GeoVax Labs, Inc. - Quarter Report: 2022 March (Form 10-Q)
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
FORM 10-Q
☒ | QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2022 | |
OR | |
☐ | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the transition period from _______ to _______ |
Commission File Number: 001-39563
GEOVAX LABS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware | 87-0455038 |
(State or other jurisdiction | (IRS Employer Identification No.) |
of incorporation or organization) | |
1900 Lake Park Drive, Suite 380 | |
Smyrna, Georgia | 30080 |
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
(678) 384-7220
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each Class | Trading Symbol | Name of each Exchange on which Registered |
Common Stock $0.001 par value | GOVX | The Nasdaq Capital Market |
Warrants to Purchase Common Stock | GOVXW | The Nasdaq Capital Market |
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 ☒ 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 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ 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 | ☒ | Emerging growth company | ☐ | |
Smaller reporting company | ☒ |
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 ☒
As of April 27, 2022, 9,449,025 shares of the Registrant’s common stock, $.001 par value, were issued and outstanding.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | ||
PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION | ||
Item 1 | Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements: | |
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2022 (unaudited) and December 31, 2021 | 1 | |
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 (unaudited) |
2 | |
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 (unaudited) | 3 | |
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 (unaudited) | 4 | |
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) | 5 | |
Item 2 | Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations | 8 |
Item 3 | Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk | 12 |
Item 4 | Controls and Procedures | 12 |
PART II – OTHER INFORMATION | ||
Item 1 | Legal Proceedings | 13 |
Item 1A | Risk Factors | 13 |
Item 2 | Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds | 13 |
Item 3 | Defaults Upon Senior Securities | 13 |
Item 4 | Mine Safety Disclosures | 13 |
Item 5 | Other Information | 13 |
Item 6 | Exhibits | 14 |
SIGNATURES | 15 |
Part I -- FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1 Financial Statements
GEOVAX LABS, INC. |
||||||
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS |
March 31 | December 31, | |||||||
2022 | 2021 | |||||||
(unaudited) | ||||||||
ASSETS | ||||||||
Current assets: | ||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 16,257,716 | $ | 11,423,870 | ||||
Grant funds and other receivables | 99,526 | 49,006 | ||||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 279,648 | 156,240 | ||||||
Total current assets | 16,636,890 | 11,629,116 | ||||||
Property and equipment, net | 206,855 | 156,938 | ||||||
Deposits | 11,010 | 11,010 | ||||||
Total assets | $ | 16,854,755 | $ | 11,797,064 | ||||
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY | ||||||||
Current liabilities: | ||||||||
Accounts payable | $ | 426,103 | $ | 2,057,534 | ||||
Accrued expenses | 3,075,000 | 3,377,826 | ||||||
Total current liabilities | 3,501,103 | 5,435,360 | ||||||
Accrued expenses - noncurrent | 2,000,000 | 2,000,000 | ||||||
Total liabilities | 5,501,103 | 7,435,360 | ||||||
Commitments (Note 7) | ||||||||
Stockholders’ equity: | ||||||||
Common stock, $ par value: | ||||||||
Authorized shares – Issued and outstanding shares – and at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively | 9,449 | 6,382 | ||||||
Additional paid-in capital | 78,147,616 | 68,731,220 | ||||||
Accumulated deficit | (66,803,413 | ) | (64,375,898 | ) | ||||
Total stockholders’ equity | 11,353,652 | 4,361,704 | ||||||
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | $ | 16,854,755 | $ | 11,797,064 |
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
GEOVAX LABS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended March 31, |
||||||||
2022 |
2021 |
|||||||
Grant revenues |
$ | 81,526 | $ | 110,417 | ||||
Operating expenses: |
||||||||
Research and development |
1,330,544 | 602,783 | ||||||
General and administrative |
1,179,024 | 1,071,710 | ||||||
Total operating expenses |
2,509,568 | 1,674,493 | ||||||
Loss from operations |
(2,428,042 | ) | (1,564,076 | ) | ||||
Other income (expense): |
||||||||
Interest income |
527 | 2,053 | ||||||
Interest expense |
- | (755 | ) | |||||
Total other income (expense) |
527 | 1,298 | ||||||
Net loss |
$ | (2,427,515 | ) | $ | (1,562,778 | ) | ||
Basic and diluted: |
||||||||
Net loss per common share |
$ | (0.34 | ) | $ | (0.29 | ) | ||
Weighted average shares outstanding |
7,109,473 | 5,332,058 |
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
GEOVAX LABS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended March 31, 2022 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preferred Stock |
Common Stock |
Additional |
Accumulated |
Stockholders’ |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares |
Amount |
Shares |
Amount |
Paid-in Capital |
Deficit |
Equity |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2021 |
- | $ | - | 6,381,541 | $ | 6,382 | $ | 68,731,220 | $ | (64,375,898 | ) | $ | 4,361,704 | |||||||||||||||
Sale of common stock and warrants for cash |
- | - | 707,484 | 707 | 9,228,541 | - | 9,229,248 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of common stock upon warrant exercise |
- | - | 2,360,000 | 2,360 | (2,336 | ) | - | 24 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Stock option expense |
- | - | - | - | 190,191 | - | 190,191 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Net loss for the three months ended March 31, 2022 |
- | - | - | - | - | (2,427,515 | ) | (2,427,515 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Balance at March 31, 2022 |
- | $ | - | 9,449,025 | $ | 9,449 | $ | 78,147,616 | $ | (66,803,413 | ) | $ | 11,353,652 |
Three Months Ended March 31, 2021 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preferred Stock |
Common Stock |
Additional |
Accumulated |
Stockholders’ |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares |
Amount |
Shares |
Amount |
Paid-in Capital |
Deficit |
Equity |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2020 |
100 | $ | 76,095 | 3,834,095 | $ | 3,834 | $ | 55,294,504 | $ | (45,805,581 | ) | $ | 9,568,852 | |||||||||||||||
Sale of common stock for cash |
- | - | 1,644,000 | 1,644 | 9,407,276 | - | 9,408,920 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of common stock upon warrant exercise |
- | - | 835,900 | 836 | 3,173,320 | - | 3,174,156 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of common stock for services |
- | - | 1,472 | 1 | 5,999 | - | 6,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Stock option expense |
- | - | - | - | 56,190 | - | 56,190 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Net loss for the three months ended March 31, 2021 |
- | - | - | - | - | (1,562,778 | ) | (1,562,778 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Balance at March 31, 2021 |
100 | $ | 76,095 | 6,315,467 | $ | 6,315 | $ | 67,937,289 | $ | (47,368,359 | ) | $ | 20,651,340 |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
GEOVAX LABS, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited) |
Three Months Ended March 31, |
||||||||
2022 |
2021 |
|||||||
Cash flows from operating activities: |
||||||||
Net loss |
$ | (2,427,515 | ) | $ | (1,562,778 | ) | ||
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: |
||||||||
Depreciation expense |
12,269 | 4,517 | ||||||
Stock-based compensation expense |
205,151 | 76,790 | ||||||
Changes in assets and liabilities: |
||||||||
Grant funds and other receivables |
(50,520 | ) | 182,663 | |||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
(138,368 | ) | 35,659 | |||||
Accounts payable and accrued expenses |
(1,934,257 | ) | (357,878 | ) | ||||
Total adjustments |
(1,905,725 | ) | (58,249 | ) | ||||
Net cash used in operating activities |
(4,333,240 | ) | (1,621,027 | ) | ||||
Cash flows from investing activities: |
- | - | ||||||
Purchase of equipment |
(62,186 | ) | - | |||||
Net cash used in investing activities |
(62,186 | ) | - | |||||
Cash flows from financing activities: |
||||||||
Net proceeds from sale of common stock and warrants |
9,229,248 | 9,408,920 | ||||||
Net proceeds from warrant exercise |
24 | 3,174,156 | ||||||
Principal repayment of note payable |
- | (3,063 | ) | |||||
Net cash provided by financing activities |
9,229,272 | 12,580,013 | ||||||
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents |
4,833,846 | 10,958,986 | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period |
11,423,870 | 9,883,796 | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period |
$ | 16,257,716 | $ | 20,842,782 |
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash financing activities:
During the three months ended March 31, 2021, 145,866 shares of common stock were issued upon the cashless exercise of 188,668 stock purchase warrants.
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
GEOVAX LABS, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
March 31, 2022
(unaudited)
1. Description of Business
GeoVax Labs, Inc. (“GeoVax” or the “Company”), is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing immunotherapies and vaccines against infectious diseases and cancers using novel vector vaccine platforms. GeoVax’s product pipeline includes ongoing human clinical trials in COVID-19 and head and neck cancer. Additional research and development programs include preventive vaccines against Zika Virus, hemorrhagic fever viruses (Ebola, Sudan, Marburg, and Lassa) and malaria, as well as immunotherapies for solid tumors.
GeoVax is incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware and our principal offices are located in the metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia area.
2. Basis of Presentation
The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements at March 31, 2022 and for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 are unaudited, but include all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring entries, which we believe to be necessary for a fair presentation of the dates and periods presented. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year. The financial statements should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021. We expect our operating results to fluctuate for the foreseeable future; therefore, period-to-period comparisons should not be relied upon as predictive of the results in future periods.
Our financial statements have been prepared assuming that we will continue as a going concern, which contemplates realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business for at least the twelve-month period following the issue date of these consolidated financial statements. We are devoting substantially all of our present efforts to research and development of our vaccine and immunotherapy candidates. We expect to incur future net losses and require substantial funds as we continue our research and development activities. Our transition to profitability will be dependent upon, among other things, the successful development and commercialization of our product candidates. We may never achieve profitability or positive cash flows, and unless and until we do, we will continue to need to raise additional funding. We have funded our activities to date from sales of our equity securities, government grants and clinical trial assistance, and corporate and academic collaborations. We intend to fund our future operations through additional private and/or public offerings of debt or equity securities. In addition, we may seek additional capital through government grants, arrangements with strategic partners, or from other sources. There can be no assurance that we will be able to raise additional funds or achieve or sustain profitability or positive cash flows from operations.
3. Significant Accounting Policies and Recent Accounting Pronouncements
We disclosed in Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 those accounting policies that we consider significant in determining our results of operations and financial position. During the three months ended March 31, 2022, there have been no material changes to, or in the application of, the accounting policies previously identified and described in the Form 10-K, and there have been no other recent accounting pronouncements or changes in accounting pronouncements which we expect to have a material impact on our financial statements.
4. Basic and Diluted Loss Per Common Share
Basic and diluted loss per common share are computed based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. The Company’s potentially dilutive securities, which include stock options and stock purchase warrants, have been excluded from the computation of diluted net loss per share as the effect would be antidilutive. The potentially dilutive securities excluded from the computation of diluted net loss per share totaled 6,846,415 and 3,395,635 shares at March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
5. Property and Equipment
Property and equipment as shown on the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets is composed of the following as of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021:
March 31, 2022 |
December 31, 2021 |
|||||||
Equipment and furnishings |
$ | 653,740 | $ | 591,554 | ||||
Leasehold improvements |
115,605 | 115,605 | ||||||
Total property and equipment |
769,345 | 707,159 | ||||||
Accumulated depreciation and amortization |
(562,490 | ) | (550,221 | ) | ||||
Property and equipment, net |
$ | 206,855 | $ | 156,938 |
6. Accrued Expenses
Accrued expenses as shown on the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets are composed of the following as of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021:
March 31, 2022 |
December 31, 2021 |
|||||||
Accrued license fees – current |
$ | 3,000,000 | $ | 3,000,000 | ||||
Accrued license fees – noncurrent |
2,000,000 | 2,000,000 | ||||||
Accrued payroll |
- | 269,000 | ||||||
Other accrued expenses |
75,000 | 108,826 | ||||||
Total accrued expenses |
$ | 5,075,000 | $ | 5,377,826 |
7. Commitments
Operating Lease
We lease approximately 8,400 square feet of office and laboratory space pursuant to an operating lease which expires on December 31, 2022. Rent expense for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 was $44,089 and $42,803, respectively. Future minimum lease payments total $132,267 in 2022, although the lease may be terminated at any time by either party with ninety days written notice.
License Agreements
We have entered into license agreements with City of Hope, PNP Therapeutics, Inc., University of Alabama at Birmingham, Southern Research Institute, Emory University, and with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), as represented by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), an institute of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), for various technologies and patent rights associated with our product development activities. These agreements may contain provisions for upfront payments, milestone fees due upon the achievement of selected development and regulatory events, minimum annual royalties or other fees, and royalties based on future net sales. Aggregate unrecorded future minimum payments under these agreements (excluding milestone and royalty payments due upon contingent future events) are approximately $149,000 in 2022, $128,000 in 2023, $128,000 in 2024, $28,000 in 2025 and $28,000 in 2026.
Other Commitments
In the normal course of business, we enter into various firm purchase commitments related to production and testing of our vaccine, conduct of clinical trials and preclinical research studies, and other activities. As of March 31, 2022, there are approximately $2.2 million of unrecorded outstanding purchase commitments to our vendors and subcontractors, all of which we expect will be due in 2022.
8. Stockholders’ Equity
Private Placement – On January 19, 2022, we closed a private placement of 707,484 shares of common stock, a pre-funded warrant to purchase 2,360,000 shares of common stock (the “Pre-Funded Warrant”), and a warrant to purchase up to 3,067,484 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $3.26 per share (the “Common Warrant”). Net proceeds after deducting placement agent commissions and other offering expenses were approximately $9.2 million. During March 2022, the Pre-Funded Warrant was exercised in full, for nominal net proceeds. The Common Warrant is currently exercisable and will expire on February 10, 2027.
Stock Options – We have a stock-based incentive plan (the “2020 Plan”) pursuant to which our Board of Directors may grant stock options and other stock-based awards to our employees, directors and consultants. A total of 1,500,000 shares of our common stock are reserved for issuance pursuant to the 2020 Plan. During the three months ended March 31, 2022, there were no stock option transactions related to the 2020 Plan. As of March 31, 2022, there are 962,300 stock options outstanding, with a weighted-average exercise price of $3.18 per share and a weighted-average remaining term of 9.1 years.
Stock Purchase Warrants – As of March 31, 2022, there are 5,884,115 stock purchase warrants outstanding with a weighted-average exercise price of $4.23 per share and a weighted-average remaining term of
years.
9. Stock-Based Compensation Expense
Stock-based compensation expense related to stock option grants was $190,191 and $56,190 during the three-month periods ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Stock-based compensation expense related to stock options is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for the award and is allocated to research and development expense or general and administrative expense based upon the classification of the individual to whom the award is granted. As of March 31, 2022, there is $1,229,953 of unrecognized compensation expense that we expect to recognize over a weighted-average period of
years.
During the three-month periods ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 we recorded stock-based compensation expense of $14,960 and $20,600, respectively, associated with common stock issued for consulting and financial advisory services. As of March 31, 2022, there is $4,987 recorded as a prepaid expense for these arrangements, which will be recognized as expense during 2022 over the term of the related agreement.
10. Income Taxes
Because of our historically significant net operating losses, we have
paid income taxes since inception. We maintain deferred tax assets that reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. These deferred tax assets are comprised primarily of net operating loss carryforwards and also include amounts relating to nonqualified stock options and research and development credits. The net deferred tax asset has been fully offset by a valuation allowance because of the uncertainty of our future profitability and our ability to utilize the deferred tax assets. Utilization of operating losses and credits will be subject to substantial annual limitations due to ownership change provisions of Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code. The annual limitation may result in the expiration of net operating losses and credits before utilization.
11. Grant Revenue
We receive payments from government entities under grants from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and from the U.S. Department of Defense in support of our vaccine research and development efforts. We record revenue associated with government grants as the reimbursable costs are incurred. During the three-month periods ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, we recorded $81,526 and $110,417, respectively, of revenue associated with these grants.
Item 2 Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition And Results of Operations
The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”) is intended to help the reader understand our results of operations and financial condition. This MD&A is provided as a supplement to, and should be read in conjunction with, our condensed consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes thereto and other disclosures included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (this “Report”), and our audited financial statements and the accompanying notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 9, 2022.
Forward-Looking Statements
Information included in this Report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Forward-looking statements are not statements of historical facts, but rather reflect our current expectations concerning future events and results. We generally use the words “believes,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “likely,” “will” and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. All statements in this Report, other than statements of historical facts, including statements regarding our strategy, future operations, future financial position, future revenues, projected costs, prospects, plans, intentions, expectations and objectives could be forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements, including those concerning our expectations, involve risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond our control, which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and factors include, but are not limited to, those factors set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021. We operate in a highly competitive, highly regulated and rapidly changing environment and our business is constantly evolving. Therefore, it is likely that new risks will emerge, and that the nature and elements of existing risks will change, over time. It is not possible for management to predict all such risk factors or changes therein, or to assess either the impact of all such risk factors on our business. We assume no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. You are cautioned not to unduly rely on such forward-looking statements when evaluating the information presented in this Report.
Overview
GeoVax is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing immunotherapies and vaccines against infectious diseases and cancers using novel vector vaccine platforms. GeoVax’s product pipeline includes ongoing human clinical trials in COVID-19 and head and neck cancer. Additional research and development programs include preventive vaccines against Zika Virus, hemorrhagic fever viruses (Ebola, Sudan, Marburg, and Lassa) and malaria, as well as immunotherapies for solid tumors.
Our programs are in various stages of development, the most significant of which are summarized below:
● |
GEO-CM04S1 is currently undergoing a Phase 2 clinical trial (NCT04977024), evaluating its safety and efficacy as a preventive COVID-19 vaccine, compared to the Pfizer/BioNTech mRNA-based vaccine, in blood cancer patients who have received a bone marrow transplant or chimeric antigen receptor therapy (CAR T). |
● |
In December 2021, patient enrollment began for the Phase 2 portion of a Phase 1/2 trial (NCT04639466) of GEO-CM04S1, evaluating its use as a universal booster vaccine to current FDA-approved two-shot mRNA vaccines from Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna. |
● |
Gedeptin® is currently undergoing a Phase 1/2 clinical trial (NCT03754933) for treatment of patients with advanced head and neck cancer, which is being conducted with funding support from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) pursuant to its Orphan Products Grants Program. |
● |
Our pan coronavirus vaccine (GEO-CM02) has shown promising results in preclinical studies to date and with additional studies planned for 2022 to prepare for IND (Investigational New Drug) filing and subsequent human clinical trials. |
● |
Our additional research programs for treatment of solid tumors, and vaccines against Zika virus, malaria and hemorrhagic fever viruses are at various stages of preclinical development. |
Our corporate goal is to advance, protect and exploit our differentiated vaccine/immunotherapy technologies leading to the successful development of preventive and therapeutic vaccines. Our strategy is to advance products through to human clinical testing, potentially seeking partnership or licensing arrangements for achieving regulatory approval and commercialization. We also leverage third party resources through collaborations and partnerships for preclinical and clinical testing with multiple government, academic and corporate entities.
We have not generated any revenues from the sale of the products we are developing, and we do not expect to generate any such revenues for at least the next several years. Our product candidates will require significant additional research and development efforts, including extensive preclinical and clinical testing. All product candidates that we advance to clinical testing will require regulatory approval prior to commercial use and will require significant costs for commercialization. We may not be successful in our research and development efforts, and we may never generate sufficient product revenue to be profitable.
Results of Operations
The following table summarizes our results of operations for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2022 and 2021:
Three Months Ended March 31, |
||||||||||||
2022 |
2021 |
Change |
||||||||||
Grant revenue |
$ | 81,526 | $ | 110,417 | $ | (28,891 | ) | |||||
Operating expenses: |
||||||||||||
Research and development |
1,330,544 | 602,783 | 727,761 | |||||||||
General and administrative |
1,179,024 | 1,071,710 | 107,314 | |||||||||
Total operating expenses |
2,509,568 | 1,674,493 | 835,075 | |||||||||
Loss from operations |
(2,428,042 | ) | (1,564,076 | ) | (863,966 | ) | ||||||
Total other income (expense) |
527 | 1,298 | (771 | ) | ||||||||
Net loss |
$ | (2,427,515 | ) | $ | (1,562,778 | ) | $ | (864,737 | ) |
Grant Revenues
Our grant revenues relate to grants and contracts from agencies of the U.S. government in support of our vaccine development activities. We record revenue associated with these grants as the related costs and expenses are incurred. The following table summarizes our grant revenues for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2022 and 2021:
Three Months Ended March 31, |
||||||||||||
2022 |
2021 |
Change |
||||||||||
Lassa Fever – U.S. Army Grant |
$ | 81,526 | $ | - | $ | 81,526 | ||||||
Covid-19 – NIH SBIR Grant |
- | 110,417 | (110,417 | ) | ||||||||
Total grant revenues |
81,526 | 110,417 | (28,891 | ) |
Grant revenues decreased by $28,891 (26%) for the three-month period ended March 31, 2022 compared to the three-month period ended March 31, 2021, attributable to the differing mix of active grants as shown in the table above, as well as the timing of expenditures related to such grants. As of March 31, 2022, all approved grant funds have been utilized.
Research and Development Expenses
Our research and development expenses can fluctuate considerably on a period-to-period basis, depending on the timing of expenditures related to our government grants and other research projects, and other factors. We do not disclose our research and development expenses by project, since our employees’ time is spread across multiple programs and our laboratory facility is used for multiple product candidates. We track the direct cost of research and development expenses related to government grant revenue by the percentage of assigned employees’ time spent on each grant and other direct costs associated with each grant. Indirect costs associated with grants are not tracked separately but are applied based on a contracted overhead rate negotiated with the granting agency. Therefore, the recorded revenues associated with government grants approximate the costs incurred.
Research and development expenses increased by $727,761 (121%) for the three-month period ended March 31, 2022 versus the 2021 comparable period. Research and development expense for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 includes stock-based compensation expense of $54,292 and $21,468, respectively, associated with employee stock options, reflecting an increase of $32,824 (see discussion under “Stock-Based Compensation Expense” below). The remaining increase of $694,937 relates primarily to higher personnel costs (including the use of external consultants), costs of manufacturing materials for use in clinical trials, and a generally higher level of activity.
General and Administrative Expenses
For the three-month periods ended March 31, 2022, general and administrative expenses increased by $107,314 (10%) versus the 2021 comparable period. General and administrative expense for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 included stock-based compensation expense of $150,859 and $55,322, respectively, reflecting an increase of $95,537 (see discussion under “Stock-Based Compensation Expense” below).
Stock-Based Compensation Expense
The table below shows the components of stock-based compensation expense for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2022 and 2021.
Three Months Ended March 31, |
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2022 |
2021 |
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Stock option expense |
$ | 190,191 | $ | 56,190 | ||||
Stock issued for non-employee services |
14,960 | 20,600 | ||||||
Total stock-based compensation expense |
$ | 205,151 | $ | 76,790 |
Our stock option grants to employees generally vest over a three-year period from the date of grant. For members of our Board of Directors the vesting period is one year, effective with grants made during 2021. Stock-based compensation expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite vesting period for stock option grants or service period for stock awards to consultants. Such expense is allocated to research and development expense or general and administrative expense according to the classification the employee, consultant or director to whom the stock compensation was granted.
Stock option expense increased by $134,001 for the three-month period ended March 31, 2022 versus the 2021 comparable period. The increase is primarily due to the prorated expense associated with the 2021 year-end stock option grants. As of March 31, 2022, there is $1,229,953 of unrecognized expense related to stock options that we expect to recognize over a weighted-average period of 2.1 years.
Other Income (Expense)
Interest income for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 was $527 and $2,053, respectively. Interest expense for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 was $-0- and $755, respectively.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
This discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based on our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of these financial statements requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. On an ongoing basis, management evaluates its estimates and adjusts the estimates as necessary. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ materially from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
For a description of critical accounting policies that require significant judgments and estimates during the preparation of our financial statements, refer to Item 7 in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and Note 2 to our Consolidated Financial Statements contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021. There have been no significant changes to our critical accounting policies from those disclosed in our 2021 Annual Report.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements – Information regarding recent accounting pronouncements is contained in Note 3 to the condensed consolidated financial statements, included in this Quarterly Report.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
From inception through March 31, 2022, we have accumulated net losses of approximately $66.8 million and we expect to incur operating losses and generate negative cash flows from operations for the foreseeable future. We have funded our operations to date primarily from sales of our equity securities and from government grants and clinical trial assistance.
The following tables summarize our liquidity and capital resources as of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, and our cash flows for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2022 and 2021:
Liquidity and Capital Resources |
March 31, 2022 |
December 31, 2021 |
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Cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 16,257,716 | $ | 11,423,870 | ||||
Working capital |
13,135,787 | 6,193,756 |
Three Months Ended March 31, |
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Cash Flow Data |
2022 |
2021 |
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Net cash provided by (used in): |
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Operating activities |
$ | (4,333,240 | ) | $ | (1,621,027 | ) | ||
Investing activities |
(62,186 | ) | - | |||||
Financing activities |
9,229,272 | 12,580,013 | ||||||
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 4,833,846 | $ | 10,958,986 |
Operating Activities – Net cash used in operating activities of $4,333,240 for the three months ended March 31, 2022, was primarily due to our net loss of $2,427,515, offset by non-cash items such as depreciation expense and stock-based compensation expense, and by changes in our working capital accounts. Net cash used in operating activities of $1,621,027 for the three months ended March 31, 2021, was primarily due to our net loss of $1,562,778, offset by non-cash charges such as depreciation and stock-based compensation expense, and by changes in our working capital accounts.
Investing Activities – Net cash used in investing activities was $62,186 and $-0- for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, and relates to purchases of laboratory equipment.
Financing Activities – Net cash provided by financing activities was $9,229,272 for the three-month period ended March 31, 2022, consisting of net proceeds from a private placement of our common stock and warrants. Net cash provided by financing activities was $12,580,013 for the three-month period ended March 31, 2021, consisting of (i) net proceeds of $9,408,920 from a public offering of our common stock, (ii) $3,174,156 of net proceeds from the exercise of warrants, and (iii) $3,063 in principal repayments toward a note payable to the Georgia Research Alliance, Inc. (the “GRA Note”); the GRA Note has now been fully repaid.
Funding Requirements and Sources of Capital
Our primary uses of capital are for personnel costs, costs of conducting clinical trials, manufacturing costs for materials used in clinical trials, third-party research services, laboratory and related supplies, technology license fees, legal and other regulatory expenses, and general overhead costs. We expect these costs will continue to be the primary operating capital requirements for the near future.
We expect our research and development costs to increase as we continue development of our various programs and as we move toward later stages of development, especially with regard to clinical trials. We have entered into license agreements with City of Hope, PNP Therapeutics, Inc., University of Alabama at Birmingham, Southern Research Institute, Emory University, and with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), as represented by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), an institute of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), for various technologies and patent rights associated with our product development activities. These agreements may contain provisions for upfront payments, milestone fees due upon the achievement of selected development and regulatory events, minimum annual royalties or other fees, and royalties based on future net sales. Aggregate unrecorded future minimum payments under these agreements (excluding milestone and royalty payments due upon contingent future events) are approximately $149,000 in 2022, $128,000 in 2023, $128,000 in 2024, $28,000 in 2025 and $28,000 in 2026.
Our research and development expenditures during 2022 and beyond will increase significantly as a result of the Gedeptin and GEO-CM04S1 clinical programs. We do not provide forward-looking estimates of costs and time to complete our research programs due to the many uncertainties associated with biotechnology research and development. Due to these uncertainties, our future expenditures are likely to be highly volatile in future periods depending on the outcomes of the trials and studies. As we obtain data from pre-clinical studies and clinical trials, we may elect to discontinue or delay certain development programs to focus our resources on more promising product candidates. Completion of preclinical studies and human clinical trials may take several years or more, but the length of time can vary substantially depending upon several factors. The duration and the cost of future clinical trials may vary significantly over the life of the project because of differences arising during development of the human clinical trial protocols, including the length of time required to enroll suitable patient subjects, the number of patients that ultimately participate in the clinical trial, the duration of patient follow-up, and the number of clinical sites included in the clinical trials.
Gedeptin is currently undergoing a Phase 1/2 clinical trial (NCT03754933) for treatment of patients with advanced head and neck cancer. The initial stage of the study (10 patients) is being funded by the FDA pursuant to its Orphan Products Clinical Trials Grants Program. We may seek additional sources of capital through government and quasi-government grant programs and clinical trial support, although there can be no assurance any such funds will be obtained.
We expect that our general and administrative costs may increase during the remainder of 2022 and beyond in support of expanded research and development activities and other general corporate activities.
We believe our existing cash and cash equivalents will be sufficient to meet our anticipated cash requirements into the second quarter of 2023. However, our forecast of the period of time through which our financial resources will be adequate to support our operations is a forward-looking statement that involves risks and uncertainties and is based on assumptions that may prove to be wrong; actual results could vary materially. We may need to obtain additional funds sooner than planned or in greater amounts than we currently anticipate. The actual amount of funds we will need to operate is subject to many factors, some of which are beyond our control. These factors include the progress of our research activities; the number and scope of our research programs; the progress and success of our pre-clinical and clinical development activities; the progress of the development efforts of parties with whom we have entered into research and development agreements; the costs of manufacturing our product candidates, and the progress of efforts with parties with whom we may enter into commercial manufacturing agreements; our ability to maintain current research and development programs and to establish new research and development and licensing arrangements; the costs involved in prosecuting and enforcing patent claims and other intellectual property rights; the terms and timing of establishing and maintaining collaborations, licenses and other similar arrangements; the impact of any natural disasters or public health crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic; the costs associated with any products or technologies that we may in-license or acquire; and the costs and timing of regulatory approvals.
We will need to continue to raise additional capital to support our future operating activities, including progression of our development programs, preparation for commercialization, and other operating costs. Financing strategies we may pursue include, but are not limited to, the public or private sale of equity, debt financings or funds from other capital sources, such as government funding, collaborations, strategic alliances or licensing arrangements with third parties. There can be no assurances additional capital will be available to secure additional financing, or if available, that it will be sufficient to meet our needs on favorable terms. If we are unable to raise additional capital in sufficient amounts or on terms acceptable to us, we may have to significantly delay, scale back or discontinue the development of one or more of our product candidates.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We have no off-balance sheet arrangements that are likely or reasonably likely to have a material effect on our financial condition or results of operations, other than the operating lease for our office and laboratory space.
Item 3 Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Not applicable to smaller reporting companies.
Item 4 Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures
Disclosure controls and procedures are controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that the information required to be disclosed in reports filed or submitted under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (Exchange Act), is (1) recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and (2) accumulated and communicated to management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Our management has carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our Principal Executive Officer and our Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Exchange Act Rules 13a-15 or 15d-15 as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this report, our disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms.
Changes in internal control over financial reporting
As a result of a material weakness surrounding the Company’s interpretation of a non-routine transaction discovered during management’s assessment of the Company’s internal controls and procedures over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021, during the three months ended March 31, 2022, management modified its internal controls procedures to include a more comprehensive review process of non-routine transactions. There were no other significant changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the three months ended March 31, 2022 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Management does not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures or our internal control over financial reporting will prevent or detect all error and fraud. Any control system, no matter how well designed and operated, is based upon certain assumptions and can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that its objectives will be met. Further, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that misstatements due to error or fraud will not occur or that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been detected.
PART II -- OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1 Legal Proceedings
None.
Item 1A Risk Factors
For information regarding factors that could affect our results of operations, financial condition or liquidity, see the risk factors discussed under “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K. See also “Forward-Looking Statements,” included in Item 2 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. There have been no material changes from the risk factors previously disclosed in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Item 2 Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
There were no sales of unregistered securities during the period covered by this report that have not previously been reported on Form 8-K.
Item 3 Defaults Upon Senior Securities
None.
Item 4 Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
Item 5 Other Information
During the period covered by this report, there was no information required to be disclosed by us in a Current Report on Form 8-K that was not so reported, nor were there any material changes to the procedures by which our security holders may recommend nominees to our board of directors.
Item 6 Exhibits
_____________________
* | Filed herewith |
** | Indicates a management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement |
(1) | These interactive data files shall not be deemed filed or a part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of Sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to liability under these sections. |
(2) | Incorporated by reference from the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 20, 2022. |
(3) | Incorporated by reference from the registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed March 9, 2022. |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this quarterly report on Form 10-Q to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
GEOVAX LABS, INC. | |||
(Registrant) | |||
Date: April 27, 2022 | By: | /s/ Mark W. Reynolds | |
Mark W. Reynolds | |||
Chief Financial Officer | |||
(duly authorized officer and principal | |||
financial officer) |