PALATIN TECHNOLOGIES INC - Quarter Report: 2010 September (Form 10-Q)
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
[X]
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QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
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For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2010
or
[ ]
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TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
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For the transition period from ___________ to __________
Commission file number: 001-15543
________________________
PALATIN TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
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95-4078884
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(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
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(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
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4C Cedar Brook Drive
Cranbury, New Jersey
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08512
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(Address of principal executive offices)
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(Zip Code)
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(609) 495-2200
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes x No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes ¨ No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer ¨ Accelerated filer ¨
Non-accelerated filer ¨ Smaller reporting company x
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ¨ No x
As of November 12, 2010, 11,839,028 shares of the registrant's common stock, par value $.01 per share, were outstanding.
PALATIN TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Page
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PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION
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2
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3
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4
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5
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11
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14
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14
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PART II – OTHER INFORMATION
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15
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15
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15
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15
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15
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15
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15
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PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements
PALATIN TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
and Subsidiary
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(unaudited)
September 30,
2010
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June 30,
2010
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ASSETS
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||||
Current assets:
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||||
Cash and cash equivalents
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$ 1,234,739
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$ 5,405,430
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Available-for-sale investments
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3,472,199
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3,462,189
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Accounts receivable
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528,222
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2,879
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Prepaid expenses and other current assets
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322,970
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393,313
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Total current assets
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5,558,130
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9,263,811
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Property and equipment, net
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2,089,421
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2,388,365
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Restricted cash
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475,000
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475,000
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Other assets
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266,020
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261,701
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Total assets
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$ 8,388,571
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$ 12,388,877
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LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
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Current liabilities:
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Capital lease obligations
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$ 20,182
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$ 19,670
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Accounts payable
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153,196
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155,795
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Accrued compensation
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748,027
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-
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Unearned revenue
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327,498
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-
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Accrued expenses
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1,520,461
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2,219,466
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Total current liabilities
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2,769,364
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2,394,931
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Capital lease obligations
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9,042
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14,284
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Deferred rent
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526,352
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661,389
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Total liabilities
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3,304,758
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3,070,604
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Stockholders' equity:
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Preferred stock of $.01 par value – authorized 10,000,000 shares;
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Series A Convertible; issued and outstanding 4,997 shares as of September 30, 2010 and June 30, 2010, respectively
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50
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50
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Common stock of $.01 par value – authorized 40,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 11,819,028 and 11,702,818 shares as of September 30, 2010 and June 30, 2010, respectively
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118,190
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117,028
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Additional paid-in capital
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218,591,411
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218,236,723
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Accumulated other comprehensive income
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148,660
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138,650
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Accumulated deficit
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(213,774,498)
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(209,174,178)
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Total stockholders’ equity
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5,083,813
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9,318,273
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Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
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$ 8,388,571
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$ 12,388,877
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The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
2
PALATIN TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
and Subsidiary
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(unaudited)
Three Months Ended September 30,
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2010
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2009
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REVENUES
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$ 216,147
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$ 3,662,619
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OPERATING EXPENSES:
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Research and development
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3,452,762
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2,669,564
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General and administrative
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1,381,776
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1,153,731
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Total operating expenses
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4,834,538
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3,823,295
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Loss from operations
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(4,618,391)
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(160,676)
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OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
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Investment income
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20,375
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33,312
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Interest expense
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(2,304)
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(4,701)
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Gain on sale of supplies
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-
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95,000
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Total other income, net
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18,071
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123,611
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NET LOSS
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$ (4,600,320)
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$ (37,065)
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Basic and diluted net loss per common share
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$ (0.39)
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$ (0.00)
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Weighted average number of common shares outstanding used in computing basic and diluted net loss per common share
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11,730,308
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9,130,622
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The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
3
PALATIN TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
and Subsidiary
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(unaudited)
Three Months Ended September 30,
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2010
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2009
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CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
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Net loss
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$ (4,600,320)
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$ (37,065)
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Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash
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used in operating activities:
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Depreciation and amortization
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298,944
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312,078
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Gain on sale of supplies
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-
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(95,000)
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Stock-based compensation
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310,443
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317,532
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Amortization of deferred revenue
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-
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(644,137)
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Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
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Accounts receivable
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(525,343)
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(2,724,750)
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Prepaid expenses and other assets
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66,024
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132,927
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Accounts payable
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(2,599)
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204,621
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Accrued expenses and compensation
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(86,015)
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(497,120)
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Unearned revenues
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327,498
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-
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Net cash used in operating activities
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(4,211,368)
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(3,030,914)
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CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
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Sale of supplies
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-
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95,000
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Net cash provided by investing activities
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-
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95,000
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CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
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Payments on capital lease obligations
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(4,730)
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(47,251)
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Payment of withholding taxes related to restricted stock units
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(18,993)
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-
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Proceeds from sale of common stock units and warrant exercise
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64,400
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2,792,676
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Net cash provided by financing activities
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40,677
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2,745,425
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NET DECREASE IN CASH AND
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CASH EQUIVALENTS
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(4,170,691)
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(190,489)
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CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning
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of period
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5,405,430
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4,378,662
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CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period
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$ 1,234,739
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$ 4,188,173
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SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
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Cash paid for interest
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$ 2,304
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$ 4,701
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Unrealized gain on available-for-sale investments
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$ 10,010
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$ 27,023
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The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
4
PALATIN TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
and Subsidiary
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(unaudited)
(1) ORGANIZATION:
Nature of Business – Palatin Technologies, Inc. (Palatin or the Company) is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the development of peptide, peptide mimetic and small molecule agonist compounds with a focus on melanocortin and natriuretic peptide receptor systems. Palatin has a diverse pipeline of active development programs targeting melanocortin and natriuretic receptors. The melanocortin system is involved in a large and diverse number of physiologic functions, and therapeutic agents modulating this system may have the potential to treat a variety of conditions and diseases, including sexual dysfunction, obesity and related disorders, cachexia (wasting syndrome) and inflammation-related diseases. The natriuretic peptide receptor system has numerous cardiovascular functions, and therapeutic agents modulating this system may be useful in treatment of acute asthma, heart failure, hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases.
The Company’s active drug development programs consist of bremelanotide for treatment of sexual dysfunction, other peptide melanocortin receptor agonists for treatment of sexual dysfunction, and PL-3994, an agonist peptide mimetic which binds to natriuretic peptide receptor A, for treatment of acute asthma and heart failure. The Company has an exclusive global research collaboration and license agreement with AstraZeneca AB (AstraZeneca) to commercialize compounds that target melanocortin receptors for the treatment of obesity, diabetes and related metabolic syndrome.
Key elements of the Company’s business strategy include using its technology and expertise to develop and commercialize therapeutic products; entering into alliances and partnerships with pharmaceutical companies to facilitate the development, manufacture, marketing, sale and distribution of product candidates the Company is developing; partially funding its product candidate development programs with the cash flow from the Company’s AstraZeneca collaboration agreement and any future agreements with other companies.
Business Risk and Liquidity – The Company has incurred negative cash flows from operations since its inception, and has expended, and expects to continue to expend in the future, substantial funds to complete its planned product development efforts. As shown in the accompanying consolidated financial statements, the Company has an accumulated deficit as of September 30, 2010 and incurred a net loss for the three months ended September 30, 2010. The Company anticipates incurring additional losses in the future as a result of spending on its development programs. To achieve profitability, the Company, alone or with others, must successfully develop and commercialize its technologies and proposed products, conduct successful preclinical studies and clinical trials, obtain required regulatory approvals and successfully manufacture and market such technologies and proposed products. The time required to reach profitability is highly uncertain, and there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to achieve profitability on a sustained basis, if at all.
As of September 30, 2010, the Company’s cash and cash equivalents were $1.2 million and its available-for-sale investments were $3.5 million. The Company has made the strategic decision to focus resources and efforts on clinical trials for bremelanotide and PL-3994 and preclinical development of an inhaled formulation of PL-3994 and a new peptide drug candidate for sexual dysfunction, and has ceased research and development efforts on new product candidates. As part of this decision, the Company is in the process of reducing staffing levels and anticipates having no more than twenty employees by December 31, 2010. Management does not believe that the Company’s existing capital resources, together with expected revenues, will be adequate to fund its currently planned operations for the next twelve months and intends to seek additional capital. The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company continues as a going concern, which contemplates the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recoverability and classification of recorded asset amounts or the amounts and classification of liabilities that might results from the outcome of this uncertainty.
The Company intends to seek additional capital through public or private equity or debt financings, collaborative arrangements on our product candidates, or other sources. However, sufficient additional funding to support projected operations, including clinical trials with either bremelanotide or PL-3994, or both, may not be available on acceptable terms, or at all. These matters raise substantial doubt over the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.
If the Company is unable to raise sufficient additional funds to advance at least one of its product candidates, management will implement plans for the orderly wind down of its business operations, including curtailing operations significantly and further decreasing staffing levels, and will seek to license, sell or otherwise
dispose of the Company’s product candidates, technologies and contractual rights, including rights under the research collaboration and license agreement with AstraZeneca, on the best possible terms available.
The nature and timing of the Company’s development activities are highly dependent on its financing activities. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to obtain financing when required, or that financing efforts will be successful. Additionally, the Company may be required to seek collaborators for its product candidates at an earlier stage than otherwise would be desirable and on terms that are less favorable than might otherwise be available, and relinquish, license or otherwise dispose of rights on unfavorable terms to technologies and product candidates that the Company would otherwise seek to develop or commercialize itself.
Concentrations – Concentrations in the Company’s assets and operations subject it to certain related risks. Financial instruments that subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk primarily consist of cash and cash equivalents, available-for-sale investments and accounts receivable. The Company’s cash and cash equivalents are primarily invested in one money market fund sponsored by a large financial institution. The Company’s accounts receivable balance as of September 30, 2010 consists of amounts due from AstraZeneca. For the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, 100% of revenues were from AstraZeneca.
(2) BASIS OF PRESENTATION:
The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnote disclosures required to be presented for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, these consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary to present fairly the Company’s financial position as of September 30, 2010, and its results of operations and its cash flows for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009. The results of operations for the three months ended September 30, 2010 may not necessarily be indicative of the results of operations expected for the full year, except that the Company expects to incur a significant loss for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2011.
The accompanying consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2010, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which includes consolidated financial statements as of June 30, 2010 and 2009 and for each of the fiscal years in the three-year period ended June 30, 2010.
(3) SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES:
Principles of Consolidation – The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Palatin and its wholly-owned inactive subsidiary. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Use of Estimates – The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Cash and Cash Equivalents – Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, cash in banks and all highly liquid investments with a purchased maturity of less than three months. Cash equivalents consist of $828,137 and $4,111,051 in a money market fund at September 30, 2010 and June 30, 2010, respectively. Restricted cash secures letters of credit for security deposits on leases.
Investments – The Company classifies its investments as available-for-sale investments and all such investments are recorded at fair value based on quoted market prices. Unrealized holding gains and losses are generally excluded from earnings and are reported in accumulated other comprehensive income/loss until realized. Interest and dividends on securities classified as available-for-sale are included in investment income. Gains and losses are recorded in the statement of operations when realized or when unrealized holding losses are determined to be other than temporary, on a specific-identification basis.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments – The Company’s financial instruments consist primarily of cash equivalents, available-for-sale investments, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and capital lease obligations. Management believes that the carrying value of these assets and liabilities are representative of their respective fair values based on quoted market prices for investments and the short-term nature of the other instruments.
Property and Equipment – Property and equipment consists of office and laboratory equipment, office furniture and leasehold improvements and includes assets acquired under capital leases. Property and equipment are recorded at cost. Depreciation is recognized using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the related assets, generally five years for laboratory and computer equipment, seven years for office furniture and equipment and the lesser of the term of the lease or the useful life for leasehold improvements. Amortization of assets acquired under capital leases is included in depreciation expense. Maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred while expenditures that extend the useful life of an asset are capitalized.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets – The Company reviews its long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be fully recoverable. To determine recoverability of a long-lived asset, management evaluates whether the estimated future undiscounted net cash flows from the asset are less than its carrying amount. If impairment is indicated, the long-lived asset would be written down to fair value. Fair value is determined by an evaluation of available price information at which assets could be bought or sold, including quoted market prices if available, or the present value of the estimated future cash flows based on reasonable and supportable assumptions.
Deferred Rent – The Company’s operating leases provide for rent increases over the terms of the leases. Deferred rent consists of the difference between periodic rent payments and the amount recognized as rent expense on a straight-line basis, as well as tenant allowances for leasehold improvements. Rent expenses are being recognized ratably over the terms of the leases.
Revenue Recognition – Revenue from corporate collaborations and licensing agreements consists of up-front fees, research and development funding, and milestone payments. Non-refundable up-front fees are deferred and amortized to revenue over the related performance period. The Company estimates the performance period as the period in which it performs certain development activities under the applicable agreement. Reimbursements for research and development activities are recorded in the period that the Company performs the related activities under the terms of the applicable agreements. Revenue resulting from the achievement of milestone events stipulated in the applicable agreements is recognized when the milestone is achieved, provided that such milestone is substantive in nature.
Research and Development Costs – The costs of research and development activities are charged to expense as incurred, including the cost of equipment for which there is no alternative future use.
Stock-Based Compensation – The Company charges to expense the fair value of stock options and other equity awards granted. The Company determines the value of stock options utilizing the Black-Scholes option pricing model. Compensation costs for share-based awards with pro rata vesting are allocated to periods on a straight-line basis.
Income Taxes – The Company and its subsidiary file consolidated federal and separate-company state income tax returns. Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences or operating loss and tax credit carryforwards are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in the period that includes the enactment date. The Company has recorded a valuation allowance against its deferred tax assets based on the history of losses incurred.
Net Loss per Common Share – Basic and diluted earnings per common share (EPS) are calculated in accordance with the provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 260, “Earnings per Share.”
As of September 30, 2010 and 2009, common shares issuable upon conversion of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, the exercise of outstanding options and warrants and the vesting of restricted stock units amounted to an aggregate of 2,625,810 and 1,926,748, respectively.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements – In September 2009, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2009-13, Revenue Recognition (Topic 605), “Multiple-Deliverable Revenue Arrangements (ASU 2009-13)”, which requires companies to allocate revenue in arrangements involving multiple deliverables based on the estimated selling price of each deliverable when such deliverables are not sold separately either by the company or other vendors. ASU 2009-13 eliminates the requirement that all undelivered elements must have objective and reliable evidence of fair value before a company can recognize the portion of the overall arrangement fee that is attributable to items that already have been delivered. As a result, the new guidance may allow some companies to recognize revenue on transactions that involve multiple deliverables earlier than under current requirements. ASU 2009-13 is effective for revenue arrangements entered into or materially modified in fiscal years beginning on or
after June 15, 2010. Early adoption is permitted at the beginning of a company’s fiscal year. The adoption of ASU 2009-13 on July 1, 2010 had no impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
In April 2010, the FASB issued ASU No. 2010-17, “Revenue Recognition – Milestone Method (ASU 2010-17).” ASU 2010-17 provides guidance on applying the milestone method to milestone payments for achieving specified performance measures when those payments are related to uncertain future events. Under ASU 2010-17, entities can make an accounting policy election to recognize arrangement consideration received for achieving specified performance measures during the period in which the milestones are achieved, provided certain criteria are met. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning January 1, 2011, with early adoption permitted. The Company does not believe adoption will have a material impact on its consolidated financial position and results of operations.
(4) AGREEMENT WITH ASTRAZENECA:
In January 2007, the Company entered into an exclusive global research collaboration and license agreement with AstraZeneca to discover, develop and commercialize compounds that target melanocortin receptors for the treatment of obesity, diabetes and related metabolic syndrome. In June 2008, the collaboration agreement was amended to include additional compounds and associated intellectual property developed by the Company. In December 2008, the collaboration agreement was further amended to include additional compounds and associated intellectual property developed by the Company and extended the research collaboration for an additional year through January 2010. In September 2009, the collaboration agreement was further amended to modify royalty rates and milestone payments. The collaboration is based on the Company’s melanocortin receptor obesity program and includes access to compound libraries, core technologies and expertise in melanocortin receptor drug discovery and development. As part of the September 2009 amendment to the research collaboration and license agreement, the Company agreed to conduct additional studies on the effects of melanocortin receptor specific compounds on food intake, obesity and other metabolic parameters.
In December 2009 and 2008, the Company also entered into clinical trial sponsored research agreements with AstraZeneca, under which the Company agreed to conduct studies of the effects of melanocortin receptor specific compounds on food intake, obesity and other metabolic parameters. Under the terms of these clinical trial agreements, AstraZeneca paid $5,000,000 as of March 31, 2009 upon achieving certain objectives and pays all costs associated with these studies. The Company recognized $216,147 and $122,091, respectively, as revenue in the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, under these clinical trial sponsored research agreements.
The Company received an up-front payment of $10,000,000 from AstraZeneca on execution of the research collaboration and license agreement. Under the September 2009 amendment the Company was paid an additional $5,000,000 in consideration of reduction of future milestones and royalties and providing specific materials to AstraZeneca. The Company is now eligible for milestone payments totaling up to $145,250,000, with up to $85,250,000 contingent on development and regulatory milestones and the balance contingent on achievement of sales targets. In addition, the Company will receive royalties on sales of any approved products. AstraZeneca assumed responsibility for product commercialization, product discovery and development costs, with both companies contributing scientific expertise in the research collaboration. The Company provided research services to AstraZeneca through January 2010, the expiration of the research collaboration portion of the research collaboration and license agreement, at a contractual rate per full-time-equivalent employee.
The Company has determined that the license portion of the agreement and research services should be evaluated together as a single unit for purposes of revenue recognition. Accordingly, the aggregate payments of $15,000,000 have been recognized as revenue over the period ended January 2010. For the three months ended September 30, 2009, the Company recognized as revenue $2,694,137 related to these aggregate payments. Per-employee compensation from AstraZeneca for research services was recognized as earned at the contractual rate, which approximates the fair value of such services. Revenue recognized for research services for the three months ended September 30, 2009 was $846,391. Payments received upon the attainment of substantive milestones are recognized as revenue when earned.
(5) INVESTMENTS AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
The following is a summary of available-for-sale investments:
September 30,
|
June 30,
|
|||
2010
|
2010
|
|||
Cost
|
$ 3,323,539
|
$ 3,323,539
|
||
Gross unrealized gains
|
183,668
|
173,658
|
||
Gross unrealized losses
|
(35,008)
|
(35,008)
|
||
Total available-for-sale investments
|
$ 3,472,199
|
$ 3,462,189
|
The fair value of investments and cash equivalents are classified using a hierarchy prioritized based on inputs. Level 1 inputs are quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2 inputs are quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets or inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly through market corroboration, for substantially the full term of the financial instrument. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs based on management’s own assumptions used to measure assets and liabilities at fair value. A financial asset or liability’s classification within the hierarchy is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement.
The following table provides the assets carried at fair value:
Fair Value
|
Quoted prices in
active markets
(Level 1)
|
Quoted prices in
active markets
(Level 2)
|
Quoted prices in
active markets
(Level 3)
|
||||
September 30, 2010;
|
|||||||
Money Market Fund
|
$ 828,137
|
$ 828,137
|
$ -
|
$ -
|
|||
Mutual Funds
|
$ 3,472,199
|
$ 3,472,199
|
$ -
|
$ -
|
|||
June 30, 2010;
|
|||||||
Money Market Fund
|
$ 4,111,051
|
$ 4,111,051
|
$ -
|
$ -
|
|||
Mutual Funds
|
$ 3,462,189
|
$ 3,462,189
|
$ -
|
$ -
|
(6) COMPREHENSIVE LOSS:
Comprehensive loss consists of the following:
Three Months Ended September 30,
|
||||
2010
|
2009
|
|||
Net loss
|
$ (4,600,320)
|
$ (37,065)
|
||
Unrealized gain on available-for-sale investments
|
10,010
|
27,023
|
||
Comprehensive loss
|
$ (4,590,310)
|
$ (10,042)
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(7) REDUCTION IN WORKFORCE:
On September 24, 2010, the Company announced its strategic realignment of operations and its plans to reduce its workforce by 50% by December 31, 2010. During the three months ended September 30, 2010, the Company accrued $748,000 of severance and related costs to be paid over the following nine months. These costs were allocated between research and development and general and administrative expenses in the amounts of $633,000 and $115,000, respectively, based on the respective positions being eliminated.
(8) STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
Restricted Stock Units – In July 2010, the Company granted 205,000 restricted stock units to its employees under the Company’s 2005 Stock Plan. On September 15, 2010, 99,500 shares of common stock vested. The Company is amortizing the grant-date fair value of these restricted stock units of $331,000 over the nine month vesting period ending March 31, 2011. The Company recognized $209,525 of stock-based compensation expense related to these restricted stock units during the three months ended September 30, 2010.
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes to the consolidated financial statements filed as part of this report and the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2010.
Statements in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q, as well as oral statements that may be made by us or by our officers, directors, or employees acting on our behalf, that are not historical facts constitute “forward-looking statements”, which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as amended (the Exchange Act). The forward-looking statements in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q do not constitute guarantees of future performance. Investors are cautioned that statements that are not strictly historical statements contained in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q, including, without limitation, current or future financial performance, management’s plans and objectives for future operations, clinical trials and results, product plans and performance, management’s assessment of market factors, as well as statements regarding our strategy and plans and our strategic partners, constitute forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause our actual results to be materially different from historical results or from any results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Our future operating results are subject to risks and uncertainties and are dependent upon many factors, including, without limitation, the risks identified in this report, in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2010 and in our other Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings.
We expect to incur losses in the future as a result of spending on our planned development programs and losses may fluctuate significantly from quarter to quarter.
In this quarterly report on Form 10-Q, references to “we”, “our”, “us” or “Palatin” means Palatin Technologies, Inc. and its subsidiary.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Our significant accounting policies are described in the notes to our consolidated financial statements included in this report and in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2010, and have not changed as of September 30, 2010. We believe that our accounting policies and estimates relating to revenue recognition, accrued expenses and stock-based compensation are the most critical.
Overview
We are a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the development of peptide, peptide mimetic and small molecule agonist compounds with a focus on melanocortin and natriuretic peptide receptor systems. We have a pipeline of development programs targeting melanocortin and natriuretic receptors, including development of proposed products for treatment of sexual dysfunction, acute asthma, heart failure, hypertension, obesity, diabetes and metabolic syndrome.
We currently have the following active drug development programs:
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Bremelanotide, a peptide melanocortin receptor agonist, for treatment of sexual dysfunction, targeting female sexual dysfunction (FSD) and erectile dysfunction (ED) in patients non-responsive to current therapies.
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Peptide melanocortin receptor agonists for treatment of FSD, ED, and other indications.
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PL-3994, a peptide mimetic natriuretic peptide receptor A (NPRA) agonist, for treatment of acute exacerbations of asthma, heart failure and refractory or difficult-to-control hypertension.
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We have licensed several families of melanocortin receptor-based compounds for treatment of obesity, diabetes and related metabolic syndrome to AstraZeneca AB (AstraZeneca) pursuant to our research collaboration and license agreement with AstraZeneca.
Key elements of our business strategy include: using our technology and expertise to develop and commercialize products in our active drug development programs; entering into alliances and partnerships with pharmaceutical companies to facilitate the development, manufacture, marketing, sale and distribution of product candidates we are developing; and, partially funding our development programs with the cash flow from our AstraZeneca research collaboration and license agreement and any future agreements with other companies.
We incorporated in Delaware in 1986 and commenced operations in the biopharmaceutical area in 1996. Our corporate offices and research and development facility are located at 4C Cedar Brook Drive, Cranbury, New Jersey 08512 and our telephone number is (609) 495-2200. We maintain an Internet site at http://www.palatin.com, where among other things, we make available free of charge on and through this website our Forms 3, 4 and 5, annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) and Section 16 of the Exchange Act as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC. Our website and the information contained in it or connected to it shall not be deemed to be incorporated into this quarterly report on Form 10-Q.
Results of Operations
Three Months Ended September 30, 2010 Compared to the Three Months Ended September 30, 2009
Revenue – For the three months ended September 30, 2010, we recognized $0.2 million in revenue compared to $3.7 million for three months ended September 30, 2009 pursuant to our license agreement with AstraZeneca.
Revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2010 consisted entirely of reimbursement of development costs and per-employee compensation, earned at the contractual rate. Revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2009 consisted of $1.0 million related to our research services performed and $2.7 million of revenue related to AstraZeneca’s up-front license fee. In connection with the completion of the research collaboration portion of the research collaboration and license agreement, we recognized as revenue in fiscal 2010 all remaining deferred up-front license fees received from AstraZeneca. Future contract revenue from AstraZeneca, in the form of reimbursement of development costs, will fluctuate based on development activities in our obesity program. We may also earn contract revenue based on the attainment of development milestones.
Research and Development – Research and development expenses increased to $3.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010 from $2.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2009. The increase is primarily related to the recognition of severance related expenses in the three months ended September 30, 2010 based on our process of reducing staffing levels pursuant to our strategic decision to focus resources and efforts on clinical trials of bremelanotide and PL-3994 and preclinical development of an inhaled formula of PL-3994 and a new peptide drug candidate for sexual dysfunction.
Research and development expenses related to our bremelanotide, other melanocortin receptor agonists, PL-3994, obesity and other preclinical programs were $0.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010 compared to $0.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2009. Spending to date has been primarily related to the identification and optimization of lead compounds and pre-clinical development, and secondarily to a study of the effects of melanocortin receptor-specific compounds on food intake, obesity and other metabolic parameters and a study of subcutaneously administered bremelanotide. The amount of such spending and the nature of future development activities are dependent on a number of factors, including primarily the availability of funds to support future development activities, success of our clinical trials and preclinical and discovery programs, and our ability to progress compounds in addition to bremelanotide and PL-3994 into human clinical trials.
The historical amounts of project spending above exclude general research and development spending, which increased to $2.7 million for three months ended September 30, 2010 compared to $2.2 million for three months ended September 30, 2009. The increase is primarily related to the recognition of severance related expenses of $633,000 in the three months ended September 30, 2010 based on our process of reducing staffing levels pursuant to our strategic decision to focus resources and efforts on clinical trials of bremelanotide and PL-3994 and preclinical development of an inhaled formula of PL-3994 and a new peptide drug candidate for sexual dysfunction.
Cumulative spending from inception to September 30, 2010 on our bremelanotide, NeutroSpec (a previously marketed imaging product on which all work is suspended) and other programs (which include PL-3994, other melanocortin receptor agonists, obesity, and other discovery programs) amounts to approximately $134.9 million, $55.5 million and $58.6 million, respectively. Due to various risk factors described in our periodic filings with the SEC, including the difficulty in currently estimating the costs and timing of future Phase 1 clinical trials and larger-scale Phase 2 and Phase 3 clinical trials for any product under development, we cannot predict with reasonable certainty when, if ever, a program will advance to the next stage of development or be successfully completed, or when, if ever, net cash inflows will be generated.
General and Administrative – General and administrative expenses increased to $1.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010 compared to $1.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2009. The increase is primarily related to the recognition of severance related expenses of $115,000 in the three months ended September 30, 2010 based on our process of reducing staffing levels pursuant to our strategic decision to focus
resources and efforts on clinical trials of bremelanotide and PL-3994 and preclinical development of an inhaled formula of PL-3994 and a new peptide drug candidate for sexual dysfunction.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Since inception, we have incurred net operating losses, primarily related to spending on our research and development programs. We have financed our net operating losses primarily through equity financings and amounts received under collaborative agreements.
Our product candidates are at various stages of development and will require significant further research, development and testing and may never be successfully developed or commercialized. We may experience uncertainties, delays, difficulties and expenses commonly experienced by early stage biopharmaceutical companies, which may include unanticipated problems and additional costs relating to:
• the development and testing of products in animals and humans;
• product approval or clearance;
• regulatory compliance;
• good manufacturing practices;
• intellectual property rights;
• product introduction;
• marketing, sales and competition; and
• obtaining sufficient capital.
Failure to obtain timely regulatory approval for our product candidates and indications would impact our ability to increase revenues and could make it more difficult to attract investment capital for funding our operations. Any of these possibilities could materially and adversely affect our operations and require us to curtail or cease certain programs.
During the three months ended September 30, 2010, we used $4.2 million of cash for our operating activities, compared to $3.0 million used in the three months ended September 30, 2009. Higher net cash outflows from operations in the three months ended September 30, 2010 resulted primarily from lower revenues. Our periodic accounts receivable balances will continue to be highly dependent on the timing of receipts from collaboration partners and the division of development responsibilities between us and our collaboration partners.
During the three months ended September 30, 2010, there was no cash either provided by or used in investing activities. During the three months ended September 30, 2009, cash provided by investing activities of $0.1 million consisted solely of the sale of supplies.
During the three months ended September 30, 2010, cash provided by financing activities of $41,000 consisted primarily from the exercise of warrants during the quarter. During the three months ended September 30, 2009, cash provided by financing activities was $2.7 million, consisting of approximately $2.8 million from the sale of equity units in a registered direct offering offset by payments on capital lease obligations.
As of September 30, 2010, our cash and cash equivalents were $1.2 million, our available-for-sale investments were $3.5 million and our accounts receivable were $0.5 million. We believe that these amounts are not sufficient to fund our planned operations for the next twelve months. This raises substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. We have made the strategic decision to focus resources and efforts on clinical trials for bremelanotide and PL-3994 and preclinical development of an inhaled formulation of PL-3994 and a new peptide drug candidate for sexual dysfunction, and have ceased research and development efforts on new product candidates. As part of this decision, we have implemented reductions in staffing levels, and anticipate having no more than twenty employees by December 31, 2010. We also intend to raise additional capital by December 31, 2010. The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that we continue as a going concern.
We intend to seek additional capital through public or private equity or debt financings, collaborative arrangements on our product candidates, or other sources. However, sufficient additional funding to support projected operations, including clinical trials with either bremelanotide or PL-3994, or both, may not be available on acceptable terms or at all. We may be required to seek collaborators for our product candidates at an earlier stage than otherwise would be desirable and on terms that are less favorable than might otherwise be available, and
relinquish, license or otherwise dispose of rights on unfavorable terms to technologies and product candidates that we would otherwise seek to develop or commercialize ourselves. The nature and timing of our development activities are highly dependant on our financing activities.
If we are unable to raise sufficient additional funds to advance at least one of our product candidates, we will implement plans for the orderly wind down of our business operations, including curtailing operations significantly and further decreasing staffing levels, and will seek to license, sell or otherwise dispose of our product candidates, technologies and contractual rights, including rights under our research collaboration and license agreement with AstraZeneca, on the best possible terms available. Even if we are able to license, sell or otherwise dispose of our product candidates, technologies and contractual rights, it is likely to be on unfavorable terms for less value than if we had the financial resources to develop or otherwise advance our product candidates, technologies and contractual rights ourselves.
We anticipate incurring additional losses over at least the next few years. To achieve profitability, we, alone or with others, must successfully develop and commercialize our technologies and proposed products, conduct preclinical studies and clinical trials, obtain required regulatory approvals and successfully manufacture and market such technologies and proposed products. The time required to reach profitability is highly uncertain, and we do not know whether we will be able to achieve profitability on a sustained basis, if at all.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
Not required to be provided by smaller reporting companies.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures.
Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e), as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of September 30, 2010. There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during our most recent fiscal quarter that materially affected, or that are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings.
We may be involved, from time to time, in various claims and legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of our business. We are not currently a party to any such claims or proceedings that, if decided adversely to us, would either individually or in the aggregate have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
There have been no material changes to our risk factors disclosed in Part I, Item 1A. of our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2010, with the exception of the following:
We are not in compliance with continued listing standards of NYSE Amex, and our common stock may be delisted, making it difficult to trade shares of our common stock.
Our common stock trades on NYSE Amex. As of September 30, 2010, our total stockholders’ equity was $5,083,813. Section 1003(a)(iii) of NYSE Amex’s Company Guide (the Company Guide) provides that NYSE Amex may consider suspending dealings in or removing from listing common stock of companies with stockholders’ equity less than $6,000,000 which have had losses from continuing operations and net losses in the five most recent fiscal years. We have had losses from continuing operations and net losses in the five most recent fiscal years.
In December 2008 we received notice from NYSE Amex that we did not meet continued listing standards based on minimum stockholders’ equity requirements. We submitted a plan to bring us into compliance, and on March 3, 2010 we received notice from NYSE Amex that we had resolved continued listing deficiencies and that the plan was terminated. Under Section 1009(h) of the Company Guide, if within twelve months of termination of a plan it is again determined that a company is below continued listing standards, NYSE may truncate its usual procedures or immediately initiate delisting proceedings. We have not yet received any notice from NYSE Amex, but we anticipate that, at a minimum, NYSE Amex will issue a deficiency letter requiring us to submit a plan that would bring us into compliance with continued listing standards.
We could be delisted from NYSE Amex for either not meeting continued listing standards within twelve months of termination of a plan to regain compliance or, if NYSE Amex requires us to submit a new plan, for failure to come into compliance with continued listing standards within the time periods specified in the plan, or failure to otherwise comply with the provisions of the plan. If we are delisted from NYSE Amex, then our common stock will trade, if at all, only on the over-the-counter market, and then only if one or more registered broker-dealer market makers comply with quotation requirements. Delisting of our common stock could also further depress our stock price, substantially limit liquidity of our common stock and materially adversely affect our ability to raise capital on terms acceptable to us, or at all. Delisting from NYSE Amex could also have other negative results, including the potential loss of confidence by suppliers and employees, the loss of institutional investor interest and fewer business development opportunities.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.
None.
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.
None.
Item 4. (Removed and Reserved).
Item 5. Other Information.
None.
Item 6. Exhibits.
Exhibits filed or furnished with this report:
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.
Palatin Technologies, Inc.
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(Registrant)
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/s/ Carl Spana
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Date: November 15, 2010
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Carl Spana, Ph.D.
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President and
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Chief Executive Officer (Principal
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Executive Officer)
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/s/ Stephen T. Wills
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Date: November 15, 2010
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Stephen T. Wills
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Executive Vice President and
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Chief Financial Officer (Principal
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Financial and Accounting Officer)
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Exhibit Index
Exhibits filed or furnished with this report:
31.1 Certification of Chief Executive Officer.
31.2 Certification of Chief Financial Officer.
32.1 Certification by Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.
32.2 Certification by Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.