Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-Q

 

 

 

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

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2013

OR

 

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

For the transition period from              to             

Commission file number 000-52228

 

 

SORRENTO THERAPEUTICS, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   33-0344842
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization)
  (I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)

6042 Cornerstone Ct. West,

Suite B

San Diego, California 92121

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

(858) 210-3700

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated file 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. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer   ¨    Accelerated filer   ¨
Non-accelerated filer   ¨  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    Smaller reporting company   x

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ¨    No  x

The number of shares of the issuer’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, outstanding as of May 13, 2013 was 336,075,440.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc.

(a Development Stage Company)

Index to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION   

Item 1.

   Consolidated Financial Statements      1   
  

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2013 (Unaudited) and December 31, 2012 (Audited)

     1   
  

Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2013 and 2012 and January 25, 2006 (Inception) through March 31, 2013

     2   
  

Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2013 and 2012 and January 25, 2006 (Inception) through March 31, 2013

     3   
  

Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

     4   

Item 2.

   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations      13   

Item 3.

   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk      17   

Item 4.

   Controls and Procedures      17   
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION   

Item 1.

   Legal Proceedings      17   

Item 1A.

   Risk Factors      17   

Item 2.

   Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds      17   

Item 3.

   Defaults Upon Senior Securities      17   

Item 4.

   Mine Safety Disclosures      17   

Item 5.

   Other Information      18   

Item 6.

   Exhibits      18   

Signatures

     19   


Table of Contents

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Consolidated Financial Statements.

SORRENTO THERAPEUTICS, INC.

(A DEVELOPMENT STAGE COMPANY)

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

     March 31,
2013
    December 31,
2012
 
     (Unaudited)     (Audited)  
ASSETS     

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 9,638,768      $ 5,091,312   

Grants receivable

     134,063        79,760   

Prepaid expenses and other

     688,691        80,918   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

     10,461,522        5,251,990   

Property and equipment, net

     1,549,684        1,480,989   

Patent rights, net

     90,000        —     

Other

     97,119        48,625   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 12,198,325      $ 6,781,604   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY     

Current liabilities:

    

Accounts payable

   $ 707,148      $ 439,533   

Accrued payroll and related

     180,000        77,744   

Accrued expenses

     111,029        66,896   

Current portion of debt

     267,632        —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     1,265,809        584,173   

Long-term debt

     608,256        —     

Commitments and contingencies

    

Stockholders’ equity:

    

Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized and no shares issued and outstanding

     —         —    

Common stock, $0.0001 par value; 500,000,000 shares authorized and 336,075,440 and 300,117,135 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively

     33,608        30,012   

Additional paid-in capital

     23,763,290        17,117,718   

Deficit accumulated during the development stage

     (13,472,638     (10,950,299
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity

     10,324,260        6,197,431   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 12,198,325      $ 6,781,604   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes

 

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Table of Contents

SORRENTO THERAPEUTICS, INC.

(A DEVELOPMENT STAGE COMPANY)

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
    Period from
January 25, 2006
(Inception) through
March 31, 2013
 
     2013     2012    

Revenues:

      

Grant

   $ 134,063      $ 110,149      $ 1,706,136   

Collaboration and reimbursable research and development costs

     —         —         223,453   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total revenues

     134,063        110,149        1,929,589   

Expenses:

      

Research and development

     1,398,677        799,072        9,602,003   

General and administrative

     1,249,681        218,675        5,821,074   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total expenses

     2,648,358        1,017,747        15,423,077   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss from operations

     (2,514,295     (907,598     (13,493,488

Interest expense

     (9,928     —         (9,928

Interest income

     1,884        1,472        30,778   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss

   $ (2,522,339   $ (906,126   $ (13,472,638
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss per share – basic and diluted

   $ (0.01   $ (0.00  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

Weighted average number of shares during the period – basic and diluted

     307,808,569        260,893,200     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

See accompanying notes

 

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Table of Contents

SORRENTO THERAPEUTICS, INC.

(A DEVELOPMENT STAGE COMPANY)

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
    Period from
January 25, 2006
(Inception)
through
March 31, 2013
 
   2013     2012    

Operating activities

      

Net loss

   $ (2,522,339   $ (906,126   $ (13,472,638

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

      

Depreciation and amortization

     103,114        62,496        581,803   

Stock-based compensation

     247,760        101,168        1,714,399   

Non-cash interest expense

     5,166        —          5,166   

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

      

Grants receivable

     (54,303     (11,449     (134,063

Prepaid expenses and other

     (658,079     7,258        (767,472

Accounts payable

     253,253        (36,807     430,199   

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

     143,033        (14,121     367,712   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used for operating activities

     (2,482,395     (797,581     (11,274,894
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Investing activities

      

Purchases of property and equipment

     (157,446     (225,491     (1,879,163

Purchase of intangible assets

     (50,000     —          (50,000

Cash acquired in connection with Merger

     —         —         104,860   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used for investing activities

     (207,446     (225,491     (1,824,303
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Financing activities

      

Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net of issuance costs

     6,354,409       —         21,805,860   

Proceeds from exercise of stock options

     7,000       —         56,217   

Borrowings under loan agreement

     875,888       —         875,888   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by financing activities

     7,237,297       —         22,737,965   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

     4,547,456        (1,023,072     9,638,768   

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     5,091,312        3,466,549        —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 9,638,768      $ 2,443,477      $ 9,638,768   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosure:

      

Cash paid during the period for:

      

Income taxes

   $ 800     $ —       $ 5,600   

Interest

   $ 879     $ —       $ 879   

Non-cash investing activities:

In connection with the Company’s purchase of patent rights under the assignment agreement entered into on January 7, 2013 (see Note 2), the Company issued 250,000 shares of common stock valued at $40,000.

In the first quarter of 2013, the Company purchased equipment with an aggregate cost of $14,363, which has been included in accounts payable as of March 31, 2013.

See accompanying notes

 

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SORRENTO THERAPEUTICS, INC.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

MARCH 31, 2013

1. Nature of Operations, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Business Activities

Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation

The Company is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of novel and proprietary biotherapeutics for the treatment of a variety of disease conditions, including cancer, inflammation, metabolic and infectious diseases. The Company’s objective is to either independently or through one or more partnerships with pharmaceutical or biopharmaceutical organizations identify drug development candidates derived from the libraries.

As of March 31, 2013, the Company had devoted substantially all of its efforts to product development, raising capital and building infrastructure, and had not realized revenues from its planned principal operations. Accordingly, the Company is considered to be in the development stage.

The accompanying interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared by the Company, without audit, in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and, therefore, do not necessarily include all information and footnotes necessary for a fair statement of its financial position, results of operations and cash flows in accordance with GAAP. The financial statements also include the accounts of the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc. Hong Kong Limited, or Sorrento Hong Kong, which was registered effective December 4, 2012. Sorrento Hong Kong had no operations through March 31, 2013. All inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

The balance sheet at December 31, 2012 is derived from the audited consolidated balance sheet at that date which is not presented herein.

In the opinion of management, the unaudited financial information for the interim periods presented reflects all adjustments, which are only normal and recurring, necessary for a fair statement of financial position, results of operations and cash flows. These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012. Operating results for interim periods are not expected to be indicative of operating results for the Company’s 2013 fiscal year.

Business Activities

On September 21, 2009, QuikByte Software, Inc., a shell company, or QuikByte, acquired Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc., a privately held Delaware corporation, or STI, in a reverse merger, or the Merger. Pursuant to the Merger, all of the issued and outstanding shares of STI common stock were exchanged into an aggregate of 169,375,807 shares of QuikByte common stock and STI became a wholly owned subsidiary of QuikByte. The holders of QuikByte’s common stock as of immediately prior to the Merger held an aggregate of 55,708,320 shares of QuikByte’s common stock. STI and QuikByte reincorporated in Delaware in December 2009, and on December 4, 2009, STI merged with and into QuikByte, the separate corporate existence of STI ceased and QuikByte continued as the surviving corporation. Contemporaneously, QuikByte Software, Inc. changed its name to Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc., or the Company. In connection with the Merger, the Company received cash of $104,860.

In January 2013, the Company entered into an assignment agreement, or the assignment agreement with Tien-Li Lee, M.D. and Jane Wu Lee, M.D. as individuals (collectively, the Lees) pursuant to which the Lees agreed to assign to the Company their right, title and interest throughout the world in and to certain inventions and patents that provide for the production of recombinant intravenous immunoglobulins. See Note 2.

On March 7, 2013, the Company entered into various agreements with IgDraSol, Inc. (IgDraSol) a private company focused on the development of oncologic agents for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer, or MBC, non-small cell lung cancer, or NSCLC, and other cancers, as follows: (i) an exclusive option agreement, (ii) an asset purchase agreement pursuant to which the Company agreed to purchase all documentation, equipment, information and other know-how related to micellar nanoparticle technology encompassing Tocosol® and related technologies, and (iii) an initial services agreement, pursuant to which, IgDraSol is to provide certain product development and technology services related to the Company’s antibody platform. See Note 2.

 

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Liquidity and Going Concern

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the going concern basis, which assumes that the Company will continue to operate as a going concern and which contemplates the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities and commitments in the normal course of business. As reflected in the accompanying consolidated financial statements, the Company has incurred operating losses since its inception in 2006, and as of March 31, 2013, had an accumulated deficit of $13,472,638. At March 31, 2013, the Company had working capital of $9,195,713.

The Company anticipates that it will continue to incur net losses into the foreseeable future as it: (i) continues to identify and advance a number of potential drug candidates into preclinical development activities, (ii) acquires IgDraSol and continues to fund its operations, and (iii) expands its corporate infrastructure, including the costs associated with being a public company. Without additional funding, management believes that the Company will not have sufficient funds to meet its obligations beyond October 2013. These conditions give rise to substantial doubt as to the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The accompanying consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

The Company plans to continue to fund its losses from operations and capital funding needs through public or private equity or debt financings, strategic collaborations, licensing arrangements, asset sales, government grants or other arrangements. However, the Company cannot be sure that such additional funds will be available on reasonable terms, or at all. If the Company is unable to secure adequate additional funding, the Company may be forced to make reductions in spending, extend payment terms with suppliers, liquidate assets where possible, and/or suspend or curtail planned programs. In addition, if the Company does not meet its payment obligations to third parties as they come due, it may be subject to litigation claims. Even if the Company is successful in defending against these claims, litigation could result in substantial costs and be a distraction to management. Any of these actions could materially harm the Company’s business, results of operations, and future prospects.

If the Company raises additional funds by issuing equity securities, substantial dilution to existing stockholders would result. If the Company raises additional funds by incurring debt financing, the terms of the debt may involve significant cash payment obligations as well as covenants and specific financial ratios that may restrict the Company’s ability to operate its business.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting period. Management believes that these estimates are reasonable; however, actual results may differ from these estimates.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents. The Company minimizes its credit risk associated with cash and cash equivalents by periodically evaluating the credit quality of its primary financial institution. The balance at times may exceed federally insured limits. The Company has not experienced any losses on such accounts.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The Company’s financial instruments consist of cash and cash equivalents, grants receivable, prepaid expenses and other assets, accounts payable and accrued expenses. Fair value estimates of these instruments are made at a specific point in time, based on relevant market information. These estimates may be subjective in nature and involve uncertainties and matters of significant judgment and therefore cannot be determined with precision. As of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents, grants receivable, prepaid expenses and other assets, accounts payable and accrued liabilities are generally considered to be representative of their respective fair values because of the short-term nature of those instruments.

Grants Receivable

Grants receivable at March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 represent amounts due under several federal contracts with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, or NIAID, a division of the National Institutes of Health, or NIH, collectively, the NIH Grants. The Company considers the grants receivable to be fully collectible; accordingly, no allowance for doubtful amounts has been established. If amounts become uncollectible, they are charged to operations.

 

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Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are stated at cost and depreciated on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Such lives vary from three to five years. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the lesser of the life of the lease or the life of the asset.

Patent Rights

Patent rights are stated at cost and amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets, determined to be approximately nineteen years from the date of transfer of the rights to the Company in April 2013.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

The Company evaluates its long-lived assets with definite lives, such as property and equipment and patent rights, for impairment. The Company records impairment losses on long-lived assets used for operations when indicators of impairment are present and the undiscounted cash flows estimated to be generated by those assets are less than the carrying value of the assets. There have not been any impairment losses of long-lived assets through March 31, 2013.

Income Taxes

The provisions of the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB Accounting Standards Codification, or ASC 740-10, Uncertainty in Income Taxes, address the determination of whether tax benefits claimed or expected to be claimed on a tax return should be recorded in the financial statements. Under ASC 740-10, the Company may recognize the tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by taxing authorities, based on the technical merits of the position. The Company has determined that it has no uncertain tax positions.

The Company accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability method to compute the differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and the related financial amounts, using currently enacted tax rates.

The Company has deferred tax assets, which are subject to periodic recoverability assessments. Valuation allowances are established, when necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount that more likely than not will be realized. The Company evaluates the recoverability of the deferred tax assets annually.

Revenue Recognition

The Company’s revenues are generated from the NIH and U.S. Treasury grant awards and a feasibility study agreement, or the Collaboration Agreement, that the Company entered into with a third party in July 2010. The revenue from the NIH and U.S. Treasury grant awards are based upon subcontractor and internal costs incurred that are specifically covered by the grant, and where applicable, a facilities and administrative rate that provides funding for overhead expenses. These revenues are recognized when expenses have been incurred by subcontractors or when the Company incurs internal expenses that are related to the grant.

The revenue from the Collaboration Agreement is derived from the completion of certain development services and the reimbursement of certain development costs incurred to provide such development services. Revenue from upfront, nonrefundable service fees are recognized when earned, as evidenced by written acknowledgement from the collaborator, or other persuasive evidence that all service deliverables have been achieved, provided that the service deliverables are substantive and their achievability was not reasonably assured at the inception of the Collaboration Agreement. Any amounts received prior to satisfying the Company’s revenue recognition criteria are recorded as deferred revenue.

Research and Development Costs and Collaborations

Research and development costs are charged to expense as incurred. Such costs primarily consist of discovery research, pre-clinical activities, manufacture of drug supply, lab supplies, contract and acquired services, stock-based compensation expense, salaries and related benefits, depreciation and allocated and direct facility expenses.

We evaluate our collaborative agreements for proper income statement classification based on the nature of the underlying activity. If payments to our collaborative partners are not within the scope of other authoritative accounting literature, the income statement classification for these payments is based on a reasonable, rational analogy to authoritative accounting literature that is applied in a consistent manner. Amounts due to our collaborative partners related to development activities are reflected as a research and development expense.

 

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Stock-based Compensation

The Company accounts for stock-based compensation in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, which establishes accounting for equity instruments exchanged for employee services. Under such provisions, stock-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date, based on the calculated fair value of the award, and is recognized as an expense, under the straight-line method, over the employee’s requisite service period (generally the vesting period of the equity grant).

The Company accounts for equity instruments, including restricted stock or stock options, issued to non-employees in accordance with authoritative guidance for equity-based payments to non-employees. Stock options issued to non-employees are accounted for at their estimated fair value determined using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The fair value of options granted to non-employees is re-measured as they vest, and the resulting increase in value, if any, is recognized as expense during the period the related services are rendered. Restricted stock issued to non-employees is accounted for at estimated fair value as they vest.

Net Loss per Share

Net loss per share is presented as both basic and diluted net loss per share. Basic net loss per share excludes any dilutive effects of options, shares subject to repurchase and warrants. Diluted net loss per share includes the impact of potentially dilutive securities. No dilutive effect was calculated for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 as the Company reported a net loss for each respective period and the effect would have been anti-dilutive. The Company had outstanding common share equivalents of 10,595,000 and 6,504,686 at March 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The Company excludes the contingent issuance of common shares issuable to the Lee’s and IgDraSol as there is no guarantee that such shares will be issued in the future. See Note 2.

New Accounting Standards

In July 2012, the FASB issued ASU 2012-02, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Testing Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets for Impairment (the revised standard). The objective of this ASU is to simplify how entities test indefinite-lived intangible assets other than goodwill for impairment. The amendments in the ASU provide the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether, as a result of its qualitative assessment, that it is more-likely-than-not (a likelihood of more than 50%) the asset is impaired and it is necessary to calculate the fair value of the asset in order to compare that amount to the carrying value to determine the amount of the impairment, if any. If an entity believes, as a result of its qualitative assessment, that it is not more-likely-than-not (a likelihood of more than 50%) that the fair value of an asset is less than its carrying amount, no further testing is required. The revised standard includes examples of events and circumstances that might indicate that the indefinite-lived intangible asset is impaired. The approach in the ASU is similar to the guidance for testing goodwill for impairment contained in ASU 2011-08, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Testing Goodwill for Impairment. The revised standard, which may be adopted early, is effective for annual and interim impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after September 15, 2012 and does not change existing guidance on when to test indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment. The adoption of the provisions of this guidance is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated results of operations, cash flows, and financial position.

2. Significant Agreements and Contracts

License Agreement with OPKO Health, Inc.

In June 2009, the Company entered into a limited license agreement, or the OPKO License, with OPKO Health, Inc., or OPKO, pursuant to which the Company granted OPKO an exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license under all U.S. and foreign patents and patent applications owned or controlled by the Company or any of its affiliates, or the STI Patents, to: (i) develop, manufacture, use, market, sell, offer to sell, import and export certain products related to the development, manufacture, marketing and sale of drugs for ophthalmological indications, or the OPKO Field, and (ii) use and screen any population of distinct molecules covered by any claim of the STI Patents or which is derived by use of any process or method covered by any claim of the STI Patents to identify, select and commercialize certain products within the OPKO Field. Subject to certain limitations, OPKO will have the right to sublicense the foregoing rights granted under the OPKO License. Additionally, pursuant to the OPKO License, OPKO has granted the Company an exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to any patent or patent application owned or controlled by OPKO or any of its affiliates to develop, use, make, market, sell and distribute certain products in any field of use, other than the OPKO Field, or the OPKO Patents.

The Company has retained all rights to the STI Patents outside of the OPKO Field and has agreed not to practice the OPKO Patents or the STI Patents outside the STI current field of use. Unless otherwise terminated in accordance with its terms, the License Agreement will expire upon the expiration of the last to expire patent within the STI Patents and OPKO Patents on a country-by-country basis.

 

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License Agreement with The Scripps Research Institute

In January 2010, the Company entered into a license agreement, or the TSRI License, with The Scripps Research Institute, or TSRI. Under the TSRI License, TSRI granted the Company an exclusive, worldwide license to certain TSRI patent rights and materials based on quorum sensing for the prevention and treatment of Staphylococcus aureus, or Staph, infections, including Methicillin-resistant Staph. In consideration for the license, the Company: (i) issued TSRI a warrant for the purchase of common stock, (ii) agreed to pay TSRI a certain annual royalty commencing in the first year after certain patent filing milestones are achieved, (iii) agreed to pay a royalty on any sales of licensed products by the Company or its affiliates and a royalty for any revenues generated by the Company through its sublicense of patent rights and materials licensed from TSRI under the TSRI License. The TSRI License requires the Company to indemnify TSRI for certain breaches of the agreement and other matters customary for license agreements. The parties may terminate the TSRI License at any time by mutual agreement. In addition, the Company may terminate the TSRI License by giving 60 days notice to TSRI and TSRI may terminate the TSRI License immediately in the event of certain breaches of the agreement by the Company or upon the Company’s failure to undertake certain activities in furtherance of commercial development goals. Unless terminated earlier by either or both parties, the term of the TSRI License will continue until the final expiration of all claims covered by the patent rights licensed under the agreement. For the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012 and for the period from inception (January 25, 2006), or inception, through March 31, 2013, the Company recorded $2,501, $2,221 and $129,846 in patent prosecution and maintenance costs associated with the TSRI License, respectively, which have been included in general and administrative expenses.

The fair value of the warrants to purchase Company common stock, issued in connection with the TSRI License, of $17,989 was determined using the Black-Scholes valuation model with the following weighted-average assumptions: risk-free interest rate of 2.48%, no dividend yield, expected term of 10 years, and volatility of 102%. Such fair value has been included in general and administrative expenses for the period from inception through March 31, 2013.

NIH Grants

In May 2010, the NIAID awarded the Company an Advanced Technology Small Business Technology Transfer Research grant to support the Company’s program to generate and develop novel antibody therapeutics and vaccines to combat Staph infections, including Methicillin-resistant Staph, or the Staph Grant award. The project period for the Staph Grant award covered a two-year period which commenced in June 2010 and ended in May 2012. As of March 31, 2012, the entire Phase 1 grant of $600,000 had been awarded. The Company records revenue associated with the grant as the related costs and expenses are incurred. During the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012 and for the period from inception through March 31, 2013, the Company recorded $0, $56,516 and $600,000 of revenue associated with the Staph Grant award, respectively.

In July 2011, the NIAID awarded the Company a second Advanced Technology Small Business Technology Transfer Research grant to support the Company’s program to generate and develop antibody therapeutics and vaccines to combat C. difficile infections, or the C. difficile Grant award. The project period for the C. difficile Grant award covers a two-year period which commenced in June 2011, and as of September 30, 2012, the entire Phase 1 grant of $600,000 had been awarded. During the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012 and for the period from inception through March 31, 2013, the Company recorded $77,405, $53,633 and $526,182 of revenue associated with the C. difficile Grant award, respectively.

In June 2012, the NIAID awarded the Company a third Advanced Technology Small Business Technology Transfer Research grant, with an initial award of $300,000, to support the Company’s program to generate and develop novel human antibody therapeutics to combat Staph infections, including Methicillin-resistant Staph, or the Staph Grant II award. The project period for the phase I grant covers a two-year period which commenced in June 2012, with a potential annual award of $300,000 per year. During the three months ended March 31, 2013 and for the period from inception through March 31, 2013, the Company recorded $56,658 and $185,474 of revenue associated with the Staph Grant II award, respectively.

Collaboration Agreement

In July 2010, the Company entered into the Collaboration Agreement, with a third party. Under the terms of the Collaboration Agreement, the Company provided certain antibody screening services for an upfront cash fee of $200,000 and was reimbursed for certain costs and expenses associated with providing the services, or the Development Costs. The upfront fee and reimbursable Development Costs were accounted for as separate units of accounting. The Company recorded the gross amount of the reimbursable Development Costs as revenue and the costs associated with these reimbursements are reflected as a component of research and development expense.

Any amounts received by the Company pursuant to the Collaboration Agreement prior to satisfying the Company’s revenue recognition criteria are recorded as deferred revenue. All agreed upon services under the Collaboration Agreement were delivered in March 2011. For the period from inception through March 31, 2013, the Company recognized $223,453 in revenue.

 

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U.S. Treasury Grants

During 2010, the U.S. Treasury awarded the Company grants totaling $394,480 for investments in qualifying therapeutic discovery projects under section 48D of the Internal Revenue Code. The proceeds from this grant are classified in “Revenues – Grant” for the period from inception through March 31, 2013.

Assignment Agreement

In January 2013, the Company entered into the assignment agreement with the Lees, pursuant to which the Lees agreed to assign to the Company their right, title and interest throughout the world in and to certain inventions and patents that provide for the production of recombinant intravenous immunoglobulin. As consideration for the assignment by the Lees under the assignment agreement, the Company: (i) issued the Lee’s 250,000 shares of the Company’s common stock upon execution of the Agreement, (ii) agreed to pay the Lees a total of $50,000 in five monthly installments of $10,000 beginning on February 1, 2013, and (iii) agreed to issue the Lees up to 2,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock based upon the achievement of certain milestone events described in the assignment agreement. As of March 31, 2013, no such milestones had been achieved. Unless otherwise terminated in accordance with its terms, the assignment agreement will expire upon the expiration of the last to expire patent within the assigned patent rights.

IgDraSol Transactions

On March 7, 2013, the Company entered into an exclusive option agreement with IgDraSol, a private company focused on the development of oncologic agents for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer, or MBC, non-small cell lung cancer, or NSCLC, and other cancers. Pursuant to the option agreement, IgDraSol granted the Company an irrevocable option to acquire IgDraSol by means of an agreement and plan of merger. In consideration for entering into the option agreement, IgDraSol is to receive a non-refundable lump sum payment of $200,000 within 51 days of the signing of the option agreement. If the Company exercises its option to acquire IgDraSol, the Company will, pursuant to the merger agreement, issue 76,199,198 shares of common stock to IgDraSol stockholders and, upon the later achievement of a specified regulatory milestone, the Company will issue an additional 32,656,799 shares of common stock to former IgDraSol stockholders. If the Company does not exercise its option to acquire IgDraSol, the Company will be required to invest $500,000 in IgDraSol pari passu with other new investors of IgDraSol. See Note 6.

IgDraSol’s lead compound, Cynviloq™, is a micellar diblock copolymeric paclitaxel formulation drug product. Cynviloq™ is currently approved and marketed in several countries, including South Korea for MBC and NSCLC under the trade name Genexol-PM®, and has completed Phase 2 testing for potential advancement into registration trials in the U.S. IgDraSol has the exclusive U.S. distribution rights to Cynviloq™ from Samyang Biopharmaceuticals Corporation, a South Korean corporation.

Contemporaneously with the execution of the option agreement, on March 7, 2013, the Company and IgDraSol entered into an asset purchase agreement pursuant to which the Company agreed to purchase all documentation, equipment, information and other know-how related to micellar nanoparticle technology encompassing Tocosol® and related technologies for a purchase price of $1,210,000. The payment is due within 45 days of the signing of the asset purchase agreement. Upon payment of such purchase price, IgDraSol and the Company intend to enter into a development services agreement pursuant to which approximately $3,000,000 in development services may be provided by IgDraSol for the development of Tocosol® and related technologies. See Note 6.

IgDraSol and the Company also entered into an initial services agreement dated March 7, 2013, or the initial services agreement, pursuant to which, IgDraSol is to provide certain product development and technology services related to the Company’s antibody platform in exchange for a payment of $1,000,000, which was paid to IgDraSol upon signing. During the three months ended March 31, 2013, IgDraSol provided services with an aggregate cost of $404,084 which has been allocated between research and development as well as general and administrative expenses. The remaining balance of $595,916 is included in prepaid expenses and other.

The Company has determined that IgDraSol is a variable interest entity (VIE), however because the Company does not have the power to direct the activities of IgDraSol that most significantly impact its economic performance the Company is not the primary beneficiary of this VIE at this time. Further, the Company has no oversight of the day-to-day operations of IgDraSol, nor sufficient rights or any voting representation to influence the operating or financial decisions of IgDraSol, or participate on any steering or oversight committees. Therefore, the Company is not required to consolidate IgDraSol into the Company’s consolidated financial statements. This consolidation status could change in the future if the option agreement is exercised, or if other changes occur in the relationship between IgDraSol and the Company.

3. Loan and Security Agreement

In February 2013, the Company entered into a loan and security agreement with a bank pursuant to which the lender provided the Company loans to finance certain equipment, in an aggregate principal amount of up to $1,000,000. Under the loan agreement, the lender funded the initial equipment advance in the principal amount of $875,888 in February 2013 and agreed to fund, subject to customary conditions, an additional equipment advance in the principal amount of $124,112 on or prior to August 21, 2013. The loans under the loan agreement bear interest at a rate equal to the three-year U.S. Treasury note yield plus 4.65%, which is fixed on the date of each funding. Interest accrues on the initial outstanding advance at the fixed rate of 5.15%.

 

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The Company is obligated to pay interest-only on any loans funded under the loan agreement prior to April 30, 2013 until May 1, 2013, and thereafter to pay 36 consecutive equal monthly installments of principal and interest through April 1, 2016. The Company is obligated to pay equal monthly installments of principal and interest through April 1, 2016 on any loans funded under the loan agreement after April 30, 2013. All loans funded under the loan agreement mature on April 1, 2016.

At the Company’s option, it may prepay all of the outstanding principal balance, subject to certain pre-payment fees ranging from 1% to 3% of the prepayment amount. In the event of a final payment of the loans under the loan agreement, either in the event of repayment of the loan at maturity or upon any prepayment, the Company is obligated to pay a final fee of $55,000. Such fee is being accrued over the term of the loan using the effective interest method.

The Company granted the lender a security interest in any equipment that is financed under the loan agreement. The Company is also subject to certain affirmative and negative covenants under the loan agreement, including limitations on its ability to: undergo certain change of control events; convey, sell, lease, license, transfer or otherwise dispose of any equipment financed by loans under the loan agreement; create, incur, assume, guarantee or be liable with respect to indebtedness, subject to certain exceptions; grant liens on any equipment financed under the loan agreement; and make or permit any payment on specified subordinated debt. In addition, under the loan agreement, subject to certain exceptions, the Company is required to maintain with the lender its primary operating, other deposit and securities accounts.

Future annual principal payments under the loan agreement, as of December 31, 2012, are as follows:

 

2013

   $ 194,642   

2014

     291,963   

2015

     291,963   

2016

     97,320   
  

 

 

 

Total payments

   $ 875,888   
  

 

 

 

4. Stockholders’ Equity

Common Stock and Related Party Transaction

In December 2011, the Company entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement, or the Stock Purchase Agreement, and issued 12,500,000 shares of common stock in a private placement transaction at $0.16 per share, for aggregate gross proceeds of $2,000,000. In May 2012, the Company entered into an Amended and Restated Stock Purchase Agreement, and issued 37,500,000 shares of common stock in a private placement transaction at $0.16 per share, for aggregate gross proceeds of $6,000,000. 6,250,000 of the shares were purchased by an investor, Hongye SD Group, LLC, of which Dr. Henry Ji, our Chief Executive Officer and President, is a managing director.

In January 2013, the Company entered into the assignment agreement and issued 250,000 shares of common stock valued at $40,000.

In March 2013, the Company entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement and issued 33,658,305 shares of common stock, in a private placement transaction, at $0.18 per share for aggregate gross proceeds of $6,418,495.

Stock Incentive Plans

2009 Equity Incentive Plan

In February 2009, prior to the Merger, the Company’s Board of Directors approved the 2009 Equity Incentive Plan, or the EIP, under which 10,000,000 shares of common stock were reserved for issuance to employees, non-employee directors and consultants of the Company. The EIP provided for the grant of incentive stock options, non-incentive stock options, restricted stock awards and stock bonus awards to eligible recipients. In March 2009, the Company issued 7,403,861 restricted common stock awards to certain consultants for aggregate gross proceeds of $291, of which the Company repurchased 1,104,135 unvested shares of restricted common stock for $43 in January 2011. The restricted shares vested monthly over four years and all remaining shares were fully vested as of March 31, 2013. No further shares are available for grant under the EIP.

2009 Non-Employee Director Grants

In September 2009, prior to the adoption of the 2009 Stock Incentive Plan, the Company’s Board of Directors approved the reservation and issuance of 200,000 nonstatutory stock options to the Company’s non-employee directors. The outstanding options vested on the one year anniversary of the vesting commencement date in October 2010. Such options are exercisable on the two year anniversary of the grant date and are generally exercisable for up to 10 years from the grant date. No further shares may be granted under this plan and, as of March 31, 2013, 80,000 options were outstanding.

 

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2009 Stock Incentive Plan

In October 2009, the Company’s stockholders approved the 2009 Stock Incentive Plan, or the Stock Plan, which became effective in December 2009 and under which 15,600,000 shares of the Company’s common stock are reserved for issuance to employees, non-employee directors and consultants of the Company. In addition, this amount will be automatically increased annually on the first day of each fiscal year by the lesser of: (i) 1% of the aggregate number of shares of the Company’s common stock outstanding on the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal year, (ii) 1,200,000 shares, or (iii) an amount approved by the administrator of the Stock Plan. The Stock Plan provides for the grant of incentive stock options, non-incentive stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock awards, unrestricted stock awards, restricted stock unit awards and performance awards to eligible recipients. Recipients of stock options shall be eligible to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price equal to no less than the estimated fair market value of such stock on the date of grant. The maximum term of options granted under the Stock Plan is ten years. Employee option grants will generally vest 25% on each anniversary of the original vesting date over four years. The vesting schedules for grants to non-employee directors and consultants will be determined by the Company’s Compensation Committee. Stock options are generally not exercisable prior to the applicable vesting date, unless otherwise accelerated under the terms of the applicable stock plan agreement. Unvested shares of the Company’s common stock issued in connection with an early exercise however, may be repurchased by the Company upon termination of the optionee’s service with the Company. See Note 6.

During the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, the Company’s Board of Directors awarded 50,000 and 2,055,000 options to certain employees and consultants and 12,492,500 and 10,372,500 shares were available for grant under the Stock Plan, respectively.

The Company uses the Black-Scholes valuation model to calculate the fair value of stock options. Stock based compensation expense is recognized over the vesting period using the straight-line method. The fair value of employee stock options was estimated at the grant date using the following assumptions:

 

     Three months ended March 31,  
     2013     2012  

Dividend yield

     —         —    

Volatility

     109     102

Risk-free interest rate

     1.07     1.02

Expected life of options

     6.1 years        5.7 years   

The weighted average grant date fair value per share of employee stock options granted during the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012 was $0.20 and $0.13, respectively.

The assumed dividend yield was based on the Company’s expectation of not paying dividends in the foreseeable future. Due to the Company’s limited historical data, the estimated volatility incorporates the historical and implied volatility of comparable companies whose share prices are publicly available. The risk-free interest rate assumption was based on the United States Treasury’s rates for U.S. Treasury zero-coupon bonds with maturities similar to those of the expected term of the award being valued. The weighted average expected life of options was estimated using the average of the contractual term and the weighted average vesting term of the options.

The total employee stock-based compensation recorded as operating expenses was $143,469, $26,728 and $562,285 for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012 and for the period from inception through March 31, 2013, respectively.

As of March 31, 2013, unrecognized compensation cost related to the options was $1,629,269 which will be recognized over 3.2 years.

The Company records equity instruments issued to non-employees as expense at their fair value over the related service period as determined in accordance with the applicable authoritative guidance and periodically revalues the equity instruments as they vest. Stock-based compensation expense related to non-employee consultants recorded as operating expenses was $104,292, $74,440 and $1,152,115 for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012 and for the period from inception through March 31, 2013, respectively.

5. Income Taxes

The Company maintains deferred tax assets that reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. These deferred tax assets include net operating loss carryforwards, research credits and capitalized research and development. The net deferred tax asset

 

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has been fully offset by a valuation allowance because of the Company’s history of losses. Utilization of operating losses and credits may be subject to substantial annual limitation due to ownership change provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and similar state provisions. The annual limitation may result in the expiration of net operating losses and credits before utilization.

6. Subsequent Events

Payments Made Under Option and Asset Purchase Agreements

In April 2013, the Company paid IgDraSol $200,000 and $1,210,000 as due under the option agreement and asset purchase agreement, respectively. The payment under the asset purchase agreement also triggered the execution of the development services agreement, pursuant to which IgDraSol is to provide approximately $3,000,000 in development services related to the development of Tocosol® and related technologies. See Note 2.

Amended and Restated Stock Plan and Amendments to Articles of Incorporation

On April 26, 2013, the Company’s stockholders approved: (a) the amendment and restatement of the Stock Plan, among other items, to increase the number of common stock authorized to be issued pursuant to the Stock Plan from 15,600,000 to 34,000,000, and (b) three amendments to the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, as follows: (i) increased the number of shares of common stock authorized to be issued by the Company from 500,000,000 to 750,000,000, (ii) authorized the Company’s Board of Directors, or the Board, to effect a reverse stock split of the Company’s common stock by a ratio of not less than 1-for-2 and not more than 1-for-150, with the Board having the discretion as to whether or not the reverse split is to be effected at any time prior to April 26, 2014, and (iii) authorized the Board, in the event a reverse stock split is approved, in its discretion, to reduce the number of shares of common stock authorized to be issued by the Company in proportion to the percentage decrease in the number of outstanding shares of common stock resulting from the reverse split (or a lesser decrease in authorized shares of common stock as determined by the Board in its discretion).

 

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains “forward-looking statements” about our expectations, beliefs or intentions regarding our potential product offerings, business, financial condition, results of operations, strategies or prospects. You can identify forward-looking statements by the fact that these statements do not relate strictly to historical or current matters. Rather, forward-looking statements relate to anticipated or expected events, activities, trends or results as of the date they are made and are often identified by the use of words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” or “will,” and similar expressions or variations. Because forward-looking statements relate to matters that have not yet occurred, these statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from any future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Many factors could cause our actual activities or results to differ materially from the activities and results anticipated in forward-looking statements. These factors include those described under the caption “Risk Factors” included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC. Furthermore, such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this report. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of such statements.

Overview

We are a development stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of novel and/or proprietary drug candidates for the treatment of a variety of disease conditions, including cancer, inflammation, metabolic and infectious diseases. Through March 31, 2013, we identified and further developed a number of potential drug product candidates across various therapeutic areas, and intend to select several lead product candidates to progress into preclinical development activities in 2013. It is too early to assess which of these candidates, if any, will merit further evaluation in clinical trials. Our libraries were designed to facilitate the rapid identification and isolation of highly specific, antibody therapeutic product candidates that are fully-human and that bind to disease targets appropriate for antibody therapy. We built our initial antibody expression and production capabilities to enable us to make sufficient product material to conduct preclinical safety and efficacy testing in animal models.

Our therapeutic objective is to develop two classes of antibody drug products: (i) FIC and/or (ii) biobetters. Although we intend to retain ownership and control of some product candidates by advancing them further into preclinical development, we will also consider partnerships with pharmaceutical or biopharmaceutical organizations, with the appropriate experience and expertise, in order to balance the risks associated with drug discovery and development and maximize our stockholders’ returns. Our partnering objectives include generating revenue through license fees, milestone related development fees and royalties by licensing rights to our development candidates.

Recent Developments

IgDraSol Transactions. On March 7, 2013, we entered into the IgDraSol Transactions, as more fully described above in Note 2 of the consolidated financial statements. Pursuant to the option agreement, IgDraSol granted us an irrevocable option to acquire IgDraSol by means of the merger agreement. In consideration for entering into the option agreement, IgDraSol received a non-refundable lump sum payment of $200,000 in April 2013. If we exercise our option to acquire IgDraSol, we will, pursuant to the merger agreement, issue 76,199,198 shares of common stock to IgDraSol stockholders and, upon the achievement of a specified regulatory milestone, we will issue an additional 32,656,799 shares of common stock to former IgDraSol stockholders. If we do not exercise our option to acquire IgDraSol, we will be required to invest $500,000 in IgDraSol pari passu with other new investors of IgDraSol.

Contemporaneously with the execution of the option agreement, on March 7, 2013, we and IgDraSol entered into an asset purchase agreement for the purchase of all documentation, equipment, information and other know-how related to the micellar nanoparticle technology encompassing Tocosol® and related technologies for a purchase price of $1,210,000. The payment was made in April 2013, which triggered the execution of the development services agreement in May 2013. Under such agreement, IgDraSol may provide approximately $3,000,000 in development services related to the development of Tocosol® and related technologies.

We and IgDraSol also entered into an initial services agreement dated March 7, 2013, pursuant to which IgDraSol is to provide certain product development and technology services related to our antibody platform in exchange for a payment of $1,000,000, which was paid to IgDraSol upon signing. During the three months ended March 31, 2013, IgDraSol provided services with an aggregate cost of $404,084, which has been allocated between research and development as well as general and administrative expenses.

 

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Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Management’s discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our consolidated financial statements which are prepared in accordance with GAAP. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. We continually evaluate our estimates and judgments, the most critical of which are those related to income taxes and stock-based compensation. We base our estimates and judgments on historical experience and other factors that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Materially different results can occur as circumstances change and additional information becomes known.

During the quarter ended March 31, 2013, there were no significant changes to the items that we disclosed as our critical accounting policies and estimates in Note 2 to our financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2012 contained in our 2012 Form 10-K, as filed with the SEC.

Results of Operations

The following describes certain line items set forth in our consolidated statements of operations.

Three Months Ended March 31, 2013 Compared to the Three Months Ended March 31, 2012

Revenues. Revenues were $134,063 for the three months ended March 31, 2013, as compared to $110,149 for the three months ended March 31, 2012. The increase of $23,914 is due to increased grant activities under two grant awards outstanding in 2013 as compared to the two grants awards outstanding in 2012.

In May 2010, we were awarded an Advanced Technology Small Business Technology Transfer Research grant to support our program to generate and develop novel antibody therapeutics and vaccines to combat Staph infections, including Methicillin-resistant Staph, or the Staph Grant award. The project period for this grant covered a two-year period which commenced in June 2010 and ended in May 2012. The Company records revenue associated with the grant as the related costs and expenses are incurred. As of June 30, 2012, the entire Phase 1 grant of $600,000 had been awarded and recognized in grant revenues.

In July 2011, we were awarded a second Advanced Technology Small Business Technology Transfer Research grant to support our program to generate and develop antibody therapeutics and vaccines to combat C. difficile infections, or the C. difficile Grant award. The project period for the C. difficile Grant award covers a two-year period which commenced in June 2011, and as of December 31, 2012, the entire Phase 1 grant of $600,000 had been awarded. From July 2011 through March 31, 2013, $526,182 of the C. difficile Grant award had been recognized in grant revenues.

In June 2012, we were awarded a third Advanced Technology Small Business Technology Transfer Research grant, with an initial award of $300,000, to support our program to generate and develop novel human antibody therapeutics to combat Staph infections, including Methicillin-resistant Staph, or the Staph Grant II award. The project period for the phase I grant covers a two-year period which commenced in June 2012, with a potential annual award of $300,000 per year. From June 2012 through March 31, 2013, $185,474 of the Staph Grant II award had been recognized in grant revenues.

We had no other revenue during the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012 as we have not yet developed any product candidates for commercialization or earned any licensing or royalty payments. We expect that any revenue we generate will fluctuate from quarter to quarter as a result of the unpredictability of the timing and amount of grant awards, research and development reimbursements and other payments received under our potential strategic collaborations.

Research and Development Expenses. Research and development expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012 were $1,398,677 and $799,072, respectively. Research and development expenses include the costs to identify, isolate and advance human antibody drug candidates derived from our libraries, preclinical testing expenses and the expenses associated with fulfilling our development obligations related to the NIH grant awards, collectively the NIH Grants. Such expenses consist of discovery research, pre-clinical activities, manufacture of drug supply, lab supplies, contract and acquired services, stock-based compensation, salaries and related benefits, depreciation and allocated and direct facility expenses. The increase of $599,605 is primarily attributable to costs incurred under the initial services agreement with IgDraSol, as well as higher salary and lab supply costs incurred in connection with our expanded research and development activities. We expect research and development expenses to increase in absolute dollars as we incur incremental expenses associated with our efforts to identify, isolate and advance human antibody drug candidates derived from our libraries, and as we acquire IgDraSol and continue to fund their service costs provided under the initial and development services agreements.

We evaluate our collaborative agreements for proper income statement classification based on the nature of the underlying activity. If payments to our collaborative partners are not within the scope of other authoritative accounting literature, the statement of operations classification for these payments is based on a reasonable, rational analogy to authoritative accounting literature that is applied in a consistent manner. Amounts due to our collaborative partners related to development activities are reflected as a research and development expense.

 

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General and Administrative Expenses. General and administrative expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012 were $1,249,681 and $218,675, respectively. General and administrative expenses consist primarily of salaries and personnel related expenses for executive, finance and administrative personnel, stock-based compensation expense, professional fees, infrastructure expenses, legal and accounting expenses and other general corporate expenses. The increase of $1,031,006 is primarily attributable to increases in stock-based compensation, salaries and consulting expenses with the addition of our full time Chief Financial Officer and part-time Chief Business Officer in the second half of 2012, higher legal and compliance costs associated with our public reporting obligations, and costs incurred under the initial services agreement with IgDraSol. We expect general and administrative expenses to increase in absolute dollars as we incur incremental expenses associated with ongoing operations, compliance with our public reporting obligations, and as we acquire IgDraSol and continue to fund their service costs provided under the initial and development services agreements.

Interest Income and Interest Expense. Interest income and interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012 was nominal. We expect interest expense to increase in absolute dollars as we incur incremental costs associated with the loan and security agreement entered into in February 2013.

Net Loss. Net loss for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012 was $2,522,339 and $906,126, respectively. The increase in net loss is mainly attributable to the expanded general and administrative and research and development activities, including the costs associated with the IgDraSol Transactions. We expect our net loss to increase in absolute dollars as we incur incremental expenses associated with our ongoing operations, and we acquire IgDraSol and continue to fund their service costs provided under the initial and development services agreements.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

As of March 31, 2013, we had $9,638,768 million in cash and cash equivalents, attributable primarily to the closing of the SVB $1,000,000 debt facility in February 2013 (of which $875,888 was funded as of March 31, 2013) as well as our private placement of our common stock for aggregate gross proceeds of $6,418,495 in March 2013.

Cash Flows used for Operating Activities. Net cash used for operating activities was $2,482,395 for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and is primarily attributable to our net loss of $2,522,339, a net decrease of $316,096 in working capital balances due primarily to the $1,000,000 funding under the initial services agreement with IgDraSol, which was partially offset by $356,040 in non-cash activities primarily relating to stock-based compensation and depreciation expense. Net cash used for operating activities was $797,581 for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and was primarily attributable to our net loss of $906,126, a net decrease of $55,119 in working capital balances, which was partially offset by $163,664 in non-cash activities relating to stock-based compensation and depreciation expense.

We expect to continue to incur substantial and increasing losses and have negative net cash flows from operating activities as we seek to expand and support our technology portfolio, research and development and general and administrative activities and as we acquire IgDraSol and continue to fund their service costs provided under the initial and development services agreements.

Cash Flows used for Investing Activities. Net cash used for investing activities was $207,446 for the three months ended March 31, 2013 as compared to $225,491 for the three months ended March 31, 2012. The net cash used related primarily to equipment acquired for research and development activities as well as the acquired rights under the assignment agreement.

We expect to increase our investment in laboratory equipment and furnishings as we seek to expand and progress our research and development activities and acquire IgDraSol.

Cash Flows from Financing Activities. Cash flows from financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2013 was $7,237,297, as compared to $0 for the three months ended March 31, 2012.

Future Liquidity Needs. From inception through March 31, 2013, we have principally financed our operations through private equity and debt financings with aggregate net proceeds of $22,737,965, as we have not generated any product related revenue from operations to date, and do not expect to generate significant revenue for several years, if ever. We will need to raise additional capital before we exhaust our current cash resources in order to continue to fund our research and development, including our long-term plans for preclinical trials and new product development, as well as to fund operations generally. As and if necessary, we will seek to raise additional funds through various potential sources, such as equity and debt financings, or through corporate collaboration and license agreements. We can give no assurances that we will be able to secure such additional sources of funds to support our operations, or, if such funds are available to us, that such additional financing will be sufficient to meet our needs.

 

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We anticipate that we will continue to incur net losses into the foreseeable future as we: (i) continue to identify and advance a number of potential drug candidates into preclinical development activities, (ii) acquire IgDraSol and continue to fund its operations, and (iii) expand our corporate infrastructure, including the costs associated with being a public company. Without additional funding, we believe that we will not have sufficient funds to meet our obligations beyond October 2013. These conditions give rise to substantial doubt as to our ability to continue as a going concern. The accompanying consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

We plan to continue to fund our losses from operations and capital funding needs through public or private equity or debt financings, strategic collaborations, licensing arrangements, asset sales, government grants or other arrangements. However, we cannot be sure that such additional funds will be available on reasonable terms, or at all. If we are unable to secure adequate additional funding, we may be forced to make reductions in spending, extend payment terms with suppliers, liquidate assets where possible, and/or suspend or curtail planned programs. In addition, if we do not meet our payment obligations to third parties as they come due, we may be subject to litigation claims. Even if we are successful in defending against these claims, litigation could result in substantial costs and be a distraction to management. Any of these actions could materially harm our business, results of operations, and future prospects.

Our actual cash requirements may vary materially from those now planned, however, because of a number of factors, including the actual costs incurred to effect and support the IgDraSol Transactions and related operating activities, the pursuit of development of product candidates, competitive and technical advances, costs of commercializing any potential product candidates, and costs of filing, prosecuting, defending and enforcing any patent claims and any other intellectual property rights. If we are unable to raise additional funds when needed, we may not be able to develop any product candidates, we could be required to delay, scale back or eliminate some or all of our research and development programs and we may need to wind down our operations altogether. Each of these alternatives would have a material adverse effect on our business.

If we raise additional funds by issuing equity securities, substantial dilution to existing stockholders would result. If we raise additional funds by incurring debt financing, the terms of the debt may involve significant cash payment obligations as well as covenants and specific financial ratios that may restrict our ability to operate our business.

In its report on our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2012 as filed with the SEC, our independent registered public accounting firm included an explanatory paragraph expressing substantial doubt regarding our ability to continue as a going concern. A “going concern” opinion means, in general, that our independent registered public accounting firm has substantial doubt about our ability to continue our operations without continuing infusions of capital from external sources and this opinion could impair our ability to finance our operations through the sale of debt or equity securities or commercial bank loans. Our ability to continue as a going concern depends, in large part, on our ability to obtain additional financing, which is uncertain. If we are unable to do so, our business would be jeopardized and we may not be able to continue operations and have to liquidate our assets and may receive less than the value at which those assets were carried on our consolidated financial statements, and in this event it is likely that investors will lose all or part of their investment.

Additionally, recent global market and economic conditions have been unprecedented and challenging with tighter credit conditions and recession in most major economies. As a result of these market conditions, the cost and availability of credit has been and may continue to be adversely affected by illiquid credit markets and wider credit spreads. Concern about the stability of the markets generally and the strength of counterparties specifically has led many lenders and institutional investors to reduce, and in some cases, cease to provide credit to businesses and consumers. These factors have led to a decrease in spending by businesses and consumers alike, and a corresponding decrease in global infrastructure spending. Continued turbulence in the U.S. and international markets and economies and prolonged declines in business and consumer spending may adversely affect our liquidity and financial condition, including our ability to access the capital markets to meet liquidity needs.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

Since our inception through March 31, 2013, we have not engaged in any off-balance sheet arrangements as defined in Item 303(a)(4) of Regulation S-K.

New Accounting Pronouncements

Refer to Note 1, “Nature of Operations, Summary of Significant Accounting Polices and Business Activities,” in the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements for a discussion of recent accounting pronouncements.

 

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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

As a smaller reporting company, as defined by Section 10(f)(1) of Regulation S-K, we are not required to provide the information set forth in this Item.

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures.

Conclusion Regarding the Effectiveness of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s regulations, rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow for timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives, and management is required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. As required by Rule 13a-15(b) promulgated by the SEC under the Exchange Act, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Based on the foregoing, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended March 31, 2013 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings.

To the best of our knowledge, we are not a party to any legal proceedings that, individually or in the aggregate, are deemed to be material to our financial condition or results of operations.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors.

Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, Part I –Item 1A, Risk Factors, describes important risk factors that could cause our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects to differ materially from those indicated or suggested by forward-looking statements made in this Form 10-Q or presented elsewhere by management from time to time. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial may also materially and adversely affect our business.

There have been no material changes in our risk factors since the filing of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012.

 

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.

None.

 

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.

None.

 

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.

None.

 

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Item 5. Other Information.

None.

 

Item 6. Exhibits.

The exhibits listed in the Exhibit Index immediately preceding the exhibits are filed as part of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and such Exhibit Index is incorporated herein by reference.

 

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SIGNATURES

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

 

    SORRENTO THERAPEUTICS, INC.

Date: May 15, 2013

      By:   

/s/    Henry Ji, PH.D.        

      Henry Ji, Ph.D.
      Interim Chief Executive Officer
      (Principal Executive Officer)

Date: May 15, 2013

      By:   

/s/    Richard Glenn Vincent        

      Richard Glenn Vincent
      Chief Financial Officer
      (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

2.1    Option Agreement, dated March 7, 2013, by and between IgDraSol, Inc. and Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc.
3.1    Restated Certificate of Incorporation.
10.01    Assignment Agreement, dated January 7, 2013, by and between Tien-Li Lee, M.D. and Jane Wu Lee, and Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc.
10.02    Loan and security Agreement entered into between Silicon Valley Bank and Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc., dated as of February 22, 2013 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 26, 2013).
10.03    Asset Purchase Agreement, dated March 7, 2013, by and between IgDraSol, Inc. and Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc.
10.04    Initial Services Agreement, dated March 7, 2013, by and between IgDraSol, Inc. and Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc.
10.05    Voting Agreement, dated March 7, 2013, by and among Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc., IgDraSol, Inc., and the stockholders signatories thereto.
10.06    Amended and Restated Stock Purchase Agreement dated March 13, 2013 by and between Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc. and each of the investors whose names appear on the signature pages thereof (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 14, 2013).
31.1    Certification of Henry Ji, Ph.D., Principal Executive Officer, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended.
31.2    Certification of Richard Glenn Vincent, Principal Financial Officer, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended.
32.1    Certification of Henry Ji, Ph.D., Principal Executive Officer, and Richard Glenn Vincent, Principal Financial Officer, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended.
101.INS*    XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH*    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL*    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF*    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB*    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE*    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

 

* Pursuant to Rule 406T of Regulation S-T, these interactive data files are deemed not filed or part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of Sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933 or Section 18 of the Securities Act of 1934 and otherwise not subject to liability.

 

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