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
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017
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 No. 000-27072
HEMISPHERX BIOPHARMA, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Delaware | 52-0845822 | |
| (State or other jurisdiction of | (I.R.S. Employer | |
| incorporation or organization) | Identification Number) |
| 860 N. Orange Avenue, Suite B, Orlando, Florida | 32801 | |
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (215) 988-0080
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Common Stock, $.001 par value
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
(Title of Each Class)
NONE
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 Act. Yes [ ] No [X]
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports 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 if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of 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 definition 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 | [X] Smaller reporting company |
| [ ] Emerging growth company |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. [ ]
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes [ ] No [X]
The aggregate market value of Common Stock held by non-affiliates at June 30, 2017, the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter was $14,478,834.
The number of shares of the registrant’s Common Stock outstanding as of March 26, 2018 was 37,715,230.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE: None.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K (the “Form 10-K”), including statements under “Item 1-Business,” “Item 1A-Risk Factors” and “Item 3-Legal Proceedings” in PART I and “Item 7-Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Result of Operations” in PART II, constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Certain, but not necessarily all, of such forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “believes”, “expects”, “may”, “will”, “should”, or “anticipates” or the negative thereof or other variations thereon or comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategy that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements reflect our views as of the date that they are made with respect to future events and are based on assumptions. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performances or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. We discuss many of these risks, uncertainties and other important factors in greater detail under the “Risk Factor” sections in this Form 10-K. We can give no assurances that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will occur or, if any of them do, what impact they will have on our business, results of operations and financial condition. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict which will arise. We cannot assess the impact of each factor on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this Form 10-K regarding our financial position, business strategy and plans or objectives for future operations are forward-looking statements.
Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements are risks and uncertainties inherent in our business including, without limitation: our ability to adequately fund our projects as we will need additional funding to proceed with our objectives, the potential therapeutic effect of our products, the possibility of obtaining regulatory approval, our ability to find senior co-development partners with the capital and expertise needed to commercialize our products and to enter into arrangements with them on commercially reasonable terms, our ability to manufacture and sell any products, our ability to enter into arrangements with third party vendors, market acceptance of our products, our ability to earn a profit from sales or licenses of any drugs, our ability to discover new drugs in the future, changing market conditions, changes in laws and regulations affecting our industry, and issues related to our New Brunswick, New Jersey facility. We have disclosed that in February 2013, we received a Complete Response from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (the “FDA”) for our Ampligen® New Drug Application (“NDA”) for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Treatment, sometimes referred to as myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (“ME/CFS”), stating that we should conduct at least one additional clinical trial, complete various nonclinical studies and perform a number of data analyses. Accordingly, the remaining steps to potentially gain FDA approval of the Ampligen® NDA, the final results of these and other ongoing activities could vary materially from our expectations and could adversely affect the chances for approval of the Ampligen® NDA. These activities and the ultimate outcomes are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to risks that (i) the FDA may ask for additional data, information or studies to be completed or provided; and (ii) the FDA may require additional work related to the commercial manufacturing process to be completed or may, in the course of the inspection of manufacturing facilities, identify issues to be resolved. With regard to our NDA for Ampligen® to treat ME/CFS, as noted above, there are additional steps which the FDA has advised Hemispherx to take in our seeking approval. The final results of these and other ongoing activities, and of the FDA review, could vary materially from Hemispherx' expectations and could adversely affect the chances for approval of the Ampligen® NDA. Any failure to satisfy the FDA’s requirements could significantly delay, or preclude outright, approval of our drugs for commercial sale in the United States.
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We also have disclosed that, in August 2016, we received approval of our NDA from AdministracionNacional de Medicamentos, Alimentos y TecnologiaMedica (“ANMAT”) for commercial sale of rintatolimod (U.S. tradename: Ampligen®) in the Argentine Republic for the treatment of severe ME/CFS. The product will be marketed by GP Pharm, our commercial partner in Latin America. We believe, but cannot assure, that this approval provides a platform for potential sales in certain countries within the European Union under regulations that support cross-border pharmaceutical sales of licensed drugs. In Europe, approval in a country with a stringent regulatory process in place, such as Argentina, should add further validation for the product as the Early Access Program as discussed below and underway in Europe in pancreatic cancer. ANMAT approval is only an initial, but important, step in the overall successful commercialization of our product. There are a number of actions that must occur before we could be able to commence commercial sales in Argentina. Commercialization in Argentina will require, among other things, an appropriate reimbursement level, appropriate marketing strategies, completion of manufacturing preparations for launch (including possible requirements for approval of final manufacturing) and we most likely will need additional funds to manufacture product at a sufficient level for a commercial launch. There are no assurances as to whether or when such multiple subsequent steps will be successfully performed to result in an overall successful commercialization and product launch. Approval of rintatolimod for ME/CFS in the Argentine Republic does not in any way suggest that the Ampligen® NDA in the United States or any comparable application filed in the European Union or elsewhere will obtain commercial approval.
We also have disclosed that, in May 2016, we entered into a five year agreement with myTomorrows, a Netherlands based company, for the commencement and management of an Early Access Program (“EAP”) in Europe and Turkey (the “Territory”) related to CFS. Pursuant to the agreement, myTomorrows, as our exclusive service provider and distributor in the Territory, is performing EAP activities. In January 2017, we announced that the EAP has been extended to pancreatic cancer patients beginning in the Netherlands. In June 2017, we signed an amendment to provide support services to Hemispherx with respect to the execution of the 511-Program (“511-Services”) and that the 511-Services shall be rendered free of charge. In February 2018, we signed an amendment to extend the territory to cover Canada to treat pancreatic cancer patients, pending government approval. In March 2018, we signed an amendment to which myTomorrows will be our exclusive service provider for special access activities in Canada for the supply of Ampligen® for the treatment of ME/CFS. No assurance can be given that we can sufficiently supply product should we experience an unexpected demand for Ampligen® in our clinical studies, the commercial launch in Argentina or pursuant to the EAP.
Our overall objectives include plans to continue seeking approval for commercialization of Ampligen® in the United States and abroad as well as seeking to broaden commercial therapeutic indications for Alferon N Injection® presently approved in the United States and Argentina. We continue to pursue senior co-development partners with the capital and expertise needed to commercialize our products and to enter into arrangements with them on commercially reasonable terms. Our ability to commercialize our products, widen commercial therapeutic indications of Alferon N Injection® and/or capitalize on our collaborations with research laboratories to examine our products are subject to a number of significant risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to our ability to enter into more definitive agreements with some of the research laboratories and others that we are collaborating with, to fund and conduct additional testing and studies, whether or not such testing is successful or requires additional testing and meets the requirements of the FDA and comparable foreign regulatory agencies. We do not know when, if ever, our products will be generally available for commercial sale for any indication.
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We outsource certain components of our manufacturing, quality control, marketing and distribution while maintaining control over the entire process through our quality assurance and regulatory groups. We cannot provide any guarantee that the facility or our contract manufacturer will necessarily pass an FDA pre-approval inspection for Alferon® manufacture.
The production of new Alferon® API inventory will not commence until the validation phase is complete. While the facility is approved by FDA under the Biological License Application (“BLA”) for Alferon®, this status will need to be reaffirmed by a successful Pre-Approval Inspection by the FDA prior to commercial sale of newly produced inventory product. If and when the Company obtains a reaffirmation of FDA BLA status and has begun production of new Alferon® API, it will need FDA approval as to the quality and stability of the final product to allow commercial sales to resume. We will need additional funds to finance the revalidation process in our facility to initiate commercial manufacturing, thereby readying ourselves for an FDA Pre-Approval Inspection. If we are unable to gain the necessary FDA approvals related to the manufacturing process and/or final product of new Alferon® inventory, our operations most likely will be materially and/or adversely affected. In light of these contingencies, there can be no assurances that the approved Alferon N Injection® product will be returned to production on a timely basis, if at all, or that if and when it is again made commercially available, it will return to prior sales levels.
We believe, and are investigating, Ampligen®’s potential role in enhancing the activity of influenza vaccines. While certain studies involving rodents, non-human primates (monkeys) and healthy human subjects indicate that Ampligen® may enhance the activity of influenza vaccines by conferring increased cross-reactivity or cross-protection, further studies will be required and no assurance can be given that Ampligen® will assist in the development of a universal vaccine for influenza or other viruses.
We do not undertake and specifically decline any obligation to publicly release the results of any revisions which may be made to any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events.
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GENERAL
Hemispherx Biopharma, Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively, “Hemispherx”, “Company”, “we” or “us”) are a specialty pharmaceutical company headquartered in Orlando, Florida and engaged in the development of new drug therapies based on natural immune system enhancing technologies for the treatment of viral and immune based disorders. We have established a strong foundation of laboratory, pre-clinical and clinical data with respect to the development of natural interferon and nucleic acids to enhance the natural antiviral defense system of the human body and to aid the development of therapeutic products for the treatment of certain chronic diseases.
Our flagship products include Alferon N Injection® and the experimental therapeutic Ampligen®. Alferon N Injection® is approved for a category of STD infection, and Ampligen® represents an experimental RNA being developed for globally important viral diseases and disorders of the immune system. Hemispherx’ platform technology includes components for potential treatment of various severely debilitating and life threatening diseases.
We operate a 30,000 sq. ft. facility in New Brunswick, NJ with the objective of producing Alferon® and Ampligen® upon FDA approval. As part of our objectives to achieve our commercial goals and increase stockholder value, we recently sold our main facility while obtaining a long term lease with a buy-back option on the facility. In addition, we sold an underutilized, unencumbered, and wholly owned building adjacent to our manufacturing facility site noted above. We do not believe that the sale of these buildings will have an impact on the production of our products. Please see “Part 2. Properties” below.
In February 2013, we received a Complete Response Letter (“CRL”) from the FDA for the NDA for Ampligen® for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ("CFS") without further confirmatory clinical trials. Please see the discussion in "Our Products - Ampligen®" below for more detail.
We are committed to a focused business plan oriented toward finding senior co-development partners with the capital and expertise needed to commercialize the many potential therapeutic aspects of our experimental drugs and our FDA approved drug Alferon® N.
With keeping to our austerity plan to reserve capital we have relocated our principal executive office from a large expensive corporate space in center city Philadelphia to 860 N. Orange Avenue, Suite B, Orlando, FL 32801.
AVAILABLE INFORMATION
We file our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act electronically with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC. The public may read or copy any materials we file with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549. The public may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. The address of that site is http://www.sec.gov.
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You may obtain a free copy of our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports on the day of filing with the SEC on our website on the World Wide Web at http://www.hemispherx.net under the Investor Relations tab for SEC Filings or by contacting the Investor Relations Department by calling 888-557-6480 or sending an e-mail message to ir@hemispherx.net.
OUR PRODUCTS
Our primary pharmaceutical product platform consists of our experimental compound, Ampligen®, and our FDA approved natural interferon product, Alferon N Injection®.
Ampligen®
Ampligen® is approved for sale in Argentina and is an experimental drug currently undergoing clinical development for the treatment of CFS in the United States of America. Over its developmental history, Ampligen® has received various designations, including Orphan Drug Product Designation (FDA), Treatment protocol (e.g., “Expanded Access” or “Compassionate” use authorization) with Cost Recovery Authorization (FDA) and “promising” clinical outcome recognition based on the evaluation of certain summary clinical reports (“AHRQ” or Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality). Ampligen® represents the first drug in the class of large (macromolecular) RNA (nucleic acid) molecules to apply for NDA review. Based on the results of published, peer reviewed pre-clinical studies and clinical trials, we believe that Ampligen® may have broad-spectrum anti-viral and anti-cancer properties.
We believe that nucleic acid compounds represent a potential new class of pharmaceutical products as they are designed to act at the molecular level for treatment of human diseases. There are two forms of nucleic acids, DNA and RNA. DNA is a group of naturally occurring molecules found in chromosomes, the cell’s genetic machinery. RNA is a group of naturally occurring informational molecules which orchestrate a cell’s behavior which, in turn, regulates the action of groups of cells, including the cells which compromise the body’s immune system. RNA directs the production of proteins and regulates certain cell activities including the activation of an otherwise dormant cellular defense against viruses and tumors. Our drug technology utilizes specifically-configured RNA. Our double-stranded RNA drug product, trademarked Ampligen®, is an experimental, unapproved drug in the United States, that is administered intravenously. Ampligen® has been assigned the generic name rintatolimod by the United States Adopted Names Council (USANC) and has the chemical designation poly(I):poly(C12U).
Clinical trials of Ampligen® already conducted by us include studies of the potential treatment of CFS, Hepatitis B, HIV and cancer patients with renal cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma. All of these potential uses will require additional clinical trials to generate the safety and effectiveness data necessary to support regulatory approval.
In February 2013, we received a Complete Response Letter (“CRL”) from the FDA for Ampligen® for CFS. In its CRL, the FDA communicated that Hemispherx should conduct at least one additional clinical trial, complete various nonclinical studies and perform a number of data analyses. We are actively engaged with the FDA, and have had several meetings in order to reach an agreement on the path forward. Until we reach an agreement with the FDA regarding the design of a study, we are unable to reasonably estimate the nature or costs necessary to obtain FDA clearance or anticipated completion dates of any additional clinical study or studies.
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The FDA authorized an open-label treatment protocol, (“AMP-511”), allowing patient access to Ampligen® for treatment in an open-label safety study under which severely debilitated CFS patients have the opportunity to be on Ampligen® to treat this very serious and chronic condition. The data collected from the AMP-511 protocol through a consortium group of clinical sites provide safety information regarding the use of Ampligen® in patients with CFS. We are establishing an enlarged data base of clinical safety information which we believe will provide further documentation regarding the absence of autoimmune disease associated with Ampligen® treatment. We believe that continued efforts to understand existing data, and to advance the development of new data and information, will ultimately support our future filings for Ampligen® and/or the design of future clinical studies. In 2015, we engaged an independent certified public accountant to recalculate the cost per dose consistent with the current guidelines, utilizing the costs to produce a vial. In October 2016, the FDA granted our request to implement the new cost which was initiated during the quarter ended March 31, 2017.As of December 31, 2017, there are 17 patients participating in this open-label treatment protocol.
In August 2016, we received approval of our NDA from ANMAT for commercial sale of rintatolimod (U.S. tradename: Ampligen®) in the Argentine Republic for the treatment of ME/CFS. The product will be marketed by GP Pharm, our commercial partner in Latin America. There are a number of actions that must occur before we could be able to commence commercial sales in Argentina. Commercialization in Argentina will require, among other things, an appropriate reimbursement level, appropriate marketing strategies, completion of manufacturing preparations for launch (including possible requirements for approval of final manufacturing) and we most likely will need additional funds to manufacture product at a sufficient level for a commercial launch.
In May 2016, we entered into a five year agreement with myTomorrows, a Netherlands based company, for the commencement and management of an Early Access Program (“EAP”) in Europe and Turkey (the “Territory”) related to CFS. Subsequently we have made amendments to the original agreement in January 2017, June 2017, February 2018 and March 2018. Pursuant to the original agreement and the amendments myTomorrow’s will manage all Early Access Programs and Special Access Programme’s in Europe, Canada and Turkey to treat pancreatic cancer and ME/CFS patients. myTomorrows will also provide support services to Hemispherx with respect to the execution of the 511- cost recovery Program to treat ME/CFS patients in the USA.
In August, 2017 we announced that we have commenced full data analysis of an intranasal human safety study of Ampligen® plus FluMist® known as AMP-600. The study was previously closed, but the initiation of full data analysis awaited the FDA’s evaluation of preliminary reports of blinded study findings. That evaluation was completed per formal notification from the FDA in August, 2017. Intranasal Ampligen was generally well-tolerated in the study.
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Alferon N Injection®
Alferon N Injection® is the registered trademark for our injectable formulation of natural alpha interferon, which was approved by the FDA for the treatment of certain categories of genital warts. Alferon® is the only natural-source, multi-species alpha interferon currently approved for sale in the U.S. for the intralesional (within lesions) treatment of refractory (resistant to other treatment) or recurring external genital warts in patients 18 years of age or older. Certain types of human papilloma viruses (“HPV”) cause genital warts, a sexually transmitted disease (“STD”). The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) estimates that “approximately twenty million Americans are currently infected with HPV with another six million becoming newly infected each year. HPV is so common that at least 50% of sexually active men and women get it at some point in their lives.” Although they do not usually result in death, genital warts commonly recur, causing significant morbidity and entail substantial health care costs.
Interferons are a group of proteins produced and secreted by cells to combat diseases. Researchers have identified four major classes of human interferon: alpha, beta, gamma and omega. Alferon N Injection® contains a multi-species form of alpha interferon. The world-wide market for injectable alpha interferon-based products has experienced rapid growth and various alpha interferon injectable products are approved for many major medical uses worldwide. Alpha interferons are manufactured commercially in three ways: by genetic engineering, by cell culture, and from human white blood cells. All three of these types of alpha interferon are or were approved for commercial sale in the U.S. Our natural alpha interferon is produced from human white blood cells.
The potential advantages of natural alpha interferon over recombinant (synthetic) interferon produced and marketed by other pharmaceutical firms may be based upon their respective molecular compositions. Natural alpha interferon is composed of a family of proteins containing many molecular species of interferon. In contrast, commercial recombinant alpha interferon products each contain only a single species. Researchers have reported that the various species of interferons may have differing antiviral activity depending upon the type of virus. Natural alpha interferon presents a broad complement of species, which we believe may account for its higher activity in laboratory studies. Natural alpha interferon is also glycosylated (partially covered with sugar molecules). Such glycosylation is not present on the currently U.S. marketed recombinant alpha interferons. We believe that the absence of glycosylation may be, in part, responsible for the production of interferon-neutralizing antibodies seen in patients treated with recombinant alpha interferon. Although cell culture-derived interferon is also composed of multiple glycosylated alpha interferon species, the types and relative quantity of these species are different from our natural alpha interferon.
Alferon N Injection® [Interferon alfa-n3 (human leukocyte derived)] is a highly purified, natural-source, glycosylated, multi-species alpha interferon product. There are essentially no neutralizing antibodies observed against Alferon N Injection® to date and the product has a relatively low side-effect profile. The recombinant DNA derived alpha interferon formulations have been reported to have decreased effectiveness after one year, probably due to neutralizing antibody formation.
See “Manufacturing” and “Marketing/Distribution” sections below for more details on the manufacture and marketing/distribution of Alferon N Injection®.
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HISTORICAL COSTS RELATED TO OUR PRODUCTS
The following table sets forth the costs related to our major products for each of the prior three years. Our aggregate expenses from the time that we first started developing nucleic acid pharmaceutical technology in the mid 1980’s through March 2003 were substantially related to the development of Ampligen®, and from that date through the current period were substantially related to Ampligen® and Alferon®.
| (dollars
in thousands) Year Ended December 31, 2017 | ||||||||||||||||
| Ampligen®
NDA | Alferon N Injection® | Other | Total | |||||||||||||
| Costs and Expenses | ||||||||||||||||
| Production costs | $ | — | $ | 1,183 | $ | — | $ | 1,183 | ||||||||
| Research and development | 3,629 | 469 | — | 4,098 | ||||||||||||
| General and administrative | 4,815 | 1,757 | — | 6,572 | ||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 8,444 | $ | 3,409 | $ | — | $ | 11,853 | ||||||||
| (dollars
in thousands) Year Ended December 31, 2016 | ||||||||||||||||
| Ampligen®
NDA | Alferon N Injection® | Other | Total | |||||||||||||
| Costs and Expenses | ||||||||||||||||
| Production costs | $ | — | $ | 1,108 | $ | — | $ | 1,108 | ||||||||
| Research and development | 4,368 | 739 | — | 5,107 | ||||||||||||
| General and administrative | 5,628 | 2,053 | — | 7,681 | ||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 9,996 | $ | 3,900 | $ | — | $ | 13,896 | ||||||||
| (dollars
in thousands) Year Ended December 31, 2015 | ||||||||||||||||
| Ampligen®
NDA | Alferon N Injection® | Other | Total | |||||||||||||
| Costs and Expenses | ||||||||||||||||
| Production costs | $ | — | $ | 1,598 | $ | — | $ | 1,598 | ||||||||
| Research and development | 3,452 | 4,586 | — | 8,038 | ||||||||||||
| General and administrative | 2,560 | 4,587 | — | 7,147 | ||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 6,012 | $ | 10,771 | $ | — | $ | 16,783 | ||||||||
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PATENTS AND NON-PATENT EXCLUSIVITY RIGHTS
As of December 31, 2017, we had 50 patents worldwide with 7 additional pending patent applications comprising our intellectual property. Please see “Note 5: Patents, Trademark Rights and Other Intangibles (FASB ASC 350 General Intangibles Other than Goodwill)” under Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for more information on these patents.
We continually review our patents’ rights to determine whether they have continuing value. Such review includes an analysis of the patent’s ultimate revenue and profitability potential. In addition, Management’s review addresses whether each patent continues to fit into our strategic business plans for Ampligen® and Alferon N Injection®. One U.S. patent relating to our Alferon® product expired on April 2, 2013 (#5,503,828) and another on October 14, 2014 (#5,676,942) (see discussion below on patent #5,503,828 and #5,676,942).
In 2016, we received a new Ampligen® composition of matter patent in the US (9,315,538 B2). In 2015, we were granted a new composition of matter patent (#2340307) by the European Patent Office and we received twenty-eight new patents in various EU countries. In 2014, we were granted a new composition of matter patent in the United States (#8,722,874) covering Ampligen® formulations.
Alferon® composition patent #5,503,828 which expired in April 2013, related to the manufacturing process for Alferon® Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (“API”), a complex mixture of natural interferon species that is manufactured from human leukocytes obtained from human blood donors. In addition, while it is the current standard by the FDA to treat biological drug products like interferon as “Well Characterized” biologics, a process for which chemical entities can have their identity, purity, impurities, potency, and quality controlled by chemical testing, Alferon®, as a natural interferon, does not lend itself well to such testing. Moreover, FDA continues to require that each lot of Alferon® we produce be tested and released by the FDA before it can be distributed for commercial sales. Because of the complexity of the Alferon® manufacturing process and these additional regulatory requirements, we believe that potential manufacturers of generic, or so-called “bio-similar,” drug products are focused on developing recombinant interferon products, rather than natural interferon products. For these reasons, we believe the expiration of this Alferon® composition patent in April 2013 should have no or little impact on the Company. Additionally, at the receipt of the FDA certification for the revised Alferon® manufacturing process and techniques in New Brunswick, NJ, it is our intention to file for additional patent protection.
Alferon® patent #5,676,942 which expired on October 14, 2014 and Alferon® patent #5,989,441 which was set to expire on December 22, 2017, but was allowed to lapse beforehand, related to a manufacturing methodology which is no longer in use. For this reason, we believe the expiration of these Alferon® patents should have no impact on the Company.
With respect to Ampligen®, the main U.S. CFS treatment patent (#6,130,206) expired October 10, 2017 (we believe that the expiration of this patent will have minimal impact on us; see detail on U.S. 8,722,874 below). Our main patents covering HIV treatment (#4,820,696, #5,063,209, and #5,091,374) expired on April 11, 2006, November 5, 2008, and February 25, 2009, respectively. Our U.S. Ampligen® Trademark (#73/617,687) has been renewed through December 6, 2018. New therapeutic use patent applications are pending. On May 13, 2014, the United States Patent Office issued patent U.S. 8,722,874 titled “Double-Stranded Ribonucleic Acids with Rugged Physiochemical Structure and Highly Specific Biologic Activity” to inventors Carter, et al. and assignee Hemispherx. The patent claims a novel form of rugged dsRNA. Rugged dsRNA are nucleic acids with a unique composition and physical characteristic identified with high specificity of binding to Toll-Like Receptor 3 (TLR3), thereby conveying an important range of therapeutic opportunities. The newly discovered form of dsRNA has increased bioactivity and binding affinity to the TLR 3 receptor because of its reduced tendency to form branched dsRNA which can inhibit receptor binding. Pharmaceutical formulations containing the newly discovered nucleic acid as active ingredients and methods of treatment with those formulations are also described in the issued patent. Hemispherx believes that the issuance of U.S. Patent 8,722,874 will help ensure that Hemispherx retains patent protection for novel formulations of Ampligen® products until at least 2029.
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In September 2015, the European Patent Office granted the European version of U.S. Patent 8,722,874 with the same title as shown above to inventors Carter, et al. and assignee Hemispherx.
In addition to our patent rights relating to Ampligen®, the FDA has granted “orphan drug status” to the drug for CFS, HIV/AIDS, renal cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma. Orphan drug status grants us protection against the potential subsequent approval of other sponsors’ versions of the drug for these uses for a period of seven years following FDA approval of Ampligen® for each of these designated uses. The first NDA approval for Ampligen® as a new chemical entity will also qualify for four or five years of non-patent exclusivity during which abbreviated new drug applications seeking approval to market generic versions of the drug cannot be submitted to the FDA. (See “Government Regulation” below.)
In May 2011, a new United States Patent 7,943,147 was granted for the use of Ampligen® as a vaccine adjuvant for use with seasonal influenza vaccine to induce an enhanced immune response against H5N1 avian influenza.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT (“R&D”)
Our general focus during the past three fiscal years has been on the clinical development of new drug therapies based on natural immune system enhancing technologies for the treatment of viral and immune based disorders.
The following table summarizes our research and development costs for the years 2017, 2016 and 2015 by project (in thousands):
| 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | ||||||||||
| Ampligen® New Drug Application for the treatment of CFS | $ | 3,629 | $ | 4,368 | $ | 3,452 | ||||||
| Alferon N Injection® | 469 | 739 | 4,586 | |||||||||
| Other projects | — | — | — | |||||||||
| Total research and development | $ | 4,098 | $ | 5,107 | $ | 8,038 | ||||||
Due to the inherent uncertainty involved in the design and conduct of clinical trials and the applicable regulatory requirements, including the factors discussed above in “Our Products”, we cannot predict what additional studies and/or additional testing or information may be required by the FDA. Accordingly, we are unable to estimate the nature, timing, costs and necessary efforts to complete these projects nor the anticipated completion dates. In addition, we have no basis for estimating when material net cash inflows may commence. We have yet to generate significant revenues from the sale of these developmental products. As of December 31, 2017, we had approximately $2,107,000 in Cash, Cash Equivalents and Marketable Securities, (inclusive of approximately $695,000 in Marketable Securities). Please see ITEM 1A. Risk Factors; “We will require additional financing which may not be available” below.
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In its CRL, the FDA communicated that Hemispherx should conduct at least one additional clinical trial, complete various nonclinical studies and perform a number of data analyses. We are actively engaged with the FDA, and have had several meetings in order to reach an agreement on the path forward. . At this point in time, we cannot predict how long it would take to run an additional trial and submit the data to the FDA for approval of the drug product. We anticipate that the time and cost to undertake clinical trial(s), studies and data analysis are beyond our current financial resources without gaining access to additional funding. Please see “We most likely will require additional financing which may not be available.” in Item 1A. Risk Factors below.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (“CFS”)
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (“CFS”), also known as Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (“CFIDS”) and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (“ME”), is a serious and debilitating chronic illness and a major public health problem. CFS is recognized by both the government and private sector as a significant unmet medical need, including the U.S. National Institutes of Health (“NIH”), FDA and the CDC. The CDC states on its website at http://www.cdc.gov/cfs/index.html that “Chronic fatigue syndrome, or CFS, is a devastating and complex disorder characterized by overwhelming fatigue that is not improved by bed rest and that may be worsened by physical or mental activity. People with CFS most often function at a significantly lower level of activity than they were capable of before the onset of illness.”
Many severe CFS patients become completely disabled or totally bedridden and are afflicted with severe pain and mental confusion even at rest. CFS is characterized by incapacitating fatigue with profound exhaustion and extremely poor stamina, sleep difficulties and problems with concentration and short-term memory. It is also accompanied by flu-like symptoms, pain in the joints and muscles, tender lymph nodes, sore throat and new headaches. A distinctive characteristic of the illness is a worsening of symptoms following physical or mental exertion, which do not subside with rest.
In June 2012, U.S. Senators Robert P. Casey, Richard Blumenthal and Kay R. Hagan sent a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius requesting the FDA hold a stakeholders meeting on CFS. Senators Casey and Hagan were serving at the time on the Committee on Health, Education, Labor& Pensions, which has Congressional oversight responsibility for FDA. The letter stated, “CFS/ME” represents a significant unmet medical need, one that confers on patients a lifetime of illness. A stakeholder meeting would be of great benefit, as it would offer an opportunity to examine existing treatment protocols known to FDA, address how risk/benefit determinations should be made in relation to CFS/ME treatments and identify a path forward for regulatory science in this area.”
In April 2013, the FDA, in a series of meetings called Patient Focused Drug Development meetings selected CFS to be the first disease. The two-day meeting with key stakeholders resulted in a report called The Voice of the Patient, published in September of 2013. In March 2014, FDA published the first ever Guidance for Industry Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis: Developing Drug Products for Treatment.
In February 2015, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) published a report, Beyond Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome; Redefining an Illness. The committee was charged by HHS with evaluating the current criteria for the diagnosis of ME/CFS and recommend clinical diagnostic criteria that would address the needs of health care providers, patients, and their caregivers. The primary message of the committee is “ME/CFS is a serious, chronic, complex, systemic disease that can profoundly affect the lives of patients.” The IOM since published a Report Guide for Clinicians. In October 2015, NIH Director Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D. announced that NIH is strengthening its efforts to advance research on ME/CFS. In an interview with ME Action, December 2015, Collins described the range of possibilities – “everything from basic science to clinical trials for promising approaches, including Ampligen® and Rituximab”. In 2017 the Norwegian rituximab Phase 3 study in ME/CFS was reported to have failed with no positive treatment effect seen, leaving no other product at the Phase III level other than Ampligen in the regulatory pipeline to treat ME/CFS patients.
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Other Diseases
In December 2013, we announced that we were supporting the University of Pittsburgh’s Chemokine Modulation Research initiative which includes Ampligen® as an adjuvant. As part of this collaboration, Hemispherx has supplied clinical grade Ampligen® (rintatolimod) to the University. The study, under the leadership of Professor of Surgery Pawel Kalinski, M.D., Ph.D., involved the Chemokine Modulatory regimen developed by Dr. Kalinski’s group and successfully completed the Phase 1 dose escalation in patients with resectable colorectal cancer. In the 1st quarter of 2017, Dr. Kalinski relocated to Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) in Buffalo, NY. Dr. Kalinski is currently working to establish a cancer program at RPCI which will continue to require a supply of Ampligen®. The cancer protocols utilizing Ampligen® at the University of Pittsburgh have been closed except for the ovarian study for which Dr. Edwards is the investigator. This study of recurrent ovarian cancer patients which includes Ampligen® as a component of the treatment regimen has enrolled 10 patients to date.
In July 2015, we submitted an application for orphan drug designation to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for Alferon® N to treat MERS and in January 2016, the EMA forwarded to us both its Public Summary of Opinion and its record designation approving the Orphan Medicinal Products Designation for Alferon N Injection®, also known as interferon alfa-n3, as a potential treatment of MERS. In addition, we concluded our series of collaborations designed to determine the potential effectiveness of Alferon® N and Ampligen® as potential preventative and/or therapeutic treatments for Ebola related disorders. Although we believe that the threat of both MERS and Ebola globally may reemerge in the future, it appears that the spread of these disorders has somewhat diminished. As a result, we have elected to focus our research and development efforts on other areas at this time.
In January 2017, we announced that the EAP through our agreement with myTomorrows designed to enable access of Ampligen® to ME/CFS patients has been extended to pancreatic cancer patients beginning in the Netherlands. myTomorrows is our exclusive service provider in Europe and Turkey and will manage all EAP activities relating to the pancreatic cancer extension of the program. In February 2018, the agreement with myTomorrows was extended to cover Canada to treat pancreatic cancer patients, pending government approval.
As of December 31, 2017, 34 pancreatic patients have received treatment with single-agent Ampligen® immuno-oncology therapy in an EAP managed by Amsterdam-based myTomorrows, an international leader in providing physician access to experimental medicines.
In July 2017, we entered into a Material Transfer Agreement with Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) in Buffalo, NY to continue the cancer studies with Dr. Pawel Kalinski and his associates.
Laboratory experiments do not necessarily indicate clinical benefit. Some of the research both past and present has been, and may in the future be, sponsored in part by contracts or grants from us to various independent research entities.
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MANUFACTURING
In January 2017, we entered into a purchase order to replace the previous purchase commitment with Jubilant Hollister-Stier LLC (“Jubilant”) pursuant to which Jubilant will manufacture batches of Ampligen® for us. Pursuant to the order, Jubilant will perform tooling and validation activities as well as final fill and finish services. The first lot is expected to be manufactured and released for sale and clinical use in the second quarter of 2018, once all validation activities and release testing are complete.
In July 2016, we reached an agreement with Avrio Biopharmaceuticals, now Nitto Avecia Pharma, Inc. (“Avecia”) to serve as an additional contract manufacturer of our experimental drug, Ampligen®. In May 2017, we filed a complaint against Nitto Avecia Pharma Services, Inc. (“NAPS”), the successor to Avrio Biopharmaceuticals, LLC (“Avrio”), primarily for breach of contract. Please see “Item 3: Legal Proceedings” in Part I and Item 1A. Risk Factors “There are no long-term agreements with suppliers of required materials and services for Ampligen® and there are a limited number of raw material suppliers. If we are unable to obtain the required raw materials and/or services, we may not be able to manufacture Ampligen®”.
Commercial sales of Alferon® and Alferon® API internationally are projected to begin as soon as the necessary regulatory approvals are obtained. However, commercial sales of Alferon® in the USA will not resume until new batches of commercial filled and finished product are produced and released by the FDA. While the facility is approved by the FDA under the BLA for Alferon®, this status will need to be reaffirmed by an FDA pre-approval inspection. We will also need the FDA’s approval to release commercial product once we have submitted satisfactory stability and quality release data. Currently, the manufacturing process is on hold and there is no definitive timetable to have the facility back online. We estimate we will need approximately $10,000,000 to commence the manufacturing process. Due to the Company extending the timeline of Alferon® production to an excess of one year, we reclassified Alferon® work-process-inventory to other assets within our balance sheet as of December 31, 2017. In addition, due to the high cost estimates to bring the facility back online, we will need additional funds to finance the revalidation process in our facility to initiate commercial manufacturing, thereby readying ourselves for an FDA Pre-Approval Inspection. If we are unable to gain the necessary FDA approvals related to the manufacturing process and/or final product of new Alferon® inventory, our operations most likely will be materially and/or adversely affected. In light of these contingencies, there can be no assurances that the approved Alferon N Injection® product will be returned to production on a timely basis, if at all, or that if and when it is again made commercially available, it will return to prior sales levels.
Licensing/Collaborations/Joint Ventures
To maximize the availability of Ampligen® to patients on a worldwide basis, we have embarked on a strategy to license the product and/or to collaborate and/or create a joint venture with companies that have the demonstrated capabilities and commitment to successfully gain approval and commercialize Ampligen® in their respective territories of the world. Ideal partners would have the following characteristics: well established global and regional experience and coverage, robust commercial infrastructure, strong track record of successful development and registration of in-licensed products, as well as a therapeutic area fit (ME/CFS, immuno-oncology, etc.).
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MARKETING/DISTRIBUTION
If we are unable to achieve licensing, collaboration and/or joint ventures, our marketing strategy for Ampligen® will be to be part of the differing health care systems around the world along with the different marketing and distribution systems that are used to supply pharmaceutical products to those systems. We expect that, subject to receipt of FDA, ANMAT and/or other regulatory approval, Ampligen® may be utilized in four medical arenas: physicians’ offices, clinics, hospitals, and the home treatment setting. In preparation for the FDA’s consideration of our Ampligen® NDA, we undertook early stage development of pre-launch and launch driven marketing plans focusing on audience development, medical support and payer reimbursement initiatives which could facilitate product acceptance and utilization at the time of regulatory approval, if obtained. Similarly, we continued to consider distribution scenarios for the Specialty Pharmacy/Infusion channel which could provide market access, offer 3PL (third party logistics) capabilities and provide the requisite risk management control mechanisms. It is our intent to utilize third party service providers to execute elements of both the marketing/sales and distribution plans. As a possible option, we considered a plan to utilize a small group of Managed Market account managers to introduce the product to payor, employer and government account audiences. We believe that this approach could establish a market presence and facilitate the generation of revenue without incurring the substantial costs associated with a traditional sales force. Furthermore, Management believes that any approach considered should enable us to retain multiple options for future marketing strategies.
In May 2016, we entered into a five year exclusive Renewed Sales, Marketing, Distribution and Supply Agreement (the “Agreement”) with GP Pharm. Under this Agreement, GP Pharm is responsible for gaining regulatory approval in Argentina for Ampligen® to treat CFS in Argentina and for commercializing Ampligen® for this indication in Argentina. We granted GP Pharm the right to expand rights to sell this experimental therapeutic into other Latin America countries based upon GP Pharm achieving certain performance milestones. We also granted GP Pharm an option to market Alferon N Injection® in Argentina and other Latin America countries.
In January 2017, the ANMAT granted a five year extension to a previous approval to sale and distribute Alferon N Injection® (under the brand name “Naturaferon”) in Argentina. This extends the approval until 2022. In February 2013, we received the ANMAT approval for the treatment of refractory patients that failed or were intolerant to treatment with recombinant interferon, with Naturaferon® in Argentina.
In August 2017, we extended our agreement with Asembia, formerly Armada Healthcare, LLC, to undertake the marketing, education and sales of Alferon N Injection® throughout the United States.
In August 2017, we extended our agreement with specialty distributor, BioRidgePharma, LLC (“BioRidge”) to warehouse, ship, and distribute Alferon N Injection® on an exclusive basis in support of U.S. sales.
In May 2016, we entered into an amended and restated five year agreement (the “Impatients Agreement”) with Impatients, N.V. (“myTomorrows”), a Netherlands based company, for the commencement and management of an Early Access Program (“EAP”) in Europe and Turkey (the “Territory”) related to CFS. Pursuant to the agreement, myTomorrows, as our exclusive service provider and distributor in the Territory, is performing EAP activities. These activities will be directed to (a) the education of physicians and patients regarding the possibility of early access to innovative medical treatments not yet the subject of a Marketing Authorization (regulatory approval) through named-patient use, compassionate use, expanded access and hospital exemption, (b) patient and physician outreach related to a patient-physician platform, (c) the securing of Early Access Approvals (exemptions and/or waivers required by regulatory authorities for medical treatments prior to Marketing Authorization) for the use of such treatments, (d) the distribution and sale of such treatments pursuant to such Early Access Approvals, (e) pharmacovigilance (drug safety) activities and/or (f) the collection of data such as patient-reported outcomes, doctor-reported experiences and registry data. We are supporting these efforts and supplying Ampligen® to myTomorrows at a predetermined transfer price. In the event that we receive Marketing Authorization in any country in the Territory, we will pay myTomorrows a royalty on products sold. Pursuant to the Impatients Agreement, the royalty would be a percentage of Net Sales (as defined in the Impatients Agreement) of Ampligen® sold in the Territory where Marketing Authorization was obtained, and the maximum royalty would be a percentage of Net Sales. The formula to determine the percentage of Net Sales will be based on the number of patients that are entered into the EAP. The Company believes that disclosure of the exact maximum royalty rate and royalty termination date could cause competitive harm. However, to assist the public in gauging these terms, the actual maximum royalty rate is somewhere between 2% and 10% and the royalty termination date is somewhere between five and fifteen years from the First Commercial Sale of a product within a specific country. The parties established a Joint Steering Committee comprised of representatives of both parties to oversee the EAP. No assurance can be given that activities under the EAP will result in Marketing Authorization or the sale of substantial amounts of Ampligen® in the Territory. In 2017, the Company commenced sales of recently manufactured Ampligen® in international programs.
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In January 2017, we announced that the EAP through our agreement with myTomorrows designed to enable access of Ampligen® to ME/CFS patients has been extended to pancreatic cancer patients beginning in the Netherlands. myTomorrows is our exclusive service provider in Europe and Turkey and will manage all EAP activities relating to the pancreatic cancer extension of the program.
In June 2017, we signed an amendment to the EAP with myTomorrows. This amendment is for myTomorrows to provide support services to Hemispherx with respect to the execution of the 511-Program (“511-Services”). The 511-Services shall be rendered for a period of six months to be renewed with additional 6 month periods with written mutual consent, or until termination of the 511-Program. The 511-Services shall be rendered free of charge.
In February 2018, we signed an amendment to the EAP with myTomorrows. This amendment extended the territory to cover Canada to treat pancreatic cancer patients, pending government approval.
In March 2018, we signed an amendment to the EAP with myTomorrows, pursuant to which myTomorrows will be our exclusive service provider for special access activities in Canada for the supply of Ampligen® for the treatment of ME/CFS.
COMPETITION
RNA based products and toll-like receptors (“TLRs”) have demonstrated great promise in pre-clinical and limited clinical applications resulting in active research and development by large pharmaceutical companies and emerging biotech firms. As such, our potential competitors are among the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world, are well known to the public and the medical community, and have substantially greater financial resources, product development, and manufacturing and marketing capabilities than we have.
These companies and their competing products may be more effective and less costly than our products. In addition, conventional drug therapy, surgery and other more familiar treatments will offer competition to our products. Furthermore, our competitors have significantly greater experience than we do in pre-clinical testing and human clinical trials of pharmaceutical products and in obtaining FDA (in the US), European Medicines Agency (“EMA”) and Health Protection Branch (“HPB”) (in Canada), and other regulatory approvals of products. Accordingly, our competitors may succeed in obtaining FDA, EMEA and HPB product approvals before we do. If any of our products receive regulatory approvals and we commence commercial sales of our products, we will also be competing with respect to manufacturing efficiency and marketing capabilities, areas in which we have no experience. Our competitors may possess or obtain patent protection or other intellectual property rights that prevent, limit or otherwise adversely affect our ability to develop or exploit our products.
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The major pharmaceutical competitors with biotech capabilities/vaccine franchises include Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck & Co., Novartis and AstraZeneca. Biotech competitors include Baxter International, Fletcher/CSI, AVANT Immunotherapeutics, AVI BioPharma and Genta. When we recommence sales of Alferon N Injection®, it will compete with Intron® A, an injectable from Merck & Co., that attempts to kill the virus and prevent reproduction along with topical treatments that are normally applied by a doctor that have a risk of damaging the skin around the wart, such as:
| ● | Aldara®, also known as Imiquimod®, is a cream which is marketed to boost the immune systems in an attempt to rid itself of genital warts; | |
| ● | Veregen® is a herbal product made from green tea leaves which is self-administered as an ointment and is used to treat external genital warts in adult patients; | |
| ● | Condylox® Solution (podofilox) and Podofin® (podophyllin resin) are liquids applied externally using a cotton applicator or finger which attempts to destroy genital warts by halting cell growth; and | |
| ● | Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) or Bichloroacetic acid (BCA) are chemical treatments which attempt to externally “burn off” genital warts. |
See “Item 1A-Risk Factors- Our products may be subject to substantial competition”.
GOVERNMENT REGULATION
Regulation by governmental authorities in the U.S. and foreign countries is and will be a significant factor in the manufacture and marketing of Alferon® products and our ongoing research and product development activities. Ampligen® and other products developed from the ongoing research and product development activities will require regulatory clearances prior to commercialization. In particular, new drug products for humans are subject to rigorous pre-clinical and clinical testing as a condition for clearance by the FDA and by similar authorities in foreign countries. The lengthy process of seeking these approvals, and the ongoing process of compliance with applicable statutes and regulations, has and will continue to require the expenditure of substantial resources. Any failure by us or our collaborators or licensees to obtain, or any delay in obtaining, regulatory approvals could materially adversely affect the marketing of any products developed by us and our ability to receive product or royalty revenue. We have received Orphan Drug designation for certain therapeutic indications, which we believe might under certain conditions help to accelerate the process of drug development and commercialization. Alferon N Injection® is only approved for use in intralesional treatment of refractory or recurring external genital warts in patients 18 years of age or older. Use of Alferon N Injection® for other applications requires regulatory approval.
We are subject to various federal, state and local laws, regulations and recommendations relating to such matters as safe working conditions, laboratory and manufacturing practices, the experimental use of animals and the use of and disposal of hazardous or potentially hazardous substances, including radioactive compounds and infectious disease agents, used in connection with our research work. Prior to our construction phase, our laboratory and production facility in New Brunswick, New Jersey was approved for the manufacture of Alferon N Injection®. While our facility had been granted approval of its BLA by the FDA for the manufacture of Alferon®, this status will need to be reaffirmed as we have completed the facility’s enhancements and believe it will again be able to obtain FDA approval. However, there can be no assurance that this facility, or facilities owned and operated by third parties that are utilized in the manufacture of our products, will obtain and/or continue to maintain FDA approval. For information about the current status of our Ampligen® NDA please see “Our Products; Ampligen®” above.
HUMAN RESOURCES
As of March 26, 2018, we had personnel consisting of 25 full-time employees and 2 part-time employees. Eighteen (18) of the combined personnel are engaged in our research, development, clinical, and manufacturing effort with 9 performing regulatory, general administration, data processing, including bio-statistics, financial and investor relations functions. We have no union employees.
While we have been successful in attracting skilled and experienced scientific personnel, there can be no assurance that we will be able to attract or retain the necessary qualified employees and/or consultants in the future.
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The following cautionary statements identify important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements made in this Form 10-K. Among the key factors that have a direct bearing on our results of operations are:
Risks Associated with Our Business
No assurance of successful product development and finding co-development partners.
Ampligen® and related products. The development of Ampligen® and our other related products is subject to a number of significant risks. Ampligen® may be found to be ineffective or to have adverse side effects, fail to receive necessary regulatory clearances, be difficult to manufacture on a commercial scale, be uneconomical to market or be precluded from commercialization by proprietary right of third parties. Our investigational products are in various stages of clinical and pre-clinical development and require further clinical studies and appropriate regulatory approval processes before any such products can be marketed. We do not know when, if ever, Ampligen® or our other products will be generally available for commercial sale for any indication. Generally, only a small percentage of potential therapeutic products are eventually approved by the FDA for commercial sale (Please see the next Risk Factor and Part 1, Item I: “Business; Our Products; Ampligen®” for more information).
Alferon N Injection®. Although Alferon N Injection® is approved for marketing in the United States for the intralesional treatment of refractory or recurring external genital warts in patients 18 years of age or older, to date it has not been approved for other indications. We face many of the risks discussed above, with regard to developing this product for use to treat other ailments (Please see the next Risk Factor and Part 1, Item I: “Business; Our Products; Alferon N Injection®” above for more information).
We are committed to a focused business plan oriented toward finding co-development partners with the necessary capital and expertise required to commercialize the many therapeutic aspects of our experimental drugs and our FDA approved drug Alferon® N. If we are unable to find a suitable co-development partner to assist in the product development and commercialization of our experimental drugs and our FDA approved drug Alferon® N, we may be unable to continue or complete our development and commercialization of our products. In addition, there can be no assurance that such co-development partnerships would be on acceptable terms, or that such partnerships, will be acceptable from a profitability standpoint.
Our drug and related technologies are investigational and subject to regulatory approval. If we are unable to obtain regulatory approval in a timely manner, or at all, our operations will be materially harmed and our stock adversely affected.
All of our drugs and associated technologies, other than Alferon N Injection®, are investigational in the U.S. and must receive prior regulatory approval by appropriate regulatory authorities for commercial distribution and sale and are currently legally available only through clinical trials in the U.S. with specified disorders. At present, Alferon N Injection® is approved for the intralesional treatment of refractory or recurring external genital warts in patients 18 years of age or older. Use of Alferon N Injection® for other indications will require regulatory approval in the U.S. and abroad.
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Our products, including Ampligen®, are subject to extensive regulation by numerous governmental authorities in the U.S. and other countries, including, but not limited to, the FDA in the U.S., the Health Protection Branch (“HPB”) of Canada, the Agency for the European Medicines Agency (“EMA”) in Europe and the AdministracionNacional de Medicamentos, Alimentos y TecnologiaMedica (“ANMAT”) in Argentina. Obtaining regulatory approvals is a rigorous and lengthy process and requires the expenditure of substantial resources. In order to obtain final regulatory approval of a new drug, we must demonstrate to the satisfaction of the regulatory agency that the product is safe and effective for its intended uses and that we are capable of manufacturing the product to the applicable regulatory standards. We require regulatory approval in order to market Ampligen® or any other proposed product and receive product revenues or royalties. We cannot assure you that Ampligen® will ultimately be demonstrated to be safe and efficacious. While Ampligen® is authorized for use in clinical trials in the U.S., we cannot assure you that additional clinical trial approvals will be authorized in the United States or in other countries, in a timely fashion or at all, or that we will complete these clinical trials. In addition, although Ampligen® has been authorized by the FDA for treatment use under certain conditions, including provision for cost recovery, there can be no assurance that such authorization will continue in effect.
While we received approval of our Argentinian NDA from ANMAT for commercial sale of rintatolimod (U.S. tradename: Ampligen®) in the Argentine Republic for the treatment of severe ME/CFS, ANMAT approval is only an initial, but important, step in the overall successful commercialization of our product. There are a number of actions that must occur before we would be able to commence commercial sales in Argentina.
On February 1, 2013, we received a CRL from the FDA for our Ampligen® NDA for the treatment of CFS. The FDA communicated that we should conduct at least one additional clinical trial, complete various nonclinical studies and perform a number of data analysis. For more detailed information about the current status of our Ampligen® NDA please see Part 1, Item I: “Business; Our Products; Ampligen®” above.
The FDA’s regulatory review and approval process is extensive, lengthy, expensive and inherently uncertain. To receive approval for a product candidate, we must, among other things, demonstrate to the FDA’s satisfaction with substantial evidence from well-controlled pre-clinical and clinical trials that the product candidate is both safe and effective for each indication for which approval is sought. Before we can sell Ampligen® for any use, or promote Alferon® for any use other than as Alferon N Injection® for treatment of refractory or recurring genital warts, we will need to file the appropriate NDA with the FDA in the U.S. and the appropriate regulatory agency outside of the U.S. where we intend to market and sell such products. At present the only NDA we have filed with the FDA is the NDA for the use of Ampligen® to treat CFS. As discussed in the prior paragraph, the FDA issued a CRL for this NDA and indicated that we needed to conduct additional work. Therefore, ultimate FDA approval, if any, may be delayed by several years and may require us to expend more resources than we have available. It is also possible that additional studies, if performed and completed, may not be successful or considered sufficient by the FDA for approval or even to make our applications approvable. If any of these outcomes occur, we may be forced to abandon one or more of our future applications for approval, which might significantly harm our business and prospects. As a result, we cannot predict if or when we might receive regulatory approval for the use of Ampligen® to treat CFS or for the use of any other products. Even if regulatory approval from the FDA is received for the use of Ampligen® to treat CFS or eventually, for the use of any other product, any approvals that we obtain could contain significant limitations in the form of narrow indications, patient populations, warnings, precautions or contra-indications or other conditions of use, or the requirement that we implement a risk evaluation and mitigation strategy. In such an event, our ability to generate revenues from such products could be greatly reduced and our business could be harmed.
Even if we believe that data collected from our preclinical studies and clinical trials of our product candidate are promising, this data has not been, and may not be in the future, sufficient to support marketing approval by the FDA, and regulatory interpretation of these data and procedures may continue to be unfavorable.
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To the extent that we are required by the FDA, pursuant to the Ampligen® NDA, to conduct additional studies and take additional actions, approval of any applications that we submit may be delayed by several years, or may require us to expend more resources than we have available. It is also possible that additional studies, if performed and completed, may not be successful or considered sufficient by the FDA for approval or even to make our applications approvable. If any of these outcomes occur, we may be forced to abandon one or more of our future applications for approval, which might significantly harm our business and prospects. As a result, we cannot predict when or whether regulatory approval will be obtained for any product candidate we develop.
Obtaining approval of a NDA by the FDA, or a comparable foreign regulatory authority, is inherently uncertain. Even after completing clinical trials and other studies, a product candidate could fail to receive regulatory approval for many reasons, including the following:
| ● | not be able to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the FDA that our product candidate is safe and effective for any indication; | |
| ● | the FDA may disagree with the design or implementation of our clinical trials or other studies; | |
| ● | the results of the clinical trials or other studies may not demonstrate that a product candidate’s clinical and other benefits outweigh its safety risks; | |
| ● | the FDA may disagree with our interpretation of data from clinical trials or other studies; | |
| ● | the data collected from clinical trials and other studies of a product candidate may not be sufficient to support the submission of a NDA; | |
| ● | the approval policies or regulations of the FDA may significantly change in a manner rendering our clinical and other study data insufficient for approval; and | |
| ● | the FDA may not approve the proposed manufacturing processes and facilities for a product candidate. |
In 2012, FDA reviewers raised certain questions about the status of our existing lots of older Work-In-Process Alferon® materials and Alferon® Active Pharmaceutical Product (“API”), which would need to be released by the FDA before those materials could be used in commercial product. After conducting all of the appropriate tests on samples of the inventory during 2013, we concluded that we could not alleviate certain questions the FDA had about the older Work-In-Process Alferon N Injection®. Accordingly, these lots were not submitted to the FDA to request release for commercial sale and their remaining dollar value was written-off. In the absence of FDA approvals for product manufactured from existing inventory, commercial sales of Alferon® will not resume until new batches of Alferon® inventory and API can be produced, filled and finished, and released by the FDA for commercial sale. (Please see Part 1, Item I: “Business; Our Products; Manufacturing” above for more information).
If we are unable to gain necessary FDA approvals related to Ampligen® and Alferon® on a timely basis, our operations most likely will be materially and/or adversely affected. Additionally, if we are unable to generate the additional data, successfully complete inspections or obtain approvals as required by the FDA on a timely manner, or at all, or determine that any of our clinical studies are not cost/justified to undertake or if, for that or any other reason, Ampligen®, Alferon® or one of our other products or production processes do not receive necessary regulatory approval in the U.S. or elsewhere:
| ● | our ability to generate revenues to sustain our operations will be substantially impaired, which would increase the likelihood that we would need to obtain additional financing for our other development efforts; | |
| ● | our reputation among investors might be harmed, which might make it more difficult for us to obtain equity capital on attractive terms or at all; and | |
| ● | our profitability would be delayed, our business will be materially harmed and our stock price may be adversely affected. |
Biotechnology stock prices, including our stock price, have declined significantly in certain instances where companies have failed to meet expectations with respect to FDA approval or the timing for FDA approval.
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We may continue to incur substantial losses and our future profitability is uncertain.
We last reported net profit from 1985 through 1987. Since 1987, with a major emphasis on new drug diagnostic and development, we have incurred substantial operating losses, as we pursued our clinical trial effort to get our experimental drug, Ampligen®, approved. As of December 31, 2017, our accumulated deficit was approximately $308,760,000. We have not yet generated significant revenues from our products and may incur substantial and increased losses in the future. We cannot assure that we will ever achieve significant revenues from product sales or become profitable. We require, and will continue to require, the commitment of substantial resources to develop our products. We cannot assure that our product development efforts will be successfully completed or that required regulatory approvals will be obtained or that any products will be manufactured and marketed successfully, or be profitable.
We will require additional financing which may not be available.
The development of our products requires the commitment of substantial resources to conduct the time consuming research, preclinical development, and clinical trials that are necessary to bring pharmaceutical products to market. As of December 31, 2017, we had approximately $2,107,000 in cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities (inclusive of approximately $695,000 in Marketable Securities). However, if we are unable to commercialize and sell Ampligen® and/or recommence material sales of Alferon N Injection®, our operations, financial position and liquidity may be adversely impacted.
In its CRL, the FDA communicated that Hemispherx should conduct at least one additional clinical trial, complete various nonclinical studies and perform a number of data analyses. We are actively engaged with the FDA, and have had several meetings in order to reach an agreement on the path forward. At this point in time, we cannot predict how long it would take to run an additional trial and submit the data to the FDA for approval of the drug product. We anticipate that the time and cost to undertake clinical trial(s), studies and data analysis are beyond our current financial resources without gaining access to additional funding.
Given the challenging economic conditions, we continue to review every aspect of our operations for cost and spending reductions to assure our long-term financial stability while maintaining the resources necessary to achieve our primary objectives of obtaining NDA approval of Ampligen® along with the manufacturing, marketing and distribution of our products, including Alferon N Injection®. Due to the repair issues mentioned above within our NJ facility and the high cost estimates to bring the facility back online, we will need additional funds to finance the revalidation process in our facility to initiate commercial manufacturing, thereby readying ourselves for an FDA Pre-Approval Inspection. We also will need additional capital to eventually commercialize and sell Ampligen® and/or recommence and increase sales of Alferon N Injection® or our other products. We anticipate considering multiple options in an attempt to secure funding, including but not limited to such methods as the sales of additional equity, licensing agreements, partnering with other organizations, debt financing or other sources of capital. If we are unable to obtain additional funding, through an Equity Distribution Agreement (“EDA”) or other sales of securities and/or otherwise, our ability to develop our products, commercially produce inventory or continue our operations may be materially adversely affected.
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Our Alferon N Injection® Commercial Sales were halted due to lack of finished goods inventory. If we are unable to gain the necessary FDA approvals related to Alferon®, our operations most likely will be materially and/or adversely affected.
Commercial sales of Alferon N Injection® were halted in March 2008 when our finished goods inventory expired. The production of Alferon N Injection® from the Work-In-Process Inventory was restarted in May 2010, continued into January 2011 with its conversion into API.
In April 2012, FDA reviewers raised certain questions about the status of our existing lots of older Work-In-Process Alferon® materials and Alferon® API, which would need to be released by the FDA before those materials could be used in commercial product. After conducting all of the appropriate tests on samples of the inventory during 2013, we concluded that we could not alleviate certain questions the FDA had about the older Work-In-Process Alferon N Injection® and their remaining dollar value has been written-off. Commercial sales of Alferon® will not resume until new batches of Alferon® inventory and API can be produced, filled and finished, and released by the FDA for commercial sale.
While our facility is FDA approved under the BLA by the FDA for Alferon®, this status will need to be reaffirmed upon the completion of the facility’s upgrades for Alferon®. We cannot provide any guarantee that the facility will necessarily pass a FDA pre-approval inspection for Ampligen® or Alferon® manufacture, which are conducted in separately dedicated areas within the overall New Brunswick manufacturing complex. Please see the Risk Factor “There is no assurance that our manufacturing facility will again be granted a BLA certification by the FDA upon completion of the manufacturing enhancements or return to commercial, large-scale production.” below for more information.
If we are unable to gain the necessary FDA approvals related to the manufacturing process and/or final product of new Alferon® inventory, our operations most likely will be materially and/or adversely affected. For more information on Alferon N Injection® regarding potential commercial sales, please see Part II, Item 7: “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations Business; Manufacturing”.
In light of these contingencies, there can be no assurances that the approved Alferon N Injection® product will be returned to production on a timely basis, if at all, or that if and when it is again made commercially available, it will return to prior sales levels.
We may not be profitable unless we can protect our patents and/or receive approval for additional pending patents.
We need to preserve and acquire enforceable patents covering the use of Ampligen® for a particular disease in order to obtain exclusive rights for the commercial sale of Ampligen® for such disease. We obtained all rights to Alferon N Injection®, and we plan to preserve and acquire enforceable patents covering its use for existing and potentially new diseases. Our success depends, in large part, on our ability to preserve and obtain patent protection for our products and to obtain and preserve our trade secrets and expertise. Certain of our know-how and technology is not patentable, particularly the procedures for the manufacture of our experimental drug, Ampligen®. We also have been issued a patent which affords protection on the use of Ampligen® in patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. We have not yet been issued any patents in the United States for the use of Ampligen® as a sole treatment for any of the cancers which we have sought to target. For more information on Patents, please see PART I, Item I – “Business; Patents”.
We cannot assure that our competitors will not seek and obtain patents regarding the use of similar products in combination with various other agents, for a particular target indication prior to our doing so. If we cannot protect our patents covering the use of our products for a particular disease, or obtain additional patents, we may not be able to successfully market our products.
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The patent position of biotechnology and pharmaceutical firms is highly uncertain and involves complex legal and factual questions.
To date, no consistent policy has emerged regarding the breadth of protection afforded by pharmaceutical and biotechnology patents. There can be no assurance that new patent applications relating to our products, process or technology will result in patents being issued or that, if issued, such patents will afford meaningful protection against competitors with similar technology. It is generally anticipated that there may be significant litigation in the industry regarding patent and intellectual property rights. Such litigation could require substantial resources from us and we may not have the financial resources necessary to enforce the patent rights that we hold. No assurance can be made that our patents will provide competitive advantages for our products, process and technology or will not be successfully challenged by competitors. No assurance can be given that patents do not exist or could not be filed which would have a materially adverse effect on our ability to develop or market our products or to obtain or maintain any competitive position that we may achieve with respect to our products. Our patents also may not prevent others from developing competitive products or process using related technology.
There can be no assurance that we will be able to obtain necessary licenses if we cannot enforce patent rights we may hold. In addition, the failure of third parties from whom we currently license certain proprietary information or from whom we may be required to obtain such licenses in the future, to adequately enforce their rights to such proprietary information, could adversely affect the value of such licenses to us.
If we cannot enforce the patent rights we currently hold we may be required to obtain licenses from others to develop, manufacture or market our products. There can be no assurance that we would be able to obtain any such licenses on commercially reasonable terms, if at all. We currently license certain proprietary information from third parties, some of which may have been developed with government grants under circumstances where the government maintained certain rights with respect to the proprietary information developed. No assurances can be given that such third parties will adequately enforce any rights they may have or that the rights, if any, retained by the government will not adversely affect the value of our license.
There is no guarantee that our trade secrets will not be disclosed or known by our competitors.
To protect our rights, we require all employees and certain consultants to enter into confidentiality agreements with us. There can be no assurance that these agreements will not be breached, that we would have adequate and enforceable remedies for any breach, or that any trade secrets of ours will not otherwise become known or be independently developed by competitors.
We have limited marketing and sales capability. If we are unable to obtain additional distributors and our current and future distributors do not market our products successfully, we may not generate significant revenues or become profitable.
We have limited marketing and sales capability. We are dependent upon existing and, possibly future, marketing agreements and third party distribution agreements for our products in order to generate significant revenues and become profitable. As a result, any revenues received by us will be dependent in large part on the efforts of third parties, and there is no assurance that these efforts will be successful.
Our commercialization strategy for Ampligen® for CFS, if and when it is approved for marketing and sale by the FDA, may include licensing/co-marketing agreements utilizing the resources and capacities of a strategic partner(s). We continue to seek a world-wide marketing partner with the goal of having a relationship in place before approval is obtained. In parallel to partnering discussions, appropriate pre-marketing activities will be undertaken. It is our current intention to control manufacturing of Ampligen® on a world-wide basis.
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Our commercialization strategy for Alferon N Injection® may include the utilization of internal functions and/or licensing/co-marketing agreements that would utilize the resources and capacities of one or more strategic partners. Accordingly, we have engaged Asembia, formerly Armada Healthcare, LLC, to undertake the marketing, education and sales of Alferon N Injection® throughout the United States along with GP Pharm for both Ampligen® and Alferon® in Argentina along with other South and Latin American countries.
We cannot assure that our U.S. or foreign marketing strategy will be successful or that we will be able to establish future marketing or third party distribution agreements on terms acceptable to us, or that the cost of establishing these arrangements will not exceed any product revenues. Our inability to establish viable marketing and sales capabilities would most likely have a materially adverse effect on us. There can be no assurances that the approved Alferon N Injection® product will be returned to prior sales levels.
There are no long-term agreements with suppliers of required materials and services for Ampligen® and there are a limited number of raw material suppliers. If we are unable to obtain the required raw materials and/or services, we may not be able to manufacture Ampligen®.
A number of essential raw materials are used in the production of Ampligen® as well as packaging materials utilized in the fill and finish process. We do not have, but continue to work towards having long-term agreements for the supply of such materials, when possible. There can be no assurance we can enter into long-term supply agreements covering essential materials on commercially reasonable terms, if at all.
There are a limited number of suppliers in the United States and abroad available to provide the raw and packaging materials/reagents for use in manufacturing Ampligen® and Alferon®. At present, we do not have any agreements with third parties for the supply of any of these materials or we are relying on a limited source of reagent suppliers necessary for the manufacture of Alferon®. We have established relevant manufacturing operations within our New Brunswick, New Jersey facility for the production of Ampligen® polymers from raw materials in order to obtain a more consistent manufacturing basis in the quantities necessary for clinical testing. We had a Supply Agreement with Jubilant Hollister-Stier LLC of Spokane, Washington (“Jubilant”), pursuant to which Jubilant would formulate and package Ampligen® from the key raw materials that we would supply. This Supply Agreement expired March 11, 2014. On January 3, 2017, we entered into a purchase order with Jubilant pursuant to which Jubilant will manufacture a commercial batch of Ampligen® for us. Pursuant to the new order, Jubilant will perform tooling and validation activities as well as final fill and finish services. In July 2016, we reached an agreement with Avecia to serve as an additional contract manufacturer of Ampligen® for use with clinical studies as well as the recently initiated Early Access Program (EAP) in Europe and Turkey. Should there be an unanticipated delay in receiving new product from Jubilant and/or Avecia at that time, or should we experience an unexpected demand for Ampligen® in our clinical studies or pursuant to the EAP, our ability to supply Ampligen® most likely will be adversely affected.
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In addition, during the final stage of the manufacturing process we encountered issues regarding a change in both the contract supplier of leukocytes and the long term supply availability related to a reagent used in the formulation of Alferon®. We have substantially resolved these issues through engaging in multiple agreements with suppliers of leukocytes as well as entering into a licensing agreement with a foreign multinational chemicals and biotechnology company that has been in business for over a century for the sourcing of the primary reagent allowing us to manufacture Alferon®. However, due to the interruption of the required flow of leukocytes, production ceased, causing parts to malfunction in the upstream process when the system was restarted for testing. We were working diligently to make the necessary repairs to be able to restart the validation process; however, in the process of obtaining time estimates for the repairs we experienced a flood within portions of our manufacturing facility. As a result, we will be constrained in our ability to manufacture product in the near future due to this flood in the upstream processing cleanroom that contains the bioreactor. The flood occurred on the afternoon of January 5, 2016, caused by a malfunctioning water supply pipe for the sprinkler system covering a large amount of the cleanroom in stagnant water and silt from the sprinkler system. Our facility insurer has been proactive in addressing and covering the loss. While repairs have required preapproval by our insurer, activity moved forward quickly. The repairs noted below required special action because of the need to keep this critical manufacturing room within International Organization for Standardization (ISO) classifications and the need to certify that all the equipment that was exposed, or submerged, is in proper condition and operating effectively following the corrective actions. All HEPA filters affected by the flood were tested by an outside contractor and have passed all required tests. The flooring that was damaged has been repaired using a special epoxy that is used in cleanrooms. A large portion of the walls in the ISO classified area were damaged. We had a damage mitigation company come in to stop any moisture from seeping further into the ISO classified areas. Subsequently, all damaged walls and ceilings have been replaced with cleanroom grade materials and need no further work. Six pumps that were affected by the flood were sent back to the manufacturer for inspection and repair. Repairs that were required have been completed on the pumps and they were reinstalled in the Alferon® manufacturing facility after the floor repair work was completed. All pumps will need to be qualified for use in the manufacturing process prior to the validation process for a Pre-Approval Inspection. All air ducts supplying the Alferon® manufacturing area were cleaned and the insulation replaced along with ceiling tiles. All smaller pieces of machinery and equipment that could not be salvaged have been replaced. We also completed the HVAC air balancing and qualification. At this time, we believe that all repairs to the manufacturing facility have been completed.
Currently, the manufacturing process is on hold and there is no definitive timetable to have the facility back online. If we are unable to gain the necessary FDA approvals related to the manufacturing process and/or final product of new Alferon® inventory, our operations most likely will be materially and/or adversely affected. In light of these contingencies, there can be no assurances that the approved Alferon N Injection® product will be returned to production on a timely basis, if at all, or that if and when it is again made commercially available, it will return to prior sales levels.
If we are unable to obtain or manufacture the required materials/reagents, and/or procure services needed in the final steps in the manufacturing process, we may be unable to manufacture Ampligen®. The costs and availability of products and materials we need for the production of Ampligen® are subject to fluctuation depending on a variety of factors beyond our control, including competitive factors, changes in technology, ownership of intellectual property, FDA and other governmental regulations. There can be no assurance that we will be able to obtain such products and materials on terms acceptable to us or at all. For more information on Ampligen® manufacturing, please see Part 1, Item I: “Business; Our Products; Manufacturing” above.
There are a limited number of organizations in the United States available to provide the final manufacturing steps of formulation, fill, finish and packing sets for Alferon N Injection® and Ampligen®.
There are a limited number of organizations in the United States available to provide the final steps in the manufacturing for Alferon N Injection® and Ampligen®. To formulate, fill, finish and package our products (“fill and finish”), we require a FDA approved third party CMO.
In January 2012, we agreed to a Technology, Transfer, Validation and Commercial Supply Agreement with Althea regarding the fill and finish process for Alferon N Injection®. As we no longer have any existing inventory, commercial sales of Alferon® will not resume until new batches of Alferon® inventory and API can be produced, filled and finished, and released by the FDA for commercial sale.
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We had a Supply Agreement with Jubilant Hollister-Stier LLC of Spokane, Washington (“Jubilant”), pursuant to which Jubilant would formulate and package Ampligen® from the key raw materials that Hemispherx would supply to them. This Supply Agreement expired March 11, 2014. We are working towards an amendment to the existing Supply Agreement which may contain additional fees as part of entering into the extension. In January 2017, we entered into a purchase order to replace the previous purchase commitment with Jubilant pursuant to which Jubilant will manufacture batches of Ampligen® for us. Pursuant to the new order, Jubilant will perform tooling and validation activities as well as final fill and finish services. The first lot is expected to be manufactured in the second quarter of 2018, once all validation activities are complete.
We are unable to provide any assurances that the FDA will approve the inventory manufactured by us or produced by Jubilant. If this finish goods inventory is not granted approval by the FDA, our operations may be materially adversely affected.
Should there be an unanticipated delay in receiving new product or should we experience an unexpected demand for Ampligen® in our clinical studies or pursuant to the EAP, our ability to supply Ampligen® most likely will be adversely affected. If we are unable to procure services needed in the final steps in the manufacturing process, we may be unable to manufacture Alferon N Injection® and/or Ampligen®. The costs and availability of products and materials we need for the production of Ampligen® and the commercial production of Alferon N Injection® and other products which we may commercially produce are subject to fluctuation depending on a variety of factors beyond our control, including competitive factors, changes in technology, and FDA and other governmental regulations and there can be no assurance that we will be able to obtain such products and materials on terms acceptable to us or at all. For more information on Ampligen® and Alferon N Injection® manufacturing, please see Part 1, Item I: “Business; Our Products; Manufacturing” above.
There is no assurance that our manufacturing facility will again be granted a BLA certification by the FDA or return to commercial, large-scale production. In addition, our inability to timely fix the issues caused by the 2016 flood in our manufacturing facility could hinder our ability to sustain sales of our products, if and when such sales commence.
We completed the construction of our facility enhancement project in 2015 which, upon FDA approval, should provide for a higher capacity, more cost effective manufacturing process for the production of Alferon N Injection®. The production of new Alferon® API inventory commenced in February 2015. While the facility is approved by FDA under the BLA for Alferon®, this status will need to be reaffirmed upon the completion of the facility’s enhancements prior to commercial sale of newly produced inventory product. If and when we obtain a reaffirmation of FDA BLA status, we will need FDA approval to release the final product confirming the quality and stability to allow commercial sales to resume. For more information, please see Part II, Item 7: “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations Business; Our Products; Manufacturing” above for more information. There can be no assurance the BLA status will be recertified by the FDA upon the completion of the enhancement process or that the manufacturing facility will return to commercial, large-scale production for Alferon®. Additionally, there can be no assurance that any given product will be determined to be safe and effective, or capable of being manufactured under applicable quality standards.
Only if and when our BLA status is recertified by the FDA to produce Alferon® API at our enhanced manufacturing facility and Althea gains FDA’s approval to formulate, fill and finish Alferon®, can batches of Alferon® be released by the FDA for commercial sales. We are unable to provide any assurances that the FDA will approve our enhanced manufacturing process and/or newly created finish product lots formulated, filled and finished at Althea. Without FDA approval, our Alferon N Injection® will not be considered suitable for commercial sales.
Our ability to manufacture at our manufacturing facility was also hampered and delayed by the flood. See Part I, Item 1. Business: “Marketing”.
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In light of these contingencies, there can be no assurances that the approved Alferon N Injection® product will be returned to commercial production or sale on a timely basis, if at all, or that if and when it is again made commercially available, it will return to prior sales levels.
There is no assurance that upon successful manufacture of a drug on a limited scale basis for investigational use will lead to a successful transition to commercial, large-scale production.
Changes in methods of manufacturing, including commercial scale-up, may affect the chemical structure of Ampligen® and other RNA drugs, as well as their safety and efficacy. The transition from limited production of pre-clinical and clinical research quantities to production of commercial quantities of our products will involve distinct management and technical challenges and may require additional management, technical personnel and capital to the extent such manufacturing is not handled by third parties. While we believe that we could successfully upgrade our production capability at our New Brunswick, NJ facility in a commercial scale-up of Ampligen®, there can be no assurance that our manufacturing will be successful or that any given product will be determined to be safe and effective, or capable of being manufactured under applicable quality standards, economically, and in commercial quantities, or successfully marketed.
We have limited manufacturing experience for Ampligen® and Alferon®. We may not be profitable unless we can produce Ampligen®, Alferon® or other products in commercial quantities at costs acceptable to us.
Satisfactory inspection by the FDA of both our Ampligen® and Alferon® manufacturing process is required before commercial sale of project would be allowed. The CRL from the FDA on February 1, 2013, requests evaluation of variation between lots of Ampligen® tested in the development process and recommends tighter control of the Ampligen® manufacturing process. We cannot provide any guarantee that the facility will pass a FDA pre-approval inspection for Ampligen® or Alferon® manufacture, which are conducted in separately dedicated areas within the overall New Brunswick manufacturing complex. The failure to obtain FDA approval for either of our manufacturing process areas would most likely have a materially adverse impact upon us.
Ampligen® has been produced to date in limited quantities for use in our clinical trials, and we are dependent upon a qualified third party supplier for the manufacturing, filling, finish and packaging process. The failure to continue these arrangements or to achieve other such arrangements on satisfactory terms could have a material adverse effect on us. In furtherance of the capital improvement program at our New Brunswick, NJ facility to upgrade our manufacturing capability to produce bulk quantities of Alferon N Injection® API, the validation phase of the Alferon® manufacturing project is currently underway. While the facility is approved by FDA under the BLA for Alferon®, this status will need to be reaffirmed upon the completion of the facility’s enhancements prior to commercial sale of newly produced inventory product. If and when we obtain a reaffirmation of FDA BLA status, we will need FDA approval to release the final product confirming the quality and stability to allow commercial sales to resume. For more information, please see Part 1, Item I: “Business; Our Products; Manufacturing” above. In light of these contingencies, there can be no assurances that the approved Alferon N Injection® product will be returned to production on a timely basis, if at all. The failure to obtain FDA approval of any of our manufacturing process would most likely have a materially adverse impact upon us.
Also to be successful, our products must be manufactured in commercial quantities in compliance with regulatory requirements and at acceptable costs. We believe, but cannot assure, that our enhancements to our manufacturing facilities will be adequate for our future needs for the production of our proposed products for large-scale commercialization. We intend to ramp up our existing facility and/or utilize third party facilities if and when the need arises or, if we are unable to do so, to build or acquire commercial-scale manufacturing facilities. We will need to comply with regulatory requirements for such facilities, including those of the FDA pertaining to cGMP requirements or maintaining our BLA status. There can be no assurance that such facilities can be used, built, or acquired on commercially acceptable terms, or that such facilities, if used, built, or acquired, will be adequate for the production of our proposed products for large-scale commercialization or our long-term needs.
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We have never produced Ampligen®, Alferon® or any other products in large commercial quantities. We must manufacture our products in compliance with regulatory requirements in large commercial quantities and at acceptable costs in order for us to be profitable. We intend to utilize third party manufacturers and/or facilities if and when the need arises or, if we are unable to do so, to build or acquire commercial-scale manufacturing facilities. If we cannot manufacture commercial quantities of Ampligen® and/or Alferon®, or continue to maintain third party agreements for its manufacture at costs acceptable to us, our operations will be significantly affected. If and when the Ampligen® NDA is approved, we may need to find an additional vendor to manufacture the product for commercial sales. Also, each production lot of Alferon N Injection® is subject to FDA review and approval prior to releasing the lots to be sold. This review and approval process could take considerable time, which would delay our having product in inventory to sell, nor can we provide any assurance as to the receipt of FDA approval of our finished inventory product. There can be no assurances that the Ampligen® and/or Alferon® can be commercially produced at costs acceptable to us.
Rapid technological change may render our products obsolete or non-competitive.
The pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries are subject to rapid and substantial technological change. Technological competition from pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, universities, governmental entities and others diversifying into the field is intense and is expected to increase. Most of these entities have significantly greater research and development capabilities than us, as well as substantial marketing, financial and managerial resources, and represent significant competition for us. There can be no assurance that developments by others will not render our products or technologies obsolete or noncompetitive or that we will be able to keep pace with technological developments.
Our products may be subject to substantial competition.
Ampligen®. Competitors may be developing technologies that are, or in the future may be, the basis for competitive products. Some of these potential products may have an entirely different approach or means of accomplishing similar therapeutic effects to products being developed by us. These competing products may be more effective and less costly than our products. In addition, conventional drug therapy, surgery and other more familiar treatments may offer competition to our products. Furthermore, many of our competitors have significantly greater experience than we do in preclinical testing and human clinical trials of pharmaceutical products and in obtaining FDA, HPB and other regulatory approvals of products. Accordingly, our competitors may succeed in obtaining FDA, HPB or other regulatory product approvals more rapidly than us. There are no drugs approved for commercial sale with respect to treating CFS in the United States. The dominant competitors with drugs to treat disease indications which we plan to address include Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck & Co., Novartis and AstraZeneca. Biotech competitors include Baxter International, Fletcher/CSI, AVANT Immunotherapeutics, AVI BioPharma and Genta. These potential competitors are among the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world, are well known to the public and the medical community, and have substantially greater financial resources, product development, and manufacturing and marketing capabilities than we have. Although we believe our principal advantage is the unique mechanism of action of Ampligen® on the immune system, we cannot assure that we will be able to compete.
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Alferon N Injection®. Our competitors are among the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world, are well known to the public and the medical community, and have substantially greater financial resources, product development, and manufacturing and marketing capabilities than we have. Alferon N Injection® currently competes with Merck’s injectable recombinant alpha interferon product (Intron® A) for the treatment of genital warts. In addition, other pharmaceutical firms offer self-administered topical cream, for the treatment of external genital and perianal warts such as Graceway Pharmaceuticals (Aldara®), Watson Pharma (Condylox®) and MediGene (Veregen®). Alferon N Injection® also competes with surgical, chemical, and other methods of treating genital warts. We cannot assess the impact products developed by our competitors, or advances in other methods of the treatment of genital warts, will have on the commercial viability of Alferon N Injection®. If and when we obtain additional approvals of uses of this product, we expect to compete primarily on the basis of product performance. Our competitors have developed or may develop products (containing either alpha or beta interferon or other therapeutic compounds) or other treatment modalities for those uses. There can be no assurance that, if we are able to obtain regulatory approval of Alferon N Injection® for the treatment of new indications, we will be able to achieve any significant penetration into those markets. In addition, because certain competitive products are not dependent on a source of human blood cells, such products may be able to be produced in greater volume and at a lower cost than Alferon N Injection®. Currently, our wholesale price on a per unit basis of Alferon N Injection® is higher than that of the competitive recombinant alpha and beta interferon products. Please see risk factor “We may not be profitable unless we can protect our patents and/or receive approval for additional pending patents” above for additional information.
General. Other companies may succeed in developing products earlier than we do, obtaining approvals for such products from the FDA more rapidly than we do, or developing products that are more effective than those we may develop. While we will attempt to expand our technological capabilities in order to remain competitive, there can be no assurance that research and development by others or other medical advances will not render our technology or products obsolete or non-competitive or result in treatments or cures superior to any therapy we develop.
Possible side effects from the use of Ampligen® or Alferon N Injection® could adversely affect potential revenues and physician/patient acceptability of our product.
Ampligen®. We believe that Ampligen® has been generally well tolerated with a low incidence of clinical toxicity, particularly given the severely debilitating or life threatening diseases that have been treated. A mild flushing reaction has been observed in approximately 15-20% of patients treated in our various studies. This reaction is occasionally accompanied by a rapid heartbeat, a tightness of the chest, urticaria (swelling of the skin), anxiety, shortness of breath, subjective reports of “feeling hot”, sweating and nausea. The reaction is usually infusion-rate related and can generally be controlled by reducing the rate of infusion. Other adverse side effects include liver enzyme level elevations, diarrhea, itching, asthma, low blood pressure, photophobia, rash, visual disturbances, slow or irregular heart rate, decreases in platelets and white blood cell counts, anemia, dizziness, confusion, elevation of kidney function tests, occasional temporary hair loss and various flu-like symptoms, including fever, chills, fatigue, muscular aches, joint pains, headaches, nausea and vomiting. These flu-like side effects typically subside within several months.
The FDA in its February 1, 2013 CRL, provided recommendations to address certain outstanding issues before they could approve Ampligen for Commercial Sales. The Agency stated that the submitted data do not provide substantial evidence of efficacy of Ampligen® for the treatment of CFS and that the data do not provide sufficient information to determine whether the product is safe for use in CFS due to the limited size of the safety database and multiple discrepancies within the submitted data.
If approved, one or more of the potential side effects of the drug might deter usage of Ampligen® in certain clinical situations and therefore, could adversely affect potential revenues and physician/patient acceptability of our product.
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Alferon N Injection®. At present, Alferon N Injection® is approved for the intralesional (within the lesion) treatment of refractory or recurring external genital warts in adults. In clinical trials conducted for the treatment of genital warts with Alferon N Injection®, patients did not experience serious side effects; however, there can be no assurance that unexpected or unacceptable side effects will not be found in the future for this use or other potential uses of Alferon N Injection® which could threaten or limit such product’s usefulness.
We may be subject to product liability claims from the use of Ampligen®, Alferon N Injection®, or other of our products which could negatively affect our future operations. We have limited product liability and clinical trial insurance.
We maintain a limited amount of Products Liability and Clinical Trial insurance coverage world-wide for Ampligen® and Alferon® due to the minimal amount of historical loss claims regarding these products in the marketplace. Any claims against our products, Ampligen® and Alferon N Injection®, could have a materially adverse effect on our business and financial condition.
We face an inherent business risk of exposure to product liability claims in the event that the use of Ampligen®, Alferon N Injection® or other of our products results in adverse effects. This liability might result from claims made directly by patients, hospitals, clinics or other consumers, or by pharmaceutical companies or others manufacturing these products on our behalf. Our future operations may be negatively affected from the litigation costs, settlement expenses and lost product sales inherent to these claims. While we will continue to attempt to take appropriate precautions, we cannot assure that we will avoid significant product liability exposure.
The loss of services of key personnel could hurt our chances for success.
Our success is dependent on the continued efforts of our staff, especially certain doctors and researchers. The loss of the services of personnel key to our operations could have a material adverse effect on our operations and chances for success. The loss of key personnel or the failure to recruit additional personnel as needed could have a materially adverse effect on our ability to achieve our objectives.
Uncertainty of health care reimbursement for our products.
Our ability to successfully commercialize our products will depend, in part, on the extent to which reimbursement for the cost of such products and related treatment will be available from government health administration authorities, private health coverage insurers and other organizations. Significant uncertainty exists as to the reimbursement status of newly approved health care products, and from time to time legislation is proposed, which, if adopted, could further restrict the prices charged by and/or amounts reimbursable to manufacturers of pharmaceutical products. We cannot predict what, if any, legislation will ultimately be adopted or the impact of such legislation on us. There can be no assurance that third party insurance companies will allow us to charge and receive payments for products sufficient to realize an appropriate return on our investment in product development.
There are risks of liabilities associated with handling and disposing of hazardous materials.
Our business involves the controlled use of hazardous materials, carcinogenic chemicals, flammable solvents and various radioactive compounds. Although we believe that our safety procedures for handling and disposing of such materials comply in all material respects with the standards prescribed by applicable regulations, the risk of accidental contamination or injury from these materials cannot be completely eliminated. In the event of such an accident or the failure to comply with applicable regulations, we could be held liable for any damages that result. However, we have obtained insurance coverage to mitigate any potential significant loss in this area.
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We rely upon information technology and any failure, inadequacy, interruption or security lapse of that technology, including any cyber security incidents, could harm our ability to operate our business effectively.
Despite the implementation of security measures, our internal computer systems and those of third parties with which we contract are vulnerable to damage from cyber-attacks, computer viruses, unauthorized access, natural disasters, terrorism, war and telecommunication and electrical failures. System failures, accidents or security breaches could cause interruptions in our operations, and could result in a material disruption of our business operations, in addition to possibly requiring substantial expenditures of resources to remedy. The loss of clinical trial data could result in delays in our regulatory approval efforts and significantly increase our costs to recover or reproduce the data. To the extent that any disruption or security breach were to result in a loss of, or damage to, our data or applications, or inappropriate public disclosure of confidential or proprietary information, we could incur liability and our product development and commercialization efforts could be delayed.
Risks Associated with an Investment in Our Common Stock:
The market price of our stock may be adversely affected by market volatility.
The market price of our common stock has been and is likely to be volatile. This is especially true given the current significant instability in the financial markets. 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:
| ● | announcements of the results of clinical trials by us or our competitors; | |
| ● | announcements of availability or projections of our products for commercial sale; | |
| ● | announcements of legal actions against us and/or settlements or verdicts adverse to us; | |
| ● | adverse reactions to products; | |
| ● | governmental approvals, delays in expected governmental approvals or withdrawals of any prior governmental approvals or public or regulatory agency comments regarding the safety or effectiveness of our products, or the adequacy of the procedures, facilities or controls employed in the manufacture of our products; | |
| ● | changes in U.S. or foreign regulatory policy during the period of product development; | |
| ● | developments in patent or other proprietary rights, including any third party challenges of our intellectual property rights; | |
| ● | announcements of technological innovations by us or our competitors; | |
| ● | announcements of new products or new contracts by us or our competitors; | |
| ● | actual or anticipated variations in our operating results due to the level of development expenses and other factors; | |
| ● | changes in financial estimates by securities analysts and whether our earnings meet or exceed the estimates; | |
| ● | conditions and trends in the pharmaceutical and other industries; | |
| ● | new accounting standards; | |
| ● | overall investment market fluctuation; | |
| ● | restatement of prior financial results; | |
| ● | notice of NYSE American non-compliance with requirements; and | |
| ● | occurrence of any of the risks described in these “Risk Factors”. |
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Our common stock is listed for quotation on the NYSE American. For the year ended December 31, 2017, the trading price of our common stock has ranged from $0.30to $0.93per share. We expect the price of our common stock to remain volatile. The average daily trading volume of our common stock varies significantly.
Our stock price may be adversely affected if a significant amount of shares is sold in the public market.
We may issue shares to be used to meet our capital requirements or use shares to compensate employees, consultants and/or Directors. In this regard, we have registered securities for public sale pursuant to a universal shelf registration statement and we had been selling shares under this shelf registration statement. Since December 5, 2017, we have sold an aggregate of 2,003,563 shares under our under our equity distribution agreements with Maxim Group LLC. In September 2016, we sold 3,333,334 shares of our common stock and issued warrants to purchase 2,500,000 shares of common stock. The warrants were exercised in June and July 2017. In February we sold 1,818,185 shares of our common stock and issued warrants. In February 2017, these warrants were exchanged for warrants to purchase an aggregate of 5,300,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $0.45 per share, most exercisable commencing December 1, 2017. We have registered the shares issuable upon exercise of these warrants for public sale and, should the market price of our common stock exceed the exercise price of these warrants, some or all of these warrants may be exercised. There were 2,800,000 warrants with an expiration date of March 1, 2018 and an exercise price on $0.45. These warrants were exercised in January and February 2018. We realized proceeds of $1,260,000 from these exercises.
We are unable to estimate the amount, timing or nature of future sales of outstanding common stock or instruments convertible into or exercisable for our common stock. Sales of substantial amounts of our common stock in the public market, including additional sale of securities pursuant to our equity distribution agreements with Maxim Group LLC or otherwise under the universal shelf registration statement or upon exercise of outstanding options and warrants, could cause the market price for our common stock to decrease. Furthermore, a decline in the price of our common stock would likely impede our ability to raise capital through the issuance of additional shares of common stock or other equity securities. Please see Item 7-Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Result of Operations; Liquidity and Capital Resources” in PART II.
Provisions of our Certificate of Incorporation and Delaware law could defer a change of our Management which could discourage or delay offers to acquire us.
Provisions of our Certificate of Incorporation 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 Certificate of Incorporation 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, prior to the redemption of our common stock. On November 19, 2002, the Board of Directors of the Company declared a dividend distribution of one Right for each outstanding share of Common Stock to stockholders of record at the close of business on November 29, 2002 (the “Record Date”). On November 2, 2012, at the direction of the Board of Directors of the Company amended and restated the Rights Agreement between the Company and its Rights Agent. On November 14, 2017, at the direction of the Board, the Company again amended and restated the Rights Agreement between the Company and, American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, its current Rights Agent (as amended and restated, the “Rights Agreement”). Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company a unit consisting of one one-hundredth of a share (a “Unit”) of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Series A Preferred Stock”) at a Purchase Price of $21.00 per Unit, subject to adjustment.
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Special Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements
Because the risk factors referred to above could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by us, you should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. Further, any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement or statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made or reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict which will arise. In addition, we cannot assess the impact of each factor on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Our research in clinical efforts may continue for the next several years and we may continue to incur losses due to clinical costs incurred in the development of Ampligen® for commercial application. Possible losses may fluctuate from quarter to quarter as a result of differences in the timing of significant expenses incurred and receipt of licensing fees and/or cost recovery treatment revenue. Please see “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” set forth before Part I of this report.
ITEM 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.
None.
We have relocated our principal executive office to 860 N. Orange Avenue, Suite B, Orlando, FL 32801 and our accounting and human resource office to 600 Main Street, Suite 2, Riverton, NJ 08077. We currently lease our principal executive office for $2,227 per month and our accounting and human resource office for about $1,100 per month.
In May 2017, we entered into a mortgage and note payable agreement with a bridge funding company to obtain a two-year funding line of up to $4,000,000 secured by our assets and property located at 783 Jersey Ave., New Brunswick, New Jersey. As of March 16, 2018, this note was paid off in full. See Note 14 - Note Payable below for a more complete description of the terms of the note payable.
On March 16, 2018, we sold our property located at 783 Jersey Lane, New Brunswick, NJ. This property houses our development and production facilities. The purchase price was $4,080,000 and purchaser received 3,225,806 warrants to purchase common stock. We believe that the sale and lease-back of this building will not have a material impact on our business operations. Simultaneously with the closing of the sale, the purchaser leased the facility back to us. The lease runs for 10 years, with two five year extensions. The initial annual base rent is $408,000 and will continue for the first and second year. In the third and fourth it will escalate at the rate of 2.5% per year. For all subsequent years it will escalate at the rate of 3% per year. We also will be responsible for additional rent consisting of taxes and certain insurance expenses of the purchaser. The lease contains a repurchase option pursuant to which we can repurchase the facility within the initial 10 year lease period. The purchase price would be based on a multiple of the sale price of $4,080,000. The multiple would be 1.05 plus .0025N where N represents the number of months between lease commencement and closing of repurchase.
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In February 2018, the Company sold the unencumbered, unutilized, and wholly owned property located at 5 Jules Lane, New Brunswick, New Jersey to Acellories, NJ LLC, a New Jersey limited liability company, pursuant to a sale agreement dated September, 11, 2017. The sale price was $1,050,000.
In May 2017, Hemispherx filed a complaint in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas Civil Trial Division against Nitto Avecia Pharma Services, Inc. (“NAPS”), the successor to Avrio Biopharmaceuticals, LLC (“Avrio”), primarily for breach of contract. Pursuant to the applicable agreement, Avrio was to provide fill and finish services of Ampligen®. Hemispherx sought damages due to Avrio’s failures and omissions during the fill and finish process which led to a loss of product. In June 2017, NAPS filed an answer denying liability and counter claiming breach of contract by Hemispherx. In March of 2018, the parties agreed to fully resolve their dispute by agreement for a satisfactory payment to Hemispherx and additional consideration. Final documentation of the settlement is in process and will fully resolve the parties’ claims and disputes.
In December 2017, Hemispherx commenced suit against Biolife Plasma Services, LP., formerly d/b/a Pennsylvania Plasma, a Shire Company (Biolife), asserting breach by Biolife of a contract with Hemispherx pursuant to which Biolife was obligated to supply Hemispherx with leukocytes. In addition to lost profits from the breach, the Complaint also seeks damages arising from the breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. By agreement, the defendant has not yet formally responded to the suit. Due to the early stage of the litigation no estimate can be made of the likelihood, amount, or timing of any recovery.
ITEM 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.
Not Applicable.
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ITEM 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.
Since October 1997 our common stock has been listed and traded on the NYSE American under the symbol HEB. The following table sets forth the high and low list prices for our Common Stock for the last two fiscal years as reported by the NYSE American. Such prices reflect inter-dealer prices, without retail mark-up, mark-downs or commissions and may not necessarily represent actual transactions. The following prices give retroactive effect to the 12-to-1 reverse stock split effected on August 26, 2016.
| High | Low | |||||||
| COMMON STOCK | ||||||||
| Time Period: | ||||||||
| January 1, 2017 through March 31, 2017 | $ | 0.39 | $ | 0.93 | ||||
| April 1, 2017 through June 30, 2017 | $ | 0.45 | $ | 0.84 | ||||
| July 1, 2017 through September 30, 2017 | $ | 0.30 | $ | 0.74 | ||||
| October 1, 2017 through December 31, 2017 | $ | 0.30 | $ | 0.43 | ||||
| January 1, 2016 through March 31, 2016 | $ | 2.40 | $ | 0.78 | ||||
| April 1, 2016 through June 30, 2016 | $ | 1.92 | $ | 1.24 | ||||
| July 1, 2016 through September 30, 2016 | $ | 2.64 | $ | 1.24 | ||||
| October 1, 2016 through December 31, 2016 | $ | 1.26 | $ | 0.65 | ||||
As of March 26, 2018, there were approximately 180 holders of record of our Common Stock. This number was determined from records maintained by our transfer agent and does not include beneficial owners of our securities whose securities are held in the names of various dealers and/or clearing agencies.
On March 26, 2018, the last sale price for our common stock on the NYSE American was $0.44 per share.
We have not paid any cash dividends on our Common Stock in recent years. It is management’s intention not to declare or pay dividends on our Common Stock, but to retain earnings, if any, for the operation and expansion of our business.
The following table gives information about our Common Stock that may be issued upon the exercise of options, warrants and rights under all of our equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2017:
| Plan Category | Number
of Securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights | Weighted-average
Exercise price of Outstanding options, warrants and rights | Number
of securities Remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column) (a) | |||||||||
| (a) | (b) | (c) | ||||||||||
| Equity compensation plans approved by security holders: | 2,038,795 | $ | 4.08 | 533,170 | ||||||||
| Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders: | 7,334,490 | $ | 0.63 | - | ||||||||
| Total | 9,373,285 | $ | 1.38 | 533,170 | ||||||||
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ITEM 6. Selected Financial Data (in thousands except for share and per share data).
The selected consolidated financial data set forth below should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements, and the related notes thereto, and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”, included in this Annual Report. The statement of operations and balance sheet data presented below for, and as of the end of, each of the years in the five-year period ended December 31, 2017 are derived from our audited consolidated financial statements. Historical results are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected in the future.
| Year
Ended December 31 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | |||||||||||||||
| Statement of Operations Data: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Revenues and license fee income | $ | 150 | $ | 197 | $ | 133 | $ | 92 | $ | 437 | ||||||||||
| Total costs and expense(1) | 17,317 | 19,296 | 16,783 | 13,896 | 11,853 | |||||||||||||||
| Interest expense and financing costs | 16 | 11 | 3 | - | 139 | |||||||||||||||
| Redeemable warrants valuation adjustment | (281 | ) | (14 | ) | - | 1,677 | 2,417 | |||||||||||||
| Net loss | (16,225 | ) | (17,450 | ) | (15,230 | ) | (7,502 | ) | (8,259 | ) | ||||||||||
| Net loss applicable to common stockholders | (16,225 | ) | (17,450 | ) | (15,230 | ) | (7,502 | ) | (8,259 | ) | ||||||||||
| Basic and diluted net loss per share | $ | (1.20 | ) | $ | (1.08 | ) | $ | (0.77 | ) | $ | (0.34 | ) | $ | (0.29 | ) | |||||
| Shares used in computing basic and diluted net loss per share | 13,943,799 | 15,690,998 | 19,679,315 | 21,818,206 | 28,676,076 | |||||||||||||||
| Balance Sheet Data: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Working capital | $ | 16,020 | $ | 12,071 | $ | 8,138 | $ | 4,506 | $ | 798 | ||||||||||
| Total assets | 31,867 | 29,440 | 22,804 | 18,873 | 14,207 | |||||||||||||||
| Debt, net of discount | — | — | — | — | 1,835 | |||||||||||||||
| Stockholders’ equity | 29,298 | 25,004 | 20,371 | 15,498 | 8,703 | |||||||||||||||
| Cash Flow Data: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash used in operating activities | (16,901 | ) | (13,964 | ) | (16,053 | ) | (7,380 | ) | (7,941 | ) | ||||||||||
| Capital expenditures | $ | (898 | ) | $ | (504 | ) | $ | (240 | ) | $ | (160 | ) | $ | (20 | ) | |||||
| (1) | General and Administrative expenses include stock compensation expense of $376, $326, $181, $410 and $571 for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017, respectively. |
ITEM 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
The following discussion and analysis is related to our financial condition and results of operations for the three years ended December 31, 2017. This information should be read in conjunction with ITEM 6 – “Selected Financial Data” and our consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto beginning on F-1 of this Form 10-K.
Statement of Forward-Looking Information
Certain statements in the section are “forward-looking statements”. You should read the information in “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” set forth before Part I of this report above for more information about our presentation of information.
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Fair Value
We have issued warrants (the “Warrants”) in August 2016, February 2017, June 2017 and August 2017 that are single compound derivatives containing both an embedded right to obtain stock upon exercise (a “Call”) and a series of embedded rights to settle the Warrants for cash upon the occurrence of certain events (each, a “Put”). Generally, the Put provisions allow the Warrant Holders liquidity protection; the right to receive cash in certain situations where the Holders would not have a means of readily selling the shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants (e.g., where there would no longer be a significant public market for our common stock). However, because the contractual formula used to determine the cash settlement value of the embedded Put requires use of certain assumptions, the cash settlement value of the embedded Put can differ from the fair value of the unexercised embedded Call option at the time the embedded Put option is exercised.
We recompute the fair value of the Warrants at the end of each quarterly reporting period. Such value computation includes subjective input assumptions that are consistently applied each period. If we were to alter our assumptions or the numbers input based on such assumptions, the resulting fair value could be materially different.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Year ended December 31, 2017 versus year ended December 31, 2016
Our net loss was approximately $8,259,000 and $7,502,000 for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, representing an increase in loss of approximately $757,000 or 10% when compared to the same period in 2016. This increase in loss for the year ended December 31, 2017 was primarily due to the following:
| 1) | a decrease in the gain from sale of income tax net operating losses of $2,079,000; | |
| 2) | a decrease in net insurance proceeds of $1,626,000 received in 2016 but none in 2017; | |
| 3) | an increase in interest and finance costs of $139,000 from the May 2017 note payable; offset by, | |
| 4) | a decrease in research and development expense of $1,009,000 or 20%; | |
| 5) | a decrease in general and administrative expense of $1,109,000 or 14%; | |
| 6) | an increase in Ampligen® sales of approximately $345,000; and | |
| 7) | an increase from the redeemable warrant valuation of $740,000. |
Net loss per share was $(0.29) and $(0.34) for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The weighted average number of shares of our common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2017 was 28,676,076 as compared to 21,818,206 as of December 31, 2016.
Revenues
Revenues from our Ampligen® Cost Recovery Program were $437,000 and $92,000 for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The increase in revenues of $345,000, an increase of 375%, between periods was primarily due to our EAP through our agreement with myTomorrows designed to enable access of Ampligen® to pancreatic cancer patients in the Netherlands. For the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, we had no Alferon N Injection® Finished Good product to commercially sell and all revenue was generated from the EAP and our FDA approved open-label treatment protocol, (“AMP 511”), that allows patient access to Ampligen® for treatment in an open-label safety study.
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Production Costs
Production costs were approximately $1,183,000 and $1,108,000, respectively, for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, representing an increase of $75,000 in production costs in the current period. These costs primarily represent stability testing and pre-production expenses related to Alferon®.
In addition, we recorded a charge in the current period of $211,000 related to amounts paid to Althea for costs to fill and finish Alferon® and had recorded these amounts within Work-In-Process inventory. We no longer believe that the benefits from these payments will be realized and have written off the amount in the current period.
Research and Development Costs
Overall Research and Development (“R&D”) costs for the year ended December 31, 2017 were approximately $4,098,000 as compared to $5,107,000 for the same period a year ago, reflecting a decrease of approximately $1,009,000 or 20%. The primary reason for the decrease in research and development costs was an overall decrease in Ampligen® and Alferon® costs as a result of cost cutting programs.
General and Administrative Expenses
General and Administrative (“G&A”) expenses for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, were approximately $6,572,000 and $7,681,000, respectively, reflecting a decrease of approximately $1,109,000 or 14%. The decrease in G&A expenses during the current period was mainly due to a one-time charge of $850,000 in 2016 resulting from a severance payment to a former executive upon termination.
Interest and Other Income
Interest and other income for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 was approximately $88,000 and $129,000, respectively, representing a decrease of approximately $41,000 or 32%. The primary cause for the decrease in investment income during the current period was primarily due to lower balances available to invest in the current period as compared to the prior period.
Redeemable Warrants
The quarterly fiscal revaluation of certain redeemable warrants resulted in a non-cash adjustment to the redeemable warrants liability for the year ended December 31, 2017 amounting to a higher gain of approximately $740,000 (see Part I; Item 1; Financial Statements; “Note 17: Fair Value” for the various factors considered in the valuation of redeemable warrants).
Insurance Proceeds from Legal Settlement
During the year ended December 31, 2016 insurance proceeds, net of costs, of approximately $1,626,000 were received from the settlement of litigations. There were no insurance proceeds received in the year ended December 31, 2017.
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Sale of New Jersey Tax Net Operating Loss
In January 2016, the Company effectively sold $16,000,000 of its approximately $29,000,000 of New Jersey state net operating loss carryforwards (for the year 2014) for approximately $1,320,000 and sold research credits for $241,000. Also, in December 2016, the Company effectively sold $14,000,000 of its New Jersey state net operating loss carryforwards (for the year 2015) for approximately $1,120,000 and sold research credits for $189,000. In December 2017, the Company effectively sold $8,000,000 New Jersey state net operating loss for approximately $622,000 and sold research credits for $169,000.
Year ended December 31, 2016 versus year ended December 31, 2015
Net Loss
Our net loss was approximately $7,502,000 and $15,230,000 for the year ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, representing a decrease in loss of approximately $7,728,000 or 51% when compared to the same period in 2015. This decrease in loss for this year was primarily due to the following:
| 1) | a decrease in research and development expense of $2,931,000 or 36%; |
| 2) | a decrease in production costs of approximately $490,000 or 31%; |
| 3) | an insurance settlement net of litigation expenses recorded as other income of $1,626,000; |
| 4) | an increase in the gain from sale of income tax net operating losses of $1,496,000 or 109%; and |
| 5) | a gain on the valuation adjustment on the redeemable warrants of approximately $1,677,000; offset by |
| 6) | an increase in general and administrative expense of approximately $534,000 or 7%. |
Net loss per share was $(0.34) and $(0.77) for the year ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The weighted average number of shares of our common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2016 was 21,818,206 as compared to 19,679,315 as of December 31, 2015.
Revenues
Revenues from our Ampligen® Cost Recovery Program were $92,000 and $133,000 for the year ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, we had no Alferon N Injection® Finished Good product to commercially sell and all revenue was generated from the FDA approved open-label treatment protocol, (“AMP-511”), that allows patient access to Ampligen® for treatment in an open-label safety study.
Production Costs
Production costs were approximately $1,108,000 and 1,598,000, respectively, for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015. This decrease of approximately $490,000 or 31% was primarily due to a decline in ongoing stability testing on Alferon® Work-In-Process inventory.
Research and Development Costs
Overall Research and Development (“R&D”) costs for the year ended December 31, 2016 were approximately $5,107,000 as compared to $8,038,000 for the same period a year ago, reflecting a decrease of approximately $2,931,000 or 36%. The primary reason for the decrease in research and development costs was due to a decrease in general R&D expenses of approximately $2,489,000 including Alferon N Injection® compliance testing and clinical work and a decrease in executive salaries and wages of approximately $1,478,000. This was offset by a general net increase in R&D expenses of approximately $916,000 associated with Ampligen®. These decreases in general R&D expenses were mainly the result of implementing a strong financial austerity plan whereby we conducted an analysis of our research and development programs and our staffing levels within our New Jersey manufacturing facility.
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General and Administrative Expenses
General and Administrative (“G&A”) expenses for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, were approximately $7,681,000 and $7,147,000, respectively, reflecting an increase of approximately $534,000 or 7%. The increase in G&A expenses in 2016 was mainly due to higher salaries and wages and severance related costs in the current period.
Interest and Other Income
Interest and other income for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 were approximately $129,000 and $364,000, respectively, representing a decrease of approximately $235,000 or 65%. The primary cause for the decrease in investment income during the current period was primarily due to lower balances available to invest in the current period as compared to the prior period.
Insurance settlement net of litigation expenses
We recorded a net insurance settlement of $1,626,000 during the year ended December 31, 2016 which resulted from the legal settlements of various class action lawsuits during the current period. Insurance proceeds received of $3,726,000 were offset by litigation settlement expenses of $2,100,000. There were no such expenses in the prior period (see “Part I; Item 3: Legal Proceedings” for details).
Loss on Sale of Marketable Securities
Loss on sale of marketable securities was $0 and $315,000, respectively, for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015. Our securities sold during the current period resulted in net realized losses. Our analysis in 2015 of the trading value for marketable securities for the year ended December 31, 2015 resulted in an observation that some of our investments had experienced a decrease in market value for a period of longer than the last twelve consecutive months. Accordingly, an estimated impairment loss of $315,000 was recognized in 2015.
Sale of New Jersey Tax Net Operating Loss
In January 2016, the Company effectively sold $16,000,000 of its approximately $29,000,000 of New Jersey state net operating loss carryforwards (for the year 2014) for approximately $1,320,000 and sold research credits for $241,000. Also, in December 2016, the Company effectively sold $14,000,000 of its New Jersey state net operating loss carryforwards (for the year 2015) for approximately $1,120,000 and sold research credits for $189,000. In January 2015, the Company effectively sold $14,291,000 of its approximately $28,000,000 of New Jersey state net operating loss carryforwards (for the year 2013) for approximately $1,374,000, representing an increase in cash gain of $1,496,000 or 109% (see Part II; Item 8; Financial Statements and Supplementary Data; “Note 13: Income Tax”) for the year ended December 31, 2016 as compared to the same period in 2015.
Redeemable Warrants
The quarterly fiscal revaluation of certain redeemable warrants resulted in a non-cash adjustment to the redeemable warrants liability for the year ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 amounting to a gain of approximately $1,677,000 and $0, respectively, (see Part II; Item 8; Financial Statements and Supplementary Data; “Note 17: Fair Value” for the various factors considered in the valuation of redeemable warrants).
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Liquidity and Capital Resources
Under new leadership and direction, we have set and met extensive financial goals. In February 2018, we sold an under-utilized warehouse at Jules lane for $1,050,000. In March 2018, we sold our manufacturing facility for $4,080,000 while simultaneously entering into a favorable long term lease with an option to repurchase the facility. In February and March, 2018, we realized $1,260,000 through the exercising of outstanding warrants. In December 2017, we reactivated the EDA and, through strategic management, have raised $853,000 and, most recently, on March 24, 2018, we sold common stock netting us an additional $475,000. In short, we have raised in excess of $5,000,000 allowing us to move forward free of debt.
Cash used in operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2017 was approximately $7,941,000 compared to approximately $7,380,000 for the same period in 2016, an increase of $561,000 or 8%. The primary reasons for this increase in cash used in operations in 2017 was the receipt of $2,870,000 in funds in 2016 from the sale of our New Jersey state net operating loss carryforwards and $1,626,000 of insurance proceeds for litigation settlements. In 2017 we received only $791,000 from the sale of our New Jersey net operating loss carryforwards.
Cash provided by investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2017 was approximately $2,730,000 compared to cash provided by investing activities of approximately $2,916,000 for the same period in 2016, representing a decrease of $186,000. The primary reason for the decrease was the sale of marketable securities of approximately $2,799,000 during the current period compared to $3,370,000 the year ended December 31, 2016.
Cash provided by financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2017 was approximately $4,215,000 compared to approximately $4,757,000 for the same period in 2016, a decrease of $542,000. The primary reason for this decrease was that we received net proceeds of $2,417,000 from the sale of shares of our common stock and $1,900,000 from a note payable, net of $102,000 debt issuance costs in the current period compared to $4,744,000 from the sale of shares in the corresponding period in 2016.
As of December 31, 2017, we had approximately $2,107,000 in cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities, inclusive of approximately $695,000 in Marketable Securities, representing a decrease of approximately $3,761,000 from December 31, 2016.
If we are unable to commercialize and sell Ampligen® and/or recommence material sales of Alferon N Injection®, our operations, financial position and liquidity may be adversely impacted, and additional financing may be required. In this regard, due to the high cost estimates to bring the facility back online, we most likely will need additional funds to finance the revalidation process in our facility and to initiate commercial manufacturing, thereby readying ourselves for an FDA Pre-Approval Inspection and to commercialize our products. However, there is no assurance that such financing will be available.
In an effort to conserve cash, effective with the semi-monthly period ended April 30, 2017, all of the members of the Company’s Board of Directors agreed to accept 100% of their directors’ fees in the form of options to purchase Company Common Stock. This program was terminated as of August 31, 2017. As of September 1, 2017, the directors agreed to defer 100% of their fees until cash is available. On February 13, 2018, 226,023 options were issued to each of the two independent directors with an exercise price of $0.37 for a period of 10 years with a vesting period of 3 years.
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In addition, commencing with the semi-monthly period ended June 15, 2017, certain officers of the Company, and certain other employees of the Company, agreed to accept 20% of their salary in options to purchase Company Common Stock. This program was also terminated as of August 31, 2017. As of September 1, 2017, certain officers agreed to defer 40% of their salaries until cash is available and all employees agreed to be paid 50% of their salaries in the form of unrestricted common stock of the Company.
We are committed to a focused business plan oriented toward finding senior co-development partners with the capital and expertise needed to commercialize the many potential therapeutic aspects of our experimental drugs and our FDA approved drug Alferon®.
We reactivated our Equity Distribution Agreement with Maxim Group LLC (the “EDA”) under our universal shelf registration statement in December 2017. Since December 5, 2017, we have sold an aggregate of 2,003,563 shares under the EDA for proceeds of $853,000 net of $26,000 in commissions. Pursuant to our prospectus supplement dated February 7, 2018, we are currently able to sell up to 6,549,157 of our common stock (inclusive of the above shares sold to date) under the EDA. The actual number of shares that we can sell and the proceeds to be received therefrom are dependent upon the market price of our common stock.
In February 2017, we entered into Securities Purchase Agreements (each, a “Purchase Agreement”) with certain investors for the sale by us of 1,818,185 shares of our common stock at a purchase price of $0.55 per share. Concurrently with the sale of the common stock, pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, we also sold warrants to purchase 1,363,639 shares of common stock for aggregate net proceeds of approximately $875,000. We also issued placement agent warrants for the purchase of an aggregate of 90,910 shares of our common stock.
In May 2017, we entered into a mortgage and note payable agreement with a bridge funding company to obtain a two-year funding line of up to $4,000,000 secured by our assets and property located at 783 Jersey Ave., New Brunswick, New Jersey. We paid interest on this note at a fixed rate of 12% per annum. We were permitted to prepay the line without penalty commencing after six months. The balance on this note was $1,835,000 as of December 31, 2017, however, it was paid off on March 16, 2018 in conjunction with the sale of 783 Jersey Ave.
On March 16, 2018, we sold our property located at 783 Jersey Ave, New Brunswick, NJ for $4,080,000 and the purchasers received 3,225,806 warrants to purchase common stock. Simultaneously therewith, we leased the facility back. See “Part 2. Properties.”
In February 2018, the Company sold the unencumbered, unutilized, and wholly owned property located at 5 Jules Lane, New Brunswick, New Jersey to Acellories, NJ LLC, a New Jersey limited liability company, pursuant to a sale agreement dated September, 11, 2017. The sale price was $1,050,000.
In June 2017, pursuant to an offer (the “Exchange Transaction”) to the holders of warrants issued to investors in September 2016 (the “2016 Warrants”), the exercise price of the 2016 warrants was changed to $0.50. As a result the warrant holders exercised 2016 Warrants and purchased 2,370,000 shares of Company common stock. The Company realized net proceeds of $1,055,000 from this exercise. As part of the Exchange Transaction, the Company issued 2,370,000 series A warrants with an exercise price of $0.60 per share, an initial exercise date of December 1, 2017 and expiring March 6, 2022, and 7,584,000 series B warrants with an exercise price of $0.60, an initial exercise date of December 1, 2017 per share and expiring March 1, 2018. These warrants were exercised in January and February 2018 for proceeds of $1,260,000. In addition, in July 2017, the warrant holders exercised the remaining 130,000 2016 Warrants and purchased 130,000 shares of common stock. The Company realized net proceeds of $65,000 from this exercise. In conjunction with the foregoing the Company issued 130,000 series A warrants with an exercise price of $0.60 per share and an initial exercise date of January 10, 2018 and expiring March 6, 2022, and 416,000 series B warrants with an exercise price of $0.60 and an initial exercise date of January 10, 2018.
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In August 2017, the Holders of the series A warrants and series B warrants exchanged all of their series A warrants and series B warrants for new warrants (respectively, the “Series A Exchange Warrants” and the “Series B Exchange Warrants” and, collectively, the “Exchange Warrants”) identical to the series A warrants and series B warrants except as follows: the exercise price of both Exchange Warrants is $0.45 per share, subject to adjustment therein, and the number of Series B Exchange Warrants issued was proportionately reduced so that all Exchange Warrants in the Exchange Transaction do not exceed 19.9% of the number of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock as of May 31, 2017, the date of the Exchange Transaction offer letters. The issuance of the Exchange Warrants by the Company and the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Exchange Warrants is exempt from registration pursuant to Sections 3(a)(9) and 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). There were 2,800,000 warrants with an expiration date of March 1, 2018 and an exercise price on $0.45. These warrants were exercised in January and February 2018. The Company realized proceeds of $1,260,000 from these exercises.
There can be no assurances that, if needed, we will be able to raise adequate funds from these or other sources or enter into licensing, partnering or other arrangements to advance our business goals. Our inability to raise such funds or enter into such arrangements, if needed, could have a material adverse effect on our ability to develop our products. Also, we have the ability to curtail discretionary spending, including some research and development activities, if required to conserve cash. Because of our long-term capital requirements, we may seek to access the public equity market whenever conditions are favorable, even if we do not have an immediate need for additional capital at that time. We are unable to estimate the amount, timing or nature of future sales of outstanding common stock or instruments convertible into or exercisable for our common stock. Any additional funding may result in significant dilution and could involve the issuance of securities with rights, which are senior to those of existing stockholders. We may also need additional funding earlier than anticipated, and our cash requirements, in general, may vary materially from those now planned, for reasons including, but not limited to, changes in our research and development programs, clinical trials, acquisitions of intellectual property or assets, enhancements to the manufacturing process, competitive and technological advances, the regulatory processes including the commercializing of Ampligen® products or new utilization of Alferon® products. See Part II, Item 1A. Risk Factors; “We will require additional financing which may not be available”.
The proceeds from our financing have been used to fund infrastructure growth including manufacturing, regulatory compliance and market development along with our efforts regarding the Ampligen® NDA and preparedness for the FDA pre-approval inspections of the New Brunswick manufacturing facility. There can be no assurances that, if needed, we will raise adequate funds from these or other sources, which may have a material adverse effect on our ability to develop our products. Also, we have the ability to curtail discretionary spending, including some research and development activities, if required to conserve cash.
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| (dollars
in thousands) Obligations Expiring by Period | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Contractual Cash Obligations | Total | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022-2028 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Operating Leases- see Note 18 subsequent event sale lease back of building | $ | 4,505 | $ | 306 | $ | 408 | $ | 416 | $ | 426 | $ | 2,949 | ||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 4,505 | $ | 306 | $ | 408 | $ | 416 | $ | 426 | $ | 2,949 | ||||||||||||
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions
Refer to PART III, ITEM 13 - “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.”
New Accounting Pronouncements
Refer to “Note 2(i) – Recent Accounting Standards and Pronouncements” under Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Disclosure about Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
None.
Critical Accounting Policies
Financial Reporting Release No. 60 requires all companies to include a discussion of critical accounting policies or methods used in the preparation of financial statements. Our significant accounting policies are described in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. The significant accounting policies that we believe are most critical to aid in fully understanding our reported financial results are the following:
Revenue
The Company has elected to apply the Full Retrospective Application to implement the new revenue recognition standard ASC 606. The Company, based on the nature of its Ampligen sales under its cost recovery programs, determined that there were no material differences between the new accounting standard and legacy GAAP and that difficulties will not arise for any “open” contract issues with its customers during the transition period. The Company also determined that the adoption of this standard will have little or no impact to the Company’s opening balance of retained earnings.
Revenue from the sale of Ampligen® under cost recovery clinical treatment protocols approved by the FDA is recognized when the treatment is provided to the patient.
Revenues from the sale of product are recognized when the product is delivered, as title is then transferred to the customer. We have no other obligation associated with our products once shipment has been accepted by the customer
Inventories
We use the lower of first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) cost and net realizable value method of accounting for inventory.
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Patents and Trademarks
Patents and trademarks are stated at cost (primarily legal fees) and are amortized using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of 17 years. We review our patents and trademark rights periodically to determine whether they have continuing value. Such review includes an analysis of the patent and trademark’s ultimate revenue and profitability potential. In addition, Management’s review addresses whether each patent continues to fit into our strategic business plans.
Long-Lived Assets
We assess long-lived assets for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the assets or the asset grouping may not be recoverable. Factors that we considers in deciding when to perform an impairment review include significant under-performance of a business or product line in relation to expectations, significant negative industry or economic trends, and significant changes or planned changes in its use of the assets. We measure the recoverability of assets that it will continue to use in its operations by comparing the carrying value of the asset grouping to our estimate of the related total future undiscounted net cash flows. If an asset grouping’s carrying value is not recoverable through the related undiscounted cash flows, the asset grouping is considered to be impaired.
We measure the impairment by comparing the difference between the asset grouping’s carrying value and its fair value. Long-lived assets are considered a non-financial asset and are recorded at fair value only if an impairment charge is recognized. Impairments are determined for groups of assets related to the lowest level of identifiable independent cash flows. We make subjective judgments in determining the independent cash flows that can be related to specific asset groupings. In addition, as we review our manufacturing process and other manufacturing planning decisions, we must make subjective judgments regarding the remaining useful lives of assets. When we determine that the useful lives of assets are shorter than originally estimated, we accelerate the rate of depreciation over the assets’ new, shorter useful lives.
Stock-Based Compensation
Under FASB ASC 718-Compensation-Stock Compensation (“ASC 718”) share-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date, based on the estimated fair value of the award, and is recognized as expense over the requisite service period. We adopted the provisions of ASC-718, using a modified prospective application. Under this method, compensation cost is recognized for all share-based payments granted, modified or settled after the date of adoption, as well as for any unvested awards that were granted prior to the date of adoption.
The fair value of each option award is estimated on the date of grant using a Black-Scholes-Merton pricing option valuation model. Expected volatility is based on the historical volatility of the price of our common stock. The risk-free interest rate is based on U.S. Treasury issues with a term equal to the expected life of the option. We use historical data to estimate expected dividend yield, expected life, which represents the period of time the options are expected to be outstanding until they are exercised, and forfeiture rates.
Redeemable Warrants
We utilize the guidance contained in ASC 480 (formerly SFAS 150) in the determination of whether to record warrants and options as Equity and/or Liability. If the guidance of ASC 480 is deemed inconclusive, we continue our analysis utilizing ASC 815 (formerly EITF 00-19).
Our method of recording the related value attempts to be consistent with the standards as defined by the Financial Accounting Standards Board utilizing the concept of “Fair Value” from ASC 820-10-55-1 that states that any fair value measurement requires that the reporting entity, to determine the valuation technique(s) appropriate for the measurement, consider the availability of data with which to develop inputs that represent the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability and the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the inputs fall.
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We recomputed the value of the redeemable warrants at the end of each quarterly period. We use the Monte Carlo Simulation approach which includes subjective input assumptions that are consistently applied each quarter. If we were to alter our assumptions or the numbers input based on such assumptions, the resulting fair value could be materially different. As discussed in greater detail in “Fair Value” at the beginning of this ITEM 7, the significant assumptions using this model are: (i) Risk-Free Interest Rate; (ii) Expected Holding Period; (iii) Expected Volatility; (iv) Expected Dividend Yield; (v) Expected Probability of a Fundamental Transaction; (vi) Expected Timing of Announcement of a Fundamental Transaction; (vii) Expected 100 Day Volatility at Announcement of a Fundamental Transaction; (viii) Expected Risk-Free Interest Rate at Announcement of a Fundamental Transaction; and (ix) Expected Time Between Announcement and Consummation of a Fundamental Transaction.
Concentration of Credit Risk
Our policy is to limit the amount of credit exposure to any one financial institution and place investments with financial institutions evaluated as being credit worthy, or in short-term money markets, which are exposed to minimal interest rate and credit risks. We have had bank deposits and overnight repurchase agreements that exceed federally insured limits.
Concentration of credit risk, with respect to receivables, is limited through our credit evaluation process. We do not require collateral on our receivables. Our receivables historically consisted principally of amounts due from wholesale drug companies. At December 31, 2016, there were no receivables.
All sales for years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 were prepaid by the customer related to the Ampligen® cost recovery treatment program.
ITEM 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
We had approximately $2,107,000 in cash, cash equivalents and Marketable Securities at December 31, 2017. To the extent that our cash and cash equivalents exceed our near term funding needs, we intend to invest the excess cash in money market accounts or three to twelve month financial instruments. We employ established conservative policies and procedures to manage any risks with respect to investment exposure.
ITEM 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
The consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, and our consolidated statements of comprehensive loss, changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2017, together with the report of RSM US LLP, our independent registered public accountants, is included at the end of this report. Reference is made to the “Index to Financial Statements and Financial Statement Schedule” on page F-1.
ITEM 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosures.
None.
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ITEM 9A. Controls and Procedures.
Effectiveness of Control Procedures
As of December 31, 2017, the end of the period covered by this report, we carried out an evaluation under the supervision and with the participation of our Management, including our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) promulgated under the Exchange Act. Our disclosure controls and procedures are intended to ensure that the information we are required to disclose in the reports that we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act is (i) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities Exchange Commission’s rules and forms and (ii) accumulated and communicated to our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as the principal executive and financial officers, respectively, to allow final decisions regarding required disclosures. Based on that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2017 to ensure that material information was accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Our management has concluded that the financial statements included in this Form 10-K present fairly, in all material respects our financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We made no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the last fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act).
Management’s Report on 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 Rules 13a-15(f) or 15d-15(f), under the Exchange Act. Internal control over financial reporting is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, our principal executive and principal financial officers and affected by our Board of Directors, Management and other personnel, and 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 (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of our assets; (ii) 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 (iii) 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 its 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 risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Management has assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017. In making this assessment, Management used the criteria set forth in the framework in 2013 established by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission Internal Control—Integrated Framework, (COSO). Based on this assessment, Management has not identified any material weaknesses as of December 31, 2017. A material weakness is a control deficiency, or combination of control deficiencies, that results in more than a remote likelihood that a material misstatement of the annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected.
Management has concluded that we did maintain effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017, based on the criteria set forth in “Internal Control—Integrated Framework” issued by the COSO.
None.
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ITEM 10. Directors and Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.
The following sets forth biographical information about each of our Directors and Executive Officers as of the date of this report:
| Name | Age | Position | ||
| Thomas K. Equels, Esq. | 65 | Chief Executive Officer, President and Director | ||
| Peter W. Rodino III | 66 | Executive Director Gov’t Relations, General Counsel, & Secretary | ||
| William M. Mitchell, M.D., Ph.D. | 83 | Chairman of the Board and Director | ||
| Stewart L. Appelrouth | 64 | Director | ||
| Adam Pascale | 70 | Chief Financial Officer | ||
| David R. Strayer, M.D. | 72 | Chief Scientific Officer and Medical Director | ||
| Wayne S. Springate | 46 | Senior Vice President of Operations |
Each Director has been elected to serve until the next annual meeting of stockholders, or until his earlier resignation, removal from office, death or incapacity. Each Executive Officer serves at the discretion of the Board of Directors, subject to rights, if any, under contracts of employment.
We believe our Board Members represent a desirable diversity of backgrounds, skills, education and experiences, and they all share the personal attributes of dedication to be effective directors. In recommending Board candidates, Corporate Governance and Nomination Committee considers a candidate’s: (1) general understanding of elements relevant to the success of a publicly traded company in the current business environment; (2) understanding of our business; and (3) diversity in educational and professional background. The Committee also gives consideration to a candidate’s judgment, competence, dedication and anticipated participation in Board activities along with experience, geographic location and special talents or personal attributes. The following are qualifications, experience and skills for Board members which are important to Hemispherx’ business and its future:
Leadership Experience: We seek directors who have demonstrated strong leadership qualities. Such leaders bring diverse perspectives and broad business insight to our Company. The relevant leadership experience that we seek includes a past or current leadership role in a large or entrepreneurial company, a senior faculty position at a prominent educational institution or a past elected or appointed senior government position.
Industry or Academic Experience: We seek directors who have relevant industry experience, both with respect to the disease areas where we are developing new therapies as well as with the economic and competitive dynamics of pharmaceutical markets, including those in which our drugs will be prescribed.
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Scientific, Legal or Regulatory Experience: Given the highly technical and specialized nature of biotechnology, we desire that certain of our directors have advanced degrees, as well as drug development experience. Since we are subject to substantial regulatory oversight, both here and abroad by the FDA and other agencies, we also desire directors who have legal or regulatory experience.
Finance Experience: We believe that our directors should possess an understanding of finance and related reporting processes, particularly given the complex budgets and long timelines associated with drug development programs.
THOMAS K. EQUELS, Esq., has been a Director and serves as our Executive Vice Chairman (since 2008), Chief Executive Officer (since 2016) and President (since 2015). Mr. Equels is the owner of and former President and Managing Director of the Equels Law Firm headquartered in Miami, Florida that focuses on litigation. For over a quarter century, Mr. Equels has represented national and state governments as well as companies in the banking, insurance, aviation, pharmaceutical and construction industries. Mr. Equels received his Juris Doctor degree with high honors from Florida State University. He is a summa cum laude graduate of Troy University and also obtained his Masters’ Degree from Troy. He is a member of the Florida Bar Association and the American Bar Association.
THOMAS K. EQUELS, Esq. - Director Qualifications:
| ● | Leadership Experience – Owner and former President, Managing Director of Equels Law Firm; | |
| ● | Industry Experience –legal counsel to Hemispherx; and | |
| ● | Scientific, Legal or Regulatory Experience - Law degree with over 25 years as a practicing attorney specializing in litigation. |
WILLIAM M. MITCHELL, M.D., Ph.D., has been a Director since July 1998. On February 17, 2016, Dr. Mitchell was appointed as Chairman of the Board upon Dr. Carter’s termination. Dr. Mitchell is a Professor of Pathology at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and is a board certified physician. Dr. Mitchell earned a M.D. from Vanderbilt and a Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University, where he served as House Officer in Internal Medicine, followed by a Fellowship at its School of Medicine. Dr. Mitchell has published over 200 papers, reviews and abstracts that relate to viruses, anti-viral drugs, immune responses to HIV infection, and other biomedical topics. Dr. Mitchell has worked for and with many professional societies that have included the American Society of Investigative Pathology, the International Society for Antiviral Research, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and the American Society of Microbiology. Dr. Mitchell is a member of the American Medical Association. He has served on numerous government review committees, among them the National Institutes of Health, AIDS and Related Research Review Group. Dr. Mitchell previously served as one of our Directors from 1987 to 1989.
WILLIAM M. MITCHELL, M.D., Ph.D. - Director Qualifications:
| ● | Leadership Experience – Professor at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. He is a member of the Board of Directors for Chronix Biomedical and is Chairman of its Medical Advisory Board. Additionally, he has served on multiple governmental review committees of the National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and for the European Union, including key roles as Chairman; |
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| ● | Academic and Industry Experience – Well published medical researcher with extensive investigative experience on virus and immunology issues relevant to the scientific business of Hemispherx along with being a Director of an entrepreneurial diagnostic company (Chronix Biomedical) that is involved in next generation DNA sequencing for medical diagnostics; and | |
| ● | Scientific, Legal or Regulatory Experience - M.D., Ph.D. and professor at a top ranked school of medicine, and inventor of record on numerous U.S. and international patents who is experienced in regulatory affairs through filings with the FDA. |
STEWART L. APPELROUTH, CPA was appointed as a director and head of the Audit Committee in August 2016 and is a certified public accountant and partner at Appelrouth Farah & Co., P.A., Certified Public Accountants and Advisors. Mr. Appelrouth is also a certified forensic accountant and possesses 40 years of experience in Accounting and Consulting. He is a member of or has affiliations with the AICPA, American College of Forensic Examiners, Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, Florida Bar Grievance Committee, Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants and InfraGard Member, a national information sharing program between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the private sector.
Mr. Appelrouth graduated from Florida State University in 1975 and received his Master’s Degree in Finance from Florida International University in 1980. The Board has determined Mr. Appelrouth to be an Independent Director as required under Section 803(2) of the NYSE: American Company Guide and Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act.
STEWART L. APPELROUTH - Director Qualifications:
| ● | Leadership Experience –has served in leadership positions on numerous Boards and other organizations; | |
| ● | Industry Experience – Partner at certified public accounting and advisory firm; Certified Public Accountant and Certified Fraud Examiner; | |
| ● | Regulatory Experience – FINRA Arbitrator. | |
| ● | Financial Expert – over 40 years of accounting and audit experience. |
ADAM PASCALE was promoted to Chief Financial Officer on February 22, 2016. He is also the Company’s Chief Accounting Officer. Mr. Pascale has been employed with the Company for 23 years, with more than two decades of public accounting experience and prior public company experience. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting and Finance from Rutgers University. Mr. Pascale served for several years as a CPA prior to joining Hemispherx, and is a member of both the American and the Pennsylvania Institutes of Certified Public Accountants.
DAVID R. STRAYER, M.D. has acted as our Medical Director since 1986. On February 19, 2016, Dr. Strayer was appointed as Chief Scientific Officer upon Dr. Carter’s termination. He has served as Professor of Medicine at the Medical College of Pennsylvania and Hahnemann University. Dr. Strayer is Board Certified in Medical Oncology and Internal Medicine with research interests in the fields of cancer and immune system disorders. He has served as principal investigator in studies funded by the Leukemia Society of America, the American Cancer Society, and the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Strayer attended the School of Medicine at the University of California at Los Angeles where he received his M.D. in 1972.
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PETER W. RODINO III was appointed a Director in July 2013. On September 30, 2016, Mr. Rodino resigned as a member of our Board to permit him to serve us in a new capacity. In this regard, effective October 1, 2016, we retained Mr. Rodino as our Executive Director for Governmental Relations, and as our General Counsel. In that capacity, Mr. Rodino handles all government affairs and litigation matters on a going forward basis. Mr. Rodino was also appointed Secretary of the Company in November 2016. Through September 30, 2016, Mr. Rodino served as Lead Director and Chairman and Financial Expert of the Audit Committee, a member of the Compensation Committee and a member of the Governance and Nomination Committee of the Board of Directors. Mr. Rodino has broad legal, financial, and executive experience. In addition to being President of Rodino Consulting LLC and managing partner at several law firms during his many years as a practicing attorney, he served as Chairman and CEO of Crossroads Health Plan, the first major Health Maintenance Organization in New Jersey. He also has had experience as an investment executive in the securities industry and acted as trustee in numerous Chapter 11 complex corporate reorganizations. For the past 17 years, as founder and president of Rodino Consulting, Mr. Rodino has provided business and government relations consulting services to smaller companies with a focus on helping them develop business plans, implement marketing strategies and acquire investment capital. Mr. Rodino holds a B.S. in Business Administration from Georgetown University and a J.D. degree from Seton Hall University.
WAYNE S. SPRINGATE was promoted to Senior Vice President of Operations on May 1, 2011. Mr. Springate joined Hemispherx in 2002 as Vice President of Business Development when Hemispherx acquired Alferon N Injection® and its New Brunswick, NJ manufacturing facilities. He led the consolidation of our Rockville facility to our New Brunswick location as well as coordinated the relocation of manufacturing polymers from South Africa to our production facility in New Brunswick. He was also responsible for preparing and having a successful Preapproval Inspection by the FDA for our New Brunswick manufacturing plant in connection with the filing of our Ampligen® NDA. Previously, Mr. Springate served as President for World Fashion Concepts in New York and oversaw operations at several locations throughout the United States and overseas. Mr. Springate assists the CEO in details of operations on a daily basis and is involved in all aspects of manufacturing, warehouse management, distribution and logistics.
Compliance with Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our Officers and Directors, and persons who own more than ten percent of a registered class of equity securities, to file reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission reflecting their initial position of ownership on Form 3 and changes in ownership on Form 4 or Form 5. Based solely on a review of the copies of such Forms received by us, we found that, during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, all of our Officers and Directors had complied with all applicable Section 16(a) filing requirements on a timely basis with regard to transactions occurring in 2017
Audit Committee and Audit Committee Expert
The Audit Committee of our Board of Directors consists of William Mitchell, M.D. and Stewart L. Appelrouth. Dr. Mitchell and Mr. Appelrouth are determined by the Board of Directors to be Independent Directors as required under Section 803(2) of the NYSE: American Company Guide and Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act. The Board has determined that Mr. Appelrouth qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as that term is defined by Section 803B(2) of the NYSE: American Company Guide and the rules and regulations of the SEC.
We believe Dr. Mitchell and Mr. Appelrouth to be independent of management and free of any relationship that would interfere with their exercise of independent judgment as members of this Committee. The principal functions of the Audit Committee are to (i) assist the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibility relating to the annual independent audit of our consolidated financial statements and internal control over financial reporting, the engagement of the independent registered public accounting firm and the evaluation of the independent registered public accounting firm’s qualifications, independence and performance; (ii) prepare the reports or statements as may be required by NYSE American or the securities laws; (iii) assist the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibility relating to the integrity of our financial statements and financial reporting process and our system of internal accounting and financial controls; (iv) discuss the financial statements and reports with management, including any significant adjustments, management judgments and estimates, new accounting policies and disagreements with management; and (v) review disclosures by our independent registered public accounting firm concerning relationships with us and the performance of our independent accountants.
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This Audit Committee formally met 7 times in 2017 with all committee members in attendance. Our General Counsel and Chief Financial Officer support the Audit Committee in its work. The full text of the Audit Committee’s Charter, as approved by the Board, is available on our website: www.hemispherx.net in the “Investor Relations” tab under “Corporate Governance”.
Prior to his appointment as a Director of the Company, the Audit Committee engaged the services of Stewart L. Appelrouth in 2015. Mr. Appelrouth met the SEC criteria of a Financial Expert to enhance the current structure and expertise of the Committee. Mr. Appelrouth, a Florida and North Carolina licensed Certified Public Accountant, directly supported the efforts of the Audit Committee on an as-needed basis.
Scientific Advisory Board
In August 2016, the Company formed the Scientific Advisory Board (the “SAB”). The SAB was established to leverage its member’s scientific and pharmaceutical expertise and advice to advance our drug development programs by providing guidance on steering us forward and capitalizing on business opportunities as well as interactions with the FDA. It is responsible for: (i) reviewing all submissions made by us to the FDA and other regulators to ensure that the submissions fully, accurately, and timely describe the status of any clinical trials, tests, or other studies or analyses of drug safety and efficacy undertaken by us, and any agreements, protocols, or guidance provided by relevant regulatory agencies; and (ii) monitoring and supervising our relationship with the FDA. The SAB shall have free and open access to our scientific and executive personnel, including the Chief Scientific Officer and the members of our Board of Directors. The SAB is comprised of William Mitchell, M.D., Chairman, and Ronald Brus, M.D., W. Neal Burnette, M.D., and Christopher Nicodemus, M.D., all of whom are members. The SAB reports to the independent directors of the Company and closely interacts with the Disclosure Controls Committee. The Scientific Advisory Board met two times in 2017.
Disclosure Controls Committee
In August 2011, our Board formed the Disclosure Controls Committee (“DCC”). The DCC reports to the Audit Committee and is responsible for procedures and guidelines on managing disclosure information.
The purpose of the DCC is to make certain that information required to be publicly disclosed is properly accumulated, recorded, summarized and communicated to the Board and management. This process is intended to allow for timely decisions regarding communications and disclosures and to help ensure that we comply with related SEC rules and regulations. Wayne Springate, Senior Vice President of Operations is the DCC’s Investor Relations Coordinator and Chairperson. The other members of the DCC are Peter Rodino, our General Counsel, William Mitchell, one of our Independent Directors, Dr. David Strayer, our Chief Scientific Officer, Adam Pascale, our Chief Financial and Accounting Officer, and Ann Marie Coverly, Director of HR and Administration serving as the Deputy Investor Relations Coordinator. The full text of the DCC’s Charter, as approved by the Board, is available on our website: www.hemispherx.net in the “Investor Relations” tab under “Corporate Governance”. The DCC actively met on numerous occasions in 2017.
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Executive Committee
In February 2016, our Board formed the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee reports to the Board and its purpose is to aid the Board in handling matters which, in the opinion of the Chairman of the Board, should not be postponed until the next scheduled meeting of the Board. Mr. Equels, our Chief Executive Officer is the chairman of the Committee, along with two of our independent directors, Mr. Appelrouth and Dr. Mitchell. The full text of the Executive Committee Charter, as approved by the Board, is available on our website: www.hemispherx.net in the “Investor Relations” tab under “Corporate Governance”. The Committee did not meet in 2017.
Code of Ethics
Our Board of Directors adopted a revision to the 2003 Code of Ethics and business conduct for officers, directors, employees, agents and consultants on October 15, 2009. The principal amendments included broadening the Code’s application to our agents and consultants, adoption of a regulatory compliance policy and adoption of a policy for protection and use of Company computer technology for business purposes only. On an annual basis, this Code is reviewed and signed by each Officer, Director, employee and strategic consultant with none of the amendments constituting a waiver of provision of the Code of Ethics on behalf of our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, or persons performing similar functions.
You may obtain a copy of this Code by visiting our web site at www.hemispherx.net (Investor Relations / Corporate Governance) or by written request to our office at 600 East Main Street, Riverton, NJ.
ITEM 11. Executive Compensation.
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
This discussion and analysis describes our executive compensation philosophy, process, plans and practices as they relate to our “Named Executive Officers” (“NEO”) listed below and gives the context for understanding and evaluating the more specific compensation information contained in the narratives, tables and related disclosures that follow. For the purposes of discussion and analysis, the following NEOs are included in the narratives, tables and related disclosures that follow:
| ● | Thomas K. Equels, Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and President; | |
| ● | Adam Pascale, Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”); and | |
| ● | Peter Rodino, General Counsel and Company Secretary (“CS”) |
Overview of Our Business Environment
Hemispherx is a specialty pharmaceutical company headquartered in Orlando, Florida and engaged in the clinical development of new drug therapies based on natural immune system enhancing technologies for the treatment of viral and immune based chronic disorders. We were first formed in 1966 and in the early 1970s were doing contract research for the National Institutes of Health. Since that time, we have established a strong foundation of laboratory, pre-clinical and clinical data with respect to the development of natural interferon and nucleic acids to enhance the natural antiviral defense system of the human body and to aid the development of therapeutic products for the treatment of certain chronic diseases.
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Our flagship products include Alferon N Injection® and the experimental therapeutic Ampligen®. Alferon N Injection® is approved for a category of STD infection, and Ampligen® represents an experimental RNA being developed for globally important viral diseases and disorders of the immune system. Hemispherx’ platform technology includes components for potential treatment of various severely debilitating and life threatening diseases.
Governance of Compensation Committee
The Compensation Committee consists of the following two directors, each of whom is “independent” under applicable NYSE American rules, a “Non-Employee Director” as defined in Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, and an “Outside Director” as defined under the U.S. Treasury regulations promulgated under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”): Dr. William Mitchell, M.D. (Chair) and Stewart L. Appelrouth. The Compensation Committee makes recommendations concerning salaries and compensation for senior management and other highly paid professionals or consultants to Hemispherx. The full text of the Compensation Committee’s Charter, as approved by the Board, is available on our website: www.hemispherx.net in the “Investor Relations” tab under “Corporate Governance”.
This Committee formally met two times in 2017 and all committee members were in attendance for the meetings with the exception of one meeting. Our General Counsel, Chief Financial Officer and Director of Human Resources support the Compensation Committee in its work.
Results of Stockholder Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation
At the September 13, 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, the Stockholders approved the annual, non-binding advisory vote on Executive Compensation.
Our Compensation Committee reviews its executive compensation policies annually and takes into account the results of prior say-on-pay advisory votes.
The Committee reviewed the results of the 2015 say-on-pay advisory vote and its executive compensation policies. In January 2016, in an effort to better incentivize top management and align top management’s compensation with their performance on behalf of the Company, the Committee created the 2016 Senior Executive Deferred Cash Performance Award Plan. See Item 7-Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Result of Operations; Liquidity and Capital Resources; The Executive Plan” in PART II.
Process
Our Compensation Committee is responsible for determining the compensation of our NEO included in the “Summary Compensation Table” below. For purposes of determining compensation for our NEO, our Compensation Committee takes into account the recommendation of our Chief Executive Officer. The Compensation Committee is also responsible for overseeing our incentive compensation plans and equity-based plans, under which stock option grants have been made to employees, including the NEO, as well as non-employee Directors and strategic consultants.
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The following table summarizes the roles of each of the key participants in the executive compensation decision-making process:
| Compensation Committee | ● | Fulfills the Board of Directors’ responsibilities relating to compensation of Hemispherx’ NEO, other non-officer Executives and non-Executives. |
| ● | Oversees implementation and administration of Hemispherx’ compensation and employee benefits programs, including incentive compensation and equity compensation plans. | |
| ● | Reviews and approves Hemispherx’ goals and objectives and, in light of these, evaluates each NEO’s performance and sets their annual base salary, annual incentive opportunity, long-term incentive opportunity and any special/supplemental benefits or payments. | |
| ● | Reviews and approves compensation for all other non-officer Executives of Hemispherx including annual base salary, annual incentive opportunity, long-term incentive opportunity and any special/supplemental benefits or payments. | |
| ● | In consultation with the CEO and CFO, reviews the talent development process within Hemispherx to ensure it is effectively managed and sufficient to undertake successful succession planning. | |
| ● | Reviews and approves employment agreements, severance arrangements, issuances of equity compensation and change in control agreements. | |
| Chairman and CEO | ● | Presents to the Compensation Committee the overall performance evaluation of, and compensation recommendations for, each of the NEO and other non-officer Executives. |
| Chief Financial Officer and | ● | Reports directly or indirectly to the Chief Executive Officer. |
| Director of Human Resources | ||
| ● | Assists the Compensation Committee with the data for competitive pay and benchmarking purposes. | |
| ● | Reviews relevant market data and advises the Compensation Committee on interpretation of information, including cost of living statistics, within the framework of Hemispherx. | |
| ● | Informs the Compensation Committee of regulatory developments and how these may affect Hemispherx’ compensation program. |
Objectives and Philosophy of Executive Compensation
The primary objectives of the Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors with respect to Executive compensation are to attract and retain the most talented and dedicated Executives possible, to tie annual and long-term cash and stock incentives to achievement of measurable performance objectives, and to align Executives’ incentives with stockholder value creation. To achieve these objectives, the Compensation Committee expects to implement and maintain compensation plans that tie a substantial portion of Executives’ overall compensation to key strategic financial and operational goals such as the establishment and maintenance of key strategic relationships, the development of our products, the identification and advancement of additional products and the performance of our common stock price. The Compensation Committee evaluates individual Executive performance with the goal of setting compensation at levels the Committee believes are comparable with Executives in other companies of similar size and stage of development operating in the biotechnology industry while taking into account our relative performance, our own strategic goals, governmental regulations and the results of Stockholder Advisory Votes regarding executive compensation.
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Use of Compensation Data
Our compensation plans are developed by utilizing publicly available compensation data for national and regional companies in the biopharmaceutical industry as well as web sites that specialize in compensation and/or employment data. We believe that the practices of this group of companies and/or data obtained from employment industry organizations, provide us with appropriate compensation benchmarks necessary to review the compensation recommendations by the CEO, CFO and/or Human Resources Department. Prior to 2016, the Committee did not engage the services of an independent compensation consultant, but alternatively utilized web-based organizations and databases such as Salary.com, to help them analyze compensation data and compare our programs with the practices of similar national and/or regional companies represented in the biopharmaceutical industry. In 2016, the Board of Directors, based upon the recommendation of the Compensation Committee, engaged Steven Hall Partners, an independent compensation consultant, to review and improve executive compensation arrangements and ensure they are in line with industry standards. The Compensation Committee recommended the consultant based upon candidates suggested to it by its independent counsel and will review performance of the independent consultant at least annually.
Elements of Executive Compensation
The Compensation Committee has adopted a mix among the compensation elements in order to further our compensation goals. The elements include:
| ● | Base salary (impacted by cost of living adjustments); | |
| ● | Variable compensation consisting of a cash bonus based upon individual and overall Company performance; | |
| ● | Performance incentive bonus based on the accomplishment of Company sales milestones or activity; | |
| ● | Long-term bonus incentive programs consisting of the Employee Bonus Pool Program; | |
| ● | Stock option grants with exercise prices set in excess of fair market value at the time of grant and not vesting sooner than one year from the date of issuance; and | |
| ● | Adoption of a policy to facilitate compliance with Dodd-Frank’s Claw-Back Compensation Recoupment provisions. |
Executive compensation consists of the following elements:
Base Salary
Base salaries for our Executives are established based on the scope of their responsibilities, taking into account competitive market compensation paid by other companies for similar positions. Generally, we believe that Executive base salaries should be targeted near the median of the range of salaries for executives in similar positions with similar responsibilities at comparable companies, in line with our compensation philosophy. For those NEO with employment agreements, base salary is determined and set forth in the agreement and the Compensation Committee reviews the base salary prior to renewal of such agreement. Base salaries for the other NEO are normally reviewed annually, and adjusted from time to time to realign salaries with market levels after taking into account individual responsibilities, performance and experience. While this review process would normally occur in the fourth quarter of each year, in recent years this review has occurred when NEO’s employment agreements required restatement, amendment or replacement. The Company compensation Committee did not authorized a non-discriminatory and universally applied cost of living increase to the base salaries of all full-time employees in the years December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015. Additional changes to our NEO’s base salaries could be undertaken in a future determination by the Compensation Committee at its discretion. During 2017 and 2016, none of the employment contracts of NEOs were created, amended or restated. Mr. Equels employment agreement automatically extended for an additional three-year period upon his original agreement expiring as of December 31, 2016. We are currently in negotiations with Mr. Equels on a new employment agreement. We are utilizing an independent compensation consultant for assistance in negotiating the terms and conditions of this agreement. Mr. Rodino does not currently have an employment agreement with the Company.
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Senior Executive and Director Compensation Deferral Plan and Employee Pay Reduction Plan
After reviewing our financial condition and anticipated needs to pursue our goals, our Board determined that we needed to find additional funding sources and reduce on-going expenses. To this end, on August 22, 2017, at the recommendation of the Compensation Committee, the Board authorized the Executive Compensation Deferral Plan, the Employee Pay Reduction Plan and the Directors’ Compensation Deferral Plan. Employees, executives and directors agreed to the Plans.
Pursuant to the Executive Compensation Deferral Plan, the following executives agreed to a 40% deferral of pay commencing for the first pay period in September 2017 and continuing until discontinued by the Board: Thomas Equels, Peter Rodino, Adam Pascale, Wayne Springate and Carol Smith. The deferred pay will be paid to these executive when determined by the Board. On February 13, 2018, the board issued to these executives common stock purchase options with an exercise price of $0.37 per shares, the closing price of the Common Stock on the NYSE American on August 25, 2017, for their agreement to defer compensation. The number of options was calculated by dividing the deferred salary amount by $0.37.
Pursuant to the Employee Pay Reduction Plan, employees agreed to receive their salaries 50% in cash and 50% in the form of common stock during each semi-monthly payroll period commencing with the first pay period of September 2017 and continuing until discontinued by the Board.
Pursuant to the Directors’ Compensation Deferral Plan, the Directors agreed to a 100% deferral of their Directors’ fees commencing for the first compensation pay period in September 2017 and continuing until discontinued by the Board. The deferred fees will be paid to the Directors when determined by the Board. The Board members received common stock purchase options with an exercise price of $0.37 per shares, the closing price of the Common Stock on the NYSE American on August 25, 2017, for their agreement to defer compensation. The number of options was calculated by dividing the deferred directors’ fee amount by $0.37.
Senior Executive Deferred Cash Performance Award Plan & Voluntary Incentive Stock Award Plan
The Executive Plan
The Executive Plan was established in January 2016 to both conserve cash and create appropriate incentives for senior executives to be rewarded based upon the performance of the Company. The two participants were Dr. William A. Carter, the Company’s former Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Scientific Officer, and Thomas K. Equels, the Company’s current Chief Executive Officer, President and Executive Vice Chairman of the Board. However, Dr. Carter’s participation in the Plan ended in February 2016 upon his termination of employment. The Executive Plan provided for a change to the amount to be withheld from salary and director’s fees (collectively, “Compensation”) of Mr. Equels for the 3-month period commencing February 1, 2016 for the semi-monthly payroll period ended February 15, 2016 (the “Initial Period”) and thereafter. For the payroll periods ended on February 15 and 29, 2016, 50% of Mr. Equels’ Compensation was withheld. For the remainder of the Initial Period, 100% of Mr. Equels’ Compensation was withheld. Following the Initial Period and during any period the Executive Plan is in effect, the percentage withheld from Mr. Equels’ Compensation was at least 50% thereof, provided that any amounts in excess of 50% would be as agreed upon by the Committee and Mr. Equels. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the amount of Compensation to be withheld during any periods commencing on and after March 1, 2016 did not include the amount necessary, on an after-tax basis, to fund applicable FICA, FUTA and other governmental welfare benefit taxes (both federal and state) and any health or other insured benefits for which Mr. Equels contributes to the cost.
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The Executive Plan was in effect for three months beginning with the commencement of the Employee Plan described below and was extended for additional periods of three months thereafter subject to termination by the Company with the approval of the Board. Mr. Equels participated during each three-month period the Executive Plan was in effect (each such period, an “Executive Plan Period”). By participating in the Executive Plan, Mr. Equels authorized the Company to withhold 50% of the sum of his salary, consulting and director’s fees on each semi-monthly payroll date (each, a “Withholding Date”) occurring during the applicable Executive Plan Period. The Company established and maintained a record of the dollar amount withheld on each Withholding Date (each, a “Withheld Dollar Amount”) and the closing price of a share of the Company’s common stock (the “Stock”) on the NYSE American on the last trading day preceding the Withholding Date (each, a “Base Stock Price”).
On the 9-month anniversary of each Withholding Date (each, a “Payment Date”), if the Payment Condition, as defined below, in respect of the Withheld Dollar Amount on such Withholding Date is satisfied, the Company would pay Mr. Equels an amount in cash (the “Performance Cash Payment”) equal to (a) the product of the applicable Withheld Dollar Amount multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which was the closing price of the Stock on the NYSE American for the last trading date preceding the Payment Date (a “Payment Stock Price”), and the denominator of which was the applicable Base Stock Price, less (b) the minimum withholding taxes due in respect of such payment. The Payment Condition was that the closing price of the Stock for at least five (5) successive trading days during the period beginning on the applicable Withholding Date and ending on the applicable Payment Date must have been at least $0.20 per share. If the Payment Condition was not fully satisfied with respect to a Withheld Dollar Amount then the Performance Cash Payment would be zero and Mr. Equels would lose the entire amount withheld. In 2016, Mr. Equels earned $131,000 in accordance with the Executive Plan, as the price of our stock was above $0.20 for 5 successive trading days.
The Executive Plan was administered and interpreted by the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee had the authority to make appropriate adjustments to the Base Stock Price and the Payment Stock Price to reflect stock splits and stock combinations.
The Employee Plan
Pursuant to the Employee Plan, all full-time employees and directors, other than Mr. Equels participated in the plan. The Employee Plan was in effect for three months commencing on February 1, 2016 and was extended for additional periods of three months thereafter subject to termination by the Company with the approval of the Board. Eligible employees and directors could elect to participate during any three-month period the Employee Plan was in effect (each, an “Employee Plan Period”) subject to election prior to the commencement of any such period Employees and Directors who elect to participate in the Employee Plan (the “Participants”) could elect to cease their participation at the end of any Employee Plan Period.
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Any employee earning salary at a rate of less than $75,000 per year made an Election discussed above, to participate by authorizing the Company to withhold, at the employee’s option, 10% or 20% of the employee’s salary during such Employee Plan Period.
Each Participant made an Election in writing to receive the Participant’s Amount, on the 6-month, 9-month or 12-month anniversary of each Withholding Date. In the absence of an election, the Participant was paid on the 6-month anniversary of the applicable Withholding Date.
On the anniversary date on which the Participant was paid in accordance with his or her election (the “Payment Date”), the Company determined, for tax withholding and basis purposes, the value of each Participant’s Amount for which payment was made. The value on the Payment Date was based on the closing price of a share of Stock on the NYSE American for the trading day preceding the Payment Date. On any date Stock was issued, the number of shares needed for sale to cover the related withholding taxes was determined by the Company and communicated to the Participant. Unless the Participant elects prior to the commencement of the applicable Employee Plan Period to pay the withholding tax dollar amount directly to the Company on or before the Payment Date, the Company will withhold the required minimum withholding tax from any amounts due the Participant on such Payment Date by either, in its discretion, (a) reducing the number of shares of Stock to be issued to the Participant by the number of shares of Stock having a value equal to the applicable withholding taxes or (b) causing to be sold on the open market that number of shares of Stock issued to the Participant which is necessary to fund the payment of the withholding tax.
The Employee Plan was administered and interpreted by the Compensation Committee and all full-time employees opted to participate in the Employee Plan.
Annual Bonus
Our compensation program includes eligibility for an annual performance-based cash bonus in the case of all NEO and certain senior, non-officer Executives. The amount of the cash bonus depends on the level of achievement of the stated corporate, department, and individual performance goals, with a target bonus generally set as a percentage of base salary. As provided in their respective employment agreements, during the year ended December 31, 2017, the following NEOs were eligible for an annual performance bonus based on their salaries, the amount of which, if any, is determined by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion based on the recommendation of the Compensation Committee:
| ● | Thomas Equels, CEO & President (bonus opportunity up to 25%); | |
| ● | Adam Pascale, Chief Financial Officer (bonus opportunity up to 25%). |
The Compensation Committee utilizes annual incentive bonuses to compensate NEO and certain senior, non-officer executives (the “Executive Team”) for attainment or success towards overall corporate financial and/or operational goals along with achieving individual annual performance objectives. These objectives will vary depending on the individual Executive, but generally relate to strategic factors such as establishment and/or maintenance of key strategic relationships, development of our products, identification, research and/or development of additional products, enhancing financial factors such as raising capital, cost containment and/or improving the results of operations. The Compensation Committee, in light of established individual and Company-wide goals and objectives, evaluated the performance of each NEO, key executive and overall staff in order to determine each respective annual incentive opportunity including an analysis by the Compensation Committee that provides the following information.
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| 1. | The Company-wide goals and objectives along with individual performance goals for each NEO used to determine annual bonuses for the fiscal year; | |
| 2. | How each goal individually or in totality was weighted, if applicable, to the extent that any of the performance goals were quantitatively and/or quantitatively measurable; | |
| 3. | The threshold, target, and maximum levels of achievement of each performance goal, if applicable; | |
| 4. | The intended relationship between the level of achievement of Company-wide performance goals and the amount of bonus to be awarded; | |
| 5. | The intended relationship between the level of achievement of each NEO’s individual performance goals and the amount of bonus to be awarded; | |
| 6. | The evaluation by the Committee of the level of achievement by each NEO of the Company-wide and individual performance goals applicable to him/her individually; | |
| 7. | If applicable, whether the Committee reviewed any report(s) from compensation consultant(s) and/or web based organizations and data bases; | |
| 8. | The adequate disclosure of the percentage of base salary awarded in the form of an incentive bonus to each NEO as a result of their or the Company’s performance; and | |
| 9. | If applicable, how the Company’s compensation policies and practices relate to the Company’s risk management. |
The Compensation Committee also undertook the initial steps to review and reestablish goals and objectives for the Executive Team regarding bonuses. On an overall basis, all bonus eligible member of the Executive Team would share the following Company-wide goals:
| A. | Regulatory approval and sales of Ampligen® for the treatment of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in any country or regional jurisdiction; | |
| B. | Significant regulatory advancement for the approval of Ampligen® for any non-CFS indication in any country jurisdiction. These indications include cancer vaccines, vaccines for infectious indications including bioterror/biowarfare, burns or other inducers of traumatic immunodeficiency; | |
| C. | Regulatory approval and sales of Alferon® for the treatment of any non-CFS indication in any country jurisdiction; | |
| D. | Any merger, acquisition, or partnership that quantitatively improves the value of the company; | |
| E. | Any governmental grant and/or contact, singly or in the aggregate for R & D or commercial product; | |
| F. | Continued productive interaction with the FDA concerning issues necessary for approval of Ampligen® for CFS; | |
| G. | Continued progress towards non-USA approval of Ampligen® for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome; | |
| H. | An overall strategic plan for Ampligen® and Alferon® to be submitted to the Board; | |
| I. | Strategic plans for the marketing and partners for Ampligen® to be submitted to the Board; | |
| J. | Continued development of enhancement of vaccines requiring Ampligen®; | |
| K. | Success in the protection of Company Intellectual Property; | |
| L. | Progress in the return to commercialization of Alferon N Injection®; | |
| M. | Continued development of Ampligen® and Alferon N Injection® for treatment of influenza; | |
| N. | Maintaining the overall financial strength of the Company and operations consistent with the budget; | |
| O. | Implementation of research & development partnerships; | |
| P. | Implementation of Ampligen® clinical trials in cancer with commercial partner(s); | |
| Q. | Implementation of Ampligen® clinical trials in cancer with academic partner(s); | |
| R. | Increase in clinical trials of Alferon N Injection® and additional indications; and, | |
| S. | Acquisition of complimentary pharmaceutical technologies and/or drugs/vaccines. |
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On an annual basis and at the sole discretion of the Compensation Committee, with input from the CEO or the Executive’s direct supervisor, the Committee evaluates the individual performance of each member of the Executive Team as to his/her achievement and/or contribution towards meeting the overall Company-wide goals along with his/her accomplishments specific to his/her job description. The outcome of the Committee’s analysis is utilized to determine if a bonus is warranted, and if so, the dollar amount or percentage of the Executive Team member’s year-end base pay rate to be awarded.
Prior to year-end or during the first fiscal quarter of the subsequent year, the Compensation Committee would complete their analysis utilizing any internal and external documentation desired, including but not limited to reports from independent analysts and/or corporate benchmarking organizations. Upon analysis completion, the Compensation Committee made formal recommendations to the Board based on their findings with regard to bonuses for the respective year ended. Due to the subjective nature of the Company-wide goals regarding the success and analysis of an Executive in meeting or exceeding elements of his/her specific job duties, the goals were not designed to be weighted in value or quantitative in nature. The bonuses were designed to be awarded based on a subjective cumulate nature of the goals deemed attainable, employee performance and progress towards achievement. The bonus threshold was designed to range from zero percent to twenty-five percent, with a target bonus of approximately twenty or twenty-five percent, calculated from the individual’s year-end base pay rate.
There were no Performance Bonuses granted and/or paid to the NEO’s for the years ended 2017, 2016 and 2015.
Employee Appraisal and Merit Bonus Program
In 2012, the Compensation Committee approved an Employee Appraisal and Merit Bonus Program for those employees not eligible for the key employee annual bonus. This Program incorporates a team concept by conducting appraisals for eligible employees in each department throughout the calendar year and then averaging the total scores per department in order to determine year-end, department-wide merit bonuses. This Program is annually renewed and at the ultimate discretion of the Compensation Committee based on various factors, including the Company’s overall accomplishment of milestones and access to Working Capital.
For the years ended 2017, 2016 and 2015, no bonuses related to this program were granted to employees.
Executive Performance Incentive Bonus
As an element of his employment contract, Thomas Equels (Executive Vice Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President) is eligible for a performance incentive bonus based on a percent, 5.0% of the Gross Proceeds paid to the Company as a result of sales of Alferon N Injection®, Ampligen® or other Company products, or from any joint ventures or corporate partnering arrangements. For bonus purposes, Gross Proceeds is defined as cash amounts paid to the Company by the other parties to the joint venture or corporate partnering arrangement, but shall not include any amounts paid to the Company as reimbursement of expenses incurred; and any amounts paid to the Company in consideration for the Company’s assets (i.e., plant, property, equipment, investments, etc.), equity or other securities. After the termination of this Agreement, for any reason, Mr. Equels shall be entitled to receive the incentive bonus based upon Gross Proceeds received by the Company during the three-year period commencing on the termination of their Agreement with respect to any joint ventures or corporate partnering arrangements entered into by the Company during the term of the Agreement. Furthermore, Mr. Equels shall be entitled to a 5% bonus related to any sale of the Company, or any sale of a substantial portion of Company assets not in the ordinary course of its business. The aggregate incentive bonus hereunder as set forth above shall be capped not to exceed $5,000,000 annually.
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On November 23, 2015, Mr. Equels waived his rights under his respective employment agreement to any future payment of any incentive bonus related to the sale of the Company’s stock or other securities by, or on behalf of, the Company pursuant to the Maxim Equity Distribution Agreement or any similar or successor ATM equity distribution agreement including the Chardan Agreement. For the years ended 2017, 2016 and 2015, compensation was granted or paid related to the Executive Performance Incentive Program, as set forth in Section 3(c)(ii) of his respective Employment Agreement, for approximately $0, $0, and $262,000 to Mr. Equels. In addition, Mr. Equels received in 2016 and 2017, as set forth in Section 3(c)(ii) of his Employment Agreement, $39,000 and $22,000, respectively, for 5% of the Ampligen® cost recovery sales.
Long-Term Bonus Incentive Programs
The Compensation Committee believes that team oriented performance by our NEO, non-officer Executive officers and all employees, consistent with our short and long-term goals, can be achieved through the use of goal or result oriented bonus programs. For the year ending 2016, the Employee Bonus Pool Program continued to exist to provide our employees, including our NEO and certain senior, non-officer Executives, with incentives to help align their financial interests with that of Hemispherx and its stockholders. For the year ending 2017, no compensation was granted or paid in relation to Long-Term Bonus Programs.
Base Pay Supplement and Employee Bonus Pool Programs
All Participants in the Employee Plan and Executive Plan created in January 2016 will be awarded an amount (the “Approval Award”) equal to 30% of the pre-tax amount of their base annual salary as then in effect upon FDA Approval of Ampligen® (the “Approval”). The Approval Award will be paid within three months following the Approval. In addition, all Participants in either plan will be awarded an amount (the “Pre-Approval Award”) equal to 30% of the pre-tax amount of their annual salary as then in effect upon the successful pre-approval inspection by the FDA of the Alferon® facility (the “Pre-Approval”). The Pre-Approval Award will be paid within three months following the Pre-Approval. A Participant will not qualify for the Approval or Pre-Approval Award if the Participant’s employment is terminated prior to such Approval or Pre-Approval due to (i) termination by the Company for Cause or (ii) voluntary termination by the Participant. See Item 7-Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Result of Operations; Liquidity and Capital Resources; Base Pay Supplement” in PART II.
An element of the prior 2009’s Employee Wage or Hours Reduction Program was the establishment of a Bonus Pool (the “Pool”) in the case of FDA Approval (“Approval”) of Ampligen®. This bonus is to award to each employee of record at January 1, 2009 a pretax sum of 30% in wages, calculated on their base salary per annum compensation at the time of the Approval, and awarded within three months of Approval. Participants who terminate their employment prior to the Approval will not qualify for this bonus. For the year ended 2017, no compensation was granted or paid related to the Employee Bonus Pool Program.
Stock Options
The Compensation Committee believes that long-term performance is achieved through an ownership culture that encourages such performance by our NEO, non-officer Executives and all employees through the use of stock and stock-based awards. Our stock plans have been established to provide our employees, including our NEO and senior non-officer Executives, with incentives to help align their interests with the interests of stockholders. Accordingly, the Compensation Committee believes that the use of stock and stock-based awards offers the best approach to achieving long-term performance goals because:
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| ● | Stock options align the interests of Executives and employees with those of the stockholders, support a pay-for-performance culture, foster employee stock ownership, and focus the management team on increasing value for the stockholders; | |
| ● | Stock options are performance based. All the value received by the recipient of a stock option is based on the growth of the stock price; and | |
| ● | Stock options help to provide a balance to the overall executive compensation program as base salary and our discretionary annual bonus program focus on short-term compensation. |
We have historically elected, and continue to use, stock options as the primary long-term equity incentive vehicle. We have adopted stock ownership guidelines and our stock compensation plans have provided the principal method, other than through direct investment for our executives to acquire equity in our Company. The Compensation Committee believes that the annual aggregate value of these awards should be set near competitive median levels for comparable companies. However, in the early stage of our business, we provided a greater portion of total compensation to our Executives through our stock compensation plans than through cash-based compensation.
In determining the number of stock options to be granted to NEO, non-officer Executives and employees, we take into account the individual’s position, scope of responsibility, ability to affect profits and stockholder value and the individual’s historic and recent performance and the value of stock options in relation to other elements of the individual’s total compensation.
Our stock plans authorize us to grant options to purchase shares of common stock to our NEO, employees, Directors and consultants. Our Compensation Committee oversees the administration of our stock option plan. The Compensation Committee reviews and recommends approval by our Board of Directors of stock option awards to NEO based upon a review of competitive compensation data, its assessment of individual performance, a review of each Executive’s existing long-term incentives and retention considerations. Periodic stock option grants are made at the discretion of the Board of Directors upon recommendation of the Compensation Committee to eligible NEO and employees and, in appropriate circumstances, the Compensation Committee considers the recommendations of the CEO.
As a reinforcement to employees that one of the Company’s priorities continues to be that of increasing shareholder value, the Compensation Committee and Board have historically granted the replacement of expired stock options to all current employees at the same number of shares and exercise price as had been originally issued.
Effective as of December 2011, the Compensation Committee mandated that the standard terms of options to be issued to individuals in their role as Company employees to require that such options not vest sooner than one year from the date of issuance and that, to the extent that any such options have not vested on the date of an Executive’s termination, the options shall be void as to such unvested portion.
The following Options were issued to NEO in their role as employees during 2017:
| ● | During 2017, we granted to Thomas K. Equels, Chief Executive Officer, consistent with his employment agreement 300,000 ten year options to purchase common stock with an exercise price of $0.56 per share which vest in one year and 113,135 ten year options with exercise prices of $0.36 to $0.49 which vest in three years for a 20% reduction in salary; and |
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| ● | During 2017, we granted 37,712 ten year options to purchase common stock with exercise prices of $0.36 to $0.49 per share which vest in three years to Adam Pascale, Chief Financial Officer for a 20% reduction in salary; and | |
| ● | During 2017, we granted 52,796 ten year options to purchase common stock with exercise prices of $0.36 to $0.49 per share which vest in three years to Peter Rodino, General Counsel and Company Secretary for a 20% reduction in salary. |
The following Options were issued to NEO in their role as employees during 2016:
| ● | On June 8, 2016, we granted options to Thomas K. Equels, Chief Executive Officer, consistent with his employment agreement 25,000 ten year options to purchase common stock at $1.68 per share which vest in entirety in one year; and | |
| ● | On June 21, 2016, we granted 12,500 ten year options to purchase common stock at $1.56 per share which vest in entirety in one year options to Dr. Strayer, Chief Scientific Officer and Chief Medical Officer; and | |
| ● | On June 21, 2016, we granted 12,500 ten year options to purchase common stock at $1.56 per share which vest in entirety in one year options to Adam Pascale, Chief Financial Officer; |
The following Options were issued to NEO in their role as employees during 2015:
| ● | On June 6, 2015, we granted options to Thomas K. Equels, Chief Executive Officer, consistent with his employment agreement 25,000 ten year options to purchase common stock at $3.00 per share which vest in entirety in one year. |
The Equity Incentive Plan of 2009 authorizes the grant of non-qualified and incentive stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock and other stock awards. A maximum of 15,000,000 shares of common stock is reserved for potential issuance pursuant to awards under the Equity Incentive Plan of 2009. In September 2015, the Company’s stockholders approved the following amendments to the 2009 Plan: (1) increased the number of shares authorized to be issued under the Equity Incentive Plan from 15,000,000 to 22,000,000; (2) required a gradual vesting period of options issued under the Equity Incentive Plan over a one year period; (3) revised the definition of “change in control” to make it less “liberal” by amending the provision that a change in control occurs upon stockholder approval of a merger, consolidation or sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of its assets (a “Business Combination”) to state that such a change in control occurs upon the consummation of the Business Combination; and (4) clarified that the definition of change in control has a double trigger – For a Participant to get the benefit resulting from a change in control, such Participant must have been terminated other than for cause within a two year period. Unless sooner terminated, the Equity Incentive Plan of 2009 will continue in effect for a period of 10 years from its effective date.
Claw-Back Compensation Recoupment Provisions
Effective December 2011, all Executive compensation including and without limitation to base salary, bonuses, stock options, and fringe benefits, shall be subject to recoupment from the Employee by the Company pursuant to the Company’s Executive Compensation Recoupment Policies adopted December 1, 2011, as may be amended by the Company’s Board of Directors from time to time to remain in compliance with the claw-back compensation recoupment provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act.
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Other Compensation
We provide the following benefits to our NEO generally on the same bases as benefits provided to all full-time employees:
| ● | Health, vision and dental insurance; | |
| ● | Life insurance; | |
| ● | Short and long-term disability insurance; and | |
| ● | 401(k) with Company’s ability to match of up to 6% of employee’s contribution or to the extent of IRS regulations, whichever is lower. |
The Compensation Committee believes that these benefits are consistent with those offered by other companies, specifically those provided by our peers. Occasionally, certain Executives separately negotiate other benefits in addition to the benefits described above. The following additional benefits were provided to an NEO as an element of his respective employment:
Thomas Equels, CEO:
| ● | Automobile allowance; | |
| ● | Predetermined allowance for the Company’s utilization of Florida offices of Equels Law Firm; | |
| ● | Reimbursement of home office, computer, internet, phone and telefax expenses; | |
| ● | Health, vision and dental insurance fully paid by the Company; and | |
| ● | Supplementary life and disability insurance policies. |
401(k) Plan
In December 1995, we established a defined contribution plan, effective January 1, 1995, entitled the Hemispherx Biopharma employees 401(k) Plan and Trust Agreement. All of our full-time employees are eligible to participate in the 401(k) plan following one year of employment. Subject to certain limitations imposed by Federal Tax laws, participants are eligible to contribute up to 15% of their salary (including bonuses and/or commissions) per annum. Through March 14, 2008, Participants’ contributions to the 401(k) plan were matched by Hemispherx at a rate determined annually by the Board of Directors. Each participant immediately vests in his or her deferred salary contributions, while our contributions will vest over one year.
Effective March 15, 2008 and continuing through December 31, 2009, we halted our matching of 401(k) contributions provided to the account for each eligible participant. Effective January 1, 2010, our Compensation Committee reestablished Hemispherx’ 100% matching of up to 6% of the 401(k) contributions provided to the account for each eligible participant, to the dollar extent permitted by IRS regulations, including without exception each eligible Named Executive Officer. We halted our matching of 401(k) contributions as of January 1, 2016.
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Severance
In determining whether to approve and setting the terms of severance arrangements, the Compensation Committee recognizes that Executives, especially highly ranked Executives, often face challenges securing new employment following termination. Upon termination of employment, the following NEO currently are entitled to receive severance payments under their employment and/or engagement agreements:
| ● | Thomas K. Equels, Executive Vice Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President. |
The Compensation Committee believes that severance agreements provided to these individuals are generally in line with severance packages offered to executive officers of companies of similar size. Alternately, Peter Rodino and Adam Pascale are currently not covered under an existing severance agreement. Any severance benefits payable to them under similar circumstances would be determined by the Compensation Committee in its discretion. See “Estimated Payments Following Severance — Named Executive Officers”.
Conclusion
Our compensation policies are designed to retain and motivate our Executive Officers, other non-officer Executives and non-Executives and to ultimately reward them for outstanding individual and corporate performance.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT
The Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors oversees our compensation program on behalf of the Board. In fulfilling its oversight responsibilities, the Committee reviewed and discussed with Management the Executive Compensation Discussion and Analysis set forth in this Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017.
In reliance on the review and discussions referred to above, the Committee recommended to the Board that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 and Hemispherx’ Proxy Statement to be filed in connection with Hemispherx’ 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
Dr. William M. Mitchell, Committee Chairman
Stewart L. Appelrouth
The foregoing Compensation Committee report shall not be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, and shall not otherwise be deemed filed under these acts, except to the extent we incorporate by reference into such filings.
Compliance with Internal Revenue Code Section 162(m) and 409A & 409(b)
One of the factors the Compensation Committee considers in connection with compensation matters is the anticipated tax treatment to Hemispherx and to the Executives of the compensation arrangements. The deductibility of certain types of compensation depends upon the timing of an executive’s vesting in, or exercise of, previously granted rights. Moreover, interpretation of, and changes in, the tax laws and other factors beyond the Compensation Committee’s control also affect the deductibility of compensation. Accordingly, the Compensation Committee will not necessarily limit executive compensation to that deductible under Section 162(m) or 409A & 409(b) of the Code. The Compensation Committee will consider various alternatives to preserving the deductibility of compensation payments and benefits to the extent consistent with its other compensation objectives.
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COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
Our Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, consisting of Dr. William M. Mitchell, the Committee Chair, and Stewart L. Appelrouth are independent directors. There are no interlocking relationships.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The following table provides information on the compensation during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 of our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and Peter Rodino, General Counsel and Company Secretary constituting the Company’s Named Executive Officers, based on the year ended 2017 for each fiscal year.
Summary Compensation Table
| Name & Principal Position | Year | Salary
/ Fees (2)(3) |
Bonus | Stock
Awards |
Option
Awards (1) |
Non-Equity
Incentive Plan Compensation |
Change
in Pension Valued and NQDC Earnings ($) |
All
Other Compensation |
Total
(3) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Thomas K. Equels | 2017 | $ | 712,500 | $ | 22,067 | (3) | $ | 174,052 | (1) | — | — | $ | 78,604 | (4) | $ | 987,223 | ||||||||||||||||||
| CEO & President (2) (3) | 2016 | $ | 503,081 | $ | 170,261 | (3) | — | $ | 27,297 | (1) | — | — | $ | 84,521 | (4) | $ | 785,160 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2015 | $ | 719,273 | $ | 262,092 | (3) | — | $ | 45,518 | (1) | — | — | $ | 94,971 | (4) | $ | 1,121,854 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Adam Pascale | 2017 | $ | 234,500 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 12,501 | — | — | $ | 48,379 | (6) | $ | 295,380 | ||||||||||||||||||
| CFO | 2016 | $ | 190,767 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 12,590 | — | — | $ | 32,037 | (6) | $ | 235,394 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2015 | $ | 154,000 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | — | — | $ | 38,264 | (6) | $ | 192,264 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Peter Rodino | 2017 | $ | 332,500 | $ | — | — | $ | 17,500 | — | — | $ | 48,656 | (5) | $ | 398,656 | |||||||||||||||||||
| General | 2016 | $ | 208,500 | $ | — | — | $ | 12,590 | — | — | $ | — | (5) | $ | 221,090 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Counsel and Secretary | 2015 | $ | 182,462 | $ | — | — | $ | — | — | — | $ | — | (5) | $ | 182,462 | |||||||||||||||||||
Notes:
| (1) | Mr. Equels transitioned from the role of external to internal General Counsel and Litigation Counsel effective June 1, 2010 with an Employment Agreement of June 11, 2010, which was amended on July 15, 2010, then amended and restated December 6, 2011, that granted him the annual Option to purchase 300,000 shares of Hemispherx common stock as an element of his Employment Agreement. |
| All option awards were valued using the Black-Scholes method. | |
| (2) | For Named Executive Officers, who are also Directors that receive compensation for their services as a Director, the Salary/Fees and Option Awards columns include compensation that was received by them for their role as a member of the Board of Directors. As is required by Regulation S-K, Item 402(c), compensation for services as a Director have been reported within the “Summary Compensation Table” (above) for fiscal years of 2017, 2016 and 2015 as well as reported separately in the “Compensation of Directors” section (see below) for calendar year 2017. |
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| (3) | On November 26, 2012, the Compensation Committee authorized the payment of a bonus of 5% on the net dollar proceeds resulting from the sale of Company stock sold through the Maxim ATM to Mr. Equels based on the contractual obligation and opinion of independent legal counsel, as set forth in Section 3(c)(ii) of his Employment Agreement. Amounts include for 2014, 2015 and 2016, compensation was granted or paid to Mr. Equels, pursuant to this bonus. On November 23, 2015, he waived his rights to any future payments of any incentive bonuses related to the sale of the Company’s stock pursuant to any ATM equity distribution agreement. In December 2016, the Compensation Committee authorized a bonus of $39,419 for 5% of Ampligen® sales for the last 5 years, as stated in Thomas Equels’ employment contract and the payment of $130,842, as stated in the 2016 Senior Executive Deferred Cash Performance Award Plan for achieving the Company stock price of $0.20 for 5 successive trading days. In 2017, a bonus of 5% of Ampligen® sales for 2017 was granted as stated in Thomas Equels’ employment contract. |
| For 2017, salaries for Messrs. Equels, Pascale and Rodino include 40% deferred salaries of $100,000, $33,333 and $46,667, respectively, starting from September 1, 2017. | |
| (4) | Mr. Equels’ All Other Compensation consists of: |
| 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | ||||||||||
| Life and Disability Insurance | $ | 26,837 | $ | 36,640 | $ | 31,429 | ||||||
| Healthcare Insurance | 33,767 | 29,881 | 29,942 | |||||||||
| Car Expenses / Allowance | 18,000 | 18,000 | 18,000 | |||||||||
| 401(k) Matching Funds | — | — | 15,600 | |||||||||
| $ | 78,604 | $ | 84,521 | $ | 94,971 | |||||||
| (5) | Mr. Rodino’s All Other Compensation consists of: |
| 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | ||||||||||
| Life and Disability Insurance | $ | 2,504 | $ | $ | — | |||||||
| Healthcare Insurance | 31,752 | — | ||||||||||
| Car Expenses / Allowance | 14,400 | — | — | |||||||||
| 401(k) Matching Funds | — | — | — | |||||||||
| $ | 48,656 | $ | $ | — | ||||||||
| (6) | Mr. Pascale’s All Other Compensation consists of: |
| 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | ||||||||||
| Life and Disability Insurance | $ | 2,212 | $ | 3,373 | $ | 3,353 | ||||||
| Healthcare Insurance | 31,767 | 28,664 | 25,671 | |||||||||
| Car Expenses / Allowance | 14,400 | — | — | |||||||||
| 401(k) Matching Funds | - | - | 9,240 | |||||||||
| $ | 48,379 | $ | 32,037 | $ | 38,264 | |||||||
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Grants of Plan Based Awards
| Estimated Future Payouts Under Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards (1) | Estimated Future Payouts Under Equity Incentive Plan Awards | All Other Stock Awards: Number of Shares of Stock or | All Other Option Awards: Number of Securities of Underlying | Exercise or Base Price of Option | Grant Date Fair Value of Stock and Option | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Name | Grant Date
(2) |
Threshold ($) | Target ($) | Maximum
($) |
Threshold ($) | Target ($) | Maximum ($) | Units (#) | Options (#)(2) | Awards ($/Sh) | Awards ($) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Thomas Equels, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CEO & President | 6/6/2017 | — | 142,500 | 178,125 | — | 136,551 | (3) | 113,135 | $0.36-0.49 .49 | $ | 37,500 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Adam Pascale, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CFO | — | 46,900 | 58,625 | — | — | — | — | 37,714 | $0.36-0.49 | $ | 12,500 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Peter Rodino, | — | 66,500 | 83,125 | — | — | — | — | 52,796 | $0.36-0.49 | $ | 17,500 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| General Counsel and Secretary | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Notes:
| (1) | For 2017, the Compensation Committee continued its practice of not establishing or estimating possible future payouts to the NEO under a Cash Bonus Plan. All Bonuses are at the discretion of the Compensation Committee. Utilizing existing Employment Agreements as a benchmark and the respective employees’ Base Salary at January 1, 2017, the “Target” was estimated at 20% of the Base Salary and “Maximum” was estimated at 25% of Base Salary. | |
| (2) | Consists of stock options granted during 2017 under our 2009 Equity Incentive Plan. The stock options have a ten-year term and an exercise price equal to the NYSE American closing market price of our common stock on the date of grant. The value was obtained using the Black-Scholes-Merton pricing model for stock-based compensation in accordance with FASB ASC 718 (formerly SFAS 123R). | |
| (3) | Consists of stock options contractually required per the NEO’s respective Employment Agreement to be granted during 2017 under our 2009 Equity Incentive Plan. The stock options have a ten-year term and an exercise price equal to 110% of the NYSE American closing market price of our common stock on the date of grant. For the purpose of this schedule, a NYSE American closing price at December 31, 2017 of $0.35 was assumed with an estimated exercise price of $0.56 for Mr. Equels. The value was obtained using the Black-Scholes-Merton pricing model for stock-based compensation in accordance with FASB ASC 718 (formerly SFAS 123R). |
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Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End
| Option Awards | Stock Awards | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Name | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Exercisable | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Unexercisable | Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Unearned Options (#) | Option Exercise Price ($) | Option Expiration Date | Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested (#) | Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested ($) | Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested (#) | Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Market or Payout Value of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights that Have Not Vested (#) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Thomas | 25,000 | — | — | 7.92 | 6/11/2020 | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Equels, | 25,000 | — | — | 4.92 | 6/24/2021 | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| President and Chief | 8,333 | — | — | 3.48 | 6/6/2022 | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Executive Officer | 25,000 | — | — | 3.72 | 6/11/2022 | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 25,000 | — | — | 3.72 | 6/6/2023 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12,500 | — | — | 3.00 | 8/2/2023 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 25,000 | — | — | 4.32 | 6/6/2024 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 25,000 | — | — | 3.00 | 6/8/2025 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 25,000 | — | — | 1.68 | 6/8/2026 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| — | 300,000 | — | 0.56 | 6/8/2027 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| — | 14,212 | — | 0.49 | 6/15/2027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| — | 14,214 | — | 0.49 | 6/30/2027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| — | 18,124 | — | 0.48 | 7/15/2027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| — | 20,786 | — | 0.42 | 7/31/2027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| — | 21,336 | — | 0.41 | 8/15/2027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| — | 24,463 | — | 0.36 | 8/31/2027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| — | 371,622 | — | 0.37 | 2/13/2028 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Adam | 417 | — | — | 48.00 | 9/17/18 | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pascale, | 500 | — | — | 48.36 | 4/13/2022 | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chief Financial | 4,167 | — | — | 3.96 | 7/8/2024 | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Officer | 12,500 | — | — | 1.56 | 6/21/2026 | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| — | 4,736 | — | 0.49 | 6/15/2027 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| — | 7,738 | — | 0.49 | 6/30/2027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| — | 6,042 | — | 0.48 | 7/15/2027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| — | 6,929 | — | 0.42 | 7/31/2027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| — | 7,112 | — | 0.41 | 8/15/2027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| — | 8,155 | — | 0.36 | 8/31/2027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| — | 123,874 | — | 0.37 | 2/13/2028 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Peter | 12,500 | — | — | 3.00 | 8/2/2023 | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rodino, | 12,500 | — | — | 1.56 | 6/21/2026 | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| General Counsel and Secretary | 6,632 | 6,632 | — | 0.49 | 6/15/2027 | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| — | 6,633 | — | 0.49 | 6/30/2027 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| — | 8,458 | — | 0.48 | 7/15/2027 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| — | 9,700 | — | 0.42 | 7/31/2027 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| — | 9,957 | — | 0.41 | 8/15/2027 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| — | 11,416 | — | 0.36 | 8/31/2027 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| — | 173,423 | — | 0.37 | 2/13/2028 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Option Exercises and Stock Vested
| Option Awards | Stock Awards | |||||||||||||||
| Name and Principal Position | Number of Shares Acquired on Exercise (#) | Value
Realized on Exercise ($) |
Number of Shares Acquired on Vesting (#) | Value
Realized on Vesting ($) |
||||||||||||
| Thomas K. Equels, | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
| CEO & President | ||||||||||||||||
| Adam Pascale, | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
| CFO | ||||||||||||||||
| Peter Rodino, | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
General Counsel and Secretary |
||||||||||||||||
Payments on Disability
At December 31, 2017, we had an employment agreement with Mr. Equels which entitled him Base Salary and applicable benefits otherwise due and payable through the last day of the month in which disability occurs and for an additional twelve-month period. Each current NEO, including Mr. Pascale and Mr. Rodino, has the same short and long-term disability coverage which is available to all eligible employees. The coverage for short-term disability provides up to six months of full salary continuation up to 60% of weekly pay, less other income, with a $1,500 weekly maximum limit. The coverage for group long-term disability provides coverage at the exhaustion of short-term disability benefits of full salary continuation up to 60% of monthly pay, less other income, with a $10,000 monthly maximum limit. The maximum benefit period for the group long-term disability coverage is 60 months for those age 60 and younger at the time of the claim with the coverage period proportionately reduced with the advanced age of the eligible employee to a minimum coverage period of 12 months for those of 69 years old and older as of the date of the claim. For the period June 2010 through 2017 pursuant to his respective employment agreement and payable by us, Mr. Equels is entitled to receive total disability coverage of $400,000.
Payments on Death
At December 31, 2017, we had an employment agreement with Mr. Equels which entitled him Base Salary and applicable benefits otherwise due and payable through the last day of the month in which death occurs and for an additional twelve-month period. Each NEO, including Mr. Pascale and Mr. Rodino, has coverage of group life insurance, along with accidental death and dismemberment benefits, consistent to the dollar value available to all eligible employees. The benefit is equal to two times current salary or wage with a maximum limit of $300,000, plus any supplemental life insurance elected and paid for by the NEO. For the period June 2010 and through 2017 pursuant to his respective employment agreements and payable by us, Mr. Equels is entitled to receive total death benefit coverage of $3,000,000.
Estimated Payments Following Severance — Named Executive Officers
At December 31, 2017, we had an employment agreement with Mr. Equels which entitled him to severance benefits on certain types of employment terminations not related to a change in control. Mr. Rodino and Mr. Pascale are not covered by an employment severance agreement and therefore would only receive severance as determined by the Compensation Committee in its discretion.
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The dollar amounts below assume that the termination occurred on January 1, 2018. The actual dollar amounts to be paid can only be determined at the time of the NEO’s separation from Hemispherx based on their prevailing compensation and employment agreements along with any determination by the Compensation Committee in its discretion.
| Name | Event | Cash
Severance ($) |
Value
of Stock Awards That Will Become Vested (1) ($) |
Continuation
of Medical Benefits ($) |
Additional
Life Insurance ($) |
Total ($) |
||||||||||||||||
| Thomas K. Equels, | Involuntary (no cause) | $ | 768,000 | $ | 136,551 | — | — | $ | 904,551 | |||||||||||||
| CEO & President | Termination (for cause) | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||
| Death or disability | $ | 768,000 | $ | 136,551 | — | — | $ | 904,551 | ||||||||||||||
| Termination by employee or retirement | $ | 768,000 | $ | 136,551 | — | — | $ | 904,551 | ||||||||||||||
| Adam Pascale | Involuntary (no cause) | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||
| CFO | Termination (for cause) | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||
| Death or disability | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
| Termination by employee or retirement | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
| Peter Rodino | Involuntary (no cause) | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||
| General Counsel and Secretary | Termination (for cause) | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||
| Death or disability | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
| Termination by employee or retirement | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
Notes:
| (1) | Consists of stock options contractually required per the employee’s respective Employment Agreement to be granted during each calendar year of the term under our 2009 Equity Incentive Plan. The stock options have a ten-year term and an exercise price equal to 110% of the closing market price of our common stock on the date of grant. For the purpose of this schedule, a NYSE American closing price at December 31, 2017 of $0.35 was utilized with an estimated exercise price of $0.56. The value was obtained using the Black-Scholes-Merton pricing model for stock-based compensation in accordance with FASB ASC 718 (formerly SFAS 123R). |
Payments on Termination in Connection with a Change in Control Named Executive Officers
At December 31, 2017, we had an employment agreement with Mr. Equels which entitled him to severance benefits on certain types of employment terminations related to a change in control thereby the term of his respective agreement would automatically be extended for three additional years. Mr. Rodino and Mr. Pascale are not covered by employment severance agreement and therefore would only receive severance from a change in control as determined by the Compensation Committee in its discretion. Any specific benefits for these two NEO would be determined by the Compensation Committee in its discretion.
The dollar amounts in the chart below assume that change in control termination occurred on January 1, 2018, based on the employment agreements that existed at that time. The actual dollar amounts to be paid can only be determined at the time of the NEO’s separation from Hemispherx based on their prevailing compensation and employment agreements along with any determination by the Compensation Committee in its discretion.
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Estimated Benefits on Termination Following a Change in Control — December 31, 2017
The following table shows potential payments to the NEO if employment terminates following a change in control under contracts, agreements, plans or arrangements at December 31, 2017. The amounts assume a January 1, 2018 termination date regarding base pay and use of the opening price of $___ on the NYSE American for our common stock at that date.
| Name | Aggregate Severance Pay ($) | PVSU Acceleration (2) ($) | Early Vesting of Restricted Stock (4) (5) ($) | Early Vesting of Stock Options and SARs (3) ($) | Acceleration and Vesting of Supplemental Award (5) ($) | Welfare Benefits Continuation ($) | Outplacement Assistance ($) | Parachute Tax Gross-up Payment ($) | Total ($) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Thomas K. Equels | 1,536,000 | (1) | — | — | — | $ | 273,102 | (4) | — | — | — | $ | 1,809,102 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Adam Pascale | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Peter Rodino | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Notes:
| (1) | This amount represents the base salary and benefits for remaining term of the NEO’s employment agreement plus a three-year extension in the term upon the occurrence of a termination from a change in control. The employment agreement with Mr. Equels had a term through December 31, 2016; however, this was automatically extended for an additional three-year period through December 31, 2019. | |
| (2) | This amount represents the payout of all outstanding performance-vesting share units (“PVSU”) awarded on a change in control at the target payout level with each award then pro-rated based on the time elapsed for the applicable three-year performance period. | |
| (3) | This amount is the intrinsic value [fair market value on January 1, 2018 ($0.35 per share) minus the per share exercise price of 110%] of all unvested stock options for each NEO, including Stock Appreciation Rights (“SAR”). Any option with an exercise price of greater than fair market value was assumed to be cancelled for no consideration and, therefore, had no intrinsic value. | |
| (4) | This amount represents the options to be issued annually for the remaining term of the NEO’s employment agreement plus a three-year extension in the occurrence of termination from a change in control. The calculation was based on a NYSE American closing price for December 31, 2017 of $0.35 with an estimated exercise price of $0.56 (110% prior NYSE American closing value). The value was obtained using the Black-Scholes-Merton pricing model for stock-based compensation in accordance with FASB ASC 718 (formerly SFAS 123R). | |
| (5) | Any purchase rights represented by the Option not then vested shall, upon a change in control, shall become vested. |
Definition of “Change in Control” for each agreement, a “Change in Control” is defined generally as any such event that requires a report to the SEC, but includes any of the following:
| ● | Any person or entity other than Hemispherx, any of our current Directors or Officers or a Trustee or fiduciary holding our securities, becomes the beneficial owner of more than 50% of the combined voting power of our outstanding securities; | |
| ● | An acquisition, sale, merger or other transaction that results in a change in ownership of more than 50% of the combined voting power of our stock or the sale/transfer of more than 75% of our assets; | |
| ● | A change in the majority of our Board of Directors over a two-year period that is not approved by at least two-thirds of the Directors then in office who were Directors at the beginning of the period; or | |
| ● | Execution of an agreement with Hemispherx, which if consummated, would result in any of the above events. |
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Definition of “Constructive Termination”. A “Constructive Termination” generally includes any of the following actions taken by Hemispherx without the Executive’s written consent following a change in control:
| ● | Significantly reducing or diminishing the nature or scope of the executive’s authority or duties; | |
| ● | Materially reducing the executive’s annual salary or incentive compensation opportunities; | |
| ● | Changing the executive’s office location so that he must commute more than 50 miles, as compared to his commute as of the date of the agreement; | |
| ● | Failing to provide substantially similar fringe benefits, or substitute benefits that were substantially similar taken as a whole, to the benefits provided as of the date of the agreement; or | |
| ● | Failing to obtain a satisfactory agreement from any successor to Hemispherx to assume and agree to perform the obligations under the agreement. |
However, no constructive termination occurs if the executive:
| ● | Fails to give us written notice of his intention to claim constructive termination and the basis for that claim at least 10 days in advance of the effective date of the executive’s resignation; or | |
| ● | We cure the circumstances giving rise to the constructive termination before the effective date of the executive’s resignation. |
Available Information
Our Internet website is www.hemispherx.net and you may find our SEC filings in the “Investor Relations” under “SEC Filings”. We provide access to our filings with the SEC, free of charge through www.sec.gov, as soon as reasonably practicable after filing with the SEC. Our Internet website and the information contained on that website, or accessible from our website, is not intended to be incorporated into this Annual Report on Form 10-K or any other filings we make with the SEC.
Post-Employment Compensation
We have an agreement with the following NEO who has benefits upon termination as a condition of his respective employment agreement: Thomas K. Equels, our CEO.
The following is a description of post-employment compensation payable to the respective NEO. If a NEO does not have a specific benefit, they will not be mentioned in the subsection. In such event, the NEO does not have any such benefits upon termination unless otherwise required by law.
Termination for Cause
All of our NEOs can be terminated for cause. For Mr. Equels, “Cause” means willful engaging in illegal conduct, gross misconduct or gross violation of the Company’s Code of Ethics and Business Conduct for Officers which is demonstrably and materially injurious to the Company. For purposes of his respective agreement, no act, or failure to act, on employee’s part shall be deemed “willful” unless done intentionally by employee and not in good faith and without reasonable belief that employee’s action or omission was in the best interest of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, employee shall not be deemed to have been terminated for Cause unless and until the Company delivers to the employee a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than three-quarters of the Directors of the Board at a meeting of the Board called and held for such purpose (after reasonable notice to employee and an opportunity for Employee, together with counsel, to be heard before the Board) finding that, in the good faith opinion of the Board, employee was guilty of conduct set forth above and specifying the particulars thereof in detail. In the event that his employment is terminated for Cause, the Company shall pay him, at the time of such termination, only the compensation and benefits otherwise due and payable to them through the last day of their actual employment by the Company.
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Termination without Cause
Mr. Equels is entitled to the compensation and benefits otherwise due and payable to him through the last day of the then current term of their respective agreements. In the event that he is terminated at any time without “Cause” the Company shall pay to him, at the time of such termination, the compensation and benefits otherwise due and payable through the last day of the then current term of their Agreement. However, benefit distributions that are made due to a “separation from service” occurring while he is a Named Executive Officer shall not be made during the first six months following separation from service. Rather, any distribution which would otherwise be paid to him during such period shall be accumulated and paid to him in a lump sum on the first day of the seventh month following the “separation from service”. All subsequent distributions shall be paid in the manner specified.
Death or Disability
Mr. Equels can be terminated for death or disability. For each, “Disability” means the inability to effectively carry out substantially all of his duties under their agreement by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted for a continuous period of not less than 12 months. In the event the employment is terminated due to his death or disability, the Company will pay (or their respective estate as the case may be), at the time of such termination, the Base Salary and applicable benefits otherwise due and payable through the last day of the month in which such termination occurs and for an additional 12 month period.
Termination by Officer and Employee
All NEO employment agreements have the right to terminate their respective agreement upon thirty (30) days or less of prior written notice of termination. In such event, Mr. Equels is specifically entitled to fees due to him through the last day of the month in which such termination occurs and for 12 months thereafter. All other NEOs are entitled to the fees due to them through the last day of the month in which such termination occurs.
Change in Control
As an element of his employment agreement, Mr. Equels is entitled to benefits upon a Change in Control or Constructive Termination that include that any unvested Options immediately vest and the term of his respective employment agreement automatically extend for an additional three years. In the event of a Change in Control, the Company is responsible for the base salary or benefits for remaining term of the NEO’s employment agreement plus an automatic three-year extension in the term of the agreement. The existing employment agreement with Mr. Equels had a term through December 31, 2016; however, this employment agreement automatically extended for an additional three-years through December 31, 2019.
Compensation of Directors
Our Compensation, Audit and Corporate Governance and Nomination Committees, consist of Dr. William M. Mitchell, Compensation and Corporate Governance and Nomination Committee Chair, and Stewart L. Appelrouth, Audit Committee Chair, both of whom are independent Board of Director members.
Hemispherx reimburses Directors for travel expenses incurred in connection with attending board, committee, stockholder and special meetings along with other Company business-related expenses. Hemispherx does not provide retirement benefits or other perquisites to non-employee Directors under any current program.
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There was no cost of living increase granted in 2015, 2016 or 2017. Directors’ fees are currently being deferred and will continue to be deferred until cash is available.
All Directors have been granted options to purchase common stock under our Stock Option Plans and/or Warrants to purchase common stock. We believe such compensation and payments are necessary in order for us to attract and retain qualified outside directors. To the extent that share compensation would exceed 83,333 shares in the aggregate for the ten-year period commencing January 1, 2003, as previously approved by Resolution of the Board of September 9, 2003, shares for share compensation were issued under the our 2007 and 2009 Equity Incentive Plans.
Director Compensation – 2017
| Name and Title of Director | Fees
Earned or Paid in Cash ($) |
Stock
Award ($) |
Option
Awards ($) |
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation ($) | Change
in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings ($) |
All
Other Compensation As Director ($) |
Total ($) |
|||||||||||||||||||||
| T. Equels, Executive Vice Chairman | - | (2) | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||||||
| W. Mitchell, Chairman of the Board (1) | $ | 114,039 | - | $ | 68,424 | - | - | - | $ | 182,463 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Stewart L. Appelrouth, Director (1) | $ | 114,039 | - | $ | 68,424 | - | - | - | $ | 182,463 | ||||||||||||||||||
Notes:
| (1) | Independent Director of the Company. Beginning September 1, 2017, the independent directors are deferring payment of 100% of their directors fees until cash is available. | |
| (2) | Only includes compensation received in the role as member of the Board of Directors and does not include compensation received in the capacity of a Named Executive Officer. As is required by Regulation S-K, Item 402(c), compensation as a Director has also been reported within the “Summary Compensation Table” regarding Named Executive Officer Compensation during fiscal years of 2017, 2016 and 2015 (see above). Mr. Equels stopped receiving Board fees in March 2016. |
ITEM 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.
The following table sets forth as of March 26, 2018, the number and percentage of outstanding shares of common stock beneficially owned by:
| ● | Each person, individually or as a group, known to us to be deemed the beneficial owners of five percent or more of our issued and outstanding common stock; | |
| ● | Each of our Directors and the Named Executives Officers; and | |
| ● | All of our officers and directors as a group. |
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| Name and Address of Beneficial Owner | Shares Beneficially Owned | % Of Shares Beneficially Owned | ||||||
| Thomas K. Equels | 1,514,443 | (1) | 4.09 | % | ||||
| Peter
W. Rodino III 17400 Sterling Lake Drive Fort Myers, FL 33967 |
267,092 | (2) | * | |||||
| William
M. Mitchell, M.D. Vanderbilt University Department of Pathology Medical Center North 21st and Garland Nashville, TN 37232 |
476,059 | (3) | * | |||||
| Stewart
L. Appelrouth 999 Ponce de Leon., Suite 625 Coral Cables, FL33134 |
419,640 | (7) | * | |||||
| Wayne
S. Springate 783 Jersey Ave. New Brunswick, NJ 08901 |
213,928 | (4) | * | |||||
| David R. Strayer, M.D. | 66,387 | (5) | * | |||||
| Adam Pascale | 207,809 | (6) | * | |||||
| All directors and executive officers as a group (6 persons) | 3,165,358 | 8.54 | % | |||||
* Ownership of less than 1%
| (1) | Mr. Equels is Executive Vice Chairman of our Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer and President who owns 492,920 shares of common stock and beneficially owns 1,021,523 shares issuable or issued upon exercise of: |
| Options | Plan | Date Issued | Exercise Price | Number Of Shares | Expiration Date | |||||||||
| 2009 | 6/11/2010 | $ | 7.92 | 25,000 | 6/11/2020 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 6/24/2011 | $ | 4.92 | 25,000 | 6/24/2021 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 6/5/2012 | $ | 3.48 | 8,333 | 6/6/2022 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 6/11/2012 | $ | 3.72 | 25,000 | 6/11/2022 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 6/6/2013 | $ | 3.72 | 25,000 | 6/6/2023 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 8/2/2013 | $ | 3.00 | 12,500 | 8/2/2023 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 6/6/2014 | $ | 4.32 | 25,000 | 6/6/2024 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 6/6/2015 | $ | 3.00 | 25,000 | 6/6/2025 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 6/8/2016 | $ | 1.68 | 25,000 | 6/6/2026 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 6/8/2017 | $ | 0.56 | 300,000 | 6/8/2027 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 6/15/2017 | $ | 0.49 | 14,212 | 6/15/2027 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 6/30/2017 | $ | 0.48 | 14,214 | 6/30/2027 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 7/15/2017 | $ | 0.49 | 18,124 | 7/15/2027 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 7/31/2017 | $ | 0.42 | 20,786 | 7/31/2027 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 8/15/2017 | $ | 0.41 | 21,336 | 8/15/2027 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 8/31/2017 | $ | 0.36 | 24,463 | 8/31/2027 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 2/13/2018 | $ | 0.37 | 371,622 | 2/13/2028 | |||||||||
| Total Options | 980,590 | |||||||||||||
| Warrants | Plan | Date Issued | Exercise Price | Number Of Shares | Expiration Date | |||||||||
| Total Warrants | 2009 | 2/1/2009 | $ | 6.12 | 40,933 | 2/1/2019 | ||||||||
| (2) | Mr. Rodino is our General Counsel, Exec. Dir. of Governmental Relations and Secretary who owns 15,873 shares of common stock and beneficially owns 251,219 shares issuable or issued upon exercise of: |
| Options | Plan | Date Issued | Exercise Price | Number Of Shares | Expiration Date | |||||||||
| 2009 | 8/2/2013 | $ | 3.00 | 12,500 | 8/2/2023 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 6/21/2016 | $ | 1.56 | 12,500 | 6/21/2026 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 6/15/2017 | $ | 0.49 | 6,632 | 6/15/2027 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 6/30/2027 | $ | 0.49 | 6,633 | 6/30/2027 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 7/15/2027 | $ | 0.48 | 8,458 | 7/15/2027 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 7/31/2027 | $ | 0.42 | 9,700 | 7/31/2027 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 8/15/2027 | $ | 0.41 | 9,957 | 8/15/2027 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 8/31/2027 | $ | 0.36 | 11,416 | 8/31/2027 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 2/13/2018 | $ | 0.37 | 173,423 | 2/13/2028 | |||||||||
| Total Options | 251,219 | |||||||||||||
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| (3) | Dr. Mitchell is our Chairman of the Board who owns 8,697 shares of common stock and beneficially owns 450,723 shares issuable upon exercise of: |
| Options | Plan | Date Issued | Exercise Price | Number Of Shares | Expiration Date | |||||||||
| 2004 | 9/17/2008 | $ | 72.00 | 1,000 | 9/17/2018 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 6/5/2012 | $ | 3.48 | 8,333 | 6/6/2022 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 8/2/2013 | $ | 3.00 | 12,500 | 8/2/2023 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 9/9/2014 | $ | 31.20 | 4,167 | 9/9/2024 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 9/9/2014 | $ | 1.56 | 12,500 | 9/9/2024 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 4/30/2017 | $ | 0.67 | 12,644 | 4/30/2027 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 5/15/2017 | $ | 0.64 | 13,234 | 5/15/2027 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 5/31/2017 | $ | 0.59 | 14,361 | 5/31/2027 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 6/15/2017 | $ | 0.49 | 17,297 | 6/15/2027 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 6/30/2017 | $ | 0.49 | 17,290 | 6/30/2027 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 7/15/2017 | $ | 0.48 | 22,047 | 7/15/2027 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 7/31/2017 | $ | 0.42 | 25,284 | 7/31/2027 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 8/15/2017 | $ | 0.41 | 25,953 | 8/15/2027 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 8/31/2017 | $ | 0.36 | 29,757 | 8/31/2027 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 2/13/2018 | $ | 0.37 | 226,023 | 2/13/2028 | |||||||||
| Total Options | 442,390 | |||||||||||||
Dr. Mitchell beneficially owns 16,639 shares of common stock of which 8,318 shares are held by Shirley Mitchell (Spouse), 4,098 shares are held by the Aesclepius Irrevocable Trust (Shirley Mitchell Trustee), and 4,223 shares are held by the Aesclepius Irrevocable Trust II (William Mitchell Trustee).
| (4) | Mr. Springate is our Senior Vice President of Operations and owns 32,514 shares of common stock and beneficially owns 181,414 shares issuable upon exercise of: |
| Options | Plan | Date Issued | Exercise Price | Number Of Shares | Expiration Date | |||||||||
| 2009 | 5/31/2011 | $ | 6.60 | 7,500 | 5/31/2021 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 6/5/2012 | $ | 3.48 | 4,167 | 6/5/2022 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 5/9/2013 | $ | 2.88 | 4,167 | 5/9/2023 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 6/6/2014 | $ | 4.32 | 4,167 | 6/6/2024 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 12/8/2014 | $ | 22.80 | 151 | 12/8/2024 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 6/21/2016 | $ | 1.56 | 12,500 | 6/21/2026 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 6/15/2017 | $ | 0.49 | 4,264 | 6/15/2027 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 6/30/2017 | $ | 0.49 | 4,264 | 6/30/2027 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 7/15/2017 | $ | 0.48 | 5,438 | 7/15/2027 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 7/31/2017 | $ | 0.42 | 6,236 | 7/31/2027 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 8/15/2027 | $ | 0.41 | 6,401 | 8/15/2027 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 8/31/2017 | $ | 0.36 | 7,339 | 8/31/2027 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 2/13/2018 | $ | 0.37 | 111,486 | 2/13/2028 | |||||||||
| Total Options | 178,080 | |||||||||||||
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| (5) | Dr. Strayer is our Chief Scientific Officer and Chief Medical Director who has ownership of 41,804 shares of common stock and beneficially owns 24,583 shares issuable upon exercise of: |
| Options | Plan | Date Issued | Exercise Issued | Number Of Shares | Expiration Date | |||||||||
| 2004 | 2/18/2008 | $ | 48.00 | 4,167 | 2/18/2018 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 4/13/2012 | $ | 48.36 | 833 | 4/13/2022 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 12/8/2014 | $ | 22.80 | 833 | 12/8/2024 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 6/21/2016 | $ | 1.56 | 12,500 | 12/8/2024 | |||||||||
| Total Options | 18,333 | |||||||||||||
| (6) | Mr. Pascale is our Chief Financial Officer who has ownership of 27,389 shares of common stock and beneficially owns 180,420 shares issuable upon exercise of: |
| Options | Plan | Date Issued | Exercise Issued | Number Of Shares | Expiration Date | |||||||||
| 2004 | 9/17/2008 | $ | 48.00 | 417 | 9/17/2018 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 4/13/2012 | $ | 48.36 | 500 | 4/13/2022 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 7/8/2014 | $ | 3.96 | 4,167 | 7/8/2024 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 6/21/2016 | $ | 1.56 | 12,500 | 6/21/2026 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 6/15/2017 | $ | 0.49 | 4,736 | 6/15/2027 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 6/30/2027 | $ | 0.49 | 4,738 | 6/30/2027 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 7/15/2027 | $ | 0.48 | 6,042 | 7/15/2027 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 7/31/2017 | $ | 0.42 | 6,929 | 7/31/2027 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 8/15/2017 | $ | 0.41 | 7,112 | 8/15/2027 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 8/31/2027 | $ | 0.36 | 8,155 | 8/31/2027 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 2/13/2018 | $ | 0.37 | 123,874 | 2/13/2028 | |||||||||
| Total Options | 179,170 | |||||||||||||
| (7) | Mr. Appelrouth is a Director who owns 15,750 shares,and beneficially owns 403,890 shares issuable upon exercise of. |
| Options | Plan | Date Issued | Exercise Price | Number Of Shares | Expiration Date | |||||||||
| 2009 | 4/30/2017 | $ | 0.67 | 12,644 | 4/30/2027 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 5/15/2017 | $ | 0.67 | 13,234 | 5/15/2027 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 5/31/2017 | $ | 0.67 | 14,361 | 5/31/2027 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 6/15/2017 | $ | 0.49 | 17,297 | 6/15/2027 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 6/30/2017 | $ | 0.49 | 17,290 | 6/30/2027 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 7/15/2017 | $ | 0.48 | 22,047 | 7/15/2027 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 7/31/2017 | $ | 0.42 | 25,284 | 7/31/2027 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 8/15/2027 | $ | 0.41 | 25,953 | 8/15/2027 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 8/31/2017 | $ | 0.36 | 29,757 | 8/31/2027 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 2/13/2018 | $ | 0.37 | 226,023 | 2/13/2028 | |||||||||
| Total Options | 403,890 | |||||||||||||
| 80 |
ITEM 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.
Review, Approval or Ratification of Transactions with Related Persons
Our policy is to require that any transaction with a related party required to be reported under applicable SEC rules, other than compensation related matters and waivers of our code of business conduct and ethics, be reviewed and approved or ratified by a majority of independent, disinterested Directors. We have adopted procedures in which the Audit Committee shall conduct an appropriate review of all related party transactions for potential conflict of interest situations on an annual and case-by-case basis with the approval of this Committee required for all such transactions.
We have employment agreements with certain of our executive officers and have granted such Officers and Directors options and warrants to purchase our common stock, as discussed under the headings, “ITEM 11. Executive Compensation”, and “ITEM 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management”, as noted above.
Thomas Equels was elected to the Board of Directors at the Annual Stockholders Meeting on November 17, 2008 and joined the Company as General Counsel effective June 1, 2010. Mr. Equels had provided external legal services for several years through May 31, 2010 and Equels Law Firm ceased providing external legal services in 2016. In 2015, the Company paid Equels Law Firm approximately $42,000 for services rendered. Upon analysis in 2011 by the Audit Committee’s Financial Expert, it was deemed that the hourly rates charged by Equels Law to the Company were reasonable when compared to the fee structure of a possible arms-length transaction from comparable firms in practice in the same market and of the similar size. The hourly rate fees from Equels Law Firm remained the same in 2015. For his Board fees, Mr. Equels received approximately $0, $20,000 and $182,000, respectively, for 2017, 2016 and 2015.
For the years ended 2017, 2016 and 2015, compensation was granted or paid related to the Executive Performance Incentive Program related to the ATM, as set forth in Section 3(c)(ii) of his Employment Agreement, for approximately $0, $0, and $262,000 to Mr. Equels. Mr. Equels’ compensation related to this program was classified entirely as general and administrative expense.
ITEM 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.
All audit and professional services are approved in advance by the Audit Committee to assure such services do not impair the auditor’s independence from us. The total fees by RSM US LLP (“RSM”) for 2017 and 2016 were $331,000 and $279,500 respectively. The following table shows the aggregate fees for professional services rendered during the year ended December 31, 2017 and 2016.
| Amount ($) | ||||||||
| 2016 | 2015 | |||||||
| Description of Fees: | ||||||||
| Audit Fees | $ | 278,000 | $ | 272,000 | ||||
| Audit-Related Fees | 53,000 | 7,500 | ||||||
| Tax Fees | — | — | ||||||
| All Other Fees | — | — | ||||||
| Total | $ | 331,000 | $ | 279,500 | ||||
Audit Fees
Audit fees include the audit of our annual financial statements and the review of our financial statements included in our quarterly reports and services in connection with statutory and regulatory filings.
| 81 |
Audit-Related Fees
Represents the fees for assurance and related services that were reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of our financial statements. Audit-related fees include professional services related to the Company’s filing of SEC Form S-3 and S-8 (i.e., stock shelf offering procedures).
The Audit Committee has determined that RSM’s rendering of these audit-related services and all other fees were compatible with maintaining auditor’s independence. The Board of Directors considered RSM to be well qualified to serve as our independent public accountants. The Committee also pre-approved the charges for services performed in 2017 and 2016.
The Audit Committee pre-approves all auditing and accounting services and the terms thereof (which may include providing comfort letters in connection with securities underwriting) and non-audit services (other than non-audit services prohibited under Section 10A(g) of the Exchange Act or the applicable rules of the SEC or the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board) to be provided to us by the independent auditor; provided, however, the pre-approval requirement is waived with respect to the provisions of non-audit services for us if the “de minimus” provisions of Section 10A (i)(1)(B) of the Exchange Act are satisfied. This authority to pre-approve non-audit services may be delegated to one or more members of the Audit Committee, who shall present all decisions to pre-approve an activity to the full Audit Committee at its first meeting following such decision.
| 82 |
ITEM 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.
Financial Statements and Schedules - See index to financial statements on page F-1 of this Annual Report. All other schedules called for under regulation S-X are not submitted because they are not applicable or not required, or because the required information is included in the financial statements or notes thereto.
| Exhibits - See exhibit index below. |
| 83 |
| 84 |
| * | Filed herewith. |
| (1) | Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (No. 000-27072) filed July 23, 2012 and is hereby incorporated by reference. | |
| (2) | Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1(No. 33-93314) filed November 2, 1995 and is hereby incorporated by reference. | |
| (3) | Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an Appendix A to the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed on September 16, 2011 and is hereby incorporated by reference. | |
| (4) | Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as Appendix A to the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed on June 27, 2016 and is hereby incorporated by reference. | |
| (5) | Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 14, 2017 as an exhibit to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A12B (No. 0-27072) and is hereby incorporated by reference. | |
| (6) | Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Company’s Form S-3 Registration Statement (No. 333-205228) on June 25, 2015 and is hereby incorporated by reference. | |
| (7) | Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K (No. 000-27072) for the year ended December 31, 2008 and is hereby incorporated by reference. | |
| (8) | Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Company’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q (No. 000-27072) for the period ended June 30, 2010 and is hereby incorporated by reference. | |
| (9) | Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K (No. 000-27072) for the year ended December 31, 2005 and is hereby incorporated by reference. | |
| (10) | Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K (No. 000-27072) for the year ended December 31, 2009 and is hereby incorporated by reference. | |
| (11) | Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (No. 000-27072) dated June 15, 2010 and is hereby incorporated by reference. | |
| (12) | Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (No. 000-27072) dated May 28, 2010 and is hereby incorporated by reference. | |
| (13) | Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Company’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q (No. 000-27072) for the period ended March 31, 2011 and is hereby incorporated by reference. |
| 85 |
| (14) | Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Company’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q (No. 000-27072) for the period ended September 30, 2011 and is hereby incorporated by reference. | |
| (15) | Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (No. 000-27072) filed September 23, 2011 and is hereby incorporated by reference. | |
| (16) | Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (No. 000-27072) filed December 12, 2011 and is hereby incorporated by reference. | |
| (17) | Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K (No. 000-27072) for the year ended December 31, 2011 and is hereby incorporated by reference. | |
| (18) | Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (No. 000-27072) filed August 15, 2012 and is hereby incorporated by reference. | |
| (19) | Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Company’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q (No. 000-27072) for the period ended September 30, 2015 and is hereby incorporated by reference. | |
| (20) | Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Company’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q (No. 000-27072) for the period ended June 30, 2013 and is hereby incorporated by reference. | |
| (21) | Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K (No. 000-27072) for the year ended December 31, 2013 and is hereby incorporated by reference. | |
| (22) | Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K (No. 000-27072) for the year ended December 31, 2014 and is hereby incorporated by reference. | |
| (23) | Intentionally left blank. | |
| (24) | Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (No. 000-27072) filed June 23, 2015 and is hereby incorporated by reference. | |
| (25) | Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (No. 000-27072) filed August 4, 2015 and is hereby incorporated by reference. | |
| (26) | Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Company’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q (No. 000-27072) for the period ended June 30, 2015 and is hereby incorporated by reference. | |
| (27) | Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Company's quarterly report on Form 10-Q (No. 1-13441) for the period ended September 30, 2015 and is hereby incorporated by reference. | |
| (28) | Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (No. 000-27072) filed November 23, 2015 and is hereby incorporated by reference. | |
| (29) | Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (No. 000-27072) filed December 15, 2015 and is hereby incorporated by reference. | |
| (30) | Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (No. 000-27072) filed January 14, 2016 and is hereby incorporated by reference. | |
| (31) | Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (No. 000-27072) filed February 4, 2016 and is hereby incorporated by reference. | |
| (32) | Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (No. 000-27072) filed March 1, 2016 and is hereby incorporated by reference. | |
| (33) | Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Company’s amended quarterly report on Form 10-Q/A (No. 000-27072) for the period ended September 30, 2011 and is hereby incorporated by reference. | |
| (34) | Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Company’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2016 and is hereby incorporated by reference. | |
| (35) | Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 10, 2016 and is hereby incorporated by reference. |
| 86 |
| (36) | Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Company’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2016 and is hereby incorporated by reference. | |
| (37) | Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Company’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q/A for the period ended March 31, 2016 and is hereby incorporated by reference. | |
| (38) | Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed September 1, 2016 and is hereby incorporated by reference. | |
| (39) | Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed May 8, 2017 and is hereby incorporated by reference. | |
| (40) | Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed February 3, 2017 and is hereby incorporated by reference. | |
| (41) | Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed August 29, 2017 and is hereby incorporated by reference. | |
| (42) | Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed August 23, 2017 and is hereby incorporated by reference. | |
| (43) | Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 1, 2017 and is hereby incorporated by reference. | |
| (44) | Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Company’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q (No. 000-27072) for the period ended March 31, 2017 and is hereby incorporated by reference. |
| 87 |
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.
| HEMISPHERx BIOPHARMA, INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Thomas K. Equels | |
| Thomas K. Equels | ||
| Chief Executive Officer | ||
March 29, 2018
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange of 1934, as amended, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of this Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| /s/ Thomas K. Equels | Chief Executive Officer & President, |
March 29, 2018 | |
| Thomas K. Equels | Director |
||
| /s/ William Mitchell | Chairman of the Board | March 29, 2018 | |
| William Mitchell, M.D., Ph.D. | and Director | ||
| /s/ Stewart L. Appelrouth | Director | March 29, 2018 | |
| Stewart L. Appelrouth | |||
| /s/ Adam Pascale | Chief Financial Officer | March 29, 2018 | |
| Adam Pascale |
| 88 |
HEMISPHERx BIOPHARMA, INC AND SUBSIDIARIES
Index to Consolidated Financial Statements
| F-1 |
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of Hemispherx Biopharma, Inc.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Hemispherx Biopharma, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the Company) as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the related consolidated statements of comprehensive loss, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2017, and the related notes to the consolidated financial statements (collectively, the financial statements). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the period ended December 31, 2017, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
| /s/ RSM US LLP | |
| We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2006. | |
| Blue Bell, Pennsylvania | |
| March 30, 2018 |
| F-2 |
HEMISPHERx BIOPHARMA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Balance Sheets
December 31, 2017 and 2016
(in thousands, except for share and per share amounts)
| 2017 | 2016 | |||||||
| ASSETS | ||||||||
| Current assets: | ||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 1,412 | $ | 2,408 | ||||
| Marketable securities- unrestricted | 695 | 3,460 | ||||||
| Accounts receivable | 24 | — | ||||||
| Assets held for sale | 764 | 764 | ||||||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 610 | 309 | ||||||
| Total current assets | 3,505 | 6,941 | ||||||
| Property and equipment, net | 8,586 | 9,514 | ||||||
| Patent and trademark rights, net | 858 | 872 | ||||||
| Other assets | 1,258 | 1,546 | ||||||
| Total assets | $ | 14,207 | $ | 18,873 | ||||
| LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY | ||||||||
| Current liabilities: | ||||||||
| Accounts payable | $ | 741 | $ | 887 | ||||
| Accrued expenses | 1,966 | 1,548 | ||||||
| Total current liabilities | 2,707 | 2,435 | ||||||
| Long-term liabilities: | ||||||||
| Note payable | 1,835 | — | ||||||
| Redeemable warrants | 962 | 940 | ||||||
| Commitments and contingencies (Notes 9,11,12,14 and 15) | ||||||||
| Stockholders’ equity: | ||||||||
| Preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, authorized 5,000,000; issued and outstanding; none | — | — | ||||||
| Common stock, par value $0.001 per share, authorized 350,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 32,884,786 and 24,202,921, respectively | 33 | 24 | ||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | 317,419 | 315,980 | ||||||
| Other comprehensive income (loss) | 11 | (5 | ) | |||||
| Accumulated deficit | (308,760 | ) | (300,501 | ) | ||||
| Total stockholders’ equity | 8,703 | 15,498 | ||||||
| Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | $ | 14,207 | $ | 18,873 | ||||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
| F-3 |
HEMISPHERx BIOPHARMA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
| Years ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
| 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | ||||||||||
| Revenues: | ||||||||||||
| Clinical treatment programs - US | $ | 102 | $ | 92 | $ | 133 | ||||||
| Clinical treatment programs - Europe | 335 | - | - | |||||||||
| Total Revenues | 437 | 92 | 133 | |||||||||
| Costs and Expenses: | ||||||||||||
| Production costs | 1,183 | 1,108 | 1,598 | |||||||||
| Research and development | 4,098 | 5,107 | 8,038 | |||||||||
| General and administrative | 6,572 | 7,681 | 7,147 | |||||||||
| Total Costs and Expenses | 11,853 | 13,896 | 16,783 | |||||||||
| Operating loss | (11,416 | ) | (13,804 | ) | (16,650 | ) | ||||||
| Interest and other income | 88 | 129 | 364 | |||||||||
| Impairment loss on investments | - | - | (315 | ) | ||||||||
| Interest expense and finance costs | (139 | ) | - | (3 | ) | |||||||
| Litigation settlement net insurance proceeds | - | 1,626 | - | |||||||||
| Gain from sale of income tax operating losses | 791 | 2,870 | 1,374 | |||||||||
| Redeemable warrants valuation adjustment | 2,417 | 1,677 | - | |||||||||
| Net loss | (8,259 | ) | (7,502 | ) | (15,230 | ) | ||||||
| Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) | ||||||||||||
| Unrealized gain (loss) on securities | 33 | 35 | (252 | ) | ||||||||
| Reclassification adjustments for realized gain (loss) on sales of short-term marketable securities and for impairment losses on investments included in net loss | (17 | ) | 57 | 315 | ||||||||
| Net comprehensive loss | $ | (8,243 | ) | $ | (7,410 | ) | $ | (15,167 | ) | |||
| Basic and diluted loss per share | $ | (0.29 | ) | $ | (0.34 | ) | $ | (0.77 | ) | |||
| Weighted average shares outstanding basic and diluted | 28,676,076 | 21,818,206 | 19,679,315 | |||||||||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
| F-4 |
HEMISPHERx BIOPHARMA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity
(in thousands except share data)
| Common
Stock Shares |
Common
Stock .001 Par Value |
Additional
Paid-in Capital |
Accumulated
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) |
Accumulated
Deficit |
Total
Stockholders’ Equity |
|||||||||||||||||||
| Balance December 31, 2014 | 17,000,402 | $ | 17 | $ | 302,916 | $ | (160 | ) | $ | (277,769 | ) | $ | 25,004 | |||||||||||
| Shares issued for: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Settlement of accounts payable | 213,232 | — | 672 | — | — | 672 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Shares sold at the market | 3,416,323 | 4 | 9,677 | — | — | 9,681 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Equity-based compensation | — | — | 181 | — | — | 181 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Net comprehensive loss | — | — | 63 | (15,230 | ) | (15,167 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
| Balance December 31, 2015 | 20,629,957 | 21 | 313,446 | (97 | ) | (292,999 | ) | 20,371 | ||||||||||||||||
| Shares issued for: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares sold at the market | 114,394 | — | 174 | — | — | 174 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Common stock issuance | 3,333,334 | 3 | 4,517 | — | — | 4,520 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Other issuance | 78,879 | — | 50 | — | — | 50 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Equity-based compensation | 46,357 | — | 410 | — | — | 410 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Redeemable warrants | — | — | (2,617 | ) | — | — | (2,617 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
| Net comprehensive loss | — | — | — | 92 | (7,502 | ) | (7,410 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
| Balance December 31, 2016 | 24,202,921 | 24 | 315,980 | (5 | ) | (300,501 | ) | 15,498 | ||||||||||||||||
| Shares issued for: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares sold at the market | 678,275 | 1 | 236 | — | — | 237 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Common stock issuance | 4,646,205 | 5 | 2,175 | — | — | 2,180 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Other issuance | 2,241,979 | 2 | 896 | — | — | 898 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Equity-based compensation | 1,115,406 | 1 | 570 | — | — | 571 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Redeemable warrants | — | — | (2,050 | ) | — | — | (2,050 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
| Deemed dividends | (388 | ) | (388 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Net comprehensive loss | — | — | — | 16 | (8,259 | ) | (8,243 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
| Balance December 31, 2017 | 32,884,786 | $ | 33 | $ | 317,419 | $ | 11 | $ | (308,760 | ) | $ | 8,703 | ||||||||||||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements
| F-5 |
HEMISPHERx BIOPHARMA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(in thousands)
| Years ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
| 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | ||||||||||
| Cash flows from operating activities: | ||||||||||||
| Net loss | $ | (8,259 | ) | $ | (7,502 | ) | $ | (15,230 | ) | |||
| Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: | ||||||||||||
| Depreciation of property and equipment | 948 | 1,119 | 941 | |||||||||
| Amortization of debt issue costs | 37 | — | — | |||||||||
| Amortization and abandonment of patent and trademark rights | 63 | 184 | 249 | |||||||||
| Redeemable warrants valuation adjustment | (2,417 | ) | (1,677 | ) | — | |||||||
| Equity-based compensation | 571 | 410 | 181 | |||||||||
| Other-than-temporary impairment of marketable securities | — | — | 315 | |||||||||
| Realized gain (loss) on securities | (17 | ) | 57 | 63 | ||||||||
| Changes in assets and liabilities: | ||||||||||||
| Inventories | — | — | (1,326 | ) | ||||||||
| Prepaid expenses and other assets | (13 | ) | 26 | 64 | ||||||||
| Accounts receivable | (24 | ) | — | — | ||||||||
| Accounts payable | 566 | (326 | ) | (196 | ) | |||||||
| Accrued expenses | 604 | 329 | (1,114 | ) | ||||||||
| Net cash used in operating activities | (7,941 | ) | (7,380 | ) | (16,053 | ) | ||||||
| Cash flows from investing activities: | ||||||||||||
| Purchases of property, equipment and construction in progress | (20 | ) | (160 | ) | (240 | ) | ||||||
| Additions to patent and trademark rights | (49 | ) | (294 | ) | (250 | ) | ||||||
| Sales and maturities of short-term and long-term marketable securities | 2,799 | 3,370 | 6,842 | |||||||||
| Net cash provided by investing activities | 2,730 | $ | 2,916 | $ | 6,352 | |||||||
| Cash flows from financing activities: | ||||||||||||
| Proceeds from sale of common stock, net of issuance costs | 2,417 | 4,744 | 9,681 | |||||||||
| Debt issuance costs | (102 | ) | — | — | ||||||||
| Proceeds from note payable | 1,900 | — | — | |||||||||
| Deposits on capital leases refunded | — | 14 | — | |||||||||
| Payments on capital leases | — | (1 | ) | (21 | ) | |||||||
| Net cash provided by financing activities | 4,215 | 4,757 | 9,660 | |||||||||
| Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents | (996 | ) | 293 | (41 | ) | |||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year | 2,408 | 2,115 | 2,156 | |||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents at end of year | $ | 1,412 | $ | 2,408 | $ | 2,115 | ||||||
| Supplemental disclosures of non-cash investing and financing cash flow information: | ||||||||||||
| Issuance of common stock for accounts payable and accrued expenses | $ | 898 | $ | — | $ | 672 | ||||||
| Unrealized gain on marketable securities | $ | 16 | $ | 92 | $ | 63 | ||||||
| Fair value of redeemable warrants granted | $ | 2,050 | $ | 2,454 | — | |||||||
| Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information: | ||||||||||||
| Cash paid for interest expense | $ | 101 | $ | — | $ | 3 | ||||||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
| F-6 |
HEMISPHERx BIOPHARMA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(1) Business
Hemispherx Biopharma, Inc. (“Company”) is a specialty pharmaceutical company headquartered in Orlando, Florida and engaged in the clinical development of new drug therapies based on natural immune system enhancing technologies for the treatment of viral and immune based disorders. The Company was first formed in 1966 and in the early 1970s was doing contract research for the National Institutes of Health. Since that time, the Company has established a strong foundation of laboratory, pre-clinical and clinical data with respect to the development of natural interferon and nucleic acids to enhance the natural antiviral defense system of the human body and to aid the development of therapeutic products for the treatment of certain chronic diseases.
The Company’s flagship products include Alferon N Injection® and the experimental therapeutic Ampligen®. Alferon N Injection® is approved for a category of STD infection, and Ampligen® represents an experimental RNA being developed for globally important viral diseases and disorders of the immune system. Hemispherx’ platform technology includes components for potential treatment of various severely debilitating and life threatening diseases.
The Company has incurred numerous years of substantial operating losses as it pursued its clinical and pre-clinical development activities and appropriate regulatory approval processes before any such products can be sold and marketed. As of December 31, 2017, our accumulated deficit was approximately $308,760,000. The Company has not yet generated significant revenues from our products and may incur substantial losses in the future. The Company evaluated these conditions and events that may raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern; however, the Company believes that it has alleviated the substantial doubt by implementing certain actions. The Company reexamined its fundamental priorities in terms of direction, corporate culture and its ability to fund operations. As a result, there were significant changes at the Company including the Company restructuring its executive management team, initiating the pursuit of international sales of clinical grade materials, and implementing a cost saving program which assisted the Company in gained efficiencies and eliminated redundancies within its workforce.
On March 16, 2018, the Company sold its property located at 783 Jersey Lane, New Brunswick, NJ. This property houses its development and production facilities. The purchase price was $4,080,000 and purchaser received 3,225,806 warrants to purchase common stock. Simultaneously with the closing of the sale, the purchaser leased the facility back to the Company. The lease runs for 10 years, with two five year extensions. The initial annual base rent is $408,000 and will continue for the first and second year. In the third and fourth it will escalate at the rate of 2.5% per year. For all subsequent years it will escalate at the rate of 3% per year. The Company also will be responsible for additional rent consisting of taxes and certain insurance expenses of the purchaser. The lease contains a repurchase option pursuant to which the Company can repurchase the facility within the initial 10 year lease period. The purchase price would $4,080,000 times a multiple. The multiple would be 1.05 plus .0025N where N represents the number of months between lease commencement and closing of repurchase.
In February 2018, the Company sold the building located adjacent to its manufacturing facility located at 5 Jules Lane, New Brunswick, New Jersey to an unaffiliated party. The purchase price was $1,050,000 and the Company netted $963,254 in cash.
| F-7 |
Also, the Company is committed to a focused business plan oriented toward finding senior co-development partners with the capital and expertise needed to commercialize the many potential therapeutic aspects of our experimental drugs and our approved drug Alferon N. Lastly, the Company plans to access the public equity markets to raise further capital.
The consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of Hemispherx Biopharma, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. The Company has two domestic subsidiaries, both of which are incorporated in Delaware and are dormant. The Company’s foreign subsidiary, Hemispherx Biopharma Europe N.V./S.A., was established in Belgium in 1998. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
(2) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
(a) Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and Cash Equivalents consist of cash and money market accounts and total $1,412,000 and $2,408,000 at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.
(b) Marketable Securities
The Company’s securities are classified as available for sale and are stated at fair value. Unrealized gains and losses on securities available for sale are excluded from results of operations and are reported as other comprehensive income (loss) on the Statements of Comprehensive Loss, net of taxes. Securities classified as available for sale include securities that may be sold in response to changes in interest rates, changes in prepayment risks or for portfolio management purposes. The cost of securities sold is determined on a specific identification basis. Gains and losses on sales of securities are recognized in the statements of comprehensive loss on the date of sale.
(c) Property and Equipment
| (in
thousands) December 31, |
||||||||
| 2017 | 2016 | |||||||
| Land, buildings and improvements | $ | 10,547 | $ | 10,530 | ||||
| Furniture, fixtures, and equipment | 5,625 | 5,630 | ||||||
| Total property and equipment | 16,172 | 16,160 | ||||||
| Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization | (7,586 | ) | (6,646 | ) | ||||
| Property and equipment, net | $ | 8,586 | $ | 9,514 | ||||
Property and equipment are recorded at cost. Depreciation and amortization are computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the respective assets, ranging from three to thirty-nine years. The Company also reclassified an underutilized building as an asset held for resale totaling $764,000 adjacent to its New Jersey manufacturing facility site. That building was sold in February 2018. The purchase price was $1,050,000 and the Company received $963,254.
On March 16, 2018, the Company sold its property located at 783 Jersey Lane, New Brunswick, NJ. This property houses its development and production facilities. The purchase price was $4,080,000 and purchaser received 3,225,806 warrants to purchase common stock. Simultaneously with the closing of the sale, the purchaser leased the facility back to the Company. The lease runs for 10 years, with two five year extensions. See note 18 Subsequent Events.
| F-8 |
(d) Patent and Trademark Rights
Patents and trademarks are stated at cost (primarily legal fees) and are amortized using the straight line method over the established useful life of 17 years. The Company reviews its patents and trademark rights periodically to determine whether they have continuing value or their value has become impaired. Such review includes an analysis of the patent and trademark’s ultimate revenue and profitability potential. Management’s review addresses whether each patent continues to fit into the Company’s strategic business plans.
(e) Revenue
The Company has elected to apply the Full Retrospective Application to implement the new revenue recognition standard ASC 606. The Company, based on the nature of its Ampligen sales under its cost recovery programs, determined that there were no material differences between the new accounting standard and legacy GAAP and that difficulties will not arise for any “open” contract issues with its customers during the transition period. The Company also determined that the adoption of this standard will have little or no impact to the Company’s opening balance of retained earnings.
Revenue from the sale of Ampligen® under a cost recovery, open-label treatment protocols approved by the FDA is recognized when the treatment is provided to the patient.
Revenues from the sale of Alferon N Injection® are recognized when the product is shipped and title is transferred to the customer. The Company has no other obligation associated with its products once shipment has been shipped to the customer.
(f) Accounting for Income Taxes
Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between the financial statement reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws in effect when the differences are expected to reverse. The measurement of deferred income tax assets is reduced, if necessary, by a valuation allowance for any tax benefits which are not expected to be realized. The effect on deferred income tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in the period that such tax rate changes are enacted.
The Company applies the provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 740-10 Uncertainty in Income Taxes. There has been no material change to the Company’s tax position as they have not paid any corporate income taxes due to operating losses. All tax benefits will likely not be recognized due to the substantial net operating loss carryforwards which will most likely not be realized prior to expiration. With no tax due for the foreseeable future, the Company has determined that a policy to determine the accounting for interest or penalties related to the payment of tax is not necessary at this time. The 2017 Tax Act, which was signed into law on December 22, 2017, has resulted in significant changes to the U.S. corporate income tax system. These changes include a federal statutory rate reduction from 35% to 21%, the elimination or reduction of certain domestic deductions and credits and limitations on the deductibility of interest expense and executive compensation. The Company determined that there was little or no material impact on its consolidated financial statements resulting from the 2017 Tax Act.
| F-9 |
(g) Comprehensive loss
Comprehensive loss consists of net loss, net unrealized gains (losses) on securities and is presented in the consolidated statements of comprehensive loss.
(h) Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses for the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Accounts requiring the use of significant estimates include valuation allowances for inventory, determination of other-than-temporary impairment on securities, valuation of deferred taxes, patent and trademark valuations, stock-based compensation calculations, building valuation, fair value of warrants and contingency accruals.
(i) Recent Accounting Standards and Pronouncements
In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09 (ASU 2014-09), Revenue from Contracts with Customers. ASU 2014-09 will eliminate transaction- and industry-specific revenue recognition guidance under current U.S. GAAP and replace it with a principle based approach for determining revenue recognition. ASU 2014-09 will require that companies recognize revenue based on the value of transferred goods or services as they occur in the contract. ASU 2014-09 also will require additional disclosure about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from customer contracts, including significant judgments and changes in judgments and assets recognized from costs incurred to obtain or fulfill a contract. ASU 2014-09 is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and early adoption is not permitted. Entities can transition to the standard either retrospectively or as a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the date of adoption. As of December 31, 2017, we have not identified any accounting changes that would materially impact the amount of reported revenues with respect to our product revenues. The Company applied the Full Retrospective Application to implement the new revenue recognition standard ASC 606. The Company, based on the nature of its Ampligen sales under its cost recovery programs, determined that there were no material differences between the new accounting standard and legacy GAAP and that difficulties will not arise for any “open” contract issues with its customers during the transition period. The Company also determined that the adoption of this standard had little or no impact to the Company’s opening balance of retained earnings.
In January 2016, the (“FASB”) has issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2016-01, Financial Instruments – Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. The new guidance is intended to improve the recognition and measurement of financial instruments. The new guidance is effective for public companies for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The new guidance permits early adoption of the own credit provision. The Company believes that the adoption of the guidance will have nomaterial impact on the Company’s financial statement presentation or disclosures.
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02 - Leases, which amends the existing accounting standards for lease accounting, including requiring lessees to recognize most leases on their balance sheets and making targeted changes to lessor accounting. ASU 2016-02 will be effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, and early adoption of is permitted as of the standard’s issuance date. ASU 2016-02 allows a modified retrospective transition approach for all leases existing at, or entered into after, the date of initial application, with an option to use certain transition relief. The Company is currently evaluating the effects the adoption of this guidance will have on the consolidated financial statements.
| F-10 |
In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15 - Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments (a consensus of the Emerging Issues Task Force). The new guidance is intended to address the diversity in practice in how certain cash receipts and cash payments are presented and classified in the statement of cash flows under Topic 230, Statement of Cash Flows, and other Topics. The guidance addresses eight specific cash flow issues with the objective of reducing the existing diversity in practice. The amendments apply to all entities, including both business entities and not-for-profit entities that are required to present a statement of cash flows under Topic 230. The amendments are effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period. If an entity early adopts the amendments in an interim period, any adjustments should be reflected as of the beginning of the fiscal year that includes that interim period. An entity that elects early adoption must adopt all of the amendments in the same period. The amendments in this Update should be applied using a retrospective transition method to each period presented. The Company believes that the adoption of the guidance will not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statement presentation or disclosures.
In 2017, the FASB also issued Accounting Standards Updates (“ASU”) 2017-01 through 2017-15 and 2018-01 to 2018-04. These updates did not have a significant impact on the financial statements.
(j) Stock-Based Compensation
The Company accounts for its stock-based compensation awards in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, “Compensation – Stock Compensation”, which requires recognition of compensation expense related to stock-based compensation awards over the period during which an employee is required to provide service for the award. Compensation expense is equal to the fair value of the award at the date of grant, net of estimated forfeitures.
(k) Accounts Receivable
Concentration of credit risk, with respect to accounts receivable, is limited due to the Company’s credit evaluation process. The Company does not require collateral on its receivables. The Company’s receivables were $24,000 and $0 as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.
(l) Common Stock Per Share Calculation
Basic and diluted net loss per share is computed using the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Equivalent common shares, consisting of 9,373,286, 4,032,851 and 1,316,204 of stock options and warrants, are excluded from the calculation of diluted net loss per share for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively, since their effect is antidilutive due to the net loss of the Company.
(m) Long-Lived Assets
The Company assesses long-lived assets for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the assets or the asset grouping may not be recoverable. Factors that the Company considers in deciding when to perform an impairment review include significant under-performance of a business or product line in relation to expectations, significant negative industry or economic trends, and significant changes or planned changes in its use of the assets. The Company measures the recoverability of assets that it will continue to use in its operations by comparing the carrying value of the asset grouping to our estimate of the related total future undiscounted net cash flows. If an asset grouping’s carrying value is not recoverable through the related undiscounted cash flows, the asset grouping is considered to be impaired.
| F-11 |
The Company measures the impairment by comparing the difference between the asset grouping’s carrying value and its fair value. Long-lived assets are considered a non-financial asset and are recorded at fair value only if an impairment charge is recognized. Impairments are determined for groups of assets related to the lowest level of identifiable independent cash flows. The Company makes subjective judgments in determining the independent cash flows that can be related to specific asset groupings. In addition, as the Company reviews its manufacturing process and other manufacturing planning decisions, the Company must make subjective judgments regarding the remaining useful lives of assets. When the Company determines that the useful lives of assets are shorter than the Company had originally estimated, it accelerates the rate of depreciation over the assets’ new, shorter useful lives.
(3) Inventories
The Company uses the lower of first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) cost or net realizable value method of accounting for inventory.
Inventories consist of the following:
| (in thousands) | ||||||||
| 2017 | 2016 | |||||||
| Inventory Work-In-Process, January 1 | $ | — | $ | 1,326 | ||||
| Production | — | — | ||||||
| Transfer to other assets | — | (1,326 | ) | |||||
| Spoilage | — | — | ||||||
| Inventory Work-In-Process, December 31 | $ | — | $ | — | ||||
Commercial sales of Alferon® will not resume until new batches of commercial filled and finished product are produced and released by the FDA. The Company will continue the validation of Alferon® production and production of new Alferon® API inventory when funding becomes available. While the facility is approved by the FDA under the Biological License Application (“BLA”) for Alferon®, this status will need to be reaffirmed by an FDA pre-approval inspection. The Company will also need the FDA’s approval to release commercial product once it has submitted satisfactory stability and quality release data.
Due to the Company extending the timeline of Alferon® production to an excess of one year, the Company reclassified Alferon® Work-In-Process inventory to other assets within the Company’s balance sheet. The Alferon® Work-In-Process inventory included an initial payment for fill and finish of $211,000. The Company believes that the benefits from this initial payment will no longer be realized and elected to expense it in the current period.
(4) Marketable Securities
Marketable securities consist of mutual funds. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, it was determined that none of the marketable securities had other-than-temporary impairments. At December 31, 2017 and 2016, all securities were classified as available for sale investments and were measured as Level 1 instruments of the fair value measurements standard (see Note 17: Fair Value).
| F-12 |
Securities classified as available for sale consisted of:
December 31, 2017
(in thousands)
| Securities | Amortized
Cost |
Gross
Unrealized Gains |
Gross
Unrealized Losses |
Fair
Value |
Short-Term
Investments |
Long
Term Investments |
||||||||||||||||||
| Mutual Funds | $ | 684 | $ | 11 | $ | — | $ | 695 | $ | 695 | $ | — | ||||||||||||
| Totals | $ | 684 | $ | 11 | $ | — | $ | 695 | $ | 695 | $ | — | ||||||||||||
December 31, 2016
(in thousands)
| Securities | Amortized
Cost |
Gross
Unrealized Gains |
Gross
Unrealized Losses |
Fair
Value |
Short-Term
Investments |
Long
Term Investments |
||||||||||||||||||
| Mutual Funds | $ | 3,465 | $ | — | $ | (5 | ) | $ | 3,460 | $ | 3,460 | $ | — | |||||||||||
| Totals | $ | 3,465 | $ | — | $ | (5 | ) | $ | 3,460 | $ | 3,460 | $ | — | |||||||||||
Unrealized losses on investments
Investments with continuous unrealized losses for less than 12 months and 12 months or greater and their related fair values were as follows:
December 31, 2017
There we no investments with continuous unrealized losses for less than 12 months and 12 months or greater at December 31, 2017.
December 31, 2016
(in thousands)
| Total | Less Than 12 Months | 12 Months or Greater | Totals | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Securities | Number
In Loss Position |
Fair
Values |
Unrealized
Losses |
Fair
Values |
Unrealized
Losses |
Total
Fair Value |
Total
Unrealized Losses |
|||||||||||||||||||||
| Mutual Funds | 1 | $ | 1,853 | $ | (13 | ) | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 1,853 | $ | (13 | ) | |||||||||||||
| Totals | 1 | $ | 1,853 | $ | (13 | ) | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 1,853 | $ | (13 | ) | |||||||||||||
| F-13 |
(5) Patents, Trademark Rights and Other Intangibles (FASB ASC 350-30 General Intangibles Other than Goodwill)
During the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, the Company decided not to pursue certain patents in various countries for strategic reasons and recorded abandonment charges of $7,000, $134,000 and $215,000, respectively, which are included in research and development. Amortization expense was $56,000, $50,000 and $34,000 in 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The total cost of the patents was $1,107,000 and $1,065,000 as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The accumulated amortization as of December 31, 2017 and 2016 is $249,000 and $193,000, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, additions to patents costs and licensing fees were $49,000 and $294,000, respectively.
Amortization of patents and trademarks for each of the next five years is as follows: 2018 - $56,000; 2019 - $56,000; 2020 - $56,000; 2021 - $56,000 and 2022 - $56,000. No amortization expense is recognized related to patents that are pending.
(6) Accrued Expenses
Accrued expenses at December 31, 2017 and 2016 consist of the following:
| (in
thousands) December 31, |
||||||||
| 2017 | 2016 | |||||||
| Compensation | $ | 569 | $ | 297 | ||||
| Professional fees | 506 | 604 | ||||||
| Clinical Trial expenses | 310 | 158 | ||||||
| Other Expenses | 581 | 489 | ||||||
| $ | 1,966 | $ | 1,548 | |||||
(7) Stockholders’ Equity
(a) Preferred Stock
The Company is authorized to issue 5,000,000 shares of $0.01 par value preferred stock with such designations, rights and preferences as may be determined by the Board of Directors. There were no Preferred Shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2017 and 2016.
(b) Common Stock
The Company’s stockholders approved an amendment to the Company’s corporate Charter at the Annual Shareholder Meeting held in Philadelphia, PA that concluded on December 8, 2011. This amendment increased the Company’s authorized shares from 200,000,000 to 350,000,000 with specific limitations and restrictions on the usage of 75,000,000 of the 150,000,000 newly authorized shares.
In September 2015, the Company’s stockholders removed the limitations and restrictions on 67,000,000 shares. The Company’s stockholders approved up to an additional 60,000,000 shares for use in capital raising transactions and 7,000,000 shares for use in the Equity Plan of 2009. In August 2016, the Company effected a 12 to 1 reverse stock split of the outstanding shares, in order to become compliant with the NYSE regulations. This did not affect the number of authorized shares.
| F-14 |
In September 2016, the Company entered into Securities Purchase Agreements with certain investors for the sale by the Company of 3,333,334 shares of its common stock at a purchase price of $1.50 per share and sold warrants to purchase 2,500,000 shares of Common Stock for aggregate net proceeds of $4,520,000 after deducting certain fees due to the placement agent and the Company’s transaction expenses. The net proceeds received by the Company from the Offering will be used for preparation for technology transfer opportunities, expenses related to Ampligen® manufacturing, working capital and general corporate purposes. Subject to certain ownership limitations, the warrants were initially exercisable six-months after issuance at an exercise price equal to $2.00 per share of Common Stock, subject to adjustments as provided under the terms of the warrants. The warrants are exercisable for five years from the initial exercise date.
In June 2017, pursuant to an offer to the holders of the foregoing warrants (the “Exchange Transaction”), the exercise price of the foregoing warrants was changed to $0.50. As a result the warrant holders exercised these warrant and purchased 2,370,000 shares of company common stock. As part of the Exchange Transaction, the Company issued 2,370,000 series A warrants with an exercise price of $0.60 per share, an initial exercise date of December 1, 2017 and expiring March 6, 2022 and 7,584,000 series B warrants with an exercise price of $0.60, an initial exercise date December 1, 2017 per share and expiring March 1, 2018, which were exercised as described below. The Company received net proceeds from the foregoing transaction of approximately $1,055,000, after deducting certain fees due to the placement agent and the Company’s transaction expenses. In July 2017, the warrant holders exercised the remaining 130,000 warrants issued in September 2016 and purchased 130,000 shares of common stock. The Company realized additional net proceeds of $65,000 from this exercise. In conjunction with the foregoing the Company issued an additional 130,000 series A warrants and 416,000 series B warrants (with an exercise price of $0.60 and an initial exercise date of January 10, 2018.The net proceeds received by the Company from these offerings will be used for preparation for technology transfer opportunities, expenses related to Ampligen® manufacturing, working capital and general corporate purposes.
The 2,800,000 warrants with an expiration date of March 1, 2018 and an exercise price on $0.45 were exercised in January and February 2018. The Company realized proceeds of $1,260,000 from these exercises.
Pursuant to an engagement agreement, the Company paid its placement agent an aggregate fee equal to 7% and 10.5%, respectively, of the gross proceeds received by the Company from the sale of the securities in the offerings and granted to its placement agent or its designees warrants to purchase up to 5% of the aggregate number of shares sold in the transactions amounting to 166,667 and 107,759, respectively, unregistered warrants. The placement agent warrants have substantially the same terms as the investor warrants, except that the 166,667 placement agent warrants issued in September 2017 will expire September 1, 2021 and have an exercise price equal to $1.875 per share of common stock and the 107,759 placement agent warrants issued in June 2017 will expire June 1, 2022 and have an exercise price of $0.625.
In August 2017, the Holders of the series A warrants and series B warrants exchanged all of their warrants for new warrants (respectively, the “Series A Exchange Warrants” and the “Series B Exchange Warrants” and, collectively, the “Exchange Warrants”) identical to the series A warrants and series B warrants except as follows: the exercise price of both Exchange Warrants is $0.45 per share, subject to adjustment therein, and the number of Series B Exchange Warrants issued was proportionately reduced so that all Exchange Warrants in the Exchange Transaction do not exceed 19.9% of the number of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock as of May 31, 2017, the date of the Exchange Transaction offer letters. The issuance of the Exchange Warrants by the Company and the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Exchange Warrants is exempt from registration pursuant to Sections 3(a)(9) and 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).
| F-15 |
In February 2017, the Company entered into Securities Purchase Agreements (each, a “February Purchase Agreement”) with certain investors for the sale by us of 1,818,185 shares of its common stock at a purchase price of $0.55 per share. Concurrently with the sale of the common stock, pursuant to the February Purchase Agreement, the Company also sold unregistered warrants to purchase 1,363,639 shares of common stock for aggregate net proceeds of approximately $875,000. The warrants have an exercise price of $0.75 per share, are exercisable six months after issuance, and will expire five years from the initial exercise date. Pursuant to an engagement agreement, the Company paid its placement agent an aggregate fee equal to 7% of the gross proceeds received by the Company from the sale of the securities in the offering and granted to its placement agent or its designees warrants to purchase up to 5% of the aggregate number of shares sold in the transactions amounting to 90,910 unregistered warrants. The placement agent warrants have substantially the same terms as the investor warrants, except that the placement agent warrants will expire on February 1, 2022 and have an exercise price equal to $0.6875 per share of common stock.
The common stock issued in the above referenced September 6, 2016 and February 1, 2017 offerings were offered and sold by the Company pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement on Form S-3, which was initially filed with the SEC in June 2015 and subsequently declared effective on August 4, 2015 (Registration No. 333-205228) and the base prospectus dated as of August 4, 2015 contained therein. The Company filed a prospectus supplements related to these offerings with the SEC on September 1, 2016 and February 3, 2017, respectively, in connection with the sale of the common stock. The common stock issued pursuant to the above June 1, 2017 exercise of warrants were issued pursuant to an effective registration statement on Form S-1, which was initially filed with the SEC in May 2017 as subsequently amended and declared effective on May 23, 2017 (Registration No. 333-217671) and the prospectus supplement filed with the SEC on May 23, 2017.
As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, there were 32,884,786 and 24,202,921 shares outstanding, respectively.
(c) Equity Financings
On July 23, 2012, the Company entered into an equity distribution agreement with Maxim (the “EDA”) pursuant to which we may sell up to $75,000,000 worth of our shares of common stock from time to time through Maxim, as sales agent. Under the EDA, Maxim is entitled to a fixed commission rate of 4.0% of the gross sales price of Shares sold under the EDA, up to aggregate gross proceeds of $10,000,000, and thereafter, at a fixed commission rate of 3.0% of the gross sales price of Shares sold under the EDA. Sales of the Shares, if any, may be made in transactions that are deemed to be “at-the-market” offerings as defined in Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, including sales made by means of ordinary brokers’ transactions, including on the NYSE American, at market prices or as otherwise agreed with Maxim. The Company has no obligation to sell any of the Shares and may at any time suspend offers under the EDA or terminate the EDA. Up until August 4, 2015, the shares were being sold pursuant to the Company’s Universal Shelf Registration Statement on Form S-3, declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 2, 2012. Since August 4, 2015, the shares are being sold pursuant to the Company’s Universal Shelf Registration Statement on Form S-3, declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 4, 2015 (the “2015 Universal Shelf”).
| F-16 |
On August 4, 2015, the Company and Maxim Group LLC amended their July 23, 2012 EDA solely for the purpose of adding the registrant’s new registration statement on Form S-3 (File No 333-205228) to the definition of “registration statement” as the old registration statement expired.
On December 15, 2015, the Company filed a Prospectus Supplement reducing all offerings pursuant to its existing equity distribution agreement with Maxim Group LLC to $0.
On December 15, 2015, the Company entered into an Equity Distribution Agreement with Chardan Capital Markets, LLC (the “Chardan Agreement”) to create an at-the-market equity program under which it may sell shares of its common stock (the “Shares”) from time to time through Chardan Capital Markets, LLC, as sales agent (“Chardan”). Under the Chardan Agreement, Chardan will be entitled to a commission at a fixed commission rate of 3.0% of the gross sales price of Shares sold under the Chardan Agreement. Effective August 26, 2016, the Company halted all future offers and sales of its common stock under the Chardan Agreement and reduced the amount of potential future offers and sales under the Chardan Agreement to $0.00. Between December 15, 2015, the date of the Chardan Agreement, and August 26, 2016, the Company sold an aggregate of 114,394 shares of common stock pursuant to the Chardan Agreement for aggregate net proceeds of approximately $174,000.
On November 27, 2017, the Company reactivated the EDA. During December 2017, it sold an aggregate of 2,003,563 shares under the EDA for proceeds of $853,000 net of $26,000 in commissions. Pursuant to a prospectus supplement dated February 7, 2018, the Company currently is able to sell up to 6,549,157 of its common stock (inclusive of shares already sold under the prospectus supplement) under the EDA. The actual number of shares that the Company can sell and the proceeds to be received there from are dependent upon the market price of its common stock.
(d) Common Stock Options and Warrants
(i) Stock Options
The Equity Plan of 2004, effective May 1, 2004, authorizes the grant of non-qualified and incentive stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock and other stock awards. A maximum of 8,000,000 shares of common stock was reserved for potential issuance pursuant to awards under the Equity Plan of 2004. The Equity Plan of 2004 continued in effect for a period of 10 years from its effective date. The plan terminated on May 1, 2014.
The Equity Incentive Plan of 2007, effective June 20, 2007, authorizes the grant of non-qualified and incentive stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock and other stock awards. A maximum of 750,000 shares of common stock is reserved for potential issuance pursuant to awards under the Equity Incentive Plan of 2007. Unless sooner terminated, the Equity Incentive Plan of 2007 will continue in effect for a period of 10 years from its effective date. The plan terminated on June 20, 2017.
The Equity Incentive Plan of 2009, effective June 24, 2009, as amended, authorizes the grant of non-qualified and incentive stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock and other stock awards. A maximum of 22,000,000 shares of common stock is reserved for potential issuance pursuant to awards under the Equity Incentive Plan of 2009. Unless sooner terminated, the Equity Incentive Plan of 2009 will continue in effect for a period of 10 years from its effective date.
The Equity Plan of 2004 and the Equity Incentive Plans of 2007 and 2009 are administered by the Board of Directors. The Plans provide for awards to be made to such Officers, other key employees, non-employee Directors, consultants and advisors of the Company and its subsidiaries as the Board may select.
| F-17 |
Stock options awarded under the Plans may be exercisable at such times (not later than 10 years after the date of grant) and at such exercise prices (not less than fair market value at the date of grant) as the Board may determine. The Board may provide for options to become immediately exercisable upon a “change in control”, which is defined in the Plans to occur upon any of the following events: (a) the acquisition by any person or group, as beneficial owner, of 20% or more of the outstanding shares or the voting power of the outstanding securities of the Company; (b) either a majority of the Directors of the Company at the annual stockholders meeting has been nominated other than by or at the direction of the incumbent Directors of the Board, or the incumbent Directors cease to constitute a majority of the Company’s Board; (c) the Company’s stockholders approve a merger or other business combination pursuant to which the outstanding common stock of the Company no longer represents more than 50% of the combined entity after the transaction; (d) the Company’s stockholders approve a plan of complete liquidation or an agreement for the sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets; or (e) any other event or circumstance determined by the Company’s Board to affect control of the Company and designated by resolution of the Board as a change in control.
The fair value of each option and equity warrant award is estimated on the date of grant using a Black-Scholes-Merton pricing option valuation model. Expected volatility is based on the historical volatility of the price of the Company’s stock. The risk-free interest rate is based on U.S. Treasury issues with a term equal to the expected life of the option and equity warrant. The Company uses historical data to estimate expected dividend yield, life and forfeiture rates. The expected life of the options and equity warrants was estimated based on historical option and equity warrant holders’ behavior and represents the period of time that options and equity warrants are expected to be outstanding. The fair values of the options and equity warrants granted, were estimated based on the following weighted average assumptions:
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
| 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | ||||||||||
| Risk-free interest rate | 1.72%-1.89% | 0.71%-1.23% | 1.32%-1.72% | |||||||||
| Expected dividend yield | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| Expected life | 1.25-5 years | 2.5-5 years | 2.5-5 years | |||||||||
| Expected volatility | 91.60%-144.15% | 85.18%-94.81% | 83.840%-85.220% | |||||||||
| Weighted average grant date fair value for options and equity warrants issued | $0.35 per option/warrant for 1,340,517 options/equity warrants | $0.99 per option/warrant for 281,250 options/equity warrants | $1.80 per option for 68,750 options | |||||||||
The exercise price of all stock options and equity warrants granted was equal to or greater than the fair market value of the underlying common stock on the date of the grant.
| F-18 |
Information regarding the options approved by the Board of Directors under Equity Plan of 2004 is summarized below. The plan terminated on May 1, 2014:
| 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares | Option
Price |
Weighted Average Exercise Price |
Shares | Option
Price |
Weighted Average Exercise Price |
Shares | Option Price |
Weighted Average Exercise Price |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Outstanding, beginning of year | 488,718 | 15.60-72.00 | $ | 32.28 | 388,225 | 15.60-72.00 | $ | 34.56 | 283,527 | 15.60-72.00 | $ | 33.20 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Granted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Forfeited | (100,493 | ) | 19.56-34.44 | $ | 23.40 | (104,698 | ) | 25.32-46.32 | $ | 38.08 | (251,194 | ) | 15.60-28.44 | $ | 32.06 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Exercised | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Outstanding, end of year | 388,225 | 15.60-72.00 | $ | 34.56 | 283,527 | 15.60-72.00 | $ | 33.20 | 32,333 | 15.84-72.00 | $ | 42.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Exercisable, end of year | 388,225 | 15.60-72.00 | $ | 34.56 | 283,527 | 15.60-72.00 | $ | 33.20 | 32,333 | 15.84-72.00 | $ | 42.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted average remaining contractual life (years) | 1-3 years | 1-2 years | Less than 1 year | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Available for future grants | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Information regarding the options approved by the Board of Directors under Equity Plan of 2007 is summarized below. The plan terminated June 20, 2017:
| 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares | Option
Price |
Weighted
Average Exercise Price |
Shares | Option
Price |
Weighted
Average Exercise Price |
Shares | Option Price |
Weighted
Average Exercise Price |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Outstanding, beginning of year | 129,167 | 8.64-36.60 | 26.04 | 129,167 | 8.64-36.60 | 26.04 | 129,167 | 8.64-36.60 | 26.04 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Granted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Forfeited | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Exercised | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Outstanding, end of year | 129,167 | 8.64-36.60 | 26.04 | 129,167 | 8.64-36.60 | 26.04 | 129,167 | 8.64-36.60 | 26.04 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Exercisable, end of year | 129,167 | 8.64-36.60 | 26.04 | 129,167 | 8.64-36.60 | 26.04 | 129,167 | 8.64-36.60 | 26.04 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted average remaining contractual life (years) | 3-5 years | 2-4 years | 1-3 years | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Available for future grants | 250 | 250 | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| F-19 |
Information regarding the options approved by the Board of Directors under Equity Plan of 2009 is summarized below:
| 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares | Option
Price |
Weighted
Average Exercise Price |
Shares | Option
Price |
Weighted
Average Exercise Price |
Shares | Option
Price |
Weighted
Average Exercise Price |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Outstanding, beginning of year | 639,438 | 2.52-48.36 | 6.60 | 651,628 | 2.52-48.36 | 5.52 | 695,061 | 1.56-48.36 | 4.70 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Granted | 66,667 | 3.00 | 3.00 | 247,916 | 1.56-48.36 | 1.59 | 1,190,567 | 0.33-0.67 | 0.29 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Forfeited | (54,477 | ) | 3.00-48.36 | 20.88 | (204,483 | ) | 1.56-22.80 | 3.53 | (8,333 | ) | 1.56 | 1.56 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Exercised | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Outstanding, end of year | 651,628 | 2.52-48.36 | 5.52 | 695,061 | 1.56-48.36 | 4.70 | 1,877,295 | 0.33-48.36 | 1.92 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Exercisable, end of year | 623,850 | 2.52-48.36 | 5.52 | 578,047 | 1.56-48.36 | 5.32 | 1,046,487 | 0.33-48.36 | 0.42 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted average remaining contractual life (years) | 4-10 years | 3-10 years | 2-10 years | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Available for future grants | 8,341,272 | 6,395,040 | 4,139,454 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock option activity during the years ended December 31, 2015, 2016 and 2017 is as follows:
Stock option activity for employees:
| Number
of Options |
Weighted Average Exercise Price |
Weighted Average Remaining Contracted Term (Years) |
Aggregate Intrinsic Value |
|||||||||||||
| Outstanding December 31, 2014 | 940,657 | $ | 19.68 | 4.61 | — | |||||||||||
| Granted | 66,667 | 3.00 | — | — | ||||||||||||
| Forfeited | (113,553 | ) | 15.72 | — | — | |||||||||||
| Outstanding December 31, 2015 | 893,771 | $ | 18.96 | 4.02 | — | |||||||||||
| Granted | 185,417 | 1.58 | — | — | ||||||||||||
| Forfeited | (242,932 | ) | 13.06 | — | — | |||||||||||
| Outstanding December 31, 2016 | 836,256 | $ | 16.82 | 4.47 | — | |||||||||||
| Granted | 584,794 | 0.50 | — | — | ||||||||||||
| Forfeited | (217,132 | ) | 33.35 | — | — | |||||||||||
| Outstanding December 31, 2017 | 1,203,918 | $ | 5.91 | 6.89 | — | |||||||||||
| Vested and expected to vest at December 31, 2017 | 1,203,918 | $ | 5.91 | 6.89 | — | |||||||||||
| Exercisable at December 31, 2017 | 837,770 | $ | 7.27 | 5.26 | — | |||||||||||
The weighted-average grant-date fair value of employee options granted during the year 2017 was $230,000 for 584,794 options at $0.39 per option, during the year 2016 was $189,000 for 185,417 options at $1.02 per option, and during the year 2015 was $121,000 for 66,667 options at $1.80 per option.
| F-20 |
Unvested stock option activity for employees:
| Number
of Options |
Weighted Average Exercise Price |
Average Remaining Contracted Term (Years) |
Aggregate Intrinsic Value |
|||||||||||||
| Unvested December 31, 2014 | 59,216 | $ | 16.56 | 8.76 | — | |||||||||||
| Granted | 66,667 | 3.00 | — | — | ||||||||||||
| Vested | (98,106 | ) | 11.04 | — | — | |||||||||||
| Forfeited | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
| Unvested December 31, 2015 | 27,777 | $ | 3.48 | 7.82 | — | |||||||||||
| Granted | 185,417 | 1.58 | — | — | ||||||||||||
| Vested | (122,569 | ) | 1.72 | — | — | |||||||||||
| Forfeited | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
| Unvested December 31, 2016 | 90,625 | $ | 1.72 | 9.33 | — | |||||||||||
| Granted | 584,794 | 0.50 | — | — | ||||||||||||
| Vested | (309,271 | ) | 0.88 | — | — | |||||||||||
| Forfeited | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
| Unvested December 31, 2017 | 366,148 | $ | 0.48 | 9.62 | — | |||||||||||
The weighted-average grant-date fair value of employee unvested stock options granted during the year 2017 was $230,000 for 584,794 options at $0.39 per option, during the year 2016 was $92,000 for 185,417 options at $0.50 per option, and during the year 2015 was $51,000 for 66,667 options at $0.76 per option.
Stock option activity for non-employees during the year:
| Number
of Options |
Weighted Average Exercise Price |
Weighted Average Remaining Contracted Term (Years) |
Aggregate Intrinsic Value |
|||||||||||||
| Outstanding December 31, 2014 | 316,667 | $ | 16.32 | 4.75 | — | |||||||||||
| Granted | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
| Exercised | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
| Forfeited | (41,417 | ) | 22.32 | — | — | |||||||||||
| Outstanding December 31, 2015 | 275,250 | $ | 15.48 | 4.31 | — | |||||||||||
| Granted | 62,500 | 1.64 | — | — | ||||||||||||
| Exercised | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
| Forfeited | (66,250 | ) | 23.22 | — | — | |||||||||||
| Outstanding December 31, 2016 | 271,500 | $ | 10.41 | 4.66 | — | |||||||||||
| Granted | 605,772 | 0.42 | — | — | ||||||||||||
| Exercised | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
| Forfeited | (42,396 | ) | 19.47 | — | — | |||||||||||
| Outstanding December 31, 2017 | 834,876 | $ | 2.70 | 6.69 | — | |||||||||||
| Vested and expected to vest at December 31, 2017 | 834,876 | $ | 2.70 | 6.69 | — | |||||||||||
| Exercisable at December 31, 2017 | 370,217 | $ | 5.62 | 5.11 | — | |||||||||||
| F-21 |
The weighted-average grant-date fair value of non-employee options granted during the year 2017 was $182,000 for 605,772 options at $0.30 per option, during the year 2016 was $63,000 for 62,500 options at $1.01 per option, and during the year 2015 was zero, as no options were granted to non-employees in 2015.
Unvested stock option activity for non-employees:
| Number
of Options |
Weighted Average Exercise Price |
Weighted Average Remaining Contracted Term (Years) |
Aggregate Intrinsic Value |
|||||||||||||
| Unvested December 31, 2014 | 2,778 | $ | 31.20 | 9.08 | — | |||||||||||
| Granted | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
| Vested | (2,778 | ) | 31.20 | — | — | |||||||||||
| Forfeited | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
| Unvested December 31, 2015 | — | $ | — | — | — | |||||||||||
| Granted | 62,500 | 1.62 | — | — | ||||||||||||
| Vested | (23,611 | ) | 1.63 | — | — | |||||||||||
| Forfeited | (12,500 | ) | 1.56 | — | — | |||||||||||
| Unvested December 31, 2016 | 26,389 | $ | 1.65 | 8.61 | — | |||||||||||
| Granted | 606,772 | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
| Vested | (163,335 | ) | 0.57 | — | — | |||||||||||
| Forfeited | (4,861 | ) | 7.58 | — | — | |||||||||||
| Unvested December 31, 2017 | 464,965 | $ | 0.36 | 7.84 | — | |||||||||||
Stock-based compensation expense was approximately $ 571,000, $410,000 and $181,000 for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015 resulting in an increase in general and administrative expenses and loss per share of $0.02, $0.02 and $0.01, respectively.
As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, there was $435,000 and $266,000, respectively, of unrecognized stock-based compensation cost related to options granted under the Equity Incentive Plans. Stock-based compensation related to options granted under the Equity Incentive Plans will be recorded over the vesting period which is typically one year or upon reaching agreed upon company and/or individual performance milestones being met which is indefinite.
(ii) Stock Warrants
Stock warrants are issued as needed by the Board of Directors and have no formal plan.
The fair value of each warrant award is estimated on the date of grant using a Black-Scholes-Merton pricing option valuation model. Expected volatility is based on the historical volatility of the price of the Company’s stock. The risk-free interest rate is based on U.S. Treasury issues with a term equal to the expected life of the warrant. The Company uses historical data to estimate expected dividend yield, life and forfeiture rates. The expected life of the warrants was estimated based on historical option holder’s behavior and represents the period of time that options are expected to be outstanding. There were 2,700,000 warrants granted during 2016 at $1.56 to $2.00 per warrant, and 17,512,308 granted in 2017 at $0.45 to $0.75 per warrant.
| F-22 |
Information regarding warrants outstanding and exercisable into shares of common stock is summarized below:
| 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares | Warrant Price |
Weighted Average Exercise Price |
Shares | Warrant Price |
Weighted Average Exercise Price |
Shares | Warrant Price |
Weighted Average Exercise Price |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Outstanding, beginning of year | 199,922 | 3.00-24.00 | $ | 6.72 | 147,183 | 1.08-24.00 | $ | 5.73 | 2,830,516 | 1.08-24.00 | $ | 2.16 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Granted | 2,083 | 1.08 | $ | 1.08 | 2,700,000 | 1.56-2.00 | $ | 1.99 | 17,512,308 | 0.45-0.75 | $ | 0.57 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Forfeited | (54,822 | ) | 6.12-18.60 | 9.24 | (16,667 | ) | 6.00 | 6.00 | (10,508,334 | ) | 0.60-24.00 | 0.61 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Exercised | — | — | — | — | — | — | (2,500,000 | ) | 0.50 | 0.50 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Outstanding, end of year | 147,183 | 3.00 –24.00 | $ | 5.76 | 2,830,516 | 1.08-24.00 | $ | 2.16 | 7,334,490 | 0.45-10.68 | $ | 0.63 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Exercisable | 147,183 | 3.00-24.00 | $ | 5.76 | 2,830,516 | 1.08-24.00 | $ | 2.16 | 7,334,490 | 0.45-10.68 | $ | 0.63 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted average remaining contractual life | 4.4 years | 4.6 years | 2.7 years | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years exercisable | 2017-2023 | 2017-2023 | 2017-2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock warrants are issued at the discretion of the Board. In 2017, there were 17,512,308 warrants issued at a weighted average exercise price of $0.57 per share. In 2016, there were 2,666,667 warrants issued in conjunction with the August 2016 offering at an average exercise price of $1.99 per share. In 2015, there were no warrants issued. In 2016, 33,333 warrants were issued at an average exercise price of $1.74 per share. Certain of the stock warrants outstanding are subject to adjustments for stock splits and dividends. 2,500,000 warrants were exercised in 2017. No warrants were exercised during 2015 and 2016.
(e) Rights Offering
On November 19, 2002, the Board of Directors of the Company declared a dividend distribution of one Right for each outstanding share of Common Stock to stockholders of record at the close of business on November 29, 2002 (the “Record Date”). On November 2, 2012, at the direction of the Board of Directors of the Company amended and restated the Rights Agreement between the Company and its Rights Agent. On November 14, 2017, at the direction of the Board, the Company again amended and restated the Rights Agreement between the Company and, American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, its current Rights Agent (as amended and restated, the “Rights Agreement”). Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company a unit consisting of one one-hundredth of a share (a “Unit”) of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Series A Preferred Stock”) at a Purchase Price of $21.00 per Unit, subject to adjustment.
(8) Segment and Related Information
The Company operates in one segment, which performs research and development activities related to Ampligen® and other drugs under development, and sales and marketing of Alferon®. The Company’s revenues for the three-year period ended December 31, 2017, were earned in the United States.
| F-23 |
(9) Research, Consulting and Supply Agreements
The Company had a Supply Agreement with Jubilant Hollister-Stier LLC of Spokane, Washington (“Jubilant”), pursuant to which Jubilant would formulate and package Ampligen® from the key raw materials that the Company would supply to them. This supply agreement expired March 11, 2014. In January 2017, we entered into a purchase order to replace the previous purchase commitment with Jubilant pursuant to which Jubilant will manufacture batches of Ampligen® for the Company. Pursuant to the new order, Jubilant will perform tooling and validation activities as well as final fill and finish services. We paid Jubilant $320,000 in 2017 and $482,000 in 2018 for a total of $802,000 to date for these services.
In May 2017, Hemispherx filed a complaint in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas Civil Trial Division against Nitto Avecia Pharma Services, Inc. (“NAPS”), the successor to Avrio Biopharmaceuticals, LLC (“Avrio”), primarily for breach of contract. Pursuant to the applicable agreement, Avrio was to provide fill and finish services of Ampligen®. Hemispherx sought damages due to Avrio’s failures and omissions during the fill and finish process which led to a loss of product. In June 2017, NAPS filed an answer denying liability and counter claiming breach of contract by Hemispherx. In March of 2018, the parties agreed to fully resolve their dispute by agreement for a satisfactory payment to Hemispherx and additional consideration. Final documentation of the settlement is in process and will fully resolve the parties’ claims and disputes.
To formulate, fill, finish and package (“fill and finish”) Alferon N Injection® drug product, the Company requires a FDA approved third party Contract Manufacturing Organization (“CMO”). In January 2012, the Company agreed to a Technology, Transfer, Validation and Commercial Supply Agreement with Ajinomoto Althea, Inc., formerly Althea Technologies, Inc. (“Althea”) of San Diego, CA, regarding the fill and finish process for Alferon® N Injection®. In November 2014, the Company entered into a purchase commitment with Althea for approximately $622,000 for the production of validation batches of Alferon® N Injection for emergency use and/or commercial sale. The Company paid approximately $211,000 to Althea with regard to this open purchase commitment as of December 31, 2017 and had recorded this amount within Work-In-Process inventory.The Company believes that the benefits from this initial $211,000 payment will no longer be realized and have expensed it in the current period.
On September 6, 2011, the Company executed an amended agreement with Asembia, formerly Armada Healthcare, LLC to undertake the marketing, education and sales of Alferon N Injection® throughout the United States. This agreement also provides start-up along with ongoing sales and marketing support to the Company. On July 31, 2015, it was mutually agreed upon to extend this agreement through August 14, 2017 subject to the same terms and conditions. In August 2017, the Company extended this agreement through August 14, 2019 subject to the same terms and conditions. The Company incurred no fees for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, pursuant to original and amended agreements.
On September 6, 2011, the Company executed a new agreement with specialty distributor, BioRidgePharma, LLC (“BioRidge”) to warehouse, ship, and distribute Alferon N Injection® on an exclusive basis in support of U.S. sales. On July 31, 2015, it was mutually agreed upon to extend this agreement through August 14, 2017 subject to the same terms and conditions. In August 2017, the Company extended this agreement through August 14, 2019 subject to the same terms and conditions. The Company incurred approximately fees of $0, $0 and $2,000 for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively, pursuant to the agreement.
On August 6, 2015, the Company executed an agreement with Emerge Health Pty Ltd. (“Emerge”) to seek approval of Alferon N Injection® in Australia and New Zealand and to commence distribution of Alferon® in both countries on a named-patient basis, for treating genital warts and other infections and diseases to which patients in Australia and New Zealand have become refractory to recombinant interferon. The Company and Emerge will collaborate on seeking regulatory approval from Australia’s TGA and New Zealand’s Medsafe. Under a five-year exclusive license to sell, market, and distribute Alferon N Injection® in Australia and New Zealand, Emerge will implement regulatory-compliant programs to educate physicians about Alferon®. The Company will support these efforts and will supply Alferon® at a predetermined transfer price. The Company has the right to buy out of the agreement at a price equal to three times Alferon® sales for the preceding 12 months if exercised within the first two years or two times such sales if exercised after year three. The Sales, Marketing, Distribution, and Supply Agreement with Emerge was terminated in the 2nd quarter of 2017 because the Company would be unable to manufacture Alferon without additional funding.
| F-24 |
On May 24, 2016, the Company entered into an amended and restated five year agreement (the “Impatients Agreement”) with Impatients, N.V. (“Impatients”), a Netherlands based company doing business as myTomorrows, for the commencement and management of an Early Access Program (“EAP”) in Europe and Turkey (the “Territory”) related to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (“CFS”). Pursuant to the agreement, Impatients, as our exclusive service provider and distributor in the Territory, is performing EAP activities. These activities will be directed to (a) the education of physicians and patients regarding the possibility of early access to innovative medical treatments not yet the subject of a Marketing Authorization (regulatory approval) through named-patient use, compassionate use, expanded access and hospital exemption, (b) patient and physician outreach related to a patient-physician platform, (c) the securing of Early Access Approvals (exemptions and/or waivers required by regulatory authorities for medical treatments prior to Marketing Authorization) for the use of such treatments, (d) the distribution and sale of such treatments pursuant to such Early Access Approvals, (e) pharmacovigilance (drug safety) activities and/or (f) the collection of data such as patient-reported outcomes, doctor-reported experiences and registry data. We are supporting these efforts and supplying Ampligen® to Impatients at a predetermined transfer price. In the event that the Company receives Marketing Authorization in any country in the Territory, the Company will pay Impatients a royalty on products sold. Pursuant to the Impatients Agreement, the royalty would be a percentage of Net Sales (as defined in the Impatients Agreement) of Ampligen® sold in the Territory where Marketing Authorization was obtained, and the maximum royalty would be a percentage of Net Sales. The formula to determine the percentage of Net Sales will be based on the number of patients that are entered into the EAP. The Company believes that disclosure of the exact maximum royalty rate and royalty termination date could cause competitive harm. However, to assist the public in gauging these terms, the actual maximum royalty rate is somewhere between 2% and 10% and the royalty termination date is somewhere between 8 and 15 years from the first commercial sale of a product within a specific country. The parties established a Joint Steering Committee comprised of representatives of both parties to oversee the EAP. No assurance can be given that activities under the EAP will result in Marketing Authorization or the sale of substantial amounts of Ampligen® in the Territory. In 2017, the Company commenced sales of recently manufactured Ampligen® in international programs. No royalties were paid in 2017.
In January 2017, we announced that the EAP through our agreement with myTomorrows designed to enable access of Ampligen® to CFS patients has been extended to pancreatic cancer patients beginning in the Netherlands. myTomorrows is our exclusive service provider in Europe and Turkey and will manage all EAP activities relating to the pancreatic cancer extension of the program. In June 2017, we signed an amendment to the EAP with myTomorrows. This amendment is for myTomorrows to provide support services to the Company with respect to the execution of the 511-Program (“511-Services”). The 511-Services shall be rendered for a period of 6 months to be renewed with additional 6 month periods with written mutual consent, or until termination of the 511-Program. The 511-Services shall be rendered free of charge.
The Company has entered into agreements for consulting services, which are performed at medical research institutions and by medical and clinical research individuals. The Company's obligation to fund these agreements can be terminated after the initial funding period, which generally ranges from one to three years or on an as-needed monthly basis. During the years ending December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, the Company incurred approximately $40,000, $285,000 and $1,668,000, respectively, of consulting service fees under these agreements. These costs are charged to research and development expense as incurred.
| F-25 |
(10) 401(k) Plan
The Company has a defined contribution plan, entitled the Hemispherx Biopharma Employees 401(k) Plan and Trust Agreement (the “401(k) Plan”). Full time employees of the Company are eligible to participate in the 401(k) Plan following one year of employment. Subject to certain limitations imposed by federal tax laws, participants are eligible to contribute up to 15% of their salary (including bonuses and/or commissions) per annum. Participants’ contributions to the 401(k) Plan may be matched by the Company at a rate determined annually by the Board of Directors.
Each participant immediately vests in his or her deferred salary contributions, while Company contributions will vest over one year. A 6% Company matching contribution was established, effective as of January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2015. As of January 1, 2016, the matching has been terminated. For 2017, 2016 and 2015, the Company contributions towards the 401(k) Plan were $0, $0 and $167,000 respectively.
(11) Royalties, License and Employment Agreements
The Company had contractual agreements with Named Executive Officers (“Officers”) in 2017, 2016 and 2015. The aggregate annual base compensation for these Officers under their respective contractual agreements for 2017, 2016 and 2015 was $1,164,000, $983,000 and $2,259,000 respectively. In addition, certain of these Officers were entitled to receive performance bonuses of up to 25% or 20% of their respective annual base salary, at the sole discretion of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. In 2017, 2016 and 2015, no Officers’ bonuses were granted.
On November 23, 2015, Mr. Equels waived his rights under his employment agreement to any future payment of any incentive bonus related to the sale of the Company’s stock or other securities by, or on behalf of, the Company pursuant to the Maxim Equity Distribution Agreement or any similar or successor ATM equity distribution agreement. Mr. Equels voluntarily provided his waiver in an effort to preserve cash and to help the Company to ensure its short term commercialization goals.
In 2017, equity was granted as a form of compensation to these Officers:
| ● | Chief Executive Officer was granted 413,135 ten year options to purchase common stock at $0.36 to $0.56 per share which vest in entirety in one year; and | |
| ● | Chief Financial Officer was granted 37,712 ten year options to purchase common stock at $0.36 to $0.49 per share which vest in entirety in one year. | |
| ● | Chief Scientific Officer was granted no options to purchase common stock. |
| F-26 |
In 2016, equity was granted as a form of compensation to these Officers:
| ● | Chief Executive Officer was granted 25,000 ten year options to purchase common stock at $1.68 per share which vest in entirety in one year; and | |
| ● | Chief Financial Officer was granted 12,500 ten year options to purchase common stock at $1.56 per share which vest in entirety in one year. | |
| ● | Chief Scientific Officer was granted 12,500 ten year options to purchase common stock at $1.56 per share which vest in entirety in one year. |
In 2015, equity was granted as a form of compensation to these Officers:
| ● | Chief Executive Officer was granted 25,000 ten year options to purchase common stock at $3.00 per share which vest in entirety in one year. |
The Company recorded stock compensation expense of approximately $86,000, $52,000 and $121,000, respectively, during the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 respectively with regard to these issuances.
(12) Leases
The Company has no long term leases. The term of the lease for the Riverton, NJ office is currently through December 2018
Rent expense charged to operations for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 amounted to approximately $253,000, $178,000 and $166,000 respectively.
(13) Income Taxes (FASB ASC 740 Income Taxes)
The Company applies the provisions of FASB ASC 740-10 Uncertainty in Income Taxes. As a result of the implementation, there has been no material change to the Company’s tax position as they have not paid any corporate income taxes due to operating losses. All tax benefits will likely not be recognized due to the substantial net operating loss carryforwards which will most likely not be realized prior to expiration. The 2017 Tax Act, which was signed into law on December 22, 2017, has resulted in significant changes to the U.S. corporate income tax system. These changes include a federal statutory rate reduction from 35% to 21%, the elimination or reduction of certain domestic deductions and credits and limitations on the deductibility of interest expense and executive compensation. The 2017 Tax Act also transitions international taxation from a worldwide system to a modified territorial system and includes base erosion prevention measures on non-U.S. earnings, which has the effect of subjecting certain earnings of our foreign subsidiaries to U.S. taxation as global intangible low taxed income (GILTI). These changes are effective beginning in 2018.
As of December 31, 2017, the Company has approximately $181,000,000 of federal net operating loss carryforwards (expiring in the years 2019 through 2037) available to offset future federal taxable income. The Company also has approximately $36,000,000 of Pennsylvania state net operating loss carryforwards (expiring in the years 2019 through 2033) and approximately $10,000,000 of New Jersey state net operating loss carryforwards (expiring in 2037) available to offset future state taxable income. In December 2017 the Company effectively sold $8,000,000 of its New Jersey state net operating loss carryforward for the year 2016 for approximately $622,000, and also sold New Jersey research and development credits for $169,000. In January 2016, the Company effectively sold $16,000,000 of its New Jersey state net operating loss carryforward for the year 2014 for approximately $1,320,000, and also sold New Jersey research and development credits for $241,000. In December 2016, the Company effectively sold $14,000,000 of its New Jersey state net operating loss carryforward for the year 2015 for approximately $1,120,000, and also sold New Jersey research and development credits for $189,000.
| F-27 |
The utilization of certain state net operating loss carryforwards may be subject to annual limitations. With no tax due for the foreseeable future, the Company has determined that a policy to determine the accounting for interest or penalties related to the payment of tax is not necessary at this time.
Under the Tax Reform Act of 1986, the utilization of a corporation’s net operating loss carryforward is limited following a greater than 50% change in ownership. Due to the Company’s prior and current equity transactions, the Company’s net operating loss carryforwards may be subject to an annual limitation generally determined by multiplying the value of the Company on the date of the ownership change by the federal long-term tax exempt rate. Any unused annual limitation may be carried forward to future years for the balance of the net operating loss carryforward period. The 2017 Tax Act eliminates the three year carryback of net operating losses and allows only the carryforward of losses.
Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the carrying amounts used for income tax purposes. In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, Management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which temporary differences representing net future deductible amounts become deductible. Due to the uncertainty of the Company’s ability to realize the benefit of the deferred tax asset, the deferred tax assets are fully offset by a valuation allowance at December 31, 2017 and 2016.
The components of the net deferred tax assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2017 and 2016 consist of the following:
| (in thousands) | ||||||||
| Deferred tax assets: | December 31, | |||||||
| 2017 | 2016 | |||||||
| Net operating losses | $ | 38,005 | $ | 59,200 | ||||
| Amortization & depreciation | 138 | 132 | ||||||
| Accrued expenses | 51 | — | ||||||
| Stock compensation | 120 | 139 | ||||||
| Total deferred tax assets | 38,314 | 59,471 | ||||||
| Deferred tax liabilities: | ||||||||
| Research and development costs | (189 | ) | (375 | ) | ||||
| Deferred tax assets, net | 38,125 | 59,096 | ||||||
| Less: Valuation allowance | (38,125 | ) | (59,096 | ) | ||||
| Deferred tax assets, net | — | — | ||||||
(14) Notes Payable
In May 2017, the Company entered into a mortgage and note payable agreement with a bridge funding company to obtain a two-year funding line of up to $4,000,000 secured by the property and assets located at 783 Jersey Ave., New Brunswick, New Jersey. The Company borrowed $1,900,000 of the line in monthly advances including accrued interest as of December 31, 2017. The Company will be able to request future advances in excess of $2,000,000 at the lender’s discretion and be payable in full upon maturity. The Company pays interest on this note at a fixed rate of 12% per annum for the first 18 months and change to a rate equal to 800 basis points above the prime rate of interest during the remainder of the term; however, the interest rate will not be less than 12% for the entire term. The note will be interest only and payable monthly through the maturity. The Company is permitted to prepay the line without penalty commencing after six months. The balance on the note at December 31, 2017 is $1,835,000($1,900,000 less unamortized deferred finance costs of $65,000). The note was paid off on March 16, 2018. See Note 18 - Subsequent Events.
| F-28 |
(15) Certain Relationships and Related Transactions
The Company has employment agreements with certain of their Executive Officers and has granted such officers and directors options and warrants to purchase their common stock. Please see details of these Employment Agreements in Note 11 - Royalties, License and Employment Agreements.
Thomas Equels our CEO, was elected to the Board of Directors at the Annual Stockholders Meeting on November 17, 2008 and joined the Company as General Counsel effective June 1, 2010. Mr. Equels had provided external legal services for several years through May 31, 2010 and Equels Law Firm continued to support the Company through 2015. In 2017, 2016 and 2015, the Company paid Equels Law Firm approximately $0, $0 and $42,000, respectively, for services rendered. Upon analysis in the fall of 2011 by the Audit Committee’s Financial Expert, it was deemed that the hourly rates charged by Equels Law to the Company were reasonable when compared to the fee structure of a possible arms-length transaction from comparable firms in practice in the same market and of the similar size. The hourly rate fees from Equels Law Firm remained the same for 2015. There were no legal fees paid in 2016 and 2017 to Equels Law Firm. For his Board fees, Mr. Equels received $0, $20,000 and $182,000 for 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Mr. Equels stopped receiving Board fees in March 2016.
For the years ended 2017, 2016 and 2015, compensation was granted or paid related to the Executive Performance Incentive Program related to the ATM, as set forth in Section 3(c)(ii) of his Employment Agreement, for approximately $0, $0, and $262,000 to Mr. Equels. Mr. Equels’ compensation related to this program was classified entirely as general and administrative expense. Mr. Equels has agreed not to receive any compensation in relation to current or future ATM sales.
In 2016 Mr. Equels also earned, as set forth in Section 3(c)(ii) of his Employment Agreement, $39,000 for 5% of the Ampligen® cost recovery sales for the last 5 years, and $131,000 in accordance with item 5 of the 2016 Senior Executive Deferred Cash Performance Award Plan, as the price of our stock has been above $.20 for 5 successive trading days. In 2017, as set forth in Section 3(c)(ii) of his Employment Agreement, Mr. Equels earned $22,000 for 5% of the 2017 Ampligen® cost recovery sales.
(16) Concentrations of Credit Risk
Financial instruments, which potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk, consist principally of cash, cash equivalents, investments and accounts receivable. The Company places its cash with high-quality financial institutions and, at times, such amounts in non-interest bearing accounts may be in excess of Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insurance limits. There was no credit based sales for 2017, 2016 or 2015.
| F-29 |
(17) Fair Value
The Company is required under GAAP to disclose information about the fair value of all the Company’s financial instruments, whether or not these instruments are measured at fair value on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.
The Company estimates that the fair values of cash and cash equivalents, other assets, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate their carrying values due to the short-term maturities of these items. The Company also has certain warrants with a cash settlement feature in the unlikely occurrence of a Fundamental Transaction. The fair value of the redeemable warrants (“Warrants”) related to the Company’s August 2016, February 2017, June 2017 and August 2017 common stock and warrant issuance, are calculated using a Monte Carlo Simulation. While the Monte Carlo Simulation is one of a number of possible pricing models, the Company has determined it to be industry accepted and fairly presented the fair value of the Warrants. As an additional factor to determine the fair value of the Put’s liability, the occurrence probability of a Fundamental Transaction event was factored into the valuation.
The Company recomputes the fair value of the Warrants at the issuance date and the end of each quarterly reporting period. Such value computation includes subjective input assumptions that are consistently applied each period. If the Company were to alter its assumptions or the numbers input based on such assumptions, the resulting fair value could be materially different.
The Company utilized the following assumptions to estimate the fair value of the August 2016 Warrants:
| December 31, 2017 | December 31, 2016 | |||||||
| Underlying price per share | $0.35 | $0.69-$1.26 | ||||||
| Exercise price per share | $1.88 | $1.88 - $2.00 | ||||||
| Risk-free interest rate | 2.05% | 1.86% | ||||||
| Expected holding period | 3.70 | 4.70 | ||||||
| Expected volatility | 65% | 85% | ||||||
| Expected dividend yield | — | — | ||||||
The Company utilized the following assumptions to estimate the fair value of the February 2017 Warrants:
| December 31, 2017 | February 1, 2017 | |||||||
| Underlying price per share | $0.35 | $0.64 | ||||||
| Exercise price per share | $0.69-$0.75 | $0.69-$0.75 | ||||||
| Risk-free interest rate | 2.10% | 1.86%-1.93% | ||||||
| Expected holding period | 4.1 | 5.00 | ||||||
| Expected volatility | 65% | 80%-85% | ||||||
| Expected dividend yield | — | — | ||||||
| F-30 |
The Company utilized the following assumptions to estimate the fair value of the June 2017 Warrants:
| December 31, 2017 | June 1, 2017 | |||||||
| Underlying price per share | $0.35 | $0.53 | ||||||
| Exercise price per share | $0.63 | $0.60-$0.63 | ||||||
| Risk-free interest rate | 2.14% | 1.11%-1.76% | ||||||
| Expected holding period | 4.4 | .7-5 | ||||||
| Expected volatility | 65% | 80% | ||||||
| Expected dividend yield | — | — | ||||||
The Company utilized the following assumptions to estimate the fair value of the August 2017 Warrants:
| December 31, 2017 | August 23, 2017 | |||||||
| Underlying price per share | $0.35 | $0.37 | ||||||
| Exercise price per share | $0.45 | $0.45 | ||||||
| Risk-free interest rate | 1.33%-2.11% | 1.11%-1.69% | ||||||
| Expected holding period | 0.2-4.2 | 0.5-4.5 | ||||||
| Expected volatility | 65% | 70% | ||||||
| Expected dividend yield | — | — | ||||||
The significant assumptions using the Monte Carlo Simulation approach for valuation of the Warrants are:
| (i) | Risk-Free Interest Rate. The risk-free interest rates for the Warrants are based on U.S. Treasury constant maturities for periods commensurate with the remaining expected holding periods of the warrants. | |
| (ii) | Expected Holding Period. The expected holding period represents the period of time that the Warrants are expected to be outstanding until they are exercised. The Company utilizes the remaining contractual term of the Warrants at each valuation date as the expected holding period. | |
| (iii) | Expected Volatility. Expected stock volatility is based on daily observations of the Company’s historical stock values for a period commensurate with the remaining expected holding period on the last day of the period for which the computation is made. | |
| (iv) | Expected Dividend Yield. Expected dividend yield is based on the Company’s anticipated dividend payments over the remaining expected holding period. As the Company has never issued dividends, the expected dividend yield is $-0- and this assumption will be continued in future calculations unless the Company changes its dividend policy. | |
| (v) | Expected Probability of a Fundamental Transaction. The possibility of the occurrence of a Fundamental Transaction triggering a Put right is extremely remote. As discussed above, a Put right would only arise if a Fundamental Transaction 1) is an all cash transaction; (2) results in the Company going private; or (3) is a transaction involving a person or entity not traded on a national securities exchange. The Company believes such an occurrence is highly unlikely because: |
| F-31 |
| a. | The Company only has one product that is FDA approved but which will not be available for commercial sales; |
| b. | The Company may have to perform additional clinical trials for FDA approval of its flagship product; |
| c. | Industry and market conditions continue to include a global market recession, adding risk to any transaction; |
| d. | Available capital for a potential buyer in a cash transaction continues to be limited; |
| e. | The nature of a life sciences company is heavily dependent on future funding and high fixed costs, including Research & Development; |
| f. | The Company has minimal revenues streams which are insufficient to meet the funding needs for the cost of operations or construction at their manufacturing facility; and |
| g. | The Company’s Rights Agreement and Executive Agreements make it less attractive to a potential buyer. |
With the above factors utilized in analysis of the likelihood of the Put’s potential Liability, the Company estimated the range of probabilities related to a Put right being triggered as:
| Range of Probability | Probability | |||||
| Low | 0.5 | % | ||||
| Medium | 1.0 | % | ||||
| High | 5.0 | % | ||||
The Monte Carlo Simulation has incorporated a 5.0% probability of a Fundamental Transaction to date for the life of the securities.
| (vi) | Expected Timing of Announcement of a Fundamental Transaction. As the Company has no specific expectation of a Fundamental Transaction, for reasons elucidated above, the Company utilized a discrete uniform probability distribution over the Expected Holding Period to model in the potential announcement of a Fundamental Transaction occurring during the Expected Holding Period. | |
| (vii) | Expected 100 Day Volatility at Announcement of a Fundamental Transaction. An estimate of future volatility is necessary as there is no mechanism for directly measuring future stock price movements. Daily observations of the Company’s historical stock values for the 100 days immediately prior to the Warrants’ grant dates, with a floor of 100%, were utilized as a proxy for the future volatility. | |
| (viii) | Expected Risk-Free Interest Rate at Announcement of a Fundamental Transaction. The Company utilized a risk-free interest rate corresponding to the forward U.S. Treasury rate for the period equal to the time between the date forecast for the public announcement of a Fundamental Transaction and the Warrant expiration date for each simulation. | |
| (ix) | Expected Time Between Announcement and Consummation of a Fundamental Transaction. The expected time between the announcement and the consummation of a Fundamental Transaction is based on the Company’s experience with the due diligence process performed by acquirers, and is estimated to be six months. The Monte Carlo Simulation approach incorporates this additional period to reflect the delay Warrant Holders would experience in receiving the proceeds of the Put. |
While the assumptions remain consistent from period to period (e.g., utilizing historical stock prices), the numbers input change from period to period (e.g., the actual historical prices input for the relevant period). The carrying amount and estimated fair value of the above Warrants was approximately $962,000 and $940,000 at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.
The Company applies FASB ASC 820 (formerly Statement No. 157 Fair Value Measurements) that defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. The guidance does not impose any new requirements around which assets and liabilities are to be measured at fair value, and instead applies to asset and liability balances required or permitted to be measured at fair value under existing accounting pronouncements. The Company measures its warrant liability for those warrants with a cash settlement feature at fair value.
| F-32 |
FASB ASC 820-10-35-37 (formerly SFAS No. 157) establishes a valuation hierarchy based on the transparency of inputs used in the valuation of an asset or liability. Classification is based on the lowest level of inputs that is significant to the fair value measurement. The valuation hierarchy contains three levels:
| ● | Level 1 – Quoted prices are available in active markets for identical assets or liabilities at the reporting date. Generally, this includes debt and equity securities that are traded in an active market. | |
| ● | Level 2 – Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices such as quote 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. Generally, this includes debt and equity securities that are not traded in an active market. | |
| ● | 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. Level 3 assets and liabilities include financial instruments whose value is determined using pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies, or other valuation techniques, as well as instruments for which the determination of fair value requires significant management judgment or estimation. As of December 2017, the Company has classified the warrants with cash settlement features as Level 3. Management evaluates a variety of inputs and then estimates fair value based on those inputs. As discussed above, the Company utilized the Monte Carlo Simulation Model in valuing these warrants. |
The table below presents the balances of assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis by level within the hierarchy as:
| (in
thousands) As of December 31, 2017 | ||||||||||||||||
| Total | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | |||||||||||||
| Assets: | ||||||||||||||||
| Marketable securities | $ | 695 | $ | 695 | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||
| Liabilities: | ||||||||||||||||
| Redeemable warrants | $ | 962 | — | — | $ | 962 | ||||||||||
| (in
thousands) As of December 31, 2016 | ||||||||||||||||
| Total | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | |||||||||||||
| Assets: | ||||||||||||||||
| Marketable Securities | $ | 3,460 | $ | 3,460 | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||
| Liabilities: | ||||||||||||||||
| Redeemable warrants | $ | 940 | — | — | $ | 940 | ||||||||||
| F-33 |
The changes in Level 3 Liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis are summarized as follows (in thousands):
| Balance at December 31, 2016 | $ | 940 | ||
| Issuance of warrants | 2,050 | |||
| Modification of warrants | 389 | |||
| Fair value adjustments | (2,417 | ) | ||
| Balance at September 30, 2017 | $ | 962 |
(18) Subsequent Events
The Company evaluated subsequent events through the date on which these financial statements were issued.
There were 2,800,000 warrants with an expiration date of March 1, 2018 and an exercise price on $0.45. These warrants were exercised in January and February 2018. The Company realized proceeds of $1,260,000 from these exercises.
On November 27, 2017, the Company reactivated the EDA. Since December 5, 2017, it sold an aggregate of 2,003,563 shares under the EDA for proceeds of $853,000, net of $26,000 in commissions. Pursuant to a prospectus supplement dated February 7, 2018, the Company currently is able to sell up to 6,549,157 of its common stock (inclusive of shares already sold under the prospectus supplement) under the EDA. The actual number of shares that the Company can sell and the proceeds to be received there from are dependent upon the market price of its common stock.
In February 2018, we signed an amendment to the EAP with myTomorrows. This amendment extended the territory to cover Canada to treat pancreatic cancer patients, pending government approval.
In February 2018, the Company sold the unencumbered, unutilized, and wholly owned property located at 5 Jules Lane, New Brunswick, New Jersey to Acellories, NJ LLC, a New Jersey limited liability company, pursuant to a sale agreement dated September, 11, 2017. The sale price was $1,050,000.
On March 16, 2018, the Company sold land and a building for $4,080,000 and concurrently entered into an agreement to lease the property back for ten years at $408,000 per year for two years through March 31, 2020. The lease payments will increase 2.5% per year for the next three years through March 31, 2023 and the lease payments will increase 3% for the remaining five years through March 31, 2028. The sale of the property includes an option to repurchase the property at fair value which does not permanently transfer all the risks and rewards of ownership to the buyer. The option to repurchase the property also would be at a higher price than the sales price and is considered likely based upon the Company’s plans going forward. Because the sale of the property includes the option to repurchase the property and includes the above attributes, the transaction has been accounted for as a financing whereby the Company will debit cash for the amount of cash received and credit financing obligation. The Company will continue to report the property as an asset and the property will continue to be depreciated. The fair value repurchase option would be accounted for similar to a share appreciation mortgage. Accordingly, the guidance in ASC 470-30 related to participating mortgage loans would be applied to the liability. If the option expires unused, the sale is recognized at that time. The gain on the sale is the excess of the liability (current fair value of the property) over its carrying amount. If the option is exercised, the cash payment by the seller-lessee is to pay off the financing obligation. As part of the sale of this building, warrants were provide to the buyer for the purchase of up to 3,225,806 shares of Company common stock for a period of five years at an exercise price of $0.3875 per share, 125% of the closing price of the common stock on the NYSE American on the date of execution of the letter of intent for the purchase. The warrants cannot be exercised to the extent that any exercise would result in the purchaser owning in excess of 4.99% of our issued and outstanding shares of common stock.
Also as part of the sale of the building the Note Payable detailed above in Note 14 was paid off. The payoff amount was $1,956,803, which included all accrued interest and fees.
On March 24, 2018, the Company sold 1,250,000 shares of common stock. The Company realized net proceeds of $475,000 from this stock offering.
On March 26, 2018, we received an order from myTomorrows for 2,100 vials of Ampligen® to be used in the Early Access Program.
In March 2018, we signed an amendment to the EAP with myTomorrows, pursuant to which myTomorrows will be our exclusive service provider for special access activities in Canada for the supply of Ampligen® for the treatment of ME/CFS.
| F-34 |