|
|
Warrants
|
Share
|
Exercise Price
|
|
|
|
|
Warrants outstanding and exercisable at January 1,
2018
|
3,371,385
|
$3.17 - $7.37
|
$5.28
|
|
|
|
|
Granted
during the period
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Expired
during the period
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Exercised
during the period
|
(503,070)
|
$2.50
|
$2.50
|
Warrants outstanding and exercisable at March 31, 2018
|
2,868,315
|
$3.17 - $7.37
|
$5.28
|
|
|
|
|
Warrants outstanding and exercisable at January 1,
2019
|
3,112,715
|
$2.55 - $7.37
|
$4.83
|
|
|
|
|
Granted
during the period
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Expired
during the period
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Exercised
during the period
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Warrants outstanding and exercisable at March 31, 2019
|
3,112,715
|
$1.50 - $7.37
|
$3.53
|
|
Number of
|
Weighted Average
|
Weighted
|
|
Shares Under
|
Remaining Contract
|
Average
|
Exercise Price
|
Warrants
|
Life in Years
|
Exercise Price
|
$1.50 - $2.99
|
1,253,965
|
2.88
|
|
$3.00 - $3.99
|
636,972
|
3.06
|
|
$4.00 - $4.99
|
196,632
|
2.76
|
|
$5.00 - $5.99
|
805,476
|
2.88
|
|
$6.00 - $6.99
|
187,750
|
2.51
|
|
$7.00 - $7.37
|
31,920
|
1.71
|
|
Total
|
3,112,715
|
2.88
|
$3.53
|
In
January 2018, the Company offered certain 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 continued 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 had other warrants modified on approximately 197,000 shares,
which resulted in a charge of approximately $429,000 in January
2018.
During
the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, no warrants were
issued to non-employees.
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 March 31, 2019 and 2018, no stock options
were granted. During the three months ended March 31, 2019, 244,500
options vested having a fair value of $511,335 and an intrinsic
value of $0. 242,000 of these options valued at $501,666 vested due
to the Company having its first CF patient dosed with MS1819-SD
anywhere in the world, which was achieved by the dosing of the
first patient in the OPTION Study. During the three months ended
March 31, 2018, 7,500 options vested having a fair value of $29,018
and an intrinsic value of $0.
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 is as follows:
|
Number
|
Average
|
Remaining Contract
|
Intrinsic
|
|
of Shares
|
Exercise Price
|
Life in Years
|
Value
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock options outstanding at January 1, 2018
|
545,000
|
$4.05
|
7.13
|
$-
|
|
|
|
|
|
Granted
during the period
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
Expired
during the period
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
Exercised
during the period
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
Stock options outstanding at March 31, 2018
|
545,000
|
$4.05
|
6.89
|
$-
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exercisable at March 31, 2018
|
165,000
|
$4.48
|
8.85
|
$-
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-vested stock options outstanding at January 1,
2018
|
387,500
|
$3.89
|
6.39
|
$-
|
|
|
|
|
|
Granted
during the period
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
Vested
during the period
|
7,500
|
$4.48
|
6.39
|
$-
|
Expired
during the period
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
Exercised
during the period
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
Non-vested stock options outstanding at March 31, 2018
|
380,000
|
$3.87
|
6.03
|
$-
|
Stock options outstanding at January 1, 2019
|
994,000
|
$3.58
|
5.42
|
$-
|
|
|
|
|
|
Granted
during the period
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
Expired
during the period
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
Canceled
during the period
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
Exercised
during the period
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
Stock options outstanding at March 31, 2019
|
994,000
|
$3.58
|
5.17
|
$-
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exercisable at March 31, 2019
|
994,000
|
$3.58
|
5.17
|
$-
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-vested stock options outstanding at January 1,
2019
|
244,500
|
$3.05
|
4.53
|
$-
|
|
|
|
|
|
Granted
during the period
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
Vested
during the period
|
(244,500)
|
$3.05
|
4.53
|
|
Expired
during the period
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
Canceled
during the period
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
Exercised
during the period
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
Non-vested stock options outstanding at March 31, 2019
|
-
|
|
|
$-
|
635,067
shares of common stock were available for future issuance under the
2014 Plan as of March 31, 2019.
As
of March 31, 2019, the Company did not have any unrecognized
stock-based compensation expense.
Note
14 - Agreements
Mayoly Agreement
During the three
months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company charged $403,020
and $125,986, respectively, to Mayoly under the JDLA that was in
effect during both periods.
On March 27, 2019, the Company entered into
the Mayoly APA pursuant to which the
Company purchased substantially all rights, title and interest in
and to MS1819-SD, see Recent Developments
above.
INRA Agreement
In February 2006,
Mayoly and INRA TRANSFERT, on behalf of INRA and CNRS, entered into
a Usage and Cross-Licensing Agreement granting Mayoly exclusive
worldwide rights to exploit Yarrowia lipolytica and other lipase
proteins based on their patents for use in humans. The INRA
Agreement provides for the payment by Mayoly of royalties on net
sales, subject to Mayoly’s right to terminate such obligation
upon the payment of a lump sum specified in the agreement. Upon
execution of the Mayoly APA, all rights, obligations and interests
under the INRA Agreement were transferred to the
Company.
TransChem Sublicense
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 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.
No payments were made under this agreement in the three months
ended March 31, 2019 and 2018.
Employment Agreements
Johan (Thijs) Spoor
On January 3, 2016,
the Company entered into an employment agreement with its President
and Chief Executive Officer, Johan Spoor. The employment agreement
provides for a term expiring January 2, 2019. Either party may
terminate Mr. Spoor’s employment at any time and for any
reason, or for no reason. During the term and for a period of
twelve (12) months thereafter, Mr. Spoor shall not engage in
competition with the Company either directly or indirectly, in any
manner or capacity.
The Company will
pay Mr. Spoor a base salary of $350,000 per year, which
automatically increased to $425,000 per year upon the consummation
of the IPO which occurred on October 11, 2016. At the sole
discretion of the board of directors or the compensation committee
of the board, following each calendar year of employment, Mr. Spoor
shall be eligible to receive an additional cash bonus based on his
attainment of certain financial, clinical development, and/or
business milestones to be established annually by the board of
directors or the compensation committee.
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. All of these shares vested and the $425,000 was
expensed in the second and fourth quarters in 2018 due to the
Company completing both milestones.
On June 28, 2018,
Mr. Spoor was granted 200,000 shares of restricted common stock
subject to vesting conditions as follows: (i) 50% shall vest in
three equal installments beginning one year from the date of
issuance, and (ii) the remaining 50% shall vest as follows:
one-third shall vest upon U.S. acceptance of IND for MS1819-SD,
one-third upon the first dosing of a CF patient with MS1819-SD
anywhere in the world, and the remaining one-third upon enrollment
of the first 30 patients in a CF trial. These restricted shares had
an estimated fair value at the grant date of $608,000 to be
expensed when the above milestones are probable. 8,333 shares with
a fair value of $25,332 vested and was expensed in the three months
ended March 31, 2019 due to being earned over that time. 33,333
shares with a fair value of $101,332 vested and was expensed in the
three months ended March 31, 2019 due to the first dosing of CF
patients with MS1819-SD anywhere in the world.
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. All of these shares vested and the
$336,500 was expensed in 2018 due to the Company completing both
milestones listed above in 2018.
On June 28, 2018,
Mr. Shenouda was granted stock options to purchase 100,000 shares
of the Company’s common stock, issuable pursuant to the 2014
Plan, subject to vesting conditions as follows: (i) 50% upon U.S.
acceptance of an IND for MS1819-SD, and (ii) 50% upon the first CF
patient doses with MS1819-SD anywhere in the world. These options
had an estimated fair value at the grant date of $207,300 to be
expensed when the above milestones are probable. 50,000 of
these options having a fair value of $103,650 vested and was
expensed in 2018 due to the FDA acceptance of the Company’s
IND application for MS1819-SD. The remaining 50,000 options having
a fair value of $103,650 vested and was expensed in the three
months ended March 31, 2019 due to the first dosing of CF patients
with MS1819-SD anywhere in the world.
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.
On June 28, 2018,
Mr. Pennington was granted stock options to purchase 75,000 shares
of the Company’s common stock, issuable pursuant to the 2014
Plan, subject to vesting conditions as follows: (i) 50% upon U.S.
acceptance of an IND for MS1819-SD, and (ii) 50% upon the first CF
patient doses with MS1819-SD anywhere in the world. These options
had an estimated fair value at the grant date of $155,475 to be
expensed when the above milestones are probable. 37,500 of these
options vested and $77,738 was expensed in 2018 due to the FDA
acceptance of the Company’s IND application for MS1819-SD in
2018. 37,500 of these options having a fair value of $77,738 vested
and was expensed in the three months ended March 31, 2019 due to
the first dosing of CF patients with MS1819-SD anywhere in the
world.
Note
15 - Leases
The Company adopted
ASU 2016-02, Leases, as of January 1, 2019, using the modified
retrospective approach. Prior year financial statements were not
recast under the new standard.
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.
Lease
expense amounted to $50,655 and $31,227, respectively, in the
three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018.
The
weighted-average remaining lease term and weighted-average discount
rate under operating leases at March 31, 2019 are:
|
March 31,
|
|
2019
|
Lease term and discount rate
|
|
Weighted-average
remaining lease term
|
1.5
years
|
Weighted-average
discount rate
|
6.0%
|
Maturities of
operating lease liabilities at March 31, 2019 are as
follows:
2019
|
$152,100
|
2020
|
154,448
|
Total
lease payments
|
306,548
|
Less
imputed interest
|
(18,926)
|
Present
value of lease liabilities
|
$287,622
|
Note
16 - 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 March
31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the Company had no tax provision
for either jurisdiction.
At March 31, 2019
and December 31, 2018, the Company had gross deferred tax assets of
approximately $13,650,000 and $12,490,000, 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 $13,650,000 and $12,490,000,
respectively, has been established at March 31, 2019 and December
31, 2018. The change in the valuation allowance in the three months
ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 was $1,160,000 and $925,000,
respectively.
At March 31, 2019,
the Company has gross net operating loss (“NOL”) carry-forwards for U.S.
federal and state income tax purposes of approximately $23,983,000
and $24,058,000, respectively. The NOL’s expire between the
years 2034 and 2039. 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 March 31, 2019
and December 31, 2018, the Company had approximately $16,113,000
and $15,406,000, respectively, in net operating losses which it can
carryforward indefinitely to offset against future French
income.
At March 31, 2019
and December 31, 2018, the Company had taken no uncertain tax
positions that would require disclosure under ASC 740, Accounting
for Income Taxes.
Note
17 - 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 March 31, 2019,
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, 416,000 shares of restricted stock not yet issued, 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 March 31, 2018,
diluted net loss per share did not include the effect of 2,868,315
shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding
warrants, 545,000 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise
of outstanding options, and 74,000 shares of common stock issuable
upon the conversion of convertible debt as their effect would be
antidilutive during the periods prior to conversion.
Note
18 - 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 March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 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 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 March 31, 2019 and December
31, 2018 is $38,453 for RHMS for Ms. Rigby-Hutton’s
services.
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. Included in
accounts payable at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 is $10,000
and $50,000, respectively, for Mr. Shenouda’s
services.
Note
19 – Subsequent Events
April 2019 Public Offering of Common Stock
On April 2, 2019,
the Company completed a public offering of 1,294,930 shares of its
common stock at a public offering price of $2.13 per share,
resulting net proceeds of approximately $2,500,000, after deducting
the selling agent fee payable to Alexander Capital, L.P.
(“Alexander
Capital”) and other offering expenses payable by the
Company (the “April 2019
Public Offering”). The April 2019 Public Offering was
completed pursuant to the terms of a Selling Agent Agreement
executed by the Company and Alexander Capital on April 1, 2019. The
April 2019 Public Offering was completed pursuant to the
Company’s effective shelf registration statement on Form S-3
(File No. 333-225935) and the prospectus supplement was filed on
May 1, 2019.
In connection with
the April 2019 Public Offering, the Company entered into a Selling
Agent Agreement with Alexander Capital, pursuant to which the
Company paid Alexander Capital (i) a cash fee equal to 7% of the
aggregate gross proceeds of the April 2019 Public Offering, and
(ii) to issue Alexander Capital warrants to purchase 38,848 shares
of the Company’s common stock (the “Selling Agent Warrants”), an
amount equal to 3% of the aggregate number of shares of the
Company’s common stock sold in the April 2019 Public
Offering. The Company also agreed to reimburse Alexander Capital
for its expenses in connection with the April 2019 Public Offering
on a non-accountable basis in an amount equal to 1% of the gross
proceeds of the Offering and up to $50,000 for other accountable
expenses. The Selling Agent Warrants will become exercisable one
year from the date of issuance, expire on April 2, 2024 and have an
exercise price of $2.55 per share.
May 2019 Public Offering of Common Stock
In May 2019, the
Company completed a public offering of 1,227,167 shares of its
common stock at a public offering price of $2.35 per share,
resulting in net proceeds of approximately $2.55 million, after
deducting the selling agent fee payable to Alexander Capital and
other offering expenses payable by the Company (the
“May 2019 Public
Offering”). The May 2019 Public Offering was completed
pursuant to the Company’s effective shelf registration
statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-225935) and the prospectus
supplement was filed on May 9, 2019.
In connection with
the May 2019 Public Offering, the Company entered into a Selling
Agent Agreement with Alexander Capital, pursuant to which the
Company paid to Alexander Capital (i) a cash fee equal to 7.0% of
the aggregate gross proceeds of the May 2019 Public Offering, and
(ii) issued to Alexander Capital 36,815 Selling Agent Warrants, an
amount equal to 3.0% of the aggregate number of shares of common
stock sold in the May 2019 Public Offering. The Company also
reimbursed Alexander Capital for its expenses on a non-accountable
basis in an amount equal to 1.0% of the gross proceeds of the May
2019 Offering and up to $50,000 for other accountable expenses. The
Selling Agent Warrants will become exercisable one year from the
date of issuance, expire on May 9, 2024, and have an exercise price
of $2.82 per share.
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’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, 2018,
filed with the SEC on April 1, 2019. 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
SAS (formerly “ProteaBio Europe
SAS”), a company
incorporated in October 2008 under the laws of France. AzurRx and
its wholly-owned subsidiary, AzurRx SAS (“ABS”),
are collectively referred to as the “Company.”
We
are 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. In June
2018, we 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 showed 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. Additionally, maximal absolute CFA response
to treatment was up to 57%, with an inverse relationship to
baseline CFA. In October 2018, the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (“FDA”) cleared our Investigational
New Drug (“IND”) application for MS1819-SD
in patients with EPI due to CF. In connection with the FDA’s
clearance of the IND, in the fourth quarter of 2018 we initiated
the multi-center Phase II OPTION study in the United States and
Europe (the “OPTION
Study”), which we expect will include approximately 30
patients. We dosed the first patients in the OPTION Study in
February 2019 and reached 50% of our enrollment target for the
OPTION Study in April 2019. We expect to conclude and announce
topline results from the OPTION Study in the summer of
2019.
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. We are also currently
assessing our plans for the continuation of the development of
AZX1101.
We
do not expect to generate revenue from drug candidates that we
develop until we obtain approval for one or more of such drug
candidates and commercialize our product or enter into a
collaborative agreement with a third party. We do not have any
products approved for sale at the present and have never generated
revenue from product sale.
Recent Developments
Private Note Offering
On February 14, 2019, we entered into a Note
Purchase Agreement (the “NPA”) with ADEC Private Equity Investments, LLC
(“ADEC”), pursuant to which we issued to ADEC two
Senior Convertible Notes (“Note A” and “Note B,” respectively, each a
“Note,” and together, the
“Notes”), in the principal amount of $1,000,000
per Note, resulting in gross proceeds to us of $2,000,000. ADEC is
controlled by Burke Ross, one of our significant
stockholders.
The Notes accrue interest at a rate of 10% per
annum; provided,
however, that in the event we
elect to repay the full balance of both Notes prior to December 31,
2019, then the interest rate will be reduced to 6% per annum. The
Notes will mature on the earlier to occur of (i) the tenth business
day following our receipt of certain tax credits from the French
government, which we expect to receive prior to July 2019 in the
case of Note A (the “2019 Tax
Credit”) and July 2020 in
the case of Note B (the “2020 Tax
Credit”), respectively,
or (ii) December 31, 2019 in the case of Note A and December 31,
2020 in the Case of Note B (the “Maturity
Dates”). As a condition
to entering into the NPA, ABS and ADEC also entered into a Pledge
Agreement, pursuant to which ABS agreed to pledge an interest in
the 2019 Tax Credit and 2020 Tax Credit to ADEC in order to
guarantee payment of all amounts due under the terms of the
Notes.
Prior to their respective Maturity Dates, each of
the Notes is convertible, at ADEC’s option, into shares of
our common stock, at a conversion price equal to the principal and
accrued interest due under the terms of the Notes divided by $2.50
(“Conversion
Shares”);
provided,
however, that pursuant to the
term of the Notes, ADEC may not convert all or a portion of the
Notes if such conversion would result in Mr. Ross and/or entities
affiliated with him beneficially owning in excess of 19.99% of our
shares of common stock issued and outstanding immediately after
giving effect to the issuance of the Conversion
Shares.
As additional consideration for entering into the
NPA, we reduced the exercise price of all outstanding warrants
previously issued by us to ADEC and its affiliates (the
“ADEC
Warrants”) to $1.50 per
share. None of the other terms of the ADEC Warrants were modified
in connection with the NPA and the issuance of the
Notes.
In
connection with the above transaction, we also entered into a
registration rights agreement with ADEC, pursuant to which we
agreed to file a registration statement with the Securities and
Exchange Commission no later than 45 days after the closing date of
February 14, 2019 in order to register, on behalf of ADEC, the
Conversion Shares. ADEC subsequently agreed to extend the date to
file a registration statement to April 30, 2019 and we filed this
registration statement on April 26, 2019.
Asset Purchase Agreement with Mayoly
On March 27, 2019, we entered into an Asset
Purchase Agreement with Laboratoires Mayoly Spindler SAS
(“Mayoly”), a
European pharmaceutical company and our former development partner
for MS1819-D, pursuant to which we
purchased all rights, title and interest in and to MS1819-SD
(the “Mayoly
APA”). Upon execution of the Mayoly APA, the Joint
Development and License Agreement (the “JDLA”) previously executed by AzurRx SAS and
Mayoly was terminated. In addition, we granted to Mayoly an
exclusive, royalty-bearing right to revenue received from
commercialization of MS1819-SD within certain
territories.
In
accordance with the Mayoly APA, we provided to Mayoly the following
consideration for the purchase of MS1819-SD:
(i)
we
assumed certain of Mayoly’s liabilities with respect to
MS1819-SD;
(ii)
we
forgave all amounts previously owed to AzurRx SAS by Mayoly under
the JDLA;
(iii)
we paid
all amounts incurred by Mayoly for the maintenance of patents
related to MS1819-SD from January 1, 2019 through the date of the
Mayoly APA;
(iv)
we made
an initial payment to Mayoly of € 800,000, which amount was
paid by the issuance of 400,481 shares of our common stock at a
price of $2.29 per share (the “Closing Payment Shares ”)
and
the Company recognized $898,560 as part of stockholders’
equity; and
(v)
we
agreed to pay to Mayoly an additional € 1,500,000, payable in
a mix of cash and shares of our common stock as follows (the
“Milestone Payments
”): (y) on December 31, 2019, a cash payment of €
400,000 and 200,240 shares of common stock (the “2019 Escrow Shares”) and (z) on
December 31, 2020, a cash payment of € 350,000 and 175,210
shares of common stock (the “2020 Escrow Shares” and, together
with the 2019 Escrow Shares, the “Escrow Shares”) and
the Company recognized $842,399 as part of stockholders’
equity.
The Closing Payment Shares and the Escrow Shares
were all issued upon execution of the Mayoly APA;
provided, however, per the terms of the Mayoly APA, the Escrow
Shares will be held in escrow until the applicable Milestone
Payment date, at which time the respective Escrow Shares will be
released to Mayoly.
April 2019 Public Offering of Common Stock
In April 2019, we completed a public offering of
1,294,930 shares of its common stock at a public offering price of
$2.13 per share, resulting net proceeds of approximately $2.5
million, after deducting the selling agent fee payable to Alexander
Capita, L.P. (“Alexander
Capital”) and other
offering expenses payable by the Company (the
“April 2019 Public
Offering”). The April
2019 Public Offering was completed pursuant to our effective shelf
registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-225935) and the
prospectus supplement was filed on May 1, 2019.
In connection with the April 2019 Public Offering,
we entered into a Selling Agent Agreement with Alexander Capital,
pursuant to which we paid to Alexander Capital (i) a cash fee equal
to 7.0% of the aggregate gross proceeds of the April 2019 Public
Offering, and (ii) issue to Alexander Capital warrants to purchase
38,848 shares of our common stock (the “Selling Agent
Warrants”), an amount
equal to 3.0% of the aggregate number of shares of common stock
sold in the April 2019 Public Offering. We also reimbursed
Alexander Capital for its expenses on a non-accountable basis in an
amount equal to 1.0% of the gross proceeds of the April 2019
Offering and $50,000 for other accountable expenses. The Selling
Agent Warrants will become exercisable one year from the date of
issuance, expire on April 2, 2024 and have an exercise price of
$2.55 per share.
May 2019 Public Offering of Common Stock
In
May 2019, we completed a public offering of 1,227,167 shares of our
common stock at a public offering price of $2.35 per share,
resulting in net proceeds of approximately $2.55 million, after
deducting the selling agent fee payable to Alexander Capital and
other offering expenses payable by us (the “May 2019 Public Offering”). The
May 2019 Public Offering was completed pursuant to our effective
shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-225935) and
the prospectus supplement was filed on May 9, 2019.
In
connection with the May 2019 Public Offering, we entered into a
Selling Agent Agreement with Alexander Capital, pursuant to which
we paid to Alexander Capital (i) a cash fee equal to 7.0% of the
aggregate gross proceeds of the May 2019 Public Offering, and (ii)
issued to Alexander Capital 36,815 Selling Agent Warrants, an
amount equal to 3.0% of the aggregate number of shares of common
stock sold in the May 2019 Public Offering. We also reimbursed
Alexander Capital for its expenses on a non-accountable basis in an
amount equal to 1.0% of the gross proceeds of the May 2019 Offering
and up to $50,000 for other accountable expenses. The Selling Agent
Warrants will become exercisable one year from the date of
issuance, expire on May 9, 2024, and have an exercise price of
$2.82 per share.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
We
have experienced net losses and negative cash flows from operations
since our inception. As of March 31, 2019, we had cash of
approximately $414,000 and had an accumulated deficit of
approximately $52,178,000. 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, the issuance of common stock in various private
placement transactions, and our public offerings in May 2018, April
2019, and May 2019. 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 may raise
additional equity capital, incur additional debt, or both, which
capital may not be available on a timely basis or on acceptable
terms.
Cash Flows for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2019 and
2018
Net
cash used in operating activities for the three months ended March
31, 2019 was $2,627,797, which primarily reflected our net loss of
$4,660,755 plus adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used
in operating activities of depreciation and amortization expense of
$578,403, non-cash stock-based compensation of $511,335 due
primarily to achievement of certain performance-based milestones
associated with previously issued equity awards, non-cash
restricted stock granted to employees/directors of $296,285 due
primarily to reaching certain performance-based milestones,
non-cash restricted stock granted to a consultant in payment of
accounts payable for $60,000, accrued interest on convertible debt
of $24,658, and non-cash debt discount - warrants on convertible
debt of $29,104. Changes in assets and liabilities are due to an
increase in other receivables of $149,508, a decrease in prepaid
expenses of $172,886 due primarily to the expensing of prepaid
insurance, an increase in right of use assets of $289,830 due to
the adoption of new lease accounting standards, an increase in
deposits of $4,125, an increase in accounts payable and accrued
expenses of $514,950 due primarily to increases in expenses as
detailed below and an increase in other liabilities due to the
adoption of new lease accounting standards.
Net
cash used in operating activities for the three months ended March
31, 2018 was $2,214,267, which primarily reflected our net loss of
$3,632,997 plus adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used
in operating activities of depreciation and amortization expense of
$206,444, non-cash fair value adjustment of the contingent
consideration of ($10,000), non-cash stock-based compensation of
$29,018, non-cash restricted stock granted to employees/directors
of $113,700, non-cash debt discount - warrants on a 12% Senior
Secured Original Issue Discount Convertible Debenture issued to
Lincoln Park Capital in April 2017 (the “LPC Debenture”) of $46,795, and a
non-cash warrant modification expense of $428,748. Changes in
assets and liabilities are due to a decrease in other receivables
of $120,877 due primarily to the receipt of payments from our
research partner Mayoly, a decrease in prepaid expenses of $59,625
due primarily to the expensing of prepaid insurance, and an
increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses of $423,523 due
primarily to increased research and development
expense.
Net
cash used in investing activities for the three months ended March
31, 2019 and 2018 was $13,352 and $29,521, respectively, which
consisted of the purchase of property and equipment.
Net
cash provided by financing activities for the three months ended
March 31, 2019 was $1,967,142, which consisted of $2,000,00 from
the issuance of the Notes to ADEC, $61,590 received from a
stockholder in relation to a warrant modification, offset by
repayment of a note payable of $94,448. Net cash provided by
financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2018 was
$2,245,701, which consisted of $2,324,742 from the issuance of
common stock from the exercise of previously issued common stock
purchase warrants, offset by repayment of a note payable of
$79,041.
Consolidated Results of Operations for the Three Months Ended March
31, 2019 and 2018
Research and
development expenses were $2,118,533 and $1,678,029, respectively,
for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, an increase of
$440,504, due primarily to the startup of a research and
development function in the U.S. including expenses for our OPTION
study that were not present in the same period in 2018. We expect
research and development expenses to increase in future periods as
our product candidates continue through clinical trials and we seek
strategic collaborations.
General
and administrative (“G&A”) expenses were
$2,485,111 and $1,916,333, respectively, for the three months ended
March 31, 2019 and 2018, an increase of $568,778. The increase for
the three months ended March 31, 2019 as compared to the same
period in 2018 was due primarily to an increase in non-cash
restricted stock, stock-based compensation, and warrants granted
accumulating to $556,292 due primarily to achieving certain
performance-based milestones related to such grants. We expect
G&A expenses to increase going forward as we proceed closer to
commercialization of our product candidates.
Fair
value adjustment of our contingent consideration was $0 and
($10,000), respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2019
and 2018. The difference in fair value adjustments in the
three-month periods ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 is due to the
contingent consideration being eliminated in 2018.
Interest expense
was $57,111 and $48,635, respectively, for the three months ended
March 31, 2019 and 2018, an increase of $10,817. The higher
interest expense is primarily due to the Notes issued to ADEC
during the three months ended March 31, 2019.
Net
loss was $4,660,755 and $3,632, 997, respectively, for the three
months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018. The higher net loss for the
three months ended March 31, 2019 compared to the same period in
2018 is 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,
2018, filed on April 1, 2019. 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 May 15, 2019, 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
|
|
|
|
|
Form of Selling Agent Warrant
(incorporated by reference
from Exhibit 4.1 filed with the Current Report on Form 8-K, filed
April 3, 2019).
|
|
|
Form of Selling Agent Warrant
(incorporated by reference
from Exhibit 4.1 filed with the Current Report on Form 8-K, filed
May 14, 2019).
|
|
|
Note Purchase Agreement, dated February
14, 2019 (incorporated
by reference from Exhibit 10.1 filed with the Current Report on
Form 8-K, filed February 20,
2019).
|
|
|
Senior Convertible Note A, dated February
14, 2019 (incorporated
by reference from Exhibit 10.2 filed with the Current Report on
Form 8-K, filed February 20,
2019).
|
|
|
Senior Convertible Note B, dated February
14, 2019 (incorporated
by reference from Exhibit 10.3 filed with the Current Report on
Form 8-K, filed February 20,
2019).
|
|
|
Form of Pledge Agreement, dated February
14, 2019 (incorporated
by reference from Exhibit 10.4 filed with the Current Report on
Form 8-K, filed February 20,
2019).
|
|
|
Warrant Amendment Agreement, dated
February 14, 2019 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit
10.5 filed with the Current Report on Form 8-K, filed February 20,
2019).
|
|
|
Registration Rights Agreement, dated
February 14, 2019 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit
10.6 filed with the Current Report on Form 8-K, filed February 20,
2019).
|
|
|
Asset Purchase Agreement, by
and between AzurRx BioPharma,
Inc., AzurRx BioPharma SAS
and Laboratoires Mayoly Spindler SAS, dated March
27, 2019 (incorporated
by reference from Exhibit 10.25 filed with the Annual Report on
Form 10-K, filed April 1,
2019).
|
|
|
Patent License Agreement, by and
between AzurRx BioPharma, Inc.
and Laboratoires Mayoly Spindler SAS, dated March
27, 2019, (incorporated by reference from Exhibit
10.26 filed with the Annual Report on Form 10-K,
filed April 1,
2019).
|
|
|
Selling Agent Agreement, by and between
AzurRx BioPharma, Inc. and Alexander Capital, L.P., dated April 1,
2019 (incorporated by
reference from Exhibit 10.1 filed with the Current Report on Form
8-K, filed April 3, 2019).
|
|
Selling Agent Agreement, by and between
AzurRx BioPharma, Inc. and Alexander Capital, L.P., dated May 9,
2019 (incorporated by
reference from Exhibit 10.1 filed with the Current Report on Form
8-K, filed May 14, 2019).
|
||
|
|
|
|
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
|
# Certain portions of this exhibit (indicated by
“[*****]”) have been omitted as the Company has
determined (i)
the omitted information is not
material and (ii) the omitted information would likely cause harm
to the Company
if publicly disclosed.
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:
May 15, 2019
|
|
|
|
-28-