WINDTREE THERAPEUTICS INC /DE/ - Annual Report: 2008 (Form 10-K)
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON,
D.C. 20549
FORM
10-K
x |
ANNUAL
REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF
1934
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For the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2008
or
o
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TRANSITION
REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF
1934
|
For the
transition period from to
Commission
file number 000-26422
DISCOVERY
LABORATORIES, INC.
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
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94-3171943
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(State
or other jurisdiction of
incorporation
or organization)
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(I.R.S.
Employer
Identification
Number)
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2600
Kelly Road, Suite 100
Warrington,
Pennsylvania 18976-3622
(Address
of principal executive offices)
(215)
488-9300
(Registrant’s
telephone number, including area code)
Securities
registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
None
Securities
registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
Common
Stock, $.001 par value
Preferred
Stock Purchase Rights
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in
Rule 405 of the Securities Act. YES ¨ NO x
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to
Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act. YES ¨ NO x
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be
filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the
preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required
to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for
the past 90 days. YES x NO ¨
Indicate
by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of
Regulation S-K (§229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not
be contained, to the best of the registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or
information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K
or any amendment to this Form 10-K. ¨
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an
accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting
company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated
filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange
Act.
Large
accelerated filer o
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Accelerated
filer x
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Non-accelerated
filer o
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Smaller
reporting company o
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Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule
12b-2 of the Exchange Act). YES ¨ NO x
The
aggregate market value of shares of voting and non-voting common equity held by
non-affiliates of the registrant computed using the closing price of common
equity as reported on The Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol DSCO on June 29,
2008, the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second
fiscal quarter, was approximately $159 million. For the purposes of determining
this amount only, the registrant has defined affiliates to include: (a) the
executive officers named in Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K; (b) all
directors of the registrant; and (c) each shareholder, if any, that has informed
the registrant by March 11, 2009 that it is the beneficial owner of 10% or more
of the outstanding shares of common stock of the registrant.
As of
March 4, 2009, 102,551,774 shares of the registrant’s common stock were
outstanding.
DOCUMENTS
INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE:
Portions
of the information required by Items 10 through 14 of Part III of this Annual
Report on Form 10-K are incorporated by reference to the extent described herein
from our 2009 definitive proxy statement, which is expected to be filed by us
with the Commission within 120 days after the close of our 2008 fiscal
year.
ii
Unless
the context otherwise requires, all references to “we,” “us,” “our,” and the
“Company” include Discovery Laboratories, Inc., and its wholly-owned, presently
inactive subsidiary, Acute Therapeutics, Inc.
FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS
This
Annual Report on Form 10-K contains “forward-looking statements” within the
meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Exchange Act). The forward-looking statements
are only predictions and provide our current expectations or forecasts of future
events and financial performance and may be identified by the use of
forward-looking terminology, including the terms “believes,” “estimates,”
“anticipates,” “expects,” “plans,” “intends,” “may,” “will” or “should” or, in
each case, their negative, or other variations or comparable terminology, though
the absence of these words does not necessarily mean that a statement is not
forward-looking. Forward-looking statements include all matters that are not
historical facts and include, without limitation, statements concerning: our
business strategy, outlook, objectives, future milestones, plans, intentions,
goals, and future financial condition, including the period of time for which
our existing resources will enable us to fund our operations; plans regarding
our efforts to gain U.S. regulatory approval for our lead product, Surfaxin®
(lucinactant) for the prevention of Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS) in
premature infants, and the possibility, timing and outcome of submitting
regulatory filings for our products under development; our research and
development programs for our KL4 Surfactant
Technology and our capillary aerosolization systems, including our capillary
aerosolization technology, including planning for and timing of any clinical
trials and potential development milestones; our plans related to the
establishment of our own commercial and medical affairs capabilities to support
the launch of Surfaxin in the United States, if approved, and our other
products; the development of financial, clinical, manufacturing and distribution
plans related to the potential commercialization of our drug products; plans
regarding potential strategic alliances and collaboration arrangements with
pharmaceutical companies and others to develop, manufacture and market our
products.
We intend
that all forward-looking statements be subject to the safe-harbor provisions of
the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements
are subject to many risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results
to differ materially from any future results expressed or implied by the
forward-looking statements. Examples of the risks and uncertainties include, but
are not limited to:
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·
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the
risk that the Complete Response that we submitted to the U. S. Food and
Drug Administration (FDA) in October 2008 to respond to the May 2008
Approvable Letter for Surfaxin will not satisfy the
FDA;
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·
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the
risk that the FDA or other regulatory authorities may not accept, or may
withhold or delay consideration of, any applications that we may file, or
may not approve our applications or may limit approval of our products to
particular indications or impose unanticipated label
limitations;
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·
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risks
relating to the rigorous regulatory approval processes, including
pre-filing activities, required for approval of any drug or combination
drug-device products that we may develop, whether independently, with
development partners or pursuant to collaboration
arrangements;
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·
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the
risk that changes in the national or international political and
regulatory environment may make it more difficult to gain FDA or other
regulatory approval of our product
candidates;
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·
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risks
relating to our research and development activities, which involve
time-consuming and expensive pre-clinical studies, multi-phase clinical
trials and other studies and other efforts, and which may be subject to
potentially significant delays or regulatory holds, or
fail;
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·
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risks
relating to our ability to develop and manufacture drug products and
capillary aerosolization systems, including systems based on our novel
capillary aerosolization technology, for initiation and completion of our
clinical studies, and, if approved, commercialization of our drug and
combination drug-device products;
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·
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risks
relating to the transfer of our manufacturing technology to third-party
contract manufacturers and
assemblers;
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the
risk that we, our contract manufacturers or any of our third-party
suppliers encounter problems or delays manufacturing or assembling drug
products, drug substances, aerosolization devices and related components
and other materials on a timely basis or in an amount sufficient to
support our development efforts and, if our products are approved,
commercialization;
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·
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the
risk that, if approved, we may be unable, for reasons related to market
conditions, the competitive landscape or otherwise, to successfully launch
and profitably sell our products;
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risks
relating to our ability to develop a successful sales and marketing
organization to market Surfaxin, if approved, and our other product
candidates, in a timely manner, if at all, and that we or our marketing
and advertising consultants will not succeed in developing market
awareness of our products or that our product candidates will not gain
market acceptance by physicians, patients, healthcare payers and others in
the medical community;
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iii
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·
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the
risk that we or our development partners, collaborators or marketing
partners will not be able to attract or maintain qualified
personnel;
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·
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the
risk that we may not be able to raise additional capital or enter into
collaboration agreements (including strategic alliances for development or
commercialization of our KL4
Surfactant and combination drug-device
products);
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·
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risks
that financial market conditions may change, including that the ongoing
credit crisis could adversely affect our ability to fund our activities,
additional financings could result in equity dilution, or that we will be
unable to maintain The Nasdaq Global Market listing requirements, causing
the price of our shares of common stock to
decline;
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the
risk that recurring losses, negative cash flows and the inability to raise
additional capital could threaten our ability to continue as a going
concern;
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·
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the
risks that we may be unable to maintain and protect the patents and
licenses related to our products; other companies may develop competing
therapies and/or technologies or health care reform may adversely affect
us;
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·
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the
risk that we may become involved in securities, product liability and
other litigation;
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risks
relating to reimbursement and health care
reform;
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other
risks and uncertainties detailed in “Risk Factors” and in the documents
incorporated by reference in this
report.
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Pharmaceutical
and biotechnology companies have suffered significant setbacks in advanced
clinical trials, even after obtaining promising earlier trial results. Data
obtained from such clinical trials are susceptible to varying interpretations,
which could delay, limit or prevent regulatory approval. After gaining approval
of a drug product, pharmaceutical companies face considerable challenges in
marketing and distributing their products, and may never become
profitable.
Except to
the extent required by applicable laws, rules or regulations, we do not
undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements or to publicly
announce revisions to any of the forward-looking statements, whether as a result
of new information, future events or otherwise.
iv
DISCOVERY
LABORATORIES, INC.
Table
of Contents to Annual Report on Form 10-K
For
the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2007
TO
BE UPDATED
ITEM
1.
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BUSINESS
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1
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ITEM
1A.
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RISK
FACTORS
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24
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ITEM
1B.
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UNRESOLVED
STAFF COMMENTS
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42
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ITEM
2.
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PROPERTIES
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43
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ITEM
3.
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LEGAL
PROCEEDINGS
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43
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ITEM
4.
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SUBMISSION
OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
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43
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PART
II
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||
ITEM
5.
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MARKET
FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER
PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
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44
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ITEM
6.
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SELECTED
FINANCIAL DATA
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45
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ITEM
7.
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MANAGEMENT’S
DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS
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46
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ITEM
7A.
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QUANTITATIVE
AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
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63
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ITEM
8.
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FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
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63
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ITEM
9.
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CHANGES
IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL
DISCLOSURE
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63
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ITEM
9A.
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CONTROLS
AND PROCEDURES
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63
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ITEM
9B.
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OTHER
INFORMATION
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66
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PART
III
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ITEM
10.
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DIRECTORS,
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
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ITEM
11.
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EXECUTIVE
COMPENSATION
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ITEM
12.
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SECURITY
OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED
STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
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ITEM
13.
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CERTAIN
RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR
INDEPENDENCE
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ITEM
14.
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PRINCIPAL
ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
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PART
IV
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ITEM
15.
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EXHIBITS
AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
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66
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SIGNATURES
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67
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v
PART
I
ITEM
1. BUSINESS.
COMPANY
OVERVIEW
Discovery
Laboratories, Inc. (referred to as “we,” “us,” or the “Company”) is a Delaware
corporation, with our principal offices located at 2600 Kelly Road, Suite 100,
Warrington, Pennsylvania. Our telephone number is 215-488-9300 and our website
address is www.discoverylabs.com.
Our common stock is listed on The Nasdaq Global Market, where our symbol is
DSCO.
We are a
biotechnology company developing Surfactant Replacement Therapies (SRT) to treat
respiratory disorders and diseases for which there frequently are few or no
approved therapies. Our novel proprietary technology (KL4 Surfactant
Technology) produces a synthetic, peptide-containing surfactant (KL4
Surfactant) that is structurally similar to pulmonary surfactant, a substance
produced naturally in the lung and essential for survival and normal respiratory
function. In addition, our proprietary capillary aerosol generating technology
(Capillary Aerosolization Technology) produces a dense aerosol with a defined
particle size, to potentially deliver our aerosolized KL4 Surfactant
to the deep lung. As many respiratory disorders are associated with surfactant
deficiency or surfactant degradation, we believe that our proprietary technology
platform makes it possible, for the first time, to develop a significant
pipeline of surfactant products targeted to treat a wide range of previously
unaddressed respiratory problems.
We are
currently focused on developing our lead products, Surfaxin®,
Surfaxin LS™ and Aerosurf®, to
address the most significant respiratory conditions affecting pediatric
populations. Surfaxin, our first product based on our novel KL4 Surfactant
Technology, if approved, will represent the first synthetic, peptide-containing
surfactant for use in pediatric medicine. We have filed with the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration (FDA) a New Drug Application (NDA) for Surfaxin®
(lucinactant) for the prevention of Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS) in
premature infants. The FDA has established April 17, 2009 as its target action
date to complete its review of this NDA and potentially grant marketing
approval.
Aerosurf
is our proprietary KL4 Surfactant
in aerosolized form, which we are developing using our Capillary Aerosolization
Technology initially to treat premature infants at risk for RDS. Premature
infants with RDS are treated with surfactants that are administered by means of
invasive endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation, procedures that
frequently result in serious respiratory conditions and complications. With
Aerosurf, if approved, it will be possible to administer surfactant into the
deep lung without subjecting patients to such invasive procedures. We believe
that Aerosurf has the potential to enable a potentially significant increase in
the use of SRT in pediatric medicine.
We plan
over time to develop our KL4 Surfactant
Technology into a robust pipeline of products that will potentially address a
variety of debilitating respiratory conditions in a range of patient
populations, from premature infants to adults, that suffer from severe and
debilitating respiratory conditions for which there currently are few or no
approved therapies. Our programs include development of Surfaxin to potentially
address Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD) in premature infants and Acute
Respiratory Failure (ARF) in children, and conducting research and development
with our KL4 Surfactant
to potentially address Cystic Fibrosis (CF), Acute Lung Injury (ALI), and other
diseases associated with inflammation of the lung, such as Asthma and Chronic
Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
BUSINESS
STRATEGY
We received an Approvable Letter
from the FDA with respect to Surfaxin for the prevention of RDS in premature
infants in May 2008. During the preparation of our Complete Response to the
Approvable Letter and the FDA’s ongoing review period, our business strategy has
been to conserve our financial resources and rigorously manage limited
investments in research and development activities. The FDA has assigned April
17, 2009 as its action target date to complete its review of our NDA and
potentially approve Surfaxin. Following the potential approval of Surfaxin by
the FDA:
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We
plan over the near- and long-term to expand and accelerate our proprietary
KL4
Surfactant Technology initiatives with pipeline programs intended to apply
our synthetic, peptide-containing surfactant to a broad range of
respiratory conditions. It is our goal, within existing financial and
other constraints, to develop our pipeline as broadly and as quickly as
reasonably possible;
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1
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·
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Initially,
we plan to focus our development and commercial efforts on the management
of RDS in premature infants. We believe that the RDS market represents a
significant opportunity from both a medical and a business
perspective.
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o
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Currently,
the only available therapies for the treatment of RDS, which were approved
in the early 1990’s, are surfactants derived from bovine (cow lung) and
porcine (pig lung) sources. The current annual market for these
surfactants is estimated to be approximately $75 million in the United
States and $200 million worldwide. Currently, surfactants are administered
using endotracheal intubation (the invasive insertion of a breathing tube
down the trachea) and conventional mechanical ventilation, which risk
further serious lung injury and complications. As the medical community is
focused on managing RDS patients without employing such invasive
techniques, only a subset of premature infants at risk for RDS annually
are treated with these surfactants.
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o
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Surfaxin,
the first synthetic, peptide-containing surfactant that, if approved, will
represent an alternative therapy to the currently-approved, animal-derived
surfactants. We also are developing a lyophilized formulation, Surfaxin
LS™, which, among other things, may potentially simplify storage and
distribution requirements and methods of administering surfactant. We have
a development program that is focused on gaining regulatory approval for
Surfaxin LS in the United States, Europe and throughout the world. We
believe that, over time, Surfaxin and Surfaxin LS, if approved, have the
potential to displace the use of the animal-derived
surfactants.
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o
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Aerosurf
will potentially provide the neonatal medical community with the
possibility of treating premature infants at risk for RDS without the
risks associated with endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation.
We plan on making significant investments in the development, regulatory,
clinical and manufacturing activities necessary to gain regulatory
approval for Aerosurf in the United States and worldwide. We believe that
Aerosurf, if approved, will allow for a potentially significant increase
in the number of infants receiving surfactant therapy, who currently are
not treated because the benefits of surfactant therapy are believed to be
outweighed by the risks of invasive
administration.
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We
believe that the combination of Surfaxin, Surfaxin LS and Aerosurf , if
approved, have the potential, for the first time in years, to advance the
treatment of RDS and make it possible for many more infants at risk for RDS to
be treated with SRT. Our KL4 Surfactant
Technology also has the potential to address a range of other serious and
debilitating neonatal and pediatric indications, many of which represent
significant unmet medical needs, potentially redefining pediatric respiratory
medicine.
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With
our Surfaxin, Surfaxin LS and Aerosurf programs, we plan to build a
fully-integrated pediatric
franchise.
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o
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In
the United States, we plan to establish our own specialty pulmonary
commercial organization that will initially execute the launch of Surfaxin
and specialize in neonatal and pediatric indications. To execute this
strategy, we expect to incur expenses at an annual rate of approximately
$20 - $25 million for sales, marketing and medical affairs capabilities.
We believe that this strategy will provide us direct control over our U.S.
sales and marketing activities, permit us to establish a strong presence
in neonatal and pediatric intensive care units nationwide, and potentially
optimize the economics of our business. If, however, we were presented
with an alternative approach, through a strategic alliance or other
collaboration arrangement, that would achieve the foregoing, and provide
appropriate financial consideration and operational capabilities, we would
consider such a potential
transaction.
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2
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o
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For
international markets, we plan to seek strategic alliances or other
collaboration arrangements to support development and potential
commercialization of Surfaxin, Surfaxin LS and Aerosurf to address a wide
range of neonatal and pediatric
indications;
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·
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We
also plan to invest opportunistically in KL4
Surfactant Technology pipeline programs that will target adult and other
indications we believe represent potentially significant market
opportunities. We plan to initially develop these programs through a
proof-of-concept phase and, if successful, thereafter seek worldwide
strategic alliances or collaboration arrangements for development and/or
commercialization. There can be no assurance that we will succeed in
demonstrating proof-of-concept or entering into any such alliance, but if
we are successful, we believe that these programs could address
significant unmet medical needs and potentially redefine respiratory
medicine;
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·
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We
have, and will continue, to invest in maintaining and perfecting our
potential competitive position by protecting our exclusive rights in and
to our KL4
Surfactant Technology, pipeline products and Capillary Aerosolization
Technology through patents, patent extensions, trademarks, trade secrets
and regulatory exclusivity designations, including potential orphan drug
and new drug product exclusivities such as new chemical entity
designations and supplemental exclusivities. We believe that our
development programs may also provide opportunities for new patent
filings, which may potentially significantly extend the benefits of
exclusivity into the future;
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·
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We
will continue to invest in our quality systems and manufacturing
capabilities, including at our manufacturing operations in Totowa, New
Jersey and our analytical laboratories in Warrington, Pennsylvania. We
plan to manufacture sufficient drug product to meet our anticipated
pre-clinical, clinical, formulation development and, if approved,
potential future commercial requirements of Surfaxin, Aerosurf and other
KL4
Surfactant product candidates. During the period of formulation
development for our lyophilized KL4
Surfactant, including Surfaxin LS, we expect to enter into arrangements
with one or more contract manufacturing organizations. For our capillary
aerosolization systems,
we plan to collaborate with engineering device experts and use
contract manufacturers to produce aerosol devices and related components
to meet our manufacturing requirements. Our long-term manufacturing plans
include potentially expanding our existing facilities or building or
acquiring additional manufacturing facilities and capabilities to support
the production and development of our proprietary KL4
Surfactant Technology pipeline products;
and
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We
will need significant additional capital to execute our business strategy.
We plan to seek infusions of capital from a variety of potential sources,
including strategic alliances, equity financings, debt financings and
other similar opportunities, although there can be no assurance that we
will identify or enter into any specific alliances or
transactions.
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Our
estimates of market size and business opportunities included in this Business
Section and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K are based in part on
our analysis of data derived from the following sources, among others: IMS Midas
Data MAT, September 2008; Vermont Oxford Network Data, 2006; Annual Summary of
Vital Statistics: 2006, Pediatrics, Martin et. al.; CDC National Vital
Statistics, 2005; Management and Outcomes of Very Low Birth Weight, NEJM, 2008,
Eichenwald, Stark; The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation; Discovery Labs Primary Market
Research, 2007; as well as our analysis of the SELECT and STAR trials. In
addition, our analysis and assumptions take into account estimated patient
populations, expected adoption rates of our products, current pricing, economics
and anticipated potential pharmaco-economic benefits of our drug products, if
approved.
PROPRIETARY
PLATFORM – SURFACTANT AND AEROSOL TECHNOLOGIES
Pulmonary
surfactants are protein and phospholipids compositions that form naturally in
the human lung and are critical to survival and normal respiratory function.
They spread in a thin mono-layer to cover the entire alveolar surface, or air
sacs, of the lungs and the terminal conducting airways that lead to the air sacs
and facilitate breathing by continually modifying the surface tension of the
fluid that lines the inside of the lungs. If the lungs have a surfactant
deficiency, as frequently occurs in premature infants, or experience surfactant
degradation, generally due to disease, lung insult or trauma, the air sacs in
the lungs will tend to collapse and will not absorb sufficient oxygen, resulting
in severe respiratory diseases and disorders. In addition to lowering alveolar
surface tension, surfactants contribute in other important ways to respiration
including, but not limited to, lowering the surface tension of the conducting
airways and maintaining airflow and airway patency (keeping the airways open and
expanded). Human surfactants include four known surfactant proteins: A, B, C and
D. Numerous studies have established that, of the four known surfactant
proteins, surfactant protein B (SP-B) is essential for respiratory function. In
our KL4
Surfactant, KL4 is our
synthetic peptide that is designed to closely mimic the essential attributes of
protein B (SP-B).
3
Many
respiratory disorders are associated with surfactant deficiency or surfactant
degradation. However, the use of surfactant therapy has limited application and
is FDA-approved only for treating premature infants with RDS.
Currently
available surfactants are derived from pig and cow lungs using a chemical
extraction process. Although clinically effective, these surfactants have
potential drawbacks and have not been developed to treat broader populations and
other respiratory diseases.
We
believe our KL4 Surfactant
and Capillary Aerosolization Technology will expand the therapeutic options to
treat previously unaddressed respiratory problems in a range of patient
populations from premature infants to adults. We also believe that potentially
combining our aerosolized KL4 Surfactant
with other therapeutics could enable delivery of important therapeutics into the
deep lung. We plan to develop our aerosolized KL4 Surfactant
initially for RDS in premature infants and thereafter for a wide range of
indications in neonatal, pediatric and adult patient populations.
Our
KL4 Surfactant
Technology
Our
proprietary KL4 Surfactant
Technology produces a synthetic surfactant that is structurally similar to human
pulmonary surfactant and contains a proprietary synthetic peptide, KL4
(sinapultide). KL4 is a 21
amino acid protein-like substance that closely mimics the essential attributes
of human surfactant protein B (SP-B), which is the surfactant protein most
important for the proper functioning of the respiratory system. Our synthetic
surfactant may be manufactured to precise specifications and formulated as
liquid instillate, lyophilized (dry powder), or aerosolized liquid. We acquired
exclusive worldwide rights to this technology, which was invented at The Scripps
Research Institute and exclusively licensed to and further developed by Johnson
& Johnson, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson), in October 1996.
Our
KL4
Surfactant is a synthetic surfactant that can be manufactured consistently and
with minimal variability. We also believe that our synthetic surfactant might
possess pharmaceutical benefits not currently exhibited by the animal-derived
surfactants. Our synthetic KL4 Surfactant
has also demonstrated in preclinical studies unique characteristics, including
anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and nonimmunogenic properties. We believe these
characteristics will be important attributes as we develop our KL4 Surfactant
Technology pipeline to potentially address a broad range of respiratory
conditions that represent significant unmet medical needs.
In May
2008 at the Pediatric Academic
Societies Annual Meeting (PAS), data were presented from an animal study
that assessed the effect of Surfaxin on biomarkers of lung inflammation and lung
structure as compared to those treated with Survanta®
(beractant), a currently available surfactant derived from cow lung and the most
prescribed surfactant in the United States, Curosurf®
(poractant alfa), a currently available surfactant derived from pig lung and the
most prescribed surfactant in Europe, or no surfactant replacement therapy. The
chosen animal model was selected because it closely resembles RDS in human lungs
and is regarded as the most relevant system to study the pathophysiology and
treatment of RDS. The results of the study showed that animals treated with
Surfaxin had better lung function compared with those treated with Survanta,
Curosurf, or no surfactant replacement. In addition, animals treated with
Surfaxin had better structural integrity, as assessed by evaluation of lung
tissue, and lower levels of lung tissue and blood inflammatory mediators,
compared with animals treated with Survanta or no surfactant replacement
therapy.
A study
that assessed the impact of exogenous surfactants, including Surfaxin, on
hyperoxic-induced lung injury in an in-vitro cell-culture model
and concluded that our KL4 Surfactant
reduced inflammation and cell injury, resulting in improved cell survival and
function compared with both Survanta and a saline control was published in Pediatric Research, a
prominent peer-reviewed journal, in July 2008.
4
In May
2007, a study was presented at PAS, the objective of which was to determine the
impact of Surfaxin on cytokine-driven lung inflammation and focused specifically
on the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) superfamily. In this study,
Surfaxin suppressed two central members of the TGF-beta superfamily (BMP10 and
BMP15), which could have implications in reducing inflammation and fibrosis
(scarring) of the lung in a variety of pulmonary diseases. Members of the
TGF-beta superfamily are known to induce fibrosis (scar tissue formation) in the
lung. These results support our developing our KL4 Surfactant
Technology to potentially treat diseases in which respiratory inflammation plays
in integral part, such as BPD, ARF, ALI and CF.
A study
presented at PAS in May 2008 investigated the antimicrobial properties of
Surfaxin. In that study, gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial broth was
mixed with Surfaxin and Survanta, as well as with saline, a negative control,
and ciprofloxacin, an antibiotic that served as a positive control. While both
Surfaxin
and Survanta suppressed gram-positive bacterial growth, only Surfaxin
suppressed gram-negative bacterial growth.
Also at
PAS in May 2008, a study was presented that assessed the potential for KL4 to induce
an immune response known as anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis, a potentially
life-threatening allergic reaction, can occur in humans after exposure to
medications that contain a foreign protein. In this study, a well-established
animal model was used to test whether KL4 would
trigger anaphylaxis. Supporting our belief that our KL4 Surfactant
has nonimmunogenic properties, this study concluded that KL4 did not
induce active or passive anaphylaxis, even when the immune system was
potentiated and sensitized.
All of
the foregoing preclinical studies demonstrate promising novel properties and
attributes of our KL4 Surfactant
that potentially may be of benefit in addressing various respiratory diseases
and disorders in broad patient populations. However, the clinical relevance of
such attributes has not been adequately established and warrants further
study.
In the
clinical environment, our synthetic, peptide-containing surfactant has
demonstrated attributes that are uniquely beneficial in the treatment of
premature infants.
Our two
Phase 3 clinical studies, SELECT and STAR, have demonstrated that Surfaxin is
safe and efficacious when used for the prevention of RDS in premature infants.
Data taken together from the SELECT and STAR studies demonstrate that Surfaxin
is significantly more effective in the prevention of RDS and improved survival
(continuing through at least one year of life) and other outcomes versus
comparator surfactants. The SELECT and STAR trials have been presented at
several international medical meetings and the results from the two studies were
published in Pediatrics, the Official
Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics and a premier medical journal for
pediatric healthcare practitioners.
We have
also demonstrated that we can aerosolize our KL4 Surfactant
and have achieved the following important development objectives through
research and feasibility studies:
|
·
|
full
retention of the surface-tension lowering properties of a functioning
surfactant necessary to restore lung function and maintain patency of the
conducting airways;
|
|
·
|
full
retention of the surfactant composition upon aerosolization;
and
|
|
·
|
drug
particle size believed to be suitable for deposition in the
deep-lungs.
|
The
initial formulation of our KL4 Surfactant
Technology is a liquid instillate, administered using the same method of
administration as the currently available animal-derived surfactants; that is,
intratracheally via an endotracheal tube. Our KL4 Surfactant
Technology also can be produced as a lyophilized formulation, our novel KL4 Surfactant
in a dry powder form that is then reconstituted just prior to administration. We
have conducted several experiments that establish that our lyophilized KL4 Surfactant
retains the key characteristics of our liquid KL4
Surfactant. We are currently conducting additional experiments and preclinical
studies to fully characterize this new formulation and assess safety and
efficacy. We believe that our lyophilized formulation may provide benefits in a
clinical setting relative to liquid instillate surfactants,
including:
5
|
·
|
Lower
viscosity, which may aid and/or improve the distribution of the surfactant
through the lung and potentially reduce the frequency of transient
peridosing events typically observed with the intratracheal administration
of surfactants;
|
|
·
|
Improve
ease of administration and time of drug product
preparation;
|
|
·
|
Potentially
eliminating continuous cold chain storage and refrigeration;
and
|
|
·
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Potentially
eliminating the need for warming.
|
Our
Capillary Aerosolization Technology
In
December 2005, we entered into a strategic alliance with Philip Morris USA Inc.
(PMUSA) d/b/a/ Chrysalis Technologies (Chrysalis) through which we gained
worldwide exclusive rights to our Capillary Aerosolization Technology. Following
a restructuring in March 2008, we now hold exclusive worldwide licenses to the
Capillary Aerosolization Technology for use with pulmonary surfactants (alone or
in combination with any other pharmaceutical compound(s)) for all respiratory
diseases and conditions. In addition, we hold in the United States exclusive
rights to the Capillary Aerosolization Technology for use with other
(non-surfactant) drugs to treat a wide range of pediatric and adult respiratory
indications in hospitals and other health care institutions. See “Business – Business
Operations – Strategic Alliances and Collaboration Agreements – Philip Morris
USA Inc., d/b/a Chrysalis Technologies.”
Our
proprietary Capillary Aerosolization Technology has the potential to enable
targeted upper respiratory, airway, or alveolar delivery of therapies for either
local or system wide pulmonary applications and has been initially designed to
produce high-quality, low-velocity aerosols for possible deep lung aerosol
delivery. Aerosol is created by pumping KL4 Surfactant
drug formulation through a heated capillary wherein the excipient system is
converted to the vapor state. Upon exiting the capillary, the vapor stream
quickly cools and slows in velocity, yielding a dense aerosol with a defined
particle size. With this technology, we believe that the particle size may be
controlled and adjusted through device modifications and drug formulation
changes. In addition, because our KL4 Surfactant
Technology produces a surfactant that is designed to functionally coat the
entire surface area of the distal respiratory tree, we believe that our
aerosolized KL4 Surfactant
may be used in combination with other drugs (small or large molecule) to enhance
a desired therapeutic effect by improving efficiency and delivering the combined
drug more effectively into the deep lung than would be possible without our
KL4
Surfactant.
In
studies conducted with our initial prototype capillary aerosolization system,
which consists of a base unit and disposable dose packets, patient interface and
other components, to date, with our KL4 surfactant, we have generated an aerosol
that:
|
·
|
retains
the surface-tension lowering properties of a functioning
surfactant;
|
|
·
|
retains
the surfactant composition of our liquid KL4
Surfactant;
|
|
·
|
has
a drug particle size believed to be suitable for deposition in the
deep-lungs; and
|
|
·
|
is
produced at rates that can deliver therapeutic dosages in a reasonable
time period, with consistent reproducible output. Preclinical studies
presented at PAS in 2007 comparing our Capillary Aerosolization Technology
to commercially-available aerosol devices, indicated that the capillary
aerosolization system generated as much as a 10-fold higher aerosol output
rate compared with the other devices
studied.
|
SURFACTANT
REPLACEMENT THERAPY FOR RESPIRATORY MEDICINE
The only
surfactants available today are animal-derived, were introduced in the United
States in the 1990’s, and are approved only for RDS in premature infants. These
products have not been approved for other respiratory indications. We believe
that our proprietary technology platform makes it possible, for the first time,
to develop a significant pipeline of products targeted to treat a wide range of
respiratory problems, including those for which there are currently few or no
approved therapies. Our programs are:
6
Respiratory
Distress Syndrome in Premature Infants (RDS)
Serious
respiratory problems are some of the most prevalent medical issues facing
premature infants in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs). One of the most
common respiratory problems is RDS. RDS is a condition in which premature
infants are born with a lack of natural lung surfactant and are unable to absorb
sufficient oxygen. Premature infants born prior to 32 weeks gestation have not
fully developed their own natural lung surfactant and therefore need treatment
to sustain life. RDS is experienced in approximately half of the babies born
between 26 and 32 weeks gestational age. The incidence of RDS approaches 100% in
babies born less than 26 weeks gestational age. RDS can result in long-term
respiratory and developmental problems, including cerebral palsy and
death.
Premature
babies with RDS often require endotracheal intubation to administer one of the
currently available animal-derived surfactants (usually within the first hours
of birth), and to provide respiratory support via mechanical ventilation.
Unfortunately, many infants relapse following initial therapy and require
reintubation and prolonged mechanical ventilation as well as supplemental
oxygen, which increases their risk of developing further serious respiratory
complications. Neonatologists generally try to avoid mechanically ventilating
infants due to perceived risks associated with intubation, such as the risk of
trauma and the need for paralytic agents and sedation. As a result, many
neonatologists will only intubate in cases of severe respiratory disease, where
the benefits of invasive surfactant administration clearly outweigh the
associated risks. For all but the very low birth weight infants with severe RDS,
a common ventilatory support treatment alternative to intubation and mechanical
ventilation is nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP). Unfortunately,
a significant number of infants do not adequately respond to nCPAP and require
subsequent surfactant administration via intubation and mechanical ventilation.
As neonatologists cannot ascertain in advance which patients will fail nCPAP,
they are faced with a dilemma, because the outcome for those infants who fail
nCPAP and receive delayed surfactant therapy is not as favorable as those who
receive surfactant therapy in the first hours of life.
We
estimate that approximately 360,000 low birth weight premature infants are born
annually in the United States and at risk for RDS. Of this total, we estimate
that approximately 130,000 are diagnosed with RDS and approximately 86,000 are
treated with surfactant replacement therapy. We also estimate that approximately
240,000 infants receive early nCPAP (as an initial management strategy in lieu
of intubation and mechanical ventilation), with approximately 30% failing
therapy and experiencing potentially disadvantaged outcomes.
We
believe that the neonatal medical community increasingly recognizes the
potential benefits of (i) a synthetic, peptide-containing surfactant, such as
Surfaxin and Surfaxin LS, and more importantly, (ii) a less-invasive method of
delivering surfactant, such as Aerosurf, to treat premature infants suffering
from respiratory disorders. While the current RDS market for surfactants is
estimated to be approximately $75 million annually in the United States and $200
million annually worldwide, we believe that this market has been constrained by
the lack of further development of animal-derived surfactants coupled with the
risks associated with surfactant administration in its current form. We believe
that Surfaxin, Surfaxin LS and Aerosurf have the potential, over time, to
displace animal-derived products and support a greatly expanded RDS
market.
Surfaxin for the Prevention
of RDS in Premature Infants
Surfaxin
is the first synthetic, peptide-containing surfactant that is structurally
similar to pulmonary surfactant and mimics the surface-active properties of
human surfactant. Surfaxin is a liquid instillate and is administered (usually
within the first hours of birth) via endotracheal tube supported by mechanical
ventilation for respiratory support. The FDA has established April 17, 2009 as
its target action date to complete its review of our NDA and potentially approve
Surfaxin. If approved, Surfaxin will provide neonatologist with an alternative
SRT to the currently used animal derived products.
Our NDA
for Surfaxin, which we filed in April 2004, is supported by a Phase 3 pivotal
trial (SELECT) for the prevention of RDS in premature infants. The SELECT trial
enrolled 1,294 patients and was designed as a multinational, multicenter,
randomized, masked, controlled, prophylaxis, event-driven, superiority trial to
demonstrate the safety and efficacy of Surfaxin over Exosurf®, an
approved, non-protein containing synthetic surfactant. Survanta, a surfactant
derived from cow lung and the leading surfactant used in the United States,
served as a reference arm in the trial. Key trial results were assessed by an
independent, blinded, adjudication committee comprised of leading neonatologists
and pediatric radiologists. This committee provided a consistent and
standardized method for assessing critical efficacy data in the trial. An
independent Data Safety Monitoring Board was responsible for monitoring the
overall safety of the trial and no major safety issues were
identified.
7
Data from
the SELECT study demonstrate that Surfaxin is significantly more effective in
the prevention of RDS, death due to RDS, and the development of certain severe
respiratory problems versus the primary comparator Exosurf. Although the
Survanta reference arm was not the primary focus of comparison, significantly
fewer infants treated with Surfaxin died due to RDS compared with infants
treated with Survanta.
We also
conducted a supportive, multinational, multicenter, prophylaxis, randomized,
controlled, masked, Phase 3 clinical trial (STAR) which enrolled 252 patients
and was designed as a non-inferiority trial comparing Surfaxin to Curosurf, a
surfactant derived from pig lung and the leading surfactant used in Europe. The
STAR trial demonstrated the overall safety and non-inferiority of Surfaxin
compared to Curosurf.
The
SELECT and STAR trials, as well as a pooled Phase 3 analysis, have been
presented at several international medical meetings and the results from the two
studies were published in Pediatrics, the Official
Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics and a premier medical journal for
pediatric healthcare practitioners.
Important
new analysis of our SELECT and STAR Phase 3 clinical studies reveals that
premature infants with RDS who were extubated after treatment with surfactant
and then subsequently required reintubation had a significantly higher rate of
mortality than those infants who did not require reintubation. The data also
indicate that premature infants treated with Surfaxin required less reintubation
compared to those treated with Survanta and Curosurf. Although the data
indicated that the Surfaxin-treated infants were observed to have a
statistically significant lower incidence of invasive reintubation than those
infants treated with comparator surfactants, the clinical relevance of this
finding has not been adequately established and warrants further
study.
On May 1,
2008, we received a third Approvable Letter for this NDA. As was the case with
the previous approvable letters, which had focused primarily on the Chemistry,
Manufacturing and Controls (CMC) section of our NDA, this Approvable Letter did
not contain a requirement for additional clinical trials. To gain clarification
of certain items identified in this Approvable Letter and prior to submitting a
response to the FDA, we submitted an information package to the FDA and
requested a meeting, which occurred by teleconference on June 18, 2008. On
October 17, 2008, we submitted our Complete Response to this Approvable Letter.
The FDA accepted our Complete Response and established April 17, 2009 as its
target action date to complete its review of this NDA and potentially approve
Surfaxin.
The May
2008 Approvable Letter included, among other things, requests (i) to further
tighten or justify one acceptance criterion for the biological activity test
that we previously had implemented for Surfaxin release and stability testing
(Biological Activity Test), (ii) to further tighten or justify acceptance
criteria for lipid drug substance impurities, (iii) to further tighten or
justify two of the 21 physical and chemical drug product acceptance criteria
that we had proposed in our October 2007 Complete Response to an April 2006
Approvable Letter, and (iv) to submit certain specified equipment and aseptic
process-related validation reports.
Based on
our assessment of the May 2008 Approvable Letter, consultation with our
regulatory experts, and our June 2008 teleconference with the FDA, with the
exception of two items, we believed that we could respond to the Approvable
Letter relying on readily available data. With respect to the two remaining
items, we agreed with the FDA to provide additional confirmatory data and
related information as follows:
(i) Surfaxin Biological Activity
Test
A few
years ago, based on discussions with the FDA, we qualified and validated the
Biological Activity Test as a quality control in accordance with current Good
Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) and implemented it for Surfaxin release and
stability testing. In addition, as agreed at a December 2006 clarification
meeting with the FDA, we replicated previously conducted studies in an RDS
animal model using the same dose level that was used in the Surfaxin Phase 3
clinical trials (the 2007 RDS Animal Study). We believe that the Biological
Activity Test data and the 2007 RDS Animal Study results support the
comparability of Surfaxin drug product used in our Surfaxin Phase 3 clinical
trials to the Surfaxin drug product to be manufactured for commercial use. In
addition, these data were used to propose final acceptance criteria for the
Biological Activity Test and were provided to, and reviewed by, the FDA prior to
the May 2008 Approvable Letter.
8
At the
June 18, 2008 meeting with the FDA, to further support the comparability of
Surfaxin clinical drug product to commercial Surfaxin drug product, we agreed to
conduct an additional test with respect to the Biological Activity Test using
the same dose level that was used in the Surfaxin Phase 3 clinical trials (which
was a different dose level than we had previously qualified and validated for
quality control testing). In addition, also using the same dose level that was
used in the clinical trials, we conducted a side-by-side study using the same
RDS animal model used in the 2007 RDS Animal Study.
We
believe that the data generated supports determination of final acceptance
criteria for the Biological Activity Test, the proposed shelf life for Surfaxin
and further confirms the comparability of Surfaxin drug product used in our
Surfaxin Phase 3 clinical trials to the Surfaxin drug product to be manufactured
for commercial use.
(ii) Specifications for Lipid-Related
Impurities in Surfaxin Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients
Surfaxin
is comprised of four active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs): our novel KL4 peptide, a
fatty acid and two phospholipids. The FDA indicated that our proposed
specifications for lipid-related impurities in the two individual phospholipids
must satisfy guidance issued by the International Conference of Harmonization
(ICH). The ICH generally designates threshold limits for impurities present in
an API and also provides guidance for justifying specifications that exceed the
designated threshold limits.
After
discussing with the FDA potentially justifying impurity levels for certain
lipid-related impurities that exceeded the ICH designated threshold limits based
upon their being present in the human lung at levels equal to or greater than
those that exist in Surfaxin, we agreed to review the scientific literature to
ascertain the levels of these lipid-related impurities specific to the neonatal
lung. We also consulted with lipid-experts and our phospholipids suppliers to
assess whether the lipid-related impurities in question could be reduced. As a
result of these efforts, we were able to include in the Complete Response data
and other information demonstrating that the two phospholipids can be produced
with lipid-related impurities at levels that satisfy ICH
guidelines.
Prior to
receiving the May 2008 Approvable Letter, we believe that we had made
significant progress towards gaining approval for Surfaxin. As of March 2008, we
had submitted to the FDA 12-month stability data on our Surfaxin process
validation batches and the FDA had completed a pre-approval inspection (PAI) of
our manufacturing operations at Totowa, New Jersey, and thereafter issued an
Establishment Inspection Report (EIR) indicating an approval recommendation.
Also, notably, on April 30, 2008, as part of our NDA review, we had completed
labeling discussions with the FDA and had agreed to a proposed form of Surfaxin
package insert setting forth prescribing information, although the package
insert will not be considered final until the FDA approves our NDA. We believe
that we are on track to potentially gain approval for Surfaxin in April 2009,
although there can be no assurance that the FDA will meet its target action date
or that it will approve Surfaxin.
We
believe that, after a period devoted to gaining hospital formulary acceptance,
Surfaxin, if approved, has the potential to command a substantial market share
in the United States.
Surfaxin LS™ – Lyophilized
Surfaxin for RDS in Premature Infants
Surfaxin
LS is our lyophilized formulation of Surfaxin, which is manufactured as a dry
powder form and reconstituted as a liquid just prior to administration. We
believe that Surfaxin LS has the potential to increase ease of administration by
reducing the preparation time, as well as potentially eliminating the need for
continuous cold chain storage and refrigeration in the NICU. In addition, we
believe that Surfaxin LS may demonstrate characteristics that could provide
other clinical benefits.
Following
the potential approval of Surfaxin liquid instillate, in anticipation of filing
an Investigational New Drug (IND) Application to gain regulatory approval for
Surfaxin LS in the United States, we plan to request a pre-IND meeting with the
FDA with a view to agreeing upon and potentially initiating a clinical trial
with Surfaxin LS in 2010. Similarly, to gain regulatory approval for Surfaxin LS
in Europe, we plan to request a scientific advice meeting with the EMEA with a
view to agreeing upon and potentially initiating a clinical trial in 2010. If
the two regulatory agencies require a similar clinical trial design, we
anticipate conducting a single clinical trial to gain regulatory approval for
Surfaxin LS in the United States and Europe.
9
In
October 2004, we filed a Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) with the
European Medicines Agency (EMEA) for clearance to market in Europe Surfaxin for
the prevention and rescue treatment of RDS in premature infants. In June 2006,
after ongoing analysis of Surfaxin process validation batches that had been
manufactured as a requirement for our NDA indicated that certain stability
parameters no longer met acceptance criteria, we determined that we could not
resolve the related manufacturing issues within the regulatory time frames
mandated by the EMEA procedure. Consequently, in June 2006, we voluntarily
withdrew the MAA without resolving with the EMEA certain outstanding clinical
issues related to the Surfaxin Phase 3 clinical trials. As we now plan to focus
our efforts on gaining approval for Surfaxin LS in Europe, we do not plan to
refile the MAA for Surfaxin.
We
believe that Surfaxin LS, if approved, has the potential over time to displace
the animal-derived surfactants and potentially significantly increase the market
opportunity for use of liquid instillate surfactants from the current estimate
of approximately $200 million worldwide.
Aerosurf for RDS in
Premature Infants
Aerosurf
is our aerosolized KL4 Surfactant
that is administered through less-invasive means and is being developed to
potentially obviate the need for intubation and conventional mechanical
ventilation. We believe that Aerosurf, if approved, holds the promise to
significantly expand the use of our KL4 Surfactant
in pediatric respiratory medicine by providing neonatologists with a means of
delivering our KL4 Surfactant
and potentially avoiding the risks (including serious lung injury and other
complications) associated with invasive endotracheal intubation and mechanical
ventilation.
As a
precursor to the initiation of our Aerosurf program, we completed and announced
in 2005 the results of our first pilot Phase 2 clinical study of aerosolized
KL4
Surfactant for the prevention of RDS in premature infants, which was designed as
an open label, multicenter study to evaluate the feasibility, safety and
tolerability of Aerosurf delivered using a commercially-available aerosolization
device (Aeroneb Pro®) via
nCPAP within 30 minutes of birth over a three hour duration. The study showed
that it is feasible to deliver our aerosolized KL4 Surfactant
via nCPAP and that the treatment was generally safe and well
tolerated.
Preclinical
developmental studies using the RDS animal model were presented at the 2007
Annual Hot Topics in
Neonatology meeting held in Washington, DC, and demonstrated that
Aerosurf (using our Capillary Aerosolization Technology) improves lung function
and reduces inflammatory markers associated with lung injury and chronic lung
disease.
We
estimate that approximately 360,000 low birth weight premature infants are born
annually in the United States and at risk for RDS. As discussed above (see “Respiratory Distress
Syndrome in Premature Infants (RDS)”), of this total, we estimate that
approximately 130,000 are diagnosed with RDS and approximately 86,000 are
treated with surfactant replacement therapy. We also estimate that approximately
240,000 infants receive early nCPAP and approximately 30% fail therapy and
experience potentially disadvantaged outcomes. We believe that Aerosurf, which
can be administered via nCPAP, potentially obviating the need for intubation and
mechanical ventilation, represents a significant market opportunity and has the
potential to significantly expand the use of surfactants worldwide.
We are
currently developing Aerosurf using our Capillary Aerosolization Technology.
See “Business –
Proprietary Platform –Surfactant and Aerosol Technologies – Our Capillary
Aerosolization Technology.” We originally expected to initiate our Phase 2
clinical program utilizing this novel capillary aerosolization system in 2008.
However, as these activities require significant investments in research,
engineering, device development and device manufacturing capabilities, we found
it necessary to re-prioritize certain of our development priorities as we
focused our efforts on gaining regulatory approval for Surfaxin while conserving
our cash resources.
If
Surfaxin is approved and our resources permit, we expect to accelerate
investment in our Capillary Aerosolization Technology with a view to potentially
finalizing our regulatory package and initiating a Phase 2 clinical program in
late 2009. In that regard, we have met with and received guidance from the FDA
with respect to the design of our proposed Phase 2 clinical program. We are
currently conducting certain developmental and pre-clinical activities to
support our regulatory package.
10
In
addition, we have also engaged in development activities for the next-generation
capillary aerosolization system for use in potential Phase 2/3 clinical trials
for Aerosurf and, if approved, future commercial activities. For this phase of
our program, prior to receipt of the May 2008 Approvable Letter, we worked with
a leading engineering and design firm that has a successful track record of
developing innovative devices for major companies in the medical and
pharmaceutical industries, both in the United States and international markets.
Since receipt of the May 2008 Approvable Letter, our engineering team has also
continued to make progress in developing the next-generation capillary
aerosolization systems and, resources permitting, plans to reengage with the
engineering and design firm following the potential approval of
Surfaxin.
We
believe that Aerosurf is a highly promising program. With the knowledge that we
gain from our development activities to treat premature infants with RDS, we
plan to leverage our technology platform to potentially address several
respiratory conditions affecting pediatric and adult patient populations. See “Business – Business
Strategy” and “– Business Operations –Strategic Alliances and Collaboration
Arrangements – Philip Morris USA Inc., d/b/a Chrysalis
Technologies.”
Bronchopulmonary
Dysplasia (BPD)
BPD, also
known as Chronic Lung Disease, affects premature infants and is associated with
surfactant deficiency and the prolonged use of mechanical ventilation and oxygen
supplementation. BPD is diagnosed when premature infants require mechanical
ventilation or supplemental oxygen either at the 28th day of
life or 36 weeks post-menstrual age. Premature babies are often born with a lack
of natural lung surfactant and are unable to absorb sufficient oxygen, resulting
in RDS. These infants often require endotracheal intubation to administer one of
the currently available animal-derived surfactants (usually within the first
hours of birth), and to provide respiratory support via mechanical ventilation.
Unfortunately, many infants relapse following initial therapy and require
reintubation and prolonged mechanical ventilation as well as supplemental
oxygen, which increases their risk of developing BPD. We believe that treatment
with repeated doses of our KL4 Surfactant
after the initial RDS treatment (on day one or two of life) may prevent BPD and
improve the clinical outcome of these infants.
There are
presently no approved drugs for the treatment of BPD. Infants diagnosed with BPD
suffer from abnormal lung development and typically have a need for respiratory
assistance, often for many months, as well as comprehensive continuing care
potentially spanning years. It is estimated that the cost of treating an infant
with BPD in the United States can approach $250,000 during the initial inpatient
stay alone. We estimate that approximately 100,000 infants are at risk for BPD
in the United States and Europe each year.
In
October 2006, we announced preliminary results of our Phase 2 clinical trial for
Surfaxin for the prevention and treatment of BPD, which was designed as an
estimation study to evaluate the safety and potential efficacy of Surfaxin in
infants at risk for BPD. The results of this trial suggest that Surfaxin may
potentially represent a novel therapeutic option for infants at risk for BPD.
The results of this study were published in Pediatrics in January
2009.
We plan
to seek scientific advice from the FDA and other regulatory agencies with
respect to potential clinical trial designs to support the further development
of Surfaxin LS or Aerosurf for the prevention of BPD. We also may consider a
strategic alliance and/or other collaborative arrangement prior to further
developing our KL4 Surfactant
to address this disease. We currently expect to consider potential alternatives
only after we have successfully gained FDA approval of Surfaxin for the
prevention of RDS in premature infants.
Acute
Respiratory Failure (ARF)
ARF
occurs when lung tissue is significantly damaged, leading to an impairment in
lung function and the need for endotracheal intubation and mechanical
ventilation (the current standard of care). Children with ARF have reduced
levels of functional surfactant. Damage to the lung that causes ARF usually
leads to surfactant dysfunction and decreased surfactant production. When there
is insufficient functional surfactant in the lung, the air sacs collapse and are
unable to support sufficient oxygenation. The most common cause of respiratory
failure in these children is viral infection of the lung, particularly influenza
and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). We estimate that ARF affects
approximately 15,000 children under two years of age in the United States with
an estimated 30,000 – 40,000 children afflicted in developed countries each
year, depending on severity of the viral season. Presently there are no approved
drugs for the treatment of ARF.
11
sss
Surfaxin for
ARF
In June
2007, we initiated a clinical trial to determine if restoration of surfactant
with Surfaxin will improve lung function and result in a shorter duration of
mechanical ventilation and stay in the NICU or pediatric intensive care unit
(PICU) for children up to two years of age suffering with ARF. The Phase 2
clinical trial is a multicenter, randomized, masked, placebo-controlled trial
that compares Surfaxin to standard of care masked by a sham air control.
Approximately 170 children (subject to sample size adjustment under the
protocol) under the age of two with ARF will receive standard of care and be
randomized to receive either Surfaxin at 5.8 mL/kg of body weight (expected
weight range up to 15 kg) or sham air control. The trial is being conducted at
approximately 35-40 sites in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. The
objective of the study is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of Surfaxin
administration and to assess whether such treatment can decrease the duration of
mechanical ventilation in young children with ARF. Following conclusion of the
viral season in the Northern Hemisphere later in the first half of 2009, we plan
to assess the status of patient enrollment in this trial (in accordance with the
protocol) and determine at that time whether adjustments to our timeline, which
is heavily dependent upon the virulence of the viral seasons, are
required.
Because
of the relative weight difference between RDS and ARF patient populations and
volumetric dosing associated with our KL4
Surfactant, children with ARF who are treated with Surfaxin in our Phase 2
clinical trial are expected to receive a dose volume that is approximately 5
times greater than the average dose volume administered to premature infants
with RDS.
Cystic
Fibrosis (CF)
CF is a
life-threatening genetic disease affecting the respiratory and other body
systems. CF is characterized by a genetic mutation that produces thick, viscous
mucus that is difficult to clear from the airways of the lung and typically
leads to life-threatening respiratory infections. Preclinical and exploratory
clinical studies suggest that therapeutic surfactants may improve lung function
by loosening mucus plugs and enhancing mucociliary clearance.
CF is the
most common, life-threatening genetic disorder in the United States, occurring
in approximately one in every 3,500 Caucasian live births. CF affects
approximately 30,000 patients in the United States and nearly 70,000 worldwide.
To date, treatment of pulmonary conditions in CF primarily includes antibiotics
to address lung infection and airway clearance therapies to break down and
remove mucus. Life expectancy for CF has more than doubled in the past 25 years
to age 37, due to significant advances in research and care.
In
September 2008, our aerosolized KL4 Surfactant
was selected for a Phase 2a clinical trial in patients with CF that is being
conducted as an investigator-initiated study at The University of North Carolina
and is funded primarily through a grant provided by the Cystic Fibrosis
Foundation. The trial is designed as a double-blind, randomized study to
evaluate whether our aerosolized KL4 Surfactant
is safe and well tolerated in patients with mild to moderate CF lung disease,
and to assess the short-term effectiveness of our aerosolized KL4
Surfactant. We anticipate the results from this trial in late 2009.
We
believe that our novel synthetic, peptide-containing surfactant has unique
attributes, including potentially nonimmunogenic, anti-inflammatory and
anti-microbial properties, that when combined with a potential ability to
enhance mucociliary clearance in CF lung disease, may advance the treatment of
CF and improve treatment outcomes for these very ill patients. We plan on
advancing this development program in collaboration with a potential strategic
partner, although there can be no assurance that we will be successful in
entering into such an arrangement.
12
Serious
Respiratory Indications Associated with Inflammation of the Lungs
Many
respiratory diseases are associated with an inflammatory event that causes
surfactant dysfunction and a loss of patency of the conducting airways.
Scientific data support the premise that the therapeutic use of surfactants in
aerosol form has the ability to reestablish airway patency, improve pulmonary
mechanics and act as an anti-inflammatory. Surfactant normally prevents moisture
from accumulating in the airways’ most narrow sections and thereby maintains the
patency of the conducting airways.
We are
also evaluating the potential of developing our proprietary aerosolized KL4 Surfactant
Technology to address debilitating respiratory disorders, such as ALI, asthma,
and COPD. As resources permit, we will consider investing in these indications
through a proof-of-concept phase and, if successful, plan on advancing these
programs in collaboration with potential strategic partners, although there can
be no assurance that we will be successful in entering into such an arrangement.
We believe that these investments could potentially address significant unmet
medical needs and redefine respiratory medicine.
Acute Lung Injury
(ALI)
ALI is
associated with conditions that either directly or indirectly injure the air
sacs of the lung. ALI is a syndrome of inflammation and increased permeability
of the lungs with an associated breakdown of the lungs’ surfactant layer. Among
the causes of ALI are complications typically associated with certain major
surgeries, mechanical ventilator induced lung injury (often referred to as
VILI), smoke inhalation, pneumonia and sepsis. There are a significant number of
patients at risk in the United States for Acute Lung Injury annually and there
are no currently-approved therapies.
We
believe that our aerosolized KL4 Surfactant
may potentially be effective as a preventive measure to treat patients at risk
for ALI. This prophylactic approach may reduce the number of patients requiring
costly intensive care therapy, eliminate long periods of therapy and generate
cost savings in the hospital setting.
Asthma
Asthma is
a common disease characterized by sudden constriction and inflammation of the
lungs. Constriction of the bronchial airway system occurs when the airway
muscles tighten, while inflammation is a swelling of the airways usually due to
an inflammatory reaction caused by an irritant. Both of these events cause
airways to narrow and may result in wheezing, shortness of breath and chest
tightness. Several studies have shown that surfactant damage and dysfunction is
a significant component of asthma – airway narrowing occurs with concomitant
surfactant dysfunction in the airways of the deep lung that develops during an
asthma attack. We believe that our proprietary aerosolized KL4 Surfactant
has the potential to relieve the narrowing in the airways associated with
asthma.
Asthma
may require life-long therapy to prevent or treat episodes. Ten percent of
patients are considered severe asthmatics and require moderate to high doses of
drugs. Currently available asthma medications include inhaled and oral steroids,
bronchodilators and leukotriene antagonists. Bronchodilators alone cannot be
used to control severe episodes or chronic, severe asthma. Oral steroids can
cause serious side effects when used for prolonged periods and, thus, are
typically limited to severe asthmatic episodes and chronic, severe asthma. We
believe that our aerosolized KL4 Surfactant
may relieve airway obstruction in the deep lung and lead to a more rapid
improvement in asthmatic symptoms.
Chronic Obstructive
Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
COPD is
an incurable, chronic respiratory disorder that includes both emphysema and
chronic bronchitis and is characterized by obstruction to airflow that
interferes with normal breathing, inflammation, mucus plugs formation infection
and disruption of the normal lung architecture.
We
believe that our novel synthetic, peptide-containing surfactant has unique
attributes, including potential anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties,
that, when combined with a potential ability to enhance mucus clearance (see “Cystic Fibrosis (CF)”,
above) may be an effective treatment for COPD, potentially improving outcomes
for these very ill patients. We plan on advancing this development program in
collaboration with a potential strategic partner, although there can be no
assurance that we will be successful in entering into such an
arrangement.
13
BUSINESS
OPERATIONS
Research
and Development
Our
research and development activities are initially focused primarily on
developing from our proprietary KL4 Surfactant
Technology and Capillary Aerosolization Technology a series of pipeline programs
intended to support a significant pediatric franchise. We continually evaluate
our research and development priorities in light of a number of factors,
including our cash flow requirements and financial liquidity, the availability
of third party funding, advances in technology, the results of ongoing
development projects and the potential for development partnerships and
collaborations. In connection with our evaluations, we modify and adapt our
research and development plans from time to time and anticipate that we will
continue to do so.
We also
plan to invest opportunistically in KL4 Surfactant
Technology pipeline programs that will target adult and other indications, which
we believe represent potentially significant market opportunities. We plan to
initially develop these programs through a proof-of-concept phase and, if
successful, thereafter seek worldwide strategic alliances or collaboration
arrangements for development and/or commercialization. There can be no assurance
that we will succeed in demonstrating proof of concept or entering into any such
alliance, however.
To
support our research and development activities, we have:
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a
medical staff with expertise in pediatric and pulmonary medicine and
extensive contacts in the neonatoal medical
community;
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expertise
in the design and implementation of pre-clinical experiments and studies
to support drug development. We conduct certain development-related
experiments and bench studies in-house and also engage professional
research laboratories as well as academic and education centers to conduct
animal studies and experiments requiring specialized equipment and
expertise;
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expertise
in the design, development and management of clinical trials. Our own
expertise includes scientific, medical, statistical and trial management
capabilities. We also rely on scientific advisory committees and other
medical and consulting experts to assist in the design and ongoing
monitoring of our clinical trials. We generally manage our own clinical
trials operations and also will rely on contract research organizations
(CROs) to support operations of our multi-center trials in certain
countries. We anticipate using CROs to assist in our future clinical
trials;
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data
management and biostatistics expertise to analyze and report on our
clinical trial data, supported by third-party technology systems and
independent consultants;
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regulatory
personnel with significant expertise in the FDA regulatory approval
process. We also consult with independent FDA and international regulatory
experts;
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medical
affairs expertise. Our medical affairs team includes experienced medical
science liaisons who provide scientific and medical education to the
pediatric medical community, including at medical meetings and symposia,
concerning our KL4
Surfactant Technology and Capillary Aerosolization Technology and related
scientific articles and
publications;
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engineering
expertise, to support development of our aerosolized KL4
Surfactant. In addition to our own design engineering team, we plan to
work with design engineers, medical device experts and other third-party
collaborators to advance the development of our Capillary Aerosolization
Technology;
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quality
operations capabilities to assure compliance with applicable
regulations;
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manufacturing
operations capabilities to generate test articles for use in pre-clinical
and clinical studies; and
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research,
analytical and manufacturing facilities and capabilities, including our
new analytical and development laboratories that support our drug and
device development activities. We also rely on third party laboratories to
support our ongoing efforts and provide certain laboratory
services.
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14
Research
and development costs are charged to operations as incurred. During the years
ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, we recorded research and development
expenses of $26.6 million, $26.2 million and $23.7 million,
respectively.
Manufacturing
and Distribution
Manufacturing –
Precision-Engineered Surfactant
Our
KL4
Surfactant product candidates, including Surfaxin, must be manufactured in
compliance with current good manufacturing practices (cGMP) established by the
FDA and other international regulatory authorities. Surfaxin is a complex drug
and, unlike many drugs, contains four active ingredients. It must be aseptically
manufactured at our facility as a sterile, liquid suspension and requires
ongoing monitoring of drug product stability and conformance to
specifications.
Our
product candidates are manufactured by combining raw materials, such as KL4, which is
provided by Bachem California, Inc., and PolyPeptide Laboratories Inc., and
other active ingredients, including certain lipids that are provided by
suppliers such as Genzyme Pharmaceuticals, a division of the Genzyme
Corporation, Avanti Polar Lipids, Inc. and Nippon Fine Chemical and its
affiliate, Inabata America Corporation. Suppliers of our containers, closures
and excipients used in our manufacturing process include West Pharmaceutical
Services, Inc., Gerresheimer Glass Inc. and Spectrum Chemical Mfg. Corp. In
addition, we plan to utilize the services of Catalent Pharma Solutions, for
labeling and packaging of Surfaxin, if approved, in the United
States.
Our
manufacturing facility, located in Totowa, New Jersey, consists of
pharmaceutical manufacturing and development space that is designed for the
manufacture and filling of sterile pharmaceuticals in compliance with cGMP.
See “Properties.” These
operations, which we acquired from our then-contract manufacturer in December
2005, are an integral part of our long-term manufacturing strategy for the
continued development of our KL4 Surfactant
Technology, including life-cycle management of Surfaxin, new formulations
development and formulation enhancements, and expansion of our aerosolized
KL4
Surfactant products, beginning with Aerosurf. Owning our own manufacturing
operations has provided us with direct operational control and, we believe,
potentially improved economics for the production of pre-clinical, clinical and
potential commercial supply of our lead product, Surfaxin, and our other KL4 Surfactant
Technology pipeline products.
In April
2006, ongoing analysis of Surfaxin process validation batches that had been
manufactured as a requirement for our NDA indicated that certain stability
parameters no longer met acceptance criteria. After a comprehensive formal
investigation and implementation of a corrective action and preventative action
(CAPA) plan, we completed manufacture of three new Surfaxin process validation
batches in February 2007. In March 2008, we submitted to the FDA 12-month
stability data on these new Surfaxin process validation batches. We believe that
our success at 12 months validated our CAPA plan and demonstrated that our
manufacturing problems are resolved. In October 2008, as part of our Complete
Response to the May 2008 Approvable Letter, we included 18-month stability data
on these new process validation lots. We believe stability data for these and
subsequent lots continue to support at least a 12-month shelf life for
Surfaxin.
Also in
March 2008, the FDA completed a pre-approval inspection (PAI) of our Totowa
facility and issued an Establishment Inspection Report (EIR) indicating an
approval recommendation for our Surfaxin NDA. See “Risk Factors – The
manufacture of our drug products is a highly exacting and complex process, and
if we, our contract manufacturers or any of our materials suppliers encounter
problems manufacturing our products or drug substances, this could potentially
cause us to delay development or clinical programs or, following approval,
product launch, or cause us to experience shortages of products
inventories.”
Our
manufacturing strategy includes investing in our analytical and quality systems.
In October 2007, we completed construction of a new analytical and development
laboratory in our headquarters in Warrington, Pennsylvania and have consolidated
at this location the analytical, quality and development activities previously
located in Doylestown, Pennsylvania and Mountain View, California. The
activities conducted in our new laboratory include release and stability testing
of raw materials as well as clinical and, if approved, commercial drug product
supply. We also perform development work with respect to our aerosolized KL4 Surfactant
and novel formulations of our KL4 Surfactant
Technology. The laboratory has expanded our capabilities by providing additional
capacity to conduct analytical testing as well as opportunities to leverage our
consolidated professional expertise across a broad range of projects, improving
both operational efficiency and financial economics. In addition, in 2007, we
built a microbiology laboratory at our manufacturing facility in Totowa, NJ to
support production of our drug product candidates.
15
The lease
for our Totowa facility expires in December 2014. In addition to customary terms
and conditions, the lease is subject to a right in the landlord, upon two years’
prior notice, to terminate the lease early. This termination right is subject to
certain conditions, including that the master tenant, a related party of the
landlord, must have ceased all activities at the premises, and, in the earlier
years, if we satisfy certain financial conditions, the landlord must make
payments to us of significant early termination amounts. At the present time, we
understand that the master tenant continues to be active in the premises. As
this early termination option could require us to move out of our Totowa
facility as early as March 2011, we are developing a long-term manufacturing
strategy that includes (i) potentially renegotiating our current lease to amend
the termination and other provisions, (ii) building or acquiring additional
manufacturing capabilities to support product development and, if approved,
commercial production of our KL4 Surfactant
product candidates, and (iii) potentially using contract
manufacturers.
We plan
to have manufacturing capabilities, primarily at our Totowa manufacturing
operations, to produce sufficient commercial supplies of Surfaxin, if approved,
and to meet our anticipated pre-clinical, clinical, formulation development and,
if approved, potential future commercial requirements of Surfaxin, Aerosurf and
other KL4 Surfactant
product candidates. During the period of formulation development for our
lyophilized KL4
Surfactant, including Surfaxin LS, we expect to enter into arrangements with one
or more contract manufacturing organizations.
Manufacturing –Aerosol
Devices and Related Componentry
We are
developing and will potentially commercialize our aerosolized KL4 Surfactant
to address a broad range of serious respiratory conditions, starting with
Aerosurf for RDS in premature infants. See “Business – Business
Operations – Strategic Alliances and Collaboration Arrangements – Philip Morris
USA Inc., d/b/a Chrysalis Technologies.”
To
manufacture capillary aerosolization devices and related components for our
Phase 2 Aerosurf clinical trials, we expect to utilize third-party contract
manufacturers, suppliers and integrators. The manufacturing process involves
assembly of key device sub-components that comprise the capillary aerosolization
systems, including the aerosol-generating device, disposable dose delivery
packets, which must be assembled in a clean room environment, and patient
interface systems to administer our aerosolized KL4
Surfactant. Under our manufacturing plan, third-party vendors will manufacture
customized parts for us and assemble the key device sub-components and ship them
to one central location for final assembly and integration into the
aerosolization system. Once assembled, the critical drug product-contact
components and patient interface systems will be packaged and sterilized. The
assembled capillary aerosolization systems will be quality-control tested prior
to release for use in our clinical trials. We have entered into a Master
Services Agreement with Kloehn, Inc. to act as integrator of the prototype
capillary aerosolization systems that we plan to use in our planned Phase 2
clinical trials. See
“Risk Factors – The manufacture of our drug products is a highly exacting and
complex process, and if we, our contract manufacturers or any of our materials
suppliers encounter problems manufacturing our products or drug substances, this
could potentially cause us to delay development or clinical programs or,
following approval, product launch, or cause us to experience shortages of
products inventories.”
Distribution
We are
currently manufacturing Surfaxin as a liquid instillate that requires cold-chain
storage and distribution. We plan to provide for appropriate distribution
arrangements to commercialize Surfaxin in the United States, if approved,
through ASD Specialty Healthcare, Inc., which will act as our sole U.S.
wholesaler.
Our
collaboration with Esteve provides that Esteve has responsibility for
distribution of our KL4 Surfactant
products in Andorra, Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain. In other parts of the
world, we plan to evaluate third-party distribution capabilities prior to
commercializing in those regions.
16
Sales
and Marketing
To
prepare for the potential U.S. launch of Surfaxin for the prevention of RDS in
premature infants, we plan to establish our own specialty pulmonary commercial
organization that will initially specialize in the development of a significant
pediatric franchise. We believe that this strategy will provide us direct
control over our U.S. sales and marketing activities, permit us to establish a
strong presence in neonatal and pediatric intensive care units nationwide, and
potentially optimize the economics of our business. If, however, we were
presented with an alternative approach, through a strategic alliance or other
collaboration arrangement, that would achieve the foregoing, and provide
appropriate financial consideration and operational capabilities, we would
consider such a potential transaction.
Our
commercial activities will initially focus on RDS in premature infants. We
believe that Aerosurf, if approved, will provide the neonatal medical community
with a portfolio of treatment options, all based on our proprietary synthetic,
peptide-containing surfactant to address this serious respiratory disorder in an
expanded number of treatment-eligible premature infants. Our commercial
organization will focus on meeting the demands of this potentially expanding
market for the treatment of RDS and potentially other serious and debilitating
neonatal and pediatric indications, many of which represent significant unmet
medical needs. See
“Business – Surfactant Replacement Therapy for Respiratory Medicine – Surfactant
Replacement Therapy for Respiratory Medicine – Respiratory Distress Syndrome in
Premature Infants (RDS).”
To
execute this strategy, we expect to incur expenses at an annual rate of
approximately $20 - $25 million for sales, marketing and medical affairs
capabilities. We have made limited investments pending the potential approval of
Surfaxin. Our pre-approval preparations have included the hiring of certain
experienced management personnel. We plan to hire our sales representatives only
after we have received approval to market Surfaxin. For international markets,
we plan to seek strategic alliances or other collaboration arrangements to
support development and potential commercialization of Surfaxin, Surfaxin LS and
Aerosurf to address a wide range of neonatal and pediatric
indications.
General
and Administrative
We intend
to continue investing in general and administrative resources primarily to
support our intellectual property portfolios (including building and enforcing
our patent and trademark positions), our business development initiatives,
financial systems and controls, legal requirements, management information
technologies, and general management capabilities.
Strategic
Alliances and Collaboration Arrangements
Philip Morris USA Inc.,
d/b/a Chrysalis Technologies
In March
2008, we restructured our December 2005 Strategic Alliance Agreement (Original
Alliance Agreement) with Philip Morris USA Inc. (PMUSA), d/b/a Chrysalis
Technologies (Chrysalis), and assumed full responsibility for the further
development of the Capillary Aerosolization Technology, including finalizing
design development for the initial prototype aerosolization device platform and
disposable dose packets. In connection with the restructuring, we entered into
an Amended and Restated License Agreement dated March 28, 2008 (U.S. License
Agreement) with PMUSA to amend and restate the Original Alliance Agreement in
the United States. As PMUSA assigned to Philip Morris Products S.A. (PMPSA) all
rights in and to the Capillary Aerosolization Technology outside of the United
States (International Rights), effective the same date, we entered into a
License Agreement with PMPSA with respect to the International Rights
(International License Agreement) on substantially the same terms and conditions
as the U.S. License Agreement. We currently hold exclusive licenses to the
Capillary Aerosolization Technology both in and outside of the United States for
use with pulmonary surfactants (alone or in combination with any other
pharmaceutical compound(s)) for all respiratory diseases and conditions (the
foregoing uses in each territory, Exclusive Field). In addition, under the U.S.
License Agreement, our license to use the Capillary Aerosolization Technology
includes other (non-surfactant) drugs to treat a wide range of pediatric and
adult respiratory indications in hospitals and other health care
institutions.
17
In
connection with the restructuring, Chrysalis completed a technology transfer,
provided development support to us through June 30, 2008, and also paid us $4.5
million to support our future development activities, of which $2.0 million was
paid upon execution of the license agreements in March 2008 and $2.5 million was
paid upon completion of the technology transfer in June 2008. We are obligated
to pay royalties at a rate equal to a low single-digit percent of sales of
products sold in the Exclusive Field in the territories. In connection with
exclusive undertakings of PMUSA and PMPSA not to exploit the Capillary
Aerosolization Technology for all licensed uses, we are obligated to pay
royalties on all product sales, including sales of aerosol devices and related
components that are not based on the Capillary Aerosolization Technology;
provided, however, that no royalties are payable to the extent that we exercise
our right to terminate the license with respect to a specific indication. We
also agreed in the future to pay minimum royalties, but are entitled to a
reduction of future royalties in an amount equal to the excess of any minimum
royalty paid over royalties actually earned in prior periods.
Laboratorios del Dr. Esteve,
S.A.
We have a
strategic alliance with Laboratorios del Dr. Esteve, S.A. (Esteve) for the
development, marketing and sales of a broad portfolio of potential Surfactant products
in Andorra, Greece, Italy, Portugal, and Spain. Esteve will pay us a transfer
price on sales of Surfaxin and other KL4 Surfactant
products. We will be responsible for the manufacture and supply of all of the
covered products and Esteve will be responsible for all sales and marketing in
the territory. Esteve is obligated to make stipulated cash payments to us upon
our achievement of certain milestones, primarily upon receipt of marketing
regulatory approvals for the covered products. In addition, Esteve has agreed to
contribute to Phase 3 clinical trials for the covered products by conducting and
funding development performed in the territory. As part of a restructuring of
this alliance in December 2004, we regained full commercialization rights to our
KL4
Surfactant Technology in portions of the original territory licensed to Esteve,
including key European markets, Central America, and South America (Former
Esteve Territories) and agreed to pay to Esteve 10% of any cash up-front and
milestone fees (not to exceed $20 million in the aggregate) that we may receive
in connection with any strategic collaborations for the development and
commercialization of certain of our KL4 Surfactant
products, including Surfaxin and Aerosurf, in the Former Esteve
Territories.
Potential Alliances and
Collaboration Arrangements
We intend
to seek investments of additional capital and potentially enter into strategic
alliances and collaboration arrangements for the development and
commercialization of our KL4 Surfactant
product candidates. We continue to evaluate a variety of strategic transactions,
including, but not limited to, potential business alliances, commercial and
development partnerships, financings and other similar opportunities, although
there can be no assurance that we will enter into any specific alliances or
transactions. See
“Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations – Liquidity and Capital Resources – Financings Pursuant to Common
Stock Offerings”
LICENSING,
PATENTS AND OTHER PROPRIETARY RIGHTS AND
REGULATORY
DESIGNATIONS
We
continue, to invest in maintaining and perfecting our potential competitive
position through a number of means: (i) by protecting our exclusive rights in
our KL4 Surfactant
Technology and Capillary Aerosolization Technology through patents and patent
extensions, (ii) by seeking regulatory exclusivity designations, including
potential orphan drug and new drug product exclusivities such as new chemical
entity designations and supplemental exclusivities, and (iii) through protecting
our trade secrets and proprietary methodologies that support our manufacturing
and analytical processes.
Patents
and Proprietary Rights
Johnson & Johnson, Ortho
Pharmaceutical Corporation and The Scripps Research
Institute
Our
precision-engineered surfactant platform technology, including Surfaxin, is
based on the proprietary synthetic peptide, KL4
(sinapultide), a 21 amino acid protein-like substance that closely mimics the
essential human lung protein SP-B). This technology was invented at The Scripps
Research Institute (Scripps) and was exclusively licensed to and further
developed by Johnson & Johnson. We have received an exclusive, worldwide
license and sublicense from Johnson & Johnson and its wholly-owned
subsidiary, Ortho Pharmaceutical Corporation, for, and have rights to, a series
of over 30 patents and patent filings (worldwide) which are important, either
individually or collectively, to our strategy for commercializing our
precision-engineered surfactant technology for the diagnosis, prevention and
treatment of disease. The license and sublicense give us the exclusive rights to
such patents for the life of the patents.
18
Patents
covering our proprietary precision-engineered surfactant technology that have
been issued or are pending worldwide include composition of matter, formulation,
manufacturing and uses, including the pulmonary lavage, or “lung wash”
techniques. Our most significant patent rights principally consist of seven
issued United States patents: U.S. Patent No. 5,164,369; U.S. Patent No.
5,260,273; U.S. Patent No. 5,407,914; U.S. Patent No. 5,789,381; U.S. Patent No.
5,952,303; U.S. Patent No. 6,013,619; and U.S. Patent No. 6, 613,734 (along with
certain corresponding issued and pending foreign counterparts). These patents
relate to precision-engineered pulmonary surfactants (including Surfaxin),
certain related peptides (amino acid protein-like substances) and compositions,
methods of treating respiratory distress syndromes with these surfactants and
compositions, and our proprietary pulmonary lavage method of treating RDS with
these surfactants.
Our
licensed patent estate also includes United States and foreign patents and
applications that relate to methods of manufacturing Surfaxin and certain
peptides that may be used in the manufacture of Surfaxin, and other aspects of
our precision-engineered surfactant technology. These patents include U.S.
Patent No. 5,748,891; U.S. Patent No. 6,013,764; U.S. Patent No. 6,120,795; and
U.S. Patent No. 6,492,490 (along with certain corresponding issued and pending
foreign counterparts).
All such
patents, which include important KL4
composition of matter claims and relevant European patents, expire on various
dates beginning in November 2009 and ending in 2017 or, in some cases, possibly
later.
We also
have licensed certain pending applications that relate to combination therapies
of pulmonary surfactant and other drugs, and methods of use. These patent
applications are pending in the United States and a number of foreign
jurisdictions, including Europe and Japan.
Our Patents and Patent
Rights
We have
been active in seeking patent protection for our innovations relating to new
formulations and methods of manufacturing and delivering sinapultide pulmonary
surfactants. Our patent activities have focused particularly on formulation and
delivery of aerosolized pulmonary surfactant.
In May
2005, we filed United States and International patent applications (US
11/130,783 and PCT US/2005/0178184) directed to systems, devices and methods for
non-invasive pulmonary delivery of aerosolized surfactant.
In August
2005, we filed additional U.S. and International patent applications (US
11/209,588 and PCT US/2005/0029811) to seek expanded protection of our aerosol
delivery system and methods to include non-invasive pulmonary delivery in
conjunction with invasive techniques as needed.
In
November 2005, we filed U.S. and International patent applications (US11/274,201
and PCT US/2005/041281), directed to lyophilized formulations of sinapultide
pulmonary surfactants and methods of manufacture.
In
December 2005, we filed U.S. and International patent applications (US
11/316,308 and PCT US/2005/046862), directed to sinapultide pulmonary surfactant
formulations having improved viscosity characteristics, aerosolization capacity
and storage stability.
In
January 2006, we filed U.S. and International patent applications (US 11/326885
and PCT/US06/00308), directed to a surfactant treatment regimen for
BPD.
Each of
the above-listed PCT applications has been filed nationally in Europe and Japan,
among other countries.
19
In
September 2007, we filed U.S. and International patent applications (US
11/901,866 and PCT US/2007/090260) directed to surfactant compositions and
methods of promoting mucus clearance and treating pulmonary disorders such as
cystic fibrosis.
Capillary Aerosolization
Technology Patents and Patent Rights
Under our
license agreements with PMUSA and PMPSA, we hold exclusive licenses to the
Capillary Aerosolization Technology for use with pulmonary surfactants for all
respiratory diseases. The aerosolization technology patents expire on various
dates beginning in May 2016 and ending in 2023, or, in some cases, possibly
later. The license agreements provide for monitoring inventions and seeking
patent protection for innovations related to both Capillary Aerosolization
Technology and our surfactant technology. Our license rights extend to
innovations to the Capillary Aerosolization Technology that are made under the
license agreements. With these proprietary rights, we believe that our
aerosolized KL4 Surfactant
can be developed to potentially address a broad range of serious respiratory
conditions. See
“Business – Business Operations – Strategic Alliances and Collaboration
Agreements – Philip Morris USA Inc., d/b/a Chrysalis Technologies.”
See “Risk Factors – If we
cannot protect our intellectual property, other companies could use our
technology in competitive products. If we infringe the intellectual property
rights of others, other companies could prevent us from developing or marketing
our products” “ – Even if we obtain patents to protect our products, those
patents may not be sufficiently broad or they may expire and others could
compete with us” “ – Intellectual property rights of third parties could limit
our ability to develop and market our products” and “ – If we cannot meet
requirements under our license agreements, we could lose the rights to our
products.”
Other
Regulatory Designations
New Drug Product
Exclusivity
KL4
(sinapultide), our proprietary peptide that serves as the important base of our
precision-engineered surfactant platform technology, including Surfaxin, is a
new chemical entity. Upon approval, Surfaxin is expected to receive either five
years or three years of marketing exclusivity depending on FDA’s determination
whether Surfaxin drug product qualifies for new chemical entity exclusivity or
supplemental exclusivity, respectively.
Orphan Drug and Orphan
Medicinal Product Designations
“Orphan
Drugs” are pharmaceutical products that are intended to treat diseases affecting
fewer than 200,000 patients in the United States. The Office of Orphan Product
Development of the FDA grants certain advantages to the sponsors of Orphan Drugs
including, but not limited to, seven years of market exclusivity upon approval
of the drug, certain tax incentives for clinical research and grants to fund
testing of the drug. The FDA has granted Orphan Drug designation for Surfaxin as
a treatment for RDS in premature infants. However, as our Surfaxin NDA is for
the prevention, rather than treatment, of RDS, it is not certain whether the FDA
will provide this benefit to Surfaxin. As we believe that prevention and
treatment are identical in the context of neonatal RDS, we plan to request a
meeting with the FDA following approval of Surfaxin, if approved, to clarify the
application of this designation to Surfaxin. The FDA has also granted Orphan
Drug designation to (i) Surfaxin for the prevention of BPD in premature infants,
(ii) Surfaxin for the treatment of BPD in premature infants, (iii) Surfaxin for
the treatment of Meconium Aspiration Syndrome (MAS), and (iv) our KL4 Surfactant
for the treatment of ARDS in adults.
Similarly,
the Commission of the European Communities grants “Orphan Medicinal Product”
designation, which provides for exclusive marketing rights for indications in
Europe for 10 years (subject to revision after six years) following marketing
approval by the EMEA. In addition, the designation would enables us to receive
regulatory assistance in the further development process, and to access reduced
regulatory fees throughout its marketing life.
has
designated. We have received Orphan Medicinal Product designation for (i)
Surfaxin for the prevention and treatment of RDS in premature infants (ii)
Surfaxin for the treatment of MAS, and (ii) our KL4 Surfactant
for the treatment of ALI in adults (which in this circumstance encompasses
ARDS).
20
Fast Track
Designations
Designation
as a “Fast Track” product means that the FDA has determined that the drug is
intended for the treatment of a serious or life-threatening condition and
demonstrates the potential to address unmet medical needs, and that the FDA will
facilitate and expedite the development and review of the application for the
approval of the product. The FDA generally will review an NDA for a drug granted
Fast Track designation within six months.
The FDA
has granted “Fast Track” designation for (i) Surfaxin for the treatment and
prevention of BPD in premature infants, and (ii) our KL4 Surfactant
for the treatment of ARDS in adults.
COMPETITION
We are
engaged in highly competitive fields of pharmaceutical research and development.
Competition from numerous existing companies and others entering the fields in
which we operate is intense and expected to increase. We expect to compete with,
among others, conventional pharmaceutical companies. Most of these companies
have substantially greater research and development, manufacturing, marketing,
financial, technological personnel and managerial resources than we do.
Acquisitions of competing companies by large pharmaceutical or health care
companies could further enhance such competitors’ financial, marketing and other
resources. Moreover, competitors that are able to complete clinical trials,
obtain required regulatory approvals and commence commercial sales of their
products before we do may enjoy a significant competitive advantage over us.
There are also existing therapies that may compete with the products we are
developing. See “Risk
Factors – Our industry is highly competitive and we have less capital and
resources than many of our competitors, which may give them an advantage in
developing and marketing products similar to ours or make our products
obsolete.”
Currently,
the FDA has approved surfactants as replacement therapy only for the prevention
and treatment of RDS in premature infants. The most commonly used of these
approved surfactants are Curosurf, which is derived from a chemical extraction
porcine (pig) lung, and Survanta, which is derived from a chemical extraction
process of bovine (cow) lung. Curosurf is marketed in Europe by Chiesi
Farmaceutici S.p.A., and in the United States by Dey Laboratories, Inc. Survanta
is marketed by the Abbott Nutritionals, Inc. Forest Laboratories, Inc., markets
Infasurf®, a
surfactant derived from calf lung surfactant extract in the United States. The
only approved synthetic surfactant available in the United States was Exosurf;
however, this product does not contain any surfactant proteins and the
manufacturer, GlaxoSmithKline, plc., has discontinued marketing this
product.
GOVERNMENT
REGULATION
The
development, manufacture, distribution, marketing and advertising of drug
products are subject to extensive regulation by federal, state and local
governmental authorities in the United States, including the FDA, and by similar
agencies in other countries. Any product that we develop must receive all
relevant regulatory approvals or clearances before it may be marketed in a
particular country. Gaining regulatory approval of a drug product candidate
requires the expenditure of substantial resources over an extended period of
time. As a result, larger companies with greater financial resources will likely
have a competitive advantage over us.
Development
Activities: To gain regulatory approval of our KL4 Surfactant
Technology pipeline products, we must demonstrate, through experiments,
preclinical studies and clinical trials that each of our drug product candidates
meets the safety and efficacy standards established by the FDA and other
international regulatory authorities. In addition, we and our suppliers and
contract manufacturers must demonstrate that all development-related laboratory,
clinical and manufacturing practices comply with regulations of the FDA, other
international regulators and local regulators. Regulations establish standards
for such things as drug substances, materials and excipients; medical device
components, subassemblies and device manufacture; drug manufacturing operations
and facilities and analytical laboratories processes and environments; in each
instance, in connection with research, development, testing, manufacture,
quality control, labeling, storage, record keeping, approval, advertising and
promotion, and distribution of product candidates, on a product-by-product
basis. See “Risk
Factors – The regulatory approval process for our products is expensive and
time-consuming and the outcome is uncertain. We may not obtain required
regulatory approvals for the commercialization of our products.”
21
Pre-clinical Studies and
Clinical Trials: Development testing generally begins with laboratory
testing and experiments, as well as research studies using animal models to
obtain preliminary information on a product’s efficacy and to identify any
safety issues. The results of these studies are compiled along with other
information in an investigational new drug (IND) application, which is filed
with the FDA. After resolving any questions raised by the FDA, which may involve
additional testing and animal studies, clinical trials may begin. Regulatory
agencies in other countries generally require a Clinical Trial Application (CTA)
to be submitted and approved before each trial can commence in each
country.
Clinical
trials normally are conducted in three sequential phases and may take a number
of years to complete. Phase 1 consists of testing the drug product in a small
number of humans, normally healthy volunteers, to determine preliminary safety
and tolerable dose range. Phase 2 usually involves studies in a limited patient
population to evaluate the effectiveness of the drug product in humans having
the disease or medical condition for which the product is indicated, determine
dosage tolerance and optimal dosage and identify possible common adverse effects
and safety risks. Phase 3 consists of additional controlled testing at multiple
clinical sites to establish clinical safety and effectiveness in an expanded
patient population of geographically dispersed test sites to evaluate the
overall benefit-risk relationship for administering the product and to provide
an adequate basis for product labeling. Phase 4 clinical trials may be conducted
after approval to gain additional experience from the treatment of patients in
the intended therapeutic indication.
The
conduct of clinical trials are subject to stringent medical and regulatory
requirements. The time and expense required to establish clinical sites, provide
training and materials, establish communications channels and monitor a trial
over a long period of time is substantial. The conduct of clinical trials at
institutions located around the world is subject to foreign regulatory
requirements governing human clinical trials, which vary widely from country to
country. Delays or terminations of clinical trials could result from a number of
factors, including stringent enrollment criteria, slow rate of enrollment, size
of patient population, having to compete with other clinical trials for eligible
patients, geographical considerations and others. Clinical trials are monitored
by the regulatory agencies as well as medical advisory and standards boards,
which could determine at any time to reevaluate, alter, suspend, or terminate a
trial based upon accumulated data, including data concerning the occurrence of
adverse health events during or related to the treatment of patients enrolled in
the trial, and the regulator’s or monitor’s risk/benefit assessment with respect
to patients enrolled in the trial. If they occur, such delays or suspensions
could have a material impact on our KL4 Surfactant
Technology development programs. See “Risk Factors – Our
research and development activities involve significant risks and uncertainties
that are inherent in the clinical development and regulatory approval
processes”, and “– Our ongoing clinical trials may be delayed, or fail, which
will harm our business.”
Regulatory Review:
The results of preclinical and clinical trials are submitted to the FDA in an
NDA, with comparable filings submitted to other international regulators. After
the initial submission, the FDA has a period of time in which it must determine
if the NDA is complete. If an NDA is accepted for filing, following the FDA’s
review, the FDA may grant marketing approval, request additional information, or
deny the application if it determines that the application does not provide an
adequate basis for approval. If the FDA grants approval, the approval may be
conditioned upon the conduct of postmarketing clinical trials or other studies
to confirm the product’s safety and efficacy for its intended use. Until the FDA
has issued its approval, no marketing activities can be conducted in the United
States. Similar regulations apply in other countries.
After an
NDA is submitted, although the statutory period provided for the FDA’s review is
less than one year, dealing with questions or concerns of the agency and, taking
into account the statutory timelines governing such communications, may result
in review periods that can take several years. For example, the FDA has issued
to us three approvable letters, indicating that our Surfaxin drug product may be
approved if we satisfy certain conditions. Although in many cases applicants are
required to consider additional clinical trials, which may have the effect of
termination a development program, the approvable letters that we received did
not require additional clinical trials. We were delayed, however, as we were
required in certain instances to develop additional data to respond to the
matters raised by the FDA.
22
Manufacturing
Standards: The FDA and other international regulators establish standards
and routinely inspect facilities and equipment, analytical and quality
laboratories and processes used in the manufacturing and monitoring of products.
Prior to granting approval of a drug product, the agency will conduct a
pre-approval inspection of the manufacturing facilities, and the facilities of
suppliers, to determine that the drug product is manufactured in accordance with
cGMP regulations and product specifications. Following approval, the FDA will
conduct periodic inspections. If, in connection with a facility inspection, the
FDA determines that a manufacturer does not comply with cGMP, the FDA will issue
an inspection report citing the potential violations and may seek a range of
remedies, from administrative sanctions, including the suspension of our
manufacturing operations, to seeking civil or criminal penalties. See “Risk Factors – The
manufacture of our drug products is a highly exacting and complex process, and
if we, our contract manufacturers or any of our materials suppliers encounter
problems manufacturing our products or drug substances, this could potentially
cause us to delay development or clinical programs or, following approval,
product launch, or cause us to experience shortages of products
inventories.”
International
Approvals: If we succeed in gaining regulatory approval to market our
products in the United States, we will still need to apply for approval with
other international regulators. Regulatory requirements and approval processes
are similar in approach to that of the United States. With certain exceptions,
where the approval of the FDA carries considerable weight, international
regulators are not bound the findings of the FDA, such that there is a risk that
foreign regulators will not accept a clinical trial design or may require
additional data or other information not requested by the FDA. In Europe, there
is a centralized procedure under which the EMEA will conduct the application
review and recommend marketing approval to the European Commission, or not, for
the sale of drug products in the EU countries.
Post-approval
Regulation: Following the grant of marketing approval, the FDA regulates
the marketing and promotion of drug products. Promotional claims are generally
limited to the information provided in the product package insert for each drug
product, which is negotiated with the FDA during the NDA review process. In
addition, the FDA enforces regulations designed to guard against conflicts of
interest, misleading advertising and improper compensation of prescribing
physicians. The FDA will review, among other things, direct-to-consumer
advertising, prescriber-directed advertising and promotional materials, sales
representative communications to healthcare professionals, promotional
programming and promotional activities on the Internet. The FDA will also
monitor scientific and educational activities. If the FDA determines that a
company has promoted a product for an unapproved use (“off-label”), or engaged
in other violations, it may issue a regulatory letter and may require corrective
advertising or other corrective communications to healthcare professionals.
Enforcement actions may also potentially include product seizures, injunctions
and civil or criminal penalties. The consequences of such an action and the
related adverse publicity could have a material adverse effect on a developer’s
ability to market its drug and its business as a whole.
Following
approval the FDA and other international regulators will continue to monitor
data to assess the safety and efficacy of an approved drug. A post-approval
discovery of previously unknown problems or failure to comply with the
applicable regulatory requirements may result in restrictions on the marketing
of a product or a recall or withdrawal of the product from the market, as well
as possible civil or criminal sanctions. Similar oversight is provided by
international regulators.
Combination drug-device
products. Combination drug products, such as our aerosolized KL4
Surfactant, which consists of our proprietary KL4 Surfactant
administered through our novel capillary aerosolization systems, are similarly
subject to extensive regulation by federal, state and local governmental
authorities in the United States and in other countries. Combination products
involve review of two or more regulated components that might normally be
reviewed by regulatory authorities having different expertise and may involve
more complicated and time-consuming regulatory coordination, approvals and
clearances than a drug product alone. In the United States, our aerosolized
KL4
Surfactant combination drug-device product will be reviewed by the Center for
Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) of the FDA, with input from the division
that approves medical devices. Among other things, we will have to demonstrate
compliance with both cGMP, to ensure that the drug possesses adequate strength,
quality, identity and purity, and applicable Quality System (QS) regulations, to
ensure that the device is in compliance with applicable performance standards.
Although cGMP and QS overlap in many respects, each is tailored to the
particular characteristics of the types of products to which they apply, such
that compliance with both cGMP and QS may present unique problems and
manufacturing challenges.
23
None of
our products under development has been approved for marketing in the United
States or elsewhere. We may not be able to obtain regulatory approval for any of
our products under development. If we do not obtain the requisite governmental
approvals or if we fail to obtain approvals of the scope we request, we or our
licensees or strategic alliance or marketing partners may be delayed or
precluded entirely from marketing our products, or the commercial use of our
products may be limited. Such events would have a material adverse effect on our
business, financial condition and results of operations. See “Risk Factors – Our
technology platform is based solely on our proprietary KL4 Surfactant
Technology and Capillary Aerosolization Technology” “ – Our research and
development activities involve significant risks and uncertainties that are
inherent in the clinical development and regulatory approval processes”, “– Our
ongoing clinical trials may be delayed, or fail, which will harm our business”,
“– If the FDA and foreign regulators do not approve our products, we will not be
able to market our products,” and “ – The regulatory approval process for our
products is expensive and time-consuming and the outcome is uncertain. We may
not obtain required regulatory approvals for the commercialization of our
products.”
Certain
of our product candidates may qualify for Fast Track and/or Orphan Drug
designation. Fast Track designation means that the FDA has determined that the
drug is intended to treat a serious or life-threatening condition and
demonstrates the potential to address unmet medical needs. An important feature
is that it provides for accelerated approval and the possibility of rolling
submissions and emphasizes the critical nature of close, early communication
between the FDA and sponsor to improve the efficiency of product development.
The FDA generally will review an NDA for a drug granted Fast Track designation
within six months instead of the typical one to three years. Orphan Drug
designation is granted to pharmaceutical products that are intended to treat
diseases affecting fewer than 200,000 patients in the United States and provides
certain advantages to the Orphan Drugs sponsors, including, but not limited to,
seven years of market exclusivity upon approval of the drug, certain tax
incentives for clinical research and grants to fund testing of the drugs. See “Risk Factors – Even
though some of our product candidates have qualified for expedited review, the
FDA may not approve them at all or any sooner than other product candidates that
do not qualify for expedited review, and “Licensing, Patents and Other
Proprietary Rights and Regulatory Designations – Other Regulatory
Designations.”
EMPLOYEES
As of
February 5, 2009, we have approximately 118 full-time employees, all employed in
the United States. In connection with our manufacturing operations in Totowa,
New Jersey, we have entered into collective bargaining arrangements, expiring
December 2009, with respect to several employee classifications affecting 16 of
our current employees. See “Risk Factors – We depend
upon key employees and consultants in a competitive market for skilled
personnel. If we are unable to attract and retain key personnel, it could
adversely affect our ability to develop and market our products.”
AVAILABLE
INFORMATION
We file
annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information
with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You may read and copy any materials
that we file with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street,
N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the
Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. Many of our SEC filings are also available to
the public from the SEC’s website at “http://www.sec.gov.” We make available for
download free of charge through our website our annual report on Form 10-K, our
quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments
to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) the
Exchange Act as soon as reasonably practicable after we have filed it
electronically with, or furnished it to, the SEC.
We
maintain a website at “http://www.DiscoveryLabs.com”. Our website and the
information contained therein or connected thereto are not incorporated into
this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
ITEM
1A. RISK
FACTORS.
You
should carefully consider the following risks and any of the other information
set forth in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and in the documents incorporated
herein by reference, before deciding to invest in shares of our common stock.
The risks described below are not the only ones that we face. Additional risks
not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also impair
our business operations. The following risks, among others, could cause our
actual results, performance, achievements or industry results to differ
materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements contained
herein and presented elsewhere by management from time to time. If any of the
following risks actually occurs, our business prospects, financial condition or
results of operations could be materially harmed. In such case, the market price
of our common stock would likely decline due to the occurrence of any of these
risks, and you could lose all or part of your investment.
24
The
regulatory approval process for our products is expensive and time-consuming and
the outcome is uncertain. We may not obtain required regulatory approvals for
the commercialization of our products.
To sell
our products under development, including Surfaxin, we must receive regulatory
approvals for each product. The FDA and foreign regulators, such as the EMEA,
extensively and rigorously regulate the testing, manufacture, distribution,
advertising, pricing and marketing of drug products like our products. This
approval process includes (i) preclinical studies and clinical trials of each
drug product candidate and active pharmaceutical ingredients to establish the
safety and effectiveness of each product, and (ii) confirmation by the FDA and
foreign regulators that, in manufacturing the product, we maintain good
laboratory and manufacturing practices during testing and manufacturing. Even if
favorable data are generated by clinical trials, the FDA or foreign regulator
may not accept or approve an NDA or MAA filed by a pharmaceutical or
biotechnology company for such drug product. To market our products or conduct
clinical trials outside the United States, we also must comply with foreign
regulatory requirements governing marketing approval for pharmaceutical products
and the conduct of human clinical trials.
We filed
an NDA with the FDA for Surfaxin for the prevention of RDS in premature infants.
On May 1, 2008, the FDA issued a third Approvable Letter to us with respect to
this NDA. On October 17, 2008, we filed our Complete Response to this Approvable
Letter. The FDA has established April 17, 2009 as its target action date to
complete its review of our NDA. The FDA might still delay its approval of our
NDA or reject our NDA, which would have a material adverse effect on our
business. See also
“Risk Factors – Our pending NDA for Surfaxin for the prevention of RDS in
premature infants may not be approved by the FDA in a timely manner, or at all,
which would prevent our commercializing this product in the United States and
adversely impact our ability to commercialize this product
elsewhere.”
In
October 2004, we filed an MAA with the EMEA for clearance to market in Europe
Surfaxin for the prevention and rescue treatment of RDS in premature infants. In
June 2006, after ongoing analysis of Surfaxin process validation batches that
had been manufactured as a requirement for our NDA indicated that certain
stability parameters no longer met acceptance criteria, we determined that we
could not resolve the related manufacturing issues within the regulatory time
frames mandated by the EMEA procedure. Consequently, in June 2006, we
voluntarily withdrew the MAA without resolving with the EMEA certain outstanding
clinical issues related to the Surfaxin Phase 3 clinical trials. As we now plan
to focus our efforts on gaining approval for Surfaxin LS in Europe, we do not
plan to refile the MAA for Surfaxin.
If
the FDA and foreign regulators do not approve our products, we will not be able
to market our products.
The FDA
and foreign regulators have not yet approved any of our products under
development for marketing in the United States or elsewhere. Without regulatory
approval, we are not able to market our products. Further, even if we were to
succeed in gaining regulatory approvals for any of our products, the FDA or a
foreign regulator could at any time withdraw any approvals granted if there is a
later discovery of previously unidentified problems or if we fail to comply with
other applicable regulatory requirements at any stage in the regulatory process,
or the FDA or a foreign regulator may restrict or delay our marketing of a
product or force us to make product recalls. In addition, the FDA could impose
other sanctions such as fines, injunctions, civil penalties or criminal
prosecutions. Any failure to secure regulatory approval or any withdrawal or
significant restriction on our ability to market our products after approval
would have a material adverse effect on our business.
Our
pending NDA for Surfaxin for the prevention of RDS in premature infants may not
be approved by the FDA in a timely manner, or at all, which would prevent our
commercializing this product in the United States and adversely impact our
ability to commercialize this product elsewhere.
Receipt
of the May 2008 Approvable Letter delayed the FDA’s review of our NDA for
Surfaxin for the prevention of RDS in premature infants. On June 18, 2008, we
held a telephonic meeting with the FDA to confirm our approach to responding to
certain items identified in this Approvable Letter. We filed our Complete
Response on October 17, 2008 and the FDA established April 17, 2009 as its
target action date to complete its review of our NDA. Ultimately, the FDA may
not approve Surfaxin for RDS in premature infants. Any failure to secure FDA
approval or further delay associated with the FDA’s review process would
adversely impact our ability to commercialize our lead product and would have a
material adverse effect on our business.
25
Even
though some of our product candidates have qualified for expedited review, the
FDA may not approve them at all or any sooner than other product candidates that
do not qualify for expedited review.
The FDA
has notified us that two of our intended indications of our KL4 Surfactant
Technology pipeline, BPD in premature infants and ARDS in adults, have been
granted designation as “Fast Track” products under provisions of the Food and
Drug Administration Modernization Act of 1997. We believe that other potential
products in our KL4 Surfactant
Technology pipeline may also qualify for Fast Track designation. Fast Track
designation does not accelerate clinical trials nor does it mean that the
regulatory requirements are less stringent. Our products may cease to qualify
for expedited review and our other product candidates may fail to qualify for
Fast Track designation or expedited review. Moreover, even if we are successful
in gaining Fast Track designation, other factors could result in significant
delays in our development activities with respect to our Fast Track
products.
Our
research and development activities involve significant risks and uncertainties
that are inherent in the clinical development and regulatory approval
processes.
Development
risk factors include, but are not limited to whether we, or our third-party
collaborators, drug substances and materials suppliers and third-party contract
manufacturers, will be able to:
|
·
|
complete
our pre-clinical and clinical trials of our KL4
Surfactant product candidates with scientific results that are sufficient
to support further development and regulatory
approval;
|
|
·
|
receive
the necessary regulatory approvals;
|
|
·
|
obtain
adequate supplies of surfactant active drug substances, manufactured to
our specifications and on commercially reasonable
terms;
|
|
·
|
perform
under agreements to supply drug substances, medical device components and
related services necessary to manufacture our KL4
Surfactant product candidates, including Surfaxin, Surfaxin LS and
Aerosurf;
|
|
·
|
resolve
to the FDA’s satisfaction the matters identified in the May 2008
Approvable Letter for Surfaxin for the prevention of RDS in premature
infants;
|
|
·
|
provide
for sufficient manufacturing capabilities, at our manufacturing operations
in Totowa and with third-party contract manufacturers, to produce
sufficient drug product, including Surfaxin, Surfaxin LS and capillary
aerosolization systems to meet our pre-clinical and clinical development
requirements;
|
|
·
|
successfully
implement a strategy for the manufacture of capillary aerosolization
systems and related materials to support clinical studies of Aerosurf;
and
|
|
·
|
obtain
capital necessary to fund our research and development efforts, including
our supportive operations, manufacturing and clinical trials
requirements.
|
Because
these factors, many of which are outside our control, could have a potentially
significant impact on our development activities, the success, timing of
completion and ultimate cost of development of any of our product candidates is
highly uncertain and cannot be estimated with any degree of certainty. The
timing and cost to complete drug trials alone may be impacted by, among other
things:
|
·
|
slow
patient enrollment;
|
|
·
|
long
treatment time required to demonstrate
effectiveness;
|
|
·
|
lack
of sufficient clinical supplies and
material;
|
|
·
|
adverse
medical events or side effects in treated
patients;
|
|
·
|
lack
of compatibility with complementary
technologies;
|
|
·
|
failure
of a drug product candidate to demonstrate effectiveness;
and
|
|
·
|
lack
of sufficient funds.
|
26
If we do
not successfully complete clinical trials, we will not receive regulatory
approval to market our KL4 Surfactant
products. Failure to obtain and maintain regulatory approval and generate
revenues from the sale of our products would have a material adverse effect on
our financial condition and results of operations and likely reduce the market
value of our common stock.
Our
ongoing clinical trials may be delayed, or fail, which will harm our
business.
Clinical
trials generally take two to five years or more to complete. Like many
biotechnology companies, even after obtaining promising results in earlier
trials or in preliminary findings for such clinical trials, we may suffer
significant setbacks in late-stage clinical trials. Data obtained from clinical
trials are susceptible to varying interpretations that may delay, limit or
prevent regulatory approval. In addition, we may be unable to enroll patients
quickly enough to meet our expectations for completing any or all of these
trials. The timing and completion of current and planned clinical trials of our
product candidates depend on many factors, including the rate at which patients
are enrolled. Delays in patient enrollment in clinical trials may occur, which
would be likely to result in increased costs, program delays, or
both.
Patient
enrollment is a function of many factors, including:
|
·
|
the
number of clinical sites;
|
|
·
|
the
size of the patient population;
|
|
·
|
the
proximity of patients to the clinical
sites;
|
|
·
|
the
eligibility and enrollment criteria for the
study;
|
|
·
|
the
willingness of patients or their parents or guardians to participate in
the clinical trial;
|
|
·
|
the
existence of competing clinical
trials;
|
|
·
|
the
existence of alternative available products;
and
|
|
·
|
geographical
and geopolitical considerations.
|
If we
succeed in achieving our patient enrollment targets, patients that enroll in our
clinical trials could suffer adverse medical events or side effects that are
known to occur with the administration of the surfactant class of drugs
generally, such as a decrease in the oxygen level of the blood upon
administration. It is also possible that the FDA or foreign regulators could
interrupt, delay or halt any one or more of our clinical trials for any of our
product candidates. If we or any regulator believe that trial participants face
unacceptable health risks, any one or more of our trials could be suspended or
terminated. We also may not reach agreement with the FDA or a foreign regulator
on the design of any one or more of the clinical studies necessary for approval.
Conditions imposed by the FDA and foreign regulators on our clinical trials
could significantly increase the time required for completion of such clinical
trials and the costs of conducting the clinical trials.
In
addition to our efforts to gain approval of Surfaxin for the prevention of RDS
in premature infants, we are currently conducting a Phase 2 clinical trial to
evaluate the use of Surfaxin in children up to two years of age suffering from
Acute Respiratory Failure. We are also planning to initiate clinical studies in
support of other products in our KL4 Surfactant
Technology pipeline, including planned Phase 2 clinical trials with respect to
Aerosurf for RDS in premature infants. All of these clinical trials will be
time-consuming and potentially costly. Should we fail to complete our clinical
development programs or should such programs yield unacceptable results, such
failures would have a material adverse effect on our business.
Receipt
of the May 2008 Approvable Letter has caused us to refocus our efforts and
conserve our financial resources, which may subject us to unanticipated risks
and uncertainties.
As a
result of the May 2008 Approvable Letter and the delay with respect to the
timing of potentially gaining approval for Surfaxin for the prevention of RDS in
premature infants, we have adopted a strategy of focusing our efforts primarily
on responding to the Approvable Letter and conserving our financial resources to
potentially gain approval for Surfaxin in 2009. This caused us to reassess the
level of investment and the pace of our research and development programs,
including for Aerosurf, BPD, ARF and new formulations of our KL4
Surfactant, including Surfaxin LS. Reductions in investment will cause us to
experience delays in the progress of some of our programs. While we remain
reasonably confident that we can achieve our goals, we will continue to reassess
the business environment, the competitive landscape, our position within the
biotechnology industry and the adequacy of our financial resources. As a
consequence of our reassessment, at any time we may implement additional and
potentially significant changes to our development plans and our operations as
we seek to strengthen our financial and operational position. Such changes, if
adopted, could prove to be disruptive and detrimental to our development
programs. Moreover, consideration and planning of such strategic changes diverts
management’s attention and other resources from day-to-day operations, which may
subject us to further risks and uncertainties.
27
The
manufacture of our drug products is a highly exacting and complex process, and
if we, our contract manufacturers or any of our materials suppliers encounter
problems manufacturing our products or drug substances, this could potentially
cause us to delay development or clinical programs or, following approval,
product launch, or cause us to experience shortages of products
inventories.
The FDA
and foreign regulators require manufacturers to register manufacturing
facilities. The FDA and foreign regulators also periodically inspect these
facilities to confirm compliance with current good manufacturing procedures
(cGMP) or other similar requirements that the FDA or foreign regulators
establish. Our KL4 Surfactant
is a complex drug and, unlike many drugs, contains four active ingredients. It
must be aseptically manufactured at our facility as a sterile, liquid suspension
and requires ongoing monitoring of drug product stability and conformance to
specifications.
The
manufacture of pharmaceutical products requires significant expertise and
compliance with strictly enforced federal, state and foreign regulations. We,
our contract manufacturers or our materials and drug substances suppliers may
experience manufacturing or quality control problems that could result in a
failure to maintain compliance with the FDA’s cGMP requirements, or those of
foreign regulators, which is necessary to continue manufacturing our drug
products, materials or drug substances. Other problems that may be encountered
include:
|
·
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the
need to make necessary modifications to qualify and validate a
facility;
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·
|
difficulties
with production and yields, including manufacturing and completing all
required release testing on a timely basis to meet
demand;
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·
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availability
of raw materials and supplies;
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quality
control and assurance; and
|
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·
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shortages
of qualified personnel.
|
Such a
failure could result in product production and shipment delays or an inability
to obtain materials or drug substances supplies.
Manufacturing
or quality control problems have already occurred and may again occur at our
Totowa, New Jersey facility, or may occur at the facilities of a contract
manufacturer or our drug substances and materials suppliers. Such problems may
require potentially complex, time-consuming and costly comprehensive
investigations to determine the root causes of such problems and may also
require detailed and time-consuming remediation efforts, which can further delay
a return to normal manufacturing and production activities. Any failure by our
own manufacturing operations or by the manufacturing operations of any of our
suppliers to comply with cGMP requirements or other FDA or foreign regulatory
requirements could adversely affect our ability to manufacture our drug
products, which in turn would adversely affect our clinical research activities
and our ability to develop and gain regulatory approval to market our drug
products.
Since we
acquired our manufacturing operations in Totowa, New Jersey in December 2005, we
have manufactured our drug products. This is the only facility at which we
produce our drug product. We currently do not have a back-up facility. Any
interruption in manufacturing operations at this location could result in
shortage of drug supply for planned clinical trials, and, if approved,
commercial requirements for Surfaxin. A number of factors could cause
interruptions, including:
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equipment
malfunctions or failures;
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·
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technology
malfunctions;
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work
stoppages or slowdowns;
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·
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damage
to or destruction of the facility;
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28
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·
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regional
power shortages; and
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·
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product
tampering.
|
To assure
adequate drug supplies and continued compliance with cGMP and other FDA or
foreign regulatory requirements, we own certain specialized manufacturing
equipment, employ experienced manufacturing senior executive and managerial
personnel, and continue to invest in enhanced quality systems and manufacturing
capabilities. However, we do not have fully-redundant systems and equipment to
respond promptly in the event of a significant loss at our manufacturing
operations. We may under certain conditions be unable to produce Surfaxin and
our other KL4 Surfactant
product candidates at the required volumes or to appropriate standards, if at
all. If we are unable to successfully develop and maintain our manufacturing
capabilities and at all times comply with cGMP, it will adversely affect our
clinical development activities and, potentially, the sales of our products, if
approved.
If
we fail to maintain relationships with our manufacturers, assemblers and
integrator of our capillary aerosolization systems, or if we fail to identify
additional, qualified replacement manufacturers, assemblers and integrators to
manufacture subcomponents and integrate our initial prototype capillary
aerosolization system or anticipated later-development versions, the timeline of
our plans for the development and, if approved, commercialization of Aerosurf
could suffer.
In
connection with the development of aerosol formulations of our KL4 Surfactant
Technology, including Aerosurf, we currently plan to rely on third-party
contract manufacturers to manufacture, assemble and integrate the subcomponents
of our capillary aerosolization technology to support our clinical studies and
potential commercialization of Aerosurf. Certain of these key components must be
manufactured in an environmentally-controlled area and, when assembled, the
critical drug product-contact components and patient interface systems must be
packaged and sterilized. Each of the aerosolization system devices must be
quality-control tested prior to release and monitored for conformance to
designated product specification. In the United States, the device manufacturer
must be registered with the FDA (in Europe, the device manufacture and critical
suppliers must be registered with the appropriate regulatory authority) and
conduct its manufacturing activities in compliance with cGMP requirements or
other FDA or foreign regulatory requirements.
We
currently have identified component manufacturers and an integrator to
manufacture and integrate our initial prototype capillary aerosolization system
that we plan to use in Phase 2 clinical trials. However, as with many device
development initiatives, there is a risk that these manufacturers and integrator
may not be able to manufacture and integrate the subcomponents of our capillary
aerosolization systems to our specified standards. In addition, we may not be
able to identify qualified additional or replacement manufacturers and
integrators to manufacture subcomponents and integrate our current prototype or
next generation and later development versions of our capillary aerosolization
systems or we may not be able to enter into agreements with them on terms and
conditions favorable and acceptable to us. In addition, the manufacturers and
assemblers and integrators that we identify may be unable to timely comply with
FDA, or other foreign regulatory agency, requirements. If we do not successfully
identify and enter into a contractual agreements with manufacturers, assemblers
and integrators that have the required expertise, it will adversely affect our
timeline for the development and, if approved, commercialization of
Aerosurf.
If
the parties we depend on for supplying our active drug substances, materials and
excipient products as well as manufacturing-related services do not timely
supply these products and services, it may delay or impair our ability to
develop, manufacture and market our products.
We rely
on suppliers for our active drug substances, materials and excipient products,
and third parties for certain manufacturing-related services to manufacture drug
product that meets appropriate content, quality and stability standards for use
in clinical trials and, if approved, for commercial distribution. Our ability to
manufacture depends upon receiving adequate supplies and relate services, which
may be difficult or uneconomical to procure. The manufacturing process for
Aerosurf, a combination drug-device product, includes the integration of a
number of components, many of which are comprised of a large number of
subcomponent parts that we expect will be produced by potentially a number of
manufacturers. We and our suppliers may not be able to (i) produce our drug
substances, or manufacture materials and excipient products or our drug product,
or capillary aerosolization systems subcomponent parts or integrated devices, to
appropriate standards for use in clinical studies, (ii) comply with
manufacturing specifications under any definitive manufacturing, supply or
services agreements with us, or (iii) maintain relationships with our suppliers
and service providers for a sufficient time to successfully produce and market
our product candidates.
29
In some
cases, we are dependent upon a single supplier to provide all of our
requirements for one or more of our drug substances, materials and excipient
products or one or more of our drug product device subcomponents, components and
subassemblies. If we do not maintain important manufacturing and service
relationships, we may be not be able to identify a replacement supplier or
vendor and may not be able to develop our own manufacturing capabilities, which
could delay or impair our ability to obtain regulatory approval for our products
and substantially increase our costs or, upon approval, deplete our profit
margins, if any. Even if we are able to find replacement manufacturers,
suppliers and vendors when needed, we may not be able to enter into agreements
with them on terms and conditions favorable to us or there could be a
substantial delay before such manufacturer, vendor or supplier, or a related new
facility is properly qualified and registered with the FDA or other foreign
regulatory authorities. Such delays could have a material adverse effect on our
development activities and our business.
Our
limited sales and marketing experience may restrict our success in
commercializing our product candidates.
We have
limited experience in marketing or selling pharmaceutical products and have a
limited marketing and sales team. Following receipt of the May 2008 Approvable
Letter and submission of our Complete Response in October 2008, the FDA
established April 17, 2009 as its target action date to complete review of our
NDA. Pending the potential approval of Surfaxin, we have made limited
investments towards establishing our own specialty pulmonary commercial
organization to execute the launch of Surfaxin in the United States. Our
pre-approval preparations have included the hiring of certain experienced
management personnel and investment in our medical affairs capabilities to
provide for increased scientific and medical education activities.
Following
the potential approval of Surfaxin we expect to incur expenses at an annual rate
of approximately $20 - $25 million for sales, marketing and medical affairs
capabilities. We plan to hire our sales representatives to market Surfaxin in
the United States only after we have received approval to market Surfaxin. If,
however, we were presented with an alternative approach, through a strategic
alliance or other collaboration arrangement, that would achieve the foregoing,
and provide appropriate financial consideration and operational capabilities, we
would consider such a potential transaction.
For
international markets, we plan to seek strategic alliances or other
collaboration arrangements to support development and potential
commercialization of Surfaxin, Surfaxin LS and Aerosurf to address a wide range
of neonatal and pediatric indications. Our ability to make that investment and
also execute our current operating plan is dependent on numerous factors,
including, potentially, the performance of third-party collaborators with whom
we may contract. Accordingly, we may not have sufficient funds to successfully
commercialize Surfaxin or any other potential product in the United States or
elsewhere.
We expect
to rely primarily on our marketing and sales team to market Surfaxin, Surfaxin
LS and Aerosurf, if approved, in the United States. Developing a marketing and
sales team to market and sell products is a difficult, expensive and
time-consuming process. Recruiting, training and retaining qualified sales
personnel is critical to our success. Competition for skilled personnel can be
intense, and we may be unable to attract and retain a sufficient number of
qualified individuals to successfully launch Surfaxin. Additionally, we may not
be able to provide adequate incentive to our sales force. If we are unable to
successfully motivate and expand our marketing and sales force and further
develop our sales and marketing capabilities, we will have difficulty selling,
maintaining and increasing the sales of our products.
We
may not successfully develop and market our products, and even if we do, we may
not become profitable.
We
currently have no products approved for marketing and sale and are conducting
research and development on our product candidates. As a result, we have not
begun to market or generate revenues from the commercialization of any of our
products. Our long-term viability will be impaired if we are unable to obtain
regulatory approval for, or successfully market, our product candidates. Even if
we successfully develop and gain regulatory approval for our products, we still
may not generate sufficient or sustainable revenues or we may not be
profitable.
30
To date,
we have generated revenues primarily from investments, research grants and
collaboration agreements. We need to continue to engage in significant,
time-consuming and costly research, development, pre-clinical studies, clinical
testing and regulatory approval activities for our products under development
before their commercialization. In addition, pre-clinical or clinical studies
may show that our products are not effective or safe for one or more of their
intended uses. We may fail in the development and commercialization of our
products.
As of
December 31, 2008, we have an accumulated deficit of approximately $327.4
million and we expect to continue to incur significant increasing operating
losses over the next several years. As a result of our
financial position as of December 31, 2008, the audit opinion we received from
our independent auditors, which is included in our financial statements in this
report, contained a notation related to our ability to continue as a going
concern.
The
commercial success of our product candidates will depend upon the degree of
market acceptance by physicians, patients, healthcare payers and others in the
medical community.
Any
potential products that we bring to market may not gain or maintain market
acceptance by governmental purchasers, group purchasing organizations,
physicians, patients, healthcare payers and others in the medical community. If
any products that we develop do not achieve an adequate level of acceptance, we
may not generate sufficient revenues to support continued commercialization of
these products. The degree of market acceptance of our product candidates, if
approved for commercial sale, will depend on a number of factors,
including:
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the
perceived safety and efficacy of our
products;
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the
potential advantages over alternative
treatments;
|
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·
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the
prevalence and severity of any side
effects;
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·
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the
relative convenience and ease of
administration;
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·
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cost
effectiveness;
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·
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the
willingness of the target patient population to try new products and of
physicians to prescribe our
products;
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·
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the
effectiveness of our marketing strategy and distribution support;
and
|
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·
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the
sufficiency of coverage or reimbursement by third
parties.
|
If
we do not adequately forecast customer demand for our product candidates,
including Surfaxin, if approved, our business could suffer.
The
timing and amount of customer demand is difficult to predict and the commercial
requirements to meet changing customer demand is difficult to predict. If we are
successful in gaining regulatory approval of our products, we may not be able to
accurately forecast customer demand for our drug product candidates, including
Surfaxin, or respond effectively to unanticipated increases in demand. This
could have an adverse effect on our business. If we overestimate customer
demand, or attempt to commercialize products for which the market is smaller
than we anticipate, we could incur significant unrecoverable costs from creating
excess capacity. In addition, if we do not successfully develop and timely
commercialize our drug product candidates, we may never require the production
capacity that we expect to have available.
Our
preferred strategy with respect to development and marketing of our products, in
many cases, is to enter into strategic partnerships and/or collaboration
agreements with third parties. If we fail to enter into these agreements, or if
we or the third parties fail to perform under such agreements, it could impair
our ability to develop and commercialize our products.
To fund
development, clinical testing, and marketing and commercialization of our
products, our strategy, in many cases, may depend upon strategic partnerships
and collaboration arrangements with pharmaceutical and other biotechnology
companies to develop, market, commercialize and distribute our products. In
addition to funding our activities, we may depend on our strategic partners’ or
collaborators’ expertise and dedication of sufficient resources to develop and
commercialize covered products. In addition, if any of our strategic
partnerships and collaboration arrangements fail to timely meet their stated
objectives, our success may depend upon our identifying and obtaining additional
strategic partnerships and collaboration arrangements.
31
Our
collaboration arrangement with Esteve for Surfaxin and certain other of our drug
product candidates is focused on key southern European markets. If we or Esteve
should fail to conduct our respective collaboration-related activities in a
timely manner, or otherwise breach or terminate the agreements that make up our
collaboration arrangements, or if a dispute should arise under our collaboration
arrangements, such events could impair our ability to commercialize or develop
our products for the Esteve territory in Europe covered by the arrangement. In
such events, we may need to seek other partners and collaboration agreements, or
we may have to develop our own internal capabilities to market the covered
products in the Esteve territory without a collaboration
arrangement.
In March
2008, we restructured a strategic alliance with Philip Morris USA, Inc. (PMUSA)
d/b/a/ Chrysalis and assumed full responsibility for development of the
Capillary Aerosolization Technology, including finalizing design development for
the initial prototype aerosolization device platform and disposable dose
packets. We currently plan to rely on our own engineering expertise as well as
design engineers, medical device experts and other third-party collaborators to
advance the development of our Capillary Aerosolization Technology. If we are
unable to identify design engineers and medical device experts to support our
development efforts, including of the initial prototype aerosolization system
and the next generation versions of the capillary aerosolization systems, it
would impair our ability to commercialize or develop our aerosolized KL4 Surfactant
products, which would have a material adverse effect on our development
activities and our business.
We may,
in the future, grant to strategic partners and collaboration partners rights to
license, develop and commercialize our products. Under such arrangements, our
partners may control key decisions relating to the development and
commercialization of the covered products. By granting such rights, we would
likely limit our flexibility in considering alternative strategies to develop
and commercialize our products. If we were to fail to successfully develop these
relationships, or if our partners were to fail to successfully develop, market
or commercialize any of the covered products, such failures may delay or prevent
us from developing or commercializing our products in a competitive and timely
manner and would have a material adverse effect on the potential
commercialization of Surfaxin and our other KL4 Surfactant
product candidates. See
“Risk Factors – Our limited sales and marketing experience may restrict our
success in commercializing our drug product candidates.”
Under
our restructured license agreement with PMUSA, we now have rights to develop the
Capillary Aerosolization Technology, which will require us to build internal
development capabilities or enter into future collaboration or other
arrangements to gain the engineering expertise required to support our
development activities.
Under our
restructured arrangement with PMUSA, we now have rights to develop the Capillary
Aerosolization Technology and have not had development support from PMUSA since
June 30, 2008. Our development activities are subject to certain risks and
uncertainties, including, without limitation:
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·
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We
may not be able to complete the development of the initial prototype
capillary aerosolization system, if at all, on a timely basis and such
inability may delay or prevent initiation of our planned Phase 2 clinical
trials;
|
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·
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To
continue the development of the Capillary Aerosolization Technology, we
will require access to sophisticated engineering capabilities. To meet
that requirement, we are developing our own internal medical device
engineering expertise and plan to work with a leading engineering and
design firm that has a successful track record of developing innovative
devices for major companies in the medical and pharmaceutical industries.
There is no assurance that our efforts will be successful,
however.
|
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·
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If
we are unable to successfully develop the initial prototype capillary
aerosolization system and/or the next generation capillary aerosolization
system, we may seek a potential strategic partner or third-party
collaborator that has the necessary medical device development expertise
to advance the development of our Capillary Aerosolization Technology.
There can be no assurance, however, that we will successfully identify or
be able to enter into agreements with such potential partners or
collaborators on terms and conditions that are favorable to us. If we are
unable to secure the necessary medical device development expertise to
support our development program, this could impair our ability to
commercialize or develop our aerosolized KL4
Surfactant; and
|
32
To
market and distribute our products, we may enter into distribution arrangements
and marketing alliances, which could require us to give up rights to our drug
product candidates.
We may
rely on third-party distributors to distribute, or enter into marketing
alliances to sell, our products, either internationally or in the United States.
We may not be successful in identifying such third parties or finalizing such
arrangements on terms and conditions that are favorable to us. Our failure to
successfully enter into these arrangements on favorable terms could delay or
impair our ability to commercialize our drug product candidates and could
increase our costs of commercialization. Our dependence on distribution
arrangements and marketing alliances to commercialize our drug product
candidates will subject us to a number of risks, including:
|
·
|
we
may be required to relinquish important rights to our products or drug
product candidates;
|
|
·
|
we
may not be able to control the amount and timing of resources that our
distributors or collaborators may devote to the commercialization of our
drug product candidates;
|
|
·
|
our
distributors or collaborators may experience financial
difficulties;
|
|
·
|
our
distributors or collaborators may not devote sufficient time to the
marketing and sales of our products thereby exposing us to potential
expenses in terminating such distribution agreements;
and
|
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·
|
business
combinations or significant changes in a collaborator’s business strategy
may adversely affect a collaborator’s willingness or ability to complete
its obligations under any
arrangement.
|
We also
may need to enter into additional co-promotion arrangements with third parties
where our own sales force is neither well-situated nor large enough to achieve
maximum penetration in the market. We may not be successful in entering into any
such co-promotion arrangements, and the terms of any co-promotion arrangements
may not be favorable to us. In addition, if we enter into co-promotion
arrangements or market and sell additional products directly, we may need to
further expand our sales force and incur additional expense.
If we
fail to enter into arrangements with third parties in a timely manner or if such
parties fail to perform, it could adversely affect sales of our products. We and
our third-party distributors and collaborators must also market our products in
compliance with federal, state and local laws relating to the providing of
incentives and inducements. Violation of these laws can result in substantial
penalties.
We intend
to market and sell Surfaxin outside of the United States, if approved, through
one or more strategic partners. We currently have such an alliance with Esteve
for distribution of our KL4 Surfactant
products in Andorra, Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain. We have limited
influence over the decisions made by Esteve or its sublicensees or the resources
that they may devote to the marketing and distribution of Surfaxin products in
their licensed territory, and Esteve or its sublicensees may not meet their
obligations in this regard. Our marketing and distribution arrangement with
Esteve may not be successful, and, as a result, we may not receive any revenues
from it. Also, we may not be able to enter into marketing and sales agreements
for Surfaxin on acceptable terms, if at all, in territories not covered by the
Esteve agreement, or for any of our other drug product candidates.
In
light of the delayed timeline for the anticipated approval for Surfaxin, we will
have to raise significant additional capital to continue our existing planned
research and development activities. Moreover, such additional financing could
result in equity dilution.
We
anticipate the potential approval of Surfaxin in April 2009. Until such time as
we are able to commercialize our Surfaxin drug product, if approved, and
generate revenues, we will need substantial additional funding to conduct our
ongoing research and product development activities. Our operating plans require
that expenditures will only be committed if we achieve important development and
regulatory milestones and have the necessary working capital resources.
Accordingly, as we attempt to conserve our resources, we expect to experience
delays in certain of our development programs. If we are unable to raise
substantial additional funds through future debt and equity financings and /or
strategic and collaborative ventures with potential partners, we may be forced
to further limit many, if not all, of our programs and consider licensing the
development and commercialization of products that we consider valuable and
which we otherwise would develop ourselves. If we are unable to raise required
capital, we may be forced to curtail all of our activities and, ultimately,
potentially cease operations.
33
Our
future capital requirements will depend on a number of factors that are
uncertain, including the results of our research and development activities,
clinical studies and trials, competitive and technological advances and the
regulatory process, among others. We will likely need to raise substantial
additional funds through strategic alliances and collaborative ventures and
through additional debt or equity financings. We may also continue to seek
additional funding through new capital financing arrangements, if available. In
some cases, we may elect to develop products on our own instead of entering into
collaboration arrangements, which would increase our cash requirements for
research and development.
In
addition, the continued credit crisis and related instability in the global
financial system may have an impact on our business and our financial condition.
We may face significant challenges if conditions in the financial markets do not
improve, including an inability to access the capital markets at a time when we
would like or require, and an increased cost of capital. Except for the CEFFs
with Kingsbridge, we currently do not have arrangements to obtain additional
financing. Any such financing could be difficult to obtain, only available on
unattractive terms or could result in significant dilution of stockholders’
interests and, in such event, the market price of our common stock may decline.
Furthermore, if the market price of our common stock were to decline, we could
cease to meet the financial requirements to maintain the listing of our common
stock on The Nasdaq Global Market. In addition, failure to secure any necessary
financing in a timely manner and on favorable terms could have a material
adverse effect on our business plan, financial performance and stock price and
could require the delay of new product development and clinical trial plans.
See also “Risk Factors
– Our Committed Equity Financing Facilities may have a dilutive impact on our
stockholders.”
To meet
our capital requirements, we continue to consider multiple strategic
alternatives, including, but not limited to potential additional financings as
well as potential business alliances, commercial and development partnerships
and other similar opportunities, although there can be no assurance that we will
take any further specific actions or enter into any transactions.
The
terms of our indebtedness may impair our ability to conduct our
business.
Our
capital requirements are funded in part by an $8.5 million loan from PharmaBio
Development, Inc. (PharmaBio), a Strategic Investment Group of Quintiles
Transnational Corp., which is secured by substantially all of our assets and
contains a number of covenants and restrictions that, with certain exceptions,
restricts our ability to, among other things, incur additional indebtedness,
borrow money or issue guarantees, use assets as security in other transactions,
and sell assets to other companies. We may not be able to engage in these types
of transactions, even if we believe that a specific transaction would be in our
best interests. Moreover, our ability to comply with these restrictions could be
affected by events outside our control. A breach of any of these restrictions
could result in a default under the PharmaBio loan documents. If a default were
to occur, PharmaBio would have the right to declare all borrowings to be
immediately due and payable. If we are unable to pay when due amounts owed to
PharmaBio, whether at maturity or in connection with acceleration of the loan
following a default, PharmaBio would have the right to proceed against the
collateral securing the indebtedness.
We have
financed certain acquisitions of personal property, machinery and equipment
through an equipment financing facility with GE Business Financial Services Inc.
under a Credit and Security Agreement that we executed with GE in May 2007. Our
ability to draw under this facility expired in November 2008. In September 2008,
we received a loan from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of
Community and Economic Development, Machinery and Equipment Loan Fund (MELF), in
the amount of $500,000 to fund the purchase and installation of new machinery
and equipment and the upgrade of existing machinery and equipment at our new
analytical and development laboratory in Warrington, Pennsylvania. The loan is
secured by the machinery and equipment and is payable in equal monthly
installments over a period of seven years. See “Management’s Discussion
and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Liquidity and
Capital Resources – Debt – Equipment Financing Facilities.”
If we
require additional funds to support our capital programs, there can be no
assurance that GE or any other lender will be willing to provide us funding or
that we will be able to secure additional funding through the MELF or other
program of the Commonwealth. In addition, the aggregate amount of our
indebtedness may adversely affect our financial condition, limit our operational
and financing flexibility and negatively impact our business.
34
Our
Committed Equity Financing Facilities may have a dilutive impact on our
stockholders.
We
currently have three CEFFs with Kingsbridge, dated in April 2006 (the 2006
CEFF), May 2008 (the May 2008 CEFF) and December 2008 (the December 2008 CEFF).
The issuance of shares of our common stock under the CEFFS and upon exercise of
the related warrants we issued to Kingsbridge will have a dilutive impact on our
other stockholders and the issuance, or even potential issuance, of such shares
could have a negative effect on the market price of our common stock. In
addition, if we access the CEFFs, we will issue shares of our common stock to
Kingsbridge at a discount (6% to 10% for the 2006 CEFF, 6% to 12% for the May
2008 CEFF and 6% to 15% for the December 2008 CEFF) to the daily volume weighted
average price of our common stock during the six or eight trading-day period, as
appropriate, after we access a CEFF. Issuing shares at a discount will further
dilute the interests of other stockholders. See “Management’s Discussion
and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Committed Equity
Financing Facility”.
To the
extent that Kingsbridge sells to third parties the shares of our common stock
that we sell to Kingsbridge under the CEFFs, our stock price may decrease due to
the additional selling pressure in the market. The perceived risk of dilution
from sales of stock to or by Kingsbridge may cause holders of our common stock
to sell their shares, or it may encourage short sales of our common stock or
other similar transactions. This could contribute to a decline in the stock
price of our common stock.
If we are
unable to meet the conditions provided under the CEFFs, we will not be able to
issue any portion of the shares potentially available for issuance under the
CEFFs and therefore may not be able to use the CEFFs to fund our activities and
the CEFFs could expire without having been utilized. Moreover, Kingsbridge has
the right under certain circumstances to terminate the CEFFs, including in the
event of a material adverse event. In addition, even if we meet all the
conditions provided under the CEFFs, we are dependent upon the financial ability
of Kingsbridge to perform its obligations and purchase shares of our common
stock under the CEFFs. Any inability on our part to use at least one of the
CEFFs or any failure by Kingsbridge to perform its obligations under the CEFFs
could have a material adverse effect upon us.
The
market price of our stock may be adversely affected by market
volatility.
The
market price of our common stock, like that of many other development stage
pharmaceutical or biotechnology companies, has been and is likely to be
volatile. In addition to general economic, political and market conditions, the
price and trading volume of our stock could fluctuate widely in response to many
factors, including:
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announcements
of the results of clinical trials by us or our
competitors;
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patient
adverse reactions to drug products;
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governmental
approvals, delays in expected governmental approvals or withdrawals of any
prior governmental approvals or public or regulatory agency concerns
regarding the safety or effectiveness of our
products;
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changes
in the United States or foreign regulatory policy during the period of
product development;
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changes
in the United States or foreign political environment and the passage of
laws, including tax, environmental or other laws, affecting the product
development business;
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developments
in patent or other proprietary rights, including any third party
challenges of our intellectual property
rights;
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announcements
of technological innovations by us or our
competitors;
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announcements
of new products or new contracts by us or our
competitors;
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actual
or anticipated variations in our operating results due to the level of
development expenses and other
factors;
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changes
in financial estimates by securities analysts and whether our earnings
meet or exceed the estimates;
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conditions
and trends in the pharmaceutical and other
industries;
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new
accounting standards; and
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the
occurrence of any of the risks described in these “Risk Factors” or
elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K or our other publics
filings.
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35
Our
common stock is listed for quotation on The Nasdaq Global Market. During the
twelve month period ended December 31, 2008, the price of our common stock
ranged from $3.02 to $0.77. We expect the price of our common stock to remain
volatile. The average daily trading volume in our common stock varies
significantly. For the twelve month period ended December 31, 2008, the average
daily trading volume in our common stock was approximately 972,387 shares and
the average number of transactions per day was approximately 2,276. Our
relatively low average volume and low average number of transactions per day may
affect the ability of our stockholders to sell their shares in the public market
at prevailing prices and a more active market may never develop.
In
addition, if we fail to adhere to the strict listing criteria of The Nasdaq
Global Market, our stock may be delisted. During approximately two weeks in the
fourth quarter of 2008, our stock traded below $1.00 per share. If our stock had
continued to trade below $1.00 per share for 30 consecutive days, it may have
been subject to delisting under one of the regulatory listing requirements.
However, in response to the ongoing financial crisis and markets disruptions,
Nasdaq temporarily suspended this listing requirement through April 20, 2009. If
our common stock were no longer listed on The Nasdaq Global Market, investors
might only be able to trade in the over-the-counter market in the Pink
Sheets® (a
quotation medium operated by Pink OTC Markets Inc.) or on the OTC Bulletin
Board® of the
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (FINRA). This would impair the
liquidity of our securities not only in the number of shares that could be
bought and sold at a given price, which might be depressed by the relative
illiquidity, but also through delays in the timing of transactions and reduction
in media coverage.
In the
past, following periods of volatility in the market price of the securities of
companies in our industry, securities class action litigation has often been
instituted against companies in our industry. We recently won dismissal of such
an action, which was brought against us and certain of our former and current
executive officers. Even if securities class actions that we may face in the
future are ultimately determined to be meritless or unsuccessful, they involve
substantial costs and a diversion of management attention and resources, which
could negatively impact our business.
Future
sales and issuances of our common stock or rights to purchase our common stock,
including pursuant to our stock incentive plans and upon the exercise of
outstanding securities exercisable for shares of our common stock, could result
in substantial additional dilution of our stockholders, cause our stock price to
fall and adversely affect our ability to raise capital.
We
require significant additional capital to continue to execute our business plan
and advance our research and development efforts. To the extent that we raise
additional capital through the issuance of additional equity securities and
through the exercise of outstanding warrants, our stockholders may experience
substantial dilution. We may sell shares of our common stock in one or more
transactions at prices that may be at a discount to the then-current market
value of our common stock and on such other terms and conditions as we may
determine from time to time. Any such transaction could result in substantial
dilution of our existing stockholders. If we sell shares of our common stock in
more than one transaction, stockholders who purchase our common stock may be
materially diluted by subsequent sales. Such sales could also cause a drop in
the market price of our common stock. See also, “Risk Factors – Our
Committed Equity Financing Facilities may have a dilutive impact on our
stockholders.” As of March 04, 2009, we had 102,551,774 shares of common stock
issued and outstanding.
We have a
universal shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-151654), filed
with the SEC on June 13, 2008, for the proposed offering from time to time of up
to $150 million of the Company’s securities, including common stock, preferred
stock, varying forms of debt and warrant securities, or any combination of the
foregoing. We may issue securities pursuant to this shelf registration statement
from time to time in response to market conditions or other circumstances on
terms and conditions that will be determined at such time.
In
addition, as of December 31, 2008, there are approximately (i) 7.8 million
shares of our common stock reserved for potential issuance upon the exercise of
outstanding warrants, (ii) 18.5 million shares of our common stock reserved for
issuance pursuant to our equity incentive plans, and (iii) 324,339 shares of our
common stock are reserved for issuance pursuant to our 401(k) Plan. The exercise
of stock options and other securities could cause our stockholders to experience
substantial dilution. Moreover, holders of our stock options and warrants are
likely to exercise them, if ever, at a time when we otherwise could obtain a
price for the sale of our securities that is higher than the exercise price per
security of the options or warrants. Such exercises, or the possibility of such
exercises, may impede our efforts to obtain additional financing through the
sale of additional securities or make such financing more costly. It may also
reduce the price of our common stock.
36
If,
during the term of certain of our warrants, we declare or make any dividend or
other distribution of our assets to holders of shares of our common stock, by
way of return of capital or otherwise (including any distribution of cash, stock
or other securities, property or options by way of a dividend, spin off,
reclassification, corporate rearrangement or other similar transaction), then
the exercise price of such warrants may adjust downward and the number of shares
of common stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants would increase. As a
result, we may be required to issue more shares of common stock than previously
anticipated, which could result in further dilution of our existing
stockholders.
Directors,
executive officers, principal stockholders and affiliated entities own a
significant percentage of our capital stock, and they may make decisions that
you do not consider to be in your best interest.
As of
December 31, 2008, our directors, executive officers, principal stockholders and
affiliated entities beneficially owned, in the aggregate, approximately 18
percent (18%) of the issued and outstanding shares of our common stock. For the
purpose of computing this amount, an affiliated entity includes any entity that
is known to us to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent (5%) of our
issued and outstanding common stock. As a result, if some or all of them acted
together, they would have the ability to exert substantial influence over the
election of our Board of Directors and the outcome of issues requiring approval
by our stockholders. This concentration of ownership may have the effect of
delaying or preventing a change in control of our company that may be favored by
other stockholders. This could prevent transactions in which stockholders might
otherwise recover a premium for their shares over current market
prices.
Our
technology platform is based solely on our proprietary KL4 Surfactant
Technology and Capillary Aerosolization Technology.
Our
technology platform is based on the scientific rationale of using our KL4 Surfactant
Technology and Capillary Aerosolization Technology to treat life-threatening
respiratory disorders and to serve as the foundation for the development of
novel respiratory therapies and products. Our business is dependent upon the
successful development and approval of our drug product candidates and our
drug-device combination products based on these technologies. Any material
problems with our technology platforms could have a material adverse effect on
our business.
If
we cannot protect our intellectual property, other companies could use our
technology in competitive products. If we infringe the intellectual property
rights of others, other companies could prevent us from developing or marketing
our products.
We seek
patent protection for our drug product candidates to prevent others from
commercializing equivalent products in substantially less time and at
substantially lower expense. The pharmaceutical industry places considerable
importance on obtaining patent and trade secret protection for new technologies,
products and processes. Our success will depend in part on our ability and that
of parties from whom we license technology to:
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defend
our patents and otherwise prevent others from infringing our proprietary
rights;
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protect
trade secrets; and
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operate
without infringing the proprietary rights of others, both in the United
States and in other countries.
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The
patent position of companies relying upon biotechnology is highly uncertain and
involves complex legal and factual questions for which important legal
principles are unresolved. To date, the United States Patent and Trademark
Office (USPTO) has not adopted a consistent policy regarding the breadth of
claims that it will allow in biotechnology patents or the degree of protection
that these types of patents afford. As a result, there are risks that we may not
secure rights to products or processes that appear to be
patentable.
37
Even
if we obtain patents to protect our products, those patents may not be
sufficiently broad or they may expire and others could then compete with
us.
We and
the parties licensing technologies to us, have filed various United States and
foreign patent applications with respect to the products and technologies under
our development, and the USPTO and foreign patent offices have issued patents
with respect to our products and technologies. These patent applications include
international applications filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty. Our
pending patent applications, those we may file in the future or those we may
license from third parties may not result in the USPTO or foreign patent office
issuing patents. In addition, if patent rights covering our products are not
sufficiently broad, they may not provide us with sufficient proprietary
protection or competitive advantages against competitors with similar products
and technologies. Furthermore, even if the USPTO or foreign patent offices were
to issue patents to us or our licensors, others may challenge the patents or
circumvent the patents, or the patent office or the courts may invalidate the
patents. Thus, any patents we own or license from or to third parties may not
provide us any protection against competitors.
The
patents that we hold also have a limited life. We have licensed a series of
patents for our KL4 Surfactant
Technology from Johnson & Johnson and its wholly-owned subsidiary Ortho
Pharmaceutical Corporation (Ortho Pharmaceutical), which are important, either
individually or collectively, to our strategy of commercializing our KL4 Surfactant
products. These patents, which include important KL4
composition of matter claims and relevant European patents, expire on various
dates beginning in November 2009 and ending in 2017 or, in some cases, possibly
later. For our aerosolized KL4
Surfactant, we hold exclusive licenses in the United States and outside the
United States to PMUSA’s Capillary Aerosolization Technology for use with
pulmonary surfactants for all respiratory diseases. Our exclusive license in the
United States also extends to other (non-surfactant) drugs to treat a wide range
of pediatric and adult respiratory indications in hospitals and other health
care institutions. The Capillary Aerosolization Technology patents expire on
various dates beginning in May 2016 and ending in 2023, or, in some cases,
possibly later. We have filed, and when possible and appropriate, will file,
other patent applications with respect to our products and processes in the
United States and in foreign countries. We may not be able to develop enhanced
or additional products or processes that will be patentable under patent law
and, if we do enhance or develop additional products that we believe are
patentable, additional patents may not be issued to us. See also “Risk Factors – If
we cannot meet requirements under our license agreements, we could lose the
rights to our products.”
Intellectual
property rights of third parties could limit our ability to develop and market
our products.
Our
commercial success also depends upon our ability to operate our business without
infringing the patents or violating the proprietary rights of others. In certain
cases, the USPTO keeps United States patent applications confidential while the
applications are pending. As a result, we cannot determine in advance what
inventions third parties may claim in their pending patent applications. We may
need to defend or enforce our patent and license rights or to determine the
scope and validity of the proprietary rights of others through legal
proceedings, which would be costly, unpredictable and time consuming. Even in
proceedings where the outcome is favorable to us, they would likely divert
substantial resources, including management time, from our other activities.
Moreover, any adverse determination could subject us to significant liability or
require us to seek licenses that third parties might not grant to us or might
only grant at rates that diminish or deplete the profitability of our products.
An adverse determination could also require us to alter our products or
processes or cease altogether any product sales or related research and
development activities.
If
we cannot meet requirements under our license agreements, we could lose the
rights to our products.
We depend
on licensing agreements with third parties to maintain the intellectual property
rights to our products under development. Presently, we have licensed rights
from Johnson & Johnson, Ortho Pharmaceutical, PMUSA and PMPSA. These
agreements require us to make payments and satisfy performance obligations to
maintain our rights under these licensing agreements. All of these agreements
last either throughout the life of the patents or for a number of years after
the first commercial sale of the relevant product.
38
In
addition, we are responsible for the cost of filing and prosecuting certain
patent applications and maintaining certain issued patents licensed to us. If we
do not meet our obligations under our license agreements in a timely manner, we
could lose the rights to our proprietary technology.
Finally,
we may be required to obtain licenses to patents or other proprietary rights of
third parties in connection with the development and use of our products and
technologies. Licenses required under any such patents or proprietary rights
might not be made available on terms acceptable to us, if at all.
We
rely on confidentiality agreements that could be breached and may be difficult
to enforce.
Although
we take what we believe to be reasonable steps to protect our intellectual
property, including the use of agreements relating to the non-disclosure of our
confidential information to third parties, as well as agreements that provide
for disclosure and assignment to us of all rights to the ideas, developments,
discoveries and inventions of our employees and consultants while we employ
them, such agreements can be difficult and costly to enforce. We generally seek
to enter into these types of agreements with consultants, advisors and research
collaborators; however, to the extent that such parties apply or independently
develop intellectual property in connection with any of our projects, disputes
may arise concerning allocation of the related proprietary rights. Such disputes
often involve significant expense and yield unpredictable results. In addition,
we also rely on trade secrets and proprietary know-how that we seek to protect,
in part, through confidentiality agreements with our employees, consultants,
advisors or others.
Despite
the protective measures we employ, we still face the risk that:
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agreements
may be breached;
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agreements
may not provide adequate remedies for the applicable type of
breach;
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our
trade secrets or proprietary know-how may otherwise become
known;
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our
competitors may independently develop similar technology;
or
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our
competitors may independently discover our proprietary information and
trade secrets.
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We
depend upon key employees and consultants in a competitive market for skilled
personnel. If we are unable to attract and retain key personnel, it could
adversely affect our ability to develop and market our products.
We are
highly dependent upon the principal members of our management team, especially
our Chief Executive Officer, Robert J. Capetola, Ph.D., and our directors, as
well as our scientific advisory board members, consultants and collaborating
scientists. Many of these people have been involved with us for many years, have
played integral roles in our progress and we believe that they continue to
provide value to us. A loss of any of our key personnel may have a material
adverse effect on aspects of our business and clinical development and
regulatory programs.
In 2006,
we entered into amended and new employment agreements without executives that
generally include provisions such as a stated term and enhanced severance
benefits in the event of a change of control. We also provide our key employees
equity incentives in the form of stock and option grants. As of December 31,
2008, we had employment agreements with 14 officers that expire in May 2010.
These agreements provide for automatic one-year renewal at the end of each term,
unless otherwise terminated by either party. Although these employment
agreements generally include non-competition covenants and provide for severance
payments that are contingent upon the applicable employee’s refraining from
competition with us, the applicable noncompete provisions can be difficult and
costly to monitor and enforce. The loss of any of these persons’ services would
adversely affect our ability to develop and market our products and obtain
necessary regulatory approvals. Further, we do not maintain key-man life
insurance.
Our
future success also will depend in part on the continued service of our key
scientific and management personnel and our ability to identify, hire and retain
additional personnel. We may experience intense competition for qualified
personnel and the existence of non-competition agreements between prospective
employees and their former employers may prevent us from hiring those
individuals or subject us to suit from their former employers.
39
While we
attempt to provide competitive compensation packages to attract and retain key
personnel, some of our competitors are likely to have greater resources and more
experience than we have, making it difficult for us to compete successfully for
key personnel.
Our
industry is highly competitive and we have less capital and resources than many
of our competitors, which may give them an advantage in developing and marketing
products similar to ours or make our products obsolete.
Our
industry is highly competitive and subject to rapid technological innovation and
evolving industry standards. We compete with numerous existing companies
intensely in many ways. We intend to market our products under development for
the treatment of diseases for which other technologies and treatments are
rapidly developing and, consequently, we expect new companies to enter our
industry and that competition in the industry will increase. Many of these
companies have substantially greater research and development, manufacturing,
marketing, financial, technological, personnel and managerial resources than we
have. In addition, many of these competitors, either alone or with their
collaborative partners, have significantly greater experience than we do
in:
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developing
products;
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undertaking
preclinical testing and human clinical
trials;
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obtaining
FDA and other regulatory approvals or products;
and
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manufacturing
and marketing products.
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Accordingly,
our competitors may succeed in obtaining patent protection, receiving FDA or
comparable foreign approval or commercializing products before us. If we
commence commercial product sales, we will compete against companies with
greater marketing and manufacturing capabilities who may successfully develop
and commercialize products that are more effective or less expensive than ours.
These are areas in which, as yet, we have limited or no experience. In addition,
developments by our competitors may render our drug product candidates obsolete
or noncompetitive.
We also
face, and will continue to face, competition from colleges, universities,
governmental agencies and other public and private research organizations. These
competitors frequently aggressively seek patent protection and licensing
arrangements to collect royalties for use of technology that they have
developed. Some of these technologies may compete directly with the technologies
that we are developing. These institutions will also compete with us in
recruiting highly qualified scientific personnel. We expect that therapeutic
developments in the areas in which we are active may occur at a rapid rate and
that competition will intensify as advances in this field are made. As a result,
we need to continue to devote substantial resources and efforts to research and
development activities.
If
product liability claims are brought against us, it may result in reduced demand
for our products or damages that exceed our insurance coverage and we may incur
substantial costs.
The
clinical testing, marketing and use of our products exposes us to product
liability claims if the use or misuse of our products causes injury, disease or
results in adverse effects. Use of our products in clinical trials, as well as
commercial sale, if approved, could result in product liability claims. In
addition, sales of our products through third party arrangements could also
subject us to product liability claims. We presently carry product liability
insurance with coverage of up to $10 million per occurrence and $10 million in
the aggregate. However, this insurance coverage includes various deductibles,
limitations and exclusions from coverage, and in any event might not fully cover
any potential claims. We may need to obtain additional product liability
insurance coverage, including by locally-authorized insurers licensed in
countries where we conduct our clinical trials, before initiating clinical
trials. We expect to obtain product liability insurance coverage before
commercializing any of our drug product candidates; however, such insurance is
expensive and may not be available when we need it.
In the
future, we may not be able to obtain adequate insurance, with acceptable limits
and retentions, at an acceptable cost. Any product liability claim, even one
that is within the limits of our insurance coverage or one that is meritless
and/or unsuccessful, could adversely affect the availability or cost of
insurance generally and our cash available for other purposes, such as research
and development. In addition, such claims could result in:
40
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uninsured
expenses related to defense or payment of substantial monetary awards to
claimants;
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a
decrease in demand for our drug product
candidates;
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damage
to our reputation; and
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an
inability to complete clinical trial programs or to commercialize our drug
product candidates, if approved.
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Moreover,
the existence of a product liability claim could affect the market price of our
common stock.
Our
corporate compliance program cannot ensure that we are in compliance with all
applicable laws and regulations affecting our activities in the jurisdictions in
which we may sell our products, if approved, and a failure to comply with such
regulations or prevail in litigation related to noncompliance could harm our
business.
Many of
our activities, including the research, development, manufacture, sale and
marketing of our products, are subject to extensive laws and regulation,
including without limitation, health care "fraud and abuse" laws, such as the
federal false claims act, the federal anti-kickback statute, and other state and
federal laws and regulations. We have developed and implemented a corporate
compliance policy and oversight program based upon what we understand to be
current industry best practices, but we cannot assure you that this program will
protect us from governmental investigations or other actions or lawsuits
stemming from a failure to be in compliance with such laws or regulations. If
any such investigations, actions or lawsuits are instituted against us, and if
we are not successful in defending or disposing of them without liability, such
investigations, actions or lawsuits could result in the imposition of
significant fines or other sanctions and could otherwise have a significant
impact on our business.
We
expect to face uncertainty over reimbursement and healthcare
reform.
In both
the United States and other countries, sales of our products will depend in part
upon the availability of reimbursement from third-party payers, which include
governmental health administration authorities, managed care providers and
private health insurers. Third party payers increasingly challenge the price and
examining the cost effectiveness of medical products and services. Moreover, the
current political environment in the United States and abroad may result in the
passage of significant legislation that could, among other things, restructure
the markets in which we operate and restrict pricing strategies of drug
development companies. If, for example, price restrictions were placed on the
distribution of our drugs, we may be forced to curtail development of our
pipeline products and this could have a material adverse effect on our business,
results of operations and financial condition. Even if we succeed in
commercializing our drug products, uncertainties regarding health care policy,
legislation and regulation, as well as private market practices, could affect
our ability to sell our products in quantities or at prices that will enable us
to achieve profitability.
To obtain
reimbursement from a third party payer, it must determine that our drug product
is a covered benefit under its health plan, which is likely to require a
determination that our product is:
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safe,
effective and medically necessary;
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appropriate
for the specific patient;
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cost-effective;
and
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neither
experimental nor investigational.
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Obtaining
a determination that a product is a covered benefit may be a time-consuming and
costly process that could require us to provide supporting scientific, clinical
and cost-effectiveness data about our products to each payer. We may not be able
to provide sufficient data to gain coverage.
Even when
a payer determines that a product is covered, the payer may impose limitations
that preclude payment for some uses that are approved by the FDA or other
regulatory authorities. Moreover, coverage does not imply that any product will
be covered in all cases or that reimbursement will be available at a rate that
would permit a health care provider to cover its costs of using our
product.
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Provisions
of our Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, our Amended and
Restated By-Laws, our Shareholder Rights Agreement and Delaware law could defer
a change of our management and thereby discourage or delay offers to acquire
us.
Provisions
of our Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, our Amended and
Restated By-Laws, our Shareholder Rights Agreement and Delaware law may make it
more difficult for someone to acquire control of us or for our stockholders to
remove existing management, and might discourage a third party from offering to
acquire us, even if a change in control or in management would be beneficial to
our stockholders. For example, our Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as
amended, allows us to issue shares of preferred stock without any vote or
further action by our stockholders. Our Board of Directors has the authority to
fix and determine the relative rights and preferences of preferred stock. Our
Board of Directors also has the authority to issue preferred stock without
further stockholder approval. As a result, our Board of Directors could
authorize the issuance of a series of preferred stock that would grant to
holders the preferred right to our assets upon liquidation, the right to receive
dividend payments before dividends are distributed to the holders of common
stock and the right to the redemption of the shares, together with a premium,
before the redemption of our common stock. In addition, our Board of Directors,
without further stockholder approval, could issue large blocks of preferred
stock. We have adopted a Shareholder Rights Agreement, which under certain
circumstances would significantly impair the ability of third parties to acquire
control of us without prior approval of our Board of Directors thereby
discouraging unsolicited takeover proposals. The rights issued under the
Shareholder Rights Agreement would cause substantial dilution to a person or
group that attempts to acquire us on terms not approved in advance by our Board
of Directors.
The failure to prevail in litigation
or the costs of litigation, including securities class action and patent claims,
could harm our financial performance and business
operations.
We are
potentially susceptible to litigation. For example, as a public company, we may
be subject to claims asserting violations of securities laws. Even if such
actions are found to be without merit, the potential impact of such actions,
which generally seek unquantified damages and attorneys’ fees and expenses, is
uncertain. There can be no assurance that an adverse result in any future
proceeding would not have a potentially material adverse effect on our business,
results of operations and financial condition.
We have
from time to time been involved in disputes and proceedings arising in the
ordinary course of business, including in connection with the conduct of
clinical trials. Such claims, with or without merit, if not resolved, could be
time-consuming and result in costly litigation. Although we believe such claims
are unlikely to have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or
results of operations, it is impossible to predict with certainty the eventual
outcome of such claims and there can be no assurance that we will be successful
in any proceeding to which we may be a party.
In
addition, as the USPTO keeps United States patent applications confidential in
certain cases while the applications are pending, we cannot ensure that our
products or methods do not infringe upon the patents or other intellectual
property rights of third parties. As the biotechnology and pharmaceutical
industries expand and more patents are applied for and issued, the risk
increases that our patents or patent applications for our SRT product candidates
may give rise to a declaration of interference by the USPTO, or to
administrative proceedings in foreign patent offices, or that our activities
lead to claims of patent infringement by other companies, institutions or
individuals. These entities or persons could bring legal proceedings against us
seeking to invalidate our patents, obtain substantial damages or enjoin us from
conducting research and development activities.
ITEM
1B.
UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS.
There are
no unresolved written comments that were received from the SEC staff 180 days or
more before the end of our fiscal year relating to our periodic or current
reports under the Exchange Act.
42
ITEM
2.
PROPERTIES.
We
maintain our principal executive offices at 2600 Kelly Road, Suite 100,
Warrington, Pennsylvania 18976-3622, which consists of 39,594 square feet of
space that we lease at an annual rent of approximately $0.9 million. In April
2007, the lease, which originally expired in February 2010 with total aggregate
payments of $4.6 million, was extended through February 2013, with additional
payments of $3.0 million over the three-year extension period. We do not own any
real property.
In
October 2007, we completed construction of a new analytical and development
laboratory within our Warrington, Pennsylvania headquarters location. We
consolidated into this new laboratory all analytical, quality and development
activities that were previously conducted in Doylestown, Pennsylvania and
Mountain View, California. Our analytical testing activities predominantly
involve release and stability testing of raw materials as well as commercial and
clinical drug product supply. We also perform at this location development work
with respect to our aerosolized KL4 Surfactant
and novel formulations of our product candidates.
We lease
approximately 21,000 square feet of space for our manufacturing operations in
Totowa, New Jersey, at an annual rent of $150,000. This space is specifically
designed for the manufacture and filling of sterile pharmaceuticals in
compliance with cGMP and is our only manufacturing facility. This lease expires
in December 2014, subject to a right in the landlord, under certain conditions
and upon two years’ prior notice, to terminate the lease early. See also, “Business –
Business Operations – Manufacturing and Distribution – Manufacturing –
Precision-Engineered Surfactant.”
Under a
lease agreement that expired June 30, 2008, we leased 16,800 square feet at our
research facility in Mountain View, California, at an annual rent of
approximately $275,000. Under a lease that was terminated effective July
31, 2008, we leased 5,600 square feet of office and analytical laboratory space
in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. The activities previously conducted at
these locations have been relocated to our new laboratory in Warrington,
Pennsylvania.
ITEM
3. LEGAL
PROCEEDINGS.
We are
not aware of any pending or threatened legal actions that would, if determined
adversely to us, have a material adverse effect on our business and
operations.
We have
from time to time been involved in disputes and proceedings arising in the
ordinary course of business, including in connection with the conduct of our
clinical trials. In addition, as a public company, we are also
potentially susceptible to litigation, such as claims asserting violations of
securities laws. Any such claims, with or without merit, if not
resolved, could be time-consuming and result in costly
litigation. There can be no assurance that an adverse result in any
future proceeding would not have a potentially material adverse effect on our
business, results of operations and financial condition.
ITEM
4. SUBMISSION
OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.
No
matters were submitted to a vote of security holders during the fourth quarter
2008.
43
PART
II
ITEM
5.
|
MARKET
FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER
PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES.
|
Market
Information
Our
common stock is traded on The Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol
“DSCO.” As of March 4, 2009, the number of stockholders of record of
shares of our common stock was 158 and the number of beneficial owners of shares
of our common stock was approximately 17,100. As of March 4, 2009,
there were 102,551,774 shares of our common stock issued and
outstanding.
The
following table sets forth the quarterly sales price ranges of our common stock
for the periods indicated, as reported by Nasdaq.
Low
|
High
|
|||||||
First
Quarter 2007
|
$ | 1.90 | $ | 2.90 | ||||
Second
Quarter 2007
|
$ | 2.20 | $ | 3.75 | ||||
Third
Quarter 2007
|
$ | 2.07 | $ | 2.95 | ||||
Fourth
Quarter 2007
|
$ | 2.10 | $ | 3.25 | ||||
First
Quarter 2008
|
$ | 1.75 | $ | 2.63 | ||||
Second
Quarter 2008
|
$ | 1.29 | $ | 3.02 | ||||
Third
Quarter 2008
|
$ | 1.48 | $ | 2.19 | ||||
Fourth
Quarter 2008
|
$ | 0.77 | $ | 2.00 |
We have
not paid dividends on our common stock. It is anticipated that we
will not pay dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable
future.
Sales
of Unregistered Securities
During
the 12 months ended December 31, 2008, we did not issue any unregistered shares
of common stock pursuant to the exercise of outstanding warrants and
options. There were no stock repurchases in the 12 months ended
December 31, 2008.
44
ITEM
6.SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
The
selected consolidated financial data set forth below with respect to our
consolidated statement of operations for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007
and 2006 and with respect to the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31,
2008 and 2007 have been derived from audited consolidated financial statements
included as part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The statement of
operations data for the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004 and the balance
sheet data as of December 31, 2006 and 2005 and 2004 are derived from audited
financial statements not included in this Annual Report. The
following selected consolidated financial data should be read in conjunction
with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included elsewhere
in this Annual Report.
Consolidated
Statement of Operations Data:
(in thousands, except per share
data)
For
the year ended December 31,
|
||||||||||||||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
2006
|
2005
|
2004
|
||||||||||||||||
Revenues
from collaborative agreements
|
$ | 4,600 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 134 | $ | 1,209 | ||||||||||
Operating
Expenses:
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Research
and development
|
26,566 | 26,200 | 23,716 | 24,137 | 25,793 | |||||||||||||||
General
and administrative
|
16,428 | 13,747 | 18,386 | 18,505 | 13,322 | |||||||||||||||
Restructuring
charges
|
– | – | 4,805 | – | 8,126 | |||||||||||||||
In-process
research and development
|
– | – | – | 16,787 | – | |||||||||||||||
Total
expenses(1)
|
42,994 | 39,947 | 46,907 | 59,429 | 47,241 | |||||||||||||||
Operating
loss
|
(38,394 | ) | ( 39,947 | ) | (46,907 | ) | (59,295 | ) | (46,032 | ) | ||||||||||
Other
income / (expense)
|
(712 | ) | (58 | ) | 574 | 391 | (171 | ) | ||||||||||||
Net
loss
|
$ | ( 39,106 | ) | $ | ( 40,005 | ) | $ | (46,333 | ) | $ | (58,904 | ) | $ | (46,203 | ) | |||||
Net
loss per common share - basic and diluted
|
$ | ( 0.40 | ) | $ | (0.49 | ) | $ | (0.74 | ) | $ | (1.09 | ) | $ | (1.00 | ) | |||||
Weighted
average number of common shares
outstanding
|
98,116 | 81,731 | 62,767 | 54,094 | 46,179 |
(1)
|
Included
in the net loss for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 were
non-cash charges for stock-based compensation for employees in accordance
with SFAS No. 123(R) of $4.6 million, $5.2 million and $5.5 million,
respectively.
|
Consolidated
Balance Sheet Data:
(in
thousands)
|
For
the year ended December 31,
|
|||||||||||||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
2006
|
2005
|
2004
|
||||||||||||||||
Cash
and investments
|
$ | 24,792 | $ | 53,007 | $ | 26,402 | $ | 50,908 | $ | 32,654 | ||||||||||
Working
capital
|
15,551 | 43,149 | 18,999 | 33,860 | 24,519 | |||||||||||||||
Total
assets
|
32,889 | 62,744 | 34,400 | 56,008 | 37,637 | |||||||||||||||
Long-term
obligations, less current potion
|
12,090 | 13,494 | 12,110 | 3,562 | 7,583 | |||||||||||||||
Total
stockholder’s equity
|
$ | 10,933 | $ | 38,781 | $ | 14,322 | $ | 34,838 | $ | 21,097 |
45
ITEM
7.
|
MANAGEMENT’S
DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS.
|
INTRODUCTION
Management’s
discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations
(MD&A) is provided as a supplement to the accompanying consolidated
financial statements and footnotes to help provide an understanding of our
financial condition, the changes in our financial condition and our results of
operations. This item should be read in connection with our
Consolidated Financial Statements. See “Exhibits and Financial
Statement Schedules.” Our discussion is organized as
follows:
·
|
Company Overview and Business
Strategy: this section provides a general description of
our company and business plans.
|
|
·
|
Critical Accounting
Policies: this section contains a discussion of the
accounting policies that we believe are important to our financial
condition and results of operations and that require the exercise of
judgment and use of estimates on the part of management in their
application. In addition, all of our significant accounting
policies, including the critical accounting policies and estimates, are
discussed in Note 3 to the accompanying consolidated financial
statements.
|
|
·
|
Results of
Operations: this section provides an analysis of our
results of operations presented in the accompanying consolidated
statements of operations, including comparisons of the results for the
years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006.
|
|
·
|
Liquidity and Capital
Resources: this section provides a discussion on our
capital resources, future capital requirements, cash flows, committed
equity financing facilities, historical financing transactions,
outstanding debt arrangements and
commitments.
|
OVERVIEW
Discovery
Laboratories, Inc. (referred to as “we,” “us,” or the “Company”) is a
biotechnology company developing Surfactant Replacement Therapies (SRT) to treat
respiratory disorders and diseases for which there frequently are few or no
approved therapies. Our novel proprietary technology (KL4 Surfactant
Technology) produces a synthetic, peptide-containing surfactant (KL4
Surfactant) that is structurally similar to pulmonary surfactant, a substance
produced naturally in the lung and essential for survival and normal respiratory
function. In addition, our proprietary capillary aerosol generating
technology (Capillary Aerosolization Technology) produces a dense aerosol with a
defined particle size, to potentially deliver our aerosolized KL4 Surfactant
to the deep lung. As many respiratory disorders are associated with
surfactant deficiency or surfactant degradation, we believe that our proprietary
technology platform makes it possible, for the first time, to develop a
significant pipeline of surfactant products targeted to treat a wide range of
previously unaddressed respiratory problems.
We are
currently focused on developing our lead products, Surfaxin®,
Surfaxin LS™ and Aerosurf®, to
address the most significant respiratory conditions affecting pediatric
populations. Surfaxin, our first product based on our novel KL4 Surfactant
Technology, if approved, will represent the first synthetic, peptide-containing
surfactant for use in pediatric medicine. We have filed with the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) a New Drug Application (NDA) for
Surfaxin®
(lucinactant) for the prevention of Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS) in
premature infants. The FDA has established April 17, 2009 as its
target action date to complete its review of this NDA and potentially grant
marketing approval.
Aerosurf
is our proprietary KL4 Surfactant
in aerosolized form, which we are developing using our Capillary Aerosolization
Technology initially to treat premature infants at risk for
RDS. Premature infants with RDS are treated with surfactants that are
administered by means of invasive endotracheal intubation and mechanical
ventilation, procedures that frequently result in serious respiratory conditions
and complications. With Aerosurf, if approved, it will be possible to
administer surfactant into the deep lung without subjecting patients to such
invasive procedures. We believe that Aerosurf has the potential to
enable a potentially significant increase in the use of SRT in pediatric
medicine.
46
We plan
over time to develop our KL4 Surfactant
Technology into a robust pipeline of products that will potentially address a
variety of debilitating respiratory conditions in a range of patient
populations, from premature infants to adults, that suffer from severe and
debilitating respiratory conditions for which there currently are few or no
approved therapies. Our programs include development of Surfaxin to
potentially address Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD) in premature infants and
Acute Respiratory Failure (ARF) in children, and conducting research and
development with our KL4 Surfactant
to potentially address Cystic Fibrosis (CF), Acute Lung Injury (ALI), and other
diseases associated with inflammation of the lung, such as Asthma and Chronic
Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
BUSINESS
STRATEGY
We
received an Approvable Letter from the FDA with respect to Surfaxin for the
prevention of RDS in premature infants in May 2008. During the
preparation of our Complete Response to the Approvable Letter and the FDA’s
ongoing review period, our business strategy has been to conserve our financial
resources and rigorously manage limited investments in research and development
activities. The FDA has assigned April 17, 2009 as its action target
date to complete its review of our NDA and potentially approve
Surfaxin. Following the potential approval of Surfaxin by the
FDA:
|
·
|
We
plan over the near- and long-term to expand and accelerate our proprietary
KL4
Surfactant Technology initiatives with pipeline programs intended to apply
our synthetic, peptide-containing surfactant to a broad range of
respiratory conditions. It is our goal, within existing
financial and other constraints, to develop our pipeline as broadly and as
quickly as reasonably possible;
|
|
·
|
Initially,
we plan to focus our development and commercial efforts on the management
of RDS in premature infants. We believe that the RDS market
represents a significant opportunity from both a medical and a business
perspective.
|
|
o
|
Currently,
the only available therapies for the treatment of RDS, which were approved
in the early 1990’s, are surfactants derived from bovine (cow lung) and
porcine (pig lung) sources. The current annual market for these
surfactants is estimated to be approximately $75 million in the United
States and $200 million worldwide. Currently, surfactants are
administered using endotracheal intubation (the invasive insertion of a
breathing tube down the trachea) and conventional mechanical ventilation,
which risk further serious lung injury and complications. As
the medical community is focused on managing RDS patients without
employing such invasive techniques, only a subset of premature infants at
risk for RDS annually are treated with these
surfactants.
|
|
o
|
Surfaxin,
the first synthetic, peptide-containing surfactant that, if approved, will
represent an alternative therapy to the currently-approved, animal-derived
surfactants. We also are developing a lyophilized formulation,
Surfaxin LS™, which, among other things, may potentially simplify storage
and distribution requirements and methods of administering
surfactant. We have a development program that is focused on
gaining regulatory approval for Surfaxin LS in the United States, Europe
and throughout the world. We believe that, over time, Surfaxin
and Surfaxin LS, if approved, have the potential to displace the use of
the animal-derived surfactants.
|
|
o
|
Aerosurf
will potentially provide the neonatal medical community with the
possibility of treating premature infants at risk for RDS without the
risks associated with endotracheal intubation and mechanical
ventilation. We plan on making significant investments in the
development, regulatory, clinical and manufacturing activities necessary
to gain regulatory approval for Aerosurf in the United States and
worldwide. We believe that Aerosurf, if approved, will allow
for a potentially significant increase in the number of infants receiving
surfactant therapy, who currently are not treated because the benefits of
surfactant therapy are believed to be outweighed by the risks of invasive
administration.
|
47
We
believe that the combination of Surfaxin, Surfaxin LS and Aerosurf , if
approved, have the potential, for the first time in years, to advance the
treatment of RDS and make it possible for many more infants at risk for RDS to
be treated with SRT. Our KL4 Surfactant
Technology also has the potential to address a range of other serious and
debilitating neonatal and pediatric indications, many of which represent
significant unmet medical needs, potentially redefining pediatric respiratory
medicine.
|
·
|
With
our Surfaxin, Surfaxin LS and Aerosurf programs, we plan to build a
fully-integrated pediatric
franchise.
|
|
o
|
In
the United States, we plan to establish our own specialty pulmonary
commercial organization that will initially execute the launch of Surfaxin
and specialize in neonatal and pediatric indications. To
execute this strategy, we expect to incur expenses at an annual rate of
approximately $20 - $25 million for sales, marketing and medical affairs
capabilities. We believe that this strategy will provide us
direct control over our U.S. sales and marketing activities, permit us to
establish a strong presence in neonatal and pediatric intensive care units
nationwide, and potentially optimize the economics of our
business. If, however, we were presented with an alternative
approach, through a strategic alliance or other collaboration arrangement,
that would achieve the foregoing, and provide appropriate financial
consideration and operational capabilities, we would consider such a
potential transaction.
|
|
o
|
For
international markets, we plan to seek strategic alliances or other
collaboration arrangements to support development and potential
commercialization of Surfaxin, Surfaxin LS and Aerosurf to address a wide
range of neonatal and pediatric
indications;
|
|
·
|
We
also plan to invest opportunistically in KL4
Surfactant Technology pipeline programs that will target adult and other
indications we believe represent potentially significant market
opportunities. We plan to initially develop these programs through a
proof-of-concept phase and, if successful, thereafter seek worldwide
strategic alliances or collaboration arrangements for development and/or
commercialization. There can be no assurance that we will
succeed in demonstrating proof-of-concept or entering into any such
alliance, but if we are successful, we believe that these programs could
address significant unmet medical needs and potentially redefine
respiratory medicine;
|
|
·
|
We
have, and will continue, to invest in maintaining and perfecting our
potential competitive position by protecting our exclusive rights in and
to our KL4
Surfactant Technology, pipeline products and Capillary Aerosolization
Technology through patents, patent extensions, trademarks, trade secrets
and regulatory exclusivity designations, including potential orphan drug
and new drug product exclusivities such as new chemical entity
designations and supplemental exclusivities. We believe that our
development programs may also provide opportunities for new patent
filings, which may potentially significantly extend the benefits of
exclusivity into the future;
|
|
·
|
We
will continue to invest in our quality systems and manufacturing
capabilities, including at our manufacturing operations in Totowa, New
Jersey and our analytical laboratories in Warrington,
Pennsylvania. We plan to manufacture sufficient drug product to
meet our anticipated pre-clinical, clinical, formulation development and,
if approved, potential future commercial requirements of Surfaxin,
Aerosurf and other KL4
Surfactant product candidates. During the period of formulation
development for our lyophilized KL4
Surfactant, including Surfaxin LS, we expect to enter into arrangements
with one or more contract manufacturing organizations. For our
capillary aerosolization systems, we plan to
collaborate with engineering device experts and use contract manufacturers
to produce aerosol devices and related components to meet our
manufacturing requirements. Our long-term manufacturing plans
include potentially expanding our existing facilities or building or
acquiring additional manufacturing facilities and capabilities to support
the production and development of our proprietary KL4
Surfactant Technology pipeline products;
and
|
48
|
·
|
We
will need significant additional capital to execute our business
strategy. We plan to seek infusions of capital from a variety
of potential sources, including strategic alliances, equity financings,
debt financings and other similar opportunities, although there can be no
assurance that we will identify or enter into any specific alliances or
transactions.
|
Our
estimates of market size and business opportunities included in this Overview
Section and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K are based in part on
our analysis of data derived from the following sources, among others: IMS Midas
Data MAT, September 2008; Vermont Oxford Network Data, 2006; Annual Summary of
Vital Statistics: 2006, Pediatrics, Martin et. al.; CDC National Vital
Statistics, 2005; Management and Outcomes of Very Low Birth Weight, NEJM, 2008,
Eichenwald, Stark; The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation; Discovery Labs Primary Market
Research, 2007; as well as our analysis of the SELECT and STAR
trials. In addition, our analysis and assumptions take into account
estimated patient populations, expected adoption rates of our products, current
pricing, economics and anticipated potential pharmaco-economic benefits of our
drug products, if approved.
As of
December 31, 2008, we had cash and marketable securities of $24.8 million and
three Committed Equity Financing Facilities (CEFFs) under which we may, at our
discretion (subject to certain conditions, including minimum purchase price and
volume limitations), to raise in the aggregate up to $114.2 million capital to
support our business plans, although the 2006 CEFF,
which currently has available up to approximately $34.3 million, will expire in
May 2009. (See “Management’s Discussion
and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Liquidity and
Capital Resources”). Our capital requirements will depend upon many
factors, including the success of our product development and, if our products
are approved, commercialization plans. However, there is no
assurance that our research and development projects will be successful, that
products developed (including Surfaxin for the prevention of RDS) will obtain
regulatory approval in the United States, that any approved product, including
Surfaxin, will be commercially viable, that any CEFF will be available for
future financings, or that we will be able to obtain additional capital when
needed on acceptable terms, if at all. Even if we succeed in raising
additional capital and developing and subsequently commercializing product
candidates, we may never achieve sufficient sales revenue to achieve or maintain
profitability.
CRITICAL
ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The
preparation of financial statements, in conformity with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States, requires management to make estimates,
judgments and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and
liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of
revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results
could differ from those estimates.
We
believe the following accounting policies are the most critical for an
understanding of our financial condition and results of
operations. For further discussion of our accounting policies see Note 3 - “Summary of
Significant Accounting Policies” in the Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements.
Revenue
recognition – research and development – strategic alliances and collaboration
agreements
Revenue
under strategic alliances and our collaboration agreements is recognized based
on the performance requirements of the contract. Funds received from
these agreements are recorded as deferred revenue and are recognized over the
performance period as specified in the agreements when all performance
obligations are satisfied. Grant revenue is recorded upon receipt of
funds.
Research
and development expenses
Research
and development costs consist primarily of expenses associated with our
personnel, facilities, manufacturing operations, formulation development,
research, clinical, regulatory, other preclinical and clinical activities and
medical affairs. Research and development costs are charged to
operations as incurred.
49
RESULTS
OF OPERATIONS
The net
loss for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 was $39.1 million (or
$0.40 per share), $40.0 million (or $0.49 per share), $46.3 million (or $0.74
per share), respectively. Included in the net loss for the years
ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 were stock-based compensation expenses of
$4.6 million (or $0.05 per share), $5.2 million (or $0.06 per share), and $5.5
million (or $0.09 per share), respectively. Additionally, for the
year ended December 31, 2006, the net loss included a restructuring charge of
$4.8 million (or $0.08 per share). See “Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations –
Results of Operations – 2006 Restructuring Charge.”
Revenue
In March
2008, we restructured our strategic alliance with Philip Morris USA Inc.
(PMUSA), d/b/a Chrysalis Technologies (Chrysalis) and assumed full
responsibility for the development of the Capillary Aerosolization
Technology. As part of the restructuring, Chrysalis completed a
technology transfer of the Capillary Aerosolization Technology and paid us $4.5
million to support our further development activities. We currently
hold exclusive licenses to the Capillary Aerosolization Technology both in and
outside of the United States for use with pulmonary surfactants (alone or in
combination with any other pharmaceutical compound(s)) for all respiratory
diseases and conditions. In addition, under the U.S. License
Agreement, our license to use the Capillary Aerosolization Technology includes
other (non-surfactant) drugs to treat a wide range of pediatric and adult
respiratory indications in hospitals and other health care
institutions. We are obligated to pay royalties at a rate equal to a
low single-digit percent of sales of products sold. We also agreed in
the future to pay minimum royalties, but are entitled to a reduction of future
royalties in an amount equal to the excess of any minimum royalty paid over
royalties actually earned in prior periods. See “Business – Business
Operations – Strategic Alliances and Collaboration Arrangements.” We
did not earn revenue during the years ended December 31, 2007 and
2006.
We expect
the FDA to complete its review of our NDA in April 2009. If Surfaxin
is approved, we expect our first revenues from product sales in
late-2009. As Surfaxin is a hospital-based indication, before we can
make any sales at a particular hospital, we will need to comply with that
hospital’s formulary acceptance requirements, which can be a time-consuming
process. As a result, we expect our product revenues to build slowly
beginning in 2009 and 2010 and become more meaningful in 2011 and
beyond.
We plan
to focus our resources on developing a strong pediatric franchise in the United
States. To develop a pediatric franchise in international markets, we
plan to seek strategic alliances or other collaboration arrangements to support
development and potential commercialization of Surfaxin, Surfaxin LS and
Aerosurf to address a wide range of neonatal and pediatric
indications.
In
addition, we plan to invest opportunistically in KL4 Surfactant
Technology pipeline programs that will target adult and other indications that
we believe represent potentially significant market opportunities, including
potentially CF and ALI. Initially, we plan to take these programs
through a proof-of-concept phase, and, if successful, to seek potential
worldwide strategic alliances or collaboration arrangements for development
and/or commercialization of these pipeline programs. Although there
can be no assurance that we will succeed in entering into any such arrangements,
they would potentially include revenues from up-front and milestone payments, as
well as financial support for research and development activities.
Research
and Development Expenses
Research
and development expenses for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006
were $26.6 million, $26.2 million and $23.7 million,
respectively. These costs are charged to operations as incurred and
are tracked by category, as follows:
50
(Dollars
in thousands)
|
Year
Ended December 31,
|
|||||||||||
Research
and Development Expenses:
|
2008
|
2007
|
2006
|
|||||||||
Manufacturing
development
|
$ | 15,711 | $ | 14,774 | $ | 11,994 | ||||||
Development
operations
|
7,567 | 7,310 | 8,351 | |||||||||
Direct
pre-clinical and clinical programs
|
3,288 | 4,116 | 3,371 | |||||||||
Total
Research and Development Expenses (1)
|
$ | 26,566 | $ | 26,200 | $ | 23,716 |
(1)
|
Included
in research and development expenses for the year ended December 31, 2008,
2007 and 2006 is a charge of $1.5 million, $1.7 million and $1.6 million,
respectively, associated with stock-based employee compensation in
accordance with the provisions of FASB Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards No. 123(R) (SFAS No.
123(R))..
|
For a
description of the clinical programs included in research and development, see “Business – Surfactant
Replacement Therapy for Respiratory Medicine.”
Manufacturing
Development
Manufacturing
development includes: (i) manufacturing operations, quality assurance and
analytical chemistry capabilities to assure adequate production of clinical and
potential commercial drug supply for our KL4 Surfactant
products, in conformance with current good manufacturing practices (cGMP) (these
costs include employee expenses, facility-related costs, depreciation, costs of
drug substances (including raw materials), supplies, quality control and
assurance activities and analytical services, etc.); (ii) design and
development for the manufacture of our novel capillary aerosolization systems,
including an aerosol generating device, the disposable dose delivery packets and
patient interface system necessary to administer Aerosurf for our anticipated
Phase 2 clinical trials; (iii) pharmaceutical development activities,
including development of a lyophilized formulation of our KL4
Surfactant; (iv) activities to address issues identified in the May 2008
Approvable Letter; and (v) our comprehensive investigation and remediation of
manufacturing issues following the occurrence of process validation stability
failures in April 2006, as well as activities related to preparation of the
Complete Response to the April 2006 Approvable Letter for Surfaxin that we
received from FDA.
The
increase in manufacturing development expenses in 2008 as compared to 2007 is
primarily due to: (i) purchases of the active ingredients for the production of
Surfaxin, and (ii) activities related to preparation of the Complete Response to
the May 2008 Approvable Letter. The increase in manufacturing
development expenses in 2007 as compared to 2006 is primarily due to: (i)
activities related to preparation of the Complete Response (submitted in
November 2007) to the April 2006 Approvable Letter; (ii) investments and
enhancements to our quality assurance and analytical chemistry capabilities to
support our manufacturing requirements; and (iii) device development activities
for our Aerosurf program.
Manufacturing
development expenses included charges of $0.8 million, $0.7 million and $0.5
million associated with stock-based employee compensation in accordance with the
provisions of SFAS No. 123(R) for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007, and
2006, respectively.
Development
Operations
Development
operations includes medical, scientific, clinical, regulatory, data management
and biostatistics activities for the execution of our product development
programs. Development operations also includes medical affairs
activities, including medical science liaisons, to provide scientific and
medical education support in connection with our KL4 Surfactant
Technology pipeline programs, including the potential approval of Surfaxin in
the United States. These costs include personnel, specialized
consultants, outside services to support regulatory and data management
activities, symposiums at key neonatal medical meetings, facilities-related
costs, and other costs for the management of clinical trials.
51
The
increase in development operations expenses in 2008 as compared to 2007 is
primarily due to investment in our medical affairs capabilities in anticipation
of the potential approval of Surfaxin in the United States. The
decrease in development operations expenses in 2007 as compared to 2006 is
primarily due to staff reductions that were implemented following receipt of the
April 2006 Approvable Letter and the occurrence of Surfaxin process validation
batch stability failures in April 2006. (See “Management’s Discussion
and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Results of
Operations – 2006 Restructuring Charge”).
Development
operations expenses included charges of $0.7 million, $0.9 million and $1.1
million associated with stock-based employee compensation in accordance with the
provisions of SFAS No. 123(R) for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007, and
2006, respectively.
Direct Pre-Clinical and
Clinical Programs
Direct
pre-clinical and clinical programs include: (i) pre-clinical activities,
including toxicology studies and other pre-clinical studies to obtain data to
support potential Investigational New Drug (IND) and NDA filings for our product
candidates; (ii) activities associated with conducting human clinical trials,
including patient enrollment costs, external site costs, clinical drug supply
and related external costs such as contract research consultant fees and
expenses; and (iii) activities related to preparation of the Complete Responses
(submitted in November 2007 and October 2008, respectively) to the April 2006
Approvable Letter and the May 2008 Approvable Letter.
Direct
pre-clinical and clinical programs expenses in 2008 and 2007 included: (i) costs
associated with preparation of the Complete Responses to the May 2008 Approvable
Letter and the April 2006 Approvable Letter; (ii) activities associated with the
ongoing Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating the use of Surfaxin in children up to
two years of age suffering with ARF; and (iii) pre-clinical and preparatory
activities for anticipated Phase 2 clinical trials for Aerosurf for RDS in
premature infants. The decrease in expenses in 2008 as compared to
2007 is primarily due to our efforts to conserve financial resources by limiting
our investment in research and development programs while we focus on
potentially gaining regulatory approval for Surfaxin in the United
States.
Direct
pre-clinical and clinical programs expenses in 2006 were primarily associated
with: (i) regulatory activities related to our efforts to gain regulatory
approval for Surfaxin in the United States, (ii) clinical activities related to
a Phase 2 clinical trial for the prevention and treatment of BPD in infants
(completed in October 2006); (iii) clinical activities related to a Phase 2
clinical trial for the treatment of ARDS in adults (completed in March 2006);
and (iv) pre-clinical activities for our Aerosurf program. The
increase in expenses in 2007 as compared to 2006 is primarily due to expenses in
2007 associated with pre-clinical activities for the development of Aerosurf and
the ongoing Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating the use of Surfaxin in children up
to two years of age suffering with ARF.
We will
continue to conserve financial resources by limiting our investment in research
and development programs while we focus on potentially gaining regulatory
approval for Surfaxin in the United States. Following the potential
approval of Surfaxin, if resources permit, we plan to accelerate investment in
our KL4 Surfactant
pipeline programs and expect our research and development expenses to increase
in 2009, primarily associated with development and clinical activities for our
lyophilized KL4 Surfactant
and our Aerosurf program.
General
and Administrative Expenses
General
and administrative expenses consist primarily of the costs of executive
management, business and commercial development, finance and accounting,
intellectual property and legal, human resources, information technology,
facility and other administrative costs.
General
and administrative expenses for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007, and
2006 were $16.4 million, $13.7 million, and $18.4 million,
respectively. General and administrative expenses included charges of
$3.1 million, $3.5 million and $3.8 million associated with stock-based employee
compensation in accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 123(R) for the years
ended December 31, 2008, 2007, and 2006, respectively.
A
significant component of general and administrative expenses is pre-launch
commercial activities associated with preparing for the potential approval and
commercial launch of Surfaxin, including hiring of certain experienced
management personnel to develop and implement our commercialization strategy,
investments to support our presence at key neonatal medical meetings, market
research activities, and other preparatory sales and marketing
activities.
52
Expenses
for pre-launch commercial activities were $5.0 million, $2.2 million and $5.9
million for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006,
respectively. The expenses in 2008 were incurred in
anticipation of the potential approval and commercial launch of Surfaxin in May
2008. Following receipt of the May 2008 Approvable Letter, we scaled
back our pre-launch commercial activities while we focused on preparation of the
Complete Response to the May 2008 Approvable Letter and potentially gaining
approval of Surfaxin. The expenses in 2006 were incurred in
anticipation of the potential approval and commercial launch of Surfaxin in
April 2006. Following receipt of the April 2006 approvable Letter and
the April 2006 Surfaxin process validation batch stability failures, we
restructured the company, reduced our commercial workforce and terminated
certain pre-launch commercial programs. See “Management’s Discussion
and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Results of
Operations – 2006 Restructuring Charge.”
Following
the potential approval of Surfaxin, we plan to establish our own specialty
pulmonary commercial organization in the United States that will initially
execute the launch of Surfaxin and, with the introduction of Surfaxin LS and
Aerosurf, if approved, focus on developing a significant pediatric
franchise. We believe that this strategy will provide us direct
control over our U.S. sales and marketing activities, permit us to establish a
strong presence in neonatal and pediatric intensive care units nationwide, and
potentially optimize the economics of our business. Our pre-approval
preparations have included the hiring of certain experienced management
personnel. We plan to hire our sales representatives only after we
have received approval to market Surfaxin. If, however, we were
presented with an alternative approach, through a strategic alliance or other
collaboration arrangement, that would achieve the foregoing, and provide
appropriate financial consideration and operational capabilities, we would
consider such a potential transaction.
We
believe our existing general and administrative resources, including legal,
finance, business development, information technologies, human resources and
general management capabilities, are sufficient to support the potential launch
of Surfaxin in the United States. We anticipate making additional
investments in the future to enhance these capabilities as and when required to
meet the needs of our research and development programs and commercial
organization.
We also
plan additional investments to sustain and perfect our potential competitive
position by maintaining our existing patent portfolio, trademarks, trade secrets
and regulatory exclusivity designations, including potential orphan drug and new
drug product exclusivities, and by investing in new patents, patent extensions,
new trademarks, and regulatory exclusivity designations, when
available. See “Business – Licensing,
Patents and Other Proprietary Rights and Regulatory Designations.”
2006
Restructuring Charge
In April
2006, after ongoing analysis of Surfaxin process validation batches that had
been manufactured as a requirement for our NDA indicated that certain stability
parameters no longer met acceptance criteria, we reduced staff levels and
reorganized management to lower our cost structure and re-align our operations
with changed business priorities. The reduction in workforce totaled
52 employees, including three senior executives, and represented approximately
33% of our workforce, primarily from our commercial group. All
affected employees were eligible for severance payments and continuation of
benefits.
We
incurred a restructuring charge of $4.8 million in the second quarter 2006
associated with the staff reductions and discontinued commercial programs, which
was accounted for in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
No. 146 “Accounting for Costs
Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities” (SFAS No. 146) and is
identified separately on the Statement of Operations as Restructuring
Charge. This charge included $2.5 million of severance and benefits
related to staff reductions and $2.3 million associated with discontinued
commercial programs. As of December 31, 2008, payments totaling $4.5
million had been made related to these items and $0.3 million were unpaid and
included in accounts payable and accrued expenses.
Other
Income / (Expense)
Other
income / (expenses), net was ($0.7) million, ($0.1) million and $0.6 million for
the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively, as summarized in
the chart below:
53
(Dollars
in thousands)
|
Year
Ended December 31,
|
|||||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
2006
|
||||||||||
Interest
income
|
$ | 842 | $ | 1,794 | $ | 1,495 | ||||||
Interest
expense
|
(1,614 | ) | (1,906 | ) | (1,453 | ) | ||||||
Other
income / (expense)
|
60 | 54 | 532 | |||||||||
Other
income / (expense), net
|
$ | (712 | ) | $ | (58 | ) | $ | 574 |
Interest
income consists of interest earned on our cash and marketable
securities. The decrease in interest income in 2008 is due to a
general decline in market interest rates and in our average cash and marketable
securities balance. The increase in interest income in 2007 is due to
an increase in our average cash and marketable securities balance.
Interest
expense consists of interest accrued on the outstanding balance of our loan with
PharmaBio Development Inc. (“PharmaBio”), the strategic investment group of
Quintiles Transnational Corp., and under our equipment financing
facilities. In addition, interest expense includes $0.5 million, $0.5
million and $0.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006,
respectively, associated with the amortization of deferred financing costs for
warrants issued to PharmaBio in October 2006 as consideration for a
restructuring of our loan in 2006. The decrease in interest expense in 2008 is
due to a decline in the variable interest rate on our PharmaBio loan, which is
equal to the U.S. prime rate. The increase in interest expense in
2007 is due to a full year of amortization of deferred financing costs for
warrants issued in October 2006 in connection with the restructuring of our loan
with PharmaBio.
Other
income / (expenses) primarily consists of proceeds from the sale of our
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania research and development tax credits ($0.1 million,
$0.2 million, and $0.6 million in 2008, 2007 and 2006,
respectively). The decrease in proceeds from the sale of these tax
credits is due to more credits being available for sale in 2006 as compared to
2007 and 2008.
LIQUIDITY
AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
We have
incurred substantial losses since inception, due to investments in research and
development, manufacturing and potential commercialization activities and we
expect to continue to incur substantial losses over the next several
years. Historically, we have funded our business operations through
various sources, including public and private securities offerings, draw downs
under our CEFFs, capital equipment and debt facilities, and strategic
alliances. We expect to continue to fund our business operations
through a combination of these sources, as well as sales revenue from our
product candidates, beginning with Surfaxin for RDS, if approved.
Our
capital requirements will depend upon many factors, including the success of our
product development and commercialization plans. We are currently focused on
developing our lead KL4 Surfactant
products, Surfaxin, Surfaxin LS and Aerosurf, to address the most significant
respiratory conditions affecting pediatric populations. The FDA has established
April 17, 2009 as its target action date to complete its review of our Surfaxin
NDA. (See “Business –
Surfactant Replacement Therapy (SRT) for Respiratory Medicine.”) As of December
31, 2008, we had $24.8 million in cash and marketable securities and three
CEFFs, under which we may potentially raise (subject to certain conditions,
including stock price and volume limitations) up to an aggregate of $114.2
million, although the 2006 CEFF, which currently has available up to
approximately $34.3 million, will expire in May 2009. (See “Management’s Discussion
and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Liquidity and
Capital Resources – Committed Equity Financing Facilities”). However, there can
be no assurance that our research and development projects will be successful,
that products developed (including Surfaxin) will obtain necessary regulatory
approval, that any approved product will be commercially viable, that any of the
three CEFFs will be available for future financings, or that we will be able to
obtain additional capital when needed on acceptable terms, if at all. Even if we
succeed in raising additional capital and developing and subsequently
commercializing product candidates, we may never achieve sufficient sales
revenue to achieve or maintain profitability.
54
The
accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that we will
continue as a going concern, which contemplates the realization of assets and
satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. Our
ability to continue as a going concern is dependent on our ability to raise
additional capital, to fund our research and development and commercial programs
and meet our obligations on a timely basis. If we are unable to
successfully raise sufficient additional capital, through future debt and
equity financings and /or strategic and collaborative ventures with potential
partners, we will likely not have sufficient cash flows and liquidity to fund
our business operations, which could significantly limit our ability to continue
as a going concern. In that event, we may be forced to further limit
many, if not all, of our programs and consider other means of creating value for
our stockholders, such as licensing the development and commercialization of
products that we consider valuable and would otherwise likely develop
ourselves. If we are unable to raise the necessary capital, we may be
forced to curtail all of our activities and, ultimately, potentially cease
operations. Even if we are able to raise additional capital, such
financings may only be available on unattractive terms, or could result in
significant dilution of stockholders’ interests and, in such event, the market
price of our common stock may decline. The balance sheets do not
include any adjustments relating to recoverability and classification of
recorded asset amounts or the amounts and classification of liabilities that
might be necessary should the Company be unable to continue in
existence.
To meet
our capital requirements, we continue to consider multiple strategic
alternatives, including, but not limited to potential additional financings as
well as potential business alliances, commercial and development partnerships
and other similar opportunities, although there can be no assurance that we will
take any further specific actions or enter into any
transactions. See “Risk Factors
– In light of the delayed timeline for the anticipated approval for
Surfaxin, we will have to raise significant additional capital to continue our
existing planned research and development activities. Moreover, such
additional financing could result in equity dilution, ” “–The terms of our
indebtedness may impair our ability to conduct our business,” “ – Our
Committed Equity Financing Facilities may have a dilutive impact on our
stockholders,” and “– Future sales and issuances of our common stock or
rights to purchase our common stock, including pursuant to our stock incentive
plans and upon the exercise of outstanding securities exercisable for shares of
our common stock, could result in substantial additional dilution of our
stockholders, cause our stock price to fall and adversely affect our ability to
raise capital.”
Cash
Flows
We had
cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities of $24.8 million, $53.0 million
and $26.4 million as of December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006,
respectively. The decrease of $28.2 million in 2008 is primarily due
to $35.4 million used in operating activities, capital expenditures and
principal payments on equipment loans, partially offset by proceeds of $6.3
million from financings under our CEFFs and $0.9 million from our equipment
financing facilities. The increase of $26.6 million in 2007 is
primarily due to $35.6 million used in operating activities and capital
expenditures and principal payments on equipment loans, partially offset by:
(i) $51.7 million of net proceeds from two registered direct offerings
of our common stock; (ii) $7.0 million of proceeds from financings under our
CEFFs; and (iii) $2.9 million from our equipment financing
facilities.
Cash
Flows Used in Operating Activities
Cash
flows used in operating activities were $31.8 million, $29.4 million and $39.8
million for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006,
respectively.
Our cash
flows used in operating activities are a result of our net operating losses
adjusted for non-cash expenses associated with stock-based compensation,
depreciation and changes in our accounts payable and accrued
liabilities. (For a discussion on our net operating losses, see “Management’s Discussion
and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Results of
Operations”). Cash flows from operating activities in 2008 also
include $4.5 million received from Chrysalis to support development of our
capillary aerosolization technology.
55
Cash
Flows Used in Investing Activities
Cash
flows used in investing activities include capital expenditures of $0.6 million,
$3.8 million and $1.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and
2006, respectively. Capital expenditures were primarily for
laboratory and manufacturing equipment to support analytical, quality,
manufacturing and development activities. In 2007, we completed
construction of a new analytical and development laboratory in our headquarters
in Warrington, Pennsylvania, for a total cost of approximately $3.0 million and
consolidated at this location the analytical, quality and development activities
previously located in Doylestown, Pennsylvania and Mountain View,
California. The laboratory has expanded our capabilities by providing
additional capacity to conduct analytical testing as well as opportunities to
leverage our consolidated professional expertise across a broad range of
projects, improving both operational efficiency and financial
economics. The leases for our Doylestown, Pennsylvania and Mountain
View, California locations either expired or were terminated. (See “Management’s Discussion
and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Liquidity and
Capital Resources – Contractual Obligations”) In 2006, capital
expenditures primarily consisted of laboratory equipment for our analytical
activities.
Cash
flows from / (used in) investing activities also include cash used to purchase
short-term marketable securities and cash received from the sale and/or maturity
of short-term marketable securities. When assessing our cash position
and managing our liquidity and capital resources, we do not consider cash flows
between cash and marketable securities to be meaningful. Cash used to
purchase marketable securities is subject to an investment policy that is
approved by the Board of Directors and that provides for the purchase of
high-quality marketable securities, while ensuring preservation of capital and
fulfillment of liquidity needs. As of December 31, 2008,
available-for-sale marketable securities consist of United States treasury
notes, certificates of deposits, and high-quality commercial paper with a
maturity of greater than three months.
Cash
Flows from Financing Activities
Cash
flows from financing activities were $4.2 million, $59.7 million and $17.4
million for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively, as
summarized in the chart below:
(In
millions)
|
Year
Ended December 31,
|
|||||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
2006
|
||||||||||
Financings
under CEFFs
|
$ | 6.3 | $ | 7.0 | $ | 7.4 | ||||||
Financings
pursuant to common stock offerings
|
– | 51.7 | 9.5 | |||||||||
Proceeds
from equipment financing facilities
|
0.9 | 2.9 | 1.5 | |||||||||
Proceeds
from exercise of stock options and warrants
|
– | – | 0.7 | |||||||||
Debt
service payments
|
(3.0 | ) | (1.9 | ) | (1.7 | ) | ||||||
Cash
flows from financing activities, net
|
$ | 4.2 | $ | 59.7 | $ | 17.4 |
The
following sections provide a more detailed discussion of our cash flows from
financing activities.
Committed
Equity Financing Facilities (CEFFs)
We have
entered into four CEFFs with Kingsbridge Capital Limited (Kingsbridge), a
private investment group, in which Kingsbridge is committed to purchase, subject
to certain conditions, newly-issued shares of our common stock. The
CEFFs allow us, at our discretion, to raise capital at the time and in amounts
deemed suitable to us, to support our business plans. We are not
obligated to utilize any of the funds available under the
CEFFs. Should we choose to utilize any of the CEFFs, our ability to
access the funds available under the CEFFs is subject to certain conditions,
including stock price and volume limitations.
CEFF Terms and
Conditions
As of
December 31, 2008, we had three CEFFs available for financings: the CEFF dated
December 12, 2008 (December 2008 CEFF), the CEFF dated May 22, 2008 (May 2008
CEFF), and the CEFF dated April 17, 2006 (2006 CEFF). The
following table sets forth an overview of the “draw down” requirements and
availability under each CEFF.
56
(in millions, except
per share data and
trading days)
|
Minimum
Price
to Initiate
|
Minimum
VWAP for
|
# of
Trading
Days
In Each
|
Amount per
Contract
|
Potential Availability
at
December 31, 2008
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Expiration
|
Draw
Down(1)
|
Daily
Pricing(2)
|
Draw
Down(2)
|
Shares
|
Maximum
Proceeds
|
Shares
|
Maximum
Proceeds
|
|||||||||||||||||||
2006
CEFF
|
May
12, 2009
|
$ | 2.00 |
85%
of prior day closing price
|
8
|
11.7 | $ | 50.0 | 4.5 | $ | 34.3 | |||||||||||||||
May
2008 CEFF
|
June
18, 2011
|
$ | 1.15 |
90%
of prior day closing price
|
8
|
19.3 | $ | 60.0 | 15.6 | $ | 54.9 | |||||||||||||||
Dec.
2008 CEFF
|
Feb.
6, 2011
|
$ | 0.60 |
90%
of prior day closing price
|
6
|
15.0 | $ | 25.0 | 15.0 | $ | 25.0 |
(1)
|
To
initiate a draw down, the closing price of our common stock on the trading
day immediately preceding the first trading day of the draw down must be
at least equal to the minimum price set forth
above.
|
(2)
|
If
on any trading day, the daily volume-weighted average of our common stock
(VWAP) is less than the minimum VWAP set forth above, no shares are
purchased on that trading day and the aggregate amount of the draw down is
reduced for each such day 1/8th
(1/6th
for the Dec. 2008 CEFF) of the amount that we originally
designated. Unless we and Kingsbridge agree otherwise, a
minimum of three trading days must elapse between the expiration of any
draw-down pricing period and the beginning of the next draw-down pricing
period.
|
Each draw
down is limited in amount as follows:
|
·
|
2006
CEFF – the lesser of 2.5 percent of the closing price market value of our
outstanding shares of our common stock at the time of the draw down or $10
million;
|
|
·
|
May
2008 CEFF – the lesser of 3.0 percent of the closing price market value of
the outstanding shares of our common stock at the time of the draw down or
$10 million; and
|
|
·
|
December
2008 CEFF – the lesser of 1.5 percent of the closing price market value of
the outstanding shares of our common stock at the time of the draw down or
$3 million.
|
The
purchase price of shares sold to Kingsbridge under the CEFFs is at a discount to
the VWAP (as defined in the applicable agreement) for each of the trading days
following our initiation of a “draw down” under the CEFF, as
follows:
Daily VWAP
|
% of VWAP
|
(Applicable Discount)
|
||||||
2006
CEFF
|
||||||||
Greater
than $10.50 per share
|
94 | % | (6 | )% | ||||
Less
than or equal to $10.50 but greater than $7.00 per share
|
92 | % | (8 | )% | ||||
Less
than or equal to $7.00 but greater than or equal to $2.00 per
share
|
90 | % | (10 | )% | ||||
May
2008 CEFF
|
||||||||
Greater
than $7.25 per share
|
94 | % | (6 | )% | ||||
Less
than or equal to $7.25 but greater than $3.85 per share
|
92 | % | (8 | )% | ||||
Less
than or equal to $3.85 but greater than $1.75 per share
|
90 | % | (10 | )% | ||||
Less
than or equal to $1.75 but greater than or equal to $1.15 per
share
|
88 | % | (12 | )% | ||||
December
2008 CEFF
|
||||||||
Greater
than $7.25 per share
|
94 | % | (6 | )% | ||||
Less
than or equal to $7.25 but greater than $3.85 per share
|
92 | % | (8 | )% | ||||
Less
than or equal to $3.85 but greater than $1.75 per share
|
90 | % | (10 | )% | ||||
Less
than or equal to $1.75 but greater than or equal to $1.10 per
share
|
88 | % | (12 | )% | ||||
Less
than or equal to $1.10 but greater than or equal to $.60
|
85 | % | (15 | )% |
57
In
addition, Kingsbridge may terminate the CEFFs under certain circumstances,
including if a material adverse event relating to our business continues for 10
trading days after notice of the material adverse event.
CEFF
Financings
The
financings that we have completed under the 2006 CEFF are:
In May
2006, we completed a financing under the 2006 CEFF, resulting in proceeds of
$2.2 million from the issuance of 1,078,519 shares of our common stock at an
average price per share, after the applicable discount, of $2.03.
In
October 2006, we completed a financing under the 2006 CEFF, resulting in
proceeds of $2.3 million from the issuance of 1,204,867 shares of our common
stock at an average price per share, after the applicable discount, of
$1.91.
In
November 2006, we completed a financing under the 2006 CEFF, resulting in
proceeds of $3.0 million from the issuance of 1,371,516 shares of our common
stock at an average price per share, after the applicable discount, of
$2.19.
In
February 2007, we completed a financing under the 2006 CEFF, resulting in
proceeds of $2.0 million from the issuance of 942,949 shares of our common stock
at an average price per share, after the applicable discount, of
$2.12.
In
October 2007, we completed a financing under the 2006 CEFF, resulting in
proceeds of $5.0 million from the issuance of 1,909,172 shares of our common
stock at an average price per share, after the applicable discount, of
$2.62.
In
September 2008, we completed a financing under the 2006 CEFF, resulting in
proceeds of $1.3 million from the issuance of 676,360 shares of our common stock
at an average price per share, after the applicable discount, of
$1.85.
Also, in
2006, in connection with the CEFF, we issued a Class C Investor Warrant to
Kingsbridge to purchase up to 490,000 shares of our common stock at an exercise
price of $5.6186 per share, which expires in October 2011, is exercisable, in
whole or in part, for cash, except in limited circumstances, with expected total
proceeds to us, if exercised, of approximately $2.8 million. As of
December 31, 2008, the Class C Investor Warrant had not been
exercised.
The
financings that we have completed under the May 2008 CEFF are:
On July
11, 2008, we completed a financing under the May 2008 CEFF, resulting in
proceeds of $1.6 million from the issuance of 1,104,850 shares of our
common stock at an average price per share, after the applicable discount, of
$1.41.
On July
31, 2008, we completed a financing under the May 2008 CEFF, resulting in
proceeds of $1.5 million from the issuance of 991,537 shares of our common
stock at an average price per share, after the applicable discount, of
$1.51.
On
October 17, 2008, we completed a financing under the May 2008 CEFF, resulting in
proceeds of $1.3 million from the issuance of 913,827 shares of our common
stock at an average price per share, after the applicable discount, of
$1.44.
On
November 20, 2008, we completed a financing under the May 2008 CEFF, resulting
in proceeds of $0.3 million from the issuance of 221,202 shares of our
common stock at an average price per share, after the applicable discount, of
$1.13.
On
January 2, 2009, we completed a financing that was initiated in 2008 under the
May 2008 CEFF, resulting in proceeds of $0.5 million from the issuance of
478,783 shares of our common stock at an average price per share, after the
applicable discount, of $1.04.
Subsequently,
in 2009, we initiated and completed additional financings under the May 2008
CEFF, as follows:
58
On
January 16, 2009, we completed a financing under the May 2008 CEFF, resulting in
proceeds of $0.4 million from the issuance of 419,065 shares of our common stock
at an average price per share, after the applicable discount, of
$1.04.
On
February 18, 2009, we completed a financing under the May 2008 CEFF, resulting
in proceeds of $1.0 million from the issuance of 857,356 shares of our
common stock at an average price per share, after the applicable discount, of
$1.17.
Also, on
May 22, 2008, in connection with the May 2008 CEFF, we issued a warrant to
Kingsbridge to purchase up to 825,000 shares of our common stock at an exercise
price of $2.506 per share, which expires in November 2013 and is exercisable in
whole or in part for cash, except in limited circumstances, with expected total
proceeds to us, if exercised, of approximately $2.1 million. As of
December 31, 2008, the Investor Warrant had not been exercised.
No
financings have been completed under the Dec 2008 CEFF. On December
22, 2008, in connection with the December 2008 CEFF, we issued a warrant to
Kingsbridge to purchase up to 675,000 shares of our common stock at an exercise
price of $1.5132 per share, which is fully exercisable for a five-year period
beginning May 12, 2009. The warrant is exercisable in whole or in
part for cash, except in limited circumstances, with expected total proceeds to
us, if exercised, of approximately $1.0 million.
In
connection with a CEFF that we entered in 2004, which has since been terminated,
we issued a Class B Investor Warrant to Kingsbridge to purchase up to 375,000
shares of our common stock at an exercise price equal to $12.0744 per
share. The warrant expires in January 2010 and is exercisable, in
whole or in part, for cash, except in limited circumstances, with expected total
proceeds to us, if exercised, of approximately $4.5
million. As of December 31, 2006, the Class B Investor Warrant had
not been exercised.
Financings
Pursuant to Common Stock Offerings
Historically,
we have, and expect to continue to, fund our business operations through various
sources, including financings pursuant to common stock offerings.
2008
Universal Shelf
In June
2008, we filed a universal shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (No.
333-151654) (2008 Universal Shelf) with the SEC for the proposed offering from
time to time of up to $150 million of our securities. Under the 2008
Universal Shelf, we have the flexibility to react to market opportunities as
they arise and will be able to issue and sell a variety of securities, including
common stock, preferred stock, varying forms of debt and warrant securities, or
any combination of the foregoing, on terms and conditions that will be
determined at that time. We have not completed any financings under
the June 2008 Universal Shelf.
October
2005 Universal Shelf
In
October 2005, we filed a universal shelf registration statement on Form S-3 with
the SEC for the proposed offering, from time to time, of up to $100 million of
our debt or equity securities.
In
December 2007, we completed a registered direct offering of 10,000,000 shares of
our common stock to select institutional investors. The shares were
priced at $2.50 per share resulting in gross and net proceeds to us of $25.0
million and $23.6 million, respectively.
In April
2007, we completed a registered direct offering of 14,050,000 shares of our
common stock to select institutional investors. The shares were
priced at $2.15 per share resulting in gross and net proceeds to us of $30.2
million and $28.1 million, respectively.
The
October 2005 universal shelf registration statement expired in December 2008 and
is no longer available for future financings.
59
Private
Placements
In
November 2006, we completed the sale of securities in a private placement with
an institutional investor resulting in net proceeds of $9.5
million. We issued 4,629,630 shares of our common stock and 2,314,815
warrants to purchase shares of our common stock at an exercise price equal to
$3.18 per share. The warrants have a five-year term and, subject to
an aggregate share ownership limitation, are exercisable for cash or, in the
event that the related registration statement is not available for the resale of
the warrant shares, on a cashless basis.
Debt
Historically,
we have, and expect to continue to, fund our business operations through various
sources, including debt arrangements such as credit facilities and equipment
financing facilities.
Loan
with PharmaBio
PharmaBio
extended to us a secured, revolving credit facility of $8.5 to $10 million in
2001. Under an October 2006 restructuring, the outstanding principal
balance of $8.5 million is due and payable on April 30, 2010 and, since October
1, 2006, interest has accrued at the prime rate, compounded
annually. All unpaid interest, including interest payable with
respect to the quarter ending September 30, 2006, is payable on April 30, 2010,
the maturity date of the loan. We may repay the loan, in whole or in
part, at any time without prepayment penalty or premium. In addition,
our obligations to PharmaBio under the loan documents are now secured by an
interest in substantially all of our assets, subject to limited exceptions set
forth in the Security Agreement.
Also in
October 2006, in consideration of PharmaBio’s agreement to restructure the loan,
we entered into a Warrant Agreement with PharmaBio, pursuant to which PharmaBio
has the right to purchase 1.5 million shares of our common stock at an exercise
price equal to $3.5813 per share. The warrants have a seven-year term
and are exercisable, in whole or in part, for cash, cancellation of a portion of
our indebtedness under the PharmaBio loan agreement, or a combination of the
foregoing, in an amount equal to the aggregate purchase price for the shares
being purchased upon any exercise. Under the Warrant Agreement, we
filed a registration statement with the SEC with respect to the resale of the
shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants.
As of
December 31, 2008, the outstanding balance under the loan was $10.1 million
($8.5 million of pre-restructured principal and $1.6 million of accrued
interest) and was classified as a long-term loan payable on the Consolidated
Balance Sheets.
For the
years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, we incurred interest expense
associated with the PharmaBio loan of $0.5 million, $0.7 million and $0.8
million, respectively. The decrease in interest expense in 2008 was
due to a decline in the prime rate during 2008 from 7.25% to
3.25%. In addition, for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and
2006, we incurred interest expense associated with the amortization of deferred
financing costs in connection with warrants issued to PharmaBio in October 2006
of $0.5 million, $0.5 million and $0.1 million, respectively.
Equipment
Financing Facilities
We have,
and expect to continue to, fund our purchases of capital expenditures through
the use of equipment financing facilities. The outstanding principal
balance of our equipment financing facilities as of December 31, 2008 and 2007
was as follows:
60
As of December 31,
|
||||||||
(in thousands)
|
2008
|
2007
|
||||||
GE
Business Financial Services, Inc.
|
||||||||
Short-term
|
$ | 2,385 | $ | 2,625 | ||||
Long-term
|
664 | 2,991 | ||||||
Total
|
3,049 | 5,616 | ||||||
Pennsylvania
Machinery and Equipment Loan
|
||||||||
Short-term
|
57 | – | ||||||
Long-term
|
428 | – | ||||||
Total
|
485 | – | ||||||
Total
Short-term
|
2,442 | 2,625 | ||||||
Total
Long-term
|
1,092 | 2,991 | ||||||
Total
|
$ | 3,534 | $ | 5,616 |
In May
2007, we entered into a Credit and Security Agreement (Credit Agreement) with GE
Business Financial Services Inc. (formerly Merrill Lynch Business Financial
Services Inc.) (GE), as Lender, pursuant to which GE agreed to provide us a
$12.5 million facility (Facility) to fund our capital programs. Upon
execution of the Credit Agreement, we simultaneously drew down approximately
$4.0 million to prepay our then-outstanding indebtedness under a previous
facility. Over the term of the Facility, we received
$7.2 million, $4.0 million of which was associated with the prepayment of a
previous facility and $2.3 million of which was associated with
construction and equipment for a new analytical and development laboratory built
in our Warrington, Pennsylvania corporate headquarters in 2007. The
right to draw under this Facility expired on November 30, 2008.
Proceeds
received under the Facility were $0.4 million and $6.8 million for the years
ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Advances to finance
the acquisition of property and equipment are amortized over a period of 36
months and all other equipment and related costs are amortized over a period of
24 months. The advance to prepay our previous facility is amortized
over a period of 27 months. Interest on each advance accrues at a
fixed rate per annum equal to one-month LIBOR plus 6.25%, determined on the
funding date of such advance. Principal and interest on all advances
are payable in equal installments on the first business day of each
month. We may prepay advances, in whole or in part, at any time,
subject to a prepayment penalty, which, depending on the period of time elapsed
from the closing of the Facility, will range from 4% to 1%.
Principal
payments under the Facility were $3.0 million and $1.2 million for the years
ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Interest expense
under the Facility was $0.5 million and $0.7 million for the years ended
December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.
Our
obligations under the Facility are secured by a security interest in (i) the
financed property and equipment, and (ii) all of our intellectual property
(Supplemental Collateral), subject to limited exceptions set forth in the Loan
Agreement. The Supplemental Collateral will be released on the
earlier to occur of (a) receipt by us of FDA approval of our NDA for
Surfaxin for
the prevention of RDS in premature infants, or (b) the date on which we shall
have maintained over a continuous 12-month period ending on or after March 31,
2008, measured at the end of each calendar quarter, a minimum cash balance equal
to our projected cash requirements for the following 12-month
period. In addition, we, GE and PharmaBio entered into an
Intercreditor Agreement under which GE agreed to subordinate its security
interest in the Supplemental Collateral (which does not include financed
property and equipment) to the security interest in the same collateral that we
previously granted to PharmaBio (discussed above).
In
September 2008, we entered into a Loan Agreement and Security Agreement with the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Community and Economic Development
(Department) and executed a Promissory Note, pursuant to which the Department
made a loan to us from the Machinery and Equipment Loan Fund in the amount of
$500,000 (MELF Loan) to fund the purchase and installation of new machinery and
equipment and the upgrade of existing machinery and equipment at our new
analytical and development laboratory in Warrington,
Pennsylvania. Principal and interest on the MELF Loan is payable in
equal monthly installments over a period of seven years. Interest on
the principal amount will accrue at a fixed rate per annum equal to
5.0%. We may prepay the MELF Loan at any time without
penalty. Principal payments under the facility were
$15,000 for the year ended December 31, 2008.
61
In
addition to customary terms and conditions, the MELF Agreement provides that we
must meet certain criteria regarding retention and creation of new jobs within a
three-year period. In the event that we fail to comply with this
requirement, the interest rate on the Promissory Note, except in limited
circumstances, will be adjusted to a fixed rate equal to two percentage points
above the current prime rate for the remainder of the term.
Contractual
Obligations
Payments
due under contractual debt obligations at December 31, 2008, including principal
and interest, are as follows:
(in thousands)
|
2009
|
2010
|
2011
|
2012
|
2013
|
Thereafter
|
Total
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Loan
payable(1)
|
$ | – | $ | 10,573 | $ | – | $ | – | $ | – | $ | – | $ | 10,573 | ||||||||||||||
Equipment
loan obligations(1)
|
2,946 | 722 | 152 | 85 | 85 | 155 | 4,145 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Operating
lease obligations
|
1,143 | 1,135 | 1,151 | 1,168 | 320 | 150 | 5,067 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Total
|
$ | 4,089 | $ | 12,430 | $ | 1,303 | $ | 1,253 | $ | 405 | $ | 305 | $ | 19,785 |
(1)
|
See: “Management’s Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Operations - Liquidity and Capital
Resources - Debt.” For the purposes of this table, we
have assumed that the PharmaBio Loan will accrue interest through maturity
at an average rate that is equal to the current prime rate of
3.25%.
|
Operating
Lease Agreements
Our
operating leases consist primarily of facility leases for our operations in
Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
We
maintain our headquarters in Warrington, Pennsylvania. The facility
is 39,594 square feet and serves as the main operating facility for clinical
development, regulatory, analytical technical services, research and
development, sales and marketing, and administration. In April 2007,
the lease, which originally expired in February 2010 with total aggregate
payments of $4.6 million, was extended an additional three years through
February 2013 with additional payments of $3.0 million over the extension
period.
We lease
approximately 21,000 square feet of space for our manufacturing facility in
Totowa, New Jersey, at an annual rent of $150,000. This space is
specifically designed for the manufacture and filling of sterile pharmaceuticals
in compliance with cGMP and is our only manufacturing facility. The
lease expires in December 2014, subject to a right of the landlord upon two
years’ prior notice, to terminate the lease early. This termination
right is subject to certain conditions, including that the master tenant, a
related party of the landlord, must have ceased all activities at the premises,
and, in the earlier years, if we satisfy certain financial conditions, the
landlord must make payments to us of significant early termination
amounts. At the present time, we understand that the master tenant
continues to be active in the premises. The total aggregate payments over
the term of the lease are $1.4 million. For a discussion of our
manufacturing strategy, see
“Business – Business Operations – Manufacturing and
Distribution.”
Our lease for 5,600 square feet of
office and analytical laboratory space in Doylestown, Pennsylvania was
terminated effective July 31, 2008 and all activities at this location have been
consolidated into our new laboratory space in Warrington,
Pennsylvania. Our lease for 16,800 square feet of office and
laboratory space at our facility in Mountain View, California, expired without
renewal or extension on June 30, 2008. In December 2007, we
consolidated these activities into our new laboratory space in Warrington,
Pennsylvania.
Rent
expense under all of these leases for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007,
and 2006 was $1.2 million, $1.5 million and $1,4 million
respectively.
62
Contractual
Obligations
In
addition to the contractual obligations above, we have certain milestone payment
obligations, aggregating $2,500,000, and royalty payment obligations to Johnson
& Johnson related to our product licenses. To date, we have paid
$450,000 with respect to such milestones.
ITEM
7A.
|
QUANTITATIVE
AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET
RISK.
|
Our exposure to market risk is confined
to our cash, cash equivalents and available for sale securities. We
place our investments with high quality issuers and, by policy, limit the
amount of credit
exposure to any one issuer. We currently do not hedge interest rate
or currency exchange exposure. We classify highly liquid investments
purchased with a maturity of three months or less as “cash equivalents” and
commercial paper and fixed income mutual funds as “available for sale
securities.” Fixed income securities may have their fair market value
adversely affected due to a rise in interest rates and we may suffer losses in
principal if forced to sell securities that have declined in market value due to
a change in interest rates.
ITEM
8.
|
FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA.
|
See the Index to Consolidated
Financial Statements on Page F-1 attached hereto.
ITEM
9.
|
CHANGES
IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL
DISCLOSURE.
|
Not
applicable.
ITEM
9A.
|
CONTROLS
AND PROCEDURES.
|
(a)
Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures
Our
management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer,
does not expect that our disclosure controls or our internal control
over financial reporting will prevent all error and all fraud. A control system,
no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not
absolute, assurance that the control system’s objectives will be met. Further,
the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource
constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their
costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation
of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances
of fraud, if any, within the company have been detected. These inherent
limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be
faulty and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake.
Controls can also be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by
collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the controls. The
design of any system of controls is based in part on certain assumptions about
the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design
will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future
conditions. Over time, controls may become inadequate because of changes in
conditions or deterioration in the degree of compliance with policies or
procedures. Because of the inherent limitations in a cost-effective control
system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected. In
designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, our management
recognized that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and
operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control
objectives and our management necessarily was required to apply its judgment in
evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and
procedures.
63
Our Chief
Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer have evaluated the
effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and
procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and Rule 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act)
as of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form
10-K. Based on this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and our
Chief Financial Officer concluded that as of the end of the period covered by
this report our disclosure controls and procedures were effective in their
design to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports
that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized
and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and
forms.
(b)
Management’s Report on our Internal Control over Financial
Reporting
Our
management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal
control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f)
promulgated under the Exchange Act. Our internal control system is
designed to provide reasonable assurance to our management and board of
directors regarding the preparation and fair presentation of published financial
statements. All internal control systems, no matter how well
designed, have inherent limitations. Therefore, even those systems
determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to
financial statement preparation and presentation.
Under the
supervision and with the participation of our management, including our
principal executive officer and principal financial officer, our management
conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over
financial reporting as of December 31, 2008. In making this
assessment, our management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal
Control-Integrated Framework. Based on our assessment, our management
believes that our internal control over financial reporting is effective based
on those criteria, as of December 31, 2008.
Our
independent registered public accounting firm has audited management’s
assessment of our internal control over financial reporting, and issued an
unqualified opinion dated March 11, 2008 on such assessment and on our internal
control over financial reporting, which opinion is included herein.
(c)
Changes
in internal controls
There
were no changes in our internal controls or other factors that could materially
affect those controls subsequent to the date of our evaluation, including any
corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material
weaknesses.
64
Report
of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The
Board of Directors and Stockholders
Discovery
Laboratories, Inc.
We have
audited Discovery Laboratories, Inc.’s and subsidiary’s internal control over
financial reporting as of December 31, 2008, based on criteria established in
Internal Control–Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring
Organizations of the Treadway Commission (the COSO
criteria). Discovery Laboratories, Inc.’s and subsidiary’s management
is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial
reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over
financial reporting included in the accompanying Management’s Report on the
Company’s Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to
express an opinion on the company’s internal control over financial reporting
based on our audit.
We
conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company
Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan
and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective
internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material
respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over
financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing
and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based
on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered
necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable
basis for our opinion.
A
company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to
provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting
and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over
financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to
the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly
reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2)
provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to
permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are
being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of
the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely
detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s
assets that could have a material effect on the financial
statements.
Because
of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not
prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation
of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may
become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of
compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
In our
opinion, Discovery Laboratories, Inc. and subsidiary maintained, in all material
respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31,
2008, based on the
COSO criteria.
We also
have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting
Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of Discovery
Laboratories, Inc. and subsidiary as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, and the
related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ equity, and cash
flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2008 of
Discovery Laboratories, Inc. and subsidiary and our report dated March 12, 2009
expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
March 11,
2009
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
65
ITEM
9B.
|
OTHER
INFORMATION.
|
Not
applicable.
PART
III
The
information required by Items 10 through 14 of Part III is incorporated herein
by reference to our definitive proxy statement to be filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission within 120 days after the end of our 2008 fiscal
year.
We have
adopted a Code of Ethics that applies to our officers, including our principal
executive, financial and accounting officers, and our directors and
employees. We have posted the Code of Ethics on our Internet website
at “http://www.DiscoveryLabs.com” under the “Investors” tab in the Corporate
Policies section. We intend to make all required disclosures on a
Current Report on Form 8-K concerning any amendments to, or waivers from, our
Code of Ethics with respect to our executive officers and
directors. Our website and the information contained therein or
connected thereto are not incorporated into this Annual Report on Form
10-K.
PART
IV
ITEM
15.
|
EXHIBITS
AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES.
|
The
consolidated financial statements required to be filed in this Annual Report on
Form 10-K are listed on the Index to Consolidated Financial Statements on page
F-1 hereof.
Exhibits
are listed on the Index to Exhibits at the end of this Annual Report on Form
10-K. The exhibits required to be filed pursuant to Item 601 of
Regulation S-K, which are listed on the Index in response to this Item, are
incorporated herein by reference.
66
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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.
DISCOVERY
LABORATORIES, INC.
|
||
Date:
March 11, 2009
|
By:
|
/s/ Robert J. Capetola
|
Robert
J. Capetola, Ph.D.
|
||
President
and Chief Executive Officer
|
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been
signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature
|
Name & Title
|
Date
|
||
/s/
Robert J. Capetola
|
Robert
J. Capetola, Ph.D.
President,
Chief Executive Officer and Director
|
March
11, 2009
|
||
/s/
John G. Cooper
|
John
G. Cooper
Executive
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal
Accounting Officer)
|
March
11, 2009
|
||
/s/
W. Thomas Amick
|
W.
Thomas Amick
Chairman
of the Board of Directors
|
March
11, 2009
|
||
/s/
Herbert H. McDade, Jr.
|
Herbert
H. McDade, Jr.
Director
|
March
11, 2009
|
||
/s/
Antonio Esteve
|
Antonio
Esteve, Ph.D.
Director
|
March
11, 2009
|
||
/s/
Max E. Link
|
Max
E. Link, Ph.D.
Director
|
March
11, 2009
|
||
/s/
Marvin E. Rosenthale
|
|
Marvin
E. Rosenthale, Ph.D.
Director
|
|
March
11, 2009
|
67
INDEX
TO EXHIBITS
The
following exhibits are included with this Annual Report on Form
10-K. All management contracts or compensatory plans or arrangements
are marked with an asterisk.
Exhibit No.
|
Description
|
Method of Filing
|
||
3.1
|
Restated
Certificate of Incorporation of Discovery Laboratories, Inc. (Discovery),
dated September 18, 2002.
|
Incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Discovery’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002, as filed with the SEC on March
31, 2003.
|
||
3.2
|
Certificate
of Designations, Preferences and Rights of Series A Junior Participating
Cumulative Preferred Stock of Discovery, dated February 6,
2004.
|
Incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 2.2 to Discovery’s Form 8-A, as filed with the SEC
on February 6, 2004.
|
||
3.3
|
Certificate
of Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation of Discovery, dated as of
May 28, 2004.
|
Incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Discovery’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
for the quarter ended June 30, 2004, as filed with the SEC on August 9,
2004.
|
||
3.4
|
Certificate
of Amendment to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Discovery,
dated as of July 8, 2005.
|
Incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Discovery’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
for the quarter ended June 30, 2005, as filed with the SEC on August 5,
2005.
|
||
3.5
|
Amended
and Restated By-Laws of Discovery, as amended effective December 11,
2007.
|
Incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 3.5 to Discovery’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, as filed with the SEC on March
14, 2008.
|
||
4.1
|
Shareholder
Rights Agreement, dated as of February 6, 2004, by and between Discovery
and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company.
|
Incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Discovery’s Current Report on Form 8-K, as
filed with the SEC on February 6, 2004.
|
||
4.2
|
Form
of Class A Investor Warrant.
|
Incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Discovery’s Current Report on Form 8-K, as
filed with the SEC on June 20, 2003.
|
||
4.3
|
Class
B Investor Warrant dated July 7, 2004, issued to Kingsbridge Capital
Limited.
|
Incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Discovery’s Current Report on Form 8-K as
filed with the SEC on July 9, 2004.
|
||
4.4
|
Warrant
Agreement, dated as of November 3, 2004, by and between Discovery and
QFinance, Inc.
|
Incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of Discovery’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
for the quarter ended September 30, 2004, as filed with the SEC on
November 9, 2004.
|
||
4.5
|
Class
C Investor Warrant, dated April 17, 2006, issued to Kingsbridge Capital
Limited
|
Incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Discovery’s Current Report on Form 8-K, as
filed with the SEC on April 21,
2006.
|
68
Exhibit No.
|
Description
|
Method of Filing
|
||
4.6
|
Second
Amended and Restated Promissory Note, dated as of October 25, 2006, issued
to PharmaBio Development Inc. (“PharmaBio”)
|
Incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Discovery’s Current Report on Form 8-K, as
filed with the SEC on October 26, 2006.
|
||
4.7
|
Warrant
Agreement, dated as of October 25, 2006, by and between Discovery and
PharmaBio
|
Incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Discovery’s Current Report on Form 8-K, as
filed with the SEC on October 26, 2006.
|
||
4.8
|
Warrant
Agreement, dated November 22, 2006
|
Incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Discovery’s Current Report on Form 8-K, as
filed with the SEC on November 22, 2006.
|
||
4.9
|
Warrant
Agreement dated May 22, 2008 by and between Kingsbridge Capital Limited
and Discovery.
|
Incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Discovery’s Current Report on Form 8-K as
filed with the SEC on May 28, 2008.
|
||
4.10
|
Warrant
Agreement dated December 12, 2008 by and between Kingsbridge Capital
Limited and Discovery.
|
Incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Discovery’s Current Report on Form 8-K, as
filed with the SEC on December 15, 2008.
|
||
10.1+
|
Sublicense
Agreement, dated as of October 28, 1996, between Johnson & Johnson,
Ortho Pharmaceutical Corporation and Acute Therapeutics,
Inc.
|
Incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to Discovery’s Registration Statement on Form
SB-2, as filed with the SEC on January 7, 1997 (File No.
333-19375).
|
||
10.2
|
Registration
Rights Agreement, dated June 16, 1998, among Discovery, Johnson &
Johnson Development Corporation and The Scripps Research
Institute.
|
Incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 10.28 to Discovery’s Annual Report on Form 10-KSB
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998, as filed with the SEC on
April 9, 1999.
|
||
10.3*
|
Restated
1993 Stock Option Plan of Discovery.
|
Incorporated
by reference to Discovery’s Registration Statement on Form SB-2 (File No.
33-92-886).
|
||
10.4*
|
1995
Stock Option Plan of Discovery.
|
Incorporated
by reference to Discovery’s Registration Statement on Form SB-2 (File No.
33-92-886).
|
||
10.5*
|
Amended
and Restated 1998 Stock Incentive Plan of Discovery (amended as of May 13,
2005).
|
Incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Discovery’s Registration Statement on Form
S-8, as filed with the SEC on August 23, 2005 (File No.
333-116268).
|
||
10.6*
|
Form
of Notice of Grant of Stock Option under the 1998 Stock Incentive
Plan.
|
Incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Discovery’s Quarterly Report on Form
10-QSB for the quarter ended September 30, 1999, as filed with the SEC on
November 17, 1999.
|
||
10.7*
|
Discovery’s
2007 Long Term Incentive Plan
|
Incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 1.1 to Discovery’s Current Report on Form 8-K, as
filed with the SEC on June 28,
2007.
|
69
Exhibit No.
|
Description
|
Method of Filing
|
||
10.8*
|
Form
of 2007 Long-Term Incentive Plan Stock Option Agreement
|
Incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to Discovery’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
for the quarter ended June 30, 2007, as filed with the SEC on August 9,
2007.
|
||
10.9*
|
Form
of Stock Issuance Agreement, dated as of October 30, 2007, between the
Discovery and the Grantees
|
Incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Discovery’s Current Report on Form 8-K, as
filed with the SEC on November 5, 2007.
|
||
10.10+
|
Amended
and Restated Sublicense and Collaboration Agreement made as of December 3,
2004, between Discovery and Laboratorios del Dr. Esteve,
S.A.
|
Incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 10.28 to Discovery’s Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2004, as filed with the SEC on March 16,
2005.
|
||
10.11+
|
Amended
and Restated Supply Agreement, dated as of December 3, 2004, by and
between Discovery and Laboratorios del Dr. Esteve, S.A.
|
Incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 10.29 to Discovery’s Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2004, as filed with the SEC on March 16,
2005.
|
||
10.12
|
Assignment
of Lease and Termination and Option Agreement, dated as of December 30,
2005, between Laureate Pharma, Inc. and Discovery.
|
Incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Discovery’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005, as filed with the SEC on March
16, 2006.
|
||
10.13
|
Common
Stock Purchase Agreement, dated April 17, 2006, by and between Discovery
and Kingsbridge Capital Limited.
|
Incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Discovery’s Current Report on Form 8-K, as
filed with the SEC on April 21, 2006.
|
||
10.14
|
Second
Amended and Restated Loan Agreement, dated as of December 10, 2001,
amended and restated as of October 25, 2006, by and between Discovery and
PharmaBio
|
Incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Discovery’s Current Report on Form 8-K, as
filed with the SEC on October 26, 2006.
|
||
10.15*
|
Amended
and Restated Employment Agreement, dated as of May 4, 2006, by and between
Discovery and Robert J. Capetola, Ph.D.
|
Incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Discovery’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
for the quarter ended March 31, 2006, as filed with the SEC on May 10,
2006.
|
||
10.16*
|
Amendment
to the Amended and Restated Employment Agreement dated as of May 4, 2006
between Robert J. Capetola and Discovery Laboratories,
Inc.
|
Incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Discovery’s Current Report on Form 8-K, as
filed with the SEC on January 3, 2008
|
||
10.17*
|
Amended
and Restated Employment Agreement, dated as of May 4, 2006, by and between
Discovery and John G. Cooper.
|
Incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Discovery’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
for the quarter ended March 31, 2006, as filed with the SEC on May 10,
2006.
|
||
10.18*
|
Amendment
to the Amended and Restated Employment Agreement dated as of May 4, 2006
between John G. Cooper and Discovery Laboratories, Inc.
|
Incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to Discovery’s Current Report on Form 8-K, as
filed with the SEC on January 3,
2008
|
70
Exhibit No.
|
Description
|
Method of Filing
|
||
10.19*
|
Amended
and Restated Employment Agreement, dated as of May 4, 2006, by and between
Discovery and David L. Lopez, Esq., CPA
|
Incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to Discovery’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
for the quarter ended March 31, 2006, as filed with the SEC on May 10,
2006.
|
||
10.20*
|
Amendment
to the Amended and Restated Employment Agreement dated as of May 4, 2006
between David L. Lopez and Discovery Laboratories, Inc.
|
Incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Discovery’s Current Report on Form 8-K, as
filed with the SEC on January 3, 2008
|
||
10.21*
|
Amended
and Restated Employment Agreement, dated as of May 4, 2006, by and between
Discovery and Robert Segal, M.D.
|
Incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to Discovery’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
for the quarter ended March 31, 2006, as filed with the SEC on May 10,
2006.
|
||
10.22*
|
Amendment
to the Amended and Restated Employment Agreement dated as of May 4, 2006
between Robert Segal, M.D., F.A.C.P., and Discovery
|
Incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Discovery’s Current Report on Form 8-K, as
filed with the SEC on July 15, 2008
|
||
10.23*
|
Amendment
dated December 12, 2008 to the Amended and Restated Employment Agreement
dated as of May 4, 2006 between Robert Segal, M.D., F.A.C.P., and
Discovery
|
Incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Discovery’s Current Report on Form 8-K, as
filed with the SEC on December 18, 2008
|
||
10.24*
|
Amended
and Restated Employment Agreement, dated as of May 4, 2006, by and between
Discovery and Charles Katzer.
|
Incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 10.31 to Discovery’s Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006, as filed with the SEC on
March 16, 2007
|
||
10.25*
|
Amendment
to the Amended and Restated Employment Agreement dated as of May 4, 2006
between Charles F. Katzer and Discovery
|
Incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Discovery’s Current Report on Form 8-K, as
filed with the SEC on July 15, 2008
|
||
10.26*
|
Amendment
dated December 12, 2008 to the Amended and Restated Employment Agreement
dated as of May 4, 2006 between Charles F. Katzer and Discovery
Laboratories, Inc.
|
Incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Discovery’s Current Report on Form 8-K, as
filed with the SEC on December 18, 2008
|
||
10.27
|
Lease
Agreement dated May 26, 2004, and First Amendment to Lease Agreement,
dated April 2, 2007, by and between TR Stone Manor Corp. and Discovery
Laboratories, Inc.
|
Incorporated
by reference to Exhibits 10.1 and 10.2 to Discovery’s Current Report on
Form 8-K, as filed with the SEC on April 6, 2007.
|
||
10.28
|
Credit
and Security Agreement, dated as of May 21, 2007, by and between Discovery
and Merrill Lynch Capital, a division of Merrill Lynch Business Financial
Services, Inc.
|
Incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Discovery’s Current Report on Form 8-K, as
filed with the SEC on May 24,
2007.
|
71
Exhibit No.
|
Description
|
Method of Filing
|
||
10.29
|
First
Amendment to Credit and Security Agreement (the “Amendment”) dated May 30,
2008, between the Company and GE Business Financial Services Inc.
(formerly Merrill Lynch Business Financial Services, Inc.)
|
Incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Discovery’s Current Report on Form 8-K, as
filed with the SEC on June 2, 2008.
|
||
10.30
|
Master
Services Agreement between Discovery and Kloehn Ltd., dated as of August
10, 2007
|
Incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 10.35 to Discovery’s Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, as filed with the SEC on
March 14, 2008.
|
||
10.31
+
|
Amended
and Restate License Agreement by and between Discovery and Philip Morris
USA Inc., d/b/a/ Chrysalis Technologies, dated March 28,
2008
|
Incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to Discovery’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
for the quarter ended March 31, 2008, as filed with the SEC on May 9,
2008.
|
||
10.32
+
|
License
Agreement by and between and Philip Morris Products S.A., dated March 28,
2008
|
Incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to Discovery’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
for the quarter ended March 31, 2008, as filed with the SEC on May 9,
2008.
|
||
10.33
|
Common
Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of May 22, 2008, by and between
Kingsbridge Capital and Discovery
|
Incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Discovery’s Current Report on Form 8-K, as
filed with the SEC on May 27, 2008.
|
||
10.34
|
Registration
Rights Agreement, dated as of December 12, 2008, by and between
Kingsbridge Capital and Discovery
|
Incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Discovery’s Current Report on Form 8-K, as
filed with the SEC on May 27, 2008.
|
||
10.35
|
Common
Stock Purchase Agreement, dated December 12, 2008, by and between
Discovery and Kingsbridge Capital Limited.
|
Incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Discovery’s Current Report on Form 8-K, as
filed with the SEC on December 15, 2008.
|
||
10.36
|
Registration
Rights Agreement, dated as of December 12, 2008, by and between
Kingsbridge Capital and Discovery
|
Incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Discovery’s Current Report on Form 8-K, as
filed with the SEC on December 15, 2008.
|
||
21.1
|
Subsidiaries
of Discovery.
|
Incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 21.1 to Discovery’s Annual Report on Form 10-KSB
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997, as filed with the SEC on
March 31, 1998.
|
||
23.1
|
Consent
of Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting
firm.
|
Filed
herewith.
|
||
31.1
|
Certification
of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Exchange
Act.
|
Filed
herewith.
|
||
31.2
|
Certification
of Chief Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer pursuant to
Rule 13a-14(a) of the Exchange Act.
|
Filed
herewith.
|
72
Exhibit No.
|
Description
|
Method of Filing
|
||
32.1
|
|
Certification
of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18
U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
|
|
Filed
herewith.
|
+ Confidential
treatment requested as to certain portions of these exhibits. Such
portions have been redacted and filed separately with the
Commission.
* A
management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement required to be filed as
an exhibit to this annual report pursuant to Item 15(b) of Form
10-K
73
DISCOVERY
LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
Contents
|
|||
Page
|
|||
Consolidated
Financial Statements
|
|||
Report
of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
|
F-2
|
||
Balance
Sheets as of December 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007
|
F-3
|
||
Statements
of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and
2006
|
F-4
|
||
Statements
of Changes in Stockholders' Equity for the years ended December 31,
2008, 2007 and 2006
|
F-5
|
||
Statements
of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and
2006
|
F-6
|
||
Notes
to consolidated financial statements
|
F-7
|
F-1
DISCOVERY
LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
Report of Independent Registered Public
Accounting Firm
The Board of Directors and
Shareholders
Discovery Laboratories,
Inc.
We have audited the accompanying
consolidated balance sheets of Discovery Laboratories, Inc. (the “Company”) as
of December 31, 2008 and 2007, and the related consolidated statements of
operations, shareholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in
the period ended December 31, 2008. These financial statements are the
responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to
express an opinion on these financial statements based on our
audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance
with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United
States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our
opinion.
In our opinion, the financial
statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the
financial position of the Company at December 31, 2008 and 2007, and the results
of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period
ended December 31, 2008, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting
principles.
The accompanying financial statements
have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern.
As more fully described in Note 2, the Company has incurred recurring operating
losses and has generated negative cash flows from operations since inception and
expects such results to continue for the foreseeable future. In addition, there
is uncertainty as to the Company’s ability to raise additional capital
sufficient to meet its obligations on a timely basis. These conditions
raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going
concern. Management’s plans in regard to these matters also are described in
Note 2. The December 31, 2008 consolidated financial statements do not
include any adjustments to reflect the possible future effects on the
recoverability and classification of assets or the amounts and classification of
liabilities that may result from the outcome of this
uncertainty.
As
discussed in Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company
changed its method of accounting for uncertainties in income taxes in 2007.
We also have audited, in accordance
with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United
States), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December
31, 2008, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework
issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission
and our report dated March 11, 2009 expressed an unqualified opinion
thereon.
/s/
Ernst & Young LLP
March11, 2009
Philadelphia,
PA
F-2
DISCOVERY
LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
Consolidated
Balance Sheets
(In
thousands, except per share data)
December
31,
|
December
31,
|
|||||||
2008
|
2007
|
|||||||
ASSETS
|
||||||||
Current
Assets:
|
||||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
$ | 22,744 | $ | 36,929 | ||||
Available-for-sale
marketable securities
|
2,048 | 16,078 | ||||||
Prepaid
expenses and other current assets
|
625 | 611 | ||||||
Total
current assets
|
25,417 | 53,618 | ||||||
Property
and equipment, net
|
5,965 | 7,069 | ||||||
Restricted
cash
|
600 | 600 | ||||||
Deferred
financing costs and other assets
|
907 | 1,457 | ||||||
Total
assets
|
$ | 32,889 | $ | 62,744 | ||||
LIABILITIES
& STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
|
||||||||
Current
Liabilities:
|
||||||||
Accounts
payable
|
$ | 2,111 | $ | 758 | ||||
Accrued
expenses
|
5,313 | 7,086 | ||||||
Equipment
loan, current portion
|
2,442 | 2,625 | ||||||
Total
current liabilities
|
9,866 | 10,469 | ||||||
Loan
payable, including accrued interest
|
10,128 | 9,633 | ||||||
Equipment
loan, non-current portion
|
1,092 | 2,991 | ||||||
Other
liabilities
|
870 | 870 | ||||||
Total
liabilities
|
21,956 | 23,963 | ||||||
Stockholders'
Equity:
|
||||||||
Common
stock, $0.001 par value; 180,000 shares authorized;101,588 and 96,953
shares issued, 101,275 and 96,640 shares outstanding at December 31, 2008
and December 31, 2007, respectively
|
102 | 97 | ||||||
Additional
paid-in capital
|
341,293 | 329,999 | ||||||
Accumulated
deficit
|
(327,409 | ) | (288,303 | ) | ||||
Treasury
stock (at cost); 313 shares
|
(3,054 | ) | (3,054 | ) | ||||
Accumulated
other comprehensive income
|
1 | 42 | ||||||
Total
stockholders' equity
|
10,933 | 38,781 | ||||||
Total
Liabilities & Stockholders’ Equity
|
$ | 32,889 | $ | 62,744 |
See notes to consolidated financial
statements
F-3
DISCOVERY
LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
Consolidated
Statements of Operations
(In
thousands, except per share data)
Year
Ended December 31,
|
||||||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
2006
|
||||||||||
Revenues:
|
$ | 4,600 | $ | – | $ | – | ||||||
Expenses:
|
||||||||||||
Research
& development
|
26,566 | 26,200 | 23,716 | |||||||||
General
& administrative
|
16,428 | 13,747 | 18,386 | |||||||||
Restructuring charges
|
– | – | 4,805 | |||||||||
Total
expenses
|
42,994 | 39,947 | 46,907 | |||||||||
Operating
loss
|
(38,394 | ) | (39,947 | ) | (46,907 | ) | ||||||
Other
income / (expense):
|
||||||||||||
Interest
and other income
|
902 | 2,029 | 2,072 | |||||||||
Interest
and other expense
|
(1,614 | ) | (2,087 | ) | (1,498 | ) | ||||||
Other
income / (expense), net
|
(712 | ) | (58 | ) | 574 | |||||||
Net
loss
|
$ | (39,106 | ) | $ | (40,005 | ) | $ | (46,333 | ) | |||
Net
loss per common share - basic and diluted
|
$ | (0.40 | ) | $ | (0.49 | ) | $ | (0.74 | ) | |||
Weighted
average number of common shares
outstanding - basic and diluted
|
98,116 | 81,731 | 62,767 |
F-4
DISCOVERY
LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
Consolidated
Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity
For
Years Ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006
(In
thousands)
Common
Stock
|
Additional
Paid-in
|
Unearned
Portion
of
Compensatory
|
Accumulated |
Treasury
Stock
|
Accumulated
Other
Compre-hensive
Income
/
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares
|
Amount
|
Capital
|
Stock Options
|
Deficit
|
Shares
|
Amount
|
(Loss)
|
Total
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance
– January 1, 2006
|
61,335 | $ | 61 | $ | 240,028 | $ | (230 | ) | $ | (201,965 | ) | (313 | ) | $ | (3,054 | ) | $ | (2 | ) | $ | 34,838 | |||||||||||||||
Comprehensive
loss:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net
loss
|
– | – | – | – | (46,333 | ) | – | – | – | (46,333 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other
comprehensive loss – unrealized gains on investments
|
– | – | – | – | – | – | – | 2 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total
comprehensive loss
|
– | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | (46,331 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of common stock, stock option exercises
|
6 | – | 42 | – | – | – | – | – | 42 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of common stock, warrant exercises
|
100 | – | 687 | – | – | – | – | – | 687 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of common stock, 401(k) employer match
|
145 | – | 417 | – | – | – | – | – | 417 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of warrants, Oct. 2006 loan restructuring
|
– | – | 1,940 | – | – | – | – | – | 1,940 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of common stock, Nov. 2006 financing
|
4,630 | 5 | 9,460 | – | – | – | – | – | 9,465 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of common stock, CEFF financings
|
3,655 | 4 | 7,351 | – | – | – | – | – | 7,355 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock–based
compensation expense
|
– | – | 5,679 | 230 | – | – | – | – | 5,909 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance
– December 31, 2006
|
69,871 | $ | 70 | $ | 265,604 | $ | – | $ | (248,298 | ) | (313 | ) | $ | (3,054 | ) | $ | – | $ | 14,322 | |||||||||||||||||
Comprehensive
loss:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net
loss
|
– | – | – | – | (40,005 | ) | – | – | – | (40,005 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other
comprehensive loss – unrealized gains on investments
|
– | – | – | – | – | – | – | 42 | 42 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total
comprehensive loss
|
– | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | (39,963 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of common stock, stock option exercises
|
62 | – | 106 | – | – | – | – | – | 106 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of common stock, 401(k) employer match
|
118 | – | 294 | – | – | – | – | – | 294 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of common stock, April 2007 financing
|
14,050 | 14 | 28,131 | – | – | – | – | – | 28,145 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of common stock, December 2007 financing
|
10,000 | 10 | 23,550 | – | – | – | – | – | 23,560 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of common stock, CEFF financings
|
2,852 | 3 | 6,997 | – | – | – | – | – | 7,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock–based
compensation expense
|
– | – | 5,317 | – | – | – | – | – | 5,317 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance
– December 31, 2007
|
96,953 | $ | 97 | $ | 329,999 | $ | – | $ | (288,303 | ) | (313 | ) | $ | (3,054 | ) | $ | 42 | $ | 38,781 | |||||||||||||||||
Comprehensive
loss:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net
loss
|
– | – | – | – | (39,106 | ) | – | – | – | (39,106 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other
comprehensive loss – unrealized gains on investments
|
– | – | – | – | – | – | – | (41 | ) | (41 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total
comprehensive loss
|
– | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | (39,147 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of common stock, stock option exercises
|
18 | – | 21 | – | – | – | – | – | 21 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of common stock, 401(k) employer match
|
231 | – | 380 | – | – | – | – | – | 380 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of common stock, CEFF financings
|
4,387 | 5 | 6,266 | – | – | – | – | – | 6,271 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock-based
compensation expense
|
– | – | 4,627 | – | – | – | – | – | 4,627 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance
– December 31, 2008
|
101,589 | $ | 102 | $ | 341,293 | $ | – | $ | (327,409 | ) | (313 | ) | $ | (3,054 | ) | $ | 1 | $ | 10,933 |
F-5
DISCOVERY
LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
Consolidated
Statements of Cash Flows
(In
thousands)
Year
Ended December 31,
|
||||||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
2006
|
||||||||||
Cash
flow from operating activities:
|
||||||||||||
Net
loss
|
$ | (39,106 | ) | $ | (40,005 | ) | $ | (46,333 | ) | |||
Adjustments
to reconcile net loss to net cash used
In operating
activities:
|
||||||||||||
Depreciation
and amortization
|
2,215 | 2,062 | 1,058 | |||||||||
Stock–based
compensation and 401(k) match
|
5,007 | 5,613 | 6,326 | |||||||||
Loss
on disposal of property and equipment
|
110 | 18 | 48 | |||||||||
Changes
in:
|
||||||||||||
Prepaid
expenses and other current assets
|
(56 | ) | (89 | ) | (5 | ) | ||||||
Accounts
payable
|
1,353 | (871 | ) | (48 | ) | |||||||
Accrued
expenses
|
(1,773 | ) | 2,762 | (1,539 | ) | |||||||
Other
assets
|
3 | 35 | (17 | ) | ||||||||
Other
liabilities
|
495 | 1,080 | 684 | |||||||||
Net
cash used in operating activities
|
(31,752 | ) | (29,395 | ) | (39,826 | ) | ||||||
Cash
flow from investing activities:
|
||||||||||||
Purchase
of property and equipment
|
(632 | ) | (3,765 | ) | (1,448 | ) | ||||||
Purchase
of marketable securities
|
(25,765 | ) | (38,355 | ) | (4,621 | ) | ||||||
Proceeds
from sale or maturity of marketable securities
|
39,754 | 22,319 | 7,884 | |||||||||
Net
cash provided by / (used in) investing activities
|
13,357 | (19,801 | ) | 1,815 | ||||||||
Cash
flow from financing activities:
|
||||||||||||
Proceeds
from issuance of securities, net of expenses
|
6,292 | 58,809 | 17,549 | |||||||||
Proceeds
from equipment loans
|
896 | 2,862 | 1,509 | |||||||||
Principal
payments under equipment loan obligations
|
(2,978 | ) | (1,948 | ) | (1,692 | ) | ||||||
Net
cash provided by financing activities
|
4,210 | 59,723 | 17,366 | |||||||||
Net
(decrease) / increase in cash and cash
equivalents
|
(14,185 | ) | 10,527 | (20,645 | ) | |||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents – beginning of year
|
36,929 | 26,402 | 47,047 | |||||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents – end of year
|
$ | 22,744 | $ | 36,929 | $ | 26,402 | ||||||
Supplementary
disclosure of cash flows information:
|
||||||||||||
Interest paid
|
$ | 529 | $ | 676 | $ | 1,102 | ||||||
Non-cash
transactions:
|
||||||||||||
Unrealized gain / (loss) on
marketable securities
|
(41 | ) | 42 | 2 | ||||||||
Exchange of equipment loan
obligation
|
– | 3,968 | – | |||||||||
Charge for warrant issuance
related to loan restructuring
|
– | – | 1,940 |
F-6
Note
1 – The Company and Description of Business
Discovery
Laboratories, Inc. (referred to as “we,” “us,” or the “Company”) is a
biotechnology company developing Surfactant Replacement Therapies (SRT) to treat
respiratory disorders and diseases for which there frequently are few or no
approved therapies. Our novel proprietary technology (KL4 Surfactant
Technology) produces a synthetic, peptide-containing surfactant (KL4
Surfactant) that is structurally similar to pulmonary surfactant, a substance
produced naturally in the lung and essential for survival and normal respiratory
function. In addition, our proprietary capillary aerosol generating
technology (Capillary Aerosolization Technology) produces a dense aerosol with a
defined particle size, to potentially deliver our aerosolized KL4 Surfactant
to the deep lung. As many respiratory disorders are associated with
surfactant deficiency or surfactant degradation, we believe that our proprietary
technology platform makes it possible, for the first time, to develop a
significant pipeline of surfactant products targeted to treat a wide range of
previously unaddressed respiratory problems.
We are
currently focused on developing our lead products, Surfaxin®,
Surfaxin LS™ and Aerosurf®, to
address the most significant respiratory conditions affecting pediatric
populations. Surfaxin, our first product based on our novel KL4 Surfactant
Technology, if approved, will represent the first synthetic, peptide-containing
surfactant for use in pediatric medicine. We have filed with the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) a New Drug Application (NDA) for
Surfaxin®
(lucinactant) for the prevention of Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS) in
premature infants. The FDA has established April 17, 2009 as its
target action date to complete its review of this NDA and potentially grant
marketing approval.
Aerosurf
is our proprietary KL4 Surfactant
in aerosolized form, which we are developing using our Capillary Aerosolization
Technology initially to treat premature infants at risk for
RDS. Premature infants with RDS are treated with surfactants that are
administered by means of invasive endotracheal intubation and mechanical
ventilation, procedures that frequently result in serious respiratory conditions
and complications. With Aerosurf, if approved, it will be possible to
administer surfactant into the deep lung without subjecting patients to such
invasive procedures. We believe that Aerosurf has the potential to
enable a potentially significant increase in the use of SRT in pediatric
medicine.
We plan
over time to develop our KL4 Surfactant
Technology into a robust pipeline of products that will potentially address a
variety of debilitating respiratory conditions in a range of patient
populations, from premature infants to adults, that suffer from severe and
debilitating respiratory conditions for which there currently are few or no
approved therapies. Our programs include development of Surfaxin to
potentially address Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD) in premature infants and
Acute Respiratory Failure (ARF) in children, and conducting research and
development with our KL4 Surfactant
to potentially address Cystic Fibrosis (CF), Acute Lung Injury (ALI), and other
diseases associated with inflammation of the lung, such as Asthma and Chronic
Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
Note 2 - Liquidity
Risks and Management’s Plans
We have
incurred substantial losses since inception, due to investments in research and
development, manufacturing and potential commercialization activities and we
expect to continue to incur substantial losses over the next several
years. Historically, we have funded our business operations through
various sources, including public and private securities offerings, draw downs
under our CEFFs, capital equipment and debt facilities, and strategic
alliances. We expect to continue to fund our business operations
through a combination of these sources, as well as sales revenue from our
product candidates, beginning with Surfaxin for RDS, if approved.
Our
capital requirements will depend upon many factors, including the success of our
product development and commercialization plans. We are currently
focused on developing our lead KL4 Surfactant
products, Surfaxin, Surfaxin LS and Aerosurf, to address the most significant
respiratory conditions affecting pediatric populations. The FDA has
established April 17, 2009 as its target action date to complete its review of
our Surfaxin NDA. (See “Business –
Surfactant Replacement Therapy (SRT) for Respiratory Medicine.”) As
of December 31, 2008, we had $24.8 million in cash and marketable securities and
three CEFFs, under which we may potentially raise (subject to certain
conditions, including stock price and volume limitations) up to an aggregate of
$114.2 million, although the 2006 CEFF, which currently has available up to
approximately $34.3 million, will expire in May 2009. (See “Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations –
Liquidity and Capital Resources – Committed Equity Financing
Facilities”). However, there can be no assurance that our research
and development projects will be successful, that products developed (including
Surfaxin) will obtain necessary regulatory approval, that any approved product
will be commercially viable, that any of the three CEFFs will be available for
future financings, or that we will be able to obtain additional capital when
needed on acceptable terms, if at all. Even if we succeed in raising
additional capital and developing and subsequently commercializing product
candidates, we may never achieve sufficient sales revenue to achieve or maintain
profitability.
F-7
The
accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that we will
continue as a going concern, which contemplates the realization of assets and
satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. Our
ability to continue as a going concern is dependent on our ability to raise
additional capital, to fund our research and development and commercial programs
and meet our obligations on a timely basis. If we are unable to
successfully raise sufficient additional capital, through future debt and
equity financings and /or strategic and collaborative ventures with potential
partners, we will likely not have sufficient cash flows and liquidity to fund
our business operations, which could significantly limit our ability to continue
as a going concern. In that event, we may be forced to further limit
many, if not all, of our programs and consider other means of creating value for
our stockholders, such as licensing the development and commercialization of
products that we consider valuable and would otherwise likely develop
ourselves. If we are unable to raise the necessary capital, we may be
forced to curtail all of our activities and, ultimately, potentially cease
operations. Even if we are able to raise additional capital, such
financings may only be available on unattractive terms, or could result in
significant dilution of stockholders’ interests and, in such event, the market
price of our common stock may decline. The balance sheets do not
include any adjustments relating to recoverability and classification of
recorded asset amounts or the amounts and classification of liabilities that
might be necessary should the Company be unable to continue in
existence.
Note
3 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
The
consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes are prepared in
accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United
States.
Consolidation
The
consolidated financial statements include all of the accounts of Discovery
Laboratories, Inc. and its inactive subsidiary, Acute Therapeutics,
Inc. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated
in consolidation.
Use
of estimates
The
preparation of financial statements, in conformity with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States, requires management to make estimates
and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at
the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and
expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ
from those estimates.
Cash,
cash equivalents and marketable securities
We
consider all highly liquid marketable securities purchased with a maturity of
three months or less to be cash equivalents.
Marketable
securities are classified as available-for-sale and are comprised of United
States treasury notes and high-quality commercial paper. Marketable
securities are carried at fair market value, based on quoted market prices for
these or similar instruments. Realized gains and losses are computed
using the average cost of securities sold. Any
appreciation/depreciation on these marketable securities is recorded as other
comprehensive income (loss) in the statements of changes in stockholders' equity
until realized. Realized gains (losses) on disposition of marketable
securities are recorded in the statement of operations when
disposed.
F-8
Marketable
securities are purchased pursuant to an investment policy approved by the Board
of Directors that provides for the purchase of high-quality marketable
securities, while ensuring preservation of capital and fulfillment of liquidity
needs.
Fair Value of Financial
Instruments
Our
financial instruments consist principally of cash and cash equivalents,
marketable securities and restricted cash. The fair values of
the Company’s cash equivalents and marketable securities are based on quoted
market prices. The carrying amount of cash equivalents and marketable
securities is equal to their respective fair values at December 31, 2008 and
December 31, 2007.
Other
financial instruments, including accounts payable and accrued expenses, are
carried at cost, which the Company believes approximates fair
value.
Property
and equipment
|
Property
and equipment are recorded at cost and depreciated using the straight-line
method over the estimated useful lives of the assets (generally three to
ten years). Leasehold improvements are amortized over the
shorter of the estimated useful lives or the remaining term of the
lease. Repairs and maintenance costs are charged to expense as
incurred.
|
Long-lived
assets
Our
long-lived assets, primarily consisting of equipment, are reviewed for
impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount
of an asset may not be recoverable, or its estimated useful life has changed
significantly. When an asset’s undiscounted cash flows are less than
its carrying value, an impairment is recorded and the asset is written down to
its estimated value. No impairment was recorded during the years
ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, as management believes there are no
circumstances that indicate the carrying amount of the assets will not be
recoverable.
Revenue
recognition – research and development – strategic alliances and collaboration
agreements
Revenue
under strategic alliances and our collaboration agreements is recognized based
on the performance requirements of the contract. Funds received from
these agreements are recorded as deferred revenue and are recognized over the
performance period as specified in the agreements when all performance
obligations are satisfied. Grant revenue is recorded upon receipt of
funds.
Research
and development
Research
and development costs consist primarily of expenses associated with our
personnel, facilities, manufacturing operations, formulation development,
research, clinical, regulatory and other preclinical and clinical
activities. Research and development costs are charged to operations
as incurred.
Stock-based
compensation
Effective
January 1, 2006, we adopted the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS No.
123(R), “Share-Based
Payment,” using the modified-prospective-transition
method. See
Note 11 – Stock Options and Stock-Based Employee Compensation, for a detailed
description of our recognition of stock-based compensation expense.
Income
taxes
We
provide for income taxes in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards No. 109 (SFAS 109), Accounting for Income Taxes.
SFAS 109 requires the recognition of deferred tax liabilities and assets for the
expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between financial
statement carrying amounts and the tax basis of assets and
liabilities.
F-9
Under
FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes,
an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109, (FIN 48), we use 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 adoption of FIN 48 on January 1, 2007 did not have a material impact
on the consolidated financial statements. Due to the fact that we
have never realized a profit, management has fully reserved the net deferred tax
asset since realization is not assured.
Comprehensive
Loss
Comprehensive
loss consists of net loss plus the changes in unrealized gains and losses on
available-for-sale securities. Comprehensive loss for the years ended
December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 are as follows:
(in
thousands)
|
December
31,
|
|||||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
2006
|
||||||||||
Net
loss
|
$ | (39,106 | ) | $ | (40,005 | ) | $ | (46,333 | ) | |||
Change
in unrealized (losses)/gains on marketable securities
|
(41 | ) | 42 | 2 | ||||||||
Comprehensive
loss
|
$ | (39,147 | ) | $ | (39,963 | ) | $ | 46,331 | ) |
Net
loss per common share
Basic net
loss per common share is computed by dividing the net loss by the weighted
average number of common shares outstanding for the periods. For the
years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, 25.1 million,
20.3 million and 17.3 million shares of common stock, respectively, were
potentially issuable upon the exercise of certain stock options and warrants and
vesting of restricted stock awards. Due to our net loss, these
potentially issuable shares were not included in the calculation of diluted net
loss per share as the effect would be anti-dilutive, therefore basic and
dilutive net loss per share are the same.
Reclassification
Certain
prior year balances have been reclassified to conform with the current
presentation.
Business
segments
We
currently operate in one business segment, which is the research and development
of products focused on surfactant replacement therapies for respiratory
disorders and diseases. We are managed and operated as one business. A single
management team that reports to the Chief Executive Officer comprehensively
manages the entire business. We do not operate separate lines of business with
respect to our product candidates.
Recent Accounting
Pronouncements
In
December 2007, the FASB ratified Emerging Issues Task Force Issue
No. 07-1, “Accounting for Collaborative Arrangements”( EITF Issue
No. 07-1). EITF 07-1 requires
certain income statement presentation of transactions with third parties and of
payments between parties to the arrangement, along with disclosure about the
nature and purpose of the arrangement. EITF 07-1 is effective for fiscal
years beginning after December 15, 2008. We adopted EITF Issue No.
07-1 on January 1, 2009; it did not have a material impact on our consolidated
financial statements.
F-10
In
December 2007, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
No. 141 (revised 2007), "Business Combinations"
(SFAS 141(R)), which is effective for financial statements issued for
fiscal years beginning on or after December 15,
2008. SFAS 141(R) establishes principles and requirements for
how an acquirer recognizes and measures in its financial statements the
identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, any noncontrolling
interest in the acquiree, and the goodwill acquired in the business
combination. SFAS 141(R) also establishes disclosure
requirements to enable the evaluation of the nature and financial effects of the
business combination. SFAS 141(R) will be applied prospectively to business
combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after January 1,
2009. The adoption of SFAS 141(R) had no immediate impact,
however it will have an impact on the accounting for any potential future
business combinations.
Note
4 – Fair Value Measurements
|
Effective
January 1, 2008, we adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
No. 157 (Fair Value
Measurements)(SFAS 157). SFAS 157 defines fair value,
establishes a framework for measuring fair value under generally accepted
accounting principles and enhances disclosures about fair value
measurements.
|
Under
SFAS 157, fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be
received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability in the principal or
most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly
transaction between market participants on the measurement
date.
|
Valuation
techniques used to measure fair value under SFAS 157 must maximize the use
of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable
inputs. The standard describes the fair value hierarchy based
on three levels of inputs, of which the first two are considered
observable and the last unobservable, that may be used to measure fair
value which are the following:
|
·
|
Level
1 –
|
Quoted
prices in active markets for identical assets and
liabilities.
|
·
|
Level
2 –
|
Inputs
other than Level 1 that are observable, either directly or indirectly,
such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in
markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be
corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of
the assets or liabilities.
|
·
|
Level
3 –
|
Unobservable
inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are
significant to the fair value of the assets or
liabilities.
|
The
adoption of SFAS 157 did not have a material effect on our results of
operations and financial condition.
|
Fair
Value on a Recurring Basis
|
Assets
measured at fair value on a recurring basis are categorized in the tables
below based upon the lowest level of significant input to the valuations
as of December 31, 2008.
|
Fair
Value
|
Fair
value measurement using
|
|||||||||||||||
(in
thousands)
|
December
31, 2008
|
Level
1
|
Level
2
|
Level
3
|
||||||||||||
Money
markets (1)
|
$ | 19,994 | $ | 19,994 | $ | – | $ | – | ||||||||
U.S.
treasury notes
|
4,096 | 4,096 | – | – | ||||||||||||
Certificate
of deposit
|
600 | 600 | – | – | ||||||||||||
Total
|
$ | 24,690 | $ | 24,690 | $ | – | $ | – |
(1)
Dreyfus Treasury & Agency Cash Management Fund.
F-11
Note
5 – Marketable Securities
The
following is a summary of available-for-sale marketable securities as of
December 31, 2008 and 2007:
(in
thousands)
|
Amortized
Cost
Basis
|
Gross
Unrealized
Holding
Gains
|
Gross
Unrealized
Holding
Losses
|
Aggregate
Fair
Value
|
||||||||||||
December 31, 2008
|
||||||||||||||||
U.S.
treasury notes
|
$ | 2,047 | $ | 1 | $ | – | $ | 2,048 | ||||||||
Total
|
$ | 2,047 | $ | 1 | $ | – | $ | 2,048 | ||||||||
December 31, 2007
|
||||||||||||||||
Commercial
paper
|
$ | 16,010 | $ | 42 | $ | – | $ | 16,052 | ||||||||
Certificates
of deposit
|
26 | – | – | 26 | ||||||||||||
Total
|
$ | 16,036 | $ | 42 | $ | – | $ | 16,078 |
The
available-for-sale marketable securities consist of United States treasury
notes, certificates of deposits, and high-quality commercial paper with a
maturity of greater than three months. All available-for-sale
marketable securities have a maturity period of less than one
year. These assets are measured at fair market value at each
reporting period. The fair market value is recorded using quoted
prices from active markets.
Marketable
securities are purchased pursuant to an investment policy approved by the Board
of Directors that provides for the purchase of high-quality marketable
securities, while ensuring preservation of capital and fulfillment of liquidity
needs.
Note
6 – Restricted Cash
Restricted
Cash consists of a security deposit in the amount of $600,000 securing a letter
of credit in the same amount related to our Lease Agreement dated May 26, 2004
for our headquarters location in Warrington, Pennsylvania (See Note 14 – “Commitments”
for further discussion on our leases). Beginning in March 2010, the
security deposit and the letter of credit related to this lease will be reduced
to $400,000 and will remain in effect through the remainder of the lease
term. Subject to certain conditions, upon expiration of the lease in
February 2013, the letter of credit will expire.
F-12
Note
7 – Property and Equipment
Property
and equipment as of December 31, 2008 and 2007 was comprised of the
following:
|
December
31,
|
||||||||
(in
thousands)
|
2008
|
2007
|
||||||
Equipment
|
$ | 7,143 | $ | 6,976 | ||||
Furniture
|
791 | 802 | ||||||
Leasehold
improvements
|
2,813 | 2,889 | ||||||
Subtotal
|
10,747 | 10,667 | ||||||
Accumulated
depreciation
|
(4,782 | ) | (3,598 | ) | ||||
Property
and equipment, net
|
$ | 5,965 | $ | 7,069 |
Equipment
primarily consists of: (i) manufacturing equipment to produce our KL4 Surfactant
products, including Surfaxin and Aerosurf, for use in our clinical trials and
potential commercial needs; (ii) laboratory equipment for manufacturing,
analytical, research and development activities; and (iii) computers and office
equipment to support our overall business activities.
Leasehold
improvements primarily consists of construction of a new analytical and
development laboratory in our Warrington, Pennsylvania headquarters, which was
completed in 2007 and where we consolidated the analytical, quality and
development activities previously located in Doylestown, Pennsylvania and
Mountain View, California. The activities conducted in our new
laboratory include release and stability testing of raw materials as well as
clinical and, if approved, commercial drug product
supply. We also perform development work with respect to
our aerosolized KL4 Surfactant
and novel formulations of our KL4 Surfactant
Technology. The laboratory has expanded our capabilities by providing
additional capacity to conduct analytical testing as well as opportunities to
leverage our consolidated professional expertise across a broad range of
projects, improving both operational efficiency and financial
economics. The laboratory will be amortized through the end of our
lease term for our Warrington, Pa headquarters in 2013. In addition,
in 2007, we built a microbiology laboratory at our manufacturing facility in
Totowa, NJ to support production of our drug product
candidates. The microbiology laboratory will be amortized
through the end of our lease term for our Totowa, NJ facility in
2014.
Depreciation
expense for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007, and 2006 was $1.6 million,
$1.5 million (including $0.4 million of depreciation expense associated with an
adjustment to the useful lives of fixed assets), and $0.9 million,
respectively.
In
accordance with established policy, we review and assess the estimated useful
lives of our fixed assets from time to time. As a result of this
assessment in 2007, we changed our estimate of the useful lives of certain
machinery and equipment to better reflect the estimated periods during which
these assets will remain in service and recorded an additional charge to
depreciation expense in 2007 of $0.4 million.
F-13
Note
8 – Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses
Accounts
payable and accrued expenses as of December 31, 2008 and 2007 were comprised of
the following:
December
31,
|
||||||||
(in
thousands)
|
2008
|
2007
|
||||||
Accounts
payable
|
$ | 2,111 | $ | 758 | ||||
Accrued
compensation(1)
|
2,390 | 2,347 | ||||||
Accrued
manufacturing
|
1,174 | 1,186 | ||||||
Accrued
research and development
|
374 | 846 | ||||||
All
other accrued expenses
|
1,375 | 2,707 | ||||||
Total
accounts payable and accrued expenses
|
$ | 7,424 | $ | 7,844 |
(1)
|
Accrued
compensation consists of potential employee incentive arrangements (per
plans adopted and approved by the Board of Directors), contractual future
severance arrangements for union employees at our manufacturing
operations, and employees’ unused earned vacation, As part of
an effort to conserve cash resources, the Compensation Committee of the
Board of Directors did not award year-end cash bonuses to employees at the
end of the year ended December 31, 2008, but plans to reconsider this
decision, if cash resources permit, following the potential approval of
Surfaxin by the FDA.
|
Note
9 - Debt
Loan Payable – PharmaBio
Development, Inc.
PharmaBio
Development, Inc. (PharmaBio), a Strategic Investment Group of Quintiles
Transnational Corp., extended to us a secured, revolving credit facility of $8.5
to $10 million in 2001. Under an October 2006 restructuring, the
outstanding principal balance of $8.5 million is due and payable on April 30,
2010 and, since October 1, 2006, interest has accrued at the prime rate,
compounded annually. All unpaid interest, including interest payable
with respect to the quarter ending September 30, 2006, is payable on April 30,
2010, the maturity date of the loan. We may repay the loan, in whole
or in part, at any time without prepayment penalty or premium. In
addition, our obligations to PharmaBio under the loan documents are now secured
by an interest in substantially all of our assets, subject to limited exceptions
set forth in the Security Agreement.
Also in
October 2006, in consideration of PharmaBio’s agreement to restructure the loan,
we entered into a Warrant Agreement with PharmaBio, pursuant to which PharmaBio
has the right to purchase 1.5 million shares of our common stock at an exercise
price equal to $3.5813 per share. The warrants have a seven-year term
and are exercisable, in whole or in part, for cash, cancellation of a portion of
our indebtedness under the PharmaBio loan agreement, or a combination of the
foregoing, in an amount equal to the aggregate purchase price for the shares
being purchased upon any exercise. Under the Warrant Agreement, we
filed a registration statement with the SEC with respect to the resale of the
shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants.
As of
December 31, 2008, the outstanding balance under the loan was $10.1 million
($8.5 million of pre-restructured principal and $1.6 million of accrued
interest) and was classified as a long-term loan payable on the Consolidated
Balance Sheets.
For the
years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, we incurred interest expense
associated with the PharmaBio loan of $0.5 million, $0.7 million and $0.8
million, respectively. The decrease in interest expense in 2008 was
due to a decline in the prime rate during 2008 from 7.25% to
3.25%. In addition, for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and
2006, we incurred interest expense associated with the amortization of deferred
financing costs in connection with warrants issued to PharmaBio in October 2006
of $0.5 million, $0.5 million and $0.1 million, respectively.
F-14
Equipment
Loans
Our
equipment loan liabilities as of December 31, 2008 and 2007 are as
follows:
(in
thousands)
2008
|
2007
|
|||||||
GE
Business Financial Services, Inc.
|
||||||||
Short-term
|
$ | 2,385 | $ | 2,625 | ||||
Long-term
|
664 | 2,991 | ||||||
Total
|
3,049 | 5,616 | ||||||
Pennsylvania
Machinery and Equipment Loan
|
||||||||
Short-term
|
57 | – | ||||||
Long-term
|
428 | – | ||||||
Total
|
485 | – | ||||||
Total
Short-term
|
2,442 | 2,625 | ||||||
Total
Long-term
|
1,092 | 2,991 | ||||||
Total
|
$ | 3,534 | $ | 5,616 |
For the
years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, we incurred interest expense
associated with our equipment loans of $0.6 million, $0.6 million and $0.5
million, respectively.
Equipment
Financing Facility with GE Business Financial Services Inc.
In May
2007, we entered into a Credit and Security Agreement (Credit Agreement) with GE
Business Financial Services Inc. (formerly Merrill Lynch Business Financial
Services Inc.) (GE), as Lender, pursuant to which GE agreed to provide us a
$12.5 million facility (Facility) to fund our capital programs. Upon
execution of the Credit Agreement, we simultaneously drew down approximately
$4.0 million to prepay all of our then-outstanding indebtedness under a previous
facility. Over the term of the Facility, we received
$7.2 million, $4.0 million of which was associated with the prepayment of a
previous facility and $2.3 million of which was associated with
construction and equipment for a new analytical and development laboratory built
in our Warrington, Pennsylvania corporate headquarters in 2007. The
right to draw under this Facility expired on November 30, 2008.
Advances
to finance the acquisition of property and equipment are amortized over a period
of 36 months and all other equipment and related costs are amortized over a
period of 24 months. The advance to prepay our previous facility is
amortized over a period of 27 months. Interest on each advance
accrues at a fixed rate per annum equal to LIBOR plus 6.25%, determined on the
funding date of such advance. Principal and interest on all advances
are payable in equal installments on the first business day of each
month. We may prepay advances, in whole or in part, at any time,
subject to a prepayment penalty, which, depending on the period of time elapsed
from the closing of the Facility, will range from 4% to 1%.
Our
obligations under the Facility are secured by a security interest in (i) the
financed property and equipment, and (ii) all of our intellectual property
(Supplemental Collateral), subject to limited exceptions set forth in the Loan
Agreement. The Supplemental Collateral will be released on the
earlier to occur of (a) receipt by us of FDA approval of our NDA for
Surfaxin for
the prevention of RDS in premature infants, or (b) the date on which we shall
have maintained over a continuous 12-month period ending on or after March 31,
2008, measured at the end of each calendar quarter, a minimum cash balance equal
to our projected cash requirements for the following 12-month
period. In addition, we, GE and PharmaBio entered into an
Intercreditor Agreement under which GE agreed to subordinate its security
interest in the Supplemental Collateral (which does not include financed
property and equipment) to the security interest in the same collateral that we
previously granted to PharmaBio (discussed above).
F-15
Pennsylvania
Machinery and Equipment Loan Fund (MELF)
Effective
September 8, 2008, we entered into a Loan Agreement and Security Agreement with
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Community and Economic
Development (Department) and executed a Promissory Note, pursuant to which the
Department made a loan to us from the Machinery and Equipment Loan Fund in the
amount of $500,000 (MELF Loan) to fund the purchase and installation of new
machinery and equipment and the upgrade of existing machinery and equipment at
our new analytical and development laboratory in Warrington,
Pennsylvania. Principal and interest on the MELF Loan is payable in
equal monthly installments over a period of seven years. Interest on
the principal amount will accrue at a fixed rate per annum equal to
5.0%. We may prepay the MELF Loan at any time without
penalty.
In
addition to customary terms and conditions, the MELF Agreement provides that we
must meet certain criteria regarding retention and creation of new jobs within a
three-year period. In the event that we fail to comply with this
requirement, the interest rate on the Promissory Note, except in limited
circumstances, will be adjusted to a fixed rate equal to two percentage points
above the current prime rate for the remainder of the term.
Note
10 – Stockholders’ Equity
Registered Public Offerings
and Private Placements
In
December 2007, we completed a registered direct offering of 10,000,000 shares of
our common stock to select institutional investors. The shares were
priced at $2.50 per share resulting in gross and net proceeds to us of $25.0
million and $23.6 million, respectively. This offering was made
pursuant to our October 2005 universal shelf registration
statement.
In April
2007, we completed a registered direct offering of 14,050,000 shares of our
common stock to select institutional investors. The shares were
priced at $2.15 per share resulting in gross and net proceeds to us of $30.2
million and $28.1 million, respectively. This offering was made
pursuant to our October 2005 universal shelf registration
statement.
In
November 2006, we completed the sale of securities in a private placement with
an institutional investor resulting in net proceeds of $9.5
million. We issued 4,629,630 shares of our common stock and 2,314,815
warrants to purchase shares of our common stock at an exercise price equal to
$3.18 per share. The warrants have a five-year term and, subject to
an aggregate share ownership limitation, are exercisable for cash or, in the
event that the related registration statement is not available for the resale of
the warrant shares, on a cashless basis.
Committed Equity Financing
Facilities (CEFFs)
We have
entered into Committed Equity Financing Facilities (CEFFs) with Kingsbridge
Capital Limited (Kingsbridge), a private investment group, in which Kingsbridge
is committed to purchase, subject to certain conditions, newly-issued shares of
our common stock. The CEFFs allow us, at our discretion, to raise
capital at the time and in amounts deemed suitable to us, to support our
business plans. We have access to each CEFF for a period of 2 to 3
years from inception. We are not obligated to utilize any of the
funds available under the CEFFs. Should we choose to utilize any of
the CEFFs, our ability to access the funds available under the CEFFs is subject
to certain conditions, including stock price and volume
limitations.
F-16
As of
December 31, 2008, the Company had CEFFs for future financings as
follows:
(in millions, except
per share data and
trading days)
|
Minimum
Price
|
Minimum
|
# of
Trading
Days
|
Amount per
Contract
|
Potential Availability
at
December 31, 2008
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Expiration
|
to Initiate
Draw
Down(1)
|
VWAP for
Daily
Pricing(2)
|
In Each
Draw
Down(2)
|
Shares
|
Maximum
Proceeds
|
Shares
|
Maximum
Proceeds
|
||||||||||||||||||||
2006 CEFF
|
May 12, 2009
|
$ | 2.00 |
85% of prior
day closing
price
|
8 | 11.7 | $ | 50.0 | 4.5 | $ | 34.3 | ||||||||||||||||
May 2008 CEFF
|
June 18, 2011
|
$ | 1.15 |
90% of prior
day closing
price
|
8 | 19.3 | $ | 60.0 | 15.6 | $ | 54.9 | ||||||||||||||||
Dec. 2008 CEFF
|
Feb. 6, 2011
|
$ | 0.60 |
90% of prior
day closing
price
|
6 | 15.0 | $ | 25.0 | 15.0 | $ | 25.0 |
|
(1)
|
To
initiate a draw down, the closing price of our common stock on the trading
day immediately preceding the first trading day of the draw down must be
at least equal to the minimum price set forth
above.
|
|
(2)
|
If
on any trading day, the daily volume-weighted average of our common stock
(VWAP) is less than the minimum VWAP set forth above, no shares are
purchased on that trading day and the aggregate amount of the draw down is
reduced for each such day 1/8th
(1/6th
for the Dec. 2008 CEFF) of the amount that we originally
designated. Unless we and Kingsbridge agree otherwise, a
minimum of three trading days must elapse between the expiration of any
draw-down pricing period and the beginning of the next draw-down pricing
period.
|
Each draw
down is limited in amount as follows:
|
·
|
2006
CEFF – the lesser of 2.5 percent of the closing price market value of our
outstanding shares of our common stock at the time of the draw down or $10
million;
|
|
·
|
May
2008 CEFF – the lesser of 3.0 percent of the closing price market value of
the outstanding shares of our common stock at the time of the draw down or
$10 million; and
|
|
·
|
December
2008 CEFF – the lesser of 1.5 percent of the closing price market value of
the outstanding shares of our common stock at the time of the draw down or
$3 million.
|
The
purchase price of shares sold to Kingsbridge under the CEFFs is at a discount to
the VWAP (as defined in the applicable agreement) for each of the trading days
following our initiation of a “draw down” under the CEFF, as
follows:
Daily
VWAP
|
%
of VWAP
|
(Applicable Discount)
|
||||||
2006
CEFF
|
||||||||
Greater
than $10.50 per share
|
94 | % | (6 | )% | ||||
Less
than or equal to $10.50 but greater than $7.00 per share
|
92 | % | (8 | )% | ||||
Less
than or equal to $7.00 but greater than or equal to $2.00 per
share
|
90 | % | (10 | )% | ||||
May
2008 CEFF
|
||||||||
Greater
than $7.25 per share
|
94 | % | (6 | )% | ||||
Less
than or equal to $7.25 but greater than $3.85 per share
|
92 | % | (8 | )% | ||||
Less
than or equal to $3.85 but greater than $1.75 per share
|
90 | % | (10 | )% | ||||
Less
than or equal to $1.75 but greater than or equal to $1.15 per
share
|
88 | % | (12 | )% |
F-17
Daily
VWAP
|
%
of VWAP
|
(Applicable Discount)
|
||||||
December
2008 CEFF
|
||||||||
Greater
than $7.25 per share
|
94 | % | (6 | )% | ||||
Less
than or equal to $7.25 but greater than $3.85 per share
|
92 | % | (8 | )% | ||||
Less
than or equal to $3.85 but greater than $1.75 per share
|
90 | % | (10 | )% | ||||
Less
than or equal to $1.75 but greater than or equal to $1.10 per
share
|
88 | % | (12 | )% | ||||
Less
than or equal to $1.10 but greater than or equal to $.60
|
85 | % | (15 | )% |
In
addition, Kingsbridge may terminate the CEFFs under certain circumstances,
including if a material adverse event relating to our business continues for 10
trading days after notice of the material adverse event.
CEFF
Financings
The
financings that we have completed under the 2006 CEFF are:
In May
2006, we completed a financing under the 2006 CEFF, resulting in proceeds of
$2.2 million from the issuance of 1,078,519 shares of our common stock at an
average price per share, after the applicable discount, of $2.03.
In
October 2006, we completed a financing under the 2006 CEFF, resulting in
proceeds of $2.3 million from the issuance of 1,204,867 shares of our common
stock at an average price per share, after the applicable discount, of
$1.91.
In
November 2006, we completed a financing under the 2006 CEFF, resulting in
proceeds of $3.0 million from the issuance of 1,371,516 shares of our common
stock at an average price per share, after the applicable discount, of
$2.19.
In
February 2007, we completed a financing under the 2006 CEFF, resulting in
proceeds of $2.0 million from the issuance of 942,949 shares of our common stock
at an average price per share, after the applicable discount, of
$2.12.
In
October 2007, we completed a financing under the 2006 CEFF, resulting in
proceeds of $5.0 million from the issuance of 1,909,172 shares of our common
stock at an average price per share, after the applicable discount, of
$2.62.
In
September 2008, we completed a financing under the 2006 CEFF, resulting in
proceeds of $1.3 million from the issuance of 676,360 shares of our common stock
at an average price per share, after the applicable discount, of
$1.85.
Also, in
2006, in connection with the CEFF, we issued a Class C Investor Warrant to
Kingsbridge to purchase up to 490,000 shares of our common stock at an exercise
price of $5.6186 per share, which expires in October 2011, is exercisable, in
whole or in part, for cash, except in limited circumstances, with expected total
proceeds to us, if exercised, of approximately $2.8 million. As of
December 31, 2008, the Class C Investor Warrant had not been
exercised.
The
financings that we have completed under the May 2008 CEFF are:
On July
11, 2008, we completed a financing under the May 2008 CEFF, resulting in
proceeds of $1.6 million from the issuance of 1,104,850 shares of our
common stock at an average price per share, after the applicable discount, of
$1.41.
On July
31, 2008, we completed a financing under the May 2008 CEFF, resulting in
proceeds of $1.5 million from the issuance of 991,537 shares of our common
stock at an average price per share, after the applicable discount, of
$1.51.
On
October 17, 2008, we completed a financing under the May 2008 CEFF, resulting in
proceeds of $1.3 million from the issuance of 913,827 shares of our common
stock at an average price per share, after the applicable discount, of
$1.44.
F-18
On
November 20, 2008, we completed a financing under the May 2008 CEFF, resulting
in proceeds of $0.3 million from the issuance of 221,202 shares of our
common stock at an average price per share, after the applicable discount, of
$1.13.
On
January 2, 2009, we completed a financing that was initiated in 2008 under the
May 2008 CEFF, resulting in proceeds of $0.5 million from the issuance of
478,783 shares of our common stock at an average price per share, after the
applicable discount, of $1.04.
Subsequently,
in 2009, we initiated and completed additional financings under the May 2008
CEFF, as follows:
On
January 16, 2009, we completed a financing under the May 2008 CEFF, resulting in
proceeds of $0.4 million from the issuance of 419,065 shares of our common stock
at an average price per share, after the applicable discount, of
$1.04.
On
February 18, 2009, we completed a financing under the May 2008 CEFF, resulting
in proceeds of $1.0 million from the issuance of 857,356 shares of our
common stock at an average price per share, after the applicable discount, of
$1.17.
Also, on
May 22, 2008, in connection with the May 2008 CEFF, we issued a warrant to
Kingsbridge to purchase up to 825,000 shares of our common stock at an exercise
price of $2.506 per share, which expires in November 2013 and is exercisable in
whole or in part for cash, except in limited circumstances, with expected total
proceeds to us, if exercised, of approximately $2.1 million. As of
December 31, 2008, the Investor Warrant had not been exercised.
No
financings have been completed under the Dec 2008 CEFF. On December
22, 2008, in connection with the December 2008 CEFF, we issued a warrant to
Kingsbridge to purchase up to 675,000 shares of our common stock at an exercise
price of $1.5132 per share, which is fully exercisable for a five-year period
beginning May 12, 2009. The warrant is exercisable in whole or in
part for cash, except in limited circumstances, with expected total proceeds to
us, if exercised, of approximately $1.0 million.
In
connection with a CEFF that we entered in 2004, which has since been terminated,
we issued a Class B Investor Warrant to Kingsbridge to purchase up to 375,000
shares of our common stock at an exercise price equal to $12.0744 per
share. The warrant expires in January 2010 and is exercisable, in
whole or in part, for cash, except in limited circumstances, with expected total
proceeds to us, if exercised, of approximately $4.5
million. As of December 31, 2006, the Class B Investor Warrant had
not been exercised.
401(k) Employer
Match
We have a
voluntary 401(k) savings plan covering eligible employees that allows for
periodic discretionary matches as a percentage of each participant’s
contributions (up to the maximum deduction allowed, excluding “catch up”
amounts) in newly issued shares of common stock. For the years ended
December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, the match resulted in the issuance of 231,287,
118,330 and 145,397 shares of common stock, respectively.
Common Shares Reserved for
Future Issuance
Common shares reserved for potential
future issuance upon exercise of warrants
The chart
below summarizes shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance upon
the exercise of warrants.
(in
thousands, except price per share data)
|
|||||||||||||
December 31,
|
Exercise
Price
|
Expiration
Date
|
|||||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
||||||||||||
Kingsbridge
– December 2008 CEFF(3)
|
675 | – | $ | 1.51 |
6/12/2014
|
||||||||
Kingsbridge
– May 2008 CEFF(3)
|
825 | – | $ | 2.51 |
11/22/2013
|
||||||||
Private
Placement – 2006 (1)
|
2,315 | 2,315 | $ | 3.18 |
11/22/2011
|
F-19
(in
thousands, except price per share data)
|
|||||||||||||
December 31,
|
Exercise
Price
|
Expiration
Date
|
|||||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
||||||||||||
PharmaBio
- 2006 Loan Restructuring (2)
|
1,500 | 1,500 | $ | 3.58 |
10/26/2013
|
||||||||
Class
C Investor Warrants - 2006 CEFF (3)
|
490 | 490 | $ | 5.62 |
10/17/2011
|
||||||||
PharmaBio
- 2004 Partnership Restructuring (4)
|
850 | 850 | $ | 7.19 |
11/3/2014
|
||||||||
Class
B Investor Warrants - 2004 CEFF (3)
|
375 | 375 | $ | 12.07 |
1/6/2010
|
||||||||
Class
A Investor Warrants – 2003
|
809 | 809 | $ | 6.88 |
9/19/2010
|
||||||||
Total
|
7,839 | 6,339 |
(1) Refer to the Registered
Public Offerings and Private Placements section of this Note.
(2) Refer to Note 9 –
Debt
(3) Refer to the Registered
Public Offerings and Private Placements section of this Note.
(4)
|
Issued
in connection with a restructuring of a 2003 arrangement with Quintiles
Transnational Corp that resulted in cancellation of a 2001
commercialization agreement and extension of the PharmaBio
Loan. Refer to Note 9 –
Debt.
|
Common shares reserved for potential
future issuance upon exercise of stock options
In June
2007, our stockholders approved the adoption of the 2007 Long-Term Incentive
Plan (the “2007 Plan”). The 2007 Plan provides for the grant of
long-term equity and cash incentive compensation awards and replaced the Amended
and Restated 1998 Stock Incentive Plan (the “1998 Plan”) whose ten-year term was
to expire in March 2008. The 2007 Plan continues many of the features
of the 1998 Plan, but is updated to reflect changes to Nasdaq rules regarding
equity compensation, other regulatory changes and market and corporate
governance developments. Awards outstanding under the 1998 Plan will
continue to be governed by the terms of the 1998 Plan and the agreements under
which they were granted.
Stock
options outstanding and available for future issuance as of December 31, 2008
and 2007 are as follows:
(in thousands)
|
As of December 31,
|
|||||||
2008
|
2007
|
|||||||
2007
Plan
|
||||||||
Outstanding
|
7,296 | 3,408 | ||||||
Available for Future
Grants
|
1,204 | 5,093 | ||||||
Total
|
8,500 | 8,501 | ||||||
1998
Plan
|
||||||||
Outstanding
|
9,916 | 8,837 | ||||||
Available for Future
Grants
|
– | – | ||||||
Total
|
9,916 | 8,837 | ||||||
Total
Outstanding
|
17,212 | 12,245 | ||||||
Total
Available for Future Grants
|
1,204 | 5,093 | ||||||
Total
|
18,416 | 17,338 |
F-20
The 1998
Plan was suspended upon approval of the 2007 Plan in June 2007; therefore, no
shares were available for future grants under the 1998 Plan. See Note 11 – Stock Options
and Stock-Based Employee Compensation.
Universal Shelf Registration
Statements
2008 Universal Shelf
In June
2008, we filed a universal shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (No.
333-151654) (2008 Universal Shelf) with the SEC for the proposed offering from
time to time of up to $150 million of our securities, including common stock,
preferred stock, varying forms of debt and warrant securities, or any
combination of the foregoing, on terms and conditions that will be determined at
that time. We have not completed any financings under the June 2008
Universal Shelf, such that as of December 31, 2008, the entire $150.0 million
remained available.
October
2005 Universal Shelf
In
October 2005, we filed a universal shelf registration statement on Form S-3 with
the SEC for the proposed offering, from time to time, of up to $100 million of
our debt or equity securities.
In
December 2007, we completed a registered direct offering of 10,000,000 shares of
our common stock to select institutional investors. The shares were
priced at $2.50 per share resulting in gross and net proceeds to us of $25.0
million and $23.6 million, respectively.
In April
2007, we completed a registered direct offering of 14,050,000 shares of our
common stock to select institutional investors. The shares were
priced at $2.15 per share resulting in gross and net proceeds to us of $30.2
million and $28.1 million, respectively.
The
October 2005 universal shelf registration statement expired in December 2008 and
is no longer available for future financings.
Common shares reserved for potential
future issuance under CEFF arrangements
As of
December 31, 2008, the Company had three CEFFs available for future financings
as follows:
(in
thousands)
|
Potential future issuance as of
December 31
|
||||||||
Expiration
|
2008
|
2007
|
|||||||
2006
CEFF
|
May
12, 2009
|
4,494 | 5,170 | ||||||
May
2008 CEFF
|
June
18, 2011
|
15,618 | – | ||||||
Dec.
2008 CEFF
|
Feb.
6, 2011
|
15,000 | – |
F-21
Common
shares reserved for potential future issuance under our 401(k)
Plan
We have a
voluntary 401(k) savings plan covering eligible employees that allows for
periodic discretionary matches as a percentage of each participant’s
contributions in newly issued shares of common stock. As of December
31, 2007, we had 205,626 shares reserved for potential future issuance under the
401(k) Plan. In December 2008, the Board of Directors approved an
increase of 350,000 shares to the reserve for issuance under the 401(k)
Plan. As of December 31, 2008 and 2007, we had 324,339 and 205,626
shares, respectively, reserved for potential future issuance under the 401(k)
Plan.
Note
11 – Stock Options and Stock-based Employee Compensation
The 2007
Plan provides for long-term equity and cash incentive compensation
awards.
Long-Term
Incentive Plans
In June
2007, our shareholders approved the adoption of the 2007 Long-Term Incentive
Plan (2007 Plan). The purposes of the 2007 Plan are to (i) encourage
eligible participants to acquire a proprietary interest in our company, (ii)
provide employees incentives to contribute to our future success, thereby
enhancing stockholder value, and (iii) attract and retain
exceptionally qualified individuals upon whom, in large measure, our sustained
progress, growth and profitability depend.
Under the
2007 Plan, we may grant awards for up to 8,500,000 shares of our common
stock. An administrative committee (the Committee – currently the
Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors) or Committee delegates may
determine the types, the number of shares covered by, and the terms and
conditions of, such awards. Eligible participants may include any of
our employees, directors, advisors or consultants.
The 2007
Plan replaces the Amended and Restated 1998 Stock Incentive Plan (1998 Plan)
which by its terms would have expired in March 2008. The 2007 Plan
continues many of the features of the 1998 Plan, but is updated to reflect
changes to Nasdaq rules regarding equity compensation, other regulatory changes
and market and corporate governance developments. Awards outstanding under the
1998 Plan will continue to be governed by the terms of that plan and the
applicable award agreements.
The plans
provide for:
Stock
Options and Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs)
The
Committee may award nonqualified stock options, incentive stock options, or SARs
with a term not to exceed ten years and a purchase price not be less than 100%
of the fair market value on the date of grant. The Committee will
establish the vesting schedule for stock options and the method of payment for
the exercise price, which may include cash, shares, or other
awards. Although individual grants may vary, option awards generally
are exercisable upon vesting, vest based upon three years of continuous service
and have a 10-year term. In addition, the 2007 Plan provides for
limits on the number of options and SARs granted to any one participant and the
terms of any incentive stock option must comply with the provisions of Section
162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Restricted
Stock and Restricted Stock Units
The
Committee may award restricted stock and restricted stock units and, among other
things, establish the applicable restrictions, including any limitation on
voting rights or the receipt of dividends, and will establish the manner and
timing under which restrictions may lapse. If employment is
terminated during the applicable restriction period (other than as a result of
death or disability), shares of restricted stock and restricted stock units
still subject to restriction will be forfeited, except as determined otherwise
by the Committee.
F-22
No
restricted stock awards have been made under the 2007 Plan. Under the
1998 Plan, in 2007, 56,660 restricted stock awards were issued to certain
employees for no cash consideration. These restricted stock
awards will fully vest and the restrictions removed on the date that
Surfaxin for RDS first becomes widely commercially available, as determined by
the Company.
Performance Awards and Other
Stock-Based Awards
The
Committee may grant performance awards, which may be denominated in cash,
shares, other securities or other awards and payable to, or exercisable by, the
participant upon the achievement of performance goals during performance
periods, as established by the Committee. The Committee may grant
other stock-based awards that are denominated or payable in shares, under the
terms and conditions as the Committee will determine. The Committee
may decide to include dividends or dividend equivalents as part of a performance
or other stock-based award, and may accrue dividends, with or without interest,
until the award is paid.
No
Performance Awards of other stock-based awards have been issued under either the
2007 Plan or the 1998 Plan.
Automatic
Grant of Non-Employee Director Options
Each
non-employee directors is entitled to automatic option grants on specified dates
as follows: (i) options to purchase 40,000 shares on the date of first election
or appointment to the board and (ii) options to purchase 30,000 shares on the
date of each subsequent annual stockholders meeting if such director continues
to, and has served as a director for at least six
months. Non-employee director options vest on the first anniversary
of the date of grant (subject to continued service through such date) and will
otherwise vest in full upon the termination of service as a result of death or
disability. Non-employee director options have a term of ten years
(subject to earlier termination twelve months after any termination of
service).
Under the
2007 Plan, as of December 31, 2008, options to purchase 7,295,667 shares of
common stock were outstanding and 1,204,333 shares were available for potential
future grants. Under the 1998 Plan, as of December 31, 2008, options
to purchase 9,916,644 shares of common stock were outstanding and there were no
shares available for future grants as the plan terminated upon the effectiveness
of the 2007 Plan.
A summary
of option activity under the 2007 Plan and 1998 Plan as of December 31, 2008 and
changes during the period is presented below:
(in
thousands, except for weighted-average data)
|
Weighted-
|
||||||||||||
Stock Options
|
Price Per Share
|
Shares
|
Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price
|
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term
(In Years)
|
|||||||||
Outstanding at December 31, 2005
|
$0.0026
– $10.60
|
8,440 | $ | 6.28 | |||||||||
Granted
|
1.40
– 7.97
|
4,213 | 3.30 | ||||||||||
Exercised
|
0.0026
– 6.47
|
(36 | ) | 1.16 | |||||||||
Forfeited or
expired
|
1.50
– 10.02
|
(1,927 | ) | 7.55 | |||||||||
Outstanding
at December 31, 2006
|
$0.19
– $10.60
|
10,690 | $ | 4.89 | |||||||||
Granted
|
2.08
– 3.58
|
3,907 | 2.94 | ||||||||||
Exercised
|
0.19
– 2.46
|
(61 | ) | 1.72 | |||||||||
Forfeited or
expired
|
0.19
– 9.80
|
(606 | ) | 5.07 | |||||||||
Outstanding
at December 31, 2007
|
$0.19
– $10.60
|
13,930 | $ | 4.35 | |||||||||
Granted
|
1.21
– 2.90
|
3,950 | |||||||||||
Exercised
|
0.32
– 1.62
|
(18 | ) | 1.21 | |||||||||
Forfeited or
expired
|
0.19
– 10.60
|
(650 | ) | 5.17 | |||||||||
Outstanding
at December 31, 2008
|
$0.81
– $10.43
|
17,212 | $ | 3.72 |
7.1
|
||||||||
Exercisable
at December 31, 2008
|
$0.81
– $10.43
|
10,605 | $ | 4.63 |
6.0
|
F-23
Based
upon application of the Black-Scholes option-pricing formula described below,
the weighted-average grant-date fair value of options granted during the years
ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 was $0.88, $2.05 and $2.33,
respectively. The total intrinsic value of options exercised during
the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 was $13,000, $57,000 and
$79,000, respectively. The total intrinsic value of options
outstanding, vested and exercisable as of December 31, 2008 is
$3,000.
A summary
of the status of our nonvested shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding
options and changes during 2008 is presented below:
(shares
in thousands)
|
Option
Shares
|
Weighted-
Average Grant-
Date Fair Value
|
||||||
Non-vested
at December 31, 2007
|
4,939 | $ | 2.18 | |||||
Granted
|
4,044 | 0.88 | ||||||
Vested
|
(2,199 | ) | 2.12 | |||||
Forfeited
|
(177 | ) | 2.38 | |||||
Non-vested
at December 31, 2008
|
6,607 | $ | 1.40 |
The
following table provides detail with regard to options outstanding, vested and
exercisable at December 31, 2008:
(shares
in thousands)
|
Outstanding
|
Vested and Exercisable
|
||||||||||||||||
Price per share
|
Shares
|
Weighted
Average
Price
per Share
|
Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Life
|
Shares
|
Weighted
Average
Price
per Share
|
Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Life
|
||||||||||||
$0.81 – $2.00
|
4,566 | $ | 1.68 |
8.59
years
|
951 | $ | 1.68 |
5.19
years
|
||||||||||
$2.01
– $4.00
|
8,114 | $ | 2.67 |
7.31
years
|
5,273 | $ | 2.65 |
6.95
years
|
||||||||||
$4.01
– $6.00
|
694 | $ | 4.77 |
1.97
years
|
694 | $ | 4.77 |
1.97
years
|
||||||||||
$6.01
– $8.00
|
1,461 | $ | 6.88 |
6.29
years
|
1,310 | $ | 6.85 |
6.30
years
|
||||||||||
$8.01
– $10.00
|
2,352 | $ | 8.93 |
5.27
years
|
2,352 | $ | 8.93 |
5.27
years
|
||||||||||
$10.01
– $10.43
|
25 | $ | 10.43 |
5.22
years
|
25 | $ | 10.43 |
5.22
years
|
||||||||||
17,212 | 10,605 |
F-24
Stock-Based Employee
Compensation
As a
result of adopting SFAS No. 123(R) on January 1, 2006, we recognized
compensation expense for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 of
$4.6 million, $5.2 million and $5.5 million, respectively. For the
year ended December 31, 2008, $1.5 million of compensation expense was
classified as research and development and $3.1 million of compensation expense
was classified as general and administrative. For the year ended
December 31, 2007, $1.7 million of compensation expense was classified as
research and development and $3.5 million of compensation expense was classified
as general and administrative. For the year ended December 31, 2006,
$1.6 million of compensation expense was classified as research and development
and $3.9 million of compensation expense was classified as general and
administrative.
The fair
value of each option award is estimated on the date of grant using the
Black-Scholes option-pricing formula that uses assumptions noted in the
following table. Expected volatilities are based upon our historical
volatility and other factors. We also use historical data and other
factors to estimate option exercises, employee terminations and forfeiture rates
within the valuation model. The risk-free interest rates are based
upon the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of the
grant.
Years Ended December 31,
|
||||||
2008
|
2007
|
2006
|
||||
Expected volatility
|
77% - 92%
|
77% - 99%
|
81% - 101%
|
|||
Weighted average expected volatility
|
81%
|
88%
|
96%
|
|||
Expected term
|
4 and 5 years
|
4 and 5 years
|
4 and 5 years
|
|||
Risk-free interest rate
|
1.2% - 3.5%
|
3.5% - 4.6%
|
4.4% - 5.0%
|
|||
Expected dividends
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
The total fair value of the
underlying shares of the options vested during 2008, 2007, and 2006 equals $4.7
million, $4.9 million and $5.4 million, respectively. As of December
31, 2008, there was $6.9 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related
to non-vested share-based compensation arrangements granted under the
Plan. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average
vesting period of 2.03 years.
Note
12 – Corporate Partnership, Licensing and Research Funding
Agreements
Philip
Morris USA Inc., d/b/a Chrysalis Technologies
In March
2008, we restructured our December 2005 Strategic Alliance Agreement (Original
Alliance Agreement) with Philip Morris USA Inc. (PMUSA), d/b/a Chrysalis
Technologies (Chrysalis), and assumed full responsibility for the further
development of the Capillary Aerosolization Technology, including finalizing
design development for the initial prototype aerosolization device platform and
disposable dose packets. In connection with the restructuring, we
entered into an Amended and Restated License Agreement dated March 28, 2008
(U.S. License Agreement) with PMUSA to amend and restate the Original Alliance
Agreement in the United States. As PMUSA assigned to Philip Morris
Products S.A. (PMPSA) all rights in and to the Capillary Aerosolization
Technology outside of the United States (International Rights), effective the
same date, we entered into a License Agreement with PMPSA with respect to the
International Rights (International License Agreement) on substantially the same
terms and conditions as the U.S. License Agreement. We currently hold
exclusive licenses to the Capillary Aerosolization Technology both in and
outside of the United States for use with pulmonary surfactants (alone or in
combination with any other pharmaceutical compound(s)) for all respiratory
diseases and conditions (the foregoing uses in each territory, Exclusive
Field). In addition, under the U.S. License Agreement, our license to
use the Capillary Aerosolization Technology includes other (non-surfactant)
drugs to treat a wide range of pediatric and adult respiratory indications in
hospitals and other health care institutions.
In
connection with the restructuring, Chrysalis completed a technology transfer,
provided development support to us through June 30, 2008, and also paid us
$4.5 million to support our future development activities, of which $2.0
million was paid upon execution of the license agreements in March 2008 and $2.5
million was paid upon completion of the technology transfer in June
2008. We are obligated to pay royalties at a rate equal to a low
single-digit percent of sales of products sold in the Exclusive Field in the
territories. In connection with exclusive undertakings of PMUSA and
PMPSA not to exploit the Capillary Aerosolization Technology for all licensed
uses, we are obligated to pay royalties on all product sales, including sales of
aerosol devices and related components that are not based on the Capillary
Aerosolization Technology; provided, however, that no royalties are payable to
the extent that we exercise our right to terminate the license with respect to a
specific indication. We also agreed in the future to pay minimum
royalties, but are entitled to a reduction of future royalties in an amount
equal to the excess of any minimum royalty paid over royalties actually earned
in prior periods.
F-25
Laboratorios
del Dr. Esteve, S.A.
We have a
strategic alliance with Laboratorios del Dr. Esteve, S.A. (Esteve) for the
development, marketing and sales of a broad portfolio of potential Surfactant
products in Andorra, Greece, Italy, Portugal, and Spain. Esteve will
pay us a transfer price on sales of Surfaxin and other KL4 Surfactant
products. We will be responsible for the manufacture and supply of
all of the covered products and Esteve will be responsible for all sales and
marketing in the territory. Esteve is obligated to make stipulated
cash payments to us upon our achievement of certain milestones, primarily upon
receipt of marketing regulatory approvals for the covered
products. In addition, Esteve has agreed to contribute to Phase 3
clinical trials for the covered products by conducting and funding development
performed in the territory. As part of a restructuring of this
alliance in December 2004, we regained full commercialization rights to our
KL4
Surfactant Technology in portions of the original territory licensed to Esteve,
including key European markets, Central America, and South America (Former
Esteve Territories) and agreed to pay to Esteve 10% of any cash up-front and
milestone fees (not to exceed $20 million in the aggregate) that we may receive
in connection with any strategic collaborations for the development and
commercialization of certain of our KL4 Surfactant
products, including Surfaxin and Aerosurf in the Former Esteve
Territories.
Licensing
and Research Funding Agreements
Johnson
& Johnson and Pharmaceutical Corporation
We,
Johnson & Johnson and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Ortho Pharmaceutical
Corporation, are parties to an agreement granting to us an exclusive worldwide
license of the proprietary SRT technology, including Surfaxin, in exchange for
certain license fees, future milestone payments (aggregating $2,500,000) and
royalties. To date, we have paid $450,000 for milestones
achieved.
Note
13 – Restructuring Charges
April
2006 Corporate Restructuring
In April
2006, after ongoing analysis of Surfaxin process validation batches that had
been manufactured as a requirement for our NDA indicated that certain stability
parameters no longer met acceptance criteria, we reduced our staff levels and
reorganized corporate management to lower our cost structure and re-align our
operations with changed business priorities. The reduction in
workforce totaled 52 employees, including three senior executives, and
represented approximately 33% of our workforce, primarily from our commercial
group. All affected employees were eligible for severance payments
and continuation of benefits.
We
incurred a restructuring charge of $4.8 million in the second quarter 2006
associated with the staff reductions and discontinued commercial programs, which
was accounted for in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
No. 146 “Accounting for Costs
Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities” (SFAS No. 146) and is
identified separately on the Statement of Operations as Restructuring
Charge. This charge included $2.5 million of severance and benefits
related to staff reductions and $2.3 million associated with discontinued
commercial programs. As of December 31, 2008, payments totaling $4.5
million had been made related to these items and $0.3 million were unpaid and
included in accounts payable and accrued expenses.
F-26
Note
14 - Commitments
Future
payments due under contractual obligations at December 31, 2008 are as
follows:
(in
thousands)
|
2009
|
2010
|
2011
|
2012
|
2013
|
There-
after
|
Total
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Loan
payable(1)
|
$ | – | $ | 10,573 | $ | – | $ | – | $ | – | $ | – | $ | 10,573 | ||||||||||||||
Equipment
loan obligations(1)
|
2,946 | 722 | 152 | 85 | 85 | 155 | 4,145 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Operating
lease obligations
|
1,143 | 1,135 | 1,151 | 1,168 | 320 | 150 | 5,067 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Total
|
$ | 4,089 | $ | 12,430 | $ | 1,303 | $ | 1,253 | $ | 405 | $ | 305 | $ | 19,785 |
(1)
See Note 9: “Debt”
Our
operating leases consist primarily of facility leases for our operations in
Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
We
maintain our headquarters in Warrington, Pennsylvania. The facility
is 39,594 square feet and serves as the main operating facility for clinical
development, regulatory, analytical technical services, research and
development, sales and marketing, and administration. In April 2007,
the lease, which originally expired in February 2010 with total aggregate
payments of $4.6 million, was extended an additional three years through
February 2013 with additional payments of $3.0 million over the extension
period.
We lease
approximately 21,000 square feet of space for our manufacturing facility in
Totowa, New Jersey, at an annual rent of $150,000. This space is
specifically designed for the manufacture and filling of sterile pharmaceuticals
in compliance with cGMP and is our only manufacturing facility. The
lease expires in December 2014, subject to a right of the landlord upon two
years’ prior notice, to terminate the lease early. This termination
right is subject to certain conditions, including that the master tenant, a
related party of the landlord, must have ceased all activities at the premises,
and, in the earlier years, if we satisfy certain financial conditions, the
landlord must make payments to us of significant early termination
amounts. At the present time, we understand that the master tenant
continues to be active in the premises. The total aggregate payments over
the term of the lease are $1.4 million. For a discussion of our
manufacturing strategy, see
“Business – Business Operations – Manufacturing and
Distribution.”
Our lease for 5,600 square feet of
office and analytical laboratory space in Doylestown, Pennsylvania was
terminated effective July 31, 2008 and all activities at this location have been
consolidated into our new laboratory space in Warrington,
Pennsylvania. Our lease for 16,800 square feet of office and
laboratory space at our facility in Mountain View, California, expired without
renewal or extension on June 30, 2008. In December 2007, we
consolidated these activities into our new laboratory space in Warrington,
Pennsylvania.
Rent
expense under all of these leases for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007,
and 2006 was $1.2 million, $1.5 million and $1,4 million
respectively.
In
addition to the contractual obligations above, we have certain milestone payment
obligations, aggregating $2,500,000, and royalty payment obligations to Johnson
& Johnson related to our product licenses. To date, we have paid
$450,000 with respect to such milestones.
F-27
Note
15 – Litigation
We are
not aware of any pending or threatened legal actions that would, if determined
adversely to us, have a material adverse effect on our business and
operations.
We have
from time to time been involved in disputes and proceedings arising in the
ordinary course of business, including in connection with the conduct of our
clinical trials. In addition, as a public company, we are also
potentially susceptible to litigation, such as claims asserting violations of
securities laws. Any such claims, with or without merit, if not
resolved, could be time-consuming and result in costly
litigation. There can be no assurance that an adverse result in any
future proceeding would not have a potentially material adverse effect on our
business, results of operations and financial condition.
Note
16 – Income Taxes
Since our
inception, we have never recorded a provision or benefit for federal and state
income taxes.
The
reconciliation of the income tax benefit computed at the federal statutory rates
to our recorded tax benefit for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006
are as follows:
(in thousands)
|
December 31,
|
|||||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
2006
|
||||||||||
Income
tax benefit, statutory rates
|
$ | 13,296 | $ | 13,601 | $ | 15,753 | ||||||
State
taxes on income, net of federal benefit
|
2,102 | 2,363 | 2,770 | |||||||||
Research
and development tax credit
|
1,026 | 960 | 966 | |||||||||
Employee
Related
|
(1,306 | ) | (1,118 | ) | – | |||||||
Other
|
(32 | ) | (24 | ) | (38 | ) | ||||||
Income
tax benefit
|
15,086 | 15,782 | 19,451 | |||||||||
Valuation
allowance
|
(15,086 | ) | (15,782 | ) | (19,451 | ) | ||||||
Income
tax benefit
|
$ | – | $ | – | $ | – |
F-28
The tax
effects of temporary differences that give rise to deferred tax assets and
deferred tax liabilities, at December 31, 2008 and 2007, are as
follows:
(in thousands)
|
December 31,
|
|||||||
2008
|
2007
|
|||||||
Long-term
deferred tax assets:
|
||||||||
Net operating loss
carryforwards (federal
and state)
|
$ | 115,401 | $ | 102,397 | ||||
Research and development tax
credits
|
7,137 | 6,130 | ||||||
Compensation expense on
stock
|
4,334 | 3,615 | ||||||
Charitable contribution
carryforward
|
6 | 6 | ||||||
Other accrued
|
2,073 | 1,386 | ||||||
Depreciation
|
2,494 | 2,653 | ||||||
Capitalized research and
development
|
2,411 | 2,613 | ||||||
Total
long-term deferred tax assets
|
133,857 | 118,800 | ||||||
Long-term
deferred tax liabilities
|
– | – | ||||||
Net
deferred tax assets
|
133,857 | 118,800 | ||||||
Less: valuation
allowance
|
(133,857 | ) | (118,800 | ) | ||||
Deferred
tax assets, net of valuation allowance
|
$ | – | $ | – |
We are in
a net deferred tax asset position at December 31, 2008 and 2007 before the
consideration of a valuation allowance. Due to the fact that we have
never realized a profit, management has fully reserved the net deferred tax
asset since realization is not assured.
At
December 31, 2008 and 2007, we had available carryforward net operating losses
for Federal tax purposes of $292.6 million and $258.7 million, respectively, and
a research and development tax credit carryforward of $7.1 million and $6.1
million, respectively. The Federal net operating loss and research
and development tax credit carryforwards began to expire in 2008 and continue
through 2028. Approximately $14.8 million of the $292.6 net operating
loss carryforwards expire prior to 2013.
At
December 31, 2008, we had available carryforward federal and state net operating
losses of $1.8 million and $26,000, respectively, related to stock based
compensation. Additionally, at December 31, 2008 and 2007, we had
available carryforward losses of approximately $271.1 million and $250.2
million, respectively, for state tax purposes. Of the $271.1 state
tax carryforward losses, $246.7 million is associated with the state of
Pennsylvania, with the remainder associated with New Jersey, California and
Florida.
Utilization
of the NOL and R&D credit carryforwards may be subject to a substantial
annual limitation under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 due to
ownership change limitations that have occurred previously or that could occur
in the future. These ownership changes may limit the amount of NOL and R&D
credit carryforwards that can be utilized annually to offset future taxable
income and tax, respectively. There also could be additional
ownership changes in the future which may result in additional limitations in
the utilization of the carryforward NOLs and credits.
A full valuation allowance has been
provided against our research and development credits and, if a future
assessment requires an adjustment, an adjustment would be offset by an
adjustment to the valuation allowance. Thus, there would be no impact
to the consolidated balance sheet or statement of operations if an adjustment
were required.
Federal
and state net operating losses, $5.2 million and $0.4 million, respectively,
relate to stock based compensation, the tax effect of which will result in a
credit to equity as opposed to income tax expense to the extent these losses are
utilized in the future.
F-29
On
January 1, 2007, we adopted the provisions of FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income
Taxes – an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109 (FIN 48). FIN 48
creates a single model to address uncertainty in tax positions and clarifies the
accounting for income taxes by prescribing the
minimum recognition threshold a tax position is required to meet before being
recognized in the financial statements. The provisions of FIN 48 apply to all
material tax positions in all taxing jurisdictions for all open tax years. The adoption of FIN 48
did not have a material effect on the Company’s financial condition or results
of operations for the year ended December 31, 2008.
Note
17 – Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)
The
following table contains unaudited statement of operations information for each
quarter of 2008 and 2007. The operating results for any quarter are
not necessarily indicative of results for any future period.
2008 Quarters Ended:
|
(in thousands, except per share data)
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Mar. 31
|
June 30
|
Sept. 30
|
Dec. 31
|
Total Year
|
||||||||||||||||
Revenues
|
$ | 2,050 | $ | 2,500 | $ | 50 | $ | – | $ | 4,600 | ||||||||||
Expenses:
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Research and
development
|
7,232 | 7,439 | 6,724 | 5,170 | 26,566 | |||||||||||||||
General and
administrative
|
4,505 | 5,076 | 3,726 | 3,121 | 16,428 | |||||||||||||||
Total
expenses
|
11,737 | 12,515 | 10,450 | 8,291 | 42,994 | |||||||||||||||
Operating
loss
|
(9,687 | ) | (10,015 | ) | (10,400 | ) | (8,291 | ) | (38,394 | ) | ||||||||||
Other
income / (expense), net
|
(27 | ) | (200 | ) | (239 | ) | (246 | ) | (712 | ) | ||||||||||
Net
loss
|
$ | (9,714 | ) | $ | (10,215 | ) | $ | (10,639 | ) | $ | (8,537 | ) | $ | (39,106 | ) | |||||
Net
loss per common share - basic and diluted
|
$ | (0.10 | ) | $ | (0.11 | ) | $ | (0.11 | ) | $ | (0.08 | ) | $ | (0.40 | ) | |||||
Weighted
average number of common shares
outstanding
|
96,649 | 96,691 | 98,619 | 100,474 | 98,116 |
2007 Quarters Ended:
|
(in thousands, except per share data)
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Mar. 31
|
June 30
|
Sept. 30
|
Dec. 31
|
Total Year
|
||||||||||||||||
Revenues
|
$ | – | $ | – | $ | – | $ | – | $ | – | ||||||||||
Expenses:
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Research and
development
|
5,422 | 6,794 | 6,184 | 7,800 | 26,200 | |||||||||||||||
General and
administrative
|
2,754 | 3,465 | 3,147 | 4,381 | 13,747 | |||||||||||||||
Total
expenses
|
8,176 | 10,259 | 9,331 | 12,181 | 39,947 | |||||||||||||||
Operating
loss
|
(8,176 | ) | (10,259 | ) | (9,331 | ) | (12,181 | ) | (39,947 | ) | ||||||||||
Other
income / (expense), net
|
(134 | ) | (125 | ) | (16 | ) | 217 | (58 | ) | |||||||||||
Net
loss
|
$ | (8,310 | ) | $ | (10,384 | ) | $ | (9,347 | ) | $ | (11,964 | ) | $ | (40,005 | ) | |||||
Net
loss per common share - basic and diluted
|
$ | (0.12 | ) | $ | (0.12 | ) | $ | (0.11 | ) | $ | (0.14 | ) | $ | (0.49 | ) | |||||
Weighted
average number of common shares
outstanding
|
69,989 | 83,825 | 84,642 | 88,469 | 81,731 |
F-30
Note
18 – Subsequent Events
Financings
pursuant to the CEFF
On
January 16, 2009, we completed a financing pursuant to the May 2008 CEFF
resulting in gross proceeds of approximately $0.4 million from the issuance of
419,065 shares of our common stock at an average price per share, after the
applicable discount, of $1.04.
On
February 18, 2009, we completed a financing pursuant to the May 2008 CEFF
resulting in gross proceeds of approximately $1.0 million from the issuance of
857,356 shares of our common stock at an average price per share, after the
applicable discount, of $1.17.
F-31