RELMADA THERAPEUTICS, INC. - Quarter Report: 2019 September (Form 10-Q)
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
☒ QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2019
or
☐ 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: 000- 55347
Relmada Therapeutics, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Nevada | 45-5401931 | |
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | |
880 Third Avenue, 12th Floor New York, NY |
10022 | |
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) | (Zip Code) |
(646) 876-3459
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
N/A
(Former Name, Former Address and Former Fiscal Year, if Changed Since Last Report)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||
Common stock, $0.001 par value per share | RLMD | The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. ☒ Yes No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted 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 such files). ☒ Yes No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer | ☐ | Accelerated filer | ☐ |
Non-accelerated filer | ☒ | Smaller reporting company | ☒ |
Emerging growth company | ☐ |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). ☐ Yes ☒ No
As of November 8, 2019, there were 10,275,339 shares of common stock, $0.001 par value per share, outstanding.
Relmada Therapeutics, Inc.
Index
i
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. | FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)
September 30, 2019 | June 30, 2019 | |||||||
Assets | ||||||||
Current assets: | ||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 7,849,873 | $ | 9,216,554 | ||||
Other receivable | - | 176,980 | ||||||
Lease payments receivable – short-term | 71,581 | 70,102 | ||||||
Prepaid expenses | 376,902 | 520,745 | ||||||
Total current assets | 8,298,356 | 9,984,381 | ||||||
Fixed assets, net of accumulated depreciation | 6,110 | 7,210 | ||||||
Other assets | 25,000 | 25,000 | ||||||
Lease payments receivable – long-term | 184,683 | 203,142 | ||||||
Total assets | $ | 8,514,149 | $ | 10,219,733 | ||||
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity | ||||||||
Current liabilities: | ||||||||
Accounts payable | $ | 1,266,548 | $ | 924,359 | ||||
Accrued expenses | 1,014,390 | 1,317,855 | ||||||
Notes payable | 255,925 | 364,204 | ||||||
Total liabilities | 2,536,863 | 2,606,418 | ||||||
Commitments and contingencies | ||||||||
Stockholders’ equity: | ||||||||
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value, 200,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding | - | - | ||||||
Class A convertible preferred stock, $0.001 par value, 3,500,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding | - | - | ||||||
Common stock, $0.001 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized, 9,937,608 and 9,744,643 shares issued and outstanding, respectively | 9,937 | 9,744 | ||||||
Additional paid-in capital | 121,299,210 | 119,265,938 | ||||||
Accumulated deficit | (115,331,861 | ) | (111,662,367 | ) | ||||
Total stockholders’ equity | $ | 5,977,286 | $ | 7,613,315 | ||||
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | $ | 8,514,149 | $ | 10,219,733 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated financial statements.
1
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended September 30, | ||||||||
2019 | 2018 | |||||||
Operating expenses: | ||||||||
Research and development | $ | 1,887,367 | $ | 1,421,482 | ||||
General and administrative | 1,820,043 | 989,748 | ||||||
Total operating expenses | 3,707,410 | 2,411,230 | ||||||
Loss from operations | (3,707,410 | ) | (2,411,230 | ) | ||||
Other income (expenses): | ||||||||
Change in fair value of derivative liabilities | - | (318,541 | ) | |||||
Interest income (expense), net | 37,916 | (650,322 | ) | |||||
Total other income (expenses) | 37,916 | (968,863 | ) | |||||
Net loss | $ | (3,669,494 | ) | $ | (3,380,093 | ) | ||
Net loss per common share – basic and diluted | $ | (0.38 | ) | $ | (1.08 | ) | ||
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding – basic and diluted | 9,761,188 | 3,137,468 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated financial statements.
2
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended September 30, | ||||||||
2019 | 2018 | |||||||
Cash flows from operating activities | ||||||||
Net loss | $ | (3,669,494 | ) | $ | (3,380,093 | ) | ||
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: | ||||||||
Depreciation expense | 1,100 | 1,405 | ||||||
Stock-based compensation | 757,716 | 152,800 | ||||||
Amortization of deferred financing costs | - | 536,520 | ||||||
Change in fair value of derivative liabilities | - | 318,541 | ||||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | ||||||||
Other receivable | 176,980 | 7,617 | ||||||
Lease payment receivable | 16,980 | 15,620 | ||||||
Prepaid expenses | 143,843 | 115,983 | ||||||
Accounts payable | 342,189 | 253,918 | ||||||
Accrued expenses | (303,465 | ) | 306,706 | |||||
Net cash used in operating activities | (2,534,151 | ) | (1,670,983 | ) | ||||
Cash flows from financing activities | ||||||||
Principal payments of notes payable | (108,279 | ) | (84,966 | ) | ||||
Proceeds from issuance of common stock | 825,749 | |||||||
Warrants exercised for common stock | 450,000 | |||||||
Units funds received | - | 404,500 | ||||||
Net cash provided by financing activities | 1,167,470 | 319,534 | ||||||
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents | (1,366,681 | ) | (1,351,449 | ) | ||||
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period | 9,216,554 | 2,238,943 | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period | $ | 7,849,873 | $ | 887,494 | ||||
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information: | ||||||||
Cash paid during the period for: | ||||||||
Income taxes | $ | - | $ | - | ||||
Interest | $ | 2,535 | $ | 1,509 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated financial statements.
3
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit)
(Unaudited)
Three months ended September 30, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Additional | Total Stockholders’ | |||||||||||||||||||
Common Stock | Paid-in | Accumulated | Equity | |||||||||||||||||
Shares | Amount | Capital | Deficit | (Deficit) | ||||||||||||||||
Balances at July 1, 2019 | 9,744,643 | $ | 9,744 | $ | 119,265,938 | $ | (111,662,367 | ) | $ | 7,613,315 | ||||||||||
Stock-based compensation | - | - | 757,716 | - | 757,716 | |||||||||||||||
Purchase of common stock | 117,965 | 118 | 825,631 | - | 825,749 | |||||||||||||||
Warrants exercised | 75,000 | 75 | 449,925 | - | 450,000 | |||||||||||||||
Net loss | - | - | - | (3,669,494 | ) | (3,669,494 | ) | |||||||||||||
Balances at September 30, 2019 | 9,937,608 | $ | 9,937 | $ | 121,299,210 | $ | (115,331,861 | ) | $ | 5,977,286 |
Three months ended September 30, 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Additional | Total Stockholders’ | |||||||||||||||||||
Common Stock | Paid-in | Accumulated | Equity | |||||||||||||||||
Shares | Amount | Capital | Deficit | (Deficit) | ||||||||||||||||
Balances as at July 1, 2018 | 3,137,468 | $ | 3,137 | $ | 88,828,094 | $ | (94,344,307 | ) | $ | (5,513,076 | ) | |||||||||
Cumulative effect of Write-off of Derivative Liabilities under ASU 2017-11 | - | - | 59,397 | - | 59,397 | |||||||||||||||
Adjusted Balances as at July 1, 2018 | 3,137,468 | 3,137 | 88,887,491 | (94,344,307 | ) | (5,453,679 | ) | |||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation | - | - | 152,801 | - | 152,801 | |||||||||||||||
Net loss | - | - | - | (3,380,093 | ) | (3,380,093 | ) | |||||||||||||
Balances at September 30, 2018 | 3,137,468 | $ | 3,137 | $ | 89,040,292 | $ | (97,724,400 | ) | $ | (8,680,971 | ) |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated financial statements.
4
Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
NOTE 1 - BUSINESS
Relmada Therapeutics, Inc. (Relmada or the Company) (a Nevada corporation), is a clinical-stage, publicly traded biotechnology company focused on the development of d-methadone (dextromethadone, REL-1017), an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist. d-methadone is a new chemical entity that potentially addresses areas of high unmet medical need in the treatment of central nervous system (CNS) diseases and other disorders.
Our lead product candidate, d-methadone, is a New Chemical Entity (NCE) being developed as a rapidly acting, oral agent for the treatment of depression and other potential indications. We have completed Phase 1 single and multiple ascending dose studies. A Phase 2 study in major depressive disorder is ongoing, with first patient dosed in June 2018 and last patient completed in July 2019.
In addition to the normal risks associated with a new business venture, there can be no assurance that the Company’s research and development will be successfully completed or that any 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 the FDA and other governmental regulations and approval requirements.
NOTE 2 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements and related notes have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP) for interim unaudited consolidated financial information. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete consolidated financial statements. The unaudited consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods presented. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of the results for the full year. These unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company for the year ended June 30, 2019 and notes thereto contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K.
On September 26, 2019, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a 1-to-4 reverse split of the Common Stock, which was effective on the NASDAQ Capital Market on September 30, 2019. As a result of the reverse stock split, every 4 shares of issued and outstanding common stock were converted into 1 share of issued and outstanding common stock, with all fractional shares rounded up to the nearest whole share, and the Company’s authorized share of common stock were reduced from 200,000,000 to 50,000,000 shares. All share and per share amounts have been retroactively restated to reflect this reverse stock split.
Liquidity
As shown in the accompanying financial statements, the Company incurred negative operating cash flows of $2,534,151 for the quarter ended September 30, 2019 and has an accumulated deficit of $115,331,861 from inception through September 30, 2019.
Relmada has funded its past operations through equity raises and most recently in the year ended June 30, 2019. Relmada raised net proceeds from the sale of common stock and warrants of $17,760,635. Further, the Company was able to reduce its debt obligations during the year ended June 30, 2019 by converting $8,030,365 of promissory notes and accrued interest into common stock. The Company also raised an additional $1,275,749 during the three months ended September 30, 2019 from the sale of common stock and warrant exercises.
5
Relmada Therapeutics, Inc.
Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
NOTE 2 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)
Management believes that due to the recent equity raises completed and the current cash position on its balance sheet, it has obtained sufficient funding to continue ongoing operations for at least the next twelve months from the issuance of these consolidated quarterly financial statements. Since September 30, 2019 and to date, the Company has received approximately $2,017,000 in cash from exercises of outstanding warrants, which resulted in the Company having approximately $8,010,000 in cash and cash equivalents at November 8, 2019. Based on its budgeted cash flow requirements, the Company believes these funds are sufficient to fund its ongoing operations for at least one year after the issuance of these consolidated quarterly financial statements. The Company expects that the cash burn rate for the 12 months ended December 31, 2020, will be between $5-6 million, which includes approximately $2 million of discretionary research and development (R&D) spending, as the data analysis on the Phase 2a clinical trial is completed and the planning and preparation for the next clinical trial is conducted. Regardless of the results of any ongoing clinical trial, we have control over our expenditures and have the ability to adjust spending accordingly based on the budgeted cash flow requirements developed and the excess cash on hand.
Given the positive results of the Company’s Phase 2 clinical trial, management will evaluate the size and scope of any subsequent trials that will affect the timing of additional financings through public or private sales of equity or debt securities or from bank or other loans or through strategic collaboration and/or licensing agreements. Any such expenditures related to any subsequent trials will not be incurred until such additional financing is raised. Further, additional financing related to subsequent trials does not affect the Company’s conclusion that based on the cash on hand and the budgeted cash flow requirements, the Company has sufficient funds to maintain operations for the next twelve months from the issuance of these consolidated quarterly financial statements.
Principles of Consolidation
The unaudited consolidated financial statements include the Company’s accounts and those of the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. 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 revenues and expenses for the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The significant estimates are the valuation of derivative liabilities, stock-based compensation expenses and recorded amounts related to income taxes.
6
Relmada Therapeutics, Inc.
Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
NOTE 2 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers cash deposits and all highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. The Company’s cash deposits are held at two high-credit-quality financial institutions. The Company’s cash deposits at these institutions exceed federally insured limits.
Patents
Costs related to filing and pursuing patent applications are recorded as general and administrative expense and expensed as incurred since recoverability of such expenditures is uncertain.
Fixed Assets
Fixed assets are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Fixed assets are comprised of computers and software, leasehold improvements, and furniture and fixtures. Depreciation is calculated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of the assets. Computers and software have an estimated useful life of three years. Furniture and fixtures have an estimated useful life of approximately seven years.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The Company’s financial instruments primarily include cash, receivables and accounts payable. Due to the short-term nature of cash, receivables and accounts payable the carrying amounts of these assets and liabilities approximate their fair value.
Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset, or paid to transfer a liability, in an orderly transaction between market participants. A fair value hierarchy has been established for valuation inputs that gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs. The fair value hierarchy is as follows:
Level 1 Inputs - Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the reporting entity has the ability to access at the measurement date.
Level 2 Inputs - Inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These might include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability (such as interest rates, volatilities, prepayment speeds, credit risks, etc.) or inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by market data by correlation or other means.
Level 3 Inputs - Prices or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable (supported by little or no market activity).
Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
As required by Accounting Standard Codification (ASC) Topic No. 820 - 10 Fair Value Measurement, financial assets and liabilities are classified based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement requires judgment and may affect the valuation of the fair value of assets and liabilities and their placement within the fair value hierarchy levels. The estimated fair value of the derivative instruments resulting from equity offerings in May 2014 and June 2014 have a down-round protection provision that was calculated with the Black Scholes option pricing model. Sensitivity analysis for the Black-Scholes has many inputs and is subject to judgement which includes volatility. Volatility is based upon the Company’s historical volatility and the expected term is based upon the expiration date of the warrants.
The Company’s financial liabilities accounted for at fair value were all converted to equity during the year ended June 30, 2019 so that there were no financial liabilities accounted for at fair value, See Note 7.
7
Relmada Therapeutics, Inc.
Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
NOTE 2 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)
Income Taxes
The Company accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability method. Accordingly, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. 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 are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in the tax rate is recognized in income or expense in the period that the change is effective. Tax benefits are recognized when it is probable that the deduction will be sustained. A valuation allowance is established when it is more likely than not that all or a portion of a deferred tax asset will either expire before the Company is able to realize the benefit, or that future deductibility is uncertain. As of September 30, 2019 and June 30, 2019, the Company had recognized a valuation allowance to the full extent of the Company’s net deferred tax assets since the likelihood of realization of the benefit does not meet the more likely than not threshold.
The Company files a U.S. Federal income tax return and, various state returns. Uncertain tax positions taken on the Company’s tax returns will be accounted for as liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits. The Company will recognize interest and penalties, if any, related to unrecognized tax benefits in general and administrative expenses in the statements of operations. There were no liabilities recorded for uncertain tax positions at September 30, 2019 and June 30, 2019. The open tax years, subject to potential examination by the applicable taxing authority, for the Company are from June 30, 2016 through June 30, 2019.
Research and Development
Research and development costs primarily consist of research contracts for the advancement of product development, salaries and benefits, stock-based compensation, and consultants. The Company expenses all research and development costs in the period incurred. The Company makes an estimate of costs in relation to clinical study contracts. The Company analyzes the progress of studies, including the progress of clinical studies and phases, invoices received and contracted costs when evaluating the adequacy of the amount expensed and the related prepaid asset and accrued liability.
Stock-Based Compensation
The Company measures the cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments based on the grant-date fair value of the award. That cost is recognized over the period during which an employee is required to provide service in exchange for the award - the requisite service period. The grant-date fair value of employee share options is estimated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model adjusted for the unique characteristics of those instruments. Compensation expense for warrants granted to non-employees is determined by the fair value of the consideration received or the fair value of the equity instruments issued, whichever is more reliably measured, and is recognized over the service period. The expense is subsequently adjusted to fair value at the end of each reporting period until such warrants vest, and the fair value of such instruments, as adjusted, is expensed over the related vesting period. Adjustments to fair value at each reporting date may result in income or expense, depending upon the estimate of fair value and the amount of expense recorded prior to the adjustment. The Company reviews its agreements and the future performance obligation with respect to the unvested warrants for its vendors or consultants. When appropriate, the Company will expense the unvested warrants at the time when management deems the service obligation for future services has ceased.
Net Loss per Common Share
Basic net loss per common share attributable to common stockholders is calculated by dividing the net loss attributable to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period, without consideration for common stock equivalents. Diluted net loss per common share attributable to common stockholders is computed by dividing the net loss attributable to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common share equivalents outstanding for the period determined using the treasury-stock method. Dilutive common stock equivalents are comprised of Class A convertible preferred stock, Series A preferred stock, restricted stock awards, options and warrants to purchase common stock. For all periods presented, there is no difference in the number of shares used to calculate basic and diluted shares outstanding due to the Company’s net loss position.
For the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, the following potentially dilutive securities were excluded from the computation of diluted net loss per share, as the inclusion of such shares would be anti-dilutive:
Three months ended | ||||||||
September 30, 2019 | September 30, 2018 | |||||||
Stock options | 2,373,314 | 760,810 | ||||||
Common stock warrants | 4,308,762 | 2,451,882 | ||||||
Total | 6,682,076 | 3,212,692 |
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Relmada Therapeutics, Inc.
Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
NOTE 2 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), whereby lessees will be required to recognize for all leases at the commencement date a lease liability, which is a lessee’s obligation to make lease payments arising from a lease, measured on a discounted basis; and a right-of-use asset, which is an asset that represents the lessee’s right to use, or control the use of, a specified asset for the lease term. A modified retrospective transition approach is required, applying the new standard to all leases existing at the date of initial application. An entity may choose to use either (1) its effective date or (2) the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements as its date of initial application. If an entity chooses the second option, the transition requirements for existing leases also apply to leases entered into between the date of initial application and the effective date. The entity must also recast its comparative period financial statement and provide the disclosures required by the new standard for the comparative periods. The Company adopted the new standard on July 1, 2019 and used the effective date as our date of initial application. Consequently, financial information will not be updated and the disclosures required under the new standard will not be provided for dates and periods before July 1, 2019. The adoption of this standard did not have any impact on our unaudited consolidated financial statements.
In July 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-11, Earnings Per Share (Topic 260); Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity (Topic 480); Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): (Part I) Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Down Round Features. These amendments simplify the accounting for certain financial instruments with down round features. The amendments require companies to disregard the down round feature when assessing whether the instrument is indexed to its own stock, for purposes of determining liability or equity classification. The Company elected to early adopt ASU 2017-11 effective October 1, 2018. As a result, the Company reversed $59,397 of derivative liabilities recorded on the Company’s books, as of July 1, 2018, into equity to reflect the results of this adoption as of the beginning of the fiscal year as required by this standard.
NOTE 3 - PREPAID EXPENSES
Prepaid expenses consisted of the following (rounded to nearest $00):
September 30, 2019 | June 30, 2019 | |||||||
Insurance | $ | 328,000 | $ | 451,500 | ||||
Legal | 33,000 | 7,500 | ||||||
Other | 15,900 | 61,800 | ||||||
Total | $ | 376,900 | $ | 520,800 |
NOTE 4 - FIXED ASSETS
Fixed assets, net of accumulated depreciation, consisted of the following (rounded to nearest $00):
Useful lives | September 30, 2019 | June
30, 2019 | ||||||||
Computer and Software | 3 years | $ | 16,700 | $ | 16,700 | |||||
Less: accumulated depreciation | (10,600 | ) | (9,500 | ) | ||||||
Fixed Assets | $ | 6,100 | $ | 7,200 |
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Relmada Therapeutics, Inc.
Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
NOTE 5 - ACCRUED EXPENSES
Accrued expenses consisted of the following (rounded to nearest $00):
September 30, 2019 | June
30, 2019 | |||||||
Research and development | $ | 232,300 | $ | 563,400 | ||||
Professional fees | 87,300 | 98,400 | ||||||
Accrued vacation | 129,600 | 96,700 | ||||||
Legal Settlement | 500,000 | 500,000 | ||||||
Other | 65,200 | 59,400 | ||||||
Total | $ | 1,014,400 | $ | 1,317,900 |
NOTE 6 - NOTES PAYABLE
In June 2019, the Company entered into a note for approximately $364,200 in conjunction with a renewal of its director and officer insurance policy. The interest rate was 3.09% per annum. The note matures on April 9, 2020.
At September 30, 2019 and June 30, 2019, the note payable outstanding balances were approximately $255,900 and $364,200, respectively.
NOTE 7 - DERIVATIVE LIABILITIES
ASC Topic No. 815 - Derivatives and Hedging provides guidance on determining what types of instruments or embedded features in an instrument issued by a reporting entity can be considered indexed to its own stock for the purpose of evaluating the first criteria of the scope exception in the pronouncement on accounting for derivatives. These requirements can affect the accounting for warrants and convertible preferred instruments issued by the Company.
At September 30, 2018, the Company had warrants resulting from equity offerings in May 2014 and June 2014 that do not have fixed settlement provisions because their exercise prices may be lowered if the Company issues securities at lower prices in the future, the Company concluded that the instruments were not indexed to the Company’s stock.
Until September 30, 2018, the Company followed ASC Topic No. 815 and treated the warrants as derivative liabilities. In determining the fair value of the derivative liabilities, the Company used the Black-Scholes option pricing model at September 30, 2018.
As noted in Note 2, the Company elected to early adopt ASU 2017-11 and reversed the derivative liability into equity. The warrants balance of $59,397 was reversed to equity effective July 1, 2018.
10
Relmada Therapeutics, Inc.
Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
NOTE 7 - DERIVATIVE LIABILITIES (continued)
Until October 18, 2018, the Company had promissory notes with a redemption feature which is not clearly and closely related to the host instrument and therefore is considered an embedded derivative which was bifurcated and recorded as a derivative liability. In determining the fair value of the derivative liabilities, the Company used the Monte-Carlo pricing model. The assumptions used in the valuation model considers the probability of redemption, the length of time to maturity and value of the redemption feature.
On October 12 and 18, 2018, the Company conducted closing on its private placement of securities. As a result of these closings, the outstanding promissory notes converted into common stock. The redemption feature associated with the promissory notes was valued on October 18, 2018 using the Black-Scholes model. The change in the value of the derivative liabilities between July 1, 2018 and the October 18, 2018 was recorded in income. The notes were converted to common stock on October 18, 2018.
The Company had no financial liabilities accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2019 and June 30, 2019.
The following table sets forth a reconciliation of changes in the fair value of financial liabilities classified as level 3 in the fair value hierarchy for the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018:
Significant
Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | ||||||||
September 30, | September 30, | |||||||
2019 | 2018 | |||||||
Beginning balance | $ | - | $ | 4,194,634 | ||||
Fair value of derivative liabilities for redemption feature of promissory notes payable | - | 289,670 | ||||||
Change in fair value of derivative liabilities – warrants | - | 28,871 | ||||||
Ending balance | $ | - | $ | 4,513,175 |
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Relmada Therapeutics, Inc.
Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
NOTE 8 - STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Common Stock
During the three months ended September 30, 2019, the Company did a private placement of 117,965 of common stock at $7.00 per share for proceeds of $825,749 (before expenses of the offering).
Options and Warrants
In December 2014, the Board of Directors adopted and the shareholders approved Relmada’s 2014 Stock Option and Equity Incentive Plan, as amended (the Plan), which allows for the granting of common stock awards, stock appreciation rights, and incentive and nonqualified stock options to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock to designated employees, non-employee directors, and consultants and advisors. The Plan allowed for the granting of 2,652,942 options or stock awards.
Stock options are exercisable generally for a period of 10 years from the date of grant and generally vest over four years. As of September 30, 2019, 279,630 shares were available for future grants under the Plan.
As of September 30, 2019, no stock appreciation rights have been issued.
The Company utilizes the Black-Scholes option pricing model to estimate the fair value of stock options and warrants. The price of common stock prior to the Company being public was determined from a third party valuation. The risk-free interest rate assumptions were based upon the observed interest rates appropriate for the expected term of the equity instruments. The expected dividend yield was assumed to be zero as the Company has not paid any dividends since its inception and does not anticipate paying dividends in the foreseeable future. The expected volatility was based on historical volatility. The Company routinely reviews its calculation of volatility changes in future volatility, the Company’s life cycle, its peer group, and other factors.
The Company uses the simplified method for share-based compensation to estimate the expected term for employee option awards for share-based compensation in its option-pricing model. Prior to the adoption of ASU 2018-07 on October 1, 2018, the Company uses the contractual term for non-employee options to estimate the expected term, for share-based compensation in its option-pricing model.
On July 29, 2019, the Company awarded a total of 862,500 options to its chief executive officer, chief medical officer and board members with exercise price of $8.80 and a 10-year term vesting over 4-year period. The options have an aggregate fair value of $6.1 million calculated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. Variables used in the Black-Scholes option-pricing model include: (1) discount rate of 1.89% (2) expected life of 6.25 years, (3) expected volatility of 101.2%, and (4) zero expected dividends.
On July 29, 2019, the Company awarded a total of 12,500 options to a consultant with exercise price of $8.80 and a 10-year term and 100% vested upon grant date. The options have an aggregate fair value of $81,100 calculated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. Variables used in the Black-Scholes option-pricing model include: (1) discount rate of 1.84% (2) expected life of 5 years, (3) expected volatility of 97%, and (4) zero expected dividends.
On July 29, 2019, the Company granted its chief financial officer options to purchase a total of 25,000 shares of common stock. The options have a ten-year term and have an exercise price of $8.80 per share. 25,000 options vest upon the Company up listing to the NASDAQ as long as the employee maintains their employment with the company through January 31, 2020. During the quarter ended September 30, 2019 the company recorded approximately $57,000 of compensation expense as management believes that the uplisting to NASDAQ is probable of occurring. The fair value of the options on the grant date were $6.74 per share using the Black-Scholes Option pricing model.
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Relmada Therapeutics, Inc.
Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
NOTE 8 - STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (continued)
At September 30, 2019, the Company has unrecognized stock-based compensation expense of approximately $9,046,000 related to unvested stock options over the weighted average remaining service period of 3.48 years.
Options
A summary of the changes in options during the three months ended September 30, 2019 is as follows:
Number of Options | Weighted Average Exercise Price For Share | Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (Years) | Aggregate Intrinsic Value | |||||||||||||
Outstanding and expected to vest at June 30, 2019 | 1,473,314 | $ | 5.18 | 8.6 | $ | 4,668,153 | ||||||||||
Granted | 900,000 | $ | 8.80 | 9.8 | $ | 1,305,000 | ||||||||||
Outstanding and expected to vest at September 30, 2019 | 2,373,314 | $ | 6.55 | 8.9 | $ | 9,864,756 | ||||||||||
Options exercisable at September 30, 2019 | 547,481 | $ | 6.93 | 7.7 | $ | 2,899,818 |
Warrants
A summary of the changes in outstanding warrants during the three months ended September 30, 2019 is as follows:
Number of Shares | Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Share | |||||||
Outstanding and vested at June 30, 2019 | 4,429,982 | $ | 7.12 | |||||
Issued | 6,250 | 8.80 | ||||||
Exercised | (75,000 | ) | 6.00 | |||||
Forfeited | (52,470 | ) | 16.00 | |||||
Outstanding and vested at September 30, 2019 | 4,308,762 | $ | 7.03 |
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Relmada Therapeutics, Inc.
Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
NOTE 8 - STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (continued)
On August 1, 2019, the Company granted 6,250 warrants to a contractor with exercise price of $8.80, a 10-year term and immediate vesting. The warrants have an aggregated fair value of $41,386 that was calculated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. Variables used in the Black-Scholes option-pricing model include: (1) discount rate of 1.68% (2) expected life of 5 years, (3) expected volatility of 101.1%, and (4) zero expected dividends.
At September 30, 2019 and June 30, 2019, the aggregate intrinsic value of warrants vested and outstanding was approximately $14,531,000 and $4,796,000, respectively.
The following summarizes the components of stock-based compensation expense which includes stock options and warrants in the unaudited consolidated statements of operations for the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 (rounded to nearest $00):
Three Months Ended September 30, 2019 | Three Months Ended September 30, 2018 | |||||||
Research and development | $ | 73,000 | $ | 13,400 | ||||
General and administrative | 684,700 | 139,400 | ||||||
Total | $ | 757,700 | $ | 152,800 |
NOTE 9 - RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
There were no material related party transactions.
NOTE 10 - COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
License Agreements
Wonpung
On August 20, 2007, the Company entered into a License Development and Commercialization Agreement with Wonpung Mulsan Co, a shareholder of the Company. Wonpung has exclusive territorial rights in countries it selects in Asia to market up to two drugs the Company is currently developing and a right of first refusal (ROFR) for up to an additional five drugs that the Company may develop in the future as defined in more detail in the license agreement.
The Company received an upfront license fee of $1,500,000 and will earn royalties of up to 12% of net sales for up to two licensed products it is currently developing. The licensing terms for the ROFR products are subject to future negotiations and binding arbitration. The terms of each licensing agreement will expire on the earlier of any time from 15 years to 20 years after licensing or on the date of commercial availability of a generic product to such licensed product in the licensed territory. The Company’s current focus is on developing and marketing its products in the United States and not Asia.
Third Party Licensor
Based upon a prior acquisition, the Company assumed an obligation to pay a third party: (A) royalty payments up to 2% on net sales of licensed products that are not sold by sublicensee and (B) on each and every sublicense earned royalty payment received by licensee from its sublicensee on sales of license product by sublicensee, the higher of (i) 20% of the royalties received by licensee; or (ii) up to 2% of net sales of sublicensee. The Company will also make milestone payments of up to $4 or $2 million, for the first commercial sale of product in the field that has a single active pharmaceutical ingredient, and for the first commercial sale of product in the field of product that has more than one active pharmaceutical ingredient, respectively. As of September 30, 2019, the Company has not generated any revenue related to this license agreement.
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Relmada Therapeutics, Inc.
Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
NOTE 10 - COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (continued)
Inturrisi / Manfredi
In January 2018, we entered into an Intellectual Property Assignment Agreement (the Assignment Agreement) and License Agreement (the License Agreement and together with the Assignment Agreement, the Agreements) with Dr. Charles E. Inturrisi and Dr. Paolo Manfredi (collectively, the Licensor). Pursuant to the Agreements, Relmada assigned its existing rights, including patents and patent applications, to d-methadone in the context of psychiatric use (the Existing Invention) to Licensor. Licensor then granted Relmada under the License Agreement a perpetual, worldwide, and exclusive license to commercialize the Existing Invention and certain further inventions regarding d-methadone in the context of other indications such as those contemplated above. In consideration of the rights granted to Relmada under the License Agreement, Relmada paid the Licensor an upfront, non-refundable license fee of $180,000. Additionally, Relmada will pay Licensor $45,000 every three months until the earliest to occur of the following events: (i) the first commercial sale of a licensed product anywhere in the world, (ii) the expiration or invalidation of the last to expire or be invalidated of the patent rights anywhere in the world, or (iii) the termination of the License Agreement. Relmada will also pay Licensor tiered royalties with a maximum rate of 2%, decreasing to 1.75%, and 1.5% in certain circumstances, on net sales of licensed products covered under the License Agreement. Relmada will also pay Licensor tiered payments up to a maximum of 20%, and decreasing to 17.5%, and 15% in certain circumstances, of all consideration received by Relmada for sublicenses granted under the License Agreement.
Legal
From time to time, the Company may become involved in lawsuits and other legal proceedings that arise in the course of business. Litigation is subject to inherent uncertainties, and it is not possible to predict the outcome of litigation with total confidence. The Company is currently not aware of any legal proceedings or potential claims against it whose outcome would be likely, individually or in the aggregate, to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, operating results, or cash flows.
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Relmada Therapeutics, Inc.
Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
NOTE 10 - COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (continued)
Leases and Sublease
The Company leased its corporate headquarters at 750 Third Avenue, 9th Floor, New York, New York 10017. The monthly rental fee was $9,454 per month. The lease was terminated effective January 1, 2019. Effective January 1, 2019, the Company entered a one year lease for its headquarters at 880 Third Avenue, 12th floor, New York, NY 10022. The annualized monthly rent for 2019 is approximately $7,500.
On June 8, 2017, the Company entered into an Amended and Restated License Agreement with Actinium. Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, Actinium will continue to license the furniture, fixtures, equipment and tenant improvements located in the office (FFE) for a license fee of $7,529 per month until December 8, 2022. Actinium shall have at any time during the term of this agreement the right to purchase the FFE for $496,914, less any previously paid license fees. The license of FFE qualifies as a sales-type lease. At inception, the Company derecognized the underlying assets of $493,452, recognized discounted lease payments receivable of $397,049 using the discount rate of 8.38% and recognized loss on sales-type lease of fixed assets of $96,403. As of September 30, 2019, the balance of unearned interest income was approximately $37,300.
Contractual Obligations
The following tables sets forth our contractual obligations for the next five years and thereafter:
Total | Less
than 1 year | 1 - 2 years | 3 - 5 years | More
than 5 years | ||||||||||||||||
Office lease | $ | 23,520 | $ | 23,520 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | ||||||||||
Note payable | 255,925 | 255,925 | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||
Total obligations | $ | 279,445 | $ | 279,445 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - |
NOTE 11 - SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
Subsequent to September 30, 2019, 327,568 outstanding warrants were exercised for total cash proceeds of approximately $2,017,000. These warrant exercises include 14,741 shares issued with a cashless exercise.
On October 8, 2019, the Company issued 22,500 warrants to third parties for consulting services, exercise price at $10.85 per share.
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ITEM 2. | MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATION |
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT NOTICE
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (this Report) contains forward looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, principally in the sections entitled “Description of Business,” “Risk Factors,” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this Quarterly Report, including statements regarding future events, our future financial performance, business strategy and plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. We have attempted to identify forward-looking statements by terminology including “anticipates,” “believes,” “can,” “continue,” “could,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “plans,” “potential,” “predicts,” “should,” or “will” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Although we do not make forward-looking statements unless we believe we have a reasonable basis for doing so, we cannot guarantee their accuracy. These statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including the risks outlined under “Risk Factors” or elsewhere in this Quarterly Report, which may cause our or our industry’s actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risks emerge from time to time and it is not possible for us to predict all risk factors, nor can we address the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause our actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements included in this document are based on information available to us on the date hereof, and we assume no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements.
You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement, each of which applies only as of the date of this Quarterly Report on Form-10-Q. Before you invest in our securities, you should be aware that the occurrence of the events described in the section entitled “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Quarterly Report could negatively affect our business, operating results, financial condition and stock price. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this Quarterly Report on Form-10-Q to conform our statements to actual results or changed expectations.
BUSINESS OVERVIEW
Relmada Therapeutics, Inc. (Relmada or the Company) (a Nevada corporation), is a clinical-stage, publicly traded biotechnology company focused on the development of d-methadone (dextromethadone, REL-1017), an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist. d-methadone is a new chemical entity that potentially addresses areas of high unmet medical need in the treatment of central nervous system (CNS) diseases and other disorders.
On October 7. 2019 the Company’s application to list its common stock on the NASDAQ Capital Market was approved. On October 10, 2019, the Company’s common stock began trading on NASDAQ under the existing symbol, “RLMD”.
Our lead product candidate, d-methadone, is a New Chemical Entity (NCE) being developed as a rapidly acting, oral agent for the treatment of depression and other potential indications. We have previously completed Phase 1 single and multiple ascending dose studies and on Oct 15th 2019 we reported top-line data from study REL-1017-202, a double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating the safety, tolerability and efficacy of two doses of REL-1017 (dextromethadone), 25 mg once a day and 50 mg once a day, as an adjunctive treatment in patients with treatment resistant depression.
Subjects were adults with major depressive disorder (MDD) who did not respond to one to three courses of antidepressant treatment in their current episode. 62 subjects, average age 49.2 years, with an average Hamilton Depression Rating Scale score of 25.3 and an average Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) score of 34.0 (severe depression), were randomized. Other demographic characteristics were balanced across all arms. After an initial screening period, subjects were randomized to one of three arms: placebo, REL-1017 25 mg or REL-1017 50 mg, in addition to stable background antidepressant therapy. Subjects in the REL-1017 treatment arms received one loading dose of either 75 mg (25 mg arm) or 100 mg (50 mg arm) of REL-1017. Subjects were treated inpatient for 7 days and discharged home at Day 9. They returned for follow-up visits at Day 14 and Day 21. Efficacy was measured on Days 2, 4 and 7 in the dosing period and on Day 14, one week after treatment discontinuation. 61 subjects received all treatment doses and were included in the per-protocol population (PPP) treatment analysis; 57 subjects completed all visits. All 62 randomized subjects were part of the intention-to-treat population (ITT) analysis. No differences were observed between the ITT and PPP analyses and results.
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Key findings:
Subjects in both the REL-1017 25 mg and 50 mg treatment groups experienced statistically significant improvement of their depression compared to subjects in the placebo group on all efficacy measures, including: the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS); the Clinical Global Impression – Severity (CGI-S) scale; the Clinical Global Impression – Improvement (CGI-I) scale; and the Symptoms of Depression Questionnaire (SDQ).
The improvement on the MADRS appeared on Day 4 in both REL-1017 dose groups and continued through Day 7 and Day 14, seven days after treatment discontinuation, with P values < 0.03 and large effect sizes (a measure of quantifying the difference between two groups), ranging from 0.7 to 1.0. Similar findings emerged from the CGI-S and CGI-I scales.
MADRS: Analysis of Change from Baseline to Day 7 and to Day 14 ITT Population
Day 2 | Day 4 | Day 7 | Day 14 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
LS Means Difference | P-value | d | LS Means Difference | P-value | d | LS Means Difference | P-value | d | LS Means Difference | P-value | d | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
REL-1017 25mg vs Placebo | -1.9 | 0.4340 | 0.3 | -7.9 | 0.0087 | 0.9 | -8.7 | 0.0122 | 0.8 | -9.4 | 0.0103 | 0.9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
REL-1017 50mg vs Placebo | -0.3 | 0.9092 | 0.0 | -7.6 | 0.0096 | 0.8 | -7.2 | 0.0308 | 0.7 | -10.4 | 0.0039 | 1.0 |
LS = Least Squares; d = Cohen’s effect size
The study also confirmed the favorable safety and tolerability profile of REL-1017, which was also observed in the Phase 1 studies. Subjects experienced mild and moderate adverse events (AEs), and no serious adverse events, without significant differences between placebo and treatment groups. There was no evidence of either treatment induced psychotomimetic and dissociative AEs or withdrawal signs and symptoms upon treatment discontinuation.
NMDA receptors are present in many parts of the central nervous system and play important roles in regulating neuronal activity. We believe that dextromethadone acting as a NMDA receptor antagonist can have potential applications in a number of disease indications which mitigates risk and offers significant upside.
The Company has a portfolio of three 505b2 product candidates at various stages of development. These products are: LevoCap ER (REL-1015), an abuse resistant, sustained release dosage form of the opioid analgesic levorphanol; BuTab (oral buprenorphine, REL-1028), an oral dosage form of the opioid analgesic buprenorphine; and MepiGel (topical mepivacaine, REL-1021), an orphan drug designated topical formulation of the local anesthetic mepivacaine. These products are not currently in active development.
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Our four development projects are briefly described below:
d-Methadone (dextromethadone, REL-1017) and Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD)
Background
In 2014, the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) estimated that 15.7 million adults aged 18 or older in the United States had at least one major depressive episode in the past year. According to data from nationally representative surveys supported by NIMH, only about half of Americans diagnosed with major depression in a given year receive treatment. Of those receiving treatment with as many as four different standard antidepressants, 33% of drug-treated depression patients do not achieve adequate therapeutic benefits according to the Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression (STAR*D) trial published in the American Journal of Psychiatry. Accordingly, we believe that approximately 3 million patients with such treatment-resistant depression are in need of new treatment options.
In addition to the high failure rate, none of the marketed products for depression can demonstrate rapid antidepressant effects and most of the products take up to a month to show effectiveness. The urgent need for improved, faster acting antidepressant treatments is underscored by the fact that severe depression can be life-threatening, due to heightened risk of suicide.
Recent studies have shown that ketamine, a drug known previously as an anesthetic, can lift depression in many patients within hours. However, it is unlikely that ketamine itself will become a practical treatment for most cases of depression. It must be administered through intravenous infusion, requiring a hospital setting, and more importantly can potentially trigger adverse side effects including psychedelic symptoms (hallucinations, memory defects, panic attacks), nausea/vomiting, somnolence, cardiovascular stimulation and, in a minority of patients, hepatoxicity. Ketamine also hasn’t been thoroughly studied for long-term safety and effectiveness, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved it to treat depression.
d-Methadone Overview and Mechanism of Action
d-Methadone’s mechanism of action, as a non-competitive NMDA channel blocker or antagonist, is fundamentally differentiated from all currently FDA-approved antidepressants, as well as all atypical antipsychotics used adjunctively with standard, FDA-approved antidepressants. Working through the same brain mechanisms as ketamine but potentially lacking its adverse side effects, Relmada’s d-methadone is being developed as a rapidly acting, oral agent for the treatment of depression, neuropathic pain, and/or other potential CNS pathological conditions.
In chemistry an enantiomer, also known as an optical isomer, is one of two stereoisomers that are mirror images of each other that are non-superposable (not identical), much as one’s left and right hands are the same except for being reversed along one axis. A racemic compound, or racemate, is one that has equal amounts of left- and right-handed enantiomers of a chiral molecule. For racemic drugs, often only one of a drug’s enantiomers is responsible for the desired physiologic effects, while the other enantiomer is less active or inactive.
Racemic methadone has been used since the 1950s as a treatment for opioid addiction and has remained the primary therapy for this condition for more than 40 years. Methadone is a highly lipophilic molecule that is suitable for a variety of administration routes, with oral bioavailability close to 80%.
As a single isomer of racemic methadone, d-methadone has been shown to possess NMDA antagonist properties with virtually no traditional opioid effect or ketamine-like adverse events at the expected therapeutic doses. In contrast, racemic methadone is associated with common opioid activity and side effects that include anxiety, nervousness, restlessness, sleep problems (insomnia), nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, drowsiness, and others. It has been shown that the left (levo) isomer, d-methadone, is largely responsible for methadone’s opioid activity, while the right (dextro) isomer, d-methadone, at the currently therapeutic doses used in development is virtually inactive as an opioid while maintaining affinity for the NMDA receptor.
NMDA receptors are present in many parts of the central nervous system and play important roles in regulating neuronal activity and promoting synaptic plasticity in brain areas important for cognitive functions such as executive function, learning and memory. Based on these premises, d-methadone could show benefits in several different CNS indications.
d-Methadone Phase 1 Clinical Safety Studies
The safety data from two Company-funded d-methadone Phase 1 clinical safety studies and a third study conducted by researchers at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center indicate that d-methadone was safe and well tolerated in both healthy subjects and cancer patients at all projected therapeutic doses tested.
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In November 2014, Health Canada approved a Clinical Trial Application (CTA) to conduct the first Phase 1 study with d-methadone. This was a Single Ascending Dose (SAD) study and was followed by a Multiple Ascending Dose (MAD) study, both in healthy volunteers. The two studies were designed to assess the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of d-methadone in healthy, opioid-naïve subjects. The SAD study included single escalating oral doses of d-methadone to determine the maximum tolerated dose, defined as the highest dose devoid of unacceptable adverse events. In the MAD study, healthy subjects received daily oral doses of d-methadone for several days to assess its safety, pharmacokinetics and tolerability. In March 2015, we reported that d-methadone demonstrated an acceptable safety profile with no dose limiting side effects after four cohorts were exposed to increasing higher doses. In April 2015, the Company received clearance from Health Canada to continue with dose escalation and explore even higher single doses of d-methadone. In June 2015, the Company successfully completed the SAD study identifying the maximum tolerated dose and subsequently received a No Objection Letter (NOL) from Health Canada to conduct the MAD clinical study in August 2015. The MAD study was completed in January 2016 and the results successfully demonstrated a potential therapeutic dosing regimen for d-methadone with a favorable side effect and tolerability profile. The data from these studies was used to design a Phase 2a study in patients with depression.
d-Methadone In Vivo Study for Depression
In May 2016, we announced the results of an in vivo study showing that administration of d-methadone results in antidepressant-like effects in a well-validated animal model of depression, known as the forced swim test (FST), providing preclinical support for its potential as a novel treatment of depression.
According to the Journal of Visualized Experiments, the FST is based on the assumption that when placing an animal in a container filled with water, it will first make efforts to escape by swimming or climbing, but eventually will exhibit “immobility” that may be considered to reflect a measure of behavioral despair. This test has been extensively used because it involves the exposure of the animals to stress, which was shown to have a role in the tendency for major depression. Additionally, the FST has been shown to be influenced by some of the factors that are altered by or worsen depression in humans, including changes in food consumption and sleep abnormalities. The main advantages of this procedure are that it is relatively easy to perform and that its results are easily and quickly analyzed. Importantly, the FST’s sensitivity to a broad range of antidepressant drugs makes it a suitable screening test and is one of the most important features leading to its high predictive validity.
In the Company’s FST study, male Sprague Dawley rats were administered single doses of placebo, ketamine, or d-methadone on day one (after habituation; 24 hours prior to forced swim testing). At all doses tested, d-methadone significantly decreased immobility of the rats compared to the placebo, suggesting antidepressant-like activity. In addition, the effect of d-methadone on immobility at the two highest doses tested was larger than the effect seen with ketamine. Moreover, the effects of d-methadone in the forced swim test were not caused by a stimulant effect on spontaneous locomotor activity of the rats. Locomotor activity of lab animals is often monitored to assess the behavioral effects of drugs.
In September 2017, we completed two additional in vivo studies to confirm and support the antidepressant-like effect of dextromethadone in validated animal models, the Novelty Suppressed Feeding Test (NSFT) and the Female Urine-Sniffing test (FUST) test. The studies were performed by Professor Ronald S. Duman, Ph.D. at Yale University School of Medicine.
For FUST, rats are first exposed to a cotton tip dipped in tap water and later exposed to another cotton tip infused with fresh female urine. Male behavior was video recorded and total time spent sniffing the cotton-tipped applicator is determined. For NSFT, rats were food deprived for 24 hours and then placed in an open field with food pellets in the center; latency to eat is recorded in seconds. As a control, food consumption in the home cage is quantified. Rats were administered vehicle, ketamine or d-methadone.
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The results of the FUST demonstrate that administration of ketamine significantly increases the time male rats spent engaged in sniffing female urine compared to vehicle group. Similarly, a single dose of d-methadone significantly increased the time spent sniffing female urine compared to vehicle. In contrast, ketamine or d-methadone had no effect on time sniffing water, demonstrating that the effect of drug treatment was specific to the rewarding effects of female urine. The results of the NSFT demonstrate that a single dose of ketamine significantly decreases the latency to eat in a novel open field. Similarly, a single dose of d-methadone also significantly decreased the latency to enter and eat in the novel feed. In contrast, neither ketamine nor methadone influenced latency to feed in the home cage.
These findings demonstrate that ketamine and d-methadone produce rapid antidepressant actions in the FUST and NSFT, effects that are only observed after chronic administration of an SSRI antidepressant.
A separate in vitro electrophysiology study of d-methadone was conducted using 2 subtypes of cloned human NMDA receptors.
The results of this study demonstrated functional antagonist activity with d-methadone comparable to that of both racemic ketamine and the isomer [S]-ketamine.
Phase 2 Program for d-Methadone
Combined with the results of our Phase 1 studies, the encouraging results of in vivo and in vitro studies strongly support further evaluation of d-methadone in a Phase 2 study as a rapidly acting, oral agent for the treatment of major depressive disorder. Relmada filed an Investigational New Drug (IND) application for the Phase 2 study with the FDA, which was accepted on January 25, 2017.
On April 13, 2017, we announced that the FDA granted Fast Track designation for d-methadone (REL-1017 dextromethadone) for the adjunctive treatment of major depressive disorder. Fast Track designation is a process designed to facilitate the development and expedite the review of drugs to treat serious conditions and fill an unmet medical need. The purpose, according to the FDA, is to get important new drugs to the patient earlier. Drugs that receive Fast Track designation may be eligible for more frequent meetings and written communications with the FDA, accelerated review and priority approval, and rolling New Drug Application (NDA) review.
On January 17, 2018, we announced that Relmada had acquired the global rights to develop and market dextromethadone for the treatment of neurological conditions including certain rare diseases with symptoms affecting the CNS.
In February 2018, Relmada initiated its Phase 2 study of d-methadone in patients with major depressive disorder who did not respond to one to three courses of antidepressant treatment in their current episode (Treatment Resistant Depression of TRD).
In July 2019, Relmada announced the completion of dosing of the last patient in its Phase 2 study of d-methadone in patients with major depressive disorder.
On October 15, 2019, the Company reported top-line data from the Phase 2 study of d-methadone in adults with major depressive disorder who did not respond to one to three courses of antidepressant treatment in their current episode (TRD). Subjects in both dose groups experienced statistically significant improvement of their depression compared to subjects in the placebo group on all efficacy measures, including: the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS); the Clinical Global Impression – Severity (CGI-S) scale; the Clinical Global Impression – Improvement (CGI-I) scale; and the Symptoms of Depression Questionnaire (SDQ). The improvement on the MADRS appeared on Day 4 in both REL-1017 dose groups and continued through Day 7 and Day 14, seven days after treatment discontinuation, with P values < 0.03 and large effect sizes (a measure of quantifying the difference between two groups), ranging from 0.7 to 1.0. Similar findings emerged from the CGI-S and CGI-I scales. The study also confirmed the favorable safety and tolerability profile of d-methadone, which was also observed in the Phase 1 studies. Subjects experienced mild and moderate adverse events (AEs), and no serious adverse events, without significant differences between placebo and treatment groups. There was no evidence of either treatment induced psychotomimetic and dissociative AEs or withdrawal signs and symptoms upon treatment discontinuation.
d-methadone (dextromethadone, REL-1017) in other indications
In addition to developing dextromethadone in Treatment Resistant Depression (TRD), Relmada is initiating work in additional indications that includes Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and Rett syndrome. Rett syndrome is an X-linked neurodevelopmental disorder with high unmet need caused by Mecp2 gene mutation. Loss of Mecp2 disrupts synaptic function and structure and neuronal networks. Rett syndrome is an Orphan Disease affecting ~15,000 in U.S., primarily girls, with no approved therapy. The disease begins with a short period of developmental stagnation, then rapid regression in language and motor skills, followed by long-term stability.
Studies of ketamine, a NMDAR antagonist with mechanistic similarities with dextromethadone, in Rett Syndrome mouse models show that low-dose ketamine acutely reverses multiple disease manifestations and chronic administration of ketamine improves Rett Syndrome progression, providing a solid rationale to pursue this indication with dextromethadone.
Other indications that Relmada may explore in the future, potentially includes restless leg syndrome and ALS.
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In January 2018, we entered into an Intellectual Property Assignment Agreement (the Assignment Agreement) and License Agreement (the License Agreement and together with the Assignment Agreement, the Agreements) with Dr. Charles E. Inturrisi and Dr. Paolo Manfredi (collectively, the Licensor). Pursuant to the Agreements, Relmada assigned its existing rights, including patents and patent applications, to d-methadone in the context of psychiatric use (the Existing Invention) to Licensor. Licensor then granted Relmada under the License Agreement a perpetual, worldwide, and exclusive license to commercialize the Existing Invention and certain further inventions regarding d-methadone in the context of other indications such as those contemplated above.
LevoCap ER (REL-1015)
LevoCap ER (REL-1015) is a novel version of a proven drug product. LevoCap ER -is an extended release, abuse deterrent, and proprietary formulation of levorphanol (levo-3-hydroxy-N-methyl-morphinan), a unique, broad spectrum opioid with additional “non-opioid” mechanisms of action. In particular, levorphanol binds to all three opioid receptor subtypes involved in analgesia (mu, kappa, and delta), the NMDA receptor, and the norepinephrine and serotonin reuptake pumps, whereas morphine, oxycodone, hydrocodone, and other opioids are highly selective for the mu receptor subtype. Due to its multi-modal mechanism of action, levorphanol could achieve analgesia in patients resistant to other strong opioids. In clinical studies, levorphanol has demonstrated a remarkably broad spectrum of analgesic activity against many different types of pain including neuropathic pain, post-surgical pain, and chronic pain in patients refractory to other opioids.
Levorphanol is a potent opioid analgesic first introduced in the U.S. around 1953 for the treatment of moderate to severe pain where an opioid analgesic is appropriate. Extended-release (long-acting opioid) agents may be preferable to immediate release formulations due to better patient adherence, less dose-watching, and result in improved sleep. Both immediate- and extended-release opioids can potentially be crushed to produce concentrated drug with greater appeal to abusers. Intentional crushing or extracting the active ingredient from the extended-release dosage form by addicts and recreational drug users can destroy the timed-release mechanism and result in a rapid surge of drug into the bloodstream for the purpose of achieving a high or euphoric feeling. Serious side effects and death have been reported from such misuse.
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LevoCap ER is the first product candidate utilizing SECUREL™, Relmada’s proprietary abuse deterrent extended release technology for opioid drugs. SECUREL dosage forms cannot be easily crushed for inhalation or to obtain rapid euphoria from high blood levels when swallowed. It is also exceedingly difficult for intravenous abusers to extract the active drug from the dosage form using common solvents, including alcohol.
LevoCap ER can be developed under the 505(b)(2) regulatory pathway. Following an exchange of correspondence and meeting with the FDA in January 2017, we have defined a path forward for the Phase 3 clinical study for LevoCap ER and a NDA filing. In light of the promising data generated by Relmada’s d-methadone research program, and Relmada’s focus on the d-methadone program, Relmada is currently limiting the investments in LevoCap ER.
BuTab (REL-1028)
BuTab (REL-1028) represents a novel formulation of oral, modified release buprenorphine as a potential therapeutic for both chronic pain and opioid dependence. Buprenorphine has been widely used by the sublingual and transdermal routes of administration, but was believed to be ineffective by the oral route because of poor oral bioavailability. We have completed a preclinical program to better define the pharmacokinetic profile of BuTab and to assess the time course of systemic absorption of buprenorphine using several different oral modified release formulations of buprenorphine in dogs, compared to an intravenous administration. Based on the results of this work, we obtained approval from Health Canada and initiated a Phase pharmacokinetic study in healthy volunteers in the second quarter of 2015. This trial was completed in the fourth quarter of 2015. The absolute bioavailability of BuTab relative to intravenous (IV) administration exceeded published data with non-modified buprenorphine when administered orally and compares favorably with a currently marketed transdermal patch. There were no safety or tolerability issues. The data generated by this study will guide formulation optimization and inform the design of subsequent clinical pharmacology studies. BuTab can be developed under the 505(b)(2) regulatory pathway. In light of the promising data generated by Relmada’s d-methadone research program, and Relmada’s focus on the d-methadone program, Relmada is currently limiting the investments in BuTab.
MepiGel (REL-1021)
MepiGel (REL-1021), is a proprietary topical dosage form of the local anesthetic mepivacaine for the treatment of painful peripheral neuropathies, such as painful diabetic neuropathy, postherpetic neuralgia and painful HIV-associated neuropathy. Mepivacaine is an anesthetic (numbing medicine) that blocks the nerve impulses that send pain signals to the brain. It is chemically related to bupivacaine but pharmacologically related to lidocaine. Mepivacaine is currently indicated for infiltration, nerve block and epidural anesthesia. Relmada has received two FDA Orphan Drug Designations for mepivacaine, one each for “the treatment of painful HIV-associated neuropathy” and for “the management of postherpetic neuralgia,” or PHN. We have selected the formulations to be advanced into clinical studies for MepiGel after the evaluation of results from in vitro and ex vivo studies comparing various topical prototypes of mepivacaine that were conducted by MedPharm Ltd, a specialist formulation development company recognized internationally for its expertise in topical and transdermal products. Multiple toxicology studies were successfully conducted and completed in 2015. MepiGel can be developed under the 505(b)(2) regulatory pathway. In light of the promising data generated by Relmada’s d-methadone research program, and Relmada’s focus on the d-methadone program, Relmada is currently limiting the investments in MepiGel.
Overview of the 505(b)(2) Pathway
Part of our strategy is the utilization of FDA’s 505(b)(2) NDA for approval. The 505(b)(2) NDA is one of three FDA drug approval pathways and represents an appealing regulatory strategy for many companies. The pathway was created by the Hatch-Waxman Amendments of 1984, with 505(b)(2) referring to a section of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The provisions of 505(b)(2) were created, in part, to help avoid unnecessary duplication of studies already performed on a previously approved (reference or listed) drug; the section gives the FDA express permission to rely on data not developed by the NDA applicant.
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A 505(b)(2) NDA contains full safety and effectiveness reports but allows at least some of the information required for NDA approval, such as safety and efficacy information on the active ingredient, to come from studies not conducted by or for the applicant. This can result in a much less expensive and much faster route to approval, compared with a traditional development path [such as 505(b)(1)], while creating new, differentiated products with tremendous commercial value.
Overview of Orphan Drug Status
In accordance with laws and regulations pertaining to the Regulatory Agencies, a sponsor may request that the Regulatory Agencies designate a drug intended to treat a “Rare Disease or Condition” as an “Orphan Drug.” For example, in the United States, a “Rare Disease or Condition” is defined as one which affects less than 200,000 people in the United States, or which affects more than 200,000 people but for which the cost of developing and making available the product is not expected to be recovered from sales of the product in the United States. Upon the approval of the first NDA or BLA for a drug designated as an orphan drug for a specified indication, the sponsor of that NDA or BLA is entitled to 7 years of exclusive marketing rights in the United States unless the sponsor cannot assure the availability of sufficient quantities to meet the needs of persons with the disease. In Europe, this exclusivity is 10 years, and in Australia it is 5 years. However, orphan drug status is particular to the approved indication and does not prevent another company from seeking approval of an off-patent drug that has other labeled indications that are not under orphan or other exclusivities. Orphan drugs may also be eligible for federal income tax credits for costs associated with such as the disease state, the strength and complexity of the data presented, the novelty of the target or compound, risk-management approval and whether multiple rounds of review are required for the agency to evaluate the submission. There is no guarantee that a potential treatment will receive marketing approval or that decisions on marketing approvals or treatment indications will be consistent across geographic areas.
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Reverse Stock Split
On September 26, 2019, our Board of Directors approved a 1-for-4 reverse split of our common stock, which was effective on the NASDAQ Capital Market on September 30, 2019. As a result of the reverse stock split, every 4 shares of issued and outstanding common stock were converted into 1 share of issued and outstanding common stock, with all fractional shares rounded up to the nearest whole share, and our authorized shares of common stock were reduced from 200,000,000 to 50,000,000 shares. All share and per share amounts herein have been retroactively restated to reflect this reverse stock split.
Results of Operations
For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2019 versus September 30, 2018
Three Months Ended | Three Months Ended | |||||||||||
September 30, 2019 | September 30, 2018 | Increase
(Decrease) | ||||||||||
Operating Expenses | ||||||||||||
General and administrative | $ | 1,820,043 | $ | 989,748 | $ | 830,295 | ||||||
Research and development | 1,887,367 | 1,421,482 | 465,885 | |||||||||
Total | $ | 3,707,410 | 2,411,230 | 1,296,180 |
General and Administrative Expense
General and administrative expense for the three months ended September 30, 2019 was approximately $1,820,000 compared to $989,700 for the three months ended September 30, 2018, an increase of approximately $830,300. The increase resulted from an increase in compensation costs of $280,100; an increase in stock-based compensation costs of $545,300; an increase in other G&A expenses of $51,800 that pertained primarily investor relations; and an increase in professional service fees of $111,300. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in patent legal fees of $68,500 and a decrease of litigation fees of $84,600.
Research and Development Expense
Research and development expense for the three months ended September 30, 2019 was approximately $1,887,400 compared to $1,421,500 for the three months ended September 30, 2018, an increase of $465,900. The increase was driven by an increase in study costs of $205,000, of which the majority pertained to our ongoing Phase 2 study, as well as an increase in compensation costs of $201,200.
Other Income (Expense)
The change in the fair value of derivative liabilities was a non-cash unrealized loss for the three months ended September 30, 2018 of approximately $318,500. There were no derivative liabilities as of September 30, 2019.
Interest income was $37,900 versus net interest expense of $650,300, for the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
Net Loss
The net loss for the Company for the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 was approximately $(3,669,500) and $(3,380,100) respectively. The Company had net loss per basic and diluted weighted average common share of $(0.38) and $(1.08) for the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
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Liquidity
As shown in the accompanying financial statements, the Company incurred negative operating cash flows of $2,534,151 for the quarter ended September 30, 2019 and has an accumulated deficit of $115,331,861 from inception through September 30, 2019.
Relmada has funded its past operations through equity raises and most recently in the year ended June 30, 2019 Relmada raised net proceeds from the sale of common stock and warrants of $17,760,635. Further, the Company was able to reduce its debt obligations by converting $8,030,365 of promissory notes and accrued interest into common stock. The Company also raised an additional $1,275,749 during the three months ended September 30, 2019 from the sale of common stock and warrant exercises.
Management believes that due to the recent equity raises completed and exercises of outstanding warrants and the current cash position on its balance sheet, it has obtained sufficient funding to continue ongoing operations for the at least the twelve months from the issuance of the accompanying consolidated quarterly financial statements. Since September 30, 2019 and to date, given the reported positive results of clinical trial data and the resulting increase in the Company’s share price, the Company has received approximately $2,017,000 in warrant exercises, which resulted in the Company having approximately $8,010,000 in cash and cash equivalents at November 8, 2019. Based on its budgeted cash flow requirements, the Company believes these funds are sufficient to fund its ongoing operations for at least one year after the issuance of these consolidated quarterly financial statements. The Company expects that the cash burn rate for the 12 months ended December 31, 2020, will be between $5-6 million, which includes approximately $2 million of discretionary research and development (R&D) spending, as the data analysis on the Phase 2a clinical trial is completed and the planning and preparation for the next clinical trial is conducted. Regardless of the results of any ongoing clinical trial, we have control over our expenditures and have the ability to adjust spending accordingly based on the budgeted cash flow requirements developed and the excess cash on hand.
Given the positive results of the Company’s Phase 2 clinical trial, management will evaluate the size and scope of any subsequent trials that will affect the timing of additional financings through public or private sales of equity or debt securities or from bank or other loans or through strategic collaboration and/or licensing agreements. Any such expenditures related to any subsequent trials will not be incurred until such additional financing is raised. Further, additional financing related to subsequent trials does not affect the Company’s conclusion that based on the cash on hand and the budgeted cash flow requirements, the Company has sufficient funds to maintain operations for the next twelve months from the issuance of these consolidated quarterly financial statements.
The following table sets forth selected cash flow information for the periods indicated below:
Three Months Ended September 30, 2019 | Three Months Ended September 30, 2018 | |||||||
Cash used in operating activities | $ | (2,534,151 | ) | $ | (1,670,983 | ) | ||
Cash provided by financing activities | 1,167,470 | 319,534 | ||||||
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents | $ | (1,366,681 | ) | $ | (1,351,449 | ) |
For the three months ended September 30, 2019, cash used in operating activities was $2,534,151 primarily due to the net loss of $3,669,494, offset by other receivable of $177,000, prepaid expenses of $143,800, non-cash stock compensation charges of $757,716, offset by changes to working capital.
For the three months ended September 30, 2018, cash used in operating activities was $1,670,983 primarily due to the loss from operations for the three months ended September 30, 2018 of $3,380,093 off set by amortization of deferred financing costs of $536,500, change in fair value of derivative liabilities of $318,500, non-cash stock compensation expense of $152,800.
For the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, no cash was used in investing activities.
Net cash provided by financing activities for the three months ended September 30, 2019 was $1,167,470 due to proceeds from issuance of common stock of $825,749 and proceeds from warrants exercised for common stock of $450,000. Net cash provided by financing activities for the three months ended September 30, 2018 was $319,534 primarily due to proceeds raised through the units funds received of $404,500 partially offset by payments of notes payable of $84,966.
Effects of Inflation
Our assets are primarily monetary, consisting of cash and cash equivalents. Because of their liquidity, these assets are not directly affected by inflation. Because we intend to retain and continue to use our equipment, we believe that the incremental inflation related to replacement costs of such items will not materially affect our operations. However, the rate of inflation affects our expenses, such as those for employee compensation and contract services, which could increase our level of expenses and the rate at which we use our resources.
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Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
As part of our ongoing business, we do not participate in transactions that generate relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, such as entities often referred to as structured finance or special purpose entities (SPEs), which would have been established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements or other contractually limited purposes. As of September 30, 2019 and June 30, 2019, we were not involved in any SPE transactions.
Contractual Obligations
Please refer to Note 12 in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2019 under the heading Commitments and Contingencies. To our knowledge there have been no material changes to the risk factors that were previously disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2019. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and/or operating results.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
A critical accounting policy is one that is both important to the portrayal of a company’s financial condition and results of operations and requires management’s most difficult, subjective or complex judgments, often as a result of the need to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain.
Our unaudited consolidated financial statements are presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP, and all applicable U.S. GAAP accounting standards effective as of September 30, 2018 have been taken into consideration in preparing the unaudited consolidated financial statements. The preparation of unaudited consolidated financial statements requires estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, expenses and related disclosures. Some of those estimates are subjective and complex, and, consequently, actual results could differ from those estimates. The following accounting policies and estimates have been highlighted as significant because changes to certain judgments and assumptions inherent in these policies could affect our consolidated financial statements:
● | Research and development expenses, |
● | Stock-based compensation expenses; and |
● | Fair value of derivative liabilities |
We base our estimates, to the extent possible, on historical experience. Historical information is modified as appropriate based on current business factors and various assumptions that we believe are necessary to form a basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities. We evaluate our estimates on an on-going basis and make changes when necessary. Actual results could differ from our estimates.
ITEM 3. | QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK. |
There have been no material changes to our exposures to market risks as disclosed under the heading “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risks” in the annual MD&A contained in our Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2019.
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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 Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective as of September 30, 2019, 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 internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act, during the three months ended September 30, 2019 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
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PART II | OTHER INFORMATION |
ITEM 1. | LEGAL PROCEEDINGS |
From time to time, the Company may become involved in lawsuits and other legal proceedings that arise in the course of business. Litigation is subject to inherent uncertainties, and it is not possible to predict the outcome of litigation with total confidence. The Company is currently not aware of any legal proceedings or potential claims against it whose outcome would be likely, individually or in the aggregate, to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, operating results, or cash flows.
ITEM 1A. | RISK FACTORS |
There have been no material changes to the risk factors under Part I, Item 1A of our Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2019.
ITEM 2. | UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS. |
On September 23, 2019 and September 26, 2019, the Company sold to accredited investors an aggregate of 117,965 shares of common stock pursuant to a private placement transaction. The price per share was $7.00. There were no commissions paid. We believe the issuance of the shares were exempt from registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 by virtue of Section 4(2) and/or Regulation D, Rule 506. The shares were issued directly by us and did not involve a public offering or general solicitation. The recipients of the shares were afforded an opportunity for effective access to our files and records that contained the relevant information needed to make their investment decision, including our financial statements and 34 Act reports. We reasonably believed that the recipients, immediately prior to granting the shares and warrants, had such knowledge and experience in our financial and business matters that they were capable of evaluating the merits and risks of their investment. The recipients had the opportunity to speak with our management on several occasions prior to their investment decision.
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ITEM 3. | DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES. |
None.
ITEM 4. | MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES |
Not applicable.
ITEM 5. | OTHER INFORMATION |
Not applicable.
ITEM 6. | EXHIBITS |
Copies of the following documents are included as exhibits to this report pursuant to Item 601 of Regulation S-K
* | 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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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.
Date: November 13, 2019 | By: | /s/ Sergio Traversa |
Sergio Traversa | ||
Chief Executive Officer | ||
(Duly Authorized Officer and Principal Executive Officer) | ||
/s/ Charles Ence | ||
Charles Ence | ||
Chief Financial Officer | ||
(Duly Authorized Officer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |
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