fFFAS
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
☒ QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2021
OR
☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from to
001-33357
(Commission file number)
PROTALIX BIOTHERAPEUTICS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware | __65-0643773__ |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
|
|
2 University Plaza Suite 100 Hackensack, NJ | 07601 |
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
(201)-696-9345
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
N/A
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| | |||
Title of each class | | Trading Symbol(s) | | Name of each exchange on which registered |
Common stock, $0.001 par value | | PLX | | NYSE American |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ⌧ No ◻
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ⌧ No ◻
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 pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ◻
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒
On May 10, 2021, approximately 45,382,831 shares of the Registrant’s common stock, $0.001 par value, were outstanding.
FORM 10-Q
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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| Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) – As of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 | 2 |
| 3 | |
| 4 | |
| 5 | |
| 7 | |
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations | 13 | |
26 | ||
26 | ||
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28 | ||
28 | ||
52 | ||
52 | ||
52 | ||
52 | ||
52 | ||
55 |
1
PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements
PROTALIX BIOTHERAPEUTICS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(U.S. dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)
| | | | | | | |
|
| March 31, 2021 |
| December 31, 2020 | | ||
| | | | | | | |
ASSETS | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
CURRENT ASSETS: | | | | | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents | | $ | 19,830 | | $ | 18,265 | |
Short-term bank deposits | | | 50,600 | | | 20,280 | |
Accounts receivable – Trade | |
| 4,599 | |
| 2,000 | |
Other assets | |
| 1,754 | |
| 2,096 | |
Inventories | |
| 13,915 | |
| 13,082 | |
Total current assets | | $ | 90,698 | | $ | 55,723 | |
| | | | | | | |
NON-CURRENT ASSETS: | | | | | | | |
Funds in respect of employee rights upon retirement | | $ | 1,776 | | $ | 1,799 | |
Property and equipment, net | |
| 4,828 | |
| 4,845 | |
Operating lease right of use assets | |
| 5,490 | |
| 5,567 | |
Total assets | | $ | 102,792 | | $ | 67,934 | |
| | | | | | | |
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (NET OF CAPITAL DEFICIENCY) | |
| | |
|
| |
| | | | | | | |
CURRENT LIABILITIES: | |
| | |
|
| |
Accounts payable and accruals: | |
| | |
|
| |
Trade | | $ | 6,376 | | $ | 7,221 | |
Other | |
| 15,167 | |
| 13,926 | |
Operating lease liabilities | |
| 1,386 | |
| 1,420 | |
Contracts liability | |
| 2,560 | |
| 5,394 | |
Convertible notes | | | 55,372 | | | 54,427 | |
Promissory note | | | | | | 4,086 | |
Total current liabilities | | $ | 80,861 | | $ | 86,474 | |
| | | | | | | |
LONG TERM LIABILITIES: | |
| | |
|
| |
Contracts liability | |
| 858 | |
| 1,716 | |
Liability for employee rights upon retirement | |
| 2,224 | |
| 2,263 | |
Operating lease liabilities | |
| 4,319 | |
| 4,467 | |
Other long term liabilities | |
| 26 | |
| 51 | |
Total long term liabilities | | $ | 7,427 | | $ | 8,497 | |
Total liabilities | | $ | 88,288 | | $ | 94,971 | |
| | | | | | | |
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (CAPITAL DEFICIENCY) | | | 14,504 | | | (27,037) | |
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity (net of capital deficiency) | | $ | 102,792 | | $ | 67,934 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed consolidated financial statements.
2
PROTALIX BIOTHERAPEUTICS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(U.S. dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)
(Unaudited)
| | | | | | | |
| | Three Months Ended | | ||||
|
| March 31, 2021 |
| March 31, 2020 |
| ||
REVENUES FROM SELLING GOODS | | $ | 4,511 | | $ | 5,031 | |
REVENUES FROM LICENSE AND R&D SERVICES | |
| 6,809 | |
| 16,615 | |
TOTAL REVENUE | | | 11,320 | | | 21,646 | |
COST OF GOODS SOLD (1) | |
| (4,765) | |
| (3,426) | |
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT EXPENSES, NET (2) | |
| (7,122) | |
| (10,340) | |
SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES (3) | |
| (3,138) | |
| (3,187) | |
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS) | |
| (3,705) | |
| 4,693 | |
FINANCIAL EXPENSES | |
| (2,156) | |
| (3,229) | |
FINANCIAL INCOME | |
| 335 | |
| 203 | |
FINANCIAL EXPENSES – NET | |
| (1,821) | |
| (3,026) | |
OTHER INCOME | | | 51 | | | | |
NET INCOME (LOSS) FOR THE PERIOD | | $ | (5,475) | | $ | 1,667 | |
EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE OF COMMON STOCK – BASIC AND DILUTED | | $ | (0.14) | | $ | 0.10 | |
WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK | | | | | | | |
USED IN COMPUTING EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE – BASIC AND DILUTED | |
| 39,933,972 | |
| 17,381,074 | |
(1) Includes share-based compensation | | $ | 109 | | $ | | |
(2) Includes share-based compensation | | $ | 210 | | $ | 78 | |
(3) Includes share-based compensation | | $ | 497 | | $ | 353 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed consolidated financial statements.
3
PROTALIX BIOTHERAPEUTICS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (CAPITAL DEFICIENCY)
(U.S. dollars in thousands, except share data)
(Unaudited)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
| |
| | |
| Additional |
| | |
|
| | |
| | Common | | Common | | Paid-In | | Accumulated | | | | |||
| | Stock (1) | | Stock | | Capital | | Deficit | | Total | ||||
| | Number of | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
| Shares | | Amount | ||||||||||
Balance at January 1, 2020 |
| 14,838,213 | | $ | 15 | | $ | 270,492 | | $ | (340,829) | | $ | (70,322) |
Changes during the three-month period ended March 31, 2020: |
| | |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
Issuance of common stock and warrants, net of issuance cost | | 17,604,423 | | | 18 | | | 41,325 | | | | | | 41,343 |
Note receivable from issuance of common stock and warrants | | | | | | | | (4,000) | | | | | | (4,000) |
Share-based compensation |
| | |
| | |
| 431 | |
| | |
| 431 |
Net income for the period |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| 1,667 | |
| 1,667 |
Balance at March 31, 2020 |
| 32,442,636 | | $ | 33 | | $ | 308,248 | | $ | (339,162) | | $ | (30,881) |
Balance at January 1, 2021 |
| 34,765,280 | | $ | 35 | | $ | 320,280 | | $ | (347,352) | | $ | (27,037) |
Changes during the three-month period ended March 31, 2021: |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
Issuance of common stock, net of issuance cost | | 8,749,999 | | | 9 | | | 37,616 | | | | | | 37,625 |
Issuance of common stock under the Sales Agreement, net | | 1,867,552 | | | 2 | | | 8,573 | | | | | | 8,575 |
Share-based compensation related to stock options |
| | |
| | |
| 510 | |
| | |
| 510 |
Share-based compensation related to restricted stock awards | | | | | | | | 306 | | | | | | 306 |
Net loss for the period |
| | |
| | |
| | | | (5,475) | | | (5,475) |
Balance at March 31, 2021 |
| 45,382,831 | | $ | 46 | | $ | 367,285 | | $ | (352,827) | | $ | 14,504 |
(1) Common stock, $0.001 par value; Authorized – as of March 31, 2021 and 2020 - 120,000,000 shares.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed consolidated financial statements.
4
PROTALIX BIOTHERAPEUTICS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(U.S. dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)
| | | | | | | |
| | Three Months Ended | | ||||
|
| March 31, 2021 |
| March 31, 2020 | | ||
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: |
| |
|
| |
| |
Net income (loss) | | $ | (5,475) | | $ | 1,667 | |
Adjustments required to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash used in operating activities: | |
| | |
| | |
Share-based compensation | |
| 816 | |
| 431 | |
Depreciation | |
| 286 | |
| 376 | |
Financial income, net (mainly exchange differences) | |
| (168) | |
| (241) | |
Changes in accrued liability for employee rights upon retirement | |
| 42 | |
| 44 | |
Loss (gain) on amounts funded in respect of employee rights upon retirement | |
| (14) | |
| 59 | |
Gain on sale of fixed assets | |
| (51) | | | | |
Amortization of debt issuance costs and debt discount | | | 945 | | | 820 | |
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | |
| | |
| | |
Decrease in contracts liability (including non-current portion) | |
| (3,692) | |
| (7,171) | |
Increase in accounts receivable and other assets | |
| (2,282) | |
| (4,091) | |
Changes in right of use assets | |
| 42 | |
| 10 | |
Increase in inventories | |
| (833) | |
| (1,333) | |
Increase in accounts payable and accruals | |
| 575 | |
| 2,611 | |
Decrease in other long term liabilities | |
| (25) | |
| (299) | |
Net cash used in operating activities | | $ | (9,834) | | $ | (7,117) | |
| | ��� | | | | | |
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: | |
| | |
| | |
Purchase of bank deposits | | $ | (37,835) | | $ | (35,000) | |
Proceeds from sale of short-term deposits | | | 7,500 | | | | |
Purchase of property and equipment | | | (386) | | | (66) | |
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment | | | 53 | | | | |
Decrease in restricted deposit | |
| 12 | |
| 22 | |
Amounts funded in respect of employee rights upon retirement, net | |
| (28) | |
| (35) | |
Net cash used in investing activities | | $ | (30,684) | | $ | (35,079) | |
| | | | | | | |
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: | | | | | | | |
Net payment for promissory note | | $ | (4,086) | | | | |
Proceeds from issuance of common stock and warrants, net | | | 37,625 | | $ | 38,607 | |
Proceeds from issuance of common stock under the Sales Agreement, net | | | 8,575 | | | | |
Net cash provided by financing activities | | $ | 42,114 | | $ | 38,607 | |
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS | | $ | (31) | | $ | (37) | |
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS | |
| 1,565 | |
| (3,626) | |
BALANCE OF CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD | |
| 18,265 | |
| 17,792 | |
BALANCE OF CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD | | $ | 19,830 | | $ | 14,166 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed consolidated financial statements.
5
PROTALIX BIOTHERAPEUTICS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(U.S. dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)
(Continued) – 2
| | | | | | | |
| | Three Months Ended | | ||||
|
| March 31, 2021 |
| March 31, 2020 | | ||
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION ON INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES NOT INVOLVING CASH FLOWS: | | | | | | | |
Purchase of property and equipment | | $ | 202 | | $ | 147 | |
Right of use assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities | | $ | 122 | | $ | 233 | |
Note receivable from issuance of common stock and warrants, net of issuance cost | | | | | $ | 2,736 | |
| | | | | | | |
SUPPLEMENTARY DISCLOSURE ON CASH FLOWS | | | | |
|
| |
Interest received | | $ | 136 | |
|
| |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed consolidated financial statements.
6
PROTALIX BIOTHERAPEUTICS, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
NOTE 1 - SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
a. | General |
Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc. (collectively with its subsidiaries, the “Company”) and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Protalix Ltd. and Protalix B.V. (collectively, the “Subsidiaries”), are biopharmaceutical companies focused on the development and commercialization of recombinant therapeutic proteins based on the Company’s proprietary ProCellEx® protein expression system (“ProCellEx”). To date, the Company has successfully developed taliglucerase alfa (marketed under the name BioManguinhos alfataliglicerase in Brazil and certain other Latin American countries and Elelyso® in the rest of the territories) for the treatment of Gaucher disease that has been approved for marketing in the United States, Brazil, Israel and other markets. The Company has a number of product candidates in varying stages of the clinical development process. The Company’s strategy is to develop proprietary recombinant proteins that are therapeutically superior to existing recombinant proteins currently marketed for the same indications.
The most advanced investigational drug in the Company’s product pipeline is pegunigalsidase alfa, or PRX-102, a therapeutic protein candidate for the treatment of Fabry disease, a rare, genetic lysosomal disorder. A BLA for PRX-102 for the treatment of adult patients with Fabry disease was submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (the “FDA”) on May 27, 2020 under the FDA’s Accelerated Approval pathway, which was subsequently accepted by the FDA and granted Priority Review designation. The FDA also indicated in its BLA filing communication letter that it did not plan to hold an advisory committee meeting to discuss the application. On April 28, 2021, the Company, together with its development and commercialization partner for PRX-102, Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A. (“Chiesi”), announced that they received a Complete Response Letter (CRL) from the FDA regarding the BLA. The CRL did not report any concerns relating to the potential safety or efficacy of PRX-102 in the submitted data package.
In the CRL, the FDA noted that an inspection of Protalix’s manufacturing facility in Carmiel, Israel, including the FDA’s subsequent assessment of any related FDA findings, is required before the FDA can approve the BLA. Due to travel restrictions, the FDA was unable to conduct the required inspection during the review cycle. The FDA explained in the letter that it will continue to monitor the public health situation as well as travel restrictions, and is actively working to define an approach for scheduling outstanding inspections. With respect to the third-party facility in Europe at which fill and finish processes are performed for PRX-102, due to the novel coronavirus disease, or COVID-19, the FDA reviewed records under Section 704(a)(4) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act in lieu of a pre-licensing inspection. In the CRL, the FDA stated that it will communicate remaining issues to the facility in order to seek prompt resolution of any pending items.
In addition to the foregoing, in the CRL, the FDA noted that agalsidase beta (Fabrazyme®), a therapy used to treat Fabry patients, was recently converted to full approval which must be addressed in the context of any potential resubmission seeking accelerated approval of PRX-102. The Company intends to work collaboratively with the FDA to identify the most expeditious pathway to approval, including accelerated approval. Protalix remains confident that it will be able to work with the FDA to resolve these issues and provide a new, alternative drug to Fabry patients. The Company intends to request a Type-A meeting with the FDA, and will provide further updates on next steps after this meeting; however, the Company cannot anticipate the timing of such a meeting nor the additional steps that may be required in connection with any potential resubmission.
In addition to PRX-102, the Company’s product pipeline currently includes, among other candidates:
(1) | alidornase alfa, or PRX-110, a proprietary plant cell recombinant human Deoxyribonuclease 1, or DNase, which is subject to an exclusive worldwide license agreement with SarcoMed USA, Inc. (“SarcoMed”) for use in the treatment of any human respiratory disease or condition including, but not limited to, sarcoidosis, pulmonary fibrosis, and other related diseases via inhaled delivery; |
(2) | PRX-115, the Company’s plant cell-expressed recombinant PEGylated uricase (urate oxidase) – a chemically modified enzyme to treat refractory gout; and |
7
PROTALIX BIOTHERAPEUTICS, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
(3) | PRX-119, the Company’s plant cell-expressed PEGylated recombinant human DNase I product candidate being designed to elongate half-life in the circulation for NETs-related diseases. |
Obtaining marketing approval with respect to any product candidate in any country is dependent on the Company’s ability to implement the necessary regulatory steps required to obtain such approvals. The Company cannot reasonably predict the outcome of these activities.
On February 10, 2021, the Company entered into an exclusive worldwide license agreement with SarcoMed with respect to PRX-110 for use in the treatment of any human respiratory disease or condition including, but not limited to, sarcoidosis, pulmonary fibrosis, and other related diseases via inhaled delivery. Under the terms of the agreement, SarcoMed will be responsible for the identification and selection of pharmaceutical candidates under the license, and the clinical research and development of such candidates. The Company is entitled to an initial cash payment of $3.5 million, subject to certain conditions, and to additional regulatory and commercial milestone payments and tiered royalties on net sales of products that are commercialized under the license agreement. In addition to the foregoing, the parties agreed to commence negotiation of clinical and commercial supply agreements for alidornase alfa. As part of the arrangement, the parties agreed to negotiate and sign a supply agreement within 60 days of the execution of the license agreement, and SarcoMed has the right to terminate the license agreement if the parties do not successfully do so.
On February 17, 2021, the Company issued and sold 8,749,999 shares of its common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”), in an underwritten public offering raising gross proceeds of approximately $40.2 million at a price equal to $4.60 per share, before deducting the underwriting discount and estimated expenses of the offering. BofA Securities, Inc. (“BofA Securities”) acted as book-running manager for the offering with Oppenheimer & Co. acting as co-manager.
On March 29, 2021, the Company made a payment of approximately $4.0 million to Pfizer Inc. (“Pfizer”) satisfying the outstanding promissory note payable to Pfizer in full.
On October 1, 2020, the Company entered into an ATM Equity OfferingSM Sales Agreement (the “Sales Agreement”) with BofA Securities as the Company’s sales agent (the “Agent”). Pursuant to the terms of the Sales Agreement, the Company may sell from time to time through the Agent shares of Common Stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $30.0 million (the “ATM Shares”). During 2021 to date, the Company sold 1,867,552 ATM Shares for gross proceeds of $8.8 million. As of the issuance date of the financial statements, the Company has the right to raise an additional $16.2 million of capital under the Sales Agreement.
On October 19, 2017, Protalix Ltd. and Chiesi entered into an Exclusive License and Supply Agreement (the “Chiesi Ex-US Agreement”) pursuant to which Protalix Ltd. granted to Chiesi an exclusive license for all markets outside of the United States to commercialize pegunigalsidase alfa. On July 23, 2018, Protalix Ltd. entered into an Exclusive License and Supply Agreement with Chiesi (the “Chiesi US Agreement”) with respect to the commercialization of pegunigalsidase alfa in the United States.
Under each of the Chiesi Ex-US Agreement and the Chiesi US Agreement (collectively, the “Chiesi Agreements”), Chiesi made an upfront payment to Protalix Ltd. of $25.0 million in connection with the execution of each agreement. In addition, under the Chiesi Ex-US Agreement, Protalix Ltd. is entitled to additional payments of up to $25.0 million in pegunigalsidase alfa development costs, capped at $10.0 million per year, and to receive additional payments of up to $320.0 million, in the aggregate, in regulatory and commercial milestone payments. Under the Chiesi US Agreement, Protalix Ltd. is entitled to payments of up to a maximum of $20.0 million to cover development costs for pegunigalsidase alfa, subject to a maximum of $7.5 million per year, and to receive additional payments of up to a maximum of $760.0 million, in the aggregate, in regulatory and commercial milestone payments. To date, Protalix Ltd. has received the complete amount of development costs to which it is entitled under the Chiesi Agreements.
Under the terms of both of the Chiesi Agreements, Protalix Ltd. will manufacture all of the pegunigalsidase alfa needed under the agreements, subject to certain exceptions, and Chiesi will purchase pegunigalsidase alfa from Protalix, subject to certain terms and conditions. Under the Chiesi Ex-US Agreement, Chiesi is required to make tiered payments of 15%
8
PROTALIX BIOTHERAPEUTICS, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
to 35% of its net sales, depending on the amount of annual sales outside of the United States, as consideration for product supply. Under the Chiesi US Agreement, Chiesi is required to make tiered payments of 15% to 40% of its net sales, depending on the amount of annual sales in the United States, as consideration for product supply.
Subsequent to March 31, 2021, the Company signed a binding term sheet with Chiesi, pursuant to which the parties reached certain agreements including a $10.0 million payment by Chiesi prior to June 30, 2021 in exchange for the reduction of a longer-term regulatory milestone payment set forth in the Chiesi EX-US Agreement by $25.0 million. All other regulatory and commercial milestone payments remain unchanged.
Since its approval by the FDA, taliglucerase alfa has been marketed by Pfizer in accordance with the Pfizer Agreement. In October 2015, Protalix Ltd. and Pfizer entered into an amended exclusive license and supply agreement (the “Amended Pfizer Agreement”) pursuant to which the Company sold to Pfizer its share in the collaboration created under the Pfizer Agreement for the commercialization of Elelyso. As part of the sale, the Company agreed to transfer its rights to Elelyso in Israel to Pfizer while gaining full rights to it in Brazil. Under the Amended Pfizer Agreement, Pfizer is entitled to all of the revenues, and is responsible for 100% of expenses globally for Elelyso, excluding Brazil where the Company is responsible for all expenses and retains all revenues.
On June 18, 2013, the Company entered into a Supply and Technology Transfer Agreement (the “Brazil Agreement”) with Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (“Fiocruz”), an arm of the Brazilian Ministry of Health (the “Brazilian MoH”), for taliglucerase alfa. Fiocruz’s purchases of BioManguinhos alfataliglicerase to date have been significantly below certain agreed-upon purchase milestones and, accordingly, the Company has the right to terminate the Brazil Agreement. Notwithstanding the termination right, the Company is, at this time, continuing to supply BioManguinhos alfataliglicerase to Fiocruz under the Brazil Agreement, and patients continue to be treated with BioManguinhos alfataliglicerase in Brazil.
COVID-19, which was declared by the World Health Organization to be a global pandemic on March 11, 2020, has had numerous adverse effects on the global economy. To date, the Company’s clinical trials have not been adversely affected by COVID-19, although certain practices the Company has adopted in its offices and facilities in an effort to promote social distancing have resulted in minor delays in the performance of administrative activities outside of the clinical programs. We continue to face uncertainty as to the degree and duration of that impact going forward. The Company does not know the length of time that the pandemic and related disruptions will continue, the impact of governmental regulations or easement of regulations in response to the strengthening or weakening of the pandemic, or the degree of overall potentially permanent changes in consumer behavior that may be caused by the pandemic.
The Company believes that its cash and cash equivalents and bank deposits as of March 31, 2021 are sufficient to satisfy the Company’s capital needs for at least 12 months from the date that these financial statements are issued. The Company expects that such cash and cash equivalents and bank deposits will be sufficient to satisfy the full payment of the principal amount of the Company’s 7.50% convertible secured promissory notes due November 15, 2021 equal to $57.9 million, unless the notes are refinanced, restructured or converted before that date.
b. | Basis of presentation |
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) for interim financial information. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by GAAP for annual financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (of a normal recurring nature) considered necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods presented have been included. Operating results for the interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year.
9
PROTALIX BIOTHERAPEUTICS, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, filed by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”). The comparative balance sheet at December 31, 2020 has been derived from the audited financial statements at that date. There have been no material changes in our significant accounting policies as described in our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2020.
c. | Earnings (loss) per share |
Basic and diluted loss per share (“LPS”) are computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of shares of the Company’s Common Stock attributable to common stockholders outstanding for each period. The calculation of diluted LPS does not include 10,694,517 and 26,769,693 shares of Common Stock underlying outstanding options and shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of outstanding convertible notes and outstanding warrants for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively, because their effect would be anti-dilutive.
d. | Revenue recognition |
The Company accounts for revenue pursuant to Accounting Standards Codification, Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC 606”). Under ASC 606, a contract with a customer exists only when: the parties to the contract have approved it and are committed to perform their respective obligations, the Company can identify each party’s rights regarding the distinct goods or services to be transferred (“performance obligations”), the Company can determine the transaction price for the goods or services to be transferred, the contract has commercial substance and it is probable that the Company will collect the consideration to which it will be entitled in exchange for the goods or services that will be transferred to the customer.
Revenues are recorded in the amount of consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled in exchange for performance obligations upon transfer of control to the customer.
1. | Revenues from selling products |
The Company recognizes revenues from selling goods at a point in time when control over the product is transferred to customers (upon delivery).
2. | Revenue from Chiesi Agreements |
The Company has identified 2 performance obligations in Chiesi agreements as follows: (1) the license and research and development services and (2) the contingent performance obligation regarding future manufacturing.
The Company determined that the license together with the research and development services should be combined into single performance obligation since Chiesi cannot benefit from the license without the research and development services. The research and development services are highly specialized and are dependent on the supply of the drug.
The future manufacturing is contingent on regulatory approvals of the drug and the Company deems these services to be separately identifiable from other performance obligations in the contract. Manufacturing services post-regulatory approval are not interdependent or interrelated with the license and research and development services.
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PROTALIX BIOTHERAPEUTICS, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
The transaction price was comprised of fixed consideration and variable consideration (capped research and development reimbursements). Under ASC 606, the consideration to which the Company would be entitled upon the achievement of contractual milestones, which are contingent upon the occurrence of future events, are a form of variable consideration. The Company estimates variable consideration using the most likely method. Amounts included in the transaction price are recognized only when it is probable that a significant reversal of cumulative revenues will not occur. Prior to recognizing revenue from variable consideration, the Company uses significant judgment to determine the probability of significant reversal of such revenue.
Since the customer benefits from the research and development services as the entity performs the service, revenue from granting the license and the research and development services is recognized over time using the cost-to-cost method. The Company used significant judgment when it determined the costs expected to be incurred upon satisfying the identified performance obligation.
Revenue from additional research and development services ordered by Chiesi, is recognized over time using the cost-to-cost method.
3. | Revenue from R&D services |
Revenue from the research and development services is recognized over time using the cost-to-cost method since the customer benefits from the research and development services as the entity performs the service.
NOTE 2 - INVENTORIES
Inventories at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 consisted of the following:
| | | | | | | |
|
| March 31, |
| December 31, | | ||
(U.S. dollars in thousands) | | 2021 | | 2020 | | ||
Raw materials | | $ | 3,427 | | $ | 3,347 | |
Work in progress | |
| 2,273 | | | 2,887 | |
Finished goods | |
| 8,215 | | | 6,848 | |
Total inventory | | $ | 13,915 | | $ | 13,082 | |
NOTE 3 – FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT
The Company measures fair value and discloses fair value measurements for financial assets and liabilities. Fair value is based on the price that would be received from the sale of an asset, or paid to transfer a liability, in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.
The accounting standard establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes observable and unobservable inputs used to measure fair value into three broad levels, which are described below:
Level 1: Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for assets or liabilities. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to Level 1 inputs.
Level 2: Observable prices that are based on inputs not quoted on active markets, but corroborated by market data.
Level 3: Unobservable inputs are used when little or no market data is available. The fair value hierarchy gives the lowest priority to Level 3 inputs.
In determining fair value, the Company utilizes valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs to the extent possible and considers counterparty credit risk in its assessment of fair value.
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PROTALIX BIOTHERAPEUTICS, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
The fair value of the financial instruments included in the working capital of the Company is usually identical or close to their carrying value.
As of March 31, 2021, the carrying amounts of short-term deposits approximate their fair values due to the stated interest rates, which approximate market rates.
The fair value of the $57.9 million aggregate principal amount of the Company’s outstanding 7.50% 2021 Notes as of March 31, 2021 is approximately $59.8 million based on a Level 3 measurement.
The Company prepared a valuation of the fair value of the Company’s outstanding 2021 Notes (a Level 3 valuation) as of March 31, 2021. The value of these notes was estimated by implementing the binomial model. The liability component was valued based on the Income Approach. The following parameters were used:
| | | |
|
| 2021 Notes | |
Stock price (USD) |
| 4.46 | |
Expected term |
| 0.63 | |
Risk free rate |
| 0.05 | % |
Volatility |
| 71.89 | % |
Yield |
| 11.54 | % |
NOTE 4 – REVENUES
The following table summarizes the Company’s disaggregation of revenues:
| | | | | | | |
|
| Three Months Ended March 31, | | ||||
(U.S. dollars in thousands) |
| 2021 |
| 2020 | | ||
Pfizer | | $ | 4,511 | | $ | 2,016 | |
Brazil | | $ | — | | $ | 3,015 | |
Total revenues from selling goods | | $ | 4,511 | | $ | 5,031 | |
Revenues from license and R&D services | | $ | 6,809 | | $ | 16,615 | |
During the three months ended March 31, 2020, the Company recorded revenue in the amount of $6.7 million following a change in estimate of the total costs expected to be incurred in connection with the Chiesi Agreements.
NOTE 5 – PROMISSORY NOTE
In September 2020, the Company amended the outstanding $4.3 million promissory note payable to Pfizer by November 2020 to extend the maturity date to the earlier of (a) January 31, 2022 and (b) the date that the Company receives any milestone payment from Chiesi, if at all, subject to certain conditions and exceptions. The amendment also required that the Company make a payment of $430,000 to Pfizer. The payment was creditable against the principal amount of the note, in whole or in part, if the Company was to satisfy the note in full on or prior to September 30, 2021, depending on the date the note is satisfied. On March 29, 2021, the Company made a payment of approximately $4.0 million to Pfizer satisfying the note in full.
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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
AND RISK FACTORS SUMMARY
You should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations together with our financial statements and the consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this Form 10-Q and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020. Some of the information contained in this discussion and analysis, particularly with respect to our plans and strategy for our business and related financing, includes forward-looking statements within the meanings of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, including statements regarding expectations, beliefs, intentions or strategies for the future. When used in this report, the terms “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “can,” “continue,” “could,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “will,” “would” and words or phrases of similar import, as they relate to our company or our management, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. We intend that all forward-looking statements be subject to the safe-harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are only predictions and reflect our views as of the date they are made with respect to future events and financial performance, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise, nor do we have a policy of updating or revising, any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which the statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as may be required under applicable law. Forward-looking statements are subject to many risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from any future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements as a result of several factors including those set forth under “Risk Factors” in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
Examples of the risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following:
●risks related to the timing and progress of the preparation of an updated BLA addressing the CRL;
●risks relating to our ability to manage our relationship with our collaborators, distributors or partners;
●risks relating to changes to interim, topline or preliminary data from clinical trials that we announce or publish;
●risks related to any transactions we may effect in the public or private equity markets to raise capital to finance future research and development activities, general and administrative expenses and working capital;
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●risk of significant lawsuits, including stockholder litigation, which is common in the life sciences sector;
●our dependence on performance by third-party providers of services and supplies;
●the impact of development of competing therapies and/or technologies by other companies;
●risks related to our supply of drug product to Pfizer;
●risks related to our expectations with respect to the potential commercial value of our product and product candidates;
●risks relating to the compliance by Fiocruz, an arm of the Brazilian MoH, with its purchase obligations under our supply and technology transfer agreement, which may have a material adverse effect on us and may also result in the termination of such agreement;
●potential product liability risks, and risks of securing adequate levels of related insurance coverage;
●the possibility of infringing a third-party’s patents or other intellectual property rights and the uncertainty of obtaining patents covering our products and processes and successfully enforcing our intellectual property rights against third-parties;
●risks relating to changes in healthcare laws, rules and regulations in the United States or elsewhere; and
●the possible disruption of our operations due to terrorist activities and armed conflict, including as a result of the disruption of the operations of regulatory authorities, our subsidiaries, our manufacturing facilities and our customers, suppliers, distributors, collaborative partners, licensees and clinical trial sites.
Recent Company Developments
We continue to actively advance all our clinical programs. We are in close contact with our principal investigators and clinical sites and our clinical research organizations, which are primarily located in the United States and Europe, and to date, our clinical trials have not been materially adversely affected by COVID-19. In light of recent developments relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, 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.
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In response to the local spread of COVID-19 at the end of March 2020, and with local directives issued in response thereof, we restructured the work day within our facilities to consist of two shifts thereby reducing the number of employees present in the facilities at any time and facilitating their ability to practice social distancing. Employees that were able to work from home were instructed to do so. Such efforts resulted in minor delays in the performance of administrative activities outside of the clinical programs.
In June 2020, after local directives allowed more flexibility with respect to social interactions, we returned to a regular work day. Since then, as the pandemic’s effect locally continued to change, and local Israeli directives continued to evolve to address the changing effects, we returned temporarily to the two-shift work day schedule and to again encourage employees that are able to work from home to do so for parts of September 2020. Our facility currently operates on a regular schedule with adherence to local guidelines.
We will continue to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business as we learn more and the impact of COVID-19 on our industry becomes more clear. We intend to continuously assess the impact of COVID-19 on our trials, expected timelines and costs.
ProCellEx: Our Proprietary Protein Expression System
Plant Cell Production Advantages
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Plant Cell in Suspension Expression System for Therapeutic Proteins Development and Industrial Production: Executive Summary
Product Pipeline
Pegunigalsidase Alfa (PRX-102) for the Treatment of Fabry Disease
PRX-102 is our lead product candidate and we expect it to be the primary subject of our development efforts in the short-term. It is our proprietary, investigational, plant cell culture expressed enzyme, and a chemically modified stabilized version of, the recombinant α-Galactosidase-A protein, a lysosomal enzyme, under development for the treatment of Fabry disease. Fabry disease is a serious life-threatening rare genetic disorder. Fabry patients lack α-galactosidase-A resulting in the progressive accumulation of abnormal deposits of a fatty substance called globotriaosylceramide, or Gb3, in blood vessel walls throughout their body. The abnormal storage of Gb3 increases with time and, as a result, Gb3 accumulates, primarily in the blood and in the blood vessel walls. The accumulation leads to a narrowing of the blood vessels, which in turn leads to decreased blood flow and tissue nourishment. The ultimate consequences of Gb3 deposition range from episodes of pain and impaired peripheral sensation to end-organ failure, particularly of the kidneys, but also of the heart and the cerebrovascular system. Fabry disease occurs in one person per 40,000 to 60,000 males. The global market for Fabry disease is forecasted to be approximately $1.9 billion in 2021 (Global Data) and to continue to grow at a CAGR of approximately 9.5% (Global Data).
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A BLA for PRX-102 for the treatment of adult patients with Fabry disease was submitted to the FDA on May 27, 2020 under the FDA’s Accelerated Approval pathway, which was subsequently accepted by the FDA and granted Priority Review designation. As discussed above, on April 28, 2021, we, together with Chiesi, announced the receipt of a CRL from the FDA regarding the BLA.
The BLA submission includes a comprehensive set of preclinical, clinical and manufacturing data compiled from our completed phase I/II clinical trial of PRX-102, including the related extension study succeeding our phase I/II clinical trial, interim clinical data from our phase III BRIDGE switch-over study and safety data from our on-going clinical studies of PRX-102 in patients receiving 1 mg/kg every other week.
The CRL did not report any concerns relating to the potential safety or efficacy of PRX-102 in the submitted data package.
In the CRL, the FDA noted that an inspection of Protalix’s manufacturing facility in Carmiel, Israel, including a subsequent assessment of any related FDA findings, is required before the FDA can approve the BLA. Due to travel restrictions, the FDA was unable to conduct the required inspection during the review cycle. The FDA explained in the letter that it will continue to monitor the public health situation as well as travel restrictions, and is actively working to define an approach for scheduling outstanding inspections. With respect to the third-party facility in Europe at which fill and finish processes are performed for PRX-102, due to COVID-19, the FDA reviewed records under Section 704(a)(4) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act in lieu of a pre-licensing inspection. In the CRL, the FDA stated that it will communicate remaining issues to the facility in order to seek prompt resolution of any pending items.
In addition to the foregoing, in the CRL, the FDA noted that Fabrazyme, a therapy used to treat Fabry patients, was recently converted to full approval which must be addressed in the context of any potential resubmission seeking accelerated approval of PRX-102. Protalix intends to work collaboratively with the agency to identify the most expeditious pathway to approval, including accelerated approval. We remain confident that we will be able to work with the FDA to resolve these issues and provide a new, alternative drug to Fabry patients. We intend to request a Type-A meeting with the FDA, and will provide further updates on next steps after the meeting; however, we cannot anticipate the timing of such a meeting nor the additional steps that may be required in connection with any potential resubmission.
In December 2017, the European Commission granted Orphan Drug Designation for PRX-102 for the treatment of Fabry disease. Orphan Drug Designation for PRX-102 qualifies Chiesi for access to a centralized marketing authorization procedure, including applications for inspections and for protocol assistance. If the orphan drug designation is maintained at the time PRX-102 is approved for marketing in the European Union, if at all, we expect that PRX-102 will benefit from 10 years of market exclusivity within the European Union. The market exclusivity will not have any effect on Fabry disease treatments already approved at that time.
In January 2018, the FDA granted Fast Track designation to PRX-102. Fast Track designation is a process designed to facilitate the development and expedite the review of drugs and vaccines for serious conditions that fill an unmet medical need.
Key Trials and Design
Our phase III clinical program of PRX-102 for the treatment of Fabry disease includes three individual studies; the BALANCE, BRIDGE and BRIGHT studies. Enrollment has been completed in all three studies. In 2015, we completed a phase I/II clinical trial of PRX-102. Patients that completed the phase I/II clinical trial were offered the opportunity to continue PRX-102 treatment as part of a long-term extension study. In the phase III clinical program, we are studying two alternative doses and regimens for PRX-102; 1 mg/kg every two weeks, with the potential for improved efficacy and safety offering a potential alternative to existing enzyme replacement therapies, and 2 mg/kg every four weeks, which has the potential to lower treatment burden versus existing treatments and potentially provide a better quality of life for a subset of Fabry patients. Final results from the BRIDGE study were released in December 2020 and topline results from the BRIGHT study were released in February 2021. We expect to announce interim data from the BALANCE study by the end of the first half of 2021.
In February 2020, we, together with Chiesi, announced an agreement with the FDA for the Initial Pediatric Study Plan (iPSP) for PRX-102. The joint announcement was made after completion of discussions with the FDA and receipt of confirmation from the FDA
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in an official “Agreement Letter” which outlines an agreed-upon approach to evaluate the safety and efficacy of PRX-102 in pediatric Fabry patients in a clinical trial to be performed by Chiesi with our collaborative efforts.
Phase III BALANCE Study
The BALANCE study is a 24-month, randomized, double blind, active control study of PRX-102 in Fabry patients with impaired renal function. We have completed enrollment of 78 patients in the trial, which is designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of PRX-102 compared to agalsidase beta (Fabrazyme) on renal function in Fabry patients with progressing kidney disease previously treated with Fabrazyme infused once every two weeks. Patients previously treated with Fabrazyme for approximately one year and on a stable dose for at least six months were screened and then randomized on a 2:1 ratio to 1 mg/kg of PRX-102 or 1 mg/kg of Fabrazyme. Randomization is being stratified by urinary protein to creatinine ratio (UPCR) of < or ≥ 1 g/g by spot urine sample. The study was designed such that no more than 50% of the patients enrolled in the study would be female. Approximately 40% of the enrolled patients were female.
The primary endpoint for the BALANCE study is the comparison in the annualized rate of decline of eGFR slope between Fabrazyme and PRX-102. eGFR is considered a reliable and accepted test to measure the level of kidney function and stage of kidney disease. Additional parameters being evaluated include: cardiac assessment, Lyso-Gb3 (a biomarker for monitoring Fabry patients during therapy), pain, quality of life, immunogenicity, Fabry clinical events and pharmacokinetic and other parameters. The study also evaluates the safety and tolerability of PRX-102.
We intend to conduct an interim analysis when the last patient reaches 12 months of treatment to test for non-inferiority to support anticipated regulatory filings with the EMA. Patients enrolled in the BALANCE study will continue to be treated for a total of 24 months, at which point the data will be analyzed to test for superiority. If the anticipated BLA filing results in an approval from the FDA under the Accelerated Approval pathway, this analysis will also be used to support converting the accelerated approval into a full approval. We anticipate announcing interim results from our BALANCE study in the first half of 2021.
Phase III BRIDGE Study
The BRIDGE study was a 12-month open-label, single arm switch-over study evaluating the safety and efficacy of pegunigalsidase alfa, 1 mg/kg infused every two weeks, in up to 22 Fabry patients. The trial, which is was completed in December 2019, enrolled patients then being treated with agalsidase alfa, marketed by Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (formerly Shire Plc) as Replagal®, for at least two years and on a stable dose for at least six months. Patients were screened and evaluated over three months while continuing Replagal treatment. Following the screening period, each patient was enrolled and switched from Replagal treatment to receive intravenous (IV) infusions of PRX-102 1 mg/kg every two weeks for 12 months.
Final results of the data generated in the study showed substantial improvement in renal function as measured by mean annualized estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate, or eGFR, slope in both male and female patients who were switched from agalsidase alfa to PRX-102. Twenty of 22 patients completed the 12-month treatment duration. Eighteen of the patients who completed the study opted to roll over to a long-term extension study and continue to be treated with PRX-102. In the study, the mean annualized eGFR slope of the study participants improved from -5.90 mL/min/1.73m2/year while on agalsidase alfa to -1.19 mL/min/1.73m2/year on PRX-102 in all patients. Male patients improved from -6.36 mL/min/1.73m2/year to -1.73 mL/min/1.73m2/year and female patients improved from -5.03 mL/min/1.73m2/year to -0.21 mL/min/1.73m2/year. Following the switch to PRX-102, there was a decrease in patients with progressing or fast progressing kidney disease, and most patients achieved a stable status post-switch.
PRX-102 was well-tolerated in the study, with all adverse events being transient in nature without sequelae. Of the 22 patients enrolled in the BRIDGE study, the majority of treatment emergent adverse events were mild or moderate in severity, with two patients (9.1%) withdrawing from the therapy due to hypersensitivity reaction that was resolved. The most common moderate treatment emergent adverse events were nasopharyngitis, headache and dyspnea.
An immunogenicity assessment indicated that four out of 20 patients (20%) developed persistent antidrug antibodies over the course of the study, of which two had neutralizing activity.
Baseline characteristics of the 20 patients that completed the study, ranging from ages 28 to 60 years, were as follows: mean eGFR 75.87 mL/min/1.73m2 in males, and 86.14 mL/min/1.73m2 in females and plasma lyso-Gb3 were 51.81 nM and 13.81 nM in males and females, respectively. While lyso-Gb3 levels remain slightly high, particularly within the male cohort, continuous reduction in lyso-Gb3 levels was observed of 19.55 nM (32.35%) in males and 4.57 nM (29.81%) in females.
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Data from the interim analysis of the BRIDGE study, which were first announced in February 2020, were used to support the PRX-102 BLA filing with the FDA, and we anticipate that the final analysis will be used to support a Marketing Authorization Application, or MAA, with the EMA.
Phase III BRIGHT Study
The phase III BRIGHT clinical trial of PRX-102 for the treatment of Fabry disease, or the BRIGHT study, was a 12-month, open-label, switch-over study designed to evaluate the safety, efficacy and pharmacokinetics of PRX-102 via IV infusions of 2 mg/kg administered every 4 weeks. The trial, which was completed in June 2020, enrolled up to 30 patients with Fabry disease previously treated with a commercially available ERT (Fabrazyme or Replagal), for at least three years and on a stable dose administered every two weeks. To determine eligibility for participation in the study, candidates were screened to identify and select Fabry patients with stable kidney disease. Patients who matched the criteria were enrolled in the study and switched from their current treatment of IV infusions every 2 weeks to 2 mg/kg of PRX-102 every 4 weeks for 12 months. Patients participating in the study were evaluated, among other disease parameters, to determine if their kidney disease had not further deteriorated while being treated with the 4-week dosing regimen as measured by eGFR and Lyso-Gb3, as well as other parameters. In addition, participating patients were evaluated to assess the safety and tolerability of PRX-102.
We announced topline results in February 2021. The topline results indicate that 2 mg/kg of PRX-102 administered by intravenous infusion every four weeks was found to be well tolerated among treated patients, and stable clinical presentation was maintained in adult Fabry patients. No new patients developed treatment-induced anti-drug antibodies, or ADA, following the switch to PRX-102 treatment.
The BRIGHT study enrolled 24 adult males and 6 adult females. The most common Fabry disease symptoms were acroparesthesia, heat intolerance, angiokeratomas and hypohydrosis. All 30 patients received at least one dose of PRX-102, and 29 patients (mean [SD] age was 40.5 [11.3] years, ranging from 19 to 58 years) completed the 12-month study. Of these 29 patients, 28 received the intended regimen of 2 mg/kg every four weeks throughout the study, while one patient was switched to PRX-102 1 mg/kg every two weeks per protocol. One patient withdrew from the study after the first infusion due to a traffic accident.
Following screening, patients were enrolled and switched from their then current ERT to IV infusions of 2 mg/kg of PRX-102 every four weeks for 52 weeks (a total of 14 infusions). First infusions of PRX-102 were administered under controlled conditions at the investigation site. Based on the protocol-specified criteria, patients were able to receive their PRX-102 infusions at a home care setup once the Investigator and Sponsor Medical Monitor agreed that it was safe to do so. Safety and efficacy exploratory endpoints were assessed throughout the 52-week study.
Study outcome measures showed plasma lyso-Gb3 concentrations remained stable during the study with a mean change of 3.01 nM from baseline (19.36 nM) to Week 52 (22.23 nM). Mean absolute change of eGFR values were stable during the 52-week treatment period, with a mean change from baseline of -1.27 mL/min/1.73m2.
Following a survey of participants using the Quality of Life EQ-5D-5L questionnaire, responses indicate that patient perception of their own health remained high and stable throughout the 52-week study duration, with overall health mean (SE) scores of 78.3 (3.1) and 82.1 (2.9) at baseline and Week 52, respectively, in a 0 to 100 scale. Using the short-form Brief Pain Inventory, or BPI, questionnaire, approximately 75% of study participants had an improvement or no change in average pain severity at Week 52 (compared to baseline). The short-form BPI interference items also remained stable during the study. Pain-related results indicate that there was no increase and/or relapse in pain. No Fabry clinical events were reported during the study.
To date, substantially all of the patients who completed the study opted, with the advice of the treating physician, to continue treatment under the 4-week dosing regimen in a long-term extension study.
COVID-19 Impact on PRX-102 Clinical Trials
To date, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a minimal effect on the performance of the phase III clinical trials of PRX-102 as many of the patients were already treated in home care settings. In a minimal amount of cases, patients that completed a trial were not able to
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be transferred into an extension study due to the pandemic restrictions, and, accordingly, the main trial was prolonged for the patients to permit the continuation of treatment.
Phase I/II Study
Our phase I/II clinical trial of PRX-102, which we completed in 2015, was a worldwide, multi-center, open-label, dose ranging study designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, immunogenicity and efficacy parameters of PRX-102 in adult Fabry patients. Sixteen adult, naïve Fabry patients (9 male and 7 female) completed the trial, each in one of three dosing groups, 0.2 mg/kg, 1 mg/kg and 2 mg/kg. Each patient received IV infusions of PRX-102 every two weeks for 12 weeks, with efficacy follow-up after six-month and twelve-month periods. A majority of the patients who completed the trial opted to continue receiving PRX-102 in an open-label, 60-month extension study under which all patients were switched to receive 1 mg/kg of the drug, the selected dose for our BALANCE and BRIDGE studies of PRX-102.
The adult symptomatic, ERT-naïve Fabry disease patients enrolled in the phase I/II study were evaluated for Gb3 levels in kidney biopsies and for plasma Lyso-Gb3 concentration by the quantitative BLISS methodology. Biopsies were available from 14 patients. The outcome of ≥ 50% reduction in the average number of Gb3 inclusions per kidney PTC from baseline to Month 6 was demonstrated in 11 of 14 (78.6%) of the patients treated with PRX-102. The overall results demonstrate that PRX-102 reaches the affected tissue and reduces kidney Gb3 inclusions burden and Lyso-Gb3 in the circulation. A high correlation was found between the two Fabry disease biomarkers, reduction of kidney Gb3 inclusions and the reduction of plasma Lyso-Gb3 over six months of treatment.
Data was recorded at 24 months from 11 patients who completed 12 months of the long-term open-label extension trial that succeeded the phase I/II study. Patients who did not continue in the extension trial included: female patients who became or planned to become pregnant and therefore were unable to continue in accordance with the study protocol; and patients who relocated to a location where treatment was not available under the clinical study.
Results show that Lyso-Gb3 levels decreased approximately 90% from baseline. Renal function remained stable with mean eGRF levels of 108.02 and 107.20 at baseline and 24 months, respectively, with a modest annual eGFR slope of -2.1. An improvement across all the gastrointestinal symptoms evaluated, including severity and frequency of abdominal pain and frequency of diarrhea, was noted. Cardiac parameters, including LVM, LVMI and EF, remained stable with no cardiac fibrosis development detected. In conclusion, an improvement of over 40% in disease severity was shown as measured by the Mainz Severity Score Index, or MSSI, a score compiling the different elements of the disease severity including neurological, renal and cardiovascular parameters. In addition, an improvement was noted in each of the individual parameters of the MSSI.
The majority of adverse events were mild-to-moderate in severity, and transient in nature. During the first 12 months of treatment, only three of 16 patients (less than 19%) formed anti-drug antibodies (ADA), of which two of these patients (less than 13%) had neutralizing antibodies. Importantly, however, the ADAs turned negative for all three of these patients following 12 months of treatment. The ADA positivity effect had no observed impact on the safety, efficacy or continuous biomarker reduction of PRX-102.
Commercialization Agreements with Chiesi Farmaceutici
We have entered into two exclusive global licensing and supply agreements for PRX-102 for the treatment of Fabry disease with Chiesi. The agreements have significant revenue potential for Protalix. Under the agreements, Protalix Ltd. has received $50.0 million in upfront payments and was entitled to development cost reimbursements of up to $45.0 million, up to more than $1.0 billion in potential milestone payments and tiered royalties of 15% - 35% (ex-US) and 15% - 40% (US). To date, Protalix Ltd. has received the complete amount of development costs to which it is entitled under the two Agreements.
On October 19, 2017, Protalix Ltd. and Chiesi entered into the Chiesi Ex-US Agreement pursuant to which Chiesi was granted an exclusive license for all markets outside of the United States to commercialize PRX-102. Under the Chiesi Ex-US Agreement, Chiesi made an upfront payment to Protalix Ltd. of $25.0 million in connection with the execution of the agreement, and Protalix Ltd. was entitled to additional payments of up to $25.0 million in development costs in the aggregate, capped at $10.0 million per year. Protalix Ltd. is also eligible to receive additional payments of up to a maximum of $320.0 million in regulatory and commercial milestone payments. Protalix Ltd. agreed to manufacture all of the PRX-102 needed for all purposes under the agreement, subject to certain exceptions, and Chiesi will purchase PRX-102 from Protalix Ltd., subject to certain terms and conditions. Chiesi is required to make tiered payments of 15% to 35% of its net sales, depending on the amount of annual sales, as consideration for the supply of PRX-102.
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On July 23, 2018, Protalix Ltd. entered into the Chiesi US Agreement with respect to the development and commercialization of PRX-102 in the United States. Protalix Ltd. received an upfront, non-refundable, non-creditable payment of $25.0 million from Chiesi and was entitled to additional payments of up to a maximum of $20.0 million to cover development costs for PRX-102, subject to a maximum of $7.5 million per year. Protalix Ltd. is also eligible to receive additional payments of up to a maximum of $760.0 million, in the aggregate, in regulatory and commercial milestone payments. Chiesi is also required to make tiered payments of 15% to 40% of its net sales under the Chiesi US Agreement to Protalix Ltd., depending on the amount of annual sales, subject to certain terms and conditions, as consideration for product supply.
On May 13, 2021, we signed a binding term sheet with Chiesi pursuant to which we amended the Chiesi Agreements in order to provide us with near-term capital. Chiesi agreed to make a $10.0 million milestone payment to us before the end of the second quarter in exchange for a $25.0 million reduction in a longer term regulatory milestone payment in the Chiesi EX-US Agreement. All other regulatory and commercial milestone payments remain unchanged. We also agreed to negotiate certain manufacturing related matters.
Elelyso® for the Treatment of Gaucher Disease
Elelyso (taliglucerase alfa), our first commercial product, was approved by the FDA in 2012 for injection as an enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) for the long-term treatment of adult patients with a confirmed diagnosis of type 1 Gaucher disease. In August 2014, the FDA approved Elelyso for injection for pediatric patients. Elelyso is the first plant cell derived recombinant protein to be approved by the FDA for the treatment of Gaucher disease and is now approved in over 20 markets.
Gaucher disease, also known as glucocerebrosidase, or GCD, deficiency, is a rare genetic autosomal recessive disorder and one of the most common Lysosomal Storage Disorders, or LSD, in the world. It is one of a group of disorders that affect specific enzymes that normally break down fatty substances for reuse in the cells. If the enzymes are missing or do not work properly, the substances can build up and become toxic. Gaucher disease occurs when a lipid called glucosylceramide accumulates in the cells of the bone marrow, lungs, spleen, liver, and sometimes the brain. Gaucher disease symptoms can include fatigue, anemia, easy bruising and bleeding, severe bone pain and easily broken bones, and distended stomach due to an enlarged spleen and thrombocytopenia. Epidemiology of Gaucher disease varies; recent literature provides that prevalence of Gaucher disease ranges from 0.70 to 1.75 per 100,000 in the general population. In people of Ashkenazi Jewish heritage, estimates of occurrence vary from approximately 1 in 400 to 1 in 850 people.
Gaucher disease is a $1.5 billion global annual therapeutic market that includes Sanofi’s Cerezyme®, Shire’s (acquired by Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited) Vpriv® and Sanofi’s Cerdelga®.
Commercialization Agreements for Elelyso
We have licensed to Pfizer the global rights to Elelyso in all markets excluding Brazil. Pfizer retains 100% of revenue and reimburses 100% of direct costs. We manufacture drug substance for Pfizer, subject to certain terms and conditions.
For the first 10-year period after the execution of our Amended Pfizer Agreement, we have agreed to sell drug substance to Pfizer for the production of Elelyso, and Pfizer maintains the right to extend the supply period for up to two additional 30-month periods subject to certain terms and conditions. In a subsequent amendment, we agreed that after the completion of the first 10-year supply period, the supply term would automatically extend for a five-year period.
We maintain distribution rights to Elelyso in Brazil (marketed as BioManguinhos alfataliglicerase) through a supply and technology transfer agreement with Fiocruz, an arm of the Brazilian MoH. In 2020, we generated $8.0 million from sales of BioManguinhos alfataliglicerase to the Brazilian MoH.
Alidornase Alfa (PRX-110)
Alidornase alfa is our chemically-modified plant cell expressed recombinant human DNase I, administered via inhalation. Recombinant human DNase I enzymatically cleaves DNA but its activity is inhibited by actin, which is present in the blood and other target organs. PRX-110 is designed to be less susceptible to actin inhibition and have higher affinity to DNA, thus enhancing enzymatic activity. In-vitro studies have shown PRX-110 to have a highly improved catalytic efficiency and affinity to DNA, compared to dornase alfa (Pulmozyme®, currently the only commercially available DNase therapy), even more so in the presence of actin.
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On February 10, 2021, we entered into an exclusive worldwide license agreement with SarcoMed with respect to PRX-110 for use in the treatment of any human respiratory disease or condition including, but not limited to, sarcoidosis, pulmonary fibrosis, and other related diseases via inhaled delivery.
On July 21, 2020, the FDA granted Orphan Drug Designation for alidornase alfa for the treatment of Sarcoidosis.
PRX-115
PRX-115 is our plant cell-expressed recombinant PEGylated uricase (urate Oxidase) – a chemically modified enzyme under development for the potential treatment of refractory gout. Gout is the most common inflammatory arthritis in the United States, affecting an estimated 9.2 million adults. Gout is caused by factors that elevate serum uric acid, or sUA, levels, which may include diet or genetic predisposition and environmental factors leading to hyperuricemia and tissue deposition of monosodium urate crystals, tophi, in joints and soft tissues, causing acute and chronic inflammation, and is characterized by recurrent flares. Gout flares lead to substantial morbidity by causing severe pain, reduced quality of life, decreased physical function, increased healthcare costs, and lost economic productivity. Furthermore, gout is strongly associated with metabolic syndrome, and may contribute to myocardial infarction, type 2 diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, or CKD, and premature mortality.
Currently available urate-lowering therapies, or ULTs, can be effective in treating gout. Refractory gout patients are those whom, despite treatment with existing ULTs, have high flare frequency, consistent tophi, and the inability to maintain therapeutic goals of urate levels. An estimated approximately 2% of the gout population is considered to have chronic refractory disease and are in in need of other therapeutic options. One option may be a therapeutic use of the uricase enzyme which converts uric acid to allantoin, which is easily eliminated through urine. The uricase enzyme does not exist naturally in humans. To date, two variants of recombinant uricases are approved for marketing: (i) Krystexxa® for treatment of chronic gout refractory to conventional therapy (no longer approved in the European Union) and (ii) Elitek®, indicated for the treatment of tumor lysis syndrome but not gout. Both have a black box warning for anaphylaxis, induce strong immunogenic reactions and have other major side-effects. We use ProCellEx to express an optimized recombinant uricase enzyme under development for the potential treatment of refractory gout which we are designing to have an improved half-life, reduced immunogenicity and potentially longer term efficacy.
PRX-119
PRX-119 is our plant cell-expressed PEGylated recombinant human DNase I product candidate being designed to elongate half-life in the circulation for NETs-related diseases. NETs, Neutrophil extracellular traps, are web-like structures, released by activated neutrophils that trap and kill a variety of microorganisms. NETs are composed of DNA, histones, antimicrobial and pro-inflammatory proteins. Excessive formation or ineffective clearance of NETs can cause different pathological effects. NETs formation has been observed in various autoimmune, inflammatory and fibrotic conditions, diverse forms of thrombosis, cancer and metastasis. According to scientific literature, animal studies have demonstrated that DNase treatment reduces NETs toxicity. Our proprietary modified DNase I design for long and customized systemically circulating in the bloodstream, may potentially enable effective treatment of acute and chronic conditions.
Intellectual Property
A key element of our overall strategy is to establish a broad portfolio of patents to protect our proprietary technology, proprietary product and product candidates and their methods of use. As of March 31, 2021, we hold a broad portfolio of over 90 patents in Europe, the United States, Israel and additional countries worldwide, as well as over 35 pending patent applications.
Scientific Presentations
On February 1, 2021, Prof. Ales Linhart, M.D., Charles University, Praha, Czech Republic, a principal investigator in our pegunigalsidase alfa phase III clinical trials, delivered an oral presentation entitled “Switching from agalsidase alfa to pegunigalsidase alfa to treat patients with Fabry disease: 1 year of treatment data from BRIDGE, a phase 3 open-label study,” describing the final results of the BRIDGE study. The presentation was delivered at the 17th Annual WORLDSymposium™, a research conference dedicated to lysosomal diseases held virtually February 8-12, 2021. Dr. Linhart also made a poster presentation on the same date and on the same topic at the conference.
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Research & Development
We continuously work on the further development of our ProCellEx plant cell expression technology and bioreactor system. In addition, we are working on the development of new products, each in different initial stages of development, for specific products for which there are unmet needs in terms of efficacy and safety. Our development strategy focuses on the utilization of different modification approaches and development improvements, customized for each protein product, in all stages of expression and development. As disclosed above, we have entered into an exclusive license agreement with SarcoMed relating to the treatment of any human respiratory disease or condition including, but not limited to, sarcoidosis, pulmonary fibrosis, and other related diseases via inhaled delivery.
Critical Accounting Policies
Our significant accounting policies are more fully described in Note 1 to our consolidated financial statements appearing in this Quarterly Report. There have been no material changes to our critical accounting policies since we filed our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020.
The discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based on our financial statements, which we prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, as well as the reported revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate such estimates and judgments, including those described in greater detail below. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other factors that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
The full extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic will directly or indirectly impact our financial condition, liquidity, or results of operations will depend on future developments that are highly uncertain, including as a result of new information that may emerge concerning COVID-19 and the actions taken to contain or treat COVID-19, as well as the economic impact on local, regional, national and international customers and markets.
Results of Operations
Three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2020
Revenues from Selling Goods
We recorded revenues from selling goods of $4.5 million during the three months ended March 31, 2021 a decrease of $0.5 million, or 10%, compared to revenues of $5.0 million for three months ended March 31, 2020. The decrease of $3.0 million in sales to Brazil was partially offset by an increase of $2.5 million in sales to Pfizer.
Revenues from License and R&D Services
We recorded revenues from license and R&D services of $6.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, a decrease of $9.8 million, or 59%, compared to revenues from license and R&D services of $16.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020. Revenues from license and R&D services are comprised primarily of revenues we recognized in connection with the Chiesi Agreements. The decrease resulted primarily from revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2020 recognized in connection with an updated costs estimation throughout the trials until completion, made in 2020, in the amount of $6.7 million and from revenues recognized in connection with the progress of our clinical trials that have been completed during 2020.
Cost of Goods Sold
Cost of goods sold was $4.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, an increase of $1.4 million, or 41%, from cost of goods sold of $3.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020. The increase in cost of goods sold was primarily the result of higher manufacturing costs.
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Research and Development Expenses, Net
Research and development expenses were $7.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, a decrease of $3.2 million, or 31%, compared to $10.3 million of research and development expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2020. The decrease is primarily due to the completion of two out of the three phase III clinical trials of PRX-102 and reduced costs related to the BALANCE study.
We expect research and development expenses to continue to be our primary expense as we enter into a more advanced stage of preclinical and clinical trials for certain of our product candidates.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses were $3.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, a decrease of $0.1 million, or 3%, compared to $3.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020.
Financial Expenses, Net
Financial expenses net were $1.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, a decrease of $1.2 million, or 40%, compared to financial expenses net of $3.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020. The decrease resulted primarily from a decrease in expenses related to our outstanding convertible notes equal to $1.3 million.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our sources of liquidity include our cash balances and bank deposits. At March 31, 2021, we had $19.8 million in cash and cash equivalents and $50.6 million in short-term bank deposits. We have primarily financed our operations through equity and debt financings, business collaborations, and grants funding.
During the three months ended March 31, 2021, we raised gross proceeds equal to approximately $8.8 million from sales of common stock under our ATM program through the sale of 1,867,552 shares of our common stock. In addition, we raised gross proceeds of approximately $40.2 million from a public offering of our common stock before deducting the underwriting discount and estimated expenses of the offering. In connection with the offering, we issued 8,749,999 shares of our common stock at a purchase price per share of $4.60.
We believe that our cash and cash equivalents and bank deposits as of March 31, 2021 are sufficient to satisfy our capital needs for at least 12 months from the date that these financial statements are issued. In addition, as of March 31, 2021, we have outstanding 2021 Notes amounting to $57.9 million which are due on November 15, 2021, unless the notes are refinanced, restructured or converted before that date.
Cash Flows
Net cash used in operations was $9.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, a higher number of subjects in our ongoing clinical trials opted for home care treatments over in-site treatments which resulted in an immaterial amount of additional expenses. The net loss for the three months ended March 31, 2021 of $5.5 million was increased by a $3.7 million decrease in contracts liability, a $2.3 million increase in accounts receivable and other assets and a $0.8 million increase in inventories, partially offset by an increase of $0.6 million in accounts payable and accruals, $0.9 million amortization of debt issuance costs and debt discount and $0.8 million in share-based compensation. Net cash used in investing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2021 was $30.7 million and consisted primarily of an increase in bank deposits. Net cash provided by financing activities was $42.1 million resulting from the sale of common stock under our ATM program and from our public offering of common stock, net of the promissory note payment.
Net cash used in operations was $7.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020. The net income for the three months ended March 31, 2020 of $1.7 million decreased by a $7.2 million decrease in contracts liability, a $4.1 million increase in account receivable and other assets and a $1.3 million increase in inventories, and was increased by an increase of $2.6 million in accounts payable and accruals, and by $0.8 million amortization of debt issuance costs and debt discount. Net cash used in investing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2020 was $35.0 million and consisted primarily of an increase in bank deposits. Net cash provided by financing activities was $38.6 million resulting from our issuance of common stock and warrants on March 18, 2020.
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Future Funding Requirements
As a result of our significant research and development expenditures and the lack of significant revenue from sales of taliglucerase alfa, we have generated operating losses from our continuing operations since our inception. Our outstanding 2021 Notes are secured by a perfected lien on all of our assets. Under the terms of the indenture governing the 2021 Notes, we are required to maintain a minimum cash balance of at least $7.5 million.
We expect to continue to incur significant expenditures in the near future as we increase our research and developments efforts with respect to our product candidates given the receipt of the CRL from the FDA discussed above, we expect to incur additional expenses in connection with any resubmission. We cannot anticipate the costs or the timing of the occurrence of such costs. As well, to the extent we need to obtain additional financing in connection with this process or with any additional clinical testing that may be required, it may be more difficult for us to do so given the volatility of the price of our common stock. Our material cash needs for the next 24 months will include, among other expenses, (i) costs of preclinical and clinical trials, (ii) employee salaries, (iii) payments for rent and operation of our manufacturing facilities, (iv) fees to our consultants and legal advisors, patents and fees for service providers in connection with our research and development efforts and (v) payment of principal and interest on our outstanding convertible promissory notes and other debt. We believe that the funds currently available to us are sufficient to satisfy our capital needs for at least 12 months.
As discussed above, we may be required to raise additional capital to develop our product candidates and continue research and development activities. Our ability to raise capital, and the amounts of necessary capital, will depend on many other factors, including:
● | our efforts, combined with those of Chiesi, to file for resubmission with the FDA and to commercialize PRX-102; |
● | the progress and results of our clinical trials, particularly the PRX-102 BALANCE study; |
● | our progress in commercializing BioManguinhos alfataliglicerase in Brazil; |
● | the duration and cost of discovery and preclinical development and laboratory testing and clinical trials for our product candidates; |
● | the timing and outcome of regulatory review of our product candidates; |
● | the costs involved in preparing, filing, prosecuting, maintaining, defending and enforcing patent claims and other intellectual property rights; and |
● | the costs associated with any litigation claims. |
We expect to finance our future cash needs through corporate collaborations, licensing or similar arrangements, public or private equity offerings and/or debt financings. We currently do not have any commitments for future external funding, except with respect to the development-related payments and milestone payments that may become payable under the Chiesi Agreements and under our agreement with SarcoMed. In addition, our ATM program provides us with a quick and efficient manner to raise capital through the sale of shares of our common stock. To date, we have the right to raise an additional $16.2 million of capital through sales of our common stock through the ATM program.
Effects of Currency Fluctuations
Currency fluctuations could affect us through increased or decreased acquisition costs for certain goods and services. We do not believe currency fluctuations have had a material effect on our results of operations during the three months ended March 31, 2021 and March 31, 2020.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We have no off-balance sheet arrangements as of each of March 31, 2021 and March 31, 2020.
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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
Currency Exchange Risk
The currency of the primary economic environment in which our operations are conducted is the dollar. Most of our revenues and approximately 52% of our expenses and capital expenditures are incurred in dollars, and a significant source of our financing has been provided in U.S. dollars. Since the dollar is the functional currency, monetary items maintained in currencies other than the dollar are remeasured using the rate of exchange in effect at the balance sheet dates and non-monetary items are remeasured at historical exchange rates. Revenue and expense items are remeasured at the average rate of exchange in effect during the period in which they occur. Foreign currency translation gains or losses are recognized in the statement of operations.
Approximately 43% of our costs, including salaries, expenses and office expenses, are incurred in NIS. Inflation in Israel may have the effect of increasing the U.S. dollar cost of our operations in Israel. If the U.S. dollar declines in value in relation to the NIS, it will become more expensive for us to fund our operations in Israel. A revaluation of 1% of the NIS will affect our loss before tax by less than 1%. The exchange rate of the U.S. dollar to the NIS, based on exchange rates published by the Bank of Israel, was as follows:
| | | | | | | |
|
| Three Months Ended |
| Year Ended |
| ||
| | March 31, | | December 31, | | ||
|
| 2021 |
| 2020 |
| 2020 |
|
Average rate for period |
| 3.268 |
| 3.504 |
| 3.442 |
|
Rate at period-end |
| 3.334 |
| 3.565 |
| 3.215 |
|
To date, we have not engaged in hedging transactions. In the future, we may enter into currency hedging transactions to decrease the risk of financial exposure from fluctuations in the exchange rate of the U.S. dollar against the NIS. These measures, however, may not adequately protect us from material adverse effects due to the impact of inflation in Israel.
Interest Rate Risk
Our exposure to market risk is confined to our cash and cash equivalents. We consider all short term, highly liquid investments, which include short-term deposits with original maturities of three months or less from the date of purchase, that are not restricted as to withdrawal or use and are readily convertible to known amounts of cash, to be cash equivalents. The primary objective of our investment activities is to preserve principal while maximizing the interest income we receive from our investments, without increasing risk. We invest any cash balances primarily in bank deposits and investment grade interest-bearing instruments. We are exposed to market risks resulting from changes in interest rates. We do not use derivative financial instruments to limit exposure to interest rate risk. Our interest gains may decline in the future as a result of changes in the financial markets.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. The evaluation was conducted under the supervision and with the participation of management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. Disclosure controls and procedures are controls and procedures designed to reasonably assure that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed under the Exchange Act, such as this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures are also designed to reasonably assure that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Based on the evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in our Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified by the Commission, and that material information relating to our company and our consolidated subsidiary is made known to management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, particularly during the period when our periodic reports are being prepared.
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Inherent Limitations on Effectiveness of Controls
Our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, does not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures or our internal control over financial reporting will prevent or detect all error and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the control system’s objectives will be met. The design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Further, because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that misstatements due to error or fraud will not occur or that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within a company have been detected.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15f and 15d-15f under the Exchange Act) that occurred during the quarter ended March 31, 2021 that have materially affected, or that are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
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PART II – OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
We are not involved in any material legal proceedings.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
You should carefully consider the following information about the risks described below, together with the other information contained in this Quarterly Report and in our other public filings in evaluating our business. The risk factors set forth below that are marked with an asterisk (*) did not appear as separate risk factors in, or contain changes to the similarly titled risk factor included in, Item 1A of our Annual Report. If any of the following risks actually occurs, our business, financial condition, results of operations, and future growth prospects would likely be materially and adversely affected. If any of these risks occur, the value of our common stock could decline.
Risks Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic, or any other pandemic, epidemic or outbreak of an infectious disease, may adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.*
In December 2019, a novel strain of coronavirus, COVID-19, was identified in Wuhan, China. The virus has spread globally. To date, our clinical trials have not been adversely affected by COVID-19, although certain practices we have adopted in our offices and facilities in an effort to promote social distancing have resulted in minor delays in the performance of administrative activities outside of the clinical programs. The spread of an infectious disease, including COVID-19, may result in the inability of our suppliers to deliver components or raw materials on a timely basis. In addition, hospitals may reduce staffing and reduce or postpone certain treatments in response to the spread of an infectious disease, including the diversion of hospitals serving as our clinical trial sites and hospital staff supporting the conduct of clinical trials. Such events may result in a period of business and manufacturing disruption, and in reduced operations, any of which could materially affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. While the extent of the impact of the current COVID-19 pandemic on our business and financial results depends on future developments that are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted, including new information which may emerge concerning the severity of the coronavirus and the actions to contain the coronavirus or treat its impact, among others, a continued and prolonged public health crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic may adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic have delayed FDA and other regulatory authority inspections of our facilities required for approvals and there is no certainty with respect to the timing of such inspections.*
We are subject to inspection by the FDA and comparable foreign regulatory authorities to determine our compliance with applicable regulatory requirements, as are our suppliers, contract manufacturers, and contract testing laboratories. The FDA had advised us that it requires an inspection of our manufacturing facility and the facility of a third party in Europe that performs fill and finish processes for PRX-102 as part of the FDA’s review of the BLA application, which inspections have not yet been scheduled due to the FDA’s travel restrictions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. As previously disclosed, in the recently issued CRL, the FDA noted that an inspection of our manufacturing facility in Israel is required before the FDA can approve the BLA. Due to travel restrictions as a result of the pandemic, the FDA was unable to conduct the required inspection during the review cycle. Also, with respect to the third-party facility in Europe at which fill and finish processes are performed for PRX-102, the FDA reviewed records under Section 704(a)(4) of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act in lieu of a pre-licensing meeting. The FDA explained in the letter that it will continue to monitor the public health situation as well as travel restrictions and is actively working to define an approach for scheduling outstanding inspections. We cannot predict when such inspections will take place. Once such inspections are able to be conducted, if the facilities are not in substantial compliance with cGMP, there may be adverse consequences to the approval process. Delays in the approval process or our inability to obtain approval for any reason for any drug candidate may have a material adverse effect upon our business, results of operations and financial condition.
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Risks Related to Clinical Trials and Regulatory Matters
We may not obtain the necessary U.S., EMA or other worldwide regulatory approvals to commercialize our drug candidates in a timely manner, if at all, which would have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.*
We need FDA approval to commercialize our drug candidates in the United States, EMA approval to commercialize our drug candidates in the European Union and approvals from other foreign regulators to commercialize our drug candidates elsewhere. In order to obtain FDA approval of any of our drug candidates, we must submit to the FDA a BLA or an NDA demonstrating that the drug candidate is safe and effective for its intended use. This demonstration requires significant research and animal tests, which are referred to as preclinical studies, as well as human tests, which are referred to as clinical trials. In the European Union, we must submit an MAA to the EMA. Satisfaction of the regulatory requirements of the FDA, EMA and other foreign regulatory authorities typically takes many years, depends upon the type, complexity and novelty of the drug candidate and requires substantial resources for research, development and testing.
Companies in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries have suffered significant setbacks in advanced or late-stage clinical trials, even after obtaining promising earlier trial results or in preliminary findings or other comparable authorities for such clinical trials. Further, even if favorable testing data is generated by the clinical trials of a drug candidate, the applicable regulatory authority may not accept or approve a marketing application we file for the drug candidate or may require us to conduct additional clinical testing or perform post-marketing studies which would cause us to incur additional costs.
Failure to obtain approval of the FDA, EMA or comparable foreign authorities of any of our drug candidates in a timely manner, if at all, will severely undermine our business, financial condition and results of operation by reducing our potential marketable products and our ability to generate corresponding product revenues.
In light of our receipt of a CRL from the FDA regarding our BLA for PRX-102, the U.S. regulatory requirements and timing for PRX-102 approval are uncertain; we are substantially dependent on receipt of regulatory approvals for PRX-102, our most advanced product candidate.*
On August 11, 2020, we, together with Chiesi, announced that the FDA had accepted the BLA for PRX-102, and granted Priority Review designation for PRX-102 for the proposed treatment of adult patients with Fabry disease. The CRL did not report any concerns relating to the potential safety or efficacy of PRX-102 in the submitted data package. However, in the CRL, the FDA noted that agalsidase beta (Fabrazyme), a therapy used to treat Fabry patients, was recently converted to full approval which must be addressed in the context of any potential resubmission seeking accelerated approval of PRX-102. We intend to work collaboratively with the agency to identify the most expeditious pathway to approval, including accelerated approval. We remain confident that we will be able to work with the FDA to resolve these issues and provide a new, alternative drug to Fabry patients. We, together with Chiesi, intend to request a Type-A meeting with the FDA. There can be no guarantee that the FDA will grant this request or, if granted, that this meeting will be held promptly. Furthermore, we cannot predict the outcome of any interactions with the FDA nor can we guarantee when, or if, we will be successful in receiving regulatory approval for PRX-102. The regulatory requirements and timing for approval are uncertain at this time. If we do not obtain approval for PRX-102 or are delayed in obtaining such approval, it would have a material and adverse effect on our operations and financial condition.
The FDA may request additional data or impose other conditions in connection with a resubmission or approval. We cannot assure you that the FDA will eventually approve PRX-102 on a resubmission.
In addition, we may incur significant additional expenditures in order to obtain or maintain FDA approval. Any approval of the BLA may also be subject to post-marketing commitments or requirements, and we may need to develop and/or improve certain antibody or additional assays as post-marketing requirements or commitments. Even if we comply with all the requests of regulatory authorities, the FDA and other authorities may ultimately reject the BLA or any other marketing application that we file for a product candidate in the future, if any, or we might not obtain regulatory clearance in a timely manner.
We also cannot assure you that the results of our ongoing BALANCE study will demonstrate that our product candidates are safe and effective for their intended uses.
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The Fast Track designation for pegunigalsidase alfa for the treatment of Fabry disease may not lead to a faster development or regulatory review or approval process or increase the likelihood that pegunigalsidase alfa will receive regulatory approval for the treatment of Fabry disease.*
The FDA has granted Fast Track designation to pegunigalsidase alfa for the treatment of Fabry disease. As noted above, there can be no assurance that pegunigalsidase alfa will receive regulatory approval for the treatment of Fabry disease and following the receipt of the CRL timing for resubmission and the regulatory review process is uncertain. Despite the designation, we may not experience a faster development process, review or approval compared to applications considered for approval under conventional FDA procedures. In addition, the FDA is entitled to withdraw the Fast Track designation of a drug candidate at any time. Any failure to realize the benefits of Fast Track designation may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
We are subject to extensive governmental regulation including the requirements of the FDA and other comparable regulatory authorities before our drug candidates may be marketed.
Both before and after marketing approval of our drug candidates, if at all, we, our drug candidates, our suppliers, our contract manufacturers and our contract testing laboratories are subject to extensive regulation by the FDA and comparable foreign regulatory authorities. Failure to comply with applicable requirements of the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities could result in, among other things, any of the following actions:
● | warning letters; |
● | fines and other monetary penalties; |
● | unanticipated expenditures; |
● | delays in the FDA’s or other foreign regulatory authorities’ approving, or the refusal of any regulatory authority to approve, any drug candidate; |
● | product recall or seizure; |
● | interruption of manufacturing or clinical trials; |
● | operating restrictions; |
● | injunctions; and |
● | criminal prosecutions. |
In addition to the approval requirements, other numerous and pervasive regulatory requirements apply, both before and after approval, to us, our drug candidates, our suppliers, contract manufacturers, and contract testing laboratories. These include requirements related to:
● | testing; |
● | manufacturing; |
● | quality control; |
● | labeling; |
● | advertising; |
● | promotion; |
● | distribution; |
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● | export; |
● | reporting to the FDA certain adverse experiences associated with use of the drug candidate; and |
● | obtaining additional approvals for certain modifications to the drug candidate or its labeling or claims. |
We also are subject to inspection by the FDA and comparable foreign regulatory authorities, to determine our compliance with regulatory requirements, as are our suppliers, contract manufacturers, and contract testing laboratories, and there can be no assurance that the FDA, or any other comparable foreign regulatory authority, will not identify compliance issues that may disrupt production or distribution, or require substantial resources to correct. We may be required to make modifications to our manufacturing operations in response to these inspections which may require significant resources and may have a material adverse effect upon our business, results of operations and financial condition.
The approval process for any drug candidate may also be delayed by changes in government regulation, future legislation or administrative action or changes in policy of the FDA and comparable foreign authorities that occur prior to or during their respective regulatory reviews of such drug candidate.
Delays in obtaining regulatory approvals with respect to any drug candidate will materially and adversely affect our prospects, business, results of operations and financial condition.
Delays in obtaining regulatory approvals with respect to any drug candidate may:
● | delay commercialization of, and our ability to derive product revenues from, such drug candidate; |
● | delay any regulatory-related milestone payments payable under outstanding collaboration agreements; |
● | require us to perform costly procedures with respect to such drug candidate; or |
● | otherwise diminish any competitive advantages that we may have with respect to such drug candidate. |
Delays in the approval process for any drug candidate will have a material adverse effect upon our prospects, business, results of operations and financial condition.
Clinical trials are very expensive, time-consuming and difficult to design and implement and may result in unforeseen costs, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.*
Human clinical trials are very expensive and difficult to design and implement, in part because they are subject to rigorous regulatory requirements. Preliminary and initial results from a clinical trial do not necessarily predict final results, and failure can occur at any stage of the trial. We may encounter problems that cause us to abandon or repeat preclinical studies or clinical trials. The clinical trial process is also time-consuming. Other than taliglucerase alfa, all of our other drug candidates, including pegunigalsidase alfa, are in the clinical, preclinical or research stages. Our clinical program for pegunigalsidase alfa is in the middle of phase III, but generally, clinical programs take at least several years to complete.
Given the receipt of the CRL, we may be required, in connection with a resubmission to the FDA, to conduct additional clinical trials or undertake additional studies, which may require additional time and resources.
Failure or delay in the commencement or completion of our clinical trials may be caused by several factors, including:
● | slower than expected rates of patient recruitment, particularly with respect to trials of rare diseases such as Fabry disease; |
● | determination of dosing issues; |
● | unforeseen safety issues; |
● | lack of effectiveness during clinical trials; |
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● | disagreement by applicable regulatory bodies over our trial protocols, the interpretation of data from preclinical studies or clinical trials or conduct and control of clinical trials; |
● | determination that the patient population participating in a clinical trial may not be sufficiently broad or representative to assess efficacy and safety for our target population; |
● | inability to monitor patients adequately during or after treatment; |
● | inability or unwillingness of medical investigators and institutional review boards to follow our clinical protocols; and |
● | lack of sufficient funding to finance the clinical trials. |
Any failure or delay in commencement or completion of any clinical trials of pegunigalsidase alfa or our other product candidates will have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. In addition, we or the FDA or other regulatory authorities may suspend any clinical trial at any time if it appears that we are exposing participants in the trial to unacceptable safety or health risks or if the FDA or such other regulatory authorities, as applicable, find deficiencies in our IND submissions or the conduct of the trial. Any suspension of a clinical trial may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
If the results of our clinical trials do not support our claims relating to a drug candidate, or if serious side effects are identified, the completion of development of such drug candidate may be significantly delayed or we may be forced to abandon development altogether, which will significantly impair our ability to generate product revenues.*
The results of our clinical trials with respect to any drug candidate might not support our claims of safety or efficacy, the results of our clinical trials may fail to conclusively show superiority over other commercially available treatments for the same or similar indications, the effects of our drug candidates may not be the desired effects or may include undesirable side effects or the drug candidates may have other unexpected characteristics. Data obtained from tests are susceptible to varying interpretations which may delay, limit or prevent regulatory approval. The clinical trial process may fail to demonstrate that our drug candidates are safe for humans and effective for indicated uses. In addition, our clinical trials, may involve specific and small patient populations. Results of early clinical trials conducted on a small patient population may not be indicative of future results. Adverse or inconclusive results may cause us to abandon a drug candidate and may delay development of other drug candidates. Any delay in, or termination of, our clinical trials will delay the filing of NDAs and BLAs with the FDA, or other filings with other foreign regulatory authorities, and, ultimately, significantly impair our ability to commercialize our drug candidates and generate product revenues which would have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Interim, topline or preliminary data from clinical trials that we announce or publish may change as more patient data becomes available and are subject to audit and verification procedures that could result in material changes in the final data.*
We may publicly disclose interim, topline or preliminary data from our clinical trials, which is based on a preliminary analysis of then-available data. The results and related findings and conclusions are subject to change following a full analysis of all data related to the particular trial. We also may make assumptions, estimations, calculations and conclusions as part of our analyses of data, and we may not have received or had the opportunity to fully and carefully evaluate all data. As a result, any interim, topline or preliminary results that we report may differ from future results of the same trials, or different conclusions or considerations may qualify such results once additional data have been received and fully evaluated. Topline data also remain subject to audit and verification procedures that may result in the final data being materially different than the preliminary data we previously publish. As a result, any topline data should be viewed with caution until final data are available. Interim data from clinical trials that we may complete are subject to the risk that one or more of the clinical outcomes may materially change as patient enrollment continues and more data becomes available. Further, regulatory agencies may not accept or agree with our assumptions, estimates, calculations, conclusions or analyses, or may interpret or ascribe different weight to the data, which may impact the value of the clinical trial and may affect the particular clinical program and the approvability or commercialization of the particular product candidate and our business in general. If regulatory authorities disagree with the conclusions we reach, we may not be able to obtain approval for and commercialize our product candidates, which will have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
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We may find it difficult to enroll patients in our clinical trials, or patients may discontinue their participation in our clinical trials, which could cause significant delays in the completion of such trials or may negatively impact the results of these studies and extend the timeline for completion of our development programs or cause us to abandon one or more clinical trials.
Some of the diseases or disorders that our drug candidates are intended to treat are relatively rare and we expect only a subset of the patients with these diseases to be eligible for our clinical trials. Our clinical trials generally mandate that a patient cannot be involved in another clinical trial for the same indication. Therefore, subjects that participate in ongoing clinical trials for products that are competitive with our drug candidates are not available for our clinical trials. An inability to enroll a sufficient number of patients for any of our clinical trials would result in significant delays or may require us to abandon one or more clinical trials altogether. In addition, patients that enroll in our clinical trials may discontinue their participation at any time during the study as a result of a number of factors, including withdrawing their consent, experiencing adverse clinical events, which may or may not be judged related to our drug candidates under evaluation, or due to planned or actual pregnancies. The discontinuation of patients in any one of our studies may delay the completion of the study or cause the results from the study not to be positive or to not support a filing for regulatory approval of the applicable drug candidate. Any failure to enroll a sufficient number of patients in our clinical trials in a timely manner, if at all, may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Because our clinical trials depend upon third-party researchers, the results of our clinical trials and such research activities are subject to delays and other risks which are, to a certain extent, beyond our control, which could impair our clinical development programs and our competitive position.
We depend upon independent investigators and collaborators, such as universities and medical institutions, to conduct our preclinical and clinical trials. These collaborators are not our employees, and we cannot control the amount or timing of resources that they devote to our clinical development programs. The investigators may not assign as great a priority to our clinical development programs or pursue them as diligently as we would if we were undertaking such programs directly. If outside collaborators fail to devote sufficient time and resources to our clinical development programs, or if their performance is substandard, the approval of anticipated NDAs, BLAs and other marketing applications, and our introduction of new drugs, if any, may be delayed which could impair our clinical development programs and would have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. Our collaborators may also have relationships with other commercial entities, some of whom may compete with us. If our collaborators also assist our competitors, our competitive position could be harmed.
We have only limited experience in regulatory affairs, and some of our drug candidates may be based on new technologies. These factors may affect our ability or the time we require to obtain necessary regulatory approvals.
We have only limited experience in filing and prosecuting the applications necessary to gain regulatory approvals for medical devices and drug candidates. Moreover, some of the drug candidates that are likely to result from our development programs may be based on new technologies that have not been extensively tested in humans. The regulatory requirements governing these types of drug candidates may be less well defined or more rigorous than for conventional products. As a result, we may experience a longer regulatory process in connection with obtaining regulatory approvals of any products that we develop, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Orphan drug designation may not ensure that we will enjoy market exclusivity in any jurisdiction. If any of our other competitors are able to obtain orphan drug exclusivity for any products that are competitive with our products, we may be precluded from selling or obtaining approval of our competing products by the applicable regulatory authorities for a significant period of time.
In the United States, the European Union and other countries, a drug may be designated as having orphan drug status, subject to certain conditions. There can be no assurance that a drug candidate that receives orphan drug designation will receive orphan drug marketing exclusivity and more than one drug can have orphan designation for the same indication. In addition, the orphan drug designation granted to pegunigalsidase alfa by the EMA does not affect Fabry disease treatments that preexist the approval of pegunigalsidase alfa, if at all.
Foreign regulations regarding orphan drugs are similar to those in the United States but there are several differences. For example, the exclusivity period in the European Union is generally 10 years. From time to time, we may apply to the FDA or any comparable foreign regulatory authority for orphan drug designation for any one or more of our drug candidates. Other than pegunigalsidase alfa which was granted orphan drug designation by the EMA, none of our drug candidates have been designated as an orphan drug and there is no guarantee that the FDA or any other regulatory authority will grant such designation in the future. In addition, neither
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orphan drug designation nor orphan drug exclusivity prevents competitors from developing or marketing different drugs for the relevant indication. Even if we obtain orphan drug exclusivity for one or more indications for one of our drug candidates, we may not be able to maintain the exclusivity. For example, if a competitive product that is the same drug or biologic as one of our drug candidates is shown to be clinically superior to the drug candidate, any orphan drug exclusivity granted to the drug candidate will not block the approval of the competitive product.
If any drug receives orphan drug exclusivity in any jurisdiction for the same indication of any of our drug candidates, we may be prevented from attaining a similar designation with respect to our drug candidate or from marketing the drug candidate in the jurisdiction during the applicable exclusivity period, which will have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Risks Related to Our Business
We have a limited operating history which may limit the ability of investors to make an informed investment decision.
Taliglucerase alfa is our only commercial product. The successful commercialization of our other drug candidates will require us to perform a variety of functions, including:
● | continuing to perform preclinical development and clinical trials; |
● | participating in regulatory approval processes; |
● | formulating and manufacturing products; and |
● | conducting sales and marketing activities. |
Our operations have been limited to organizing and staffing our company, acquiring, developing and securing our proprietary technology and undertaking, through third parties, preclinical trials and clinical trials of our principal drug candidates. These operations provide a limited basis for investors to assess our ability to commercialize our drug candidates and whether to invest in our company.
We currently depend heavily on the success of pegunigalsidase alfa. Any failure to commercialize pegunigalsidase alfa, or the experience of significant delays in doing so, will have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.*
We are investing a significant portion of our efforts and financial resources in the development of pegunigalsidase alfa and our ability to generate significant product revenues in the future, will depend heavily on the successful development and commercialization of pegunigalsidase alfa. The successful commercialization of pegunigalsidase alfa will depend on several factors, including the following:
● | successful completion of our ongoing studies of pegunigalsidase alfa; |
● | Chiesi’s efforts under the Chiesi Agreements; |
● | identifying a path for resubmission to, and ultimately obtaining marketing approvals from, the FDA; |
● | obtaining marketing approvals from the EMA and other foreign regulatory authorities; |
● | maintaining the cGMP compliance of our manufacturing facility or establishing manufacturing arrangements with third parties; |
● | the successful inspection of our facilities by the FDA and other foreign regulatory authorities; |
● | raising additional capital, if necessary, in order to fund any additional clinical trials required in connection with the resubmission to the FDA or to continue to fund our operations in light of an extended regulatory pathway during which time period we cannot expect to receive additional milestone payments under the Chiesi Agreements; |
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● | Chiesi’s development of successful sales and marketing organizations for pegunigalsidase alfa; |
● | the availability of reimbursement to patients from healthcare payors for pegunigalsidase alfa, if approved; |
● | a continued acceptable safety and efficacy profile of pegunigalsidase alfa following approval; and |
● | other risks described in these Risk Factors. |
Any failure to commercialize pegunigalsidase alfa or the experience of significant delays in doing so will have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Any failure by us to supply drug substance to Pfizer may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Under the Amended Pfizer Agreement, we have agreed, for the first 10-year period after the execution of the agreement, to sell drug substance to Pfizer for the production of Elelyso, and Pfizer maintains the right to extend the supply period for up to two additional 30-month periods subject to certain terms and conditions. As part of that obligation, we agreed to substantial financial penalties in case we fail to comply with the supply commitments, or are delayed in doing so. The amounts of the penalties depend on when any such failure occurs and for how long it persists, if at all, and other considerations. Any failure to comply with the supply commitments under the Amended Pfizer Agreement may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Our strategy, in certain cases, is to enter into collaboration agreements with third parties to leverage our ProCellEx system to develop product candidates. Failure to enter into such agreements, or non-compliance by us or our collaborators with such agreements, may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Our strategy, in certain cases, is to enter into arrangements with pharmaceutical companies to leverage our ProCellEx system to develop additional product candidates. Under these arrangements, we may grant to our partners rights to license and commercialize pharmaceutical products developed under the applicable agreements, as we have done with Elelyso and pegunigalsidase alfa, and more recently, with alidornase alfa. Our partners may control key decisions relating to the development of the products and we may depend on our partners’ expertise and dedication of sufficient resources to develop and commercialize our product candidates. The rights of our partners limit our flexibility in considering alternatives for the commercialization of our product candidates. If we or any of our current or future partners breach or terminate the agreements that make up such arrangements, our partners otherwise fail to conduct their obligations under such arrangements in a timely manner, there is a dispute about their obligations or if either party terminates the applicable agreement or elects not to continue the arrangement, we may not enjoy the benefits of the agreements or receive a sufficient amount of royalty or milestone payments from them, if any, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
If we are unable to develop and commercialize our product candidates, our business will be adversely affected.
A key element of our strategy is to develop and commercialize a portfolio of new products in addition to taliglucerase alfa. We seek to do so through our internal research programs and strategic collaborations for the development of new products. Research programs to identify new product candidates require substantial technical, financial and human resources, whether or not any product candidates are ultimately identified. Our research programs may initially show promise in identifying potential product candidates, yet fail to yield product candidates for clinical development for many reasons, including the following:
● | a product candidate is not capable of being produced in commercial quantities at an acceptable cost, or at all; |
● | a product candidate may not be accepted by patients, the medical community or third-party payors; |
● | competitors may develop alternatives that render our product candidates obsolete; |
● | the research methodology used may not be successful in identifying potential product candidates; or |
● | a product candidate may on further study be shown to have harmful side effects or other characteristics that indicate it is unlikely to be effective or otherwise does not meet applicable regulatory approval. |
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Any failure to develop or commercialize any of our other product candidates may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
The manufacture of our products is an exacting and complex process, and any manufacturing problems encountered by us or certain of our suppliers may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
The FDA and foreign regulators require manufacturers to register manufacturing facilities. The FDA and foreign regulators also inspect these facilities to confirm compliance with cGMP or similar requirements that the FDA or foreign regulators establish. We or certain of our materials suppliers may face manufacturing or quality control problems causing product production and shipment delays or a situation where we or the supplier may not be able to maintain compliance with the FDA’s cGMP requirements, or those of foreign regulators, necessary to continue manufacturing. To date, our current facility has passed audits by the FDA and a number of other regulatory authorities but remains subject to audit by other foreign regulatory authorities. There can be no assurance that we will be able to comply with FDA or foreign regulatory manufacturing requirements for our current facility or any facility we may establish in the future, and the failure to so comply will have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
We rely on third parties for final processing of taliglucerase alfa, pegunigalsidase alfa and our other product candidates, which exposes us to a number of risks that may delay development, regulatory approval and commercialization of taliglucerase alfa and our other product candidates or result in higher product costs.
We have no experience in the final filling and freeze drying steps of the drug manufacturing process. We rely on third parties in the United States and Europe to perform fill and finish activities for taliglucerase alfa and pegunigalsidase alfa, and have engaged other parties for our other product candidates. We may be unable to identify manufacturers and/or replacement manufacturers on acceptable terms or at all because the number of potential manufacturers is limited and the FDA and other regulatory authorities, as applicable, must approve any manufacturer and/or replacement manufacturer, including us, and we or any such third party manufacturer might be unable to formulate and manufacture our drug products in the volume and of the quality required to meet our clinical and commercial needs. If we engage any contract manufacturers, such manufacturers may not perform as agreed or may not remain in the contract manufacturing business for the time required to supply our clinical or commercial needs. In addition, contract manufacturers are subject to the rules and regulations of the FDA and comparable foreign regulatory authorities and face the risk that any of those authorities may find that they are not in compliance with applicable regulations. Each of these risks, if realized, could delay our clinical trials, the approval, if any, of our potential drug candidates by the FDA and other regulatory authorities, or the commercialization of our drug candidates or could result in higher product costs or otherwise deprive us of potential product revenues.
Developments by competitors may render our products or technologies obsolete or non-competitive which would have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
We compete against fully integrated pharmaceutical companies and smaller companies that are collaborating with larger pharmaceutical companies, academic institutions, government agencies and other public and private research organizations. Our drug candidates will have to compete with existing therapies and therapies under development by our competitors. Our commercial opportunities may be reduced or eliminated if our competitors develop and market products that are less expensive, more effective or safer than our drug products. Other companies have drug candidates in various stages of preclinical or clinical development to treat diseases for which we are also seeking to develop drug products. Some of these potential competing drugs are further advanced in development than our drug candidates and may be commercialized earlier. See Business – Competition.
Most of our competitors, either alone or together with their collaborative partners, operate larger research and development programs, staff and facilities and have substantially greater financial resources than we do, as well as significantly greater experience in:
● | developing drugs; |
● | undertaking preclinical testing and human clinical trials; |
● | obtaining marketing approvals from the FDA and other regulatory authorities; |
● | formulating and manufacturing drugs; and |
● | launching, marketing and selling drugs. |
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These organizations also compete with us to attract qualified personnel, acquisitions and joint ventures candidates and for other collaborations. Activities of our competitors may impose unanticipated costs on our business or adversely affect the market for our drug products which would have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
If we in-license drug candidates, we may delay or otherwise adversely affect the development of our existing drug candidates, which may negatively impact our business, results of operations and financial condition.
In addition to our own internally developed drug candidates, we proactively seek opportunities to in-license and advance other drug candidates that are strategic and have value-creating potential to take advantage of our development know-how and technology. In-licensing additional drug candidates may significantly increase our capital requirements, and place a strain on the time of our existing personnel, which may delay or otherwise adversely affect the development of our existing drug candidates or cause us to re-prioritize our drug pipeline if we do not have the necessary capital resources to develop all of our drug candidates, which may have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
If we are unable to manage future growth successfully there could be a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
To manage our anticipated future growth, we must continue to implement and improve our managerial, operational and financial systems, expand our facilities and continue to recruit and train additional qualified personnel. The expansion of our operations may lead to significant costs and may divert our management and business development resources. Any inability on the part of our management to manage growth could delay the execution of our business plans or disrupt our operations. If we are unable to manage our growth effectively, we may not use our resources in an efficient manner, which may delay the development of our drug candidates and materially and adversely impact our business, results of operations and financial condition.
If we acquire companies, products or technologies, we may face integration risks and costs associated with those acquisitions that could negatively impact our business, results of operations and financial condition.
If we are presented with appropriate opportunities, we may acquire or make investments in complementary companies, products or technologies. If we acquire companies or technologies, we will face risks, uncertainties and disruptions associated with the integration process, including difficulties in the integration of the operations of an acquired company, integration of acquired technology with our products, diversion of our management’s attention from other business concerns, the potential loss of key employees or customers of the acquired business and impairment charges if future acquisitions are not as successful as we originally anticipate. In addition, our operating results may suffer because of acquisition-related costs or amortization expenses or charges relating to acquired intangible assets. Any failure to successfully integrate other companies, products or technologies that we may acquire may have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations. Furthermore, we may have to incur debt or issue equity securities to pay for any additional future acquisitions or investments, the issuance of which could be dilutive to our existing stockholders.
We depend upon key employees and consultants in a competitive market for skilled personnel. If we are unable to attract and retain key personnel, it could adversely affect our ability to develop and market our products.
We are highly dependent upon the principal members of our management team, especially our President and Chief Executive Officer, Dror Bashan, as well as the Chairman of our Board of Directors, Zeev Bronfeld, our other directors, consultants and collaborating scientists. Many of these people have been involved with us for many years and have played integral roles in our progress, and we believe that they will continue to provide value to us. A loss of any of these personnel may have a material adverse effect on aspects of our business, clinical development and regulatory programs. We have employment agreements with Mr. Bashan and our other executive officers that may be terminated by us or the applicable officer at any time with varying notice periods of 60 to 180 days. The loss of any of these persons’ services may adversely affect our ability to develop and market our products and obtain necessary regulatory approvals. Further, we do not maintain key-man life insurance.
We also depend in part on the continued service of our key scientific personnel and our ability to identify, hire and retain additional personnel. We experience intense competition for qualified personnel, and the existence of non-competition agreements between prospective employees and their former employers may prevent us from hiring those individuals or subject us to suit from their former employers. While we attempt to provide competitive compensation packages to attract and retain key personnel, many of our competitors are likely to have greater resources and more experience than we have, making it difficult for us to compete successfully for key personnel.
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Our collaborations with outside scientists and consultants may be subject to restriction and change.
We work with medical experts, biologists, chemists and other scientists at academic and other institutions, and consultants who assist us in our research, development, regulatory and commercial efforts, including the members of our scientific advisory board. These scientists and consultants have provided, and we expect that they will continue to provide, valuable advice regarding our programs. These scientists and consultants are not our employees, may have other commitments that would limit their future availability to us and typically will not enter into non-compete agreements with us. If a conflict of interest arises between their work for us and their work for another entity, we may lose their services. In addition, we will be unable to prevent them from establishing competing businesses or developing competing products. For example, if a key scientist acting as a principal investigator in any of our clinical trials identifies a potential product or compound that is more scientifically interesting to his or her professional or academic interests, his or her availability to remain involved in our clinical trials could be restricted or eliminated, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Under current U.S. and Israeli law, we may not be able to enforce employees’ covenants not to compete and therefore may be unable to prevent our competitors from benefiting from the expertise of some of our former employees.
We have entered into non-competition agreements with substantially all of our employees. These agreements prohibit our employees, if they cease working for us, from competing directly with us or working for our competitors for a limited period. Under current U.S. and Israeli law, we may be unable to enforce these agreements against most of our employees and it may be difficult for us to restrict our competitors from gaining the expertise our former employees gained while working for us. If we cannot enforce our employees’ non-compete agreements, we may be unable to prevent our competitors from benefiting from the expertise of our former employees, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
If we fail to maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting, we may not be able to accurately report our financial results or prevent fraud. As a result, stockholders could lose confidence in our financial and other public reporting, which would harm our business and the trading price of our common stock.
Effective internal control over financial reporting is necessary for us to provide reliable financial reports. Any failure to implement required new or improved controls, or difficulties encountered in their implementation could cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations. While our assessment of our internal control over financial reporting resulted in our conclusion that as of December 31, 2020, our internal control over financial reporting was effective, we cannot predict the outcome of our testing or any subsequent testing by our auditor in future periods. Any testing by us conducted in connection with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, or Section 404, or any subsequent testing by our independent registered public accounting firm, may reveal deficiencies in our internal controls over financial reporting that are deemed to be material weaknesses or that may require prospective or retroactive changes to our financial statements or identify other areas for further attention or improvement. Inferior internal controls could also cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information and affect our reputation, which could have an adverse effect on the trading price of our common stock.
Our management is required to assess the effectiveness of our internal controls and procedures and disclose changes in these controls on an annual basis. However, for as long as we are a non accelerated filer, our independent registered public accounting firm will not be required to attest to the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404. An independent assessment of the effectiveness of our internal controls could detect problems that our management’s assessment might not. Undetected material weaknesses in our internal controls could lead to financial statement restatements and require us to incur the expense of remediation.
Our internal computer systems, or those used by our third-party contractors or consultants, may fail or suffer security breaches.
Despite the implementation of security measures, our internal computer systems and those of our present and future contractors and consultants are vulnerable to damage from computer viruses and unauthorized access. Although to our knowledge we have not experienced any material system failure or security breach to date, if such an event were to occur and cause interruptions in our operations, it could result in a material disruption of our development programs and our business operations. For example, the loss of clinical trial data from completed or future clinical trials could result in delays in our regulatory approval efforts and significantly increase our costs to recover or reproduce the data. Likewise, we rely on our third-party research institution collaborators for research and development of our product candidates and other third parties for the manufacture of our product candidates and to conduct clinical trials, and similar events relating to their computer systems could also have a material adverse effect on our business. We have
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a cybersecurity insurance policy to protect us from such risks. However, to the extent that any disruption or security breach were to result in a loss of, or damage to, our data or applications, or inappropriate disclosure of confidential or proprietary information, we could incur liability despite our insurance policy, and the further development and commercialization of our product candidates could be delayed.
We could be subject to securities class action litigation.*
Securities class action litigation is often brought against a company following a period of volatility or decline in the market price of its securities. As with pharmaceutical companies generally, our company has experienced significant stock price volatility in recent years. If we become subject to such litigation, we will face substantial costs and a diversion of management’s attention and resources, which could have a material adverse affect on our business, results of operation and financial condition.
If product liability claims are brought against us, it may result in reduced demand for our products and product candidates or damages that exceed our insurance coverage.
The clinical testing, marketing and use of our products and product candidates exposes us to product liability claims if the use or misuse of those products or product candidates cause injury or disease, or results in adverse effects. Use of our products or product candidates, whether in clinical trials or post approval, could result in product liability claims. We presently carry clinical trial liability insurance with coverages of up to $10.0 million per occurrence and $10.0 million in the aggregate, an amount we consider reasonable and customary. However, this insurance coverage includes various deductibles, limitations and exclusions from coverage, and in any event might not fully cover any potential claims. We may need to obtain additional clinical trial liability coverage prior to initiating additional clinical trials. We expect to obtain product liability insurance coverage before commercialization of our product candidates; however, such insurance is expensive and insurance companies may not issue this type of insurance when we need it. We may not be able to obtain adequate insurance in the future at an acceptable cost. Any product liability claim, even one that was not in excess of our insurance coverage or one that is meritless and/or unsuccessful, may adversely affect our cash available for other purposes, such as research and development, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. Product liability claims, even if without merit, may result in reduced demand for our products, if approved, or result in adverse market reactions, which would have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Reforms in the healthcare industry and the uncertainty associated with pharmaceutical pricing, reimbursement and related matters could adversely affect the marketing, pricing and demand for our products, if approved.
Increasing healthcare expenditures have been the subject of considerable public attention in the United States. Both private and government entities are seeking ways to reduce or contain healthcare costs. Numerous proposals that would result in changes in the U.S. healthcare system are continuously introduced or proposed in the U.S. Congress and in some state legislatures within the United States, including reductions in the pricing of prescription products and changes in the levels at which consumers and healthcare providers are reimbursed for purchases of pharmaceutical products. Legislation and regulations that reduce reimbursement for our product candidates could adversely impact how much or under what circumstances healthcare providers will prescribe or administer our product candidates, if approved. This could materially and adversely impact our business by reducing our ability to generate revenue, raise capital, obtain additional collaborators and market our products, if approved. In addition, we believe the increasing emphasis on managed care in the United States has and will continue to put pressure on the price and usage of pharmaceutical products, which may adversely impact product sales, upon approval, if at all.
Governments outside the United States tend to impose strict price controls and reimbursement approval policies, which may adversely affect our prospects for generating revenue.
In some countries, particularly European Union member states, the pricing of prescription pharmaceuticals is subject to governmental control. In these countries, pricing negotiations with governmental authorities can take considerable time (six to 12 months or longer) after the receipt of marketing approval for a product. To obtain reimbursement or pricing approval in some countries with respect to any product candidate that achieves regulatory approval, we may be required to conduct a clinical trial that compares the cost-effectiveness of our product candidate to other available therapies. Any unavailability or limitation on the reimbursement of our products upon approval, if at all, or the determination of unsatisfactory reimbursement prices, may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. Further, if we achieve regulatory approval of any product, we must successfully negotiate product pricing for such product in individual countries. As a result, the pricing of our product candidates, if approved, in different countries may vary widely, thus creating the potential for third-party trade in our products in an attempt to
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exploit price differences between countries. This third-party trade of our products could undermine our sales in markets with higher prices which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Our ability to utilize net operating loss carryforwards may be limited.
Our net operating losses, or NOLs, as of December 31, 2020, are equal to approximately $231.4 million, of which approximately $30.9 million may be restricted under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code, or the IRC. IRC Section 382 applies whenever a corporation with NOLs experiences an ownership change. As a result of IRC Section 382, the taxable income for any post-change year that may be offset by a pre-change NOL may not exceed the fair market value of the pre-change entity multiplied by the IRC long-term tax exempt rate. Significant judgment is required in determining any valuation allowance recorded against deferred tax assets. In assessing the need for a valuation allowance, we considered all available evidence, including past operating results, the most recent projections for taxable income and prudent and feasible tax planning strategies. We reassess our valuation allowance periodically and if future evidence allows for a partial or full release of the valuation allowance, a tax benefit will be recorded accordingly. Any ownership change (including as a result of conversion of our outstanding convertible notes into shares of our common stock), or any other limitation on our utilization of NOLs, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Our corporate structure may create U.S. federal income tax inefficiencies
Protalix Ltd. is our wholly-owned subsidiary and thus a controlled foreign corporation of our company for U.S. federal income tax purposes. This organizational structure may create inefficiencies, as certain types of income and investments of Protalix Ltd. that otherwise would not be currently taxable under general U.S. federal income tax principles may become taxable. These inefficiencies may require us to use more of our NOLs than we otherwise might and may result in a tax liability without a corresponding distribution from our subsidiary which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
We are a holding company with no operations of our own.
We are a holding company with no operations of our own. Accordingly, our ability to conduct our operations, service any debt that we may incur in the future and pay dividends, if any, is dependent upon the earnings from the business conducted by Protalix Ltd. The distribution of those earnings or advances or other distributions of funds by our subsidiary to us, as well as our receipt of such funds, are contingent upon the earnings of Protalix Ltd. and are subject to various business considerations and U.S. and Israeli law. If Protalix Ltd. is unable to make sufficient distributions or advances to us, or if there are limitations on our ability to receive such distributions or advances, we may not have the cash resources necessary to conduct our corporate operations or service our debt which would have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Risks Related to our Financial Condition and Capital Requirements
Servicing our debt and settling conversion requests may require a significant amount of cash, and we may not have sufficient cash flow from our business to pay our debt. Furthermore, restrictive covenants governing our indebtedness may restrict our ability to raise additional capital.*
We currently have outstanding $57.9 million aggregate principal amount of our 2021 Notes which are secured with a perfected lien on all of our assets. Under the terms of the indenture governing the 2021 Notes, we are required to maintain a minimum cash balance of at least $7.5 million. Our ability to make payments with respect to the 2021 Notes and to satisfy any other debt obligations depends on our future operating performance and our ability to generate significant cash flow in the future, which will be affected by prevailing economic conditions and financial, business, competitive, legislative and regulatory factors as well as other factors affecting our company and industry, many of which are beyond our control. If, when required, we are unable to comply with the terms of the 2021 Notes, we may be required to adopt one or more alternatives, such as selling assets, restructuring debt or obtaining additional equity capital on terms that may be onerous or highly dilutive. In addition, certain terms of the 2021 regarding the security interest or future indebtedness may restrict us from adopting any of these alternatives. We may be unable to obtain amendments and waivers of such restrictions. If there is a default of such notes, the note holders could, among other things, elect to declare all amounts owed immediately due and payable, which could cause all or a large portion of our available cash flow to be used to pay such amounts and thereby reduce the amount of cash available to pursue our business plans or force us into bankruptcy or liquidation, or, with respect to our indebtedness that is secured, result in the foreclosure on the assets that secure the debt, which would force us to relinquish rights to assets that we may believe are critical to our business. Any default on our debt will have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
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Our significant level of indebtedness could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition and prevent us from fulfilling our obligations under our convertible notes and our other indebtedness.
Our 2021 Notes represent a significant amount of indebtedness with substantial debt service requirements. We may also incur additional indebtedness to meet future financing needs. Our substantial indebtedness could have material adverse effects on our business, results of operations and financial condition. For example, it could:
● | make it more difficult for us to satisfy our financial obligations, including with respect to the convertible notes; |
● | result in an event of default under our outstanding convertible notes if we fail to comply with the financial and other restrictive covenants contained in agreements governing any future indebtedness, which event of default could result in all of our debt becoming immediately due and payable; |
● | increase our vulnerability to general adverse economic, industry and competitive conditions; |
● | reduce the availability of our cash flow to fund working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions and other general corporate purposes because we will be required to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations to the payment of principal and interest on our indebtedness; |
● | limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, and increasing our vulnerability to changes in our business, the industry in which we operate and the general economy; |
● | prevent us from raising funds necessary to purchase convertible notes surrendered to us by holders upon a fundamental change (as described in the indenture governing the notes), which failure would result in an event of default with respect to the convertible notes; |
● | place us at a competitive disadvantage compared to our competitors that have less indebtedness or are less highly leveraged and that, therefore, may be able to take advantage of opportunities that our debt levels or leverage prevent us from exploiting; and |
● | limit our ability to obtain additional financing. |
Each of these factors may have a material and adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition and our ability to meet our payment obligations under the convertible notes and our other indebtedness.
Any conversion of our outstanding convertible notes into common stock will dilute the ownership interest of our existing stockholders, including holders who had previously converted their notes.
The conversion of some or all of our convertible notes into shares of our common stock will dilute the ownership interests of our existing stockholders. Any sales in the public market of our common stock issuable upon such conversion could adversely affect prevailing market prices of our common stock. In addition, the existence of our outstanding convertible notes may encourage short selling by market participants because the conversion of convertible notes could depress the market price of our common stock.
The fundamental change purchase feature of our outstanding convertible notes may delay or prevent an otherwise beneficial attempt to take over our company.
The terms of our outstanding convertible notes require us to offer to purchase the notes for cash in the event of a fundamental change. A non-stock takeover of our company may trigger the requirement that we purchase the notes. This feature may have the effect of delaying or preventing a takeover of our company that would otherwise be beneficial to our stockholders.
We may fail to meet the continued market capitalization-based listing requirement or other continued listing requirements of The NYSE American.*
The stock market in general, and the market for pharmaceutical companies in particular, have experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations that may have been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of the listed companies. The trading price of our common stock has been volatile and has been subject to wide price fluctuations in response to various factors, many of which are beyond our control. The volatility of our stock price has from time to time in recent periods affected our market capitalization.
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Adverse fluctuations in the price per share of our common stock or our market capitalization may result in our failure to meet the continued listing requirements of The NYSE American, which would require us to take steps to gain compliance with alternate listing standards or take remedial steps to bring us into compliance. A failure to maintain or regain compliance with applicable listing standards could adversely affect the liquidity of our common stock and could result in an event of default under the indenture governing our 2021 Notes, which would have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
We currently have no significant product revenues and need to raise additional capital to operate our business, which may not be available on favorable terms, or at all, and which will have a dilutive effect on our stockholders.*
To date, we have not generated significant revenues from product sales and only minimal revenues from research and development services and other fees, other than the milestone and other payments we have received in connection with our agreements with Pfizer and Chiesi. For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, we had net losses from continuing operations of $6.5 million, $18.3 million and $26.5 million, respectively, and for the quarter ended March 31, 2021, we had net losses from continuing operations of $5.5 million, primarily as a result of expenses incurred through a combination of research and development activities and expenses supporting those activities, which includes share-based compensation expense. Drug development and commercialization is very capital intensive. We fund all of our operations and capital expenditures from the revenues we generate from licensing fees and grants, the net proceeds of equity and debt offerings and other sources. In addition, changes may occur that could consume our existing capital at a faster rate than projected, including, among others, the cost and timing of regulatory approvals, changes in the progress of our research and development efforts and the costs of protecting our intellectual property rights.
We will need to finance our future cash needs through corporate collaboration, licensing or similar arrangements, public or private equity offerings or debt financings. To the extent that the regulatory pathway for our lead product candidate, PRX-102, is delayed and we must conduct additional clinical trials in light of the FDA CRL in connection with a resubmission or otherwise, we may be required to seek to raise additional capital. If we are unable to secure additional financing in the future on acceptable terms, or at all, we may be unable to commence or complete planned preclinical and clinical trials or obtain approval of our drug candidates from the FDA and other regulatory authorities. In addition, we may be forced to reduce or discontinue product development or product licensing, reduce or forego sales and marketing efforts and other commercialization activities or forego attractive business opportunities in order to improve our liquidity and to enable us to continue operations which would have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations. Furthermore, any additional source of financing will likely involve the issuance of our equity securities, which will have a dilutive effect on our stockholders.
We are not currently profitable and delays in achieving profitability, if at all, will have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations and could negatively impact the value of our common stock.
We may incur losses for the foreseeable future. We expect to continue to incur significant operating expenditures, and we anticipate that our expenses will increase in the foreseeable future as we:
● | continue to undertake preclinical development and clinical trials for our current and new drug candidates; |
● | seek regulatory approvals for our drug candidates; and |
● | seek to in-license additional technologies. |
We also may continue to experience negative cash flow for the foreseeable future as we fund our operating losses and capital expenditures. As a result, we will need to generate significant revenues in order to achieve and maintain profitability. We may not be able to generate these revenues or achieve profitability in the foreseeable future, if at all. Delays in achieving profitability, or subsequent failures to maintain profitability, will have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations and could negatively impact the value of our common stock.
Risks Related to the Commercialization of Drug Products
There has been continued non-compliance with the terms and conditions of the Brazil Agreement.
We do not control and may not be able to effectively influence Fiocruz’s ability to distribute BioManguinhos alfataliglicerase in Brazil. Any failure by Fiocruz to comply with the purchase requirements of the Brazil Agreement, or any other material breach by Fiocruz of the agreement, may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
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We face the risk of lower than anticipated purchases of BioManguinhos alfataliglicerase by the Brazilian MoH. In addition, we may fail to supply the intended amounts on time, if at all. We also cannot accurately predict the amount of revenues we will generate under the Brazil Agreement in future periods, if any. Any failure by the Brazilian MoH to purchase BioManguinhos alfataliglicerase, by us to supply BioManguinhos alfataliglicerase for purchase or by Fiocruz to distribute BioManguinhos alfataliglicerase in Brazil, or the experience of significant delays in any of the foregoing, may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
We have limited experience in selling, marketing or distributing products and limited internal capability to do so.
We currently have very limited sales, marketing or distribution capabilities and no experience in building a sales force and distribution capabilities. Under our arrangements with Pfizer, Chiesi and SarcoMed, we have out-licensed the marketing rights to Elelyso, pegunigalsidase alfa and alidornase alfa via inhalation, except that we retained the marketing rights to BioManguinhos alfataliglicerase in Brazil. We have not licensed the marketing or commercialization rights to any of our other product candidates to any party. The commercialization of a drug product requires that we commit significant financial and managerial resources to develop a marketing and sales force with technical expertise and with supporting distribution capabilities. Factors that may inhibit our efforts to commercialize our products directly and without strategic partners include:
● | the inability to recruit and retain adequate numbers of effective sales and marketing personnel; |
● | the inability of sales personnel to obtain access to an adequate numbers of physicians or to pursuance them to prescribe our products; |
● | the lack of complementary products to be offered by sales personnel, which may put us at a competitive disadvantage relative to companies with more extensive product lines; and |
● | unforeseen costs and expenses associated with creating and sustaining an independent sales and marketing organization. |
We may not be successful in recruiting or retaining the sales and marketing personnel necessary to sell BioManguinhos alfataliglicerase or any of our products upon approval, if at all, which would have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
We may enter into distribution arrangements and marketing alliances for certain products and any failure to successfully identify and implement these arrangements on favorable terms, if at all, may impair our ability to commercialize our product candidates.
We may need to establish a sales force to market one or more of our product candidates, if approved. We do not anticipate having the resources in the foreseeable future to develop global sales and marketing capabilities for all of the products we are developing. We may elect to pursue arrangements regarding the sales and marketing and distribution of one or more of our product candidates, and our future revenues may depend, in part, on our ability to enter into and maintain arrangements with other companies having sales, marketing and distribution capabilities and the ability of such companies to successfully market and sell any such products. Any failure to enter into such arrangements and marketing alliances on favorable terms, if at all, could delay or impair our ability to commercialize our product candidates and could increase our costs of commercialization. Any use of distribution arrangements and marketing alliances to commercialize our product candidates will subject us to a number of risks, including the following:
● | we may be required to relinquish important rights to our products or product candidates; |
● | we may not be able to control the amount and timing of resources that our distributors or collaborators may devote to the commercialization of our product candidates; |
● | our distributors or collaborators may experience financial difficulties; |
● | our distributors or collaborators may not devote sufficient time to the marketing and sales of our products; and |
● | business combinations or significant changes in a collaborator’s business strategy may adversely affect a collaborator’s willingness or ability to complete its obligations under any arrangement. |
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We may need to enter into additional co-promotion arrangements with third parties where our own sales force is neither well situated nor large enough to achieve maximum penetration in the market. We may not be successful in entering into any co-promotion arrangements, and the terms of any co-promotion arrangements we enter into may not be favorable to us.
If physicians, patients, third party payors and others in the medical community do not accept and use taliglucerase alfa, or any of our other product candidates, if approved, our ability to generate revenue from product sales will be materially impaired.
Physicians and patients, and other healthcare providers, may not accept and use any of our products or any product candidates, if approved for marketing. Future acceptance and use of any of our products or any product candidates, if approved, will depend upon a number of factors including:
● | perceptions by physicians, patients, third party payors and others in the medical community about the safety and effectiveness of taliglucerase alfa or our other drug candidates; |
● | the willingness of the target patient population to try new therapies and of physicians to prescribe these therapies; |
● | the prevalence and severity of any side effects, including any limitations or warnings contained in our products’ approved labeling; |
● | pharmacological benefits of taliglucerase alfa or our other drug candidates relative to competing products and products under development; |
● | the efficacy and potential advantages relative to competing products and products under development; |
● | relative convenience and ease of administration; |
● | effectiveness of education, marketing and distribution efforts by us and our licensees and distributors, if any; |
● | publicity concerning taliglucerase alfa or our other drug candidates or competing products and treatments; |
● | coverage and reimbursement of our products by third party payors; and |
● | the price for our products and competing products. |
A lack of market acceptance of BioManguinhos alfataliglicerase in Brazil, or globally for any of our other products candidates, if approved, would have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
If the market opportunities for other product candidates, and for BioManguinhos alfataliglicerase in Brazil, are smaller than we believe they are, our revenues may be adversely affected and our business may suffer.
To date, our development efforts have focused mainly on relatively rare disorders with small patient populations, in particular Gaucher disease and Fabry disease. Currently, most reported estimates of the prevalence of these diseases are based on studies of small subsets of the population of specific geographic areas, which are then extrapolated to estimate the prevalence of the diseases in the broader world population. As new studies are performed, the estimated prevalence of these diseases may change. There can be no assurance that the prevalence of Gaucher disease or Fabry disease in the study populations, particularly in these newer studies, accurately reflect the prevalence of these diseases in the broader world population. If the market opportunities for our current product candidates are smaller than we believe they are, our revenues may be adversely affected and our business may suffer.
Coverage and reimbursement may not be available for one or more of our product candidates, if approved, in all territories, which could diminish our sales or affect our ability to sell any such products profitably.
Market acceptance and sales of any one or more of our product candidates, if approved, will depend on coverage and reimbursement policies in the countries in which they are approved for sale. Government authorities and third-party payors, such as private health insurers and health maintenance organizations, decide which drugs they will pay for and establish reimbursement levels. Obtaining reimbursement approval for an approved product from governments and other third party payors is a time consuming and costly process that requires our collaborators or us, as the case may be, to provide supporting scientific, clinical and cost-effectiveness data for the use of our products, if and when approved, to every payor. We may not be able to provide data sufficient to gain acceptance
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with respect to coverage and reimbursement or we might need to conduct post-marketing studies in order to demonstrate the cost-effectiveness of approved products, if any, to such payors’ satisfaction. Such studies might require our collaborators or us to commit a significant amount of management time and financial and other resources. Even if a payor determines that an approved product is eligible for reimbursement, the payor may impose coverage limitations that preclude payment for some uses that are approved by the FDA or other regulatory authorities. In addition, full reimbursement may not be available for high priced products. Moreover, eligibility for coverage does not imply that any approved product will be reimbursed in all cases or at a rate that allows us to make a profit or even cover our costs. Limited reimbursement amounts may reduce the demand for, or the price of, our product candidates. If coverage and reimbursement are not available or are available only to limited levels, the sales of our products, if approved, may be diminished or we may not be able to sell such products profitably.
We and our collaborating partners may be subject, directly or indirectly, to federal and state healthcare fraud and abuse and false claims laws and regulations. If we or our collaborating partners are unable to comply, or have not fully complied, with such laws, we could face substantial penalties.
All marketing activities associated with drug products that are approved for sale in the United States, if any, will be, directly or indirectly through our customers, subject to numerous federal and state laws governing the marketing and promotion of pharmaceutical products in the United States, including, without limitation, the federal Anti-Kickback Law, the federal False Claims Act and HIPAA. These laws may adversely impact, among other things, our proposed sales, marketing and education programs.
The federal Anti-Kickback Law prohibits persons from knowingly and willfully soliciting, receiving, offering or paying remuneration, directly or indirectly, to induce either the referral of an individual, or the furnishing, recommending, or arranging for a good or service, for which payment may be made under a federal healthcare program, such as the Medicare and Medicaid programs. The term “remuneration” has been broadly interpreted to include anything of value, including for example, gifts, discounts, the furnishing of supplies or equipment, credit arrangements, payments of cash, waivers of co-payments and deductibles, ownership interests and providing anything at less than its fair market value. Despite a series of narrow safe harbors, the federal Anti-Kickback Law prohibits many arrangements and practices that are lawful in businesses outside of the healthcare industry. Penalties for violations of the federal Anti-Kickback Law include criminal penalties and civil sanctions such as fines, imprisonment and possible exclusion from Medicare, Medicaid and other state or federal healthcare programs. Many states have also adopted laws similar to the federal Anti-Kickback Law, some of which apply to the referral of patients for healthcare items or services reimbursed by any source, not only the Medicare and Medicaid programs, and do not contain identical safe harbors.
The federal False Claims Act imposes liability on any person who, among other things, knowingly presents, or causes to be presented, a false or fraudulent claim for payment by a federal healthcare program. In addition, various states have enacted false claims laws analogous to the False Claims Act. Many of these state laws apply where a claim is submitted to any third-party payer and not merely a federal healthcare program. Violations of the federal False Claims Act and the analogous state laws may result in substantial financial penalties, some as much as three times the actual damages sustained by the government.
HIPAA created several new federal crimes, including health care fraud, and false statements relating to health care matters. The health care fraud statute prohibits knowingly and willfully executing a scheme to defraud any health care benefit program, including private third-party payers. The false statements statute prohibits knowingly and willfully falsifying, concealing or covering up a material fact or making any materially false, fictitious or fraudulent statement in connection with the delivery of or payment for health care benefits, items or services.
We are unable to predict whether we could be subject to actions under any of these or other fraud and abuse laws, or the impact of such actions. Moreover, to the extent that taliglucerase alfa or any of our product candidates, if approved for marketing, will be sold in a foreign country, we and our future collaborators may be subject to similar foreign laws and regulations. If we or any of our future collaborators are found to be in violation of any of the laws described above and other applicable state and federal fraud and abuse laws, we may be subject to penalties, including civil and criminal penalties, damages, fines, exclusion from government healthcare reimbursement programs and the curtailment or restructuring or our operations, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
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Risks Related to Intellectual Property Matters
The intellectual property and assets owned by our subsidiaries are subject to security agreements that secure our payment and other obligations under our 2021 Notes, and our subsidiaries have guaranteed all of those obligations.
In connection with the issuance of our 2021 Notes, we entered into security agreements pursuant to which our subsidiaries provided first priority security interests in all of their assets, which consist of all of our intellectual property and other material assets. The security agreements secure certain payment, indemnification and other obligations under the 2021 Notes. If we were to default on certain of our obligations, or in certain other circumstances generally related to a bankruptcy or insolvency, holders of our outstanding 2021 Notes could seek to foreclose on the collateral under the security agreements to obtain satisfaction of our obligations, and our business could be materially and adversely impacted, which would in turn have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.
Furthermore, in connection with the issuance of the 2021 Notes, our subsidiaries guaranteed all of our obligations under the indenture governing such convertible notes. If we were to default on our obligations under the indenture, the holders could require our subsidiaries to satisfy all of those obligations under the guarantees.
If we fail to adequately protect or enforce our intellectual property rights or secure rights to third party patents, the value of our intellectual property rights would diminish and our business, competitive position and results of operations would suffer.
As of March 31, 2021, we had more than 35 pending patent applications of which two are joint pending patent applications with a third party. However, the filing of a patent application does not mean that we will be issued a patent, or that any patent eventually issued will be as broad as requested in the patent application or sufficient to protect our technology. Any modification required to a current patent application may delay the approval of such patent application which would have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. In addition, there are a number of factors that could cause our patents, if granted, to become invalid or unenforceable or that could cause our patent applications to not be granted, including known or unknown prior art, deficiencies in the patent application or the lack of originality of the technology. Our competitive position and future revenues will depend in part on our ability and the ability of our licensors and collaborators to obtain and maintain patent protection for our products, methods, processes and other technologies, to preserve our trade secrets, to prevent third parties from infringing on our proprietary rights and to operate without infringing the proprietary rights of third parties. We have filed U.S. and international patent applications for process patents, as well as composition of matter patents, for taliglucerase alfa and our product candidates. However, we cannot predict:
● | the degree and range of protection any patents will afford us against competitors and those who infringe upon our patents, including whether third parties will find ways to invalidate or otherwise circumvent our licensed patents; |
● | if and when patents will issue; |
● | whether or not others will obtain patents claiming aspects similar to those covered by our licensed patents and patent applications; or |
● | whether we will need to initiate litigation or administrative proceedings, which may be costly, whether we win or lose. |
As of March 31, 2021, we held, or had license rights to, more than 90 patents. If patent rights covering our products or technologies are not sufficiently broad, they may not provide us with sufficient proprietary protection or competitive advantages against competitors with similar products and technologies. Furthermore, if the USPTO or foreign patent offices issue patents to us or our licensors, others may challenge the patents or circumvent the patents, or the patent office or the courts may invalidate the patents. Thus, any patents we own or license from or to third parties may not provide any protection against our competitors and those who infringe upon our patents.
Furthermore, the life of our patents is limited. The patents we hold, and the patents that may be issued in the future based on patent applications from the patent families, relating to our ProCellEx protein expression system are expected to expire by 2025.
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We rely on confidentiality agreements that could be breached and may be difficult to enforce which could have a material adverse effect on our business and competitive position.
Our policy is to enter agreements relating to the non-disclosure of confidential information with third parties, including our contractors, consultants, advisors and research collaborators, as well as agreements that purport to require the disclosure and assignment to us of the rights to the ideas, developments, discoveries and inventions of our employees and consultants while we employ them. However, these agreements can be difficult and costly to enforce. Moreover, to the extent that our contractors, consultants, advisors and research collaborators apply or independently develop intellectual property in connection with any of our projects, disputes may arise as to the proprietary rights to the intellectual property. If a dispute arises, a court may determine that the right belongs to a third party, and enforcement of our rights can be costly and unpredictable. In addition, we rely on trade secrets and proprietary know-how that we seek to protect in part by confidentiality agreements with our employees, contractors, consultants, advisors and others. Despite the protective measures we employ, we still face the risk that:
● | these agreements may be breached; |
● | these agreements may not provide adequate remedies for the applicable type of breach; or |
● | our trade secrets or proprietary know-how will otherwise become known. |
Any breach of our confidentiality agreements or our failure to effectively enforce such agreements may have a material adverse effect on our business and competitive position.
If we infringe the rights of third parties we could be prevented from selling products, forced to pay damages and required to defend against litigation which could result in substantial costs and may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
We have not received to date any claims of infringement by any third parties. However, as our drug candidates progress into clinical trials and commercialization, if at all, our public profile and that of our drug candidates may be raised and generate such claims. Defending against such claims, and occurrence of a judgment adverse to us, could result in unanticipated costs and may have a material adverse effect on our business and competitive position. If our products, methods, processes and other technologies infringe the proprietary rights of other parties, we may incur substantial costs and we may have to:
● | obtain licenses, which may not be available on commercially reasonable terms, if at all; |
● | redesign our products or processes to avoid infringement; |
● | stop using the subject matter claimed in the patents held by others, which could cause us to lose the use of one or more of our drug candidates; |
● | defend litigation or administrative proceedings that may be costly whether we win or lose, and which could result in a substantial diversion of management resources; or |
● | pay damages. |
Any costs incurred in connection with such events or the inability to sell our products may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
If we cannot meet requirements under our license agreements, we could lose the rights to our products, which could have a material adverse effect on our business.
We depend on licensing agreements with third parties to maintain the intellectual property rights to certain of our product candidates. Our license agreements require us to make payments and satisfy performance obligations in order to maintain our rights under these agreements. All of these agreements last either throughout the life of the patents that are the subject of the agreements, or with respect to other licensed technology, for a number of years after the first commercial sale of the relevant product.
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In addition, we are responsible for the cost of filing and prosecuting certain patent applications and maintaining certain issued patents licensed to us. If we do not meet our obligations under our license agreements in a timely manner, we could lose the rights to our proprietary technology which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Risks Relating to our Operations in Israel
Potential political, economic and military instability in the State of Israel, where the majority of our senior management and our research and development facilities are located, may adversely affect our results of operations.
Our executive office and operations are located in the State of Israel. Accordingly, political, economic and military conditions in Israel directly affect our business. Since the State of Israel was established in 1948, a number of armed conflicts have occurred between Israel and its Arab neighbors. Any hostilities involving Israel or the interruption or curtailment of trade between Israel and its present trading partners, or a significant downturn in the economic or financial condition of Israel, could affect adversely our operations and product development. Although Israel has entered into various agreements with Egypt, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority, Israel periodically experiences an increase in unrest and terrorist activity. The establishment in 2006 of a government in the Gaza Strip by representatives of the Hamas militant group has created additional unrest and uncertainty in the region. Our facilities in northern Israel are in range of rockets that were fired from Lebanon into Israel during a 2006 war with the Hizbollah in Lebanon, and suffered minimal damages during one of the rocket attacks. Our insurance policies do not cover us for the damages incurred in connection with these conflicts or for any resulting disruption in our operations. The Israeli government, as a matter of law, provides coverage for the reinstatement value of direct damages that are caused by terrorist attacks or acts of war; however, the government may cease providing such coverage or the coverage might not be enough to cover potential damages. If our facilities are damaged as a result of hostile action, our operations may be materially adversely affected.
There is currently a civil war in Syria, also bordering Israel, and Israel has been hit by rockets and mortars originating from Syria. The ultimate effect of these developments on the political and security situation in the Middle East and on Israel’s position within the region is not clear at this time.
Our operations may be disrupted by the obligations of our personnel to perform military service which could have a material adverse effect on our business.
Many of our male employees in Israel, including members of senior management, are obligated to perform up to one month (in some cases more) of annual military reserve duty until they reach the age of 45 and, in the event of a military conflict, could be called to active duty. Our operations could be disrupted by the absence of a significant number of our employees related to military service or the absence for extended periods of military service of one or more of our key employees. A disruption may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Because a certain portion of our expenses is incurred in New Israeli Shekels, our results of operations may be seriously harmed by currency fluctuations and inflation.
We report our financial statements in U.S. dollars, our functional currency. Although most of our expenses are incurred in U.S. dollars, we pay a portion of our expenses in New Israeli Shekels, or NIS, and as a result, we are exposed to risk to the extent that the inflation rate in Israel exceeds the rate of devaluation of the NIS in relation to the U.S. dollar or if the timing of these devaluations lags behind inflation in Israel. In that event, the U.S. dollar cost of our operations in Israel will increase and our U.S. dollar-measured results of operations will be adversely affected. To the extent that the value of the NIS increases against the U.S. dollar, our expenses on a dollar cost basis increase. Our operations also could be adversely affected if we are unable to guard against currency fluctuations in the future. To date, we have not engaged in hedging transactions. In the future, we may enter into currency hedging transactions to decrease the risk of financial exposure from fluctuations in the exchange rate of the U.S dollar against the NIS. These measures, however, may not adequately protect us from material adverse effects.
The tax benefits available to us require that we meet several conditions and may be terminated or reduced in the future, which would increase our taxes.
We are able to take advantage of tax exemptions and reductions resulting from the “Approved Enterprise” status of our facilities in Israel. To remain eligible for these tax benefits, we must continue to meet certain conditions, including making specified investments in property and equipment, and financing at least 30% of such investments with share capital. If we fail to meet these conditions in the future, the tax benefits would be canceled and we may be required to refund any tax benefits we already have enjoyed. These tax benefits are subject to investment policy by the Investment Center and may not be continued in the future at their current levels or at
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any level. In recent years the Israeli government has reduced the benefits available and has indicated that it may further reduce or eliminate some of these benefits in the future. The termination or reduction of these tax benefits or our inability to qualify for additional “Approved Enterprise” approvals may increase our tax expenses in the future, which would reduce our expected profits and adversely affect our business and results of operations. Additionally, if we increase our activities outside of Israel, for example, by future acquisitions, such increased activities generally may not be eligible for inclusion in Israeli tax benefit programs.
The Israeli government grants we have received for certain research and development expenditures restrict our ability to manufacture products and transfer technologies outside of Israel and require us to satisfy specified conditions. If we fail to satisfy these conditions, we may be required to refund grants previously received together with interest and penalties which could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
Our research and development efforts have been financed, in part, through grants that we have received from NATI. We, therefore, must comply with the requirements of the Research Law. Under the Research Law we are prohibited from manufacturing products developed using these grants outside of the State of Israel without special approvals, although the Research Law does enable companies to seek prior approval for conducting manufacturing activities outside of Israel without being subject to increased royalties. We may not receive the required approvals for any proposed transfer of manufacturing activities. Even if we do receive approval to manufacture products developed with government grants outside of Israel, we may be required to pay an increased total amount of royalties (possibly up to 300% of the grant amounts plus interest), depending on the manufacturing volume that is performed outside of Israel, as well as at a possibly increased royalty rate. This restriction may impair our ability to outsource manufacturing or engage in similar arrangements for those products or technologies.
Additionally, under the Research Law, Protalix Ltd. is prohibited from transferring NATI-financed technologies and related intellectual property rights outside of the State of Israel, except under limited circumstances and only with the approval of NATI Council or the Research Committee. Protalix Ltd. may not receive the required approvals for any proposed transfer and, if received, Protalix Ltd. may be required to pay NATI a portion of the consideration that it receives upon any sale of such technology by a non-Israeli entity. The scope of the support received, the royalties that Protalix Ltd. has already paid to NATI, the amount of time that has elapsed between the date on which the know-how was transferred and the date on which NATI grants were received and the sale price and the form of transaction will be taken into account in order to calculate the amount of the payment to NATI. Approval of the transfer of technology to residents of the State of Israel is required, and may be granted in specific circumstances only if the recipient abides by the provisions of applicable laws, including the restrictions on the transfer of know-how and the obligation to pay royalties. No assurance can be made that approval to any such transfer, if requested, will be granted.
These restrictions may impair our ability to sell our technology assets or to outsource manufacturing outside of Israel. The restrictions will continue to apply for a certain period of time even after we have repaid the full amount of royalties payable for the grants. For the years ended December 31, 2018, 2019 and 2020, we recorded grants totaling $2.2 million, $0.1 million and $0.1 million from NATI, respectively. The grants represent 6.2%, 0.2% and 0.2%, respectively, of our gross research and development expenditures for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2019 and 2020. If we fail to satisfy the conditions of the Research Law, we may be required to refund certain grants previously received together with interest and penalties, and may become subject to criminal charges, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Investors may have difficulties enforcing a U.S. judgment, including judgments based upon the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws against us, our executive officers and most of our directors or asserting U.S. securities laws claims in Israel.
Most of our directors and all of our executive officers are residents of Israel, and accordingly, most of their assets and our assets are located outside the United States. Service of process upon our non-U.S. resident directors and officers and enforcement of judgments obtained in the United States against us, some of our directors and executive officers may be difficult to obtain within the United States. We have been informed by our legal counsel in Israel that investors may find it difficult to assert claims under U.S. securities laws in original actions instituted in Israel or obtain a judgment based on the civil liability provisions of U.S. federal securities laws against us, our officers and our directors. Israeli courts may refuse to hear a claim based on a violation of U.S. securities laws against us or our officers and directors because Israel is not the most appropriate forum to bring such a claim. In addition, even if an Israeli court agrees to hear a claim, it may determine that Israeli law and not U.S. law is applicable to the claim. If U.S. law is found to be applicable, the content of applicable U.S. law must be proved as a fact which can be a time-consuming and costly process. Certain matters of procedure will also be governed by Israeli law. There is little binding case law in Israel addressing the matters described above.
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Israeli courts might not enforce judgments rendered outside Israel which may make it difficult to collect on judgments rendered against us. Subject to certain time limitations, an Israeli court may declare a foreign civil judgment enforceable only if it finds that:
● | the judgment was rendered by a court which was, according to the laws of the state of the court, competent to render the judgment; |
● | the judgment may no longer be appealed; |
● | the obligation imposed by the judgment is enforceable according to the rules relating to the enforceability of judgments in Israel and the substance of the judgment is not contrary to public policy; and |
● | the judgment is executory in the state in which it was given. |
Even if these conditions are satisfied, an Israeli court will not enforce a foreign judgment if it was given in a state whose laws do not provide for the enforcement of judgments of Israeli courts (subject to exceptional cases) or if its enforcement is likely to prejudice the sovereignty or security of the State of Israel. An Israeli court also will not declare a foreign judgment enforceable if:
● | the judgment was obtained by fraud; |
● | there is a finding of lack of due process; |
● | the judgment was rendered by a court not competent to render it according to the laws of private international law in Israel; |
● | the judgment is at variance with another judgment that was given in the same matter between the same parties and that is still valid; or |
● | at the time the action was brought in the foreign court, a suit in the same matter and between the same parties was pending before a court or tribunal in Israel. |
Risks Related to Investing in our Common Stock
The market price of our common stock may fluctuate significantly.*
The market price of our common stock has experienced significant volatility as a result of the recent announcement relating to the receipt of the CRL from the FDA regarding the BLA for PRX-102. The securities of life sciences companies often experience significant volatility in connection with clinical trial and regulatory announcements.
We anticipate that the market price of our common stock is likely to continue to fluctuate significantly in response to numerous factors, some of which are beyond our control, such as:
● | our sale of shares of our common stock under our ATM program, or market expectations that such sales are to be executed; |
● | the timing of and any delays in anticipated marketing approvals for pegunigalsidase alfa; |
● | the progress and results of our ongoing studies regarding pegunigalsidase alfa and our other product candidates; |
● | announcements regarding partnerships or collaborations by us or our competitors; |
● | restatements of historical financial results and changes in financial forecasts; |
● | purchases of BioManguinhos alfataliglicerase in Brazil; |
● | developments concerning intellectual property rights and regulatory approvals; |
● | the announcement of new products or product enhancements by us or our competitors; |
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● | variations in our and our competitors’ results of operations; |
● | changes in earnings estimates or recommendations by securities analysts; |
● | developments in the biotechnology industry; and |
● | general market conditions and other factors, including factors unrelated to our operating performance. |
Continued market fluctuations could result in extreme volatility in the price of our common stock, which could cause a decline in the value of our common stock. Price volatility of our common stock may be worse when the trading volume of our common stock is low. We have not paid, and do not expect to pay, any cash dividends on our common stock as any earnings generated from future operations will be used to finance our operations. As a result, investors will not realize any income from an investment in our common stock until and unless their shares are sold at a profit.
Future sales of our common stock could reduce our stock price.
If our stockholders sell substantial amounts of our common stock, including shares of our common stock issuable upon conversion of our outstanding convertible notes or warrants, or if we sell a substantial amount of our common stock under our ATM program, the market price of our common stock could decrease significantly. The perception in the public market that our existing stockholders might sell shares of common stock could also depress the trading price of our common stock.
A substantial majority of our outstanding shares of our common stock are freely tradable without restriction or further registration under the federal securities laws. In addition, we may sell additional shares of our common stock in the future to raise capital. A substantial number of shares of our common stock are reserved for issuance upon the exercise of stock options, upon conversion of our outstanding convertible notes and upon the exercise of our outstanding warrants. At March 31, 2021, there were outstanding options to purchase common stock issued covering approximately 2.6 million shares of our common stock with a weighted average exercise price of approximately $5.30 per share. Also at March 31, 2021, there were approximately 1.5 million shares of common stock available for future for issuance in connection with future grants of incentives under our amended 2006 stock incentive plan, approximately 6.8 million shares of common stock reserved for issuance upon conversion of our outstanding 2021 Notes and approximately 17.4 million shares of common stock reserved for issuance upon the exercise of our outstanding warrants. The issuance and sale of substantial amounts of common stock, or the perception that such issuances and sales may occur, could adversely affect the market price of our common stock and impair our ability to raise capital through the sale of additional equity securities.
If securities analysts stop publishing research or reports about us or our business or if they downgrade our common stock, the market price of our common stock could decline.
The market for our common stock relies in part on the research and reports that industry or financial analysts publish about us or our business. We do not control these analysts. If any analyst who covers us downgrades our stock or lowers its future stock price targets or estimates of our operating results, the market price for our common stock could decline rapidly. Furthermore, if any analyst ceases to cover us, we could lose visibility in the market, which in turn could cause the market price of our common stock to decline.
Our common stock is listed to trade on more than one stock exchange, and this may result in price variations.
Our common stock is listed for trade on both the NYSE American and the TASE. Dual-listing may result in price variations between the exchanges due to a number of factors. First, our common stock is traded in U.S. dollars on the NYSE American and in NIS on the TASE. In addition, the exchanges are open for trade at different times of the day and on different days. For example, the TASE opens generally during Israeli business hours, Sunday through Thursday, while the NYSE American opens generally during U.S. business hours, Monday through Friday. The two exchanges also have differing vacation schedules. Differences in the trading schedules, as well as volatility in the exchange rate of the two currencies, among other factors, may result different trading prices for our common stock on the two exchanges. Other external influences may have different effects on the trading price of our common stock on the two exchanges.
Compliance with changing regulation of corporate governance and public disclosure may result in additional expenses, divert management’s attention from operating our business which could have a material adverse effect on our business.
The laws, rules, regulations and standards including the rules promulgated by the national securities exchanges, including the NYSE American, to which we are subject are changed and/or amended from time to time. New or changed laws, rules, regulations and
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standards are subject to varying interpretations in many cases due to their lack of specificity, and as a result, their application in practice may evolve over time as new guidance is provided by regulatory and governing bodies, which could result in continuing uncertainty regarding compliance matters and higher costs necessitated by ongoing revisions to disclosure and governance practices. As a result, our efforts to comply with evolving laws, rules, regulations and standards are likely to continue to result in increased general and administrative expenses and a diversion of management time and attention from revenue-generating activities to compliance activities. Members of our Board of Directors and our executive officers, could face an increased risk of personal liability in connection with the performance of their duties. As a result, we may have difficulty attracting and retaining qualified directors and executive officers, which could have a material adverse effect on our business. If our efforts to comply with new or changed laws, regulations and standards differ from the activities intended by regulatory or governing bodies, we may incur additional expenses to comply with standards set by regulatory authorities or governing bodies which would have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
The issuance of preferred stock or additional shares of common stock could adversely affect the rights of our stockholders.
Our Board of Directors is authorized to issue up to 100,000,000 shares of preferred stock without any further action on the part of our stockholders. Our Board of Directors has the authority to fix and determine the voting rights, rights of redemption and other rights and preferences of preferred stock. Currently, we have no shares of preferred stock outstanding.
Our Board of Directors may, at any time, authorize the issuance of a series of preferred stock that would grant to holders the preferred right to our assets upon liquidation, the right to receive dividend payments before dividends are distributed to the holders of common stock and the right to the redemption of the shares, together with a premium, before the redemption of our common stock, which may have a material adverse effect on the rights of the holders of our common stock. In addition, our Board of Directors, without further stockholder approval, may, at any time, issue large blocks of preferred stock. In addition, the ability of our Board of Directors to issue shares of preferred stock without any further action on the part of our stockholders may impede a takeover of our company and may prevent a transaction that is favorable to our stockholders.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
None.
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
None.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosure
Not applicable.
Item 5. Other Information
None.
Item 6. Exhibits
| |||||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | Incorporated by Reference | | |||
Exhibit Number |
| Exhibit Description | Form | File Number | Exhibit | Date | Filed or Furnished Herewith |
3.1 | | 8-K | 001-33357 | 3.1 | April 1, 2016 | | |
3.2 | | Def 14A | 001-33357 | Appen. A | July 1, 2016 | | |
3.3 | | Second Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation of the Company | Def 14A | 001-33357 | Appen. A | October 17, 2018 | |
3.4 | | Third Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation of the Company | 8-K | 001-33357 | 3.1 | December 19, 2019 | |
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3.5 | | 8-K | 001-33357 | 3.2 | April 1, 2016 | | |
4.1 | | 8-K | 001-33357 | 4.1 | July 18, 2012 | | |
4.2 | | 8-K | 001-33357 | 4.1 | December 7, 2016 | | |
4.3 | | Form of 7.50% Convertible Note due 2021 (Issued in 2016 Financing) | 8-K | 001-33357 | 4.2 | December 7, 2016 | |
4.4 | | Form of 7.50% Convertible Note due 2021 (Issued in 2016 Exchange) | 8-K | 001-33357 | 4.3 | December 7, 2016 | |
4.5 | | 8-K | 001-33357 | 4.2 | July 25, 2017 | | |
4.6 | | 8-K | 001-33357 | 4.1 | December 1, 2017 | | |
4.7 | | 10-K | 001-33357 | 4.7 | March 12, 2020 | | |
4.8 | | 8-K | 001-33357 | 4.1 | March 12, 2020 | | |
4.9† | | 10-Q | 001-33357 | 4.8 | August 10, 2020 | ||
4.10 | | 10-Q | 001-33357 | 4.9 | August 10, 2020 | ||
10.1†† | | | | | | X | |
10.2†† | | | | | | X | |
10.3†† | | Binding Term Sheet between Protalix Ltd. and Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A. | | | | | X |
31.1 | | | | | | X | |
31.2 | | | | | | X | |
32.1 | | | | | | X | |
32.2 | | | | | | X |
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101.INS | | XBRL Instance Document - the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document | | | | | X |
101.SCH | | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document | | | | | X |
101.CAL | | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document | | | | | X |
101.DEF | | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document | | | | | X |
101.LAB | | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Linkbase Document | | | | | X |
101.PRE | | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document | | | | | X |
104 | | COVER PAGE INTERACTIVE DATA FILE (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101). | | | | | |
† Management contracts or compensation plans or arrangements in which directors or executive officers are eligible to participate. †† Portions of this exhibit were omitted and have been filed separately with the Secretary of the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment under Rule 24b-2 of the Exchange Act. |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
| | |
| | PROTALIX BIOTHERAPEUTICS, INC. |
| | (Registrant) |
| | |
Date: May 14, 2021 | By: | /s/ Dror Bashan |
| | Dror Bashan President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) |
| | |
Date: May 14, 2021 | By: | /s/ Eyal Rubin |
| | Eyal Rubin Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |
| | |
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