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Imunon, Inc. - Quarter Report: 2011 March (Form 10-Q)

form10q.htm


 
 
UNITED STATES
 
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
   
 
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
 
þ
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
 
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
   
 
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2011
 
OR
o
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:  001-15911 
   
 
CELSION CORPORATION
 
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  
 
Delaware
 
52-1256615
 
(State or other jurisdiction of
 
(I.R.S. Employer
 
incorporation or organization)
 
Identification Number)
       
 
10220-L Old Columbia Road
   
 
Columbia, Maryland
 
21046
 
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip Code)
 
 
  (410) 290-5390
  (Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
  None
  (Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)
   
 
 
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   o
 
 
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to submit and post such files).   (The registrant is not yet required to submit Interactive Data). Yes No 
 
 
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act (Check One):
 
 
Large accelerated filer o       
 
 Accelerated filer   o
       
 
Non-accelerated filer   o   (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
 
 Smaller reporting company   þ

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes o   No   þ
  
As of May 11, 2011, the Registrant had 15,671,900 shares of Common Stock, $.01 par value per share, outstanding.

 
 

 



 
CELSION CORPORATION
QUARTERLY REPORT ON
FORM 10-Q

TABLE OF CONTENTS


 
  PART I: FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
   
Page
Item 1.
Financial Statements and Notes (Unaudited)
 
 
Balance Sheets
3
 
Statements of Operations
4
 
Statements of Cash Flows
5
 
Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ Deficit
6
 
Notes to Financial Statements
7
     
Item 2.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
16
     
Item 3.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
20
     
Item 4.
Controls and Procedures
20
     
 
PART II: OTHER INFORMATION
 
     
Item 1.
Legal Proceedings
21
Item 1A.
Risk Factors
21
Item 2.
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
21
Item 3.
Defaults Upon Senior Securities
22
Item 4.
[Removed and Reserved]
22
Item 5.
Other Information
22
Item 6.
Exhibits
23
     
 
SIGNATURES
24
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
2

 


PART I: FINANCIAL INFORMATION

     Item 1.     FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
CELSION CORPORATION
BALANCE SHEETS
ASSETS
 
March 31, 2011 (unaudited)
   
December 31, 2010
 
Current assets:
           
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 1,964,538     $ 1,138,916  
Short-term investments
    130,906       395,556  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    1,651,559       492,184  
Total current assets
    3,747,003       2,026,656  
                 
Property and equipment (at cost, less accumulated depreciation of $1,088,128 and $1,046,758, respectively)
    337,749       378,672  
                 
Other assets:
               
Deferred financing fees
    605,505        
Deposits and other assets
    76,796       76,796  
Patent licensing fees, net
    41,250       43,125  
Total other assets
    723,551       119,921  
                 
Total assets
  $ 4,808,303     $ 2,525,249  
                 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIT
               
Current liabilities:
               
Accounts payable
  $ 3,316,804     $ 4,548,586  
Other accrued liabilities
    3,423,099       2,124,189  
Note payable - current portion
    127,568       123,465  
Total current liabilities
    6,867,471       6,796,240  
                 
Common stock warrant liability
    79,820       248,131  
Note payable – non-current portion
    22,931       56,403  
8% Series A Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock,
100,000 shares authorized, 5,350 authorized, 5,000 issued and 4,490 outstanding at
March 31, 2011 (aggregate liquidation preference of $4,490,000 as of March 31, 2011) (Note 10)
    2,878,525        
Total liabilities
    9,848,747       7,100,774  
                 
Stockholders' deficit:
               
Common stock, $0.01 par value; 75,000,000 shares authorized; 14,627,233 and 14,091,370 shares issued and 13,873,636 and 13,331,096 shares outstanding at March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively
    146,272       140,914  
Additional paid-in capital
    102,560,241       99,316,859  
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
    18,616       (18,367 )
Accumulated deficit
    (104,715,985 )     (100,938,261 )
  Subtotal
    (1,990,856     (1,498,855 )
Treasury stock, at cost (753,587 and 760,274 shares at March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively)
    (3,049,588 )     (3,076,670 )
Total stockholders' deficit
    (5,040,444 )     (4,575,525 )
                 
Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit
  $ 4,808,303     $ 2,525,249  
                 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 
 
3

 

CELSION CORPORATION
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)

   
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
             
Licensing revenue (Note 13)
  $ 2,000,000     $  
                 
Operating expenses:
               
Research and development
    4,348,636       3,275,295  
General and administrative
    1,215,283       1,299,118  
 Total operating expenses
    5,563,919       4,574,413  
                 
Loss from operations
    (3,563,919 )     (4,574,413 )
                 
Other income (expense):
               
Gain (loss) from valuation of common stock warrant liability
    168,311       (1,569,619 )
Interest income
    467       8,197  
Interest and dividend expense
    (369,142 )     (9,192
Other expense
    -       (14
Total other income (expense), net
    (200,364     (1,570,628 )
                 
Net Loss
  $ (3,764,283 )   $ (6,145,041 )
                 
                 
Net loss per common share – basic and diluted
  $ (0.28 )   $ (0.50 )
                 
Weighted average common shares outstanding – basic and diluted
    13,452,939       12,185,537  
                 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.


 
4

 



 

   



CELSION CORPORATION
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
 
   
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
Cash flows from operating activities:
           
Net loss
 
$
(3,7964,283
)
 
$
(6,145,041
)
Non-cash items included in net loss:
               
Depreciation and amortization
   
41,370
     
41,370
 
Change in fair value of common stock warrant liability
   
(168,311
   
1,569,619
 
Stock based compensation
   
326,877
     
504,730
 
Shares issued from treasury stock
   
13,708
     
-
 
Non cash dividend expense on preferred stock
   
281,878
     
-
 
Amortization of patent license fee
   
1,875
     
1,875
 
Net changes in:
               
Refundable income taxes
   
-
     
806,255
 
Prepaid expenses and other
   
(1,172,780
)
   
(163,005
)
Deposits and other assets
   
-
     
6,762
 
Accounts payable
   
(1,231,782
   
113,027
 
Other accrued liabilities
   
1,298,910
     
233,333
 
Net cash used in operating activities:
   
(4,372,538
)
   
(3,031,075
)
                 
Cash flows from investing activities:
               
Purchases of investment securities
   
-
     
(1,710,930
)
Proceeds from sale and maturity of investment securities
   
301,633
     
1,958,979
 
Purchases of property and equipment
   
(447
)
   
(800
)
Net cash provided by investing activities
   
301,186
     
247,249
 
                 
Cash flows from financing activities:
               
Proceeds from sale of 8% Series A redeemable, convertible preferred stock, net of issuance costs
   
4,324,080
     
-
 
Proceeds from sale of common stock equity
   
602,263
     
-
 
Principal payments on note payable
   
(29,369
)
   
(25,770
)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
   
4,896,974
     
(25,770
                 
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
   
825,622
     
(2,809,596
)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
   
1,138,916
     
6,923,476
 
                 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
 
$
1,964,538
   
$
4,113,880
 
                 
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
               
 Interest and dividends paid
 
$
87,264
   
$
9,192
 
                 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.
 

 
5

 


CELSION CORPORATION
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
(Unaudited)
 
 
Common Stock Outstanding
Additional Paid–in Capital
Treasury Stock
Accumulated Other Compr.  
Income
Accumulated Deficit
 
 
Shares
Amount
Shares
Amount
Total
Balance at December 31, 2010
13,331,096
$140,914
$  99,316,859
760,274
$(3,076,670)
$(18,367)
$(100,938,261)
$(4,575,525)
 
Valuation of common stock warrants in connection with issuance of 8% Series A Redeemable, Convertible Preferred Stock
 -
 -
2,030,000
 -
 -
 -
 -
2,030,000
 
Conversion of 8% Series A Redeemable, Convertible Preferred Stock
212,498
2,125
300,813
 -
 -
 -
 -
302,938
 
Shares issued under CEFF, net of issuance costs
275,855
2,758
586,100
 -
 -
 -
 -
588,858
 
Stock-based compensation expense
-
-
326,877
-
-
-
-
326,877
Issuance of restricted stock upon vesting
47,500
475
(475)
-
-
-
-
-
 
Issuance of common stock out of treasury for 401(k) plan matching contribution
6,687
-
67
(6,687)
27,082
-
(13,441)
13,708
 
Unrealized gain on investments available for sale
-
-
-
-
-
36,983
-
36,983
 
Net loss
-
-
-
-
-
-
(3,764,283)
(3,764,283)
Balance at March 31, 2011
13,873,636
$146,272
$  102,560,241
753,587
$(3,049,588)
$18,616
$(104,715,985)
$(5,040,444)


See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 
6

 



CELSION CORPORATION
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

Note 1.   Business Description
 
Celsion Corporation, referred to herein as “Celsion”, “We”, or “the Company,” a Delaware corporation based in Columbia, Maryland, is an innovative oncology drug development company focused on improving treatment for those suffering with difficult to treat forms of cancer. We are working to develop and commercialize more efficient, effective, targeted chemotherapeutic oncology drugs based on our proprietary heat-activated liposomal technology.  Our lead product ThermoDox® is being tested in human clinical trials for the treatment of primary liver cancer and recurrent chest wall breast cancer.
 
Note 2.   Basis of Presentation
 
The accompanying unaudited financial statements of Celsion have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) in the United States for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X.  Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations.  In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring accruals considered necessary for a fair presentation, have been included in the accompanying unaudited financial statements. Operating results for the three month period ended March 31, 2011 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for any other interim period(s) or for any full year. For further information, refer to the financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 28, 2011.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make judgments, estimates, and assumptions that affect the amount reported in the Company’s financial statements and accompanying notes.  Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.

Events and conditions arising subsequent to the most recent balance sheet date have been evaluated for their possible impact on the financial statements and accompanying notes. 

Note 3.  New Accounting Pronouncements

From time to time, new accounting pronouncements are issued by FASB and are adopted by us as of the specified effective date. Unless otherwise discussed, we believe that the impact of recently issued accounting pronouncements will not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations, and cash flows, or do not apply to our operations.
 
In October 2009, the FASB issued ASU No. 2009-13, “Multiple-Deliverable Revenue Arrangements.” ASU 2009-13 amends existing revenue recognition accounting pronouncements that are currently within the scope of FASB ASC Topic 605. This consensus provides accounting principles and application guidance on how the arrangement should be separated, and the consideration allocated. This guidance changes how to determine the fair value of undelivered products and services for separate revenue recognition. Allocation of consideration under this pronouncement is based on management’s estimate of the selling price for undelivered items where there is no other means to determine the fair value of that undelivered item. This new approach is effective prospectively for revenue arrangements entered into or materially modified in fiscal years beginning on or after June 15, 2010, with early application permitted. The Company adopted this standard effective January 1, 2011. The adoption of this standard did not have an impact on the presentation of our financial statements.
 
 
In April 2010, FASB issued ASU No. 2010-17, “Revenue Recognition — Milestone Method,” which provides guidance on defining a milestone and determining when it may be appropriate to apply the milestone method of revenue recognition for research or development transactions. Research or development arrangements frequently include payment provisions whereby a portion or all of the consideration is contingent upon milestone events such as successful completion of phases in a study or achieving a specific result from the research or development efforts. The amendments in this ASU provide guidance on the criteria that should be met for determining whether the milestone method of revenue recognition is appropriate. The ASU is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those years beginning on or after June 15, 2010, with early adoption permitted. We have historically followed the milestone method. The Company adopted this standard effective January 1, 2011. The adoption of this standard did not have an impact on the presentation of our financial statements.
 
 
7

 
Note 4.  Net Loss per Common Share

Basic earnings per share is calculated based upon the net loss available to common shareholders divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period.  Diluted earnings per share is calculated after adjusting the denominator of the basic earnings per share computation for the effects of all dilutive potential common shares outstanding during the period. The dilutive effects of options, warrants and their equivalents are computed using the treasury stock method.
For the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, diluted loss per common share was the same as basic loss per common share as all options and warrants that were convertible into shares of the Company’s common stock were excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share as their effect would have been anti-dilutive. The total number of outstanding warrants and equity awards for the periods ended March 31, 2011 and 2010 were 6,498,276 and 3,383,643 common stock equivalent shares, respectively.

Note 5.  Short-Term Investments Available For Sale
 
Short-term investments available for sale of $130,906 and $395,556 as of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively, consist of commercial paper, corporate debt securities, and equity securities.  They are valued at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses reported as a separate component of stockholders’ deficit in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income.
 
Securities available for sale are evaluated periodically to determine whether a decline in their value is other than temporary.  The term “other than temporary” is not intended to indicate a permanent decline in value.  Rather, it means that the prospects for near term recovery of value are not necessarily favorable, or that there is a lack of evidence to support fair values equal to, or greater than, the carrying value of the security.  Management reviews criteria such as the magnitude and duration of the decline, as well as the reasons for the decline, to predict whether the loss in value is other than temporary.  Once a decline in value is determined to be other than temporary, the value of the security is reduced and a corresponding charge to earnings is recognized.

Short-term investments - at fair value
 
March 31,
2011
   
December 31, 2010
 
Bonds - corporate issuances
 
$
   
$
301,632
 
Equity securities
   
130,906
     
93,924
 
Total short-term investments, available for sale
 
$
130,906
   
$
395,556
 
 
A summary of the cost and fair value of the Company’s short-term investments is as follows:
 
   
March 31, 2011
   
December 31, 2010
 
   
Cost
   
Fair
Value
   
Cost
   
Fair
Value
 
Short-term investments
                       
Bonds - corporate issuances
 
$
   
$
   
$
301,632
   
$
301,632
 
Equity securities
   
108,373
     
130,906
     
108,373
     
93,924
 
Total investments available for sale
 
$
108,373
   
$
130,906
   
$
410,005
   
$
395,556
 
                                 
Bond maturities
                               
Within 3 months
 
$
   
$
   
$
301,632
   
$
301,632
 
Between 3-12 months
   
     
     
     
 
Between 1-2 years
   
     
     
     
 
Total
 
$
   
$
   
$
301,632
   
$
301,632
 
    

 
8

 

Note 6.  Fair Value of Financial Instruments
 
FASB Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Section 820 (formerly SFAS No. 157) “ Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures,” establishes a three level hierarchy for fair value measurements which requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. The three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value are as follows:
 
 
Level 1: Quoted prices (unadjusted) or identical assets or liabilities in active markets that the entity has the ability to access as of the measurement date;
   
 
Level 2: Significant other observable inputs other than Level 1 prices such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data; and
   
 
Level 3: Significant unobservable inputs that reflect a reporting entity’s own assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability.

The fair values of securities available for sale are determined by obtaining quoted prices on nationally recognized exchanges (Level 1 inputs) or matrix pricing, which is a mathematical technique widely used in the industry to value debt securities without relying exclusively on quoted prices for the specific securities but rather by relying on the securities’ relationship to other benchmark quoted securities (Level 2 inputs). The common stock warrant liability has been valued using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, the inputs of which are more fully described in Note 12 to the financial statements.
 
The following table presents information about assets and liabilities recorded at fair value on a recurring basis at March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010 on the Company’s Balance Sheet:

   
Total Carrying Value on the Balance Sheet
   
Quoted Prices In Active Markets For Identical Assets /Liabilities (Level 1)
   
Significant Other Observable Inputs
 (Level 2)
   
Significant
Unobservable Inputs 
(Level 3)
 
Assets:
                       
Short-term investments available for sale, March 31, 2011
 
$
130,906
   
$
   
$
   
$
130,906
 
                                 
Short-term investments available for sale, December 31, 2010
 
$
395,556
   
$
301,632
   
$
   
$
93,924
 
                                 
Liabilities:
                               
Common stock warrant liability, March 31, 2011 (see Note 12)
 
$
79,820
   
$
   
$
   
$
79,820
 
                                 
Common stock warrant liability, December 31, 2010
 
$
248,131
   
$
   
$
   
$
248,131
 
 
There were no transfers of assets or liabilities between Level 1 and Level 2 and no transfers in or out of Level 3 during the three month period ended March 31, 2011.


 
9

 

Note 7. Other Current Assets

   
March 31,
2011
   
December 31, 2010
 
Advances to investigator sites
 
$
1,040,847
   
$
 
Raw materials for Thermodox® registration batches
   
267,225
     
132,451
 
Amortizable expenses associated with Committed Equity Financing Facility
   
261,401
     
274,806
 
Franchise taxes receivable
   
49,929
     
41,364
 
Prepaid insurance
   
32,157
     
 
Interest receivable
   
     
6,063
 
Prepaid professional fees
   
     
37,500
 
   Total
 
$
1,651,559
   
$
492,184
 

Note 8. Other Accrued Liabilities

Other accrued liabilities at March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010 include the following:

   
March 31, 
2011
   
December 31, 2010
 
Amounts due to Contract Research Organizations and other contractual agreements
 
$
2,898,947
   
$
1,497,441
 
Accrued payroll and related benefits
   
284,617
     
460,614
 
Accrued professional fees
   
136,525
     
138,900
 
Accrued dividends on preferred stock
   
75,776
     
 
Other
   
27,234
     
27,243
 
   Total
 
$
3,423,099
   
$
2,124,189
 

Note 9. Note Payable

In October 2009, the Company financed $288,200 of lab testing equipment through a capital lease.  This lease obligation has thirty monthly payments of $11,654 through April 2012.  During the first three months of 2011 and 2010, the Company made principal and interest payments totaling $34,962 in each period.  The outstanding lease obligation is $150,499 as of March 31, 2011.

Note 10.  Preferred Stock and Stockholders’ Equity

January 2011 Preferred Stock Offering
 
In January 2011, the Company entered into a definitive securities purchase agreement with a select group of institutional investors, including certain officers and directors of the Company, to sell 5,000 shares of 8% redeemable convertible preferred stock with a stated value of $1,000 and warrants to purchase up to 2,083,333 shares of common stock in a registered direct offering.  The convertible preferred stock and warrants were sold in units (the "Units"), with each Unit consisting of one share of convertible preferred stock and a warrant to purchase up to 416.6666 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $3.25 per whole share of common stock.  The Units were offered and sold to unaffiliated third party investors at a negotiated purchase price of $1,000 per Unit and to officers and directors at an at-the-market price of $1,197.92 per Unit in accordance with the NASDAQ Stock Market Rules.  Each share of preferred stock is convertible into shares of common stock at an initial conversion price of $2.40 per share, subject to adjustment in the event of stock splits, recapitalizations or reorganizations that affect all holders of common stock equally. Concurrent with the issuance and sale of the Units, the Company issued warrants (the “Placement Agent Warrants”) to purchase up to 350 shares of Preferred Stock at an exercise price of $1,000 per whole share of Preferred Stock to certain affiliates of Dominick and Dominick LLC, as the placement agent.


 
10

 

The Company received gross proceeds from the offering of approximately $5.1 million, before deducting placement agents' fees and offering expenses. The preferred shares may be converted into shares of common stock by the holders thereof at any time and have a mandatory redemption date of January 14, 2013 at a stated redemption value of $1,000 per preferred share.  The convertible preferred shares are also subject to mandatory conversion upon the occurrence of certain events, including the sale of Common Stock in one or more offerings for not less than $4.00 per share and aggregate gross proceeds of $10 million, the achievement of a twenty day trading average of our Common Stock above $6.00 per share, or the receipt of an aggregate at least $4,000,000 as actual, or advanced payment of future, license, milestone or royalty payments from a strategic, licensing or development partner.  

Until such time as preferred shares are redeemed, issued and outstanding shares shall accrued dividends at a rate of 8% per annum.  Dividends on the convertible preferred shares are payable on a quarterly basis from the original issue date commencing on April 15, 2011 and are payable only in cash.  As of March 31, 2011, the Company accrued dividends of $75,776 on 4,490 shares of outstanding preferred stock and paid these dividends on April 15, 2011.

The Units were sold pursuant to the Company’s shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-158402), which was declared effective by the SEC on April 17, 2009, as supplemented by prospectus supplements dated January 12, 2011 and January 13, 2011 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

As the preferred shares have a mandatory redemption date redeemable by the Company at $1,000 per preferred share on January 14, 2013, the Company has classified the 4,490 outstanding shares as a noncurrent liability as of March 31, 2011.  In connection with the offering, placement agent fees and other offering expenses totaling $675,918 were capitalized as deferred financing fees and will be amortized over the duration from inception until the January 14, 2013 mandatory redemption date.  Deferred financing fees of $70,413 were amortized during the three months ended March 31, 2011. During the period from the date of the offering and until March 31, 2011, 510 preferred shares where converted into 212,498 shares of the Company’s common stock at the option of the individual preferred shareholders.  During the period from issuance until May 11, 2011, holders of 2,253 shares of preferred stock (44% of total preferred shares issued), converted their preferred shares into 938,746 shares of the Company’s common stock.

Common Stock Warrant Liability
 
The Company filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission a $50 million shelf registration statement on Form S-3 that allows the Company to issue any combination of common stock, preferred stock or warrants to purchase common stock or preferred stock.  This shelf registration was declared effective on April 17, 2009.  

On September 30, 2009, pursuant to the April 17, 2009 shelf registration statement, the Company closed a registered direct offering with a select group of institutional investors that raised gross proceeds of $7.1 million and net proceeds of $6.3 million.  The Company sold 2,018,153 units at a price of $3.50 per unit. Each unit consisted of one share of common stock and a warrant to purchase 0.5 shares of common stock. The Company issued 2,018,153 shares of its common stock and warrants to purchase 1,009,076 shares of common stock. The warrants have an exercise price of $5.24 per share and are exercisable at any time on or after the six month anniversary of the date of issuance and on or prior to 66 months after the date of issuance. Under the terms of the warrants, upon certain transactions, including a merger, tender offer or sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, each warrant holder may elect to receive a cash payment in exchange for the warrant, in an amount determined by application of the Black-Scholes option pricing model. Accordingly, pursuant to ASC 815.40, Derivative Instruments and Hedging - Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity , the warrants are recorded as a liability and then marked to market each period through the Statement of Operations in other income or expense. As of September 30, 2009, the Company recorded a warrant liability of $1.6 million based on the fair value offset by a reduction in additional-paid in-capital. At the end of each subsequent quarter, the Company will revalue the fair value of the warrants and the change in fair value will be recorded as a change to the warrant liability and the difference will be recorded through the Statement of Operations in other income or expense.

 
11

 

The fair value of the warrants at March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010 was $0.1 million and $0.2 million, respectively, calculated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions:
 
   
March 31,
2011
   
December 31, 2010
 
Risk-free interest rate
   
2.24
%
   
2.02
%
Expected volatility
   
40.8
%
   
63.5
%
Expected life (in years)
   
2.0
     
2.1
 
Expected forfeiture rate
   
0
%
   
0
%
Expected dividend yield
   
0.00
%
   
0.00
%

Committed Equity Financing Facility (CEFF)

On June 17, 2010, we entered into a Committed Equity Financing Facility (CEFF) with Small Cap Biotech Value Ltd. (SCBV).  The CEFF provides that, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein, SCBV is committed to purchase up to $15.0 million worth of our shares of common stock over the 24-month term of the CEFF under certain specified conditions and limitations, provided that in no event may we sell under the CEFF more than 2,404,434 shares of common stock, which is equal to one share less than 20% of our outstanding shares of common stock on June 17, 2010, the closing date of the CEFF, less the number of shares of common stock we issued to SCBV on the closing date as Commitment Shares (described below).  Furthermore, in no event shall SCBV purchase any shares of our common stock which, when aggregated with all other shares of our common stock then beneficially owned by SCBV, would result in the beneficial ownership by SCBV of more than 9.9% of the then outstanding shares of our common stock.  These maximum share and beneficial ownership limitations may not be waived by the parties.

From time to time over the term of the CEFF, in the Company’s sole discretion, we may present SCBV with draw down notices requiring SCBV to purchase a specified dollar amount of shares of our common stock, based on the price per share over 10 consecutive trading days (the “Draw Down Period”), with the total dollar amount of each draw down subject to certain agreed-upon limitations based on the market price of our common stock at the time of the draw down or, if we determine in our sole discretion, a percentage of the daily trading volume of our common stock during the Draw Down Period.  We are able to present SCBV with up to 24 draw down notices during the term of the CEFF, with only one such draw down notice allowed per Draw Down Period and a minimum of five trading days required between each Draw Down Period.

Once presented with a draw down notice, SCBV is required to purchase a pro rata portion of the shares on each trading day during the trading period on which the daily volume weighted average price for our common stock exceeds a threshold price determined by us for such draw down.  The per share purchase price for these shares equals the daily volume weighted average price of our common stock on each date during the Draw Down Period on which the shares are purchased, less a discount ranging from five percent to six percent, based on a minimum price we specify.  If the daily volume weighted average price of our common stock falls below the threshold price on any trading day during a Draw Down Period, the CEFF provides that SCBV will not be required to purchase the pro-rata portion of shares of common stock allocated to that day.  The obligations of SCBV under the CEFF to purchase shares of our common stock may not be transferred to any other party.
 
In partial consideration for SCBV's execution and delivery of the CEFF, we issued to SCBV 40,000 shares of our common stock (the “Commitment Shares”).  The issuance of the Commitment Shares, together with all other shares of common stock issuable to SCBV pursuant to the terms of the CEFF, is exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), pursuant to the exemption for transactions by an issuer not involving any public offering under Section 4(2) and Regulation D under the Securities Act.

SCBV has agreed that during the term of the CEFF, neither SCBV nor any of its affiliates will, directly or indirectly, intentionally engage in any short sales involving our securities or grant any option to purchase, or acquire any right to dispose of or otherwise dispose for value of, any shares of our common stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for any shares of our common stock, or enter into any swap, hedge or similar agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, the economic risk of ownership of any shares of our common stock, provided that SCBV will not be prohibited from selling “long” (as defined under Rule 200 promulgated under Regulation SHO under the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, shares of our common stock that are or may be purchased under the CEFF and the Commitment Shares or engaging in transactions relating to any of the shares of our common stock that it is obligated to purchase under a pending draw down notice.

 
12

 
In the second half of 2010, the Company completed three draws and sales to SCBV under the CEFF collectively totaling 1,063,919 shares of common stock for gross proceeds of $2,577,061. Broker fees and other expenses associated with the 2010 draws totaled $84,722.  During 2011, the Company has completed the following draws and sales to SCBV under the CEFF as follows:

Date
 
Shares
Issued
   
Gross Proceeds
   
Per
Share
   
Broker Fees and Expenses
 
March 16, 2011
    275,855     $ 608,347     $ 2.21     $ 19,489  
April 25, 2011
    407,703       867,680     $ 2.13       27,872  
May 6, 2011
    656,956       1,949,117     $ 2.97       62,610  
Total
    1,340,514     $ 3,425,144     $ 2.56     $ 109,971  

 
The proceeds of the draws will be used for general corporate purposes, including the funding of the Company’s clinical development pipeline of cancer drugs. SCBV is an accredited investor as such term is defined in Rule 501 of Regulation D of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and all sales of the Company’s common stock to SCBV pursuant to the CEFF were exempt from registration pursuant to Section 4(2) of the Securities Act and Rule 506 of Regulation D of the Securities Act. The Company has registered the resale of the shares of common stock issued to SCBV pursuant to the CEFF under the Securities Act on a registration statement on Form S-1.
 

Note 11. Stock-Based Compensation
 
Stock Options Plans

The Company has long-term compensation plans that permit the granting of incentive awards in the form of stock options. Generally, the terms of these plans require that the exercise price of the options may not be less than the fair market value of Celsion’s Common Stock on the date the options are granted. Options granted generally vest over various time frames or upon milestone accomplishments.  The Company’s options generally expire ten years from the date of the grant.
 
In 2007, the Company adopted the Celsion Corporation 2007 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2007 Plan”) under which 1,000,000 shares were authorized for issuance. The purpose of the 2007 Plan is to promote the long-term growth and profitability of the Company by providing incentives to improve stockholder value and enable the Company to attract, retain and reward the best available persons for positions of substantial responsibility.  The 2007 Plan permits the granting of equity awards in the form of incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, stock appreciation rights, phantom stock, and performance awards, or in any combination of the foregoing.  At the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Celsion held on June 25, 2010, the stockholders approved an amendment to the Plan.  The only material difference between the existing Plan and the amended Plan was the number of shares of common stock available for issuance under the amended Plan which was increased by 1,000,000 to a total of 2,000,000 shares.
 
Prior to the  adoption of the 2007 Plan, the Company previously adopted two stock plans for directors, officers and employees (one in 2001 and another in 2004) under which 666,667 shares were reserved for future issuance under each of these plans.  As these plans have been superseded by the 2007 Plan, any options previously granted which expire, forfeit, or cancel under these plans can be rolled into the 2007 Plan.  Stock certificates will be issued for any options exercised under these plans.
 
The fair values of stock options granted were estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The Black-Scholes model was originally developed for use in estimating the fair value of traded options, which have different characteristics from Celsion’s stock options. The model is also sensitive to changes in assumptions, which can materially affect the fair value estimate.

 
13

 

The Company used the following assumptions for determining the fair value of options granted under the Black-Scholes option pricing model:  
 
   
Three
months ended
March 31,
2011
   
Three
months ended
March 31,
2010
 
Risk-free interest rate
   
2.72% – 2.84
%
   
2.48% - 3.24
%
Expected volatility
   
80.7% -81.1
%
   
72.1% -72.8
%
Expected life (in years)
   
6
     
5-6
 
Expected forfeiture rate
   
0
%
   
0
%
Expected dividend yield
   
0.00
%
   
0.00
%
 
Expected volatilities utilized in the model are based on historical volatility of the Company’s stock price. The risk free interest rate is derived from values assigned to U.S. Treasury bonds as published in the Wall Street Journal in effect at the time of grant. The model incorporates exercise, pre-vesting and post-vesting forfeiture assumptions based on analysis of historical data. The expected life of the fiscal 2011 and 2010 grants was generated using the simplified method as allowed under Securities and Exchange Commission Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 107.
 
Total compensation cost related to employee stock options and restricted stock awards amounted to $326,877 and $486,670 for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.  No compensation cost related to share-based payments arrangements was capitalized as part of the cost of any asset at March 31, 2011 and 2010.
 
As of March 31, 2011, there was $2.6 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested share-based compensation arrangements. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.3 years. The weighted average grant-date fair values of the options granted during the three months ended March 31, 2011 was $2.49 and the weighted average grant-date fair values of the restricted stock awards during the three months ended March 31, 2011 was $2.94.

A summary of the Company’s stock option and restricted stock awards for the three month period ended March 31, 2011 is as follows:
 
   
Stock Options
   
Restricted Stock Awards
   
Equity Awards
 
Options
Outstanding
   
Weighted
Average
 Exercise Price
   
Non-vested Restricted
Stock
Outstanding
   
Weighted
Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
 
 Weighted
Average
Contractual
Terms of Equity Awards
(in years)
Equity awards outstanding at December 31, 2010
   
2,167,646
   
$
3.74
     
77,400
   
$
3.47
   
Equity awards granted
   
733,167
   
$
2.49
     
25,000
   
$
2.47
   
Equity awards exercised
   
     
     
(22,500
)
 
$
2.66
   
Equity awards forfeited, cancelled or expired
   
(79,167
)
 
$
3.06
     
     
   
Equity awards outstanding at March 31, 2011
   
2,821,646
   
$
3.43
     
79,900
   
$
3.39
 
7.6
                                   
Aggregate intrinsic value of outstanding awards at March 31, 2011
 
$
150
           
$
235,296
           
Equity awards exercisable at March 31, 2011
   
1,496,404
   
$
3.97
                 
6.5
Aggregate intrinsic value of vested awards at March 31, 2011
 
$
                           
 
 
 
14

 
Collectively, for all the stock option plans as of March 31, 2011, there were a total of 3,488,088 shares reserved, which were comprised of outstanding 2,901,546 equity awards granted and 586,542 equity awards still available for future issuance.  
 
Note 12. Warrants

A warrant liability was incurred as a result of warrants issued in the registered direct offering on September 30, 2009 (See Note 9).  This liability is calculated at its fair market value using the Black-Scholes option pricing model and is adjusted at the end of each quarter.  As a result of this adjustment, the Company recorded a non-cash gain of $0.2 million in the three months ended March 31, 2011.

The following is a summary of the changes in the common stock warrant liability for the three months ended March 31, 2011:
 
Beginning balance, January 1, 2011
 
$
248,131
 
Issuances
   
-
 
Gain from the adjustment for the change in fair value included in net loss
   
(168,311
Ending balance, March 31, 2011
 
$
79,820
 

As more fully described in Note 10, in connection with the January 2011 Preferred Stock Offering, the Company issued warrants to purchase up to 2,083,333 shares of common stock with an exercise price of $3.25 per whole share of common stock and Placement Agent Warrants to purchase up to 350 shares of the convertible preferred stock.

The following is a summary of all warrant activity for the three months ended March 31, 2011:
 
Warrants
 
Number Outstanding
   
Weighted Average Exercise
Price
   
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (in years)
   
Aggregate Intrinsic
Value
 
Outstanding at December 31, 2010
   
1,009,076
   
$
5.24
             
Common stock warrants granted
   
2,083,333
   
$
3.25
             
Placement Agent Warrants granted (as if exercised and converted to common stock)
   
145,833
     
2.40
             
Canceled or expired
   
     
             
Outstanding at March 31, 2011
   
3,092,409
   
$
3.83
     
4.16
   
$
-
 
                                 
Exercisable March 31, 2011
   
1,009,076
   
$
5.24
     
4.00
   
$
-
 

Note 13. Licensing Transaction

On December 5, 2008, the Company entered into a Development, Product Supply and Commercialization Agreement for Thermodox® with Yakult Honsha Co. (the “Yakult Agreement”) pursuant to which the Company granted to Yakult an exclusive license, solely in the Japanese market, to make, sell, import and use Thermodox® for the indications set forth in the Yakult Agreement in consideration of certain milestone and royalty payments, including an $18 million milestone payment upon approval of Thermodox® by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare for the treatment of primary liver cancer (the “Approval Milestone”).  On January 11, 2011, the Company entered into an amendment to the Yakult Agreement (the “Amendment”) that provides for (i) a payment by Yakult to the Company of $2 million that the Company received on January 12, 2011 in consideration of a partial reduction in the Approval Milestone, and (ii) if and when the DMC permits the resumption of patient enrollment in Japan for pivotal Phase III clinical study for ThermoDox®, a payment by Yakult to the Company of an additional $2 million in consideration of an additional, partial reduction in the Approval Milestone.  Assuming payment by Yakult of the $4 million contemplated by the Amendment and the partial reductions in the Approval Milestone related thereto, the aggregate Approval Milestone that the Company may receive in the future will have been reduced by approximately forty percent (40%).

 
15

 

Item 2.   MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements and terms such as “expect”, “anticipate”, “estimate”, “plan”, “believe” and words of similar import regarding the Company’s expectations as to the development and effectiveness of its technologies, the potential demand for our products, and other aspects of our present and future business operations, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Although we believe that our expectations are based on reasonable assumptions within the bounds of our knowledge of our industry, business and operations, we cannot guarantee that actual results will not differ materially from our expectations. In evaluating such forward-looking statements, readers should specifically consider the various factors contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 including, without limitation, unforeseen changes in the course of research and development activities and in clinical trials; possible changes in cost and timing of development and testing, capital structure, and other financial items; changes in approaches to medical treatment; introduction of new products by others; possible acquisitions of other technologies, assets or businesses; and possible actions by customers, suppliers, competitors and regulatory authorities. These and other risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements, including those set forth in Part I,” Item 1A. Risk Factors” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010.

The discussion of risks and uncertainties set forth in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K as well as in other filings with the SEC, is not necessarily a complete or exhaustive list of all risks facing the Company at any particular point in time. We operate in a highly competitive, highly regulated and rapidly changing environment and our business is in a state of evolution. 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 or the extent to which any individual risk factor, combination of factors, or new or altered factors, may cause results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. We disclaim any obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement that may be made from time to time by us or on our behalf.
 
Strategic and Clinical Overview
 
Celsion Corporation (“Celsion” or the “Company” or “we”) is an innovative oncology drug development company focused on the development of treatments for those suffering with difficult to treat forms of cancer. We are working to develop and commercialize more efficient, effective, targeted chemotherapeutic oncology drugs based on our proprietary heat-activated liposomal technology. The promise of this drug technology is to maximize efficacy while minimizing side-effects common to cancer treatments.
 
Our lead product ThermoDox® is being evaluated in a Phase III clinical trial for primary liver cancer (the “HEAT Study”) and a Phase I/II study for recurrent chest wall breast cancer. ThermoDox® is a liposomal encapsulation of doxorubicin, an approved and frequently used oncology drug for the treatment of a wide range of cancers.  Localized mild hyperthermia (greater than 40 degrees Celsius) releases the encapsulated doxorubicin from the liposome enabling high concentrations of doxorubicin to be deposited preferentially in a targeted tumor.
 
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (the “FDA”) recently has designated our pivotal Phase III HEAT Study for ThermoDox®, in combination with radiofrequency ablation, as a Fast Track Development Program.  We have received written guidance from the FDA stating that, assuming the results of our ongoing studies are adequate, we may submit our New Drug Application (“NDA”) for ThermoDox® pursuant to Section 505(b)(2) of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.  A 505(b)(2) NDA provides that some of the information from the reports required for marketing approval may come from studies that the applicant does not own or for which the applicant does not have a legal right of reference and permits a manufacturer to obtain marketing approval for a drug without needing to conduct or obtain a right of reference for all of the required studies.  The availability of Section 505(b)(2) and the designation of  ThermoDox® as a Fast Track Development Program may provide us with an expedited pathway to approval.  There can be no assurance, however, that the results of our ongoing studies will be adequate to obtain approval of ThermoDox® under Section 505(b)(2).
 
 
16

 
Celsion has also demonstrated feasibility for a product pipeline of cancer drugs that employ its heat activated liposomal technology in combination with known chemotherapeutics including docetaxel and carboplatin. We believe that our technology can improve efficacy and safety of anticancer agents whose mechanism of action and safety profile are well understood by the medical and regulatory communities. Our approach provides a comparatively cost effective, low risk approval pathway.   An element of our business strategy is to pursue, as resources permit, the research and development of a range of product candidates for a variety of indications.  This is intended to allow us to diversify the risks associated with our research and development expenditures.  To the extent we are unable to maintain a broad range of product candidates, our dependence on the success of one or a few product candidates would increase.  Additionally, we have formed a joint research agreement with Royal Phillips Electronics to evaluate the combination of Phillips’ high intensity focused ultrasound (“HIFU”) with Celsion’s ThermoDox® to determine the potential of this combination to treat a broad range of cancers.
On December 5, 2008, the Company entered into a Development, Product Supply and Commercialization Agreement for Thermodox® with Yakult Honsha Co. (the “Yakult Agreement”) pursuant to which the Company granted to Yakult an exclusive license, solely in the Japanese market, to make, sell, import and use Thermodox® for the indications set forth in the Yakult Agreement in consideration of certain milestone and royalty payments, including an $18 million milestone payment upon approval of Thermodox® by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare for the treatment of primary liver cancer (the “Approval Milestone”).  On January 11, 2011, the Company entered into an amendment to the Yakult Agreement (the “Amendment”) that provides for (i) a payment by Yakult to the Company of $2 million that the Company received on January 12, 2011 in consideration of a partial reduction in the Approval Milestone, and (ii) if and when the DMC permits the resumption of patient enrollment in Japan for pivotal Phase III clinical study for ThermoDox®, a payment by Yakult to the Company of an additional $2 million in consideration of an additional, partial reduction in the Approval Milestone.  Assuming payment by Yakult of the $4 million contemplated by the Amendment and the partial reductions in the Approval Milestone related thereto, the aggregate Approval Milestone that the Company may receive in the future will have been reduced by approximately forty percent (40%).

On February 9, 2011, after reviewing data from 482 randomized patients enrolled in our pivotal Phase III HEAT study, the DMC for this trial unanimously recommended that the trial continue to enroll patients at all clinical sites except for those in Japan with the goal of reaching the 600 patients required to complete the study.  The DMC continues to review safety and efficacy data in accordance with the PMDA in Japan and the DMC’s charter, however there can be no assurance that the DMC will permit resumption of patient enrollment in Japan or at all nor can there be any assurance that the Company will receive the second $2 million payment from Yakult pursuant to the Amendment to the Yakult Agreement.  At this time, the Company is unable to determine what, if any, affect the catastrophic events resulting from the March 11, 2011 earthquake and Tsunami in Japan will have on the conduct or timeframe of the Phase III HEAT Trial or the DMC’s review of safety and efficacy data.

Furthermore, our current business strategy includes the option of entering into collaborative arrangements with third parties to complete the development and commercialization of our product candidates. In the event that third parties take over the clinical trial process for one or more of our product candidates, the estimated completion date would largely be under the control of that third party rather than us. We cannot forecast with any degree of certainty which proprietary products or indications, if any, will be subject to future collaborative arrangements, in whole or in part, and how such arrangements would affect our development plan or capital requirements. Our programs may also benefit from subsidies, grants, or government or agency-sponsored studies that could reduce our development costs.

As a result of the uncertainties discussed above, among others, we are unable to estimate the duration and completion costs of our research and development projects or when, if ever, and to what extent we will receive cash inflows from the commercialization and sale of a product. Our inability to complete our research and development projects in a timely manner or our failure to enter into collaborative agreements when appropriate could significantly increase our capital requirements and could adversely impact our liquidity. These uncertainties could force us to seek additional, external sources of financing from time to time in order to continue with our business strategy. Our inability to raise additional capital, or to do so on terms reasonably acceptable to us, would jeopardize the future success of our business.

While our estimated future capital requirements are uncertain and could increase or decrease as a result of many factors, including the extent to which we choose to advance our research, development and clinical trials, or if we are in a position to pursue manufacturing, commercialization activities, it is clear we will need significant additional capital to develop our product candidates through clinical development, manufacturing, and commercialization.  We do not know whether we will be able to access additional capital when needed or on terms favorable to us or our stockholders.

As a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company, our business and our ability to execute our strategy to achieve our corporate goals are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties. Material risks and uncertainties relating to our business and our industry are described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010. The description of our business in this Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the information described in Item 1A of our 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010.

 
17

 

FINANCIAL REVIEW FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2011 AND 2010

Results of Operations

Celsion’s net loss was $3.8 million, or $0.28 per diluted share, for the three months March 31, 2011 compared to $6.1 million, or $0.50 per diluted share, for the same period last year.  The Company ended the first quarter of 2011 with $2.1 million in cash and short-term investments.

 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
   ($ amounts in 000’s)    Change  
 
2011
 
2010
 
  $
     
%
 
                           
Licensing Revenue
$
2,000
 
$
 
$
2,000
     
100
%
                     
  Operating expenses:
                   
Clinical Research
$
3,450
 
$
2,817
 
$
633
     
22.5
%
Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls
 
899
   
458
   
441
     
96.2
%
Research and development
 
4,349
   
3,275
   
1,074
     
32.8
%
General and administrative
 
1,215
   
1,299
   
(84
)
   
(6.5
)%
 Total operating expenses
 
3,564
   
4,574
   
990
     
21.6
%
                           
  Loss from operations
$
(3,564
)
$
(4,574
)
$
1,010
     
(22.1
)%
                           

Comparison of the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010

Licensing Revenue

In the first quarter of 2011, the Company recognized $2 million in licensing revenue after amending its Development, Product Supply and Commercialization Agreement for ThermoDox® with Yakult Honsha Co. to provide for accelerated payments of up to $4 million in future milestone payments, including $2 million that was paid to the Company on January 12, 2011, in exchange for a reduction in product approval milestones that the Company may receive under the Yakult Agreement.

Research and Development Expenses
  
Research and development (“R&D”) expenses increased by approximately $1.1 million from $3.3 million in the first quarter of 2010 to $4.4 million in the same period of 2011.  Costs associated with the Company’s Phase III liver cancer clinical trial increased to $2.7 million in the first quarter of 2011 compared to $1.9 million in the same period of 2011.  This increase is primarily the result of costs for investigator grants, monitoring costs and milestone payments associated with higher patient enrollment levels for the Company's Phase III HEAT study. Costs associated with the chest wall breast cancer clinical trial decreased to $0.1 million in the first quarter of 2011 compared to $0.5 million in the same period of 2010. Costs associated with the production of Thermodox® increased to $0.9 million in the first quarter of 2011 compared to $0.2 million in the same period of 2010 due to the Company’s progression to develop its commercial manufacturing capabilities for Thermodox®.    

General and Administrative Expenses
 
General and administrative (“G&A”) expenses decreased 7% to $1.2 million in the first quarter of 2011 compared to $1.3 million in the same period in 2010.  The Company continues to carefully monitor operating costs and focus its efforts and financial resources on completing enrollment and patient follow-up in the Phase III HEAT study.  
 

 
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Other expense and income
 
A warrant liability was incurred as a result of warrants issued in a public offering in September 2009.  This liability is calculated at its fair market value using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model and is adjusted at the end of each quarter.  During the first quarter of 2011, the company recorded a non cash gain of $0.2 million based on the change in this fair value from the end of the prior quarter compared to recording a non cash warrant liability charge of $1.6 million in the first quarter of 2010. 

Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources
 
Since inception, excluding the net aggregate payments from Boston Scientific of $43 million through the divestiture of our medical device business in 2007 ($13 million in 2007 and $15 million received in each of 2008 and 2009), we have incurred significant losses and negative cash flows from operations.  We have financed our operations primarily through this divesture, proceeds from the sale of equity and amounts received from a product licensing agreement. The process of developing and commercializing Thermodox® requires significant research and development work and clinical trial studies, as well as significant manufacturing and process development efforts.  These activities, together with our general and administrative expenses are expected to result in significant operating losses for the foreseeable future.  Our expenses have significantly and regularly exceeded our revenues, and we have an accumulated deficit of $104.4 million at March 31, 2011.

At March 31, 2011 we had total current assets of $3.7 million (including cash and short term investments of $2.1 million) and current liabilities of $6.9 million, resulting in a working capital deficit of $3.2 million.  At December 31, 2010, we had total current assets of $2.0 million (including cash and short term investments of $1.5 million) and current liabilities of $6.8 million, resulting in a working capital deficit of $4.8 million.
 
Net cash used in operating activities for the first three months of 2011 was $4.4 million.  The $4.4 million net cash requirement was funded from cash on hand and the proceeds from the licensing revenue received from Yakult, the January 2011 preferred stock offering and the sale of common stock from utilization of the Company’s June 2010 Committed Equity Financing Facility. Net cash provided by financing activities was $4.9 million for the first three months of 2011 which related to $4.3 million from the January 2011 preferred stock offering and $0.6 million of gross proceeds from the Committed Equity Financing Facility partially offset by principal payments made on notes payable.

In January 2011, the Company entered into a definitive securities purchase agreement with a select group of institutional investors, including certain officers and directors of the Company, to sell 5,000 shares of 8% redeemable convertible preferred stock with a stated value of $1,000 and warrants to purchase up to 2,083,333 shares of common stock in a registered direct offering.  The convertible preferred stock and warrants were sold in units (the "Units"), with each Unit consisting of one share of convertible preferred stock and a warrant to purchase up to 416.6666 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $3.25 per whole share of common stock.  The Units were offered and sold to unaffiliated third party investors at a negotiated purchase price of $1,000 per Unit and to officers and directors at an at-the-market price of $1,197.92 per Unit in accordance with the NASDAQ Stock Market Rules.  Each share of preferred stock is convertible into shares of common stock at an initial conversion price of $2.40 per share, subject to adjustment in the event of stock splits, recapitalizations or reorganizations that affect all holders of common stock equally. Concurrent with the issuance of the sale of the Units, the Company issued warratnts (the “Placement Agent Warrant”) to purchase up to 350 shares of the Preferred Stock at an exercise price of $1,000 per whole share of Preferred Stock to certain affiliates of Dominick & Dominick LLC, as placement agent.

The Company received gross proceeds from the offering of approximately $5.1 million, before deducting placement agents' fees and offering expenses. The preferred shares may be converted into shares of common stock by the holders thereof at any time and have a mandatory redemption date of January 14, 2013 at a stated redemption value of $1,000 per preferred share.  The convertible preferred shares are also subject to mandatory conversion upon the occurrence of certain events, including the sale of Common Stock in one or more offerings for not less than $4.00 per share and aggregate gross proceeds of $10 million, the achievement of a twenty day trading average of our Common Stock above $6.00 per share, or the receipt of an aggregate at least $4,000,000 as actual, or advanced payment of future, license, milestone or royalty payments from a strategic, licensing or development partner.  

Until such time as preferred shares are redeemed, issued and outstanding shares shall accrued dividends at a rate of 8% per annum.  Dividends on the convertible preferred shares are payable on a quarterly basis from the original issue date commencing on April 15, 2011 and are payable only in cash.  As of March 31, 2011, the Company accrued dividends of $75,776 on 4,490 shares of outstanding preferred stock and paid these dividends on April 15, 2011.

The Units were sold pursuant to the Company’s shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-158402), which was declared effective by the SEC on April 17, 2009, as supplemented by prospectus supplements dated January 12, 2011 and January 13, 2011 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
 
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At March 31, 2011, the Company had cash, cash equivalents and short term investments of $2.1 million. The Company will need substantial additional capital to complete its clinical trials, obtain marketing approvals and to commercialize its products.

We currently estimate we will use approximately $16 to $18 million of cash in the 12 month period ending March 31, 2012.  Significant additional capital will be required in 2011 to develop our product candidates through clinical development, manufacturing, and commercialization.  We may seek additional capital through further public or private equity offerings, debt financing, additional strategic alliance and licensing arrangements, collaborative arrangements, or some combination of these financing alternatives. If we are successful in raising additional funds through the issuance of equity securities, investors will likely experience dilution, or the equity securities may have rights, preferences, or privileges senior to those of the holders of our common stock. If we raise funds through the issuance of debt securities, those securities would have rights, preferences, and privileges senior to those of our common stock.  If we seek strategic alliances, licenses, or other alternative arrangements, such as arrangements with collaborative partners or others, we may need to relinquish rights to certain of our existing or future technologies, product candidates, or products we would otherwise seek to develop or commercialize on our own, or to license the rights to our technologies, product candidates, or products on terms that are not favorable to us.   The overall status of the economic climate could also result in the terms of any equity offering, debt financing, or alliance, license, or other arrangement being even less favorable to us and our stockholders than if the overall economic climate were stronger.   We also will continue to look for government sponsored research collaborations and grants to help offset future anticipated losses from operations and, to a lesser extent, interest income.
 
If adequate funds are not available through either the capital markets, strategic alliances, or collaborators, we may be required to delay or, reduce the scope of, or eliminate our research, development, clinical programs, manufacturing, or commercialization efforts, or effect additional changes to our facilities or personnel, or obtain funds through other arrangements that may require us to relinquish some of our assets or rights to certain of our existing or future technologies, product candidates, or products on terms not favorable to us.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Contractual Obligations
 
We have no off-balance sheet financing arrangements other than in connection with our operating leases, which are disclosed in the contractual commitments table in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.

Item 3.   QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURE ABOUT MARKET RISK .

The primary objective of our investment activities is to preserve our capital until it is required to fund operations while at the same time maximizing the income we receive from our investments without significantly increasing risk. Our cash flow and earnings are subject to fluctuations due to changes in interest rates in our investment portfolio.  We maintain a portfolio of various issuers, types, and maturities.  These securities are classified as available-for-sale and, consequently, are recorded on the balance sheet at fair value with unrealized gains or losses reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) included in stockholders’ equity.

Item 4.  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

We have carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as that term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.  Based on that evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that, as of March 31, 2011, which is the end of the period covered by this report, our disclosure controls and procedures are effective at the reasonable assurance level in alerting them in a timely manner to material information required to be included in our periodic SEC reports.

There were no changes in our internal controls over financial reporting identified in connection with the evaluation required by paragraph (d) of Rule 13a-15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that occurred during the three months ended  March 31, 2011 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal controls over financial reporting.

 
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PART II: OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.       Legal Proceedings

None.

Item 1A.      Risk Factors

In addition to the other information set forth in this report, you should carefully consider the factors discussed in Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, which could materially affect our business, financial condition or future results. You should also carefully consider the following additional risk factor:

Our common stock did not meet the continued listing requirements for The NASDAQ Capital Market.

On April 6, 2011, the Company received an anticipated Staff Determination Letter from the NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (“NASDAQ”) indicating that the Company is not in compliance with the minimum Market Value of Listed Securities (“MVLS”) requirement for continued listing on the NASDAQ Capital Market as set forth in NASDAQ Marketplace Rule 5550(b)(2), which requires the Company to have a minimum MVLS of $35 million for at least 30 consecutive business days. The Company has been given 180 calendar days, or until October 3, 2011, to regain compliance with Rule 5550(b)(2).  In order to regain compliance with Rule 5550(b)(2), the Company's MVLS must close at $35 million or more for a minimum of 10 consecutive trading days.  NASDAQ’s Rule 5550(b) requires that companies listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market maintain a minimum stockholders’ equity of $2.5 million, a MVLS of $35 million or net income from continuing operations of $500,000 in the most recently completed fiscal year or in two of the last three most recently completed fiscal years.  

On May 10, 2011, the Company received notification from the NASDAQ Listing Qualifications Department that it had regained compliance with the minimum Market Value of Listed Securities (“MVLS”) requirement for continued listing on the NASDAQ Capital Market, as set forth in NASDAQ Listing Rule 5550(b)(2) (the “Rule”).  The letter from NASDAQ, received on May 10, 2011, stated that the Company’s MVLS has been $35 million or greater for the last 10 consecutive business days (from April 26, 2011 to May 9, 2011).  Accordingly, the Company has regained compliance with the Rule and this matter is now closed.

The risks described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and outlined above are not the only risks facing the Company. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and/or operating results.

Item 2.       Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.
 
On June 17, 2010, we entered into a Committed Equity Financing Facility (CEFF) with Small Cap Biotech Value Ltd. (SCBV).  The CEFF provides that, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein, SCBV is committed to purchase up to $15.0 million worth of our shares of common stock over the 24-month term of the CEFF under certain specified conditions and limitations, provided that in no event may we sell under the CEFF more than 2,404,434 shares of common stock, which is equal to one share less than 20% of our outstanding shares of common stock on June 17, 2010, the closing date of the CEFF, less the number of shares of common stock we issued to SCBV on the closing date as Commitment Shares (described below).  Furthermore, in no event shall SCBV purchase any shares of our common stock which, when aggregated with all other shares of our common stock then beneficially owned by SCBV, would result in the beneficial ownership by SCBV of more than 9.9% of the then outstanding shares of our common stock.  These maximum share and beneficial ownership limitations may not be waived by the parties. 
 
From time to time over the term of the CEFF, in the Company’s sole discretion, we may present SCBV with draw down notices requiring SCBV to purchase a specified dollar amount of shares of our common stock, based on the price per share over 10 consecutive trading days (the “Draw Down Period”), with the total dollar amount of each draw down subject to certain agreed-upon limitations based on the market price of our common stock at the time of the draw down or, if we determine in our sole discretion, a percentage of the daily trading volume of our common stock during the Draw Down Period.  We are able to present SCBV with up to 24 draw down notices during the term of the CEFF, with only one such draw down notice allowed per Draw Down Period and a minimum of five trading days required between each Draw Down Period.
 
 
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SCBV is an “underwriter” within the meaning of Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The Purchase Agreement provided that Commerce Court would use an unaffiliated broker-dealer to effectuate all sales, if any, of common stock that it may purchase from us pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.  In partial consideration for SCBV's execution and delivery of the CEFF, we issued to SCBV 40,000 shares of our common stock (the “Commitment Shares”).  The issuance of the Commitment Shares, together with all other shares of common stock issuable to SCBV pursuant to the terms of the CEFF, is exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), pursuant to the exemption for transactions by an issuer not involving any public offering under Section 4(2) and Regulation D under the Securities Act.
 
Once presented with a draw down notice, SCBV is required to purchase a pro rata portion of the shares on each trading day during the trading period on which the daily volume weighted average price for our common stock exceeds a threshold price determined by us for such draw down.  The per share purchase price for these shares equals the daily volume weighted average price of our common stock on each date during the Draw Down Period on which the shares are purchased, less a discount ranging from five percent to six percent, based on a minimum price we specify.  If the daily volume weighted average price of our common stock falls below the threshold price on any trading day during a Draw Down Period, the CEFF provides that SCBV will not be required to purchase the pro-rata portion of shares of common stock allocated to that day.  The obligations of SCBV under the CEFF to purchase shares of our common stock may not be transferred to any other party.
 
In the second half of 2010, the Company completed three draws and sales to SCBV under the CEFF collectively totaling 1,063,919 shares of common stock for gross proceeds of $2,577,061. Broker fees and other expenses associated with the 2010 draws totaled $84,722.  During 2011, the Company has completed three draws and sales to SCBV under the CEFF as follows:

Date
 
Shares
Issued
   
Gross
Proceeds
   
Per
Share
   
Broker Fees and Expenses
 
March 16, 2011
    275,855     $ 608,347     $ 2.21     $ 19,489  
April 25, 2011
    407,703       867,680     $ 2.13       27,872  
May 6, 2011
    656,956       1,949,117     $ 2.97       62,610  
Total
    1,340,514     $ 3,425,144     $ 2.56     $ 109,971  

 
The proceeds of the draws will be used for general corporate purposes, including the funding of the Company’s clinical development pipeline of cancer drugs. SCBV is an accredited investor as such term is defined in Rule 501 of Regulation D of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and all sales of the Company’s common stock to SCBV pursuant to the CEFF were exempt from registration pursuant to Section 4(2) of the Securities Act and Rule 506 of Regulation D of the Securities Act. The Company has registered the resale of the shares of common stock issued to SCBV pursuant to the CEFF under the Securities Act on a registration statement on Form S-1.
 
Item 3.        Defaults Upon Senior Securities.

None.

Item 4.         [Removed and Reserved].
 
Item 5.       Other Information.

On April 25, 2011, the Company completed a draw and sale to SCBV of 407,703 shares of common stock for gross proceeds of $867,680 under the CEFF. On May 6, 2011, the Company completed a draw and sale to SCBV of 656,956 shares of common stock for gross proceeds of $1,949,117 under the CEFF. Broker fees and other expenses associated with these two draws totaled $90,482.  See Item 2 - Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities, which is incorporated herein by reference.  Disclosure of the Company’s draws under the CEFF on April 25 and May 6 are being disclosed under Part II, Item 5 of this Form 10-Q in lieu of disclosure under Item 3.02 of Form 8-K.


 
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Item 6.      Exhibits.

31.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. (Filed herewith)
   
31.2
Certification of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. (Filed herewith)
   
32.1
Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.  (Furnished herewith)

 
 
 

 
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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.
 
 
May 12, 2011

                                                                    
 
 
  CELSION CORPORATION
 
        Registrant
   
 
 By: 
/s/ Michael H. Tardugno
   
Michael H. Tardugno
   
President and Chief Executive Officer
 
 
 By:   
/s/ Jeffrey W. Church
   
Jeffrey W. Church
   
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
   

 
 
 
 
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