Matinas BioPharma Holdings, Inc. - Quarter Report: 2019 September (Form 10-Q)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2019

OR

For the transition period from          to          

Commission File Number: 001-38022

MATINAS BIOPHARMA HOLDINGS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

1545 Route 206 South, Suite 302

Bedminster, New Jersey 07921

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

908-443-1860

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes [X] No [  ]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).

Yes [X] No [  ]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or 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.:

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 Act). Yes [  ] No [X]

The aggregate market value of the registrant’s voting and non-voting common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant computed by reference to the price at which the common stock was last sold on September 30, 2019 was approximately $93.4 million.

As of November 11, 2019, there were 162,740,274 shares of the registrant’s common stock, $0.0001 par value, outstanding.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

None.

MATINAS BIOPHARMA HOLDINGS, INC.

Form 10-Q

Quarter Ended September 30, 2019

Table of Contents

Matinas BioPharma Holdings Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

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

Matinas BioPharma Holdings, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

Unaudited

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

Matinas BioPharma Holdings, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Stockholders’ Equity

Unaudited

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

Matinas BioPharma Holdings Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow

Unaudited

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

MATINAS BIOPHARMA HOLDINGS, INC.
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Tabular dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)

Note 1 - Description of Business

Matinas BioPharma Holdings Inc. (“Holdings”) is a Delaware corporation formed in 2013. Holdings is the parent company of Matinas BioPharma, Inc. (“BioPharma”), and Matinas BioPharma Nanotechnologies, Inc. (“Nanotechnologies,” formerly known as Aquarius Biotechnologies, Inc.), its operating subsidiaries (“Nanotechnologies”, and together with “Holdings” and “BioPharma”, “the Company” or “we” or “our” or “us”). The Company is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company with a focus on identifying and developing novel pharmaceutical products.

Note 2 - Liquidity and Plan of Operations

The Company has experienced net losses and negative cash flows from operations each period since its inception. Through September 30, 2019, the Company had an accumulated deficit of approximately $78.8 million. The Company’s net loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 was approximately $11.8 million.

The Company has been engaged in developing MAT-9001, its lead product candidate, as well as its lipid nano-crystal (“LNC”) platform delivery technology and a pipeline of associated product candidates since 2011. To date, the Company has not obtained regulatory approval for any of its product candidates nor generated any revenue from product sales and the Company expects to incur significant expenses to complete development of its product candidates. The Company may never be able to obtain regulatory approval for the marketing of any of its product candidates in any indication in the United States or internationally and there can be no assurance that the Company will generate revenues or ever achieve profitability.

Assuming the Company obtains FDA approval for one or more of its product candidates, which the Company does not expect to receive until 2023 at the earliest, the Company expects that its expenses will continue to increase once the Company reaches commercial launch. The Company also expects that its research and development expenses will continue to increase as it moves forward with additional clinical studies for its current product candidates and development of additional product candidates. As a result, the Company expects to continue to incur substantial losses for the foreseeable future, and that these losses will be increasing.

To continue to fund operations, on March 19, 2019, the Company completed an underwritten public offering of common stock, generating gross cash proceeds of approximately $30 million and net proceeds of approximately $27.8 million. On March 28, 2019, additional shares were sold pursuant to an over-allotment option granted to the underwriters of the public offering, resulting in additional net proceeds to the Company of approximately $2.3 million (see Note 9).

As of September 30, 2019, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $32.7 million and restricted cash of approximately $0.6 million. The Company believes the cash and cash equivalents on hand are sufficient to fund planned operations through 2020.

Note 3 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of presentation and principles of consolidation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the consolidated accounts of Holdings and its wholly owned subsidiaries, BioPharma, and Nanotechnologies. The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) and reflect the operations of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of estimates

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

MATINAS BIOPHARMA HOLDINGS, INC.
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Tabular dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)

Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include, but are not limited to, the assessment of the impairment of goodwill and intangible assets, level 3 fair value measurement of financial instruments, the determination of stock-based compensation, contingent consideration and assets and liabilities acquired in a business combination.

Cash and cash equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid financial instruments with original maturities of three months or less to be cash and cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, bank demand deposits and overnight sweep accounts used in the Company’s cash management program.

Restricted Cash

The Company presents restricted cash with cash and cash equivalents in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash reported in the Consolidated Balance Sheets to the total of the amounts in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows as of September 30, 2019, December 31, 2018, September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017:

Concentration of credit risk

The Company’s financial instruments that are exposed to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents. Balances are maintained at U.S. financial institutions and are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) up to regulatory limits. The Company has not experienced any credit losses associated with its balances in such accounts.

Leasehold improvements and equipment

Equipment and leasehold improvements are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation on equipment is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which range from three to ten years. Capitalized costs associated with leasehold improvements are amortized on a straight-line basis over the lesser of the estimated useful life of the asset or the remaining term of the lease.

Goodwill and other intangible assets

Goodwill is recorded when consideration paid for an acquired entity exceeds the fair value of the net assets acquired. Goodwill is not amortized but rather is assessed for impairment at least annually on a reporting unit basis, or more frequently when events and circumstances indicate the goodwill may be impaired. U.S. GAAP provides that we have the option to perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is more-likely-than-not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If we determine this is the case, we perform further analysis to identify and measure the amount of goodwill impairment loss to be recognized, if any.

MATINAS BIOPHARMA HOLDINGS, INC.
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Tabular dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)

A reporting unit is an operating segment, or one level below an operating segment. Historically, we conducted our business in a single operating segment and reporting unit. During the nine months ended September 30, 2019, the Company assessed goodwill impairment by performing a qualitative test for its reporting unit. As part of the qualitative review, the Company considered its cash position and its ability to obtain additional financing in the near term to meet its operational and strategic goals and substantiate the value of its business. Based on the results of the Company’s assessment, it was determined that it is more-likely-than-not that the fair value of the reporting unit is greater than its carrying amount. There were no impairments of goodwill during the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018.

Indefinite lived intangible assets are composed of in-process research and development (“IPR&D”) and represent projects acquired in a business combination that have not reached technological feasibility or that lack regulatory approval at the time of acquisition. These IPR&D assets are reviewed for impairment annually, or sooner if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable, and upon establishment of technological feasibility or regulatory approval. An impairment loss, if any, is calculated by comparing the fair value of the asset to its carrying value. If the asset’s carrying value exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss is recorded for the difference and its carrying value is reduced accordingly. Similar to the impairment test for goodwill, the Company may perform a qualitative approach for testing indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment. The Company used the qualitative approach and concluded that it was more-likely-than-not that its indefinite-lived assets were not impaired during the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018.

Leases

In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) established ASC Topic 842, “Leases”, by issuing Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-02, which requires lessees to now recognize operating leases on the balance sheet and disclose key information about leasing arrangements. ASC Topic 842 was subsequently amended by ASU No. 2018-01, Land Easement Practical Expedient for Transition to Topic 842; ASU No. 2018-10, Codification Improvements to Topic 842, Leases; and ASU No. 2018-11, Targeted Improvements. The new standard establishes a right-of-use (“ROU”) model that requires a lessee to recognize a ROU asset and lease liability on the balance sheet for all leases with a term longer than 12 months. Leases will be classified as either finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern and classification of expense recognition in the income statement. Lessor accounting under the new standard is substantially unchanged. Additional qualitative and quantitative disclosures are also required.

The Company adopted the new standard on January 1, 2019 using the modified retrospective transition method, which applies the provisions of the standard at the effective date without adjusting the comparative periods presented. The Company adopted the following practical expedients and accounting policies elections related to this standard:

Adoption of this standard resulted in the recognition of operating lease right-of-use assets and corresponding lease liabilities of approximately $4.2 million and approximately $4.5 million, respectively, on the consolidated balance sheet as of January 1, 2019. In addition, the Company reclassified $0.2 million from leasehold improvements & equipment to finance lease right-of-use assets in connection with the adoption of ASC Topic 842. The Company’s accounting for finance leases remained substantially unchanged. Disclosures related to the amount, timing and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases are included in Note 6, Leases.

MATINAS BIOPHARMA HOLDINGS, INC.
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Tabular dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)

Preferred stock dividends

Prior to its automatic conversion on July 29, 2019, shares of Series A Preferred Stock earned dividends at a rate of 8.0% once per year on the first, second and third anniversary of July 29, 2016, which was paid to the holders of such Series A Preferred Stock in the form of shares of the Company’s common stock when converted. In addition, and subject to provisions detailed more fully in Footnote 9, shares of Series B Preferred Stock earn dividends at rates of 10%, 15% and 20% once per year on the first, second and third anniversary, respectively, of June 19, 2018. Dividends are payable to holders of the Series B Preferred Stock in the form of shares of the Company’s common stock. Preferred stock dividends do not require declaration by the Board of Directors and are accrued annually as of the date the dividend is earned in an amount equal to the applicable rate of the stated value.

Business combination

The Company accounts for business combinations using the acquisition method of accounting which requires the recognition of tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed at their estimated fair values as of the acquisition date. The Company allocates any excess purchase price over the estimated fair value assigned to the net tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed to goodwill. Transaction costs are expensed as incurred and reported in general and administrative expenses. Results of operations and cash flows of acquired companies are included in the Company’s operating results from the date of acquisition.

Beneficial conversion feature of convertible preferred stock

The Company accounts for the beneficial conversion feature on its convertible preferred stock in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 470-20, Debt with Conversion and Other Options. The Beneficial Conversion Feature (“BCF”) of convertible preferred stock is normally characterized as the convertible portion or feature that provides a rate of conversion that is below market value or in-the-money when issued. The Company records a BCF related to the issuance of convertible preferred stock when issued. BCFs that are contingent upon the occurrence of a future event are recorded when the contingency is resolved.

To determine the effective conversion price, the Company first allocates the proceeds received to the convertible preferred stock and then uses those allocated proceeds to determine the effective conversion price. If the convertible instrument is issued in a basket transaction (i.e., issued along with other freestanding financial instruments), the proceeds should first be allocated to the various instruments in the basket. Any amounts paid to the investor when the transaction is consummated (e.g., origination fees, due diligence costs) represent a reduction in the proceeds received by the issuer. The intrinsic value of the conversion option is measured using the effective conversion price for the convertible preferred stock on the proceeds allocated to that instrument. The effective conversion price represents proceeds allocable to the convertible preferred stock divided by the number of shares into which it is convertible. The effective conversion price is then compared to the per share fair value of the underlying shares on the commitment date.

The BCF is recognized by allocating the intrinsic value of the conversion option to additional paid-in capital, resulting in a discount on the convertible preferred stock. This discount is accreted from the date on which the BCF is first recognized through the earliest conversion date for instruments that do not have a stated redemption date. The intrinsic value of the BCF is recognized as a deemed dividend on convertible preferred stock over the period specified in the guidance.

Sale of net operating losses (NOLs)

The Company recognized approximately $1.0 million and $0 for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, in connection with the sale of state net operating losses and state research and development credits to a third party under the New Jersey Technology Business Tax Certificate Program. The Company did not recognize any income from the sale of NOLs during the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018.

Income taxes

Income taxes are accounted for using an asset and liability approach that requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities at the applicable tax rates. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when, in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are adjusted for the effects of changes in tax laws and rates.

MATINAS BIOPHARMA HOLDINGS, INC.
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Tabular dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)

Tax benefits are recognized from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained upon examination by a tax authority and based upon the technical merits of the tax position. The tax benefit recognized in the consolidated financial statements for a particular tax position is based on the largest benefit that is more likely than not to be realized upon settlement. An unrecognized tax benefit, or a portion thereof, is presented in the consolidated financial statements as a reduction to a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward if such settlement is required or expected in the event the uncertain tax position is disallowed. The Company classifies interest and penalties related to uncertain income tax positions in income tax expense in the consolidated statement of operations. The Company did not recognize any income tax related interest or penalties during the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, nor has the company recognized any liabilities for uncertain tax positions in its consolidated financial statements.

The Company is subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service of its federal income tax returns and by state tax authorities for state jurisdictions. Since the Company incurred net operating losses in every tax year since inception, all income tax returns are subject to examination and adjustments for at least three years following the year in which the tax attributes generated in those years are utilized.

Fair value measurements

The Company uses the fair value hierarchy to measure the value of its financial instruments. The fair value hierarchy is based on inputs to valuation techniques that are used to measure fair value that are either observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect assumptions market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability based on market data obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect a reporting entity’s pricing based upon its own market assumptions. The basis for fair value measurements for each level within the hierarchy is described below:

The Company utilizes valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs to the extent possible as well as considers counterparty credit risk in its assessment of fair value.

The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, current portion of restricted cash, accounts receivable, prepaid expenses, accounts payable, note payable, current portion of lease liability and accrued expenses approximate fair value due to the short-term nature of these instruments.

Basic and diluted net loss per common share

Basic and diluted net loss per share is computed by dividing net loss available to common shareholders by the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per common share is the same as basic earnings per common share because, as the Company incurred a net loss during each period presented, the potentially dilutive securities from the assumed exercise of all outstanding stock options and warrants and conversion of preferred stock, would have an anti-dilutive effect.

MATINAS BIOPHARMA HOLDINGS, INC.
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Tabular dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)

The following table provides the number of shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options, warrants and conversion of preferred stock, which have been excluded from the diluted loss per share calculation as the inclusion would be anti-dilutive for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018:

Revenue recognition

The Company’s revenues consist of a research grant to provide research and development services to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (“CFF”). The grant contract has a single performance obligation that is recognized over time as the services are performed. There are no contract assets or liabilities associated with this grant. As this contract is currently the Company’s only contract with a customer, disaggregation of revenue is not required.

Research and development, legal fees and other direct costs

Research and development costs are charged to expenses as they are incurred. Legal fees and other direct costs incurred in obtaining and protecting patents are also expensed as incurred and are included in general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations.

Recent accounting standards

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04 “Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment”. The amendment simplifies the subsequent measurement of goodwill by eliminating Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. Instead an entity should perform its goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. An entity should recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value; however, the loss recognized should not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. We are required to apply the amendments for the annual or any interim goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning on January 1, 2020. We have evaluated this standard and believe it will not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-07, “Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting.” These amendments expand the scope of Topic 718, Compensation - Stock Compensation to include share-based payments issued to nonemployees for goods or services. Consequently, the accounting for share-based payments to nonemployees and employees will be substantially aligned. The Company adopted the guidance on January 1, 2019. The adoption did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, “Changes to Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurements”, which will improve the effectiveness of disclosure requirements for recurring and nonrecurring fair value measurements. The standard removes, modifies, and adds certain disclosure requirements, and is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. The Company is currently evaluating the impact this standard will have on its consolidated financial statements.

MATINAS BIOPHARMA HOLDINGS, INC.
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Tabular dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)

On January 1, 2019, the Company adopted the final rule under SEC Release No. 33-10532, Disclosure Update and Simplification, which amended certain disclosure requirements that were redundant, duplicative, overlapping, outdated or superseded. In addition, the amendments expanded the disclosure requirements on the analysis of stockholders’ equity for interim financial statements. Under the amendments, an analysis of changes in each caption of stockholders’ equity presented in the balance sheet must be provided in a note or separate statement. The Company has updated its consolidated financial statements to include a reconciliation of the beginning balance to the ending balance of stockholders’ equity for each period for which a statement of comprehensive income is filed.

Note 4 – Leasehold Improvements and Equipment

Leasehold improvements and equipment consist of the following as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018:

Depreciation and amortization expense was approximately $149 thousand and $156 thousand for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Note 5 – Accrued Expenses

Accrued Expenses consist of the following as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018:

Note 6 – Leases

The Company has various lease agreements with terms up to 10 years, including leases of office space, a laboratory and manufacturing facility, and various equipment. Some leases include purchase, termination or extension options for one or more years. These options are included in the lease term when it is reasonably certain that the option will be exercised.

The assets and liabilities from operating and finance leases are recognized at the lease commencement date based on the present value of remaining lease payments over the lease term using the Company’s incremental borrowing rates or implicit rates, when readily determinable. Short-term leases, which have an initial term of 12 months or less, are not recorded on the balance sheet.

The Company’s operating leases do not provide an implicit rate that can readily be determined. Therefore, the Company uses a discount rate based on its incremental borrowing rate, which is determined using the average of borrowing rates explicitly stated in the Company’s finance leases.

The Company incurred lease expense for its operating leases of approximately $203 thousand and $610 thousand for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively, and $186 thousand and $559 thousand for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively.

MATINAS BIOPHARMA HOLDINGS, INC.
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Tabular dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)

The Company incurred interest expense on its finance leases of approximately $3 thousand and $9 thousand for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively, and $3 thousand and $9 thousand for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively. The Company incurred amortization expense on its finance lease right-of-use assets of approximately $25 thousand and $98 thousand for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively, and $28 thousand and $71 thousand for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively.

The following table presents information about the amount and timing of liabilities arising from the Company’s operating and finance leases as of September 30, 2019:

Note 7 – Commitments

Research and development agreements

The Company has financial obligations resulting from Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (“CRADAs”) entered into with the with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (“NIH”) as follows:

In addition, in the course of normal business operations, the Company enters into agreements with contract service providers to assist in the performance of research & development and manufacturing activities. Expenditures to these third parties represent significant costs in clinical development and may require upfront payments and long-term commitments of cash. Subject to required notice periods and obligations under binding purchase orders, the Company can elect to discontinue the work under these agreements at any time.

MATINAS BIOPHARMA HOLDINGS, INC.
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Tabular dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)

Royalty payment rights

On September 12, 2016 the Company conducted a final closing of a private placement offering to accredited investors of shares of the Company’s Series A Preferred Stock. As part of this offer, the investors received royalty payment rights if and when the Company generates sales of its MAT2203 or MAT2501 product candidates. Pursuant to the terms of the Series A Certificate of Designation, the Company may be required to pay royalties of up to $35 million per year. If and when the Company obtains FDA or EMA approval of MAT2203 and/or MAT2501, which the Company does not expect to occur before 2020, if ever, and/or if the Company generates sales of such products, or the Company receives any proceeds from the licensing or other disposition of MAT2203 or MAT2501, the Company is required to pay to the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock, subject to certain vesting requirements, in the aggregate, a royalty (the “Royalty Payment Rights”) equal to (i) 4.5% of Net Sales (as defined in the Series A Certificate of Designation), subject in all cases to a cap of $25 million per calendar year, and (ii) 7.5% of Licensing Proceeds (as defined in the Series A Certificate of Designation), subject in all cases to a cap of $10 million per calendar year. The Royalty Payment Rights will expire when the patents covering the applicable product expire, which is currently expected to be in 2033.

License agreement

Through the acquisition of Aquarius, the Company acquired a license from Rutgers University, The State University of New Jersey (successor in interest to the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey) for the LNC platform delivery technology. The Amended and Restated Exclusive License Agreement provides for, among other things, the payment of (1) royalties on a tiered basis between low single digits and the mid-single digits of net sales of products using such licensed technology, (2) a one-time sales milestone fee of $100,000 when and if sales of products using the licensed technology reach the specified sales threshold and (3) an annual license fee of initially $10,000, increasing to $50,000 over the term of the license agreement.

Note 8 – Related Parties

Aegis Capital Corp. and Mr. Adam Stern

Mr. Adam Stern, a director of the Company, has been Head of Private Equity Banking at Aegis Capital Corp. (“Aegis”) and CEO of SternAegis Ventures since 2012. Aegis acted as a selected dealer for our public offering of Series B Preferred Stock in June 2018, which raised gross proceeds of $8 million. In connection with the offering the Company agreed to issue placement agent warrants to purchase that number of shares of common stock equal to 1.5% of the aggregate number of shares of common stock underlying the shares of Series B Preferred Stock sold in the offering (not including any shares payable pursuant to the contemplated dividend thereunder). A total of 240,000 warrants were issued, of which Adam Stern and Aegis were collectively issued 81,080.

No related party transactions were entered into during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019. Except as disclosed above regarding Aegis and Mr. Adam Stern, no other related party transactions were entered into during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018.

Note 9 – Stockholders’ Equity

Common Stock

On March 19, 2019, the Company closed an underwritten public offering of its common stock. This offering was made pursuant to an underwriting agreement between the Company and BTIG, LLC. The offering resulted in the sale of 27,272,727 shares to the public at a price of $1.10 per share. The Company generated gross proceeds of $30.0 million. Net proceeds after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and other estimated offering expenses are approximately $27.8 million. In addition, the Company granted the underwriters a 30-day option (the “option”) to purchase up to an additional 4,090,909 shares of common stock subject to the same terms and conditions. On March 28, 2019, an additional 2,199,259 shares were sold pursuant to the option at a price of $1.10 per share, resulting in net proceeds to the Company of approximately $2.3 million.

MATINAS BIOPHARMA HOLDINGS, INC.
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Tabular dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)

Preferred Stock

In accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation, the Company is authorized to issue 10,000,000 preferred shares at a par value of $0.001. In connection with a private placement of Series A Preferred Stock, on July 26, 2016, the Company filed the Series A Certificate of Designation with the Secretary of the State of Delaware to designate the preferences, rights and limitations of the Series A Preferred Stock. Pursuant to the Series A Certificate of Designation, the Company designated 1,600,000 shares of the Company’s previously undesignated preferred shares as Series A Preferred Stock. In connection with a public offering of Series B Preferred Stock, on June 19, 2018, the Company filed the Series B Certificate of Designation with the Secretary of the State of Delaware to designate the preferences, rights and limitations of the Series B Preferred Stock. Pursuant to the Series B Certificate of Designation, the Company designated 8,000 shares of the Company’s previously undesignated preferred shares as Series B Preferred Stock.

Series A Preferred Stock

On July 29, 2019, the Company effected a mandatory conversion of all then outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock in accordance with terms of the underlying Certificate of Designation. The conversion resulted in the issuance of 14,678,580 shares of the Company’s common stock. In addition, the Company issued 3,522,860 shares of common stock as payment-in-kind for dividends that were accrued to shareholders of Series A Preferred Stock.

Conversion:

Prior to the automatic conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock on July 29, 2019, each share of Series A Preferred Stock was convertible at the option of the holder into such number of shares of the Company’s common stock equal to the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be converted, multiplied by the stated value of $5.00 per share (the “Stated Value”), divided by the Conversion Price in effect at the time of the conversion (the initial conversion price is $0.50, subject to adjustment in the event of stock splits, stock dividends, and a “fundamental transaction” as defined below). Based on the conversion price and number of shares outstanding, the Series A Preferred Stock were converted into 14,678,580 shares of common stock. A “fundamental transaction” means: (i) a merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another entity, (ii) any sale of all or substantially all of our assets in one transaction or a series of related transactions, or (iii) any reclassification of our Common Stock or any compulsory share exchange by which Common Stock is effectively converted into or exchanged for other securities, cash or property. Each share of Series A Preferred Stock will automatically convert into common stock upon the earlier of (i) notice by the Company to the holders that the Company has elected to convert all outstanding Series A Preferred Stock; provided however that in the event the Company elects to force automatic conversion pursuant to this clause (i), the conversion date for purposes of calculating the accrued dividend (as defined below) is deemed to be July 29, 2019, (ii) July 29, 2019, (iii) the approval of the Company’s MAT2203 product candidate by the FDA or the EMA (the “Regulatory Approval”) or (iv) the Regulatory Approval of the Company’s MAT2501 product candidate.

Beneficial Conversion Feature – Series A Preferred Stock (deemed dividend):

Prior to the automatic conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock on July 29, 2019, each share of Series A Preferred Stock was convertible into shares of common stock, at any time at the option of the holder at a conversion price of $0.50 per share.

Based on the guidance in ASC 470-20-20, the Company determined that a beneficial conversion feature existed, as the effective conversion price for the Series A Preferred Stock at issuance was less than the fair value of the common stock which the preferred shares are convertible into. A beneficial conversion feature based on the intrinsic value of the date of issuances for the Series A Preferred Stock was approximately $4.4 million.

Liquidity Value and Dividends:

Pursuant to the Certificate of Designation, the Series A Preferred Stock accrued dividends at a rate of 8.0% once per year on the first three anniversaries of July 29, 2016, which were paid to the holders of such Series A Preferred Stock in shares of common stock upon conversion. Dividends of approximately $1.8 million, representing 3,522,860 shares of common stock, were accrued as paid-in-kind through July 29, 2019, with $0.6 million accrued in each of 2019, 2018 and 2017.

MATINAS BIOPHARMA HOLDINGS, INC.
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Tabular dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)

Royalty:

The Series A Preferred Stock includes the right, as a group, to receive: (i) a royalty of 4.5% of the net sales of the Company’s MAT2203 and MAT2501 product candidates, in each case from and after the date, respectively, such product candidate has received FDA or EMA approval, and (ii) a royalty of 7.5% of the proceeds, if any, received by the Company in connection with the licensing or other disposition by the Company of MAT2203 and/or MAT2501 (“Royalty Payment Rights”). The royalty is payable so long as the Company has valid patents covering MAT2203 and MAT2501, as applicable. The Royalty Payment Rights are unsecured obligations of the Company. The royalty payment will be allocated to the holders based on their pro rata ownership of vested Series A Preferred Stock. The royalty rights that are part of the Series A Preferred Stock vested in equal thirds, on July 29, 2017, July 29, 2018, and July 29, 2019 (each a “Vesting Date”) Following the July 29, 2019 conversion of Series A Preferred Stock, the Royalty Payment Rights may be transferred subject to available exemption from registration under applicable securities laws. These rights were not separable free-standing instruments requiring bifurcation at the date of transaction. The Company may recognize a deemed dividend for the estimated fair value of the vested portion of Royalty Payment Rights in future periods. As of September 30, 2019, no accrual has been recorded for royalty payments as it is not probable at this time that any amount will be paid.

Series B Preferred Stock

On June 19, 2018, the Company entered into a placement agency agreement with ThinkEquity, a Division of Fordham Financial Management, Inc., as placement agent, relating to the offering, issuance and sale of up to 8,000 shares of the Company’s Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.0001 per share with a stated value of $1,000 per share which are convertible into an aggregate of up to 16,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at an initial conversion price of $0.50 per share. The offering also included up to an additional 7,200,000 shares of common stock issuable upon payment of dividends under the Series B Preferred Stock. The offering closed on June 21, 2018 raising a gross amount of $8 million with net proceeds of $7.1 million after deducting issuance costs. The placement agent received 7% commission on the gross proceeds, 1% of the gross proceeds to cover non-accountable expenses and 240,000 warrants fair valued at approximately $89,000 treated as a reduction to gross proceeds, that are exercisable over a 5-year period at an exercise price of $0.75 per share.

As of September 30, 2019, there were 4,620 shares of Series B Preferred Stock outstanding.

Conversion:

Optional Conversion. Subject to the Beneficial Ownership Limitation (defined below), each share of Series B Preferred Stock will be convertible into shares of the Company’s common stock at any time at the option of the holder at an initial conversion price of $0.50 per share subject to adjustment for reverse splits, stock combinations and similar changes as provided in the Certificate of Designation. Based on the current conversion price and number of shares outstanding, the Series B Preferred Stock is convertible into 9,240,000 shares of common stock. Dividends will not accrue and will not be paid following optional conversion. During the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, 199 and 997 shares, respectively, of Series B preferred stock were converted into shares of common stock.

Automatic Conversion. Subject to the Beneficial Ownership Limitation described below, each share of Series B Preferred Stock shall automatically convert into 2,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at an initial conversion price of $0.50 per share upon the earlier of (i) the first FDA approval of one of our product candidates, (ii) the 36-month anniversary of the of the filing of the Certificate of Designation for the Series B Preferred Stock with the Secretary of State of Delaware (the “COD Effective Date” which is June 19, 2018) or (iii) the consent to conversion by holders of at least 50.1% of the outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock. In the event the Series B Preferred Stock automatically converts into common stock prior to the 36 month anniversary of the COD Effective Date, the holder on the date of such conversion shall also be entitled to receive those dividends which would have been payable after the conversion date, as if the shares of Series B Preferred Stock had remained unconverted and outstanding through the 36 month anniversary of the COD Effective Date. Such dividend amount shall be payable as set forth above in shares of common stock upon such automatic conversion.

Beneficial Conversion Feature. The Optional and Automatic conversion features do not contain a BCF as the effective conversion price for the Series B Preferred Stock at issuance was equal to the fair value of the common stock into which the preferred shares are convertible into.

MATINAS BIOPHARMA HOLDINGS, INC.
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Tabular dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)

Beneficial Ownership Limitation. The Company may not affect any optional or automatic conversion of the Series B Preferred Stock, or issue shares of common stock as dividends and a holder does not have the right to convert any portion of the Series B Preferred Stock to the extent that, after giving effect to such conversion such holder would beneficially own in excess of the Beneficial Ownership Limitation, or such holder, together with such holder’s affiliates, and any persons acting as a group together with such holder or affiliates, would beneficially own in excess of the Beneficial Ownership Limitation. The “Beneficial Ownership Limitation” is 4.99% of the number of shares of the Company’s common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the issuance of shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of Series B Preferred Stock held by the applicable holder. A holder may, prior to issuance of the Series B Preferred Stock or, with 61 days prior notice to us, elect to increase or decrease the Beneficial Ownership Limitation; provided, however, that in no event may the Beneficial Ownership Limitation exceed 9.99%.

Liquidity Value and Dividends:

Dividends. Subject to the Beneficial Ownership Limitation described above, holders of the Series B Preferred Stock are entitled to receive dividends payable in the Company’s common stock as follows: (i) a number of shares of common stock equal to 10% of the shares of common stock underlying the Series B Preferred Stock then held by such holder on the 12 month anniversary of the COD Effective Date, (ii) a number of shares of common stock equal to 15% of the shares of common stock underlying the Series B Preferred Stock then held by such holder on the 24-month anniversary of the COD Effective Date and (iii) a number of shares of common stock equal to 20% of the shares of common stock underlying the Series B Preferred Stock then held by such holder on the 36-month anniversary of the COD Effective Date. In the event a purchaser in this offering no longer holds Series B Preferred Stock as of the 12-month anniversary, the 24-month anniversary or the 36-month anniversary, such purchaser will not be entitled to receive any dividends on such anniversary date. Based on an accounting of the holders of record of Series B Preferred Stock on June 19, 2019, the Company paid the 12-month anniversary dividend payment of 10%, totaling 946,000 shares of common stock.

In the event a fundamental transaction is consummated prior to the automatic conversion of the Series B Preferred Stock, the dividends will be accelerated and paid to the extent not previously paid. In addition, holders of Series B Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive dividends equal, on an as-if-converted to shares of common stock basis, and in the same form as dividends actually paid on shares of the common stock when, as, and if such dividends are paid on shares of the common stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that a holder’s right to participate in any dividend in shares of common stock to which such holder is entitled would result in such holder exceeding the Beneficial Ownership Limitation, then such holder shall not be entitled to participate in any such dividend to such extent and the portion of such shares that would cause such holder to exceed the Beneficial Ownership Limitation shall be held in abeyance for the benefit of such holder until such time, if ever, as such holder’s beneficial ownership thereof would not result in such holder exceeding the Beneficial Ownership Limitation.

Pursuant to its Certificate of Designation, the liquidation value of a share of Series B Preferred Stock is equal to the stated value of $1,000 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, combinations or other recapitalizations of the Series A Preferred Stock) plus any earned but unpaid dividends.

Warrants

The Company has issued two types of warrants: (i) investor warrants and (ii) placement agent warrants. All warrants are exercisable immediately upon issuance and have a five-year term. The warrants may be exercised at any time in whole or in part upon payment of the applicable exercise price until expiration. No fractional shares will be issued upon the exercise of the warrants. The exercise price and the number of shares purchasable upon the exercise of the investor warrants are subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events, which include stock dividends, stock splits, combinations and reclassifications of the Company’s capital stock or other similar changes to the equity structure of the Company.

For 20 million investor warrants issued in 2015, the Company may call the warrants at any time the common stock trades above $3.00 for twenty (20) consecutive days following the effectiveness of the registration statement covering the resale of the shares of common stock underlying the warrants, provided that the warrants can only be called if such registration statement is current and remains effective at the time of the call and provided further that the Company can only call the investor warrants for redemption, if it also calls all other warrants for redemption on the terms described above.

MATINAS BIOPHARMA HOLDINGS, INC.
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Tabular dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)

The placement agent warrants do not have a redemption feature. They may be exercised on a cashless basis at the Company’s option.

The investor warrants and placement agent warrants are classified as equity instruments.

As of September 30, 2019, the Company had outstanding warrants to purchase an aggregate of 5,799,429 shares of common stock at exercise prices ranging from $0.50 to $0.75 per share. A summary of warrants outstanding as of September 30, 2019 is presented below, all of which are fully vested:

* Weighted average exercise price for outstanding warrants is $0.61.

** Weighted average exercise price for outstanding warrants is $0.70.

Note 10 – Stock-based Compensation

The Company’s Amended and Restated 2013 Equity Compensation Plan (the “Plan”) provides for the granting of incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options, restricted stock units, performance units, and stock purchase rights. Options under the Plan may be granted at prices not less than 100% of the fair value of the shares on the date of grant as determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. The Compensation Committee determines the period over which the options become exercisable subject to certain restrictions as defined in the Plan, with the current outstanding options generally vesting over three or four years. The term of the options is no longer than ten years. As of September 30, 2019, the Company had 22,421,644 shares of common stock authorized for issuance under the Plan.

With the approval of the Board of Directors and a majority of shareholders, effective May 8, 2014, the Plan was amended and restated. The amendment provides for an automatic increase in the number of shares of common stock available for issuance under the Plan each January (with Board approval), commencing January 1, 2015 in an amount up to four percent (4%) of the total number of shares of common stock outstanding on the preceding December 31st.

The Company recognized stock-based compensation expense (options and restricted share grants) in its condensed consolidated statements of operations as follows:

MATINAS BIOPHARMA HOLDINGS, INC.
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Tabular dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)

The following table contains information about the Company’s stock plan at September 30, 2019:

The following table summarizes the Company’ stock option activity and related information for the period from December 31, 2018 to September 30, 2019 (options in thousands):

As of September 30, 2019, the number of vested shares underlying outstanding options was 11,313,021 at a weighted average exercise price of $1.16. The aggregate intrinsic value of in-the-money options outstanding as of September 30, 2019 was $0.6 million. As of September 30, 2019, there was approximately $3.9 million of total unrecognized share-based compensation. Such costs are expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of approximately 2.8 years.

All outstanding options expire ten years from date of grant. Options granted to employees prior to 2018 vest in equal monthly installments over three years. Beginning in 2018, options granted to employees vest over four years, with 25% of the shares vesting on the first annual anniversary of grant and the remaining shares vesting in 36 equal monthly installments over the following 3 years. A portion of options granted to consultants vests over four years, with the remaining vesting being based upon the achievement of certain performance milestones, which are tied to either financing or drug development initiatives.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, the Company granted restricted stock awards for 415,178 and 713,266 shares of common stock, respectively. These awards are typically granted to members of the Board of Directors as payment in lieu of cash fees or as payment to a vendor pursuant to a consulting agreement. The Company values restricted stock awards at the fair market value on the date of grant. The Company recorded the value of these restricted awards as general and administrative expense of approximately $238 thousand and $485 thousand in the condensed consolidated statement of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. As of September 30, 2019, there was $122 thousand of total unrecognized compensation costs related to 200,000 non-vested restricted stock grants which are expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 0.5 years.

MATINAS BIOPHARMA HOLDINGS, INC.
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Tabular dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)

The Company recognizes compensation expense for stock option awards and restricted stock awards on a straight-line basis over the applicable service period of the award. The service period is generally the vesting period, with the exception of awards granted subject to a vendor’s consulting agreement, whereby the award vesting period and the service period defined pursuant to the terms of the consulting agreement may be different. Beginning January 1, 2019, stock options issued to consultants are recorded at fair value on the date of grant and the award is recognized as an expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. The following weighted-average assumptions were used to calculate share-based compensation for the comparative periods presented:

The Company does not have sufficient historical information to develop reasonable expectations about future exercise patterns and post-vesting employment termination behavior. Accordingly, the Company has elected to use the “simplified method” described in Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) 107 to estimate the expected term of its stock-based awards.

The expected stock price volatility assumption is based the Company’s historical stock price volatility.

Note 11 - Subsequent Events

None

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

The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read together with our financial statements and the related notes and the other financial information included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those discussed below and elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 and in other reports we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, particularly those under “Risk Factors.” Dollars in tabular format are presented in thousands, except per share data, or otherwise indicated.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 under Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements include statements with respect to our beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, expectations, anticipations, assumptions, estimates, intentions and future performance, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may be beyond our control, and which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be forward-looking statements. You can identify these forward-looking statements through our use of words such as “may,” “can,” “anticipate,” “assume,” “should,” “indicate,” “would,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “expect,” “seek,” “estimate,” “continue,” “plan,” “point to,” “project,” “predict,” “could,” “intend,” “target,” “potential” and other similar words and expressions of the future.

There are a number of important factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statement made by us. These factors include, but are not limited to:

All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary notice. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this report or the date of the document incorporated by reference into this report. We have no obligation, and expressly disclaim any obligation, to update, revise or correct any of the forward- looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. We have expressed our expectations, beliefs and projections in good faith, and we believe they have a reasonable basis. However, we cannot assure you that our expectations, beliefs or projections will result or be achieved or accomplished.

Overview

We are a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on creating value through the development of our lead product candidate, MAT9001, a highly purified, prescription-only omega-3 free fatty acid formulation specifically designed for the treatment of cardiovascular and metabolic conditions and (ii) the application of our lipid nano-crystal (LNC) platform delivery technology to solve complex challenges relating to the delivery of small molecules, gene therapies, vaccines, proteins and peptides, including MAT2203, our lead product candidate based on the LNC technology. Based upon MAT9001’s unique mixture of highly purified omega-3 free fatty acids and our observations of MAT9001’s enhanced bioavailability and potency as compared to Amarin Corporation’s Vascepa® (icosapent ethyl) in our initial head-to-head pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD), or PK/PD, clinical study, we believe that the results of our forthcoming targeted clinical development activities and related clinical investigations may yield an improved therapeutic profile compared to currently-existing therapies.

We are focused on creating value through the strategic development of MAT9001 for the treatment of cardiovascular and metabolic conditions and the application of our LNC platform delivery technology to solve complex challenges relating to the delivery of small molecules, gene therapies, proteins/peptides, and vaccines. Key elements of our strategy include:

We have incurred losses for each period from our inception. For the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, our net loss was approximately $11.8 million and $10.5 million, respectively. We expect to incur significant expenses and operating losses over the next several years. Accordingly, we will need additional financing to support our continuing operations. We will seek to fund our operations through public or private equity offerings, debt financings, government or other third-party funding, collaborations and licensing arrangements. Adequate additional financing may not be available to us on acceptable terms, or at all. Our failure to raise capital as and when needed would impact our going concern and would have a negative impact on our financial condition and our ability to pursue our business strategy and continue as a going concern. We will need to generate significant revenues to achieve profitability, and we may never do so.

Financial Operations Overview

Revenue

During the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, we generated contract research revenue of approximately $90 thousand and $120 thousand, respectively, resulting from a grant with the Cystic Fibroses Foundation. Our ability to generate product revenue, which we do not expect to occur until 2023 at the earliest, if ever, will depend heavily on the successful development and eventual commercialization of our early-stage product candidates. The Company adopted ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC 606”) as of January 1, 2018 which did not result in any changes to the opening balances in our consolidated financial statements or amounts reported in the comparative period consolidated financial statements.

Research and Development Expenses

Research and development expenses consist of costs incurred for the development of product candidates and advancement of our LNC delivery technology platform, which include:

The table below summarizes our direct research and development expenses for our product candidates and development platform for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018. Our direct research and development expenses consist principally of external costs, such as fees paid to contractors, consultants, analytical laboratories and CROs and/or the NIH, in connection with our development work. We typically use our employee and infrastructure resources for manufacturing clinical trial materials, conducting product analysis, study protocol development and overseeing outside vendors. Included in “Internal Staffing, Overhead and Other” below is the cost of laboratory space, supplies, research and development (R&D) employee costs (including stock-based compensation), travel and medical education.

Research and development activities are central to our business model. We expect our research and development expenses to increase because product candidates in later stages of clinical development generally have higher development costs than those in earlier stages of clinical development, primarily due to the increased size and duration of later-stage human trials. In addition, we will look to strategically expand the use of our drug platform technology through additional development work. During 2019, we are focused on advancing our lead product candidate, MAT9001 into clinical development toward an initial indication for the treatment of severe hypertriglyceridemia, expanding application of our LNC delivery platform through collaborations with third parties, and driving MAT2203 to efficacy data in the treatment of cryptococcal meningitis.

General and Administrative Expenses

General and administrative expenses consist principally of salaries and related costs for personnel in executive and finance functions. Other general and administrative expenses include facility costs, insurance, investor relations expenses, professional fees for legal, patent review, consulting and accounting/audit services.

We anticipate that our general and administrative expenses will increase during 2019 due to the increased expenses related to our status as a publicly traded company, including expenses in support of compliance with the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act as well as investor relations, protection of our intellectual property and insurance costs.

Sale of New Jersey Net Operating Loss

Income obtained from selling unused net operating losses (“NOLs”) and unused research tax credits under the New Jersey Technology Business Tax Certificate Program was approximately $0 and $1.0 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively. We did not recognize any income from the sale of NOLs during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018.

Other Income, net

Other income, net is largely comprised of interest income/(expense), dividends and franchise taxes.

Application of Critical Accounting Policies

Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based on our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or U.S. GAAP. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities and expenses and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities in our consolidated financial statements. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates and judgments. We base our estimates on historical experience, known trends and events, and various other factors 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 from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

Our significant accounting policies are described in more detail in the notes to our consolidated financial statements appearing elsewhere in our 2018 Annual Report on Form 10-K. We believe the following accounting procedures to be most critical to the judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our financial statements.

Accrued Research and Development Expenses

As part of the process of preparing our financial statements, we are required to estimate our accrued expenses, particularly for product development costs. This process involves reviewing open contracts and purchase orders, communicating with our personnel to identify services that have been performed on our behalf and estimating the level of service performed and the associated cost incurred for the service when we have not yet been invoiced or otherwise notified of the actual cost. The majority of our service providers invoice us monthly in arrears for services performed or when contractual milestones are met. We make estimates of our accrued expenses as of each balance sheet date in our consolidated financial statements based on facts and circumstances known to us at that time. We periodically confirm the accuracy of our estimates with the service providers and make adjustments as necessary. Examples of estimated accrued research and development expenses include:

We base our expenses related to pre-clinical and human studies on our estimates of the services received and efforts expended pursuant to contracts with multiple development contractors that conduct and manage development work and studies on our behalf. The financial terms of these agreements are subject to negotiation, vary from contract to contract and may result in uneven payment flows. There may be instances in which payments made to our vendors will exceed the level of services provided and result in a prepayment of the clinical expense. Payments under some of these contracts may depend on factors such as the successful enrollment of subjects and the completion of specific study milestones. In accruing service fees, we will estimate the time period over which services will be performed, the completion of certain tasks, enrollment of subjects, study center activation and the level of effort to be expended in each period. If the actual timing of the performance of services or the level of effort varies from our estimate, we will adjust the accrual or prepayment accordingly. Although we do not expect our estimates to be materially different from amounts actually incurred, our understanding of the status and timing of services performed relative to the actual status and timing of services performed may vary and may result in us reporting amounts that are too high or too low in any particular period. Based on limited historical experience, actual results have not been materially different from our estimates.

Identifiable Intangible Assets

Identifiable intangible assets, composed of in-process research and development (“IPR&D”), are measured at fair values and are not amortized until commercialization of the underlying product candidate. Once commercialization occurs, these intangible assets will be amortized over their estimated useful lives. The fair values assigned to our intangible assets are based upon reasonable estimates and assumptions given available facts and circumstances. Unanticipated events or circumstances may occur that may require us to review the assets for impairment. Events or circumstances that may require an impairment assessment include negative clinical trial results, material delays in our development program or sustained decline in our market capitalization.

Indefinite-lived intangible assets are not subject to periodic amortization. Rather, indefinite-lived intangibles are reviewed for impairment on an annual basis or more frequently if events or circumstances indicate impairment may have occurred.

Research and Development Expenses

Research and development expenses are charged to operations as they are incurred.

Leases

On January 1, 2019, we adopted Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02 and its related amendments, which changed our accounting for leases. As a result of this change, we recognized right-of-use assets and lease liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet for all leases with a term longer than 12 months and classified them as either operating or finance leases. The right-of-use assets and lease liabilities have been measured by the present value of remaining lease payments over the lease term using our incremental borrowing rates or implicit rates, when readily determinable. See Note 1 and Note 6 of Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements contained elsewhere in this report for additional details related to our adoption of the new lease accounting standard.

Stock-Based Compensation

Option Grants

We account for all share-based compensation payments issued to employees, directors, and non-employees using an option pricing model for estimating fair value. Accordingly, share-based compensation expense is measured based on the estimated fair value of the awards on the date of grant. We recognize compensation expense for the portion of the award that is ultimately expected to vest on a straight-line basis over the period during which the recipient renders the required services. The Company accounts for forfeitures of all share-based awards as they occur.

Significant Factors, Assumptions and Methodologies Used in Determining Fair Value

We apply the fair value recognition provisions of ASC Topic 718, Compensation-Stock Compensation. We recognize share-based compensation expense ratably over the requisite service period, which in most cases is the vesting period of the award. Calculating the fair value of share-based awards requires that we make subjective assumptions.

We use the Black-Scholes option pricing model to value our stock option awards. Use of this valuation methodology requires that we make assumptions as to the volatility of our common stock, the expected term of our stock options, the risk-free interest rate for a period that approximates the expected term of our stock options and our expected dividend yield. As a publicly held company, we utilized our historical data to estimate expected stock price volatility.

We use the simplified method as prescribed by the Securities and Exchange Commission Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 107, Share-Based Payment, to calculate the expected term of stock option grants to employees as we do not have sufficient historical exercise data to provide a reasonable basis upon which to estimate the expected term of stock options granted to employees.

We recognize compensation expense for stock option awards on a straight-line basis over the applicable service period of the award. The service period is generally the vesting period, with the exception of options granted subject to a vendor consulting agreement, whereby the option vesting period and the service period defined pursuant to the terms of the consulting agreement may be different. Prior to January 1, 2019, stock options issued to consultants were revalued quarterly until fully vested, with any change in fair value expensed. Upon adoption of ASU No. 2018-07 on January 1, 2019, stock options issued to consultants are recorded at fair value on the date of grant and the award is recognized as an expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. For awards subject to performance conditions, the Company recognizes stock-based compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period when it is probable that the performance condition will be achieved. The following range of assumptions were used to value options granted for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 and to re-measure stock options issued to consultants: