As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 2, 2020

January 18, 2023

Registration NoNo. 333-268854.

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,D.C. 20549

Amendment No. 2

to

FormS-1

REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

SUN BIOPHARMA,PANBELA THERAPEUTICS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization) 

2834
(Primary Standard Industrial
Classification Code Number) 

87-054392288-2805017
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

 

712 Vista Blvd, Suite305
Waconia, Minnesota 55387
(952) 479-1196
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrants principal executive offices)

Susan HorvathJennifer K. Simpson
Chief FinancialExecutive Officer
712 Vista Blvd, Suite305
Waconia, Minnesota 55387
(952) 479-1196
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

Copies to:

 

W. Morgan Burns
Joshua L. CColburn
olburn
Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP

90 South Seventh Street
2200 Wells Fargo Center
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402-3901
Telephone: (612) 766-7000

 

Robert F. Charron
M. Ali Panjwani

Michael F. NertneyT. Campoli

Ellenoff Grossman & ScholePryor Cashman LLP

1345 Avenue of the Americas
7 Times Square

New York, New York 1010510036

Telephone:Phone: (212) 370-1300421-4100

 

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable after the effective date of this registration statement.

 

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, check the following box. ☑

 

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐

 

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐

 

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer ☐

Accelerated filer ☐

Non-accelerated filer 

Smaller reporting company ☑

 

Emerging growth company ☐

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐

 


CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

Title of Each Class of Securities to be Registered

 

Proposed Maximum

Aggregate Offering

Price(1)

  

Amount of

Registration Fee

 

Common stock, $0.001 par value per share(2)

 $11,500,000  $1,492.70 
Underwriter's warrants(3) $-  $- 

Common stock, $0.001 par value per share, underlying underwriter warrants(2)(4)

 $632,500  $82.10 

TOTAL

 $12,132,500  $1,574.80 


(1)

Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(o) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Includes offering price of shares that the underwriter has the option to purchase to cover over-allotments, if any.

(2)

Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act, the shares of common stock registered hereby also include an indeterminate number of additional shares of common stock as may from time to time become issuable by reason of stock split, stock dividends, recapitalizations, or other similar transactions.

(3)

Represents warrants granted to the underwriter to purchase shares of common stock in an amount up to 5.0% of the number of shares of common stock sold to the public in this offering. See “Underwriting” contained withinThe registrant hereby amends this registration statement for information on underwriting arrangements related to this offering. No registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(g) under the Securities Act.

(4)

Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(g) under the Securities Act based on an estimate of the proposed maximum aggregate offering price. The underwriter's warrants are exercisable at a per share exercise price equal to 110% of the public offering price of one share of common stock. As estimated solely for the purposes of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(g) of the Securities Act, the proposed maximum offering price of the underwriter's warrants is equal to 110% of $575,000 (5.0% of $11,500,000).

The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrantregistrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statementregistration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or until the registration statementregistration statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section8(a), may determine.

 

 

 

The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell securities, and we are not soliciting offers to buy these securities, in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION

DATED JULY 2, 2020January 18, 2023

 

Up to 4,518,072 Shares of Common Stock

 

Warrants to purchase up to 9,036,144 Shares of Common Stock


 

Pre-Funded Warrants to purchase up to 4,518,072 Shares of Common Stock

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This is a firm commitmentbest efforts public offering of up to 4,518,072 shares of our common stock and common stock purchase warrants (the “common warrants”) to purchase an aggregate of up to 9,036,144 shares of our common stock at an assumed combined public offering price of $3.32 per share (assuming a public offering price of $      per share based onequal to the last sale price of our common stock as reported by OTC Markets Group, Inc.the Nasdaq Capital Market on January 13, 2023, which was $3.32). Each share of our common stock is being sold together with common warrants to purchase 2 shares of our common stock. Each common warrant is assumed to have an exercise price of $       per share (100% of the public offering price per share and warrant), 2020). will be exercisable upon issuance, and will expire five years from the date of issuance.

We are also offering to those purchasers, if any, whose purchase of common stock in this offering would otherwise result in any such purchaser, together with its affiliates, beneficially owning more than 4.99% (or, at the election of such purchaser, 9.99%) of our outstanding common stock immediately following the consummation of this offering, the opportunity to purchase pre-funded warrants in lieu of shares of our common stock that would otherwise result in such purchaser’s beneficial ownership exceeding 4.99% (or, at the election of such purchaser, 9.99%) of our outstanding common stock. The purchase price for each pre-funded warrant will equal the per share public offering price for the common stock in this offering less the $0.001 per share exercise price of each such pre-funded warrant. Each pre-funded warrant will be exercisable upon issuance and will not expire prior to exercise. For each pre-funded warrant we sell, the number of shares of common stock we are offering will be decreased on a one-for-one basis.

For purposes of clarity, each share of common stock or pre-funded warrant to purchase one share of common stock is being sold together with common warrants to purchase 2 shares of common stock.

Our common stock is quotedlisted on the OTCQB VentureNasdaq Capital Market operated by OTC Markets Group, Inc. (“OTCQB”) under the ticker symbol “SNBP.“PBLA.” On July 1, 2020,January 13, 2022, the last reported sale price of our common stock was $6.00 per share. The price of our common stock as quoted on the OTCQB may not be indicative ofNasdaq Capital Market was $3.32 per share, which reflects the actualreverse stock split. The combined public offering price. The actual offering priceprices per share and accompanying warrant or per pre-funded warrant and accompanying warrant will be determined between us and the underwriterinvestors based on market conditions at the time of pricing and may be at a discount to the current market price of our common stock.  Therefore, the recent market price and resulting assumed price used throughout this prospectus may differ substantially from the actual offering price. None of the common warrants or pre-funded warrants are listed on a national securities exchange. We have applieddo not intend to apply to list the common warrants or pre-funded warrants on any national securities exchange. Without an active trading market, the liquidity of the common warrants and pre-funded warrants may be limited.

Effective January 13, 2023, we effected a 1-for-40 reverse stock split of our outstanding shares of our common stock onstock. Unless specifically provided otherwise herein, the Nasdaq Capital Market undershare and per share information that follows in this prospectus, other than in the symbol “SNBP.” No assurance can be given that our application will be approved or that a trading market will develop. Our share price onhistorical financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus, assumes the OTCQB may not be indicativeeffect of the market price on the Nasdaq Capital Market, if we become listed.reverse stock split.

 

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should review carefully the risks and uncertainties described under the heading Risk Factors beginning on page9 of this prospectus, and under similar headings in any amendments or supplements to this prospectus.


We expect this offering to be completed within two business days following the commencement of this offering and we will deliver all securities to be issued in connection with this offering delivery versus payment upon receipt of investor funds received by us. Accordingly, there is no arrangement to receive or place investor funds in an escrow, trust or any similar account.

We have engaged Roth Capital Partners, LLC as our lead placement agent (“Roth” or the “placement agent”) to use its reasonable best efforts to solicit offers to purchase our securities in this offering. The placement agent has no obligation to purchase any of the securities from us or to arrange for the purchase or sale of any specific number or dollar amount of the securities. Because there is no minimum offering amount required as a condition to closing in this offering the actual public offering amount, placement agent’s fee, and proceeds to us, if any, are not presently determinable and may be substantially less than the total maximum offering amounts set forth above and throughout this prospectus. We have agreed to pay the placement agent the placement agent fees set forth in the table below and to provide certain other compensation to the placement agent. See “Plan of Distribution” beginning on page 69 of this prospectus for more information regarding these arrangements.

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

  

Per Share and
Common
Warrant

  

Per Pre-Funded

Warrant and

Common Warrant

Total

 

Public offering price

 

$

   

$

$

  

Underwriting discounts and commissions(1)Placement Agent fees

 

$

   

$

$

  

Proceeds to us, before expenses (1)

 

$

   

$

$

  

 


(1)

In addition, we have agreedThe above summary of offering proceeds does not give effect to reimburseany proceeds from the underwriter for certain expenses. See “Underwriting”, beginning on page 81 for additional disclosure regarding underwriting discounts, commissions and estimated offering expenses.exercise of the common warrants or pre-funded warrants being issued in this offering.

 

We have granted a 45-day option toDelivery of the underwriter to purchase up to           additional shares of our common stock from us solelyand pre-funded warrants to cover over-allotments, if any.

The underwriter expectscertain of the investors, together with accompanying common warrants, is expected to deliver the sharesbe made on or about         , 2020.2023, subject to customary closing conditions.

 

Craig-Hallum

Roth Capital Partners

Maxim Group LLC

 

The date of this prospectus is          , 20202023

 

 

 

Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

Prospectus SummaryPROSPECTUS SUMMARY

1

The OfferingTHE OFFERING

6

SUMMARY CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA

78

Risk FactorsRISK FACTORS

89

CAUTIONARY Note Regarding Forward-Looking StatementsNOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

21

Use of ProceedsUSE OF PROCEEDS

22

Price Range of Common StockMARKET INFORMATION

23

CAPITALIZATION

2827

DILUTION

3028

Dividend PolicyDIVIDEND POLICY

3129

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of OperationsMANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

3229

BusinessFINANCIAL STATEMENTS

BUSINESS

42

ManagementMANAGEMENT

6466

Executive CompensationEXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

6970

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial OwnersSECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND ManagementMANAGEMENT

7273

DESCRIPTION OF SecuritiesSECURITIES

73744

SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE

7578

UNDERWRITINGPLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

7779

Legal MattersLEGAL MATTERS

85

ExpertsEXPERTS

85

Where You Can Find More InformationWHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

85

FINANCIAL STATEMENTSINCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

F-1

 

You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus. We have not, and the underwriterplacement agent has not, authorized anyone to provide you with any information other than that contained in this prospectus. We take no responsibility for and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of any other information that others may give you. This prospectus may only be used where it is legal to offer and sell our securities. The information in this prospectus is accurate only as of the date of this prospectus, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or any sale of our securities. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date. We are not, and the underwriterplacement agent is not, making an offer of these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer is not permitted.

 

For investors outside the United States: We have not and the underwriterplacement agent has not done anything that would permit this offering or possession or distribution of this prospectus in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required, other than in the United States. Persons outside the United States must inform themselves about, and observe any restrictions relating to, the offering of securities and the distribution of this prospectus outside the United States.

 

This prospectus includes statistical and other industry and market data that we obtained from industry publications and research, surveys and studies conducted by third parties. Industry publications and third-party research, surveys and studies generally indicate that their information has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, although they do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of such information. We believe that the data obtained from these industry publications and third-party research, surveys and studies are reliable. We are ultimately responsible for all disclosure included in this prospectus.

 

You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus, as supplemented and amended. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information that is different. This prospectus may only be used where it is legal to sell these securities. The information in this prospectus may only be accurate on the date of this prospectus.

 

We urge you to read carefully this prospectus, as supplemented and amended, before deciding whether to invest in any of the securities being offered.

 

i

 

Prospectus SummaryPROSPECTUS SUMMARY

 

This summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this prospectus and does not contain all of the information that you should consider in making your investment decision. Before investing in our securities, you should carefully read this entire prospectus, including our financial statements and the related notes and the information set forth under the headings Risk Factors and Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in each case included elsewhere in this prospectus. Unless otherwise stated or the context requires otherwise, references in this prospectus to Panbela,Sun BioPharma, the Company,, we,, us,, our and similar references refer to Sun BioPharma,Panbela Therapeutics, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Sun BioPharma Australia Pty Ltd. (SBA).subsidiaries.

 

Business Overview

 

We arePanbela is a clinical-stageclinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing SBP-101, a proprietary small molecule polyamine metabolic inhibitor delivered subcutaneouslydisruptive therapeutics for the treatment of patients with urgent unmet medical needs. We are currently enrolling patients in our randomized double blind placebo controlled clinical trial for the treatment of pancreatic cancer and other solid tumor cancers.we are a regulatory and commercial collaborator in a Phase III clinical trial funded by the National Cancer Institute (the “NCI”) for the study of colon cancer risk reduction and colon adenoma therapy (“CAT”), a preventative treatment approach for survivors of colorectal cancer or those who have high-risk colon polyps. In addition, we are working closely with our North American partner One-Two Therapeutics designing a Phase III registration trial for familial adenomatous polyposis (“FAP”), a rare inherited condition that can cause the growth of thousands of colorectal adenomas (i.e., adenomatous polyps), which are recognized as a key risk factor for colon cancer. We also support several investigator initiated trials and company sponsored preclinical trials including: (1) Phase I and Phase II clinical trials for the treatment of neuroblastoma (“neuroblastoma” or “NB”), funded by nonprofit organizations; (2) Phase I and Phase II clinical trial for the treatment of early-onset type 1 diabetes funded by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation; (3) Phase II clinical trial for treatment of gastric cancer funded by the NCI; (4) Phase I/II clinical trial for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) possessing the STK11 mutation; and (5) preclinical studies that we have an exclusive license tosponsored in the worldwide rights to this compound from the University of Florida Research Foundation (“UFRF”)orphan disease and cancer fields.

The company’s lead assets are ivospemin (SBP-101), FlynpoviTM (eflornithine (CPP-1X) and sulindac), and we obtainedeflornithine (CPP-1X) which provide a multi-targeted approach to reset dysregulated biology present in many types of diseases such as cancer and autoimmunity. Many tumors require greatly elevated levels of polyamines to support their growth and survival. These agents target the polyamine pathway at complementary junctions which have been shown to be altered in disease. In particular, our lead assets have the potential to suppress and prevent tumor growth, enhance anti-tumor activity of other anti-cancer agents, and modulate the immune system.

Ivospemin is a proprietary polyamine analogue designed to induce polyamine metabolic inhibition. Ivospemin has demonstrated encouraging activity against metastatic disease in a clinical trial of patients with pancreatic cancer. The efficacy and safety results demonstrated in our completed Phase I clinical trial of ivospemin in combination with gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel in the first line treatment of metastatic pancreatic cancer provides support for the current randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of ivospemin in combination with gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel in patients previously untreated for metastatic pancreatic cancer. We believe that ivospemin, if successfully developed, may represent a novel approach that effectively treats patients with pancreatic cancer and could become a dominant product in that market. Only three first-line treatment combinations, a single maintenance treatment for a subset (3-7%) of patients, and one second-line drug have been approved by the US Orphan Drug Status for SBP-101 in 2014. In the second quarter of 2020, the Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) granted Fast Track designation to SBP-101. To date, we have invested approximately $25 million in developing SBP-101, which we are initially targeting as a first-line therapy for metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (“PDA”) in combination with gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel (“Gem + Nab”), a chemotherapy standard of care. We recently reported positive interim Phase 1a data demonstrating SBP-101 (as first-line therapy in combination with Gem + Nab) was generally well tolerated by PDA patients and presented a 62% objective response rate, which is more than double contemporary response rates for Gem + Nab alone. In addition, 69% of patients experienced a reduction of greater than 75% in CA 19-9 serum levels, a biomarker negatively associated with long-term survival benefit in PDA. We believe SBP-101 represents a novel approach that is differentiated from current programs targeting pancreatic and other solid tumor cancers and, if approved, has the potential to significantly impact clinical outcomes of patients with cancer.

Pancreatic cancer is a major unmet medical need. Pancreatic cancer is the number three cause of US cancer deaths according to the National Cancer Institute’s SEER Program. Pancreatic cancer has a 5-year survival rate of just 10%, the lowest rate among major cancers. Current common treatment regimens for PDA, which accounts for approximately 95% of all cases of pancreatic cancer, offer median overall survival of between 8.5 months (Von Hoff 2013) and 11.1 months (Conroy 2011). Only three first-line treatment combinations have been approved by the FDA for pancreatic cancer in the last 25 years,years. ivospemin has received Fast Track status and orphan drug designation status for pancreatic cancer in the United States and we are currently pursuing an orphan drug designation status in Europe.

On June 15, 2022 Panbela acquired Cancer Prevention Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“CPP”), which added the company’s second lead asset, eflornithine in multiple forms. First, an investigational new drug product, Flynpovi is a combination of the polyamine synthesis inhibitor eflornithine and the two current standard treatment regimens, Gem + Nabnon-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug sulindac and FOLFIRINOX (comprisedthen eflornithine as a single agent. Eflornithine is an enzyme-activated, irreversible inhibitor of leucovorin, fluorouracil, irinotecan,the enzyme ornithine decarboxylase, the first rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of polyamines. Sulindac, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), facilitates the export and oxaliplatin)catabolism of polyamines. Flynpovi has a unique dual mechanism of action whereby it suppresses the synthesis of new polyamines and increases the export and catabolism of polyamines from the diet and microbiome. We believe Flynpovi is unique in that it is designed to treat the risk factors (e.g., polyps) that are hypothesized to lead to Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP) surgeries and colon cancer and therefore may have a 23% objective response ratethe ability to prevent various types of colon cancer. In the FAP-310 Phase III trial, the efficacy and 32% objective response rate, respectively, in Phase 3 studies,safety of the combination of Flynpovi (eflornithine CPP-1X) and sulindac, as compared with either drug alone, in adults with FAP was conducted. While the study missed the primary composite endpoint (Burke et al. 2020), a post-hoc analysis showed that none of the patients in the combination arm progressed to SBP-101’s 62% response rate reporteda need for lower gastrointestinal (LGI) surgery for up to 48 months compared to 13.2% and 15.7% of patients in interim Phase 1a results.

Polyamines are organic compounds found in nearly all living speciesthe sulindac and are essentialeflornithine arms (Balaguer et al. 2022). These data corresponded to risk reductions for the growthneed for LGI surgery approaching 100% between combination and functioneither monotherapy. Given the statistical significance of normal cells. In many cancers, polyamine metabolismthe LGI group, a new drug application (NDA) was filed with the FDA; however, since this was based on the results of an exploratory analysis, a complete response letter (CRL) was issued. To address the CRL, the Company, together with an existing North American license partner, is highly upregulated causing hyper-proliferation of tumor cells. Past approaches to polyamine metabolic inhibition as cancer therapy focused on inhibiting synthetic enzymes involved in polyamine metabolism. These approaches produced unwanted toxicity effects or were ineffective because of compensatory mechanisms such as increased extracellular polyamine uptake by tumor cells. SBP-101 isdesigning a novel polyamine analoguePhase III registration trial which is structurally similarscheduled to spermine and designed to exploitbegin in the self-regulating naturefirst-half of polyamines. A characteristic of pancreatic cancer is high extracellular uptake of polyamines, and SBP-101 is preferentially taken up by tumor cells, thereby downregulating polyamine synthesis and decreasing further uptake, which inhibits cell proliferation. Moreover, SBP-101 does not trigger a polyamine catabolic cascade and the creation of harmful reactive oxygen species. In addition to PDA, there2023. There are many other solid tumors where increased polyamine synthesis has been found. Across all potential indicationsno currently approved pharmaceutical therapies for SBP-101, we are working to identify biomarkers within cancer patient populations that are associated with aberrant polyamine metabolism and developing proprietary diagnostic tools to better select patients who would benefit from our therapy.FAP.

 

1

 

Our StrategyAdditional programs are evaluating a single agent tablet eflornithine or high dose powder eflornithine sachet for several indications including prevention of gastric cancer, treatment of high-risk refractory neuroblastoma, recent onset Type 1 diabetes, and STK-11 mutant NSCLC. Preclinical studies as well as Phase I or Phase II investigator-initiated trials suggest that eflornithine treatment is well tolerated and has potential activity.

 

Our goal isFlynpovi has received Fast Track designation in the United States and orphan drug designation status for FAP in the United States and Europe. In addition, we have received orphan drug designation status for eflornithine as a single agent for Neuroblastoma in the United States and Europe and for gastric cancer in the United States.

Holding Company Reorganization

Effective June 15, 2022, Panbela became a successor issuer to developPanbela Research, Inc. (formerly known as Panbela Therapeutics, Inc., the “Predecessor”) pursuant to a holding company reorganization in which the Predecessor became a direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of Panbela. Panbela became a successor issuer to the Predecessor by operation of Rule 12g-3(a) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended the (“Exchange Act”).

CPP Acquisition

On June 15, 2022, Panbela acquired CPP, a private clinical stage company developing therapeutics to reduce the risk and commercialize SBP-101 for the treatmentrecurrence of pancreatic cancer and explore additional potential indicationsrare diseases, via merger for SBP-101consideration consisting of (a) 164,689 shares of common stock, (b) 18,298 shares of common stock that remained subject to a holdback escrow (as defined in other solid tumor types. The key elementsthe Merger Agreement), (c) replacement options to purchase up to 39,918 shares of our business strategycommon stock at a weighted average exercise price of $14.00 per share, and (d) replacement warrants to achieve this goal include:purchase up to 8,451 shares of common stock at a weighted average exercise price of $165.80 per share, and post-closing contingent payments up to a maximum of $60 million, subject to satisfaction of milestones.

Leveraging the insights, experience and networks of our management team.

Advancing our product candidate, SBP-101, as rapidly as possible through clinical development for the treatment of patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer.

Identify biomarkers within cancer patient populations that are associated with aberrant polyamine metabolism to better select patients who would benefit from our therapy and facilitate the development of SBP-101 for the treatment of other cancer types.

Evaluate strategic opportunities to accelerate development timelines and maximize the value of our product candidate in collaboration with third parties.

 

Clinical Trials

Ivospemin (SBP-101)

 

In August 2015, the FDA accepted our Investigational New Drug (“IND”) application for our SBP-101ivospemin product candidate. We have completed an initial clinical trial of SBP-101ivospemin in patients with previously treated locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer. This was a Phase 1,I, first-in-human, dose-escalation, safety study. From January 2016 through September 2017, we enrolled twenty-nine patients into six cohorts, or groups, in the dose-escalation phase of the Phase 1I trial. Twenty-four of the patients had received at least two prior chemotherapy regimens. No drug-related serious adverse events occurred during the first four cohorts. In cohort five, serious adverse events (klebsiella sepsis with metabolic acidosis in one patient, renal and hepatic toxicity in one patient, and mesenteric vein thrombosis with metabolic acidosis in one patient) were observed in three of the ten patients, two of whom exhibited progressive disease at the end of their first cycle of treatment and were determined by the Data Safety Monitoring Board (“DSMB”) to have dose-limiting toxicities (“DLTs”). Consistent with the study protocol, the DSMB recommended continuation of the study by expansion of cohort 4, one level below that at which DLTs were observed. Four patients were enrolled in this expansion cohort. One patient developed focal pancreatitis at the site of the primary tumor after 2.3 months, and SBP-101 was considered well tolerated below dose level five. The most common drug related adverse events were nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, injection site pain and abdominal pain, which were mostly mild, grades 1 or 2, and are symptoms common in patients with pancreatic cancer. No drug-related bone marrow toxicity or peripheral neuropathy was observed at any dose level.

In addition to being evaluated for safety, 23 of the 29 patients were evaluable for preliminary signals of efficacy prior to or at the eight-week conclusion of their first cycle of treatment using the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1 (“RECIST”), the currentcurrently accepted standard for evaluating change in the size of tumors. Eight

In 2018, we began enrolling patients in our second clinical trial, a Phase Ia/Ib study of the 23 patients (35%safety, efficacy, and pharmacokinetics of ivospemin administered in combination with two standard-of-care chemotherapy agents, gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel. A total of 25 subjects were enrolled in 4 cohorts to evaluate the dosage level and schedule. An additional 25 subjects were enrolled in the expansion phase of the trial. Interim results were presented in January of 2022. Best response in evaluable subjects (cohorts 4 and Ib N=29) was a Complete Response (CR) in 1 (3%) had, Partial Response (PR) in 13 (45%), Stable Disease (“SD”(SD) in 10 (34%) and 15 of 24 (65%) had Progressive Disease (“PD”(PD) in 5 (17%). It should be noted that of the 15 patientsOne subject did not have post baseline scans with PD, six came from cohorts one and two and are consideredRECIST tumor assessments. Median Progression Free Survival (“PFS”), now final at 6.5 months may have been negatively impacted by drug dosing interruptions to have received less than potentially therapeutic doses of SBP-101. We also noted that 28 of the 29 patients had follow-up blood tests measuring the Tumor Marker CA 19-9 associated with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Eleven of these patients (39%) had reductions in the CA 19-9 levels, as measured at least once after the baseline assessment. Seven of the remaining 17 patients who showed no reduction in CA 19-9 came from cohorts one and two.

By cohort, SD occurred in two patients in cohort 3, two patients in cohort 4 and four patients in cohort 5. The best response outcomes and best median survival were observed in the group of patients who received total cumulative doses of approximately 6 mg/kg (cohort 3). Two of four patients (50%) showed SD at week eight.evaluate potential toxicity. Median overall survival in this groupCohort 4 + Phase Ib was 5.912.0 months with twowhen data was presented in January 2022 and is now final at 14.6 months. Two patients surviving 8from cohort 2 have demonstrated long term survival. One at 30.3 months (final data) and 10one at 33.0 months respectively. By total cumulative dose received, five of 12 patients (42%) who received total cumulative doses between 2.5 mg/kg and 8.0 mg/kg had reductions in the CA19-9 levels, as measured at least once after the baseline assessment. Nine of these patients (67%) exceeded 3 months of overall survival (“OS”), three patients (25%) exceeded 9 months of OS and two patients (17%) exceeded 1 year of OS and werestill alive. Seven subjects are still alive at this time, one from cohort 2 and six from cohort 4 plus Ib.

In January of 2022, the endCompany announced the initiation of a new pancreatic cancer clinical trial. Referred to as ASPIRE, the study. With the approval of the DSMB, we cancelled the Phase 1b portion of the first-in-human monotherapy studytrial is a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial in order to evaluate SBP-101 ascombination with gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel, a first line, combination chemotherapystandard pancreatic cancer treatment regimen, in patients withpreviously untreated for metastatic pancreatic cancer. The trial will be conducted globally at approximately 95 sites in the United States, Europe and Asia - Pacific.

 

2

 

We began enrolling patientsThe Aspire trial commenced early this year and, while opening of clinical sites in our current first-line clinicalthe US and the rest of the world has been slower than originally anticipated, due in part to resource fatigue in the medical community, the Company expects all countries and sites to be open by early 2023.

The trial in June of 2018. This second clinical trial iswas originally designed as a Phase 1a/1bII/III with a smaller sample size (150) to support the events required for interim analysis based on Progression Free Survival (PFS) and a primary endpoint of overall survival. In response to European and FDA regulatory feedback the study ofwas amended to include the safety,total trial sample size (600) and the design modified to utilize overall survival as the primary endpoint to be examined at interim analysis. PFS will also be analyzed to provide additional efficacy and pharmacokinetics of SBP-101 administered in combination with two standard-of-care chemotherapy agents, gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel. We are currently conductingevidence. This amendment was supported by the trial at six study sites (four in Australia and two in the United States). Infinal data from the Phase 1a portion of thisIa/b first line metastatic pancreatic cancer trial we enrolled three cohorts of four to nine patients with increased dosage levels of SBP-101 administered in the second and third cohorts. Wewhich completed enrollment in December of 2020. The study will enroll 600 subjects and is anticipated to take 36 months for complete enrollment with the first three cohortsinterim analysis available in early 2024.

If we can successfully complete all FDA recommended clinical studies, we intend to seek marketing authorization from the FDA, the European Medicines Agency (“EMA”) (European Union), Ministry of Phase 1aHealth and Welfare (Japan) and TGA (Australia). The submission fees may be waived when ivospemin has been designated an orphan drug in each geographic region.

Additionally, in early April 2022, the Company announced a poster presentation highlighting the results for ivospemin as a polyamine metabolism modulator in ovarian cancer at the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Conference The poster concludes that the ivospemin treatment of C57Bl/6 mice injected with VDID8+ ovarian cancer cells significantly prolonged survival and decreased overall tumor burden. The results suggest that ivospemin may have a role in the fourth quarterclinical management of ovarian cancer, and the Company intends to continue pre-clinical and clinical studies in ovarian cancer.

FLYNPOVI

In December 2009, the FDA accepted our IND application for the combination product, Flynpovi. Flynpovi showed promising results in a NCI supported randomized, placebo-controlled Phase IIb/III clinical trial to prevent recurrent colon adenomas, particularly high-risk pre-cancerous polyps in which 375 subjects who had resected sporadic adenoma were treated for 3 years with eflornithine (500 mg once a day) + sulindac (150 mg once a day [N = 191]) or matched placebo/placebo (N = 184). Results demonstrated a marked risk reduction (70%) in developing metachronous adenomas, 92% risk reduction in developing advanced adenomas, and 95% risk reduction in developing multiple adenomas with the active combination regimen compared to placebo (Meyskens et al. 2008). This combination regimen was generally well tolerated.

Given the similar mechanism of disease in sporadic and FAP-associated adenomatous polyposis, and the mechanism of action of Flynpovi in prevention of progressive polyposis in both the general population with sporadic adenomas and in patients with FAP, a Phase III program in FAP, and a Phase III program to study colon cancer risk reduction in partnership with the Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG) and the NCI were initiated.

In the FAP-310 Phase III study completed in 2019, the efficacy and safety of the combination of eflornithine and sulindac, as compared with either drug alone, in adults with familial adenomatous polyposis was conducted (Burke et al. 2020). The patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1:1 ratio to receive eflornithine, sulindac, or both once daily for up to 48 months. The primary end point, assessed in a time-to-event analysis, was disease progression, defined as a composite of major surgery, endoscopic excision of advanced adenomas, diagnosis of high-grade dysplasia in the rectum or pouch, or progression of duodenal disease. A total of 171 patients underwent randomization. Disease progression occurred in 18 of 56 patients (32%) in the eflornithine-sulindac group, 22 of 58 (38%) in the sulindac group, and 23 of 57 (40%) in the eflornithine group, with a hazard ratio of 0.71 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.39 to 1.32) for eflornithine-sulindac as compared with sulindac (P = 0.29) and 0.66 (95% CI, 0.36 to 1.23) for eflornithine-sulindac as compared with eflornithine (Burke et al. 2020). Adverse and serious adverse events were similar across the treatment groups. In a post-hoc analysis, none of the patients in the combination arm progressed to a need for LGI surgery for up to 48 months compared with 7 (13.2%) and 8 (15.7%) patients in the sulindac and eflornithine arms (Balaguer et al. 2022). These data corresponded to risk reductions for the need for LGI surgery approaching 100% between combination and either monotherapy with HR = 0.00 (95% CI, 0.00-0.48; p = 0.005) for combination versus sulindac and HR = 0.00 (95% CI, 0.00-0.44; p = 0.003) for combination versus eflornithine. Given the statistical significance of the LGI group, an NDA was filed with the FDA. As the study failed to meet the primary endpoint, and the NDA was based on preliminary safety findings,the results of an exploratory analysis, a 4th cohort began enrollment in January 2020. We completed enrollment incomplete response letter was issued. To address this 4th cohort in February 2020. Demonstrationdeficiency concern, the Company must submit the results of one or more adequate safety inand well-controlled clinical trials which demonstrate an effect on a clinical endpoint.

In collaboration with the NCI, and SWOG, a Phase 1a has enabled Phase 1b exploration of efficacy, in which we plan to enroll a maximum 36 patients using the recommended dosage regimen determined in Phase 1a. We began enrolling in this expansion phase in February of 2020. Additional funding will be required to complete the Phase 1bIII clinical trial has been initiated to study the benefits of Flynpovi as a therapeutic treatment for use by colon cancer survivors. The trial is named PACES for “Prevention of Adenomas and Cancer with eflornithine and sulindac.” The PACES trial is funded by the NCI and managed by the Southwest Oncology Group (“SWOG”). This is an ongoing double blind placebo-controlled trial of Flynpovi to planprevent recurrence of high risk adenomas and second primary colorectal cancers in patients with stage 0-III colon or rectal cancer, Phase III – Preventing Adenomas of the Colon With Eflornithine and Sulindac (“PACES”). The purpose of this study is to assess whether Flynpovi (compared to corresponding placebos) has a randomized phase 2 study. As of December 31, 2019, preliminary efficacy results from evaluable patients in cohorts 2 and 3 (N=13) showed manageable toxicity, an objective responsereduced rate of 62% and a disease control ratecancer or high-risk adenoma recurrence compared to comparator arms after three years of 85%, with several patients still ongoing. Approximately 69% of patients (N=16; includes 3 patients who did not receive follow-up scans) had a maximum CA 19-9 decrease greater than 75%. Interim resultsdaily dosing. We have exclusive rights to the data that comes from the Phase 1b expansion are expected to become available latetrial for regulatory and commercial purposes. The Company is evaluating its options for CAT in the second halfEuropean Union and Asia.

3

On July 16, 2021, CPP entered into a license agreement with One-Two Therapeutics Assets Limited (“One-Two”). Under the license agreement, One-Two has licensed the North American development and commercialization rights for CPP’s asset, Flynpovi, a combination pharmaceutical product formulated for oral delivery for the FAP indication in adults, as described in the Company’s IND application. As the result of 2020.this license agreement, the FAP registration trial is fully funded and is scheduled to begin in the first-half of 2023.

Eflornithine (CPP-1X) and eflornithine sachets (CPP-1X-S)

For the single agent eflornithine, there is a trial ongoing evaluating eflornithine sachets (CPP-1X-S) in relapsed refractory neuroblastoma supported by the Children’s’ Oncology Group (COG) and NCI. Additionally, a Phase I/II trial in STK11 mutation patients with non-small cell lung cancer and Phase II trial in Recent Onset Type I diabetes with eflornithine are scheduled to begin late this year. Lastly, a Phase II trial evaluating eflornithine for the prevention of gastric cancer was completed in 2021 with data analysis ongoing.

 

Recent Developments

 

AsReverse Stock Split

On November 29, 2022, at a special meeting of stockholders, our stockholders approved an amendment to our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to effect a 1-for-40 reverse stock split of our outstanding shares of common stock. On January 13, 2023, we continueeffected the approved 1-for-40 reverse stock split of our outstanding shares of common stock. This reverse stock split ensured a sufficient number of shares of authorized common stock is available to actively advance our clinical programs and discovery and research programs,complete the offering.

The common stock purchase warrants we issued in October 2022 provide that their exercise price will be reduced to the lowest volume-weighted average price on any trading day during the five-trading day period immediately following the date a reverse stock split is effected. Accordingly, we are in close contact withunable to estimate the third parties we engage with, who are primarily located in the United States, and are assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on each of our programs, expected timelines and costs on an ongoing basis. In light of recent developments relatingadjustment, if any, to the COVID-19 pandemic,exercise price of those outstanding warrants that would result from the focus of healthcare providers and hospitals on fighting the virus, and consistent with the FDA’s updated industry guidance for conducting clinical trials issued on March 18, 2020, we and our contract research organizations have made certain adjustments to the operation of our clinical trials in an effort to ensure the monitoring and safety of patients and minimize risk to trial integrity during the pandemic and generally, and we may need to make further adjustments in the future. In addition, our employees are all telecommuting. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic could severely impact our business and clinical trials. See “Our business is subject to risks arising from epidemic diseases, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.” for more information regarding the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business and operations. We will continue to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business and expect to reevaluate the timing of our anticipated preclinical and clinical milestones as we learn more and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our industry becomes more clear.reverse stock split.

Product Developments

 

Through the date of this prospectus,January 13, 2023, we have:had:

organized the Company;

evaluated and secured intellectual property for our core technology;

completed required pre-clinical steps in the development plan for SBP-101 for pancreatic cancer;

 

 

secured an orphan drug designation for ivospemin from the FDA;

 

submitted an investigational new drug (“IND”) application toand received acceptance from the FDA in May 2015;for an IND application for ivospemin;

 

received an acceptance of an IND application fromCountry approvals for the FDAAspire Trial in August 2015;Australia, France, Italy and Spain;

received acceptance of a Clinical Trial Notification by the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration in September 2015;

 

completed a Phase 1aIa monotherapy safety study of SBP-101inivospemin in the treatment of patients with metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma;

received “Fast Track” designation from the FDA for ivospemin for metastatic pancreatic cancer;

 

completed synthetic process improvement measures expected to be scalable for commercial useenrollment and secured intellectual property on this process;

commencedreleased interim results in our second trial a second Phase 1a /1bIa /Ib clinical study of SBP-101,ivospemin, a front-linefirst-line study with SBP-101ivospemin given in combination with a current standard of care in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma who arewere previously untreated for metastatic disease; 24a total of 50 subjects have beenwere enrolled in this study, 25 in the Phase 1a portion of the studyIa and we transitioned to enrollment25 in the Phase 1b portion of the study in February 2020; andIb or expansion phase;

 

secured a two year research agreement with Johns Hopkins School of Medicine led by Professor Robert Casero, an internationally recognized researcher in polyamine biology;

completed process improvement measures expected to be scalable for commercial use and received Fast Track Designation from the FDAissue notification for SBP-101 being developed for first-line treatmenta patent covering this new shorter synthesis of patientsivospemin;

initiated a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled study with metastatic PDA when administeredivospemin given in combination with gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel in June 2020.patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma who are previously untreated for metastatic disease;

completed preclinical evaluation of ivospemin for use as neoadjuvant therapy in resectable pancreatic cancer prior to surgery;

 

34

 

obtained early, preclinical, indication of tumor growth inhibition activity in ovarian cancer and presented the results at ASCO-GI conference;

received USAN adoption of the nonproprietary name of ivospemin for SBP-101; and

acquired and integrated CPP, adding a second lead asset in multiple forms and an expansive clinical development program ranging from pre-clinical to registration level clinical trials.

European Medicines Agency (EMA) Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products issued a positive opinion on Panbela’s application for orphan designation of ivospemin (SBP-101) in combination with gemcitabine and nab-Paclitaxel in patients with metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Risks Associated with Our Business

 

Our business is subject to many significant risks, as more fully described in the section titled “Risk Factors” immediately following this prospectus summary. You should read and carefully consider these risks, together with the risks set forth under the section titled “Risk Factors” and all of the other information in this prospectus, including the financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus, before deciding whether to invest in our securities. If any of the risks discussed in this prospectus actually occur, our business, financial condition or operating results could be materially and adversely affected. In particular, our risks include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

 

We are a company with limited history for you to evaluate our business which makes it difficult for you to evaluatelack of diversification and the corresponding risk of an investment in our historical business and to assess our future viability.Company;

 

As a resultpotential deterioration of our current lack of financial liquidity, wecondition and our auditors have expressed substantial doubt regarding our abilityresults due to continue as a “going concern.”failure to diversify;

 

Our lack of diversification increases the risk of an investment in our Companyability to successfully complete acquisitions and our financial condition and results ofintegrate operations may deteriorate if we fail to diversify.for new product candidates;

 

We may be unable to obtain the additional capital that is required to execute our business plan, which could restrict our ability to grow.obtain additional capital, on acceptable terms or at all, required to implement our business plan;

 

Our business is subject to risks arising from epidemic diseases, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.final results of our Phase I clinical trials in first line metastatic pancreatic cancer and early onset Type I onset diabetes;

 

Raising additional capital may cause dilution toprogress and success of our stockholders or restrict our operations.randomized double-blind placebo controlled clinical trial;

 

The market forprogress and success of registration trial conducted by our product candidate is highly competitive and is subject to rapid scientific change, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.Flynpovi licensing partner;

 

Our product candidate is based on new formulation of an existing technology which has never been approved for the treatment of any cancer and, consequently, is inherently risky. Concerns about theour ability to demonstrate safety and efficacyeffectiveness of our product candidate could limit our future success.candidates;

 

Clinical trials requiredour ability to obtain regulatory approvals for our product candidate are expensive and time-consuming, and their outcome is highly uncertain. If any of our drug trials are delayedcandidates in the United States, the European Union, or yield unfavorable results, we will have to delay application for or may be unable to obtain regulatory approval for our product candidate.other international markets;

 

Due to our reliance on third-parties to conduct our clinical trials, we are unable to directly control the timing, conduct, expensemarket acceptance and qualityfuture sales of our clinical trials, which could adversely affect our clinical data and results and related regulatory approvals.product candidates;

 

Regulatorythe cost and legal uncertainties coulddelays in product development that may result from changes in significant costs or otherwise harmregulatory oversight applicable to our business.product candidates;

 

Our directors, executive officersthe rate of progress in establishing reimbursement arrangements with third-party payors;

the effect of competing technological and significant stockholders have substantial control over usmarket developments;

the costs involved in filing and could limit stockholders’ ability to influenceprosecuting patent applications and enforcing or defending patent claims; and

other risk factors included under the outcomecaption “Risk Factors” starting on page 9 of key transactions, including changes of control.this prospectus.

 

Implications of Being a Smaller Reporting Company

 

We are a “smaller reporting company” as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and have elected to take advantage of certain of the scaled disclosure available to smaller reporting companies.

 

Corporate History

 

Sun BioPharma,The primary business underlying Panbela Therapeutics, Inc., was originally incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware under the name “Sun BioPharma, Inc.” in September 2011. In 2015, weit became a public company by completing a reverse merger transaction (the “Merger”) with a wholly owned subsidiary of Cimarron Medical, Inc., a public company then organized under the laws of the State of Utah. Upon completion of the Merger and other separate but contemporaneous transactions by certain of our stockholders, our stockholders collectively owned approximately 99.0% of the post-Merger public company, which was renamed “Sun BioPharma, Inc.” In 2016, weit was reincorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware via a merger with our operating subsidiary,subsidiary. That company changed its name to “Panbela Therapeutics, Inc.” on December 2, 2020. On June 15, 2022, we became a successor issuer to Panbela Therapeutics, Inc. and adopted its name, pursuant to a holding company reorganization via merger by operation of Rule 12g-3(a) promulgated under the Exchange Act, resulting in our current corporate form.structure – consisting of two wholly owned subsidiaries: Panbela Research, Inc. and Cancer Prevention Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

 

4

Corporate Information

 

Our corporate mailing address is 712 Vista Blvd, #305, Waconia, MN 55387. Our telephone number is (952) 479-1196, and our website is www.sunbiopharma.com.www.panbela.com. The information on our website is not part of this prospectus. We have included our website address as a factual reference and do not intend it to be an active link to our website. The information contained in or connected to our website is not incorporated by reference into, and should not be considered part of, this prospectus.

Sun BioPharma™, the Sun BioPharma logo, and other trademarks or service marks of Sun BioPharma, Inc. appearing in this prospectus are our property. Trade The trade names, trademarks, and service marks of other companies appearing in this prospectus are the property of the respective holders.

 

5

 

The OfferingTHE OFFERING

 

Common stock offered by us

4,518,072 shares of our common stock (or

Common warrants offered by us         

Warrants to purchase up to 9,036,144 shares ifof our common stock, which will be exercisable during the underwriter exercises its over-allotment option in full)period commencing on the date of their issuance and ending five years from such date at an exercise price of $         per share of common stock.

  

Over-allotment optionPre-funded warrants offered by us         

We have grantedare also offering to certain purchasers whose purchase of our common stock in this offering would otherwise result in the underwriter an option for a periodpurchaser, together with its affiliates, beneficially owning more than 4.99% (or, at the election of up to 45 days to purchase up to           additionalthe purchaser, 9.99%) of our outstanding shares of common stock immediately following the consummation of this offering, the opportunity to cover over-allotments, if any.purchase pre-funded warrants (together with the common warrants, the “warrants”) in lieu of common stock that would otherwise result in any such purchaser’s beneficial ownership exceeding 4.99% (or, at the election of the purchaser, 9.99%) of our outstanding shares of common stock. Each pre-funded warrant will be exercisable for one share of common stock. The purchase price of each pre-funded warrant and the accompanying common warrant will equal the price at which the common stock and the accompanying common warrant are being sold to the public in this offering, minus $0.001, and the exercise price of each pre-funded warrant will be $0.001 per share. The pre-funded warrants will be exercisable immediately and may be exercised at any time until exercised in full. For each pre-funded warrant we sell, the number of shares of common stock we are offering will be decreased on a one-for-one basis. Because we will issue common warrants to purchase 2 shares of common stock for each share of common stock and for each pre-funded warrant sold in this offering, the number of common warrants sold in this offering will not change as a result of a change in the mix of the shares of our common stock and pre-funded warrants sold.

Assumed public offering price         

$3.32 per share of common stock and accompanying common warrant, or $3.319 per pre-funded warrant and accompanying common warrant, as applicable, in each case assuming a public offering price of our common stock as reported by the Nasdaq Capital Market on January 13, 2023, which was $3.32 which was the first trading date after completion of a 1-for-40 reverse stock split.
  

Common stock outstanding before this offering

7,068,3081,177,159 shares

  

Common stock to be outstanding immediately after this offering

5,695,231 shares (or(assuming we sell only shares ifof common stock and no pre-funded warrants, and none of the underwriter exercises its over-allotment optioncommon warrants issued in full)

this offering are exercised).
  

Use of proceeds

We estimate that the net proceeds from this offering will be approximately $$13.7 million, or approximately $      million if the underwriter exercises its over-allotment option in full, atbased on an assumed combined public offering price of $$3.32 per share of common stock and accompanying common warrant, after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissionsplacement agent fees and estimated offering expenses payable by us. We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering for the continued clinical development of our initial product candidate SBP-101, the repayment of approximately $0.8 million of outstanding indebtedness,candidates ivospemin and eflornithine and for working capital, and other general corporate purposes.purposes, which may include repayment of debt. Because this is a best efforts offering with no minimum amount as a condition to closing, we may not sell all or any of the securities offered hereby. As a result, we may receive significantly less in net proceeds than we currently estimate. See “Use of Proceeds” on page .

22.

Underwriter's warrants

6

The registration statement of which this prospectus is a part also registers for sale common stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants to purchase up to           shares of our common stock to the underwriter as a portion of the underwriting compensation payable to the underwriter in connection with this offering. The warrants will be exercisable at any time, and from time to time, in whole or in part, on the date of issuance and expiring on the five-year anniversary of the effective date of this offering at an exercise price equal to 110% of the public offering price of one share of common stock in this offering. Please see “Underwriting -  Underwriter's Warrants” for a description of these warrants.

Risk Factors

You should read the “Risk Factors” section of this prospectus beginning on page 9 for a discussion of factors to consider carefully before deciding to invest in our securities.

  

OTCQBNasdaq Capital Market trading symbol

SNBP”PBLA”

  

Proposed Nasdaq Capital Market trading symbolReverse Stock Split

We have applied to listA 1-for-40 reverse stock split of our outstanding shares of common stock was effected on January 13, 2023 to ensure a sufficient number of shares of authorized common stock is available to complete the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “SNBP.”

offering.

 

The number of shares of our common stock outstanding before and after this offering is based on 7,068,3081,177,159 shares of our common stock outstanding as of June 30, 2020,January 13, 2023, and excludes:

 

 

1,958,411all shares issuable upon the exercise of warrants sold in this offering;

100,578 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options as of the date of this prospectus at a weighted average exercise price of $6.36$145.64 per share;

 

1,105,95950,494 additional shares of common stock reserved and available for future issuances under our equity plans; and

 

3,934,099889,911 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of stock purchase warrants at a weighted average exercise price of $5.79$38.05 per share; and

shares of commonshare, before any potential adjustments resulting from the pending reverse stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants issued to the underwriter at the closing of this offering.split.

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all information in this prospectus assumes no exercise of the outstanding options or warrants or the conversion of shares issuable pursuant to convertible promissory notes.

Except as otherwise stated herein, the information in this prospectus assumes no exercise by the underwriter of its option to purchase up to          additional shares of common stock to cover over-allotments, if any.warrants.

 

6
7

 

SUMMARY CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA

 

The following selected historical financial information is derived from our consolidated financial statements appearing elsewhere inincorporated into this prospectus and should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements, including the accompanying notes thereto, beginning on page F-1.by reference. Our historical results for any period are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected in any other period, including the full fiscal year ending December 31, 2020.2022. Historical weighted average shares outstanding and per share amounts have not been restated for the 1 for 40 reverse stock split. You should read this information together with the sections titled “Capitalization”,“Capitalization,” “Dilution” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included elsewhere in this prospectus.prospectus or incorporated by reference herein.

 

Summary of Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

  

Year ended December 31,

  

Three months ended September 30,

  

Nine months ended September 30,

  

Year ended December 31,

 
 

2020

  

2019

  

2019

  

2018

  

2022

  

2021

  

2022

  

2021

  

2021

  

2020

 
 

(unaudited)

  

(unaudited)

          

(unaudited)

  

(unaudited)

  

(unaudited)

  

(unaudited)

         

Operating Expenses:

                                        

General and administrative

 $468  $303  $1,973  $2,108  $1,294  $924  $4,349  $3,316  $4,587  $3,249 

Research and development

  598   350   2,349   1,783   2,329   1,286   24,563   3,383   5,423   2,505 

Total operating expenses

  1,066   653   4,322   3,891   3,623   2,210   28,912   6,699   10,010   5,754 

Operating loss

  (1,066)  (653)  (4,322)  (3,891)  (3,623

)

  (2,210

)

  (28,912

)

  (6,699

)

  (10,010

)

  (5,754

)

Other expense

  (824)  (999)  (2,293)  (2,268)

Other (expense) income net

  (779

)

  68

 

  (1,286

)

  102   (125

)

  986 

Net loss

 $(1,798) $(1,581) $(6,200) $(5,905) $(4,402

)

 $(2,142

)

 $(30,198

)

 $(6,597

)

 $(10,135

)

 $(4,768

)

                                        

Net loss per share - basic and diluted

 $(0.27) $(0.31) $(1.09) $(1.27)

Net loss per share – basic and diluted

  (0.21

)

 $(0.16

)

  (1.85

)

  (0.59

)

 $(0.87

)

 $(0.62

)

Weighted average shares outstanding - basic and diluted

  7,068,308   5,072,397   5,700,314   4,662,080  $20,780,848   13,285,223  $16,313,639  $11,122,725   11,709,035   7,732,882 

 

Summary Consolidated Balance Sheet Information
(in thousands)

 

 

March 31,

  

December 31,

  

September 30,

  

December 31,

 
 

2020

  

2019

  

2019

  

2018

  

2022

  

2021

  

2021

  

2020

 
 

(unaudited)

  

(unaudited)

          

(unaudited)

  

(unaudited)

         

Cash

 $1,296  $1,379  $2,449  $1,405  $941  $14,072  $11,867  $9,022 

Total assets

 $2,136  $1,911  $3,144  $1,898  $4,867  $14,802  $12,872  $9,813 

Total current liabilities

 $1,412  $2,499  $1,759  $1,630  $7,952  $1,339  $2,660  $1,365 

Long-term debt, net

 $  $  $  $  $5,194  $  $  $ 

Stockholders’ equity (deficit)

 $724  $(588) $1,385  $268 

Stockholders’ (deficit) equity

 $(8,279

)

 $13,463   10,212  $8,448 

 

78

 

Risk FactorsRISK FACTORS

 

Any investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Investors should carefully consider the risks described below and all of the information contained in this prospectus before deciding whether to purchase our securities. Our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially adversely affected by these risks if any of them actually occur. This prospectus also contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including the risks we face as described below and elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

Risks Related to Our Business and Financial Position

 

We are a pre-revenue company with limiteda history of negative operating history for you to evaluate our business.cash flow.

We have a limited operating history for you to consider in evaluating our business and prospects. As such, it is difficult for potential investors to evaluate our business.

 

We have experienced negative cash flows for our operating activities since inception, primarily due to the investments required to develop and commercialize our primary drug candidate, SBP-101.candidates, ivospemin, Flynpovi, and eflornithine. Our financing cash flows historically have been positive due to proceeds from the sale of equity securities and the issuance of promissory notes issuances.notes. Our net cash used in operating activities was $1.1$6.7 million and $3.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and $2.7 million for the yearyears ended December 31, 2019,2021 and 2020, respectively, and we had working capital of $0.7$9.6 million and $1.3$8.4 million as of the same dates, respectively. Our net cash used in operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 was 10.3 million. As of September 30, 2022, we had a working capital deficit of $6.2 million. Working capital is defined as current assets less current liabilities.

 

Our operations are subject to all the risks, difficulties, complications and delays frequently encountered in connection with the formationdevelopment of any new business,products, as well as those risks that are specific to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries in which we compete. Investors should evaluate us considering the delays, expenses, problems and uncertainties frequently encountered by companies developing markets for new products, services and technologies. We may never overcome these obstacles.

 

As a result of our current lack oflimited financial liquidity, we and our auditors have expressed substantial doubt regarding our ability to continue as a “goinggoing concern.

 

As a result of our current lack oflimited financial liquidity, our auditors’ report for our 20192021 financial statements, which is included as part of this report, contains a statement concerning our ability to continue as a “going concern.” Our lack of sufficientlimited liquidity could make it more difficult for us to secure additional financing or enter into strategic relationships on terms acceptable to us, if at all, and may materially and adversely affect the terms of any financing that we may obtain and our public stock price generally.

 

Our continuation as a “going concern” is dependent upon, among other things, achieving positive cash flow from operations and, if necessary, augmenting such cash flow using external resources to satisfy our cash needs. Our plans to achieve positive cash flow primarily include engaging in offerings of securities. Additional potential sources of funds include negotiating up-front and milestone payments on our current and potential future product candidates or royalties from sales of our products that secure regulatory approval and any milestone payments associated with such approved products. These cash sources could, potentially, be supplemented by financing or other strategic agreements. However, we may be unable to achieve these goals or obtain required funding on commercially reasonable terms, or at all, and therefore may be unable to continue as a going concern.

 

Our lack of diversification increases the risk of an investment in our Company and our financial condition and results of operations may deteriorate if we fail to diversify.

Our Board of Directors has centered our attention on our drug development activities, which are currently focused on our initial product candidate SBP-101, the polyamine analogue compound we licensed from the UFRF. Our ability to diversify our investments will depend on our access to additional capital and financing sources and the availability and identification of suitable opportunities.

8

Larger companies have the ability to manage their risk by diversification. However, we lack and expect to continue to lack diversification, in terms of both the nature and geographic scope of our business. As a result, we will likely be impacted more acutely by factors affecting pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries in which we compete than we would if our business were more diversified, enhancing our risk profile. If we cannot diversify our operations, our financial condition and results of operations could deteriorate.

We may be unable to obtain the additional capital that is required to execute our business plan, which could restrict our ability to grow.

 

Our current capital and our other existing resources will be sufficient only to provide a limited amount of working capital and will not be sufficient to fund our expected continuing opportunities. WeWhile we project that our current capital resources are sufficient to fund our operations, including increased clinical trial costs, into early in the first quarter of 2023, we will require additional capital to continue to operate our business.business and complete our clinical development plans.

 

Future acquisitions, research and development, andincluding clinical trial cost, capital expenditures as well asand possible acquisitions, and our administrative requirements, such as clinical trial costs, salaries, insurance expenses and general overhead expenses, as well as legal compliance costs and accounting expenses, will require a substantial amount of additional capital and cash flow. There is no guarantee that we will be able to raise the additional capital required to fund our ongoing business on commercially reasonable terms or at all.

 

We intend to pursue sources of additional capital through various financing transactions or arrangements, including collaboration arrangements, debt financing, equity financing or other means. We may not be successful in locating suitable financing transactions on commercially reasonable terms, in the time period required or at all, and we may not obtain the capital we require by other means. If we do not succeed in raising additional capital, our resources will not be sufficient to fund our operations going forward.

9

 

Any additional capital raised through the sale of equity may dilute the ownership percentage of our stockholders. This could also result in a decrease in the fair market value of our equity securities because our assets would be owned by a larger pool of outstanding equity. The terms of securities we issue in future capital transactions may be more favorable to our new investors, and may include preferences, superior voting rights and the issuance of warrants or other derivative securities which may have a further dilutive effect.

 

Our ability to obtain needed financing may be impaired by such factors as the capital markets, both generally and in the pharmaceutical and other drug development industries in particular, our status as a new enterprise without a significant demonstrated operating history, the limited diversity of our activities and/or the loss of key personnel. If the amount of capital we are able to raise from financing activities is not sufficient to satisfy our capital needs, even to the extent that we reduce our operations, we may be required to cease our operations.

 

We may incur substantial costs in pursuing future capital financing, including investment banking fees, legal fees, accounting fees, securities law compliance fees, printing and distribution expenses and other costs, which may adversely impact our financial condition.

 

Our business is subject to risks arising from epidemic diseases, such as the 2020 outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.illness.

 

The recent outbreakIn March of COVID-19, which has been declared by2020, the World Health Organization declared the spread of a novel strain of coronavirus (“COVID-19”) a global pandemic. Early in the pandemic, federal, state and local governmental authorities took actions to be a pandemic, hascombat the spread across the globeof COVID-19, including through issuances of “stay-at-home” directives and is impacting worldwidesimilar mandates for many individuals to substantially restrict daily activities and for many businesses to curtail or cease normal operations. These measures, while intended to protect human life, led initially to significantly reduced economic activity. A pandemic, including COVID-19, or other public health epidemic posesVaccines became available at the risk that we or our employees, contractors, suppliers,end of 2020, and distribution in the United States accelerated during the first quarter of 2021 and then leveled off in the second quarter. In the fall of 2021, infection rates increased in the United States and other partners may be prevented from conducting business activities for an indefinite periodparts of time, includingthe world as the result of the delta variant, and in winter of 2021, infections again increased due to the spreadomicron variant. In the second quarter of 2022, infection rates were decreasing. The development and uncertainty of the disease withinsituation continues to preclude any prediction as to the ultimate impact COVID-19 will have on the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows, which will depend largely on future developments directly or indirectly relating to the duration and scope of the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States, Australia, Europe and the rest of the world. During the spring of 2021, the Company experienced a delay in the manufacturing of the active product substance, which is manufactured in India. There was also a delay in the final manufacturing steps which are completed in the United States, in part related to COVID-19. To date neither one of these groupsdelays has caused a disruption in supply for our clinical or preclinical testing. In January of 2022, the Company announced the opening of a global randomized clinical trial, which is expected to be conducted in the United States, Europe and Australia. While opening of clinical sites in the US and the rest of the world has been slower than originally anticipated, due in part to resource fatigue in the medical community, the Company does not expect any serious disruption to the conduct of this new clinical trial associated with COVID-19. The Company’s administrative operations have been decentralized since inception so the Company experienced no administrative disruptions or additional costs due to shutdowns that may be requestedthe pandemic or mandated by governmental authorities. related restrictions.

While it iswe have not possible at this timeto date experienced any significant disruptions as a result of the pandemic, we are unable to estimate the future impact that the COVID-19 pandemic could have on our business,operations. The recent trends in reduced infections and deaths, and increased levels of vaccination should help reduce the continued spreadrisk that the pandemic may slow potential enrollment of COVID-19clinical trials and reduce the measures taken bynumber of eligible patients for our clinical trials. While the governments of countries affectedpandemic could still disrupt the supply chain and the manufacture or shipment of both drug substance and finished drug product for our product candidatecandidates for preclinical testing and clinical trials, and adversely impactwe believe that product secured in 2021 will be sufficient to complete the conduct of our business, financial condition or results of operations.new clinical trial. We often attend and present clinical updates at various medical and investor conferences throughout the year. The COVID-19 pandemicoutbreak has caused, and is likely tomay continue to cause, cancellations or reduced attendance of these conferences and we may need to seek alternate methods to present clinical updates and to engage with the medical and investment communities. The spreadCOVID-19 outbreak, including new variants of COVID-19 may also slow potential enrollment of clinical trialsthe virus, and reduce the number of eligible patients for our clinical trials. The COVID-19 pandemic, including relatedfuture mitigation measures may also have an adverse impact on global economic conditions which could have an adverse effect on our business and financial condition and our potential to conduct financings on terms acceptable to us, if at all. The extent to which the COVID-19 pandemicoutbreak impacts our results will depend on future developments that are highlyremain uncertain and cannot be predicted, including new information that may emerge concerning the severity of the virus and the actions to contain its impact.

 

9

We may not be able to effectively manage our growth, which may harm our profitability.

Our strategy envisions expanding our business. If we fail to effectively manage our growth, our financial results could be adversely affected. Growth may place a strain on our management systems and resources. We must continue to refine and expand our business development capabilities, our systems and processes and our access to financing sources. As we grow, we must continue to hire, train, supervise and manage new employees. We cannot assure you that we will be able to:

expand our systems effectively or efficiently or in a timely manner;

allocate our human resources optimally;

identify and hire qualified employees or retain valued employees; or

incorporate effectively the components of any business that we may acquire in our effort to achieve growth.

If we are unable to manage our growth, our operations and our financial results could be adversely affected by inefficiency, which could diminish our profitability.

Our business may suffer if we do not attract and retain talented personnel.

Our success will depend in large measure on the abilities, expertise, judgment, discretion, integrity and good faith of our management and other personnel in conducting our business. We have a small management team, and the loss of a key individual or inability to attract suitably qualified staff could materially adversely impact our business. 

In January of 2020 Dr. Michael Cullen, our Executive Chairman, President and CEO, announced his intention to resign as CEO of the Company. He intends to continue as the Executive Chairman and is expected to remain an employee of the company focused on drug development. The Board is conducting a search for a new CEO and Dr. Cullen intends to continue to serve as CEO to facilitate a successful transition.

Our success depends on the ability of our management, employees, consultants and joint venture partners, if any, to interpret market data correctly and to interpret and respond to economic market and other conditions in order to locate and adopt appropriate investment opportunities, monitor such investments, and ultimately, if required, to successfully divest such investments. Further, no assurance can be given that our key personnel will continue their association or employment with us or that replacement personnel with comparable skills can be found. We will seek to ensure that management and any key employees are appropriately compensated; however, their services cannot be guaranteed. If we are unable to attract and retain key personnel, our business may be adversely affected.

The marketmarkets for our product candidate iscandidates are highly competitive and isare subject to rapid scientific change, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

 

The pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries in which we compete are highly competitive and characterized by rapid and significant technological change. We face intense competition from organizations such as pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, as well as academic and research institutions and government agencies. Some of these organizations are pursuing products based on technologies similar to our technology. Other of these organizations have developed and are marketing products or are pursuing other technological approaches designed to produce products that are competitive with our product candidates in the therapeutic effect these competitive products have on the diseasediseases targeted by our product candidate.candidates. Our competitors may discover, develop or commercialize products or other novel technologies that are more effective, safer or less costly than any that we may develop. Our competitors may also obtain FDA or other regulatory approval for their products more rapidly than we may obtain approval for our product candidate.candidates.

 

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Many of our competitors are substantially larger than we are and have greater capital resources, research and development staffs and facilities than we have. In addition, many of our competitors are more experienced in drug discovery, development and commercialization, obtaining regulatory approvals and drug manufacturing and marketing.

 

We anticipate that the competition with our product candidatecandidates and technology will be based on a number of factors including product efficacy, safety, availability and price. The timing of market introduction of our planned future product candidates and competitive products will also affect competition among products. We expect the relative speed with which we can develop our product candidate,candidates, complete the required clinical trials, establish a strategic partnerpartners and supply appropriate quantities of the product candidate for late stage trials, if required, to be important competitive factors. Our competitive position will also depend upon our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel, to obtain patent protection in non-U.S. markets, which we currently do not have, or otherwise develop proprietary products or processes and to secure sufficient capital resources for the period between technological conception and commercial sales or out-license to a pharmaceutical partner.partners. If we fail to develop and deploy oura proposed product candidate in a successful and timely manner, we will in all likelihood not be competitive.

Our lack of diversification increases the risk of an investment in our Company and our financial condition and results of operations may deteriorate if we fail to diversify.

Our Board of Directors has centered our attention on our drug development activities, which are currently focused a limited number of product candidates. Our ability to diversify our investments will depend on our access to additional capital and financing sources and the availability and identification of suitable opportunities.

Larger companies have the ability to manage their risk by diversification. However, we lack and expect to continue to lack diversification, in terms of both the nature and geographic scope of our business. As a result, we will likely be impacted more acutely by factors affecting pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries in which we compete than we would if our business were more diversified, enhancing our risk profile. If we cannot diversify our operations, our financial condition and results of operations could deteriorate.

Our business may suffer if we do not attract and retain talented personnel.

Our success will depend in large measure on the abilities, expertise, judgment, discretion, integrity and good faith of our management and other personnel in conducting our business. We have a small management team, and the loss of a key individual or inability to attract suitably qualified staff could materially adversely impact our business.

Our success depends on the ability of our management, employees, consultants and strategic partners, if any, to interpret market data correctly and to interpret and respond to economic market and other conditions in order to locate and adopt appropriate investment opportunities, monitor such investments, and ultimately, if required, to successfully divest such investments. Further, no assurance can be given that our key personnel will continue their association or employment with us or that replacement personnel with comparable skills can be found. We will seek to ensure that management and any key employees are appropriately compensated; however, their services cannot be guaranteed. If we are unable to attract and retain key personnel, our business may be adversely affected.

We may be required to defend lawsuits or pay damages for product liability claims.

Product liability is a major risk in testing and marketing biotechnology and pharmaceutical products. We may face substantial product liability exposure in human clinical trials and in the sale of products after regulatory approval. Product liability claims, regardless of their merits, could exceed policy limits, divert management’s attention and adversely affect our reputation and the demand for our product. In any such event, your investment in our securities could be materially and adversely affected.

Risks Related to Acquisitions and Integrations

We have and expect to incur substantial costs related to the acquisition of CPP and subsequent integration efforts.

We have incurred and expect to incur a number of non-recurring costs associated with acquisition of CPP and related transactions. These costs include legal, financial advisory, accounting, consulting and other advisory fees, retention, severance and employee benefit-related costs, regulatory fees, closing, integration and other related costs.

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Although the legal acquisition of CPP has been completed, integration may be more difficult, costly, or time-consuming than expected, and we may not realize the anticipated benefits of the underlying acquisition.

The anticipated benefits of the combined company, including product candidate diversification and growth, may not be realized fully or at all or may take longer to commercialize than expected and integration may result in additional and unforeseen expenses. An inability to realize the full extent of the anticipated benefits, as well as any delays encountered in the integration process, could have an adverse effect upon our operating results.

In addition, we and CPP operated independently prior to the completion of the acquisition. It is possible that the now-active integration process could result in the loss of one or more key employees, including employees of CPP, the disruption of each company’s ongoing businesses or inconsistencies in standards, controls, procedures, and policies that adversely affect each company’s ability to maintain relationships with clients, customers, depositors, and employees or to achieve the anticipated benefits of the acquisition. Integration efforts between the companies may also divert management attention and resources. These integration matters could have an adverse effect on the Company during this transition period and for an undetermined period.

We may not have discovered certain liabilities or other matters related to CPP, which may adversely affect the future financial performance of the combined company.

In the course of the due diligence review that we conducted prior to the execution of the merger agreement, we may not have discovered, or may have been unable to properly quantify, certain liabilities of CPP or other factors that may have an adverse effect on the business, results of operations, financial condition, and cash flows of the combined company.

Our estimates and judgments related to the acquisition accounting methods used to record the purchase price allocation related to the merger may be inaccurate.

Our management will make significant accounting judgments and estimates related to the application of acquisition accounting of the acquisition under GAAP, as well as the underlying valuation models. Our business, operating results, and financial condition could be materially adversely impacted in future periods if the accounting judgments and estimates prove to be inaccurate.

Risks Related to the Development and Approval of New Drugs

Clinical trials required for our product candidate are expensive and time-consuming, and their outcome is highly uncertain. If any of our drug trials are delayed or yield unfavorable results, we will have to delay or may be unable to obtain regulatory approval for our product candidate.

We must conduct extensive testing of our product candidate before we can obtain regulatory approval to market and sell it. We need to conduct both preclinical animal testing and human clinical trials. Conducting these trials is a lengthy, time-consuming and expensive process. These tests and trials may not achieve favorable results for many reasons, including, among others, failure of the product candidate to demonstrate safety or efficacy, the development of serious or life-threatening adverse events, or side effects, caused by or connected with exposure to the product candidate, difficulty in enrolling and maintaining subjects in the clinical trial, lack of sufficient supplies of the product candidate or comparator drug, and the failure of clinical investigators, trial monitors, contractors, consultants, or trial subjects to comply with the trial protocol. A clinical trial may fail because it did not include a sufficient number of patients to detect the endpoint being measured or reach statistical significance. A clinical trial may also fail because the dose(s) of the investigational drug included in the trial were either too low or too high to determine the optimal effect of the investigational drug in the disease setting. Many clinical trials are conducted under the oversight of Independent Data Monitoring Committees (“IDMCs”) also known as DSMB’s. These independent oversight bodies are made up of external experts who review the progress of ongoing clinical trials, including available safety and efficacy data, and make recommendations concerning a trial’s continuation, modification, or termination based on interim, unblinded data. Any of our ongoing clinical trials may be discontinued or amended in response to recommendations made by responsible IDMCs based on their review of such interim trial results.

We will need to reevaluate our product candidates if they do not test favorably and either conduct new trials, which are expensive and time consuming, or abandon our drug development program(s). Even if we obtain positive results from preclinical or clinical trials, we may not achieve the same success in future trials. Many companies in the biopharmaceutical industry have suffered significant setbacks in clinical trials, even after promising results have been obtained in earlier trials. The failure of clinical trials to demonstrate safety and effectiveness for the desired indication could harm the development of our product candidate and our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially harmed.

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We face significant risks in our product candidate development efforts.

 

Our business depends on the successful development and commercialization of our product candidates. We are currently focused on developing our initial product candidate, SBP-101, for the treatment of PDAcandidates, ivospemin, Flynpovi, and eflornithine and are not permitted to market itthem in the United States until we receive approval of an NDA from the FDA, or in any foreign jurisdiction until we receive the requisite approvals from such jurisdiction. The process of developing new drugs and/or therapeutic products is inherently complex, unpredictable, time-consuming, expensive and uncertain. We must make long-term investments and commit significant resources before knowing whether our development programs will result in drugs that will receive regulatory approval and achieve market acceptance. A product candidate that appears to be promising at all stages of development may not reach the market for a number of reasons that may not be predictable based on results and data from the clinical program. A product candidate may be found ineffective or may cause harmful side effects during clinical trials, may take longer to progress through clinical trials than had been anticipated, may not be able to achieve the pre-defined clinical endpoints even though clinical benefit may have been achieved, may fail to receive necessary regulatory approvals, may prove impracticable to manufacture in commercial quantities at reasonable cost and with acceptable quality, or may fail to achieve market acceptance.

 

We cannot predict whether or when we will obtain regulatory approval to commercialize our initial product candidatecandidates and we cannot, therefore, predict the timing of any future revenues from this or other product candidates, if any. The FDA has substantial discretion in the drug approval process, including the ability to delay, limit or deny approval of a product candidate for many reasons. For example, the FDA:

 

 

could determine that the information provided by us was inadequate, contained clinical deficiencies or otherwise failed to demonstrate the safety and effectiveness of any of our product candidates for any indication;

 

 

may not find the data from clinical trials sufficient to support the submission of an NDA or to obtain marketing approval in the United States, including any findings that the clinical and other benefits of our product candidates outweigh their safety risks;

 

 

may disagree with our trial design or our interpretation of data from preclinical studies or clinical trials or may change the requirements for approval even after it has reviewed and commented on the design for our trials;

 

 

may identify deficiencies in the manufacturing processes or facilities of third-party manufacturers with which we enter into agreements for the manufacturing of our product candidates;

 

 

may approve our product candidates for fewer or more limited indications than we request or may grant approval contingent on the performance of costly post-approval clinical trials;

 

 

may change its approval policies or adopt new regulations; or

 

 

may not approve the labeling claims that we believe are necessary or desirable for the successful commercialization of our product candidates.

 

11

Any failure to obtain regulatory approval of our initial product candidate or future product candidates we develop, if any, would significantly limit our ability to generate revenues, and any failure to obtain such approval for all of the indications and labeling claims we deem desirable could reduce our potential revenues.

 

Our product candidate iscandidates are based on a new formulation of an existing technology which has never been approved for the treatment of any cancer and, consequently, is inherently risky. Concerns about the safety and efficacy of our product candidate could limit our future success.

 

We are subject to the risks of failure inherent in the development of product candidates based on new technologies. These risks include the possibility that any product candidates we create will not be effective, that our current product candidate will be unsafe, ineffective or otherwise fail to receive the necessary regulatory approvals or that our product candidate will be hard to manufacture on a large scale or will be uneconomical to market.

 

Many pharmaceutical products cause multiple potential complications and side effects, not all of which can be predicted with accuracy and many of which may vary from patient to patient. Long term follow-up data may reveal additional complications associated with our product candidate. The responses of potential physicians and others to information about complications could materially affect the market acceptance of our product candidate, which in turn would materially harm our business.

 

Clinical trials required for our product candidate are expensive and time-consuming, and their outcome is highly uncertain. If any of our drug trials are delayed or yield unfavorable results, we will have to delay application for or may be unable to obtain regulatory approval for our product candidate.

We must conduct extensive testing of our product candidate before we can obtain regulatory approval to market and sell it. We need to conduct both preclinical animal testing and human clinical trials. Conducting these trials is a lengthy, time-consuming and expensive process. These tests and trials may not achieve favorable results for many reasons, including, among others, failure of the product candidate to demonstrate safety or efficacy, the development of serious or life-threatening adverse events, or side effects, caused by or connected with exposure to the product candidate, difficulty in enrolling and maintaining subjects in the clinical trial, lack of sufficient supplies of the product candidate or comparator drug, and the failure of clinical investigators, trial monitors, contractors, consultants, or trial subjects to comply with the trial protocol. A clinical trial may fail because it did not include a sufficient number of patients to detect the endpoint being measured or reach statistical significance. A clinical trial may also fail because the dose(s) of the investigational drug included in the trial were either too low or too high to determine the optimal effect of the investigational drug in the disease setting. Many clinical trials are conducted under the oversight of Independent Data Monitoring Committees (“IDMCs”). These independent oversight bodies are made up of external experts who review the progress of ongoing clinical trials, including available safety and efficacy data, and make recommendations concerning a trial’s continuation, modification, or termination based on interim, unblinded data. Any of our ongoing clinical trials may be discontinued or amended in response to recommendations made by responsible IDMCs based on their review of such interim trial results.

We will need to reevaluate our product candidate if it does not test favorably and either conduct new trials, which are expensive and time consuming, or abandon our drug development program. Even if we obtain positive results from preclinical or clinical trials, we may not achieve the same success in future trials. Many companies in the biopharmaceutical industry have suffered significant setbacks in clinical trials, even after promising results have been obtained in earlier trials. The failure of clinical trials to demonstrate safety and effectiveness for the desired indication could harm the development of our product candidate and our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially harmed.

1213

Our ability to commence and complete the planned FAP registration trial depends substantially on a third-party and its resources.

In July 2021, CPP licensed the U.S. and Canadian rights to Flynpovi to One-Two Therapeutics Assets Limited (“One-Two”), a private commercial-stage specialty pharma company focused on GI and orphan disease. Under the terms of the license, One-Two is responsible for all costs of development and approval of Flynpovi in North America. Accordingly, our ability to potentially obtain FDA approval of Flynpovi is dependent on One-Two’s ability to fund and complete the registration trial. Any failure to obtain regulatory approval of Flynpovi in this context could significantly limit our ability to obtain milestone payments or generate revenues from Flynpovi.

Due to our reliance on third parties to conduct our clinical trials, we are unable to directly control the timing, conduct, expense and quality of our clinical trials, which could adversely affect our clinical data and results and related regulatory approvals.

We extensively outsource our clinical trial activities and expect to directly perform only a small portion of the preparatory stages for planned trials. We rely on independent third-party CROs to perform most of our clinical trials, including document preparation, site identification, screening and preparation, pre-study visits, training, program management and bio-analytical analysis. Many important aspects of the services performed for us by the CROs are out of our direct control. If there is any dispute or disruption in our relationship with our CROs, our clinical trials may be delayed. Moreover, in our regulatory submissions, we rely on the quality and validity of the clinical work performed by third-party CROs. If a CRO’s processes, methodologies or results are determined to be invalid or inadequate, our own clinical data and results and related regulatory approvals could be adversely affected or invalidated.

We rely on third-party suppliers and other third parties for production of our product candidates and our dependence on these third parties may impair the advancement of our research and development programs and the development of our product candidates.

We rely on, and expect to continue to rely on, third parties for the supply of raw materials and manufacture of drug supplies necessary to conduct our preclinical studies and clinical trials. During 2021 the Company, in collaboration with our manufacturing partner confirmed a new shorter and less expensive synthesis of the active drug substance for ivospemin. However, delays in production by third parties could delay our clinical trials or have an adverse impact on any commercial activities. In addition, the fact that we are dependent on third parties for the manufacture of and formulation of our product candidates means that we are subject to the risk that the products may have manufacturing defects that we have limited ability to prevent or control. Although we oversee these activities to ensure compliance with our quality standards, budgets and timelines, we have had and will continue to have less control over the manufacturing of our product candidates than potentially would be the case if we were to manufacture our product candidates. Further, the third parties we deal with could have staffing difficulties, might undergo changes in priorities or may become financially distressed, which would adversely affect the manufacturing and production of our product candidates.

 

The results of pre-clinical studies and completed clinical trials are not necessarily predictive of future results, and our current product candidates may not have favorable results in later studies or trials.

 

Pre-clinical studies and Phase 1 and Phase 2I clinical trials are not primarily designed to test the efficacy of a product candidate in the general population, but rather to test initial safety, to study pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, to study limited efficacy in a small number of study patients in a selected disease population, and to identify and attempt to understand the product candidate’s side effects at various doses and dosing schedules. Success in pre-clinical studies or completed clinical trials does not ensure that later studies or trials, including continuing pre-clinical studies and large-scale clinical trials, will be successful nor does it necessarily predict future results. Favorable results in early studies or trials may not be repeated in later studies or trials, and product candidates in later stage trials may fail to show acceptable safety and efficacy despite having progressed through earlier trials.

 

Due to our reliance on third-parties to conduct our clinical trials, we are unable to directly control the timing, conduct, expense and quality of our clinical trials, which could adversely affect our clinical data and results and related regulatory approvals.

We extensively outsource our clinical trial activities and expect to directly perform only a small portion of the preparatory stages for planned trials. We rely on independent third-party contract research organizations (“CROs”) to perform most of our clinical trials, including document preparation, site identification, screening and preparation, pre-study visits, training, program management and bio-analytical analysis. Many important aspects of the services performed for us by the CROs are out of our direct control. If there is any dispute or disruption in our relationship with our CROs, our clinical trials may be delayed. Moreover, in our regulatory submissions, we rely on the quality and validity of the clinical work performed by third-party CROs. If a CRO’s processes, methodologies or results are determined to be invalid or inadequate, our own clinical data and results and related regulatory approvals could be adversely affected or invalidated.

Regulatory and legal uncertainties could result in significant costs or otherwise harm our business.

In order to manufacture and sell our product candidate, we must comply with extensive international and domestic regulations. In order to sell our product candidate in the United States, approval from the FDA is required. The FDA approval process is expensive and time-consuming. We cannot predict whether our product candidate will be approved by the FDA. Even if our product candidate is approved, we cannot predict the time frame for such approval. Foreign regulatory requirements differ from jurisdiction to jurisdiction and may, in some cases, be more stringent or difficult to obtain than FDA approval. As with the FDA, we cannot predict if or when we may obtain these regulatory approvals. If we cannot demonstrate that our product candidate can be used safely and successfully in a broad enough segment of the indicated patient population for a satisfactory length of time, our product candidate would likely be denied approval by the FDA and the regulatory agencies of foreign governments.

We may be unable to formulate or manufacture our product candidate in a way that is suitable for commercial use.

Changes in product formulations and manufacturing processes may be required as our product candidate progresses in clinical development and is ultimately commercialized. If we are unable to develop suitable product formulations or manufacturing processes to support large scale clinical testing of our product candidate, we may be unable to supply necessary materials for our clinical trials, which would delay the development of our product candidate. Similarly, if we are unable to supply sufficient quantities of our product candidate or develop product formulations suitable for commercial use, we will not be able to successfully commercialize our product candidate.

We lack sales, marketing and distribution capabilities and currently expect to rely on third parties to market and distribute our product candidate, which may harm or delay our commercialization efforts.

We currently have no sales, marketing, or distribution capabilities and do not currently intend to develop such capabilities in the foreseeable future. If we are unable to partner with a larger pharmaceutical organization having the expertise and capacity to perform these functions, then we may be unable to sell any product that we develop. We may not be able to enter into any necessary arrangements, including marketing or distribution agreements, on acceptable terms, if at all. Should our strategic partners, if any, be unable to effectively sell our products, then our ability to generate revenues will be significantly harmed.

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We may be required to defend lawsuits or pay damages for product liability claims.

Product liability is a major risk in testing and marketing biotechnology and pharmaceutical products. We may face substantial product liability exposure in human clinical trials and in the sale of products after regulatory approval. Product liability claims, regardless of their merits, could exceed policy limits, divert management’s attention and adversely affect our reputation and the demand for our product. In any such event, your investment in our securities could be materially and adversely affected.

Risks Related to the Regulation of our Business

 

Federal and state pharmaceutical marketing compliance and reporting requirements may expose us to regulatory and legal action by state governments or other government authorities.

 

The Food and Drug Administration Modernization Act (the “FDMA”), established a public registry of open clinical trials involving drugs intended to treat serious or life-threatening diseases or conditions in order to promote public awareness of and access to these clinical trials. Under the FDMA, pharmaceutical manufacturers and other trial sponsors are required to post the general purpose of these trials, as well as the eligibility criteria, location and contact information of the trials. Failure to comply with any clinical trial posting requirements could expose us to negative publicity, fines and other penalties, all of which could materially harm our business.

 

In recent years, several states, including California, Vermont, Maine, Minnesota, New Mexico and West Virginia have enacted legislation requiring pharmaceutical companies to establish marketing compliance programs and file periodic reports on sales, marketing, pricing and other activities. Similar legislation is being considered in other states. Many of these requirements are new and uncertain, and available guidance is limited. Unless we are in full compliance with these laws, we could face enforcement actions and fines and other penalties and could receive adverse publicity, all of which could harm our business.

 

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If the product candidatecandidates we develop becomes subject to unfavorable pricing regulations, third party reimbursement practices or healthcare reform initiatives, our ability to successfully commercialize our product candidatecandidates may be impaired.

 

Our future revenues, profitability and access to capital will be affected by the continuing efforts of governmental and private third-party payors to contain or reduce the costs of health care through various means. We expect several federal, state and foreign proposals to control the cost of drugs through government regulation. We are unsure of the impact recent health care reform legislation may have on our business or what actions federal, state, foreign and private payors may take in response to the recent reforms. Therefore, it is difficult to predict the effect of any implemented reform on our business. Our ability to commercialize our product candidate successfully will depend, in part, on the extent to which reimbursement for the cost of such product candidate and related treatments will be available from government health administration authorities, such as Medicare and Medicaid in the United States, private health insurers and other organizations. Significant uncertainty exists as to the reimbursement status of newly approved health care products, particularly for indications for which there is no current effective treatment or for which medical care typically is not sought. Adequate third-party coverage may not be available to enable us to maintain price levels sufficient to realize an appropriate return on our investment in product research and development. If adequate coverage and reimbursement levels are not provided by the government and third-party payors for the use of our product candidates, our product candidates may fail to achieve market acceptance and our results of operations will be harmed.

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Healthcare legislative reform measures may have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

 

Legislative and regulatory actions affecting government prescription drug procurement and reimbursement programs occur relatively frequently. In the United States, the ACA was enacted in 2010 to expand healthcare coverage. Since then, numerous efforts have been made to repeal, amend or administratively limit the ACA in whole or in part. For example, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, signed into law by President Trump in 2017, repealed the individual health insurance mandate, which is considered a key component of the ACA. In December 2018, a Texas federal district court struck down the ACA on the grounds that the individual health insurance mandate is unconstitutional, although this ruling has been stayed pending appeal. The ongoing challenges to the ACA and new legislative proposals have resulted in uncertainty regarding the ACA’sACA's future viability and destabilization of the health insurance market. The resulting impact on our business is uncertain and could be material.

 

Efforts to control prescription drug prices could also have a material adverse effect on our business. For example, in 2018, President Trump and the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) released the "American“American Patients First Blueprint"Blueprint” and have begun implementing certain portions. The initiative includes proposals to increase generic drug and biosimilar competition, enable the Medicare program to negotiate drug prices more directly and improve transparency regarding drug prices and ways to lower consumers'consumers’ out-of-pocket costs. The Trump administration also proposed to establish an “international pricing index” that would be used as a benchmark to determine the costs and potentially limit the reimbursement of drugs under Medicare Part B. Among other pharmaceutical manufacturer industry-related proposals, Congress has proposed bills to change the Medicare Part D benefit to impose an inflation-based rebate in Medicare Part D and to alter the benefit structure to increase manufacturer contributions in the catastrophic phase. The volume of drug pricing-related bills has dramatically increased under the current Congress, and the resulting impact on our business is uncertain and could be material.

 

In addition, many states have proposed or enacted legislation that seeks to indirectly or directly regulate pharmaceutical drug pricing indirectly or directly, such as by requiring biopharmaceutical manufacturers to publicly report proprietary pricing information or to place a maximum price ceiling on pharmaceutical products purchased by state agencies. For example, in 2017, California’s governor signed a prescription drug price transparency state bill into law, requiring prescription drug manufacturers to provide advance notice and explanation for price increases of certain drugs that exceed a specified threshold. Both Congress and state legislatures are considering various bills that would reform drug purchasing and price negotiations, allow greater use of utilization management tools to limit Medicare Part D coverage, facilitate the import of lower-priced drugs from outside the United States and encourage the use of generic drugs. Such initiatives and legislation may cause added pricing pressures on our products.

 

Changes to the Medicaid program at the federal or state level could also have a material adverse effect on our business. Proposals that could impact coverage and reimbursement of our products, including giving states more flexibility to manage drugs covered under the Medicaid program and permitting the re-importation of prescription medications from Canada or other countries, could have a material adverse effect by limiting our products’ use and coverage. Furthermore, state Medicaid programs could request additional supplemental rebates on our products as a result of an increase in the federal base Medicaid rebate. To the extent that private insurers or managed care programs follow Medicaid coverage and payment developments, they could use the enactment of these increased rebates to exert pricing pressure on our products, and the adverse effects may be magnified by their adoption of lower payment schedules.

 

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Other proposed regulatory actions affecting manufacturers could have a material adverse effect on our business. It is difficult to predict the impact, if any, of any such proposed legislative and regulatory actions or resulting state actions on the use and reimbursement of our products in the United States, but our results of operations may be adversely affected.

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Risks Related to Ourour Intellectual Property

 

If we are unable to obtain, maintain and enforce our proprietary rights, we may not be able to compete effectively or operate profitably.

 

WeFor ivospemin, we are party to a license agreement with UFRF.the University of Florida Research Foundation (“UFRF”) and for Flynpovi, we are party to a license agreement with the Arizona Board of Regents of the University of Arizona. The patentpatents underlying the licensed intellectual property and those of other biopharmaceutical companies are generally uncertain and involve complex legal, scientific and factual questions.

 

Our ability to develop and commercialize drugs depends in significant part on our ability to: (i) obtain and/or develop broad, protectable intellectual property; (ii) obtain additional licenses, if required, to the proprietary rights of others on commercially reasonable terms; (iii) operate without infringing upon the proprietary rights of others; (iv) prevent others from infringing on our proprietary rights; and (v) protect our corporate know-how and trade secrets.

 

Patents that we may acquire and those that might be issued in the future, may be challenged, invalidated or circumvented, and the rights granted thereunder may not provide us with proprietary protection or competitive advantages against competitors with similar technology. Furthermore, our competitors may independently develop similar technologies or duplicate any technology we develop. Because of the extensive time required for development, testing and regulatory review of a potential product candidates, it is possible that, before any of our product candidates can be commercialized, any related patent may expire or remain in force for only a short period following commercialization, thus reducing any advantage of the patent.

 

Because patent applications in the U.S. and many foreign jurisdictions are typically not published until at least 12 months after filing, or in some cases not at all, and because publications of discoveries in the scientific literature often lag behind actual discoveries, neither we nor our licensors can be certain that either we or our licensors were the first to make the inventions claimed in issued patents or pending patent applications, or that we were the first to file for protection of the inventions set forth in these patent applications.

 

Additionally, UFRF previously elected to seek protection for certain elements of the licensed technology only in the United States, and the time to file for international patent protection has expired. This limits the strength of the Company’s intellectual property position in certain markets and could affect the overall value of the Company to a potential corporate partner.

 

Obtaining and maintaining our patent protection depends upon compliance with various procedural, document submission, fee payment and other requirements imposed by governmental patent agencies, and our patent protection could be reduced or eliminated for non-compliance with these requirements.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office and various foreign governmental patent agencies require compliance with a number of procedural, documentary, fee payment and other provisions during the patent process. There are situations in which noncompliance can result in abandonment or lapse of a patent or patent application, resulting in partial or complete loss of patent rights in the relevant jurisdiction. In such an event, competitors might be able to enter the market earlier than would otherwise have been the case.

We may be exposed to infringement or misappropriation claims by third parties, which, if determined adversely to us, could cause us to pay significant damage awards.

 

There has been substantial litigation and other proceedings regarding patent and other intellectual property rights in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. We may become a party to various types of patent litigation or other proceedings regarding intellectual property rights from time to time even under circumstances where we are not using and do not intend to use any of the intellectual property involved in the proceedings.

 

The cost of any patent litigation or other proceeding, even if resolved in our favor, could be substantial. Some of our competitors may be able to sustain the cost of such litigation or proceedings more effectively than we will be able to because our competitors may have substantially greater financial resources. If any patent litigation or other proceeding is resolved against us, we or our collaborators may be enjoined from developing, manufacturing, selling or importing our drugs without a license from the other party and we may be held liable for significant damages. We may not be able to obtain any required license(s) on commercially acceptable terms or at all.

 

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Uncertainties resulting from the initiation and continuation of patent litigation or other proceedings could have a material adverse effect on our ability to compete in the marketplace. Patent litigation and other proceedings may also absorb significant management time.

16

Obtaining and maintaining our patent protection depends upon compliance with various procedural, document submission, fee payment and other requirements imposed by governmental patent agencies, and our patent protection could be reduced or eliminated for non-compliance with these requirements.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office and various foreign governmental patent agencies require compliance with a number of procedural, documentary, fee payment and other provisions during the patent process. There are situations in which noncompliance can result in abandonment or lapse of a patent or patent application, resulting in partial or complete loss of patent rights in the relevant jurisdiction. In such an event, competitors might be able to enter the market earlier than would otherwise have been the case.

 

Confidentiality agreements with employees and others may not adequately prevent disclosure of our know-how, trade secrets and other proprietary information and may not adequately protect our intellectual property, which could impede our ability to compete.

 

Because we operate in the highly technical field of medical technology development, we rely in part on trade secret protection in order to protect our proprietary trade secrets and unpatented know-how. However, trade secrets are difficult to protect, and we cannot be certain that others will not develop the same or similar technologies on their own. We have taken steps, including entering into confidentiality agreements with all of our employees, consultants and corporate partners to protect our trade secrets and unpatented know-how. These agreements generally require that the other party keep confidential and not disclose to third parties any confidential information developed by the party or made known to the party by us during the course of the party’s relationship with us. We also typically obtain agreements from these parties which provide that inventions conceived by the party in the course of rendering services to us will be our exclusive property. However, these agreements may not be honored and may not effectively assign intellectual property rights to us. Enforcing a claim that a party illegally obtained and is using our trade secrets or know-how is difficult, expensive and time consuming, and the outcome is unpredictable. In addition, courts outside the United States may be less willing to protect trade secrets or know-how. The failure to obtain or maintain trade secret protection could adversely affect our competitive position.

 

We may be subject to claims that our employees have wrongfully used or disclosed alleged trade secrets of their former employers.

 

As is common in the biotechnology industry, we employ individuals who were previously employed at other biotechnology companies, including our competitors or potential competitors. Although no claims against us are currently pending, we may be subject to claims that these employees or we have inadvertently or otherwise used or disclosed trade secrets or other proprietary information of their former employers. Litigation may be necessary to defend against these claims. Even if we are successful in defending against these claims, litigation could result in substantial costs and be a distraction to management.

 

Risks Related toAssociated with this Offering and Ownership of our Our Common Stock

Our directors, executive officers and significant stockholders have substantial control over us and could limit stockholders’ ability to influence the outcome of key transactions, including changes of control.

As of December 31, 2019, our directors and executive officers beneficially owned 24.5% of our common stock and together may be able to influence significantly all matters requiring approval by our stockholders. As of the same date, one holder of greater than five percent of our common stock beneficially owned 11.6% of our common stock and would, along with certain other shareholders, be able to influence significantly all matters requiring approval by our stockholders, including the election of directors and the approval of mergers or other significant corporate transactions. The stockholders may have interests that differ from other stockholders, and they may vote in a way with which other stockholders disagree and that may be adverse to the interests of other stockholders. The concentration of ownership of our common stock may have the effect of delaying, preventing or deterring a change of control of our company, could deprive our stockholders of an opportunity to receive a premium for their common stock as part of a sale of our Company, and may affect the market price of our common stock. This concentration of ownership of our common stock may also have the effect of influencing the completion of a change in control that may not necessarily be in the best interests of all of our stockholders.

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Our common stock is eligible for quotation on the over-the-counter-market but not listed on any national securities exchange.

Our shares of common stock are eligible for quotation on the OTCQB tier of the over-the-counter markets under the symbol “SNBP.” Despite eligibility for quotation, no assurance can be given that any market for our common stock will develop or, if one develops, that it will be maintained for any period of time. Quotation on the over-the-counter markets is generally understood to be a less active, and therefore less liquid, trading market than other types of markets such as a national securities exchange. In comparison to a listing on a national securities exchange, quotation on the over-the-counter markets is expected to have an adverse effect on the liquidity of shares of our common stock, both in terms of the number of shares that can be bought and sold at a given price, but also through delays in the timing of transactions and reduction in analyst and media coverage. This may result in lower prices for our common stock than might otherwise be obtained and could also result in a larger spread between the bid and ask prices for our common stock.

Our common stock may be a “penny stock,” which may make it difficult to sell shares of our common stock.

Our common stock has from time to time been categorized as a “penny stock” as defined in Rule 3a51-1 of the Exchange Act and may be subject to the requirements of Rule 15g-9 of the Exchange Act. Under this rule, broker-dealers who sell penny stocks must, among other things, provide purchasers of these stocks with a standardized risk-disclosure document prepared by the SEC. Under applicable regulations, unless it becomes listed on a national securities exchange, including pursuant to our pending application to list our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market, our common stock will generally remain a “penny stock” until such time as its per-share price is $5.00 or more (as determined in accordance with SEC regulations), or until we meet certain net asset or revenue thresholds. These thresholds include the possession of net tangible assets (i.e., total assets less intangible assets and liabilities) in excess of $2 million or average revenues equal to at least $6 million for each of the last three years.

The penny-stock rules significantly limit the liquidity of securities in the secondary market, and many brokers choose not to participate in penny-stock transactions. As a result, there is generally less trading in penny stocks. If you become a holder of our common stock, you may not always be able to resell shares of our common stock in a public broker’s transaction, if at all, at the times and prices that you feel are fair or appropriate.

If you purchase shares of common stock in this offering, you will incur immediate and substantial dilution in the book value of the shares of our common stock.

The proposed public offering price of the shares of our common stock is substantially higher than the net tangible book value per share of our common stock. Investors purchasing shares of common stock in this offering will pay a price per share that substantially exceeds the book value of our tangible assets after subtracting our liabilities. As a result, investors purchasing shares of common stock in this offering will incur immediate dilution of $             per share, based on an assumed public offering price of $             per share. Further, investors purchasing shares of common stock in this offering will contribute approximately         % of the total amount invested by shareholders since our inception, but will own, as a result of such investment, only approximately       % of the shares of common stock outstanding immediately following this offering. As a result of the dilution to investors purchasing shares of common stock in this offering, investors may receive significantly less than the purchase price paid in this offering, if anything, in the event of our liquidation. Further, because we may need to raise additional capital to fund our anticipated level of operations, we may in the future sell substantial amounts of common stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable for common stock. These future issuances of equity or equity-linked securities, together with the exercise of outstanding options and any additional shares issued in connection with acquisitions, if any, may result in further dilution to investors.

Trading in our common stock has been minimal and investors may not be able to sell as much stock as they want at prevailing prices.

As of June 30, 2020, the 30-day average daily trading volume in our common stock was less than 500 shares as reported by OTC Markets Group Inc. If trading in our stock continues at that level, it may be difficult for investors to sell or buy substantial quantities of shares in the public market at any given time at prevailing prices as significant price movement can be caused trading a relatively small number of shares. Accordingly, the market price for shares of our common stock may be made more volatile because of the relatively low volume of trading in our common stock. We cannot guarantee that a more liquid market for our common stock will develop.

18

Offers or availability for sale of a substantial number of shares of our common stock may cause the price of our common stock to decline and cause investors to lose part or all of their investment.

If our stockholders sell substantial amounts of our common stock in the public market or upon the expiration of any statutory holding period under Rule 144, or upon expiration of lock-up periods applicable to outstanding shares, or issued upon the exercise of outstanding options or warrants, it could create a circumstance commonly referred to as an “overhang” and in anticipation of which the market price of our common stock could fall. The existence of an overhang, whether sales have occurred or are occurring, also could make our ability to raise additional financing through the sale of equity or equity-related securities in the future at a time and price that we deem reasonable or appropriate more difficult.

Securities analysts may not initiate coverage or continue to cover our common stock, and this may have a negative impact on the market price of our common stock.

Common stock prices are often significantly influenced by the research and reports that securities analysts publish about companies and their business. We do not have any control over these analysts. There is no guarantee that securities analysts will cover our common stock. If securities analysts do not cover our common stock, the lack of research coverage may adversely affect the market price of our common stock. If our common stock is covered by securities analysts and our stock is downgraded, our stock price will likely decline. If one or more of these analysts ceases to cover us or fails to publish regular reports on us, we can lose visibility in the financial markets, which can cause our stock price or trading volume to decline.

We have broad discretion in the use of the net proceeds from this offering, and our use of those proceeds may not yield a favorable return on investment.

We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering for the continued clinical development of our initial product candidate SBP-101 and for working capital and other general corporate purposes. However, our management has broad discretion of how these proceeds are used and could spend the proceeds in ways with which you may not agree. In addition, we may not use the proceeds from this offering effectively or in a manner that increases our market value or results in revenue. We have not established a timetable for the effective deployment of the proceeds, and we cannot predict how long it will take to deploy the proceeds.

 

Raising additional capital may cause dilution to our stockholders or restrict our operations.

 

To the extent that we raise additional capital through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, stockholders’ ownership interest will be diluted, and the terms may include liquidation or other preferences that adversely affect their rights as stockholders. Debt financing, if available, may involve agreements that include covenants limiting or restricting our ability to take specific actions such as incurring additional debt, making capital expenditures or declaring dividends. Any of these events could adversely affect our ability to achieve our product development and commercialization goals and harm our business. We do not anticipate any adverse effects stemming from the lack of available credit facilities at this time.

 

Issuances of common stock in offerings or pursuant to the exercise of rights to purchase shares may cause the price of our common stock to decline and cause investors to lose a significant portion of their investment.

If our stockholders sell substantial amounts of our common stock in the public market or upon the expiration of any statutory holding period under Rule 144, or upon expiration of lock-up periods applicable to outstanding shares or issued upon the exercise of outstanding options or warrants, it could create a circumstance commonly referred to as an “overhang” and in anticipation of which the market price of our common stock could fall. The existence of an overhang, whether sales have occurred or are occurring, also could make our ability to raise additional financing through the sale of equity or equity-related securities in the future at a time and price that we deem reasonable or appropriate more difficult. As of January 13, 2023, taking into account the effect of a 1-for-40 reverse stock split, we had outstanding options to purchase 100,578 shares of our common stock at a weighted-average exercise price of $145.46 per share with a remaining contractual life of 6.6 years and outstanding warrants to purchase 889,911 shares of common stock at a weighted-average exercise price of $38.05 per share. All warrants to purchase common stock outstanding had a remaining exercise period of 4.3 years.

Securities analysts may not initiate coverage or continue to cover our common stock, and this may have a negative impact on the market price of our common stock.

Common stock prices are often significantly influenced by the research and reports that securities analysts publish about companies and their business. We do not have any control over these analysts. There is no guarantee that securities analysts will cover, or continue to cover, our common stock. If securities analysts do not cover our common stock, the lack of research coverage may adversely affect the market price of our common stock. If our common stock is covered by securities analysts and our stock is downgraded, our stock price will likely decline. If one or more of these analysts ceases to cover us or fails to publish regular reports on us, we can lose visibility in the financial markets, which can cause our stock price or trading volume to decline.

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If you purchase shares of common stock in this offering, you will incur immediate and substantial dilution in the book value of the shares of our common stock.

The proposed public offering price of the shares of our common stock is substantially higher than the net tangible book value per share of our common stock. Investors purchasing shares of common stock in this offering will pay a price per share that substantially exceeds the book value of our tangible assets after subtracting our liabilities. As a result, investors purchasing shares of common stock in this offering will incur immediate dilution of $1.35 per share, based on an assumed combined public offering price of $3.32 per share and accompanying common warrant (assuming a public offering price based on  the last sale price of our common stock of $3.32 as reported by the Nasdaq Capital Market on January 13, 2023, which was the first day of trading post the completion of a 1 for 40 reverse stock split). Further, investors purchasing shares of common stock in this offering will contribute approximately 22% of the total amount invested by shareholders since our inception, but will own, as a result of such investment, approximately 79% of the shares of common stock outstanding immediately following this offering. As a result of the dilution to investors purchasing shares of common stock in this offering, investors may receive significantly less than the purchase price paid in this offering, if anything, in the event of our liquidation. Further, because we may need to raise additional capital to fund our anticipated level of operations, we may in the future sell substantial amounts of common stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable for common stock. These future issuances of equity or equity-linked securities, together with the exercise of outstanding options and any additional shares issued in connection with acquisitions, if any, may result in further dilution to investors.

Holders of our warrants will have no rights as a common stockholder until they exercise their warrants and acquire our common stock.

Until you acquire shares of our common stock upon exercise of your warrants, you will have no rights with respect to shares of our common stock issuable upon exercise of your warrants. Upon exercise of your warrants, you will be entitled to exercise the rights of a common stockholder only as to matters for which the record date occurs after the exercise date.

The common warrants are speculative in nature.

The common warrants offered pursuant to this prospectus do not confer any rights of common stock ownership on their holders, such as voting rights or the right to receive dividends, but rather merely represent the right to acquire shares of our common stock at a fixed price for a limited period of time. Specifically, commencing on the date of issuance, holders of the common warrants may exercise their right to acquire the common stock and pay an exercise price of $ , prior to five years from the date of issuance, after which date any unexercised common warrants will expire and have no further value. Moreover, following this offering, the market value of the common warrants is uncertain and there can be no assurance that the market value of the common warrants will equal or exceed their public offering price. There can be no assurance that the market price of the common stock will ever equal or exceed the exercise price of the common warrants, and, consequently, whether it will ever be profitable for holders of the common warrants to exercise those warrants.

There is no established public trading market for the warrants being offered in this offering.

There is no established public trading market for the common warrants or the pre-funded warrants being offered in this offering. We do not intend to apply to list the common warrants or the pre-funded warrants to be issued in this offering on any national securities exchange or to seek qualification of the common warrants or the pre-funded warrants for quotation on the over-the-counter markets. Without an active trading market, the liquidity of the common warrants and the pre-funded warrants will be limited without first exercising them.

Our charter documents and Delaware law may inhibit a takeover that stockholders consider favorable.

 

ProvisionsThe provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws and applicable provisions of Delaware law may make it more difficult for or prevent a third party from acquiring control of us without the approval of our Boardboard of Directors.directors. These provisions:

 

 

set limitations on the removal of directors;

 

 

limit who may call a special meeting of stockholders;

 

 

establish advance notice requirements for nominations for election to our Boardboard of Directorsdirectors or for proposing matters that can be acted upon at stockholder meetings;

 

 

do not permit cumulative voting in the election of our directors, which would otherwise permit less than a majority of stockholders to elect directors;

 

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establish a classified board of directors limiting the number of directors that are elected each year; and

 

 

provide our Boardboard of Directorsdirectors the ability to designate the terms of and issue preferred stock without stockholder approval.

19

 

In addition, Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law generally limits our ability to engage in any business combination with certain persons who own 15% or more of our outstanding voting stock or any of our associates or affiliates who at any time in the past three years have owned 15% or more of our outstanding voting stock unless our Boardboard of Directorsdirectors has pre-approved the acquisitions that lead to such ownership. These provisions may have the effect of entrenching our management team and may deprive stockholders of the opportunity to sell their shares to potential acquirers at a premium over prevailing prices. This potential inability to obtain a control premium could reduce the price of our common stock.

 

If we issue preferred stock, the rights of the holders of our common stock and the value of such common stock could be adversely affected.

 

Our Board of Directors is authorized to issue classes or series of preferred stock, without any action on the part of the stockholders. The Board of Directors also has the power, without stockholder approval, to set the terms of any such classes or series of preferred stock, including voting rights, dividend rights and preferences over the common stock with respect to dividends or upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of our business and other terms. If we issue preferred stock in the future that has a preference over the common stock with respect to the payment of dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, or if we issue preferred stock with voting rights that dilute the voting power of the common stock, the rights of holders of the common stock or the value of the common stock would be adversely affected.

 

The protection provided by the federal securities laws relating to forward-looking statements does not currently apply to us. The lack of this protection could harm us in the event of an adverse outcome in a legal proceeding relating to forward-looking statements made by us.

Although federal securities laws provide a safe harbor for forward-looking statements made by a public company that files reports under the federal securities laws, this safe harbor is not available to certain issuers, including penny stock issuers. To the extent our common stock is considered a penny stock, we will not be eligible for the statutory safe harbor included in the Exchange Act of 1934. As a result, we will not have the benefit of this statutory safe harbor protection in the event of certain legal actions based upon forward-looking statements. The lack of this protection in a contested proceeding could harm our financial condition and, ultimately, the value of our common stock.

We have identified a significant deficiency in internal control over financial reporting, ifIf we fail to maintain effective internal controls over financial reporting, the price of our common stock may be adversely affected.

 

We are required to establish and maintain appropriate internal controls over financial reporting. Failure to establish those controls, or any failure of those controls once established, could adversely impact our public disclosures regarding our business, financial condition or results of operations. Any failure of these controls could also prevent us from maintaining accurate accounting records and discovering accounting errors and financial fraud.

In the course of completing its assessment of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019, management did not identify any material weaknesses but did identify a significant deficiency in the number of personnel available to serve the Company’s accounting function, specifically management believes that we may not be able to adequately segregate responsibility over financial transaction processing and reporting. A significant deficiency is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, that is less severe than a material weakness yet important enough to merit attention by those responsible for oversight of the Company’s financial reporting. Although we are unable to remediate the significant deficiency with current personnel, we are mitigating its potential impact, primarily through greater involvement of senior management in the review and monitoring of financial transaction processing and reporting.

In addition, management’s Management’s assessment of internal controls over financial reporting may identify additional weaknesses and conditions that need to be addressed or other potential matters that may raise concerns for investors. Any actual or perceived weaknesses and conditions that need to be addressed in our internal control over financial reporting or disclosure of management’s assessment of our internal controls over financial reporting may have an adverse impact on the price of our common stock.

 

Even if this offering is completed, we will need to raise additional capital in the future to finance our operations, which may not be available on acceptable terms, or at all. Failure to obtain this necessary capital when needed may force us to delay, limit or terminate our product development efforts or other operations.

We have had recurring losses from operations, negative operating cash flow and have an accumulated deficit. We must raise additional funds in order to continue financing our operations. If additional capital is not available to us when needed or on acceptable terms, we may not be able to continue to operate our business pursuant to our business plan or we may have to discontinue our operations entirely. Any additional capital raised through the sale of equity or equity-backed securities may dilute our stockholders’ ownership percentages and could also result in a decrease in the market value of our equity securities. The terms of any securities issued by us in future capital transactions may be more favorable to new investors, and may include preferences, superior voting rights and the issuance of warrants or other derivative securities, which may have a further dilutive effect on the holders of any of our securities then outstanding.

If we are unable to secure additional funds when needed or on acceptable terms, we may be required to defer, reduce or eliminate significant planned expenditures, restructure, curtail or eliminate some or all of our operations, dispose of technology or assets, pursue an acquisition of our company by a third party at a price that may result in a loss on investment for our stockholders, file for bankruptcy or cease operations altogether. Any of these events could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Moreover, if we are unable to obtain additional funds on a timely basis, there will be substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern and increased risk of insolvency and up to a total loss of investment by our stockholders.

This is a best efforts offering, no minimum amount of securities is required to be sold, and we may not raise the amount of capital we believe is required for our business plans.

The placement agent has agreed to use its reasonable best efforts to solicit offers to purchase the securities being offered in this offering. The placement agent has no obligation to buy any of the securities from us or to arrange for the purchase or sale of any specific number or dollar amount of the securities. There is no required minimum number of securities or amount of proceeds that must be sold as a condition to completion of this offering. Because there is no minimum offering amount required as a condition to the closing of this offering, the actual offering amount, placement agent fees and proceeds to us are not presently determinable and may be substantially less than the maximum amounts set forth above. We may sell fewer than all of the securities offered hereby, which may significantly reduce the amount of proceeds received by us, and investors in this offering will not receive a refund in the event that we do not sell an amount of securities sufficient to fund for our operations as described in the “Use of Proceeds” section herein. Thus, we may not raise the amount of capital we believe is required for our operations in the short-term and may need to raise additional funds, which may not be available or available on terms acceptable to us.

2019

 

We could be delisted from Nasdaq, which would seriously harm the liquidity of our stock and our ability to raise capital

As previously disclosed, on August 19, 2022, we received a letter from the Listing Qualifications Department of The Nasdaq Stock Market (“Nasdaq”) notifying us that we were not in compliance with the minimum stockholders’ equity requirement for continued listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market. Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(b)(1) (the “Minimum Equity Rule”) requires companies listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market to maintain stockholders’ equity of at least $2,500,000. We reported a stockholders’ deficit of $4,838,000 on our consolidated balance sheet for the quarter ended June 30, 2022, and we do not currently satisfy the alternative standards based on market value of listed securities or net income from continuing operations. For the quarter ended September 30, 2022, we reported a stockholders’ deficit of $8.64 million. This notice of noncompliance has no immediate impact on the continued listing or trading of our Common Stock on The Nasdaq Capital Market, which will continue to be listed and traded on Nasdaq, subject to our compliance with the other continued listing requirements. We submitted to Nasdaq a plan to regain compliance with the Minimum Equity Rule, and Nasdaq granted us an extension through February 15, 2023.

In addition, as previously disclosed, on September 30, 2022, we received a letter from Nasdaq notifying us that for 30 consecutive business days our common stock did not maintain a minimum closing bid price of $1.00 per share as required by Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2) (the “Minimum Bid Price Rule”). In accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5810(c)(3)(A), we were provided 180 calendar days, or until March 29, 2023, to regain compliance with the Minimum Bid Price Rule (the “Minimum Bid Price Rule Compliance Period”).

In addition, as previously disclosed, on January 3, 2023, we received a letter from Nasdaq notifying us that, as of December 30, 2022, our common stock had a closing bid price of $0.10 or less for ten consecutive trading days during the Minimum Bid Price Rule Compliance Period and, therefore, as contemplated under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5810(c)(3)(A)(iii), our common stock will be delisted from The Nasdaq Capital Market. Nasdaq indicated that it would suspend trading in our common stock at the opening of business on January 12, 2023 and file a Form 25-NSE with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which would remove our common stock from listing and registration on Nasdaq, unless we appeal the delisting determination by requesting a hearing before the Nasdaq Hearings Panel (the “Panel”) by 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on January 10, 2023. We have requested a hearing and intend to promptly provide our plan to regain compliance with the Minimum Bid Price Rule and address with the Panel our plan to regain compliance with the Minimum Equity Rule.

Our request for a hearing stays any suspension or delisting action by Nasdaq pending the Panel’s final decision.

We intend to take all reasonable measures available to regain compliance under the Nasdaq Listing Rules and remain listed on Nasdaq, including by recently effecting the 1-for-40 reverse split of our outstanding common stock and completing this offering. However, there can be no assurance that we will ultimately regain compliance with all applicable requirements for continued listing or that the Panel will ultimately grant our request for continued listing.

If, for any reason, Nasdaq were to delist our securities from trading on The Nasdaq Capital Market and we were unable to obtain listing on another reputable national securities exchange, a reduction in some or all of the following may occur, each of which could materially adversely affect our stockholders:

the liquidity and marketability of our common stock;

the market price of our common stock;

our ability to obtain financing for the continuation of our operations;

the number of institutional and general investors that will consider investing in our common stock;

the number of market makers in our common stock;

the availability of information concerning the trading prices and volume of our common stock; and

the number of broker-dealers willing to execute trades in shares of our common stock.

In addition, if we cease to be eligible to trade on The Nasdaq Capital Market, we may have to pursue trading on a less recognized or accepted market, such as the over the counter markets, our stock may be traded as a “penny stock” which would make transactions in our stock more difficult and cumbersome, and we may be unable to access capital on favorable terms or at all, as companies trading on alternative markets may be viewed as less attractive investments with higher associated risks, such that existing or prospective institutional investors may be less interested in, or prohibited from, investing in our common stock. This may also cause the market price of our common stock to further decline.

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CAUTIONARY Note Regarding Forward-Looking StatementsNOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This prospectus contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. amended (the “Exchange Act”).

In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the following words: “anticipate,” “assume,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “ongoing,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “will,” “would,” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance or results and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times at, or by, which such performance or results will be achieved. Forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time the statements are made and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from the information expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements in this report.prospectus. These factors include:

the fact that we are a company with limited operating history for you to evaluate our business;

 

 

our lack of diversification and the corresponding risk of an investment in our Company;

 

potential deterioration of our financial condition and results due to failure to diversify;

our ability to successfully complete acquisitions;

our ability to integrate acquired companies and operations for new product candidates

 

our ability to obtain additional capital, on acceptable terms or at all, required to implement our business plan;

final results of our Phase I clinical trial;

 

progress and success of our randomized Phase 1II/III clinical trial;

 

our ability to demonstrate safety and effectiveness of our product candidate;

 

our ability to obtain regulatory approvals for our product candidate in the United States, the European Union, or other international markets;

 

the market acceptance and future sales of our product candidate;

 

the cost and delays in product development that may result from changes in regulatory oversight applicable to our product candidate;

 

the rate of progress in establishing reimbursement arrangementarrangements with third-party payors;

 

the effect of competing technological and market developments;

 

the costs involved in filing and prosecuting patent applications and enforcing or defending patent claims; and

the effectuation of a 1-for-40 reverse stock split of our outstanding shares of common stock; and

 

other risk factors included under the caption “Risk Factors” starting on page 9 of this prospectus.

 

You should read the matters described in “Risk Factors” and the other cautionary statements made in this prospectus as being applicable to all related forward-looking statements wherever they appear in this prospectus. We cannot assure you that the forward-looking statements in this prospectus will prove to be accurate and therefore prospective investorsyou are encouraged not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. You should read this prospectus completely. Other than as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, even though our situation may change in the future.

 

We caution investorsreaders not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement that speaks only as of the date made and to recognize that forward-looking statements are predictions of future results, which may not occur as anticipated. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements and from historical results due to the risks and uncertainties described under the captionheading “Risk Factors” ofin this prospectus, as well as others that we may consider immaterial or do not anticipate at this time. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, we do not know whether our expectations will prove correct. Our expectations reflected in our forward-looking statements can be affected by inaccurate assumptions that we might make or by known or unknown risks and uncertainties, including those described in under the captionheading “Risk Factors” ofin this prospectus. The risks and uncertainties described i under the captionheading “Risk Factors” ofin this prospectus are not exclusive and further information concerning us and our business, including factors that potentially could materially affect our financial results or condition, may emerge from time to time. We assume no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results or changes in factors or assumptions affecting such forward-looking statements. We advise stockholders and investors to consult any further disclosures we may make on related subjects in our subsequent annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and current reports on Form 8-K that we file with or furnish to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).

 

21

 

Use of ProceedsUSE OF PROCEEDS

 

We estimate that thewe will receive net proceeds of approximately $13.7 million from our issuance andthe sale of shares of our common stockthe securities by us in this offering, will be approximately $      million, assumingbased on an assumed combined public offering price of $3.32 per share and accompanying common warrant (assuming a public offering price after completion of $      per share,a 1-for-40 reverse stock split  as reported by the Nasdaq Capital Market on January 13, 2023, which was $3.32), after deducting underwriting discounts and commissionsthe placement agent fees and estimated offering expenses payable by us, and excluding the proceeds, if any, received from the exercise of warrants issued in this offering. If the underwriter exercises its over-allotment option in full, we estimate that the net proceeds from this offering will be approximately $      million.

A $1.00 increase or decrease in the assumed public offering price of $      per share would increase or decrease the net proceeds from this offering by approximately $      million, assuming that the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same and after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions. Similarly, each increase (decrease) of 100,000 shares in the number of shares of common stock offered would increase (decrease) our proceeds by approximately $         , assuming the assumed public offering price remains the same, and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

 

We intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of any securities for (i) the continued clinical development of our initial product candidate ivospemin (SBP-101), (ii) cost of drug product for use in clinical development with collaboration partners of CPP assets, (iii) general corporate purposes unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement. General corporate purposes may include the repayment of outstanding indebtedness, working capital, general and administrative expenses, and acquisitions. We may also use a portion of the net proceeds to invest in or acquire businesses or technologies that we believe are complementary to our own, although we have no current plans, commitments or agreements with respect to any acquisitions as of the date of this offering as follows:prospectus supplement. We have not yet determined the amount of net proceeds to be used specifically for any of the foregoing purposes. Accordingly, our management will have significant discretion and flexibility in applying the net proceeds from the sale of these securities.

 

We are party to a guaranty (the “Guaranty”) pursuant to which we have agreed to guarantee the payment obligations of CPP, under a promissory note in favor of Sucampo GmbH dated as of September 6, 2017, as amended (the “Note”), which had a principal balance of approximately $6.2 million as of January 13, 2023. CPP is required to make five payments of $1 million, plus accrued but unpaid interest, on January 31st of each of 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026, with the remaining balance due on January 31, 2027. Under the terms of the Note, Panbela is required to pay 10% of cash proceeds from the issuance or offering of any debt, equity, preferred or convertible securities that occurs on or before January 31, 2022, including sales in the Offering, up to a maximum payment totaling $1 million, plus accrued but unpaid interest through the date of payment. The Company completed an equity raise on October 4, 2022 which then gave rise to an obligation to pay 10% of the $6.0 million gross proceeds or $600,000, which was due by November 4, 2022. As the Company has not yet made this payment as of the date of the filing, the note is in default as of the payment date. While the Company is in negotiations with Sucampo GmbH to defer payment of this obligation into the first quarter of 2023 and cure the default, no guarantees can be made regarding their success.

for the continued clinical development of our initial product candidate SBP-101;

for the repayment of approximately $0.8 million of principal and accrued interest due on outstanding indebtedness (See “Indebtedness” under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Liquidity and Capital Resources” on page ); and

the remainder for working capital, business development and other general corporate purposes.

 

Our expected use of net proceeds from this offering represents our intentions based on our present plans and business conditions, which could change as our plans and business conditions evolve. The amount and timing of our actual expenditures will depend on numerous factors, including the timing and success of clinical studies or clinical studies we may commence in the future, the timing of regulatory submissions and the feedback from regulatory authorities. As a result, our management will have broad discretion over the use of the net proceeds from this offering. Pending our use of the net proceeds from this offering, we may temporarily invest the net proceeds in investment-grade, interest-bearing securities.

 

We anticipate thatcurrently estimate the net proceeds from this offering together with our existing cash and cash equivalentsfunds will be sufficient to enableallow us to fundmake significant progress in the conduct of our operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements throughnew randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial (known as the middleASPIRE trial) for the treatment of 2022. We currently estimate that these funds will enable us to complete a dose-escalation study of SBP-101 in combination with the current standard of care treatment for patients with pancreatic ductile adenocarcinoma. We are also currently evaluating the appropriate timing and form of the next clinical trial to be initiated at the completion of the Phase 1b expansionContinuation of the current study. Ittrial, if the interim analysis is expected to be a randomized phase 2 trial for patients with metastatic PDA. Additional clinical trialspositive, will likely be required for FDA or other similar approvals if the results of the current clinical trial of our SBP-101 product candidate remain positive.approvals. The cost and timing of additional clinical trials are highly dependent on the number of indications we pursue and the nature and size of the trials. The remaining costs required for clinical trial and approval of Flynpovi in North America will be borne by the Licensing partner. However, it is estimated that the nextcompletion of the randomized clinical trial and other steps in the approval process for ivospemin in pancreatic cancer could cost between $20$60 and $40$80 million.

 

Predicting the cost necessary to develop product candidates can be difficult and we anticipate that we will need additional funds to conduct a larger randomized trial ofcomplete the typedevelopment work generally required for obtaining regulatory approval to commercialize a drug. We have based these estimates on assumptions that may prove to be wrong, and we could use our available capital resources sooner than we currently expect.

 

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Price Range of Common StockMARKET INFORMATION

 

Our common stock became quoted on the over-the-counter markets in 2015 under the symbol “SNBP” and it has been quoted on the OTCQB Venture Market, administered by OTC Markets Group, Inc., since 2016. Despite eligibility for quotation, no assurance can be given that any market for our common stock will develop or be maintained. We have applied to list our common stockis listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the same symbol. No assurance can be given that our application will be approved or that a trading market will develop. Our share price on the OTCQB may not be indicative of the market price on the Nasdaq Capital Market, if we become listed. If an “established trading market” ever develops in the future, the sale of shares of our common stock that are deemed to be “restricted securities” pursuant to Rule 144 of the SEC by members of management or others may have a substantial adverse impact on any such market.

Set forth below are the high and low bid prices for our common stock for the first quarter of 2020 and each quarter of 2019 and 2018 for which data is available. These bid prices were obtained from OTC Markets Group Inc. All prices listed below reflect inter-dealer prices, without retail mark-up, mark-down or commissions and may not represent actual transactions.

Fiscal 2020

 

High

  

Low

 

Second Quarter (through June 30, 2020)

 $5.25  $4.40 

First Quarter

 $5.20  $4.20 

Fiscal 2019

 

High

  

Low

 

Fourth Quarter

 $5.82  $4.00 

Third Quarter

 $5.25  $2.25 

Second Quarter

 $3.00  $2.00 

First Quarter

 $3.50  $2.10 

Fiscal 2018

 

High

  

Low

 

Fourth Quarter

 $4.00  $3.25 

Third Quarter

 $5.75  $3.55 

Second Quarter

 $7.50  $5.00 

First Quarter

 $9.00  $4.75 

On July 1, 2020, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the OTCQB was $6.00 per share.symbol “PBLA.” As of the same date, we had 283January 13, 2023, there were 278 holders of record of our common stock.

 

Equity Compensation Plan Information

 

The following table provides information as of December 31, 2019January 13, 2023 regarding outstanding grants and shares available for grant under our equity compensation plans.

 

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

 

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders(1)

  1,744,811(2) $6.526   19,549 

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders

         

Total

  1,744,811       19,549 

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

 

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders

  100,578 (1) $145.46   50,494 (2)

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders

         

Total

  100,578       50,494 

 


(1)

Consists of the 2011 Stock Option Plan and 2016 Omnibus Incentive Plan, each described in more detail below.

(2)

Represents 1,480,451Includes 55,503 shares underlying common stock options under the 2016 Plan and 246,3605,600 shares underlying common stock options under the 2011 Plan.plan. We ceased issuing awards under the 2011 Plan upon stockholder approval of the 2016 Plan in 2016. Also includes replacement options for the right to acquire a total of 39,475 shares of common stock which were issued with respect to CPP’s 2010 Equity Incentive Plan.

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(2)

The 2016 Plan provides that the number of shares of common stock available for issuance under the plan will increase on January 1 of each year beginning in 2021 and ending on January 1, 2025 in an amount equal to the lesser of (i) the number of shares necessary to increase the total option pool to 20% of the total number of fully diluted shares (as defined in the 2016 Plan) as of December 31 of the immediately preceding calendar year and (ii) such lesser number of shares as may be determined by the Board of Directors or its Compensation Committee prior to January 1 of any calendar year.

 

2011 Stock Option Plan

 

The Sun BioPharma, Inc.Our 2011 Stock Option Plan (the “2011 Plan”) was adopted by our Board of Directors in 2011 and subsequently approved by our stockholders in 2012. Upon the initial stockholder approval of the 2016 Plan, our Board of Directors ceased making grants under the 2011 Plan, although awards outstanding under the 2011 Plan will remain outstanding in accordance with and pursuant to the terms thereof. Options granted under the 2011 Plan have a maximum term of ten years and generally vest over zero to two years for employees. As of June 30, 2020,January 13, 2023, options to purchase 264,3605,600 shares of common stock remained outstanding under the 2011 Plan with a weighted average price of $2.86$118.92 per share.

 

2016 Omnibus Incentive Plan

 

The Sun BioPharma, Inc.Our 2016 Omnibus Incentive Plan was initially adopted by our Board of Directors in March 2016 and approved by our stockholders in May 2016. It was amended and restated by our Board of Directors in April 2020 and approved by our stockholders in May 2020 (as amended, the “2016 Plan”). The 2016 Plan permits the granting of incentive and non-statutory stock options, restricted stock, stock appreciation rights and other stock awards to eligible employees, directors and consultants. We grant options to purchase shares of common stock under the 2016 Plan at no less than the fair market value of the underlying common stock as of the date of grant. Options granted under the Plan have a maximum term of ten years. Under the 2016 Plan, a total of 2,800,00070,000 shares of common stock were initially reserved for issuance.issuance and 36,824 shares have been added pursuant to its annual evergreen feature. As of June 30, 2020January 13, 2023, options to purchase 1,694,05155,503 shares of our common stock were outstanding under the 2016 Plan with a weighted average price of $6.90$241.63 per share. A total of 1,105,94950,494 shares of common stock remained available for future grants under the 2016 Plan as of the same date, subject to further adjustment by the evergreen provision described under “Shares Available” below.

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Purpose

 

The purpose of the 2016 Plan is to promote the interests of our Company and our stockholders by providing key personnel of our Company and our affiliates with an opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest in the Company and thereby develop a stronger incentive to put forth maximum effort for the continued success and growth of our Company and our affiliates. In addition, the opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest in our Company will aid in attracting and retaining key personnel of outstanding ability. The 2016 Plan is also intended to provide non-employee directors of the Company with an opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest in the Company, to compensate non-employee directors for their contributions to the Company and to aid in attracting and retaining non-employee directors.

 

Administration

 

The 2016 Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Committee”). The Committee has the authority to adopt, revise and waive rules relating to the 2016 Plan and to determine the timing and identity of participants, the amount of any awards and other terms and conditions of awards. The Committee may delegate its responsibilities under the 2016 Plan to one or more of its members or to one or more directors or executive officers of the Company with respect to the selection and grants of awards to employees of the Company who are not deemed to be officers, directors or 10% stockholders of the Company under applicable federal securities laws. The Board of Directors will perform the duties and have the responsibilities of the Committee with respect to awards made to non-employee directors.

 

Eligibility

 

All employees of our Company and our affiliates, non-employee directors of our Company and any consultant or advisor who is a natural person and provides services to us or our affiliates are eligible to receive awards under the 2016 Plan at the discretion of the Committee or the Board, as applicable. No awards may be granted under the 2016 Plan in conjunction with a capital-raising transaction or the promotion or maintenance of a market for our securities. Incentive stock options under the 2016 Plan may be awarded to employees of the Company. As of April 3, 2020,January 13, 2023, there were approximately 914 total employees and non-employee directors. Such employees, directors and others who currently or may in the future provide services to us and our affiliates may be considered for the grant of awards under the 2016 Plan at the discretion of the Committee or the Board, as applicable.

 

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Shares Available

 

The total number of shares of Company Common Stock available for distribution under the 2016 Plan is 2,800,000,70,000, subject to adjustment for future stock splits, stock dividends and similar changes in the capitalization of the Company. In addition, the 2016 Plan provides that the number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the 2016 Plan will increase on January 1 of each year beginning in 2021 and ending on January 1, 2025 in an amount equal to the lesser of (i) the number of the shares necessary to increase the total option pool to 20% of the total number of Fully Diluted Shares (as defined in the 2016 Plan) as of December 31 of the immediately preceding calendar year and (ii) such lesser number of shares as may be determined by the Board of Directors or the Committee prior to January 1st of any calendar year. The shares of our Common Stock covered by the 2016 Plan may be treasury shares or authorized but unissued shares.

 

Any shares subject to an award under the 2016 Plan that expires, is cancelled or forfeited or is settled for cash shall, to the extent of such expiration, cancellation, forfeiture or cash settlement, remain in the pool of shares available for grant under the 2016 Plan. The following shares will, however, continue to be charged against the foregoing maximum share limitations and will not again become available for grant: (i) shares tendered by the participant or withheld by us in payment of the purchase price of an Option, (ii) shares tendered by the participant or withheld by us to satisfy any tax withholding obligation with respect to an Option of SAR, (iii) shares subject to a SAR that are not issued in connection with the settlement of the SAR upon its exercise and (iv) shares repurchased by us with proceeds received from the exercise of a stock option issued under the 2016 Plan.

 

Types of Awards

 

The 2016 Plan allows us to grant stock options, stock appreciation rights (“SARs”), restricted stock, restricted stock units and other stock-based awards. The Committee may provide that the vesting or payment of any award will be subject to the attainment of certain performance objectives established by the Committee, in addition to completion by the plan participant of a specified period of service. The Committee may amend the terms of any award previously granted, but no amendment may materially impair the rights of any participant with respect to an outstanding award without the participant’s consent, unless such amendment is necessary to comply with applicable laws or stock exchange rules.

 

24

Stock Options

 

Stock options granted under the 2016 Plan may be either incentive stock options (“ISOs”), which are specifically designated as such for purposes of compliance with Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), or non-statutory stock options (“NSOs”). Options will vest as determined by the Committee, subject to statutory limitations regarding the maximum term of ISOs and the maximum value of ISOs that by vest in a single year. The exercise price of options may not be less than the fair market value of our Common Stock on the date of grant, which, if our shares or not readily tradable on an established securities market will be determined by the Committee as the result of a reasonable application of a reasonable valuation method that satisfies the requirements of Section 409A of the Code. The exercise price must be paid in full at the time of exercise and may be paid in cash or such other manner as permitted by the Committee, including by withholding shares issuable upon exercise or by delivery of shares already owned by a participant. Although not necessarily indicative of fair market value, the most recent saleclosing price of a share of our common stock on the over the counter markets, which sale occurredNasdaq Capital Market on April 1, 2020,January 13, 2022 was $5.25$3.32 per share.

 

Stock Appreciation Rights

 

SARs provide for payment to the participant of all or a portion of the excess of the fair market value of a specified number of shares of our Common Stock on the date of exercise over a specified exercise price, which may not be less than the fair market value of our Common Stock on the date of grant. Payment may be made in cash or shares of our Common Stock or a combination of both, as determined by the Committee.

25

 

Restricted Stock

 

Restricted stock awards are awards of shares of our Common Stock that are subject to vesting conditions, and the corresponding lapse or waiver of forfeiture conditions and other restrictions, based on such factors and occurring over such period of time as the Committee may determine.

 

Restricted Stock Units

 

Restricted stock units provide a participant with the right to receive, in cash or shares of our Common Stock or a combination of both, the fair market value of a specified number of shares of our Common Stock and will be subject to such vesting and forfeiture conditions and other restrictions as the Committee determines.

 

Other Stock-Based Awards

 

The Committee may grant other awards under the 2016 Plan that are valued by reference to and/or payable in whole or in part in shares of our Common Stock.

 

Terms of Awards and Plan Provisions

 

Substitute Awards

 

Awards may be granted under the 2016 Plan in substitution for awards granted by another entity acquired by our company or with which our company combines. The terms and conditions of these substitute awards will be comparable to the terms of the awards replaced and may therefore differ from the terms and conditions otherwise set forth in the 2016 Plan. Shares subject to substitute awards will not count against the 2016 Plan share reserve.

 

Repricing of Awards

 

The Committee may not reduce the exercise price of stock options or SARs granted under the 2016 Plan, exchange outstanding stock options or SARs with new stock options or SARs with a lower exercise price or a new full value award, repurchase underwater stock options or SARs or take any other action that would constitute a “repricing,” unless such action is first approved by our stockholders.

 

Transferability of Awards

 

Except as noted below, during the lifetime of a person to whom an award is granted, only that person, or that person’s legal representative, may exercise an option or SAR, or receive payment with respect to performance units or any other award. No award may be sold, assigned, transferred, exchanged or otherwise encumbered other than to a successor in the event of a participant’s death or pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order. However, the Committee may provide that awards, other than incentive stock options, may be transferable to members of the participant’s immediate family or to one or more trusts for the benefit of such family members or partnerships in which such family members are the only partners, if the participant does not receive any consideration for the transfer.

 

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Termination of Service

 

Unless otherwise provided in an award agreement, upon termination of a participant’s service with us, all unvested and unexercisable portions of the participant’s outstanding awards will immediately be forfeited. If a participant’s service with us terminates other than for cause (as defined in the 2016 Plan), death or disability, the vested and exercisable portions of the participant’s outstanding stock options and SARs generally will remain exercisable for 90 days after termination. If a participant’s service terminates due to death or disability, the vested and exercisable portions of the participant’s outstanding stock options and SARs generally will remain exercisable for one year after termination. Upon termination for cause, all unexercised stock options and SARs will be forfeited.

26

 

Withholding

 

The 2016 Plan permits us to withhold from cash awards, and to require a participant receiving Common Stock under the 2016 Plan to pay us in cash, an amount sufficient to cover any required withholding taxes. In lieu of cash, the Committee may permit a participant to cover withholding obligations through a reduction in the number of shares delivered to such participant or a surrender of shares then owned by the participant.

 

Change in Control

 

If a change in control (as defined in the 2016 Plan) that involves a corporate transaction (as defined in the 2016 Plan) occurs and any outstanding award is continued, assumed or replaced by our Company or the surviving or successor entity in connection with such change in control, and if within 12 months after the change in control a participant’s employment or other service is terminated without cause or with good reason (as defined in the 2016 Plan), then (i) each of the participant’s outstanding options and SARs will become exercisable in full, and (ii) each of the participant’s unvested full value awards will fully vest. If any outstanding award is not continued, assumed or replaced in connection with such change in control, then the same consequences as specified in the previous sentence with respect to a termination of employment or other service will occur in connection with a change in control unless and to the extent the Committee elects to terminate such award in exchange for a payment in an amount equal to the intrinsic value of the award (or, if there is no intrinsic value, the award may be terminated without payment). The Committee may, in its discretion, take such other action as it deems appropriate with respect to outstanding awards for a change in control not involving a corporate transaction or may generally provide for different circumstances upon any change in control in an individual award agreement.

 

Adjustment of Awards

 

In the event of an equity restructuring, such as a stock dividend or stock split, that affects the per share value of our Common Stock, the Committee will make appropriate adjustment to: (i) the number and kind of securities reserved for issuance under the 2016 Plan, (ii) the number and kind of securities subject to outstanding awards under the 2016 Plan, (iii) the exercise price of outstanding options and SARs, and (iv) any maximum limitations prescribed by the 2016 Plan as to grants of certain types of awards. The Committee may also make similar adjustments in the event of any other change in our company’s capitalization, including a merger, consolidation, reorganization or liquidation.

 

Amendment and Termination

 

The 2016 Plan has a term of ten years from its effective date, or the earlier termination of the 2016 Plan by our Board of Directors. Our Board may amend the 2016 Plan at any time, but no amendment may materially impair the rights of any participant with respect to outstanding awards without the participant’s consent. Stockholder approval of any amendment of the 2016 Plan will be obtained if required by applicable law or the rules of any securities exchange on which our Common Stock may then be listed. Awards that are outstanding on the 2016 Plan’s termination date will remain in effect in accordance with the terms of the 2016 Plan and the applicable award agreements.

 

2010 Equity Incentive Plan

We assumed CPP’s 2010 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Assumed Plan”) in connection with our acquisition of CPP in June 2022. As of January 13, 2023, options to purchase 39,475 shares of common stock remained outstanding under the Assumed Plan with a weighted average exercise price of $14.01 per share.

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26

 

CAPITALIZATION

 

The following table presents a summary of our cash and cash equivalents and capitalization as of March 31, 2020:September 30, 2022:

 

 

on an actual basis; adjusted for the effect of the reverse stock split, which was effected on January 13, 2023

as adjusted for the sale of equity securities on October 4, 2022 to give effect to the sale of 177,175 shares of common stock and the sale and subsequent exercise of 325,325 prefunded warrants for total net proceeds of approximately $5.2 million.

as adjusted for the sale of 154,909 shares of common stock  between December 22, 2022 and January 12, 2023 through the Company’s At-The-Market (ATM) offering for a total net proceeds of approximately $639,000.

 

on an as adjusted basis to give effect to the issuance and sale of 4,518,072 shares of our common stock and common warrants to purchase up to 9,036,144 shares of our common stock in this offering at thean assumed combined public offering price of $$3.32 per share and accompanying common warrant less underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us; and

on an as adjusted basis to give effect to (i) the issuance and sale of        shares of our common stock and warrants to purchase up to                  shares of our common stock in this offering at the assumed public offering price of $            per share less underwriting discounts and commissionsplacement agent fees and estimated offering expenses payable by us, and (ii) the conversionfor total net proceeds of outstanding convertible promissory notes.approximately $13.7 (assuming no sale of pre-funded warrants).

 

The unaudited as adjusted information below is prepared for illustrative purposes only and our capitalization following the completion of this offering will be adjusted based on the actual public offering price and other terms of this offering determined at pricing and whether or not the convertible promissory notes are converted.pricing. You should read the following table in conjunction with “Summary Consolidated Financial Data”,Data,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the historical financial statements and related notes thereto included elsewhere in this prospectus.incorporated herein by reference. 

 

(in thousands)

 

Actual as of

March 31, 2020

(unaudited)

  

Offering

Adjustment

  

Pro Forma as

Adjusted for

Offering

  

Actual as of

September 30, 2022 (unaudited)

  

As of September
30, 2022 (after
reflecting
subsequent
events)

  

Offering

Adjustment

  

Pro Forma as

Adjusted

 

Cash

 $1,296  $   $   $941  $6,781  $13,657  $20,437 

Common stock, $0.001 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized; 6,631,308 shares issued and outstanding, and outstanding, pro forma; shares issued and outstanding, pro forma as adjusted

  7         

Common stock, $0.001 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized; 1,177,159 shares issued and outstanding, and outstanding, pro forma; 5,695,231 shares issued and outstanding, pro forma as adjusted

  0.52   1.18   4.52   5.70 

Additional paid-in capital

  42,671           76,706   82,546   13,652   96,198 

Accumulated deficit

  (43,056)          (86,359

)

  (86,359)  -   (86,359

)

Accumulated comprehensive income

  1,102           1,373   1,373   -   1,373 

Total stockholders’ equity

  724          $(8,279

)

 $(2,439

)

 $13,657   11,217 

Total capitalization

 $1,826  $   $  

 

Each $1.00$0.50 increase (decrease) in the assumed public offering price of $$3.32 per share would increase (decrease) each of cash, additional paid-in capital, total shareholders’ equity and total capitalization by approximately $           ,$2.1 million, assuming the number of shares of common stock and common warrants offered, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same, and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissionsplacement agent fees and estimated offering expenses. Similarly, each increase (decrease) of 100,000 shares in the number of shares of common stock and common warrants offered would increase (decrease) cash, additional paid-in capital, total shareholders’ equity and total capitalization by approximately $            ,$308,000, assuming the assumed public offering price remains the same, and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissionsplacement agent fees and estimated offering expenses payable by us. The pro forma as adjusted information discussed above is illustrative only and will be adjusted based on the actual public offering price and other terms of this offering determined at pricing.

 

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The number of shares of our common stock outstanding before and after this offering is based on 6,631,308519,749 shares of our common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2020,September 30, 2022, and 177,175 shares sold on October 4, 2022 and 325,325 pre-funded warrants sold on October 4, 2022 and exercised prior to January 13, 2023 and 154,909 shares sold between December 22, 2022 and January 12, 2023 from the Company’s ATM and excludes:

 

 

1,745,811all shares issuable upon the exercise of warrants sold in this offering;

100,578 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options as of March 31, 2020 at a weighted average exercise price of $6.52$145.46 per share;

 

 

1,318,54950,494 additional shares of common stock reserved and available for future awardsissuances under our 2016 Stock Option Plan, as amended and restated;(1)

 

 

3,497,099889,911 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of stock purchase warrants as of March 31, 2020not relating to this offering at a weighted average exercise price of $5.76$38.05 per share; andshare, before any potential adjustments resulting from the pending reverse stock split;

 

        shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants issued to the underwriter at the closing of this offering.


(1) The 2016 Omnibus Incentive Plan was last amended effective April 9, 2020 and was last approved by stockholders in May 2020. The amendment, among other things, increased the shares of common stock available for issuance under the plan by 1,300,000 shares.

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27

 

DILUTION

 

If you purchase shares in this offeringof our common stock, your interest will be diluted immediately to the extent of the difference between the assumed public offering price of $      per share you will pay in this offering and the as adjusted net tangible book value per share of our common stock immediately followingafter this offering. Net tangible book value dilution per share to new investors represents the difference between the amount per share paid by purchasers in this offering and the as adjusted net tangible book value per share of common stock immediately after completion of this offering.

Our net tangible book value as of March 31, 2020 was approximately $724,000, or approximately $0.11 per share. Net tangible book value per share represents our total tangible assets less total tangible liabilities, excluding goodwill and customer relationship intangibles, divided by the number of shares of our common stock outstanding asoutstanding.

As of March 31, 2020. The Company had no intangible assets asSeptember 30, 2022, after giving effect to the sale of equity securities on October 4, 2022 and the same date.sale of Common stock from the Company’s ATM offering, our net tangible book value was negative $2.4 million, or negative $2.07 per share of common stock.

 

After giving effect to the foregoing pro forma adjustments and the sale by us of 4,518,072 shares of ourcommon stock and pre-funded warrants to purchase up to           shares of common stock in this offering at an assumed public offering price of $3.32 per share and accompanying common warrant and $           per share,pre-funded warrant and accompanying common warrant, and after deducting underwriting discounts and commissionsthe placement agent fees and estimated offering expenses payable by us, our as adjusted net tangible book value as of March 31, 2020,September 30, 2022, would have been $$11.2 million, or $$1.97 per share. This represents an immediate increase in as adjusted net tangible book value of approximately $$4.04 per share to our existing stockholders, and an immediate dilution of $$1.35 per share to purchasers of shares in this offering, as illustrated in the following table:

 

Assumed public offering price per share

     $  

Net tangible book value per share as of March 31, 2020

 $0.11     

Increase per share attributable to new investors

 $      

As adjusted net tangible book value per share after this offering

     $  

Dilution per share to new investors in the offering

     $  

If the underwriter exercises its over-allotment option in full, the as adjusted net tangible book value will increase to $      per share, representing an immediate dilution of $      per share to new investors, assuming that the assumed public offering price remains the same and after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and the estimated offering expenses payable by us.

Assumed public offering price per share

 $3.32 

Pro forma net tangible book value per share as of September 30, 2022

 $(2.07

)

Increase per share attributable to new investors

 $4.04 

As adjusted net tangible book value per share after this offering

 $1.97 

Dilution per share to new investors in the offering

 $1.35 

 

A $1.00$0.50 increase or decrease in the assumed public offering price of $$3.32 per share would increase or decrease the net proceeds from thisdilution per share to new investors in the offering by approximately $      million,$0.13 per share, assuming that the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same and after deducting the estimated underwriting discountsplacement agent fees and commissions.estimated offering expenses. Similarly, each increase (decrease) of 100,000 shares in the number of shares of common stock offered would increase (decrease) our proceedsthe dilution per share to new investors in the offering by approximately $            ,$0.02 per share, assuming the assumed public offering price remains the same, and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissionsplacement agent fees and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

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The number of shares of our common stock outstanding before and after this offering is based on 6,631,308519,749 shares of our common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2020,September 30, 2022, and 177,175 shares sold on October 4, 2022 and 325,325 pre-funded warrants sold on October 4, 2022 and exercised prior to January 13, 2023 and 154,909 shares sold between December 22, 2022 and January 12, 2023 from the Company’s ATM and excludes:

 

 

1,745,811all shares issuable upon the exercise of warrants sold in this offering;

100,578 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options as of March 31, 2020 at a weighted average exercise price of $6.52$145.46 per share;

 

1,318,54950,494 additional shares of common stock reserved and available for future issuances under our 2016 Stock Option Plan, as amended and restated;[1]

 

3,497,099889,911 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of stock purchase warrants as of March 31, 2020not relating to this offering at a weighted average exercise price of $5.76$38.05 per share;share, before any potential adjustments resulting from the pending reverse stock split; and

 

shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants issued to the underwriter at the closing of this offering.

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Dividend Policy DIVIDEND POLICY

 

We have never declared or paid cash dividends on our capital stock. Following the completion of this offering, we intend to retain our future earnings, if any, to finance the further development and expansion of our business and do not expect to pay cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Payment of future cash dividends, if any, will be at the discretion of our Board of Directors after taking into account various factors, including our financial condition, operating results, current and anticipated cash needs, outstanding indebtedness, plans for expansion and restrictions imposed by lenders, if any.

 

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS


(1) The 2016 Omnibus Incentive Plan was last amended effective April 9, 2020 and was last approved by stockholders in May 2020. The amendment, among other things, increased the shares of common stock available for issuance under the plan by 1,300,000 shares.

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

 

The following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our financial statements and the notes to those financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. This discussion contains forward-looking statements, which are based on our assumptions about the future of our business. Our actual results could differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Please readCautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” included elsewhere in this prospectus for additional information regarding forward-looking statements used in this prospectus.

 

The Management Discussion and Analysis for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 versus the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 are historical and have not been restated for the 1 for 40 reverse stock split that was effected on January 13, 2023.

Overview

 

Sun BioPharma, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Sun BioPharma Australia Pty Ltd. (collectively “we,” “us,” “our,” and the “Company”) exist for the primary purpose of advancing the commercial development ofWe are a proprietary polyamine analogueclinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing disruptive therapeutics for the treatment of patients with pancreatic cancerurgent unmet medical needs.

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On June 15, 2022, Panbela completed the previously announced strategic business reorganization and acquisition of Cancer Prevention Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“CPP”) pursuant to the agreement and plan of merger, dated as of February 21, 2022 (the “Merger Agreement”), by and among Panbela, CPP and Panbela Research, Inc. (formerly known as Panbela Therapeutics, Inc., “Panbela Research”), among others. Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, (i) Canary Merger Subsidiary I, Inc. (“Merger Sub I”), then a wholly-owned subsidiary of Panbela, which was itself a wholly-owned subsidiary of Panbela Research, merged with and into Panbela Research (the “First Merger”), with Panbela Research surviving the First Merger, and (ii) Canary Merger Subsidiary II, Inc., then a wholly-owned subsidiary of Panbela, merged with and into CPP (the “Second Merger” and, together with the First Merger, the “Mergers”), with CPP surviving the Second Merger. As a result of the Mergers, each of Panbela Research and CPP became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Panbela. In addition, in connection with the consummation of the Mergers, “Panbela Therapeutics, Inc.” was renamed “Panbela Research, Inc.” and “Canary Merger Holdings, Inc.” was renamed “Panbela Therapeutics, Inc.”

Our lead candidates are ivospemin (SBP-101) for a second indication in chronic pancreatitis. Wewhich we have exclusively licensed the worldwide rights from the University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc. and Flynpovi (eflornithine (CPP-1X) and Sulindac). Flynpovi is delivered in an oral form. The Company has an exclusive license to this compound, which has been designated as SBP-101,commercialize Flynpovi from UFRF.the Arizona Board of Regents of the University of Arizona.

Ivospemin (SBP-101)

 

In August 2015, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) accepted our Investigational New Drug (“IND”) application for our SBP-101ivospemin (SBP-101) product candidate. In May of 2022 we were notified that the United States Adopted Names Council (USAN) had adopted ivospemin as a USAN for SBP-101. After August 1, 2022, the USAN information on ivospeminwill be scheduled for posting on the USAN Web site (www.ama-assn.org/go/usan).

We have completed an initial clinical trial of SBP-101ivospemin (SBP-101) in patients with previously treated locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer. This was a Phase 1,I, first-in-human, dose-escalation, safety study. From January 2016 through September 2017, we enrolled 29twenty-nine patients into six cohorts, or groups, in the dose-escalation phase of thisthe Phase 1I trial. Twenty-four of the patients received at least two prior chemotherapy regimens. No drug-related serious adverse events occurred during the first four cohorts. In cohort five, serious adverse events (klebsiella sepsis with metabolic acidosis in one patient, renal and hepatic toxicity in one patient, and mesenteric vein thrombosis with metabolic acidosis in one patient) were observed in three of the ten patients, two of whom exhibited progressive disease at the end of their first cycle of treatment and were determined by the Data Safety Monitoring Board (“DSMB”) to be dose-limiting toxicities (“DLTs”). Consistent with the study protocol, the DSMB recommended continuation of the study by expansion of cohort 4, one level below that at which DLTs were observed. Four patients were enrolled in this expansion cohort. One patient developed focal pancreatitis at the site of the primary tumor after 2.3 months, but otherwise SBP-101 was considered well tolerated below dose level five. The most common drug related adverse events were nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, injection site pain and abdominal pain, which were mostly mild, grades 1 or 2, and are symptoms common in patients with pancreatic cancer. No drug-related bone marrow toxicity or peripheral neuropathy was observed at any dose level.

In addition to being evaluated for safety, 23 of the 29 patients were evaluable for preliminary signals of efficacy prior to or at the eight-week conclusion of their first cycle of treatment using the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (“RECIST”), the currentcurrently accepted standard for evaluating changeschange in the size of tumors. Eight of the 23 patients (35%) had Stable Disease (“SD”) and 15 of 24 (65%) had Progressive Disease (“PD”). It should be noted that of the 15 patients with PD, six came from cohorts 1 and 2 and are considered to have received less than potentially therapeutic doses of SBP-101. We also noted that 28 of the 29 patients had follow-up blood tests measuring the Tumor Marker CA 19-9 associated with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Eleven of these patients (39%) had reductions in the CA 19-9 levels, as measured at least once after the baseline assessment. Seven of the remaining 17 patients who showed no reduction in CA 19-9 came from cohorts one and two.

 

By cohort, stable disease occurred in two patients in cohort 3, two patients in cohort 4 and four patients in cohort 5. The best response outcomes and best median survival were observed in the group of patients who received total cumulative doses of approximately 6 mg/kg (cohort 3). Two of four patients (50%) showed SD at week eight. Median survival in this group was 5.9 months, with two patients surviving 8 and 10 months, respectively. By total cumulative dose received, 5 of 12 patients (42%) who received total cumulative doses between 2.5 mg/kg and 8.0 mg/kg had reductions in the CA19-9 levels, as measured at least once after the baseline assessment. Nine of these patients (67%) exceeded 3 months of overall survival (“OS”), three patients (25%) exceeded 9 months of OS and two patients (17%) exceeded 1 year of OS and were still alive at the end of the study. This study was conducted at clinical sites in both Australia and the United States. With the approval of the DSMB,In 2018, we cancelled the Phase 1b portion of the first-in-human monotherapy study in order to evaluate SBP-101 as front line, combination chemotherapy in pancreatic cancer patients.

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We began enrolling patients in our second clinical trial, in June of 2018. This second clinical trial is a Phase 1a/1bIa/Ib study of the safety, efficacy and pharmacokinetics of SBP-101ivospemin (SBP-101) administered in combination with two standard-of-care chemotherapy agents, gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel. We are currently conductingA total of 25 subjects were enrolled in four cohorts to evaluate the trial at six study sites (four in Australia and two in the United States). In the Phase 1a portion of this trial, we have completed enrollment in the fourth quarter of 2019 of three cohorts of four to nine patients with increased dosage levels of SBP-101 administered in the second and third cohorts and completed enrollment in February of 2020 in a fourth cohort to explore an alternate dosing schedule. Demonstration of adequate safety in Phase 1a allowed us to promptly begin enrollment in February 2020 in the Phase 1b exploration of efficacy. We plan to enroll up to 36 patients using the recommended dosage level and schedule determined in Phase 1a. Early results from the Phase 1b expansion could become available in the second half of 2020.

We estimate that completion of our Phase 1b clinical trial in PDA will requireschedule. An additional funding of up to 4.0 million.

The Company completed enrollment of the fourth cohort in the quarter ended March 31, 2020, this cohort is evaluating an alternative dosing schedule for the administration of SBP 101. Enrollment25 subjects were enrolled in the expansion (1b) phase of the trial began immediately after enrollment in the fourth cohort. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, enrollment efforts were paused in early April and resumed in late May. All subjects enrolled at the time of the pause continued to be treated. Promising interimtrial. Interim results were presented in January of 2022. Best response in evaluable subjects (cohorts 4 and Ib N=29) was a CR in 1 (3%), PR in 13 (45%), SD in 10 (34%) and PD in 5 (17%). One subject did not have post baseline scans with RECIST tumor assessments. Median Progression Free Survival (“PFS”), now final at 6.5 months may have been negatively impacted by drug dosing interruptions to evaluate potential toxicity. Median overall survival in Cohort 4 + Phase Ib was 12.0 months when data was presented in January 2022 and is now final at 14.6 months. Two patients from cohort 2 have demonstrated long term survival. One at 30.3 months (final data) and one at 33.0 months and still alive at data base lock on March 18, 2022. Seven subjects are still alive at database lock, one from cohort 2 and six from cohort 4 plus Ib.

In January of 2022, the Company announced the initiation of a new clinical trial. Referred to as ASPIRE, the trial is a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial in combination with gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel, a standard pancreatic cancer treatment regimen in patients previously untreated for metastatic pancreatic cancer. The trial will be conducted globally at approximately 95 sites in the United States, Europe and Asia - Pacific. The Company announced the first patient enrolled in the trial in Australia in August of 2022. In September, the Company announced that it had obtained regulatory approval to open sites in Spain, France and Italy.

While opening of clinical sites in the US and the rest of the world has been slower than originally anticipated, due in part to resource fatigue in the medical community, the Company expects all countries and sites to be open by early to mid-2023.

The trial was originally designed as a phase II/III with a smaller initial sample size (150) to support the events required for interim analysis based on PFS and a primary endpoint of overall survival. In response to European and FDA regulatory feedback, the study was amended to include the total trial sample size (600) and the design modified to utilize overall survival as the primary endpoint to be examined at interim analysis. PFS will also be analyzed to provide additional efficacy evidence. This amendment was supported by the final data from the phase Ia/b first line metastatic pancreatic trial which completed enrollment in December of 2020. The study will enroll 600 subjects and is anticipated to take 36 months for complete enrollment with the interim analysis available in early 2024.

30

In early April 2022, the Company announced a poster presentation highlighting the results for ivospemin (SBP-101) as a polyamine metabolism modulator in ovarian cancer at ASCO-GI; the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Conference The poster contained data asconcludes that the ivospemin (SBP-101) treatment of January 4, 2020C57Bl/6 mice injected with VDID8+ ovarian cancer cells significantly prolonged survival and decreased overall tumor burden. The results suggest that ivospemin (SBP-101) may have a role in the response-evaluable subjectsclinical management of ovarian cancer, and the Company intends to continue pre-clinical and clinical studies in cohorts 2 and 3 (N=13). The conclusions at that time reflected (i) an objective response rate of 62%; 4 PRs were observed after 2 cycles of therapy and 4 PRs were observed after 4 cycles of therapy and (ii) a disease control rate (“DCR”) of 85% by RECIST criteria (at least SD for ≥ 16 weeks); 4 subjects had not reached week 16 scans.ovarian cancer.

 

Additional clinical trials willmay be required for FDA or other country approvals if the results of the front-line clinical trial of our SBP-101 product candidate justify continued development.

In June of 2020, the FDA designated a Fast Track development program to the investigation of SBP-101 for first-line treatment of patients with metastatic PDA when administered in combination with gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel.

We are currently evaluating the appropriate timing and form of the next clinical trial to be initiated at the completion of the Phase 1b expansion of the current study. It is expected to be a randomized phase 2 trial for patients with metastatic PDA. Additional clinical trials will likely be required for FDA or other similar approvals if the results of the current clinical trial of our SBP-101 product candidate remain positive.approvals. The cost and timing of additional clinical trials are highly dependent on the nature and size of the trials. However, it is estimated that

Flynpovi (eflornithine (CPP-1X) and sulindac)

In 2009, the next stepsFDA accepted our IND application for the combination product, Flynpovi, product candidate.

In a phase III study, the efficacy and safety of the combination of eflornithine and sulindac known as Flynpovi, as compared with either drug eflornithine (CPP-IX) or sulindac alone, in adults with familial adenomatous polyposis (“FAP”) was conducted. A total of 171 patients underwent randomization. Disease progression occurred in 18 of 56 patients (32%) in the Flynpovi, 22 of 58 (38%) in the sulindac group, and 23 of 57 (40%) in the eflornithine (CPP-1X) group, with a hazard ratio of 0.71 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.39 to 1.32) for Flynpovi as compared with sulindac (P = 0.29) and 0.66 (95% CI, 0.36 to 1.23) for Flynpovi as compared with eflornithine (CPP-1X). In a post-hoc analysis, none of the patients in the Flynpovi arm progressed to a need for lower gastrointestinal (“LGI”) surgery for up to 48 months compared with 7 (13.2%) and 8 (15.7%) patients in the sulindac and eflornithine (CPP-1X) arms. These data corresponded to risk reductions for the need for LGI surgery approaching 100% between Flynpovi and either monotherapy with HR = 0.00 (95% CI, 0.00–0.48; p = 0.005) for Flynpovi versus sulindac and HR = 0.00 (95% CI, 0.00–0.44; p = 0.003) for Flynpovi versus eflornithine. Given the statistical significance of the LGI group, a new drug application (“NDA”) was filed with the FDA. As the study failed to meet the primary endpoint, and the NDA was based on the results of an exploratory analysis, a complete response letter was issued. To address this deficiency concern, the Company must submit the results of one or more adequate and well-controlled clinical trials which demonstrate an effect on a clinical endpoint.

In July 2021, CPP entered into a license agreement with One-Two Therapeutics Assets Limited (“One-Two”). Under the license agreement, One-Two has licensed the North American development and commercialization rights for Flynpovi, as described in the Company’s IND application. The Company transferred the IND for the product to the licensing partner as of the date of the agreement. The agreement provided upfront payments which was recognized by CPP in the year ended December 31, 2021. The agreement also calls for CPP to receive a milestone payment upon regulatory approval process could cost between $20of Flynpovi by the FDA and $40 million.royalties on net sales of Flynpovi in the licensed territories. Payment of the milestone payment and net sales royalties shall be reduced on a dollar-for-dollar basis by amounts funded by One-Two for One-Two’s direct costs associated with any development activities necessary to secure FDA approval.

We also have an ongoing double-blind placebo-controlled trial of Flynpovi to prevent recurrence of high-risk adenomas and second primary colorectal cancers in patients with stage 0-III colon or rectal cancer, Phase III - Preventing Adenomas of the Colon With Eflornithine and Sulindac (“PACES”). The purpose of this study is to assess whether the combination of eflornithine (CPP-1X) and sulindac (compared to corresponding placebos) has efficacy against colorectal lesions with respect to high-grade dysplasia, adenomas with villous features, adenomas one cm or greater, multiple adenomas, any adenomas >/= 0.3 cm, total advanced colorectal events, or total colorectal events. The PACES trial is funded by the National Cancer Institute (“NCI”) in collaboration with the Southwest Oncology Group (“SWOG”).

Eflornithine (CPP-1X)/eflornithine sachets (CPP-1X-S)

In 2009 and 2018, the FDA accepted our IND applications for eflornithine (CPP-1X).

There are trials evaluating eflornithine sachets (CPP-1X-S) in relapsed refractory neuroblastoma supported by the Children’s Oncology Group (“COG”) /NCI (ongoing) and STK11 mutation patients with non-small cell lung cancer scheduled to begin this year. For eflornithine tablets (CPP-1X), a phase II trial in Type I onset diabetes is scheduled to begin this year in collaboration with Indiana University and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation ("JDFR").

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Financial Overview

On June 15, 2022, Panbela acquired CPP, a private clinical stage company developing therapeutics to reduce the risk and recurrence of cancer and rare diseases, via merger for consideration consisting of (a) 6,587,576 shares of common stock, (b) 731,957 shares of common stock that remained subject to a holdback escrow (as defined in the Merger Agreement), (c) replacement options to purchase up to 1,596,754 shares of common stock at a weighted average purchase price of $0.35 per share, and (d) replacement warrants to purchase up to 338,060 shares of common stock at a weighted average purchase price of $4.10 per share, and post-closing contingent payments up to a maximum of $60 million, subject to satisfaction of certain milestones.

The Mergers, which resulted in Panbela Research and CPP becoming wholly owned subsidiaries of Panbela is being accounted for as an asset acquisition. Substantially all of the purchase consideration was used to acquire the single asset, in process research and development (“IPR&D”). At acquisition, IPR&D was valued at approximately $17.1 million. Immediately after the Mergers, an additional $0.6 million of acquisition related expenditures were added to IPR&D and then the full amount of approximately $17.7 million was written off to current period research and development costs.

 

We have incurred losses of $42.6$86.4 million since inception.2011. For the threenine months ended March 31, 2020,September 30, 2022, we incurred a net loss of $1.8$30.2 million. Included in the net loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 was the non-cash write off of approximately $17.7 million from IPR&D acquired as a result of the Mergers. We also incurred negative cash flows from operating activities of $1.1approximately $10.3 million for this period.

For the yearnine months ended December 31, 2019, we incurred a net loss of $6.2 million, which includes a non-cash charge of $2.1 million related to the amortization of the debt discount on $2.1 million of convertible notes which converted to common stock during the year.September 30, 2022. We expect to continue to incur substantial losses, which will generate negative net cash flows from operating activities, as we continue to pursue research and development activities and commercialize our SBP-101 product candidate.commercialize.

 

Our cash was approximately $1.3$0.9 million and $2.4$11.9 million as of March 31, 2020September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2019,2021, respectively. A decrease of $1.1$10.9 million in cash for the threenine months ended March 31, 2020September 30, 2022 was primarily due to negative cash flow from operations. Other thanoperations which included $2.6 million to fund long term deposits held by the temporary pause in enrollment inCRO leading our current clinical trial,randomized ivospemin trial. The cash requirements for CPP operations for the balance of 2022 is not considered to be material. In October, subsequent to the end of the period, the Company has not experienced any significant disruptions to our operations as the result of the COVID-19 pandemic. We anticipate resuming enrollment as soon as conditions allow. The Company was not required to change management practices as it was decentralized prior to the current pandemic.

33

In May and June of 2020, we issued an aggregate of 437,000 shares of our common stock and warrants to purchase up to the same aggregate number of additional shares of common stock pursuant to closings under securities purchase agreements. Total proceeds from the salesclosed a registered public offering of common stock and warrants waswhich resulted in gross proceeds of approximately $1.7 million, of which approximately $90,000 was received from officers$6.0 million. Along with certain cost reduction and directorscash preservation actions, the net proceeds of the Company. The warrants issued under these purchase agreements are exercisable for a periodoffering of five years fromapproximately $5.2 million is expected to fund operations into the datefirst quarter of issuance at an initial exercise price of $6.00 per share.2023.

 

We will need to raise additional fundscapital to continue our operations and execute our business plan past the first quarter of 2023, including completing our current Phase 1a /1b clinical trial, planning for required future trials and pursuing regulatory approvals in the United States, the European Union and other international markets. We historically have financed our operations principally from the sale of convertible debtequity securities and equity securities.debt. While we have been successful in the past in obtaining the necessary capital to support our operations and we are likely to seek additional financing through similar means, there is no assurance that we will be able to obtain additional financing under commercially reasonable terms and conditions, or at all. This risk would increase if our clinical data iswere not positive or if economic or market conditions deteriorate.

 

If we are unable to obtain additional financing when needed, we would need to scale back our operations, taking actions which may include, among other things, reducing use of outside professional service providers, reducing staff or staff compensation, significantly modifymodifying or delaydelaying the development of our SBP-101 product candidate, licensecandidates, licensing to third parties the rights to commercialize our SBP-101 product candidatecandidates for pancreatic cancer or other applications that we would otherwise seek to pursue, or ceaseceasing operations.

The Company has not experienced any significant disruptions to our operations as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Recruitment and enrollment in our Phase Ia/Ib trial was paused only briefly in the first half of 2020. Drug product was delayed in early 2022, but we had adequate supply to initiate our randomized clinical trial and experienced no product related disruptions to our clinical trials. While the Company believes that the slower than expected initiation of clinical sites in our current randomized trial may be the result of pandemic related fatigue in the medical community, adjustments to the number of sites have been made to complete the trial within our planned timeline. The Company was not required to change management practices as it was decentralized prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Key Components of Our Results of Operations

 

General and Administrative Expenses

 

Our selling, general and administrative expenses consist primarily of salaries, benefits and other costs, including stock-based compensation, for our executive and administrative personnel; legal and other professional fees; travel, insurance and other corporate costs.

 

32

Research and Development Expenses

 

Since our inception, we have focused our activities on the development of SBP-101, our initial product candidate, for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. We expense both internal and external research and development costs as incurred. Research and development costs include expenses incurred in the conduct of our human clinical trials, for third-party service providers performing various testing and accumulating data related to our preclinical studies; sponsored research agreements; developing and scaling the manufacturing process necessary to produce sufficient amounts of the SBP-101 compound for use in our pre-clinical studies and human clinical trials; consulting resources with specialized expertise related to execution of our development plan for our SBP-101 product candidate; personnel costs, including salaries, benefits and stock-based compensation; and costs to license and maintain our licensed intellectual property. During 20192021 and 2018,2020, research and development expenditures were focused primarily on costs related to the execution our current Phase 1a /1bIa /Ib front line clinical trial.

 

We cannot determine with certainty the timing of initiation, the duration or the completion costs of current or future preclinical studies and clinical trials of our product candidates. At this time, due to the inherently unpredictable nature of preclinical and clinical development, we are unable to estimate with any certainty the costs we will incur and the timelines we will require in the continued development of our initial product candidate for pancreatic cancer and our other potential pipeline programs. Clinical and preclinical development timelines, the probability of success and development costs can differ materially from expectations. Our future research and development expenses will depend on the preclinical and clinical success of each product candidate that we develop, as well as ongoing assessments of the commercial potential of such product candidates. In addition, we cannot forecast whether our current or future product candidates may be subject to future collaborations, when such arrangements will be secured, if at all, and to what degree such arrangements would affect our development plans and capital requirements.

 

34

Completion of clinical trials may take several years or more, and the length of time generally varies according to the type, complexity, novelty and intended use of a product candidate. The cost of clinical trials may vary significantly over the life of a project as a result of differences arising during clinical development, including, among others:

 

 

per patient trial costs;

 

 

the number of trials required for approval;

 

 

the number of sites included in the trials;

 

 

the number of patients that participate in the trials;

the length of time required to enroll suitable patients;

 

 

the number of doses that patients receive;

the number of patients that participate in the trials;

 

 

the drop-out or discontinuation rates of patients;

 

 

the duration of patient follow-up;

 

 

potential additional safety monitoring or other studies requested by regulatory agencies;

 

 

the number and complexity of analyses and tests performed during the trial;

 

 

the phase of development of the product candidate; and

 

 

the efficacy and safety profile of the product candidate.

33

 

Our expenses related to clinical trials are based on estimates of the services received and efforts expended pursuant to contracts with multiple clinical trial sites and for contract research organizations, (“CRO”), which administer clinical trials on our behalf. The financial terms of these agreements are subject to negotiation and vary from contract to contract and may result in uneven payment flows. Generally, these agreements set forth the scope of work to be performed at a fixed fee or unit price. Payments under the contracts depend on factors such as the successful enrollment of patients and the completion of clinical trial milestones. Expenses related to clinical trials generally are accrued based on contracted amounts and the achievement of milestones, such as number of patients enrolled. If timelines or contracts are modified based upon changes to the clinical trial design or scope of work to be performed, we modify our estimates of accrued expenses accordingly.

 

We expense costs associated with obtaining licenses for patented technologies when it is determined there is no alternative future use of the intellectual property subject to the license.

 

Other Income (Expense)

 

Other income (expense) consists of interest income, cash and non-cash interest expense and transaction gains and losses resulting from transactions denominated in other than our functional currency.

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

Our management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations is based on our financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in GAAP.the United States of America (“GAAP”). The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities and expenses. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate these estimates and judgments, including those described below. We base our estimates on our historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. These estimates and assumptions form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results and experiences may differ materially from these estimates.

 

35

While our significant accounting policies are more fully described in Note 4 to our Consolidated Financial Statements for the period ended December 31, 2019 appearing elsewhere in this prospectus,starting on page F-21, we believe that the following description of critical accounting policiesestimates are the most critical to aid you in fully understanding and evaluating our reported financial results and affect the more significant judgments and estimates that we use in the preparation of our financial statements.

 

Stock-BasedStock-based Compensation

 

In accounting for share-based incentive awards we measure and recognize the cost of employee and non-employee services received in exchange for awards of equity instruments based on the grant date fair value of those awards. Calculating share-based compensation expense requires the input of highly subjective assumptions, which represent our best estimates and involve inherent uncertainties and the application of management’s judgment. Compensation cost is recognized ratably using the straight-line attribution method over the vesting period, which is considered to be the requisite service period.

 

The fair values of share-based awards are estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The determination of the fair value of share-based awards is affected by our stock price, as well as assumptions regarding a number of complex and subjective variables. Risk free interest rates are based upon U.S. Treasury rates appropriate for the expected term of each award. Expected volatility rates are based primarily on the volatility rates of a set of guideline companies, which consist of public and recently public biotechnology companies. The assumed dividend yield is zero, as we do not expect to declare any dividends in the foreseeable future. The expected term of options granted is determined using the “simplified” method. Under this approach, the expected term is presumed to be the mid-point between the average vesting date and the end of the contractual term.

 

We grant options to employees and non-employees, including our directors. Grants made to new employees are awarded on a case by case basis. Option grants to employees generally vest annually over three years from the date of grant. Options granted to our non-employee directors generally vest over one-year from the date of grant. Options granted to other non-employees generally vest over three years. Options issued to employees and non-employees generally have a maximum term of ten years.

 

Option grants to non-employees have been made in conjunction with their service as advisors to us. Certain of these advisors have also purchased shares of stock in our private placement offerings, but none beneficially own 5% or more of our outstanding common stock.

 

Research and development costsDevelopment Costs

 

We charge research and development costs, including clinical trial costs, to expense when incurred. Our human clinical trials are, and will be, performed at clinical trial sites and are administered jointly by us with assistance from CROs. Costs of setting up clinical trial sites are accrued upon execution of the study agreement. Expenses related to the performance of clinical trials generally are accrued based on contracted amounts and the achievement of agreed upon milestones, such as patient enrollment, patient follow-up, etc. We monitor levels of performance under each significant contract, including the extent of patient enrollment and other activities through communications with the clinical trial sites and CROs, and adjust the estimates, if required, on a quarterly basis so that clinical expenses reflect the actual effort expended at each clinical trial site and by each CRO.

 

3634

 

Results of Operations

 

Comparison of the three months ended March 31, 2020 toResults of Operations (in thousands) for the three months ended Periods Ended September 30, 2022 and 2021March 31, 2019:

 

(in thousands)

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 
 

2020

  

2019

  

 

  

Three Months Ended September 30,

      

Nine Months Ended September 30,

     
 

(unaudited)

  

(unaudited)

  Percent Change  

2022

  

2021

  

Percent

Change

  

2022

  

2021

  

Percent

Change

 

Operating expenses:

            

Operating Expenses

                        

General and administrative

 $468  $303   54.5% $1,294  $924   40.0% $4,349  $3,316   31.2%

Research and development

  598   350   70.9%  2,329   1,286   81.1%  24,563   3,383   626.1%

Total operating expenses

  1,066   653   63.2%  3,623   2,210   63.9%  28,912   6,699   331.6%
                                    

Other income (expense), net

  (824)  (999)  -17.5%

Other expense, net

  (835)  (336)  148.5%  (1,390)  (619)  124.6%

Income tax benefit

  92   71   29.6%  56   404   -86.1%  104   721   -85.6%
                                    

Net loss

 $(1,798) $(1,581)  13.7%

Net Loss

 $(4,402) $(2,142)  105.5% $(30,198) $(6,597)  357.8%

 

Research and development (“R&D”) and general and administrative (“G&A”) expenses include non-cash share-based compensation expense because ofresulting from our issuance of stock options. We expense the fair value of equity awards over their vesting periods. The terms and vesting schedules for share-based awards vary by type of grant and the employment status of the grantee. The awards granted through March 31, 2020September 30, 2022 vest upon performance andor time-based conditions. We expect to record additional non-cash share-based compensation expense in the future, which may be significant.

 

The following table summarizes the stock-based compensation expense in our statements of comprehensive loss for the threeloss:

  

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 
  

2022

  

2021

 

General and administrative

 $697  $798 

Research and development

  160   153 

Total Stock based compensation

 $857  $951 

Three months ended March 31, 2020September 30, 2022 and March 31, 2019 (in thousands):September 30, 2021

 

  

Three months ended March 31,

 
  

2020

  

2019

 
  

(unaudited)

  

(unaudited)

 

General and administrative

 $99   10 

Research and development

  13    

Total share-based compensation

 $112   10 

General and administrative expense

 

Our G&A expenses increased 54.5%40% to $468,000$1.3 million in the firstthird quarter of 20202022, up from $303,000$0.9 million in the firstthird quarter of 2019.2021. The increase is primarily due in part to increased salary costs as employees had taken a voluntary reduction of salaries for a part ofaccounting and other services related to the first quarter of 2019; increased stock compensation expense, legal expenses made up the remaining increase.CPP integration.

 

Research and development expense

 

Our R&D expenses increased 70.9% to $598,000$2.3 million in the firstthird quarter of 20202022, up from $350,000$1.3 million in the firstthird quarter of 2019 the2021. The increase is due primarily to increased clinical trial costs related to our new ivospemin (SBP-101) randomized trial in the firstthird quarter of 2020.2022.

 

Other income (expense),expense, net

 

Other expense, net, was $824,000 and $999,000approximately $0.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020September 30, 2022 and 2019, respectively.approximately $0.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021. The net expense in the quarter ended March 31, 2020both periods is composed primarily of a foreign currency exchange loss on the intercompany receivable balance. The net expense in the quarter ended March 31, 2019 is primarily the amortization of debt discount on convertible notes sold in December 2018 and January 2019, all of which converted into equity securities in 2019.

 

3735

 

Income tax benefit

 

Income tax benefit increaseddecreased to $92,000$56,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2020 upSeptember 30, 2022 down from $71,000 during$0.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019.September 30, 2021. Our income tax benefit is derived primarily from refundable tax credits associated with our R&D activities conducted in Australia, these activities are down significantly as we wrap up the Phase Ia/Ib trial.

Nine months ended September 30, 2022 and wasSeptember 30, 2021

General and administrative expense

Our G&A expenses increased 31.2% to $4.3 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2022, up from $3.3 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2021. The increase is primarily associated with legal and other costs associated with the Company’s acquisition of CPP.

Research and development expense

Our R&D expenses increased 626.1% to $24.6 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2022, up from $3.4 million in the same period of 2021. After considering the write off of approximately $17.7 million of IPR&D, the remaining increase is due primarily to increased eligible R&D activitiesclinical trial costs related to our ivospemin (SBP-101) randomized trial in the first threehalf of 2022.

Other expense, net

Other expense, net, was approximately $0.6 million and $0.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and September 30, 2021, respectively. The net expense in both periods is composed primarily of 2020 versusa foreign currency exchange loss on the first threeintercompany receivable balance.

Income tax benefit

Income tax benefit decreased to $104,000 for the nine months of 2019.ended September 30, 2022 down from $721,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2021. The decrease is due to Australian R&D spending being down significantly as we wrap up the Phase Ia/Ib trial.

36

 

Comparison of the YearResults of Operations (in thousands) for the Years Ended DecemberDecember 31, 2019 to the Year Ended December 31, 20182021 and 2020

 

(in thousands)

 

Year Ended December 31,

  

 

 
 

2019

  

2018

  Percent Change  

Year Ended December 31,

     

Operating expenses:

            
 

2021

  

2020

  

Percent Change

 

Operating Expenses

            

General and administrative

 $1,973  $2,108   -6.4% $4,587  $3,249   41.2%

Research and development

  2,349   1,783   31.7%  5,423   2,505   116.5%

Total operating expenses

  4,322   3,891   11.1%  10,010   5,754   74.0%
            

Other expense, net

  (2,293)  (2,268)  1.1%

Other (expense) income, net

  (613)  691   -188.7%

Income tax benefit

  415   254   63.4%  488   295   65.4%
            

Net loss

 $(6,200) $(5,905)  5.0%

Net Loss

 $(10,135) $(4,768)  112.6%

 

G&AGeneral and administrative (“G&A”) and research and development (“R&D&D”) expenses include non-cash stock-based compensation expense as a result of our issuance of stock options. The terms and vesting schedules for stock-based awards vary by type of grant and the employment status of the grantee. The awards granted through December 31, 20192021 vest based upon time-based and performance conditions. We expect to record additional non-cash compensation expense in the future, which may be significant. The following table summarizes the stock-based compensation expense in our Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss for the years ended December 31, 20192021 and 20182020 (in thousands):

 

(in thousands)

 

Year Ended December 31,

 
 

Year ended December 31,

 
 

2019

  

2018

  

2021

  

2020

 

General and administrative

 $695  $1,497  $1,083  $1,068 

Research and development

  398   876   204   137 

Total stock-based compensation

 $1,093  $2,373 

Total stock based compensation

 $1,287  $1,205 

 

General and administrative expense

 

G&A expenses decreased 6.4%increased 41.2% to $2.0$4.6 million in 2019, down2021, up from $2.1$3.2 million in 2018.2020. The decreaseincrease in G&A expenses is primarily the result of fewercosts associated with increased staff members in the year offset in part byand Board compensation, as well increased legal feesexpenses and franchise tax expense.higher D&O insurance costs.

 

Research and product development expense

 

Our R&D expenses increased 31.7%116.5% to $2.3$5.4 million in 2019,2021, up from $1.8$2.5 million in 2018.2020. The increase in R&D expenses resulted primarily from an increase in spending on manufacturing of SBP 101 for use in our clinical studies.studies as we prepared to launch a randomized clinical trial, as well as manufacturing expenses for product and placebo required for this next trial. As we expand our clinical studies it is expected that R&D expenses will continue to increase.

 

Other expense,income (expense), net

 

Other expense,(expense), net, was $2.3$0.6 million for both years ended December 31, 20192021 and 2018. In 2019, these expenses werewas composed primarily the amortization of theforeign currency transaction loss.

Other income, net, was $0.7 million in 2020 and was primarily composed of foreign currency gain as well as a gain on debt discount on the 2018 Notes which converted on June 30, 2019. In 2018, these expenses were primarily the amortization of the debt discount on the 2017 Notes which converted in 2018.forgiveness.

 

3837

 

Income tax benefit

 

Income tax benefit increased to $415,000$488,000 in 2019,2021, up from $254,000$295,000 in 2018.2020. Our income tax benefit is derived primarily from refundable tax incentives associated with our R&D activities conducted in Australia. The currentA portion of this increase is related to a refund received during the year increase reflects an increaseended December 31, 2021 in the costs eligible for the Australian R&D tax incentive.excess of previously accrued refunds.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

The following table summarizes our liquidity and capital resources as of March 31, 2020September 30, 2022 and December 31, 20192021 and our cash flow data for the threenine months ended March 31, 2020September 30, 2022 and 2019 and2021. It is intended to supplement the more detailed discussion that follows (in thousands):

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

March 31, 2020

(unaudited)

  

December 31, 2019

 

Cash

 $1,296  $2,449 

Working capital

 $679  $2,076 

 

Cash Flow Data

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 
  

2020

(unaudited)

  

2019

(unaudited)

 

Cash provided by (used in):

        

Operating activities

 $(1,120) $(783)

Financing activities

  (26)  758 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

  (7)  (1)

Net increase (decrease) in cash

 $(1,153) $(26)

Liquidity and Capital Resources

         
   

September 30, 2022

  

December 31, 2021

 

Cash

  $941  $11,867 

Working capital

  $(6,186) $9,619 

  

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 
  

2022

  

2021

 

Cash Provided by (Used in):

        

Operating Activities

 $(10,273) $(5,017)

Investing Activities

  (656)  - 

Financing Activities

  5   10,095 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

  (2)  (28)

Net (decrease) increase in cash

 $(10,926) $5,050 

38

 

Working Capital

 

Our total cash was $1.3and cash equivalents were $0.9 million and $2.4$11.9 million as of March 31, 2020September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2019,2021, respectively. We had $1.4$8.0 million in current liabilities and negative working capital of $6.2 million as of September 30, 2022, compared to $2.7 million in current liabilities and working capital of $0.7$9.6 million as of March 31, 2020, compared to $1.8 million in current liabilities and a working capital of $1.3 as of December 31, 2019.2021. Current liabilities increased as of September 30, 2022 versus December 31, 2021 primarily as the result of an increase in vendor balances in accounts payable and the addition of the current portion of CPP debt. We defined working capital as current assets less current liabilities.

 

Cash Flows

 

Net Cash Used in Operating Activities

 

Net cash used in operating activities was $1.1approximately $10.3 million in the threenine months ended March 31, 2020September 30, 2022 compared to $0.8approximately $5.0 million in the threenine months ended March 31, 2019.September 30, 2021. The net cash used in each of these periods primarily reflects the net loss for these periods and is partially offset by the effects of changes in operating assets and liabilities. For the nine months ended September 30, 2022, cash used in operating activities also included $2.6 million to fund long term deposits held by the CRO leading our randomized trial.

 

Net Cash Used in Investing Activities

Cash used in Investing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 represents expenditures for closing the acquisition of the CPP IPR&D asset.

Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities

 

Net cash used by financing activities was $26,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and net cash provided by financing activities was $0.8 million for the threenine months ended March 31, 2019.September 30, 2021 was approximately $10.1 million. The cash provided for the three months ended March 31, 2019this period represents the gross proceeds from the sale of common stock and the Notes soldexercise of warrants during the quarter.

Capital Requirements 

As we continue to pursue our operations and execute our business plan, including the completion of our current Phase 1 clinical trial for our initial product candidate, SBP-101, in pancreatic cancer, planning for required future trials and pursuing regulatory approvals in the United States, the European Union and other international markets, we expect to continue to incur substantial and increasing losses, which will continue to generate negative net cash flows from operating activities.period.

 

39

 

Our future capital uses and requirements depend on numerous current and future factors. These factors include, but are not limited to, the following:

the progress of clinical trials required to support our applications for regulatory approvals, including our Phase 1a /1b clinical trial, a human clinical trial in Australia and the United States;

the impact of the current COVID-19 pandemic on our ability to monitor and complete enrollment in our current clinical trial;

our ability to demonstrate the safety and effectiveness of our SBP-101 product candidate;

our ability to obtain regulatory approval of our SBP-101 product candidate in the United States, the European Union or other international markets;

the cost and delays in product development that may result from changes in regulatory oversight applicable to our SBP-101 product candidate;

the market acceptance and level of future sales of our SBP-101 product candidate;

the rate of progress in establishing reimbursement arrangements with third-party payors;

the effect of competing technological and market developments; and

the costs involved in filing and prosecuting patent applications and enforcing or defending patent claims.

Through the date of this prospectus, we have used primarily convertible debt and equity financings to fund our ongoing business operations and short-term liquidity needs, and we expect to continue this practice for the foreseeable future. As of March 31, 2020, we did not have any existing credit facilities under which we could borrow funds.

We expect that we will increase our projected expenditures once we have additional capital on hand in order to continue our efforts to grow our business and complete our Phase 1a clinical trial for our SBP-101 product candidate. Accordingly, we expect to make additional expenditures in performing our Phase 1a /1b clinical trial and related support activities. With sufficient capital, we also expect to invest in additional R&D efforts on mechanism of action, biomarkers and secondary indications in other cancer types. The exact amounts and timing of any expenditure may vary significantly from our current intentions. We will need to obtain additional funds to continue our operations and execute our business plans, including completing our current Phase 1 clinical trial, planning for required future trials and pursuing regulatory approvals in the United States, the European Union and other international markets. We historically have financed our operations principally from the sale of convertible debt and equity securities. While we have been successful in the past in obtaining the necessary capital to support our operations, and have similar future plans to obtain additional financing, there is no assurance that we will be able to obtain additional financing under commercially reasonable terms and conditions, or at all. This risk would increase if our clinical data is inconclusive or not positive or economic conditions worsen in the market as a whole or in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology markets individually.

If we are unable to obtain additional financing when needed, we will likely need to reduce our operations by taking actions which may include, among other things, reducing use of outside professional service providers, reducing staff or further reduce staff compensation, significantly modifying or delaying the development of our SBP-101 product candidate, licensing rights to third parties, including the right to commercialize our SBP-101 product candidate for patients with pancreatic cancer, or other applications that we would otherwise seek to pursue, or discontinuing operations entirely.

To the extent that we raise additional capital through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, the interests of our current stockholders would be diluted, and the terms may include liquidation or other preferences that adversely affect the rights of our current stockholders. If we issue preferred stock, it could affect the rights of our stockholders or reduce the value of our common stock. Specific rights granted to future holders of preferred stock may include voting rights, preferences as to dividends and liquidation, conversion and redemption rights, sinking fund provisions, and restrictions on our ability to merge with or sell our assets to a third party. Debt financing, if available, may involve agreements that include covenants limiting or restricting our ability to take specific actions, such as incurring additional debt, making capital expenditures or declaring dividends. Any of these events could adversely affect our ability to achieve our regulatory approvals and commercialization goals and harm our business.

40

Our future success is dependent upon our ability to obtain additional financing, the success of our current Phase 1 clinical trial and required future trials, our ability to obtain marketing approval for our SBP-101 product candidate in the United States, the European Union and other international markets. If we are unable to obtain additional financing when needed, if our Phase 1 clinical trial is not successful, if we do not receive regulatory approval required for future trials or if once these studies are concluded, we do not receive marketing approval for our SBP-101 product candidate, we would not be able to continue as a going concern and would be forced to cease operations. The interim financial statements included in this report have been prepared assuming that we will continue as a going concern and do not include any adjustments relating to the recoverability or classification of assets or the amounts of liabilities that might result from the outcome of these uncertainties.

Issuances of Common Stock and Warrants during Second Quarter of 2020

In May and June of 2020, we issued an aggregate of 437,000 shares of our common stock and warrants to purchase an aggregate of up to the same number of additional shares of common stock pursuant to closings under securities purchase agreements. Total proceeds from the sales of common stock and warrants was approximately $1.7 million, of which approximately $90,000 was received from officers and directors of the Company. The warrants issued under these purchase agreements are exercisable for a period of five years from the date of issuance at an initial exercise price of $6.00 per share.

Issuances of Common Stock and Warrants during 2019

In August, September, and October of 2019, we issued an aggregate of 909,209 shares of our common stock and warrants to purchase an aggregate of up to the same number of additional shares of common stock pursuant to closings under securities purchase agreements. Total proceeds from the sales of common stock and warrants was approximately $3.2 million, of this approximately $240,000 was received from officers and directors of the Company. The warrants issued under these purchase agreements are exercisable for a period of five years from the date of issuance at an initial exercise price of $4.00 per share.

Issuances of Convertible Notes during 2019 and 2018 and Conversion of Notes in 2019

In December of 2018 and January of 2019, we sold convertible promissory notes (the “2018 Notes”) and warrants to purchase common stock for gross proceeds of $2.2 million. The 2018 Notes were scheduled to mature on June 30, 2019 and bore an interest at a rate of 10.0% per year. The 2018 Notes had a mandatory conversion of all principal and interest into common stock on the earlier of (1) June 30, 2019 or (2) the date the Company received gross proceeds of at least $6.0 million from the sale of equity securities (subject to certain exclusions). The stated conversion rate was $3.50 per share. In addition to the 2018 Notes, investors received a Warrant to purchase two shares of common stock for every $3.50 principal amount of 2018 Notes purchased. In total, warrants to purchase up to 1,243,498 shares of common stock were issued in the December and January closings. The exercise price of each warrant is $4.50 per share and they are exercisable until the 5-year anniversary of the dates of issuance. The warrants had a fair market value of $2.5 million upon issuance. After assigning the relative value of the warrants to the proceeds of the notes it was determined that the 2018 Notes contained a beneficial conversion feature with an aggregate intrinsic value of approximately $0.9 million. Both the relative value of the warrants and the beneficial conversion feature were recorded as a debt discount which was fully amortized through interest expense over the life of the 2018 Notes. On June 30, 2019, all $2.2 million aggregate principal balance of Notes outstanding plus $105,000 of accrued interest was converted at a conversion rate of $3.50 per share of common stock into 651,758 shares of common stock.

Future Capital Requirements

We require additional funds to continue our operations and execute our business plan, including completing our current Phase 1 clinical trial, planning for required future trials and pursuing regulatory approvals in the United States, the European Union and other international markets. We historically have financed our operations principally from the sale of convertible debt and equity securities. While we have been successful in the past in obtaining the necessary capital to support our operations and we are likely to seek additional financing through similar means, there is no assurance that we will be able to obtain additional financing under commercially reasonable terms and conditions, or at all. We believe that our existing cash, will be sufficient to fund our operating expenses through third quarter of 2020.

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If we are unable to obtain additional financing when needed, we would need to scale back our operations taking actions which may include, among other things, reducing use of outside professional service providers, reducing staff or staff compensation, significantly modify or delay the development of our SBP-101 product candidate, license to third parties the rights to commercialize our SBP-101 product candidate for pancreatic cancer or other applications that we would otherwise seek to pursue, or cease operations.

To the extent that we raise additional capital through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, the interests of our current stockholders would be diluted, and the terms may include liquidation or other preferences that adversely affect the rights of our current stockholders. If we issue preferred stock, it could affect the rights of our stockholders or reduce the value of our common stock. In particular, specific rights granted to future holders of preferred stock may include voting rights, preferences as to dividends and liquidation, conversion and redemption rights, sinking fund provisions, and restrictions on our ability to merge with or sell our assets to a third party. Debt financing, if available, may involve agreements that include covenants limiting or restricting our ability to take specific actions, such as incurring additional debt, making capital expenditures or declaring dividends. Any of these events could adversely affect our ability to achieve our regulatory approvals and commercialization goals and harm our business.

Our future success is dependent upon our ability to obtain additional financing, the success of our current Phase 1a/1b clinical trial and required future trials, our ability to obtain marketing approval for our SBP-101 product candidate in the United States, the European Union and other international markets. If we are unable to obtain additional financing when needed, if our Phase 1 clinical trial is not successful, if we do not receive regulatory approval required future trials or if once these studies are concluded, we do not receive marketing approval for our SBP-101 product candidate, we would not be able to continue as a going concern and would be forced to cease operations. The financial statements included in this report have been prepared assuming that we will continue as a going concern and do not include any adjustments relating to the recoverability or classification of assets or the amounts of liabilities that might result from the outcome of these uncertainties.

Indebtedness

 

AsCPP issued to Sucampo GmbH (“Lender”) an Amended and Restated Promissory Note (the “Note”) on June 15, 2022 for the principal sum of Marchapproximately $6.2 million (the “Principal”). The note bears simple interest on any outstanding Principal at a rate of 5% per annum. All unpaid Principal, together with any then unpaid and accrued interest is payable as follows: (i) $1.0 million, plus all interest accrued but unpaid on or before each of January 31,2023, January 31, 2020, we had approximately $0.8 million2024, January 31, 2025 and January 31, 2026; (ii) all remaining Principal plus accrued but unpaid interest on or before January 31, 2027. If CPP or its parent, Panbela, receives cash proceeds from any issuance or offering of indebtedness. Included wasdebt or equity before January 31, 2023, then CPP shall be required to make a $0.7 millionconcurrent mandatory prepayment of this note from such cash proceeds in an unsecured, non-interest-bearing promissoryamount equal to the lesser of (i) $1.0 million plus all interest accrued but unpaid on this note due at the earlier of December 31, 2020 orthrough the date of payment; and (ii) ten percent of such cash proceeds. The amount payable by CPP on January 31, 2023 will be reduced on a dollar-for-dollar basis by the amount of such prepayment. The Company completed an equity raise on October 4, 2022 which then gave rise to an obligation to pay 10% of the $6.0 million gross proceeds or $600,000, which was due by November 4, 2022. As the Company has not yet made this payment as of the date of the filing, the note is in default as of the payment date. While the Company is listedin negotiation with Sucampo GmbH to defer payment of this obligation into the first quarter of 2023 and cure the default, no guarantees can be made regarding their success.

As of September 30, 2022, CPP had an outstanding and amended promissory note with a former development partner, Tillotts Pharma AG (“Tillotts”). The principal amount on the note was $650,000. Interest accrues at a national exchange. Also included was approximately $90,000 in an unsecured loan that accruessimple interest rate of 4.125%5% per yearyear. The note and is scheduled to matureaccrued but unpaid interest are due on December 31, 2020. In accordance with the terms of this loan we commenced with monthly payments of $10,000 on May 1, 2018.2022.

 

License Agreement

 

Pursuant to our exclusive license agreement with UFRF, which was last amended on October 4, 2019, we are required to pay royalties ranging from 2.5% to 5% of net sales of licensed products developed from the licensed technology for the shorter of: ten (10) years from the first commercial sale of a licensed product or the period of market exclusivity on a country by countrycountry-by-country basis. The latest amendment eliminated all future milestone payments. But theThe Company remains committed to pay an annual license maintenance fee of $10,000.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements 

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We have no off-balance sheet arrangements.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

See Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for the fiscal yearyears ended December 31, 2019 included herein2021 and 2020 starting on page F-21 below for a discussion of recent accounting pronouncements.

 

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BusinessBUSINESS

 

Panbela Therapeutics, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries Panbela Research, Inc. and Cancer Prevention Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (collectively “we,” “us,” “our,” and the “Company”) exist for the primary purpose of developing disruptive therapeutics for the treatment of patients with urgent unmet medical needs. Panbela Therapeutics Pty Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of Panbela Research, Inc. Cancer Prevention Pharmaceuticals, LLC., Cancer Prevention Pharma Limited (Ireland) and Cancer Prevention Pharma Limited (UK and Wales are wholly owned subsidiaries of Cancer Prevention Pharmaceuticals Inc. Panbela Therapeutics, Inc. was originally incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware in 2011. The term “common stock” refers to our common stock, par value $0.001 per share.

Business Overview

 

Panbela is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing disruptive therapeutics for the treatment of patients with urgent unmet medical needs. The objective of Panbela’s pipeline is the utilization of pharmacotherapies to reduce or normalize increased disease-associated polyamines using complementary pharmacotherapies. Our product candidate, SBP-101,lead candidates are ivospemin for which we have exclusively licensed the worldwide rights to this compound from the University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc. (“UFRF”). and Flynpovi, for which we have an exclusive license to commercialize from the Arizona Board of Regents of the University of Arizona.

The company’s lead assets are ivospemin and Flynpovi™, which provide a multi-targeted approach to reset dysregulated biology present in many types of diseases such as cancer and autoimmunity. Many tumors require greatly elevated levels of polyamines to support their growth and survival. Our lead assets target the polyamine pathway at complementary junctions which have been shown to be altered is disease. In particular, these agents have the potential to suppress and prevent tumor growth, enhance anti-tumor activity of other anti-cancer agents, and modulate the immune system.

Ivospemin is a proprietary polyamine analogue designed to induce polyamine metabolic inhibition, (“PMI”), a metabolic pathway of critical importance in multiple tumor types. Sun BioPharma initially licensed SBP-101 from UFRF in 2011. SBP-101 showed tumor growth inhibition in preclinical studies of human pancreatic cancer models, demonstrating superior and complementary activity to existing U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”)-approved chemotherapy agents. SBP-101ivospemin has demonstrated encouraging activity against metastatic PDAdisease in a clinical trialstrial of patients with pancreatic cancer. The efficacy and safety results and PMI profile demonstrated in our completed first-in-human safety study providePhase I clinical trial of ivospemin in combination with gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel in the first line treatment of metastatic pancreatic cancer provides support for the current randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of SBP-101ivospemin in combination with current standard pancreatic cancer treatmentgemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel in patients previously untreated for metastatic pancreatic cancer.

To facilitate and accelerate the development of this compound for a potential metastatic PDA indication, we have also acquired data and materials related to this technology from other researchers. We believe that SBP-101,ivospemin, if successfully developed, may represent a novel approach that effectively treats patients with pancreatic cancer and could effectively treat metastatic PDA.become a dominant product in that market. Only three first-line treatment combinations, a single maintenance treatment for a subset (3-7%) of patients, and one second-line drug have been approved by the FDA for anypancreatic cancer.

The Company intends to support an investigator led trial in neo adjuvant pancreatic cancer scheduled to begin in the first half of 2023. Pre-clinical evaluations of ivospemin in other cancers has shown some initial favorable results in ovarian cancer. The Company hopes to initiate a Phase I study in ovarian cancer in early 2023.

The Company’s second lead asset, acquired via the acquisition of CPP on June 15, 2022 is an investigational new drug product, Flynpovi, which is a combination of the polyamine synthesis inhibitor, eflornithine, and the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, sulindac. Eflornithine is an enzyme-activated, irreversible inhibitor of the enzyme ornithine decarboxylase, the first rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of polyamines. Sulindac facilitates the export and catabolism of polyamines. Flynpovi has a unique dual mechanism of action whereby it suppresses the synthesis of new polyamines and increases the export and catabolism of polyamines from the diet and microbiome. We believe the investigational drug is unique in that it is designed to treat the risk factors (e.g., polyps) that are hypothesized to lead to Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP) surgeries and colon cancer and therefore may have the ability to prevent various types of pancreatic cancerscolon cancer. Unlike other therapies used to treat FAP and for use with colorectal adenoma therapy, Flynpovi is an oral, non-surgical and non-invasive option that, we believe, has the potential to both improve patients’ quality of life and reduce the sizeable expenses associated with current treatment protocols.

Flynpovi showed promising results in a NCI supported randomized, placebo-controlled Phase II/III clinical trial to prevent recurrent colon adenomas, particularly high-risk pre-cancerous polyps (Meyskens et al. 2008). These results led to the FAP-310 Phase III trial in FAP, and the ongoing S0820/PACES Phase III trial to study colon cancer risk reduction in partnership with the Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG) and the NCI.

The FAP-310 Phase III study evaluated the efficacy and safety of the combination of eflornithine and sulindac, as compared with either drug alone, in adults with familial adenomatous polyposis (Burke et al. 2020). This study demonstrated that Flynpovi is safe for up to 4 years of treatment. Additionally, in a post-hoc analysis, none of the patients in the last 25 years.combination arm progressed to a need for lower gastrointestinal (LGI) surgery for up to 48 months. Based on the post-hoc analysis of the FAP-310 trial (Balaguer et al. 2022), the Company is working closely with its North American partners One-Two Therapeutics on the Phase III registration trial for Flynpovi in FAP patients with an intact lower gastrointestinal tract.

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Additional programs are evaluating eflornithine as a single agent tablet or high dose powder sachet for several indications including prevention of gastric cancer, treatment of neuroblastoma, STK-11 mutant NSCLC, and recent onset Type 1 diabetes. Preclinical studies as well as Phase I or Phase I investigator-initiated trials suggest that eflornithine treatment is well tolerated and has potential activity.

On July 16, 2021, CPP entered into a license agreement with One-Two Therapeutics Assets Limited (“One-Two”). Under the license agreement, One-Two has licensed the North American development and commercialization rights for Flynpovi, as described in the Company’s IND application. The Company transferred the IND for the product to the licensing partner as of the date of the agreement. The agreement provided upfront payments, which were recognized by CPPCPP in the year ended December 31, 2021. The agreement also calls for CPP to receive a milestone payment upon regulatory approval of Flynpovi by the FDA and royalties on net sales of Flynpovi in the licensed territories. Payment of the milestone payment and net sales royalties shall be reduced on a dollar-for-dollar basis by amounts funded by One-Two for One-Twos’ direct costs associated with any development activities necessary to secure FDA approval.

Holding Company Reorganization

Effective June 15, 2022, Panbela became a successor issuer to Panbela Research, Inc. (formerly known as Panbela Therapeutics, Inc., the “Predecessor”) pursuant to a holding company reorganization pursuant to which the Predecessor became a direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of Panbela. Panbela became a successor issuer to the Predecessor by operation of Rule 12g-3(a) promulgated under the Exchange Act.

CPP Acquisition

On June 15, 2022, Panbela acquired CPP via merger for consideration consisting of (a) 164,689 shares of common stock, (b) 18,298 shares of common stock that remained subject to a holdback escrow (as defined in the Merger Agreement), (c) replacement options to purchase up to 39,918 shares of common stock at a weighted average exercise price of $14.00 per share, and (d) replacement warrants to purchase up to 8,451 shares of common stock at a weighted average exercise price of $165.80  per share, and post-closing contingent payments up to a maximum of $60 million, subject to satisfaction of milestones. All share and per share amounts reflect the 1 for 40 reverse stock split that was effective on January 13, 2023.

Clinical Trials

IVOSPEMIN (SBP-101)

 

In August 2015, the FDA accepted our Investigational New Drug (“IND”) application for our SBP-101ivospemin product candidate. In May of 2022 we were notified that the United States Adopted Names Council (USAN) had adopted ivospemin as a USAN for SBP-101. After August 1, 2022, the USAN information on ivospeminwill be scheduled for posting on the USAN Web site (www.ama-assn.org/go/usan). We have completed an initial clinical trial of SBP-101ivospemin in patients with previously treated locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer. This was a Phase 1,I, first-in-human, dose-escalation, safety study. FromBetween January 2016 throughand September 2017, we enrolled 29twenty-nine patients into six cohorts, or groups, in the dose-escalation phase of theour Phase 1I trial. Twenty-four of the patients had received at least two prior chemotherapy regimens. No drug-related serious adverse events occurred during the first four cohorts. In cohort five, serious adverse events (klebsiella sepsis with metabolic acidosis in one patient, renal and hepatic toxicity in one patient, and mesenteric vein thrombosis with metabolic acidosis in one patient) were observed in three of the ten patients, two of whom exhibited progressive disease at the end of their first cycle of treatment and were determined by the Data Safety Monitoring Board (“DSMB”) to have dose-limiting toxicitiesbe Disease Limiting Toxicities (“DLTs”). Consistent with the study protocol, the DSMB recommended continuation of the study by expansion of cohort 4, one level below that at which DLTs were observed. Four patients were enrolled in this expansion cohort. One patient developed focal pancreatitis at the site of the primary tumor after 2.3 months, and SBP-101 was considered well tolerated below dose level five. The most common drug related adverse events were nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, injection site pain and abdominal pain, which were mostly mild, grades 1 or 2, and are symptoms common in patients with pancreatic cancer. No drug-related bone marrow toxicity or peripheral neuropathy was observed at any dose level.

 

In addition to being evaluated for safety, 23 of the 29 patients were evaluable for preliminary signals of efficacy prior to or at the eight-week conclusion of their first cycle of treatment using the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (“RECIST”),RECIST, the current standard for evaluating changechanges in the size of tumors. Eight of the 23 patients (35%) had Stable Disease (“SD”) and 15 of 24 (65%) had Progressive Disease (“PD”). It should be noted that of the 15 patients with PD, six came from cohorts one and two and are considered to have received less than potentially therapeutic doses of SBP-101. We also noted that 28 of the 29 patients had follow-up blood tests measuring the Tumor Marker CA 19-9 associated with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Eleven of these patients (39%) had reductions in the CA 19-9 levels, as measured at least once after the baseline assessment. Seven of the remaining 17 patients who showed no reduction in CA 19-9 came from cohorts one and two.ivospemin.

 

By cohort, SDstable disease occurred in two patients in cohort 3, two patients in cohort 4 and four patients in cohort 5. The best response outcomes and best median survival were observed in the group of patients who received total cumulative doses of approximately 6 mg/kg (cohort 3)three). Two of four patients (50%) showed SD at week eight. Median survival in this group was 5.9 months, with two patients surviving 8 and 10 months, respectively. By total cumulative dose received, five of 12twelve patients (42%) who received total cumulative doses between 2.5 mg/kg and 8.0 mg/kg had reductions in the CA19-9 levels, as measured at least once after the baseline assessment. Nine of these patients (67%) exceeded 3three months of overall survivalOverall Survival (“OS”), three patients (25%) exceeded 9nine months of OS and two patients (17%) exceeded 1one year of OS and were still alive at the end of the study. With the approval of the DSMB, we cancelled the Phase 1b portion of the first-in-human monotherapy study in order to evaluate SBP-101 as a first line, combination chemotherapy in pancreatic cancer patients.

 

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We began enrollingcompleted enrollment of patients in our current first-linesecond ivospemin clinical trial in June of 2018.December 2020. This second clinical trial iswas a Phase 1a/1bIa/Ib study of the safety, efficacy and pharmacokinetics of SBP-101ivospemin administered in combination with two standard-of-care chemotherapy agents, gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel. We are currently conducting the trial at six study sites (four in Australia and two in the United States). In the Phase 1aIa portion of this trial, we enrolled three cohortscompleted enrollment during the first quarter of 2020 consisting of four to nine patientscohorts with increased dosage levels of SBP-101ivospemin administered in the second and third cohorts. We completed enrollmentcohorts; the fourth cohort evaluated an alternate dosing schedule. A total of 25 subjects were enrolled in the first threefour cohorts of Phase 1a in the fourth quarter of 2019, and, based on preliminary safety findings, a 4th cohort began enrollment in January 2020. We completed enrollment in this 4th cohort in February 2020. DemonstrationIa. The demonstration of adequate safety in Phase 1a has enabledIa allowed us to immediately begin enrollment in February 2020 in the Phase 1bIb exploration of efficacy,efficacy. By December 2020, an additional 25 subjects in which we plan to enroll a maximum 36 patientsPhase Ib, using the recommended dosage regimenlevel and schedule determined in Phase 1a.Ia, were enrolled.

After Phase Ib enrollment was completed, some patients in the trial were noted to have complaints of serious visual adverse effects. Visual changes were not seen in the ivospemin monotherapy study. We began enrollingconsulted with our DSMB and withheld the administration of ivospemin while all other trial activities continued. In February of 2021, we also conferred with the FDA regarding our plan to withhold dosing of ivospemin. This constituted a “partial clinical hold.” In April of 2021, the FDA lifted the partial clinical hold. The Company agreed with the FDA to include in the design of all future studies the exclusion of patients with a history of retinopathy or risk of retinal detachment and scheduled ophthalmologic monitoring for all patients.

Updated, but still not final results, were presented in a poster at the American Society of Clinical Oncology – GI conference (“ASCO-GI”) in January 2022. Best response in evaluable subjects (cohorts 4 and Ib N=29) was a Complete Response (“CR”) in 1 (3%), Partial Response (“PR”) in 13 (45%), SD in 10 (34%) and PD in 5 (17%). One subject did not have post baseline scans with RECIST tumor assessments. Median Progression Free Survival (“PFS”), now final at 6.5 months, may have been negatively impacted by drug dosing interruptions to evaluate potential toxicity. Median overall survival in Cohort 4 + Phase Ib was 12.0 months when data was presented in January 2022 and is now final at 14.6 months. Two patients from cohort 2 have demonstrated long term survival. One at 30.3 months (final data) and one at 33.0 months and still alive. Seven subjects are still alive at this time, one from cohort 2 and six from cohort 4 plus Ib.

The Company announced that the ASPIRE trial, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of ivospemin with Gemcitabine and Nab-Paclitaxel versus Gemcitabine, Nab-Paclitaxel and placebo, was initiated in January of 2022. The trial is in patients with first-line metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. The trial was originally designed as a Phase II/III with a smaller sample size (150) to support the events required for interim analysis based on Progression Free Survival (PFS) and a primary endpoint of overall survival. In response to European and FDA regulatory feedback, the study was amended to include the total trial sample size (600) and the design modified to utilize overall survival as the primary endpoint to be examined at interim analysis. PFS will also be analyzed to provide additional efficacy evidence. This amendment was supported by the final data from the Phase Ia/b first line metastatic pancreatic cancer trial which completed enrollment in December of 2020. The study will enroll 600 subjects and is anticipated to take 36 months for complete enrollment with the interim analysis available in early 2024.

If we can successfully complete all FDA recommended clinical studies, we intend to seek marketing authorization from the FDA, the European Medicines Agency (“EMA”) (European Union), Ministry of Health and Welfare (Japan) and TGA (Australia). The submission fees may be waived when ivospemin has been designated an orphan drug in each geographic region.

Data presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) in April 2022, demonstrated in an in vitro study evaluating cancer cell lines, ivospemin was toxic in ovarian cancer cell lines with an average IC50 of ~1.5 μM. Efficacy of ivospemin was further assessed in the VDID8+ murine ovarian cancer model. Tumor-bearing mice treated with ivospemin at either 24 mg/kg or 6 mg/kg produced a statistically significant prolongation of survival (24mg/kg p=.0049, 6 mg/kg p=.0042). The prolonged survival was correlated with a delay in the production of ascites, the indication of tumor burden in this expansion phasemodel. Given this data, the Company intends to proceed with a clinical development program in Februaryovarian cancer by early 2023.

FLYNPOVI

An NCI-supported study using the Flynpovi combination showed promising results and no overt toxicity in a randomized placebo-controlled Phase II/III clinical trial treating patients with sporadic adenomas for three years of 2020. Additional funding will be requireddaily dosing (Meyskens et al. 2008). The published results from the trial showed there was a 70% difference in efficacy between the treatment and placebo groups for all adenomas (i.e., both standard risk and high-risk). In measurements of occurrence, 12.3% of all patients treated with Flynpovi showed adenoma occurrence compared to 41.1% in the placebo group. In the subgroups of the study that had high-risk adenomas there was a 92 – 95% difference between the treatment and placebo groups. Compared to placebo, the recurrence of risky adenomas was inhibited by over 90%. The p value for all comparisons in this study was p< 0.001 (Meyskens et al. 2008). The results of this study were the basis for the FP and colorectal cancer survivor trials.

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In the FAP-310 Phase III study, the efficacy and safety of the combination of eflornithine and sulindac, as compared with either drug alone, in adults with familial adenomatous polyposis was conducted (Burke et al. 2020). The patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1:1 ratio to receive eflornithine, sulindac, or both once daily for up to 48 months. The primary end point, assessed in a time-to-event analysis, was disease progression, defined as a composite of major surgery, endoscopic excision of advanced adenomas, diagnosis of high-grade dysplasia in the rectum or pouch, or progression of duodenal disease. A total of 171 patients underwent randomization. Disease progression occurred in 18 of 56 patients (32%) in the eflornithine-sulindac group, 22 of 58 (38%) in the sulindac group, and 23 of 57 (40%) in the eflornithine group, with a hazard ratio of 0.71 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.39 to 1.32) for eflornithine-sulindac as compared with sulindac (P = 0.29) and 0.66 (95% CI, 0.36 to 1.23) for eflornithine-sulindac as compared with eflornithine. Adverse and serious adverse events were similar across the treatment groups (Burke et al. 2020). In a post-hoc analysis, none of the patients in the combination arm progressed to a need for lower gastrointestinal (LGI) surgery for up to 48 months compared with 7 (13.2%) and 8 (15.7%) patients in the sulindac and eflornithine arms (Balaguer et al. 2022). These data corresponded to risk reductions for the need for LGI surgery approaching 100% between combination and either monotherapy with HR = 0.00 (95% CI, 0.00-0.48; p = 0.005) for combination versus sulindac and HR = 0.00 (95% CI, 0.00-0.44; p = 0.003) for combination versus eflornithine. Given the statistical significance of the LGI group, a new drug application (NDA) was filed with the FDA. As the study failed to meet the primary endpoint, and the NDA was based on the results of an exploratory analysis, a complete response letter was issued. To address this deficiency concern, the Company must submit the results of one or more adequate and well-controlled clinical trials which demonstrate an effect on a clinical endpoint. As the result of an existing North American license agreement, the FAP registration trial is fully funded and is scheduled to begin in the first-half of 2023. There are no currently approved pharmaceutical therapies for FAP.

In collaboration with the NCI, and SWOG, a Phase III clinical trial has been initiated to study the benefits of Flynpovi as a therapeutic treatment for use by colon cancer survivors. The trial is named PACES for “Prevention of Adenomas and Cancer with eflornithine and sulindac.” The PACES trial is funded by the NCI and managed by the Southwest Oncology Group (“SWOG”). This is an ongoing double-blind placebo-controlled trial of Flynpovi to prevent recurrence of high risk adenomas and second primary colorectal cancers in patients with stage 0-III colon or rectal cancer, Phase III – Preventing Adenomas of the Colon With Eflornithine and Sulindac (“PACES”). The purpose of this study is to assess whether the Flynpovi, combination of eflornithine (CPP-1X) and sulindac, (compared to corresponding placebos) has a reduced rate of cancer or high-risk adenoma recurrence compared to comparator arms after three years of daily dosing. We have exclusive rights to the data that comes from the trial for regulatory and commercial purposes. One-Two Therapeutics has licensed the program for North America and the Company is evaluating its options for CAT in the European Union and Asia.

Eflornithine sachets / eflornithine tablets (CPP-1X-S/CPP-1X)

Additionally, there are several investigator initiated trials evaluating eflornithine sachets including an ongoing Phase II trial in relapsed refractory neuroblastoma a particularly deadly cancer affecting children, supported by the Childrens’ Oncology Groups (COG) and NCI and a planned Phase I/II trial STK11 mutation patients with non-small cell lung cancer scheduled to begin this year. For eflornithine tablets, a Phase II trial for the prevention of gastric cancer funded by the NCI has been completed, and an investigator-initiated Phase II trial in Type I onset diabetes is scheduled to begin this year.

Recent Developments

Reverse Stock Split

On November 29, 2022, at a special meeting of stockholders, our stockholders approved an amendment to our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to effect a 1-for-40 reverse stock split of our outstanding shares of common stock. We intend to effect the reverse stock split prior to this offering to ensure a sufficient number of shares of authorized common stock is available to complete the Phase 1b clinical trial andoffering.

The common stock purchase warrants we issued in October 2022 provide that their exercise price will be reduced to planthe lowest volume-weighted average price on any trading day during the five-trading day period immediately following the date a randomized phase 2 study. Asreverse stock split is effected. Accordingly, we are unable to estimate the adjustment, if any, to the exercise price of December 31, 2019, preliminary efficacy results from evaluable patients in cohorts 2 and 3 (N=13) showed manageable toxicity, an objective response rate of 62% and a disease control rate of 85%, with several patients still ongoing. Interim resultsthose outstanding warrants that would result from the Phase 1b expansion are expectedpending reverse stock split. Although the common stock purchase warrants offered pursuant to become available inthis prospectus contain a similar provision, because the second halfreverse stock split will be effected before the offering, no such adjustment will be made to the exercise price of 2020.those warrants.

Product Developments

The combined entity resulting from Panbela’s acquisition of CPP has an expanded pipeline; areas of initial focus include familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), first-line metastatic pancreatic cancer, neoadjuvant pancreatic cancer, colorectal cancer prevention and ovarian cancer. The combined development programs have a steady cadence of catalysts with programs ranging from pre-clinical to registration studies.

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Through the date of this prospectus,January 13, 2023, we have:had:

organized the Company;

evaluated and secured intellectual property for our core technology;

completed required pre-clinical steps in the development plan for SBP-101 for pancreatic cancer;

 

 

secured an orphan drug designation for ivospemin from the FDA;

 

submitted an investigational new drug (“IND”) application toand received acceptance from the FDA in May 2015;for an IND application for ivospemin;

 

received an acceptance of an IND application fromCountry approvals for the FDAAspire Trial in August 2015;Australia, France, Italy and Spain;

received acceptance of a Clinical Trial Notification by the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration in September 2015;

 

completed a Phase 1aIa monotherapy safety study of SBP-101inivospemin in the treatment of patients with metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma;

received “Fast Track” designation from the FDA for ivospemin for metastatic pancreatic cancer;

 

completed synthetic process improvement measures expected to be scalable for commercial useenrollment and secured intellectual property on this process;

commencedreleased interim results in our second trial a second Phase 1a /1bIa /Ib clinical study of SBP-101,ivospemin, a front-linefirst-line study with SBP-101ivospemin given in combination with a current standard of care in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma who were previously untreated for metastatic disease; a total of 50 subjects were enrolled in this study, 25 in the Phase Ia and 25 in the Phase Ib or expansion phase;

secured a two year research agreement with Johns Hopkins School of Medicine led by Professor Robert Casero, an internationally recognized researcher in polyamine biology;

completed process improvement measures expected to be scalable for commercial use and received issue notification for a patent covering this new shorter synthesis of ivospemin;

initiated a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled study with ivospemin given in combination with gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma who are previously untreated for metastatic disease; 24 subjects have been enrolled in the Phase 1a portion of the study and we transitioned to enrollment in the Phase 1b portion of the study in February 2020; and

completed preclinical evaluation of ivospemin for use as neoadjuvant therapy in resectable pancreatic cancer prior to surgery;

obtained early, preclinical, indication of tumor growth inhibition activity in ovarian cancer and presented the results at ASCO-GI conference;

 

received Fast Track DesignationUSAN adoption of the nonproprietary name of ivospemin for SBP-101; and

acquired and integrated CPP, adding a second lead asset in multiple forms and an expansive clinical development program ranging from the FDA for SBP-101 in June 2020.pre-clinical to registration level clinical trials.

 

Introduction

An effective treatment for pancreatic cancer remains a major unmet medical need. Adenocarcinoma of the pancreas, which accounts for approximately 95% of all cases of pancreatic cancer, has a median overall survival of 8 to 11 months in clinical studies of patients with favorable prognostic signs and optimal standard chemotherapy. A recent report from the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network states that pancreatic cancer deaths in the United States have surpassed those from breast cancer and will soon surpass deaths from colorectal cancer to rank number two in US cancer deaths, behind only lung cancer in 2020. The five-year survival rate remains less than 3% for patients diagnosed with metastatic pancreatic cancer and approximately 8.5% across all pancreatic stages, and there has been little significant improvement in survival since gemcitabine was approved in the United States in 1996.

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Pancreatic cancer is generally not diagnosed early because the initial clinical signs and symptoms are vague and non-specific. By the time of diagnosis, the cancer is most often locally advanced or metastatic, having spread to regional lymph nodes, liver, lung and/or peritoneum, and is seldom amenable to surgical resection, or removal, with curative intent. Currently, surgical resection offers the only potentially curative therapy, although only approximately 20% of patients are candidates for surgical resection at the time of the diagnosis. Patients who undergo radical surgery still have a limited survival rate, averaging 23 months (Macarulla T, et al Clin Transl Oncol 2017).

The prognosis for patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer is poor and most die from complications related to progression of the disease. The primary treatment for metastatic disease is chemotherapy. Current first-line chemotherapy treatment regimens vary from single agent gemcitabine (FDA approved 1996) and various gemcitabine combinations to the multi-chemotherapy drug combination, FOLFIRINOX, comprised of leucovorin, fluorouracil, irinotecan, and oxaliplatin (Conroy NEJM 2011), frequently supplemented with white blood cell (“WBC”) growth factors. In clinical practice, the FOLFIRINOX regimen is often modified to “FOLFIRINOX Light”, a non-specific term referring to various permutations based on the FOLFIRINOX regimen, but with either lower doses of one or more of the agents, or elimination of one or more of the agents, due to actual or anticipated toxicity. These two standard combination therapies deliver median survival benefits ranging from 7 weeks with gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel (Von Hoff NEJM 2013) to 4 months FOLFIRINOX (Conroy NEJM 2011) when compared with gemcitabine alone for selected patients with good performance status, meaning that they are in relatively good physical condition at the time of diagnosis. In 2015, the FDA approved Onivyde® (irinotecan liposome injection), in combination with fluorouracil and leucovorin, to treat patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer who have been previously treated with a gemcitabine-based chemotherapy. Second line Onivyde is not widely prescribed as indicated because most patients with good performance status who have been previously treated with a gemcitabine-based chemotherapy receive variations of the FOLFIRINOX (which includes generic irinotecan) regimen. On December 27, 2019, the FDA approved olaparib (LYNPARZA®, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP) for the maintenance treatment of adult patients with deleterious or suspected deleterious germline BRCA-mutated (gBRCAm) metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC), as detected by an FDA-approved test, whose disease has not progressed on at least 16 weeks of a first-line platinum-based chemotherapy regimen. Approximately 3% to 7% of individuals with PDAC harbor a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation, which are among the most frequently mutated genes in PDAC (Rainone M, et al, An Emerging Paradigm for Germline Testing in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma and Immediate Implications for Clinical Practice: A Review. JAMA Oncol. 2020 Feb 13. doi: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2019.5963. [Epub ahead of print]).

University research laboratory studies at select dose levels have demonstrated that SBP-101 induces programmed cell death, or “apoptosis,” in the acinar and ductal cells of the pancreas by activation of caspase 3 and poly (adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase (“PARP”) cleavage. In animal models at three independent laboratories, SBP-101, alone or in combination, has demonstrated nearly complete suppression of transplanted human pancreatic cancer, including metastases. SBP-101 has demonstrated both superior and additive efficacy to gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel in laboratory models of pancreatic cancer. We intend to develop SBP-101 as a unique and novel targeted approach to treating patients with pancreatic cancer, specifically pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (“PDA”), administered in combination with existing standard chemotherapy agents. With adequate funding, we also expect to commence evaluation of the potential value of SBP-101 in other chemotherapy combinations.

Pancreatic Cancer

 

Pancreatic cancer afflicts approximately 133,000140,000 people in Europe (GLOBOCAN2018,(GLOBOCAN 2021, Global Cancer Observatory/World Health Organization), approximately 57,00060,000 people in the United States annually, (https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/pancreas.html), and 270,000293,000 people worldwide – excluding Europe and the United States (GLOBOCAN2018)(GLOBOCAN 2021). It has been identified as the seventhfourth leading cause of death from cancer in Europe (GLOBOCAN 2018)2021) and the third leading cause of death from cancer in the United States (SEER Cancer Statistics Factsheets 2019)2021). On average PDAPancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (“PDA”) represents approximately 95% of all pancreatic cancers diagnosed in any given calendar year. Considering that the median overall survival for previously untreated patients with good performance status is between 8.5 months (Von Hoff 2013) and 11.1 months (Conroy 2011) with the two most commonly available treatment regimens, effective treatment for PDA has remained a major unmet medical need.

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Pancreatic cancer is generally not diagnosed early because the initial clinical signs and symptoms are vague and non-specific. The most common presenting symptoms include weight loss, epigastric (upper central region of the abdomen) and/or back pain, and jaundice. The back pain is typically dull, constant, and of visceral origin radiating to the back, in contrast to the epigastric pain which is vague and intermittent. Less common symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, and new onset diabetes (which can be an early signal) or glucose intolerance (Hidalgo 2010).

 

Surgery remains the only treatment option with curative intent, although only about 20% of patients are candidates for surgical resection at the time of the diagnosis. Patients who undergo radical surgery still have a limited survival rate, averaging 23 months (Macarulla T, et al Clin Transl Oncol 2017).

 

For the minority of patients who present with resectable disease, surgery is the treatment of choice. Depending on the location of the tumor the operative procedures may involve cephalic pancreatoduodenectomy, referred to as a “Whipple procedure”, distal pancreatectomy or total pancreatectomy. Pancreatic enzyme deficiency and diabetes are frequent complications of both the disease and these surgical procedures. Up to 70% of patients with pancreatic cancer present with biliary obstruction that can be relieved by percutaneous or endoscopic stent placement. However, even if the tumor is fully resected, the outcome in patients with pancreatic cancer has been disappointing (Hidalgo 2010, Seufferlein 2012). Post-operative administration of chemotherapy improved progression-free and overall survival in three large randomized clinical trials (Hidalgo 2010), but median post-surgical survival in patients treated in all three trials was similar, only 20-22 months. Pre-operative (neo-adjuvant) chemotherapy is of increasing interest, with the goal of improved successful resections and long-term outcomes.

 

For patients who present with unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic disease, which represent a majority of PDA patients, management options range from chemotherapy alone to combined forms of treatment with radiation therapy and chemotherapy. However, due to the increased toxicity of combined treatment, randomized trials of such combined regimens have had low enrollment, precluding a firm conclusion as to any advantage of adding radiation to chemotherapy (Hidalgo 2010).

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Gemcitabine was the first chemotherapeutic agent approved for the treatment of patients with PDA in the modern regulatory era, providing a median survival duration of 5.65 months (Burris 1997). Gemcitabine monotherapy was the standard of care for patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer until combination therapy with gemcitabine plus erlotinib (Tarceva®) was shown to increase median survival by two weeks. This modest benefit was tempered by a significant side effect profile and high cost, limiting its adoption as a standard treatment regimen. Subsequently, the multidrug chemotherapy combination FOLFIRINOX, was shown to provide a median survival benefit of 4.3 months (OS = 11.1 months) over gemcitabine alone (6.8 months), but its significant side effect profile limits the regimen to select patients with a good performance status and often requires supplementation with WBC growth factor therapy. Nab-paclitaxel (Abraxane®) received marketing authorization for use in combination with gemcitabine (FDA approved 2013) after showing an increase in overall survival of seven weeks compared to gemcitabine alone (Von Hoff 2013). Thus, combination therapies have demonstrated

Familial adenomatous polyposis

Familial adenomatous polyposis (“FAP”) is a modest survival benefit compared to gemcitabine alone as summarizedrare and potentially life‑threatening genetic condition occurring in approximately one in 10,000 individuals in the table below (Thota 2014)United States. FAP is caused primarily by mutations in the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) tumor suppressor gene. APC mutations are usually inherited as autosomal dominant genetic traits, but as high as 25% of those afflicted with FAP with an identical germline mutation have no family history. Only 1 in 10,000 people will develop FAP. Estimated annual prevalence in the US is approximately 30,000 and in Europe approximately 50,000. If untreated, patients will develop hundreds to thousands of polyps throughout the colon and rectum. FAP often develops in the early teens and result in a nearly 100% lifetime risk of colorectal cancer by age forty if untreated. No approved FAP drug is on the market.

Most patients are asymptomatic for years until the adenomas are large and numerous, and cause rectal bleeding or even anemia, or cancer develops. Generally, cancers start to develop a decade after the appearance of the polyps. Nonspecific symptoms may include constipation or diarrhea, abdominal pain, palpable abdominal masses and weight loss.

Cancer prevention and maintaining a good quality of life are the main goals of management of patients with FAP. By the late teens or early twenties, colorectal cancer prophylactic surgery is advocated. Prophylactic surgery often requires total abdominal colectomy with ileal-rectal anastomoses (IRA) and subsequent frequent endoscopic surveillance, with polypectomy and cautery/laser ablation as needed. Patients with extensive rectal involvement must undergo total proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal reconstruction. Despite this, approximately 50% of patients who have had total proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal reconstruction will develop adenomatous polyps in the neo-rectum (ileal pouch). Duodenal cancer and desmoids are the two main causes of mortality after total colectomy, they need to be identified early and treated. Upper endoscopy is necessary for surveillance to reduce the risk of ampullary and duodenal cancer. Patients with progressive tumors and unresectable disease may respond or stabilize with a combination of cytotoxic chemotherapy and surgery (when possible, to perform). Individuals with FAP carry a 100% risk of CRC; however, this risk is reduced significantly when patients enter a screening-treatment program.

A major unmet need in the treatment of patients with FAP is a therapeutic means to defer or obviate the need for major surgical interventions, particularly colectomy with IRA or proctocolectomy with an ileal surgical pouch (IPAA). Such interventions often require temporary or permanent ileostomy, and with it, long-term or permanent quality of life (QoL) deficits such as frequent bowel movements (average 6 per day), nocturnal fecal incontinence and, in female patients, reduced reproductive potential. It is critical to find non-surgical alternatives that will delay or obviate the need of repeated endoscopic and surgical procedures to maintain patient QoL. For those patients who have an intact colon in particular, pharmacotherapy offers the opportunity to meaningfully control or delay polyposis progression and offer a greater choice over when or if they undergo prophylactic colectomy/proctocolectomy in order to optimize QoL.

This potential benefit is in fact likely the most powerful potential benefit possible since the long-term course of FAP essentially mandates ultimate colectomy for most patients. The value to a younger patient in safely delaying such a radical procedure by years cannot be overstated.

There are currently no approved and marketed pharmacotherapeutic treatments for patients with FAP. While in 1999 celecoxib was conditionally approved by the FDA for the treatment of FAP based on reductions of polyp number observed in a randomized double-blind placebo‑controlled study conducted in patients with FAP, it was subject to the marketing authorization holder, Pfizer, providing additional data. On February 2, 2011, FDA requested that Pfizer voluntarily withdraw the FAP indication for CELEBREX (celecoxib) Capsules from the market because the post-marketing study intended to verify clinical benefit and required as a condition of approval under subpart H was never completed. In a letter dated February 3, 2011, Pfizer requested that FDA withdraw the FAP indication for CELEBREX (celecoxib) Capsules from the market. Effective June 8, 2012 the approval for the FAP indication for CELEBREX (celecoxib) Capsules was withdrawn. Celecoxib was also authorized for FAP treatment centrally by the European Commission after the EMA’s scientific review in October 2003 under “exceptional circumstances”. Authorization was granted subject to specific obligations during product life-cycle, chiefly to provide further data on its efficacy and safety; however, the applicant/authorization holder could not fulfill this central post-authorization obligation. According to publicly available information, the post- authorization study was initiated in the first quarter of 2004 and the EU Centralized Marketing Authorisation was withdrawn in April 2011 because the holder was unable to provide the data as required.

 

4647

 

Current Treatment Approaches: Survival & Toxicity Profiles Across Three Major Positive Clinical Trials

 

Gemcitabine vs. 

Gemcitabine/Erlotinib

Phase 3 trial

ACCORD 11 Trial

Metastatic Pancreatic

Adenocarcinoma Clinical

Trial (MPACT)

 

Gemcitabine

Gemcitabine/

Erlotinib

Gemcitabine

FOLFIRINOX(1)

Gemcitabine

Gemcitabine/

Nab-Paclitaxel

One-Year Survival

17%

23%

20.6%

48.4%

22%

35%

Median Overall Survival

5.91 mo

6.24 mo

6.8 mo

11.1 mo

6.7 mo

8.5 mo

Median Progression-Free Survival

3.55 mo

3.75 mo

3.3 mo

6.4 mo

3.7 mo

5.5 mo

Overall Response Rate

8%

8.6%

9.4%

31.6%

7%

23%

Toxicity

      

Neutropenia

21%

45.7%

27%

38%

Febrile neutropenia

1.2%

5.4%

1%

3%

Thrombocytopenia

3.6%

9.1%

9%

13%

Diarrhea

2%

6%

1.8%

12.7%

1%

6%

Sensory neuropathy

0%

9%

1%

17%

Fatigue

15%

15%

17.8%

23.6%

7%

17%

Rash

6%

1%

Stomatitis

<1%

0%

Infection

17%

16%

Source: Thota R et al., Oncology 2014; Jan 28(1):70–74

Other drugs are currently under investigation, but none have received marketing authorization as a first-line treatment of PDA since the approval of Abraxane. Lynparza®, (olaparib) was approved in December 2019 for maintenance therapy of patients with deleterious or suspected deleterious germline BRCA-mutated (gBRCAm) metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma whose disease has not progressed on at least 16 weeks of a first-line platinum-based chemotherapy regimen.

Proprietary TechnologyOvarian Cancer

 

Worldwide Ovarian Cancer has an annual incidence of approximately 314,000 and annual deaths of approximately 207,000 (Globocan 2020). In the United States Ovarian cancer represents approximately 1% of all new cancer cases at approximately 21,000 and the five-year survival rate for metastatic disease is approximately 29% (SEER fact sheet Ovarian 2022). According to the American Cancer Society, ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths among women, accounting for more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive system.

Nearly 70 % of patients are diagnosed with advanced-stage due to the failure of screening methods for detecting early-stage disease (Giornelli. 2016; Partridge et al. 2009; Bast et al. 2007; Gohagan et al. 2000; Chudecka-Głaz 2015). Thus, most patients will relapse within the first two years after diagnosis, even after an optimal primary cytoreductive surgery and six cycles of the standard adjuvant chemotherapy with carboplatin/paclitaxel.

The second line chemotherapy depends mainly on the disease-free interval (“DFI”) (time between completion of first line chemotherapy and clinical relapse); or progression-free interval (“PFI”) (time between the last chemotherapy given for relapsed disease and progression). There are three classifications: Platinum-refractory/resistant with relapse during platinum treatment (refractory) or with a DFI/PFI <6 months (resistant), Platinum-sensitive relapse occurring >12 m of last platinum-based chemotherapy, or partially sensitive to platinum with disease-free survival (“DFS”)/ progression free survival (“PFS”) between 6 and 12 months from the last platinum-based chemotherapy.

According to Pignata et al. 2017, in platinum-sensitive patients, treatment with platinum-based combinations is associated with a PFS advantage compared with single agents or non-platinum combinations. For patients with partially sensitive relapse (PFI between 6 and 12 months), two options are available: platinum doublets or non-platinum therapy (single agent or combination). Last, for patients with resistant or refractory relapse (PFI < 6 months) disease there are few options. For these patients, monotherapy with a non-platinum drug or participation in clinical trials is indicated.

Colorectal Cancer

According to United States Cancer Statistics published by the American Cancer Society, in the United States in 2022, it is estimated that CRC will be the third most commonly occurring cancer among males and females and the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths. High-risk adenomatous polyps are considered the key risk factor for CRC. In 2015, the disease will be responsible for an estimated 52,000 deaths in the United States. An even higher rate of incidence occurs in the European Union, where approximately 255,000 people per year die from CRC according to the Globocan 2020 Fact Sheets.

Globally, there are approximately 1,931,000 new diagnoses each year (approximately 180,000 expected in North America in 2020). Rates of presentation are also becoming significant in Asia (China and Japan). Colorectal adenomas (or “polyps”) are considered the key risk factor for CRC. The general consensus in the medical and scientific communities is that these polyps are the precursors to more than 90% of all colorectal cancers.

Colon cancer represents nearly three-fourths of all colorectal cancers in the U.S. Despite potentially curative treatment with surgery (with or without adjuvant chemotherapy), local stage and locally-advanced stage colon cancer patients remain at considerable risk for colorectal adenomas, distant recurrence, secondary colonic tumor formation, and colorectal cancer related mortality. Polypectomy appears to be an effective way to decrease mortality from colon cancer but widespread adoption of this approach is limited by both cost and patient acceptability (Newcomb et al. 1992; Selby et al. 1992). Certain types of colorectal polyps have increased risk of progression to colorectal cancer. High-risk polyps (polyps with villous histology, size ≥ 1 cm, high grade dysplasia, or multiple adenomas defined as 3 or more) have become the focus of colorectal tumorigenesis research due to the higher rate of malignant potential for these lesion (Lotfi et al. 1986; Spencer et al. 1984; Winawer et al. 1993; Martinez et al. 2009) . The current standard of care for resected colon cancer patient (beyond surgery, and adjuvant chemotherapy when indicated) is surveillance monitoring with clinical exams, laboratory analyses, and colonoscopic evaluation. However, data suggest that colonoscopy does not predict death from colorectal cancer uniformly throughout the colon – in fact, right-sided colorectal cancers were not observed to gain any mortality benefit from colonoscopy (Baxter et al. 2009). Other potential problems with colonoscopy include (rarely) perforations, infection, bleeding, and non-adherence with current recommendations. Safe and effective chemopreventive interventions, therefore, offer great potential to complement and improve upon the current colon cancer surveillance paradigm.Unlike other therapies used to treat CAT, Flynpovi is a non-surgical and non-invasive option that has the potential to both improve patient quality of life and reduce higher healthcare system-wide expense burdens.

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Neuroblastoma

There are approximately 700 to 800 new cases of neuroblastoma each year in the US, with a US prevalence of 5,000 – 6,000 and this disease is found worldwide at similar rates (includes adults that had NB as children). About 50% of cases will be diagnosed as high-risk neuroblastoma (HR-NB) (Maris 2010). These individuals have the poorest survival prognosis. Time to first relapse (TTFR) is associated with overall survival (OS) in HR-NB patients that achieve an objective complete or partial response to initial therapy (London et al. 2011). Approximately 50% of the HR-NB patients will relapse and be eligible for this therapeutic approach.

Proprietary Technology

Function and Characteristics of Polyamines

 

Polyamines are metabolically distinct entities within human cells that bind to and facilitate DNA replication, RNA transcription and processing, and protein (such as pancreatic enzymes) synthesis. Human cells contain three essential and naturally occurring polyamines - putrescine, spermidine, and spermine. Polyamines perform many functions necessary for cellular proliferation, apoptosis and protein synthesis. The critical balance of polyamines within cells is maintained by several enzymes such as ornithine decarboxylase (“ODC”) and spermidine/spermine N1 acetyl transferase (“SSAT”). All of these homeostatic enzymes are short-lived, rapidly inducible intracellular proteins that serve to tightly and continuously regulate native polyamine pools.pools tightly and continuously. These enzymes constantly maintain polyamines within a very narrow range of concentration inside the cell.

 

Polyamine Analoguesmetabolism and cancer

Polyamines are required for cell proliferation. It is believed that many cancers, especially oncogene-driven cancers, might be sensitive to interference with polyamine metabolism. The natural polyamines putrescine, spermidine and spermine are intimately involved in growth-related processes, wound healing, and the development of cancer. Under normal conditions, the pool of polyamines is tightly controlled through regulation of synthesis, catabolism, and transport mechanisms (Gerner and Meyskens 2004). The loss of this tight control can result in an excessive accumulation of polyamines, which favors malignant transformation of cells. Consequently, with the loss of growth control in cancer cells, the transformed cells may be more sensitive to polyamine depletion than normal cells. Thus, the polyamine metabolic pathway is a rational target for therapeutic intervention (Casero 2018).

Immune systems require multiple soluble and cellular components, including polyamines, for a normal immune function. As such, polyamines are important modulators of the immune response, particularly in the tumor microenvironment where they are found in high concentrations. High levels of polyamines are present in tumor cells and in autoreactive B- and T-cells in autoimmune diseases. Dysregulation of polyamines can result in tumor immune evasion, elevated cell stress, and increased autoimmunity. By resetting the polyamine pathway through therapeutic interventions, there is the potential to restore normal immune functions.

Pharmacotherapeutic Approaches to Reset the Polyamine Pathway

The company’s lead assets are ivospemin and Flynpovi which provide a multi-targeted approach to reset dysregulated biology present in many types of diseases such as cancer and autoimmunity. For instance, many tumors require greatly elevated levels of polyamines to support their growth and survival. These agents target the polyamine pathway at complementary junctions which have been shown to be altered is disease. In particular, these agents have the potential to suppress and prevent tumor growth, enhance anti-tumor activity of other anti-cancer agents, and modulate the immune system.

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a1.jpg

Polyamine Analogue- ivospemin (SBP-101)

 

Many tumors, including pancreatic cancer, display an increased uptake rate of polyamines. Polyamine analogues such as SBP-101ivospemin are structurally similar to naturally occurring polyamines and are recognized by the cell’s polyamine uptake system, allowing these compounds to gain ready entrance to the cell. We believe that pancreatic acinar cells, because of their extraordinary protein synthesis capacity, exhibit enhanced uptake of polyamines and polyamine analogues such as SBP-101.analogues. Because of this preferential uptake by pancreatic acinar cells, polyamine analogues such as SBP-101ivospemin disrupt the cell’s polyamine balance and biosynthetic network, and induce programmed cell death, or apoptosis, via processes including caspase 3 activation and poly ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) cleavage. Proof of concept has been demonstrated in multiple human pancreatic cancer models, both in vivo and in vitro, that pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma exhibits sensitivity to SBP-101.


(1) FOLFIRINOX is leucovirin, fluorouracil, irinotecan, and oxaliplatin.

47

SBP-101ivospemin.

 

SBP-101Ivospemin is a proprietary polyamine analogue, which we believe accumulates in the exocrine pancreas acinar cells due to its unique chemical structure. SBP-101ivospemin was discovered and extensively studied by Professor Raymond J. Bergeron at the University of Florida College of Pharmacy.

 

LaboratoryAs laboratory studies suggest, the primary mechanism of action for SBP-101ivospemin has been demonstrated to include the enhanced uptake of the compound in the exocrine pancreas.pancreas, therefore, pancreatic cancer was logical for the initial development of this compound. Sufficiently high dosing in animal models leads to correspondingly depressed levels of native polyamines, with caspase 3 activation, PARP cleavage and apoptotic destruction (programmed cell death) of the exocrine pancreatic acinar and ductal cells without an inflammatory response. Importantly, pancreatic islet cells, which secrete insulin, are structurally and functionally dissimilar to acinar cells and are not impacted by SBP-101.ivospemin. In animal models at two independent laboratories, SBP-101ivospemin has demonstrated significant suppression of transplanted human pancreatic cancer cells, including metastatic pancreatic cancer growth. See “Proof of Principle” below.

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We believe that SBP-101ivospemin exploits the natural affinity of the exocrine pancreas, the liver and kidney, and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells while leaving the insulin-producing islet cells unharmed. Most current cancer therapies, including chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery are associated with significant side effects that further reduce the patient’s quality of life. However, based on data evaluated from clinical studies to date, we believe that the adverse effects of SBP-101ivospemin in causing bone marrow suppression or peripheral neuropathy do not overlap with or exacerbate those seen with typical chemotherapy options. The dose-limiting toxicities observed in cohort five of our first Phase 1aI study, as noted above,below, were not observed at lower doses and are not expected to overlap with the adverse events of bone marrow suppression and peripheral neuropathy commonly associated with standard chemotherapy. AsThe dose and dosing schedule evaluated in the expansion phase of the recently completed Phase Ia/Ib trial is below the maximum tolerable dose (“MTD”) and at this dose level, neither the exocrine nor the endocrine human pancreas is expected to be unaffectedaffected by SBP-101,ivospemin, resulting in no treatment impact on pancreatic enzyme or insulin requirement is expected.levels. This dose level and dosing schedule in the new ASPIRE trial will be the same as evaluated in the expansion phase of the Ia/Ib study.

 

Proof of PrincipleOrnithine Decarboxylase Inhibitor - eflornithine (CPP-1X)

 

SBP-101Ornithine decarboxylase is the first and rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of polyamines which catalyzes the conversion of ornithine to putrescine and regulates the biosynthesis of polyamines in mammalian as well as many other eukaryotic cells. Eflornithine, also known as α-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) and eflornithine, is an ornithine analogue. Eflornithine irreversibly binds to ODC1 and prevents the natural ODC1 substrate, ornithine, from accessing the active site of the enzyme (Meyskens and Gerner 1999). The administration of eflornithine decreases both ODC activity and polyamine concentrations. In genetic mouse models with an APC gene mutation, the administration of eflornithine reduces intestinal carcinogenesis, decreasing the concentration of polyamines through transport and catabolism and inhibiting tumour development (Babbar et al. 2003).

Treatment of animals with eflornithine results in inhibition of ODC activity, especially in tissues and organs with rapidly dividing cells. Polyamine biosynthesis has been testedshown to be critical for eukaryotic cellular growth and differentiation, and inhibition of polyamine biosynthesis can stimulate or inhibit cellular differentiation depending on the model studied (Gerner and Meyskens 2004). Accordingly, eflornithine has promoted or inhibited cell differentiation in a variety of models.

Polyamine biosynthesis is also a critical step in experimental chemical-induced carcinogenesis, cell transformation, and tumor cell proliferation, and there is a growing body of evidence that eflornithine's inhibitory effect on cell proliferation and tumorigenesis may involve a complex inter-relationship between oncogenes, polyamine metabolism, and ODC activity. MYC is an oncogene that encodes a transcription factor that is required for the proliferation of normal cells but when overexpressed can lead to aberrant cell growth (Gerner and Meyskens 2004). Additionally, c-Myc is a transcriptional activator of the ODC gene (Pena et al. 1993) (Bello-Fernandez, Packham, and Cleveland 1993). Furthermore, eflornithine has been shown to decrease N-Myc mRNA in neuroblastoma cells and c-Myc mRNA in human colon carcinoma cells (Celano et al. 1988) and spermidine preferentially stimulated transcription and expression of c-Myc, but not c-Fos (Tabib and Bachrach 1999)). Taken together, these results suggest that polyamines play a feedback role in the regulation of expression of certain oncogenes at the level of transcription.

Mice with a mutation of the adenomatous polyposis coli (Apc) tumor suppressor gene develop intestinal tumors in numbers similar to those found in patients with FAP. Mutations of the Apc gene increases the activity of ODC and leads to increased intestinal polyamine levels. Studies in animal models of FAP indicate that eflornithine alone is effective in reducing pancreaticthe number of intestinal tumors (Erdman et al. 1999b) and colonic tumor growthburden (Yerushalmi et al. 2006). Eflornithine may lower polyamine levels in multiple separatecolorectal mucosa and skin cells (Gerner and Meyskens 2004).

The major clinical evidence for benefit of eflornithine derives from prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical studies of eflornithine monotherapy in vivo modelspatients with elevated risk for developing certain forms of human pancreatic cancer. SBP-101 was used to treat mice subcutaneously implanted with human pancreatic cancer (prostate and basal cell line PANC-1 tumor fragments. A dose-response for efficacy was demonstratedskin cancer). In a randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical study in subjects with a 26 mg/kg daily injectionhistory of resected colon polyps, eflornithine reduced polyamines in rectal mucosal tissue. This marker study is especially relevant to patients with FAP, in whom target tissues include intestinal and colonic mucosa (Meyskens et al. 1998).

Eflornithine has received regulatory approvals as a high dose, intravenously delivered medication for the treatment of a form of African sleeping sickness, and as a topical agent for the treatment of hirsutism (excess hair growth on body parts where hair growth is usually absent or minimal). No oral dosage form of eflornithine has ever received regulatory approval in any indication.

Activator of Spermidine/Spermine N-Acetyltransferase (SSAT1) Sulindac

Transport of polyamines is maintained by the peroxisome-proliferator activated receptor-g (PPARg). This receptor positively regulates SSAT transcription facilitating polyamine acetylation and transport of polyamines out of the cell. Under normal conditions, the K-Ras molecule has no activity on PPARg. However, mutation of the K-Ras gene produces a product that inhibits PPARg’s effect on SSAT translation resulting in near complete suppressionelevated polyamine pools and tumorigenesis. (Babbar et al. 2003). Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as sulindac, act through PPAR to enhance transcriptional of the transplanted tumor.

A separate orthotopic xenograft study (direct implantSSAT which increases catabolism and export of human tumor cells into the pancreas of the mouse) employed a particularly aggressive human pancreatic cancer cell line, L3.6pl, that is known to metastasize from the pancreas to the liver and the peritoneum in mice. Mice implanted with L3.6pl were treated with SBP-101 and the results were compared with saline-treated control mice, with mice treated with gemcitabine alone (Gemzar®, the then current “gold standard” treatment), and the combination of both drugs. SBP-101 significantly reduced tumor volume compared to gemcitabine alone and the control group, but the combination of SBP-101 and gemcitabine was significantly better than gemcitabine alone as shown in Figure 1.polyamines.

 

4851

 

Figure 1.  L3.6pl Orthotopic Xenograft Study - Mean (+SD) Tumor Volume afterSulindac is a member of the arylalkanoic acid class of NSAIDs and is a non-selective inhibitor of cyclooxygenases involved in prostaglandin synthesis. To understand potential mechanisms of action of sulindac, patterns of gene expression resulting from treatment with sulindac sulfone, a sulindac metabolite lacking cyclooxygenase inhibitory activity, were measured in human colon tumor-derived cells (Babbar et al. 2003). Sulindac sulfone inhibited cell growth, and induced apoptosis and the expression of spermidine/spermine N-acetyltransferase (SSAT1), a polyamine catabolic enzyme implicated in polyamine export (Xie, Gillies, and Gerner 1997). Sulindac sulfone induction of SAT1 expression occurs via a cyclooxygenase-independent transcriptional activation of SAT1 at a specific peroxisomal proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) responsive element (PPRE) in the SAT1 gene. Treatment of cells with SBP-101, Gemcitabine (Gemzar®) or Bothsulindac sulfone induces SAT1 expression and stimulates polyamine export.

 

Experimental findings in human cell and mouse models indicate that sulindac and other NSAIDS activate polyamine catabolism (Gerner and Meyskens 2009). Thus, NSAIDs complement inhibitors of polyamine synthesis, like eflornithine, to reduce tissue polyamine levels. In cell culture, sulindac metabolites reduce cell survival in vitro in a dose-dependent manner at doses above 150 µM at 24-hour exposure times (Lawson et al. 2000).

Experiments in both mouse and rat models of colon cancer have demonstrated a preventative effect for sulindac (Babbar et al. 2003). Sulindac blocked tumor formation in the multiple intestinal neoplasia (Min) mouse, a murine model of APC mutation-associated intestinal carcinogenesis, mimicking FAP. In the Min mouse, tumor-preventing doses of sulindac inhibited tissue levels of prostaglandin-E2 and COX-2 (Boolbol et al. 1996). In other nonclinical studies sulindac had an inhibitory effect on bladder, lung, and forestomach tumor formation in rat and mouse models (Kelloff, Boone, et al. 1994, Kelloff, Crowell, et al. 1994).

Source: Dual Targeting - FlynpoviStudy101-Biol-101-001

 

The potentialability to decrease the polyamine pools by a dual mechanism of action, i.e., suppressed synthesis and enhanced catabolism and export, led to the hypothesis that Flynpovi would complement one another in the prevention of tumour development in a patient population where elevated polyamine pools lead to enhanced tumorigenesis. Eflornithine is the irreversible inhibitor of ODC which is responsible for SBP-101 as an effective therapy for pancreatic cancerde novo synthesis of polyamines and sulindac regulates SSAT which plays a role in polyamine export and catabolism. Hence the combination, Flynpovi, inhibits the generation of new polyamines and also removes polyamines obtained from the diet and microbiome.

The ability of Flynpovi to reduce polyamines in the GI tract has been demonstrated in vivoboth the preclinical and clinical settings. In the study by separate investigators, in different human pancreatic cancer cell linesIgantenko et al, the effect of eflornithine alone and in threecombination with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) sulindac or celecoxib on intestinal tumour number and grade and polyamine content was evaluated in ApcMin/+ mice (Ignatenko et al. 2008). Administration of eflornithine in combination with sulindac was superior to each single agent at significantly (P < 0.05) decreasing putrescine, spermidine, and total intestinal polyamine concentrations to below baseline levels in the ApcMin/+ mice. Additionally, in this study with the exception of the 0.5% eflornithine treatment group, all treatment groups developed significantly (P<0.05) fewer tumours/animal than the control group. The combination treatment of 2% eflornithine and sulindac suppressed intestinal tumorigenesis to a level that was not statistically significantly different animal models, using SBP-101 synthesized by two different routes, confirming nearly equal,from that for sulindac alone. Although sulindac alone produced a significant decrease in the number of intestinal tumours in ApcMin/+ mice, it did not reduce the percentage of high‑grade adenomas. However, the combination of eflornithine and effective, dosessulindac significantly (P<0.05) decreased the number of 25 and 26 mg/kg, respectively.high-grade adenomas compared to the sulindac alone group.

 

Additionally, when comparedThe ability of the eflornithine and sulindac treatment group to suppress high grade adenomas is a key finding as it is the high grade adenomas in vitrothis model which correlate to existing therapies, SBP-101 produced superior resultsthe high grade adenomas seen in suppressing growthFAP patients that are indicators for excisional and surgical events clinically. These data support the rationale for treatment of pancreatic cancer cells.FAP patients with eflornithine combined with sulindac to reduce intestinal polyamine contents and the incidence of high-grade intestinal adenomas.

 

More importantly, combination treatment with Flynpovi dramatically reduces the incidence of metachronous colorectal adenomas in patients with prior sporadic adenomas (Meyskens et al. 2008). Meyskens and colleagues performed a Phase IIb/III, double-blind Pharmacoprevention of Sporadic Colorectal Adenomas Study (PSCA Study) in which 375 subjects who had resected sporadic adenoma were treated for 3 years with eflornithine (500 mg once a day) + sulindac (150 mg once a day [N = 191]) or matched placebo/placebo (N = 184). Results demonstrated a marked risk reduction (70%) in developing metachronous adenomas, 92% risk reduction in developing advanced adenomas, and 95% risk reduction in developing multiple adenomas with the active combination regimen compared to placebo. This combination regimen was generally well tolerated.

The mechanism of disease in sporadic and FAP-associated adenomatous polyposis, and the mechanism of eflornithine and NSAID action in prevention of progressive polyposis in both the general population with sporadic adenomas and in patients with FAP, led to the development of the CPP FAP-310 trial in patients with FAP associated with APC germline mutations.

The FAP-310 Phase III study evaluated the efficacy and safety of the combination of eflornithine and sulindac, as compared with either drug alone, in adults with familial adenomatous polyposis was conducted (Burke et al. 2020). The patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1:1 ratio to receive eflornithine, sulindac, or both once daily for up to 48 months. In a post-hoc analysis, none of the patients in the combination arm progressed to a need for lower gastrointestinal (LGI) surgery for up to 48 months compared with 7 (13.2%) and 8 (15.7%) patients in the sulindac and eflornithine arms (Balaguer et al. 2022). These data corresponded to risk reductions for the need for LGI surgery approaching 100% between combination and either monotherapy with HR = 0.00 (95% CI, 0.00-0.48; p = 0.005) for combination versus sulindac and HR = 0.00 (95% CI, 0.00-0.44; p = 0.003) for combination versus eflornithine.

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Development Plan for SBP-101Ivospemin (SBP-101)

 

Development of SBP-101ivospemin for the pancreatic cancer indication includeshas included a pre-clinical and a clinical phase. The pre-clinical phase, which was substantially completed during 2015, consistsconsisted of four primary components: chemistry, manufacturing and controls (“CMC”), preclinical (laboratory and animal) pharmacology studies, preclinical toxicology studies, and regulatory submissions in Australia and the United States.

Preparation of the ivospemin IND for pancreatic cancer required collaboration by our manufacturing, preclinical toxicology, pharmacokinetic, and metabolism experts, our regulatory affairs project management, and our in-house clinical expertise. In August 2015, the FDA accepted our application.

In Australia, a Human Research Ethics Committee (“HREC”(HREC) application was submitted with subsequent Clinical Trial Notification (“CTN”(CTN) to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (“TGA”(TGA). Preceding the Australian initiative, a similar, but considerably more extensive, preclinical package has been submitted to and accepted by the FDA in support of an IND application.

Our initial clinical trial in previously treated patients with locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer was a Phase 1,I, first-in-human, dose-escalation, safety study conducted at clinical sites in both Australia and the United States. We engaged expert clinicians who treat pancreatic cancer at major cancer treatment centers in Melbourne and Adelaide, Australia as well as the Mayo Clinic Scottsdale and HonorHealth in Scottsdale, Arizona. These Key Opinion Leaders, with proven performance in pancreatic cancer studies, enthusiastically agreed to participate as investigators for our Phase 1I First-in-Human study.

 

Enrollment in our initial Phase 1I safety trial of SBP-101ivospemin in previously treated pancreatic cancer patients commenced in January 2016 and was completed in September 2017. This study was a dose-escalation study with 8-week treatment/observation cycles at each dose level. Results from this trial are discussed in Clinical Development - Pancreatic Cancer,Phase I Clinical Trial Design and Completion (ivospemin Monotherapy) below.

 

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We began enrollingcompleted enrollment of patients in our second clinical trial in June of 2018.December 2020. This second clinical trial iswas a Phase 1a/1bIa/Ib study of the safety, efficacy and pharmacokinetics of SBP-101ivospemin administered in combination with two standard-of-care chemotherapy agents, gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel. We are currently conducting the trial at six study sites (fourA total of 25 subjects were enrolled in Australiafour cohorts of Phase Ia and twoan additional 25 subjects were enrolled in the United States). In theexpansion Phase 1a portionIb by December of 2020. Safety and interim efficacy results from this trial are discussed in Clinical Development - Pancreatic Cancer, Phase Ia/Ib Clinical Trial Design and Interim Results (First Line Combination Therapy) below.

In January of 2022 we have completed enrollment in the fourth quarterinitiated our third clinical trial. This new trial is a randomized, double blind, placebo controlled study of 2019safety and efficacy of three cohorts of four to nine patients with increased dosage levels of SBP-101ivospemin administered in the secondcombination with two standard-of-care chemotherapy agents, gemcitabine and third cohortsnab-paclitaxel. Trial design and completed enrollmentexpected timing are discussed in February of 2020 in a fourth cohort to explore an alternate dosing schedule. Demonstration of adequate safety in Phase 1a allowed us to immediately begin enrollment in February 2020 in the Phase 1b exploration of efficacy. We expect to enroll up to 36 patients using the recommended dosage levelClinical Development - Pancreatic Cancer, Randomized Clinical Trial design and schedule determined in Phase 1a. Early results from the Phase 1b expansion could become available in the second half of 2020.anticipated timing (ASPIRE trial).

 

With additional funding SBP-101 may also be exploredIn addition, we are exploring ivospemin for neo-adjuvant and/or adjuvantneoadjuvant treatment in appropriate pancreatic cancer patients. There is also preclinical data to suggest that SBP-101ivospemin may have potential therapeutic uses for cancers other than pancreatic, but due topancreatic. In February 2021, we entered into a research agreement with the current focusJohns Hopkins University School of Medicine. The collaboration has focused on the further development of Panbela’s investigative agent ivospemin, including activity in cell lines outside of pancreatic cancer, none have been formally explored.biomarkers informing diagnostics and potential combination with checkpoint inhibitors. In December 2021, the Company announced positive preclinical data supporting the activity of ivospemin in ovarian cancer cell lines. Further data resulting from the ongoing relationship with Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine is expected throughout 2022.

 

PreclinicalIvospemin (SBP-101) Clinical Development

To enable IND and HREC/CTN submission and as part of our pharmacology work, we conducted plasma and urine assay development and validation in animals, in vitro metabolism studies in liver microsomes and hepatocytes, in vitro interaction studies with hepatic and renal transporters, a protein binding study, animal pharmacokinetic and metabolism/mass balance studies, and human plasma and urine assay development and validation. As a part of the pharmacology evaluation, we conducted an in vitro pharmacology screen profiling assay, a study in six human pancreatic cell lines, and studies in tumor xenograft models in mice using flank transplants of human pancreatic cancer PANC-1 tumor fragments and human pancreatic cancer BxPC-3 tumor fragments as well as human pancreatic cancer cells (L3.6pl) injected orthotopically into the pancreas of nude mice.

To meet regulatory requirements and to establish the safety profile of SBP-101, we conducted, in rodents and non-rodents, toxicology dose-ranging studies, IND-enabling GLP (good laboratory practice) toxicology studies, and genetic toxicology studies, including an Ames test. Exploratory studies in mice and rats and a GLP-compliant dog toxicology study have also been completed. The relationship between dose and exposure (pharmacokinetics) has been described for three animal species. We have also completed a preclinical Human Ether-a-go-go-related Gene assay to detect any electrocardiographic QTc interval effects (IKr potassium ion channel testing).

In anticipation of the human potential for using SBP-101 in combination therapy with gemcitabine and/or nab-paclitaxel (Abraxane®), we also conducted appropriate nonclinical studies which confirmed the potential value of such combinations, including assessing the comparative efficacy of SBP-101, gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel in various combinations as shown in Figure 2.

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Figure 2. Evaluation of SBP-101 alone and in combination with gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel in 6 human pancreatic cancer cell lines

Source: Baker CB et al Pancreas 2015;44(8) 1350

Note that maximum percent growth inhibition (mean ± SE) at 96 hours was observed with 10 µM SBP-101 alone and in combination with gemcitabine and/or nab-paclitaxel in six human pancreatic cancer cell lines.

We have met FDA-mandated CMC requirements with a combination of in-house expertise and contractual arrangements. Preparation of anticipated metabolites, impurities and an internal standard, as a prerequisite for analytical studies, were completed through a Sponsored Research Agreement with the University of Florida and a contract manufacturer. We have Service Agreements with Syngene International Ltd. (“Syngene”) for the manufacture and supply of Good Manufacturing Practice (“GMP”)-compliant SBP-101 active pharmaceutical ingredient (“API”) and for the development of synthetic process improvements. Investigational product (IP or clinical trial supply) has been made and tested at Albany Molecular Research Inc. (“AMRI”) in Burlington, MA. Initial lots of GMP-compliant API were prepared by Syngene and released for conversion into supply dosage form. Two clinical trial supply lots have been successfully prepared and released by AMRI. In addition, efforts have continued to refine the synthetic process at Syngene. A new shorter synthetic process has been developed and submitted for patent protection.

Pancreatic Cancer IND

 

Our IND application package contained the following:clinical development in Pancreatic Cancer thus far includes:

 

 

Investigator’s Brochure;a Phase I ivospemin Monotherapy study completed in 2017,

 

 

Statement of general investigative plans;

Proposeda Phase 1 pancreatic cancerIa/Ib ivospemin First Line Combination Therapy study, protocol;

Data management and statistical plan;

CMC data;which completed enrollment in late 2020, and

 

 

Pharmacology, absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (“ADME”), and toxicology data.a Randomized, Double Blind Placebo Controlled First Line Combination Therapy study (ASPIRE) was initiated in January of 2022.

 

Details of these programs follow.

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Preparation of the SBP-101 IND for pancreatic cancer required collaboration by our manufacturing, preclinical toxicology, pharmacokineticPhase I Clinical Trial Design and metabolism experts, our regulatory affairs project management, and our in-house clinical expertise. In August 2015, the FDA accepted our application and in January 2016 we commenced patient enrollment in our first Phase 1 clinical trial, which was a safety and tolerability study in patients with previously treated metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Clinical Development – Pancreatic Cancer

Phase 1 Clinical TrialCompletion (ivospemin Monotherapy)

 

Our initial Phase 1 study in patients with pancreatic cancer commenced the enrollment of patients in January 2016 and enrollment was completed in September 2017. This study was a dose-escalation study with 8-week cycles of treatment/observation at each dose level.

A favorable characteristic of the pancreatic action of SBP-101 is the lack of an effect on the normal insulin-producing islet cells. Preservation of islet cell function implies the likely absence of diabetes as a complication of SBP-101 therapy. It is important to note that diabetes is a common co-morbidity in patients with pancreatic cancer, but it is not expected to be an adverse effect of treatment with SBP-101. The potential adverse effect of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency is mitigated by the observation that many patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma require pancreatic enzyme replacement as a feature of their underlying disease, a complication so common that pancreatic enzyme replacement with one of several commercially available products is typically covered by United States and Australian health care plans. Patients with cystic fibrosis, chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer are the populations most often treated with pancreatic enzyme replacement.

Patients in our Phase 1 first-in-human trial underwent regular pancreatic and hepatic enzyme evaluation and obtained periodic chest and abdominal CT follow-up. Patients were also carefully monitored for clinical signs of GI adverse events, but no new onset of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency was attributed to SBP-101 therapy.

In August 2015, the FDA accepted our IND application for our SBP-101 product candidate. We have completed an initial clinical trial of SBP-101ivospemin in patients with previously treated locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer. This was a Phase 1,I, first-in-human, dose-escalation, safety study. BetweenFrom January 2016 andthrough September 2017, we enrolled twenty-nine patients into six cohorts, or groups, in the dose-escalation phase of ourthe Phase 1I trial. Twenty-four of the patients received at least two prior chemotherapy regimens. No drug-related serious adverse events occurred during the first four cohorts. In cohort five, serious adverse events (klebsiella sepsis with metabolic acidosis in one patient, renal and hepatic toxicity in one patient, and mesenteric vein thrombosis with metabolic acidosis in one patient) were observed in three of the ten patients, two of whom exhibited progressive disease at the end of their first cycle of treatment and were determined by the DSMB to be DLTs. Consistent with the study protocol, the DSMB recommended continuation of the study by expansion of cohort 4, one level below that at which DLTs were observed. Four patients were enrolled in this expansion cohort. One patient developed focal pancreatitis at the site of the primary tumor after 2.3 months, but SBP-101 was considered well tolerated below dose level five. The most common drug related adverse events were nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, injection site pain and abdominal pain, which were mostly mild, grades 1 or 2, and are symptoms common in patients with pancreatic cancer. No drug-related bone marrow toxicity or peripheral neuropathy was observed at any dose level.

In addition to being evaluated for safety, 23 of the 29 patients were evaluable for preliminary signals of efficacy prior to or at the eight-week conclusion of their first cycle of treatment using the RECIST,Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (“RECIST”), the currentcurrently accepted standard for evaluating changeschange in the size of tumors. Eight of the 23 patients (35%) had SD and 15 of 24 (65%) had PD. It should be noted that of the 15 patients with PD, six came from cohorts one and two and are considered to have received less than potentially therapeutic doses of SBP-101. We also noted that 28 of the 29 patients had follow-up blood tests measuring the Tumor Marker CA 19-9 associated with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Eleven of these patients (39%) had reductions in the CA 19-9 levels, as measured at least once after the baseline assessment. Seven of the remaining 17 patients who showed no reduction in CA 19-9 came from cohorts one and two.

By cohort, stable disease occurred in two patients in cohort 3, two patients in cohort 4 and four patients in cohort 5. The best response outcomes and best median survival were observed in the group of patients who received total cumulative doses of approximately 6 mg/kg (cohort three). Two of four patients (50%) showed SD at week eight. Median survival in this group was 5.9 months, with two patients surviving 8 and 10 months, respectively. By total cumulative dose received, five of twelve patients (42%) who received total cumulative doses between 2.5 mg/kg and 8.0 mg/kg had reductions in the CA19-9 levels, as measured at least once after the baseline assessment. Nine of these patients (67%) exceeded three months of OS, three patients (25%) exceeded nine months of OS and two patients (17%) exceeded one year of OS and were still alive at the end of the study.

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Figure 3. Evaluation of SBP 101 Phase 1Mono-therapy Safety Trial - Median Survival by Cohort

 

The absence of adverse events which could potentially overlap with adverse events typically observed in the use of conventional chemotherapeutic agents, supports the case for combination of SBP-101ivospemin with conventional chemotherapeutic agents, such as gemcitabine, nab-paclitaxel, or even FOLFIRINOX.

 

Phase 1a/1bIa/Ib Clinical Trial DesignInterim Results (First Line Combination Therapy)

 

Given the life-threatening nature of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, the limited efficacy of current treatment options, and the long history of failures in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma developmental therapeutics,In 2018, we will attempt to evaluate SBP-101 expeditiously as noted below.

We began enrolling patients in our current first-line clinical trial in June of 2018. This second clinical trial, is a Phase 1a/1bIa/Ib study of the safety, efficacy and pharmacokinetics of SBP-101ivospemin administered in combination with two standard-of-care chemotherapy agents, gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel. We are currently conducting the trial at six study sites (four in Australia and two in the United States). In the Phase 1a portionA total of this trial, we25 subjects were enrolled in three planned4 cohorts of four to nine patients with increased dosage levels of SBP-101 administered inevaluate the second and third cohorts. We completed enrollment in the 3 planned cohorts of Phase 1a in the fourth quarter of 2019, however, based on preliminary safety findings, a fourth cohort was added to explore an alternate dosing schedule. Enrollment in this 4th cohort was completed in February 2020. Demonstration of adequate safety in Phase 1a has led to a Phase 1b exploration of efficacy, in which we anticipate enrolment of up to thirty-six (36) patients using the recommended dosage level and schedule determinedschedule. An additional 25 subjects were enrolled in Phase 1a. We began enrolling in thisthe expansion phase of the trial. Interim results were presented in February 2020. AsJanuary of December 31, 2019, preliminary efficacy results from evaluable patients in cohorts 2 and 3 (N=13) showed manageable toxicity, an objective response rate of 62% and a disease control rate of 85%, with several patients still ongoing. Early results from the Phase 1b expansion are expected to become available in the second half of 2020.

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Figure 4. Evaluation of SBP 101 Phase 1a First-line combo-therapy Safety Trial – Best Response Rate

Best Response per Subject – Cohorts 2 and 3, N=13.2022. Best response in evaluable subjects (cohorts 4 and Ib N=29) was a CR in 1 (3%), PR in 8 (62%13 (45%), SD in 10 (34%) and PD in 5 (38%(17%). Three subjectsOne subject did not have post baseline scans with RECIST tumor assessments. Median Progression Free Survival (“PFS”), now final at 6.5 months may have been negatively impacted by drug dosing interruptions to evaluate potential toxicity. Median overall survival in Cohort 4 + Phase Ib was 12.0 months when data was presented in January 2022 and is now final at 14.6 months. Two patients from cohort 2 have demonstrated long term survival. One at 30.3 months (final data) and one at 33.0 months and still alive. Seven subjects are still alive as of the date of this prospectus, one from cohort 2 and six from cohort 4 plus Ib.

Near Final results:

Figure 4.Evaluation of SBP 101 Phase Ib First-line combo-therapy Safety Trial
Best Overall Response

a2.jpg

Source: Kotasek D, Abstract 710,Singhal, N., Poster Presentation, ASCO GI 20202022

 

Phase 2Randomized Clinical Trial design and anticipated timing (ASPIRE trial)

 

AIn January of 2022, the Company announced the initiation of a new clinical trial. Referred to as ASPIRE, the trial is a randomized Phase 2 study of SBP-101double-blind placebo-controlled trial in combination with two standard chemotherapy agents, gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel, is expecteda standard pancreatic cancer treatment regimen in patients previously untreated for metastatic pancreatic cancer. The trial will be conducted globally at approximately 95 sites in the United States, Europe and Asia - Pacific.

While opening of clinical sites in the US and the rest of the world has been slower than originally anticipated, due in part to followresource fatigue in the medical community, the Company expects all countries and sites to be open by early 2023.

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The trial was originally designed as a Phase II/III trial with a smaller sample size (150) to support the events required for interim analysis based on Progression Free Survival (PFS) and a primary endpoint of overall survival. In response to European and FDA regulatory feedback the study was amended to include the total trial sample size (600) and the design modified to utilize overall survival as the primary endpoint to be examined at interim analysis. PFS will also be analyzed to provide additional efficacy evidence. This amendment was supported by the final data from the Phase 1a/1b safetyIa/b first line metastatic pancreatic cancer trial which completed enrollment in December of 2020. The study providing continued evaluation of safetywill enroll 600 subjects and efficacy.is anticipated to take 36 months for complete enrollment with the interim analysis available in early 2024.

 

If we are able tocan successfully complete all FDA recommended clinical studies, we intend to seek marketing authorization from the FDA, the EMA (European Union), Ministry of Health and Welfare (Japan) and TGA (Australia). The submission fees may be waived when SBP-101ivospemin (SBP-101) has been designated an orphan drug in each geographic region, as described under “Orphan Drug Status.”

 

Development Plan for Flynpovi and Eflornithine (CPP-1X)

In December 2009, the FDA accepted CPP’s IND application for the combination product, Flynpovi, product candidate and in November 2009 and August 2018, the FDA accepted IND applications for eflornithine.

The Development plan executed by CPP of Flynpovi for FAP and colon cancer prevention has included both a pre-clinical/non-clinical and a clinical phase. The non-clinical phase consisted of four primary components: CMC, preclinical (laboratory and animal) pharmacology studies, preclinical toxicology studies, and regulatory submissions in the US and Europe. Similarly, the development plan for eflornithine and eflornithine sachets in several different indications included the much of the same primary components and regulatory submission in the US.

Clinical Development Flynpovi

Our clinical development of Flynpovi thus far includes:

The FAP-310 Phase III

The PACES Phase III Trial

FAP-310 Phase III Trial

In the FAP-310 Phase III study, the efficacy and safety of the combination of Flynpovi, as compared with either drug eflornithine or sulindac alone, in adults with FAP was conducted. A total of 171 patients underwent randomization. Disease progression occurred in 18 of 56 patients (32%) in the Flynpovi, 22 of 58 (38%) in the sulindac group, and 23 of 57 (40%) in the eflornithine group, with a hazard ratio of 0.71 (95% CI, 0.39 to 1.32) for Flynpovi as compared with sulindac (P = 0.29) and 0.66 (95% CI, 0.36 to 1.23) for Flynpovi as compared with eflornithine. In a post-hoc analysis, none of the patients in the combination arm progressed to a need for LGI surgery for up to 48 months compared with 7 (13.2%) and 8 (15.7%) patients in the sulindac and eflornithine arms. These data corresponded to risk reductions for the need for LGI surgery approaching 100% between combination and either monotherapy with HR = 0.00 (95% CI, 0.00–0.48; p = 0.005) for combination versus sulindac and HR = 0.00 (95% CI, 0.00–0.44; p = 0.003) for combination versus eflornithine.

a3.jpg

Given the statistical significance of the LGI group, an NDA was filed with the FDA. As the study failed to meet the primary endpoint, and the NDA was based on the results of an exploratory analysis, a complete response letter was issued. To address this deficiency concern, the Company must submit the results of one or more adequate and well-controlled clinical trials which demonstrate an effect on a clinical endpoint. We are working closely with our North American partners One-Two Therapeutics designing a Phase III registration trial for familial adenomatous polyposis (“FAP”) to address the CRL. One-Two Therapeutics will manage the trial and the NDA process with the FDA. The Company will be responsible for the approvals in ROW.

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Phase III Clinical Trial in Colon Cancer Survivors

In collaboration with the NCI, and SWOG, a Phase III clinical trial has been initiated to study the benefits of Flynpovi as a therapeutic treatment for use by colon cancer survivors. The trial is named PACES for “Prevention of Adenomas and Cancer with eflornithine and sulindac.” The PACES trial is funded by the NCI and managed by SWOG. This is an ongoing double blind placebo-controlled trial of Flynpovi to prevent recurrence of high risk adenomas and second primary colorectal cancers in patients with stage 0-III colon or rectal cancer, Phase III PACES. The purpose of this study is to assess whether the Flynpovi, combination of eflornithine and sulindac, (compared to corresponding placebos) has a reduced rate of cancer or high-risk adenoma recurrence compared to comparator arms after three years of daily dosing. We have exclusive rights to the data that comes from the trial for regulatory and commercial purposes. One-Two Therapeutics has licensed the program for North American and the Company is evaluating its options for CAT in the European Union and Asia.

Clinical Development Eflornithine (CPP 1X)

Our clinical development of eflornithine thus far includes:

Phase II Neuroblastoma Trial

Phase II Gastric Cancer Prevention Trial

Phase I and Phase II Recent Onset Type 1 Diabetes Trials

Phase I/II STK-11 Mutant NSCLC Trial

Phase II Neuroblastoma Trial

Neuroblastoma is a form of cancer that occurs in infants and young children, affecting the peripheral nervous system.

Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC1) encodes the first enzyme in polyamine synthesis in mammals and is a direct transcriptional target of MYC (Bello-Fernandez, Packham, and Cleveland 1993; Pena et al. 1993). ODC1 and other genes in the polyamine pathway are crucial elements of MYCN oncogenesis in neuroblastoma (Hogarty et al. 2008; Rounbehler et al. 2009; Geerts et al. 2010). ODC1 and MYCN are also located nearby on chromosome 2, and a subset of MYCN amplified tumors have also been shown to co-amplify ODC1 (Hogarty et al. 2008). High ODC1, either in the presence or absence of MYCN amplifications, correlates with poor clinical outcome of reduced event free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) (Hogarty et al. 2008). Several genes in the polyamine pathway, including ODC1, have been shown to be independent negative prognostic factors for neuroblastoma (Hogarty et al. 2008; Rounbehler et al. 2009; Geerts et al. 2010). The most common genetic alteration in NB is MYCN where amplifications occur in approximately 20-25% of all cases and are associated with the high-risk phenotype (Seeger et al. 1985; Brodeur et al. 1984). Additionally, High-Risk-NB that lacks MYCN amplifications have MYCN deregulation through other mechanisms. MYCN is a well-documented poor prognostic risk factor for children with neuroblastoma (Schwab 1993).

CPP is engaged with leading pediatric oncology research cooperatives in the US and the UK to explore the feasibility of treating neuroblastoma with our CPP-1XS, a high dose powder dosage form of eflornithine. The Children’s Oncology Group and the NCI are performing a Phase II study evaluating CPP-1X-S 6.75 g/m2 daily to treat relapsed, refractory, or progressive neuroblastoma in combination with standard of care immunotherapy and chemotherapy. The trial has passed a futility analysis and is ongoing. The Company has received orphan drug designations for the use of eflornithine for the treatment of neuroblastoma in the United States and Europe.

Phase II Gastric Cancer Prevention Trial

H. pylori is the most common bacterial infection in humans and causes gastritis in all individuals. Gastritis progresses along the “Correa cascade” from gastritis to the precancerous stages of atrophic gastritis (loss of specialized gastric epithelium) and intestinal metaplasia (IM), to gastric adenocarcinoma (Correa 1992). In response to H. pylori infection the host elicits a robust innate and adaptive immune response, which results in mucosal inflammation but fails to eradicate the organism. Several studies have demonstrated that the failure of the immune response may be related to dysregulated L-arginine metabolism and polyamines including the upregulation of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) by macrophages (Chaturvedi et al. 2010; Chaturvedi, de Sablet, Coburn, et al. 2012) (Chaturvedi, de Sablet, Peek, et al. 2012), (Chaturvedi et al. 2011) (Xu et al. 2004) (Chaturvedi et al. 2014) (Chaturvedi et al. 2004). Levels of polyamines are increased in H. pylori-induced gastritis in mice, and oralDFMO treatment reduces gastric polyamine levels, and severity of both H. pylori colonization and gastritis (Chaturvedi et al. 2010). In the gerbil model of H. pylori-induced gastric cancer, polyamine levels correlate with levels of gastritis, DNA damage, and progression to dysplasia/carcinoma. In this model, eflornithine reduces polyamine levels and DNA damage, and reduces rates of dysplasia and carcinoma by >50% (Chaturvedi et al. 2014)

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In collaboration with investigators at Vanderbilt University and funding by the NCI, the investigator-initiated Phase II trial (IST) performed in Honduras and Puerto Rico was a randomized, double-blinded study comparing once daily eflornithine versus placebo for an up to 18-month treatment period in patients with gastric premalignant lesions. This trial has completed and is undergoing data analysis. The Company has received orphan drug designation for the use of eflornithine for the treatment of gastric cancer in the United States.

Phase I and II Recent Onset Type 1 Diabetes Trials

T1D is an organ-specific autoimmune disease characterized by chronic immune-mediated destruction of pancreatic β-cells, leading to partial, or in most cases, absolute insulin deficiency. The majority of cases result from autoimmune mediated pancreatic β-cell destruction, which occurs at a variable rate. Patients become clinically symptomatic when approximately 90% of pancreatic β-cells are destroyed. Therefore, preserving β-cell function is a target for promising treatments (Couper et al. 2014). The activity of ODC is upregulated in early diabetic kidney disease, contributing to renal hypertrophy and hyperfiltration (Pedersen et al. 1992; Deng et al. 2003). In vivo studies in experimental models of recent-onset T1D evaluating eflornithine demonstrate roles in suppressing the development of renal hypertrophy and hyperplasia, decreasing the incidence of diabetes, augmenting the survival and regeneration of β-cell populations, decreasing insulinitis, and maintaining an immune-tolerant balance of T-cell subpopulations.

The Company collaborated with investigators at Indiana University on a JDRF funded Phase I study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of increasing doses of eflornithine in patients with recent onset Type 1 diabetes. The completed Phase I trial demonstrated that a 3-month course of oral eflornithine was well tolerated with a favorable adverse event profile in children and adults with recent-onset T1D. Urinary polyamine data showed that eflornithine treatment inhibited ornithine decarboxylase activity effectively, reflected by a dose dependent reduction in urinary putrescine values. Furthermore, although not powered to detect metabolic efficacy, subjects treated with 750 mg/m2 and 1000 mg/m2/day of eflornithine exhibited higher C-peptide AUC 6 months after treatment indicative of improved β cell function compared to placebo. These data suggest that eflornithine may improve beta cell function alone and in combination regimens to treat or prevent type 1 diabetes that also include immunotherapy. A larger Phase II study fully powered to detect an effect of eflornithine treatment on maintenance of C-peptide is being planned with the goal of initiating by the end of 2022.

Phase I/II STK-11 Mutant NSCLC Trial

STK11 is the fourth-most frequently mutated gene in lung adenocarcinoma, with loss of function occurring in up to 30% of all cases (Laderian et al. 2020). Patients with LKB1 loss have reduced infiltrates of cytotoxic T-cells and respond poorly to anti PD1 or anti-PDL-1 therapies regardless of the PDL-1 status. CheckMate-057 trial lung tumors harboring co-mutations in KRAS and STK11 had an inferior response to PD-1 axis inhibitors (Skoulidis et al. 2018). These results suggest that STK11-mutated tumors were found to have a cold immune microenvironment regardless of KRAS status.

Bioinformatic analyses using two well-annotated lung adenocarcinoma datasets identified upregulation of ornithine decarboxylase (the target for eflornithine). Additionally, LKB1-loss tumors show a significant up-regulation of several solute transporters (SLC7A2, SLC14A2, and SLC16A4). SLC7A2 is known to be responsible for the membrane transport of cationic amino acids arginine, lysine, and ornithine. Furthermore, LKB1 loss the Arginine pathway in which arginine is converted to ornithine and urea (by arginase) and ornithine is converted to putrescine (by ODC1). Together, the results suggested that ODC1 may be a key metabolic driver in LKB1-loss lung cancer.

In other model systems eflornithine treatment has been shown to modulate the tumor microenvironment. A previously studied cohort revealed that ODC1 may be instrumental to immune suppression (Chamaillard et al. 1997). Since eflornithine is an ODC1 inhibitor, it is hypothesized that inhibiting the metabolic enzyme ODC1 using eflornithine will increase the number of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in LKB1-loss tumors and restore benefit of PD(L)-1 blockade to these patients.

The Company is currently planning a Phase I/II investigator-initiated trial to assess eflornithing in patients with STK-11 mutant NSCLC with the goal of starting by the end of 2022.

Total Development Costs

 

The development of SBP-101ivospemin involves a preclinical and a clinical development phase. We have completed our initial preclinical development work for pancreatic cancer and are completing our secondas well as two Phase 1I clinical trial.trials. The Phase II/III trial has just been initiated. Additional clinical trials will likely be required for FDA or other approvals in foreign jurisdictions if the results of the front-linefirst-line clinical trial of our SBP-101ivospemin product candidate justify continued development. The cost and timing of additional clinical trials is highly dependent on the nature and size of the trials.

The development of Flynpovi also has involved preclinical and clinical development work for FAP and colon cancer prevention. The company signed a licensing and development agreement giving exclusive rights to commercialize and develop Flynpovi in North America. The licensing and development agreement calls for the cost of development and obtaining approval in North America to be borne by the licensing partner. A registration trial in FAP is expected to begin in mid-2023.

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Orphan Drug Status

 

The Orphan Drug Act (“ODA”) provides special status to drugs which are intended for the safe and effective treatment, diagnosis or prevention of rare diseases that affect fewer than 200,000 people in the United States, or that affect more than 200,000 persons but for which a manufacturer is not expected to recover the costs of developing and marketing such a drug. Orphan drug designation has the advantage of reducing drug development costs by: (i) streamlining the FDA’s approval process, (ii) providing tax breaks for expenses related to the drug development, (iii) allowing the orphan drug manufacturer to receive assistance from the FDA in funding the clinical testing necessary for approval of an orphan drug, and (iv) facilitating drug development efforts. More significantly, the orphan drug manufacturer’s ability to recover its investment in developing the drug is also greatly enhanced by the FDA granting the manufacturer seven years of exclusive US marketing rights upon approval. Designation of a product candidate as an orphan drug therefore may provide its sponsor with the opportunity to adopt a faster and less expensive pathway to commercializing its product.

We obtained US Orphan Drug Status for ivospemin in 2014 and we intend to submit an applicationapply for Orphan Drug Status in Europe, Japan and Australia when we have additional clinical data.

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Intellectual Property Status On December 14, 2022, the Company announced that European Medicines Agency (EMA) Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products issued a positive opinion on Panbela’s application for orphan designation of ivospemin (SBP-101) in combination with gemcitabine and nabPaclitaxel in patients with metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

 

We have filedobtained orphan drug designation status for Flynpovi and eflornithine for FAP in the United States (2013 and 2011 respectively) and Europe (2013 and 2011 respectively). In addition, we have received orphan drug designation status for eflornithine as a single agent for Neuroblastoma in the United States (2010) and Europe (2011) and for gastric cancer (2015) in the United States .

Fast Track

In June 2020, we received Fast Track Designation from the FDA for development of ivospemin for the treatment of first-line patients with metastatic PDA when administered in combination with gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel. Additionally, in September 2017, we received Fast Track Designation from the FDA for the development of Flynpovi for the treatment of FAP. With the designation of Fast Track Designation, we, or our North American partners, may engage in more frequent interactions with the FDA, and the FDA may review sections of a New Drug Application (“NDA”) before the application is complete. This rolling review is available if the Company provides, and the FDA approves, a schedule for the submission of the remaining information and the applicant pays applicable user fees. However, the FDA’s time period goal for reviewing an application does not begin until the last section of the NDA is submitted. Additionally, Fast Track Designation may be withdrawn by the FDA if the FDA believes that the designation is no longer supported by data emerging in the clinical trial process.

Intellectual Property

As the result of efforts at our contract manufacturer Syngene International Patent Application No. PCT/US19/15581 Titled METHODSLtd to refine the synthetic process, a new shorter synthetic process has been developed on which a patent (US 11,098,005 B2) “METHODS FOR PRODUCING (6S,15S)-3,8,13,18- TETRAAZAICOSANE-6,15-DIOL. This(65,155)-3,8,13,18-TETRAAZAICOSANE-6, 15-DIOL” issued on Aug. 24, 2021 and was assigned to Panbela. The patent application claims cover a novel process for the production of SBP-101ivospemin and reduces the number of synthetic steps from nineteen to six.

 

Development Project ManagersFor Flynpovi, there is a composition of matter patent for the fixed dose combination of eflornithine and sulindac that is broadly nationalized providing potential protection thru 2037. Additionally, we hold several Method of Use patents or Flynpovi and/or eflornithine for the treatment of Familial Adenomatous Polyposis, Neuroblastoma, and the Treatment of Recent Onset Type 1 Diabetes.

 

Project managers have been hiredWe are evaluating other opportunities to provide additional intellectual property.

Human Capital Management

As of September 30, 2022, we had eight (8) full time employees. None of our employees are represented by a labor union or contracted to coordinate all the functions identified incovered by a collective bargaining agreement. We believe our Development Plan for SBP-101. The personnel responsible for overseeing critical functions of the Development Plan are as follows:relationship with our employees is good.

 

Our CMC program is under the direction of Dr. Thomas Neenan, Ph.D., a highly experienced pharmaceutical industry synthetic chemist, who is a founding member of Sun BioPharma, Inc.human capital resources objectives include, as applicable, identifying, recruiting, retaining, incentivizing, and integrating our Chief Scientific Officer. Dr. Neenan has commissioned Contract Manufacturing Organizations (“CMOs”), which have improved the process for synthesis of SBP-101,existing and have produced high-quality compound, chemically identical to that synthesized by Dr. Bergeron at the University of Florida. Dr. Neenan’s completed work includes development, confirmationnew employees, advisors, and documentation of the synthetic chemistry process, analytical purity, reproducibility, stability (shelf-life), degradation products and pharmaceutical formulation and packaging. This work has culminated in adequate supplies of drug to support preclinical work and human clinical trials. Dr. Neenan also leads our preclinical group.

Dr. Anthony L. Kiorpes, Ph.D., D.V.M., is a long-term consultant with the Company. Dr. Kiorpes has responsibility for our toxicology program, a role he has assumed previously for many preclinical projects at other companies. His studies have determined single- and multiple-dose safety profiles in rodent and non-rodent species, enabling improved safety monitoring in the design of clinical trials for SBP-101. Dr. Kiorpes’ results have helped management to predict and prevent potential side effects in humans.

Dr. Michael T. Cullen, M.D., M.B.A, is our founder and Executive Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”). Dr. Cullen is an experienced drug development specialist with 10 prior NDA approvals and has led our overall Clinical, Regulatory Affairs and Project Management effort, including timeline and budget management, critical path timeline synchronization, IND/HREC/CTN package submissions, management of industry partner collaborative efforts, initial EU Regulatory Affairs planning, and collaboration on oversight of outsourced CMC efforts. Dr. Cullen has recruited additional experienced and talented staff in the positions of statistical analyses, manufacturing operations, clinical operations, clinical research and non-clinical studies.

Dr. Suzanne Gagnon, M.D., is our Chief Medical Officer (“CMO”) and a memberconsultants. The principal purposes of our Boardequity and cash incentive plans are to attract, retain and reward personnel through the granting of Directors. Dr. Gagnon is an experienced CMO, having servedstock-based and cash-based compensation awards, in that capacity for several private and public companies, including BioPharm/IBAH/Omnicare, ICON, Idis, NuPathe, Luitpold (Daiichi-Sankyo), and Rhone-Poulenc and Rorer (Sanofi) where she helped develop docetaxel, an important chemotherapy agent. Dr. Gagnon assumed the lead in the design and implementation of our clinical trials, recruiting investigators, monitoring the safety of the patients and reporting the findingsorder to motivate such individuals to perform to the FDA, EMAbest of their abilities and TGA,achieve our objectives and in medical literature.

Dr. Michael J. Walker is an independent consultant forlead to the success of the Company and works asincrease value to our Director of Pancreatic Research. Dr. Walker is an accomplished, University of Minnesota and UCLA trained pancreatic surgeon, and is currently a part-time instructor at the University of Minnesota School of Medicine. He was also the recipient of an NIH grant to study SBP-101 in collaboration with colleagues at Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles.stockholders.

 

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We value diversity of backgrounds and perspectives in our workforce and our policy is that we do not discriminate based on race, religion, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, military and veteran status, sexual orientation or any other protected characteristic as established by federal, state or local laws.

We believe that operational responsibilities can be handled by our current employees, independent consultants and our global CRO. We have engaged Courante Oncology, an experienced clinical Contract Research Organization (“CRO”),historically used the services of independent consultants and contractors to manage clinical operations in the United States,perform various professional services. We believe that this use of third-party service providers enhances our ability to minimize general and have engaged Novotech Pty Ltd, another experienced CRO foradministrative expenses. We intend to periodically evaluate our Australian operations. These two CROs will provide regulatory documentation for HREC/CTNstaffing and Investigational Review Board (“IRB”) submissions, FDA 1571 regulation compliance,talent requirements and informed consents, as well as clinical study site qualification, contracting and payment, study conduct monitoring, data collection, analysis and reporting.expect to add employees if that becomes a more appropriate resourcing alternative.

 

Competition

 

The development and commercialization of new products to treat cancer is intensely competitive and subject to rapid and significant technological change. While we believe that our knowledge, experience and scientific resources provide us with competitive advantages, we face substantial competition from major pharmaceutical companies, specialty pharmaceutical companies, and biotechnology companies worldwide. Many of our competitors have significantly greater financial, technical, and human resources. Smaller and early-stage companies may also prove to be significant competitors, particularly through collaborative arrangements with large and established companies. As a result, our competitors may discover, develop, license or commercialize products before or more successfully than we do.

 

We face competition with respect to our current product candidates and will face competition with respect to future product candidates, from segments of the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and other related markets that pursue approaches to targeting molecular alterations and signaling pathways associated with cancer. Our competitors may obtain regulatory approval of their products more rapidly than we do or may obtain patent protection or other intellectual property rights that limit our ability to develop or commercialize our product candidates. Our competitors may also develop drugs that are more effective, more convenient, less costly, or possessing better safety profiles than our products, and these competitors may be more successful than us in manufacturing and marketing their products.

 

In addition, we may need to develop our product candidates in collaboration with diagnostic companies, and we will face competition from other companies in establishing these collaborations. Our competitors will also compete with us in recruiting and retaining qualified scientific, management and commercial personnel, establishing clinical trial sites and patient registration for clinical trials, as well as in acquiring technologies complementary to, or necessary for, our programs.

 

Furthermore, we also face competition more broadly across the market for cost-effective and reimbursable cancer treatments. The most common methods of treating patients with cancer are surgery, radiation and drug therapy, including chemotherapy, immunotherapy, hormone therapy and targeted drug therapy or a combination of such methods. There are a variety of available drug therapies marketed for cancer. In many cases, these drugs are administered in combination to enhance efficacy. While our product candidates, if any are approved, may compete with these existing drug and other therapies, to the extent they are ultimately used in combination with or as an adjunct to these therapies, our product candidates may be approved as companion treatments and not be competitive with current therapies. Some of these drugs are branded and subject to patent protection, and others are available on a generic basis. Insurers and other third-party payors may also encourage the use of generic products or specific branded products. We expect that if our product candidates are approved, they will be priced at a premium over competitive generic, including branded generic, products. As a result, obtaining market acceptance of, and gaining a significant share of the market for, any of our product candidates that we successfully introduce to the market will pose challenges. In addition, many companies are developing new therapeutics and we cannot predict what the standard of care will be as our product candidate progresses through clinical development.

 

SBP-101

Commercialization

 

We have not established a sales, marketing or product distribution infrastructure nor have we devoted significant management resources to planning such an infrastructure because our lead product candidateivospemin is still in early clinical development. We currently anticipate that we will partner with a larger pharmaceutical organization having the expertise and capacity to perform these functions.

 

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Flynpovi will be commercialized, if approved, in North America by One-Two

 

Manufacturing and Suppliers

 

We do not own or operate, and currently have no plans to establish, any manufacturing facilities. We currently rely, and expect to continue to rely, on third parties for the manufacture of our product candidates for preclinical and clinical testing as well as for commercial manufacture of any products that we may commercialize. If needed, we intend to engage, by entering into a supply agreement or through another arrangement, third party manufacturers to provide us with additional SBP-101 clinical supply. We identified and qualified manufacturers to provide the active pharmaceutical ingredient and fill-and-finish services for our initial product candidate prior to our submission of an NDA to the FDA and expect to continue utilizing this approach for any future product candidates.

 

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Employees

Securing the manufacture of Flynpovi for further clinical studies and for commercialization in North America, if the product is approved is the responsibility of One Two, who was granted a non-exclusive license to manufacture for North America

 

As of December 31, 2019, we had five employees, four of whom were full-time employees. We believe that operational responsibilities can be handled by our current employees and independent consultants. We have historically used, and expect to continue to use, the services of independent consultants and contractors to perform various professional services. We believe that this use of third-party service providers enhances our ability to minimize general and administrative expenses.

Material Agreements

 

The Standard Exclusive License Agreement (“License Agreement”) dated December 22, 2011, between us and UFRF grants us an exclusive license to the proprietary technology covered by issued United States Patents Nos. US 5,962,533, which expired in February 2016, and US 6,160,022 which expired in July 20192020 and Know-How as defined by the License Agreement, with reservations by UFRF for academic or government uses. Under this agreement, we had agreed to pay various royalties, expenses and milestone payments to UFRF. Additionally, pursuant to this agreement, we initially issued to UFRF 80,000 shares of common stock. Anti-dilution protection for UFRF pursuant to this agreement required us to issue additional shares in order for UFRF to maintain its ownership stake at ten percent (10%) of the total number of issued and outstanding shares of our common stock, calculated on a fully diluted basis, until such time as we had received a total of two million dollars ($2,000,000) in exchange for our issuance of equity securities. This requirement was met in 2012, and UFRF is therefore afforded no further anti-dilution protection. Pursuant to this anti-dilution provision, we issued an additional 34,423 shares of common stock to UFRF increasing the total shares of common stock issued to UFRF to 114,423 shares.

The License Agreement was amended onin December 12, 2016 (the “First(“First Amendment”) and then again onin October 3, 2019 (the “Second(“Second Amendment”).

Under the Second Amendment all minimum royalty payments and milestone payments defined in the License Agreement were eliminated. In addition, the period for payment of payment royalties was changed to be the shorter of (i) ten (10) years from first commercial sale or (ii) the period of market exclusivity on a country by countrycountry-by-country basis. UFRF may also terminate this license for standard and similar causes such as material breach of the agreement, bankruptcy, failure to pay royalties and other customary conditions. The agreement allows for UFRF to terminate if the first commercial sale is not made by December 31, 2025.

 

CPP is party to a license agreement with One-Two dated July 16, 2021. Under the agreement, One-Two has licensed CPP’s North American development and commercialization rights for Flynpovi. The foregoing descriptionagreement also calls for CPP to receive a milestone payment upon regulatory approval of Flynpovi by the FDA and royalties on net sales of Flynpovi in the licensed territories. Payment of the material termsmilestone payment and net sales royalties shall be reduced on a dollar-for-dollar basis by amounts funded by One-Two for One-Two’s direct employee, clinical and regulatory costs associated with any development activities necessary to secure FDA approval. The Company is not responsible for any costs, as they are incurred, associated with the development and regulatory approval of the License Agreement, as amended, is qualified by the full text of the License Agreement, and the Second Amendment, both of which are incorporated herein by reference.Flynpovi in North America.

 

Government Regulation

 

FDA Approval Process

 

In the United States, pharmaceutical products are subject to extensive regulation by the FDA. The Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act and other federal and state statutes and regulations govern, among other things, the research, development, testing, manufacture, storage, recordkeeping, approval, labeling, promotion and marketing, distribution, post-approval monitoring and reporting, sampling and import and export of pharmaceutical products. Failure to comply with applicable US requirements may subject a company to a variety of administrative or judicial sanctions, such as FDA refusal to approve pending NDAs, warning or untitled letters, product recalls, product seizures, total or partial suspension of production or distribution, injunctions, fines, civil penalties and criminal prosecution.

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Pharmaceutical product development for a new product or certain changes to an approved product in the United States typically involves preclinical laboratory and animal tests, the submission to the FDA of an IND which must become effective before clinical testing may commence, and adequate and well-controlled clinical trials to establish the safety and effectiveness of the drug for each indication for which FDA approval is sought. Satisfaction of FDA pre-market approval requirements typically takes many years and the actual time required may vary substantially based upon the type, complexity and novelty of the product or disease.

 

Preclinical tests include laboratory evaluation of product chemistry, formulation and toxicity, as well as animal trials to assess the characteristics and potential safety and efficacy of the product. The conduct of the preclinical tests must comply with federal regulations and requirements, including good laboratory practices. The results of preclinical testing are submitted to the FDA as part of an IND along with other information, including the Investigator’s Brochure, information about product chemistry, manufacturing and controls, potential perceived side effects and risks, and a proposed clinical trial protocol. Long-term preclinical tests, such as animal tests of reproductive toxicity and carcinogenicity, may continue after the IND is submitted.

 

A 30-day waiting period after the submission of each IND is required prior to the commencement of clinical testing in humans. If the FDA has neither commented on nor questioned the IND within this 30-day period, the clinical trial proposed in the IND may begin.

 

Clinical trials involve the administration of the investigational new drug to healthy volunteers or patients under the supervision of a qualified investigator. Clinical trials must be conducted: (i) in compliance with federal regulations; (ii) in compliance with good clinical practice (“GCP”), an international standard meant to protect the rights and health of patients and to define the roles of clinical trial sponsors, administrators and monitors; as well as (iii) under protocols detailing the objectives of the trial, the parameters to be used in monitoring safety and the effectiveness criteria to be evaluated. Each protocol involving testing on US patients and subsequent protocol amendments must be submitted to the FDA as part of the IND.

 

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The FDA may order the temporary, or permanent, discontinuation of a clinical trial at any time, or impose other sanctions, if it believes that the clinical trial either is not being conducted in accordance with FDA requirements or presents an unacceptable risk to the clinical trial patients. The study protocol and informed consent information for patients in clinical trials must also be submitted to an institutional review board (“IRB”) for approval. An IRB may also require the clinical trial at the site to be halted, either temporarily or permanently, for failure to comply with the IRB’s requirements, or may impose other conditions.

 

Clinical trials to support NDAs for marketing approval are typically conducted in three sequential phases, but the phases may overlap. In Phase 1,I, the initial introduction of the drug into healthy human subjects/patients, the drug is tested to assess metabolism, pharmacokinetics, pharmacological actions, side effects associated with increasing doses, and, if possible, early evidence of effectiveness. Phase 2II usually involves trials in a limited patient population to determine the effectiveness of the drug for a particular indication, dosage tolerance and optimum dosage, and to identify common adverse effects and safety risks. If a compound demonstrates evidence of effectiveness and an acceptable safety profile in Phase 2II evaluations, pivotal, or Phase 3III trials are undertaken to obtain the additional information about clinical efficacy and safety in a larger number of patients, typically at geographically dispersed clinical trial sites, to permit the FDA to evaluate the overall benefit-risk relationship of the drug and to provide adequate information for the labeling of the drug. In many cases the FDA requires two adequate and well-controlled Phase 3III clinical trials to demonstrate the efficacy of the drug. A single Phase 3III trial with other confirmatory evidence may be sufficient in instances where the study is a large multicenter trial demonstrating internal consistency and a statistically very persuasive finding of a clinically meaningful effect on mortality, irreversible morbidity or prevention of a disease with a potentially serious outcome and confirmation of the result in a second trial would be practically or ethically impossible. After an NDA is approved, a Phase 4IV trial may be undertaken to evaluate safety over a long period of time, quality of life or cost effectiveness.

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After completion of the required clinical testing, an NDA is prepared and submitted to the FDA. FDA approval of the NDA is required before marketing of the product may begin in the United States. The NDA must include the results of all preclinical, clinical and other testing and a compilation of data relating to the product’s pharmacology, chemistry, toxicology, manufacture, controls and any proposed labeling. The cost of preparing and submitting an NDA is substantial, and the fees are typically increased annually.

 

The FDA has 60 days from its receipt of an NDA to determine whether the application will be accepted for filing based on the agency’s threshold determination that it is sufficiently complete to permit substantive review. Once the submission is accepted for filing, the FDA begins an in-depth review. The FDA has agreed to certain performance goals in the review of NDAs to encourage timeliness. Most applications for standard review drug products are reviewed within twelve months from submission; most applications for priority review drugs are reviewed within eight months from submission. Priority review can be applied to drugs that the FDA determines offer major advances in treatment or provide a treatment where no adequate therapy exists. If priority review is achieved, the FDA’s goal is to take actionact on the application within six months. The review process for both standard and priority review may be extended by the FDA for three additional months to consider certain late-submitted information, or information intended to clarify information already provided in the submission. The FDA may also refer applications for novel drug products, or drug products that present difficult questions of safety or efficacy, to an outside advisory committee—typicallycommittee-typically a panel that includes clinicians and other experts—forexperts-for review, evaluation and a recommendation as to whether the application should be approved. The FDA is not bound by the recommendation of an advisory committee, but it generally follows such recommendations.

 

Before approving an NDA, the FDA will typically inspect one or more clinical sites to assure compliance with GCP. Additionally, the FDA will inspect the facility or the facilities at which the drug is manufactured. The FDA will not approve the product unless compliance with current good manufacturing practice (“cGMP”), a quality system regulating manufacturing, is satisfactory and the NDA contains data that provide substantial evidence that the drug is safe and effective in the indication studied.

 

After the FDA evaluates the NDA and the manufacturing facilities, it issues either an approval letter or a complete response letter. A complete response letter generally outlines the deficiencies in the submission and may require substantial additional testing, or information, in order for the FDA to reconsider the application. If, or when, those deficiencies have been addressed to the FDA’s satisfaction in a resubmission of the NDA, the FDA will issue an approval letter. The FDA has committed to reviewing such resubmissions in two or six months depending on the type of information included.

 

An approval letter authorizes commercial marketing of the drug with specific prescribing information for specific indications. As a condition of NDA approval, the FDA may require a risk evaluation and mitigation strategy (“REMS”) to help ensure that the benefits of the drug outweigh the potential risks. REMS can include medication guides, communication plans for healthcare professionals, and elements to assure safe use (“ETASU”). ETASU can include, but are not limited to, special training or certification for prescribing or dispensing, dispensing only under certain circumstances, special monitoring and the use of patient registries. The requirement for a REMS can materially affect the potential market and profitability of the drug. Moreover, product approval may require substantial post-approval testing and surveillance to monitor the drug’s safety or efficacy. Once granted, product approvals may be withdrawn if compliance with regulatory standards is not maintained or problems are identified following initial marketing.

 

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Changes to some of the conditions established in an approved application, including changes in indications, labeling, or manufacturing processes or facilities, require submission and FDA approval of a new NDA or NDA supplement before the change can be implemented. An NDA supplement for a new indication typically requires clinical data similar to that in the original application, and the FDA uses the same procedures and actions in reviewing NDA supplements as it does in reviewing NDAs.

 

Fast Track Designation and Accelerated Approval

 

The FDA is required to facilitate the development, and expedite the review, of drugs that are (1) intended for the treatment of a serious or life-threatening disease or (2) condition for which there is no effective treatment and which demonstrate the potential to address unmet medical needs for the condition. Under the Fast Track program, the sponsor of a new product candidate may request that the FDA designate the product candidate for a specific indication as a Fast Track drug concurrent with, or after, the filing of the IND for the product candidate. The FDA must determine if the product candidate qualifies for Fast Track Designation within 60 days of receipt of the sponsor’s request.

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Under the Fast Track program and FDA’s accelerated approval regulations, the FDA may approve a drug for a serious or life-threatening illness that provides meaningful therapeutic benefit to patients over existing treatments based upon a surrogate endpoint that is reasonably likely to predict clinical benefit, or on a clinical endpoint that can be measured earlier than irreversible morbidity or mortality, that is reasonably likely to predict an effect on irreversible morbidity or mortality or other clinical benefit, taking into account the severity, rarity, or prevalence of the condition and the availability or lack of alternative treatments.

 

In clinical trials, a surrogate endpoint is a measurement of laboratory or clinical signs of a disease or condition that substitutes for a direct measurement of how a patient feels, functions, or survives. Surrogate endpoints can often be measured more easily or more rapidly than clinical endpoints. A product candidate approved on this basis is subject to rigorous post-marketing compliance requirements, including the completion of Phase 4IV or post-approval clinical trials to confirm the effect on the clinical endpoint. Failure to conduct required post-approval studies, or confirm a clinical benefit during post-marketing studies, will allow FDA to withdraw the drug from the market on an expedited basis. All promotional materials for product candidates approved under accelerated regulations are subject to priority review by FDA.

 

If a submission is granted Fast Track Designation, the sponsor may engage in more frequent interactions with the FDA, and the FDA may review sections of the NDA before the application is complete. This rolling review is available if the applicant provides, and the FDA approves, a schedule for the submission of the remaining information and the applicant pays applicable user fees. However, the FDA’s time period goal for reviewing an application does not begin until the last section of the NDA is submitted. Additionally, Fast Track Designation may be withdrawn by the FDA if the FDA believes that the designation is no longer supported by data emerging in the clinical trial process.

 

Breakthrough Therapy Designation

 

The FDA is also required to expedite the development and review of the application for approval of drugs that are intended to treat a serious or life-threatening disease or condition where preliminary clinical evidence indicates that the drug may demonstrate substantial improvement over existing therapies on one or more clinically significant endpoints. Under the Breakthrough Therapy program, the sponsor of a new product candidate may request that the FDA designate the product candidate for a specific indication as a breakthrough therapy. The FDA must determine if the product candidate qualifies for Breakthrough Therapy designation within 60 days of receipt of the sponsor’s request.

 

Orphan Drug Designation and Exclusivity

 

The Orphan Drug ActODA provides incentives for the development of products intended to treat rare diseases or conditions. Under the Orphan Drug Act,ODA, the FDA may grant orphan designation to a drug intended to treat a rare disease or condition, which is generally a disease or condition that affects fewer than 200,000 individuals in the United States, or more than 200,000 individuals in the United States and for which there is no reasonable expectation that the cost of developing and making a drug available in the United States for this type of disease or condition will be recovered from sales of the product. If a sponsor demonstrates that a drug is intended to treat a rare disease or condition, the FDA will grant orphan designation for that product for the orphan disease indication, assuming that the same drug has not already been approved for the indication for which the sponsor is seeking orphan designation. If the same drug has already been approved for the indication for which the sponsor is seeking orphan designation, the sponsor must present a plausible hypothesis of clinical superiority in order to obtain orphan designation. Orphan designation must be requested before submitting an NDA. After the FDA grants orphan designation, the FDA discloses the identity of the therapeutic agent and its potential orphan use.

 

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Orphan designation may provide manufacturers with benefits such as research grants, tax credits, Prescription Drug User Fee Act (“PDUFA”) application fee waivers and eligibility for orphan drug exclusivity. If a product that has orphan designation subsequently receives the first FDA approval of the active moiety for that disease or condition for which it has such designation, the product is entitled to orphan drug exclusivity, which for seven years prohibits the FDA from approving another product with the same active ingredient for the same indication, except in limited circumstances. Orphan drug exclusivity will not bar approval of another product under certain circumstances, including if a subsequent product with the same active ingredient for the same indication is shown to be clinically superior to the approved product on the basis of greater efficacy or safety, or providing a major contribution to patient care, or if the company with orphan drug exclusivity is not able to meet market demand. Further, the FDA may approve more than one product for the same orphan indication or disease as long as the products contain different active ingredients. Moreover, competitors may receive approval of different products for the indication for which the orphan drug has exclusivity or obtain approval for the same product but for a different indication for which the orphan drug has exclusivity.

 

In the European Union, orphan drug designation also entitles a party to financial incentives such as reduction of fees or fee waivers and 10 years of market exclusivity is granted following drug or biological product approval. This period may be reduced to 6 years if the orphan drug designation criteria are no longer met, including where it is shown that the product is sufficiently profitable not to justify maintenance of market exclusivity.

 

Orphan drug designation must be requested before submitting an application for marketing approval. Orphan drug designation does not convey any advantage in, or shorten the duration of, the regulatory review and approval process.

 

Post-Approval Requirements

 

Once an NDA is approved, a product will be subject to certain post-approval requirements. For instance, the FDA closely regulates the post-approval marketing and promotion of drugs, including standards and regulations for direct-to-consumer advertising, off-label promotion, industry-sponsored scientific and educational activities and promotional activities involving the internet. Drugs may be marketed only for the approved indications and in accordance with the provisions of the approved labeling.

 

Adverse event reporting and submission of periodic reports are required following FDA approval of an NDA. The FDA also may require post-marketing testing, known as Phase 4IV testing, risk evaluation and mitigation strategies, or REMS, and surveillance to monitor the effects of an approved product, or FDA may place conditions on an approval that could restrict the distribution or use of the product. In addition, quality control, drug manufacture, packaging and labeling procedures must continue to conform to current good manufacturing practices, or cGMPs, after approval. Drug manufacturers and certain of their subcontractors are required to register their establishments with the FDA and certain state agencies. Registration with FDA subjects’ entities to periodic unannounced inspections by the FDA, during which the Agency inspects manufacturing facilities to assess compliance with cGMPs. Accordingly, manufacturers must continue to expend time, money and effort in the areas of production and quality-control to maintain compliance with cGMPs. Regulatory authorities may withdraw product approvals or request product recalls if a company fails to comply with regulatory standards, if it encounters problems following initial marketing, or if previously unrecognized problems are subsequently discovered.

 

Additional Regulations and Environmental Matters

 

In the United States, our activities are potentially subject to regulation by various federal, state and local authorities in addition to the FDA, including but not limited to, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or CMS, other divisions of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (e.g., the Office of Inspector General), the U.S. Department of Justice, or DOJ, and individual U.S. Attorney offices within the DOJ, and state and local governments. For example, sales, marketing and scientific/educational grant programs must comply with the anti-fraud and abuse provisions of the Social Security Act, the false claims laws, and our activities may implicate the privacy provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (“HIPAA”) and similar state laws, each as amended.

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The federal Anti-Kickback Statute prohibits, among other things, any person or entity, from knowingly and willfully offering, paying, soliciting or receiving any remuneration, directly or indirectly, overtly or covertly, in cash or in kind, to induce or in return for purchasing, leasing, ordering or arranging for the purchase, lease or order of any item or service reimbursable under Medicare, Medicaid or other federal healthcare programs. The term remuneration has been interpreted broadly to include anything of value. The Anti-Kickback Statute has been interpreted to apply to arrangements between pharmaceutical manufacturers on one hand and prescribers, purchasers, and formulary managers on the other. There are statutory exceptions and regulatory safe harbors protecting some common activities from prosecution. The exceptions and safe harbors are drawn narrowly and practices that involve remuneration that may be alleged to be intended to induce prescribing, purchasing or recommending may be subject to scrutiny if they do not qualify for an exception or safe harbor. Failure to meet all the requirements of a particular applicable statutory exception or regulatory safe harbor does not make the conduct per se illegal under the Anti-Kickback Statute. Instead, the legality of the arrangement will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis based on a cumulative review of all its facts and circumstances. While we reasonably believe our practices to be in compliance with the Anti-Kickback Statute, our practices may not in all cases meet all the criteria for protection under a statutory exception or regulatory safe harbor.

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Additionally, the intent standard under the Anti-Kickback Statute was amended by the Affordable Care Act (“ACA”) to a stricter standard such that a person or entity no longer needs to have actual knowledge of the statute or specific intent to violate it to have committed a violation. In addition, the ACA codified case law that a claim including items or services resulting from a violation of the federal Anti-Kickback Statute constitutes a false or fraudulent claim for purposes of the federal False Claims Act (as further discussed below).

 

The Civil Monetary Penalties statute authorizes the imposition of severe financial penalties against any person or entity who, among other things, is determined to have presented or caused to be presented a claim to a federal health program that the person knows or should know is for an item or service that was not provided as claimed or is false or fraudulent.

 

The federal False Claims Act prohibits, among other things, any person or entity from knowingly presenting, or causing to be presented, a false claim for payment to, or approval by, the federal government or knowingly making, using, or causing to be made or used, a false record or statement material to a false or fraudulent claim to the federal government. As a result of a modification made by the Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act of 2009, a claim includes “any request or demand” for money or property presented to the U.S. government. Recently, several pharmaceutical and other healthcare companies have been prosecuted under these laws for allegedly providing free product to customers with the expectation that the customers would bill federal programs for the product. Other companies have been prosecuted for causing false claims to be submitted because of the companies’ marketing of the product for unapproved, and thus non-reimbursable, uses.

 

HIPAA created new federal criminal statutes that prohibit knowingly and willfully executing, or attempting to execute, a scheme to defraud or to obtain, by means of false or fraudulent pretenses, representations or promises, any money or property owned by, or under the control or custody of, any healthcare benefit program, including private third-party payors and knowingly and willfully falsifying, concealing or covering up by trick, scheme or device, a material fact or making any materially false, fictitious or fraudulent statement in connection with the delivery of, or payment for healthcare benefits, items or services.

 

Also, many states have similar fraud and abuse statutes or regulations that apply to items and services reimbursed under Medicaid and other state programs, or, in several states, apply regardless of the payor.

 

We may be subject to data privacy and security regulations by both the federal government and the states in which we conduct our business. HIPAA, as amended by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (“HITECH)HITECH”) and its implementing regulations, imposes requirements relating to the privacy, security and transmission of individually identifiable health information. Among other things, HITECH makes HIPAA’s privacy and security standards directly applicable to business associates, independent contractors or agents of covered entities that receive or obtain protected health information in connection with providing a service on behalf of a covered entity. HITECH also created four new tiers of civil monetary penalties, amended HIPAA to make civil and criminal penalties directly applicable to business associates, and gave state attorneys general new authority to file civil actions for damages or injunctions in federal courts to enforce the federal HIPAA laws and seek attorneys’ fees and costs associated with pursuing federal civil actions. In addition, state laws govern the privacy and security of health information in specified circumstances, many of which differ from each other in significant ways and may not have the same effect, thus complicating compliance efforts.

 

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Additionally, the federal Physician Payments Sunshine Act within the ACA, and its implementing regulations, require that certain manufacturers of drugs, devices, biological and medical supplies for which payment is available under Medicare, Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (with certain exceptions) to report information related to certain payments or other transfers of value made or distributed to physicians, other specified health care professionals and teaching hospitals, or to entities or individuals at the request of, or designated on behalf of, the physicians, other specified health care professionals and teaching hospitals and to report annually certain ownership and investment interests held by physicians and other specified health care professionals and their immediate family members. Some states have analogous laws requiring manufacturers to report certain transfers of value to covered individuals and entities.

To distribute products commercially, we must comply with state laws that require the registration of manufacturers and wholesale distributors of drug and biological products in a state, including, in certain states, manufacturers and distributors who ship products into the state even if such manufacturers or distributors have no place of business within the state. Some states also impose requirements on manufacturers and distributors to establish the pedigree of product in the chain of distribution, including some states that require manufacturers and others to adopt new technology capable of tracking and tracing product as it moves through the distribution chain. Several states have enacted legislation requiring pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to establish marketing compliance programs, file periodic reports with the state, make periodic public disclosures on sales, marketing, pricing, clinical trials and other activities, and/or register their sales representatives, as well as to prohibit pharmacies and other healthcare entities from providing certain physician prescribing data to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies for use in sales and marketing, and to prohibit certain other sales and marketing practices. All our activities are potentially subject to federal and state consumer protection and unfair competition laws.

 

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If our operations are found to be in violation of any of the federal and state healthcare laws described above or any other governmental regulations that apply to us, we may be subject to penalties, including without limitation, civil, criminal and/or administrative penalties, damages, fines, disgorgement, exclusion from participation in government programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid, injunctions, private “qui tam” actions brought by individual whistleblowers in the name of the government, or refusal to allow us to enter into government contracts, contractual damages, reputational harm, administrative burdens, diminished profits and future earnings, and the curtailment or restructuring of our operations, any of which could adversely affect our ability to operate our business and our results of operations.

 

Coverage and Reimbursement

 

Significant uncertainty exists as to the coverage and reimbursement status of any product candidates for which we obtain regulatory approval. In the United States and markets in other countries, sales of any products for which we receive regulatory approval for commercial sale will depend, in part, on the extent to which third-party payors provide coverage and establish adequate reimbursement levels for such products. In the United States, third-party payors include federal and state healthcare programs, privately managed care providers, health insurers and other organizations. The process for determining whether a third-party payor will provide coverage for a product may be separate from the process for setting the price of a product or for establishing the reimbursement rate that such a payor will pay for the product. Third-party payors may limit coverage to specific products on an approved list, also known as a formulary, which might not include all the FDA-approved products for a particular indication. Third-party payors are increasingly challenging the price, examining the medical necessity and reviewing the cost-effectiveness of medical products, therapies and services, in addition to questioning their safety and efficacy. We may need to conduct expensive pharmaco-economic studies to demonstrate the medical necessity and cost-effectiveness of our products, in addition to the costs required to obtain the FDA approvals. Our product candidates may not be considered medically necessary or cost-effective. A payor’s decision to provide coverage for a product does not imply that an adequate reimbursement rate will be approved. Further, one payor’s determination to provide coverage for a product does not assure that other payors will also provide coverage for the product. This is also true of Medicare reimbursement, where different vendors process payments, so that coverage by one vendor does not assure that all other vendors will provide coverage. Adequate third-party reimbursement may not be available to enable us to maintain price levels sufficient to realize an appropriate return on our investment in product development. In addition, the United States federal government position on matters related to drug pricing is evolving and uncertain, and any changes could have a material impact on drug pricing generally in the United States, including for our product candidates if approved.

 

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Different pricing and reimbursement schemes exist in other countries. In the EU, governments influence the price of pharmaceutical products through their pricing and reimbursement rules and control of national health care systems that fund a large part of the cost of those products to consumers. Some jurisdictions operate positive and negative list systems under which products may only be marketed once a reimbursement price has been agreed. To obtain reimbursement or pricing approval, some of these countries may require the completion of clinical trials that compare the cost-effectiveness of a particular product candidate to currently available therapies. Other member states allow companies to fix their own prices for medicines but monitor and control company profits. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in the United Kingdom also requires consideration of cost-benefit analysis. The downward pressure on health care costs has become very intense. As a result, increasingly high barriers are being erected to the entry of new products. In addition, in some countries, cross-border imports from low-priced markets exert a commercial pressure on pricing within a country.

 

The marketability of any product candidates for which we receive regulatory approval for commercial sale may suffer if the government and third- partythird-party payors fail to provide adequate coverage and reimbursement. In addition, emphasis on managed care in the United States has increased and we expect will continue to increase the pressure on healthcare pricing. Coverage policies and third-party reimbursement rates may change at any time. Even if favorable coverage and reimbursement status is attained for one or more products for which we receive regulatory approval, less favorable coverage policies and reimbursement rates may be implemented in the future.

 

Corporate InformationProperties

 

Sun BioPharma, Inc. was originally incorporated under the laws of the State of DelawareOur primary business functions are conducted by our employees and independent contractors on a distributed basis. Accordingly, we do not lease or own any real property and all employees currently work from their homes. We maintain our principal mailing address at Suite 305 at 712 Vista Boulevard in September 2011. In 2015,Waconia, Minnesota.

Legal Proceedings

We are not currently party to any material legal proceedings. From time to time, we becamemay be named as a public company by completing a reverse merger transaction (the “Merger”)defendant in legal actions arising from our normal business activities. We believe that we have obtained adequate insurance coverage or rights to indemnification in connection with a wholly owned subsidiary of Cimarron Medical, Inc., a public company organized under the laws of the State of Utah. Upon completion of the Merger and other separate but contemporaneous transactions by certain of our stockholders, our stockholders collectively owned approximately 99.0% of the post-Merger public company, which was renamed “Sun BioPharma, Inc.” In 2016, we reincorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware via a merger with our operating subsidiary, resulting in our current corporate form.potential legal proceedings that may arise.

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Available Information

 

Our website is located at www.SunBioPharma.com.www.Panbela.com. The information contained on or connected to our website is not a part of this report.prospectus. We have included our website address as a factual reference and do not intend it to be an active link to our website.

 

We make available, free of charge, through our website at www.sunbiopharma.com,www.panbela.com, materials we file or furnish to the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, including our annual report on Form 10-K, our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, our current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports. These materials are posted to our website as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file them with or furnish them to the SEC.

 

The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information about us and other issuers that file electronically at www.sec.gov.

 

MANAGEMENT

Information about our Executive Officers

Jennifer K. Simpson, Ph.D., MSN, CRNP, age 54, has served as President and Chief Executive Officer and as a director of our Company since July 2020. Prior to joining the Company Dr. Simpson served as President and Chief Executive Officer and as a member of the board of directors of Delcath Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: DCTH) from 2015 to June 2020. She had previously held various other leadership roles at Delcath since 2012. From 2011 to 2012, Dr. Simpson served as Vice President, Global Marketing, Oncology Brand Lead at ImClone Systems, Inc. (a wholly owned subsidiary of Eli Lilly and Company), where she was responsible for all product commercialization activities and launch preparation for one of the late-stage assets. From 2009 to 2011, Dr. Simpson served as Vice President, Product Champion and from 2008 to 2009 as the Associate Vice President, Product Champion for ImClone’s product Ramucirumab. From 2006 to 2008, Dr. Simpson served as Product Director, Oncology Therapeutics Marketing at Ortho Biotech (now Janssen Biotech), a Pennsylvania-based biotech company that focuses on innovative solutions in immunology, oncology and nephrology. Earlier in her career, Dr. Simpson spent over a decade as a hematology/oncology nurse practitioner and educator. Dr. Simpson has served on the board of directors and nominating and corporate governance committee of Eagle Pharmaceuticals, Inc. since August 2019 and on the board of Directors of CytRx Corporation since July 2021. Dr. Simpson earned a Ph.D. in Epidemiology from the University of Pittsburgh, an M.S. in Nursing from the University of Rochester, and a B.S. in Nursing from the State University of New York at Buffalo.

Susan Horvath, age 63, has served as our Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since April 2018. Ms. Horvath has held both finance and operating positions within pharmaceutical, healthcare and consumer organizations. In addition to her position with the Company, Ms. Horvath sits on the board of directors and provides financial consulting services for Photonic Pharma, LLC, a privately held company focused on efficiencies in early stage drug discovery. Prior to joining the Panbela team Ms. Horvath served as Chief Financial Officer of Eyebobs, LLC, a private company focused on eyewear for corrective vision, from 2016 to January 2018; Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Tenacious Holdings, Inc. (d/b/a ergodyne) a privately held, safety products company, from 2014 to 2016; Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Human Resources at Healthsense, Inc., a next generation technology (SaaS) and remote monitoring company focused on providing safety and improving quality of life while reducing overall costs of healthcare for seniors and fragile adults, from 2011 to 2014; Chief Financial Officer, Vice President of Operations & Human Resources of Hemosphere, Inc., an early commercialization stage medical device company, from 2008 to 2010; and Vice President & Team Leader International of CNS, Inc, a publicly traded consumer health care products company focused on the development and marketing of strong consumer brands, from 2004 to 2007. Ms. Horvath holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Illinois, Champaign, and is a Certified Management Accountant and Certified Public Accountant, inactive.

Information about our Board of Directors

Our business is overseen by a Board of Directors divided into three classes as nearly equal in number as possible, and directors typically are elected to a designated class for a term of three years. The following sets forth certain information regarding the current members of our Board of Directors:

Class I Directors -Terms Expiring in 2023

Daniel J. Donovan, age 58, has served as a director since June 2022. He had served as a director and Chief Business Officer, a non-employee position, of CPP from 2011 until immediately before the completion of its acquisition by Panbela in June 2022. He has served as chief executive officer of rareLife Solutions, Inc., a private company since he co-founded it in 2014. Before rareLife, Mr. Donovan founded Envision Pharma in 2001, serving as managing director then president until 2011. Envision Pharma was acquired by United BioSource Corporation in 2008, where Mr. Donovan served as Senior Vice President Strategy and Market Development and was a member of the leadership team. Mr. Donovan began his career at Pfizer serving in a variety of positions of increasing responsibility, ranging from sales to market research and marketing in the U.S. and internationally, culminating in his position as Director and European Team Leader. During his time at Pfizer, he played a pivotal role in the commercialization of some of the pharmaceutical industry’s most successful product launches.

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Management Jeffrey E. Jacob, age 61, has served as a director since June 2022. He served as Chief Executive Officer of CPP from 2009 until immediately before the completion of its acquisition by Panbela in June 2022. He is also the principal of Tucson Pharma Ventures LLC, an Arizona-based biopharmaceutical consulting and investment firm, a role he’s held since 2004. In 2004, Mr. Jacob founded Systems Medicine Inc., a startup company applying systems biology, predictive pharmacogenomics, and clinical trial design innovations to the development of new cancer drugs and served as its chief executive officer until its sale in 2007, after which he served as a divisional chief executive officer until late 2008. Between 1987 and 2004, Mr. Jacob was employed by Research Corporation Technologies, most recently as Senior Vice President. During that time, he led the transformation of Research Corporation Technologies from a patent development and licensing organization to an early stage-technology incubation and venture deployment firm. He has served as a member of the board of directors of Research Corporation Technologies and currently serves as its chair. He is also a founding board member and previously served as the chief program officer of Critical Path Institute. Mr. Jacob holds a master’s degree in engineering and a master’s degree in Technology and Policy from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a bachelor’s degree in engineering from the University of Arizona.

 

The name, ageJennifer K. Simpson Ph.D., MSN, CRNP, has served as our President and position of eachChief Executive Officer and as a director of our directorsCompany since July 2020. See “Information about our Executive Officers” above for further information regarding Dr. Simpson’s background and executive officers as of the date of this prospectus are as follows:experience.

 

Name

Age

Position

Michael T. Cullen

74

Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

Susan Horvath

61

Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Finance

Suzanne Gagnon

63

Chief Medical Officer and Director

Jeffrey S. Mathiesen

59

Director

Paul W. Schaffer

77

Director

D. Robert Schemel

65

Director

Arthur J. Fratamico

54

Director

Executive OfficersClass II Directors - Term Expiring in 2024

 

Michael T. Cullen, M.D., M.B.A., age 76, has served as Chairman of the Board and a non-employee director of our Company since his retirement as an employee of the Company in May 2021. Dr. Cullen had served as Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors and as a director of our Company since September 2015. He assumed responsibilities as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Companyits co-founding in October 2018.November 2011. Dr. Cullen brings 3033 years of pharmaceutical experience to our Company, including expertise in working with development-stage companies in planning, designing and advancing drug candidates from preclinical through clinical development. Dr. Cullen co-founded our business in 2011 and had continuously served as Chairman of its Board of Directors since that date. He previously served as Chief Medical Officer from November 2011 to January 2015. Dr. Cullen assumed responsibility as theour President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company onbetween October 31, 2018.2018 and July 2020. He previously served as our Chief Medical Officer and President from November 2011 to June 2015. Dr. Cullen provided due diligence consulting to the pharmaceutical industry from 2009 to 2011, after one year in transition consulting to Eisai Co., Ltd.Pharmaceuticals. He developed several oncology drugs as Chief Medical Officer for MGI Pharma Inc. from 2000 to 2008, and previously at G.D. Searle, SunPharm Corporation, and as Vice President for Clinical Consulting at IBAH Inc., the world’s fifth largest contract research organization, where he provided consulting services on business strategy, creating development plans, regulatory matters and designing clinical trials for several development stage companies in the pharmaceutical industry. Dr. Cullen was also a co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of IDD Medical, a pharmaceutical start-up company. Dr. Cullen joined 3M Pharmaceuticals in 1988 and contributed to the development of cardiovascular, pulmonary, rheumatology pulmonary and immune-response modification drugs. Over the course of his career Dr. Cullen has been instrumental in obtaining the approval of ten drugs, including three (3) since 2004: Aloxi®, Dacogen® and Lusedra®. Board-certified in Internal Medicine, Dr. Cullen practiced from 1977 to 1988 at Owatonna Clinic, Owatonna, MN, where he served as president. Dr. Cullen earned his MD and BS degrees from the University of Minnesota and his MBAM.B.A. from the University of St. Thomas and completed his residency and Board certification in Internal Medicine through the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill and Wilmington, NC.

 

Susan Horvath has served as our Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since April 2018. Ms. Horvath has held both finance and operating positions within pharmaceutical, healthcare and consumer organizations. In addition to her position with the Company, Ms. Horvath sits on the board of directors and provides financial consulting services for Photonic Pharma, LLC, a privately held company focused on efficiencies in early stage drug discovery. Prior to joining the Sun BioPharma team Ms. Horvath served as Chief Financial Officer of Eyebobs, LLC, a private company focused on eyewear for corrective vision, from December 2016 to January 2018; Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Tenacious Holdings, Inc. (d/b/a ergodyne) a privately held, safety products company, from January 2014 to December 2016; Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Human Resources at Healthsense, Inc., a next generation technology (SaaS) and remote monitoring company focused on providing safety and improving quality of life while reducing overall costs of healthcare for seniors and fragile adults, from August 2011 to February 2014; Chief Financial Officer, Vice President of Operations & Human Resources of Hemosphere, Inc., an early commercialization stage medical device company, from July 2008 to December 2010; and Vice President & Team Leader International of CNS, Inc, a publicly traded consumer health care products company focused on the development and marketing of strong consumer brands, from November 2004 to March 2007. Ms. Horvath holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Illinois, Champaign, and is a Certified Management Accountant and Certified Public Accountant, inactive.

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Other Directors

Suzanne Gagnon, M.D., has served as our Chief Medical Officer and as a director of our Company since September 2015. Dr. Gagnon also served as a director of our predecessor entity since June 2015 and as its Chief Medical Officer since January 2015. Previously, Dr. Gagnon served as the Lead Clinical Consultant to the Company. Dr. Gagnon has been the President of Gagnon Consulting LLC since July 2014, consulting on medical, safety and regulatory matters. From 2001 to 2014, Dr. Gagnon served as the Chief Medical Officer for three companies, ICON Clinical Research, Nupathe, Inc. and Idis, Inc. Dr. Gagon is a graduate of Boston University School of Medicine and Boston City Hospital’s Medical Residency Program. We believe that Dr. Gagnon brings exceptional experience in drug development, safety, regulatory matters and executive leadership to the Board of Directors.

Jeffrey S. Mathiesen has served as a director of our Company since September 2015. On March 19, 2019 Mr. Mathiesen selected to service as the Vice Chair and lead independent director for the Company. He has served as Advisor to the CEO of Teewinot Life Sciences, a privately held biopharmaceutical company focused on the biosynthetic production of pure pharmaceutical grade cannabinoids from October 2019 to December 2019, and as Chief Financial Officer from March 2019 to October 2019. Previously he served as Chief Financial Officer of Gemphire Therapeutics Inc., a publicly traded biopharmaceutical company from September 2015 to September 2018. From August 2015 to September 2015 he was a consultant to Gemphire. He served as Chief Financial Officer of Sunshine Heart, Inc., a publicly traded medical device company, from March 2011 to January 2015. From December 2005 to April 2010, Mr. Mathiesen served as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Zareba Systems, Inc., a manufacturer and marketer of medical products, perimeter fencing and security systems that was purchased by Woodstream Corporation in April 2010. Mr. Mathiesen has held executive positions with publicly traded companies dating back to 1993, including vice president and chief financial officer positions. Mr. Mathiesen also serves as a director and audit committee chairman of NeuroOne Medical Technologies Corporation, a publicly traded medical device company and served as a director and audit committee chairman of eNeura, Inc., a privately held medical technology company providing therapy for both acute treatment and prevention of migraine from July 2018 to February 2020. Mr. Mathiesen holds a B.S. in Accounting from the University of South Dakota and is also a Certified Public Accountant.

Paul W. Schaffer has served as a director since September 2015. Mr. Schaffer had previously served as a director of our predecessor entity since 2014. Mr. Schaffer graduated from Minnesota Pharmacy School in 1966. He owned and operated a compounding pharmacy, Bloomington Drug, for 42 years. Mr. Schaffer is an experienced biotech investor. We believe that Mr. Schaffer brings a wealth of experience in pharmaceutical development and manufacturing to the Board of Directors, as well as knowledge of regulations and issues facing pharmaceutical companies.

D. Robert Schemel, age 67, has served as a director since September 2015. Mr. Schemel had previously served as a director of our predecessor entitySun BioPharma Research, Inc. since March 2012. Mr. Schemel has over 39 years’ experience in the agriculture industry. From 1973-2005, Mr. Schemel owned and operated a farming operation in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota, building a 5,000-acre operation producing corn, soybeans and sugar beets. Mr. Schemel has extensive experience in serving on boards of directors. From 1992-1996 he served as a board member for ValAdCo and then from 1996-2003 he served as the Chairman of the Board for Phenix Biocomposites.

 

Class III Directors -Terms Expiring in 2022

Arthur J. Fratamico, age 57, has served as a director of our Company since December of 2019. He is a registered pharmacist with over 2530 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry and has been the Chief Executive Officer of Radiant Biotherapeutics, which is advancing a novel antibody platform that is focused on the development of Multabodies, which are multi-valent and multi-specific antibodies since May 2021. Prior to Radiant, Mr. Fratamico served as Chief Business Officer at Galera Therapeutics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to discovering and developing novel dismutase mimetics with the goal of transforming cancer radiotherapy, since January 2017. Prior to joining Galera, Mr. Fratamico served as Chief Business Officer of Vitae Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Nasdaq-listed clinical-stage biotechnology company, from May 2014 until its sale to Allergan in December 2016. Prior to Vitae Pharmaceuticals, he held similar executive roles with a number of biotechnology companies leading their business development efforts, including facilitating the sales of Gemin X Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and MGI Pharma, Inc. In addition to being responsible for numerous licensing transactions and acquisitions, he also directed corporate strategy and managed external corporate communications. He also served in several senior marketing, product planning and new product development positions. Mr. Fratamico earned a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science and an M.B.A. from Drexel University.

 

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Jeffrey S. Mathiesen, age 62, has served as a director of our Company since September 2015. Mr. Mathiesen also serves as a director and audit committee chairman of NeuroOne Medical Technologies Corporation, a publicly traded medical device company. Additionally, Mr. Mathiesen serves Chief Financial Officer of Helius Medical Technologies, Inc., a publicly traded medical technology company focused on neurological wellness, where he previously served as a director and audit committee chairman. He also served as a director and audit committee chairman of eNeura, Inc., a privately held medical technology company providing therapy for both acute treatment and prevention of migraine from July 2018 to February 2020. Mr. Mathiesen has served as Advisor to the CEO of Teewinot Life Sciences, a privately held biopharmaceutical company focused on the biosynthetic production of pure pharmaceutical grade cannabinoids from October 2019 to December 2019, and as Chief Financial Officer from March 2019 to October 2019. In August 2020, Teewinot Life Sciences filed a voluntary petition under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. Previously he served as Chief Financial Officer of Gemphire Therapeutics Inc., a publicly traded biopharmaceutical company from September 2015 to September 2018. From August 2015 to September 2015, he was a consultant to Gemphire. He served as Chief Financial Officer of Sunshine Heart, Inc., a publicly traded medical device company, from March 2011 to January 2015. Mr. Mathiesen has held executive positions with publicly traded companies dating back to 1993, including vice president and chief financial officer positions. Mr. Mathiesen holds a B.S. in Accounting from the University of South Dakota and is also a Certified Public Accountant.

Director Independence

 

Our Board of Directors has reviewed the materiality of any relationship that each of our directors has with us, either directly or indirectly. Based on this review, our Board of Directors has determined that Messrs. Mathiesen, Schaffer, Schemel and Fratamico are “independent directors” as defined under the applicableThe continued listing rules of The Nasdaq Stock Market, LLC which we have voluntarily adopted as(the “Nasdaq Rules”) require that a majority of our standard for director independence.

Committees of the Board of Directors

Our Board of Directors has established three standing committees: Audit, Compensation, and Nominating and Governance. The membership of each committee is as follows:

 

 

Committees

 

 

Director 

Audit

 

Compensation

 

Nominating and

Governance

 

Independent

Directors

Michael T. Cullen

 

 

 

  

Suzanne Gagnon

 

 

 

  

Jeffrey S. Mathiesen

 

Chair

 

 

Member

 

Paul W. Schaffer

 

Member

 

Member

 

Chair

 

D. Robert Schemel

 

Member

 

Chair

 

 

Arthur J. Fratamico

 

 

Member

 

Member

 

Audit Committee

The Audit Committee’s primary functions, among others, are to: (a) assist the Board of Directors in discharging its statutory and fiduciary responsibilities with regard to audits of the books and records of our Company and the monitoring of its accounting and financial reporting practices; (b) carry on appropriate oversight to determine that our Company and its subsidiaries have adequate administrative and internal accounting controls and that they are operating in accordance with prescribed procedures and codes of conduct; and (c) independently review our Company’s financial information that is distributed to stockholders and the general public. The Audit Committee held five meetings during 2019. The Audit Committee has a charter, which is available on our website at www.sunbiopharma.com.

All of the members of the Audit Committee meet the requirements for financial literacy under the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Our Board of Directors has determined that Jeffrey S. Mathiesen is qualified to serve as an audit committee financial expert, be “independent directors” as that term is defined underin the applicable rulesNasdaq Rules. Our Board has determined that each of the SEC. Each member of the Audit Committee satisfies the independence requirements of Rule 10A-3(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act.our non-employee directors, namely Messrs. Donovan, Fratamico, Mathiesen, and Schemel, are “independent directors.”

 

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Compensation Committee

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

 

The Compensation Committee reviews and recommends to our Board of Directors all compensation for our executive officers and, on an annual basis, the goals and objectives relevant to the annualfollowing table sets forth certain information regarding compensation of our executive officers in light of their respective performance evaluations. Our Compensation Committee is also responsible for administering our equity incentive plans, including our 2011 Equity Incentive Plan,the persons who served as amended (the “2011 Plan”) and our 2016 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as amended ( the “2016 Plan”), including approval of individual grants of stock options and other equity-based awards. The Compensation Committee held three meetings during 2019. The Compensation Committee has a charter, which is available on our website at www.sunbiopharma.com.

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Nominating and Governance Committee

The Nominating and Governance Committee is primarily responsible for identifying individuals qualified to serve as members of our Board of Directors, recommending individuals to our Board of Directors for nomination as directors and committee membership, reviewing the compensation paid to our non-employee directors and recommending adjustments in director compensation, as necessary, in addition to overseeing the annual evaluation of our Board of Directors. The Nominating and Governance Committee held one meeting during 2019. The Nominating and Governance Committee has a charter that is available on our website at www.sunbiopharma.com.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

None of the members of the compensation committee nor any director nominee proposed to become a member of the compensation committee is or has at any time during the last completed fiscal year been an officer or employee of our Company. None of our executive officers has served as a member of our Board of Directors or as a member of the compensation or similar committee, of any entity that has one or more executive officers who served on our Board of Directors during the lastmost recent completed fiscal year. Share amounts have been restated for the 1 for 40 reverse split. Directors did not receive any equity awards for fiscal 2022.

 

None of the members of the compensation committee is or has at any time during the last completed fiscal year been an officer or employee of our Company. None of our executive officers has served as a member of the Board of Directors, or as a member of the compensation or similar committee, of any entity that has one or more executive officers who served on our Board of Directors or compensation committee during the last completed fiscal year.

Name

 

Fees Earned or
Paid in Cash
($)

  

Total
($)

 

Michael T. Cullen (a)

  72,500   72,500 

Arthur J. Fratamico (b)

  49,000   49,000 

Jeffrey S. Mathiesen (c)

  81,500   81,500 

Paul W. Schaffer (d)

  30,000   30,000 

D. Robert Schemel (e)

  57,500   57,500 

Danie J. Donovan (f)

  26,250   26,250 

Jeffrey J. Jacob (g)

  20,000   20,000 


(a)

Dr. Cullen held options to purchase an aggregate of 12,461 shares as of December 31, 2022.

(b)

Mr. Fratamico held options to purchase an aggregate of 1,441 shares as of December 31, 2022.

(c)

Mr. Mathiesen held options to purchase an aggregate of 2,016 shares as of December 31, 2022.

(d)

Mr. Shaffer departed our Board of Directors on June 15, 2022.

(e)

Mr. Schemel held options to purchase an aggregate of 2,016 shares as of December 31, 2022.

(f)

Mr. Donovan held options to purchase an aggregate of 1,488 shares as of December 31, 2022, all of which were assumed by the Company in connection with its acquisition of CPP.

(g)

Mr. Jacob held options to purchase an aggregate of 8,662 shares as of December 31, 2022, all of which were assumed by the Company in connection with its acquisition of CPP.

 

Director Compensation

Directors who are also our employees historically have received no additional cash compensation for serving on our Board of Directors and non-employee directors receive no cash compensation. During 2019, our Company2022, Panbela reimbursed non-employee directors for out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with attending meetings of our Board of Directors and its committees.

 

Non-Employee Director Compensation for 2019

The following table sets forth information concerning annualDirectors who are also our employees or service providers receive no additional cash compensation for service on our non-employee directors during the year ended December 31, 2019:

Name

Option Awards(1) ($)

Total ($)

D. Robert Schemel 

62,395(2)

62,395

Jeffrey S. Mathiesen

62,395(3)

62,395

Paul W. Schaffer

62,395(4)

62,395

Arthur J. Fratamico

74,992(5)

74,992


(1)

The values of option awards in this table represent the fair value of such awards granted during the fiscal year, as computed in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718. The assumptions used to determine the valuation of the awards are discussed in Note 9 to our consolidated financial statements, included in our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019.

(2)

Mr. Schemel held options to purchase an aggregate of 54,600 shares as of December 31, 2019.

(3)

Mr. Mathiesen held options to purchase an aggregate of 54,600 shares as of December 31, 2019.

(4)

Mr. Shaffer held options to purchase an aggregate of 70,600 shares as of December 31, 2019.

(5)

Mr. Fratamico held options to purchase an aggregate of 38,300 shares as of December 31, 2019.

Effective 2019, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors approved a compensation program for our non-employee directors consisting of annual awards of options to purchase common stock. Each non-employee director is eligible to receive an option by dividing a target dollar amount by the Black-Scholes value of a share of our common stockDirectors. Dr. Simpson served as of the date of grant. The target dollar amount for awards to each such director currently equals equal (i) $35,000 for servicePresident and Chief Executive Officer throughout fiscal 2022. Director Dr. Suzanne Gagnon served as a non-employee director, plus (ii) $5,000 for each committee of which the director is expectedconsultant to serve as chair.

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In May 2019, the Compensation Committee granted to each then-serving non-employee director a one-time grant of an option to purchase a number of shares of our common stock equal to $10,000 divided by the Black-Scholes value of a share of our common stock on the date of grant. Each such option is scheduled to vest in three substantially equal installments on the first, second and third anniversaries of the dates of grant.

All options awarded to non-employee directors under the new compensation program will bear an initial exercise price equal to the fair market value of a share of our common stock on the grant date, as determined in accordance with the applicable equity incentive plan, and, once vested, will remain exercisable through the ten-year anniversary of the date of grant.

In connection with Mr. Fratamico’s election to the Board of Directors, effective December 19, 2019, the Compensation Committee awarded him two options, one to purchase 6,500 shares, scheduled to vest in full the day before the Annual Meeting and a second to purchase 26,800 shares, 50% of which was exercisable on the date of grant and 25% of which is schedule to vest on the first and second anniversaries of the date of grant. These grants were made consistent with the director compensation program put into place in 2019 and the time remaining prior to the next annual meeting.

Changes to Non-Employee Director Compensation for 2020

In June 2020, the Nominating and Governance Committee ofPanbela during fiscal 2022 until her departure from our Board of Directors adjusted certain components of director compensation. Effective as ofon June 2020, each non-employee director will receive a recurring monthly cash retainer of $1,000 in addition to annual equity compensation for their service. Also in June 2020,15, 2022.

In February 2022, the Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors approved an update to the issuance of options to purchase a number of share of common stock equal to 12,000cash compensation for each non-employee director plus 1,700 additional share for service asdirectors. The annual amounts described below were effective January 1, 2022 and remain in place unless and until they are changed by the chair of a standing committee. Each such option is scheduled to vest in full as of the day before the Company’s next annual meeting of stockholders.

Annual Retainer
(all amounts in $)

 

General

  

Audit Committee

  

Nominating &

Governance

Committee

  

Compensation

Committee

 

Nonemployee director

  40,000             

Chair(a)

  32,500             

Lead independent director(a)

  22,500             

Committee chair

 

 

   15,000   7,500   10,000 

Committee member

 

 

   7,500   4,000   5,000 


(a)

Paid in addition to nonemployee director retainer.

 

69

 

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Compensation of Named Executive Compensation Officers

 

The following disclosure focuses on our named executive officers. For fiscal 20192022, our “named executive officers” consisted of: Michael T. Cullenof our only executive officers, Dr. Simpson and SusanMs. Horvath.

 

Base salaries for each of our named executive officers were initially established based on arm’s-length negotiations with the applicable executive. OurThe Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors reviews our executive officers’ salaries annually. When negotiating or reviewing base salaries, the Compensation Committee considers market competitiveness based on the experience of its members, the executive’s expected future contribution to our success and the relative salaries and responsibilities of our other executives.

 

Summary Compensation Table

 

The following table provides information regarding the compensation earned by our named executive officers for fiscal 2019the periods presented (collectively referred to as the “Executives”):

 

Name and principal position

 

Fiscal Year

 

Salary
($)

  

Option awards
($)
(1)

  

Total
($)

 

Michael T. Cullen

 

2019

  282,350   377,471   659,821 
Executive Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer)(2) 

2018

  221,200   491,491   712,691 
               

Susan Horvath

 

2019

  220,313   181,124   401,436 
 Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Finance(3) 

2018

  150,000   147,573   297,573 

Name and Principal Positions

 

Year

 

Salary
($)

  

Option

Awards(a)
($)

  

Stock

Awards
($)

  

Nonequity

Incentive Plan

Compensation

(b)
($)

  

Total
($)

 

Jennifer K. Simpson

 

2022

  506,000   -   -   -   506,000 
President and Chief Executive Officer 

2021

  476,609   537,702   -   182,422   1,196,733 
                       

Susan Horvath

 

2022

  320,000   -   -   -   320,000 
Chief Financial Officer and Vice 

2021

  302,200   155,258   -   99,620   557,078 
President of Finance                      

 


(1)(a)

The values of option awards in this table represent the fair value of such awards granted during the fiscal year, as computed in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718. The assumptions used to determine the valuation of the awards are discussed in Note 9 to ourthe consolidated financial statements, included in our annual report on Form 10-Kstatements. No equity awards were awarded for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019.

(2)

Dr. Cullen was elected to serve in the additional roles of President and Chief Executive Officer on October 31, 2018.

(3)

Ms. Horvath joined the Company on April 17, 2018.

Outstanding Equity Awards at December 31, 2019

 

   

Option Awards

 Name 

 

 

Grant Date

 

Number of

securities

underlying

unexercised

options (#)

exercisable

  

Number of securities

underlying

unexercised options

(#) unexercisable

  

Option exercise

price ($)

 

Option expiration

Date

Michael T. Cullen

 

3/5/2015

  80,000      3.18 

3/5/2025

  

12/12/2016

  15,000      15.10 

12/12/2026

  

2/27/2018

  100,000      8.10 

2/27/2028

  

5/21/2019

  71,500   84,600(1)   2.95 

5/21/2029

  

9/24/2019

  30,000      5.00 

9/24/2029

                

Susan Horvath

 

4/17/2018

  20,000   20,000(2)   5.75 

4/17/2028

  

5/21/2019

  21,575   36,225(3)   2.95 

5/21/2029

  

9/24/2019

  25,000      5.00 

9/24/2029


(1)

Scheduled to vest with respect to 28,200 on May 21st in each of 2020, 2021 and 2022.

(2)(b)

Scheduled to vest with respect to 10,000 on April 17thRepresents payments made in each2022 under Panbela’s 2021 Cash Incentive Programs as described further below. The Compensation Committee has not certified actual performance for purposes of 2020 and 2021.determining the cash incentive payments earned under the 2022 Cash Incentive Program.

(3)

Cash Incentive Compensation

For 2021 and 2022, the Compensation Committee established performance objectives for each of the Executives based on clinical development and financial milestones. Each Executive’s potential payment upon satisfaction of the objectives was equal to the target set forth in the Executive’s employment agreement as described further below. In the first quarter of 2022, the Compensation Committee determined that Dr. Simpson’s bonus for 2021 was approved for payment at 76.55% of target and Ms. Horvath’s bonus was approved for payment at 82.41% of target. The 2021 incentive was paid in the first quarter of 2022. The 2022 incentive, if any, is expected to be paid in the first quarter of 2023, subject to a final determination by the Compensation Committee. No cash bonus was paid or will be paid to Dr. Cullen in 2022 or 2023 as Panbela’s plan requires that employees are employed as of the end of the year to be eligible for a bonus.

Scheduled to vest with respect to 12,075 on May 21st in each of 2020, 2021 and 2022.

 

70

 

Outstanding Equity Awards as of December 31, 2022 (Adjusted for 1 for 40 reverse stock split)

    

Option Awards

 

Name

 

Grant Date

 

Number of securities

underlying unexercised

options (#) exercisable

 

Number of securities

underlying unexercised

options (#) un-

exercisable

 

Option

exercise

price ($)

 

Option

expiration

Date

 

Jennifer K. Simpson

 

7/17/2020

 

3,975

 

1,326(a)

 

399.60

 

7/17/2030

 
  

3/30/2021

 

1,416

 

2,834(b)

 

163.60

 

3/30/2031

 
  

9/13/2021

 

159

 

319(c)

 

2.26

 

9/13/2031

 
            

Susan Horvath

 

4/17/2018

 

1,000

 

-

 

230.00

 

4/17/2028

 
  

5/21/2019

 

1,444

 

-

 

118.00

 

5/21/2029

 
  

9/24/2019

 

625

 

-

 

200.00

 

9/24/2029

 
  

6/24/2020

 

600

 

200(d)

 

199.20

 

6/24/2030

 
  

3/30/2021

 

333

 

667(e)

 

163.60

 

3/30/2031

 
  

9/13/2021

 

101

 

202(f)

 

90.40

 

9/13/2031

 


(a)

Scheduled to vest with respect to 1,326 shares on July 17, 2023.

(b)

Scheduled to vest with respect to 1,416 shares on March 30th in each of 2023 and 2024.

(c)

Scheduled to vest with respect to 159 shares on September 13th in each of 2023 and 2024.

(d)

Scheduled to vest with respect to 200 shares on June 24, 2023.

(e)

Scheduled to vest with respect to 333 shares on March 30th in each of 2023 and 2024.

(f)

Scheduled to vest with respect to 101 shares on September 13th in each of 2023 and 2024.

Employment Agreements

 

During 2019, we wereWe are party to employment agreements with each of the Executives. In addition to the specific terms summarized below, each Executive is eligible to participate in the other compensation and benefit programs generally available to our employees, including our other executive officers, if any. Each such employment agreement also includes customary non-competition and non-solicitation covenants and a requirement that the Executive executesign a supplemental agreement regarding confidentiality and assignment of intellectual property.

 

In accordance with the employment agreements, the base salary of each Executive is reviewed annually by the Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors. Pursuant to the employment agreements, the committee may authorize an increase for the applicable year but may not reduce an Executive’s base salary below its then-current level other than with the Executive’s consent or pursuant to a general wage reduction in respect of substantially all of our executive officers.

 

Executive Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

 

Under hisher employment agreement, as last amended, Dr. Cullen was entitled to receive an initial annualized base salary equal to $288,000. HeSimpson is eligible to receive an annual performance-based cash bonus with a target amount equal to no less than 45%50% of hisher base salary. Payment of the bonus amount will beis subject to achievement of metrics to be established by our Board of Directors and Dr. Cullen’sher continued employment with the CompanyPanbela through the end of the applicable cash bonus period. Neither our Board of Directors nor its Compensation Committee established such performance criteria for 2019 and therefore no cash bonus was paid.

No change was made to Dr. Cullen’s employment agreement as a result of his election to serve in the additional roles of President and Chief Executive Officer in October 2018 until May 21, 2019. On that date the Compensation Committee increased Dr. Cullen’s annualized base salary to $315,000.

 

Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer

 

Under her employment agreement, Ms. Horvath is entitled to receive an initial annualized base salary equal to $225,000. Ms. Horvath also is eligible to receive an annual performance-based cash bonus with a target amount equal to no less than 40% of her base salary. Payment of the bonus amount will beis subject to achievement of metrics to be established by our Board of Directors and Ms. Horvath’sher continued employment with the CompanyPanbela through the end of the applicable cash bonus period. Neither our Board of Directors nor its Compensation Committee established such performance criteria for 2019 and therefore no cash bonus was paid.

 

71

Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change-in-Control

 

Under their respective employment agreements, if Dr. Cullen’sSimpson’s or Ms. Horvath’s employment is terminated by us for any reason other than for “cause” (as defined in the applicable employment agreement) or by him or her for “good reason” (as defined in the applicable employment agreement), then he or she will be eligible to receive an amount equal to their respective annualized salary plus an amount equal to a prorated portion of their cash bonus target, if any, for the year in which the termination occurred, in addition to other amounts accrued on or before the date of termination. If any such termination occurs within six months prior or two years after a “change of control” (as defined in the applicable employment agreement), then Dr. CullenSimpson or Ms. Horvath, as applicable, would instead receive an amount equal to his or her respective annualized salary, plus an amount equal to his or her full cash bonus target for the year in which the termination occurred.

 

Certain Relationships and Related Party TransactionsPay Versus Performance

 

The following is a summary of transactions since January 1, 2017 to which our Company has been a party and in which the amount involved exceeded $25,000, which is approximately 1% of the average of our total assets as of the ends of our last two completed fiscal years, and in which any of our directors, executive officers, or beneficial owners of more than 10% of our capital stock had or will have a direct or indirect material interest, other than compensation arrangements that are described under the heading “Executive Compensation: Employment Agreements” and “Director Compensation” above.

71

Our Chief Medical Officer, Suzanne Gagnon, is also a member of our Board of Directors. We are party to an employment agreement with Dr. Gagnon in substantially the same form as the employment agreements with the Executives described below under the heading “Employment Agreements.” Dr. Gagnon is eligible to participate in the other compensation and benefit programs generally available to our employees. Her employment agreement also includes customary confidentiality, non-competition and non-solicitation covenants. Under her employment agreement as currently in effect, Dr. Gagnon is entitled to receive an initial annualized base salary of $270,000. During 2017, 2018, and 2019, Dr. Gagnon received compensation from the Company amounting to $195,000, $207,700 and $250,100, respectively.

In March 2017, Paul W. Schaffer, a director of the Company, purchased $50,000 original principal amount of 2017 Notes.

Certain directors and executive officers participated in various debt and equity offerings during the three years ended December 31, 2019. The table below summarizes those securities purchases:

Related Person Name and

Position(s)

 

Date of

Investment

 

Securities Purchased

 

Amount

Invested

 

Michael T. Cullen, Executive Chairman President, CEO and Director(1)

 

2/14/2018

 

5,000 Shares of Common Stock and Warrants to Purchase up to 5,000 additional Shares of Common Stock(2)

 $25,000 
         

Paul W. Schaffer, Director

 

5/16/2018

 

5,000 Shares of Common Stock and Warrants to Purchase up to 5,000 additional Shares of Common Stock(2)

 $25,000 
         

Michael T. Cullen, Executive Chairman President, CEO and Director

 

12/31/2018

 

$35,000 principal amount of Convertible Promissory Notes and Warrants to purchase up to 20,000 Shares of Common Stock(3)

 $35,000 
         

Michael T. Cullen, Executive Chairman President, CEO and Director

 

8/30/2019

 

30,000 Shares of Common Stock and Warrants to purchase up to 30,000 additional Shares of Common Stock(4)

 $105,000 
         

Paul W. Schaffer, Director

 

9/20/2019

 

30,000 Shares of Common Stock and Warrants to Purchase up to 30,000 additional Shares of Common Stock(4)

 $105,000 
         

Michael T. Cullen, Executive Chairman President, CEO and Director(1)

 

5/22/2020

 

10,000 Shares of Common Stock and Warrants to Purchase up to 10,000 additional Shares of Common Stock(5)

 $40,000 
         

Paul W. Schaffer, Director

 

6/5/2020

 

10,000 Shares of Common Stock and Warrants to Purchase up to 10,000 additional Shares of Common Stock(5)

 $40,000 

Year

Summary

Compensation

Table Total for

PEO(a)

Compensation

Actually Paid

(CAP) to PEO(b)

Average Summary

Compensation
Table Total for
Non-PEO NEOs(c)

Average

Compensation

Actually Paid

(CAP) to Non-PEO

NEOs(b)

Value of Initial Fixed $100

Investment Based On Total

Shareholder Return

Net Loss

(in thousands)

2022(d)

$506,000

$205,957

$320,000

$89,258

(96%)

(e)

2021

$1,196,733

$539,923

$556,212

$164,599

(51%)

$(10,135)

 


(1)(a)

As trusteeJennifer K. Simpson served as President and Chief Executive Office of the Cullen Living Trust Dated April 23, 2009.Company throughout the periods reported and is the only principal executive officer represented in the second and third columns.

(2)(b)

Pursuant to Securities Purchase Agreement. Such warrants are exercisable for a period of three years from“Compensation Actually Paid” represents amounts reported in the Summary Compensation Table but substituting equity awards valued at fair value on grant date with fair value on the date of issuance at an exercise price of $5.00 per share.vesting, for those awards that vested during the given year.

(3)(c)

The Convertible Promissory Notes (“Notes”) were part of a series of notes issued onMs. Horvath, is the same terms as those issued to third parties in December 2018 and January 2019, matured on June 30, 2019 and bore interest at a rate of 10.0% per yearonly other named executive officer reflected in the interim. The Notes had a mandatory conversion of all principalfourth and interest into common stock onfifth columns for fiscal 2022 and Dr. Cullen and Ms. Horvath are the earlier of (1) June 30, 2019 or (2) the date our Company received gross proceeds of at least $6.0 million from the sale of equity securities (subject to certain exclusions). The Notes converted at a stated conversion rate of $3.50 per share subject to downward adjustments, if any, to match the price per share of common stock or any unit containing a share of common stock issued by the Company on or before the date of conversion. The exercise price of each warrant is $4.50 per share and they are exercisable until the 5-year anniversary of the date of issuance. See also Note 6 to our consolidated financial statements, included in our annual report on Form 10-Konly named executive officers for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019.2021.

(4)(d)

Pursuant to Securities Purchase Agreement. Such warrants are exercisableFinal cash incentive award payouts, if any, have not yet been determined for a period of five years from the date of issuance at an exercise price of $4.00 per share.fiscal 2022.

(5)(e)

Pursuant to Securities Purchase Agreement. Such warrantsAudited financial statements for fiscal 2022 are exercisable for a period of five years from the date of issuance at an exercise price of $6.00 per share.not yet available.

 

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Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial OwnersSECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND ManagementMANAGEMENT

 

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our outstanding common stock as of June 30, 2020January 13, 2023 by (i) each of our named executive officers identified in the Summary Compensation Table below; (ii) each of our directors; (iii) all of our executive officers, directors and director nominees as a group; and (iv) each other beneficial owner of 5% or more of our outstanding common stock. Ownership percentages are based on 7,068,3081,177,159 shares of common stock outstanding as of the close of business on the same date. Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC. To our knowledge and subject to applicable community property laws, each of the holders of stock listed below has sole voting and investment power as to the stock owned unless otherwise noted. The table below includes the number of shares underlying rights to acquire common stock that are exercisable within 60 days from June 30, 2020.January 13, 2023. Except as otherwise noted below, the address for each director or officer listed in the table is c/o Sun BioPharma,Panbela Therapeutics, Inc., 712 Vista Blvd #305, Waconia, Minnesota 55387.

 

 

 

Shares Beneficially Owned

 
 Name 

Number

  

Percentage

 

Executive Officers and Directors:

        

Michael T. Cullen

  807,271(a)   10.8%

Susan Horvath

  125,090(b)   1.7%

Suzanne Gagnon

  349,992(c)   4.8%

Jeffrey S. Mathiesen

  58,900(d)   * 

Paul W. Schaffer

  283,985(e)   4.0%

D. Robert Schemel

  436,749(f)   6.1%

Arthur J. Fratamico

  24,900(g)   * 

All directors and current executive officers as a group (7 persons)

  2,086,887(h)   25.6%
         

Ryan Gilbertson 2012 Irrevocable Family Trust

8615 Eagle Creek Circle
Savage, MN 55378

  793,564(i)   10.9%

Name

 

Amount and Nature
of

Beneficial
Ownership

  

Percentage of
Outstanding

Shares*

 

Executive Officers and Directors

        

Jennifer K. Simpson

  4,933

(a)

  * 

Susan Horvath

  5,695

(b)

  * 

Michael T. Cullen

  33,824

(c)

  2.8

%

Daniel J. Donovan

  9,372

(d)

  * 

Arthur J. Fratamico

  1,736

(e)

  * 

Jeffrey E. Jacob

  19,201

(f)

  1.6

%

Jeffrey S. Mathiesen

  2,266

(g)

  * 

D. Robert Schemel

  24,285

(h)

  2.0

%

All directors and current executive officers as a group (8 persons)

  101,311

(i)

  8.2

%

 


*

Less than one percent.1.0%.

(a)

Includes 204,57625 shares held by the Cullen Living Trust and 337,200spouse, 5,550 shares subject to stock options and 67,50060 shares subject to warrants.

(b)

Includes 96,6504,103 shares subject to stock options and 17,428496 shares subject to warrants.

(c)

Includes 8,142 shares held by the Gagnon Family Trust, 297,35011,231 shares subject to stock options, and 1,500 shares subject to warrants.

Also includes 9,239 shares and 6,438 shares subject to warrants in each case held by the Cullen Living Trust.

(d)

Includes 52,9001,488 shares subject to optionsstock options. Also includes 1,887 shares held by Westport Boys, LLC (“Westport”), 4,081 shares held by GDB Investments, LLP (“GDB”), and 3,000130 shares subject to warrants.

a warrant held by GDB Investments, LLP. Mr. Donovan is a managing member of Westport and a designated member of GDB. Mr. Donovan disclaims beneficial ownership of the securities owned by Westport and GDB except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.

(e)

Includes 30,685 shares held by the Paul Shaffer Trust, 68,9001,441 shares subject to stock options 51,756and 60 shares subject to warrants.

(f)

Includes 282,654 shares held by spouse and 52,9008,662 shares subject to stock options, 443 shares and 11,7671,238 shares subject to warrants.

warrants held in each case jointly with spouse. Also includes 1,358 shares and 129 shares subject to a warrant, in each case held by the Jeffrey and Debora Jacob Family Revocable Trust.

(g)

Includes 24,9002,016 shares subject to stock options.

(h)

Includes 900,3002,016 shares subject to stock options, 12,066 shares and 140,4517,500 shares subject to warrants.

warrants held by spouse, and 293 held by parent’s estate over which director holds both voting and depository power but disclaims beneficial ownership.

(i)

Includes 218,45536,507 shares subject to stock options and 17,550 shares subject to warrants.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF SecuritiesSECURITIES

 

The summary of the general terms and provisions of the common stock, par value $0.001 per share (“Common Stock”), of Sun BioPharma, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”),Panbela set forth below does not purport to be complete and is subject to and qualified by reference to the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (the “Certificate”), and Bylaws of the Corporation, as amended (the “Bylaws”). For additional information, please read the Certificate, Bylaws and the applicable provisions of the General Corporation Law of Delaware (the “DGCL”).

 

Authorized Shares

 

The Corporation is authorized to issue up to 110,000,000 shares of capital stock, of which 100,000,000 constitute shares of Common Stock and 10,000,000 constitute shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share (“Preferred Stock”).

 

Common Stock

 

No outstanding shares of common stock is entitled to preference over any other share, and each share is equal to any other share in all respects. Holders of shares of common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held of record at each meeting of shareholders. Holders of shares of common stock are not entitled to any preemptive, subscription, conversion, redemption or sinking fund rights. The absence of preemptive rights could result in a dilution of the interest of shareholders should additional common shares be issued.

 

Subject to any prior rights of any Preferred Stock then outstanding, holders of common stock are entitled to receive dividends in the form of cash, property or shares of capital stock of the Corporation, when and as declared by the board of directors, provided there are sufficient net profits or surplus legally available for that purpose. In any distribution of capital assets, such as liquidation, whether voluntary or involuntary, holders of shares of common stock are entitled to receive pro rata the assets remaining after creditors have been paid in full. All of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock are non-assessable.

 

Anti-Takeover Provisions

 

The Charter Documents and the DGCL contain certain provisions that may discourage an unsolicited takeover of the Company or make an unsolicited takeover of the Company more difficult. The following are some of the more significant anti-takeover provisions that are applicable to the Company:

 

Delaware Anti-Takeover Law

 

In general, Section 203 of the DGCL prohibits a Delaware corporation with a class of voting stock listed on a national securities exchange or held of record by 2,000 or more stockholders from engaging in a Business Combination (as defined below) with an Interested Stockholder (as defined below) for a three-year period following the time that this stockholder becomes an interested stockholder, unless the Business Combination is approved in a prescribed manner. A “Business Combination” includes, among other things, a merger, asset or stock sale or other transaction resulting in a financial benefit to the Interested Stockholder. An “Interested Stockholder” is a person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns, or did own within three years prior to the determination of Interested Stockholder status, 15% or more of the corporation’s voting stock. Under Section 203, a Business Combination between a corporation and an Interested Stockholder is prohibited for three years unless it satisfies one of the following conditions:

 

 

Before the stockholder became an Interested Stockholder, the board of directors approved either the Business Combination or the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an Interested Stockholder;

 

 

Upon consummation of the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an Interested Stockholder, the Interested Stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the voting stock outstanding, shares owned by persons who are directors and also officers, and employee stock plans, in some instances; or

 

 

At or after the time the stockholder became an Interested Stockholder, the Business Combination was approved by the board of directors of the corporation and authorized at an annual or special meeting of the stockholders by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the outstanding voting stock which is not owned by the Interested Stockholder.

 

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The DGCL permits a corporation to opt out of, or choose not to be governed by, its anti-takeover statute by expressly stating so in its original certificate of incorporation (or subsequent amendment to its certificate of incorporation or bylaws approved by its stockholders). The Certificate does not contain a provision expressly opting out of the application of Section 203 of the DGCL; therefore, the Company is subject to the anti-takeover statute.

Requirements for Advance Notification of Stockholder Nominations and Proposals

 

The Bylaws establish advance-notice procedures with respect to stockholder proposals to be brought before a stockholder meeting and the nomination of candidates for election as directors, other than nominations made by or at the direction of the board of directors.

74

 

Special Meetings of Stockholders

 

The Certificate and Bylaws provide that a special meeting of stockholders may be called only by the board of directors, the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation.

 

Classified Board of Directors

 

The Certificate provides that directors are divided into three classes and elected for staggered terms. At each annual meeting, approximately one third of the directors will be elected to serve a three-year term. Directors serving staggered terms can be removed from office only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of the holders of 75% or more of the outstanding shares of stock then entitled to vote at an election of directors.

 

Authority of the Board of Directors

 

The board of directors has the power to issue any or all of the shares of the Corporation’s capital stock, including the authority to establish one or more series of Preferred Stock and to fix the powers, preferences, rights and limitations of such class or series, without seeking stockholder approval. The board of directors has the authority to adopt and change Bylaws, subject to the right of holders of at least 66.67% of the voting power of all then-outstanding shares entitled to vote generally in the election of directors to adopt, amend or repeal Bylaws.

 

Underwriter's WarrantsPreferred Stock

Our Board of Directors has the authority, without first obtaining the approval of our stockholders, to be Issued in this Offeringestablish one or more series of preferred stock and to fix:

the number of shares of such series;

the designations, preferences and relative rights, including voting rights, dividend rights, conversion rights, redemption privileges and liquidation preferences; and

any qualifications, limitations or restrictions.

 

We have agreedbelieve that the ability of our Board of Directors to issue one or more series of preferred stock provides flexibility in structuring possible future financings and acquisitions, and in meeting other corporate needs that may arise. The authorized shares of preferred stock, as well as authorized and unissued shares of common stock, are available for issuance without action by the holders of common stock, unless such action is required by applicable law or the rules of any stock exchange or automated quotation system on which our securities may be listed or traded.

Our Board of Directors may authorize, without stockholder approval, the issuance of preferred stock with voting and conversion rights that could adversely affect the voting power and other rights of holders of common stock. Although our Board of Directors has no current intention of doing so, it could issue a series of preferred stock that could, depending on the terms of such series, impede the completion of a merger, tender offer or other takeover attempt of our Company. Our Board of Directors could also issue preferred stock having terms that could discourage an acquisition attempt through which an acquirer may be able to Craig-Hallum Capital Group LLC,change the underwritercomposition of our Board of Directors, including a tender offer or other transaction that some, or a majority, of the stockholders might believe to be in this offering, warrantstheir best interests or in which stockholders might receive a premium for their stock over the then-current market price. Any issuance of preferred stock therefore could have the effect of decreasing the market price of our common stock.

Our Board of Directors will make any determination to purchaseissue such shares based on its judgment as to the best interests of our Company and stockholders. We have no current plans to issue any preferred stock.

Options

The 2016 Plan initially authorized the issuance of up to 5.0% of the70,000 shares of our common stock pursuant to awards granted thereunder and 36,824 shares have been added pursuant to its annual evergreen feature. As of January 13, 2023, options to purchase 55,503 shares of our common stock were outstanding under the 2016 Plan with a weighted average price of $241.63 per share. A total of 50,494, shares of common stock remained available for future grants under the 2016 Plan as of the same date.

As of January 13, 2023, options to purchase 5,600 shares of our common stock remained outstanding under the 2011 Plan with a weighted average price of $118.92 per share. We ceased making awards under the 2011 Plan upon stockholder approval of the 2016 Plan.

75

As of January 13, 2023, options to purchase 39,475 shares of our common stock remained outstanding under CPP’s 2010 Equity Incentive Plan with a weighted average price of $14.013, all of which were assumed by us in connection with the acquisition of CPP.

Warrants Outstanding

As of January 13, 2023, we had issued and outstanding warrants to purchase 889,911 shares of common stock and no warrants to purchase shares of preferred stock outstanding. As of the same date, the outstanding warrants had a weighted average exercise price of $38.05 per share, before any potential adjustments resulting from the pending reverse stock split, and an average remaining exercise period of 4.3 years.

Pre-Funded Warrants

The following summary of certain terms and provisions of pre-funded warrants that are being offered hereby is not complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, the provisions of the pre-funded warrant, the form of which is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. Prospective investors should carefully review the terms and provisions of the form of pre-funded warrant for a complete description of the terms and conditions of the pre-funded warrants.

Duration and Exercise Price. Each pre-funded warrant offered hereby will have an initial exercise price per share equal to $0.001. The pre-funded warrants will be immediately exercisable and may be exercised at any time until the pre-funded warrants are exercised in full. The exercise price and number of shares of common stock issuable upon exercise is subject to appropriate adjustment in the offering (exclusiveevent of any shares tostock dividends, stock splits, reorganizations or similar events affecting our common stock and the exercise price. The pre-funded warrants will be issued pursuantseparately from the accompanying common warrants and may be transferred separately immediately thereafter.

Exercisability. The pre-funded warrants will be exercisable, at the option of each holder, in whole or in part, by delivering to us a duly executed exercise notice accompanied by payment in full for the number of shares of our common stock purchased upon such exercise (except in the case of a cashless exercise as discussed below). Purchasers of the pre-funded warrants in this offering may elect to deliver their exercise notice following the pricing of the offering and prior to the issuance of the pre-funded warrants at closing to have their pre-funded warrants exercised immediately upon issuance and receive shares of common stock underlying the pre-funded warrants upon closing of this offering. A holder (together with its affiliates) may not exercise any portion of the pre-funded warrant to the extent that the holder would own more than 4.99% of the outstanding common stock immediately after exercise, except that upon at least 61 days’ prior notice from the holder to us, the holder may increase the amount of ownership of outstanding stock after exercising the holder’s pre-funded warrants up to 9.99% of the number of shares of our common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the exercise, as such percentage ownership is determined in accordance with the terms of the over-allotment option orpre-funded warrants. Purchasers of pre-funded warrants in this offering may also elect prior to the issuance of the pre-funded warrants to have the initial exercise limitation set at 9.99% of our outstanding common stock. No fractional shares of common stock will be issued in connection with the exercise of a pre-funded warrant. In lieu of fractional shares, we will round down to the next whole share.

Cashless Exercise. If, at the time a holder exercises its pre-funded warrants, a registration statement registering the issuance of the shares of common stock underlying the pre-funded warrants under the Securities Act is not then effective or available, then in lieu of making the cash payment otherwise contemplated to be made to us upon such exercise in payment of the aggregate exercise price, the holder may elect instead to receive upon such exercise (either in whole or in part) the net number of shares of common stock determined according to a formula set forth in the pre-funded warrants.

Transferability. Subject to applicable laws, a pre-funded warrant may be transferred at the option of the holder upon surrender of the pre-funded warrant to us together with the appropriate instruments of transfer.

Exchange Listing. There is no trading market available for the pre-funded warrants on any securities exchange or nationally recognized trading system. We do not intend to list the pre-funded warrants soldon any securities exchange or nationally recognized trading system.

Right as a Stockholder. Except as otherwise provided in the pre-funded warrants or by virtue of such holder’s ownership of shares of our common stock, the holders of the pre-funded warrants do not have the rights or privileges of holders of our common stock, including any voting rights, until they exercise their pre-funded warrants.

Fundamental Transaction. In the event of a fundamental transaction, as described in the pre-funded warrants and generally including any reorganization, recapitalization or reclassification of our common stock, the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of our properties or assets, our consolidation or merger with or into another person, the acquisition of more than 50% of our outstanding common stock, or any person or group becoming the beneficial owner of 50% of the voting power represented by our outstanding common stock, the holders of the pre-funded warrants will be entitled to receive upon exercise of the pre-funded warrants the kind and amount of securities, cash or other property that the holders would have received had they exercised the pre-funded warrants immediately prior to such fundamental transaction.

76

Common Warrants

The following summary of certain terms and provisions of common warrants that are being offered hereby is not complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, the provisions of the common warrants, the form of which is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this offering). Please see “Underwriting – Underwriter's Warrants”prospectus forms a part. Prospective investors should carefully review the terms and provisions of the form of common warrants for a complete description of the terms and conditions of the common warrants.

Duration and Exercise Price. Each common warrant offered hereby will have an initial exercise price per share equal to $      . The common warrants we have agreedwill be immediately exercisable and will expire on the fifth anniversary of the original issuance date. The exercise price and number of shares of common stock issuable upon exercise is subject to issueappropriate adjustment in the event of stock dividends, stock splits, reorganizations or similar events affecting our common stock and the exercise price. The exercise price is separately subject to reduction in the event of certain future dilutive issuances of shares of common stock by us, including pursuant to common stock equivalents and convertible or derivative securities. The common warrants will be issued separately from the common stock and will be held separately immediately thereafter. A common warrant to purchase 2 shares of our common stock will be issued for every share of common stock or pre-funded warrant to purchase one share purchased in this offering.

Exercisability. The common warrants will be exercisable, at the option of each holder, in whole or in part, by delivering to us a duly executed exercise notice accompanied by payment in full for the number of shares of our common stock purchased upon such exercise (except in the case of a cashless exercise as discussed below). A holder (together with its affiliates) may not exercise any portion of the common warrant to the underwriter, subjectextent that the holder would own more than 4.99% of the outstanding common stock immediately after exercise, except that upon at least 61 days’ prior notice from the holder to us, the holder may increase the amount of ownership of outstanding stock after exercising the holder’s common warrants up to 9.99% of the number of shares of our common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the completionexercise, as such percentage ownership is determined in accordance with the terms of the offering. We expectcommon warrants. No fractional shares of common stock will be issued in connection with the exercise of a common warrant. In lieu of fractional shares, we will round down to enter intothe next whole share.

Cashless Exercise. If, at the time a holder exercises its common warrants, a registration statement registering the issuance of the shares of common stock underlying the common warrants under the Securities Act is not then effective or available and an exemption from registration under the Securities Act is not available for the issuance of such shares, then in lieu of making the cash payment otherwise contemplated to be made to us upon such exercise in payment of the aggregate exercise price, the holder may elect instead to receive upon such exercise (either in whole or in part) the net number of shares of common stock determined according to a formula set forth in the common warrants.

Alternative Cashless Exercise. On or after the thirty-day anniversary of their issuance, a holder of common warrants may also provide notice and elect an “alternative cashless exercise” pursuant to which they would receive an aggregate number of shares equal the product of (x) the aggregate number of shares of common stock that would be issuable upon a cash exercise and (y) 0.50.

Transferability. Subject to applicable laws, a common warrant in book entry form may be transferred at the option of the holder through the facilities of the Depository Trust Company and common warrants in physical form may be transferred upon surrender of the common warrant to the warrant agent together with the appropriate instruments of transfer. Pursuant to a warrant agency agreement between us and VStock Transfer, as warrant agent, the common warrants initially will be issued in respectbook-entry form and will be represented by one or more global certificates deposited with The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) and registered in the name of Cede & Co., a nominee of DTC, or as otherwise directed by DTC.

Exchange Listing. There is no established public trading market for the common warrants, and we do not expect a market to develop. In addition, we do not intend to list the common warrants on any securities exchange or nationally recognized trading system. Without an active trading market, the liquidity of the Underwriter's Warrantscommon warrants will be limited.

Right as a Stockholder. Except as otherwise provided in the common warrants or by virtue of such holder’s ownership of shares of our common stock, the holders of the common warrants do not have the rights or privileges of holders of our common stock, including any voting rights, until they exercise their common warrants.

77

Fundamental Transaction. In the event of a fundamental transaction, as described in the form of common warrant, and generally including any reorganization, recapitalization or reclassification of our common stock, the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of our properties or assets, our consolidation or merger with or into another person, the acquisition of more than 50% of our outstanding common stock, or any person or group becoming the beneficial owner of 50% of the voting power represented by our outstanding common stock, the holders of the common warrants will be entitled to receive upon exercise of the common warrants the kind and amount of securities, cash or other property that the holders would have received had they exercised the common warrants immediately prior to the closing of this offering.such fundamental transaction.

 

Transfer Agent and Registrar

 

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is VStock Transfer, which can be contacted at 18 Lafayette Place, Woodmere, New York, 11598, info@vstocktransfer.com, or +1 (212) 828-8436.

75

Electronic Distribution

This prospectus in electronic format may be made available on websites or through other online services maintained by the underwriter, or by its affiliates. Other than this prospectus in electronic format, the information on the underwriter’s website and any information contained in any other website maintained by the underwriter is not part of this prospectus or the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, has not been approved and/or endorsed by us or the underwriter in its capacity as underwriter, and should not be relied upon by investors.

 

SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE

 

Future sales of substantial amounts of our common stock in the public market, including shares issued upon exercise of outstanding options and warrants, or the anticipation of these sales, could adversely affect prevailing market prices from time to time and could impair our ability to raise equity capital in the future.

 

Upon the closing of this offering, we will have a total of 5,695,231 shares of our common stock outstanding (orand a total of 14,731,375 shares of our common stock outstanding if the underwriter exercises its option to purchase additional shares of common stockwarrants sold in full),this offering are exercised in full, based on the 1,177,159 shares of our common stock outstanding as of , 2020.January 13, 2023. Of these outstanding shares, all of the shares sold in the offering will be freely tradable, except that any shares purchased in this offering by our affiliates, as that term is defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act, would only be able to be sold in compliance with the limitations described below.

 

Rule144

 

In general, under Rule 144 as currently in effect, once we have been subject to public company reporting requirements for at least 90 days, a person who is not deemed to have been one of our affiliates for purposes of the Securities Act at any time during the 90 days preceding a sale and who has beneficially owned the shares proposed to be sold for at least six months, including the holding period of any prior owner other than our affiliates, is entitled to sell those shares without complying with the manner of sale, volume limitation or notice provisions of Rule 144, subject to compliance with the public information requirements of Rule 144. If such a person has beneficially owned the shares proposed to be sold for at least one year, including the holding period of any prior owner other than our affiliates, then that person would be entitled to sell those shares upon expiration of the lock-up agreements described below, without complying with any of the requirements of Rule 144.

 

In general, under Rule 144, as currently in effect, our affiliates or persons selling shares on behalf of our affiliates are entitled to sell upon expiration of the lock-up agreements described below, within any three-month period, a number of shares that does not exceed the greater of:

 

 

1% of the number of shares of our common stock then outstanding, which will equal approximately 56,952 shares immediately after this offering; or

 

 

if and when our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market, the average weekly trading volume of our common stock on such market during the four calendar weeks preceding the filing of a notice on Form 144 with respect to the sale.

 

Sales under Rule 144 by our affiliates or persons selling shares on behalf of our affiliates are also subject to certain manner of sale provisions and notice requirements and to the availability of current public information about us.

 

Rule 701

 

Rule 701 generally allows a stockholder who purchased shares of our common stock pursuant to a written compensatory plan or contract and who is not deemed to have been an affiliate of our company during the immediately preceding 90 days to sell these shares in reliance upon Rule 144, but without being required to comply with the public information or holding period provisions of Rule 144. Rule 701 also permits affiliates of our company to sell their Rule 701 shares under Rule 144 without complying with the holding period requirements of Rule 144. All holders of Rule 701 shares, however, are required by that rule to wait until 90 days after the date of this prospectus before selling those shares pursuant to Rule 701, subject to the market standoff agreements and lock-up agreements described below.

 

Stock Options and Warrants

See “Description of Securities” above for a discussion of our outstanding and options warrant to purchase shares of common stock.

7678

 

Stock Options and Warrants

As of June 30, 2020, options to purchase a total of 1,958,411 shares of common stock were outstanding, which options were vested with respect to 1,594,611 shares. Of the total number of shares of our common stock issuable under these options, approximately      % were subject to contractual lock-up agreements with the underwriter described below, and will become eligible for sale, subject to any applicable limitations of Rule 144, at the expiration of those agreements.

As of June 30, 2020, warrants to purchase a total of 3,934,099 shares of common stock at a weighted-average exercise price of $5.79 per share. None of the outstanding warrants or shares issuable upon exercise of the outstanding warrants are currently registered for resale.

Lock-Up Agreements

 

We and our executive officers and directors and each of our stockholders who hold 5% or more of our outstanding common stock expect to enter into lock up agreements with the underwriterplacement agent prior to the commencement of this offering. See “Underwriting“Plan of DistributionLock-upLock-Up Agreements” below for additional information regarding the terms of these agreements. Following the expiration of the lock-up agreements, covered shares will become eligible for sale, subject to any applicable limitations of Rule 144.

 

77

 

UNDERWRITINGPLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

Craig-HallumPursuant to a placement agency agreement, dated as of           , 2023, we have engaged Roth Capital GroupPartners, LLC to act as our lead placement agent to solicit offers to purchase the securities offered by this prospectus on a reasonable best efforts basis. The placement agent is acting asnot purchasing or selling any securities, nor is it required to arrange for the underwriterpurchase and sale of any specific number or dollar amount of securities, other than to use its “reasonable best efforts” to arrange for the sale of the securities by us. Therefore, we may not sell the entire amount of securities being offered, or any at all. The placement agent may engage one or more subagents or selected dealers in connection with this offering.

We have enteredwill enter into an underwritinga securities purchase agreement dated              , 2020directly with the underwriter. Subject to the terms and conditions of the underwriting agreement, we have agreed to sell to the underwriter and the underwriter has agreed to purchase from us,institutional investors, at the public offering price less the underwriting discount set forthinvestor’s option, who purchase our securities in this offering. Investors who do not enter into a securities purchase agreement shall rely solely on the cover page of this prospectus in connection with the numberpurchase of shares of common stock listed next to its nameour securities in the following table:this offering.

Underwriters

Number of
Shares

Craig-Hallum Capital Group LLC

TOTAL

 

The underwriter is committed to purchase allplacement agency agreement provides that the shares of common stock offered by us other than those covered by the option to purchase additional shares of common stock described below, if it purchases any shares of common stock. The obligations of the underwriter may be terminated upon the occurrence of certain events specified in the underwriting agreement. Furthermore, pursuant to the underwriting agreement, the underwriter'splacement agent’s obligations are subject to customarythe conditions representations and warranties contained in the underwriting agreement, such as receipt by the underwriter of officers’ certificates and legal opinions.placement agency agreement.

 

We have been advised bywill deliver the underwriter that it proposes to offer the shares directlysecurities being issued to the public atinvestors upon receipt of investor funds for the public offering price set forthpurchase of the securities offered pursuant to this prospectus. We expect to deliver the securities being offered pursuant to this prospectus on the cover pageor about          , 2023. There is no minimum number of securities or amount of proceeds that is a condition to closing of this prospectus. Any shares sold by the underwriter to securities dealers will be sold at the public offering price less a selling concession not in excess of $       per share.offering.

 

We have agreed to indemnify the underwriter against specified liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act,Placement Agent Fees, Commissions and to contribute to payments the underwriter may be required to make in respect thereof.Expenses

 

The underwriter isUpon the closing of this offering, we will pay the sharesplacement agent a cash transaction fee equal to 7.0% of common stock, subjectthe aggregate gross proceeds to priorus from the sale when, as and if issued to and accepted by them, subject to approval of legal matters by their counsel and other conditions specifiedthe securities in the underwriting agreement. The underwriter reservesoffering. In addition, we will reimburse the right to withdraw, cancel or modify offers toplacement agent for its out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with this offering, including the publicfees and to reject orders in whole or in part.

Over-allotment Option

We have grantedexpenses of the underwriter an over-allotment option. This option, which is exercisablecounsel for the placement agent, up to 45 days after the date of this prospectus, permits the underwriter to purchase a maximum of           additional shares of common stock (15.0% of the shares sold in this offering) from us to cover over-allotments, if any. If the underwriter exercises all or part of this option, it will purchase shares of common stock covered by the option at the public offering price per share that appears on the cover page of this prospectus, less the underwriting discount. If this option is exercised in full, the total price to the public will be $          and the total net proceeds, before expenses, to us will be approximately $      million.

78

Discounts, Commissions and Reimbursement$100,000.

 

The following table shows the public offering price, underwriting discount, non-accountable expense allowanceplacement agent fees and proceeds, before expenses, to us. The information assumes either no exercise or full exercise byus, assuming the underwriterpurchase of all the over-allotment option.securities we are offering.

 

  

Per Share and

Total(1)

Per ShareCommon
Warrant

  

Without Over-Per Pre-Funded

Warrant and

Allotment Option

With Over-

Allotment OptionCommon
Warrant

 

Public offering price

 

$

   

$

Placement Agent fees

$

   

$

Underwriting discount (7.0%)

$$$  

Proceeds to us, before expenses to us(2)

 

$

   

$

$

  


(1)

Does not include warrants to purchase shares of common stock equal to 5.0% of the number of the common stock sold in the offering to be issued to the underwriter at the closing.

(2)

We have also agreed to reimburse certain expenses of the underwriter relating to the offering in an amount up to $155,000. We have paid an advance of $20,000 to the underwriter, which will be applied against actual out-of-pocket accountable expenses and reimbursed to the Company to the extent any portion thereof is not actually incurred in compliance with FINRA Rule 5110(f)(2)(C).

The underwriter proposes to offer the shares of common stock directly to the public at the public offering price set forth on the cover page of this prospectus. In addition, the underwriter may offer some of the common stock to other securities dealers at such price less a concession of $      per share of common stock. After this offering, this offering price and concessions and discounts to brokers and dealers and other selling terms may from time to time be changed by the underwriter.

 

We estimate that the total expenses of thisthe offering, including registration, filing and listing fees, printing fees and legal and accounting expenses, but excluding the underwriting discount and expense reimbursements,placement agent fees, will be approximately $    ., all of which are payable by us. This figure includes the placement agent’s accountable expenses, including, but not limited to, legal fees for placement agent’s legal counsel, that we have agreed to pay at the closing of the offering up to an aggregate expense reimbursement of $100,000.

 

Lock-Up Agreements

 

We and our executive officers and directors and each of our stockholders who hold 5% or more of our outstanding common stock expect to enter into lock up agreements with the underwriterrepresentative prior to the commencement of this offering pursuant to which each of these persons or entities, for a period of 18090 days from the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, without the prior consent of the underwriter,representative, agree not to (1)(a) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of our capital stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of our capital stock; (b) file or cause to be filed any registration statement with the SEC relating to the offering of any shares of our capital stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of our capital stock; or (c) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of our capital stock, whether any such transaction described in (a), (b) or (c) above is to be settled by delivery of shares of our capital stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise.

 

Underwriter's Warrants

We have also agreed to issue to the underwriter or its designees at the closing of this offering, warrants (the “Underwriter’s Warrants”) to purchase a number of shares of common stock equal to 5.0% of the number of shares sold in the offering, including the over-allotment option to the extent it is exercised. The Underwriter’s Warrants will be exercisable at any time and from time to time, in whole or in part, during the five year period commencing on the effective date of this offering. The Underwriter’s Warrants will be exercisable at a price equal to 110.0% of the public offering price per share. The Underwriter’s Warrants have been deemed compensation by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or FINRA, and are therefore subject to a 180-day lock-up pursuant to Rule 5110(g)(1) of FINRA. Pursuant to FINRA Rule 5110(g), the Underwriter’s Warrants and any shares issued upon exercise thereof will not be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated, or be the subject of any hedging, short sale, derivative, put or call transaction that would result in the effective economic disposition of the securities by any person, for a period of 180 days immediately following the date of effectiveness or commencement of sales in this offering, except: (i) the transfer of any security by operation of law or by reason of our reorganization; (ii) the transfer of any security to any FINRA member firm participating in the offering and the officers or partners thereof, if all securities so transferred remain subject to the lock-up restriction set forth above for the remainder of the time period; (iii) the transfer of any security if the aggregate amount of our securities held by the placement agent or related persons do not exceed 1% of the securities being offered; (iv) the transfer of any security that is beneficially owned on a pro-rata basis by all equity owners of an investment fund, provided that no participating member manages or otherwise directs investments by the fund and the participating members in the aggregate do not own more than 10% of the equity in the fund; or (v) the exercise or conversion of any security, if all securities remain subject to the lock-up restriction set forth above for the remainder of the time period.

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In connection with thisIndemnification

We have agreed to indemnify the placement agent against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, and to contribute to payments that the placement agent may be required to make for these liabilities.

Determination of Offering Price and Warrant Exercise Price

The actual public offering price of the securities we are offering, and the exercise price of the common warrants and pre-funded warrants that we are offering, will be negotiated between us, the placement agent and the investors in the offering based on Mach 2, 2020, we issued a warrant to the underwriter to purchase 75,000 sharestrading price of our common stock. The warrant expires on March 2, 2025 and has anstock prior to the offering, among other things. Other factors that will be considered in determining the public offering price of the securities we are offering, as well as the exercise price of $6.49 per share.

The warrant hasthe common warrants and pre-funded warrants that we are offering include our history and prospects, the stage of development of our business, our business plans for the future and the extent to which they have been deemed compensation byimplemented, an assessment of our management, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or FINRA, and is therefore subject to a 180-day lock-up pursuant to Rule 5110(g)(1) of FINRA. Pursuant to FINRA Rule 5110(g), the warrant and any shares issued upon exercise thereof will not be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated, or be the subject of any hedging, short sale, derivative, put or call transaction that would result in the effective economic dispositiongeneral conditions of the securities markets at the time of the offering and such other factors as are deemed relevant.

Other Compensation

If within six (6) months following the termination or expiration of our engagement with the placement agent, we complete any sale of equity or equity-linked securities for which the placement agent is not acting as underwriter or placement agent (other than the exercise by any person for a period of 180 days immediately following the date of effectiveness or commencement of sales in this offering, except: (i) the transferentity of any security by operation of lawoptions, warrants or by reason of our reorganization; (ii) the transfer of any securityother convertible securities) to any FINRA member firm participating in the offering and the officers or partners thereof, if all securities so transferred remain subject to the lock-up restriction set forth above for the remainder of the time period; (iii) the transfer of any security if the aggregate amount of our securities held byinvestors that the placement agent introduced to us or related persons do not exceed 1% ofwith which the securities being offered; (iv) the transfer of any security that is beneficially ownedplacement agent conducted discussions on a pro-rata basis by all equity owners of an investment fund, provided that no participating member manages or otherwise directs investments by the fund and the participating members in the aggregate do not own more than 10% of the equity in the fund; or (v) the exercise or conversion of any security, if all securities remainour behalf, subject to specified exceptions, then we are required to pay to the lock-up restriction set forth above forplacement agent a commission as described in this section, in each case only with respect to the remainderportion of the time period.such financing received from such investors.

 

Right of First Refusal

 

For aProvided the placement agent does not terminate the engagement and the offering is consummated during the engagement period for at least $20,000,000 in gross proceeds, then if during the engagement period or within 12 months thereafter, we pursue any offering of 6 months fromequity, equity-linked or debt securities for cash, the closing of this offering,placement agent has the underwriter will have an irrevocable right of first refusal to act as leadplacement agent (inor underwriter, as applicable, for such offering, and will be entitled to a minimum of thirty five percent (35%) of the case of a private placement) or as bookrunner (in the case of a public offering), on terms customaryaggregate fees paid to the underwriter.agents or underwriters for such offering.

Regulation M

The placement agent may be deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act, and any commissions received by it and any profit realized on the resale of the securities sold by it while acting as principal might be deemed to be underwriting discounts or commissions under the Securities Act. As an underwriter, the placement agent would be required to comply with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, including, without limitation, Rule 10b-5 and Regulation M under the Exchange Act. These rules and regulations may limit the timing of purchases and sales of our securities by the placement agent acting as principal. Under these rules and regulations, the placement agent (i) may not engage in any stabilization activity in connection with our securities and (ii) may not bid for or purchase any of our securities or attempt to induce any person to purchase any of our securities, other than as permitted under the Exchange Act, until it has completed its participation in the distribution.

 

Electronic Offer, Sale and Distribution of Securities

 

A prospectus in electronic format may be made available on the websitesa website maintained by onethe placement agent. In connection with the offering, the placement agent or more of the underwriter or selling group members, if any, participating in this offering and one or more of the underwriters participating in this offeringselected dealers may distribute prospectuses electronically. The underwriter may agree to allocate a numberNo forms of shares to selling group members for sale to their online brokerage account holders. Internet distributionselectronic prospectus other than prospectuses that are printable as Adobe® PDF will be allocated by the underwriter and selling group members that will make internet distributions on the same basis as other allocations. used in connection with this offering.

Other than the prospectus in electronic format, the information on these websitesthe placement agent’s website and any information contained in any other website maintained by the placement agent is not part of nor incorporated by reference into, thisthe prospectus or the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, has not been approved and/or endorsed by us or the underwriterplacement agent in its capacity as underwriter,placement agent and should not be relied upon by investors.

 

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Stabilization

In connection with this offering, the underwriter may engage in over-allotment transactions, syndicate-covering transactions, stabilizing transactions, penalty bids and purchases to cover positions created by short sales.

Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase securities, so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum and are engaged in for the purpose of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the securities while the offering is in progress.
Over-allotment transactions involve sales by the underwriter of securities in excess of the number of securities the underwriter is obligated to purchase. This creates a syndicate short position, which may be either a covered short position or a naked short position. In a covered short position, the number of securities over-allotted by the underwriter is not greater than the number of securities that they may purchase in the over-allotment option. In a naked short position, the number of securities involved is greater than the number of securities in the over-allotment option. The underwriter may close out any covered short position by either exercising their over-allotment option or purchasing shares of securities in the open market.
Syndicate covering transactions involve the purchase of securities in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover syndicate short positions. In determining the source of securities to close out the short position, the underwriter will consider, among other things, the price of securities available for purchase in the open market as compared to the price at which they may purchase securities through the exercise of the over-allotment option. If the underwriter sells more shares of securities than could be covered by the exercise of the over-allotment option, creating a naked short position, the position can be closed out only by buying securities in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriter is concerned that after pricing there could be downward pressure on the price of the securities in the open market that could adversely affect investors who purchase in this offering.
Penalty bids permit the underwriter to reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member when the securities originally sold by the syndicate member are purchased in stabilizing or syndicate covering transactions to cover syndicate short positions.

These stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids may have the effect of raising or maintaining the market price of our securities or preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of our securities. As a result, the price of our securities in the open market may be higher than it would be otherwise in the absence of these transactions.

Neither we nor the underwriter makes any representation or prediction as to the effect that the transactions described above may have on the price of our common stock. These transactions may occur on the Nasdaq Capital Market or on any other trading market. If any of these transactions are commenced, they may be discontinued without notice at any time.

Passive Market Making

In connection with this offering, the underwriter and selling group members, if any, may engage in passive market making transactions in our common stock in accordance with Rule 103 of Regulation M under the Exchange Act, during a period before the commencement of offers or sales of the shares and extending through the completion of the distribution. A passive market maker must display its bid at a price not in excess of the highest independent bid of that security. However, if all independent bids are lowered below the passive market maker’s bid, then that bid must then be lowered when specified purchase limits are exceeded.

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OtherCertain Relationships

 

The underwriterplacement agent and its affiliates may in the future provide, variousfrom time to time, investment banking commercial banking,and financial advisory brokerage and other services to us and our affiliatesin the ordinary course of business, for which services they may in the future receive customary fees and reimbursement of expenses. In the ordinary course of their various business activities, the underwriter and its affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans) for their own accounts and for the accounts of their customers and such investment and securities activities may involve securities and/or instruments of our Company. The underwriter and its affiliates may also make investment recommendations and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or instruments and may at any time hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in such securities and instruments.commissions.

 

OTCQB QuotationThe Nasdaq Capital Market Listing

 

Our common stock is quoted on the OTCQB Venture Market operated by OTC Markets Group, Inc. (“OTCQB”) under the ticker symbol “SNBP.” We have applied to have our common stock listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “SNBP”.“PBLA.”

 

Offer Restrictions Outside the United States

 

Other than in the United States, no action has been taken by us or the underwriter that would permit a public offering of the securities offered by this prospectus in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. The securities offered by this prospectus may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, nor may this prospectus or any other offering material or advertisements in connection with the offer and sale of any such securities be distributed or published in any jurisdiction, except under circumstances that will result in compliance with the applicable rules and regulations of that jurisdiction. Persons into whose possession this prospectus comes are advised to inform themselves about and to observe any restrictions relating to the offering and the distribution of this prospectus. This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities offered by this prospectus in any jurisdiction in which such an offer or a solicitation is unlawful.European Economic Area

 

Australia

This prospectus is not a disclosure document under Chapter 6D of the Australian Corporations Act, has not been lodged with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission and does not purportIn relation to include the information required of a disclosure document under Chapter 6D of the Australian Corporations Act. Accordingly, (1) the offer of the securities under this prospectus is only made to persons to whom it is lawful to offer the securities without disclosure under Chapter 6D of the Australian Corporations Act under one or more exemptions set out in section 708 of the Australian Corporations Act, (2) this prospectus is made available in Australia only to those persons as set forth in clause (1) above, and (3) the offeree must be sent a notice stating in substance that by accepting this offer, the offeree represents that the offeree is such a person as set forth in clause (1) above, and, unless permitted under the Australian Corporations Act, agrees not to sell or offer for sale within Australia any of the securities sold to the offeree within 12 months after its transfer for the offeree under this prospectus.

Canada

The securities may be sold in Canada only to purchasers purchasing, or deemed to be purchasing, as principal that are accredited investors, as defined in National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions or subsection 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario), and are permitted clients, as defined in National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations. Any resale of the securities must be made in accordance with an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the prospectus requirements of applicable securities laws.

Securities legislation in certain provinces or territories of Canada may provide a purchaser with remedies for rescission or damages if this prospectus (including any amendment thereto) contains a misrepresentation, provided that the remedies for rescission or damages are exercised by the purchaser within the time limit prescribed by the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory. The purchaser should refer to any applicable provisions of the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory for particulars of these rights or consult with a legal advisor.

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Pursuant to section 3A.3 of National Instrument 33-105 Underwriting Conflicts (NI 33-105), the underwriter is not required to comply with the disclosure requirements of NI 33-105 regarding underwriter conflicts of interest in connection with this offering.

China

The information in this document does not constitute a public offer of the securities, whether by way of sale or subscription, in the People’s Republic of China (excluding, for purposes of this paragraph, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Macau Special Administrative Region and Taiwan). The securities may not be offered or sold directly or indirectly in the PRC to legal or natural persons other than directly to “qualified domestic institutional investors.”

European Economic Area - Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands

The information in this document has been prepared on the basis that all offers of securities will be made pursuant to an exemption under the Directive 2003/71/EC (“Prospectus Directive”), as implemented in Member Stateseach member state of the European Economic Area, (each, a “Relevant Member State”), fromno offer of securities which are the requirement to produce a prospectus for offerssubject of securities.

An offerthe offering has been, or will be made to the public of securities has not been made, and may not be made, in a Relevantthat Member State, except pursuant to one ofother than under the following exemptions under the Prospectus Directive as implemented in that Relevant Member State:Directive:

 

 

(a)

to any legal entities that are authorized or regulated to operateentity which is a qualified investor as defined in the financial markets or, if not so authorized or regulated, whose corporate purpose is solely to invest in securities;Prospectus Directive;

 

 

to any legal entity that has two or more of (i) an average of at least 250 employees during its last fiscal year; (ii) a total balance sheet of more than €43,000,000 (as shown on its last annual unconsolidated or consolidated financial statements) and (iii) an annual net turnover of more than €50,000,000 (as shown on its last annual unconsolidated or consolidated financial statement);

(b)

to fewer than 100150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors within the meaning of Article 2(1)I ofas defined in the Prospectus Directive), subject to obtaining the prior consent of the company or any underwriterRepresentatives for any such offer; or

 

 

(c)

in any other circumstances falling within Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive, provided that no such offer of securities shall result in a requirement for the publication by the company of a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive.

 

Franceprovided that no such offer of securities referred to in (a) to (c) above shall result in a requirement for the Company or the placement agent to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive, or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 16 of the Prospectus Directive.

 

This document is not being distributedEach person located in the context of a public offering of financial securities (offre au public de titres financiers) in France within the meaning of Article L.411-1 of the French Monetary and Financial Code (Code monétaire et financier) and Articles 211-1 et seq. of the General Regulation of the French Autorité des marchés financiers (“AMF”). The securities have not been offered or sold and will not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly,Member State to the public in France.

This document andwhom any other offering material relating to the securities has not been, and will not be, submitted to the AMF for approval in France and, accordingly, may not be distributed or caused to distributed, directly or indirectly, to the public in France.

Such offers, sales and distributions have been and shall only be made in France to (i) qualified investors (investisseurs qualifiés) acting for their own account, as defined in and in accordance with Articles L.411-2-II-2° and D.411-1 to D.411-3, D. 744-1, D.754-1 and D.764-1 of the French Monetary and Financial Code and any implementing regulation and/or (ii) a restricted number of non-qualified investors (cercle restreint dinvestisseurs non-qualifiés) acting for their own account, as defined in and in accordance with Articles L.411-2-II-2° and D.411-4, D.744-1, D.754-1 and D.764-1 of the French Monetary and Financial Code and any implementing regulation.

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Pursuant to Article 211-3 of the General Regulation of the AMF, investors in France are informed that the securities cannot be distributed (directly or indirectly) to the public by the investors otherwise than in accordance with Articles L.411-1, L.411-2, L.412-1 and L.621-8 to L.621-8-3 of the French Monetary and Financial Code.

Ireland

The information in this document does not constitute a prospectus under any Irish laws or regulations and this document has not been filed with or approved by any Irish regulatory authority as the information has not been prepared in the context of a public offeringoffer of securities is made or who receives any communication in Irelandrespect of an offer of securities, or who initially acquires any shares of our securities will be deemed to have represented, warranted, acknowledged and agreed to and with the placement agent and the Company that (1) it is a “qualified investor” within the meaning of the Irishlaw in that Member State implementing Article 2(1)(e) of the Prospectus (Directive 2003/71/EC) Regulations 2005 (the “Prospectus Regulations”). TheDirective; and (2) in the case of any shares of our securities acquired by it as a financial intermediary as that term is used in Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive, the securities acquired by it in the offer have not been offeredacquired on behalf of, nor have they been acquired with a view to their offer or sold, and will not be offered, sold or delivered directly or indirectlyresale to, persons in Ireland by way of a public offering, except to (i)any Member State other than qualified investors, as that term is defined in Regulation 2(l)the Prospectus Directive, or in circumstances in which the prior consent of the placement agent has been given to the offer or resale; or where our securities have been acquired by it on behalf of persons in any Member State other than qualified investors, the offer of those securities to it is not treated under the Prospectus Regulations and (ii) fewer than 100 natural or legal persons who are not qualified investors.

IsraelDirective as having been made to such persons. 

 

The securities offered by this prospectus have not been approved or disapproved byCompany, the Israeli Securities Authority (the ISA), or ISA, nor have such securities been registered for sale in Israel. The shares may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, toplacement agent and their respective affiliates will rely upon the public in Israel, absent the publication of a prospectus. The ISA has not issued permits, approvals or licenses in connection with the offering or publishing the prospectus; nor has it authenticated the details included herein, confirmed their reliability or completeness, or rendered an opinion as to the qualitytruth and accuracy of the securities being offered. Any resale in Israel, directly or indirectly, to the public of the securities offered by this prospectus is subject to restrictions on transferabilityforegoing representations, acknowledgments and must be effected only in compliance with the Israeli securities laws and regulations.agreements.

 

Italy

The offeringThis prospectus has been prepared on the basis that any offer of theour securities in the Republic of Italy has not been authorized by the Italian Securities and Exchange Commission (Commissione Nazionale per le Società e la Borsa, “CONSOB”) pursuant to the Italian securities legislation and, accordingly, no offering material relating to the securities mayany Member State will be distributed in Italy and such securities may not be offered or sold in Italy in a public offer within the meaning of Article 1.1(t) of Legislative Decree No. 58 of 24 February 1998 (“Decree No. 58”), other than:

to Italian qualified investors, as defined in Article 100 of Decree no. 58 by reference to Article 34-ter of CONSOB Regulation no. 11971 of 14 May 1999 (“Regulation no. 1197l”) as amended (“Qualified Investors”); and

in other circumstances that are exempt from the rules on public offer pursuant to Article 100 of Decree No. 58 and Article 34-ter of Regulation No. 11971 as amended.

Any offer, sale or delivery of the securities or distribution of any offer document relating to the securities in Italy (excluding placements where a Qualified Investor solicits an offer from the issuer) under the paragraphs above must be:

made by investment firms, banks or financial intermediaries permitted to conduct such activities in Italy in accordance with Legislative Decree No. 385 of 1 September 1993 (as amended), Decree No. 58, CONSOB Regulation No. 16190 of 29 October 2007 and any other applicable laws; and

in compliance with all relevant Italian securities, tax and exchange controls and any other applicable laws.

Any subsequent distribution of the securities in Italy must be made in compliance with the public offer and prospectus requirement rules provided under Decree No. 58 and the Regulation No. 11971 as amended, unless an exception from those rules applies. Failure to comply with such rules may result in the sale of such securities being declared null and void and in the liability of the entity transferring the securities for any damages suffered by the investors.

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Japan

The securities have not been and will not be registered under Article 4, paragraph 1 of the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law of Japan (Law No. 25 of 1948), as amended (the “FIEL”) pursuant to an exemption under the Prospectus Directive from the registration requirements applicablerequirement to publish a privateprospectus for offers of shares. Accordingly, any person making or intending to make an offer in that Member State of our securities which are the subject of the offering contemplated in this prospectus may only do so in circumstances in which no obligation arises for the Company or the placement of securitiesagent to Qualified Institutional Investors (as defined in and in accordance withpublish a prospectus pursuant to Article 2, paragraph 3 of the FIEL andProspectus Directive in relation to such offer. Neither the regulations promulgated thereunder). Accordingly,Company nor the securities may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or forplacement agent have authorized, nor do they authorize, the benefitmaking of any resident of Japan other than Qualified Institutional Investors. Any Qualified Institutional Investor who acquires securities may not resell them to any person in Japan that is not a Qualified Institutional Investor, and acquisition by any such person of securities is conditional upon the execution of an agreement to that effect.

Portugal

This document is not being distributed in the context of a public offer of financial securities (oferta pública de valores mobiliários) in Portugal, within the meaning of Article 109 of the Portuguese Securities Code (Código dosValores Mobiliários). The securities have not been offered or sold and will not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, to the public in Portugal. This document and any other offering material relating to the securities have not been, and will not be, submitted to the Portuguese Securities Market Commission (Comissão do Mercado de Valores Mobiliários) for approval in Portugal and, accordingly, may not be distributed or caused to distributed, directly or indirectly, to the public in Portugal, other than under circumstances that are deemed not to qualify as a public offer under the Portuguese Securities Code. Such offers, sales and distributions of securities in Portugal are limitedcircumstances in which an obligation arises for the Company or the placement agent to publish a prospectus for such an offer.

For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer of our securities to the public” in relation to any of our securities in any Member State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the securities to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for the securities, as the same may be varied in that Member State by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that Member State, the expression “Prospectus Directive” means Directive 2003/71/EC (as amended) and includes any relevant implementing measure in each Member State. The above selling restriction is in addition to any other selling restrictions set out below.

Notice to Prospective Investors in the United Kingdom

In addition, in the United Kingdom, this document is being distributed only to, and is directed only at, and any offer subsequently made may only be directed at persons who are “qualified investors” (as defined in the Portuguese Securities Code)Prospectus Directive) (i) who have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within Article 19 (5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the “Order”) and/or (ii) who are high net worth companies (or persons to whom it may otherwise be lawfully communicated) falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”). Only such investors may receive this document and they may not distribute it or the information contained in it to any other person.

Sweden

This document has not been, and willmust not be registered withacted on or approvedrelied on in the United Kingdom byFinansinspektionen (the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority). Accordingly, this document may not be made available, nor may the securities be offered for sale in Sweden, other than under circumstances that are deemed not to require a prospectus under the Swedish Financial Instruments Trading Act (1991:980) (Sw. lag (1991:980) om handel med finansiella instrument). Any offering of securities in Sweden is limited to persons who are “qualified investors” (as defined innot relevant persons. In the Financial Instruments Trading Act). Only such investors may receiveUnited Kingdom, any investment or investment activity to which this document relates is only available to, and they may not distribute it or the information containedwill be engaged in it to any other person.with, relevant persons.

 

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Notice to Prospective Investors in Switzerland

 

The securities may not be publicly offered in Switzerland and will not be listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (“SIX”) or on any other stock exchange or regulated trading facility in Switzerland. This document has been prepared without regard to the disclosure standards for issuance prospectuses under art. 652a or art. 1156 of the Swiss Code of Obligations or the disclosure standards for listing prospectuses under art. 27 ff. of the SIX Listing Rules or the listing rules of any other stock exchange or regulated trading facility in Switzerland. Neither this document nor any other offering or marketing material relating to our securities or the securitiesoffering may be publicly distributed or otherwise made publicly available in Switzerland.

 

Neither this document nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the offering, the Company or our securities have been or will be filed with or approved by any Swiss regulatory authority. In particular, this document will not be filed with, and the offer of our securities will not be supervised by, the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (“FINMA”FINMA (FINMA), and the offer of our securities has not been and will not be authorized under the Swiss Federal Act on Collective Investment Schemes ("CISA"). The investor protection afforded to acquirers of interests in collective investment schemes under the CISA does not extend to acquirers of our securities.

Notice to Prospective Investors in the Dubai International Financial Centre

 

This prospectus relates to an Exempt Offer in accordance with the Offered Securities Rules of the Dubai Financial Services Authority (“DFSA”). This prospectus is intended for distribution only to persons of a type specified in the Offered Securities Rules of the DFSA. It must not be delivered to, or relied on by, any other person. The DFSA has no responsibility for reviewing or verifying any documents in connection with Exempt Offers. The DFSA has not approved this prospectus nor taken steps to verify the information set forth herein and has no responsibility for the prospectus. The securities to which this prospectus relates may be illiquid and/or subject to restrictions on their resale. Prospective purchasers of the securities offered should conduct their own due diligence on the securities. If you do not understand the contents of this prospectus you should consult an authorized financial advisor.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Australia

No placement document, is personalprospectus, product disclosure statement or other disclosure document has been lodged with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (“ASIC”), in relation to the recipient only and not for general circulation in Switzerland.

UnitedArab Emirates

Neither this document nor the securities have been approved, disapproved or passed on in any way by the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates or any other governmental authority in the United Arab Emirates, nor have we received authorization or licensing from the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates or any other governmental authority in the United Arab Emirates to market or sell the securities within the United Arab Emirates.offering. This documentprospectus does not constitute a prospectus, product disclosure statement or other disclosure document under the Corporations Act 2001 (the “Corporations Act”) and does not purport to include the information required for a prospectus, product disclosure statement or other disclosure document under the Corporations Act.

Any offer in Australia of our securities may only be made to persons (the “Exempt Investors”) who are “sophisticated investors” (within the meaning of section 708(8) of the Corporations Act), “professional investors” (within the meaning of section 708(11) of the Corporations Act) or otherwise pursuant to one or more exemptions contained in section 708 of the Corporations Act so that it is lawful to offer the securities without disclosure to investors under Chapter 6D of the Corporations Act.

The securities applied for by Exempt Investors in Australia must not be usedoffered for sale in Australia in the purposeperiod of 12 months after the date of allotment under the offering, except in circumstances where disclosure to investors under Chapter 6D of the Corporations Act would not be required pursuant to an exemption under section 708 of the Corporations Act or otherwise or where the offer is pursuant to a disclosure document which complies with Chapter 6D of the Corporations Act. Any person acquiring our securities must observe such Australian on-sale restrictions.

This prospectus contains general information only and does not take account of the investment objectives, financial situation or particular needs of any particular person. It does not contain any securities recommendations or financial product advice. Before making an investment decision, investors need to consider whether the information in this prospectus is appropriate to their needs, objectives and circumstances, and, if necessary, seek expert advice on those matters.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Hong Kong

The securities have not been offered or sold and will not be offered or sold in Hong Kong, by means of any document, other than (a) to “professional investors” as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571) of Hong Kong and any rules made under that Ordinance; or (b) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a “prospectus” as defined in the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32) of Hong Kong or which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of that Ordinance. No advertisement, invitation or invitation. No servicesdocument relating to the securities includinghas been or may be issued or has been or may be in the receiptpossession of applications and/any person for the purposes of issue, whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere, which is directed at, or the allotmentcontents of which are likely to be accessed or redemptionread by, the public of such shares, mayHong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the securities laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to securities which are or are intended to be rendered withindisposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to “professional investors” as defined in the United Arab Emirates by us.Securities and Futures Ordinance and any rules made under that Ordinance.

 

8582

 

No offer or invitationNotice to subscribe for securities is valid or permittedProspective Investors in the Dubai International Financial Centre.Japan

 

UnitedKingdom

Neither the information in this document nor any other document relating to the offer hasThe securities have not been delivered for approval toand will not be registered under the Financial Services Authority in the United KingdomInstruments and no prospectus (within the meaningExchange Law of section 85Japan (Law No. 25 of the Financial Services1948, as amended) and, Markets Act 2000, as amended (“FSMA”)) has been published or is intended to be published in respect of the securities. This document is issued on a confidential basis to “qualified investors” (within the meaning of section 86(7) of FSMA) in the United Kingdom, and the securities mayaccordingly, will not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, in Japan, or for the United Kingdombenefit of any Japanese Person or to others for re-offering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to any Japanese Person, except in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations and ministerial guidelines promulgated by meansrelevant Japanese governmental or regulatory authorities in effect at the relevant time. For the purposes of this document,paragraph, “Japanese Person” shall mean any accompanying letterperson resident in Japan, including any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Singapore

This prospectus has not been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, this prospectus and any other document except in circumstances that do not require the publication of a prospectus pursuant to section 86(1) FSMA. This document should not be distributed, published or reproduced, in whole or in part, nor may its contents be disclosed by recipients to any other person in the United Kingdom.

Any invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of section 21 of FSMA) receivedmaterial in connection with the issueoffer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of securities may not be circulated or distributed, nor may the securities be offered or sold, or be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, whether directly or indirectly, to persons in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore (the “SFA”), (ii) to a relevant person pursuant to Section 275(1), or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A), and in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275, of the SFA, or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA.

Where the securities are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 of the SFA by a relevant person which is:

(a)

a corporation (which is not an accredited investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA)) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor; or

(b)

a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary of the trust is an individual who is an accredited investor,

securities (as defined in Section 239(1) of the SFA) of that corporation or the beneficiaries’ rights and interest (howsoever described) in that trust shall not be transferred within six months after that corporation or that trust has acquired the securities pursuant to an offer made under Section 275 of the SFA except:

(a)

to an institutional investor or to a relevant person defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA, or to any person arising from an offer referred to in Section 275(1A) or Section 276(4)(i)(B) of the SFA;

(b)

where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer;

(c)

where the transfer is by operation of law;

(d)

as specified in Section 276(7) of the SFA; or

(e)

as specified in Regulation 32 of the Securities and Futures (Offers of Investments) (Shares and Debentures) Regulations 2005 of Singapore.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Canada

The securities may be sold only to purchasers purchasing, or deemed to be purchasing, as principal that are accredited investors, as defined in National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions or subsection 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario), and are permitted clients, as defined in National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations. Any resale of the securities have only been communicatedmust be made in accordance with an exemption from, or causedin a transaction not subject to, be communicated and will only be communicatedthe prospectus requirements of applicable securities laws.

83

Securities legislation in certain provinces or causedterritories of Canada may provide a purchaser with remedies for rescission or damages if this prospectus (including any amendment thereto) contains a misrepresentation, provided that the remedies for rescission or damages are exercised by the purchaser within the time limit prescribed by the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory. The purchaser should refer to be communicatedany applicable provisions of the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory for particulars of these rights or consult with a legal advisor.

Pursuant to section 3A.3 (or, in the United Kingdomcase of securities issued or guaranteed by the government of a non-Canadian jurisdiction, section 3A.4) of National Instrument 33-105 Underwriting Conflicts (NI 33-105), the placement agent is not required to comply with the disclosure requirements of NI 33-105 regarding underwriter conflicts of interest in circumstances in which section 21(1) of FSMA does not apply to us.connection with this offering.

 

In the United Kingdom, this document is being distributed only to, and is directed at, persons (i) who have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within Article 19(5) (investment professionals) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotions) Order 2005 (“FPO”), (ii) who fall within the categories of persons referred to in Article 49(2)(a) to (d) (high net worth companies, unincorporated associations, etc.) of the FPO or (iii) to whom it may otherwise be lawfully communicated (together “relevant persons”). The investments to which this document relates are available only to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to purchase will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this document or any of its contents.

84

 

Legal Matters LEGAL MATTERS

 

The validity of the shares of common stock beingsecurities offered by this prospectus has beenwill be passed upon for us by Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP. Pryor Cashman LLP Minneapolis, Minnesota. Certain legal mattersis acting as counsel for the placement agent in connection with certain legal matters related to this offering will be passed upon for the underwriter by Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP, New York, New York.offering.

 

Experts EXPERTS

 

The financial statements of Panbela as of December 31, 20192021 and 20182020 and for the two years in the period ended December 31, 2019 included2021 incorporated in this prospectus by reference from the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K have been so included in reliance on the report ofaudited by Cherry Bekaert LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, appearing elsewhereas stated in their report, which is incorporated herein by reference. Such financial statements have been so incorporated in reliance upon the report of such firm given on theupon their authority of said firm as experts in auditingaccounting and accounting.auditing.

 

Where You Can Find More Information The financial statements of CPP as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 and for the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, incorporated in this prospectus by reference from the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K have been audited by Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C., an independent public accounting firm, as stated in their report, which is incorporated herein by reference. Such financial statements have been so incorporated in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

 

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act that registers the distribution of the securities offered under this prospectus. The registration statement, including the attached exhibits and schedules, contains additional relevant information about us and the securities. The rules and regulations of the SEC allow us to omit from this prospectus certain information included in the registration statement.

 

We are subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act and are required to file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Any information we file with the SEC, including the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus, is also available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. We also make these documents publicly available, free of charge, on our website at www.sunbiopharma.comwww.panbela.com as soon as reasonably practicable after filing such documents with the SEC. The information contained in, or that can be accessed through, our website is not part of this prospectus.

 

86
85

Panbela Therapeutics, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In thousands, except share amounts)

  

September 30, 2022

  

December 31, 2021

 

 

 

(Unaudited)

     
ASSETS        

Current assets:

        

Cash and cash equivalents

 $941  $11,867 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

  779   91 

Income tax receivable

  46   321 

Total current assets

  1,766   12,279 

Deposits held for clinical trial costs

  3,101   593 

Total assets

 $4,867  $12,872 
         

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' (DEFICIT) EQUITY

        

Current liabilities:

        

Accounts payable

 $5,394  $640 

Accrued expenses

  758   2,020 

Accrued interest payable

  150   - 

Notes payable

  650   - 

Debt, current portion

  1,000   - 

Total current liabilities

  7,952   2,660 
         

Debt, net of current portion

  5,194   - 

Total non current liabilities

  5,194   - 
         

Total liabilities

  13,146   2,660 
         

Stockholders' (deficit) equity:

        

Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 10,000,000 authorized; no shares issued or outstanding as of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021

  -   - 

Common stock, $0.001 par value; 100,000,000 authorized; 20,789,962 and 13,443,722 shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively

  21   13 

Additional paid-in capital

  76,686   66,227 

Accumulated deficit

  (86,359)  (56,161)

Accumulated comprehensive income

  1,373   133 

Total stockholders' (deficit) equity

  (8,279)  10,212 

Total liabilities and stockholders' (deficit) equity

 $4,867  $12,872 

The accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these statements.

F-1

Panbela Therapeutics, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

  

Three Months Ended September 30,

  

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 
  

2022

  

2021

  

2022

  

2021

 

Operating expenses:

                

General and administrative

 $1,294  $924  $4,349  $3,316 

Research and development

  2,329   1,286   24,563   3,383 

Operating loss

  (3,623)  (2,210)  (28,912)  (6,699)
                 

Other income (expense):

                

Interest income

  6   1   10   1 

Interest expense

  (87)  (2)  (107)  (9)

Other expense

  (754)  (335)  (1,293)  (611)

Total other expense

  (835)  (336)  (1,390)  (619)
                 

Loss before income tax benefit

  (4,458)  (2,546)  (30,302)  (7,318)
                 

Income tax benefit

  56   404   104   721 
                 

Net loss

  (4,402)  (2,142)  (30,198)  (6,597)

Foreign currency translation adjustment

  727   327   1,240   566 
                 

Comprehensive loss

 $(3,675) $(1,815) $(28,958) $(6,031)
                 

Basic and diluted net loss per share

 $(0.21) $(0.16) $(1.85) $(0.59)

Weighted average shares outstanding - basic and diluted

  20,780,848   13,285,223   16,313,639   11,122,725 

The accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these statements.

F-2

Panbela Therapeutics, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders (Deficit) Equity

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

  

For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2022

 
                
  

Common Stock

  

Additional

Paid-In

  

Accumulated

  

Accumulated Other Comprehensive

  

Total

Stockholders'

 
  

Shares

  

Amount

  

Capital

  

Deficit

  

(Loss) Income

  

(Deficit) Equity

 

Balance as of January 1, 2022

  13,443  $13  $66,227  $(56,161) $133  $10,212 

Vesting of restricted stock

  6   -   -   -   -   - 

Stock-based compensation

  -   -   334   -   -   334 

Net loss

  -   -   -   (3,666)  -   (3,666)

Foreign currency translation adjustment

  -   -   -   -   (299)  (299)

Balance as of March 31, 2022

  13,449  $13  $66,561  $(59,827) $(166) $6,581 
                         

Issuance of common stock - CPP Acquisition

  7,320   8   9,597   -   -   9,605 

Vesting of restricted stock

  6   -   -   -   -   - 

Stock-based compensation

  -   -   293   -   -   293 

Net loss

  -   -   -   (22,130)  -   (22,130)

Foreign currency translation adjustment

  -   -   -   -   812   812 

Balance as of June 30, 2022

  20,775  $21  $76,451  $(81,957) $646  $(4,839)
                         

Exercise of options, cashless

  15   -   -   -   -   - 

Exercise of warrants for cash

  1   -   5   -   -   5 

Stock-based compensation

  -   -   230   -   -   230 

Net loss

  -   -   -   (4,402)  -   (4,402)

Foreign currency translation adjustment

  -   -   -   -   727   727 
Balance as of September 30, 2022  20,791  $21  $76,686  $(86,359) $1,373  $(8,279)

  

For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021

 
                
  

Common Stock

  

Additional

Paid-In

  

Accumulated

  

Accumulated Other Comprehensive

  

Total

Stockholders'

 
  

Shares

  

Amount

  

Capital

  

Deficit

  

(Loss) Income

  

Equity

 

Balance as of January 1, 2021

  9,664  $10  $54,848  $(46,026) $(384) $8,448 

Exercise of warrants for cash

  229   -   1,042   -   -   1,042 

Exercise of warrants, cashless

  189   -   -   -   -   - 

Vesting of restricted stock

  7   -   -   -   -   - 

Stock-based compensation

  -   -   252   -   -   252 

Net loss

  -   -   -   (2,257)  -   (2,257)

Foreign currency translation adjustment

  -   -   -   -   99   99 

Balance as of March 31, 2021

  10,089  $10  $56,142  $(48,283) $(285) $7,584 
                         

Exercise of warrants, cashless

  2   -   -   -   -   - 

Vesting of restricted stock

  4   -   -   -   -   - 

Stock-based compensation

  -   -   363   -   -   363 

Net loss

  -   -   -   (2,199)  -   (2,199)

Foreign currency translation adjustment

  -   -   -   -   141   141 

Balance as of June 30, 2021

  10,095  $10  $56,505  $(50,482) $(144) $5,889 
                         

Vesting of restricted stock

  6   -   -   -   -   - 

Public Offering of common stock

  3,333   3   9,050   -   -   9,053 

Stock-based compensation

  -   -   336   -   -   336 

Net loss

  -   -   -   (2,142)  -   (2,142)

Foreign currency translation adjustment

  -   -   -   -   327   327 

Balance as of September 30, 2021

  13,434  $13  $65,891  $(52,624) $183  $13,463 

The accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these statements.

F-3

Panbela Therapeutics, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

  

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 
  

2022

  

2021

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

        

Net loss

 $(30,198) $(6,597)

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

        

Write off of in process research and development (IPR&D)

  17,737   - 

Stock-based compensation

  857   951 

Non-cash interest expense

  97   - 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

        

Income tax receivable

  302   (201)

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

  (451)  221 

Deposits held for clinical trial costs

  (2,561)  - 

Accounts payable

  5,392   873 

Accrued liabilities

  (1,448)  (264)

Net cash used in operating activities

  (10,273)  (5,017)

Cash flows from investing activities:

        

Investment in IPR&D

  (660)  - 

Cash acquired in merger

  4   - 

Net cash used in investing activities

  (656)  - 
         

Cash flows from financing activities:

        

Proceeds from public offering of common stock net of underwriters discount and offering costs of $946

  -   9,053 

Proceeds from exercise of stock purchase warrants

  5   1,042 

Net cash provided by financing activities

  5   10,095 
         

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

  (2)  (28)
         

Net change in cash

  (10,926)  5,050 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

  11,867   9,022 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

 $941  $14,072 
         

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

        

Cash paid during period for interest

 $9  $9 
         

Supplemental Disclosure of non-cash transactions:

        

Fair value of common stock, stock options and stock warrants issued as consideration for asset acquisition

 $9,605  $- 

The accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these statements.

F-4

Panbela Therapeutics, Inc.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

1.

Business

Panbela Therapeutics, Inc. (“Panbela”) and its direct wholly-owned subsidiaries: Panbela Research, Inc. (“Panbela Research”) Cancer Prevention Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“CPP”) and Cancer Prevention Pharma (Ireland) Limited exist for the primary purpose of developing disruptive therapeutics for the treatment of patients with urgent unmet medical needs. Panbela Therapeutics Pty Ltd is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Panbela Research organized under the laws of Australia. Cancer Prevention has two wholly owned dormant subsidiaries: Cancer Prevention Pharma Limited, a United Kingdom entity, and Cancer Prevention Pharmaceuticals, LLC, an Arizona limited liability company. Panbela Therapeutics, Inc., together with its direct and indirect subsidiaries is referred to as “we,” “us,” “our,” and the “Company.”

The primary objective of our pipeline is the utilization of pharmacotherapies to reduce or normalize increased disease-associated polyamines using complementary pharmacotherapies. Our lead candidates are ivospemin (SBP-101) for which we have exclusively licensed the worldwide rights to from the University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc. and Flynpovi™ a combination of eflornithine (CPP-1X) and sulindac. We have exclusively licensed rights from the Arizona Board of Regents of the University of Arizona to commercialize Flynpovi, these rights are subject to a sublicense agreement to develop and commercialize Flynpovi in North America.

Acquisition of CPP

On June 15, 2022, we completed the previously announced strategic business reorganization and acquisition of CPP pursuant to the agreement and plan of merger, dated as of February 21, 2022 (the “Merger Agreement”), by and among Panbela, CPP, Panbela Research, Canary Merger Subsidiary I, Inc. (“Merger Sub I”), and Canary Merger Subsidiary II, Inc. (“Merger Sub II”). Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, (i) Merger Sub I, then a wholly-owned subsidiary of Panbela, which was itself a wholly-owned subsidiary of Panbela Research, merged with and into Panbela Research (the “First Merger”), with Panbela Research surviving the First Merger, and (ii) Merger Sub II, then a wholly-owned subsidiary of Panbela, merged with and into CPP (the “Second Merger” and, together with the First Merger, the “Mergers”), with CPP surviving the Second Merger. As a result of the Mergers, each of Panbela Research and CPP became a wholly owned subsidiary of Panbela. In addition, in connection with the consummation of the Mergers, then “Panbela Therapeutics, Inc.” was renamed to “Panbela Research, Inc.” and then “Canary Merger Holdings, Inc.” was renamed to “Panbela Therapeutics, Inc.” See Note 6, “Acquisition,” for additional information.

2.

Risks and Uncertainties

The Company operates in a highly regulated and competitive environment. The development, manufacturing and marketing of pharmaceutical products require approval from, and are subject to ongoing oversight by, the Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) in the United States, the Therapeutic Goods Administration in Australia, the European Medicines Agency in the European Union, and comparable agencies in other countries. Obtaining approval for a new pharmaceutical product is never certain, may take many years, and is normally expected to involve substantial expenditure.

We have incurred losses of $86.4 million since our inception in 2011. For the nine months ended September 30, 2022, we incurred a net loss of $30.2 million. Included in the net loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 was $17.7 million of in-process research and development (“IPR&D”) written off as research and development (“R&D”) expense subsequent to the acquisition of CPP. We also incurred negative cash flows from operating activities of approximately $10.3 million for this period. As we continue to pursue development activities and seek commercialization of our lead assets, we expect to incur substantial losses, which are likely to generate negative net cash flows from operating activities. As of September 30, 2022, we had cash of $0.9 million, negative working capital of $6.2 million (current assets less current liabilities), and stockholders’ deficit of $8.3 million. The Company’s principal sources of cash have historically included the issuance of equity securities and convertible debt. CPP’s principal sources of cash have historically also included issuance of equity securities, convertible debt and development partners.

F-5

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that we will continue as a going concern which contemplates the realization of assets and liquidation of liabilities in the normal course of business. The condensedconsolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recoverability or classification of assets or the amounts of liabilities that might result from the outcome of these uncertainties. Our current independent registered public accounting firm included a paragraph emphasizing this going concern uncertainty in their audit report regarding our 2021 financial statements dated March 24, 2022. Our ability to continue as a going concern, realize the carrying value of our assets and discharge our liabilities in the ordinary course of business is dependent upon a number of factors, including our ability to obtain additional financing, the success of our development efforts, our ability to obtain marketing approval for our ivospemin (SBP-101), eflornithine (CPP-1X) and eflornithine sachets (CPP-1X-S) product candidates in the United States, Australia, the European Union or other markets, and Flynpovi outside of North America and ultimately our ability to market and sell our product candidates. These factors, among others, raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue operations as a going concern. See Note 4 titled “Liquidity and Business Plan.”

In March of 2020, the World Health Organization declared the spread of a novel strain of coronavirus (“COVID-19”) a global pandemic. Early in the pandemic, federal, state and local governmental authorities took actions to combat the spread of COVID-19, including through issuances of “stay-at-home” directives and similar mandates for many individuals to substantially restrict daily activities and for many businesses to curtail or cease normal operations. These measures, while intended to protect human life, led to initially significantly reduced economic activity. Vaccines became available at the end of 2020. Distribution in the United States accelerated during the first quarter of 2021 and then leveled off in the second quarter. In the fall of 2021, infection rates increased in the United States and other parts of the world as the result of the Delta variant. In winter of 2021, the Omicron variant caused another increase in infections. In the third quarter of 2022, infection rates were continuing to decrease. The development and uncertainty of the situation continues to preclude any prediction as to the ultimate impact of COVID-19 on the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows, which will depend largely on future developments directly or indirectly relating to the duration and scope of the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States, Australia, Europe and the rest of the world. During the spring of 2021, the Company experienced a delay in the manufacturing of the active product substance, which is manufactured in India. There was also a delay in the final manufacturing steps which are completed in the United States, in part related to COVID-19. To date, neither one of these delays have caused a disruption in supply for our clinical or preclinical testing. In January of 2022, the Company announced the opening of a global randomized clinical trial, which is expected to be conducted in the United States, Europe and Australia. While opening of clinical sites in the US and the rest of the world has been slower than originally anticipated, due in part to resource fatigue in the medical community, the Company does not expect any serious disruption to the conduct of this new clinical trial associated with COVID-19. The Company’s administrative operations have been decentralized since inception of the Company, so the Company experienced no administrative disruptions or additional costs due to the pandemic or related restrictions.

3.

Basis of Presentation

We have prepared the accompanying interim condensed consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Regulation S-X of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. These interim condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments consisting of normal recurring accruals, which, in the opinion of management, are necessary to present fairly our consolidated financial position, consolidated results of operations and consolidated cash flows for the periods and as of the dates presented. Our fiscal year ends on December 31. The condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2021 was derived from audited consolidated financial statements but does not include all disclosures required by U.S. GAAP. These interim condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the annual consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in our most recent filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and our subsequent filings with the SEC. The nature of our business is such that the results of any interim period may not be indicative of the results to be expected for the entire year.

4.

Liquidity and Business Plan

On October 4, 2022, the Company completed a registered public offering of common stock and warrants to purchase shares of common stock for gross proceeds of approximately $6.0 million. See Note 12 for additional information regarding the offering.

We will need to raise additional capital to support our current business plans. We may seek to raise additional funds through various sources, such as equity and debt financing, or through strategic collaborations and license agreements. We can give no assurances that we will be able to secure additional sources of funds to support our operations, or if such funds are available to us, that such additional financing will be sufficient to meet our needs or on terms acceptable to us. This risk would increase if our clinical data were not positive or economic and market conditions deteriorate.

Our future success is dependent upon our ability to obtain additional financing, the success of our development efforts, our ability to obtain marketing approval for ivospemin (SBP-101), eflornithine (CPP-1X) and eflornithine sachets (CPP-1X-S) in the United States or other markets and Flynpovi outside of the United States and ultimately our ability to market and sell our product candidates. If we are unable to obtain additional financing when needed, if our clinical trials are not successful or if we are unable to obtain marketing approval, we would not be able to continue as a going concern and would be forced to cease operations and liquidate our company.

F-6

There can be no assurances that we will be able to obtain additional financing on commercially reasonable terms, or at all. The sale of additional convertible debt or equity securities would likely result in dilution to our current stockholders.

5.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Principles of consolidation

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the assets, liabilities, and expenses of the Company. All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of estimates

The preparation of condensed consolidated financial statements 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 condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported amount of expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates, particularly given the significant social and economic disruptions and uncertainties.

Business Combinations and Asset Acquisition

We account for acquired businesses using the acquisition method of accounting, which requires that the assets acquired, and liabilities assumed be recorded at the date of acquisition at their respective fair values if the acquisition meets the definition of a business combination. If the acquisition does not meet the definition of a business combination, then it is accounted for as an asset acquisition and the purchase consideration is allocated to the acquired assets.

ASC 805 provides a model for determining whether an acquisition represents a business combination. In order to be a business, the integrated set of activities of the acquired entity needs to have an input and a substantive process that together significantly contribute to the ability to create outputs. The acquired entity must also pass the “Screen Test” which involves determining whether the acquisition represents an in-substance asset acquisition based on whether the fair value of the gross assets acquired is “substantially all” concentrated in a single asset or group of similar assets. This evaluation excludes certain acquired assets such as cash, deferred taxes, and goodwill associated with deferred taxes, but includes all other gross assets, including any consideration transferred in excess of the identified assets.

Research and development costs

Research and development costs include expenses incurred in the conduct of our clinical trials for ivospemin (SBP-101), Flynpovi, eflornithine (CPP-1X) and eflornithine sachets (CPP-1X-S), for third-party service providers performing various testing and accumulating data related to our preclinical studies; sponsored research agreements; developing and scaling the manufacturing process necessary to produce sufficient amounts of the ivospemin (SBP-101), eflornithine (CPP-1X) and eflornithine sachets (CPP-1X-S) compounds for use in our pre-clinical studies and human clinical trials; consulting resources with specialized expertise related to execution of our development plan for our ivospemin (SBP-101), eflornithine (CPP-1X) and eflornithine sachets (CPP-1X-S) product candidates; personnel costs, including salaries, benefits and share-based compensation; and costs to license and maintain our licensed intellectual property.

We charge research and development costs, including clinical trial costs, to expense when incurred. Our human clinical trials are, and will be, performed at clinical trial sites and are administered jointly by us with assistance from contract research organizations (“CROs”). Costs of setting up clinical trial sites are accrued upon execution of the study agreement. Expenses related to the performance of clinical trials generally are accrued based on contracted amounts and the achievement of agreed upon milestones, such as patient enrollment, patient follow-up, etc. We monitor levels of performance under each significant contract, including the extent of patient enrollment and other activities through communications with the clinical trial sites and CROs, and adjust the estimates, if required, on a quarterly basis so that clinical expenses reflect the actual effort expended at each clinical trial site and by each CRO.

Research and development costs also include IPR&D. This asset was acquired from the security holders of CPP and written off to research and development immediately subsequent to the asset acquisition.

F-7

All material CRO contracts are terminable by us upon written notice, and we are generally only liable for actual effort expended by the CROs and certain non-cancelable expenses incurred at any point of termination.

We expense costs associated with obtaining licenses for patented technologies when it is determined there is no alternative future use of the intellectual property subject to the license.

Stock-based compensation

In accounting for stock-based incentive awards, we measure and recognize the cost of employee and non-employee services received in exchange for awards of equity instruments based on the fair value of those awards on the grant date. Calculating stock-based compensation expense requires the input of highly subjective assumptions, which represent our best estimates and involve inherent uncertainties and the application of management’s judgment. Compensation cost is recognized ratably using the straight-line attribution method over the vesting period, which is considered to be the requisite service period. Compensation expense for performance-based stock option awards is recognized when “performance” has occurred or is probable of occurring.

The fair value of stock-based awards is estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The determination of the fair value of stock-based awards is affected by our stock price, as well as assumptions regarding a number of complex and subjective variables. Risk free interest rates are based upon U.S. Treasury rates appropriate for the expected term of each award. Expected volatility rates are based primarily on the volatility rates of a set of guideline companies, which consist of public and recently public biotechnology companies. The assumed dividend yield is zero, as we do not expect to declare any dividends in the foreseeable future. The expected term of options granted is determined using the “simplified” method. Under this approach, the expected term is presumed to be the mid-point between the average vesting date and the end of the contractual term.

Foreign currency translation adjustments

The functional currency of Panbela Therapeutics Pty Ltd is the Australian Dollar. Accordingly, assets and liabilities, and equity transactions of Panbela Therapeutics Australia Pty Ltd, are translated into U.S. dollars at period-end exchange rates. Revenues and expenses are translated at the average exchange rate in effect for the period. The resulting translation gains and losses are recorded as a component of accumulated comprehensive loss presented within the stockholders’ equity. During the three-month periods ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, any reclassification adjustments from accumulated other comprehensive loss to operations were inconsequential.

Comprehensive loss

Comprehensive loss consists of our net loss and the effects of foreign currency translation.

Net loss per share

Basic net loss per share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net loss per share is based on the weighted average of common shares outstanding during the period plus dilutive potential common shares calculated using the treasury stock method. Such potentially dilutive shares are excluded when the effect would be anti-dilutive or reduce a net loss per share. The Company’s potentially dilutive shares, which include outstanding common stock options, and warrants, have not been included in the computation of diluted net loss per share for all periods as the result would be anti-dilutive.

F-8

The following table sets forth the potential shares of common stock that were not included in the calculation of diluted net loss per share as their effects would have been anti-dilutive as of the dates indicated:

  

September 30,

 
  

2022

  

2021

 

Employee and non-employee stock options

  4,023,119   2,489,136 

Restricted stock units

  -   16,185 

Common stock issuable under common stock purchase warrants

  5,446,561   5,109,501 
   9,469,680   7,614,822 

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-06, Debt—Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging—Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40): Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity, which simplifies accounting for convertible instruments by removing major separation models required under current U.S. GAAP. The ASU removes certain settlement conditions that are required for equity contracts to qualify for the derivative scope exception and it also simplifies the diluted earnings per share calculation in certain areas. This ASU is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2021, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company has adopted the ASU for the year ended December 31, 2022. This update permits the use of either the modified retrospective or fully retrospective method of transition. The Company has determined that the impact this ASU will have on its consolidated financial statements is not material.

6.

Asset Acquisition

On June 15, 2022, the Company completed the previously announced strategic business reorganization and acquisition of CPP through the Mergers. Under the terms of the Merger Agreement, the holders of CPP’s outstanding capital stock immediately prior to the Merger received shares of common stock of Panbela upon closing of the Merger. The stockholders of Panbela Research retained a majority of the outstanding shares of Panbela, the post-merger holding company. CPP stockholders will be eligible to receive contingent payments totaling a maximum of $60 million from milestone and royalty payments associated with the potential approval and commercialization of eflornithine, the lead asset.

We performed the “screen test,” to determine if substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets acquired in the Mergers is concentrated in a single identifiable asset or group of similar identifiable assets. CPP’s lead asset, eflornithine in three forms, including Flynpovi (eflornithine (CPP-1X) and sulindac), eflornithine (CPP-1X), and eflornithine sachets (CPP-1X-S), were identified as the single identifiable asset consisting of IPR&D. Accordingly, our acquisition of CPP has been recorded as an asset acquisition.

The contract consideration for the assets acquired includes certain contingent consideration which at the acquisition date is neither probable of occurring nor reasonably estimable. As such, the value of this contingent consideration has been excluded from the allocation of the purchase price below. Acquisition-related transaction costs incurred have been recorded as additional investment in IPR&D.

F-9

The following is a summary of the purchase consideration and the allocation of that purchase consideration in connection with the CPP asset acquisition:

  

Shares

  

Value

(in

thousands)

 
         

Common stock issued to CPP shareholders

  7,319,533  $7,839 

Common stock underlying options continued

  1,596,754   1,637 

Common stock underlying warrants replaced

  338,060   129 

Total non cash consideration

     $9,605 

Transaction costs incurred

     $658 
         

Total Consideration

     $10,263 

Assets and liabilities acquired:

In process research and development *

 $17,737 

Cash

  4 

Other current assets

  230 

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

  (811)

Accrued interest and notes payable

  (6,897)
  $10,263 

* In accordance with FASB ASC Topic 730  this asset was immediately expensed upon the closing of the merger.

7.

Notes Payable

Sucampo Promissory Note

As of September 30, 2022, CPP had a balance outstanding of approximately $6.3 million principal and interest under an amended and restated promissory note (the “Sucampo Note”) issued with an initial principal amount of approximately $6.2 million in favor of Sucampo GmbH dated as of June 15, 2022. The principal balance outstanding under the Sucampo Note bears simple interest at a rate of 5% per annum. All unpaid principal, together with any then unpaid and accrued interest is payable as follows: (i) $1.0 million, plus all interest accrued but unpaid on or before each of January 31,2023, January 31, 2024, January 31, 2025 and January 31, 2026; and (ii) all remaining principal plus accrued but unpaid interest on or before January 31, 2027. If CPP or its parent, Panbela, receives cash proceeds from any issuance or offering of debt or equity before January 31, 2023, then CPP will be required to make a concurrent mandatory prepayment from such cash proceeds in an amount equal to the lesser of (i) $1.0 million plus all interest accrued but unpaid on the Sucampo Note through the date of payment; and (ii) 10% of such cash proceeds. The amount payable by CPP on January 31, 2023 will be reduced on a dollar-for-dollar basis by the amount of any such prepayment. The Company completed an equity raise on October 4, 2022 which then gave rise to an obligation to pay 10% of the $6.0 million gross proceeds or $600,000, which was due by November 4, 2022. As the Company has not yet made this payment as of the date of the filing, the note is in default as of the payment date. While the Company is in negotiation with Sucampo GmbH to defer payment of this obligation into the first quarter of 2023 and cure this default, no guarantees can be made regarding their success. As of September 30, 2022, the accrued and unpaid interest on this note was approximately $90,000. Panbela has agreed to guarantee CPP’s payment obligations under the Sucampo Note pursuant to a Guaranty dated as of June 15, 2022.

F-10

Tillotts Promissory Note

As of September 30, 2022, CPP had a balance outstanding of approximately $0.7 million representing principal and interest under an amended promissory note (the “Tillotts Note”) issued with an initial principal amount of approximately $650,000 in favor of Tillotts Pharma AG. The principal balance outstanding under the Tillotts Note bears simple interest at a rate of 5% per annum. All outstanding amounts under the Tillotts Note are scheduled to mature and become payable in full on December 31, 2022. Accrued and unpaid interest as of September 30, 2022 was approximately $60,000.

8.

License Agreement for the Development and Commercialization of Flynpovi

CPP is party to a license agreement with One-Two Therapeutics Assets Limited (“One-Two”) dated as of July 16, 2021. Under the agreement, One-Two has licensed CPP’s North American development and commercialization rights for Flynpovi. The agreement also calls for CPP to receive a milestone payment upon regulatory approval of Flynpovi by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) and royalties on net sales of Flynpovi in the licensed territories. Payment of the milestone payment and net sales royalties shall be reduced on a dollar-for-dollar basis by amounts funded by One-Two for One-Two’s direct employee, clinical and regulatory costs associated with any development activities necessary to secure FDA approval. The Company is not responsible for any costs, as they are incurred, associated with the development and regulatory approval of Flynpovi in North America.

9.

Commitments and Contingencies

The Company is occasionally involved in claims and disputes arising in the ordinary course of business. The Company insures certain business risks where possible to mitigate the financial impact of individual claims and establishes reserves for an estimate of any probable cost of settlement or other disposition.

Former Employee Arbitration

CPP terminated its former chief financial officer for cause in November 2020. In November 2021, CPP received a demand for arbitration notice from the former employee disputing the termination for cause. Under a “for cause” termination, CPP had no continuing financial obligation to the former employee beyond those which it paid at separation. Under a “not for cause” termination (which the former employee is contending), CPP would have been obligated to pay his $265,000 annual salary, unused paid time off and offset potential COBRA costs. Per the applicable employment agreement, this dispute was conducted through the American Arbitration Association. The arbitration process commenced in January 2022 and both parties requested summary judgment. During the three months ended September 30, 2022, the arbitrator awarded summary judgment in favor of the Company, determining that the termination was for cause and that no continuing financial obligation exists. It was also determined that the former employee will be required to reimburse some portion of the legal fees and costs incurred by the Company.

License Agreement with the University of Arizona

CPP is party to a license agreement with the Arizona Board of Regents of the University of Arizona (the “University”). Pursuant to an Inter-institutional Agreement, the Regents of the University of California on behalf of the University of California, Irvine, has agreed to license certain patents, provisional patents, clinical trial data and other intellectual property related to the chemoprevention of cancer, the prevention of polyps and other technologies to CPP. The University has the right to administer the joint patent rights held between the University and the University of California, Irvine. The license agreement gives CPP exclusive rights to commercialize products based on intellectual property. In exchange for the intellectual property, CPP paid the University certain fees and reimbursements of patent costs and granted the university a warrant to acquire shares of CPP. As a result of the Mergers, the warrant was replaced with a warrant to purchase 110,882 shares of common stock of Panbela at a price of $0.28 per share.

CPP also agreed to pay the University additional milestone payments totaling up to $90,000 upon the achievement of certain research, development and regulatory milestones. Future milestone payments are considered to be contingent consideration and will be accrued when probable of being paid. As of September 30, 2022, no milestone payments were probable of being paid.

F-11

10.

Stockholders Equity

Shares issued to acquire CPP

On June 15, 2022, Panbela acquired CPP, a private clinical stage company developing therapeutics to reduce the risk and recurrence of cancer and rare diseases, via merger for consideration consisting of (a) 6,587,576 shares of common stock, (b) 731,957 shares of common stock that remained subject to a holdback escrow (as defined in the Merger Agreement), (c) replacement options to purchase up to 1,596,754 shares of common stock at a weighted average exercise price of $0.35 per share, and (d) replacement warrants to purchase up to 338,060 shares of common stock at a weighted average purchase price of $4.10 per share.

Shares reserved

The following shares of common stock were reserved for future issuance as of the date indicated:

September 30, 2022

Stock options outstanding

4,023,119

Shares available for grant under equity incentive plan

2,019,776

Warrants outstanding (1)

5,446,561
11,489,456

(1) Weighted average exercise price of $4.56

11.

Stock-based Compensation

2016 Omnibus Incentive Plan

The Panbela Therapeutics, Inc. 2016 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “2016 Plan”) was originally adopted by our Board of Directors (the “Board”) and approved by our stockholders in 2016 and was later amended and restated by the Board and ratified by our stockholders in 2020. The 2016 Plan permits the granting of incentive and non-statutory stock options, restricted stock, stock appreciation rights, performance units, performance shares and other stock awards to eligible employees, directors and consultants. We grant options to purchase shares of common stock under the 2016 Plan at no less than the fair market value of the underlying common stock as of the date of grant. Options granted under the 2016 Plan have a maximum term of ten years. The 2016 Plan provides for increases in the number of shares available for awards under the plan on January 1 of each year beginning in 2021 and ending in 2025 in an amount equal to the lesser of (i) 20% of the total number of fully diluted shares (as defined in the 2016 Plan) as of December 31 in the immediately preceding calendar year and (ii) such lesser number of shares as may be determined by the Board. The shares available for issuance under the 2016 Plan may be treasury shares or authorized but unissued shares. As of September 30, 2022, options to purchase 2,220,136 shares of common stock, each representing the right to acquire one share of common stock, were outstanding under the 2016 Plan, with a weighted average exercise price of $6.04 per share, and the average remaining contractual life was approximately 6.7 years. As of the same date, 2,019,776 shares remained available for future awards.

2011 Stock Option Plan

Our Board ceased making awards under the Panbela Therapeutics, Inc. 2011 Stock Option Plan (the “2011 Plan”) upon the original receipt of stockholder approval for the 2016 Plan. Awards outstanding under the 2011 Plan remain outstanding in accordance with and pursuant to the terms thereof. As of September 30, 2022, options to purchase 224,000 shares of common stock remained outstanding under the 2011 Plan, with a weighted average exercise price of $2.97 per share, and the average remaining contractual life was approximately 2.2 years.

CPPs 2010 Equity Incentive Plan

As a result of the Mergers, the Company has assumed all remaining rights and obligations with respect to CPP’s 2010 Equity Incentive Plan (the “CPP Plan”) through the issuance of replacement options. As of September 30, 2022, options to purchase 1,578,983 shares of common stock remained outstanding under the CPP Plan, with a weighted average exercise price of $0.35 per share, and the average remaining contractual life was 7.4 years.

F-12

Stock-based Compensation Expense

General and administrative (“G&A”) and research and development expenses include non-cash stock-based compensation expense as a result of our issuance of stock options. The terms and vesting schedules for stock-based awards vary by type of grant and the employment status of the grantee. The awards granted through September 30, 2022 are scheduled to vest based upon time-based and performance conditions. There was approximately $2.0 million unamortized stock-based compensation expense related to options granted to employees, directors and consultants as of September 30, 2022 which is expected to be recognized over the next 1.8 years.

Stock-based compensation expense for each of the periods presented is as follows (in thousands):

  

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 
  

2022

  

2021

 

General and Administrative

 $697  $798 

Research and Development

  160   153 
  $857  $951 

Details of options, granted, exercised, cancelled or forfeited during the nine months ended September 30, 2022 follows:

  

Shares Underlying

Options

  

Weighted Average

Exercise Price Per

Share

  

Aggregate

Intrinsic Value

 

Balance at January 1, 2022

  2,463,636  $5.76  $8,821 

Granted in connection with merger

  1,596,754   0.35     

Exercised

  (17,771)  0.22     

Cancelled

  -   -     

Forfeitures or expirations

  (19,500)  14.07     

Balance at September 30, 2022

  4,023,119  $3.64  $70,506 

Information about stock options outstanding, vested and expected to vest as of September 30, 2022, is as follows:

      

Outstanding, Vested and Expected to Vest

  

Options Vested and Exercisable

 

Per Share Exercise Price

  

Shares

  

Weighted Average

Remaining

Contractual Life

(Years)

  

Weighted Average

Exercise Price

  

Options

Exercisable

  

Weighted

Average

Remaining

Contractual Life

(Years)

 
                         
$0.22-

$1.47

    1,592,983   7.37  $0.358   1,592,983   7.37 
$2.26-

$2.50

    79,225   6.87  $2.310   41,075   4.93 
2.95-

$4.17

    1,207,940   6.70  $3.410   959,606   6.23 
$4.50-

$8.10

    687,100   5.94  $6.134   649,600   5.84 
$9.99-

$10.10

    262,048   7.30  $9.992   209,036   7.18 
$15.10      193,823   4.20  $15.100   193,823   4.20 
Totals 

 

    4,023,119   6.88  $3.637   3,646,123   6.59 

F-13

12.

Subsequent Events

On October 4, 2022, subsequent to the end of the period, the Company completed a registered public offering and issued an aggregate of 7,087,000 shares of its common stock, pre-funded warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 13,013,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $0.001 per shares and warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 30,150,000 shares of its common stock at an exercise price of $0.30 per share. The securities were issued for a combined offering price of $0.30 per share of common stock and 1.5 warrants, or $0.299 per pre-funded warrant and 1.5 warrants. Net proceeds from the offering totaled approximately $5.2 million.

As of November 8, 2022, an additional 3,385,000 shares of common stock had been issued pursuant to the exercise of pre-funded warrants issued in the offering for gross proceeds of $3,835.

F-14

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Panbela Therapeutics, Inc.

Waconia, MN

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Panbela Therapeutics, Inc. and Subsidiary (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, and the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years then ended, and the related notes (collectively referred to as 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, 2021 and 2020, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Substantial Doubt about the Company's Ability to Continue as a Going Concern

The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 2 to the financial statements, the Company has recurring losses and negative cash flows from operations that raise substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s evaluations of the events and conditions and management’s plans regarding those matters are described in Note 3. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

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 of the United States of America (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the 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.

Sun BioPharmaCritical Audit Matter , Equity-Linked Transactions

The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the Company’s Audit Committee and that: (i) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (ii) involved especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgements. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.

F-15

Critical Audit Matter Description

As disclosed in Notes 4, 8 and 9 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company had various equity-linked transactions, including stock-based compensation, where management evaluated required accounting considerations, significant estimates, and judgements around these instruments.

There is no current observable market for stock option awards and, as such, the Company used the Black-Scholes-Merton model to measure the fair value of the equity-linked instruments. As a result, a high degree of auditor judgment and effort was required in performing audit procedures to evaluate the accounting and valuations around these transactions.

How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit

Our principal audit procedures performed to address this critical audit matter included the following:

We obtained an understanding of the Company’s processes and controls in place around equity-linked transactions, including stock-based compensation.

We obtained a listing and of all equity-linked transactions, including stock-based compensation, and management’s analysis supporting these transactions. We evaluated the accounting for these based on agreements for these transactions and verified approval by the Board of Directors to ensure these were properly recorded during the year. 

We evaluated the option price model management selected to determine the fair value, and analyzed the underlying data used to estimate the fair value of the stock option awards. We also recalculated the fair value of each option granted during the year.

We have served as the Company’s auditors since 2014.

/s/ Cherry Bekaert

Tampa, Florida

March 24, 2022

F-16

Panbela Therapeutics, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In thousands, except share amounts)

 

 

March 31, 2020

  

December 31, 2019

 

 

(Unaudited)

      

December 31, 2021

  

December 31, 2020

 
ASSETS             

Current assets:

                

Cash

 $1,296  $2,449 

Cash and cash equivalents

 $11,867  $9,022 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

  389   283   91   412 

Income tax receivable

  406   361   321   323 

Total current assets

  2,091   3,093   12,279   9,757 

Other noncurrent assets

  45   51   593   56 

Total assets

 $2,136  $3,144  $12,872  $9,813 
                

LIABILITITES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

        

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

        

Current liabilities:

                

Accounts payable

 $271  $597  $640  $554 

Accrued expenses

  308   304   2,020   811 

Term debt

  91   116 

Unsecured promissory note payable

  742   742 

Total current liabilities

  1,412   1,759   2,660   1,365 

Total liabilities

  2,660   1,365 
                

Stockholders' equity:

                

Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 10,000,000 authorized; no shares issued or outstanding as of March 31, 2020 and December 31 2019

  -   - 

Common stock, $0.001 par value; 100,000,000 authorized; 6,631,308 shares issued and outstanding as of both March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019

  7   7 

Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 10,000,000 authorized; no shares issued or outstanding as of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020

  -   - 

Common stock, $0.001 par value; 100,000,000 authorized; 13,443,722 and 9,664,427 shares issued and outstanding, as of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively

  13   10 

Additional paid-in capital

  42,671   42,331   66,227   54,848 

Accumulated deficit

  (43,056)  (41,258)  (56,161)  (46,026)

Accumulated comprehensive income

  1,102   305 

Accumulated comprehensive income (loss)

  133   (384)

Total stockholders' equity

  724   1,385   10,212   8,448 

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

 $2,136  $3,144  $12,872  $9,813 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

F-1

Sun BioPharma, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

  Three Months Ended March 31, 
  

2020

  

2019

 

Operating expenses:

        

General and administrative

 $468  $303 

Research and development

  598   350 

Operating loss

  (1,066)  (653)
         

Other (expense) income:

        

Interest expense

  (4)  (1,033)

Other(expense) income

  (820)  34 

Total other expense

  (824)  (999)
         

Loss before income tax benefit

  (1,890)  (1,652)
         

Income tax benefit

  92   71 
         

Net loss

  (1,798)  (1,581)

Foreign currency translation adjustment

  797   (32)

Comprehensive loss

 $(1,001) $(1,613)
         

Basic and diluted net loss per share

 $(0.27) $(0.31)

Weighted average shares outstanding - basic and diluted

  6,631,308   5,072,397 

See accompanying notes to condensedconsolidated financial statements.

F-2

Sun BioPharma, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit)

(In thousands)

(Unaudited) 

  

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2019

 
  

Common Stock

  

Additional

Paid-In

  

Accumulated

  

Accumulated Other

Comprehensive

  

Total Stockholders'

 
  

Shares

  

Amount

  

Capital

  

Deficit

  

Gain (Loss)

  

Equity (Deficit)

 
                         
                         

Balances as of January 1, 2019

  5,077  $5  $35,038  $(35,058) $283  $268 

Beneficial conversion feature on convertible notes payable

  -   -   353   -   -   353 

Warrants issued with sale of convertible notes payable

  -   -   419   -   -   419 

Common stock converted into convertible notes payable

  (7)  -   (25)  -   -   (25)

Stock-based compensation

  -   -   10       -   10 

Net loss

  -   -   -   (1,581)  -   (1,581)

Foreign currency translation adjustment

  -   -   -   -   (32)  (32)

Balances as of March 31, 2019

  5,070  $5  $35,795  $(36,639) $251  $(588)

  

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2020

 
  

Common Stock

  

Additional

Paid-In

  

Accumulated

  

Accumulated Other

Comprehensive

  

Total Stockholders'

 
  

Shares

  

Amount

  

Capital

  

Deficit

  

Gain

  

Equity

 

Balances as of January 1, 2020

  6,631  $7  $42,331  $(41,258) $305  $1,385 

Warrants issued for future services

  -   -   228   -   -   228 

Stock-based compensation

  -   -   112   -   -   112 

Net loss

  -   -   -   (1,798)  -   (1,798)

Foreign currency translation adjustment

  -   -   -   -   797   797 

Balances at March 31, 2020

  6,631  $7  $42,671  $(43,056) $1,102  $724 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

F-3

Sun BioPharma, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

  

Three Months Ended March 31,

 
  

2020

  

2019

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

        

Net loss

 $(1,798) $(1,581)

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

        

Stock-based compensation

  112   10 

Amortization of debt discount

  -   974 

Amortization of debt issuance costs

  -   6 

Non-cash interest expense

  -   48 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

        

Income tax receivable

  (97)  (74)

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

  97   38 

Accounts payable

  546   (193)

Accrued liabilities

  20   (11)

Net cash used in operating activities

  (1,120)  (783)
         

Cash flows from financing activities:

        

Proceeds from the sale of convertible promissory notes, net of debt issuance costs of $7

  -   810 

Repayment of demand note

  -   (25)

Repayments of term debt

  (26)  (27)

Net cash provided by financing activities

  (26)  758 
         

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

  (7)  (1)
         

Net change in cash

  (1,153)  (26)

Cash at beginning of period

  2,449   1,405 

Cash at end of period

 $1,296  $1,379 
         

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

        

Cash paid during period for interest

 $2  $5 
         

Supplemental disclosure of non-cash transactions:

        

Warrants issued for future services

 $228     

Beneficial conversion feature on convertible notes

 $-  $353 

Warrants issued with convertible notes

 $-  $419 

Common stock converted into convertible notes payable

 $-  $25 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

F-4

Sun BioPharma, Inc.
Notes toCondensed Consolidated Financial Statements

1.     Business

Sun BioPharma, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiary Sun BioPharma Australia Pty Ltd. (collectively “we,” “us,” “our,” and the “Company”) exist for the primary purpose of advancing the commercial development of a proprietary polyamine analogue for the treatment of patients with pancreatic cancer. We have exclusively licensed the worldwide rights to this compound, which has been designated as SBP-101, from the University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc. (“UFRF”).

2.     Risks and Uncertainties

The Company operates in a highly regulated and competitive environment. The development, manufacturing and marketing of pharmaceutical products require approval from, and are subject to ongoing oversight by, the Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) in the United States, the Therapeutic Goods Administration in Australia, the European Medicines Agency in the European Union, and comparable agencies in other countries. Obtaining approval for a new pharmaceutical product is never certain, may take many years, and is normally expected to involve substantial expenditures.

We have incurred losses of $42.6 million since our inception in 2011. For the three months ended March 31, 2020, we incurred a net loss of $1.8 million, which includes a foreign currency loss of $0.8 million. We also incurred negative cash flows from operating activities of $1.2 million for this period. As we continue to pursue development activities and seek commercialization of our initial product candidate, SBP-101, we expect to incur substantial losses, which are likely to generate negative net cash flows from operating activities. As of March 31, 2020, we had cash of $1.3 million, working capital of $0.7 million, (current assets less current liabilities) and stockholders’ equity of $0.7 million. The Company’s principal sources of cash have historically included the issuance of convertible debt and equity securities.

 

The accompanying condensednotes to the consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that we will continue as a going concern, which contemplates the realization of assets and liquidation of liabilities in the normal course of business. The condensedconsolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recoverability or classification of assets or the amounts of liabilities that might result from the outcome of these uncertainties. Our current independent registered public accounting firm included a paragraph emphasizing this going concern uncertainty in their audit report regarding our 2019 financial statements dated March 24, 2020. Our ability to continue as a going concern, realize the carrying value of our assets and discharge our liabilities in the ordinary course of business is dependent upon a number of factors, including our ability to obtain additional financing, the success of our development efforts, our ability to obtain marketing approval for our SBP-101 product candidate in the United States, Australia, the European Union or other markets and ultimately our ability to market and sell our SBP-101 product candidate. These factors, among others, raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue operations as a going concern. See Note 4 titled “Liquidity and Business Plan.”

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the spread of a novel strain of coronavirus (“COVID-19”) a global pandemic and continued widespread infection in the United States is a possibility. Actions have been taken by federal, state and local governmental authorities to combat the spread of COVID-19, including through issuances of “stay-at-home” directives and similar mandates for many individuals to substantially restrict daily activities and for many businesses to curtail or cease normal operations.  These measures, while intended to protect human life, have led to significantly reduced economic activity. The rapid development and uncertainty of the situation precludes any prediction as to the ultimate impact COVID-19 will have on the Company's business, financial condition, results of operation and cash flows, which will depend largely on future developments directly or indirectly relating to the duration and scope of the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States and Australia.  On April 3, 2020, we initiated a temporary pause in the enrollment of new patients in our ongoing clinical trial.  We anticipate resumption of new patient enrollment in Q2 2020 once conditions allow.  We continue to treat patients already enrolled. 

3.     Basis of Presentation

We have prepared the accompanying interim condensed consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Regulation S-X of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. These interim condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments consisting of normal recurring accruals, which, in the opinion of management, are necessary to present fairly our consolidated financial position, consolidated results of operations and consolidated cash flows for the periods and as of the dates presented. Our fiscal year ends on December 31. The condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2019 was derived from audited consolidated financial statements but does not include all disclosures required by U.S. GAAP. These interim condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the annual consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in our most recent filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and our subsequent filings with the SEC. The nature of our business is such that the results of any interim period may not be indicative of the results to be expected for the entire year.

F-5

4.     Liquidity and Business Plan

We need to obtain additional funds to continue our operations and execute our current business plans. We may seek to raise additional funds through various sources, such as equity and debt financings, or through strategic collaborations and license agreements. We can give no assurances that we will be able to secure additional sources of funds to support our operations, or if such funds are available to us, that such additional financing will be sufficient to meet our needs or on terms acceptable to us. This risk would increase if our clinical data is inconclusive or not positive or economic conditions worsen in the market as a whole or in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology markets individually.

If we are unable to obtain additional financing, we believe that we will need to reduce our operations by taking actions that may include, among other things, reducing use of outside professional service providers, reducing staff or further reducing staff compensation, significantly modifying or delaying the development of our SBP-101 product candidate, licensing rights to third parties, including the right to commercialize our SBP-101 product candidate for pancreatic cancer, or other applications that we would otherwise seek to pursue, or discontinuing operations entirely.

Our future success is dependent upon our ability to obtain additional financing, the success of our development efforts, our ability to obtain marketing approval for our SBP-101 product candidate in the United States or other markets and ultimately our ability to market and sell our SBP-101 product candidate. If we are unable to obtain additional financing when needed, if our clinical trials are not successful or if we are unable to obtain marketing approval, we would not be able to continue as a going concern and would be forced to cease operations and liquidate our company.

There can be no assurances that we will be able to obtain additional financing on commercially reasonable terms, or at all. The sale of additional convertible debt or equity securities would likely result in dilution to our current stockholders.

5.     Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Principles of consolidation

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the assets, liabilities, and expenses of the Company. All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of estimates

The preparation of condensed consolidated financial statements 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 condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported amount of expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Research and development costs

Research and development costs include expenses incurred in the conduct of our second Phase 1 human clinical trial, for third-party service providers performing various testing and accumulating data related to our preclinical studies; sponsored research agreements; developing and scaling the manufacturing process necessary to produce sufficient amounts of the SBP-101 compound for use in our pre-clinical studies and human clinical trials; consulting resources with specialized expertise related to execution of our development plan for our SBP-101 product candidate; personnel costs, including salaries, benefits and share-based compensation; and costs to license and maintain our licensed intellectual property.

F-6

We charge research and development costs, including clinical trial costs, to expense when incurred. Our human clinical trials are, and will be, performed at clinical trial sites and are administered jointly by us with assistance from contract research organizations (“CROs”). Costs of setting up clinical trial sites are accrued upon execution of the study agreement. Expenses related to the performance of clinical trials generally are accrued based on contracted amounts and the achievement of agreed upon milestones, such as patient enrollment, patient follow-up, etc. We monitor levels of performance under each significant contract, including the extent of patient enrollment and other activities through communications with the clinical trial sites and CROs, and adjust the estimates, if required, on a quarterly basis so that clinical expenses reflect the actual effort expended at each clinical trial site and by each CRO.

All material CRO contracts are terminable by us upon written notice and we are generally only liable for actual effort expended by the CROs and certain non-cancelable expenses incurred at any point of termination.

We expense costs associated with obtaining licenses for patented technologies when it is determined there is no alternative future use of the intellectual property subject to the license.

Stock-based compensation

In accounting for stock-based incentive awards, we measure and recognize the cost of employee and non-employee services received in exchange for awards of equity instruments based on the fair value of those awards on the grant date. Calculating stock-based compensation expense requires the input of highly subjective assumptions, which represent our best estimates and involve inherent uncertainties and the application of management’s judgment. Compensation cost is recognized ratably using the straight-line attribution method over the vesting period, which is considered to be the requisite service period. Compensation expense for performance-based stock option awards is recognized when “performance” has occurred or is probable of occurring.

The fair value of stock-based awards is estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The determination of the fair value of stock-based awards is affected by our stock price, as well as assumptions regarding a number of complex and subjective variables. Risk free interest rates are based upon U.S. Treasury rates appropriate for the expected term of each award. Expected volatility rates are based primarily on the volatility rates of a set of guideline companies, which consist of public and recently public biotechnology companies. The assumed dividend yield is zero, as we do not expect to declare any dividends in the foreseeable future. The expected term of options granted is determined using the “simplified” method. Under this approach, the expected term is presumed to be the mid-point between the average vesting date and the end of the contractual term.

Foreign currency translation adjustments

The functional currency of Sun BioPharma Australia Pty Ltd is the Australian Dollar. Accordingly, assets and liabilities, and equity transactions of Sun BioPharma Australia Pty Ltd are translated into U.S. dollars at period-end exchange rates. Revenues and expenses are translated at the average exchange rate in effect for the period. The resulting translation gains and losses are recorded as a component of accumulated comprehensive loss presented within the stockholders’ equity (deficit). During the three-month periods ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, any reclassification adjustments from accumulated other comprehensive loss to operations were inconsequential.

Comprehensive loss

Comprehensive loss consists of our net loss and the effects of foreign currency translation.

Net loss per share

Basic net loss per share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net loss per share is based on the weighted average of common shares outstanding during the period plus dilutive potential common shares calculated using the treasury stock method. Such potentially dilutive shares are excluded when the effect would be anti-dilutive or reduce a net loss per share. The Company’s potential dilutive shares, which include convertible debt, outstanding common stock options, and warrants, have not been included in the computation of diluted net loss per share for all periods as the result would be anti-dilutive.

F-7

The following table sets forth the potential shares of common stock that were not included in the calculation of diluted net loss per share as their effects would have been anti-dilutive as of:

  

March 31,

 
  

2020

  

2019

 

Employee and non-employee stock options

  1,745,811   1,032,211 

Estimated common shares issuable upon conversion of notes payable and accrued interest

  -   636,234 

Common stock issuable under common stock purchase warrants

  3,497,099   2,509,477 
   5,242,910   4,177,922 

6.     Indebtedness

Term debt

The terms of our unsecured loan (the “Term Debt”) payable to the Institute for Commercialization of Public Research, Inc. (the “Institute”) which was amended in December of 2019 to extend the maturity date from December 31, 2019 to December 31, 2020, remain unchanged as of March 31, 2020.  The fair market value of the warrants issued in 2019 in exchange for modification of the terms is being amortized to interest expense over the remaining term of the loan. The amendment requires the continuation of monthly payments of principal and interest totaling $10,000. The unpaid principal balance at March 31, 2020 was $90,000.

Deferred financing costs

The following table summarizes the deferred financing costs which are presented as a direct reduction of the carrying amount of their related debt liabilities (in thousands):

  

March 31, 2020

  

December 31, 2019

 
  

Term Debt

  

Term Debt

 

Loan principal Amount

 $97  $126 

Deferred Financing Costs

  51   51 

Accumulated Amortization

  (44)  (41)

Unamortized balance

  7   10 

Discount on Debt

  -   - 

Accumulated Amortization

  -   - 

Unamortized balance

  -   - 

Loan carrying amounts, net

 $90  $116 

7.     Stockholders’ Deficit

Warrants to purchase common stock issued for future services

On February 21, 2020, the Company issued to a service provider a five-year warrant to purchase 75,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $6.49 per share. The fair market value of the warrants issued of approximately $228,000 was capitalized and will be charged against future proceeds.

F-8

Shares of common stock reserved for future issuance were as follows as of March 31, 2020:

Stock options outstanding

1,745,811

Shares available for grant under equity incentive plan

18,549

Common shares issuable under outstanding common stock purchase warrants

3,497,099
5,261,459

8.Stock-based Compensation

2016 Omnibus Incentive Plan

The Sun BioPharma, Inc. 2016 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “2016 Plan”) was adopted by our Board of Directors in March 2016 and approved by our stockholders in May 2016. The 2016 Plan permits the granting of incentive and non-statutory stock options, restricted stock, stock appreciation rights, performance units, performance shares and other stock awards to eligible employees, directors and consultants. We grant options to purchase shares of common stock under the 2016 Plan at no less than the fair market value of the underlying common stock as of the date of grant. Options granted under the 2016 Plan have a maximum term of ten years. Under the 2016 Plan, a total of 1,500,000 shares of common stock were initially reserved for issuance. As of March 31, 2020, options to purchase 1,481,451shares of common stock were outstanding under the 2016 Plan and 18,549 shares remained available for future awards.

2011 Stock Option Plan

Our Board of Directors ceased making awards under the Sun BioPharma, Inc. 2011 Stock Option Plan (the “2011 Plan”) upon the receipt of stockholder approval for the 2016 Plan. Awards outstanding under the 2011 Plan remain outstanding in accordance with and pursuant to the terms thereof. Options granted under the 2011 Plan have a maximum term of ten years and generally vest over zero to two years for employees. As of March 31, 2020, options to purchase 264,360 shares of common stock remained outstanding under the 2011 Plan.

Stock-based Compensation Expense

General and administrative (“G&A”) and research and development (“R&D”) expenses include non-cash stock-based compensation expense as a result of our issuance of stock options. The terms and vesting schedules for stock-based awards vary by type of grant and the employment status of the grantee. The awards granted through March 31, 2020 vest based upon time-based and performance conditions. There was approximately $229,000 unamortized stock-based compensation expense related to options granted to employees as of March 31, 2020.

Stock-based compensation expense for each of the periods presented is as follows (in thousands):

  

Three Months Ended March 31,

 
  

2020

  

2019

 

General and Administrative

  99   10 

Research and Development

  13   - 
   112   10 

F-9

Details of options granted, exercised, cancelled or forfeited during the three months ended March 31, 2020 follows:

  

Shares Available for Grant

  

Shares Underlying Options

 

Balance at January 1, 2020

  19,549   1,744,811 

Granted

  (1,000)  1,000 

Exercised

  -   - 

Cancelled

  -   - 

Forfeitures

  -   - 
         

Balance at March 31, 2020

  18,549   1,745,811 

Information about stock options outstanding, vested and expected to vest as of March 31, 2020, is as follows:

         

Outstanding, Vested and Expected to Vest

  

Options Vested and Excercisable

 

Per Share Exercise Price

 

Shares

  

Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (Years)

  

Weighted Average Exercise Price

  

Options Excercisable

  

Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (Years)

 
                       
$0.875-$1.10  26,360   2.75  $1.029   26,360   2.75 
$2.275-$2.50  38,000   3.87  $2.464   38,000   3.87 
$2.95-$3.70  774,100   8.07  $3.040   411,525   7.11 
$4.95-$8.10  539,300   7.73  $6.739   506,500   7.67 
$10.00-$10.10  54,000   7.30  $10.007   54,000   7.30 
$15.10    314,051   6.16  $15.100   310,551   6.21 
                       

Totals

    1,745,811   7.43  $6.525   1,346,936   6.94 

9. Subsequent Event

On May 1, 2020, the Company the Company executed an unsecured promissory note with a lender as aintegral part of the Payroll Protection Program (“PPP”) in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. Funds totaling approximately $102,000 will be used to support Company payroll. The note may be forgiven in part and bears an interest rate of 1% per annum after a six-month deferment period.

F-10

Sun BioPharma, Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In thousands, except share amounts)

  

December 31, 2019

  

December 31, 2018

 

ASSETS

        

Current assets:

        

Cash

 $2,449  $1,405 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

  283   110 

Income tax receivable

  361   332 

Total current assets

  3,093   1,847 

Other noncurrent assets

  51   51 

Total assets

 $3,144  $1,898 
         

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

        

Current liabilities:

        

Accounts payable

 $597  $1,064 

Accrued expenses

  304   216 

Convertible notes payable, net of debt discounts

  -   64 

Term debt, current portion

  116   286 

Unsecured promissory note payable

  742   - 

Total current liabilities

  1,759   1,630 

Total liabilities

  1,759   1,630 
         

Stockholders' equity:

        

Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 10,000,000 authorized; no shares issued or outstanding as of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018

  -   - 

Common stock, $0.001 par value; 100,000,000 authorized; 6,631,308 and 5,077,483 shares issued and outstanding, as of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively

  7   5 

Additional paid-in capital

  42,331   35,038 

Accumulated deficit

  (41,258)  (35,058)

Accumulated comprehensive income

  305   283 

Total stockholders' equity

  1,385   268 

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

 $3,144  $1,898 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financialthese statements.

 

F-11
F-17

 

Sun BioPharma,Panbela Therapeutics, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

  Year Ended December 31, 
 

2019

  

2018

  

2021

  

2020

 

Operating expenses:

                

General and administrative

 $1,973  $2,108  $4,587  $3,249 

Research and development

  2,349   1,783   5,423   2,505 

Operating loss

  (4,322)  (3,891)  (10,010)  (5,754)
                

Other (expense) income:

                

Grant income

  -   54 

Interest expense

  (2,194)  (1,814)  (11)  (17)

Other expense

  (99)  (508)

Total other expense

  (2,293)  (2,268)

Gain on debt forgiveness

  -   103 

Other (expense) income

  (602)  605 

Total other (expense) income

  (613)  691 
                

Loss before income tax benefit

  (6,615)  (6,159)  (10,623)  (5,063)
                

Income tax benefit

  415   254   488   295 
                

Net loss

  (6,200)  (5,905)  (10,135)  (4,768)

Foreign currency translation adjustment

  22   448   517   (688)

Comprehensive loss

 $(6,178) $(5,457) $(9,618) $(5,456)
                

Basic and diluted net loss per share

 $(1.09) $(1.27) $(0.87) $(0.62)

Weighted average shares outstanding - basic and diluted

  5,700,314   4,662,080   11,709,035   7,732,882 

 

SeeThe accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these statements.

 

F-12
F-18

 

Sun BioPharma,Panbela Therapeutics, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of StockholdersStockholders’ Equity (Deficit)

(In thousands)

 

  

Common Stock

  

Additional

Paid-In

  

Accumulated

  

Accumulated Other

Comprehensive

  

Total

Stockholders'

 
  

Shares

  

Amount

  

Capital

  

Deficit

  

Gain (Loss)

  

Equity (Deficit)

 
                         
                         

Balances as of January 1, 2018

  3,842  $4  $25,625  $(29,153) $(165) $(3,689)

Sale of common stock and warrants

  485   -   2,328   -   -   2,328 

Beneficial conversion feature

  -   -   716   -   -   716 

Conversion of convertible notes payable and accrued interest into common stock and warrants

  751   1   3,257   -   -   3,258 

Warrants issued with sale of convertible notes payable

  -   -   739   -   -   739 

Stock-based compensation

  -   -   2,373   -   -   2,373 

Net loss

  -   -   -   (5,905)  -   (5,905)

Foreign currency translation adjustment

  -   -   -   -   448   448 

Balances as of December 31, 2018

  5,078  $5  $35,038  $(35,058) $283  $268 

Beneficial conversion feature on convertible notes payable

  -   -   353   -   -   353 

Warrants issued with sale of convertible notes payable

  -   -   419   -   -   419 

Conversion of convertible notes payable and accrued interest into common stock

  651   1   2,280   -   -   2,281 

Common stock converted into convertible notes payable

  (7)  -   (25)  -   -   (25)

Sale of common stock and warrants

  909   1   3,159   -   -   3,160 

Warrants issued in exchange for modification of term debt

  -   -   14   -   -   14 

Stock-based compensation

  -   -   1,093   -   -   1,093 

Net loss

  -   -   -   (6,200)  -   (6,200)

Foreign currency translation adjustment

  -   -   -   -   22   22 

Balances as of December 31, 2019

  6,631  $7  $42,331  $(41,258) $305  $1,385 
  Common Stock  

Additional

Paid-In

  

Accumulated

  

Accumulated

Other

Comprehensive

  

Total

Stockholders'

 
  

Shares

  

Amount

  

Capital

  

Deficit

  

Gain (Loss)

  

Equity

 

Balance at January 1, 2020

  6,631  $7  $42,331  $(41,258) $304  $1,384 

Warrants issued for future services

  -   -   228   -   -   228 

Sale of common stock and warrants

  437   -   1,746   -   -   1,746 

Public offering - issuance of common stock and warrants

  2,545   3   9,218   -   -   9,221 

Exercise of warrants for cash

  43   -   120   -   -   120 

Exercise of warrants, cashless

  8   -   -   -   -   - 

Stock-based compensation

  -   -   1,205   -   -   1,205 

Net loss

  -   -   -   (4,768)  -   (4,768)

Foreign currency translation adjustment

  -   -   -       (688)  (688)

Balance at December 31, 2020

  9,664  $10  $54,848  $(46,026) $(384) $8,448 
                         

Public Offering - Issuance of common stock

  3,333   3   9,051   -   -   9,054 

Exercise of warrants for cash

  229   -   1,041   -   -   1,041 

Exercise of warrants, cashless

  191   -   -   -   -   - 

Vesting of restricted stock

  22   -   -   -   -   - 

Exercise of options, cashless

  4   -   -   -   -   - 

Stock-based compensation

  -   -   1,287   -   -   1,287 

Net loss

  -   -   -   (10,135)  -   (10,135)

Foreign currency translation adjustment

  -   -   -   -   517   517 

Balance at December 31, 2021

  13,443  $13  $66,227  $(56,161) $133  $10,212 

 

SeeThe accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these statements.

 

F-13
F-19

 

Sun BioPharma,Panbela Therapeutics, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(In thousands)

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

  

Year Ended December 31,

 
 

2019

  

2018

  

2021

  

2020

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

                

Net loss

 $(6,200) $(5,905) $(10,135) $(4,768)

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

                

Stock-based compensation

  1,093   1,279   1,287   1,205 

Amortization of debt discount

  2,066   1,732 

Amortization of debt issuance costs

  12   9 

Non-cash interest expense

  102   4 

Forgiveness of Paycheck Protection Program loan

  -   (103)

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

                

Income tax receivable

  (31)  50   51   (2)

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

  (174)  25   247   67 

Accounts payable

  301   360   631   (747)

Accrued liabilities

  92   59   1,215   494 

Net cash used in operating activities

  (2,739)  (2,387)  (6,704)  (3,854)
        

Cash flows from investing activities:

        

Deposits held by Contract Research Organizations

  (540)  - 

Net cash used in investing activities

  (540)  - 

Cash flows from financing activities:

                

Proceeds from the sale of convertible promissory notes and warrants, net of debt issuance costs of $7 and $5 respectively

  810   1,329 

Proceeds from sale of common stock and warrants, net of offering costs of $16 and $27 respectively

  3,160   2,328 

Repayment of demand note

  (25)  - 

Proceeds from sale of common stock and warrants net of offering costs of $2

  -   1,746 

Proceeds from public offering of common stock and warrants net of underwriters discount and offering costs of $1,165

  -   9,335 

Proceeds from public offering of common stock net of underwriters discount and offering costs of $946

  9,054   - 

Proceeds from exercise of warrants

  1,041   120 

Proceeds from Paycheck Protection Program loan

  -   103 

Repayments of demand note

  -   (743)

Repayments of term debt

  (161)  (14)  -   (117)

Net cash provided by financing activities

  3,784   3,643   10,095   10,444 
        

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

  (1)  (3)  (6)  (17)
        

Net change in cash

  1,044   1,253   2,845   6,573 

Cash at beginning of period

  1,405   152 

Cash at end of period

 $2,449  $1,405 
        

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

  9,022   2,449 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

 $11,867  $9,022 

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

                

Cash paid during period for interest

 $14  $67  $12  $8 
        

Supplemental disclosure of non-cash transactions:

                

Beneficial conversion feature on convertible notes

 $353  $716 

Warrants issued with convertible notes

 $419  $739 

Warrants issued in exchange for modification of term debt

 $14  $- 

Common stock converted into convertible notes payable

 $(25) $- 

Conversion of convertible notes payable and accrued interest into common stock and warrants

 $-  $3,258 

Conversion of convertible notes payable and accrued interest into common stock

 $2,281  $- 

Issuance of unsecured promissory note in exchange for vendor accounts payable

 $742  $- 

Options granted in exchange for release from contingent payment obligations

 $-  $1,094 

Warrants issued for future services

 $-  $228 

Warrants issued to underwriter

 $-  $353 

Amortization of warrants as offering costs

 $-  $114 

 

SeeThe accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these statements.

 

F-14F-20

 

Sun BioPharma,Panbela Therapeutics, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

1.Business

Business

 

Sun BioPharma,Panbela Therapeutics, Inc., and its wholly owned subsidiary Sun BioPharma AustraliaPanbela Therapeutics Pty Ltd.Ltd, (collectively “we,” “us,” “our,” and the “Company”) exist for the primary purpose of advancing the commercial development of a proprietary polyamine analogue for pancreatic cancer. We have exclusively licensed the worldwide rights to this compound, which has beenwas designated as SBP-101, from the University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc. (“UFRF”). Sun BioPharma,Panbela Therapeutics, Inc. was incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware on September 21, 2011. Sun BioPharma AustraliaPanbela Therapeutics Pty Ltd was established on May 24, 2013 and incorporated under the laws of Australian Securities and Investments Commission.

 

2.Risks and Uncertainties

Risks and Uncertainties

 

The Company operates in a highly regulated and competitive environment. The development, manufacturing and marketing of pharmaceutical products require approval from, and are subject to ongoing oversight by, the Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) in the United States, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (“TGA”) in Australia, the European Medicines Agency (“EMA”) in the European Union, and comparable agencies in other countries. Obtaining approval for a new pharmaceutical product is never certain, may take many years, and is normally expected to involve substantial expenditures.

 

We have incurred losses of $41.3$56.2 million since our inception in 2011. For the year ended December 31, 20192021, we incurred a net loss and negative cash flows from operating activities of $6.2$10.1 million and $2.7$6.7 million, respectively. We expect to incur substantial losses for the foreseeable future, which will continue to generate negative net cash flows from operating activities, as we continue to pursue research and development activities and the clinical development of our primary product candidate, SBP-101. As of December 31, 2019,2021, we had cash of $2.4$11.9 million, working capital (defined as current assets less current liabilities) of $1.3$9.6 million and stockholders’ equity of $1.4$10.2 million. The Company’s principal sources of cash have included the issuance of equity securities and convertible debt and equity securities.debt.

 

The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared assuming that we will continue as a going concern which contemplates the realization of assets and liquidation of liabilities in the normal course of business and do not include any adjustments relating to the recoverability or classification of assets or the amounts of liabilities that might result from the outcome of these uncertainties. Our ability to continue as a going concern, realize the carrying value of our assets and discharge our liabilities in the ordinary course of business is dependent upon a number of factors, including our ability to obtain additional financing, the success of our development efforts, our ability to obtain marketing approval for our initial product candidate, SBP-101, in the United States, Australia, the European Union or other markets and ultimately our ability to market and sell our initial product candidate. These factors, among others, raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue operations as a going concern.

December 2021 marked 21 months since the World Health Organization declared the spread of a novel strain of coronavirus (“COVID-19”) a global pandemic. Early in the pandemic, federal, state and local governmental authorities took actions to combat the spread of COVID-19, including through issuances of “stay-at-home” directives and similar mandates for many individuals to substantially restrict daily activities and for many businesses to curtail or cease normal operations. These measures, while intended to protect human life, led to significantly reduced economic activity. Vaccines became available at the end of 2020 and distribution in the U.S. accelerated during the first quarter of 2021 and then leveled off in the second quarter. While most state and local authorities have reopened businesses, infection rates increased in the United States and other parts of the world as the result of the delta variant in fall of 2021 and in winter of 2021 infections again increased due to the omicron variant, infection rates are once again decreasing in the first quarter of 2022. The rapid development and uncertainty of the situation continues to preclude any prediction as to the ultimate impact COVID-19 will have on the Company's business, financial condition, results of operation and cash flows, which will depend largely on future developments directly or indirectly relating to the duration and scope of the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States, Australia and the rest of the world. During the spring of 2020 enrollment in our clinical trial was temporarily paused to allow our clinical sites time to prepare for COVID -19. No disruption occurred as a result of COVID -19 to the treatment of subjects enrolled prior to or after this pause in the study and the study enrollment was completed in December of 2020. During the spring of 2021, the Company also experienced a delay in the manufacturing of the active product substance, which is manufactured in India. There was also a delay in the final manufacturing steps which are completed in the United States, in part related to COVID-19. To date there has been no disruption in supply for our clinical or preclinical testing. In January of 2022, the Company announced the opening of a global randomized Phase II/III clinical trial, which is expected to be conducted in the United States, Europe and Australia. The Company does not expect any disruption to the conduct of this new clinical trial associated with COVID-19. The Company’s administrative operations have been decentralized since inception so the Company experienced no administrative disruptions or additional costs due to the pandemic or related restrictions.

F-21

 

3.Liquidity and Management Plans

Liquidity and Management Plans

 

We will need to seek additional sources of funds to support our current business plans. We may seek to raise additional funds through various sources, such as equity and debt financings, or through strategic collaborations and license agreements. We can give no assurances that we will be able to secure additional sources of funds to support our operations, or if such funds are available to us, that such additional financing will be sufficient to meet our needs or on terms acceptable to us. This risk would increase if our clinical data iswere not positive or economic and market conditions deteriorate.

 

If we are unable to obtain additional financing when needed, we would need to scale back our operations taking actions that may include, among other things, reducing use of outside professional service providers, reducing staff or staff compensation, significantly modify or delay the development of our SBP-101 product candidate, license to third parties the rights to commercialize our SBP-101 product candidate for pancreatic cancer or other applications that we would otherwise seek to pursue, or cease operations.

 

F-15

On July 2, 2021, the Company completed an underwritten public offering of 3,333,334 shares of common stock at $3.00 per share which resulted in net proceeds of approximately $9.1 million. In the first quarter of 2021, the Company received net proceeds of approximately $1.0 million from the exercise of common stock warrants; a total 228,939 shares of common stock were issued.

 

In closings occurring in August,On September and October 20191, 2020, the Company sold 909,209consummated an underwritten public offering of 2,545,454 shares of common stock and an equalwarrants to purchase the same number of shares of common stock which resulted in net proceeds of approximately $9.3 million. In the quarter ended June 30, 2020, the Company sold common stock and warrants to purchase common stock in a private placementplacements to certain accredited investors pursuant to a Securities Purchase Agreement. Netresulting in net proceeds from these sales totaledof approximately $3.2$1.7 million. The warrants are exercisable for a period of five years from the date of issuance at an initial exercise price of $4.00.

 

In closings occurring in December 2018 and January 2019It is expected that cash will last into the Company sold $2.2 million principal amountfourth quarter of unsecured convertible promissory notes (the “Notes”) and warrants to purchase up to 1,243,498 shares of common stock in a private placement to certain investors. On June 30, 2019 the entire principal balance and accrued interest of $105,000 converted into 651,758 shares of common stock per the terms of the Notes at a conversion rate of $3.50. See Note 6 titled “Indebtedness” for a detailed discussion of the material terms of the Notes. The warrants are exercisable for a period of five years from the date of issuance at an initial exercise price of $4.50.2022.

 

Our future success is dependent upon our ability to obtain additional financing, the success of our development efforts, our ability to demonstrate clinical progress for our SBP-101 product candidate in the United States or other markets and, ultimately, our ability to market and sell our SBP-101 product candidate. If we are unable to obtain additional financing when needed, if our clinical trials are not successful, if we are unable to obtain marketing approval, we would not be able to continue as a going concern and would be forced to cease operations and liquidate our company.

There can be no assurances that we will be able to obtain additional financing on commercially reasonable terms, or at all. The sale of additional equity securities or convertible debt or equity securities would likely result in dilution to our current stockholders.

F-22

 

4.Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

Basis of presentationpresentation

 

We have prepared the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). Our fiscal year ends on December 31.

 

Principles of consolidation

 

The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements include the assets, liabilities and expenses of Sun BioPharma,Panbela Therapeutics, Inc. and our wholly owned subsidiary. All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

Use of estimates

 

The preparation of Consolidated Financial Statements 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 Consolidated Financial Statements and the reported amount of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

Concentration of credit riskcredit risk

 

Financial instruments that potentially subject the companyCompany to significant concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash. Cash is deposited in demand accounts at commercial banks. At times, such deposits may be in excess of insured limits. As of December 31, 2021, $11.6 million of the Company’s cash was in excess of insured limits. The Company has not experienced any losses on its deposits of cash.

 

F-16

Beneficial conversion featureCash and cash equivalents

 

For convertible debt where the rateCash equivalents include short-term, highly liquid investments with maturities of conversion is below fair market value for our common stock, the Company records a charge for the beneficial conversion feature (“BCF”) and related debt discount which is presented as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of the related debt. The discount is amortized to interest expense over the life of the debt.three months or less.

 

Debt issuance costsOther non-current assets

 

Costs associatedOther noncurrent assets are comprised primarily of long-term deposits with contract research organizations (“CROs”). These amounts are recognized as operating expenses or research and development expense as the issuance of debt instruments are presented as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of the related debt. These costs are amortized on a straight-line basis, which approximates the effective interest method, over the term of the debt agreements and are included in interest expense.trial is completed.

 

Research and development costs

 

Research and development costs include expenses incurred in the conduct of our Phase 1I and Phase II/III human clinical trials, for third-party service providers performing various testing and accumulating data related to our preclinical studies; sponsored research agreements; developing and scaling the manufacturing process necessary to produce sufficient amounts of the SBP-101 compound for use in our pre-clinical studies and human clinical trials; consulting resources with specialized expertise related to execution of our development plan for our SBP-101 product candidate; personnel costs, including salaries, benefits and share-based compensation; and costs to license and maintain our licensed intellectual property.

 

We charge research and development costs, including clinical trial costs, to expense when incurred. Our human clinical trials are performed at clinical trial sites and are administered jointly by us with assistance from contract research organizations (“CROs”).CROs. Costs of setting up clinical trial sites are accrued upon execution of the study agreement. Expenses related to the performance of clinical trials generally are accrued based on contracted amounts and the achievement of agreed upon milestones, such as site openings, patient enrollment, patient follow-up, etc. We monitor levels of performance under each significant contract, including the extent of patient enrollment and other activities through communications with the clinical trial sites and CROs, and adjust the estimates, if required, on a quarterly basis so that clinical expenses reflect the actual effort expended at each clinical trial site and by each CRO.

 

We expense costs associated with obtaining licenses for patented technologies when it is determined there is no alternative future use of the intellectual property subject to the license.

 

F-23

SClinical Trial Accruals

Costs for preclinical studies and clinical trial activities are recognized based on an evaluation of the vendors’ progress towards completion of specific tasks, using data such as clinical site activations, patient enrollment or information provided to the Company by its vendors regarding their actual costs incurred. Payments for these activities are based on the terms of individual contracts and payment timing may differ significantly from the period in which the services are performed. The Company determines accrual estimates through reports from and discussions with applicable personnel and outside service providers as to the progress or state of completion, or the services completed. The Company’s estimates of accrued expenses as of each balance sheet date are based on the facts and circumstances known at the time.

tock-basedStock-based compensation

 

In accounting for stock-based incentive awards, we measure and recognize the cost of employee and non-employee services received in exchange for awards of equity instruments based on the grant date fair value of those awards. Compensation cost is recognized ratably using the straight-line attribution method over the vesting period, which is considered to be the requisite service period. We record forfeitures in the periods in which they occur. The compensation expense for performance-based stock option awards is recognized when “performance” has occurred or is probable of occurring.

 

The fair value of stock-based awards is estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The determination of the fair value of stock-based awards is affected by our stock price, as well as assumptions regarding a number of complex and subjective variables. Risk free interest rates are based upon U.S. Treasury rates appropriate for the expected term of each award. Expected volatility rates are based primarily on the volatility rates of a set of guideline companies, which consist of public and recently public biotechnology companies. The assumed dividend yield is zero, as we do not expect to declare any dividends in the foreseeable future. The expected term of options granted is determined using the “simplified” method. Under this approach, the expected term is presumed to be the mid-point between the average vesting date and the end of the contractual term.

 

F-17

The fair value of restricted stock units is calculated as the fair value of the underlying common stock as of the date of grant.

 

Income taxes

 

Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the Consolidated Financial Statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted rates, for each of the jurisdictions in which the Company operates, expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in operations in the period that includes the enactment date. Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized. The Company has provided a full valuation allowance against the gross deferred tax assets as of December 31, 20192021 and 2018.2020. The Company’s policy is to classify interest and penalties related to income taxes as income tax expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss.

 

Foreign currency translationcurrency translation

 

The functional currency of Sun BioPharma AustraliaPanbela Therapeutics Pty Ltd is the Australian Dollar (“AUD”). Accordingly, assets and liabilities, and equity transactions of Sun BioPharma AustraliaPanbela Therapeutics Pty Ltd are translated into U.S. dollars at period-end exchange rates. Expenses are translated at the average exchange rate in effect for the period. The resulting translation gains and losses are recorded as a component of accumulated comprehensive gain (loss) in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss. During the years ended December 31, 20192021 and 2018,2020, any reclassification adjustments from accumulated other comprehensive gain to operations were inconsequential.

 

Grant Income

Grant income is derived from a one-time grant awarded to the Company by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases of the National Institutes of Health (the “Grant Agreement”). The total grant awarded under the Grant Agreement was $225,000 and was used to fund studies of SBP-101 as a potential treatment for pancreatitis. Grant income is recognized as a non-operating income when the related research and development expenses are incurred, terms of the grant have been complied with and as of December 31, 2018 the Company has been fully reimbursed under the Grant Agreement.

Comprehensive loss

Comprehensive loss consists of our net loss and the effects of foreign currency translation.

F-24

 

Net lossloss per shareshare

 

We compute net loss per share by dividing our net loss (the numerator) by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding (the denominator) during the period. Shares issued during the period and shares reacquired during the period, if any, are weighted for the portion of the period that they were outstanding. The computation of diluted earnings per share, or EPS, is similar to the computation of basic EPS except that the denominator is increased to include the number of additional common shares that would have been outstanding if the dilutive potential common shares had been issued. Our diluted EPS is the same as basic EPS due to common equivalent shares being excluded from the calculation, as their effect is anti-dilutive.

 

F-18

The following outstanding potential common shares were not included in the diluted net loss per share calculations as their effects were not dilutive:

 

 

December 31,

  

December 31,

 
 

2019

  

2018

  

2021

  

2020

 

Employee and non-employee stock options

  1,744,811   1,032,211   2,463,636   2,137,499 

Estimated common shares issuable upon conversion of notes payable and accrued interest

  -   383,947 

Restricted stock units

  10,790   11,500 

Common stock issuable under common stock purchase warrants

  3,422,099   2,035,197   5,109,501   6,556,468 
  5,166,910   3,451,355   7,583,927   8,705,467 

 

Recently Adopted Accounting PronouncementsPronouncements

 

In June 2018,August 2020, the FinancialFASB issued ASU No. 2020-06, Debt—Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging—Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40): Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2018-07, “Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718).”for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity, which simplifies accounting for convertible instruments by removing major separation models required under current GAAP. The ASU 2018-07removes certain settlement conditions that are required for equity contracts to qualify for the derivative scope exception and it also simplifies the accounting for nonemployee stock-based payment transactions.diluted earnings per share calculation in certain areas. This ASU was adopted by the Companyis effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2021, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted, but no earlier than fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020. This update permits the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2019. Historically,use of either the ultimate stock-based compensation related to non-employee common stock options would fluctuate based on changes in the underlying option pricing model as the awards vest. Under the new guidance, the total compensation costmodified retrospective or fully retrospective method of non-employee options is determined at grant date.transition. The Company has evaluatedis evaluating the impact of this new guidanceASU and believes it will not have a significant impact on its consolidated financial statements and has determined that it will affect how the Company records stock-based compensation related to common stock options and other equity-based compensation, if any, granted to non-employees in the future.statements.

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, “Leases,” which created a new Topic, Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 842 and established the core principle that a lessee should recognize the assets, representing rights-of-use, and liabilities to make lease payments, that arise from leases.  For leases with a term of 12 months or less, a lessee is permitted to make an election under which such assets and liabilities would not be recognized, and lease expense would be recognized generally on a straight-line basis over the lease term.  This standard was adopted by the Company for the year beginning January 1, 2019. The Company has evaluated the impact of this revised guidance on its financial statements and determined it had no material impact, as the Company has no leasing arrangements with terms greater than one year.

F-25

 

5.

5.Accrued Expenses

Accrued Expenses

 

Accrued expenses consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

  

December 31,

 
  

2019

  

2018

 

Clinical trial and related expenses

 $147  $42 

Professional services

  125   157 

Other

  32   17 

Total accrued liabilities

 $304  $216 

F-19

  

December 31,

 
  

2021

  

2020

 

Clinical trial and related expenses

 $992  $186 

Incentive compensation

  434   497 

Professional services

  235   98 

Other

  359   30 

Total accrued liabilities

 $2,020  $811 

 

6.

Indebtedness

2018 6.Convertible notes payableIndebtedness

In December of 2018 and January of 2019, we sold convertible promissory notes (the “2018 Notes”) and warrants to purchase common stock for gross proceeds of $2.2 million. The 2018 Notes were scheduled to matured on June 30, 2019 and bore an interest at a rate of 10.0% per year. The 2018 Notes had a mandatory conversion of all principal and interest into common stock on the earlier of (1) June 30, 2019 or (2) the date the Company receives gross proceeds of at least $6.0 million from the sale of equity securities (subject to certain exclusions). The stated conversion rate was $3.50 per share. In addition to the 2018 Notes, investors received a Warrant to purchase two shares of common stock for every $3.50 principal amount of 2018 Notes purchased. In total, warrants to purchase up to 1,243,498 shares of common stock were issued in the December and January closings. The exercise price of each warrant is $4.50 per share and they are exercisable until the 5-year anniversary of the dates of issuance. The warrants had a fair market value of $2.5 million upon issuance. After assigning the relative value of the warrants to the proceeds of the notes it was determined that the 2018 Notes contained a beneficial conversion feature with an aggregate intrinsic value of approximately $0.9 million. Both the relative value of the warrants and the beneficial conversion feature were recorded as a debt discount which was fully amortized through interest expense over the life of the 2018 Notes. On June 30, 2019, all $2.2 million aggregate principal balance of Notes outstanding plus $105,000 of accrued interest was converted at a conversion rate of $3.50 per share of common stock into 651,758 shares of common stock per the terms of the Notes.

 

2017 PPP loanConvertible notes payable

In 2017 we sold convertible promissory notes (the “2017 Notes”) raising gross proceeds of approximately $3.1 million. The 2017 Notes had been scheduled to mature on December 1, 2018 and bore an interest at a rate of 5.0% per year. Principal and accrued interest on the 2017 Notes was payable at maturity. The 2017 Notes were convertible into shares of common stock or other securities of the Company upon the occurrence of a “qualified financing,” including the sale of equity securities or a strategic partnership, raising gross proceeds of at least $2.0 million on or before the maturity of the 2017 Notes or upon the request of a holder of any 2017 Note at a fixed conversion rate of $10.10 per share. The 2017 Notes contained a beneficial conversion feature with an aggregate intrinsic value of approximately $3.0 million, which was recorded as a debt discount and is presented as a direct deduction from the carrying value of the 2017 Notes. The discount was amortized through interest expense over the life of the 2017 Notes.

 

On May 16, 2018, as1, 2020, the resultCompany applied for and received funding for a loan of receiving aggregate gross proceeds exceeding $2.0 million forapproximately $103,000 provided by the sale equity securities, under termsUS Small Business Administration (“SBA”) Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”), which is part of the 2017 Notes, the Company completed the conversion of previously outstanding debt. Debt totaling approximately $3.1 millionCoronavirus Aid, Relief, and accrued interest totaling approximately $183,000 was converted into 104,463 shares of common stock and 646,279 units (each consisting of a share of common stock and a warrant to purchase one additional share of common stock). The units were available through the 2018 Purchase Agreement. The shares were issued in relianceEconomic Security Act (“CARES”), enacted on the exemption from registration set forth in Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act as securities exchanged by an issuer with existing security holders where no commission or other remuneration is paid or given directly or indirectly by the issuer for soliciting such exchange. As of the date of conversion an incremental beneficial conversion feature of $121,000 was recorded as debt discount. Unamortized debt discount totaling $1.0 million was charged to interest expense as of the date of conversion.

F-20

The following table sets forth the changes in convertible notes payable during the year ended December 31, 2019 (in thousands):

  

Convertible Notes Payable

 
  

Principal

  

Accrued Interest

 

Balances at January 1, 2019

 $1,359  $2 

Aggregate principal value of notes sold

  816   - 

Accrued Interest on notes

  -   103 

Aggregate principal value of notes and accrued interest converted into common stock

  (2,175)  (105)
   -   - 

Balances at December 31, 2019

 $-  $- 

Term debt

On October 26, 2012, we entered into an unsecured loan agreement (the “Agreement”) with the Institute for Commercialization of Public Research, Inc. (the “Institute”).March 27, 2020. Under the terms of the agreement, we borrowed $300,000 at a fixed interest rate of 4.125%. No principal or interest payments were due until the maturity date, October 26, 2017, unless a mandatory repayment event occurred. Effective October 26, 2017, we entered into an amendmentSBA PPP Loan, up to our unsecured loan agreement with the Institute. Under the terms100% of the amendment,principal and accrued interest may be forgiven if certain criteria are met and the maturity dateloan proceeds are used for qualifying expenses such as payroll costs, benefits, rent, and utilities as described in the CARES Act. Effective December 30, 2020 the Company’s forgiveness application was approved by the SBA and the entire amount of the notePPP Loan was extended to May 1, 2019 with monthly payments of $10,000 beginning on May 1, 2018 with the remaining balance due in full on May 1, 2019. Effective April 5, 2019 the terms of our unsecured loan (the “Term Debt”) payable to the Institute were amended again to extend the maturity date from May 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019. The Institute agreed to the amendment in exchange for a warrant to purchase 5,555 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $4.50. The warrant expires five years from issuance. On December 16, 2019 the Institute again modified the terms of repayment. In exchange for a payment $50,000 payable on December 31, 2019 and a warrant to purchase 5,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $4.00 the maturity date of the loan was extended from December 31, 2019 to December 31, 2020. The total fair market value of the warrants issued for both amendments was calculated at $14,000 and wasforgiven, which has been recorded as a discount toGain on Debt Forgiveness in the debt, which will be amortized over the remaining period until maturityaccompanying 2020 Statement of the debt. The amendment requires the continuation of monthly payments of principalOperations and interest totaling $10,000 with monthly payments applied first to accrued and unpaid interest. The unpaid principal balance, net of unamortized debt discount, at December 31, 2019 was $116,000.Comprehensive Loss.

 

7.

7.Commitments and Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies

 

License agreement

 

On December 22, 2011, we entered into an exclusive license agreement with the University of Florida researchResearch Foundation (“UFRF”). This license agreement was amended on first of December 12, 2016 (“First Amendment”) and again on October 3, 2019 (“Second Amendment”). The license agreement requires the Company to pay royalties to UFRF ranging from 2.5% to 5% of net sales of licensed products developed from the licensed technology. The Second Amendment eliminated all minimum annual royalties and modified the duration of royalty payments to the shorter of (1) ten years from first commercial sale of licensed products or (2) the expiration of the period of regulatory exclusivity on a country by countrycountry-by-country basis. All future milestone payments contemplated in the original agreement were eliminated in the Second Amendment.

F-21

 

The amended license agreement remains subject to customary and usual termination provisions. The Company must also pay an annual license maintenance fee of $10,000. Accordingly, we recorded $10,000 as

Consulting agreement

In July 2021, the Company entered into a license expense inconsulting agreement with a member of the accompanying 2019board of directors and 2018 Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss.paid approximately $54,600 to this related party for services provided during the year ended December 31, 2021.

 

8.

8.Stockholders Equity

Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit)

 

2019 Public offering of common stock

On July 2, 2021, the Company completed an underwritten public offering of 3,333,334 shares of its common stock for a purchase price of $3.00 per share. The gross proceeds from the offering were approximately $10.0 million. The net proceeds, after deducting the underwriters discount and other offering costs were approximately $9.1 million. The securities were offered pursuant to an effective registration statement on Form S-3.

F-26

Public offering of common stock and warrants

On September 1, 2020, the Company closed an underwritten public offering of 2,545,454 shares of its common stock and warrants to purchase an aggregate of up to the same number of additional shares of common stock. The warrants are exercisable for a period of five years from the date of issuance at an initial exercise price of $4.54. The gross proceeds from the offering were approximately $10.5 million. Approximately $81,000 of the gross proceeds was received from directors and officers of the Company. The net proceeds, after deducting the underwriters discount and other offering costs, were approximately $9.3 million. The securities were offered pursuant to an effective registration statement on Form S-1. In connection with this offering, the Company’s common stock was approved for listing and began trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market on August 28, 2020. As of December 31, 2021, 2,306,516 warrants from this offering remain outstanding. See also Note 3, titled “Liquidity and Management Plans.”

Underwriter warrant to purchase common stock

On September 1, 2020, the Company issued to the underwriter in the public offering a five-year warrant to purchase 127,273 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $4.537. The fair market value of the warrant, totaling approximately $353,000, has been charged against the net proceeds of the sale of the common stock on that date.

Exercise of Warrants to purchase common stock

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company issued a total of 228,939 shares of common stock for a total of approximately $1.0 million in proceeds, resulting from exercises of outstanding warrants. Most of the warrants exercised, a total of 223,939, were exercised at $4.54 per share and the shares of common stock were issued pursuant to an effective registration on Form S-1. During the same period, the Company issued an additional 190,588 shares of common stock resulting from the net, cashless, exercise of outstanding warrants to purchase 536,140 shares. Warrants to purchase a total of 573,339 shares of common stock, all having an exercise price of $5.00 per share, expired during the year ended December 31, 2021. Additionally, warrants to purchase 108,550 shares of common stock, with an exercise price of $15.00 expired during the year ended December 31, 2021.

During the quarter ended December 31, 2020, the Company issued 15,000 shares of common stock for approximately $68,000 in proceeds resulting from the exercise of outstanding warrants. The warrants were exercised at $4.54 per share and the shares of common stock were issued pursuant to an effective registration on Form S-1.

On September 1, 2020, the Company issued 35,665 shares of common stock as a result of the exercise of outstanding warrants that were set to expire as a result of the public offering described above. All of the warrants were exercised at $1.875 per share. Of the shares issued, 27,500 were issued for approximately $52,000 cash. One warrant to purchase 15,000 shares of common stock was exercised on a net, cashless basis, resulting in the issuance of the remaining 8,165 shares.

Private placementplacements of common stock and warrants

 

On closings occurring in August, SeptemberMay and October of 2019, weJune 2020, the Company issued an aggregate of 909,209437,000 shares of our common stock and warrants to purchase an aggregate of up to the same number of additional shares of common stock pursuant to closings under 2019 Securities Purchase Agreements. Totalsecurities purchase agreements. Gross proceeds from the sale of common stock and warrants was approximately $3.2$1.7 million of which $240,000approximately $50,000 was received from directors and officers of the Company or its subsidiary.Company. The warrants issued under the 2019 Purchase Agreement will beare exercisable for a period of five years from the date of issuance at an initial exercise price of $4.00 per share$6.00. See Note 4,3, titled “Liquidity and Management’s Plans”.Management Plans.

F-27

 

2018 Private placementWarrants to purchase common stock issued for future services

 

On February 20, 2018, we entered into21, 2020, the Company issued to a Securities Purchase Agreement (the “2018 Purchase Agreement”) with certain accredited investors and completed an initial closing on the same date. Pursuantservice provider a five-year warrant to the initial closing and two subsequent closings in March and May of 2018, we sold a total of 468,200purchase 75,000 shares of common stock and warrants to purchase an aggregate of up to the same number of additional shares of common stock. The warrants issued under the 2018 Purchase Agreement will be exercisable for a period of three years from the date of issuance at an exercise price of $5.00$6.49 per share. We received aggregate gross proceeds totaling approximately $2.3 million pursuant to private placements under the 2018 Purchase Agreement, of which $125,000 was received from directors and officersThe fair market value of the Companywarrants issued of approximately $228,000 was capitalized. Approximately one half, or its subsidiary. As$114,000, was charged against the proceeds received in the public offering of December 31, 2019, 468,200 warrants remained outstanding.September 1, 2020 and the balance was recorded as general and administrative expense in 2021.

 

Shares reservedreserved

 

Shares of common stock reserved for future issuance were as follows as of December 31, 2019:2021:

 

Stock options outstanding

  1,744,8112,463,636

Restricted stock units outstanding

10,790 

Shares available for grant under equity incentive plan

  19,5491,345,863 

Common shares issuable under outstanding common stock purchase warrants

  3,422,0995,109,501 
   5,186,4598,929,790 

 

9.

Stock-Based9.Stock-Based Compensation

 

2016 Omnibus Incentive Plan

 

Stock-based awards are granted under the Sun BioPharma, Inc.The. 2016 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as last amended effective April 9, 2020 (the “2016 Plan”)., has been approved by our Board of Directors and ratified by our stockholders. The 2016 Plan permits the granting of incentive and non-statutory stock options, restricted stock, stock appreciation rights, performance units, performance shares and other stock awards to eligible employees, directors and consultants. We grant options to purchase shares of common stock under the 2016 Plan at nowith an exercise price not less than the fair market value of the underlying common stock as of the date of grant. Options granted under the 2016 Plan have a maximum term of ten years. AUnder the 2016 Plan, a total of 1,500,0003,618,579 shares of common stock were initiallyhave been reserved for issuance under the 2016 Plan.issuance. As of December 31, 2019,2021, options to purchase 1,480,4512,239,636 shares of common stock and 10,790 restricted, unvested shares were outstanding under the 2016 Plan.Plan and 1,345,863 shares remained available for future awards.

F-22

 

2011 Stock Option Plan

 

Prior to approval of the 2016 Plan, stock-based awards were granted under the Sun BioPharma, Inc. 2011 Stock Option Plan (the “2011 Plan”). In conjunction with stockholder approval of the 2016 Plan, the Board terminated the 2011 Plan, although awards outstanding under the 2011 Plan will remain outstanding in accordance with and pursuant to the terms thereof. Options granted under the 2011 Plan have a maximum term of ten years and generally vest over zero to two years for employees. As of December 31, 2019,2021, options to purchase 264,360224,000 shares of common stock remained outstanding under the 2011 Plan.

 

We recognize stock-based compensation based on the fair value of each award as estimated using the Black-Scholes option valuation model. Ultimately, the actual expense recognized over the vesting period will only be for those shares that actually vest.

 

F-28

A summary of option activity is as follows:

 

 

Shares

Available for

Grant

  

Shares Underlying

Options

  

Weighted

Average

Exercise Price

Per Share

  

Aggregate

Intrinsic Value

  

Shares

Underlying

Options

  

Weighted Average

Exercise Price Per Share

  

Aggregate Intrinsic Value

 

Balance at January 1, 2018

  1,060,400   733,960  $9.79  $169,495 

Balance at January 1, 2020

  1,744,811  $6.53  $1,047,197 

Granted

  (404,000)  404,000   7.49       425,648   7.48     

Exercised

  -   (30,000)  2.20       -   -     

Cancelled

  -   -   -       (32,360)  2.42     

Forfeitures

  75,749   (75,749)  7.34       (600)  15.10     
                            

Balance at December 31, 2018

  732,149   1,032,211  $8.90  $56,225 

Balance at December 31, 2020

  2,137,499  $6.77  $388,461 

Granted

  (733,400)  733,400   3.42       554,065   3.86     

Exercised

  -   -   -       (8,000)  0.88     

Cancelled

  -   -   -       -   -     

Forfeitures

  20,800   (20,800)  15.10       (219,928)  10.27     
                            

Balance at December 31, 2019

  19,549   1,744,811  $6.53  $1,030,547 

Balance at December 31, 2021

  2,463,636  $5.83  $8,821 

Stock-based compensation expense for each of the periods presented is as follows (in thousands):

  

Year ended December 31,

 
  

2021

  

2020

 

General and administrative

 $1,083  $1,068 

Research and development

  204   137 

Total stock based compensation

 $1,287  $1,205 

 

A summary of the status of our unvested shares during the yeartwo years ended and as of December 31, 20192021 is as follows:

 

  

Shares Under

Option

  

Weighted Average

Grant Date Fair Value

 
         

Unvested at December 31, 2018

  42,500  $4.83 

Granted

  733,400   2.09 

Vested

  (378,025)  2.41 

Forefeitures

  -   - 

Unvested at December 31, 2019

  397,875  $2.03 
  

Shares Under

Option

  

Weighted Average Grant

Date Fair Value

 

Unvested at January 1, 2020

  397,875  $2.03 

Granted

  425,648   5.39 

Vested

  (322,437)  3.14 

Forfeitures

  -   - 

Unvested at December 31, 2020

  501,086  $4.17 

Granted

  554,065   2.97 

Vested

  (286,157)  3.61 

Forfeitures

  (50,000)  2.98 

Unvested at December 31, 2021

  718,994  $3.39 

 

F-23F-29

 

Information about stock options outstanding, vested and expected to vest as of December 31, 2019,2021, is as follows:

 

   

Outstanding, Vested and Expected to Vest

  

Options Vested and Excercisable

     Outstanding, Vested and Expected to Vest  

Options Vested and Exercisable

 

Per Share Exercise Price

Per Share Exercise Price

 

Shares

  

Weighted Average

Remaining

Contractual Life

(Years)

  

Weighted

Average

Exercise Price

  

Options

Excercisable

  

Weighted Average

Remaining

Contractual Life

(Years)

 

Per Share Exercise Price

  

Shares

  

Weighted Average

Remaining Contractual

Life (Years)

  

Weighted

Average

Exercise Price

  

Options

Exercisable

  

Weighted Average

Remaining

Contractual Life

(Years)

 
                                             

$0.875

-$1.10  26,360   3.00  $1.029   26,360   3.00 

$2.275

-$2.50  38,000   4.12  $2.464   38,000   4.12 
$1.10$1.10   14,000   1.45  $1.100   14,000   1.45 
$2.26-$2.50   79,225   7.62  $2.310   22,000   2.44 

$2.95

-$3.70  774,100   8.32  $3.040   411,525   7.36 -$4.17   1,207,940   7.45  $3.410   729,695   6.05 

$4.50

-$8.10  538,300   7.97  $6.742   506,500   7.92 -$8.10   687,100   6.69  $6.134   609,600   6.47 

$10.00

-$10.10  54,000   7.55  $10.007   54,000   7.55 
$9.99-$10.10   266,048   7.93  $9.994   160,024   7.53 

$15.10

    314,051   6.41  $15.100   310,551   6.46 $15.10   209,323   4.57  $15.100   209,323   4.57 
                                             

Totals

    1,744,811   7.67  $6.526   1,346,936   7.19 

Totals

   2,463,636   7.29  $5.825   1,744,642   6.23 

 

As of December 31, 2019,2021, total compensation expense related to unvested employee stock options not yet recognized was $372,000$1.7 million, which is expected to be allocated to expenses over a weighted-average period of 2.42.2 years.

 

The assumptions used in calculating the fair value under the Black-Scholes option valuation model are set forth in the following table for options issued by the Company for the years ended December 31, 20192021 and 2018:2020:

 

 

2019

  

2018

  

2021

  

2020

 
Common stock fair value $2.95-$5.00  $3.50-$8.10  

 

$2.26-4.17  

 

$4.82-9.99 

Risk-free interest rate

  1.55%-2.25%   2.30%-2.94%   0.79-1.08%   0.29-0.39% 

Expected dividend yield

  0    0     0     0  

Expected Option life (in years)

  5.00-5.50   1.25-5.75 

Expected Option life(years)

 

 

5.30-5.75  

 

5.00-5.75 

Expected stock price volatility

  72%    72%     90%     90%  

 

Nonemployee stock-based compensationstock-based compensation

 

We account for stock options granted to nonemployees in accordance with Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2018-07,2019-07, “Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718). In connection with stock options granted to nonemployees, we recorded $288,000$222,000 and $263,000$261,000 for nonemployee stock-based compensation during 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Restricted stock units

The number and weighted average grant date fair value of restricted non vested common stock for the most recent completed fiscal years endedis as follows:

  

Number of Restricted Shares

  

Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value

 

Restricted nonvested at January 1, 2020

  -  $- 

Granted in 2020

  11,500   3.45 

Vested in 2020

  -   - 

Restricted nonvested at December 31, 2020

  11,500   3.45 

Granted in 2021

  21,580   4.17 

Vested in 2021

  (22,290)  3.80 

Restricted nonvested at December 31, 2021

  10,790  $4.17 

As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.2021, total compensation expense related to unvested restricted stock units not yet recognized was approximately $17,000, which is expected to be allocated to expenses over a weighted-average period of 0.4 years.

F-30

 

Stock compensation expense includes expense related to restricted stock units of approximately $106,000 in 2021.

10.

10.Income Taxes

Income Taxes

 

We have incurred net operating losses since inception. We have not reflected the benefit of net operating loss carryforwards in the accompanying financial statements and have established a full valuation allowance against our deferred tax assets.

 

AtOn December 31, 20192021 and 2018,2020, the Company had an income tax receivable of $361,000approximately $321,000 and $332,000,$323,000 respectively, comprised of refundable tax incentives related to research and development activities of our subsidiary Sun BioPharma AustraliaPanbela Therapeutics Pty Ltd.

 

Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes as well as operating losses and tax credit carryforwards.

 

F-24

The significant components of our deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows (in thousands):

 

 

December 31,

  December 31, 

Deferred tax assets (liabilities)

 

2019

  

2018

  

2021

  

2020

 
                

Net operating loss carryforwards

 $6,307  $4,807  $9,986  $7,660 

Research credit carryforwards

  235   235   235   235 

Stock-based compensation

  1,230   971   1,734   1,498 

Other

  72   71   66   70 

Deferred tax assets

  7,844   6,084   12,021   9,463 

Valuation allowance

  (7,844)  (5,801)  (12,021)  (9,463)

Deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowance

  -   283 

Beneficial conversion feature, net

  -   (283)

Deferrred tax liabilities

  -   (283)
        

Net deferred tax asset

 $-  $-  $-  $- 

 

Realization of the future tax benefits is dependent on our ability to generate sufficient taxable income within the carry-forward period. Because of our history of operating losses, management believes that the deferred tax assets arising from the above-mentioned future tax benefits are currently not likely to be realized and, accordingly, we have provided a full valuation allowance.

 

F-31

A reconciliation of the statutory tax rates and the effective tax rates is as follows:

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

  

Year Ended December 31,

 
 

2019

  

2018

  

2021

  

2020

 

Statutory rate

  21.0%  21.0%  21.0%  21.0%

Permanent differences

  (5.9)  0.1   2.1   1.7 

Change in effective tax rate

  -   0.6   (0.4)  - 

Valuation allowance

  (32.4)  (22.6)  (24.3)  (26.5)

Foreign research incentives

  5.7   5.7   3.1   5.4 

Deferred true-up

  16.3   - 

Other

  1.0   0.9   1.6   3.8 

Effective rate

  5.7%  5.7%  3.1%  5.4%

 

Net operating losses and tax credit carryforwards as of December 31, 2019,2021, are as follows:

 

(In Thousands)

 

Amount

(in thousands)

 

Expiration Years

Net operating losses--federal

  12,958 

Expires beginning 2031

20192018 to 2021 net operating losslosses -- federal

  3,15312,068 

Never expires

Tax credits--federal

  235 

Beginning 2041

 

Utilization of the net operating loss carryforwards and credits may be subject to a substantial annual limitation due to the ownership change limitations provided by the IRC, and similar state provisions. We have not performed a detailed analysis to determine whether an ownership change under Section 382 of the IRC has occurred. The effect of an ownership change would be the imposition of an annual limitation on the use of net operating loss carryforwards attributable to periods before the change.

 

F-25

The Company is subject to taxation in the United States and Australia. Tax returns for the year ended December 31, 20152017 and thereafter are subject to examinations by federal and state tax authorities. Tax returns of Sun BioPharma AustraliaPanbela Therapeutics Pty Ltd. for the year ended December 31, 20142015 and thereafter are subject to examination by the Australian tax authorities.

 

11.

11.Subsequent Events

Subsequent Events

 

On February 21, 20202022, the companyCompany entered into an agreement and plan of merger pursuant to which it has agreed to acquire Cancer Prevention Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“CPP”), a private clinical stage company developing therapeutics to reduce the risk and recurrence of cancer and rare diseases, for a combination of stock and future milestone payments. The combined entity will have an expanded pipeline; areas of initial focus include familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), first-line metastatic pancreatic cancer, neoadjuvant pancreatic cancer, colorectal cancer prevention and ovarian cancer. The combined development programs boast a steady cadence of catalysts with an investment banking firm.  A portionprograms ranging from pre-clinical to registration studies.

Under the terms of the retainer fee was paid viaagreement and plan of merger, the issuanceholders of 75,000 5-year warrants.  The fair market valueCPP’s outstanding capital stock immediately prior to the merger will receive shares of common stock of Panbela upon closing of the warrants issuedMergers. On a pro forma and fully diluted basis, holders of Panbela common stock are expected to own approximately $148,00059% of the post-merger holding company and holders of CPP securities, including converted indebtedness, are expected to beneficially own approximately 41% of post-merger holding company. CPP stockholders will be capitalizedeligible to receive contingent payments totaling a maximum of $60 million from milestone and charged against future proceeds.royalty payments associated with the potential approval and commercialization of the lead asset.

 

F-26F-32

 



 

Up to 4,518,072 Shares of Common Stock

Warrants to purchase 9,036,144 Shares of Common Stock

Pre-Funded Warrants to purchase 4,518,072 Shares of Common Stock

 

 

 

 

Panbela Therapeutics, Inc.

 

Sun Biopharma, Inc.


 _________________________ PROSPECTUS

 

PRELIMINARYPROSPECTUS

_________________________ 


 

 

 

Craig-HallumRoth Capital GroupPartners

 

Maxim Group LLC

              , 20202023

 

 

 




 

 

 

PARTII

 

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 

Item 13.

Item 13.      Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

 

The following table sets forth the costs and expenses other than the underwriting discounts and commissions and non-accountable expense allowance, payable by Sun BioPharma,Panbela Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company”) in connection with the offering and sale of itsthe common stock being registered. All amounts shown are estimates, except the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) registration fee and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) filing fee.

 

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee

 $1,575  $4,960 

Nasdaq Listing application fee

 $50,000 

FINRA filing fee

 $2,320  $6,125 

Accounting fees and expenses

  *  $40,000 

Legal fees and expenses

 $20,000  $200,000 

Transfer agent and registrar fees

  *  $20,000 

Printing expenses

  *  $10,000 

Miscellaneous

  *  $13,915 

Total

  *  $295,000 

 


* To be provided by amendment.

Item 14.Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

 

Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides that a corporation may indemnify any person made a party to an action by reason of the fact that he or she was a director, executive officer, employee or agent of the corporation or is or was serving at the request of the corporation against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with such action if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the corporation and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful, except that, in the case of an action by or in right of the corporation, no indemnification may generally be made in respect of any claim as to which such person is adjudged to be liable to the corporation.

 

The Company’s certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws limit the liability of its directors to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. Delaware law provides that directors of a corporation will not be personally liable for monetary damages for breach of their fiduciary duties as directors, except for liability for any:

 

 

breach of their duty of loyalty to the Company or its stockholders;

 

 

act or omission not in good faith or that involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;

 

 

unlawful payment of dividends or redemption of shares as provided in Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law; or

 

 

transaction from which the directors derived an improper personal benefit.

 

These limitations of liability do not apply to liabilities arising under federal securities laws and do not affect the availability of equitable remedies such as injunctive relief or rescission. The Company’s amended and restated bylaws provide that it will indemnify its directors and executive officers, and may indemnify other officers, employees and other agents, to the fullest extent permitted by law.

 

II-1

As permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law, the Company has entered into indemnification agreements with each of the Company’s directors and executive officers that require the Company to indemnify such persons against expenses, judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and other amounts actually and reasonably incurred, including expenses of a derivative action, in connection with an actual or threatened proceeding if any of the Company’s directors or executive officers may be made a party because he or she is or was one of the Company’s directors. The Company will be obligated to pay such amounts only if the director acted in good faith and in a manner that he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the Company’s best interests. With respect to any criminal proceeding, the Company will be obligated to pay such amounts only if the director had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. The indemnification agreements also set forth certain procedures that will apply in the event of a claim for indemnification.

 

II-1

Section 145(g) of the Delaware General Corporation Law permits a corporation to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee, or agent of the corporation arising out of his or her actions in connection with their services to the Company, regardless of whether its amended and restated bylaws permit indemnification. The Company has purchased and intends to maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director or officer against any loss arising from any claim asserted against him or her and incurred by him or her in any such capacity, subject to certain exclusions.

 

Item 15.

Item 15.      Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities.

On August 23, August 30, September 20 and October 10, 2019, the Company entered into securities purchase agreements and sold an aggregate of (i) 909,209 shares of its common stock (the “Shares”) and (ii) warrants to purchase up to 909,209 additional shares of common stock for total gross proceeds of approximately $3.2 million. The warrants are exercisable for a period of five years from the date of issuance at an initial exercise price of $4.00 per share.

 

On February 21, 2020, the Company issued to the underwriterplacement agent in the public offering a five-year warrant to purchase 75,000 shares at an exercise price of $6.49 per share.

 

In closings on May 22, June 5, June 15, and June 22, 2020, the Company sold an aggregate of 437,000 shares of its common stock and warrants to purchase up to 437,000 additional shares of common stock for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $1.7 million,of which approximately $90,000 was received from officers and directors of the Company. The warrants are exercisable for a period of five years from the date of issuance at an initial exercise price of $6.00 per share.

 

ForOn September 1, 2020, the Company issued 35,665 shares of common stock as a result of the exercise of outstanding warrants that were set to expire as a result of the public offering. All of the warrants were exercised at $1.875 per share. Of the shares issued, 27,500 were issued for approximately $52,000 cash. One warrant to purchase 15,000 shares of common stock was exercised on a net, cashless basis, resulting in the issuance of the remaining 8,165 shares.

During the three months ended March 31, 2021, the Company issued 193,607 shares of common stock as a result of exercises of outstanding warrants. Of the shares of common stock issued, 188,607 shares were issued pursuant to net, cashless, exercises of warrants to purchase 531,140 shares and the remaining 5,000 shares were issued for $25,000 cash.

The net cash proceeds for each of the foregoing sales of securities were used for the continued clinical development of our initial product candidate ivospemin (SBP-101) and for working capital and other general corporate purposes.

On June 15, 2022, pursuant to the Merger Agreement, Panbela sold and issued the following securities to the holders of CPP securities: (a) 6,587,576 shares of Panbela Common Stock, (b) 731,957 shares of Panbela Common Stock that remained subject to the Holdback Escrow (as defined in the Merger Agreement), (iv) replacement options to purchase up to 1,596,754 shares of Panbela Common Stock at a weighted average purchase price of $0.35 per share, and (v) replacement warrants to purchase up to 338,060 shares of Panbela Common Stock at a weighted average purchase price of $4.145 per share.

Unless otherwise indicated, for all of the foregoing transactions, we relied on exemptions from registration set forth in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act, without the use of any general solicitations or advertising to market or otherwise offer the securities for sale and all participants were “accredited investors,” as defined in Rule 501 of Regulation D as promulgated by the SEC under the Securities Act.

 

II-2

Item 16.

Item 16.      Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.

 

(a)Exhibits

 

Exhibit

No.

 

Description

1.1++2.1

 

Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated February 21, 2022, by and among Panbela Therapeutics, Inc., Canary Merger Holdings, Inc., Canary Merger Subsidiary I, Inc., Canary Merger Subsidiary II, Inc., CPP Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Fortis Advisors LLC, as Stockholder Representative (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to current report on Form of Underwriting Agreement8-K filed February 22, 2022)

3.1

 

Restated Certificate of Incorporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to current report on Form 8-K filed November 15, 2017)January 17, 2023

3.2

 

Bylaws (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.23.1 to current report on Form 8-K filed June 16, 2022)

4.1

Description of Securities (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to annual report on Form 10-K for fiscal year ended December 31, 2020)

II-2

Exhibit

No.

Description

4.2

Form of Common Stock Warrant issued December 2018 and January 2019 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to current report on Form 8-K filed December 28, 2018)

4.3

Common Stock Warrant issued April 2, 2019 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to quarterly report on Form 10-Q for quarter ended June 30, 2016)March 31, 2019)

4.1+4.4

Form of Common Stock Warrant issued August through October 2019 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to current report on Form 8-K filed August 29, 2019)

4.5

Form of Warrants issued May 22, June 5, June 15, and June 22, 2020 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to current report on Form 8-K filed June 11, 2020)

4.6

Warrant Agency Agreement with VStock Transfer, LLC dated September 1, 2020 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to current report on Form 8-K filed September 1, 2020)

4.7

Form of Common Stock Purchase Warrant (included in Exhibit 4.8)

4.8

Warrant Agency Agreement with VStock Transfer, LLC dated as of October 4, 2022 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to current report on Form 8-K filed on October 4, 2022)

4.9

Form of Common Stock Purchase Warrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to current report on Form 8-K filed October 4, 2022)

4.10

Form of Pre-Funded Warrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to current report on Form 8-K filed on October 4, 2022)

4.11++

 

Form of Underwriter's Warrant Agency Agreement

4.12++

Form of Common Stock Purchase Warrant

4.13++

Form of Pre-Funded Warrant

5.1++

 

Opinion of Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP

10.1*

 

2011 Stock Option Plan, as amended through January 1, 2015 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to current report on Form 8-K filed September 11, 2015)

10.2*

 

Form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement for awards under 2011 Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to current report on Form 8-K filed September 11, 2015)

10.3*

 

Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement for awards under 2011 Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to current report on Form 8-K filed September 11, 2015)

10.4*

 

Sun BioPharma, Inc. 2016 Omnibus Incentive Plan as amended and restated as ofthrough April 9, 2020 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to Current Reportcurrent report on Form 8-K filed May 26, 2020)

10.5*

 

Form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement for awards under 2016 Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to quarterly report on Form 10-Q for quarter ended June 30, 2016)

10.6*

 

Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement for awards under 2016 Omnibus Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to quarterly report on Form 10-Q for quarter ended June 30, 2016)

10.7*

 

Form of Performance-Based Stock Option Agreement for awards under 2016 Omnibus Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to annual report on Form 10-K for fiscal year ended December 31, 2016)

10.8*

Form of Indemnification Agreement with non-employee directors (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to current report on Form 8-K filed September 11, 2015)

10.9**

 

Standard Exclusive License Agreement with University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc., dated December 22, 2011 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to current report on Form 8-K filed September 11, 2015)

10.910.10

 

Form of First Amendment to License Agreement with University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc. dated December 12, 2016 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 to annual report on Form 10-K for fiscal year ended December 31, 2019)

10.1010.11

 

Second Amendment to License Agreement with University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc., dated October 3, 2019 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to current report on Form 8-K filed October 9, 2019)

10.11*10.12*

 

Employment Agreement with Michael T. Cullen, dated December 2, 2015 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to current report on Form 8-K filed December 4, 2015)

10.12*10.13*

 

First Amendment to Employment Agreement with Michael T. Cullen, dated September 12, 2016 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.17 to registration statement on Form S-1filed September 16, 2016)

10.13*10.14*

 

Second Amendment to Employment Agreement with Michael T. Cullen, dated October 1, 2017 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to current report on Form 8-K filed October 13, 2017)

10.14*10.15*

 

Waiver and Third Amendment to Employment Agreement with Michael T. Cullen, effective as of February 27, 2018 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to currentreport on Form 8-K filed March 5, 2018)

10.15*

Employment Agreement with Suzanne Gagnon, dated December 2, 2015 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to annual report on Form 10-K for fiscal year ended December 31, 2015)

10.16*

 

First Amendment to Employment Agreement with Suzanne Gagnon, dated September 12, 2016 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.20 to registration statement on Form S-1 filed September 16, 2016)

10.17*

Second Amendment to Employment Agreement with Suzanne Gagnon, dated October 1, 2017 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to current report on Form 8-K filed October 13, 2017)

II-3

Exhibit

No.

Description

10.18*

Waiver and Third Amendment to Employment Agreement with Suzanne Gagnon, effective as of February 27, 2018 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to current report on Form 8-K filed March 5, 2018)

10.19*

Employment Agreement with Susan Horvath, dated April 17, 2018 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to quarterly report on Form 10-Q for quarter ended March 31, 2018)

10.2010.17*

 

Employment agreement with Jennifer K Simpson dated July 15, 2020 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to current report on Form 8-K filed July 16, 2020)

II-3

Exhibit

No.

Description

10.18

Seed Capital Accelerator Loan Agreement and Seed Capital Loan Note dated October 26, 2012 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.22 to annual report on Form 10-K for fiscal year ended December 31, 2019)

10.2110.19

 

First Amendment to Seed Capital Accelerator Loan Agreement and Seed Capital Loan Note dated October 13, 2017 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to quarterly report on Form 10-Q for quarter ended March 31, 2019)

10.2310.20

 

Second Amendment to Seed Capital Accelerator Loan Agreement and Seed Capital Loan Note dated April 5, 2019 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to quarterly report on Form 10-Q for quarter ended March 31, 2019

10.2410.21

 

Third Amendment to Seed Capital Accelerator Loan Agreement and Seed Capital Loan Noted dated December 31,2019 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.25 to annual report on Form 10-K for fiscal year ended December 31, 2019)

10.2510.22

 

Form of Common Stock Warrant issued prior to September 2015Securities Purchase Agreement, dated December 21 and 31, 2018, January 14, 25, and 31, 2019 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.310.1 to current report on Form 8-K filed September 11, 2015)December 28, 2018)

10.2610.23

 

Healthcare Professional Services Agreement with Suzanne Gagnon dated July 19, 2021 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.27 to annual report on Form 10-K for fiscal year ended December 31, 2021)

10.24*

CPPPharmaceuticals, Inc. 2010 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to current report on Form 8-K filed June 16, 2022)

10.25*

Form of Common Stock Warrant issued June through September 2016Option Assumption Notice (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to current report on Form 8-K filed June 14, 2016)16, 2022)

10.26

Form of Replacement Warrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to current report on Form 8-K filed June 16, 2022)

10.27

 

Convertible Promissory Note in favor of Sucampo GmbH (f/k/a Sucampo AG), dated as of September 6, 2017, as amended through April 7, 2022 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to current report on Form 8-K filed June 16, 2022)

10.28

Guaranty in favor of Sucampo GmbH (f/k/a Sucampo AG), dated June 15, 2022 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to current report on Form 8-K filed June 16, 2022)

10.29

Separation and Release Agreement with Jeffrey E. Jacobs, dated June 15, 2022 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to current report on Form 8-K filed June 16, 2022)

10.30

License Agreement, dated June 16, 2021 between CPP Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and One-Two Therapeutic Assets Limited

10.31

Form of Common Stock Warrant issued February through May 2018Securities Purchase Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to current report on Form 8-K filed February 26, 2018)on October 4, 2022)

10.2810.32

 

FormPlacement Agency Agreement with Roth Capital Partners, LLC dated as of Common Stock Warrant issued December 2018 and January 2019September 29, 2022 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.310.1 to current report on Form 8-K filed December 28, 2018)on October 4, 2022)

10.29

Common Stock Warrant issued April 2, 2019 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to quarterly report on Form 10-Q for quarter ended March 31, 2019)

10.3010.33++

 

Form of Common Stock Warrant issued August through October 2019 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to current report on Form 8-K filed August 29, 2019)Securities Purchase Agreement

10.3110.34++

 

Form of Common Stock Warrant issued May through June 2020 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to current report on Form 8-K file June 11, 2020)Placement Agency Agreement

21.1

 

List of Subsidiaries (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 21.1 to annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016)POS AM filed June 22, 2022)

23.1++

 

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

23.2++

 

Consent Consent of Independent Public Accounting Firm

23.3++

Consent of Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)

24.1+

 

Powers of Attorney (see signature page)

101+107++

 

Financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2019 and for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2020, formatted in XBRL: (i) the Balance Sheets, (ii) the Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss, (iii) the Statements of Cash Flows, and (iv) the Notes to Financial Statements.Filing Fee Table

 


+

Previously filed.

++

Filed herewith.

*

Management compensatory plan or arrangement required to be filed as an exhibit to this prospectus.

**

+ Filed herewith

++ To be filed by amendment.

* Management compensatory plan or arrangement required to be filed as an exhibit to this prospectus.

** Portions of exhibit omitted pursuant to order granting confidential treatment issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Schedules have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K. A copy of any omitted schedule will be furnished to the SEC upon request; provided, however, that the parties may request confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 24b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, for any document so furnished.

 

(b)Financial Statement Schedules.

 

All schedules are omitted as the required information is inapplicable or the information is presented in the financial statements or related notes.

 

Schedule II. Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

 

All other schedules are omitted as the required information is inapplicable or the information is presented in the financial statements or related notes.

 

II-4

 

Item 17.

Item 17.      Undertakings.

 

The registrant hereby undertakes:

 

 

(1)

To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

 

 

(i)

To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

 

 

(ii)

To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

 

 

(iii)

To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in this registration statement.statement;

provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (ii) and (iii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act, that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement.

 

 

(2)

That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered herein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

 

(3)

To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

 

 

(4)

That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser: each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than registration statements relying on Rule 430B or other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A, shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness; provided,provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use.

 

 

(5)

That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this Registration Statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this Registration Statement as of the time it was declared effective; and for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

 

(6)

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that, in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

II-5

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Minneapolis, State of Minnesota on this 2nd day of July, 2020.January 18, 2023.

 

SUN BIOPHARMA,PANBELA THERAPEUTICS, INC.


By:


/s/ Michael T. CullenJennifer K. Simpson

  

Michael T. CullenJennifer K. Simpson

President and Chief Executive Officer and Executive

Chairman

 

Power ofof Attorney

Each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Michael T. Cullen and Susan Horvath, and each of them acting individually, as his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of each to act alone, with full powers of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the Registration Statement filed herewith and any and all amendments to said Registration Statement (including post-effective amendments and any related registration statements thereto filed pursuant to Rule 461 and otherwise), and file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of each to act alone, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully for all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or his or their substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature

 

Title

 

Date

     

/s/ Michael T. CullenJennifer K. Simpson

 

President and Chief Executive Officer and Executive Chairman

 

July 2, 2020

January 18, 2023

Michael T. CullenJennifer K. Simpson

 

(PrincipalExecutiveOfficer), and Director(PrincipalExecutiveOfficer)

  
     

/s/ Susan Horvath

 

Vice President of Finance, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer

 

July 2, 2020

January 18, 2023

Susan Horvath

 

and Secretary (Principal(PrincipalFinancialandAccountingOfficer)

  
     

/s/ Arthur J. Fratamico*

Chair of the Board and Director

January 18, 2023

Michael T. Cullen

*

 

Director

 January 18, 2023

July 2, 2020Daniel J. Donovan

*

Director

January 18, 2023

Arthur J. Fratamico

    
     

/s/ Suzanne Gagnon*

 

Director

 

July 2, 2020

January 18, 2023

Suzanne GagnonJeffrey E. Jacob

    
     

/s/ Jeffrey S. Mathiesen*

 

Director

 

July 2, 2020

January 18, 2023

Jeffrey S. Mathiesen

    
     

/s/ Paul Schaffer*

 

Director

 

July 2, 2020

Paul W. Schaffer

/s/ D. Robert Schemel

Director

July 2, 2020

January 18, 2023

D. Robert Schemel

    

 

* Jennifer K. Simpson, by signing her name hereto, does hereby sign this document on behalf of each of the above-named directors of the registrant pursuant to powers of attorney duly executed by such persons.

By:

/s/ Jennifer K. Simpson

Jennifer K. Simpson

Attorney-in-Fact

II-6