NORTHWEST BIOTHERAPEUTICS INC - Quarter Report: 2023 September (Form 10-Q)
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
☒ | QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2023
OR
☐ | TRANSITION REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the transition period from ______to _______
Commission File Number: 001-35737
NORTHWEST BIOTHERAPEUTICS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware | 94-3306718 |
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
4800 Montgomery Lane, Suite 800, Bethesda, MD 20814
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(240) 497-9024
(Registrant’s telephone number)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer |
| ☒ | Accelerated filer |
| ☐ |
Non-accelerated filer |
| ☐ | Smaller reporting company |
| ☐ |
|
|
| Emerging growth company |
| ☐ |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒
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. ☐
Title of each class | Trading Symbol | Name of each exchange on which registered |
Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share | NWBO |
As of November 6, 2023, the total number of shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, outstanding was 1,153,846,907.
NORTHWEST BIOTHERAPEUTICS, INC.
FORM 10-Q
TABLE OF CONTENTS
3 | ||
Item 1. | Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements (Unaudited) | |
| ||
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022 | 3 | |
| ||
4 | ||
| ||
5 | ||
| ||
7 | ||
| ||
9 | ||
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations | 26 | |
|
| |
31 | ||
|
| |
32 | ||
33 | ||
33 | ||
|
| |
33 | ||
|
| |
33 | ||
|
| |
34 | ||
|
| |
34 | ||
| ||
34 | ||
|
| |
34 | ||
35 |
2
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
NORTHWEST BIOTHERAPEUTICS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
| September 30, |
| December 31, | |||
2023 | 2022 | |||||
(Unaudited) | ||||||
ASSETS |
|
|
| | | |
Current assets: |
|
|
|
| ||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 6,097 | $ | 6,965 | ||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
| 1,745 |
| 2,460 | ||
Share receivable | 610 | — | ||||
Total current assets |
| 8,452 |
| 9,425 | ||
|
| |||||
Non-current assets: |
|
|
|
| ||
Property, plant and equipment, net |
| 16,751 |
| 13,418 | ||
Construction in progress | — | 2,028 | ||||
Right-of-use asset, net | 4,014 | 4,189 | ||||
Indefinite-lived intangible asset | 1,292 | 1,292 | ||||
Goodwill | 626 | 626 | ||||
Other assets |
| 357 |
| 345 | ||
Total non-current assets |
| 23,040 |
| 21,898 | ||
| ||||||
TOTAL ASSETS | $ | 31,492 | $ | 31,323 | ||
|
| |||||
LIABILITIES, MEZZANINE EQUITY AND STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT |
|
|
|
| ||
Current liabilities: |
|
|
|
| ||
Accounts payable and accrued expenses | $ | 12,331 | $ | 10,687 | ||
Accounts payable and accrued expenses to related parties and affiliates |
| 4,716 |
| 6,955 | ||
Convertible notes, net |
| 3,451 |
| 135 | ||
Convertible notes at fair value | 10,250 | — | ||||
Notes payable, net |
| 8,198 |
| 15,403 | ||
Contingent payable derivative liability | 8,882 | 8,668 | ||||
Warrant liability |
| 1,019 |
| 80,559 | ||
Investor advances | 7 | 2,566 | ||||
Share liability | — | 678 | ||||
Lease liabilities | 369 | 354 | ||||
Total current liabilities |
| 49,223 |
| 126,005 | ||
|
| |||||
Non-current liabilities: |
|
|
|
| ||
Notes payable, net of current portion, net |
| 11,038 |
| 5,991 | ||
Lease liabilities, net of current portion | 4,134 | 4,370 | ||||
Contingent payment obligation | 4,550 | — | ||||
Total non-current liabilities |
| 19,722 |
| 10,361 | ||
|
| |||||
Total liabilities |
| 68,945 |
| 136,366 | ||
|
| |||||
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Note 12) |
|
|
| |||
|
|
| ||||
Mezzanine equity: |
| |||||
Series C Convertible Preferred Stock, 10,000,000 shares designated; 1.8 million and 1.4 million shares and as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively; aggregate liquidation preference of $26.0 million and $22.3 million as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively | 27,666 | 23,060 | ||||
Stockholders’ deficit: |
|
|
|
| ||
Preferred stock ($0.001 par value); 100,000,000 shares authorized as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively | ||||||
Common stock ($0.001 par value); 1,700,000,000 shares authorized; 1,145.1 million and 1,068.4 million shares and as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively |
| 1,145 |
| 1,068 | ||
Additional paid-in capital |
| 1,271,327 |
| 1,164,885 | ||
Stock subscription receivable |
| (79) |
| (79) | ||
Accumulated deficit |
| (1,340,802) |
| (1,297,122) | ||
Accumulated other comprehensive income |
| 3,290 |
| 3,145 | ||
Total stockholders’ deficit |
| (65,119) |
| (128,103) | ||
|
| |||||
TOTAL LIABILITIES, MEZZANINE EQUITY AND STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT | $ | 31,492 | $ | 31,323 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
3
NORTHWEST BIOTHERAPEUTICS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
For the three months ended | For the nine months ended | |||||||||||
September 30, | September 30, | |||||||||||
|
| 2023 |
| 2022 |
| 2023 |
| 2022 | ||||
Revenues: | ||||||||||||
Research and other | $ | 406 | $ | 206 | $ | 1,487 | $ | 1,086 | ||||
Total revenues | 406 | 206 | 1,487 | 1,086 | ||||||||
Operating costs and expenses: |
|
|
| |||||||||
Research and development | 7,201 | 7,694 | 20,276 | 26,159 | ||||||||
General and administrative | 7,030 | 8,130 | 21,577 | 23,930 | ||||||||
Total operating costs and expenses | 14,231 | 15,824 | 41,853 | 50,089 | ||||||||
Loss from operations | (13,825) | (15,618) | (40,366) | (49,003) | ||||||||
Other income (expense): |
|
|
| |||||||||
Change in fair value of derivative liabilities | (112) | (12,169) | 3,875 | (15,883) | ||||||||
Change in fair value of share receivable | 487 | — | 534 | — | ||||||||
Loss from extinguishment of debt | (1,768) | (456) | (3,648) | (156) | ||||||||
Interest expense | (1,670) | (1,512) | (3,999) | (4,847) | ||||||||
Foreign currency transaction loss | (1,692) | (3,097) | (76) | (6,845) | ||||||||
Total other loss | (4,755) | (17,234) | (3,314) | (27,731) | ||||||||
Net loss | (18,580) | (32,852) | (43,680) | (76,734) | ||||||||
Deemed dividend related to warrant modification | (519) | — | (1,433) | — | ||||||||
Net loss attributable to common stockholders | $ | (19,099) | $ | (32,852) | $ | (45,113) | $ | (76,734) | ||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
Other comprehensive income (loss) |
|
|
|
| ||||||||
Foreign currency translation adjustment | 1,397 | 2,773 | 145 | 5,956 | ||||||||
Total comprehensive loss | $ | (17,702) | $ | (30,079) | $ | (44,968) | $ | (70,778) | ||||
| | | |
|
| |||||||
Net loss per share applicable to common stockholders | | | | |
|
| ||||||
Basic | $ | (0.02) | $ | (0.03) | $ | (0.04) | $ | (0.08) | ||||
Diluted | $ | (0.02) | $ | (0.03) | $ | (0.04) | $ | (0.08) | ||||
| | | | |||||||||
Weighted average shares used in computing basic loss per share | 1,134,359 | 1,040,982 | 1,106,111 | 1,001,703 | ||||||||
Weighted average shares used in computing diluted loss per share | 1,134,359 | 1,040,982 | 1,106,111 | 1,001,703 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
4
NORTHWEST BIOTHERAPEUTICS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
(in thousands)
(Unaudited)
| For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mezzanine equity | Accumulated | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Series C Covertible | Additional | Other | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Preferred Stock | Common Stock | Paid-in | Subscription | Accumulated | Comprehensive | Stockholders’ | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares |
| Amount |
|
| Shares |
| Par value |
| Capital |
| Receivable |
| Deficit |
| Income |
| Deficit | ||||||||
Balances at July 1, 2023 |
| 1,546 |
| $ | 25,385 |
| 1,115,183 | $ | 1,115 | $ | 1,258,259 | $ | (79) | $ | (1,322,222) | $ | 1,893 | $ | (61,034) | |||||||
Issuance of Series C convertible preferred stock for cash |
| 405 |
| 5,143 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — | ||||||||
Issuance of Series C convertible preferred stock in lieu of debt redemption |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — | ||||||||
Series C convertible preferred stock conversion |
| (186) |
| (2,974) |
| 4,651 |
| 4 |
| 2,970 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 2,974 | ||||||||
Warrants exercised for cash |
| — |
| — |
| 128 |
| — |
| 32 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 32 | ||||||||
Cashless warrants and stock options exercise |
| — |
| — |
| 10,554 |
| 11 |
| (11) |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — | ||||||||
Issuance of common stock for conversion of debt and accrued interest |
| — |
| — |
| 12,403 |
| 13 |
| 7,907 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 7,920 | ||||||||
Stock-based compensation |
| 8 |
| 112 |
| 2,164 |
| 2 |
| 1,563 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 1,565 | ||||||||
Net loss |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (18,580) |
| — |
| (18,580) | ||||||||
Warrants modfication |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 1,126 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 1,126 | ||||||||
Deemed dividend related to warrants modification |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (519) |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (519) | ||||||||
Cumulative translation adjustment |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 1,397 |
| 1,397 | ||||||||
Balances at September 30, 2023 |
| 1,773 | $ | 27,666 |
| 1,145,083 | $ | 1,145 | $ | 1,271,327 | $ | (79) | $ | (1,340,802) | $ | 3,290 | $ | (65,119) |
For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Accumulated | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Series C Covertible | Additional | Other | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Preferred Stock | Common Stock | Paid-in | Subscription | Accumulated | Comprehensive | Stockholders’ | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares |
| Amount |
|
| Shares |
| Par value |
| Capital |
| Receivable |
| Deficit |
| Income |
| Deficit | ||||||||
Balances at July 1, 2022 | — |
| $ | — | 1,034,475 | $ | 1,034 | $ | 1,139,811 | $ | (79) | $ | (1,235,972) | $ | 3,540 | $ | (91,666) | |||||||||
Issuance of Series C convertible preferred stock for cash | 704 |
| 10,904 | — |
| — |
| — | — |
| — |
| — |
| — | |||||||||||
Issuance of Series C convertible preferred stock in lieu of debt redemption | 126 |
| 1,978 | — |
| — |
| — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
Issuance of Series C convertible preferred stock by common stock warrant exercise | 55 |
| 329 | — |
| — |
| — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
Warrants exercised for cash | — |
| — | 1,926 |
| 2 |
| 428 | — |
| — |
| — |
| 430 | |||||||||||
Reclassification of warrant liabilities related to warrants exercised for cash | — | 535 | — | — | 2,402 | — | — | — | 2,402 | |||||||||||||||||
Cashless warrants and stock options exercised | — |
| — | 5,321 |
| 5 |
| (5) | — |
| — |
| — |
| — | |||||||||||
Reclassification of warrant liabilities related to cashless warrants exercise | — |
| — | — |
| — |
| 1,421 | — |
| — |
| — |
| 1,421 | |||||||||||
Issuance of common stock for conversion of debt and accrued interest | — |
| — | 6,892 |
| 7 |
| 5,274 | — |
| — |
| — |
| 5,281 | |||||||||||
Stock-based compensation | — |
| — | 2,636 |
| 3 |
| 3,358 | — |
| — |
| — |
| 3,361 | |||||||||||
Fractional shares adjustment | — | — | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
Net loss | — |
| — | — |
| — |
| — | — |
| (32,852) |
| — |
| (32,852) | |||||||||||
Cumulative translation adjustment | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| — |
| 2,773 |
| 2,773 | ||||||||||||||
Balances at September 30, 2022 | 885 | | $ | 13,746 | | | 1,051,260 | | $ | 1,051 | | $ | 1,152,689 | $ | (79) | $ | (1,268,824) | $ | 6,313 | $ | (108,850) |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
5
NORTHWEST BIOTHERAPEUTICS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
(in thousands)
(Unaudited)
For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mezzanine equity | Accumulated | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Series C Covertible | Additional | Other | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Preferred Stock | Common Stock | Paid-in | Subscription | Accumulated | Comprehensive | Stockholders’ | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares |
| Amount |
|
| Shares |
| Par value |
| Capital |
| Receivable |
| Deficit |
| Income |
| Deficit | ||||||||
Balances at January 1, 2023 |
| 1,415 | $ | 23,060 | 1,068,394 | $ | 1,068 |
| $ | 1,164,885 |
| $ | (79) | $ | (1,297,122) |
| $ | 3,145 | $ | (128,103) | ||||||
Issuance of Series C convertible preferred stock for cash | 729 | 9,899 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
Issuance of Series C convertible preferred stock in lieu of debt redemption |
| 56 | 1,013 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||
Series C convertible preferred stock conversion |
| (443) | (6,536) | 11,081 | 11 | 6,525 | — | — | — | 6,536 | ||||||||||||||||
Warrants exercised for cash | — | — | 12,448 | 12 | 2,789 | — | — | — | 2,801 | |||||||||||||||||
Cashless warrants and stock options exercise | — | — | 20,433 | 21 | (21) | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
Reclassification of warrant liabilities to stockholders’ deficit | — | — | — | — | 76,258 | — | — | — | 76,258 | |||||||||||||||||
Issuance of common stock for conversion of debt and accrued interest | — | — | 27,563 | 28 | 17,456 | — | — | — | 17,484 | |||||||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation | 16 | 230 | 5,164 | 5 | 2,668 | — | — | — | 2,673 | |||||||||||||||||
Net loss |
| — | — | — | — |
| — |
| — | (43,680) |
| — | (43,680) | |||||||||||||
Warrants modfication |
| — | — | — | — | 2,200 | — | — | — | 2,200 | ||||||||||||||||
Deemed dividend related to warrants modification |
| — | — | — | — | (1,433) | — | — | — | (1,433) | ||||||||||||||||
Cumulative translation adjustment |
| — | — | — | — |
| — |
| — | — |
| 145 | 145 | |||||||||||||
Balances at September 30, 2023 |
| 1,773 | $ | 27,666 | 1,145,083 | $ | 1,145 | $ | 1,271,327 | $ | (79) | $ | (1,340,802) | $ | 3,290 | $ | (65,119) |
For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Accumulated | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Series C Covertible | Additional | Other | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Preferred Stock | Common Stock | Paid-in | Subscription | Accumulated | Comprehensive | Stockholders’ | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares |
| Amount |
|
| Shares |
| Par value |
| Capital |
| Receivable |
| Deficit |
| Income |
| Deficit | ||||||||
Balances at January 1, 2022 | — | $ | — | 948,445 | $ | 948 | $ | 1,066,873 | $ | (79) | $ | (1,192,090) | $ | 357 | $ | (123,991) | ||||||||||
Issuance of Series C convertible preferred stock for cash |
| 704 | 10,904 | — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — | — | — | ||||||||||||
Issuance of Series C convertible preferred stock in lieu of debt redemption | 126 | 1,978 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
Issuance of Series C convertible preferred stock by common stock warrant exercise | 55 | 329 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
Issuance of common stock for cash | — | — | 13,147 | 13 | 9,676 | — | — | — | 9,689 | |||||||||||||||||
Warrants exercised for cash | — | — | 40,929 | 41 | 9,945 | — | — | — | 9,986 | |||||||||||||||||
Reclassification of warrant liabilities related to warrants exercised for cash | — | 535 | — | — | 22,090 | — | — | — | 22,090 | |||||||||||||||||
Cashless warrants and stock options exercise | — | — | 34,224 | 34 | (34) | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
Reclassification of warrant liabilities related to cashless warrants exercise | — | — | — | — | 26,800 | — | — | — | 26,800 | |||||||||||||||||
Issuance of common stock for conversion of debt and accrued interest | — | — | 10,374 | 11 | 7,602 | — | — | — | 7,613 | |||||||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation |
| — | — | 4,141 |
| 4 |
| 9,737 |
| — |
| — | — | 9,741 | ||||||||||||
Net loss | — | — | — | — | — | — | (76,734) | — | (76,734) | |||||||||||||||||
Cumulative translation adjustment |
| — | — | — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — | 5,956 | 5,956 | ||||||||||||
Balances at September 30, 2022 |
| 885 | $ | 13,746 | 1,051,260 | $ | 1,051 | $ | 1,152,689 | $ | (79) | $ | (1,268,824) | $ | 6,313 | $ | (108,850) |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
6
NORTHWEST BIOTHERAPEUTICS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
(Unaudited)
For the nine months ended | ||||||
September 30, | ||||||
| 2023 |
| 2022 | |||
Cash Flows from Operating Activities: |
| |||||
Net loss | $ | (43,680) | $ | (76,734) | ||
Reconciliation of net loss to net cash used in operating activities: | ||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 1,101 | 934 | ||||
Amortization of debt discount | 2,006 | 2,111 | ||||
Change in fair value of derivatives | (3,875) | 15,883 | ||||
Change in fair value of share receivable | (534) | — | ||||
Loss from extinguishment of debt | 3,648 | 156 | ||||
Amortization of operating lease right-of-use asset | 211 | 184 | ||||
Stock-based compensation for services | 2,833 | 9,741 | ||||
Warrant modifications associated with convertible notes under fair value option | 287 | — | ||||
Subtotal of non-cash charges | 5,677 | 29,009 | ||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | ||||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 802 | (310) | ||||
Other non-current assets | (13) | 633 | ||||
Accounts payable and accrued expenses | 2,657 | 1,251 | ||||
Related party accounts payable and accrued expenses | (2,239) | 2,127 | ||||
Lease liabilities | 117 | 98 | ||||
Net cash used in operating activities | (36,679) | (43,926) | ||||
Cash Flows from Investing Activities: | ||||||
Purchase of equipment and construction in progress | (3,019) | (742) | ||||
Net cash used in investing activities | (3,019) | (742) | ||||
Cash Flows from Financing Activities: | ||||||
Proceeds from issuance of Series C convertible preferred stock | 9,899 | 10,904 | ||||
Proceeds from issuance of Series C convertible preferred stock by common stock warrant exercise, net of debt redemption | — | 52 | ||||
Proceeds from issuance of common stock | — | 9,465 | ||||
Proceeds from exercise of warrants | 1,598 | 9,986 | ||||
Proceeds from investor advance | 7 | — | ||||
Proceeds from issuance of notes payable, net | 10,000 | 5,600 | ||||
Proceeds from issuance of convertible notes payable, net | 12,699 | — | ||||
Proceeds from contingent payment obligation | 4,550 | — | ||||
Repayment of notes payable | (210) | (5,390) | ||||
Repayment of investor advances | (200) | — | ||||
Net cash provided by financing activities | 38,343 | 30,617 | ||||
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents | 487 | 8,307 | ||||
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents | (868) | (5,744) | ||||
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of the period | 6,965 | 15,169 | ||||
Cash and cash equivalents, end of the period | $ | 6,097 | $ | 9,425 | ||
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information | ||||||
Interest payments on notes payable | $ | (30) | $ | (912) |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements
7
NORTHWEST BIOTHERAPEUTICS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
(Unaudited)
| For the nine months ended | |||||
September 30, | ||||||
| 2023 |
| 2022 | |||
Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing and financing activities: |
|
|
| | | |
Cashless warrants and stock options exercise | $ | 21 | $ | 34 | ||
Reclassification of warrant liabilities related to warrants exercised for cash | $ | — | $ | 22,625 | ||
Reclassification of warrant liabilities to stockholders’ deficit | $ | 76,258 | $ | — | ||
Reclassification of warrant liabilities related to cashless warrants exercise | $ | — | $ | 26,800 | ||
Reclassisifcation of investor advances to convertible notes payable | $ | 1,163 | $ | — | ||
Reclassisifcation of investor advances to stockholders’ deficit | $ | 1,203 | $ | — | ||
Issuance of common stock for conversion of debt and accrued interest | $ | 17,484 | $ | 7,054 | ||
Issuance of Series C convertible preferred stock in lieu of debt redemption | $ | 1,013 | $ | 1,978 | ||
Exercise common stock warrants by debt redemption | $ | — | $ | 277 | ||
Series C convertible preferred stock conversion | $ | 6,536 | $ | — | ||
Capital expenditures included in accounts payable | $ | 71 | $ | 4 | ||
Reclassification between shares payable and equity | $ | — | $ | 250 | ||
Deemed dividend related to warrant modification | $ | 1,433 | $ | — |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
8
1. Organization and Description of Business
Northwest Biotherapeutics, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries Flaskworks, Northwest Biotherapeutics Limited (formerly known as Aracaris Ltd), Aracaris Capital, Ltd, Northwest Biotherapeutics B.V., and NW Bio GmbH (collectively, the “Company”, “we”, “us” and “our”) were organized to discover and develop innovative immunotherapies for cancer. The Company has developed DCVax® platform technologies for both operable and inoperable solid tumor cancers. The Company has wholly owned subsidiaries in Boston, the U.K., the Netherlands and Germany. On August 28, 2020, the Company acquired Flaskworks, LLC (“Flaskworks”), a company that has developed a system designed to close and automate the manufacturing of cell therapy products such as DCVax®. On July 24, 2023, the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary changed its name from Aracaris Ltd to Northwest Biotherapeutics Limited.
The Company relies upon contract manufacturers for production of its DCVax products, research and development services, distribution and logistics, and related services, in compliance with the Company’s specifications and the applicable regulatory requirements.
The Company has completed a Phase 3 clinical trial of its DCVax®-L product for glioblastoma brain cancer, has publicly reported the results in a peer reviewed publication in a medical journal as well as at a medical conference, and is working on final preparations for filing an application for regulatory approval of the product.
2. Financial Condition, Going Concern and Management Plans
The Company has incurred annual net operating losses since its inception. The Company had a net loss of $45.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023. The Company used approximately $36.7 million of cash in its operating activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2023.
The Company does not expect to generate material revenue in the near future from the sale of products and is subject to all of the risks and uncertainties that are typically faced by biotechnology companies that devote substantially all of their efforts to research and development (“R&D”) and clinical trials and do not yet have commercial products. The Company expects to continue incurring annual losses for the foreseeable future. The Company’s existing liquidity is not sufficient to fund its operations, anticipated capital expenditures, working capital and other financing requirements until the Company reaches significant revenues. Until that time, the Company will need to obtain additional equity and/or debt financing, especially if the Company experiences downturns in its business that are more severe or longer than anticipated, or if the Company experiences significant increases in expense levels resulting from being a publicly-traded company or from expansion of operations. If the Company attempts to obtain additional equity or debt financing, the Company cannot assume that such financing will be available to the Company on favorable terms, or at all.
Because of recurring operating losses and operating cash flow deficits, there is substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern for at least one year from the date of this filing. The consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern, however, they do not include any adjustments to reflect the possible future effects on the recoverability and classification of assets, or the amounts and classification of liabilities that may result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
3. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. Certain immaterial reclassifications have been made to prior period amounts to conform to the current period presentation.
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with the accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and pursuant to the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 8 of Regulation S-X of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and on the same basis as the Company uses to prepare its annual audited consolidated financial statements. The condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2023, condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, condensed consolidated statement of stockholders’ deficit for the three and nine months ended September
9
30, 2023 and 2022, and the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 are unaudited, but include all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, which the Company considers necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position, operating results and cash flows for the periods presented. The results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the year ending December 31, 2023 or for any future interim period. The condensed consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2022 has been derived from audited financial statements; however, it does not include all of the information and notes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2022 and notes thereto included in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K (the “2022 Annual Report”), which was filed with the SEC on February 28, 2023.
Use of Estimates
In preparing condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP, management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting period. Due to inherent uncertainty involved in making estimates, actual results reported in future periods may be affected by changes in these estimates.
On an ongoing basis, the Company evaluates its estimates and judgments, including valuing equity securities in share-based payment arrangements, estimating the fair value of financial instruments recorded as derivative liabilities, useful lives of depreciable assets, and whether impairment charges may apply. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that it believes to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results could differ from those estimates, particularly given the significant social and economic disruptions and uncertainties associated with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic (“COVID-19”) and the COVID-19 control responses.
Significant Accounting Policies
There have been no material changes in the Company’s significant accounting policies from those previously disclosed in the 2022 Annual Report other than those discussed below.
Sequencing
The Company adopted a sequencing policy under ASC 815-40-35 to determine if reclassification of contracts from equity to liabilities is necessary pursuant to ASC 815 due to the Company’s inability to demonstrate it has sufficient authorized shares. Certain contracts were classified as liabilities as the result of the instruments containing a potentially indeterminable number of shares and, most recently, due to the Company entering into agreements providing for the potential issuance of more shares than authorized. While temporary suspensions are in place to keep the potential exercises beneath the number authorized, certain instruments are classified as liabilities, after allocating available authorized shares on the basis of the earliest grant date of potentially dilutive instruments. Pursuant to ASC 815, issuance of stock-based awards to the Company’s employees, non-employees or directors are not subject to the sequencing policy.
On January 9, 2023, the Company filed a Certificate of Amendment of its Seventh Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Certificate of Amendment”) with the Secretary of the State of Delaware, which effected an increase in the Company’s authorized shares of common stock, from 1.2 billion to 1.7 billion, par value $0.001 per share. As a result of this increase in authorized shares, the liability-classified warrants were reclassified to equity. Approximately 141 million warrants, with a value of approximately $76.3 million, to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock were reclassified from liabilities to equity on January 9, 2023. The remaining balance of $1.0 million in warrant liability as of September 30, 2023 was related to certain conditional rights to independently purchase shares from the Company in a future raise of capital (the “Piggy-back Rights”).
Modification of Equity Classified Warrants
A change in the terms or conditions of a warrant is accounted for as a modification. For a warrant modification accounted for under ASC 815, the effect of a modification shall be measured as the difference between the fair value of the modified warrant and the fair value of the original warrant immediately before its terms are modified, with each measured on the modification date. The accounting for incremental fair value of the modified warrants over the original warrants is based on the specific facts and circumstances related to
10
the modification. When a modification is directly attributable to an equity offering, the incremental change in fair value of the warrants is accounted for as an equity issuance cost. When a modification is directly attributable to a debt offering, the incremental change in fair value of the warrants is accounted for as a debt discount or debt issuance cost. For all other modifications, the incremental change in fair value is recognized as a deemed dividend.
Convertible Notes under Fair Value Option
The Company accounts for certain convertible notes issued in August and September 2023 on an instrument-by-instrument basis under the fair value option (“FVO”) election of ASC Topic 825, Financial Instruments (“ASC 825”). The convertible notes accounted for under the FVO election are each debt host financial instruments containing embedded features wherein the entire financial instrument is initially measured at its issue-date estimated fair value and then subsequently remeasured at estimated fair value on a recurring basis at each reporting period date. Changes in the estimated fair value of the convertible notes are recorded as a component of Other (expense) income in the consolidated statements of operations, except that the change in estimated fair value attributable to a change in the instrument-specific credit risks is recognized as a component of other comprehensive income. As a result of electing the FVO, issuance costs related to the convertible notes are expensed as incurred.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted
Fair Value Measurement of Equity Securities Subject to Contractual Sale Restrictions
In June 2022, the FASB issued ASU 2022-03, ASC Subtopic 820 “Fair Value Measurement of Equity Securities Subject to Contractual Sale Restrictions”. The FASB is issuing this Update (1) to clarify the guidance in Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement, when measuring the fair value of an equity security subject to contractual restrictions that prohibit the sale of an equity security, (2) to amend a related illustrative example, and (3) to introduce new disclosure requirements for equity securities subject to contractual sale restrictions that are measured at fair value in accordance with Topic 820.
For public business entities, the amendments in this Update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted for both interim and annual financial statements that have not yet been issued or made available for issuance.
The Company is still evaluating the impact of this pronouncement on the consolidated financial statements.
4. Fair Value Measurements
In accordance with ASC 820 (Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures), the Company uses various inputs to measure the fair value of liabilities related to certain embedded conversion features associated with convertible debt, share liability (receivable), and the contingent payable to Cognate BioServices on a recurring basis to determine the fair value of these liabilities. The Company also elects the FVO for certain eligible financial instruments, such as convertible notes, in order to simplify the accounting treatment.
ASC 820 establishes a hierarchy categorizing inputs into three levels used to measure and disclose fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices available in active markets and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs. An explanation of each level in the hierarchy is described below:
Level 1 - Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical instruments that are accessible by the Company on the measurement date.
Level 2 - Quoted prices in markets that are not active or inputs which are either directly or indirectly observable.
Level 3 - Unobservable inputs for the instrument requiring the development of assumptions by the Company.
11
The following table classifies the Company’s liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis into the fair value hierarchy as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022 (in thousands):
| Fair value measured at September 30, 2023 | |||||||||||
|
| Quoted prices in active |
| Significant other |
| Significant | ||||||
| Fair value at | markets | observable inputs | unobservable inputs | ||||||||
September 30, 2023 |
| (Level 1) |
| (Level 2) |
| (Level 3) | ||||||
Share receivable | $ | 610 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 610 | ||||
Warrant liability | $ | 1,019 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 1,019 | ||||
Contingent payable derivative liability | 8,882 | — | — | 8,882 | ||||||||
Convertible notes |
| 10,250 |
|
|
| 10,250 | ||||||
Total fair value | $ | 20,151 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 20,151 |
| Fair value measured at December 31, 2022 | |||||||||||
|
| Quoted prices in active |
| Significant other |
| Significant | ||||||
Fair value at | markets | observable inputs | unobservable inputs | |||||||||
| December 31, 2022 |
| (Level 1) |
| (Level 2) |
| (Level 3) | |||||
Warrant liability | $ | 80,559 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 80,559 | ||||
Embedded redemption option |
| 807 |
| — |
| — |
| 807 | ||||
Contingent payable derivative liability | 8,668 | — | — | 8,668 | ||||||||
Share liability |
| 678 |
|
|
| 678 | ||||||
Total fair value | $ | 90,712 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 90,712 |
There were no transfers between Level 1, 2 or 3 during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2023.
The following table presents changes in Level 3 liabilities measured at fair value for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2023. Both observable and unobservable inputs were used to determine the fair value of positions that the Company has classified within the Level 3 category. Unrealized gains and losses associated with liabilities within the Level 3 category include changes in fair value that were attributable to both observable (e.g., changes in market interest rates) and unobservable (e.g., changes in unobservable long- dated volatilities) inputs (in thousands).
Warrant | Embedded | Contingent Payable | Liability | Convertible | ||||||||||||||
| Liability |
| Redemption Option |
| Derivative Liability |
| (Receivable) |
| Notes |
| Total | |||||||
Balance - January 1, 2023 | $ | 80,559 | $ | 807 | $ | 8,668 | $ | 678 | $ | — | $ | 90,712 | ||||||
Additional share liability | — | — | — | 508 | — | 508 | ||||||||||||
Additional convertible notes at fair value | — | — | — | — | 10,250 | 10,250 | ||||||||||||
Redemption of share liability | — | — | — | (1,262) | — | (1,262) | ||||||||||||
Reclassification of warrant liabilities | (76,258) | — | — | — | — | (76,258) | ||||||||||||
Change in fair value | (3,282) | (807) | 214 | (534) | — | (4,409) | ||||||||||||
Balance - September 30, 2023 | $ | 1,019 | (1) | $ | — | $ | 8,882 | $ | (610) | $ | 10,250 | $ | 19,541 |
(1) | The remaining balance of $1.0 million in warrant liability as of September 30, 2023 was related to certain conditional rights to independently purchase shares from the Company in a future raise of capital (the “Piggy-back Rights”). The Company accounted for the Piggy-back Rights as a freestanding financial instrument, which was classified as a liability at fair value on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. |
(2) | The convertible notes issued between August and September 2023 with a principal amount of $10.3 million at September 30, 2023 were accounted for using the FVO election. Under the FVO election, the financial instrument is initially measured at its issue-date estimated fair value and subsequently re-measured at estimated fair value on a recurring basis at each reporting period date. Items for which the FVO has been elected are presented at fair value in the condensed consolidated balance sheets. The change in fair value for the three months ended September 30, 2023 was de-minimis. |
12
On January 9, 2023, the Company reclassified the fair value of the warrant liability of $76.3 million into the additional paid-in capital. The change in fair value of the common stock warrant liability of $2.3 million between December 31, 2022 and January 9, 2023 is reflected in “Change in fair value of derivative liabilities” in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2023.
A summary of the weighted average (in aggregate) significant unobservable inputs (Level 3 inputs) used in measuring the Company’s warrant liabilities and embedded conversion feature that are categorized within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy as of September 30, 2023, January 9, 2023 (the reclassification date) and December 31, 2022 is as follows:
| As of September 30, 2023 |
| As of January 9, 2023 |
| ||||||
Share | Contingent Payable | Warrant | ||||||||
Receivable | Derivative Liability | Liability | ||||||||
Strike price | $ | 0.56 | $ | 0.91 | * | $ | 0.31 | |||
Contractual term (years) |
| 0.04 |
| 1.13 |
| 1.46 | ||||
Volatility (annual) |
| 73 | % |
| 73 | % | 87 | % | ||
Risk-free rate |
| 5.6 | % |
| 5.5 | % | 4.3 | % | ||
Dividend yield (per share) |
| 0 | % |
| 0 | % | 0 | % |
As of December 31, 2022 |
| |||||||||
| Warrant |
| Share |
| Contingent Payable |
| ||||
| Liability |
| Liability | Derivative Liability |
| |||||
Strike price | $ | 0.31 | $ | 0.78 | * | $ | 0.78 | * | ||
Contractual term (years) |
| 1.5 | 0.1 |
| 0.6 | |||||
Volatility (annual) |
| 86 | % | 76 | % |
| 77 | % | ||
Risk-free rate |
| 4.3 | % | 2.0 | % |
| 4.8 | % | ||
Dividend yield (per share) |
| 0 | % | 0 | % |
| 0 | % |
* | The strike price assumes the current stock price as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022 |
The key unobservable inputs for Piggy-back rights that was included in the warrant liability as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022 was the assumption of the estimated remaining life which was based on the estimate of the next qualified financing.
5. Stock-based Compensation
The following table summarizes total stock-based compensation expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 (in thousands).
| For the three months ended | | For the nine months ended | |||||||||
September 30, | September 30, | |||||||||||
| 2023 |
| 2022 |
| 2023 |
| 2022 | |||||
Research and development | $ | 1,118 | $ | 921 | $ | 1,562 | $ | 2,072 | ||||
Research and development - related party | ||||||||||||
Milestones achieved (1) | 9 | 195 | 578 | 2,120 | ||||||||
Future milestones (2) | 24 | 1,205 | 115 | 4,620 | ||||||||
General and administrative |
| 471 |
| 1,040 |
| 578 |
| 929 | ||||
Total stock-based compensation expense | $ | 1,622 | $ | 3,361 | $ | 2,833 | $ | 9,741 |
The related party amounts were for milestone incentives that either were earned or are deemed probable to be achieved in the future and become issuable at that time (as detailed below in Restricted Stock Awards).
(1) | During the nine months ended September 30, 2023, the Company recognized the remaining $0.6 million stock-based compensation related to the achieved milestones (obtaining a commercial manufacturing license from the MHRA and completion of drafting key |
13
portions of the application for product approval). The Company had previously recognized $2.6 million stock-based compensation related to these two milestones as of December 31, 2022. |
The $2.1 million expense recognized in 2022 covered 3 one-time milestones: 2 required licenses for the Sawston facility (licenses from the Human Tissue Authority and from the MHRA for manufacturing for clinical trials and compassionate use cases) and a workstream related to Fill/Finish.
(2) | During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, the Company recognized and expensed (but did not issue shares for) the pro-rata portion of the remaining one-time milestone stock awards for submission the application for product approval to MHRA of $24,000 and $0.1 million, respectively. |
During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, the Company recognized and expensed (but did not issue shares for) the pro-rata portion of 6 one-time milestones (partly stock): 5 workstreams (Comparability, Stability, Potency, Product Profile and Mechanism of Action) and one-time milestone for drafting and submission of key portions of the application for product approval of $1.2 million and $4.6 million, respectively.
The Black-Scholes option pricing model is used to estimate the fair value of stock options granted. The weighted average assumptions used in calculating the fair values of stock options that were granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 was as follows:
For the nine months ended |
| ||||||
September 30, |
| ||||||
| 2023 |
| 2022 |
| |||
Exercise price | $ | 0.51 | $ | 0.65 | |||
Expected term (years) |
| 6.4 |
| 3.9 | |||
Expected stock price volatility |
| 84 | % |
| 99 | % | |
Risk-free rate |
| 4.5 | % |
| 3.3 | % | |
Dividend yield (per share) |
| 0 | % |
| 0 | % |
The total unrecognized stock compensation (primarily for consultants) cost was approximately $6.2 million as of September 30, 2023 and will be recognized over the next 1.9 years.
Stock Options
The following table summarizes stock option activity for options granted to key external experts during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 (amount in thousands, except per share number):
Weighted Average | ||||||||||
Weighted | Remaining | |||||||||
Number of | Average | Contractual Life | Total Intrinsic | |||||||
| Shares |
| Exercise Price |
| (in years) |
| Value | |||
Outstanding as of January 1, 2023 |
| 301,263 | $ | 0.34 | 7.0 | $ | 135,225 | |||
Granted(1) | 20,220 | 0.51 | 6.3 | — | ||||||
Cashless exercised | (2,507) | 0.45 | — | — | ||||||
Expired | (300) | 0.83 | — | — | ||||||
Outstanding as of September 30, 2023 |
| 318,676 | $ | 0.34 | 6.3 | $ | 180,794 | |||
Options vested (2) |
| 281,209 | $ | 0.33 | 6.3 | $ | 163,974 |
(1) | During the nine months ended September 30, 2023, the Company granted 20.2 million stock options (the “2023 Options”) with an exercise price ranging from $0.47 to $0.57 per share, to key external consultants who provide services to the Company. The 2023 Options contain both service and performance vesting conditions, which will vest over a service period, generally during the term of consulting agreement, or upon achievement of specific milestones. |
14
(2) | An aggregate 153 million stock options held by Ms. Linda Powers, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, and Mr. Leslie Goldman, the Company’s Senior Vice President, General Consul are subject to an agreement (the “Blocker Letter Agreement”) under which they cannot exercise any options or warrants except upon at least 61 days’ prior notice. |
Restricted Stock Awards
Advent SOW 6
As previously reported, during April 2022, the Company’s Board approved, and the Company entered into a Statement of Work #6 (the “SOW 6”) with Advent BioServices, a related party of the Company, for five workstreams that are prerequisites for an application for regulatory approval of DCVax-L, for three required licenses for the Sawston facility and for drafting of key portions of the application for approval. The SOW provides for baseline costs and for one-time milestone incentives for successful completion of each of the workstreams, for the completion and submission of each application for product approval, and for obtaining regulatory approval of each of the three Sawston licenses. The milestone incentives will be a combination of cash and stock and are not paid until they are achieved. As also previously reported, the Company amended the SOW6 on September 26, 2022 (the “Amended SOW6”) to (1) extend the service period through September 30, 2023, and (2) clarify the assessment and application of the milestones, and (3) add a sixth workstream. (The potential cost for all unearned stock awards for milestones not yet achieved was re-measured on the modification date and will be further re-measured until the date the milestone award is achieved and the stock awards are earned.) If all of the 10 one-time milestones are achieved (i.e., for all six workstreams that are prerequisites for an application for product approval, for obtaining all three licenses required for the Sawston facility, and for the completion of key portions of the application for product approval), the aggregate stock-based compensation under the Amended SOW 6 will be 13.5 million shares (including the shares already earned and issued for the milestones already achieved) for an aggregate fair value of $10.1 million.
As of December 31, 2022, seven milestones were completed, including five workstreams and the regulatory approvals of two licenses required for the Sawston facility. An eighth milestone was partly completed and the stock component of that milestone was earned, but the cash portion of that eighth milestone was not yet earned.
On September 26, 2023, the Company further amended the SOW 6 (the “Second Amended SOW 6”) to extend the service period through March 31, 2024. As of the amendment date, the remaining unvested one-time milestone for submission of the application to MHRA for approval of DCVax-L was accounted as a Type I modification (probable to probable under FASB ASC Topic 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation (“ASC 718”). The previously remaining unrecognized compensation expense for total $17,000 is expected to be fully recognized by end of November 2023.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2023, milestones related to the workstream for Mechanism of Action, obtaining the commercial manufacturing license from the MHRA and completion of key portions of the application for product approval were completed. For this manufacturing license milestone, the Company recognized the remaining $0.5 million in expense in the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss and issued 3.0 million common shares. For the completion of the drafting of the MHRA application milestone, the Company recognized the remaining $0.1 million in expense in the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss and issued 1.5 million common shares.
Employee Compensation
In August 2023, the Company issued 0.6 million shares of common stock as a bonus payment to two staff employees. These shares were fully vested on the grant date. However, 0.3 million shares are subject to lock-up restrictions, prohibiting their sale or transfer within six months of the grant date. The Company recognized $0.3 million stock-based compensation which is based on the Company’s closing stock price on the grant date.
Other Service Agreement
During the nine months ended September 30, 2023, the Company issued 16,000 shares of Series C convertible preferred stock to an unrelated vendor who provided professional services for the Company. The fair value of the Series C convertible preferred stock on the issuance date was approximately $0.1 million, which will be expensed over a four-month service period. During the three and nine
15
months ended September 30, 2023, the Company recognized approximately $0.1 million and $0.2 million, respectively as part of general and administrative expenses.
6. Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment consist of the following at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022 (in thousands):
| September 30, |
| December 31, |
| Estimated | |||
2023 | 2022 | Useful Life | ||||||
Leasehold improvements | $ | 17,088 | $ | 13,070 |
| Lesser of lease term or estimated useful life | ||
Office furniture and equipment |
| 460 |
| 300 |
| 3-5 years | ||
Computer and manufacturing equipment and software |
| 2,487 |
| 2,238 |
| 3-5 years | ||
Land in the United Kingdom |
| 83 |
| 82 |
| NA | ||
| 20,118 |
| 15,690 |
| NA | |||
Less: accumulated depreciation |
| (3,367) |
| (2,272) |
|
| ||
Total property, plant and equipment, net | $ | 16,751 | $ | 13,418 |
|
| ||
Construction in progress | $ | — | $ | 2,028 |
|
|
The construction works related to expanding the operational portion of its UK facility (Phase 1B) were completed and placed in service as of September 30, 2023. All costs associated with the Phase 1B build out were reclassified from construction in progress to leasehold improvements effective June 2023 and are being amortized over the estimated useful life of the facility.
Depreciation expense was approximately $1.1 million and $0.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, and 2022, respectively.
7. Outstanding Debt
The following two tables summarize outstanding debt as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively (amount in thousands):
|
| Stated |
|
|
|
| |||||||||||
Interest | Conversion | Remaining | Carrying | ||||||||||||||
Maturity Date | Rate | Price | Face Value | Debt Discount | Value | ||||||||||||
Short term convertible notes payable |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||
6% unsecured |
| Due |
| 6 | % | $ | 3.09 | $ | 135 | $ | — | $ | 135 | ||||
8% unsecured | Various | 8 | % | $ | 0.50-$0.70 | * | 3,332 | (516) | 2,816 | ||||||||
10% unsecured | 7/11/2024 | 10 | % | $ | 0.50 | * | 500 | — | 500 | ||||||||
3,967 | (516) | 3,451 | |||||||||||||||
Short term convertible notes at fair value | |||||||||||||||||
11% unsecured | Various | 11 | % | $ | 0.40-$0.49 | * | 10,250 | — | 10,250 | ||||||||
Short term notes payable |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||||
8% unsecured |
| Various |
| 8 | % |
| N/A |
| 7,862 |
| (226) |
| 7,636 | ||||
12% unsecured |
| On Demand |
| 12 | % |
| N/A |
| 562 |
| — |
| 562 | ||||
| | | | | | | | | | 8,424 |
| (226) |
|
| 8,198 | ||
Long term notes payable | |||||||||||||||||
8% unsecured |
| 1/2/2025 |
| 8 | % |
| N/A |
| 11,005 |
| (688) |
| 10,317 | ||||
6% secured |
| 3/25/2025 | | | 6 | % | | N/A | | | 721 |
| — |
|
| 721 | |
| | | | | | | | | 11,726 | (688) | 11,038 | ||||||
| | | | | | | | |
|
|
| ||||||
Ending balance as of September 30, 2023 | | | | | | | | | $ | 34,367 | $ | (1,430) | $ | 32,937 |
*These convertible notes are convertible into Series C preferred shares at $10.00 - $17.50 per share. Each Series C preferred share is convertible into common shares with 30 days’ restriction period. The conversion price in common share equivalent is at $0.40 and $0.70 per share.
16
Stated | Embedded |
| ||||||||||||||||||
Interest | Conversion | Remaining | Redemption | Carrying | ||||||||||||||||
| Maturity Date |
| Rate |
| Price |
| Face Value |
| Debt Discount |
| Option |
| Value | |||||||
Short term convertible notes payable | ||||||||||||||||||||
6% unsecured |
| Due |
| 6 | % | $ | 3.09 | $ | 135 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 135 | |||||
| 135 |
| — |
| — | 135 | ||||||||||||||
Short term notes payable |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||
8% unsecured | Various | 8 | % | N/A | 14,540 | (1,300) | 807 | 14,047 | ||||||||||||
9% unsecured | Various | 9 | % | N/A | 793 | — | — | 793 | ||||||||||||
12% unsecured | On Demand | 12 | % | N/A | 563 | — | — | 563 | ||||||||||||
| 15,896 |
| (1,300) |
| 807 | 15,403 | ||||||||||||||
Long term notes payable | ||||||||||||||||||||
8% unsecured | 7/26/2024 | 8 | % | N/A | 5,505 | (432) | — | 5,073 | ||||||||||||
6% secured | 3/25/2025 | 6 | % | N/A | 918 | — | — | 918 | ||||||||||||
6,423 | (432) | — | 5,991 | |||||||||||||||||
Ending balance as of December 31, 2022 | $ | 22,454 | $ | (1,732) | $ | 807 | $ | 21,529 |
Promissory Note
On March 2, 2023, the Company entered into a Commercial Loan Agreement (the “Commercial Loan”) with a commercial lender for an aggregate principal amount of $11.0 million. The Commercial Loan bears interest at 8% per annum with a 22-month term. There are no principal repayments during the first eight months of the term. The Commercial Loan is amortized in 14 installments starting on November 2, 2023. The Commercial Loan carries an original issue discount of $1.0 million.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2023, the Company issued approximately 27.6 million shares of common stock with a fair value of $17.5 million to certain lenders in lieu of cash payments of $13.2 million of debt, including $1.0 million of accrued interest. In addition, pursuant to exchange agreements executed with various holders, the Company is required to potentially issue additional common stock (the “Share liability”) if the stock price is less than the price, defined in the exchange agreement as of the true-up date (the “True-up Price”), or the lender is required to return common shares to the Company (the “Share receivable”) if the stock price is greater than the True-up Price as of the true-up date. During the nine months ended September 30, 2023, the Company extinguished Share liabilities of $1.3 million and recognized additional $0.5 million in Share liabilities. The Company recognized an approximately $3.5 million debt extinguishment loss during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 from the debt redemption.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2023, the Company issued approximately 56,000 shares of Series C preferred stock with a fair value of $1.0 million to certain lenders in lieu of cash payments of $0.9 million in debt, including $0.1 million of accrued interest. The Company recognized an approximately $0.1 million debt extinguishment loss.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2023, the Company recognized $0.8 million change in fair value of embedded redemption option as this embedded feature had de minimis value based on the remaining life of the note and the next qualified financing.
Convertible Notes
In April 2023, the Company entered into several ten-month convertible notes (the “April Convertible Notes”) with multiple investors (the “Holders”) with an aggregate principal amount of $0.9 million for a purchase price of $0.8 million. The April Convertible Notes bear interest at 8% per annum and are convertible into Series C preferred shares at $13.75 per share at the Holders’ sole option. The Series C preferred shares are convertible into common stock 30 days after the debt conversion date. Each Series C preferred share is convertible into 25 shares of common stock. The Company reclassed $0.7 million Investor advances that were received from the Holders in December 2022 to Convertible notes payable on the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2023. As a result, the Company received net cash proceeds of $0.1 million.
As consideration for entering into the April Convertible Notes, the Company also agreed to amend the investors’ existing outstanding warrants. The exercise price of certain warrants was amended from $2.00 per share to $0.55 per share, and the maturity date was extended
17
for an additional 9 months. The incremental change in fair value resulting from the amendment was approximately $0.2 million, which was recognized as an additional debt discount to the April Convertible Notes.
On June 30, 2023, the Company entered into a one-year convertible note (the “June Convertible Note”) with an individual investor (the “Holder”) with principal amount of $1.0 million. The Company received $1.0 million cash from the June Convertible Note. The June Convertible Note bears interest at 8% per annum and is convertible into Series C preferred shares at $12.50 per share at the Holder’s sole option. The Series C preferred shares are convertible into common stock 30 days after the debt conversion date. Each Series C preferred share is convertible into 25 shares of common stock.
On July 11, 2023, the Company entered into another one-year convertible note (the “July Convertible Note”) with the same investor as the June Convertible Note with principal amount of $0.5 million. The Company received $0.5 million cash from the July Convertible Note. The July Convertible Note bears interest at 10% per annum and has same conversion feature and conversion price as the June Convertible Note.
During the three months ended September 30, 2023, the Company entered into several one-year convertible notes (the “Convertible Notes”) with multiple investors (the “Holders”) with an aggregate principal amount of $1.4 million for a purchase price of $1.3 million. The Convertible Notes bear interest at 8% per annum and are convertible into Series C preferred shares between $13.75 and $17.50 per share at the Holders’ sole option. The Series C preferred shares are convertible into common stock 30 days after the debt conversion date. Each Series C preferred share is convertible into 25 shares of common stock. The Company reclassed $0.5 million Investor advances that were received from the Holders in December 2022 to Convertible notes payable on the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2023. As a result, the Company received net cash proceeds of $0.8 million. As additional consideration for entering into the Convertible Notes, the Company also agreed to amend the Holders’ existing outstanding warrants. The exercise price of certain existing warrants was amended from $2.00 per share to price between $0.55 and $0.70 per share, and the maturity date was extended for an additional 10 months. The incremental change in fair value resulting from the amendment was approximately $0.3 million, which was recognized as an additional debt discount to the Convertible Notes.
Convertible Notes at Fair Value
Between August and September 2023, the Company entered into several one-year convertible notes (the “August & September Convertible Notes”) with multiple individual investors (the “Holders”) with an aggregate principal amount of $10.3 million. The August & September Convertible Notes bear interest at 11% per annum and are convertible into Series C preferred shares between $10.00 and $12.25 per share at the Holder’s sole option. The Series C preferred shares are convertible into common stock 30 days after the debt conversion date. Each Series C preferred share is convertible into 25 shares of common stock. In addition, the Holders have an alternative option to convert the August & September Convertible Notes into a non-dilutive financial instrument, which has the same terms at those in the non-dilutive funding agreements as described in Note 12.
One of the August & September Convertible Notes also contains a conversion feature to allow the holder to convert the outstanding debt in lieu of cash payment to purchase common shares via cash exercise of the holder’s existing warrants. In addition, the Company also agreed to amend the holder’s existing warrants to extend the term of the warrant maturity date for an additional 3 months.
The Company elected the FVO to fair value the August & September Convertible Notes under the guidance in ASC 825. The fair value of the August & September Convertible Notes on the issuance date and as of September 30, 2023 was approximately the same. As a result of electing the FVO, issuance costs related to the convertible notes are expensed as incurred. Therefore, the incremental change in fair value resulting from the warrant amendment for $0.3 million was recognized as part of interest expenses on the condensed consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss.
For the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, interest expense related to outstanding debt totaled approximately $1.7 million and $0.5 million including amortization of debt discounts totaling $0.7 million and $0.6 million, respectively.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, interest expense related to outstanding debt totaled approximately $4.0 million and $4.8 million including amortization of debt discounts totaling $2.0 million and $2.1 million, respectively.
18
8. Net Loss per Share Applicable to Common Stockholders
Basic loss per common share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the reporting period. Diluted loss per common share would be computed similar to basic loss per common share except that it reflects the potential dilution that could occur if dilutive securities or other obligations to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock. Because of the net loss from operations for each period, inclusion of such securities in the computation of loss per share would be anti-dilutive and thus they are excluded. Potentially dilutive weighted average common shares include common stock potentially issuable under the Company’s convertible notes and preferred stock, warrants and vested and unvested stock options.
The following securities were not included in the diluted net loss per share calculation because their effect was anti-dilutive as of the periods presented (in thousands):
For the nine months ended | ||||
September 30, | ||||
| 2023 |
| 2022 | |
Series C convertible preferred stock | 44,328 | 22,129 | ||
Common stock options | 318,676 | 304,596 | ||
Common stock warrants | 105,444 | 145,417 | ||
Convertible notes and accrued interest | 32,049 |
| 76 | |
Potentially dilutive securities | 500,497 | 472,218 |
9. Related Party Transactions
The Company had three operational programs with Advent: (a) an ongoing development and manufacturing program at the GMP facility in London, (b) an ongoing development and manufacturing program at the Sawston GMP facility, and (c) a one-time program for specialized work, organized into 10 sets of one-time milestones, for the following:
● | Qualifying for and obtaining 3 required licenses for the Sawston facility: a license from the Human Tissue Authority to collect and process human cells and tissues, a license from the MHRA for manufacturing for clinical trials and compassionate use cases, and a license from the MHRA for commercial manufacturing. |
● | 6 workstreams relating to product matters required for an application for regulatory approval of DCVax-L, including Comparability, Stability, Potency, Product Profile, Mechanism of Action and Fill/Finish. |
● | Drafting and submission of key portions of the application for product approval itself. |
Each of the three operational programs is covered by a separate contract. The ongoing manufacturing in the London facility is covered by a Manufacturing Services Agreement (“MSA”) entered into on May 14, 2018. The development and manufacturing program at the Sawston facility is covered by an Ancillary Services Agreement entered into on November 18, 2019. The specialized work associated with the 10 one-time milestones is covered by an SOW 6 entered into under the Ancillary Services Agreement as of April 1, 2022 and amended on September 26, 2022 and September 26, 2023. The 2023 amendment extended the SOW 6 service period for about 6 months, through March 31, 2024.
The Ancillary Services Agreement establishes a structure under which the Company and Advent negotiate and agree upon the scope and terms for Statements of Work (“SOWs”) for facility development activities and compassionate use program activities. After an SOW is agreed and approved by the Company, Advent will proceed with, or continue, the applicable services and will invoice the Company pursuant to the SOW. Since both the facility development and the compassionate use program involve pioneering and uncertainties in most aspects, the invoicing under the Ancillary Services Agreement is on the basis of costs incurred plus fifteen percent. The SOWs may involve ongoing activities or specialized one-time projects and related one-time milestone payments. The current Ancillary Services Agreement ended in September 2023. The Company subsequently extended the term by 12 months to July 2024 with no other changes.
19
SOW 6 provides for ongoing baseline costs for manufacturing at the Sawston facility and one-time milestone incentives for (a) regulatory approval of each of the 3 licenses required for the Sawston facility, (b) successful completion of each of the 6 workstreams and (c) completion of drafting key portions of an application for product approval. The milestone incentives are a combination of cash and stock, and are not paid until the milestone is achieved and earned.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2023, the Company paid an aggregate of $3.5 million in cash, of which $1.0 million was related to two milestones that were completed and fully expensed in 2022, but was unpaid as of December 31, 2022, and the other $2.5 million was payment for two completed one-time milestones (MAA workstream for mechanism of Action and obtaining a commercial manufacturing license from the MHRA on March 2023). The Company issued 4.5 million common shares as a result of completion of the two one-time milestones (obtaining a commercial manufacturing license from the MHRA and completion of drafting application) at fair value of $3.2 million, of which $0.6 million was recognized during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and $2.6 million had already been recognized (but not paid) in 2022.
The following table summarizes total research and development costs from Advent for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively (in thousands).
For the three months ended | For the nine months ended | |||||||||||
September 30, | September 30, | |||||||||||
2023 | 2022 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||||||
Advent BioServices |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Manufacturing cost in London | $ | 1,554 | $ | 1,334 | $ | 4,857 | $ | 4,161 | ||||
Manufacturing cost at Sawston facility |
| 2,247 |
| 1,404 |
| 6,057 |
| 4,105 | ||||
SOW 6 one-time milestones - Shares |
|
|
|
| ||||||||
Expensed and paid (milestone complete) (1) |
| 9 |
| 195 |
| 578 |
| 2,120 | ||||
Expensed but unpaid, not yet due (milestone not yet complete) (2) |
| 24 |
| 1,205 |
| 115 |
| 4,620 | ||||
SOW 6 one-time milestones - Cash |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||
Expensed and paid (milestone complete) (3) |
| — |
| — |
| 551 |
| 1,500 | ||||
Expensed and due, but unpaid (milestone complete) (4) |
| 18 |
| 226 |
| 111 |
| 500 | ||||
Expensed but unpaid, not yet due (milestone not yet complete) (5) | 13 | 1,230 | 130 | 3,270 | ||||||||
$ | 3,865 | $ | 5,594 | $ | 12,399 | $ | 20,276 |
(1) | The payment for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 covers the one-time milestone for obtaining a commercial manufacturing license from the MHRA, and covers 2 other one-time milestones for 2 other required licenses for the Sawston facility (licenses from the Human Tissue Authority and from the MHRA for manufacturing for clinical trials and compassionate use cases). |
(2) | The expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 covers the one-time milestone for drafting key portions of the application for product approval, and also covers 6 one-time milestones: 5 workstreams (Comparability, Stability, Potency, Product Profile and Fill/Finish) and 1 one-time milestone for drafting key portions of the application for product approval. |
(3) | This covers one-time milestone: a required license for the Sawston facility from the Human Tissue Authority. |
(4) | The expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 covers the one-time milestone workstream for Mechanism of Action and also covers a one-time milestone for a required license for the Sawston facility from the MHRA for manufacturing for clinical trials and compassionate use cases. |
(5) | The expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 covers the one-time milestone for drafting key portions of the application for product approval, and also covers 6 one-time milestones: 5 workstreams (Comparability, Stability, Potency, Product Profile and Fill/Finish) and one-time milestone for drafting key portions of the application for product approval. |
Advent BioServices Sublease Agreement
On December 31, 2021, the Company entered into a Sub-lease Agreement (the “Agreement”) with Advent. The Agreement permits use by Advent of a portion of the space in the Sawston facility, which is leased by the Company under a separate head lease with a different counterparty (Huawei) that commenced on December 14, 2018. The Company subleased approximately 14,459 square feet of
20
the 88,000 square foot building interior space, plus corresponding support space and parking. The lease payments amount under the Agreement are two times the amount payable by the Company under the head lease (which is currently £5.75 or approximately $7.02 per square foot based on exchange rate as of September 30, 2023), but subject to a cap of $10 per square foot. Accordingly, the monthly lease payments under the Sublease are based on $145,000 annually for 2023. The total lease payments paid by the Company to Huawei for the 88,000 square foot facility, exterior spaces and parking under the head lease are £500,000 (approximately $610,000) per year. The term of the Agreement shall end on the same date as the head lease term ends.
During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, the Company recognized sub-lease income of $36,000 and $108,000, respectively.
Related Party Accounts Payable
As of September 30, 2023, there was approximately $0.2 million of unpaid board compensation to one of our Directors that was included in the accounts payable to related party on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.
As of September 30, 2023, there were outstanding unpaid accounts payable and accrued expenses owed to Advent as summarized in the following table (in thousands). These unpaid amounts are part of the Related Party expenses reported in the above section.
| September 30, |
| December 31, | |||
2023 | 2022 | |||||
Advent BioServices - amount invoiced but unpaid | $ | 2,451 | $ | 1,844 | ||
Advent BioServices - amount accrued but unpaid | 2,027 | 4,736 | ||||
$ | 4,478 | $ | 6,580 |
10. Preferred Stock
Series C Convertible Preferred Stock
During the nine months ended September 30, 2023, the Company entered into various Subscription Agreements (the “Series C Subscription Agreements”) with certain investors (the “Series C Investors”). Pursuant to the Series C Subscription Agreements, the Company issued the Series C Investors an aggregate of 0.7 million shares of the Company’s Series C convertible preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Series C Shares”), at a weighted purchase price of $13.58 per share for proceeds of approximately $9.9 million.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2023, the Company issued approximately 56,000 Series C Shares with a fair value of $1.0 million to certain lenders in lieu of cash payments of $0.9 million in debt, including $0.1 million accrued interest. The Company recognized an approximately $0.1 million debt extinguishment loss.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2023, approximately 0.4 million Series C Shares with a book value of $6.5 million were converted into 11.1 million common shares at a ratio of 1:
.The Company determined that the Series C Shares contain contingent redemption provisions allowing redemption by the holder upon certain defined events (“deemed liquidation events”). As the event that may trigger the redemption of the Series C Shares is not solely within the Company’s control, the Series C Shares are classified as mezzanine equity (temporary equity) in the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets.
11. Stockholders’ Deficit
Common Stock
On January 9, 2023, the Company filed a Certificate of Amendment of its Seventh Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Certificate of Amendment”) with the Secretary of the State of Delaware, which effected an increase in the Company’s authorized shares of common stock, from 1.2 billion to 1.7 billion, par value $0.001 per share.
21
During the nine months ended September 30, 2023, the Company received $2.8 million from the exercise of outstanding warrants with an exercise price between $0.153 and $0.85, of which $1.2 million was received in December 2022 as investor advances. The Company issued approximately 12.4 million shares of common stock upon these warrant exercises.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2023, certain options and warrants holders elected to exercise some of their options and warrants pursuant to cashless exercise formulas. The Company issued approximately 20.4 million shares of common stock upon exercise of 22.9 million warrants at exercise prices between $0.17 and $0.22 per share, and 2.5 million options at exercise prices between $0.25 and $0.55 per share.
The Company issued approximately 27.6 million shares of common stock with a fair value of $17.5 million to certain lenders in lieu of cash payments of $13.2 million of debt, including $1.0 million of accrued interest, and settled $1.3 million true-up provision (see Note 7).
Stock Purchase Warrants
The following is a summary of warrant activity for the three months ended September 30, 2023 (dollars in thousands, except per share data):
| Number of |
| Weighted Average |
| Remaining | ||
Warrants | Exercise Price | Contractual Term | |||||
Outstanding as of January 1, 2023 |
| 141,048 | $ | 0.31 |
| 1.16 | |
Warrants exercised for cash |
| (12,447) |
| 0.22 |
| — | |
Cashless warrrants exercise | (22,907) | 0.20 | — | ||||
Warrants expired and cancellation |
| (250) |
| 1.36 |
| — | |
Outstanding as of September 30, 2023 |
| 105,444 | $ | 0.32 |
| 1.92 |
The options and warrants held by Ms. Powers and Mr. Goldman are subject to an ongoing suspension on a rolling basis pursuant to the Blocker Letter Agreement.
At September 30, 2023, of the approximately 105 million total outstanding warrants listed above, approximately 100 million warrants were under the Blocker Letter Agreement or suspension agreements.
Warrant Modifications
Between January 10 and September 30, 2023, the Company amended multiple warrants whereby the maturity dates of certain warrants were extended for an additional approximately 3 months. The value of these modifications were calculated using the Black-Scholes-Merton option pricing model based on the following weighted average assumptions.
| Post-modification |
| Pre-modification |
| |||
Exercise price | $ | 0.30 | $ | 0.31 | |||
Expected term (in years) |
| 1.8 |
| 1.5 | |||
Volatility |
| 73 | % |
| 90 | % | |
Risk-free interest rate |
| 4.9 | % |
| 4.9 | % | |
Dividend yield |
| 0 | % |
| 0 | % |
The incremental fair value attributable to the modified awards compared to the original awards immediately prior to the modification was calculated at $2.2 million, of which $0.8 million was associated with debt financing and was recognized as an additional debt discount and interest expense (see Note 7), and the remaining $1.4 million was treated as a deemed dividend and is reflected as “Deemed dividend related to warrant modifications” in the accompanying condensed consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss.
22
12. Commitments and Contingencies
Operating Lease- Lessee Arrangements
The Company has operating leases for corporate offices in the U.S. and U.K., and for manufacturing facilities in the U.K. Leases with an initial term of 12 months or less are not recorded in the balance sheet. The Company has elected the practical expedient to account for each separate lease component of a contract and its associated non-lease components as a single lease component, thus causing all fixed payments to be capitalized. The Company also elected the package of practical expedients permitted within the new standard, which among other things, allows the Company to carry forward historical lease classification. The lease renewal options have not been included in the calculation of the lease liabilities and right-of-use (“ROU”) assets as the Company has not yet determined whether to exercise the options. Variable lease payment amounts that cannot be determined at the commencement of the lease such as increases in lease payments based on changes in index rates or usage, are not included in the ROU assets or liabilities. These are expensed as incurred and recorded as variable lease expense.
At September 30, 2023, the Company had operating lease liabilities of approximately $4.5 million for both the 20-year lease of the building for the manufacturing facility in Sawston, U.K., and the current office lease in the U.S. and ROU assets of approximately $4.0 million for the Sawston lease and U.S. office lease are included in the condensed consolidated balance sheet.
The following summarizes quantitative information about the Company’s operating leases (amount in thousands):
For the Nine Months ended | |||||||||
September 30, 2023 | |||||||||
| U.K |
| U.S |
| Total | ||||
Lease cost |
|
|
|
|
|
| |||
Operating lease cost | $ | 443 | $ | 190 | $ | 633 | |||
Short-term lease cost |
| 62 |
| — |
| 62 | |||
Variable lease cost |
| — |
| 10 |
| 10 | |||
Sub-lease income |
| (108) |
| — |
| (108) | |||
Total | $ | 397 | $ | 200 | $ | 597 | |||
|
|
| |||||||
Other information |
| |
| |
| | |||
Operating cash flows from operating leases | $ | (467) | $ | (224) | $ | (691) | |||
Weighted-average remaining lease term – operating leases |
| 8.1 |
| 0.7 |
|
| |||
Weighted-average discount rate – operating leases |
| 12 | % |
| 12 | % |
|
|
For the Nine Months ended | |||||||||
September 30, 2022 | |||||||||
| U.K |
| U.S |
| Total | ||||
Lease cost |
|
|
|
|
|
| |||
Operating lease cost | $ | 448 | $ | 195 | $ | 643 | |||
Short-term lease cost |
| 56 |
| — |
| 56 | |||
Variable lease cost |
| — |
| 9 |
| 9 | |||
Sub-lease income | (110) | — | (110) | ||||||
Total | $ | 394 | $ | 204 | $ | 598 | |||
Other information |
|
|
|
|
|
| |||
Operating cash flows from operating leases | $ | (472) | $ | (217) | $ | (689) | |||
Weighted-average remaining lease term – operating leases |
| 8.6 |
| 1.4 |
|
| |||
Weighted-average discount rate – operating leases |
| 12 | % |
| 12 | % |
|
|
The Company recorded lease costs as a component of general and administrative expense during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
23
Maturities of our operating leases, excluding short-term leases and sublease agreement, are as follows:
Three months ended December 31, 2023 | $ | 228 | |
Year ended December 31, 2024 |
| 815 | |
Year ended December 31, 2025 | 610 | ||
Year ended December 31, 2026 | 610 | ||
Year ended December 31, 2027 | 610 | ||
Thereafter | 6,692 | ||
Total | 9,565 | ||
Less present value discount | (5,062) | ||
Operating lease liabilities included in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet at September 30, 2023 | $ | 4,503 |
Maturities of our operating leases under the sublease agreement, are as follows:
Three months ended December 31, 2023 |
| $ | 36 |
Year ended December 31, 2024 |
| 145 | |
Year ended December 31, 2025 |
| 145 | |
Year ended December 31, 2026 |
| 145 | |
Thereafter |
| 1,740 | |
Total | $ | 2,211 |
Advent BioServices Services Agreement
On May 14, 2018, the Company entered into a DCVax®-L Manufacturing and Services Agreement (“MSA”) with Advent BioServices, a related party which was formerly part of Cognate BioServices and was spun off separately as part of an institutional financing of Cognate. The MSA provides for manufacturing of DCVax-L products at an existing facility in London. The MSA is structured in the same manner as the Company’s prior agreements with Cognate BioServices. The MSA provides for certain payments for achievement of milestones and, as was the case under the prior agreement with Cognate BioServices, the Company is required to pay certain fees for dedicated production capacity reserved exclusively for DCVax production and pay for manufacturing of DCVax-L products for a certain minimum number of patients, whether or not the Company fully utilizes the dedicated capacity and number of patients. The MSA remains in force until five years after the first commercial sales of DCVax-L products pursuant to a marketing authorization, accelerated approval or other commercial approval, unless cancelled. Either party may terminate the MSA on twelve months’ notice, to allow for transition arrangements by both parties. During the notice period services would still be provided. Minimum required payments for this notice period are anticipated to total approximately £4.5 million ($5.5 million).
The Company entered into SOW 6 with Advent, which was incorporated into the Ancillary Services Agreement, on April 1, 2022, and amended it on September 26, 2022 and again on September 26, 2023. The milestone incentives involve a combination of cash and stock and are not paid until they are achieved and earned, as described in Note 9.
German Tax Matter
The German tax authorities have audited our wholly owned subsidiary, NW Bio GmbH, for 2013-2015 and assessed additional tax against the subsidiary. NW Bio GmbH submitted substantial documentation to refute certain aspects of the assessments and the German tax authorities agreed in principle with the Company’s proposed revised approach and settlement offer. A final settlement bill was received from the German Tax Authority confirming that only a portion of the original bill was owed, €277,000 (approximately $293,000), for corporate taxes, interest, and reduced penalty for the period under audit, which the Company paid on September 2, 2021. The Company also received and paid the final settlement bill from the local authority for trade taxes for the audit period in the amount of €231,000 (approximately $244,000). On November 4, 2021, the Company received a letter from the local tax authorities asking for additional late fees of €513,000 (now approximately $542,000) on reimbursable withholding taxes that had been waived during the settlement process. On December 8, 2021, the Company appealed the assessment of additional late fees. Additionally,
24
the Company requested that NW Bio GmbH be deregistered from the trade register, as it no longer had current operations. The deregistration was granted effective December 31, 2021. Between January 2022 and July 2022, the Company received tax bills for the corporate and trade taxes for the 2016-2020 tax years that totaled approximately €222,000 (approximately $235,000). On July 27, 2022, the Company was informed that the German Tax Authorities were prepared to waive €135,000 (approximately $143,000) of the penalties. The Company offered to pay this reduced penalty if an extended payment plan was approved. A response was received dated November 14, 2022 indicating that the tax authority would not be able to grant a further deferral of payment of these penalties. In a letter dated December 27, 2022, the Leipzig tax authority sent letters to the former and current managing directors of NW Bio GmbH giving 30 days to respond to a tax liability questionnaire. Based on the responses to the liability questionnaires the tax authorities have currently not directed any further measures against former and current managing directors of NW Bio GmbH with respect to tax liability proceedings. The Company currently has accrued for the current amounts owed for these penalties of €377,000 (approximately $399,000) as well as for all unpaid taxes as of September 30, 2023. Subsequently on October 12, 2023, the Company paid €189,000 (approximately $200,000), which represents 50% of the total penalties. The Company is expecting to make the other half payment by end of November 2023. Based on the Company’s current operating state in Germany and the negotiations, the Company believes, based on its evaluation under ASC 740, that the resolution of these tax matters will not likely result in a net material charge to the Company.
Other Contingent Payment Obligation
Between May and September 2023, the Company entered into certain non-dilutive funding agreements with multiple investors, pursuant to which the Company received funding of $4.6 million related to a gain contingency. These agreements are accounted for under ASC 470 and are recognized as contingent payment obligations on the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheet. The Company’s payment obligations only apply when such are received by the Company.
13. Subsequent Events
Between October 1, 2023 and November 6, 2023, the Company received $1.9 million in funding from the sale of preferred shares, proceeds from warrant and option exercise, proceeds of debt arrangements.
Between October 1, 2023 and November 6, 2023, the Company issued approximately 80,000 shares of Series C preferred stock for proceeds of $1.2 million.
Between October 1, 2023 and November 6, 2023, the Company received $0.1 million from the exercise of 0.2 million outstanding warrants and options. The Company also issued 0.6 million shares of common stock from a cashless exercise of 0.8 million options.
Between October 1, 2023 and November 6, 2023, approximately 0.2 million Series C Shares with a book value of $3.6 million were converted into 6.1 million common shares in accordance with their terms at a ratio of 1:25.
In October 2023, the Company issued approximately 1.9 million net shares of common stock to a lender in lieu of cash payments on $1.6 million of outstanding debt, which is offset by a settlement of $0.7 million shares receivable.
On October 4, 2023, the Company entered into a one-year convertible note (the “Convertible Note”) with an investor (the “Holder”) with an aggregate principal amount of $154,000 for a purchase price of $140,000. The Convertible Note bear interest at 8% per annum and is convertible into Series C preferred shares at $17.50 per share at the Holder’s sole option. As additional consideration for entering into the Convertible Note, the Company also extended the holder’s existing warrants maturity date for additional 8.5 months.
On October 20, 2023, the Company received $0.5 million cash from issuance a one-year convertible note. The note has same conversion features as the August & September Note (see Note 7).
25
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 in conjunction with our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and the notes to those statements included with this report. In addition to historical information, this report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. The words “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “anticipate,” and similar expressions are used to identify forward-looking statements, but some forward-looking statements are expressed differently. Many factors could affect our actual results, including those factors described under “Risk Factors” in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 and in Part II Item 1A of this report. These factors, among others, could cause results to differ materially from those presently anticipated by us. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.
Overview
We are a biotechnology company focused on developing personalized immune therapies for cancer. We have developed a platform technology, DCVax®, which uses activated dendritic cells to mobilize a patient’s own immune system to attack their cancer.
Our lead product, DCVax®-L, is designed to treat solid tumor cancers in which the tumor can be surgically removed. We have completed a 331-patient international Phase III trial of DCVax-L for glioblastoma brain cancer (GBM).
The trial results were presented at a scientific conference in May 2022, and were reported in a peer reviewed publication in JAMA Oncology, a top scientific and medical journal.
In June 2023, the Company presented substantial information from analyses conducted by independent experts on the underlying biology and mechanism of action of its DCVax technology at an Industry Theater presentation during the ASCO (American Society of Clinical Oncology) conference. The Company is pursuing further analyses by independent experts and plans to present further information at an appropriate future conference.
The Company is now in the final stages of preparing an application to the U.K. regulatory authority for approval of DCVax-L. The Company is working with teams of specialized consultants on preparation of the application package as well as related activities.
In parallel with preparing the application for approval of DCVax-L, the Company is working with the contract research organization (CRO) and with specialized consultants on preparing the Trial Master File and trial sites to be inspection-ready for regulators.
The Company and the CRO continue to conduct long-term follow-up in connection with the Phase III trial of DCVax-L, as there are still patients alive.
The Company is pursuing preparations for the pediatric clinical trials that are required to be conducted in connection with an application for approval of a new medicine for adult patients.
The non-proprietary name for the Company’s DCVax-L product, murcidencel, was finalized and published in rINN List 90 in October 2023. The name was originally assigned by the WHO on May 6, 2022, and then had to go through a series of additional steps and notice periods to become final.
The Company and Advent are working together to prepare for potential commercial operations. The buildout of Phase 1B of the Sawston facility, which had been under way since last year, has been completed. On July 24, 2023, the Company changed the name of its UK subsidiary from Aracaris Limited to Northwest Biotherapeutics Limited.
The Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, Flaskworks, is continuing its development work to optimize a system for closed and automated manufacturing of DCVax-L products, including to optimize yields. The Company views this as a centerpiece of efforts toward scale-up for potential commercial operations.
Supply chain issues and equipment backlogs continue to be factors affecting operations both for Advent and for Flaskworks. This includes months-long backlogs for certain equipment and materials. However, the work is progressing in spite of the backlogs.
26
The Company is in active discussions in regard to certain combination treatment regimens and is planning for certain strategic trials with such combination treatments.
In the future, we plan to conduct clinical trials of DCVax-L for other types of solid tumor cancers, beyond brain cancer, when resources permit. Our second product, DCVax®-Direct, is designed to treat inoperable solid tumors. A 40-patient Phase I trial has been completed and it included treatment of a diverse range of more than a dozen types of cancers. We plan to work on preparations for Phase II trials of DCVax-Direct as resources permit. We are pursuing the prosecution of existing patent applications and adding intellectual property that we consider complementary to our existing intellectual property.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based on our financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect our reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses.
On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates and judgments, including those related to derivative liabilities, accrued expenses and stock-based compensation. We based our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results could differ from those estimates, particularly given the significant social and economic disruptions and uncertainties associated with the lingering effects from the coronavirus pandemic (“COVID-19”) and the COVID-19 control responses.
Our critical accounting policies and significant estimates are detailed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022. Our critical accounting policies and significant estimates have not changed substantially from those previously disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 other than those included below.
Sequencing
The Company adopted a sequencing policy under ASC 815-40-35 to determine if reclassification of contracts from equity to liabilities is necessary pursuant to ASC 815 due to the Company’s inability to demonstrate if it has sufficient authorized shares. Certain contracts were classified as liabilities as the result of the instruments containing a potentially indeterminable number of shares and, most recently, due to the Company entering into agreements providing for the potential issuance of more shares than authorized. While temporary agreements are in place to keep the potential exercises beneath the number authorized, certain instruments are classified as liabilities, after allocating available authorized shares on the basis of the earliest grant date of potentially dilutive instruments. Pursuant to ASC 815, issuance of stock-based awards to the Company’s employees, non-employees or directors are not subject to the sequencing policy.
On January 9, 2023, the Company filed a Certificate of Amendment of its Seventh Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Certificate of Amendment”) with the Secretary of the State of Delaware, which effected an increase in the Company’s authorized shares of common stock, from 1.2 billion to 1.7 billion, par value $0.001 per share. As a result of this increase in authorized shares, the liability-classified warrants were reclassified to equity. Approximate 141 million warrants to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock were classified as liabilities through January 8, 2023.
Modification of Equity Classified Warrants
A change in the terms or conditions of a warrant is accounted for as a modification. For a warrant modification accounted for under ASC 815, the effect of a modification shall be measured as the difference between the fair value of the modified warrant over and the fair value of the original warrant immediately before its terms are modified, with each measured on the modification date. The accounting for any incremental fair value of the modified warrants over the original warrants is based on the specific facts and circumstances related to the modification. When a modification is directly attributable to an equity offering, the incremental change in fair value of the warrants is accounted for as an equity issuance cost. When a modification is directly attributable to a debt financing, the incremental change in fair value of the warrants is accounted for as a debt discount or debt issuance cost. For all other modifications, the incremental change in fair value is recognized as a deemed dividend.
Convertible Notes under Fair Value Option
The Company accounts for certain convertible notes issued in August and September 2023 on an instrument-by-instrument basis under the fair value option (“FVO”) election of ASC Topic 825, Financial Instruments (“ASC 825”). The convertible notes accounted for
27
under the FVO election are each debt host financial instruments containing embedded features wherein the entire financial instrument is initially measured at its issue-date estimated fair value and then subsequently remeasured at estimated fair value on a recurring basis at each reporting period date. Changes in the estimated fair value of the convertible notes are recorded as a component of Other (expense) income in the consolidated statements of operations, except that the change in estimated fair value attributable to a change in the instrument-specific credit risks is recognized as a component of other comprehensive income. As a result of electing the FVO, issuance costs related to the convertible notes are expensed as incurred.
Results of Operations
Operating costs:
Our operating costs and expenses consist primarily of research and development (R&D) expenses. R&D expenses include clinical trial expenses, and increased costs after completion of a Phase III trial, especially for the extensive preparations, and teams of expert consultants, required for an application for product approval.
In addition to clinical trial and post-trial costs, our operating costs may include ongoing work relating to our DCVax products, including R&D, product characterization, manufacturing process development, quality control process development, and related matters. Additional substantial costs relate to the development and expansion of manufacturing capacity.
Our operating costs also include the costs of preparations for the launch of new or expanded clinical trial programs, such as our anticipated trials of combination treatment regimens. The preparation costs include payments to regulatory consultants, lawyers, statisticians, sites and others, evaluation of potential investigators, the clinical trial sites and the CROs managing the trials and other service providers, and expenses related to institutional approvals, clinical trial agreements (business contracts with sites), training of medical and other site personnel, trial supplies and other.
Our operating costs also include legal and accounting costs in operating the Company.
The foregoing operating costs include the costs for Flaskworks’ ongoing operations and intellectual property filings, and the operations of our subsidiaries in the U.K., the Netherlands and Germany.
Research and development:
R&D expenses include costs for substantial external scientific personnel, technical and regulatory advisers, and others, costs of laboratory supplies used in our internal research and development projects, travel, regulatory compliance, and expenditures for preclinical and clinical trial operation and management when we are actively engaged in clinical trials.
Because we are a pre-revenue company, we do not allocate R&D costs on a project basis. We adopted this policy, in part, due to the unreasonable cost burden associated with accounting at such a level of detail and our limited number of financial and personnel resources.
General and administrative:
General and administrative expenses include personnel related salary and benefit expenses, cost of facilities, insurance, travel, legal services, property and equipment and amortization of stock options and warrants.
Three Months Ended September 30, 2023 and 2022
We recognized a net loss of $19.1 million and $32.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Research and Development Expense
For the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, research and development expenses were $7.2 million and $7.7 million, respectively. The decrease in 2023 was mainly related to the following factors:
● | We incurred $0.1 million and $2.9 million R&D expense related to one-time milestone activities under the SOW 6 with Advent BioServices for the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. As of September 30, 2023, the only unvested |
28
milestone was to submit an application to a regulatory which is expected to take place during November 2023. Most expenses related to the completed milestones were recognized in prior periods and in 2022. |
● | The stock-based compensation in research and development related to stock options and Flaskworks performance-based awards that were increased by $0.2 million during the three months ended September 30, 2023 compared to the same period in 2022, which was mainly related to additional awards that were granted to various key external consultants in the third quarter of 2023. |
● | An increased level of research and development activities in 2023 compared to 2022, which resulted in other R&D expenses increased by approximate $2.1 million. |
General and Administrative Expense
For the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, general and administrative expenses were $7.0 million and $8.10 million, respectively. The decrease in 2023 was mainly related to a decrease of $0.5 million in stock-based compensation, which was related to less amortization related to previously granted awards,
Change in Fair Value of Derivatives
We recognized a non-cash loss of $0.1 million and a non-cash loss of $12.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The loss was primarily due to an increase of stock price as of September 30, 2023 compared to June 30, 2023, and stock price as of September 30, 2022 compared to June 30, 2022.
Debt Extinguishment
During the three months ended September 30, 2023, we recognized a $1.8 million debt extinguishment loss from the redemption of $5.8 million outstanding debt. During the three months ended September 30, 2022, we recognized a $0.5 million debt extinguishment loss from the redemption of $4.8 million outstanding debt.
Interest Expense
During the three months ended and September 30, 2023 and 2022, we recorded interest expense of $1.7 million and $1.5 million, respectively. The decrease in interest expense in 2023 was mainly related to a decrease of outstanding debt as a result of the redemption of approximate $18.1 million debt in 2022.
Foreign currency transaction loss
During the three months ended and September 30, 2023 and 2022, we recognized foreign currency transaction loss of $1.7 million and loss of $3.1 million, respectively. The loss was due to the strengthening of the U.S. dollar relative to the British pound sterling.
Nine months Ended September 30, 2023 and 2022
We recognized a net loss of $43.7 million and $76.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Research and Development Expense
For the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, research and development expenses were $20.3 million and $26.2 million, respectively. The decrease in 2023 was mainly related to the followings:
● | We incurred $1.5 million and $12.0 million R&D expense related to one-time milestone activities under the SOW 6 with Advent BioServices for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Advent had completed 7 out of the total 10 one-time milestones as of December 31, 2022, and the majority of the one-time R&D expense was recognized in 2022. Therefore, we only expensed $1.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 related to the remaining 3 milestones. During the nine months ended September 30, 2022, we expensed $5.3 million (but only paid $1.5 million) for one-time cash milestones and $6.7 million (but only issued 2.5 million shares of common stock at fair value of $2.1 million) for one-time stock-based milestones that we believe are probable to be achieved and hence to become payable during the contract period. |
29
● | The stock-based compensation in research and development related to stock options and Flaskworks performance-based awards that were reduced by $0.5 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 compared to the same period in 2022, which was related to less amortization related to previously granted awards. |
● | An increased level of research and development activities in 2023 compared to 2022, which resulted in other R&D expenses increasing by approximately $5.1 million. |
General and Administrative Expense
For the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, general and administrative expenses were $21.6 million and $23.9 million, respectively. The decrease in 2023 was mainly related to a decrease of $1.7 million in consulting, legal and stock-based compensation, and $0.7 million reduction in our D&O insurance.
Change in Fair Value of Derivatives
We recognized a non-cash gain of $3.9 million and a non-cash loss of $15.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The gain was mainly due to majority of revaluation expense was recognized as of January 9, 2023, when we reclassed all warrants from liability classified to equity classified. The stock price on January 9, 2023 and December 31, 2022 was $0.71 and $0.78 per share, respectively. The decrease of stock price resulted a gain in change in fair value.
The 2022 loss was primarily due to the extension of certain warrants and an increase of stock price as of September 30, 2022 compared to December 31, 2021.
Debt Extinguishment
During the nine months ended September 30, 2023, we issued approximately 27.6 million shares of common stock with a fair value of $17.5 million to certain lenders in lieu of cash payments of $13.2 million of debt, including $1.0 million of accrued interest. We also extinguished Share liabilities of $1.3 million and recognized additional $0.5 million in Share liabilities. We recognized an approximately $3.5 million debt extinguishment loss during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 from the debt redemption.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2023, we issued approximately 56,000 shares of Series C preferred stock with a fair value of $1.0 million to certain lenders in lieu of cash payments of $0.9 million in debt, including $0.1 million of accrued interest. We recognized an approximately $0.1 million debt extinguishment loss.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2022, we recognized debt extinguishment loss of $0.2 million. We incurred $0.4 million gain from the forgiveness of two PPP loans and offset by a loss of $0.6 million from redemption of certain loans during the nine months ended September 30, 2022.
Interest Expense
During the nine months ended and September 30, 2023 and 2022, we recorded interest expense of $4.0 million and $4.8 million, respectively. The decrease in interest expense in 2023 was mainly related to a decrease of outstanding debt as a result of the redemption of approximate $18.1 million debt in 2022.
Foreign currency transaction loss
During the nine months ended and September 30, 2023 and 2022, we recognized foreign currency transaction loss of $0.1 million and $6.8 million, respectively. The loss was due to the strengthening of the U.S. dollar relative to the British pound sterling.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
We have experienced recurring losses from operations since inception. We have not yet established an ongoing source of revenues and must cover our operating expenses through debt and equity financings to allow us to continue as a going concern. Our ability to continue as a going concern depends on the ability to obtain adequate capital to fund operating losses until we generate adequate cash flows from operations to fund our operating costs and obligations. If we are unable to obtain adequate capital, we could be forced to cease operations.
30
We depend upon our ability, and will continue to attempt, to secure equity and/or debt financing. We cannot be certain that additional funding will be available on acceptable terms, or at all. Our management determined that there was substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern for at least one year after the annual consolidated financial statements were issued, and management’s concerns about our ability to continue as a going concern within the year following this report persist.
Cash Flow
Operating Activities
During the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, net cash outflows from operations were approximately $36.7 million and $43.9 million, respectively. The decrease in cash used in operating activities was primarily attributable to a reduction in payments to external service providers as well as a reduction in interest payments to certain note holders.
Investing Activities
We spent approximately $3.0 million and $0.7 million in cash for the purchase of additional equipment and our build out in Sawston, UK during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Financing Activities
We received approximately $9.9 million of cash from issuance of 0.7 million shares of Series C convertible preferred stock during the nine months ended September 30, 2023. We received approximately $11.0 million cash from issuance of 0.7 million shares of Series C convertible preferred stock during the nine months ended September 30, 2022.
We received approximately $10.0 million and $5.0 million of cash from issuance the issuance of a loan to a commercial lender during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. During the nine months ended September 30, 2022, we also received $0.6 million of cash from issuance of notes to multiple individual investors.
We received approximately $1.6 million and $10.0 million of cash from the exercise of warrants during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
We received approximately $9.5 million of cash from issuance of 13.1 million shares of common stock during the nine months ended September 30, 2022.
We received approximately $12.7 million of cash from issuance of convertible notes to individual lenders during the nine months ended September 30, 2023.
We received $4.6 million from issuance of non-dilutive funding agreements during the nine months ended September 30, 2023.
We made aggregate debt payments of $0.2 million and $5.4 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
We made repayment of $0.2 million of investor advances during the nine months ended September 30, 2023.
Other factors affecting our ongoing funding requirements include the number of staff we employ, the number of sites, number of patients and amount of activity in our clinical trial programs, the costs of further product and process development work relating to our DCVax products, the costs of preparations for Phase II trials, the costs of expansion of manufacturing, and unanticipated developments. The extent of resources available to us will determine which programs can move forward and at what pace.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
Since our inception, we have not engaged in any off-balance sheet arrangements, as defined in the rules and regulations of the SEC.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Market risk represents the risk of loss that may result from the change in value of financial instruments due to fluctuations in its market price. Market risk is inherent in all financial instruments. Market risk may be exacerbated in times of trading illiquidity when market
31
participants refrain from transacting in normal quantities and/or at normal bid-offer spreads. Our exposure to market risk is directly related to derivatives, debt and equity linked instruments related to our financing activities.
Our assets and liabilities are overwhelmingly denominated in U.S. dollars. We do not use foreign currency contracts or other derivative instruments to manage changes in currency rates. We do not now, nor do we plan to, use derivative financial instruments for speculative or trading purposes. However, these circumstances might change.
The primary quantifiable market risk associated with our financial instruments is sensitivity to changes in interest rates. Interest rate risk represents the potential loss from adverse changes in market interest rates. We use an interest rate sensitivity simulation to assess our interest rate risk exposure. For purposes of presenting the possible earnings effect of a hypothetical, adverse change in interest rates over the 12-month period from our reporting date, we assume that all interest rate sensitive financial instruments will be impacted by a hypothetical, immediate 100 basis point increase in interest rates as of the beginning of the period. The sensitivity is based upon the hypothetical assumption that all relevant types of interest rates that affect our results would increase instantaneously, simultaneously and to the same degree. We do not believe that our cash and equivalents have significant risk of default or illiquidity.
The sensitivity analyses of the interest rate sensitive financial instruments are hypothetical and should be used with caution. Changes in fair value based on a 1% or 2% variation in an estimate generally cannot be extrapolated because the relationship of the change in the estimate to the change in fair value may not be linear. Also, the effect of a variation in a particular estimate on the fair value of financial instruments is calculated independent of changes in any other estimate; in practice, changes in one factor may result in changes in another factor, which might magnify or counteract the sensitivities. In addition, the sensitivity analyses do not consider any action that we may take to mitigate the impact of any adverse changes in the key estimates.
Based on our analysis, as of September 30, 2023, the effect of a 100+/- basis point change in interest rates on the value of our financial instruments and the resultant effect on our net loss are considered immaterial.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, we conducted an evaluation as of September 30, 2023, of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as such terms are defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e). Based on this evaluation, management concluded that, as of such date, our disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in our Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
No change in internal control over financial reporting occurred during the most recent quarter with respect to our operations, which materially affected, or is reasonable likely to materially affect, our internal controls over financial reporting.
32
Part II - Other Information
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
On December 1, 2022, we filed a Complaint in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York against certain market makers. The Complaint alleges that the defendants engaged in manipulation of the Company’s stock, in violation of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and common law fraud, over a period of years. On March 20, 2023, the defendants filed a Motion to Dismiss the Complaint. On April 10, 2023 we filed an Amended Complaint against Canaccord Genuity LLC, Citadel Securities LLC, G1 Execution Services LLC, GTS Securities LLC, Instinet LLC, Lime Trading Corp., and Virtu Americas LLC (Northwest Biotherapeutics Inc. v. Canaccord, et al., No. 1:22-cv-10185-GHW-GWG). The Company plans to pursue this case vigorously.
As previously reported, three stockholders filed in the Delaware Court of Chancery three similar derivative lawsuits against the Company and certain of its directors and officers, including J. Cofer Black, Marnix L. Bosch, Alton L. Boynton, Leslie J. Goldman, Jerry Jasinowski, Navid Malik, and Linda F. Powers (the “Individual Defendants”), alleging the Individual Defendants (i) breached their fiduciary duties, and (ii) were unjustly enriched by director and officer compensation awarded in 2020 to the Individual Defendants—notwithstanding the fact that approximately 90% of shareholders voted to approve of the Company’s executive compensation (the same compensation that these three stockholders are seeking to challenge) through its Say on Pay vote at the Company’s Annual Meeting in 2021, and the director awards were subject to shareholder approval. On March 31, 2022, the Delaware Court of Chancery consolidated these actions into a single action under the caption In re Northwest Biotherapeutics, Inc. Stockholder Litigation (the “Derivative Action”).
On December 30, 2022, shareholders again approved the same 2020 executive compensation with approximately 90% of the votes, and also approved the directors compensation with approximately 90% of the votes.
The Company believes this case is baseless and is vigorously contesting it. The Company is expecting a decision in November 2023.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
Applicable risk factors are set forth in the Company’s report on Form 10-K for 2022.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
In April 2023, the Company entered into several ten-month convertible notes (the “April Convertible Notes”) with multiple investors (the “Holders”) with an aggregate principal amount of $0.9 million for a purchase price of $0.8 million. The April Convertible Notes bear interest at 8% per annum and are convertible into Series C preferred shares at $13.75 per share at the Holders’ sole option. The Series C preferred shares are convertible into common stock 30 days after the debt conversion date. Each Series C preferred share is convertible into 25 shares of common stock.
On June 30, 2023, the Company entered into a one-year convertible note (the “June Convertible Note”) with an individual investor (the “Holder”) with principal amount of $1.0 million. The Company received $1.0 million cash from the June Convertible Note. The June Convertible Note bears interest at 8% per annum and is convertible into Series C preferred shares at $12.50 per share at the Holder’s sole option. The Series C preferred shares are convertible into common stock 30 days after the debt conversion date. Each Series C preferred share is convertible into 25 shares of common stock.
On July 11, 2023, the Company entered into another one-year convertible note (the “July Convertible Note”) with the same investor as the June Convertible Note with principal amount of $0.5 million. The Company received $0.5 million cash from the July Convertible Note. The July Convertible Note bears interest at 10% per annum and has same conversion feature and conversion price as the June Convertible Note.
During the three months ended September 30, 2023, the Company entered into several one-year convertible notes (the “Convertible Notes”) with multiple investors (the “Holders”) with an aggregate principal amount of $1.4 million for a purchase price of $1.3 million. The Convertible Notes bear interest at 8% per annum and are convertible into Series C preferred shares between $13.75 and $17.50 per share at the Holders’ sole option. The Series C preferred shares are convertible into common stock 30 days after the debt conversion date. Each Series C preferred share is convertible into 25 shares of common stock.
Between August and September 2023, the Company entered into several one-year convertible notes (the “August & September Convertible Notes”) with multiple individual investors (the “Holders”) with an aggregate principal amount of $10.3 million. The August
33
& September Convertible Notes bear interest at 11% per annum and are convertible into Series C preferred shares between $10.00 and $12.50 per share at the Holder’s sole option. The Series C preferred shares are convertible into common stock 30 days after the debt conversion date. Each Series C preferred share is convertible into 25 shares of common stock. In addition, the Holders have an alternative option to convert the August & September Convertible Notes into a non-dilutive financial instrument, which has the same terms at those in the non-dilutive funding agreements as described in Note 12.
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
Not Applicable.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
Item 5. Other Information
None.
Item 6. Exhibits
21.1 | ||
21.2 | ||
31.1 |
| |
32.1 | ||
101.INS | Inline XBRL Instance Document. | |
| ||
101.SCH | Inline XBRL Schema Document. | |
| ||
101.CAL | Inline XBRL Calculation Linkbase Document. | |
| ||
101.DEF | Inline XBRL Definition Linkbase Document. | |
| ||
101.LAB | Inline XBRL Label Linkbase Document. | |
| ||
101.PRE | Inline XBRL Presentation Linkbase Document. | |
104 | The cover page from the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2023, formatted in Inline XBRL (included as Exhibit 101). |
* Filed herewith
** Furnished herewith
34
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.
NORTHWEST BIOTHERAPEUTICS, INC | |||
Dated: November 9, 2023 | By: | /s/ Linda F. Powers | |
Name: | Linda F. Powers | ||
Title: | President and Chief Executive Officer | ||
Principal Executive Officer | |||
Principal Financial and Accounting Officer |
35