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PLx Pharma Winddown Corp. - Quarter Report: 2014 September (Form 10-Q)

Table of Contents

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

(Mark One)

 

x      Quarterly Report PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2014

or

 

o         TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from                             to                             

 

Commission File Number:  001-36351

 

DIPEXIUM PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

46-4995704

(State or Other Jurisdiction of

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Incorporation or Organization)

 

Identification No.)

 

 

 

61 Broadway, 19th Floor

 

 

New York, NY

 

10006

(Address of Principal Executive
Offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

(212) 269-2834

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

 

 

(Former Name, Former Address and Former Fiscal Year, if Changed Since Last Report)

 

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

x  Yes          No  o

 

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

x  Yes         No  o

 

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 o

 

Accelerated filer o

 

 

 

Non-accelerated filer o  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

 

Smaller reporting company x

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

o  Yes        x  No

 

APPLICABLE ONLY TO ISSUERS INVOLVED IN BANKRUPTCY

PROCEEDINGS DURING THE PRECEDING FIVE YEARS:

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed all documents and reports required to be filed by Sections 12, 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the distribution of securities under a plan confirmed by a court. 

o  Yes        o  No

 

APPLICABLE ONLY TO CORPORATE ISSUERS:

 

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of November 12, 2014; 8,537,877

 

 

 



Table of Contents

 

Dipexium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

FORM 10-Q

For quarterly period ended September 30, 2014

 

INDEX

 

PART I— FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1.

Financial Statements (Unaudited)

3

Item 2.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

15

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

20

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

20

PART II— OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings

20

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

21

Item 2.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

21

Item 3.

Defaults Upon Senior Securities

21

Item 4.

Mine Safety Disclosures

21

Item 5.

Other Information

21

Item 6.

Exhibits

21

SIGNATURES

22

 

2



Table of Contents

 

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The accompanying condensed financial statements have been prepared by the Company and are unaudited.  In the opinion of management, all adjustments (which include all normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly the financial position, results of operations and cash flows at September 30, 2014 and 2013 and for the three and nine month periods then ended have been made.  Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America have been condensed or omitted.  It is suggested that these condensed financial statements be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2013.  The results of operations for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2014 are not necessarily indicative of the operating results for the full year.

 

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DIPEXIUM PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS

 

 

 

September 30,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2014

 

2013

 

 

 

(unaudited)

 

(Note 1)

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CURRENT ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

Cash

 

$

29,892,515

 

$

3,861,145

 

Prepaid Expenses

 

133,443

 

46,094

 

TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS

 

30,025,958

 

3,907,239

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OTHER ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

Security Deposit

 

49,385

 

 

Deferred Initial Public Offering costs

 

 

122,826

 

TOTAL OTHER ASSETS

 

49,385

 

122,826

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL ASSETS

 

$

30,075,343

 

$

4,030,065

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND MEMBERS’ AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CURRENT LIABILITIES

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses

 

$

1,298,923

 

$

823,834

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES

 

1,298,923

 

823,834

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MEMBERS’ AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

Members’ Equity

 

 

3,206,231

 

Common Stock: $.001 par value, 30,000,000 shares authorized, 8,537,877 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2014

 

8,538

 

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

47,812,754

 

 

Accumulated deficit

 

(19,044,872

)

 

TOTAL MEMBERS’ AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

28,776,420

 

3,206,231

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND MEMBERS’ AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

$

30,075,343

 

$

4,030,065

 

 

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

 

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DIPEXIUM PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2014

 

2013

 

2014

 

2013

 

REVENUES

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXPENSES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OPERATING EXPENSES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Research and Development Expenses

 

2,529,457

 

636,301

 

6,939,063

 

792,778

 

General and Administrative Expenses

 

1,313,697

 

354,678

 

3,368,044

 

967,975

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES

 

3,843,154

 

990,979

 

10,307,107

 

1,760,753

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LOSS FROM OPERATIONS

 

(3,843,154

)

(990,979

)

(10,307,107

)

(1,760,753

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET LOSS

 

$

(3,843,154

)

$

(990,979

)

$

(10,307,107

)

$

(1,760,753

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LOSS PER SHARE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic and diluted net loss per common share/units

 

$

(0.45

)

$

(0.21

)

$

(1.35

)

$

(0.39

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average common shares/units outstanding basic and diluted

 

8,537,877

 

4,771,911

 

7,618,540

 

4,525,713

 

 

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

 

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DIPEXIUM PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2014

 

2013

 

Operating Activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Net Loss

 

$

(10,307,107

)

$

(1,760,753

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Share-Based Compensation

 

971,615

 

361,083

 

Share-Based Payments to Vendors

 

450,012

 

10,900

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Changes In:

 

 

 

 

 

Prepaid Expenses

 

(87,349

)

1,035

 

Security Deposit

 

(49,385

)

3,670

 

Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses

 

597,915

 

47,247

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Cash Used In Operating Activities

 

(8,424,299

)

(1,336,818

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Financing Activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from issuance of Common Stock, net of issuance costs

 

34,455,669

 

 

Proceeds from Private Placement Offerings, net of issuance costs

 

 

3,661,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Cash Provided By Financing Activities

 

34,455,669

 

3,661,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Increase In Cash

 

26,031,370

 

2,324,182

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash at Beginning of Period

 

3,861,145

 

1,457,115

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash at End of Period

 

$

29,892,515

 

$

3,781,297

 

 

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

 

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DIPEXIUM PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN MEMBERS’ AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Class A

 

Membership

 

 

 

 

 

Additional

 

 

 

Total Members’

 

 

 

Membership

 

Interests

 

Common Stock

 

Paid-In

 

Accumulated

 

and Shareholders’

 

 

 

Interests

 

Amount

 

Shares

 

Amount

 

Capital

 

Deficit

 

Equity

 

Balance at December 31, 2013

 

735,588

 

$

3,206,231

 

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

3,206,231

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Issuance of Restricted Membership Interest Awards

 

1,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Issuance of Restricted Membership Interest to Vendors

 

7,604

 

380,200

 

 

 

 

 

69,812

 

 

 

450,012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Issuance of Membership Interest for Warrant conversion

 

23,719

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corporate Conversion

 

(767,911

)

(3,586,431

)

5,375,377

 

5,375

 

12,318,821

 

(8,737,765

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Initial Public Offering, net of issuance costs

 

 

 

 

 

3,162,500

 

3,163

 

34,452,506

 

 

 

34,455,669

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Share-Based compensation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

971,615

 

 

 

971,615

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(10,307,107

)

(10,307,107

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at September 30, 2014 (unaudited)

 

 

$

 

8,537,877

 

$

8,538

 

$

47,812,754

 

$

(19,044,872

)

$

28,776,420

 

 

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

 

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DIPEXIUM PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

NOTE 1 — NATURE OF OPERATIONS

 

Business:

 

Dipexium Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (the “Company”), a Delaware corporation, formerly Dipexium Pharmaceuticals, LLC, is a biopharmaceutical company addressing the need for new antibiotics to treat infectious diseases.  The Company was formed on January 14, 2010.  The Company is a late-stage pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of Locilex® (pexiganan cream 0.8%).

 

On March 18, 2014, the Company completed a corporate conversion from a limited liability company to a corporation in conjunction with an initial public offering (“IPO”) of common stock.  As a result of the corporate conversion, holders of the Class A Membership Interests and warrants in Dipexium Pharmaceuticals, LLC, became holders of Dipexium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. common stock.

 

The Company has experienced net losses and negative cash flows from operations since inception and expects these conditions to continue for the foreseeable future.  The Company has needed to raise capital from sales of its securities to sustain operations.  In March 2014, the Company completed an initial public offering of common stock with proceeds, net of issuance costs, of approximately $34.5 million.  As of September 30, 2014, the Company had a cash balance of approximately $29.9 million.  Based on the Company’s projected expenditures for 2014, management currently believes that its current cash balances should be sufficient to fund the Company’s operations into the second half of 2016.  Furthermore, if the Company’s assumptions underlying its estimated expenses prove to be wrong, it may have to raise additional capital sooner than anticipated.

 

There can be no assurance that the Company’s research and development will be successfully completed or that any Company product will be approved or commercially viable.  The Company is subject to risks common to companies in the biotechnology industry including, but not limited to, dependence on collaborative arrangements, development by the Company or its competitors of new technological innovations, dependence on key personnel, protection of proprietary technology, and compliance with Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) and other governmental regulations and approval requirements.

 

Unaudited Condensed Interim Financial Data

 

The accompanying interim condensed financial statements are unaudited.  These unaudited condensed financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for interim financial information.  Accordingly, they do not include all the information and footnotes required by United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) for complete financial statements.  These unaudited interim condensed financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and accompanying notes for the year ended December 31, 2013.  The unaudited interim condensed financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as the annual financial statements included in the registration statement and, in the opinion of management, reflect all the adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) necessary to state fairly the Company’s financial position as of September 30, 2014, the results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, and the cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.  The December 31, 2013 balance sheet included herein was derived from the audited financial statements, but may not include all disclosures including notes required by GAAP for complete financial statements.

 

NOTE 2 — SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management 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 and the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting period.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

Federal Income Taxes

 

Prior to the Company’s corporate conversion in March 2014, the Company was organized as a limited liability company.  As such, the Company was not a tax paying entity for Federal income tax purposes and, therefore, no income tax expense had been recorded in the financial statements.  Income or losses of the Company was passed through to members for inclusion in their respective income tax returns.

 

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DIPEXIUM PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The Company currently estimates an annual effective tax rate of 0% as the Company incurred losses for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2014 and is forecasting additional losses through year end, resulting in an estimated net loss for both financial statement and tax purposes.  Therefore, no federal or state income tax expense has been recorded in the financial statements.

 

The Company has a history of generating operating losses and anticipates operating losses continuing in the foreseeable future.  The Company believes that the tax benefits from these net operating losses will be realized in the future, however, based on the history of operating losses, GAAP rules require a full valuation allowance against all deferred tax assets, which has been recorded.  Should the Company’s assessment change, tax benefits associated with the historic net operating loss carryforwards would be available from the time of the corporate conversion to the present.

 

Concentration of Credit Risk

 

The Company maintains its cash balance in one financial institution.  The balance is insured up to the maximum allowable by the Federal Deposit Insurance Company (“FDIC”).  The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts and does not believe it is exposed to any significant risk of loss on cash.  At times, the cash balance may exceed the maximum limit of the FDIC.

 

Guaranteed Payments to Members

 

Guaranteed payments to members of the Company prior to the March 2014 corporate conversion, that were designated to represent reasonable compensation for services rendered, were accounted for as Company expenses rather than an allocation of the Company’s net income.

 

Research and Development

 

In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 730, “Accounting for Research and Development Costs”, the Company expenses research and development costs when incurred.  At times the Company may make cash advances for research and development services.  These amounts are capitalized and expensed in the period the service is provided.  The Company incurred net research and development expenses in the amount of $2,529,457 and $636,301 for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and $6,939,063 and $792,778 for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

 

Share-Based Compensation

 

The Company accounts for the cost of services performed by officers and directors received in exchange for an award of Company membership interests, common stock, or stock options, based on the grant-date fair value of the award.  In accordance with ASC 718 “Stock Compensation”, the Company recognizes compensation expense, net of estimated forfeitures, on a straight-line basis over the service period.

 

Share-Based Payments to Vendors

 

The Company accounts for the cost of services performed by vendors in exchange for an award of Company membership interests or common stock based on the grant-date fair value of the award or fair value of the services rendered; whichever is more readily determinable and adjusted to fair value at each reporting date.  Such fair value is measured as of the earlier of the date the other party becomes committed to provide goods or services or the date performance by the other party is complete.  The Company recognizes the expense in the same period and in the same manner as if the Company had paid cash for the services.

 

Deferred Initial Public Offering Costs

 

The Company incurred legal and accounting costs relating to its initial public offering.  These specific incremental costs directly attributable to the offering of equity securities were capitalized in other noncurrent assets as of December 31, 2013.  These costs were subsequently applied against the proceeds of the initial public offering which was consummated in March 2014.

 

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DIPEXIUM PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

NOTE 3 - ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND ACCRUED EXPENSES

 

Accounts payable and accrued expenses at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 were as follows:

 

 

 

September 30, 2014

 

December 31, 2013

 

Accrued compensation expense

 

$

350,730

 

$

247,845

 

Accrued research and development

 

891,770

 

367,065

 

Accrued professional fees

 

19,225

 

160,370

 

Other accounts payable and accrued expenses

 

37,198

 

48,554

 

Totals

 

$

1,298,923

 

$

823,834

 

 

NOTE 4 — EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

The Company’s co-founders and original two executives received compensation pursuant to employment agreements effective July 23, 2010 (the “Original Agreements”).  The Original Agreements stipulated that the executives would receive a base salary of $252,000 per annum, of which one-half was payable with the issuance of Class A Membership Interests of the Company (then organized as a limited liability company prior to the corporate conversion in March 2014) at the most recent offering price ($50 per Class A Membership Interest in each case), until such time as the Company raised aggregate proceeds of at least $2,000,000.  This threshold was reached on March 11, 2011; however, both executives signed temporary waivers until January 2012, at which time the executives revoked one-half of each waiver, and then subsequently reinstated the waiver in full.  The Company issued no Class A Membership Interests to these two executives pursuant to the Original Agreements for both of the three month and nine month periods ended September 30, 2014 and 1,680 Class A Membership Interests for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2013.

 

The Original Agreements also stipulated that the two executives would receive 5 weeks of vacation per annum.  Any unused weeks at the end of each year are payable to the executives in cash.  Accordingly, compensation expense representing accrued vacation pay from the Original Agreements has been recorded in the amount of $10,176 and $12,923 for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and $183,021 for the cumulative period from January 14, 2010 (inception) to March 31, 2014, which was paid in March 2014.

 

The Company currently is managed by four executives including the original two executives, in each case, pursuant to employment agreements effective March 18, 2014.  Compensation expense representing accrued vacation pay for all executives has been recorded in the amount of $16,304 and $47,913 for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2014, respectively.

 

NOTE 5 — ISSUANCE OF MEMBERSHIP INTERESTS and COMMON STOCK

 

In February 2014, the Company issued an aggregate of 23,719 Class A Membership Interests to investors in its prior financings in exchange for 89,900 outstanding warrants with an exercise price $60 per Class A Membership Interest or $8.57 on a 7 to 1 converted basis.  The exchange was effectively a cashless exercise in which 23,719 Class A Membership Interests issued were calculated using an implied intrinsic value of the warrants at $2.93 per share, on a 7 to 1 as converted basis and an estimated issuance price of $11.50 per share.  As the warrants and membership interests are both classified as equity instruments, the warrant exercise resulted in an immaterial reclassification within members’ equity.

 

On March 18, 2014, the Company completed an IPO issuing 3,162,500 shares of common stock at a price of $12 per share, resulting in net proceeds of $34,455,669 after deducting underwriting discounts of $2,656,500 and offering costs $837,831.  The outstanding Class A Membership Interests were converted to shares of common stock using a conversion ratio of 7 to 1, resulting in the conversion of 767,911 Class A Membership Interests into an aggregate of 5,375,377 shares of common stock.

 

NOTE 6 — SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION and STOCK OPTIONS

 

The Company granted restricted Class A Membership Interests awards to board members in exchange for services.  These membership interests awards were originally scheduled to vest over a period of 3 or 4 years, with the first year beginning on the date the member joined the board.  Accelerated vesting will occur upon a change of control or other business combination.  The fair

 

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DIPEXIUM PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

value of the membership interests granted was equal to the per-membership interest value of the most recent private placement ($50

per membership interest).  In December 2013, the Company received resignation letters from six members of the board of directors and the continuing members of the board of directors authorized accelerated vesting of their Class A Membership Interests.  The Company issued 20,333 Class A Membership Interests in connection with both the accelerated and annual vesting of the awards and recorded compensation expense in the amount of $693,750 associated with this accelerated vesting.  Total compensation expense in the amount of $25,000 and $116,667 has been recorded as director fees for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and $100,000 and $277,083 for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

 

In July 2014, a member of the board of directors resigned, resulting in the forfeiture of 21,000 shares of restricted common stock.  The resignation and forfeiture resulted in the Company reducing previously recorded compensation expense by $29,167 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014.

 

The following table summarizes the non-vested Class A Membership Interests at September 30, 2014 giving effect to the corporate conversion and the associated activity:

 

 

 

Class A

 

 

 

Membership Interests

 

 

 

converted to Common Stock 7:1 ratio

 

Nonvested at January 1, 2013

 

111,986

 

Granted

 

112,000

 

Vested

 

(146,986

)

Nonvested at December 31, 2013

 

77,000

 

Granted

 

 

Forfeited

 

(21,000

)

Vested

 

(14,000

)

Nonvested at September 30, 2014

 

42,000

 

 

In December 2013, 1,000 Membership Interests were issued to a member of board of directors which did not vest until February 2014.

 

As of September 30, 2014, there was $245,833 of total unrecognized compensation cost related to these awards. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.5 years.

 

In November 2013, the board of directors adopted the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan.  The plan became effective as of the completion of the corporate conversion and the closing of the IPO.  The Equity Incentive Plan reserves an aggregate number of common shares equal to 20% of the issued and outstanding common stock.  The purpose of the plan is to attract and retain directors, officers, and employees whose services are considered valuable to the Company.

 

In March 2014, effective at the closing of the Company’s IPO, the Company granted stock options to purchase 853,787 common shares (10% of the common stock outstanding) to four of its executives.  The options were issued pursuant to the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan at an exercise price of $13.93 and vest over thirty-six (36) equal monthly installments.  In April 2014, an employee received 7,500 stock options at an exercise price of $10.46 vesting over a three (3) year period.  Compensation expense associated with these awards is recognized over the vesting period based on the fair value of the option at the grant date determined based on the Black-Scholes model. Option valuation models require the input of highly subjective assumptions including the expected price volatility.  The Company’s employee stock options have characteristics significantly different from those of traded options, and changes in the subjective input assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimate.  Because there is no public market for the Company’s stock options and very little historical experience with the Company’s stock, similar public companies were used for comparison and expectations as to assumptions required for fair value computation using the Black-Scholes methodology.

 

The Company determined the fair value of the option awards using the Black-Scholes option pricing model and the following weighted average assumptions:

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30, 2014

 

Expected term

 

4.3 years

 

Volatility

 

59.6

%

Dividend yield

 

0

%

Risk free interest rate

 

1.23

%

 

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DIPEXIUM PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

ASC 718 requires stock compensation expense to be recorded net of estimated forfeitures.  The Company currently estimates there will be no forfeitures of options.

 

A summary of the Company’s stock option activity is as follows:

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

Weighted Average

 

 

 

September 30, 2014

 

Exercise Price

 

Outstanding at the beginning of the period

 

 

 

 

Granted

 

861,287

 

$

13.90

 

Forfeited

 

 

 

 

Outstanding at the end of the period

 

861,287

 

$

13.90

 

 

Compensation expense relating to options for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 was $421,697 and $0, respectively, and $900,782 and $0 for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.  The total compensation expense not yet recognized as of September 30, 2014 was $4,159,580.  The weighted average vesting period over which the total compensation expense will be recorded related to unvested options not yet recognized as of September 30, 2014 was approximately 2.46 years. The weighted average grant date fair value is $5.88. The intrinsic value of the stock options as of September 30, 2014 was $0, with a remaining weighted average contractual life of 5.99 years.

 

NOTE 7 — SHARE-BASED PAYMENTS TO VENDORS

 

In January 2013, the Company granted an additional 218 Class A Membership Interests to one vendor in exchange for consulting services.  The fair value of the Class A Membership Interests granted is equal to the value of the most-recent private placement ($50 per Class A Membership Interest).  Consulting expense in the amount of $10,900 was recorded for the nine months ended September 30, 2013.

 

In August 2013, the Company engaged a consultant for investor related services for a 12 month term.  The Company agreed to pay for the services rendered in cash and a grant of 2,000 Class A Membership Interests which will vest one year after the effective date of the agreement.  The Company expensed the fair value of the Class A Membership Interests ($50 per Class A Membership Interest based on the most recent private placement and remeasured based on the market value at each reporting date) over the term of the agreement and when the cash is paid.  Consulting expense, which includes cash payments and the membership interest grant, in the amount of $11,410 and $114,812 was recorded for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2014, respectively.

 

In January 2014, the Company entered into a Product Development Agreement with RRD International, LLC, pursuant to which RRD International, LLC provides certain strategic product development services to the Company during the term of the agreement which is calendar year 2014.  These product development services include the development, planning and execution of a fully integrated product development strategy and implementation of that strategy either directly or with third party vendors.  As consideration for services rendered, the Company has agreed to pay RRD International, LLC partially in cash and by issuing 7,604 of the Company’s Class A Membership Interests.  The Company expensed $380,200, the fair value of the Class A Membership Interests, ($50 per Class A Membership Interest, based on the previous private placement).

 

NOTE 8 — LEASE OF OFFICE SPACE

 

Effective May 2014, the Company entered into a sublease agreement for office space with current monthly payments of $12,346.  The term of the sublease is 23 months with inflationary escalations in 2015 and the first three months of 2016.  Total minimum sublease payments for the remaining term of the sublease is $228,936.

 

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DIPEXIUM PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

NOTE 9 — LEGAL MATTERS

 

The Company, as well as its two original executives, were three of some thirty defendants in a lawsuit filed by a former stockholder of Genaera Corporation, which was the predecessor of the Genaera Liquidating Trust (“the Trust”), the party which sold the Company the worldwide rights to pexiganan, the active ingredient of the Product Locilex® on April 8, 2010.  The complaint was filed on June 8, 2012 in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania (Civil Action No. 12-3265) by Alan W. Schmidt, individually and on behalf of former Genaera Corporation shareholders.  Among others, the suit was filed against the Company, as well as John A. Skolas and Argyce LCC, who were responsible for the administration of the Trust and who sold pexiganan to the Company via a public auction.

 

The defendants listed in the complaint included several individuals and companies formerly associated with Genera Corporation, the Trust and/or Argyce LLC, as well as against the Company and its two executives, as individuals.  Also included in the defendant group were several other pharmaceutical companies that were involved in acquiring the former drug-related assets of the Genaera Corporation and their related institutional and personal investors.

 

The complaint alleged, among other things, the Company and its two executives aided and abetted a breach of fiduciary duty alleged to have been committed by Argyce, LLC, the trustee of the Trust, and the Trust as well as former individuals associated with Genaera Corporation before it went into liquidation via a majority vote of its stockholders.  Plaintiff claimed that the defendants, aided and abetted a breach of the duties of the trustee under common law and under a certain trust agreement allegedly signed between Argyce, LLC, as the trustee, and the Trust.  With regard to the claims made against the Company and two executives, the plaintiff alleged, in pertinent part, that the Company’s acquisition of the pexiganan rights was for alleged inadequate consideration, and that the Company and its management aided and abetted a breach of fiduciary duty by the Genaera Corporation defendants who were formerly associated with Genaera Corporation and/or the Trust.

 

The Company and its two executives filed a motion to dismiss the complaint within the prescribed time period.  All of the other defendants in this litigation also filed motions to dismiss, and a court order granting each and every motion to dismiss, with prejudice, without leave to refile, was granted by the court on August 12, 2013.  Plaintiff’s lawyers then filed a Motion for Reconsideration which was also denied by the court on September 25, 2013.  Plaintiff then filed an appeal in the United States Third Circuit Court of Appeals seeking reversal of the court’s orders dismissing the complaint and denying the motion to reconsider.  Appellate court briefs were filed by the defendants in the case, and the plaintiff filed his reply brief accordingly.

 

On October 17, 2014, the Third Circuit Appellate Court, in a 2-1 decision with a strong dissenting opinion, reversed the trial court’s dismissal of Plaintiff’s claims based on the expiration of the applicable statutes of limitation. In a 2-1 decision, the Third Circuit held that more information was necessary to determine when Plaintiff should have been on notice of his claims to determine the applicability of the discovery rule, which could serve to extend the time frame in which Plaintiff could bring his claims. Due to the strong dissent, all Defendants will file the necessary documents requesting a petition for rehearing en banc, by the majority of the Third Circuit justices who are in active service with the appellate court.  With the strength of the dissent, the Company is hopeful that the en banc panel will reverse the Third Circuit’s 2-1 decision. If not, this matter will be remanded to the U.S. district court for further hearing on alternative grounds for dismissal of Plaintiff’s claims, and for limited discovery on the issue of Plaintiff’s initial knowledge of his potential claims against the defendants. The U.S. district court may still determine after some limited discovery that Plaintiff’s claims are barred by the applicable statutes of limitations. Even if Plaintiff’s claims survive these initial technical challenges, the Company will continue to vigorously defend Plaintiff’s claims on the factual record, which it believes will prove that the Company is not liable to Plaintiff in any regard whatsoever.  The Company believes that this legal matter will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position.

 

NOTE 10 — RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

 

The individual employed as the Company’s Vice President, Finance and Corporate Development as of the closing of the initial public offering, is the owner of Aumoe Partners, LLC (“Aumoe”), which was engaged in January 2012 to perform certain financial advisory services.

 

The Company incurred $0 and $15,000 in fees for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and $22,500 and $55,000 in fees for services rendered by Aumoe for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, which were recorded in general and administrative expenses.

 

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DIPEXIUM PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

NOTE 11 — NET LOSS PER SHARE

 

Basic and diluted net loss per common share for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2014 was determined by dividing net loss by the weighted average common shares outstanding during the period.  The Company’s potentially dilutive shares, which include 861,287 of stock options, 42,000 unvested common shares, and 34,300 warrants, have not been included in the computation of diluted net loss per share for all periods as the result would be antidilutive.  On March 18, 2014, the Company completed a corporate conversion from a limited liability company to a corporation, (the “Conversion”).  Accordingly, the outstanding Class A Membership Interests were converted to shares of common stock using a conversion ratio of 7 to 1, resulting in the conversion of its 767,911 Class A Membership Interests into an aggregate of 5,375,377 shares of common stock.  The effects of this Conversion on the Company’s net loss per share have been reflected for all periods presented retroactively.

 

NOTE 12 — RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

 

In June 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued an Accounting Standards Update for Development Stage Entities (Topic 915).  The main provisions eliminate the requirements for development stage entities to present inception-to-date information in the financial statements and other related disclosures. The Company elected to early adopt these amendments beginning in the prior quarter and for the periods covered by the report herein.

 

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

 

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT NOTICE

 

This Form 10-Q contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  For this purpose, any statements contained in this Form 10-Q that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements.  Without limiting the foregoing, words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “estimate” or “continue” or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements.  These statements by their nature involve substantial risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially depending on a variety of factors, many of which are not within our control.  These factors include but are not limited to economic conditions generally and in the industries in which we may participate; competition within our chosen industry, including competition from much larger competitors; technological advances and failure to successfully develop business relationships.  Unless the context indicates otherwise, as used in this report, the terms “Dipexium,” “we,” “us,” “our,” “our company” and “our business” refer, prior to the corporate conversion discussed herein, to Dipexium Pharmaceuticals, LLC, and after the corporate conversion to Dipexium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

 

Description of Business

 

Dipexium Pharmaceuticals, LLC (“Dipexium LLC”) was organized under the laws of the State of Delaware in January 2010. In March 2014, we effected a corporate conversion pursuant to which we succeeded to the business of Dipexium LLC and the holders of membership interests of Dipexium LLC became stockholders of Dipexium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

 

We are a late stage pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of Locilex® (pexiganan cream 0.8%), a novel, first-in-class, broad spectrum, topical antibiotic. Locilex® is a chemically synthesized, 22-amino acid peptide isolated from the skin of the African Clawed Frog. Its novel mechanism of action kills microbial targets through disruption of bacterial cell membrane permeability.  Locilex® initially is being targeted for the treatment of mild infections of diabetic foot ulcers (or Mild DFI). Based upon publicly available data, we estimate the market for diabetic foot infection therapeutics worldwide is approximately $1.46 billion. In December 2013, we were granted a new patent by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (or USPTO) on the formulation of Locilex® and the method of using the formulation to treat any skin infection.  This new patent expires in June 2032. We anticipate geographical extension of this new patent internationally throughout 2015.  Our primary objective is to establish Locilex® as the standard of care for the treatment of patients with Mild DFI. Thereafter, our growth strategy includes potentially expanding the indications for Locilex® to include moderate infections of diabetic foot ulcers (or Moderate DFI) and certain other mild or moderate skin and skin structure infections in superficial wounds.

 

We believe that we have a clear clinical and regulatory pathway with the potential for near term United States Food and Drug Administration (or FDA) approval of Locilex®.  We believe that Locilex® may be approved by the FDA by mid-2016.  FDA has signed a special protocol assessment agreement (or SPA) with us for our Phase 3 clinical program.  The Phase 3 clinical program requires us to conduct two small double blind, placebo-controlled superiority studies with standardized local wound care applied in both arms of each study.  The Phase 3 studies are called OneStep-1 and OneStep-2.  Currently, we have enrolled 5-10% of the patients required to be enrolled in these studies.  We anticipate completing enrollment in the pivotal Phase 3 studies in the first quarter of 2015.  Concurrently, we conducted DPX-110, a Phase 1 skin irritation study, in the first half of 2014 and announced the top-line data in July 2014.  In addition, we completed enrollment in DPX-120, a skin sensitization study, in Q3 2014 and anticipate announcing top-line data from DPX-120 in Q4 2014.  If the data from our pivotal Phase 3 studies are sufficient to meet the primary endpoint, we are targeting submission of our new drug application (or NDA) for Locilex® in the second half of 2015. We expect to receive a response from the FDA within six months of our NDA submission.

 

Plan of Operation

 

Our primary objective is to establish Locilex® as the standard of care to treat patients with Mild DFI. The key elements of our strategy are as follows:

 

· Complete the Phase 3 program for Locilex®.  As a result of our SPA for Locilex®, we believe the clinical pathway for Locilex® is clear. Working with our key third party vendors, we commenced our Phase 3 program in the second quarter of 2014 and expect to complete enrollment in the first quarter of 2015;

· Obtain FDA approval of Locilex® for Mild DFI.  If our Phase 3 trials meet their primary endpoint, we plan to submit our NDA for Locilex® in H2 of 2015. We believe that Locilex® may be approved by the FDA by mid-2016;

· Commercially launch Locilex® in the U.S.  If FDA approved, we plan to utilize a small specialty sales force to launch Locilex® in the U.S., initially targeting podiatrists and potentially expanding to other specialty healthcare providers;

 

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· Expand Locilex®’s FDA-approved uses.  If we are able to obtain FDA approval in Mild DFI, we will consider obtaining additional FDA approvals that will enable us to expand the Locilex® label to include patients with Moderate DFI and certain other mild or moderate skin and skin structure infections in superficial wounds;

· Commence clinical and regulatory activities in Europe.  We plan to finalize our European Union (or E.U.) clinical and regulatory strategy and work toward submitting a briefing package to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for a guidance meeting on certain clinical and regulatory matters.  We would anticipate working toward submitting a marketing authorization application (or MAA) following the completion of our clinical program in the U.S. as part of a long-term EU commercial strategy;

 

We will rely on our strong management team, board of directors and scientific advisory board to execute our strategy. The individuals on our management team, board of directors and scientific advisory board will contribute their significant development, regulatory, finance and commercial experiences to the development and commercialization of Locilex®.

 

Drug Development Strategy

 

We are conducting concurrently two pivotal Phase 3 clinical trials of Locilex® for the treatment of Mild DFI. The trials are referred to as OneStep-1 and OneStep-2.

 

We have an SPA with the FDA relating to the trial design for our Phase 3 studies. The SPA calls for us to conduct two placebo-controlled pivotal Phase 3 studies, but does not require us to demonstrate equivalence to oral antibiotics.  Enrollment has commenced in these two pivotal Phase 3 studies and we expect to complete enrollment in the first quarter of 2015. Both trials are randomized, placebo-controlled, double blind, multi-center trials in 180 evaluable patients in each trial.  These trials are designed to establish the superiority of Locilex® over placebo-cream in the treatment of Mild DFI.

 

We are conducting the OneStep-1 and OneStep-2 trials at 40-50 clinical sites in the U.S. The primary endpoint of the trials will be clinical success, defined as resolution of infection per the clinical judgment of each treating physician using the 2012 DFI treatment guidelines.  Microbiological success, defined as complete microbiological response, will be assessed as one of the secondary endpoints. All of the primary and secondary endpoints will be assessed for each patient on the 28th day following entry into the study.  Furthermore, the FDA has agreed that data from the Locilex® arm of the two prior studies conducted by Locilex®’s prior sponsor can be used to supplement our safety database.

 

We also have completed enrollment in DPX-110, our Phase 1 skin irritation study and announced top-line data in July 2014 and we completed enrollment in DPX-120, a Phase 1 skin sensitization study, in Q3 2014 and expect to report top line data in Q4 2014.

 

Research Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (a division of PRA International) is the contract research organization conducting our Phase 3 studies for Locilex®. This work is being performed under the auspices of RRD International, LLC, which is managing all aspects of our scientific, clinical and regulatory development.

 

Research Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. also is working with us on our European clinical and regulatory strategy in coordination with RRD International, LLC.

 

We are a late-stage pharmaceutical company and have never generated revenue. Currently we do not have a stable recurring source of revenues sufficient to cover our operating costs. We incurred net losses of $3.8 million and $10.3 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively.

 

Opportunities, Challenges and Risks

 

Our business and ability to execute our business strategy are subject to a number of risks and challenges:

 

· We are heavily dependent on attaining regulatory approval for and, if approved, successfully commercializing Locilex®. Locilex® is our only product candidate. As such, all of our resources and efforts have been and are expected for the foreseeable future to be dedicated to the development and commercialization of Locilex®. As such, we are subject to the risk of dependency on this sole product, and if we fail to gain FDA or other regulatory approvals for Locilex® (for example, for use in treating mild or moderate skin and skin structure infections in superficial wounds), our viability would be materially impacted unless we were able to develop or acquire other product candidates.

 

· The clinical and regulatory approval process for Locilex® may be lengthy and is inherently unpredictable. Although we anticipate certain time frames for our clinical and regulatory pathway for Locilex®, the enrollment and/or approval process of the FDA and comparable foreign regulatory authorities may be lengthy and time consuming. These processes are inherently unpredictable, and if we are ultimately unable to obtain regulatory approval for Locilex®, our business will be substantially harmed.

 

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· Manufacturing issues may prevent Locilex® from receiving regulatory approval.  Although we believe that we have successfully worked with our third-party vendors to resolve the manufacturing issues encountered by Locilex®’s prior sponsor and previously identified by the FDA, to the extent that such issues are not resolved, regulatory approval for Locilex® may be delayed or withheld, and we may not be able to meet the developmental milestones necessary to continue our business.

 

· Even if Locilex® is approved, the market may not accept it as a viable treatment option. Even if Locilex® is approved, there is a risk that it may not be accepted in the marketplace for a variety of reasons. If we are unable to generate revenue from sales of Locilex®, our business will be substantially harmed.

 

Results of Operations

 

Three Months Ended September 30, 2014 Compared to the Three Months Ended September 30, 2013

 

Summary Table

 

The following table presents a summary of the changes in our results of operations for the three months ended September 30, 2014, compared with the three months ended September 30, 2013:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
September 30,

 

Percentage

 

 

 

2014

 

2013

 

Increase

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

Research and Development Expenses

 

$

2,529

 

$

636

 

298

%

General and Administrative Expenses

 

$

1,314

 

$

355

 

270

%

Total Operating Expenses

 

$

3,843

 

$

991

 

288

%

Net Loss

 

$

(3,843

)

$

(991

)

288

%

 

Research and Development Expenses

 

Research and development expenses were $2.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014, and $0.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013, an increase of $1.9 million. Research and development expenses increased primarily as a result of a $2.0 million increase in research and development consulting related expenses for the planning and execution of the clinical trials offset by a $0.1 million decrease in research and development manufacturing costs related to making the product for the clinical trials.

 

General and Administrative Expenses

 

General and administrative expenses were $1.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014, and $0.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013, an increase of $0.9 million. The increase in general and administrative expenses is primarily attributable to an increase of $0.7 million for compensation related expenses, an increase of $0.1 million in professional fees, and an increase of $0.1 million in office related expenses.

 

Net Loss

 

Net loss was $3.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014, compared to $1.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013, an increase of $2.8 million, primarily due to a $1.9 million increase in research and development expenses and a $0.9 million increase in general and administrative expenses due to the reasons stated above.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 Compared to the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013

 

Summary Table

 

The following table presents a summary of the changes in our results of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, compared with the nine months ended September 30, 2013:

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

Percentage

 

 

 

2014

 

2013

 

Increase

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

Research and Development Expenses

 

$

6,939

 

$

793

 

775

%

General and Administrative Expenses

 

$

3,368

 

$

968

 

248

%

Total Operating Expenses

 

$

10,307

 

$

1,761

 

485

%

Net Loss

 

$

(10,307

)

$

(1,761

)

485

%

 

Research and Development Expenses

 

Research and development expenses were $6.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, and $0.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, an increase of $6.1 million. Research and development expenses increased primarily as a result of a $5.4 million increase in research and development consulting related expenses for the planning and execution of the clinical trials and a $0.7 million increase in research and development manufacturing costs related to making the product for the clinical trials.

 

General and Administrative Expenses

 

General and administrative expenses were $3.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, and $1.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, an increase of $2.4 million. The increase in general and administrative expenses is primarily attributable to an increase of $1.6 million for compensation related expenses, an increase in $0.6 million in professional fees, and an increase in $0.2 million in office related expenses.

 

Net Loss

 

Net loss was $10.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, compared to $1.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, an increase of $8.5 million, primarily due to a $6.1 million increase in research and development expenses and a $2.4 million increase in general and administrative expenses due to the reasons stated above.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Overview

 

We have generated no revenue from operations and we have incurred cumulative losses of approximately $19.0 million since inception. We have funded our operations primarily from equity issuances and a Federal government grant under the Qualified Therapeutic Discovery Act. We received net cash proceeds of approximately $9.7 million from equity financings closed between July 2010 and November 2013.  All of our equity financings were consummated at $50 per Class A membership interest ($7.14 on a post-conversion basis) with 50% warrant coverage at 120% of the issue price $60 per interest ($8.57 on a post-conversion basis).  On March 18, 2014 we closed an initial public offering of 3,162,500 shares of our common stock at a public offering price of $12.00 per share. Gross proceeds raised by us in the offering were approximately $38.0 million, and net proceeds to us were approximately $34.5 million.

 

After the completion of the initial public offering, we believe that we have sufficient cash to fund our operations into the second half of 2016.

 

As of September 30, 2014, we had working capital of approximately $28.7 million, consisting primarily of $29.9 million of cash, offset by $1.3 million of accounts payable and accrued expenses.

 

The following tables sets forth selected cash flow information for the periods indicated (in thousands):

 

 

 

For the nine months ended
September 30,

 

 

 

2014

 

2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash used in operating activities

 

$

(8,424

)

$

(1,337

)

Net cash provided by financing activities

 

34,455

 

3,661

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net increase in cash

 

$

26,031

 

$

2,324

 

 

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Net Cash Used in Operating Activities

 

Net cash used in operating activities was $8.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014. The net loss for this period was greater than the net cash used in operating activities by $1.9 million, which was primarily attributable to $1.4 million of share-based compensation and a $0.6 million increase in accounts payable offset by a $0.1 million increase prepaid expenses and security deposits.

 

Net cash used in operating activities was $1.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013. The net loss for this period was greater than the net cash used in operating activities by $0.4 million, which was primarily attributable to $0.4 million of share-based compensation.

 

Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities

 

Net cash provided by financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 was $34.5 million, which was attributable to the net proceeds from the Company’s initial public offering.

 

Net cash provided by financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 was $3.7 million, which was attributable to the net proceeds of private placements of the Company’s Class A Membership interests.

 

Contractual Obligations

 

Effective May 2014, the Company entered into a sublease agreement for office space with current monthly payments of $12,346.  The term of the sublease is 23 months with inflationary escalations in 2015 and the first three months of 2016.  Total minimum sublease payments for the remaining term of the sublease is $228,936.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In June 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued an Accounting Standards Update for Development Stage Entities (Topic 915).  The main provisions eliminate the requirements for development stage entities to present inception-to-date information in the financial statements and other related disclosures. The Company elected to early adopt these amendments beginning in the prior quarter and periods covered by the report herein.

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

Basis of Presentation

 

On April 5, 2012, the JOBS Act was signed into law. The JOBS Act contains provisions that, among other things, reduce certain reporting requirements for qualifying public companies. As an “emerging growth company,” we may, under Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act of 1933 (or Securities Act), delay adoption of new or revised accounting standards applicable to public companies until such standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We may take advantage of this extended transition period until the first to occur of the date that we (i) are no longer an “emerging growth company” or (ii) affirmatively and irrevocably opt out of this extended transition period. We have elected to take advantage of the benefits of this extended transition period. Our financial statements may therefore not be comparable to those of companies that comply with such new or revised accounting standards. Until the date that we are no longer an “emerging growth company” or affirmatively and irrevocably opt out of the exemption provided by Securities Act Section 7(a)(2)(B), upon issuance of a new or revised accounting standard that applies to our financial statements and that has a different effective date for public and private companies, we will disclose the date on which adoption is required for non-emerging growth companies and the date on which we will adopt the recently issued accounting standard. Our management’s discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based on our financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, or GAAP. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities and expenses. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate these estimates and judgments, including those described below. We base our estimates on our historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. These estimates and assumptions form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results and experiences may differ materially from these estimates.

 

Share Based Compensation

 

We account for the cost of services performed by directors received in exchange for an award of Class A membership interests, common stock, or stock options, based upon the grant date fair value of the award. In accordance with the Accounting Standards Codification, we recognize compensation expense, net of estimated forfeitures, on a straight-line basis over the vesting period.

 

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We account for the cost of services performed by vendors in exchange for an award of membership interests or common stock based upon the grant date fair value of the award or fair value of the services rendered, whichever is more readily determinable. In accordance with the Accounting Standards Codification, we recognize the expense in the same period and in the same manner as if we had paid cash for the services.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

We did not have, during the periods presented, and we are currently not party to, any off-balance sheet arrangements.

 

Seasonality

 

We do not have a seasonal business cycle. Our operating results are generally derived evenly throughout the calendar year.

 

ITEM 3.  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.

 

Not required by smaller reporting companies.

 

ITEM 4.  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.

 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures.  We carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the ‘‘Exchange Act’’). Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by an issuer in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the issuer’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Based upon our evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective as of September 30, 2014, in ensuring that material information that we are required to disclose in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms.

 

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting.  There were no changes in our system of internal controls over financial reporting during the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

PART II — OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

The Company, as well as its two original executives, were three of some thirty defendants in a lawsuit filed by a former stockholder of Genaera Corporation, which was the predecessor of the Trust, the party which sold the Company the worldwide rights to pexiganan, the active ingredient of the Product Locilex ™ on April 8, 2010.  The complaint was filed on June 8, 2012 in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania (Civil Action No. 12-3265) by Alan W. Schmidt, individually and on behalf of former Genaera Corporation shareholders.  Among others, the suit was filed against the Company, as well as John A. Skolas and Argyce LCC, who were responsible for the administration of the Trust and who sold pexiganan to the Company via a public auction.   The defendants listed in the complaint included several individuals and companies formerly associated with Genera Corporation, the Trust and/or Argyce LLC, as well as against the Company and its two executives, as individuals.  Also included in the defendant group were several other pharmaceutical companies that were involved in acquiring the former drug-related assets of the Genaera Corporation and their related institutional and personal investors.

 

The complaint alleged, among other things, the Company and its two executives aided and abetted a breach of fiduciary duty alleged to have been committed by Argyce, LLC, the trustee of the Trust, and the Trust as well as former individuals associated with Genaera Corporation before it went into liquidation via a majority vote of its stockholders.  Plaintiff claimed that the defendants, aided and abetted a breach of the duties of the trustee under common law and under a certain trust agreement allegedly signed between Argyce, LLC, as the trustee, and the Trust.  With regard to the claims made against the Company and two executives, the plaintiff alleged, in pertinent part, that the Company’s acquisition of the pexiganan rights was for alleged inadequate consideration, and that the Company and its management aided and abetted a breach of fiduciary duty by the Genaera Corporation defendants who were formerly associated with Genaera Corporation and/or the Trust.

 

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The Company and its two executives filed a motion to dismiss the complaint within the prescribed time period.  All of the other defendants in this litigation also filed motions to dismiss, and a court order granting each and every motion to dismiss, with prejudice, without leave to refile, was granted by the court on August 12, 2013.  Plaintiff’s lawyers then filed a Motion for Reconsideration which was also denied by the court on September 25, 2013.  Plaintiff then filed an appeal in the United States Third Circuit Court of Appeals seeking reversal of the court’s orders dismissing the complaint and denying the motion to reconsider.  Appellate court briefs were filed by the defendants in the case, and the plaintiff filed his reply brief accordingly.

 

On October 17, 2014, the Third Circuit Appellate Court, in a 2-1 decision with a strong dissenting opinion, reversed the trial court’s dismissal of Plaintiff’s claims based on the expiration of the applicable statutes of limitation. In a 2-1 decision, the Third Circuit held that more information was necessary to determine when Plaintiff should have been on notice of his claims to determine the applicability of the discovery rule, which could serve to extend the time frame in which Plaintiff could bring his claims. Due to the strong dissent, all Defendants will file the necessary documents requesting a petition for rehearing en banc, by the majority of the Third Circuit justices who are in active service with the appellate court.  With the strength of the dissent, the Company is hopeful that the en banc panel will reverse the Third Circuit’s 2-1 decision. If not, this matter will be remanded to the U.S. district court for further hearing on alternative grounds for dismissal of Plaintiff’s claims, and for limited discovery on the issue of Plaintiff’s initial knowledge of his potential claims against the defendants. The U.S. district court may still determine after some limited discovery that Plaintiff’s claims are barred by the applicable statutes of limitations. Even if Plaintiff’s claims survive these initial technical challenges, the Company will continue to vigorously defend Plaintiff’s claims on the factual record, which it believes will prove that the Company is not liable to Plaintiff in any regard whatsoever.  The Company believes that this legal matter will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position.

 

ITEM 1A.  RISK FACTORS

 

Not Applicable to a smaller reporting company.

 

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS.

 

None

 

ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES.

 

None

 

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

 

Not Applicable.

 

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION.

 

None

 

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

 

Copies of the following documents are included as exhibits to this report pursuant to Item 601 of Regulation S-K.

 

Exhibit
No.

 

Title of Document

 

Location

 

 

 

 

 

31.1

 

Certification of the Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

Attached

31.2

 

Certification of the Principal Financial and Accounting Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

Attached

32.1

 

Certification of the Principal Executive Officer pursuant to U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002*

 

Attached

32.2

 

Certification of the Principal Financial and Accounting Officer pursuant to U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002*

 

Attached

101.INS

 

X XBRL Instance Document

 

Attached

101.SCH

 

X XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document

 

Attached

101.CAL

 

X XBRL Taxonomy Calculation Linkbase Document

 

Attached

101.DEF

 

X XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document

 

Attached

101.LAB

 

X XBRL Taxonomy Label Linkbase Document

 

Attached

101.PRE

 

X XBRL Taxonomy Presentation Linkbase Document

 

Attached

 


* The Exhibit attached to this Form 10-Q shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) or otherwise subject to liability under that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

DIPEXIUM PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

Date: November 12, 2014

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ David P. Luci

 

 

David P. Luci

 

 

President and Chief Executive Officer (Duly Authorized Officer, and Principal Executive Officer)

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Robert G. Shawah

 

 

Robert G. Shawah

 

 

Chief Accounting officer and Treasurer (Duly Authorized Officer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

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