SOLIGENIX, INC. - Quarter Report: 2009 June (Form 10-Q)
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
(X) QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.
For the Quarterly Period Ended June 30, 2009
( ) TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.
For the transition period from ____________ to ____________
Commission File No. 000-16929
DOR BIOPHARMA, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
DELAWARE |
41-1505029 | |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) | |
29 Emmons Drive, Suite
C-10
Princeton, NJ |
08540 | |
(Address of principal executive offices) |
(Zip Code) | |
(609) 538-8200 |
||
(Issuer’s telephone number, including area code) |
Indicate by check whether the registrant (1) filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act during the past 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes x No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web Site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such
files).
Yes o No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definition of “accelerated filer” and “large accelerated filer” in Rule 112b-2 of the Exchange Act (Check one).
Large accelerated filer o |
Accelerated filer o
|
Non-accelerated filer o
|
Smaller reporting company x |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No x
At August 10, 2009, 167,424,666 shares of the registrant's common stock (par value, $.001 per share) were outstanding.
Table of Contents
Item |
Description |
Page |
Part I |
FINANCIAL INFORMATION |
|
1. |
Consolidated Financial Statements. |
3 |
2. |
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. |
21 |
3. |
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk. |
35 |
4. |
Controls and Procedures. |
35 |
Part II |
OTHER INFORMATION |
|
5. |
Exhibits. |
36 |
2
PART I. - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1 - FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DOR BioPharma, Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
|
||||||||||
June 30, 2009 |
December 31, 2008 |
|||||||||
(Unaudited) |
||||||||||
Assets
Current assets: |
||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ |
4,844,172 |
$ |
1,475,466 |
||||||
Grants receivable |
152,392 |
278,316 |
||||||||
Inventory, net |
113,261 |
82,182 |
||||||||
Prepaid expenses |
199,784 |
86,837 |
||||||||
Total current assets |
5,309,609 |
1,922,801 |
||||||||
Office and laboratory equipment, net |
23,336 |
21,217 |
||||||||
Intangible assets, net |
1,451,890 |
1,418,717 |
||||||||
Total assets |
$ |
6,784,835 |
$ |
3,362,735 |
||||||
Liabilities and shareholders’ equity |
||||||||||
Current liabilities: |
||||||||||
Accounts payable |
$ |
1,076,004 |
$ |
1,015,005 |
||||||
Accrued compensation |
246,316 |
370,614 |
||||||||
Total current liabilities |
1,322,320 |
1,385,619 |
||||||||
Commitments and contingencies |
||||||||||
Shareholders’ equity: |
||||||||||
Preferred stock; 5,000,000 shares authorized; none issued or outstanding
Common stock, $.001 par value; 400,000,000 shares authorized; |
- |
- | ||||||||
167,364,342 shares and 118,610,704 shares issued and outstanding
in 2009 and 2008, respectively |
167,364 |
118,610 |
||||||||
Additional paid-in capital |
111,542,898 |
104,176,253 |
||||||||
Accumulated deficit |
(106,247,747 |
) |
(102,317,747 |
) | ||||||
Total shareholders’ equity |
5,462,515 |
1,977,116 |
||||||||
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity |
$ |
6,784,835 |
$ |
3,362,735 |
||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
DOR BioPharma, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
For the Three Months Ended June 30,
(Unaudited)
2009 |
2008 |
| |||||
Revenues, principally from grants |
$ |
332,315 |
$ |
488,244 |
|||
Cost of revenues |
( 253,865 |
) |
( 391,845 |
) | |||
Gross profit |
78,450 |
96,399 |
|||||
Operating expenses: |
|||||||
Research and development |
1,134,914 |
743,601 |
|||||
General and administrative |
578,528 |
554,526 |
|||||
Stock-based compensation-research and development |
58,687 |
39,583 |
|||||
Stock-based compensation-general and administrative |
97,959 |
36,793 |
|||||
Total operating expenses |
1,870,088 |
1,374,503 |
|||||
Loss from operations |
(1,791,638) |
(1,278,104) |
|||||
Other income: |
|||||||
Interest income, net |
6,734 |
6,398 |
|||||
Net loss |
$ |
(1,784,904) |
$ |
(1,271,706) |
|||
Basic and diluted net loss per share |
$ |
( 0.01) |
$ |
( 0.01 |
) | ||
Basic Basic and diluted weighted average common shares outstanding |
167,125,183 |
100,877,708 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
4
DOR BioPharma, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
For the Six Months Ended June 30,
(Unaudited)
2009 |
2008 |
| |||||
Revenues, principally from grants |
$ |
862,632 |
$ |
1,165,884 |
|||
Cost of revenues |
( 671,174 |
) |
( 921,024 |
) | |||
Gross profit |
191,458 |
244,860 |
|||||
Operating expenses: |
|||||||
Research and development |
2,725,913 |
1,343,603 |
|||||
General and administrative |
1,110,665 |
1,402,637 |
|||||
Stock based compensation-research and development |
132,077 |
79,166 |
|||||
Stock based compensation-general and administrative |
170,409 |
73,586 |
|||||
Total operating expenses |
4,139,064 |
2,898,992 |
|||||
Loss from operations |
(3,947,606) |
(2,654,132) |
|||||
Other income: |
|||||||
Interest income, net |
17,606 |
26,254 |
|||||
Net loss |
$ |
(3,930,000) |
$ |
(2,627,878) |
|||
Basic and diluted net loss per share |
$ |
( 0.02) |
$ |
( 0.03 |
) | ||
Basic Basic and diluted weighted average common shares outstanding |
158,068,464 |
99,328,191 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
5
DOR BioPharma, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2009
(Unaudited)
Common Stock |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares |
Par Value |
Additional Paid- In Capital |
Accumulated Deficit |
||||||||||||||||||||
Balance,
January 1, 2009 |
118,610,704 |
$118,610 |
$104,176,253 |
( |
$102,317,747) |
| |||||||||||||||||
Issuance of common stock from private placement, net of expenses of $144,000 |
20,914,035 |
20,915 |
2,219,287 |
- |
|||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of common stock for collaboration and supply agreement to Sigma Tau |
25,000,000 |
25,000 |
4,375,000 |
- |
|||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of common stock pursuant to equity line agreement |
339,603 |
340 |
44,660 |
- |
|||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of common stock to vendors |
2,500,000 |
2,500 |
297,500 |
- |
|||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of common stock warrants to vendors |
- |
- |
127,712 |
||||||||||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation expense |
- |
- |
302,486 |
- |
|
||||||||||||||||||
Net loss |
- |
- |
- |
|
(3,930,000 ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Balance,
June 30, 2009 |
167,364,342 |
$167,364 |
$111,542,898 |
( |
$106,247,747 |
) | |||||||||||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
6
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
For the Six Months Ended June 30,
(Unaudited)
2009 |
2008 |
||||||
Operating activities: |
|||||||
Net loss |
$ |
(3,930,000) |
$ |
(2,627,878 |
) | ||
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: |
|||||||
Amortization and depreciation |
80,035 |
70,049 |
|||||
Stock issued in exchange for services |
427,712 |
384,526 |
|||||
Stock-based compensation |
302,486 |
152,752 |
|||||
Change in operating assets and liabilities: |
|||||||
Grants receivable |
125,924 |
(2,084) |
|||||
Inventory |
(31,079) |
- |
|||||
Prepaid expenses |
(112,947) |
(56,627) |
|||||
Accounts payable |
60,999 |
458,795 |
|||||
Accrued compensation |
(124,298) |
(121,149 |
) | ||||
Total adjustments |
728,832 |
886,262 |
|||||
Net cash used in operating activities |
(3,201,168) |
(1,741,616 |
) | ||||
Investing activities: |
|||||||
Acquisition of intangible assets |
(108,996) |
(131,142 |
) | ||||
Proceeds from sale of equipment |
- |
500 |
|||||
Purchase of office equipment |
(6,330) |
|
(3,900 |
) | |||
Net cash used in investing activities |
(115,326) |
(134,542 |
) | ||||
Financing activities: |
|||||||
Net proceeds from sale of common stock |
6,640,200 |
658,600 |
|||||
Proceeds from sale of common stock pursuant to equity line |
45,000 |
75,000 |
|||||
Net cash provided by financing activities |
6,685,200 |
733,600 |
|||||
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents |
3,368,706 |
(1,142,558 |
) | ||||
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period |
1,475,466 |
2,220,128 |
|||||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period |
$ |
4,844,172 |
$ |
1,077,570 |
|||
Non-cash transactions:
Non-cash stock payment to an institutional investor $ - $ 270,000
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
7
DOR BioPharma, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Note 1. Nature of Business
Basis of Presentation
The Company is a late-stage biopharmaceutical company that was incorporated in 1987 and is focused on developing products to treat the life-threatening side effects of cancer treatments and serious gastrointestinal diseases where there remains an unmet medical need, as well as developing several biodefense vaccines. We maintain two active
business segments: BioTherapeutics and BioDefense. DOR’s BioTherapeutics business segment intends to develop orBec® (oral beclomethasone dipropionate, or oral BDP) and other biotherapeutic products, namely LPMTM-Leuprolide. DOR’s BioDefense business segment intends to convert its ricin toxin and botulinum toxin vaccine programs from early
stage development to advanced development and manufacturing.
During the six months ended June 30, 2009, the Company generated revenues from the U.S. Federal Government and Named Patient Access Program (“NPAP”) partners for orBec®. Revenues from the U.S. Federal Government were generated from
three active grants supporting the Company’s BioDefense programs. As of June 30, 2009, outstanding grant receivables of $152,392 were due from the U.S. Federal Government, the National Institutes of Health and Orphan Australia.
The Company is subject to risks common to companies in the biotechnology industry including, but not limited to, development of new technological innovations, dependence on key personnel, protections of proprietary technology, compliance with FDA regulations, litigation, and product liability.
The consolidated financial statements are presented on the basis of accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The accompanying consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Certain information and footnote
disclosures normally included in financial statements have been condensed or omitted from this report, as is permitted by such rules and regulations; however, the Company believes that the disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. The unaudited consolidated financial statements and related disclosures have been prepared with the presumption that users of the interim financial information have read or have access to the audited financial statements for the preceding fiscal year.
Accordingly, these financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008. Results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for the full year. The Company has experienced significant quarterly fluctuations in operating results and it expects those fluctuations will continue.
Liquidity
As of June 30, 2009, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $4,844,172 as compared to $1,475,466 as of December 31, 2008, representing an increase of $3,368,706. As of June 30, 2009, the Company had working capital of $3,987,289 as compared to working capital of $537,182 as of December 31, 2008, representing an increase of $3,450,107.
For the six months ended June 30, 2009, the Company’s cash used in operating activities was $3,201,168, as compared to $1,741,616 for the same period in 2008. The increase in spending was attributable to clinical trial preparation for the upcoming confirmatory Phase 3 clinical trial of orBec® in
the treatment of acute gastrointestinal Graft-versus-Host disease (“GI GVHD”).
8
Management’s business strategy can be outlined as follows:
· |
initiate and execute the pivotal Phase 3 confirmatory clinical trial for orBec® in the treatment of acute GI GVHD; |
· |
identify a development and marketing partner for orBec® for territories outside of North America, as we have granted an exclusive license to Sigma-Tau to commercialize orBec® in the
U.S., Canada and Mexico; Sigma-Tau will pay us a 35% royalty (inclusive of drug supply) on net sales in these territories as well as pay for commercialization expenses, including launch activities; |
· |
conduct and complete a Phase 2 clinical trial of orBec® for the prevention of acute GVHD; |
· |
evaluate and initiate additional clinical trials to explore the effectiveness of oral BDP in other therapeutic indications involving inflammatory conditions of the gastrointestinal (“GI”) tract such as radiation enteritis, radiation injury and Crohn’s disease; |
· |
make orBec® available worldwide through NPAP for the treatment of acute GI GVHD; |
· |
reinitiate development of our other BioTherapeutics products, namely LPM™ Leuprolide; |
· |
continue to secure additional government funding for each of our BioDefense programs, RiVax™ and BT-VACC™, through grants, contracts and procurements; |
· |
convert our biodefense vaccine programs from early stage development to advanced development and manufacturing with the potential to collaborate and/or partner with other companies in the biodefense area; |
· |
acquire or in-license new clinical-stage compounds for development; and |
· |
explore other business development and acquisition strategies under which we may be considered to be an attractive acquisition candidate by another company. |
Based on the Company’s current rate of cash outflows, cash on hand, the timely collection of milestone payments under collaboration agreements, proceeds from our grant programs, and potential minimal proceeds from the Fusion Capital transaction, management believes that its current cash will be sufficient to meet the anticipated cash needs for working capital and capital expenditures into the third quarter of 2010.
The Company’s plans with respect to its liquidity management include the following:
· |
The Company has $1.1 million in active grant funding still available to support its ricin and botulinum toxin vaccine programs in 2009 and beyond. Additionally, the Company has submitted additional grant applications for further support of these programs and others with various funding agencies, and received encouraging feedback to date on the
likelihood of funding. |
· |
The Company has continued to use equity instruments to provide a portion of the compensation due to vendors and collaboration partners and expects to continue to do so for the foreseeable future. |
· |
As discussed further in Note 5, the Company has approximately $7.8 million in available capacity under its Fusion Capital equity facility. Although the Company has historically drawn amounts in modest amounts under this agreement, the Company could draw more within certain contractual parameters. |
· |
The Company may seek additional capital in the private and/or public equity markets to continue its operations, respond to competitive pressures, develop new products and services, and to support new strategic partnerships. The Company is currently evaluating additional equity financing opportunities and may execute them when appropriate. However,
there can be no assurances that the Company can consummate such a transaction, or consummate a transaction at favorable pricing. |
In the event that such growth is less than forecasted in the Company’s 2009-2010 operating plan, management has developed contingency plans to reduce the Company’s operating expenses. In the event the Company cannot maintain adequate liquidity, it could be compelled to implement further cost saving measures including headcount
reductions.
9
Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Principles of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include DOR BioPharma, Inc., and its wholly- and majority-owned subsidiaries (“DOR” or the “Company”). All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated as a result of consolidation.
Segment Information
Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise about which separate financial information is available that is evaluated on a regular basis by the chief operating decision maker, or decision making group, in deciding how to allocate resources to an individual segment and in assessing the performance of the segment.
Grants Receivable
Receivables consist of unbilled amounts due from grants from the National Institute of Health of the U.S. Federal Government for costs incurred prior to the period end. The amounts were billed in the month subsequent to period end and collected shortly thereafter.
Intangible Assets
One of the most significant estimates or judgments that the Company makes is whether to capitalize or expense patent and license costs. The Company makes this judgment based on whether the technology has alternative future uses, as defined in SFAS 2, Accounting for Research and Development Costs.
Based on this consideration, the Company capitalizes payments made to legal firms that are engaged in filing and protecting rights to intellectual property and rights for our current products in both the domestic and international markets. The Company believes that patent rights are one of its most valuable assets. Patents and patent applications are a key component of intellectual property, especially in the early stage of product development, as their purchase and maintenance gives the Company access to key
product development rights from DOR’s academic and industrial partners. These rights can also be sold or sub-licensed as part of its strategy to partner its products at each stage of development as the intangible assets have alternative future use. The legal costs incurred for these patents consist of work designed to protect, preserve, maintain and perhaps extend the lives of the patents. The Company capitalizes such costs and amortizes intangibles over a period of 11 to 16 years.
The Company capitalized $108,996 and $131,142 in patent related costs during the six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
Office and laboratory equipment and intangible assets are evaluated and reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. The Company recognizes impairment of long-lived assets in the event the net book value of such assets exceeds the estimated future undiscounted
cash flows attributable to such assets. If the sum of the expected undiscounted cash flows is less than the carrying value of the related asset or group of assets, a loss is recognized for the difference between the fair value and the carrying value of the related asset or group of assets. Such analyses necessarily involve significant judgment.
The Company did not record any impairment of intangible assets for the six months ended June 30, 2009 or 2008.
10
Inventory
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method and includes the cost of materials and overhead. All inventory for this period is finished goods and consists of orBec® treatments. The
Company records an allowance as needed for excess inventory. During the year ended December 31, 2008 an allowance of $100,000 was provided. This allowance will be evaluated on a quarterly basis and adjustments will be made as required. The Company did not make an adjustment to this allowance during the six months ended June 30, 2009.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. require that fair values be disclosed for the Company’s financial instruments. The carrying amounts of the Company’s financial instruments, which include grants receivable and current liabilities, are considered to be representative of their respective fair values.
Revenue Recognition
The Company’s revenues are generated from government grants and NPAP sales of orBec®. The revenue from government grants are based upon subcontractor costs and internal costs incurred that are specifically covered by the grants, plus a facilities and
administrative rate that provides funding for overhead expenses. Revenues are recognized when expenses have been incurred by subcontractors or when the Company incurs internal expenses that are related to the grant. Revenue from the NPAP sales of orBec® are recognized when the product is shipped. The NPAP revenues are recorded when the product is shipped.
Research and Development Costs
Research and development costs are charged to expense when incurred. Research and development includes costs such as clinical trial expenses, contracted research and license agreement fees with no alternative future use, supplies and materials, salaries and employee benefits, equipment depreciation and allocation of various corporate costs.
Purchased in-process research and development expense represents the value assigned or paid for acquired research and development for which there is no alternative future use as of the date of acquisition.
Stock-Based Compensation
The fair value of options in accordance with SFAS 123R was estimated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model and the following weighted-average assumptions: a dividend yield of 0%, an expected life of 4 years, volatilities of 125% and 120% for 2009 and 2008, respectively, and average risk-free interest rates of 3.8% and 3.7% in 2009
and 2008, respectively. The Company estimates these values based on the assumptions that have been historically available. The fair value of each option grant made during 2009 and 2008 was estimated on the date of each grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model and amortized ratably over the option’s vesting periods, which approximates the service period. The Company awarded 2,062,500 stock options for the six months ended June 30, 2009, while 6,800,000 stock options were granted during
the six months ended June 30, 2008.
Stock compensation expense for options granted to non-employees has been determined in accordance with SFAS 123R and Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) 96-18, and represents the fair value of the consideration received, or the fair value of the equity instruments issued, whichever may be more reliably measured. For options that vest over
future periods, the fair value of options granted to non-employees is amortized as the options vest. The option’s price is re-measured using the Black-Scholes model at the end of each three month reporting period.
Upon exercise, shares are issued from the amended 2005 equity incentive plan and increase the number of shares the Company has outstanding. There were no stock option exercises during the six months ended June 30, 2009 or during the year ended December 31, 2008. There were no forfeitures during the six months ended June 30, 2009 and forfeitures
of 779,800 stock options during the year ended December 31, 2008. The intrinsic value of the stock options outstanding at June 30, 2009 was zero.
From time to time, the Company issues common stock to vendors, consultants, and employees as compensation for services performed. These shares are typically issued as restricted stock, unless issued to non-affiliates under the 2005 Equity Incentive Plan, where the stock may be issued as unrestricted. The restricted stock can only have the
restrictive legend removed if the shares underlying the certificate are sold pursuant to an effective registration statement, which the Company must file and have approved by the SEC, if the shares underlying the certificate are sold pursuant to Rule 144, provided certain conditions are satisfied, or if the shares are sold pursuant to another exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
11
Stock-based compensation expense recognized during the period is based on the value of the portion of share-based payment awards that is ultimately expected to vest during the period.
Stock options are issued with an exercise price equal to the market price on the date of issuance. Stock options issued to directors are fully vested upon issuance. Stock options issued to employees generally vest 25% upfront, then 25% each year for a period of three years. Stock options vest over each three month period from the date of
issuance to the end of the three year period. These options have a ten year life for as long as the individuals remain employees or directors. In general when an employee or director terminates their position the options will expire within six months.
The intrinsic value was calculated as the difference between the Company’s common stock closing price on the OTC BB at June 30, 2009 and the exercise price of the stock option issued multiplied by the number of shares underlying the stock options. The Company’s common stock price at June 30, 2009 was $0.18.
Income Taxes
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. A valuation allowance is established when it is more likely than not that all or a portion of a deferred tax asset
will not be realized. A review of all available positive and negative evidence is considered, including the Company’s current and past performance, the market environment in which the Company operates, the utilization of past tax credits, and the length of carryback and carryforward periods. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured utilizing tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. No current
or deferred income taxes have been recognized through June 30, 2009 due to the net operating losses incurred by the Company since its inception. Additionally, the Company has not recorded a liability for unrecognized tax benefits or uncertain tax positions at June 30, 2009 or 2008.
Earnings Per Share
Basic earnings per share (EPS) excludes dilution and is computed by dividing income available to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into
common stock or resulted in the issuance of common stock that shared in the earnings of the entity. Since there is a large number of options and warrants outstanding, fluctuations in the actual market price can have a variety of results for each period presented.
12
Three Months Ended |
Three Months Ended | ||||||
June 30, 2009 |
June 30, 2008 | ||||||
Loss |
Shares |
EPS |
Loss |
Shares |
EPS | ||
Basic & Diluted EPS |
($1,784,904) |
167,125,183 |
($0.01) |
($1,271,706) |
100,877,708 |
($0.01) | |
Six Months Ended |
Six Months Ended | ||||||
June 30, 2009 |
June 30, 2008 | ||||||
Loss |
Shares |
EPS |
Loss |
Shares |
EPS | ||
Basic & Diluted EPS |
($3,930,000) |
158,068,464 |
($0.02) |
($2,627,878) |
99,328,191 |
($0.03) | |
Options and warrants outstanding at June 30, 2009 and 2008 were 19,172,539 and 9,620,039 of options, and 32,830,369 and 28,818,522 of warrants, respectively. The weighted average exercise price of the Company’s stock options and warrants outstanding at June 30, 2009 were $0.25 and $0.13, respectively. No options and warrants were
included in the 2009 and 2008 computations of diluted earnings per share because their effect would be anti-dilutive as a result of losses in the respective years.
Use of Estimates and Assumptions
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
New Accounting Pronouncements
In June 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (SFAS) No. 168, The FASB Accounting Standards Codification and the Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting. SFAS 168 represents the last numbered standard to be issued
by the FASB under the old (pre-Codification) numbering system, and amends the GAAP hierarchy. On July 1, 2009, the FASB launched a new FASB Codification (full name: the FASB Accounting Standards Codification™). The Codification will supersede existing GAAP for nongovernmental entities. The implementation of this standard did not have any effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
In June 2009, the FASB issued SFAS No. 167, Amendments to FASB Interpretation No. 46(R). SFAS No. 167 is a revision to FASB Interpretation No. 46 (Revised December
2003), Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, and changes how a reporting entity determines when an entity that is insufficiently capitalized or is not controlled through voting (or similar rights) should be consolidated. The determination of whether a reporting entity is required to consolidate another entity is based on, among other things, the other entity’s purpose and
design and the reporting entity’s ability to direct the activities of the other entity that most significantly impact the other entity’s economic performance. SFAS No. 167 will require a reporting entity to provide additional disclosures about its involvement with variable interest entities and any significant changes in risk exposure due to that involvement. A reporting entity will be required to disclose how its involvement with a variable interest entity affects the reporting entity’s
financial statements. SFAS No. 167 will be effective at the start of a reporting entity’s first fiscal year beginning after November 15, 2009, or January 1, 2010, for a calendar year-end entity. Early application is not permitted. The Company is evaluating if the adoption of this standard will have a material impact on its financial statements.
In May 2009, the FASB issued SFAS No. 165, Subsequent Events. SFAS No. 165 incorporates into authoritative accounting literature certain guidance that already existed within generally accepted auditing standards, but the rules concerning recognition and disclosure of subsequent events
will remain essentially unchanged. Subsequent events guidance addresses events which occur after the balance sheet date but before the issuance of financial statements. Under SFAS No. 165 as under current practice, an entity must record the effects of subsequent events that provide evidence about conditions that existed at the balance sheet date and must disclose but not record the effects of subsequent events which provide evidence about conditions that did not exist at the balance sheet date. The Company adopted
SFAS No. 165 and it did not have an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. There were no recognized or non-recognized subsequent events occurring after June 30, 2009 that required accounting or disclosure in accordance with SFAS No. 165. Subsequent events were evaluated to August 14, 2009, the date the financial statements of the Company were issued.
13
In April 2009, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position (FSP) SFAS No. 141(R)-1, Accounting for Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed in a Business Combination That Arise from Contingencies, to amend and clarify the initial recognition and measurement, subsequent measurement and accounting,
and related disclosures arising from contingencies in a business combination under SFAS No. 141(R). Under the new guidance, assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination that arise from contingencies should be recognized at fair value on the acquisition date if fair value can be determined during the measurement period. If fair value cannot be determined, companies should typically account for the acquired contingencies using existing guidance. The implementation of this standard did not have
a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
In April 2009, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position No. 157-4, Determining Fair Value When the Volume and Level of Activity for the Asset or Liability Have Significantly Decreased and Identifying Transactions That Are Not Orderly (FSP SFAS No. 157-4). This FSP:
· |
Affirms that the objective of fair value when the market for an asset is not active is the price that would be received to sell the asset in an orderly transaction. |
· |
Clarifies and includes additional factors for determining whether there has been a significant decrease in market activity for an asset when the market for that asset is not active. |
· |
Eliminates the proposed presumption that all transactions are distressed (not orderly) unless proven otherwise. The FSP instead requires an entity to base its conclusion about whether a transaction was not orderly on the weight of the evidence. |
· |
Includes an example that provides additional explanation on estimating fair value when the market activity for an asset has declined significantly. |
· |
Requires an entity to disclose a change in valuation technique (and the related inputs) resulting from the application of the FSP and to quantify its effects, if practicable. |
· |
Applies to all fair value measurements when appropriate. |
FSP SFAS No. 157-4 must be applied prospectively and retrospective application is not permitted. FSP SFAS No. 157-4 is effective for interim and annual periods ending after June 15, 2009, with early adoption permitted for periods ending after March 15, 2009. An entity early adopting FSP SFAS No. 157-4 must also early adopt FSP SFAS No.
115-2 and SFAS No. 124-2, Recognition and Presentation of Other-Than-Temporary Impairments. The implementation of this standard did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
In April 2009, the FASB issued FSP SFAS No. 107-1 and Accounting Principles Board (APB) Opinion 28-1, Interim Disclosures About Fair Value of Financial Instruments (FSP
SFAS No. 107-1 and APB No. 28-1”). FSP SFAS No. 107-1 and APB No. 28-1 amend SFAS No. 107, Disclosures About Fair Value of Financial Instruments, to require disclosures about the fair value of financials in interim as well as in annual financial statements, and APB No. 28,
14
Interim Financial Reporting, to require those disclosures in all interim financial statements. FSP SFAS No. 107-1 and APB No. 28-1 are effective for periods ending after June 15, 2009. The implementation
of these standards did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
Note 3. Intangible Assets
The following is a summary of intangible assets which consists of licenses and patents:
Weighted Average
Amortization Period (years) |
Cost |
Accumulated
Amortization |
Net Book Value | |
June 30, 2009 |
||||
Licenses |
11.5 |
$ 462,234 |
$ 152,210 |
$ 310,024 |
Patents |
8.8 |
1,979,597 |
837,731 |
1,141,866 |
Total |
9.3 |
$2,441,831 |
$989,941 |
$1,451,890
|
December 31, 2008 |
||||
Licenses |
11.7 |
$ 462,234 |
$ 142,994 |
$ 319,240 |
Patents |
9.0 |
1,870,603 |
771,126 |
1,099,477 |
Total |
9.5 |
$2,332,837 |
$914,120 |
$1,418,717 |
Amortization expense was $38,002 and $75,824 for the three and six ended June 30, 2009, respectively. Amortization expense was $33,243 and $64,422 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, respectively.
Based on the balance of licenses and patents at June 30, 2009, the annual amortization expense for each of the succeeding five years is estimated to be as follows:
Amortization Amount | |
2010 |
$ 160,000 |
2011 |
165,000 |
2012 |
170,000 |
2013 |
175,000 |
2014 |
180,000 |
15
License fees and royalty payments are expensed annually as incurred as the Company does not attribute any future benefits to them other than within that period.
Note 4. Income Taxes
Deferred tax assets consist of the following:
June
30, 2009 December 31, 2008
Net operating loss carry forwards |
$ 30,230,000 |
$ 26,300,000 |
||||||
Orphan drug and research and development credit carry forwards |
2,000,000 |
2,000,000 |
||||||
Other |
3,300,000 |
3,300,000 |
||||||
Total |
35,530,000 |
31,600,000 |
||||||
Valuation allowance |
( 35,530,000) |
( 31,600,000) |
||||||
Net deferred tax assets |
$ - |
$ - |
At December 31, 2008, the Company had net operating loss carry forwards (NOLs) of approximately $76,000,000 for Federal and state tax purposes, portions of which are currently expiring each year until 2028. In addition, the Company had $2,000,000 of various tax credits that start expiring from December 2009 to December 2028. The Company
may be able to utilize its NOLs to reduce future federal and state income tax liabilities. However, these NOLs are subject to various limitations under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 382. IRC Section 382 limits the use of NOLs to the extent there has been an ownership change of more than 50 percentage points. In addition, the NOL carryforwards are subject to examination by the taxing authority and could be adjusted or disallowed due to such exams. Although the Company has
not undergone an IRC Section 382 analysis, it is possible that the utilization of the NOLs may be limited.
The Company and one or more of its subsidiaries files income tax returns in the U.S. Federal jurisdiction, and various state and local jurisdictions. The Company is no longer subject to income tax assessment for years before 2004. However, since the Company has incurred net operating losses in every tax year since inception, all its income
tax returns are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and state authorities for purposes of determining the amount of net operating loss carryforward that can be used to reduce taxable income.
The net changes in the valuation allowance for six months ended June 30, 2009 and the year ended December 31, 2008 were an increase of approximately $3,900,000 and decrease of $1,600,000, respectively, resulting primarily from net operating losses generated. As a result of the Company’s continuing tax losses, it has recorded a full
valuation allowance against its net deferred tax assets.
The Company has no tax provision for the periods ended June 30, 2009 and 2008 due to losses and full valuation allowances against deferred tax assets.
Effective January 1, 2007, the Company adopted Financial Interpretation (FIN) No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes – An Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109. This interpretation prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial
statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. The implementation of this standard did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
Note 5. Shareholders’ Equity
Preferred Stock
The Company has 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock authorized, none of which are issued or outstanding.
16
Common Stock
The following items represent transactions in the Company’s common stock for the six months ended June 30, 2009:
· |
In five separate transactions during the six months ended June 30, 2009, the Company issued an aggregate of 339,603 shares of common stock under its existing Fusion Capital equity facility. The Company received an aggregate of $45,000 in proceeds which approximated the shares’ fair market value on the date of issuance. |
· |
On March 6, 2009, the Company issued 2,500,000 shares of common stock pursuant to the $400,000 ($300,000 of which was issued on this date) common stock equity investment agreement with its clinical trials management partner, Numoda. These shares were priced at the then current market price of $0.12 per share. The remaining $100,000 investment will be completed
in January 2010 and will either be paid in cash or in 833,334 shares of common if the market price falls below $0.12. The investment follows the collaboration between the Company and Numoda announced on June 30, 2008 and represents partial payment by the Company under its collaboration agreement. The Company recognized $400,000 of research and development costs during March 2009 as a result of this transaction. |
· |
On February 11, 2009, the Company entered into a collaboration and supply agreement with Sigma-Tau for the commercialization of orBec®.In connection with the execution of the collaboration agreement, the Company entered into a common stock purchase agreement with Sigma-Tau pursuant to which the Company sold 25,000,000 shares of common stock to Sigma-Tau for $0.18 per share, representing an aggregate price of $4,500,000. The purchase price was equal to one hundred fifty percent (150%) of the average
trading price of the Company’s common stock over the five trading days prior to February 11, 2009. As part of the transaction, the Company granted Sigma-Tau certain demand and piggy-back registration rights. |
· |
On January 20, 2009, the Company received $2,384,200 from the completed private placement of common stock and warrants to accredited investors. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company sold 20,914,035 common shares together with five year warrants to purchase up to 20,914,035 shares of the Company’s common stock at $0.14 per share, for an aggregate
price of $2,384,200, or $0.114 per share, representing a premium to the Company’s common stock market price on the date of the agreements. The expiration date of the warrants can be accelerated if the Company's common stock meets certain price thresholds and the Company would receive additional gross proceeds of approximately $2,900,000 if they are all exercised. |
In February 2008, the Company entered into a common stock purchase agreement with Fusion Capital Fund II, LLC (“Fusion Capital”). The Fusion Capital equity facility allows the Company to require Fusion Capital to purchase between $80,000 and $1.0 million of the Company’s common stock every two business days, up to an aggregate
of $8.0 million over approximately a 25-month period depending on certain conditions, including the quoted market price of the Company’s common stock on such date. As part of the agreement, the Company issued Fusion Capital 1,275,000 shares of common stock as a commitment fee. In connection with the execution of the common stock purchase agreement, Fusion Capital made an initial purchase of 2,777,778 common shares and received a four year warrant to purchase 1,388,889 shares of common stock for $0.22 per
share, representing an aggregate price of $500,000. The Company issued an additional 75,000 shares of common stock as a commitment fee in connection with this $500,000 purchase.
If the Company’s stock price exceeds $0.15, then the amount required to be purchased may be increased under certain conditions as the price of the Company’s common stock increases. The Company cannot require Fusion Capital to purchase any shares of the Company’s common stock on any trading days that the market price of
the Company’s common stock is less than $0.10 per share. Furthermore, for each additional purchase by Fusion, additional commitment shares in commensurate amounts up to a total of 1,275,000
17
shares will be issued based upon the relative proportion of purchases compared to the total commitment maximum of 18.5 million shares. The total issuance of common stock related to commitment shares for 2008 was 1,369,125 shares, which were issued to Fusion Capital and consisted of 1,275,000 shares as a commitment fee, 75,000 shares as
a commitment fee for the $500,000 invested, and 19,125 shares for the commitment fee shares on the equity line draws totaling $127,500.
During the year ended December 31, 2008, the Company issued 993,084 shares of common stock under the Fusion Capital equity facility. In connection with these issuances the Company received $127,500 in proceeds which approximated the shares’ fair market value on the dates of issuance.
Warrants
During 2009, the Company issued 1,200,000 warrants to purchase common stock shares to consultants in exchange for their services. In January 2009, 50,000 warrants were issued to Strategic Outsourcing Solutions, LLC which had an exercise price of $0.10. In February 2009, 1,000,000 warrants were issued to George B. McDonald, M.D. which had
an exercise price of $0.11. In June 2009, 150,000 warrants were issued to Griffin Securities Inc. which had an exercise price of $0.198. Expense charges of $37,485 and $127,712 were recorded during the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively.
Note 6. Commitments and Contingencies
The Company has commitments of approximately $4.1 million at June 30, 2009 in connection with a collaboration agreement with Numoda for the execution of our upcoming confirmatory, Phase 3 clinical trial of orBec® that will begin in second half of 2009 and is expected to continue through second half of 2010.
The Company has several licensing agreements with consultants and universities, which upon clinical or commercialization success may require the payment of milestones and/or royalties if and when achieved. However, there can be no assurance that clinical or commercialization success will occur.
On March 4, 2007, the Company entered into an investment banking agreement with RBC Capital Markets (“RBC”). As a result of the Company’s transactions with Sigma-Tau, RBC claims that it is entitled to certain compensation under such agreement up to $1.6 million. The Company disputes that RBC is entitled to any compensation for the Sigma-Tau transactions and will vigorously defend any lawsuit filed by RBC.
On February 2007, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the issuance of the following shares to Dr. Schaber, Mr. Myrianthopoulos, Dr. Brey and certain other employees and a consultant, upon the completion of a transaction, or series or a combination of related transactions negotiated by the Company’s Board of Directors whereby, directly or indirectly, a majority of the Company’s capital stock or a majority of its assets are transferred from the Company and/or its stockholders to a
third party: 1,000,000 common shares to Dr. Schaber; 750,000 common shares to Mr. Myrianthopoulos; 200,000 common shares to Dr. Brey; and 450,000 common shares to employees and a consultant shall be issued.
Employees with employment contracts have severance agreements that will provide separation benefits from the Company if they are involuntarily separated from employment.
18
Note 7. Business Segments
The Company maintains two active business segments: BioTherapeutics and BioDefense. Each segment includes an element of overhead costs specifically associated with its operations, with its corporate shared services group responsible for support functions generic to both operating segments.
Three Months Ended
June 30, |
|||||||
2009 |
2008 |
||||||
Net Revenues |
|||||||
BioDefense |
$ |
320,315 |
$ |
488,244 |
|||
BioTherapeutics |
12,000 |
- |
|||||
Total |
$ |
332,315 |
$ |
488,244 |
|||
Loss from Operations |
|||||||
BioDefense |
$ |
(51,237 |
) |
$ |
(70,268 |
) | |
BioTherapeutics |
(1,089,111 |
) |
(645,378 |
) | |||
Corporate |
(651,290 |
) |
(562,458 |
) | |||
Total |
$ |
(1,791,638 |
) |
$ |
(1,278,104 |
) | |
Amortization and Depreciation Expense |
|||||||
BioDefense |
$ |
22,525 |
$ |
15,381 |
|||
BioTherapeutics |
16,525 |
19,224 |
|||||
Corporate |
1,051 |
1,361 |
|||||
Total |
$ |
40,101 |
$ |
35,966 |
|||
Interest Income, Net |
|||||||
Corporate |
$ |
6,734 |
$ |
6,398 |
|||
Total |
$ |
6,734 |
$ |
6,398 |
|||
Stock-Based Compensation |
|||||||
BioDefense |
$ |
24,887 |
$ |
19,517 |
|||
BioTherapeutics |
33,800 |
20,066 |
|||||
Corporate |
97,959 |
36,793 |
|||||
Total |
$ |
156,646 |
$ |
76,376 |
|||
19
Six Months Ended
June 30, |
|||||||
2009 |
2008 |
||||||
Net Revenues |
|||||||
BioDefense |
$ |
834,632 |
$ |
1,165,884 |
|||
BioTherapeutics |
28,000 |
- |
|||||
Total |
$ |
862,632 |
$ |
1,165,884 |
|||
Loss from Operations |
|||||||
BioDefense |
$ |
(117,176 |
) |
$ |
(104,383 |
) | |
BioTherapeutics |
(2,626,883 |
) |
(1,077,623 |
) | |||
Corporate |
(1,203,547 |
) |
(1,472,126 |
) | |||
Total |
$ |
(3,947,606 |
) |
$ |
(2,654,132 |
) | |
Amortization and Depreciation Expense |
|||||||
BioDefense |
$ |
44,566 |
$ |
29,598 |
|||
BioTherapeutics |
33,363 |
37,637 |
|||||
Corporate |
2,106 |
2,814 |
|||||
Total |
$ |
80,035 |
$ |
70,049 |
|||
Interest Income, Net |
|||||||
Corporate |
$ |
17,606 |
$ |
26,254 |
|||
Total |
$ |
17,606 |
$ |
26,254 |
|||
Stock-Based Compensation |
|||||||
BioDefense |
$ |
51,418 |
$ |
39,034 |
|||
BioTherapeutics |
80,659 |
40,132 |
|||||
Corporate |
170,409 |
73,586 |
|||||
Total |
$ |
302,486 |
$ |
152,752 |
|||
As of June 30, As of December 31, |
|||||||
2009 |
2008 |
||||||
Identifiable Assets |
|||||||
BioDefense |
$ |
950,931 |
$ |
1,221,901 |
|||
BioTherapeutics |
683,352 |
310,535 |
|||||
Corporate |
5,150,552 |
1,830,299 |
|||||
Total |
$ |
6,784,835 |
$ |
3,362,735 |
|||
20
ITEM 2 – MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion and analysis provides information to explain our results of operations and financial condition. You should also read our unaudited consolidated interim financial statements and their notes included in this Form 10-Q, and the our audited consolidated financial statements and their notes
and other information included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008. This report contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements within this Form 10-Q are identified by words such as “believes,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “will” “plans” and other similar expression, however, these words are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements. In addition,
any statements that refer to expectations projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to significant risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. Except as expressly required by the federal securities laws, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any
forward-looking statements to reflect events or, circumstances or developments occurring subsequent to the filing of this Form 10-Q with the SEC or for any other reason and you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. You should carefully review and consider the various disclosures the Company makes in this report and our other reports filed with the SEC that attempt
to advise interested parties of the risks, uncertainties and other factors that may affect our business.
Overview:
Business Overview and Strategy
We were incorporated in Delaware in 1987. We are a late-stage research and development biopharmaceutical company focused on developing products to treat the life-threatening side effects of cancer treatment and serious gastrointestinal diseases where there remains an unmet medical need, as well as developing several biodefense vaccines.
We maintain two active business segments: BioTherapeutics and BioDefense. DOR’s BioTherapeutics business segment intends to develop orBec® (oral beclomethasone dipropionate, or oral BDP) and other biotherapeutic products, namely LPMTM-Leuprolide. DOR’s BioDefense business segment intends to convert its ricin toxin, botulinum toxin, and anthrax
vaccine programs from early stage development to advanced development and manufacturing.
Our business strategy can be outlined as follows:
· |
initiate and execute the pivotal Phase 3 confirmatory clinical trial for orBec® in the treatment of acute GI GVHD; |
· |
identify a development and marketing partner for orBec® for territories outside of North America, as we have granted an exclusive license to Sigma-Tau to commercialize orBec® in the
U.S., Canada and Mexico; Sigma-Tau will pay us a 35% royalty (inclusive of drug supply) on net sales in these territories as well as pay for commercialization expenses, including launch activities; |
· |
conduct and complete a Phase 2 clinical trial of orBec® for the prevention of acute GVHD; |
· |
evaluate and initiate additional clinical trials to explore the effectiveness of oral BDP in other therapeutic indications involving inflammatory conditions of the gastrointestinal (“GI”) tract such as radiation enteritis, radiation injury and Crohn’s disease; |
· |
make orBec® available worldwide through NPAP for the treatment of acute GI GVHD; |
· |
reinitiate development of our other biotherapeutics products, namely LPMTM Leuprolide; |
· |
continue to secure additional government funding for each of our BioDefense programs, RiVaxTM and BT-VACCTM, through grants, contracts and procurements; |
· |
convert our biodefense vaccine programs from early stage development to advanced development and manufacturing with the potential to collaborate and/or partner with other companies in the biodefense area; |
· |
acquire or in-license new clinical-stage compounds for development; and |
· |
explore other business development and acquisition strategies under which we may be considered to be an attractive acquisition candidate by another company. |
Our principal executive offices are located at 29 Emmons Drive, Suite C-10, Princeton, New Jersey 08550 and our telephone number is (609) 538-8200.
BioTherapeutics Overview
orBec® and Oral BDP
orBec® represents a first-of-its-kind oral, locally acting therapy tailored to treat the
gastrointestinal manifestation of GI GVHD, the organ system where GVHD is most frequently encountered and highly problematic. orBec® is intended to reduce the need for systemic immunosuppressive drugs to treat acute GI GVHD. The active ingredient in orBec® is BDP, a highly potent, topically active corticosteroid that has a local effect on inflamed
tissue. BDP has been marketed in the U.S. and worldwide since the early 1970’s as the active pharmaceutical ingredient in a nasal spray and in a metered-dose inhaler for the treatment of patients with allergic rhinitis and asthma. orBec® is specifically formulated for oral administration as a single product consisting of two tablets; one tablet is intended to release BDP in the upper sections of the GI tract, and the other
tablet is intended to release BDP in the lower sections of the GI tract.
In addition to issued patents and pending worldwide patent applications held by or exclusively licensed to us, orBec® also benefits from orphan drug designations in the U.S. and in Europe for the treatment of GI GVHD, as well as an orphan drug designation
in the U.S for the treatment of chronic GI GVHD. Orphan drug designations provide for 7 and 10 years of post-approval market exclusivity in the U.S, and Europe respectively.
Historical Background
Two prior randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2 and 3 clinical trials support orBec®’s ability to provide clinically meaningful
outcomes when compared with the current standard of care, including a lowered exposure to systemic corticosteroids following allogeneic transplantation. Currently, there are no approved products to treat GI GVHD. The first trial was a 60-patient Phase 2 single-center clinical trial conducted at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. The second trial was a 129-patient pivotal Phase 3 multi-center clinical trial of orBec® conducted
at 16 leading bone marrow/stem cell transplantation centers in the US and France. Although orBec® did not achieve statistical significance in the primary endpoint of its pivotal trial, namely median time-to-treatment failure through Day 50 (p-value 0.1177), orBec® did achieve statistical significance in other key secondary endpoints such as the
proportion of patients free of GVHD at Day 50 (p-value 0.05) and Day 80 (p-value 0.005) and the median time-to-treatment failure through Day 80 (p-value 0.0226), as well as a 66% reduction in mortality among patients randomized to orBec® at 200 days post-transplant with only 5 patient (8%) deaths in the orBec® group compared to 16 patient (24%)
deaths in the placebo group (p-value 0.0139). Within one year after randomization in the pivotal Phase 3 trial, 18 patients (29%) in the orBec® group and 28 patients (42%) in the placebo group died (46% reduction in mortality, p-value 0.04).
In the Phase 2 study, the primary endpoint was the clinically relevant determination of whether GI GVHD patients at Day 30 (the end of treatment) had a durable GVHD treatment response as measured by whether or not they were able to consume at least 70% of their estimated caloric requirement. The GVHD treatment response at Day 30 was 22
of 31 (71%) vs. 12 of 29 (41%) in the orBec® and placebo groups, respectively (p-value 0.02). Additionally, the GVHD treatment response at Day 40 (10 days post cessation of therapy) was 16 of 31 (52%) vs. 5 of 29 (17%) in the orBec® and placebo groups, respectively (p-value 0.007).
Based on the data from Phase 2 and the Phase 3 studies, on September 21, 2006, we filed a new drug application (“NDA”) for our lead product orBec® with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) for the treatment of acute
GI GVHD. On October 18, 2007, we received a not approvable letter from the FDA in response to our NDA for orBec® for the treatment of acute GI GVHD. In the letter, the FDA requested additional clinical trial data to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of orBec®. The FDA also requested nonclinical and chemistry,
manufacturing and controls information as part of this letter.
22
We recently reached agreement with the FDA on the design of a confirmatory, pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial evaluating our lead product orBec® for the treatment of acute GI GVHD. The agreement was made under the FDA’s Special Protocol Assessment (“SPA”)
procedure. An agreement via the SPA procedure is an agreement with the FDA that a Phase 3 clinical trial design (e.g., endpoints, sample size, control group and statistical analyses) is acceptable to support a regulatory submission seeking new drug approval. After the study begins, the FDA can only change a SPA for very limited reasons.
Further, in June 2009, we received Protocol Assistance feedback from the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) on the design of the Phase 3 clinical trial for orBec®. The EMEA agreed that should
the new confirmatory Phase 3 study produce positive results, the data would be sufficient to support a marketing authorization in all 27 European Union member states. In doing so, the EMEA agreed to the primary endpoint and the other principal design features of the new study.
Based on data from the prior Phase 3 study of orBec®, the upcoming confirmatory Phase 3 protocol will be a highly powered, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, multi-center trial and will seek to enroll an estimated 166 patients. The primary endpoint
is the treatment failure rate at Study Day 80. This endpoint was successfully measured as a secondary endpoint (p-value 0.005) in the previous Phase 3 study as a key measure of durability following a 50-day course of treatment with orBec® (i.e., 30 days following cessation of treatment).
We have entered into a collaboration agreement with Numoda Corporation (“Numoda”), for the execution of our upcoming confirmatory Phase 3 clinical trial of orBec®. Collaborating with Numoda will allow us to take
advantage of a scope of services including using their industry benchmarking capabilities to develop an operational and financial plan including the use of a proprietary management and oversight capabilities process. Barring any unforeseen modifications to the Phase 3 clinical program, Numoda will guarantee the agreed clinical trial budget against cost overruns. As part of the collaboration, Numoda has agreed to accept payment in our common stock in exchange for a portion of its services in connection with the
conduct of the upcoming confirmatory Phase 3 clinical trial. To date, we have issued 2,847,222 shares of common stock to Numoda in partial payment for its services. Working with Numoda, we also will be able to take full advantage of early reporting of results to potential licensing partners and others. We expect to begin enrollment in the confirmatory Phase 3 trial in the second half of 2009.
On February 11, 2009, we entered into a collaboration and supply agreement with Sigma-Tau for the commercialization of orBec®. Sigma-Tau is a pharmaceutical company that develops novel therapies for the unmet needs of patients with rare diseases. Pursuant to this agreement, Sigma-Tau has an exclusive license to commercialize orBec®
in the U.S., Canada and Mexico (the “Territory”). Sigma-Tau is obligated to make payments upon the attainment of significant milestones, as set forth in the agreement. The first milestone payment of $1 million will be made upon the enrollment of the first patient in our confirmatory Phase 3 clinical trial of orBec® for the treatment of acute GI GVHD, which is expected to occur in the second half of 2009. Total milestone payments due from Sigma-Tau for orBec® under the agreement could
reach up to $10 million. Sigma-Tau will pay us a 35% royalty (inclusive of drug supply) on net sales in the Territory as well as pay for commercialization expenses, including launch activities. In connection with the execution of the collaboration and supply agreement, we entered into a common stock purchase agreement with Sigma-Tau pursuant to which we sold 25 million shares of our common stock to Sigma-Tau for $0.18 per share, for an aggregate price of $4,500,000. The purchase price is equal to one
hundred fifty percent (150%) of the average trading price of our common stock over the five trading days prior to February 11, 2009. On November 26, 2008, prior to entering the collaboration agreement, we sold Sigma-Tau 16,666,667 common shares at $0.90 per share (the market price at the time) for proceeds of $1,500,000 in exchange for the exclusive right to negotiate a collaboration deal with us until March 1, 2009.
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On July 12, 2007, we announced that patient enrollment commenced in a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled, Phase 2 clinical trial of orBec® for the prevention of acute GVHD after allogeneic HCT with myeloablative conditioning regimens. The trial
is being conducted by Paul Martin, M.D., at the FHCRC in Seattle, Washington and is being supported, in large part, by an NIH grant. We will not receive any direct monetary benefit from this grant, but if successful, this funded trial could serve to increase the value of our orBec®/oral BDP program. The Phase 2 trial will seek to enroll up to 138 (92 orBec® and
46 placebo) patients. The primary endpoint of the trial is the proportion of subjects who develop acute GVHD with severity sufficient to require systemic immunosuppressive treatment on or before day 90 after transplantation. Patients in this study will begin dosing at the start of the conditioning regimen and continue through day 75 following HCT. Enrollment in this trial is expected to be completed in the second half of 2009.
Mortality Results
Phase 3 trial
|
Phase 2 trial | |||
orBec® |
Placebo |
orBec® |
Placebo | |
Number of patients randomized |
62 |
67 |
31 |
29 |
Number (%) who died |
5 (8%) |
16 (24%) |
3 (10%) |
6 (21%) |
Hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) |
0.33 (0.12, 0.89) |
0.47 (0.12, 1.87) | ||
Death with infection* |
3 (5%) |
9 (13%) |
2 (6%) |
5 (17%) |
Death with relapse* |
3 (5%) |
9 (13%) |
1 (3%) |
4 (14%) |
*Some patients died with both infection and relapse of their underlying malignancy.
In this Phase 3 clinical trial, survival at the pre-specified endpoint of 200 days post-transplantation showed a clinically meaningful and statistically significant result. According to the manuscript, “the risk of mortality during the 200-day post-transplantation period was 67% lower with orBec® treatment
compared to placebo treatment (hazard ratio 0.33; 95% CI: 0.12, 0.89; p-value 0.03, Wald chi-square test).” The most common proximate causes of death by transplantation day-200 were relapse of the underlying malignancy and infection. Relapse of the underlying hematologic malignancy had contributed to the deaths of 9/67 patients (13.4%) in the placebo arm and 3/62 patients (4.8%) in the BDP arm. Infection contributed to the deaths of 9/67 patients (13.4%) in the placebo arm and 3/62 (4.8%) in the BDP arm.
Acute or chronic GVHD was the proximate cause of death in 3/67 patients (4.5%) in the placebo arm and in 1/62 (1.6%) in the BDP arm.
A retrospective analysis of survival at 200 days post-transplantation in the supportive Phase 2 clinical trial showed consistent response rates with the Phase 3 trial; three patients (10%) who had been randomized to orBec® had died, compared with six deaths
(21%) among patients who had been randomized to placebo, leading to a reduced hazard of day-200 mortality, although not statistically significantly different. Detailed analysis of the likely proximate cause of death showed that mortality with infection or with relapse of underlying malignancy were both reduced in the same proportion after treatment with orBec® compared to placebo. By transplantation day-200,
relapse of hematologic malignancy had contributed to the deaths of 1 of 31 patients (3%) in the orBec® arm and 4 of 29 patients (14%) in the placebo arm. Infection contributed to the deaths of 2 of 31 patients (6%) in the orBec® arm and 5 of 29 patients (17%) in the placebo arm.
In this Phase 3 trial, orBec® achieved these mortality results despite the fact that there were more “high risk of underlying cancer relapse” patients in the orBec® group
than in the placebo group: 40, or 65%, versus 29, or 43%, respectively. There was also an imbalance of non-myeloablative patients in the orBec® treatment group, 26, or 42%, in the orBec® group versus 15, or 22%, in the placebo group, putting the orBec® group at
a further disadvantage. In addition, a subgroup analysis also revealed that patients dosed with orBec® who had received stem cells from unrelated donors had a 94% reduction in the risk of mortality 200 days post-transplantation.
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Among the data reported in the January 2007 issue of Blood, the peer-reviewed Journal of the American Society of Hematology, orBec® showed continued survival benefit when compared to placebo one year
after randomization in the pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial. Overall, 18 patients (29%) in the orBec® group and 28 patients (42%) in the placebo group died within one year of randomization (46% reduction in mortality, p-value 0.04). Results from the Phase 2 trial also demonstrated enhanced long-term survival benefit with orBec® versus
placebo. In that study, at one year after randomization, 6 of 31 patients (19%) in the orBec® group had died while 9 of 29 patients (31%) in the placebo group had died (45% reduction in mortality, p-value 0.26). Pooling the survival data from both trials demonstrated that the survival benefit of orBec® treatment was sustained long after orBec® was
discontinued and extended well beyond 3 years after the transplantation. As of September 25, 2005, median follow-up of patients in the two trials was 3.5 years (placebo patients) and 3.6 years (orBec® patients), with a range of 10.6 months to 11.1 years. The risk of mortality was 37% lower for patients randomized to orBec® compared with placebo
(p-value 0.03).
Safety and Adverse Events
The frequencies of severe adverse events, adverse events related to study drug, and adverse events resulting in study drug discontinuation were all comparable to that of the placebo group in both trials. Patients who remained on orBec® until Day 50 in the
Phase 3 study had a higher likelihood of having biochemical evidence of abnormal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function compared to patients on placebo. This effect was far less pronounced than those seen in patients on high dose prednisone.
Commercialization and Market
We anticipate the market potential for orBec® for the treatment of acute GI GVHD to be approximately 50 percent of the more than 10,000 allogeneic bone marrow and stem cell transplantations that occur each year in the U.S.
On February 11, 2009, we entered into a collaboration and supply agreement with Sigma-Tau for the commercialization of orBec®. Pursuant to this agreement, Sigma-Tau has an exclusive license to commercialize orBec® in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
DOR202 (Oral BDP)
On September 12, 2007, we announced that our academic partner, the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (“FHCRC”), received a $1 million grant from the NIH to conduct preclinical studies of oral beclomethasone dipropionate (oral BDP, also the active ingredient in orBec®)
for the treatment of GI radiation injury. While we will not receive any monetary benefit from this grant, we will benefit if this work is successful and it will enhance the value of our oral BDP programs. The purpose of the studies funded by the grant, entitled “Improving Gastrointestinal Recovery after Radiation,” is to evaluate the ability of three promising clinical-grade drugs, including oral BDP, given alone or in combination, that are likely to significantly mitigate the damage to the gastrointestinal
epithelium caused by exposure to high doses of radiation using a well-established dog model. The GI tract is highly sensitive to ionizing radiation and the destruction of epithelial tissue is one of the first effects of radiation exposure. The rapid loss of epithelial cells leads to inflammation and infection that are often the primary cause of death in acute radiation injury. This type of therapy, if successful, would benefit cancer patients undergoing radiation, chemotherapy, or victims of nuclear-terrorism.
In most radiation scenarios, injury to the hematopoietic (blood) system and gastrointestinal tract are the main determinants of survival. The studies will compare overall survival and markers of intestinal cell regeneration when the drug regimens are added to supportive care intended to boost proliferation of blood cells. The principal investigator of the study is George E. Georges, M.D., Associate Member of the FHCRC.
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BioDefense Overview
RiVax™
RiVax™ is our proprietary vaccine developed to protect against exposure to ricin toxin, and is the first and only ricin toxin vaccine to be clinically tested in humans. Ricin is a potent glycoprotein toxin derived from the beans of castor plants. It can be cheaply and easily produced, is stable over long periods of time, is toxic
by several routes of exposure and thus has the potential to be used as a biological weapon against military and/or civilian targets. As a bioterrorism agent, ricin could be disseminated as an aerosol, by injection, or as a food supply contaminant. The potential use of ricin toxin as a biological weapon of mass destruction has been highlighted in a recent FBI Bioterror report released in November 2007 entitled Terrorism 2002-2005, which states that "Ricin and the bacterial agent anthrax are emerging as the most
prevalent agents involved in WMD investigations" (http://www.fbi.gov/publications/terror/terrorism2002_2005.pdf). The Centers for Disease Control (“CDC”) has classified ricin as a Category B biological agent. Ricin works by first binding to glycoproteins found on the exterior of a cell, and then entering the cell and inhibiting protein synthesis leading to cell death. Once exposed to ricin toxin, there is no effective therapy available to reverse
the course of the toxin. Currently, there is no FDA approved vaccine to protect against the possibility of ricin toxin being used in a terrorist attack, or its use as a weapon on the battlefield, nor is there a known antidote for ricin toxin exposure.
We have announced positive Phase 1 clinical trial results for RiVax™ which demonstrated that the vaccine is well tolerated and induces antibodies in humans that neutralize the ricin toxin. The functional activity of the antibodies was confirmed by animal challenge studies in mice which survived exposure to ricin toxin after being
injected with serum samples from the volunteers. The outcome of the study was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. A second Phase 1 trial is currently underway, utilizing an adjuvanted formulation.
The initial Phase 1 clinical trial was conducted by Dr. Ellen Vitetta at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (“UTSW”) at Dallas, DOR's academic partner on the RiVax™ program. The National Institutes of Health (“NIH”) has awarded us two grants one for $6.4 million and one for $5.2 million for
a total of $11.6 million for the development of RiVax™ covering process development, scale-up and cGMP manufacturing, and preclinical toxicology testing pursuant to the FDA’s “animal rule.”
The development of RiVax™ has progressed significantly. In September 2006, we received a grant of approximately $5.2 million from NIAID, a division of the NIH, for the continued development of RiVax™, a recombinant vaccine against ricin toxin. This RiVax™ grant will provide approximately $5.2 million over a three
year period to fund the development of animal models which will be used to correlate human immune response to the vaccine with protective efficacy in animals. This is necessary for ultimate licensure by the FDA, when human efficacy vaccine trials are not possible. This grant also supports the further biophysical characterization of the vaccine containing a well-characterized adjuvant that is needed to enhance the immune response to recombinant proteins. These studies will be required to assure that the vaccine
is stable and potent over a period of years. A prototype version of RiVax™ has been evaluated in a Phase 1 clinical trial and was shown to be safe and effective, while also inducing ricin neutralizing antibodies as confirmed in subsequent animal studies.
On April 29, 2008, we announced the initiation of a comprehensive program to evaluate the efficacy of RiVax™, in non-human primates. This study is taking place at the Tulane University Health Sciences Center and will provide data that will further aid in the interpretation of immunogenicity data obtained in the human vaccination
trials. The study was initiated in the second quarter of 2008.
On January 29, 2008, we announced that we successfully achieved a two-year milestone in the long-term stability program of the key ingredient of RiVax™, a recombinant subunit vaccine against ricin toxin. The results of the two-year analysis, undertaken as part of the formal stability program, demonstrate that the immunogen component
of RiVax™, a recombinant derivative of the ricin A chain, is stable under storage conditions for at least two years without loss of its natural configuration or the appearance of any detectable degradation products. A vaccine is considered by many to be the best way to prospectively protect populations at risk of exposure against ricin toxin. As this vaccine would potentially be added to the Strategic National Stockpile and dispensed in the event of a terrorist attack, the activity of the vaccine must be
maintained over a period of years under stockpile storage conditions.
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On November 15, 2007, we announced that we entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (“WRAIR”) to provide additional means to characterize the immunogenic protein subunit component of RiVax™, our preventive vaccine against ricin toxin. The agreement will
be carried out at the Division of Biochemistry at WRAIR and will encompass basic studies to reveal the underlying protein structure that is important in inducing human immune responses to ricin toxin. Ricin toxin is an easy to manufacture toxin that poses a serious threat as a bioweapon, primarily by inhalation. Some of the features that are critical to induce protective immune responses by vaccination with RiVax™ include structural determinants in the core and the surface of the protein. The purpose of
the agreement is to obtain data to correlate protein structure with induction of protective immunity and long-term stability of the protein. These studies will involve comparison to structures of similar natural and recombinant proteins. RiVax™ induces antibodies that appear primarily in the blood of animals and humans. Some of these antibodies recognize determinants on the protein that are dependent on the conformation of the protein and may be involved in biological activity. Overall, antibodies in the
blood are correlated to protection against exposure when the toxin enters the circulatory system or when it comes into contact with lung surfaces, where the major effects lead to severe inflammation, tissue necrosis and death. RiVax™ induces such antibodies in humans as well as other animal species. Lieutenant Colonel Charles B. Millard, Ph.D., Director of the Division of Biochemistry at WRAIR, will lead the studies to be conducted at WRAIR, which will include X-ray crystal analysis to determine the structural
parameters of the RiVax™ vaccine. We will not receive any monetary benefits from this agreement. We will take part in evaluating the data that is found by WRAIR’s studies, which they are funding. If successful, this will enhance the value of our RiVax™ product and assist with continuing the progression of the program.
In July 2007, we announced that the Office of Orphan Products Development ("OOPD") of the FDA has awarded a development grant for the further clinical evaluation of RiVax™. The grant was awarded to UTSW to further the development of RiVax™. We will not receive any monetary benefits from this grant; however, the successful completion
of this work will enhance the value of our RiVax™ program and continue to move it forward. The principal investigator for the project is Dr. Vitetta, Director of the Cancer Immunobiology Center at UTSW. The award totals approximately $940,000 for three years and is to be used for the evaluation of an adjuvant for use with the vaccine. Typically, awards made by the OOPD are to support clinical trials for development of products that address rare diseases or medicines that would be used in numerically small
populations. UTSW began a second Phase 1 human clinical trial with an adjuvanted formulation of RiVax™ in August of 2008.
BT-VACC™
Our botulinum toxin vaccine, called BT-VACC™, originated from the research of Dr. Lance Simpson at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The vaccine is being developed as an oral or intranasal formulation to be given as a primary immunization series or as oral or nasal booster to individuals who have
been primed with an injected vaccine. Botulinum toxin is the product of the bacteria Clostridium botulinum. Botulinum toxin is the most poisonous natural substance known to man. Botulinum toxin causes acute, symmetric, descending flaccid paralysis due to its action on peripheral cholinergic nerves. Paralysis typically presents 12 to 72 hours after exposure. Death results from paralysis of the respiratory muscles. Current treatments include respiratory
support and passive immunization with antibodies which must be administered before symptoms occur, which leaves little time post-exposure for effective treatment.
In the context of oral and nasal formulations, we are developing a multivalent vaccine against botulinum neurotoxins serotypes A, B and E, which account for almost all human cases of disease. We have identified lead antigens against Serotypes A, B and E consisting of the Hc50 fragment of the botulinum toxin. Typically, vaccines given by
mucosal routes are not immunogenic because they do not attach to immune inductive sites. In the case of the combination BT-VACC™, both the A and the B antigens were capable of
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attaching to cells in the mucosal epithelium and inducing an immune response with similar magnitude to the injected vaccine. Our preclinical data suggests that a bivalent formulation of serotypes A and B is completely effective at low, mid and high doses as an intranasal vaccine and completely effective at the higher dose level orally in
animal models. The animals were given a small quantity of the bivalent combination vaccine containing each of the type A and type B antigens (10 micrograms) three times a day at two week intervals. All of the animals developed equivalent immune responses to A and B types in the serum. Importantly, they were then protected against exposure to each of the native toxin molecules given at 1000 fold the dose that causes lethality. The immune responses were also comparable to the same vaccines when given by intramuscular
injection.
In July 2007, we announced that the first results from testing of a multivalent form of BT-VACC™ were published in the journal Infection and Immunity (Ravichandran et al., 2007, Infection and Immunity, v. 75, p. 3043). These results are the first to describe the protective immunity
elicited by a multivalent vaccine that is active by the mucosal route. The vaccine consists of a combination of three non-toxic subunits of botulinum toxin that induced protection against the corresponding versions of the natural toxins. The results published in Infection and Immunity show that non-toxic subunits (protein components of the natural toxin) of three of the serotypes of botulinum toxin that cause almost all instances of human disease, namely
serotypes A, B, and E, can be combined and delivered via nasal administration. The combination vaccine induced antibodies in the serum of mice and protected against subsequent exposure to high doses of a combination of the natural A, B, and E serotype neurotoxins. The combination vaccine also can induce protection when given mucosally as a booster to animals that have been given a primary vaccine injection.
Additional Programs
LPMTM - Leuprolide
Our Lipid Polymer Micelle (“LPM™”) oral drug delivery system is a proprietary platform technology designed to allow for the oral administration of peptide drugs that are water-soluble but poorly permeable through the gastrointestinal tract. We have previously demonstrated in preclinical animal models that the LPM™
technology is adaptable to oral delivery of peptide drugs and that high systemic levels after intestinal absorption can be achieved with the peptide hormone drug leuprolide. The LPM™ system utilizes a lipid based delivery system that can incorporate the peptide of interest in a thermodynamically stable configuration called a “reverse micelle” that, through oral administration, can promote intestinal absorption. Reverse micelles are structures that form when certain classes of lipids come in
contact with small amounts of water. This results in a drug delivery system in which a stable clear dispersion of the water soluble drug can be evenly dispersed within the lipid phase. LPM™ is thought to promote intestinal absorption due to the ability of the micelles to open up small channels through the epithelial layer of the intestines that allow only molecules of a certain dimension to pass through while excluding extremely large molecules such as bacteria and viruses. The reverse
micelles also structurally prevent the rapid inactivation of peptides by enzymes in the upper gastrointestinal tract via a non-specific enzyme inhibition by surfactant(s) in the formulation.
In preclinical studies, the LPM™ delivery technology significantly enhanced the ability of leuprolide to pass through the intestinal epithelium in comparison to leuprolide alone. Leuprolide is a synthetic peptide agonist of gonadotropin releasing hormone, which is used in the treatment of prostate cancer in men and endometriosis in
women. Leuprolide exhibits poor intestinal absorption from an aqueous solution with the oral bioavailability being less than 5%. Utilizing LPM™ in rats and dogs, the bioavailability of leuprolide averaged 30% compared to 2.2% for the control oral solution. Based on these promising preclinical data, we anticipate preparing for a Phase 1 study in humans in first half of 2010 to confirm these findings.
An oral version of leuprolide may provide a significant advantage over the currently marketed “depot” formulations. Leuprolide is one of the most widely used anti-cancer agents for advanced prostate cancer in men. Injectable forms of leuprolide marketed under trade names such as Lupron® and
Eligard® had worldwide sales of approximately $1.8 billion in 2006. Injectable leuprolide is also widely used in non-cancer indications, such as endometriosis in women (a common condition in which cells normally found in the uterus become implanted in other areas of the body), uterine fibroids in women (noncancerous growths in
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the uterus) and central precocious puberty in children (a condition causing children to enter puberty too soon). Leuprolide is currently available only in injectable, injectable depot and subcutaneous implant routes of delivery which limits its use and utility.
Critical Accounting Policies
Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the
reported amounts of assets, liabilities and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. We evaluate these estimates and judgments on an on-going basis.
Intangible Assets
One of the most significant estimates or judgments that we make is whether to capitalize or expense patent and license costs. We make this judgment based on whether the technology has alternative future uses, as defined in SFAS 2, Accounting for Research and Development Costs. Based
on this consideration, we capitalized all outside legal and filing costs incurred in the procurement and defense of patents.
These intangible assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable or if the underlying program is no longer being pursued. If the sum of the expected undiscounted cash flows is less than the carrying value of the related asset or group of assets, a loss
is recognized for the difference between the fair value and the carrying value of the related asset or group of assets.
We capitalize and amortize intangibles over a period of 11 to 16 years. We capitalize legal costs associated with the protection and maintenance of our patents and rights for our current products in both the domestic and international markets. As a late stage research and development company with drug and vaccine products in an often lengthy
clinical research process, we believe that patent rights are one of our most valuable assets. Patents and patent applications are a key currency of intellectual property, especially in the early stage of product development, as their purchase and maintenance gives us access to key product development rights from our academic and industrial partners. These rights can also be sold or sub-licensed as part of our strategy to partner our products at each stage of development. The legal costs incurred for these patents
consist of work designed to protect, preserve, maintain and perhaps extend the lives of the patents. Therefore, our policy is to capitalize these costs and amortize them over the remaining useful life of the patents. We capitalize intangible assets’ alternative future use as referred to in SFAS No.142 and in paragraph 11 c. of SFAS No. 2.
Research and Development Costs
Research and Development costs are charged to expense when incurred. Research and development includes costs such as clinical trial expenses, contracted research and license agreement fees with no alternative future use, supplies and materials, salaries and employee benefits, equipment depreciation and allocation of various corporate costs.
Purchased in-process research and development expense represents the value assigned or paid for acquired research and development for which there is no alternative future use as of the date of acquisition.
Revenue Recognition
Our revenues are generated from U.S. government grants and from NPAP sales of orBec®. The revenue from government grants are based upon subcontractor costs and internal costs covered by the grant, plus a facilities and administrative rate that provides funding
for overhead expenses. These revenues are recognized when expenses have been incurred by subcontractors or when we incur internal expenses that are related to the grant. The NPAP revenues are recorded when the product is shipped.
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Stock-Based Compensation
Stock compensation expense for options granted to non-employees has been determined in accordance with SFAS 123R and Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) 96-18, and represents the fair value of the consideration received, or the fair value of the equity instruments issued, whichever may be more reliably measured. For options
that vest over future periods, the fair value of options granted to non-employees is amortized as the options vest. The option’s price is re-measured using the Black-Scholes model at the end of each quarterly reporting period.
As stock options are exercised, common stock share certificates are issued via electronic transfer or physical share certificates by our transfer agent. Upon exercise, shares are issued from the amended 2005 equity incentive plan and increase the number of shares we have outstanding. There were no stock option exercises during the six months
ended June 30, 2009 or during the year ended December 31, 2008. There were no forfeitures during the six months ended June 30, 2009 and forfeitures of 779,800 stock options during the year ended December 31, 2008. The intrinsic value of the stock options was zero.
From time to time, we issue common stock to vendors, consultants, and employees as compensation for services performed. These shares are typically issued as restricted stock, unless issued to non-affiliates under the 2005 Equity Incentive Plan, where the stock may be issued as unrestricted. The restricted stock can only have the restrictive
legend removed if the shares underlying the certificate are sold pursuant to an effective registration statement, which we must file and have approved by the SEC, if the shares underlying the certificate are sold pursuant to Rule 144, provided certain conditions are satisfied, or if the shares are sold pursuant to another exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Stock-based compensation expense recognized during the period is based on the value of the portion of share-based payment awards that is ultimately expected to vest during the period.
Stock options are issued with an exercise price equal to the market price on the date of issuance. Stock options issued to directors are fully vested upon issuance. Stock options issued to employees generally vest 25% upfront, then 25% each year for a period of three years. Stock options vest over each three month period from the date of
issuance to the end of the three year period. These options have a ten year life for as long as the individuals remain employees or directors. In general, when an employee or director terminates their position the options will expire within six months.
The intrinsic value was calculated as the difference between our common stock closing price on the OTC BB at June 30, 2009 and the exercise price of the stock option issued multiplied by the number of shares underlying the stock options. Our common stock price at June 30, 2009 was $0.18.
Material Changes in Results of Operations
Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2009 Compared to 2008.
For the three months ended June 30, 2009, we had a net loss of $1,784,904 as compared to a net loss of $1,271,706 for the three months ended June 30, 2008, representing an increase of $513,198, or 40%. For the six months ended June 30, 2009, we had a net loss of $3,930,000 as compared to a net loss of $2,627,878 for the six months ended
June 30, 2008, representing an increase of $1,302,122, or 50%. These increases are primarily attributed to increased spending of $391,313 and $1,382,310 in research and development for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009 over the same periods in 2008 related to the initiation of the confirmatory Phase 3 clinical trial of orBec® for the treatment of acute GI GVHD. For the six months ended June 30, 2009, there was a decrease
in general and administrative expenses of $291,972, of which $270,000 was related to the commitment shares that were issued in connection with the Fusion Capital equity transaction during the three months ended March 31, 2008, and a resultant expense was recorded. For the three months ended June 30, 2009, general and administrative expenses were generally flat as compared to the same period in 2008.
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For the three and six months ended June 30, 2009 revenues and associated expenses relate to NIH Grants awarded in September 2004 and September 2006 and from NPAP sales of orBec®. The NIH grants support the research and development of our ricin and botulinum
vaccines.
For the three months ended June 30, 2009, we had revenues of $332,315 as compared to $488,244 in the three months ended June 30, 2008, for a decrease of $155,929, or 32%. For the six months ended June 30, 2009, we had revenues of $862,632 as compared to $1,165,884 in the six months ended June 30, 2008, representing a decrease of $303,252,
or 26%. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, we recorded $12,000 and $28,000, respectively, from our NPAP sales of orBec®. Our overall revenue was slightly lower during 2009 due to lower draw-downs from our NIH grants. We incurred costs related to that revenue for the three months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008 of $253,865 and $391,845, respectively, representing a decrease of $137,979, or 35%. Such costs
for the six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008 were $671,174 and $921,024, respectively, representing a decrease of $249,849, or 27%. These costs relate to payments made to subcontractors and universities in connection with research performed in support of the grants.
Our gross profit for the three months ended June 30, 2009 was $78,450 as compared to $96,399 in the three months ended June 30, 2008, representing a decrease of $17,949, or 19%. Our gross profit for the six months ended June 30, 2009 was $191,458 as compared to $244,860 in the six months ended June 30, 2008, representing a decrease of $53,402,
or 22%. The decrease was primarily due to a decrease in subcontracted reimbursed costs related to the grants.
Research and development spending increased by $391,313, or 53%, to $1,134,914 for the three months ended June 30, 2009 as compared to $743,601 for the same period in 2008. Research and development spending increased by $1,382,310, or 103%, to $2,725,913 for the six months ended June 30, 2009 as compared to $1,343,603 for the same period
in 2008. During the first six months of 2009, we incurred expenses of $2,224,616 in connection with clinical preparation for the confirmatory Phase 3 clinical trial of orBec® for the treatment of GI GVHD. The Company’s primary vendor for such services was Numoda Corporation, which accumulated approximately $1,552,000 of these expenses.
General and administrative expenses increased only marginally by $24,002, or 4%, to $578,528 for the three months ended June 30, 2009, as compared to $554,526 for the same period in 2008. General and administrative expenses decreased by $291,972, or 21%, to $1,110,665 for the six months ended June 30, 2009, as compared to $1,402,637 for
the same period in 2008. The decrease for the six month period was primarily due to the nonrecurring $270,000 charge in March 2008 resulting from the Fusion Capital equity transaction commitment shares.
Stock-based compensation expenses related to research and development increased $19,104, or 48%, to $58,687 for the three months ended June 30, 2009, as compared to $39,583 for the same period in 2008. Stock-based compensation expenses related to research and development increased $52,911, or 67%, to $132,077 for the six months ended June
30, 2009, as compared to $79,166 for the same period in 2008. These increases were related to stock options that were issued to newly hired employees and for options issued in the last quarter of 2008 that began vesting in 2009.
Stock-based compensation expenses related to general and administrative increased $61,166, or 166%, to $97,959 for the three months ended June 30, 2009, as compared to $36,793 for the same period in 2008. Stock-based compensation expenses related to general and administrative increased $96,823, or 132%, to $170,409 for the six months ended
June 30, 2009, as compared to $73,586 for the same period in 2008. These increases were related to stock options that were issued to newly hired employees and for options issued in the last quarter of 2008 that began vesting in 2009.
Net interest income for the three months ended June 30, 2009 was $6,734 as compared to $6,398 for the three months ended June 30, 2008, representing a marginal increase of $336, or 5%. Net interest income for the six months ended June 30, 2009 was $17,606 as compared to $26,254 for the six months ended June 30, 2008, representing a decrease
of $8,648, or 33%. This decrease is due to lower prevailing interest rates available on our cash balances in 2009 as compared to 2008.
31
Financial Condition
Cash and Working Capital
As of June 30, 2009, we had cash and cash equivalents of $4,844,172 as compared to $1,475,466 as of December 31, 2008, representing a $3,368,706 or 228% increase over prior year. As of June 30, 2009, we had working capital of $3,987,289 as compared to working capital of $537,183 as of December 31, 2008, representing an increase of $3,450,106,
or 642%. The increase was the result of the execution of our collaboration agreement and ensuing sale of our common stock to our commercialization partner Sigma-Tau of $4.5 million, plus the $2.3 million in proceeds from the sale of our common stock and warrants to accredited investors, less cash used in operating activities over the period. We have used equity instruments to provide a portion of the compensation due to our employees, vendors and collaboration partners, and expect to continue to do so in
the foreseeable future.
For the six months ended June 30, 2009, our cash used in operating activities was approximately $3,200,000, compared to $1,740,000 for the same period in 2008, representing an increase of $1,460,000 or 84%. This increase primarily relates to the initiation of the confirmatory Phase 3 clinical trial of orBec® for
the treatment of acute GI GVHD.
Our business strategy can be outlined as follows:
· |
initiate and execute the pivotal Phase 3 confirmatory clinical trial for orBec® in the treatment of acute GI GVHD; |
· |
identify a development and marketing partner for orBec® for territories outside of North America, as we have granted an exclusive license to Sigma-Tau to commercialize orBec® in the
U.S., Canada and Mexico; Sigma-Tau will pay us a 35% royalty (inclusive of drug supply) on net sales in these territories as well as pay for commercialization expenses, including launch activities; |
· |
conduct and complete a Phase 2 clinical trial of orBec® for the prevention of acute GVHD; |
· |
evaluate and initiate additional clinical trials to explore the effectiveness of oral BDP in other therapeutic indications involving inflammatory conditions of the gastrointestinal (“GI”) tract such as radiation enteritis, radiation injury and Crohn’s disease; |
· |
make orBec® available worldwide through NPAP for the treatment of acute GI GVHD; |
· |
reinitiate development of our other BioTherapeutics products, namely LPMTM Leuprolide; |
· |
continue to secure additional government funding for each of our BioDefense programs, RiVaxTM and BT-VACCTM, through grants, contracts and procurements; |
· |
convert our biodefense vaccine programs from early stage development to advanced development and manufacturing with the potential to collaborate and/or partner with other companies in the biodefense area; |
· |
acquire or in-license new clinical-stage compounds for development; and |
· |
explore other business development and acquisition strategies under which we may be considered to be an attractive acquisition candidate by another company. |
Based on our current rate of cash outflows, cash on hand, the timely collection of milestone payments under collaboration agreements, proceeds from our grant programs and potential minimal proceeds from the Fusion Capital transaction, we believe that our current cash will be sufficient to meet the anticipated cash needs for working capital and capital expenditures into the third quarter of 2010.
32
Our plans with respect to our liquidity management include the following:
· |
We have $1.1 million in active grant funding still available to support our ricin and botulinum toxin vaccine programs in 2009 and beyond. Additionally, we have submitted additional grant applications for further support of these programs and others with various funding agencies, and received encouraging feedback to date on the likelihood of
funding. |
· |
We have continued to use equity instruments to provide a portion of the compensation due to vendors and collaboration partners and expect to continue to do so for the foreseeable future. |
· |
We have approximately $7.8 million in available capacity under our Fusion Capital equity facility. Although we have historically drawn amounts in modest amounts under this agreement, we could draw more within certain contractual parameters. |
· |
We may seek additional capital in the private and/or public equity markets to continue our operations, respond to competitive pressures, develop new products and services, and to support new strategic partnerships. We are currently evaluating additional equity financing opportunities and may execute them when appropriate. However,
there can be no assurances that we can consummate such a transaction, or consummate a transaction at favorable pricing. |
In the event that such growth is less than forecasted in our 2009-2010 operating plan, management has developed contingency plans to reduce our operating expenses. In the event we cannot maintain adequate liquidity, we could be compelled to implement further cost saving measures including headcount reductions.
Expenditures
Under existing product development agreements and license agreements pursuant to letters of intent and option agreements, we expect our expenditures for the next 12 months to be approximately $4,100,000, not inclusive of BioDefense programs, or programs covered under existing NIH or orphan grants. We anticipate grant revenues
in the next 12 months to offset research and development expenses for the development of our ricin and botulinum toxin vaccines in the amount of approximately $2,113,000, with $733,000 of that total amount contributing towards our overhead expenses.
The table below details our costs for research and development by program for the six months ended June 30:
2009 |
2008 | |
Program - Research & Development Expenses |
||
orBec® |
$ 2,224,617 |
$ 941,302 |
RiVax™ |
388,575 |
183,710 |
BT-VACC™ |
104,567 |
106,663 |
Oraprine™ |
3,000 |
3,500 |
LPM™-Leuprolide |
5,154 |
108,428 |
Research & Development Expense |
$ 2,725,913 |
$ 1,343,603 |
Program - Reimbursed under Grants |
||
orBec® |
$ 30,911 |
$ - |
RiVax™ |
640,263 |
865,802 |
BT-VACC™ |
- |
55,222 |
Reimbursed under Grants |
$ 671,174 |
$ 921,024 |
TOTAL |
$ 3,397,087 |
$ 2,264,627 |
33
Commitments
We have commitments of approximately $4.1 million at June 30, 2009 in connection with a collaboration agreement with Numoda for the execution of our upcoming confirmatory Phase 3 clinical trial of orBec® that will begin in second half of 2009 and is expected to continue through second half of 2010.
We have several licensing agreements with consultants and universities, which upon clinical or commercialization success may require the payment of milestones and/or royalties if and when achieved. However, there can be no assurance that clinical or commercialization success will occur.
On April 1, 2009, we entered into a sub-lease agreement thru March 31, 2012 to occupy office space in Princeton, New Jersey. We were required to provide 4 months of rent as a security deposit. The rent for the first 18 months will be approximately $7,500 per month, or $17.00 per square foot. This rent increases to approximately $7,650 per
month, or $17.50 per square foot, for the remaining 18 months.
On April 24, 2008, we signed a three year lease for a copier.
On March 4, 2007, we entered into an investment banking agreement with RBC Capital Markets (“RBC”). As a result of our transactions with Sigma-Tau, RBC claims that it is entitled to certain compensation under such agreement up to $1.6 million. We dispute that RBC is entitled to any compensation
for the Sigma-Tau transactions and will vigorously defend any lawsuit filed by RBC.
On February 2007, our Board of Directors authorized the issuance of the following shares to Dr. Schaber, Mr. Myrianthopoulos, Dr. Brey and certain other employees and a consultant, upon the completion of a transaction, or series or a combination of related transactions negotiated by our Board of Directors whereby, directly or indirectly,
a majority of our capital stock or a majority of its assets are transferred from us and/or our stockholders to a third party: 1,000,000 common shares to Dr. Schaber; 750,000 common shares to Mr. Myrianthopoulos; 200,000 common shares to Dr. Brey; and 450,000 common shares to employees and a consultant shall be issued.
Employees with employment contracts have severance agreements that will provide separation benefits from the Company if they are involuntarily separated from employment.
The Company has future obligations over the next five years as follows:
Year |
Research and Development |
Property and Other Leases |
Total |
|
2009 |
$1,481,820 |
$47,024 |
$1,528,844 |
|
2010 |
2,775,420 |
95,398 |
2,870,818 |
|
2011 |
155,000 |
92,699 |
247,699 |
|
2012 |
155,000 |
22,950 |
177,950 |
|
2013 |
75,000 |
- |
75,000 |
|
Total |
$4,642,240 |
$258,071 |
$4,900,311 |
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ITEM 3 - QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Our primary exposure to market risk is interest income sensitivity, which is affected by changes in the general level of U.S. interest rates, particularly because the majority of our investments are in short-term marketable securities. Due to the nature of our short-term investments, we believe that we are not subject to any material market
risk exposure. We do not have any foreign currency or other derivative financial instruments.
ITEM 4 - CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Our management, with the participation of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as such term
is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")) as of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report (the "Evaluation Date"). Based on such evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that, as of the Evaluation Date, our disclosure controls and procedures are effective.
Changes in Internal Controls
There was no change in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) identified in connection with the evaluation of our internal controls that occurred during our last fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, such controls.
35
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION.
ITEM 5 - EXHIBITS
|
31.1 |
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Exchange Act rule 13(a)-14(a) (under Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002). |
|
31.2 |
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Exchange Act rule 13(a)-14(a) (under Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002). |
32.1 Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2 Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
36
SIGNATURES
In accordance with 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.
DOR
BIOPHARMA, INC.
August 14, 2009 |
by /s/ Christopher J. Schaber
Christopher J. Schaber, Ph.D.
President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer) | |
August 14, 2009 |
by /s/ Evan Myrianthopoulos
Evan Myrianthopoulos
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)
| |
August 14, 2009 |
by /s/ Christopher P. Schnittker
Christopher P. Schnittker, CPA
Vice President of Administration and Controller
(Principal Accounting Officer)
|
37
EXHIBIT INDEX
EXHIBIT NO. DESCRIPTION
31.1 |
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Exchange Act rule 13(a)-14(a) (under Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002). |
31.2 |
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Exchange Act rule 13(a)-14(a) (under Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002). |
32.1 Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002.
32.2 Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002.
38