UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D. C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
| | |
þ | | QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2009
or
| | |
o | | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the transition period from to
Commission File Number 000-51820
ALEXZA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| | |
Delaware | | 77-0567768 |
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(State or other Jurisdiction of | | (IRS Employer |
Incorporation or Organization) | | Identification No.) |
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2091 Stierlin Court | | |
Mountain View, California | | 94043 |
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(Address of principal executive offices) | | (Zip Code) |
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code):(650) 944-7000
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. Yesþ Noo
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter)during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yeso Noo
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
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Large accelerated filero | | Accelerated filerþ | | Non-accelerated filer o (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) | | Smaller reporting companyo |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yeso Noþ
Total number of shares of common stock outstanding as of May 1, 2009: 33,204,234.
ALEXZA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
2
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements(Unaudited)
ALEXZA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
(a development stage company)
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
| | | | | | | | |
| | March 31, | | | December 31, | |
| | 2009 | | | 2008(1) | |
ASSETS
|
Current assets: | | | | | | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents | | $ | 20,605 | | | $ | 26,036 | |
Marketable securities | | | 2,536 | | | | 11,520 | |
Investments held by Symphony Allegro, Inc. | | | 17,587 | | | | 21,318 | |
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | | | 642 | | | | 1,130 | |
| | | | | | |
Total current assets | | | 41,370 | | | | 60,004 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Property and equipment, net | | | 24,173 | | | | 24,152 | |
Restricted cash | | | 400 | | | | 400 | |
Other assets | | | 67 | | | | 79 | |
| | | | | | |
Total assets | | $ | 66,010 | | | $ | 84,635 | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
|
Current liabilities: | | | | | | | | |
Accounts payable | | $ | 4,074 | | | $ | 4,928 | |
Accrued clinical trial expenses | | | 653 | | | | 1,294 | |
Other accrued expenses | | | 3,694 | | | | 5,205 | |
Deferred revenues | | | — | | | | 1,667 | |
Current portion of equipment financing obligations | | | 3,658 | | | | 4,139 | |
| | | | | | |
Total current liabilities | | | 12,079 | | | | 17,233 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Deferred rent | | | 17,084 | | | | 17,386 | |
Deferred revenue | | | — | | | | 7,847 | |
Noncurrent portion of equipment financing obligations | | | 1,788 | | | | 2,515 | |
Other noncurrent liabilities | | | 960 | | | | 600 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Stockholders’ equity: | | | | | | | | |
Alexza Pharmaceuticals, Inc. stockholder equity: | | | | | | | | |
Preferred stock | | | — | | | | — | |
Common stock | | | 3 | | | | 3 | |
Additional paid-in-capital | | | 258,298 | | | | 256,426 | |
Deferred share-based compensation | | | (110 | ) | | | (219 | ) |
Other comprehensive income (loss) | | | (4 | ) | | | 28 | |
Deficit accumulated during development stage | | | (224,259 | ) | | | (222,545 | ) |
| | | | | | |
Total Alexza Pharmaceuticals, Inc. stockholders’ equity | | | 33,928 | | | | 33,693 | |
Noncontrolling interest in Symphony Allegro, Inc. | | | 171 | | | | 5,361 | |
| | | | | | |
Total stockholders’ equity | | | 34,099 | | | | 39,054 | |
| | | | | | |
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | | $ | 66,010 | | | $ | 84,635 | |
| | | | | | |
| | |
(1) | | Condensed consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2008 has been derived from audited consolidated financial statements at that date, adjusted for the retrospective application of SFAS 160. See Note 1. |
See accompanying notes.
3
ALEXZA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
(a development stage company)
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
(unaudited)
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | Period from | |
| | | | | | | | | | December 19, | |
| | | | | | | | | | 2000 | |
| | Three Months Ended | | | (inception) to | |
| | March 31, | | | March 31, | |
| | 2009 | | | 2008 | | | 2009 | |
Revenue | | $ | 9,514 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 16,945 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Operating expenses: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Research and development | | | 10,965 | | | | 14,693 | | | | 215,648 | |
General and administrative | | | 3,864 | | | | 4,462 | | | | 66,568 | |
Restructuring charges | | | 1,528 | | | | — | | | | 1,528 | |
Acquired in-process research and development | | | — | | | | — | | | | 3,916 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Total operating expenses | | | 16,357 | | | | 19,155 | | | | 287,660 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Loss from operations | | | (6,843 | ) | | | (19,155 | ) | | | (270,715 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Interest and other income, net | | | 97 | | | | 1,080 | | | | 13,903 | |
Interest expense | | | (158 | ) | | | (291 | ) | | | (3,739 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | |
Net loss | | | (6,904 | ) | | | (18,366 | ) | | | (260,551 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net loss attributed to noncontrolling interest in Symphony Allegro, Inc. | | | 5,190 | | | | 3,757 | | | | 36,292 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net loss attributable to Alexza common stockholders | | $ | (1,714 | ) | | $ | (14,609 | ) | | $ | (224,259 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net loss attributable to Alexza common stockholders | | $ | (0.05 | ) | | $ | (0.47 | ) | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Shares used to compute basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to Alexza common stockholders | | | 32,967 | | | | 31,225 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
See accompanying notes.
4
ALEXZA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
(a development stage company)
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | Period from | |
| | | | | | | | | | December 19, | |
| | | | | | | | | | 2000 | |
| | Three Months Ended | | | (inception) to | |
| | March 31, | | | March 31, | |
| | 2009 | | | 2008 | | | 2009 | |
Cash flows from operating activities: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net loss | | $ | (6,904 | ) | | $ | (18,366 | ) | | $ | (260,551 | ) |
Adjustments to reconcile net loss attributable to common stockholders to net cash used in operating activities: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Share-based compensation | | | 1,962 | | | | 1,409 | | | | 13,801 | |
Extinguishment of officer note receivable | | | — | | | | — | | | | 2,300 | |
Issuance of common stock for intellectual property | | | — | | | | — | | | | 92 | |
Charge for acquired in-process research and development | | | — | | | | — | | | | 3,916 | |
Amortization of assembled workforce | | | — | | | | — | | | | 222 | |
Amortization of debt discount and deferred interest | | | 12 | | | | 16 | | | | 374 | |
Amortization of premium (discount) on available-for-sale securities | | | 3 | | | | (327 | ) | | | (724 | ) |
Depreciation and amortization | | | 1,257 | | | | 1,350 | | | | 18,016 | |
Loss on disposal of property and equipment | | | — | | | | 10 | | | | 83 | |
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Other receivables | | | — | | | | 10,745 | | | | — | |
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | | | 488 | | | | 337 | | | | (636 | ) |
Other assets | | | — | | | | (55 | ) | | | (2,625 | ) |
Accounts payable | | | (854 | ) | | | (1,973 | ) | | | 3,945 | |
Accrued clinical and other accrued liabilities | | | (2,152 | ) | | | 174 | | | | 647 | |
Deferred revenues | | | (9,514 | ) | | | — | | | | — | |
Other liabilities | | | (302 | ) | | | 1,450 | | | | 20,474 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Net cash used in operating activities | | | (16,004 | ) | | | (5,230 | ) | | | (200,666 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cash flows from investing activities: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Purchases of available-for-sale securities | | | (2,557 | ) | | | (14,873 | ) | | | (327,470 | ) |
Maturities of available-for-sale securities | | | 11,506 | | | | 14,649 | | | | 325,655 | |
Purchases of available-for-sale securities held by Symphony Allegro, Inc. | | | — | | | | — | | | | (49,975 | ) |
Maturities of available-for-sale securities held by Symphony Allegro, Inc. | | | 3,731 | | | | 3,513 | | | | 32,388 | |
(Increase)/decrease in restricted cash | | | — | | | | 42 | | | | (400 | ) |
Purchases of property and equipment | | | (918 | ) | | | (1,203 | ) | | | (41,075 | ) |
Proceeds from disposal of property and equipment | | | — | | | | — | | | | 28 | |
Cash paid for merger | | | — | | | | — | | | | (250 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | |
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities | | | 11,762 | | | | 2,128 | | | | (61,099 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | |
See accompanying notes.
5
ALEXZA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
(a development stage company)
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | Period from | |
| | | | | | | | | | December 19, | |
| | | | | | | | | | 2000 | |
| | Three Months Ended | | | (inception) to | |
| | March 31, | | | March 31, | |
| | 2009 | | | 2008 | | | 2009 | |
Cash flows from financing activities: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Proceeds from issuance of common stock and warrants, net of offering costs | | | — | | | | 9,840 | | | | 120,732 | |
Proceeds from exercise of stock options and stock purchase rights under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan | | | 19 | | | | 68 | | | | 4,772 | |
Repurchases of common stock | | | — | | | | — | | | | (8 | ) |
Proceeds from issuance of convertible preferred stock | | | — | | | | — | | | | 104,681 | |
Proceeds from repayment of stockholder note receivable | | | — | | | | — | | | | 29 | |
Proceeds from purchase of noncontrolling interest by preferred shareholders in Symphony Allegro, Inc, net of fees | | | — | | | | — | | | | 47,171 | |
Proceeds from equipment financing obligations | | | — | | | | — | | | | 18,932 | |
Payments of equipment financing obligations | | | (1,208 | ) | | | (1,106 | ) | | | (13,939 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | |
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | | | (1,189 | ) | | | 8,802 | | | | 282,370 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | | | (5,431 | ) | | | 5,700 | | | | 20,605 | |
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | | | 26,036 | | | | 31,337 | | | | — | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | | $ | 20,605 | | | $ | 37,037 | | | $ | 20,605 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
See accompanying notes.
6
ALEXZA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
(a development stage company)
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLDIATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. The Company and Basis of Presentation
Business
Alexza Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Alexza” or the “Company”) was incorporated in the state of Delaware on December 19, 2000 as FaxMed, Inc. In June 2001, the Company changed its name to Alexza Corporation and in December 2001 became Alexza Molecular Delivery Corporation. In July 2005, the Company changed its name to Alexza Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
The Company is a pharmaceutical development company focused on the research, development, and commercialization of novel proprietary products for the acute treatment of central nervous system (“CNS”) conditions. The Company’s primary activities since incorporation have been establishing its offices, recruiting personnel, conducting research and development, conducting preclinical studies and clinical trials, performing business and financial planning, and raising capital. Accordingly, the Company is considered to be in the development stage and operates in one business segment.
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not contain all of the information and footnotes required for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, which include only normal recurring adjustments, necessary to present fairly the Company’s interim consolidated financial information. The results for the three months ended March 31, 2009 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the year ending December 31, 2009 or for any other interim period or any other future year.
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and notes to condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2008 included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 10, 2009.
Basis of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Alexza, its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Alexza Singapore Pte. Ltd., Alexza Singapore Manufacturing Pte. Ltd., and Alexza UK Limited, and Alexza’s variable interest entity, Symphony Allegro, Inc. (“Allegro”). Alexza is considered the primary beneficiary of Allegro as defined in Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Interpretation No. 46 (revised 2003),Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities(“FIN 46R”). All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.
Significant Risks and Uncertainties
The Company has incurred significant losses from operations since its inception and expects losses to continue for the foreseeable future. The Company has financed its operations primarily through the sale of equity securities, licensing collaborations, capital lease and equipment financing and government grants. The Company will need to raise additional capital to fund its operations, to develop its product candidates, to develop its manufacturing capabilities, and to reacquire program rights currently licensed to Symphony Allegro, Inc. (see note 12), and such funding may not be available or may be on terms which are not favorable to the Company.
Recently Adopted Accounting Standards
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 160
In December 2007, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 160,Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements, an amendment of Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51, Consolidated Financial Statements(SFAS 160). SFAS 160 establishes accounting and
7
reporting standards for ownership interests in subsidiaries held by parties other than the parent, the amount of consolidated net income (loss) attributable to the parent and to the noncontrolling interests, changes in a parent’s ownership interest and the valuation of retained noncontrolling equity investments when a subsidiary is deconsolidated. SFAS 160 also establishes additional reporting requirements that identify and distinguish between the ownership interest of the parent and the interest of the noncontrolling owners. SFAS 160 is effective for interim periods and fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. On January 1, 2009, we adopted the provisions of SFAS 160 and reclassified the noncontrolling interest in Allegro from liabilities to stockholders’ equity on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets on a retrospective basis. In addition, consolidated net loss has been adjusted to include the net loss attributed to the noncontrolling interest in Allegro and consolidated comprehensive income or loss has been adjusted to include the comprehensive income or loss attributed to noncontrolling interest in Allegro.
FASB Staff Position 157-2
In February 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position 157-2Partial Deferral of the Effective Date of Statement 157(“FSP FAS 157-2”). FSP FAS 157-2 delayed the effective date of SFAS 157 for nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities, except for items that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis (at least annually) to fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008. Therefore effective January 1, 2009, we implemented Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157,Fair Value Measurements(“SFAS 157”) for our nonfinancial assets and liabilities that are remeasured at fair value on a non-recurring basis. The adoption of SFAS 157 for our nonfinancial assets and liabilities that are remeasured at fair value on a non-recurring basis did not materially impact our financial position or results of operations.
Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 141(R)
In December 2007, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (“SFAS”) No. 141 (revised 2007),Business Combinations(“SFAS 141(R)”). This standard establishes principles and requirements for how an acquirer in a business combination recognizes and measures the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed and any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree in its financial statements. SFAS 141(R) also establishes principles and requirements for how an acquirer recognizes and measures the goodwill acquired in a business combination and it establishes disclosure requirements to facilitate an evaluation of the nature and financial effects of a business combination. The effect of adoption of this standard is limited to any acquisitions made by the Company which close subsequent to December 31, 2008.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards
Financial Accounting Standards Board Staff Position 107-1 and APB 28-1
In April 2009, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position Number FAS 107-1 and APB 28-1,Interim Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments(“FSP 107-1/APB 28-1”). FSP 107-1/ APB 28-1 requires interim disclosures regarding the fair values of financial instruments that are within the scope of FAS 107, “Disclosures about the Fair Value of Financial Instruments.” FSP 107-1/APB 28-1 requires disclosures about the methods and significant assumptions used to estimate fair value of financial instruments for interim reporting periods, as well as changes in those methods and significant assumptions from prior periods. FSP 107-1/APB 28-1 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods ending after June 15, 2009. Accordingly, the Company will adopt the disclosure requirements of FSP 107-1/APB 28-1 in its condensed consolidated financial statements for the interim period ending June 30, 2009.
Financial Accounting Standards Board Staff Position 115-2 and 124-2
In April 2009, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position Number FAS 115-2 and FAS 124-2,Recognition and Presentation of Other-Than-Temporary Impairments(“FSP 115-2/124-2”). FSP 115-2/124-2 amends the requirements for the recognition and measurement of other-than-temporary impairments for debt securities by modifying the pre-existing “intent and ability” indicator. Under FSP 115-2/124-2, an other-than-temporary impairment is triggered when there is an intent to sell the security, it is more likely than not that the security will be required to be sold before recovery, or the security is not expected to recover the entire amortized cost basis of the security. Additionally, FSP 115-2/124-2 changes the presentation of an other-than-temporary impairment in the income statement for those impairments involving credit losses. The credit loss component will be recognized in earnings and the remainder of the impairment will be recorded in other comprehensive income. FSP 115-2/124-2 is effective for us beginning in the second quarter of fiscal year 2009. The Company is evaluating the impact of adopting FSP 115-2/124-2 on its financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
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Financial Accounting Standards Board Staff Position 157-4
In April 2009, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position Number FAS 157-4,Determining Fair Value When the Volume and Level of Activity for the Asset or Liability Has Significantly Decreased and Identifying Transactions That Are Not Orderly(“FSP 157-4”). FSP 157-4 provides additional guidance for estimating fair value in accordance with FASB Statement Number 157, Fair Value Measurements, when the volume and level of activity for the asset or liability have significantly decreased. FSP 157-4 also includes guidance on identifying circumstances that indicate a transaction is not orderly. FSP 157-4 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods ending after June 15, 2009, and shall be applied prospectively. Early adoption is permitted for periods ending after March 15, 2009. The Company is evaluating the impact of adopting FSP FAS 157-4 on its financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
2. Common Stock Offerings
Equity Line of Credit
In March 2008, the Company obtained a committed equity line of credit under which the Company may sell, subject to certain limitations, up to $50 million of its registered common stock to Azimuth Opportunity, Ltd. (“Azimuth”) over a 24-month period. The Company is not obligated to utilize any of the $50 million equity line of credit.
The Company will determine, at its sole discretion, the timing, the dollar amount, and the minimum price per share of each draw under this equity line of credit, subject to certain conditions. When and if the Company elects to use the equity line of credit, the Company will issue shares to Azimuth at a discount of between 4.15% and 6.00% to the volume weighted average price of the Company’s common stock over a preceding period of trading days. Azimuth is not required to purchase any shares below $5.00 per share, and any shares sold under this equity line of credit will be sold pursuant to a shelf registration statement declared effective by the SEC on April 16, 2007. At May 4, 2009, the Company’s stock price was $1.58. The agreement will terminate on March 31, 2010 and as of March 31, 2009, there have been no sales of common stock under this agreement.
Registered Direct Equity Issuance
In March 2008, the Company completed the sale of 1,250,000 shares of its registered common stock to Biomedical Sciences Investment Fund Pte. Ltd. (“Bio*One”) at a price of $8.00 per share. As outlined in the agreement, if the average closing price of the Company’s stock over a 45 consecutive day trading period did not exceed $8.00 between the closing date and December 31, 2008, Bio*One would receive 135,041 additional shares, which would adjust the effective purchase price to $7.22 per share. The Company’s average stock price did not meet this level during the specified period and the Company issued the additional shares to Bio*One in January 2009.
In addition, the Company issued a warrant to Bio*One to purchase up to 375,000 of additional shares of Alexza common stock at a purchase price per share of $8.00. The warrant was subject to the same price adjustment as the common stock sale, and effective January 1, 2009 the warrant was automatically adjusted to give Bio*One the right to purchase 415,522 shares at a purchase price of $7.22 per share. The Company committed to initiate and maintain manufacturing operations in Singapore, and the warrant was to become exercisable only if the Company terminated operations in Singapore or did not achieve certain performance milestones. In December 2008, the Company did not meet its defined performance milestone, and as a result the warrant became fully exercisable. The warrant has a maximum term of 5 years.
All securities sold to Bio*One were sold pursuant to a shelf registration statement declared effective by the SEC on April 16, 2007. Net proceeds from the sale of the stock and warrant were approximately $9.84 million after deducting offering expenses.
3. Fair Value Accounting
SFAS 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and enhances disclosures about fair value measurements. Fair value is defined under SFAS 157 as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. Valuation techniques used to measure fair value under SFAS 157 must maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of
9
unobservable inputs. The standard describes a fair value hierarchy based on three levels of inputs, of which the first two are considered observable and the last unobservable, that may be used to measure fair value which are the following:
| • | | Level 1 — Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. |
|
| • | | Level 2 — Inputs other than Level 1 that are observable, either directly or indirectly, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities. |
|
| • | | Level 3 — Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities. |
The following table represents the Company’s fair value hierarchy, as defined by SFAS 157, for its financial assets (cash equivalents and marketable securities and investments held by Symphony Allegro, Inc.) measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 (in thousands):
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Level 1 | | | Level 2 | | | Level 3 | | | Total | |
March 31, 2009 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Money market funds | | $ | 18,499 | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | 18,499 | |
Money market fund held by Symphony Allegro, Inc. | | | 17,587 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 17,587 | |
Corporate debt securities | | | — | | | | 3,023 | | | | — | | | | 3,023 | |
Government-sponsored enterprises | | | — | | | | 1,513 | | | | — | | | | 1,513 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total | | $ | 36,086 | | | $ | 4,536 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 40,622 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Level 1 | | | Level 2 | | | Level 3 | | | Total | |
December 31, 2008 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Money market funds | | $ | 19,350 | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | 19,350 | |
Money market fund held by Symphony Allegro, Inc. | | | 21,318 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 21,318 | |
Corporate debt securities | | | — | | | | 9,649 | | | | — | | | | 9,649 | |
Government securities | | | — | | | | 1,505 | | | | — | | | | 1,505 | |
Government-sponsored enterprises | | | — | | | | 6,620 | | | | — | | | | 6,620 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total | | $ | 40,668 | | | $ | 17,774 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 58,442 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
4. Share-Based Compensation Plans
2005 Equity Incentive Plan
In December 2005, the Company’s Board of Directors adopted the 2005 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2005 Plan”). The 2005 Plan is an amendment and restatement of the Company’s previous stock option plans. Stock options issued under the 2005 Plan generally vest over 4 years, based on service time, or upon the accomplishment of certain milestones and have a maximum contractual term of 10 years.
In the third quarter of 2006, the Company began issuing restricted stock units to non-officer employees and in the first quarter of 2009, the Company began issuing restricted stock units to both officers and to non-employee directors. Restricted stock unit issuances to non-employee directors were made in lieu of paying cash director fees. Restricted stock units granted to officer or non-officer employees generally vest over a four-year period from the grant date or upon the accomplishment of certain milestones. Restricted stock units granted to non-employee directors generally vest one year after the date of grant. Prior to vesting, restricted stock units do not have dividend equivalent rights, do not have voting rights and the shares underlying the restricted units are not considered issued and outstanding. Shares are issued on the date the restricted stock units vest.
The 2005 Plan provides for annual reserve increases on the first day of each fiscal year commencing on January 1, 2007 and ending on January 1, 2015. The annual reserve increases will be equal to the lesser of (i) 2% of the total number of shares of the Company’s common stock outstanding on December 31 of the preceding calendar year, or (ii) 1,000,000 shares of common stock. The Company’s Board of Directors has the authority to designate a smaller number of shares by which the authorized number of shares of common stock will be increased prior to the last day of any calendar year. On January 1, 2009 and 2008 an additional 656,417 and 622,757, respectively, shares of the Company’s common stock were reserved for issuance under this provision.
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2005 Non-Employee Directors’ Stock Option Plan
In December 2005, the Company’s Board of Directors adopted the 2005 Non-Employee Directors’ Stock Option Plan (the “Directors’ Plan”). The Directors’ Plan provides for the automatic grant of nonstatutory stock options to purchase shares of common stock to the Company’s non-employee directors, which vest over four years and have a term of 10 years. The Directors’ Plan provides for an annual reserve increase to be added on the first day of each fiscal year, commencing on January 1, 2007 and ending on January 1, 2015. The annual reserve increases will be equal to the number of shares subject to options granted during the preceding fiscal year less the number of shares that revert back to the share reserve during the preceding fiscal year. The Company’s Board of Directors has the authority to designate a smaller number of shares by which the authorized number of shares of common stock will be increased prior to the last day of any calendar year. On January 1, 2009 and 2008 an additional 37,500 and 52,083, respectively, shares of the Company’s common stock were reserved for issuance under this provision.
The following table sets forth the summary of option activity under the Company’s share-based compensation plans for the three months ended March 31, 2009:
| | | | | | | | |
| | Outstanding Options |
| | Number of | | Weighted Average |
| | Shares | | Exercise Price |
Balance at December 31, 2008 | | | 4,183,198 | | | $ | 6.14 | |
Options granted | | | 858,068 | | | | 2.61 | |
Options exercised | | | (14,699 | ) | | | 1.28 | |
Options canceled | | | (180,886 | ) | | | 6.08 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Balance at March 31, 2009 | | | 4,845,681 | | | | 5.53 | |
| | | | | | | | |
The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008 was $13,000 and $181,000, respectively.
Information regarding the stock options outstanding at March 31, 2009 is summarized below:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Outstanding | | | Exercisable | |
| | | | | | Remaining | | | | | | | | | | | Remaining | | | | |
| | | | | | Contractual | | | Aggregate | | | | | | | Contractual | | | Aggregate | |
Exercise | | Number | | | Life | | | Intrinsic | | | Number | | | Life | | | Intrinsic | |
Price | | of Shares | | | (in years) | | | Value | | | of Shares | | | (in years) | | | Value | |
$1.10 – 1.38 | | | 590,247 | | | | 5.66 | | | $ | 601,000 | | | | 558,436 | | | | 5.64 | | | $ | 570,000 | |
2.10 – 2.64 | | | 266,798 | | | | 9.90 | | | | 29,000 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
2.81 – 2.81 | | | 522,150 | | | | 9.81 | | | | — | | | | 274,752 | | | | 9.81 | | | | — | |
3.13 – 4.24 | | | 272,357 | | | | 8.81 | | | | — | | | | 56,143 | | | | 6.86 | | | | — | |
4.35 – 4.35 | | | 498,800 | | | | 9.27 | | | | — | | | | 6,300 | | | | 9.27 | | | | — | |
4.41 – 6.66 | | | 583,408 | | | | 9.09 | | | | — | | | | 124,815 | | | | 9.05 | | | | — | |
6.67 – 8.76 | | | 584,215 | | | | 7.58 | | | | — | | | | 417,275 | | | | 7.54 | | | | — | |
8.00 – 8.00 | | | 600,457 | | | | 5.38 | | | | — | | | | 545,735 | | | | 5.24 | | | | | |
8.01 – 11.70 | | | 927,249 | | | | 8.10 | | | | — | | | | 471,782 | | | | 8.04 | | | | — | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | 4,845,681 | | | | 7.97 | | | $ | 630,000 | | | | 2,455,238 | | | | 7.01 | | | $ | 570,000 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
The intrinsic value is calculated as the difference between the market value as of March 31, 2009 and the exercise price of the shares. The market value as of March 31, 2009, was $2.21 as reported by NASDAQ Global Market.
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The following table sets forth the summary of unvested share units (restricted stock units) activity under the Company’s equity incentive plans for the three months ended March 31, 2009:
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | Weighted |
| | Number | | Average |
| | Of | | Grant-Date |
| | Shares | | Fair Value |
Outstanding at December 31, 2008 | | | 171,954 | | | $ | 5.86 | |
Granted | | | 961,639 | | | | 2.19 | |
Released | | | (12,253 | ) | | | 6.04 | |
Forfeited | | | (35,525 | ) | | | 5.84 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Outstanding at March 31, 2009 | | | 1,085,815 | | | | 2.60 | |
| | | | | | | | |
As of March 31, 2009, 421,677 shares remained available for issuance under the 2005 Plan and the Directors’ Plan.
2005 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
In December 2005, the Company’s Board of Directors adopted the 2005 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”). The ESPP allows eligible employee participants to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock at a discount through payroll deductions. The ESPP consists of a fixed offering period, generally twenty-four months with four purchase periods within each offering period. Purchases are generally made on the last trading day of each October and April. Employees purchase shares at each purchase date at 85% of the market value of the Company’s common stock on their enrollment date or the end of the purchase period, whichever price is lower.
The ESPP provides for annual reserve increases on the first day of each fiscal year commencing on January 1, 2007 and ending on January 1, 2015. The annual reserve increases will be equal to the lesser of (i) 1% of the total number of shares of the Company’s common stock outstanding on December 31 of the preceding calendar year, or (ii) 250,000 shares of common stock. The Company’s Board of Directors has the authority to designate a smaller number of shares by which the authorized number of shares of common stock will be increased prior to the last day of any calendar year. An additional 250,000 shares were reserved for issuance on each of January 1, 2009 and 2008 under this provision. At March 31, 2009, 595,495 shares are available for issuance under the ESPP.
5. Share-Based Compensation
Employee Share-Based Awards Granted Prior to January 1, 2006
Compensation cost for employee stock options granted prior to January 1, 2006, was accounted for using the option’s intrinsic value. The Company recorded the total valuation of these options as a component of stockholders’ equity, which is being amortized over the vesting period of the applicable option on a straight line basis. The Company expects to expense the remaining deferred stock-based compensation of $109,000 in 2009.
Employee Share-Based Awards Granted On or Subsequent to January 1, 2006
Compensation cost for employee share-based awards granted on or after January 1, 2006, is based on the grant-date fair value estimated in accordance with the provisions of SFAS 123R and will be recognized over the vesting period of the applicable award on a straight-line basis. The Company issues employee share-based awards in the form of stock options and restricted stock units under the Company’s equity incentive plans, and stock purchase rights under the Company’s employee stock purchase plan.
Valuation of Stock Options, Stock Purchase Rights and Restricted Stock Units
During the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, the weighted average fair value of the employee stock options granted was $1.76 and $3.84, respectively. The weighted average fair value of restricted stock units issued was $2.19 in the three months ended March 31, 2009. The Company did not issue any restricted stock units in the three months ended March 31, 2008. The weighted average fair value of stock purchase rights granted under the Company’s employee stock purchase plan was $3.10 and $3.44 during the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.
The estimated grant date fair values of the awards were calculated using the Black-Scholes valuation model, and the following assumptions:
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| | | | | | | | |
| | Three Months Ended |
| | March 31, |
| | 2009 | | 2008 |
Stock Option Plans | | | | | | | | |
Weighted-average expected term | | 5.0 years | | 5.0 years |
Expected volatility | | | 85 | % | | | 66 | % |
Risk-free interest rate | | | 1.68 | % | | | 2.84 | % |
Dividend yield | | | 0 | % | | | 0 | % |
| | | | | | | | |
Employee Stock Purchase Plan | | | | | | | | |
Weighted-average expected term | | 1.88 years | | 1.25 years |
Expected volatility | | | 70 | % | | | 66 | % |
Risk-free interest rate | | | 2.82 | % | | | 3.86 | % |
Dividend yield | | | 0 | % | | | 0 | % |
Restricted Stock UnitsThe estimated fair value of restricted stock units awards is calculated based on the market price of Alexza’s common stock on the date of grant, reduced by the present value of dividends expected to be paid on Alexza common stock prior to vesting of the restricted stock unit. The Company’s estimate assumes no dividends will be paid prior to the vesting of the restricted stock unit.
As of March 31, 2009, there were $7,870,000, $2,441,000 and $782,000 of total unrecognized compensation costs related to unvested stock option awards, unvested restricted stock units and stock purchase rights issued after January 1, 2006, respectively, which are expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.2 years, 1.4 years and 1.1 years, respectively.
There was no share-based compensation capitalized at March 31, 2009.
6. Net Loss per Share Attributable to Alexza Common Stockholders
Historical basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to Alexza common stockholders is calculated by dividing the net loss attributable to Alexza common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period. The following items were excluded in the net loss per share attributable to Alexza common stockholders calculation for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008 because the inclusion of such shares would have had an anti-dilutive effect:
| | | | | | | | |
| | Three Months Ended |
| | March 31, |
| | 2009 | | 2008 |
Stock options | | | 4,845,681 | | | | 3,299,291 | |
Restricted stock units | | | 1,085,815 | | | | 88,058 | |
Warrants to purchase common stock | | | 2,431,242 | | | | 2,390,720 | |
7. Restructuring Charges
In January 2009, the Company restructured its operations to focus its efforts on the continued rapid development of its AZ-004 (Staccatoloxapine) product candidate. The restructuring included a workforce reduction of 50 employees, representing approximately 33% of the Company’s total workforce. The Company incurred restructuring expenses related to employee severance and other termination benefits, including a non-cash charge related to modifications to share-based awards. The execution of the restructuring plan is expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2009, at which time the Company expects to incur approximately $142,000 of additional expenses. The restructuring accrual is recorded within other accrued expenses.
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The following table summarizes the accrual balance and utilization by cost type for the restructuring for the three months ended March 31, 2009 (in thousands):
| | | | |
| | Employee | |
| | Severance | |
| | and Other | |
| | Termination | |
| | Benefits | |
Balance as of January 1, 2009 | | $ | — | |
Restructuring charges accrued | | | 1,528 | |
Noncash share-based compensation charges | | | (55 | ) |
Cash payments | | | (1,171 | ) |
Adjustments | | | — | |
| | | |
Balance as of March 31, 2009 | | $ | 302 | |
| | | |
These charges exclude the expense of 8 employees who were identified for termination, however those 8 employees may be retained upon the satisfaction of certain milestones. If these milestones are not met, the termination expenses related to these individuals will be recognized in the second quarter of 2009.
8. Comprehensive Loss Attributed to Alexza Common Stockholders
Comprehensive loss is comprised of net loss and unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities. Total comprehensive loss for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008 is as follows (in thousands):
| | | | | | | | |
| | Three Months Ended | |
| | March 31, | |
| | 2009 | | | 2008 | |
Net loss | | $ | (6,904 | ) | | $ | (18,366 | ) |
Change in unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities | | | (32 | ) | | | 74 | |
| | | | | | |
Comprehensive loss | | | (6,936 | ) | | | (18,292 | ) |
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest in Symphony Allegro. Inc | | | 5,190 | | | | 3,757 | |
| | | | | | |
Comprehensive loss attributable to Alexza common stockholders | | $ | (1,746 | ) | | $ | (14,535 | ) |
| | | | | | |
9. Other Accrued Expenses
Other accrued expenses consisted of the following (in thousands):
| | | | | | | | |
| | March 31, | | | December 31, | |
| | 2009 | | | 2008 | |
Accrued compensation | | $ | 1,960 | | | $ | 4,012 | |
Accrued professional fees | | | 641 | | | | 439 | |
Accrued restructuring expenses | | | 302 | | | | — | |
Other | | | 791 | | | | 754 | |
| | | | | | |
Total | | $ | 3,694 | | | $ | 5,205 | |
| | | | | | |
10. Equipment Financing Obligations
The Company has outstanding borrowings under financing agreements to finance equipment purchases. Borrowings under the agreements are to be repaid in 36 to 48 monthly installments of principal and interest. The interest rate, which is fixed for each draw, is based on the U.S. Treasury securities of comparable maturities and ranges from 9.2% to 10.6%. The equipment purchased under each of the equipment financing agreements is pledged as security.
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Future principal payments under the equipment financing agreements as of March 31, 2009 are as follows (in thousands):
| | | | |
Remainder of 2009 | | $ | 2,931 | |
2010 | | | 2,088 | |
2011 | | | 427 | |
| | | |
Total | | $ | 5,446 | |
| | | |
11. Facility Leases
The Company leases two buildings with an aggregate of 106,894 square feet of manufacturing, office and laboratory facilities in Mountain View, California. The Company currently occupies 87,560 square feet of these facilities and subleases the remaining 19,334 square feet. In March 2009, the sublease agreement was amended to extend the expiration date to October 31, 2009. The Company recognizes rental expense on the facility on a straight line basis over the initial term of the lease. Differences between the straight line rent expense and rent payments are classified as deferred rent liability on the balance sheet. The lease for both facilities expires on March 31, 2018, and the Company has two options to extend the lease for five years each.
The Mountain View lease, as amended, included $15,964,000 of tenant improvement reimbursements from the landlord. The Company has recorded all tenant improvements as additions to property and equipment and is amortizing the improvements over the shorter of the estimated useful life of the improvement or the remaining life of the lease. The reimbursements received from the landlord are included in deferred rent liability and amortized over the life of the lease as a contra-expense.
In the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008 the Company incurred $807,000 and $1,898,000 of rent expense, net of sublease income, respectively.
12. License Agreements
Symphony Allegro, Inc.
On December 1, 2006 (the “Closing Date”), the Company entered into a series of related agreements with Symphony Capital LLC (“Symphony Capital”), Symphony Allegro Holdings LLC (“Holdings”) and Holdings’ wholly owned subsidiary Symphony Allegro, Inc., (“Allegro”) providing for the financing of the clinical development of its AZ-002,Staccatoalprazolam, and the AZ-004/104,Staccato loxapine, product candidates (the “Programs”). Symphony Capital and other investors (“Symphony”) invested $50 million in Holdings, which then invested the $50 million in Allegro. Pursuant to the agreements, Allegro agreed to invest up to the full $50 million to fund the clinical development of the Programs, and the Company licensed to Allegro certain intellectual property rights related to these Programs.
The Company continues to be primarily responsible for all preclinical, clinical and device development efforts, as well as maintenance of the intellectual property portfolio for the Programs. The Company has no further obligation beyond the items described above and the Company has no obligation to the creditors of Allegro as a result of the Company’s involvement with Allegro. The investments held by Allegro are to be used to fund the development of the Programs, and are not available for general corporate expenses. The Company issued to Holdings a five-year warrant to purchase 2,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at $9.91 per share. The warrant, issued upon closing, was assigned a value of $10.7 million using the Black-Scholes valuation model and has been recorded in additional paid in capital.
In consideration for the warrant, the Company received an exclusive purchase option (the “Purchase Option”) that gives the Company the right, but not the obligation, to acquire all, but not less than all, of the equity of Allegro, thereby allowing the Company to reacquire all of the Programs. This Purchase Option is exercisable at any time from December 1, 2007 to December 1, 2010, at predetermined prices that increase over time and range from $67.5 million starting December 31, 2007 to $122.5 million through December 1, 2010. As of March 31, 2009, the purchase option is $92.5 million. The Purchase Option exercise price may be paid for in cash or in a combination of cash and the Company’s common stock, at the Company’s sole discretion, provided that the common stock portion may not exceed 40% of the Purchase Option exercise price, or 10% of the Company’s common stock issued and outstanding as of the purchase option closing date.
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The Company consolidated the financial position and results of operations of Allegro in accordance with FASB Interpretation No. 46,Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities,(“FIN 46R”). The Company believes Allegro is by design a variable interest entity as the Company has a purchase option to acquire Allegro’s outstanding voting stock at prices that are fixed based upon the date the option is exercised. The fixed nature of the purchase option price limits Symphony’s returns, as the investor in Allegro. FIN 46R deems parties to be de facto agents if they cannot sell, transfer, or encumber their interests without the prior approval of an enterprise. Symphony Capital is considered to be a de facto agent of the Company’s pursuant to this provision, and because the Company and Symphony, as a related party group, absorb a majority of Allegro’s variability, the Company evaluated whether, pursuant to FIN 46R’s requirements, the Company is most closely associated with Allegro. The Company concluded that it is most closely associated with Allegro and should consolidate Allegro because (1) the Company originally developed the technology that was assigned to Allegro, (2) the Company will continue to oversee and monitor the development program, (3) the Company’s employees will continue to perform substantially all of the development work, (4) the Company significantly influenced the design of the responsibilities and corporate structure of Allegro, (5) Allegro’s operations are substantially similar to the Company’s activities, and (6) through the purchase option, the Company has the ability to meaningfully participate in the benefits of a successful development effort.
The noncontrolling interest in Symphony Allegro, Inc., as presented on the consolidated balance sheets, represents Symphony’s equity investment in Allegro of $50.0 million equity reduced by $10.7 million for the value of the Purchase Option, and by $2.85 million for a structuring fee and related expenses that the Company paid to Symphony Capital in connection with the closing of the Allegro transaction, resulting in the recording of a net noncontrolling interest of $36.5 million on the effective date. The Company has charged the losses incurred by Allegro to the noncontrolling interest in the determination of the net loss attributed to common stockholders in the consolidated statements of operations and the Company also reduced the noncontrolling interest in the consolidated balance sheets by Allegro’s losses. For the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, the net losses of Allegro charged to the non controlling interest were $5.2 million and $3.8 million, respectively.
Endo Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
On December 27, 2007, the effective date, the Company entered into a license, development and supply agreement (the “license agreement”), with Endo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Endo”) for AZ-003 (Staccatofentanyl) and the fentanyl class of molecules for North America. Under the terms of the License Agreement, Endo paid the Company a $10 million non-refundable upfront fee and Endo was obligated to pay potential additional milestone payments of up to $40 million upon achievement of predetermined regulatory and clinical milestones. Endo was also obligated to pay royalties to the Company on net sales of the product, from which the Company would be required to pay for the cost of goods for the manufacture of the commercial version of the product. Under the terms of the license agreement, the Company had primary responsibility for the development and costs of theStaccatoElectronic Multiple Dose device and the exclusive right to manufacture the product for clinical development and commercial supply. Endo had the responsibility for future pre-clinical, clinical and regulatory development, and, if AZ-003 was approved for marketing, for commercializing the product in North America. The Company recorded the $10 million upfront fee it received from Endo in January 2008 as deferred revenue. The Company was unable to allocate a fair value to the each of the deliverables outlined in the agreement and therefore accounted for the deliverables as a single unit of accounting. The Company began to recognize the $10 million upfront payment as revenue in the third quarter of 2008 over the estimated performance period of six years, resulting in revenues of $486,000 in 2008.
In January 2009, the Company and Endo mutually agreed to terminate the license agreement, with all rights to AZ-003 reverting back to the Company. The Company’s obligations under the license agreement were fulfilled upon the termination of the agreement, and the Company recognized the remaining deferred revenue during the three months ended March 31, 2009. The acceleration of the revenue recognition of the $10 million non-refundable upfront fee resulted in a decrease in net loss attributed to Alexza common stockholders of $0.28 per share during the three months ended March 31, 2009.
13. Manufacturing and Supply Agreement
On November 2, 2007, the Company entered into a Manufacturing and Supply Agreement, (“Supply Agreement”), with Autoliv ASP, Inc. relating to the commercial supply of heat packages that can be incorporated into itsStaccatodevice (the “Chemical Heat Packages”). Under the terms of the Supply
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Agreement, Autoliv will develop a manufacturing line capable of producing 10 million Chemical Heat packages a year. The Company will pay Autoliv $12 million upon the earlier of December 31, 2011 or 60 days after the approval by the Food and Drug Administration of a new drug application filed by the Company. If the Supply agreement is terminated by either party, the Company will be required to reimburse Autoliv up to $12 million for certain expenses related to the equipment and tooling used in the production and testing of the Chemical Heat Packages. Upon payment by the Company, Autoliv will be required to transfer possession and ownership of such equipment and tooling to the Company. Each quarter, the Company estimates the amount of work performed on the development of the manufacturing line and recognizes a portion of the total payment related to the manufacturing line as a capital asset and a corresponding non-current liability. As of March 31, 2009, the Company has recorded a fixed asset and a non-current liability of $960,000 related to its commitment to Autoliv for the development of the manufacturing line.
Autoliv has agreed to manufacture, assemble and test the Chemical Heat Packages solely for the Company in conformance with the Company’s specifications. The Company will pay Autoliv a specified purchase price, which varies based on annual quantities ordered by the Company, per Chemical Heat Package delivered. The initial term of the Supply Agreement expires on December 31, 2012 and may be extended by mutual written consent. The Supply Agreement provides that during the term of the Supply Agreement, Autoliv will be the Company’s exclusive supplier of the Chemical Heat Packages. In addition, the Supply Agreement grants Autoliv the right to negotiate for the right to supply commercially any second generation chemical heat package (a “Second Generation Product”) and provides that the Company will pay Autoliv certain royalty payments if the Company manufactures Second Generation Products itself or if the Company obtains Second Generation Products from a third party manufacturer. Upon the expiration or termination of the Supply Agreement, the Company will be required, on an ongoing basis, to pay Autoliv certain royalty payments related to the manufacture of the Chemical Heat Packages by the Company or third party manufacturers.
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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
This Quarterly Report onForm 10-Q contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are subject to the “safe harbor” created by those sections. Forward-looking statements are based on our management’s beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to our management. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “expect,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “projects,” “predicts,” “potential” and similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements. Examples of these statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding: the prospects of us receiving approval to market AZ-004, our anticipated timing for filing or receiving approval for our New Drug Application for AZ-004, the implications of interim or final results of our clinical trials, the progress of our research programs, including clinical testing, the extent to which our issued and pending patents may protect our products and technology, the potential of such product candidates to lead to the development of commercial products, our anticipated timing for initiation or completion of our clinical trials for our product candidates, our future operating expenses, our future losses, our future expenditures and the sufficiency of our cash resources. Our actual results could differ materially from those discussed in our forward-looking statements for many reasons, including the risks faced by us and described in Part II, Item 1A of this Quarterly Report onForm 10-Q and our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which apply only as of the date of this Quarterly Report onForm 10-Q. You should read this Quarterly Report onForm 10-Q completely and with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from what we expect. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements publicly, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.
The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the unaudited financial statements and notes thereto included in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report onForm 10-Q.
The names “Alexza” and “Staccato” are trademarks of Alexza Pharmaceuticals, Inc. We have registered the trademarks “Alexza Pharmaceuticals,” “Alexza” and “Staccato” with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. All other trademarks, trade names and service marks appearing in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are the property of their respective owners.
Overview
We are a pharmaceutical development company focused on the research, development, and commercialization of novel proprietary products for the acute treatment of central nervous system, or CNS, conditions. All of our product candidates are based on our proprietary technology, theStaccatosystem. TheStaccatosystem, vaporizes an excipient-free drug to form a condensation aerosol that, when inhaled, allows for rapid systemic drug delivery. Because of the particle size of the aerosol, the drug is quickly absorbed through the deep lung into the bloodstream, providing speed of therapeutic onset that is comparable to intravenous, or IV, administration but with greater ease, patient comfort and convenience. We currently have six product candidates in various stages of clinical development, ranging from Phase 1 through late-stage Phase 3. In 2009, our focus is on the continued rapid development of AZ-004, with a goal of submitting our AZ-004 New Drug Application, or NDA, in the first quarter of 2010.
We have identified approximately 200 drug compounds that have demonstrated initial vaporization feasibility for delivery with our technology. We believe that a number of these drug compounds, when delivered by theStaccatosystem, will have a desirable therapeutic profile for the treatment of acute and intermittent conditions. We are initially focusing on developing proprietary products by combining ourStaccatosystem with small molecule drugs that have been in use for many years and are well characterized to create aerosolized forms of these drugs. We believe that we will be able to reduce the development time and risks associated with our product candidates, compared to the development of new chemical entities.
Our clinical-stage product candidates are:
| • | | AZ-004 (Staccato loxapine).We are developing AZ-004 for the acute treatment of agitation in patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. In 2008, we successfully initiated, enrolled and |
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| | | completed our two pivotal Phase 3 clinical trials. We announced positive results from these two studies in September and December 2008. During 2009, we have five non-pivotal safety and NDA-supporting studies to conduct, which will complete our NDA clinical work. During the first quarter, we completed a Phase 1 placebo-controlled study in 30 healthy subjects to assess the pulmonary safety of AZ-004. We observed that AZ-004, administered twice within a 24 hour period, was safe and generally well tolerated in this study. There were no systematic effects on pulmonary function vs. placebo, and no respiratory adverse events. In April 2009, we initiated a thorough QTc study in healthy subjects and a smoker/non-smoker pharmacokinetic study in healthy subjects. We expect to initiate the remaining two studies during the second quarter of 2009 and project that all of our NDA clinical work will be completed by the end of the third quarter of 2009. We project our AZ-004 NDA submission in the first quarter of 2010. |
| | | AZ-004 has been licensed to Symphony Allegro, Inc., or Symphony Allegro, and we have the right to repurchase all rights to this product candidate. |
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| • | | AZ-104(Staccato loxapine).We are developing AZ-104 to treat patients suffering from acute migraine headaches. AZ-104 is a lower-dose version of AZ-004. AZ-104 has completed a Phase 2a in-clinic study and we initiated an out-patient Phase 2b clinical trial in January 2009. We project that data from this Phase 2b study will be announced before the end of the third quarter of 2009. AZ-104 has been licensed to Symphony Allegro, and we have the right to repurchase all rights to this product candidate. |
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| • | | AZ-001 (Staccato prochlorperazine).We are developing AZ-001 to treat patients suffering from acute migraine headaches. During the third quarter of 2008, we conducted an end-of-Phase 2 meeting with the FDA. We believe we have a clear understanding of the development requirements for filing an NDA for this product candidate. We do not intend to conduct any AZ-001 Phase 3 studies without a partner, and we are continuing to seek partners for our twoStaccatomigraine product candidates, AZ-001 and AZ-104. |
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| • | | AZ-007(Staccato zaleplon).We are developing AZ-007 for the treatment of insomnia in patients who have difficulty falling asleep, including patients who awake in the middle of the night and have difficulty falling back asleep. AZ-007 has completed Phase 1 testing and we announced positive results form this study. During 2009, we do not intend to conduct any AZ-007 Phase 2 studies without a partner. |
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| • | | AZ-003(Staccato fentanyl).We are developing AZ-003 for the treatment of patients with acute pain, including patients with breakthrough cancer pain and postoperative patients with acute pain episodes. We have completed and announced positive results from a Phase 1 clinical trial of AZ-003 in opioid naïve healthy subjects. |
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| | | In December 2007, we entered into a license, development and supply agreement, or the license agreement, with Endo Pharmaceuticals, Inc., or Endo, for AZ-003 and the fentanyl class of molecules for North America. Under the terms of the license agreement, Endo paid us an non-refundable upfront fee of $10 million, and was obligated to pay potential additional milestone and royalty payments. In January 2009, we mutually agreed with Endo to terminate the license agreement, with all rights to AZ-003 reverting back to us. We recorded the $10 million upfront fee we received from Endo in January 2008 as deferred revenue and began to recognize this revenue in the third quarter of 2008 over the estimated performance period of six years, resulting in revenue of $486,000 in 2008. Our obligations under the license agreement were fulfilled upon the termination of the agreement in January 2009 and we recognized the remaining deferred revenue in the three months ended March 31, 2009. We do not expect to pursue the development of AZ-003 without a partner. |
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| • | | AZ-002 (Staccato alprazolam).AZ-002 has completed a Phase 1 clinical trial in healthy subjects and a Phase 2a proof-of-concept clinical trial in panic disorder patients for the treatment of panic attacks, an indication we are not planning to pursue. However, given the safety profile, the successful and reproducible delivery of alprazolam, and the IV-like pharmacological effect demonstrated to date, we and Symphony Allegro are assessing AZ-002 for other possible indications and renewed clinical development. AZ-002 has been licensed to Symphony Allegro, and we have the right to repurchase all rights to this product candidate. |
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In December 2006, we entered into a transaction involving a series of related agreements providing for the financing of additional clinical and nonclinical development of AZ-002,Staccato alprazolam, and AZ-004/AZ-104,Staccatoloxapine. Pursuant to the agreements, Symphony Capital LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Symphony Holdings LLC, and its investors have invested $50 million to form Symphony Allegro to fund additional clinical and nonclinical development ofStaccato alprazolam andStaccatoloxapine. We have exclusively licensed to Symphony Allegro certain intellectual property rights related toStaccatoalprazolam andStaccatoloxapine. We have retained manufacturing rights to these product candidates. We continue to be primarily responsible for the development of these product candidates in accordance with a development plan and related development budgets, and we have incurred and may continue to incur expenses that are not funded by Symphony Allegro. Pursuant to the agreements, we have received an exclusive purchase option that gives us the right, but not the obligation, to acquire all, but not less than all, of the equity of Symphony Allegro, and reacquire the intellectual property rights that we licensed to Symphony Allegro. This purchase option is exercisable at predetermined prices between $92.5 million at March 31, 2009 and $122.5 million at December 1, 2010. The purchase option exercise price may be paid for in cash or in a combination of cash and our common stock, at our sole discretion, provided that the common stock portion may not exceed 40% of the purchase option exercise price or 10% of our common stock issued and outstanding as of the purchase option closing date. If we pay a portion of the purchase option exercise price in shares of our common stock, then we will be required to register such shares for resale under a resale registration statement pursuant to the terms of a registration rights agreement. If we do not exercise our purchase option by December 1, 2010, then Symphony Allegro will retain its exclusive license to develop and commercializeStaccatoalprazolam andStaccatoloxapine for all indications, and we will maintain exclusive rights to manufacture and sellStaccatoalprazolam andStaccatoloxapine to Symphony Allegro or its sublicensee for those purposes. Pursuant to a warrant purchase agreement, we issued to Symphony Allegro Holdings, LLC a warrant with a five-year term to purchase 2,000,000 shares of our common stock at $9.91 per share, also paid a transaction structuring fee of $2.5 million, and reimbursed approximately $329,000 of Symphony Allegro transaction fees.
We have retained all other rights to our product candidates and theStaccatosystem. We are seeking a partner in the United States for our lead product candidate, AZ-004, and intend to retain co-promotion rights in the United States. We eventually plan to build a United States-based specialty sales force to commercialize our product candidates which are approved for marketing and which are intended for specialty pharmaceutical markets. We plan to enter into strategic partnerships with other companies to commercialize products that are intended for certain markets in the United States and for all of our product candidates in geographic territories outside the United States.
In March 2008, we obtained a committed equity line of credit under which we may sell, subject to certain limitations, up to $50 million of our registered common stock to Azimuth Opportunity, Ltd., or Azimuth, over a 24-month period. We are not obligated to utilize any of the $50 million equity line of credit. We will determine, at our sole discretion, the timing, the dollar amount and the price per share of each draw under this equity line of credit, subject to certain conditions. When and if we elect to use the equity line of credit, we will issue shares to Azimuth at a discount between 4.15% and 6.00% to the volume weighted average price of our common stock over a preceding period of trading days. Azimuth is not required to purchase any shares at a price below $5.00 per share. At May 4, 2009, our stock price was $1.58. Any shares sold under this facility will be sold pursuant to a shelf registration statement declared effective by the SEC, on April 16, 2007. We have not sold any shares under this agreement as of March 31, 2009.
In March 2008, we sold 1,250,000 shares of our registered common stock to Biomedical Sciences Investment Fund Pte. Ltd, or Bio*One, at a price of $8.00 per share and issued a warrant to Bio*One to purchase up to $3 million of additional shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $8.00 per share. The agreement contained certain conditions, in which Bio*One was eligible to receive 135,041 additional shares of our registered common stock and an adjustment to the exercise price of the warrant, which would adjust the effective purchase price paid or payable by Bio*One to $7.22 per share. We did not meet these conditions, and in January 2009 we issued Bio*One 135,041 additional registered shares of our common stock and the warrant’s exercise price was automatically adjusted to give Bio*One the right to purchase 415,522 shares at a $7.22 per share exercise price. In addition, we committed to initiate and maintain manufacturing operations in Singapore. The warrant became exercisable only if we terminated operations in Singapore or did not achieve certain performance milestones. In December 2008, we did not achieve a specified performance milestone, at which time the warrant became fully exercisable. All securities sold to
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Bio*One were sold pursuant to a shelf registration statement declared effective by the SEC on April 16, 2007.
We were incorporated December 19, 2000. We have funded our operations primarily through the sale of equity securities, capital lease and equipment financings and government grants. We have generated $16.9 million in revenues from inception through March 31, 2009, substantially all of which was earned through the license agreement with Endo and through United States Small Business Innovation Research grants. In prior years we have recognized governmental grant revenue and drug compound feasibility revenue, however, we expect no grant revenue or drug compound feasibility screening revenue in 2009. In January 2009, we and Endo mutually terminated the license agreement, at which time we fully fulfilled our obligations under the license agreement, and recognized the remaining $9.5 million of deferred revenues into revenues during the three months ended March 31, 2009. We do not expect any material product revenue until at least 2011.
We have incurred significant losses since our inception. As of March 31, 2009, our deficit accumulated during development stage was $224.3 million and total stockholders’ equity was $34.1 million. We recognized net losses of $6.9 million during the three months ended March 31, 2009 and $77.0 million, $55.9 million, and $43.5 million, during the year ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. In January 2009, we consolidated our operations to primarily focus our efforts on the continued rapid development of AZ-004. As part of the reorganization, we reduced our total workforce by 33%, and we mutually agreed with Endo to terminate the license agreement for our AZ-003 product. We anticipate that this consolidation will reduce 2009 operating expenses by $21.5 million from the 2008 operating expenses.
The process of conducting preclinical studies and clinical trials necessary to obtain FDA approval is costly and time consuming. We consider the development of our product candidates to be crucial to our long term success. If we do not complete development of our product candidates and obtain regulatory approval to market one or more of these product candidates, we may be forced to cease operations. The probability of success for each product candidate may be impacted by numerous factors, including preclinical data, clinical data, competition, device development, manufacturing capability, regulatory approval and commercial viability. Our strategy is to focus our resources on AZ-004. We expect to file an NDA for this product candidate in the first quarter of 2010. We have announced that we are seeking partnerships to continue development of our other programs. If in the future we enter into additional partnerships, third parties could have control over preclinical development or clinical trials for some of our product candidates. Accordingly, the progress of such product candidate would not be under our control. We cannot forecast with any degree of certainty which of our product candidates, if any, will be subject to any future partnerships or how such arrangements would affect our development plans or capital requirements.
As a result of the uncertainties discussed above, the uncertainty associated with clinical trial enrollments, and the risks inherent in the development process, we are unable to determine the duration and completion costs of the current or future clinical stages of our product candidates or when, or to what extent, we will generate revenues from the commercialization and sale of any of our product candidates. Development timelines, probability of success and development costs vary widely. While we are currently focused on developing our product candidates, we anticipate that we and our partners, will make determinations as to which programs to pursue and how much funding to direct to each program on an ongoing basis in response to the scientific and clinical success of each product candidate, as well as an ongoing assessment as to the product candidate’s commercial potential. We do not expect any of our current product candidates to be commercially available before 2011, if at all.
We anticipate that with current cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities along with interest earned thereon, expected payments from Symphony Allegro, the proceeds from option exercises, and purchases of common stock pursuant to our Employee Stock Purchase Plan, we will be able to maintain our currently planned operations through the end of the first quarter of 2010. Changing circumstances may cause us to consume capital significantly faster or slower than we currently anticipate.
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Results of Operations
Comparison of Three Months Ended March 31, 2009 and 2008
Revenue
We had $9.5 million of revenues in the three months ended March 31, 2009, which represented revenues related to the license agreement with Endo. In the third quarter of 2008, we began to recognize revenues related to the Endo license agreement. In January 2009, we mutually agreed with Endo to terminate the agreement, at which time we fulfilled our obligations under the agreement, and recognized the remaining $9.5 million of deferred revenues into revenues. We had no revenues in the three months ended March 31, 2008. In prior years we have recognized governmental grant revenue and drug compound feasibility revenue, however, we expect no grant revenue or drug compound feasibility screening revenue in 2009.
Operating Expenses
Our operating expenses were affected by our prospective method of adoption of SFAS 123R. As a result, we believe reviewing our operating expenses both inclusive and exclusive of share-based compensation provides a better understanding of the growth of our operations. The impact of share-based compensation on operating expenses is outlined as follows (in thousands):
| | | | | | | | |
| | Three Months Ended | |
| | March 31, | |
| | 2009 | | | 2008 | |
Operating expenses without share-based compensation expenses: | | | | | | | | |
Research and development | | $ | 10,283 | | | $ | 13,977 | |
General and administrative | | | 3,211 | | | | 3,987 | |
Restructuring charges | | | 1,473 | | | | — | |
| | | | | | |
Total operating expenses without share-based compensation expenses | | | 14,967 | | | | 17,964 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Share-based compensation expenses: | | | | | | | | |
Research and development | | | 682 | | | | 716 | |
General and administrative | | | 653 | | | | 475 | |
Restructuring charges | | | 55 | | | | — | |
| | | | | | |
Total share-based compensation expenses | | | 1,390 | | | | 1,191 | |
| | | | | | |
Total operating expenses | | $ | 16,357 | | | $ | 19,155 | |
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Research and Development Expenses
Research and development costs are identified as either directly attributable to one of our lead product candidates or as general research. Direct costs consist of personnel costs directly associated with a candidate, preclinical study costs, clinical trial costs, related clinical drug and device development and manufacturing costs, contract services and other research expenditures. Overhead, facility costs and other support service expenses are allocated to each candidate or to general research, and the allocation is based on employee time spent on each program.
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The following table summarizes our expenditures on each candidate based on our internal records and estimated allocations of employee time and related expenses (in thousands):
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | From | |
| | | | | | | | | | December 19, | |
| | | | | | | | | | 2000 | |
| | Three Months Ended | | | (inception) to | |
| | March 31, | | | March 31, | |
| | 2009 | | | 2008 | | | 2009 | |
Preclinical and clinical development | | | | | | | | | | | | |
AZ-004/104 | | $ | 6,967 | | | $ | 4,464 | | | $ | 58,659 | |
AZ-001 | | | — | | | | 501 | | | | 39,372 | |
AZ-002 | | | 64 | | | | 378 | | | | 15,074 | |
AZ-003 | | | 1,540 | | | | 3,265 | | | | 31,434 | |
AZ-007 | | | — | | | | 1,140 | | | | 12,371 | |
Other preclinical programs | | | — | | | | — | | | | 3,243 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Total preclinical and clinical development | | | 8,571 | | | | 9,748 | | | | 160,153 | |
Research | | | 2,394 | | | | 4,945 | | | | 55,495 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Total research and development | | $ | 10,965 | | | $ | 14,693 | | | $ | 215,648 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Research and development expenses were $11.0 million and $14.7 million during the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively, representing a 25% decrease. The decrease was due primarily to:
| • | | decreased spending on our AZ-003 product candidate in connection with the termination of the license agreement with Endo in January 2009; and |
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| • | | the suspension of the development of our AZ-001, AZ-002 and AZ-007 product candidates and basic research in connection with our decision to focus our resources on our AZ-004 product candidate. |
These decreases were partially offset by:
| • | | increased spending on our AZ-004/104 product candidates as we continued our development of these product candidates under the Symphony Allegro agreement, including our efforts to support an NDA filing for AZ-004 and the AZ104 Phase 2b clinical trial. |
We expect research and development expenses to remain relatively consistent with first quarter 2009 levels. However, the timing of our research and development expenses are significantly impacted by the timing of enrollment in our clinical trials, and our expenses may be higher or lower than expected based on these enrolment rates. We do not expect to expend any substantial amounts on AZ-003 in 2009 and we do not intend to continue development of AZ-001, AZ-002, and AZ-007 unless we can partner the programs.
General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses were $3.9 million and $4.5 million during the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively, a 13% decrease. The decrease in general and administrative expenses was primarily due to decreased headcount expenses as a result of our restructuring in January 2009, reduced facility expenses as we were completing our move to our Mountain View facility in the first half of 2008, and our efforts to reduce third party costs to conserve cash balances.
We expect our general and administrative expenses in 2009 to decrease from 2008 levels due to the lower headcount and our efforts to reduce certain expenses such as travel and outside consultancy.
Restructuring Charges
In January 2009, we restructured our operations to focus our efforts on the continued rapid development of our AZ-004 (Staccatoloxapine) product candidate. The restructuring included a workforce reduction of 50 employees, representing approximately 33% of our total workforce. We incurred restructuring expenses related to employee severance and other termination benefits, including a non-cash charge related to
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modifications to share-based awards. The execution of the restructuring plan is expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2009. The restructuring accrual is recorded within other accrued expenses.
The following table summarizes the accrual balance and utilization by cost type for the restructuring for the three months ended March 31, 2009 (in thousands):
| | | | |
| | Employee | |
| | Severance | |
| | and Other | |
| | Termination | |
| | Benefits | |
Balance as of January 1, 2009 | | $ | — | |
Restructuring charges accrued | | | 1,528 | |
Noncash share-based compensation charges | | | (55 | ) |
Cash payments | | | (1,171 | ) |
Adjustments | | | — | |
| | | |
Balance as of March 31, 2009 | | $ | 302 | |
| | | |
These charges exclude the expense of 8 employees who were identified for termination, however, those 8 employees may be retained upon the satisfaction of certain milestones. If these milestones are not met, the termination expenses related to these individuals will be recognized in the second quarter of 2009.
Interest and Other Income, Net and Interest Expense
Interest and other income was $97,000 and $1,080,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively, representing income earned on our cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities and on investments held by Symphony Allegro, Inc. The decrease was primarily due to lower average cash, cash equivalent and marketable securities balances as well as lower interest earned on those balances. We expect interest income to continue to decrease in future periods as we expect decreases in our cash, cash equivalent and marketable securities balances as well as decreases in investments held by Symphony Allegro.
Interest expense was $158,000 and $291,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively, representing interest on our equipment financing obligations. Interest expense decreased due to lower balances on our equipment financing obligations as we had no such borrowing in 2008 or during the three months ended March 31, 2009.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Since inception, we have financed our operations primarily through private placements and public offerings of equity securities, receiving aggregate net proceeds from such sales totaling $225.4 million, revenues primarily from the Endo agreement and government grants totaling $16.9 million, and payments from Symphony Allegro We have received additional funding from equipment financing obligations, interest earned on investments, as described below, and funds received upon exercises of stock options and exercises of purchase rights under our Employee Stock Purchase Plan. As of March 31, 2009, we had $23.1 million in cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities and $17.6 million of investments held by Symphony Allegro. The investments held by Symphony Allegro are used to fund the development of AZ-002, AZ-004 and AZ-104 and are not available for general corporate expenses. Our cash and marketable securities balances are held in a variety of interest bearing instruments, including obligations of United States government agencies, high credit rating corporate borrowers and money market accounts. Investments held by Symphony Allegro consist of investments in a money market fund that invests primarily in domestic commercial paper, securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies, U.S. and Yankee bank obligations and fully collateralized repurchase agreements. Cash in excess of immediate requirements is invested with regard to liquidity and capital preservation.
Cash Flows from Operating Activities.Net cash used in operating activities was $16.0 million and $5.2 million during the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The net cash used in the three months ended March 31, 2009 primarily reflects the net loss of $6.9 million, net of non-cash share-based compensation expense of $2.0 million and depreciation of $1.3 million and the decrease in
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deferred revenues related to the termination of the license agreement with Endo of $9.5 million and decreases in accrued clinical and other accrued expenses $2.2 million.
The net cash used in the three months ended March 31, 2008 primarily reflects the net loss of $18.4 million, net of depreciation of $1.4 million and non-cash share based compensation expense of $1.4 million, and the decrease in accounts payable of $2.0 million. These decreases were, partially offset by the decrease in other receivables of $10.7 million which primarily reflected the receipt of $10 million from Endo.
Cash Flows from Investing Activities.Net cash provided by investing activities was $11.8 million and $2.1 million during the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Investing activities consist primarily of purchases and sales/maturities of marketable securities and capital purchases. During the three months ended March 31, 2009, we had sales/maturities of marketable securities, net of purchases, of $8.9 million, maturities of available-for-sale securities held by Symphony Allegro of $3.7 million, and purchases of property and equipment of $0.9 million, primarily consisting of equipment purchases.
During the three months ended March 31, 2008, we had purchases of marketable securities, net of sales/maturities, of $0.2 million, and purchases of property and equipment of $1.2 million, consisting primarily of tenant improvements for our Mountain View facility, and maturities of available-for-sale securities held by Symphony Allegro of $3.5 million.
Cash Flows from Financing Activities. Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities was $(1.2) million and $8.8 million during the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Cash flows from financing activities have generally consisted of proceeds from the issuance of our common stock and net proceeds from our equipment financing agreements. In 2009 and 2008, payments on our equipment financing obligations were $1.2 million and $1.1 million, respectively. In March 2008 we issued 1,250,000 shares of common stock and a warrant exercisable for 375,000 shares of common stock in a private offering resulting in net proceeds of $9.8 million.
We believe that with current cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities along with interest earned thereon, the expected payments from Symphony Allegro, the proceeds from option exercises, and purchases of common stock pursuant to our Employee Stock Purchase Plan, we will be able to maintain our currently planned operations through the first quarter of 2010. Changing circumstances may cause us to consume capital significantly faster or slower than we currently anticipate. We have based these estimates on assumptions that may prove to be wrong, and we could utilize our available financial resources sooner than we currently expect. The key assumptions underlying these estimates include:
| • | | expenditures related to continued preclinical and clinical development of our lead product candidates during this period within budgeted levels; |
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| • | | the timing and amount of payments from Symphony Allegro; |
|
| • | | no unexpected costs related to the development of our manufacturing capability; and |
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| • | | no growth in the number of our employees during this period. |
Our forecast of the period of time that our financial resources will be adequate to support operations is a forward-looking statement and involves risks and uncertainties, and actual results could vary as a result of a number of factors, including the factors discussed in “Risk Factors.” In light of the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with the development and commercialization of our product candidates and the extent to which we enter into strategic partnerships with third parties to participate in their development and commercialization, we are unable to estimate the amounts of increased capital outlays and operating expenditures associated with our current and anticipated clinical trials. Our future funding requirements will depend on many factors, including:
| • | | the scope, rate of progress, results and costs of our preclinical studies, clinical trials and other research and development activities; |
|
| • | | the terms and timing of any distribution, strategic partnerships or licensing agreements that we may establish; |
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| • | | the terms and timing of any repurchase of rights from Symphony Allegro, which ranges from $92.5 million at March 31, 2009 to $122.5 million through December 1, 2010; |
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| • | | our ability to draw on our equity line of credit with Azimuth; |
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| • | | the cost, timing and outcomes of regulatory approvals; |
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| • | | the number and characteristics of product candidates that we pursue; |
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| • | | the cost and timing of establishing manufacturing, marketing and sales capabilities; |
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| • | | the cost of establishing clinical and commercial supplies of our product candidates; |
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| • | | the cost of preparing, filing, prosecuting, defending and enforcing any patent claims and other intellectual property rights; and |
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| • | | the extent to which we acquire or invest in businesses, products or technologies, although we currently have no commitments or agreements relating to any of these types of transactions. |
In March 2008, we obtained a committed equity line of credit under which we may sell, subject to certain limitations, up to $50 million of our registered common stock to Azimuth Opportunity, Ltd., or Azimuth, over a 24-month period. We are not obligated to utilize any of the $50 million equity line of credit. We will determine, at our sole discretion, the timing, the dollar amount and the price per share of each draw under this equity line of credit, subject to certain conditions. When and if we elect to use the equity line of credit, we will issue shares to Azimuth at a discount between 4.15% and 6.00% to the volume weighted average price of our common stock over a preceding period of trading days. Azimuth is not required to purchase any shares at a price below $5.00 per share. At May 4, 2009, our stock price was $1.58.
We will need to raise additional funds to support our operations, and such funding may not be available to us on acceptable terms, or at all. If we are unable to raise additional funds when needed, we may not be able to continue development of our product candidates or we could be required to delay, scale back or eliminate some or all of our development programs and other operations. We may seek to raise additional funds through public or private financing, strategic partnerships or other arrangements. Any additional equity financing may be dilutive to stockholders and debt financing, if available, may involve restrictive covenants. If we raise funds through collaborative or licensing arrangements, we may be required to relinquish, on terms that are not favorable to us, rights to some of our technologies or product candidates that we would otherwise seek to develop or commercialize ourselves. Our failure to raise capital when needed may harm our business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects.
Contractual Obligations
We lease two buildings with an aggregate of 106,894 square feet of manufacturing, office and laboratory facilities in Mountain View, California, which we began to occupy in the fourth quarter of 2007. We currently occupy 87,560 square feet of these facilities and sublease the remaining 19,334 square feet. The lease for both facilities expires on March 31, 2018, and we have two options to extend the lease for five years each. Our sublease agreement, as amended, expires on October 31, 2009.
We have financed a portion of our equipment purchases through various equipment financing agreements. Under the agreements, equipment advances are to be repaid in 36 to 48 monthly installments of principal and interest. The interest rate, which is fixed for each draw, is based on the U.S. Treasury securities of comparable maturities and ranges from 9.2% to 10.6%. The equipment purchased under the equipment financing agreement is pledged as security.
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Our future contractual payments, net of sublease income, including interest, are as follows (in thousands):
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Operating | | | Equipment | | | | |
| | Lease | | | Financing | | | | |
| | Agreements | | | Obligations | | | Total | |
2009 — remaining 9 months | | $ | 4,382 | | | $ | 3,428 | | | $ | 7,810 | |
2010 | | | 5,016 | | | | 2,226 | | | | 7,242 | |
2011 | | | 5,138 | | | | 443 | | | | 5,581 | |
2012 | | | 5,263 | | | | — | | | | 5,263 | |
2013 | | | 4,919 | | | | — | | | | 4,919 | |
Thereafter | | | 20,792 | | | | — | | | | 20,792 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Total | | $ | 45,510 | | | $ | 6,097 | | | $ | 51,607 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
On November 2, 2007, we entered into a manufacturing and supply agreement, or the supply agreement, with Autoliv ASP, Inc, or Autoliv, relating to the commercial supply of chemical heat packages that can be incorporated into ourStaccatodevice. Autoliv had developed these chemical heat packages for us pursuant to a development agreement between Autoliv and us executed in October 2005. Under the terms of the supply agreement, Autoliv will develop a manufacturing line capable of producing 10 million chemical heat packages a year. We will pay Autoliv $12 million upon the earlier of December 31, 2011 or 60 days after the approval by the Food and Drug Administration of a new drug application filed by us. If the agreement is terminated by either party, we will be required to reimburse Autoliv up to $12 million for certain expenses related to the equipment and tooling used in the production and testing of the chemical heat packages. Upon payment by us Autoliv will be required to transfer possession and ownership of such equipment and tooling to us. Each quarter, we estimate the amount of work performed on the development of the manufacturing line and recognize a portion of the total payment related to the manufacturing line as a capital asset and a corresponding non-current liability. As of March 31, 2009, we recorded a fixed asset and a non-current liability of $960,000 related to our commitment to Autoliv for the development of the manufacturing line. Autoliv has also agreed to manufacture, assemble and test the chemical heat packages solely for us in conformance with our specifications. We will pay Autoliv a specified purchase price, which varies based on annual quantities ordered by us, per chemical heat package delivered. The initial term of the supply agreement expires on December 31, 2012 and may be extended by written mutual consent.
Critical Accounting Estimates and Judgments
Our management’s discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based on our financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments 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 reported revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates and judgments related to development costs. 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 assumptions 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.
While our significant accounting policies are more fully described in Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements on our annual report on Form 10-K as filed with the SEC on March 10, 2009, we believe the following accounting policies are critical to the process of making significant estimates and judgments in preparation of our financial statements.
Preclinical Study and Clinical Trial Accruals
We estimate our preclinical study and clinical trial expenses based on our estimates of the services received pursuant to contracts with multiple research institutions and clinical research organizations that conduct and manage preclinical studies and clinical trials on our behalf. The financial terms of these agreements vary from contract to contract and may result in uneven payment flows. Preclinical study and clinical trial expenses include the following:
| • | | fees paid to contract research organizations in connection with preclinical studies; |
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| • | | fees paid to contract research organizations and other clinical sites in connection with clinical trials; and |
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| • | | fees paid to contract manufacturers in connection with the production of components and drug materials for preclinical studies and clinical trials. |
We record accruals for these preclinical study and clinical trial costs based upon the estimated amount of work completed. All such costs are charged to research and development expenses based on these estimates. Costs related to patient enrollment in clinical trials are accrued as patients are entered in the trial. We monitor patient enrollment levels and related activities to the extent possible through internal reviews, correspondence and discussions with research institutions and organizations. However, if we have incomplete or inaccurate information, we may underestimate or overestimate activity levels associated with various preclinical studies and clinical trials at a given point in time. In this event, we could record significant research and development expenses in future periods when the actual activity level becomes known. To date, we have not made any material adjustments to our estimates of preclinical study and clinical trial costs. We make good faith estimates which we believe to be accurate, but the actual costs and timing of clinical trials are highly uncertain, subject to risk and may change depending upon a number of factors, including our clinical development plan.
Share-Based Compensation
On January 1, 2006, we adopted the fair value recognition provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 123R,Share-Based Payment, or SFAS 123R. As required, we adopted SFAS 123R using the prospective transition method. Under this transition method, beginning January 1, 2006, compensation cost recognized includes: (a) compensation cost for share-based payments granted prior to, but not yet vested as of December 31, 2005 related to (i) employees, based on the intrinsic value in accordance with the provisions of Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25,Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees, or APB 25, and (ii) non-employees based on the options fair value in accordance with the provisions of SFAS 123, and (b) compensation cost for all share-based payments granted or modified subsequent to December 31, 2005, based on the grant-date fair value estimated in accordance with the provisions of SFAS 123R.
We currently use the Black-Scholes option pricing model to determine the fair value of stock options and purchase rights issued under the employee stock purchase plan. The determination of the fair value of share-based payment awards on the date of grant using an option-pricing model is affected by our stock price as well as assumptions regarding a number of complex and subjective variables. These variables include our expected stock price volatility over the term of the awards, actual and projected employee stock option exercise behaviors, risk-free interest rates and expected dividends.
The estimated fair value of restricted stock unit awards is calculated based on the market price of our common stock on the date of grant, reduced by the present value of dividends expected to be paid on our common stock prior to vesting of the restricted stock unit. Our current estimate assumes no dividends will be paid prior to the vesting of the restricted stock unit.
We estimated the expected term of options based on the historical term periods of options that have been granted but are no longer outstanding and the estimated terms of outstanding options. We estimated the volatility of our stock based on our actual historical volatility since our initial public offering. We base the risk-free interest rate that we use in the option pricing model on U.S. Treasury zero-coupon issues with remaining terms similar to the expected term on the options. We do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future and therefore use an expected dividend yield of zero in the option pricing model.
We are required to estimate forfeitures at the time of grant and revise those estimates in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. We use historical data to estimate pre-vesting option forfeitures and record share-based compensation expense only for those awards that are expected to vest. All share-based payment awards are amortized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service periods of the awards, which are generally the vesting periods.
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If factors change and we employ different assumptions for estimating share-based compensation expense in future periods or if we decide to use a different valuation model, the expenses in future periods may differ significantly from what we have recorded in the current period and could materially affect our operating loss, net loss and net loss per share.
See Note 5 to the consolidated financial statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for further information regarding the SFAS 123R disclosures.
Symphony Allegro, Inc.
On December 1, 2006 we entered into a transaction involving a series of related agreements with Symphony Capital LLC, or Symphony Capital, Symphony Allegro Holdings LLC, or Holdings, and Holdings’ wholly owned subsidiary Symphony Allegro, Inc., or Allegro, to fund the clinical development of AZ-002,Staccatoalprazolam, and AZ-004/104,Staccatoloxapine, or the programs. Symphony Capital and other investors, together referred to as Symphony, invested $50 million in Holdings, which then invested the $50 million in Allegro. Pursuant to the agreements, Allegro agreed to invest up to the full $50 million to fund the clinical development of the programs, and we licensed to Allegro certain intellectual property rights related to these programs. We have retained manufacturing rights to these product candidates. Pursuant to the agreements, we continue to be primarily responsible for all preclinical, clinical and device development efforts as well as maintenance of the intellectual property portfolio for the programs. We and Allegro have established a development committee to oversee the programs. We participate in the development committee and have the right to appoint one of the five board of director seats of Allegro. We have incurred and may continue to incur expenses related to the programs that are not funded by Allegro. Pursuant to the agreements, we have received an exclusive purchase option, or the purchase option, that gives us the right, but not the obligation, to acquire all, but not less than all, of the equity of Allegro, and reacquire the intellectual property rights that we licensed to Allegro. The purchase option is exercisable at predetermined prices that increase over time and range from $67.5 million starting December 31, 2007 to $122.5 million through December 1, 2010. As of March 31, 2009 the purchase option is $92.5 million. The purchase option exercise price may be paid for in cash or in a combination of cash and our common stock, in our sole discretion, provided that the common stock portion may not exceed 40% of the purchase option exercise price or 10% of our common stock issued and outstanding as of the purchase option closing date. If we pay a portion of the purchase option exercise price in shares of our common stock, then we will be required to register such shares for resale under a resale registration statement pursuant to the terms of a registration rights agreement. If we do not exercise the purchase option by December 1, 2010, then Allegro will retain its exclusive license to develop and commercializeStaccatoalprazolam andStaccatoloxapine for all indications, and, if they are ultimately commercialized, we will maintain exclusive rights to manufacture and sellStaccatoalprazolam andStaccatoloxapine to Allegro or its sublicensee for those purposes. In consideration for the purchase option, we issued to Holdings a five-year warrant to purchase 2,000,000 shares of our common stock at $9.91 per share and paid $2.85 million for structuring fees and related expenses to Symphony Capital.
Under FASB Interpretation No. 46,Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, or FIN 46R, a variable interest entity, or VIE, is (1) an entity that has equity that is insufficient to permit the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support, or (2) an entity that has equity investors that cannot make significant decisions about the entity’s operations or that do not absorb their proportionate share of the expected losses or do not receive the expected residual returns of the entity. FIN 46R requires a VIE to be consolidated by the party that is deemed to be the primary beneficiary, which is the party that has exposure to a majority of the potential variability in the VIE’s outcomes. The application of FIN 46R to a given arrangement requires significant management judgment.
We have consolidated the financial position and results of operations of Allegro in accordance with FIN 46R. We believe Allegro is by design a VIE because we have a purchase option to acquire its outstanding voting stock at prices that are fixed based upon the date the option is exercised. The fixed nature of the purchase option price limits Symphony’s returns, as the investor in Allegro.
FIN 46R deems parties to be de facto agents if they cannot sell, transfer, or encumber their interests without the prior approval of an enterprise. Symphony Capital is considered to be a de facto agent of ours pursuant to this provision, and because we and Symphony, as a related party group, absorb a majority of Allegro’s variability, we evaluated whether, pursuant to FIN 46R’s requirements, we are most closely associated with Allegro. We concluded that we are most closely associated with Allegro and should consolidate Allegro
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because (1) we originally developed the technology that was assigned to Allegro, (2) we will continue to oversee and monitor the development program, (3) our employees will continue to perform substantially all of the development work, (4) we significantly influenced the design of the responsibilities and corporate structure of Allegro, (5) Allegro’s operations are substantially similar to our activities, and (6) through the purchase option, we have the ability to meaningfully participate in the benefits of a successful development effort.
Symphony Capital will be required to absorb the development risk for its equity investment in Allegro. Pursuant to FIN 46R’s requirements, Symphony Capital’s equity investment in Allegro is classified as noncontrolling interest in our consolidated balance sheets. The noncontrolling interest held by Symphony Capital has been reduced by the $10.7 million fair value of the warrant it received in consideration for the purchase option and $2.85 million of fees we immediately paid to Symphony Capital upon the transaction’s closing because the total consideration provided by us to Symphony Capital effectively reduces Symphony Capital’s at-risk equity investment in Allegro. While we perform the research and development on behalf of Allegro, our development risk is limited to the consideration we provided to Symphony Capital (the warrant and fees).
Losses incurred by Allegro are charged to the noncontrolling interest until that balance has been reduced to zero, at which point our net loss will be increased for the research and development expenses incurred subsequent to that date. Net losses incurred by Allegro and charged to the noncontrolling interest were $5.2 million, $18.6 million and $10.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. At March 31, 2009, the noncontrolling interest balance was $171,000. As of March 31, 2009, the investments held by Allegro were $17.6 million, which we expect to spend over the next twelve months.
In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160,Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements — An Amendment of ARB No. 5, or SFAS 160. SFAS 160 requires that noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries be reported as a component of stockholders’ equity in the consolidated balance sheet. SFAS 160 also requires that earnings or losses attributed to the noncontrolling interests be reported as part of consolidated earnings and not as a separate component of income or expense, as well as requires disclosure of the attribution of consolidated earnings to the controlling and noncontrolling interests on the face of the consolidated statement of operations. On January 1, 2009, we adopted the provisions of SFAS 160
If the purchase option expires unexercised, we would then be required to deconsolidate Allegro. That potential deconsolidation would not be expected to impact our earnings because the carrying value of the net assets of Allegro would be expected to be zero. In contrast, if we exercise the purchase option, we will retain control of Allegro. As such, we would expect to record the exercise of the purchase option as a return to the noncontrolling interest. We do not expect to recognize an asset for the purchase option payment to be made to Symphony. Instead, the payment is expected to be accounted for as a capital transaction, that is, a return to the noncontrolling interest, that would not affect our net income or loss. However, because the exercise of the purchase option will be accounted for as a capital transaction, it will be treated as a deemed dividend for purposes of reporting earnings per share, increasing loss per share or decreasing income per share, as the case may be, in the period we exercise the purchase option. If the programs are successful and the resources are available, we expect to exercise the purchase option.
Revenue Recognition
We recognize revenue in accordance with the SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) No. 101,Revenue Recognition in FinancialStatements, or SAB 101, as amended by Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 104,Revision of Topic 13.or SAB 104.
In determining the accounting for collaboration agreements, we follow the provisions of Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) Issue 00-21,Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables, or EITF 00-21. EITF 00-21 provides guidance on whether an arrangement involves multiple revenue-generating deliverables that should be accounted for as a single unit of accounting or divided into separate units of accounting for revenue recognition purposes and, if this division is required, how the arrangement consideration should be allocated among the separate units of accounting. If the arrangement represents a single unit of accounting, the revenue recognition policy and the performance obligation period must be determined, if not already contractually defined, for the entire arrangement. If the arrangement represents
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separate units of accounting according to the EITF’s separation criteria, a revenue recognition policy must be determined for each unit.
Revenues for non-refundable upfront license fee payments, where we continue to have obligations, will be recognized as performance occurs and obligations are completed. We recorded the $10 million upfront fee paid by Endo as deferred revenue and began to recognize this revenue in the third quarter of 2008. Through December 31, 2008, we recognized $486,000 in revenue in connection with the Endo upfront fee. In January 2009, we mutually agreed with Endo to terminate the license agreement. Upon the termination of the license agreement all of the rights to AZ-003 reverted to us. As all of our obligations were fulfilled upon the termination of the license agreement, we recognized the remaining $9.5 million payment as revenue in the three months ended March 31, 2009.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Our exposure to market risk is confined to our cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities. The primary objective of our investment activities is to preserve our capital to fund operations. We also seek to maximize income from our investments without assuming significant risk. To achieve our objectives, we maintain a portfolio of cash equivalents and marketable securities in a variety of securities of high credit quality. As of March 31, 2009, we had cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities of $23.1 million and investments held by Symphony Allegro of $17.6 million. The securities in our investment portfolio are not leveraged, are classified as available for sale and are, due to their very short-term nature, subject to minimal interest rate risk. We currently do not hedge interest rate exposure. Because of the short-term maturities of our investments, we do not believe that an increase in market rates would have a material negative impact on the realized value of our investment portfolio. We actively monitor changes in interest rates. We perform quarterly reviews of our investment portfolio and believe we have minimal exposure related to mortgage and other asset backed securities and no exposure to auction rate securities.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures.
Our management (with the participation of our chief executive officer, chief financial officer and outside counsel) has reviewed our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended). Based on that evaluation, our chief executive officer and chief financial officer have concluded that, as of March 31, 2009, our internal disclosure controls and procedures were effective, except that in February 2009 we failed timely to file a current report on Form 8-K under Item 5.02(b) and (e) of Form 8-K with respect to the departure of an executive officer. A current report on Form 8-K reporting such departure was filed on March 27, 2009, and the information regarding the departure was also disclosed in our definitive proxy statement that was also filed on March 27, 2009. Our management has reviewed the facts surrounding this untimely filing, reviewed our disclosure controls and procedures and the reporting requirements relating to executive officers and has adopted a new control regarding review and disclosure of agreements with executive officers.
Changes in Internal Controls over Financial Reporting
None
Limitations on the Effectiveness of Controls.
A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Because of inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues, if any, within a company have been detected. Accordingly, our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of our disclosure control system are met and, as set forth above, our chief executive officer and chief financial officer have concluded, based on their evaluation as of the end of the period covered by this report, that our disclosure controls and procedures were sufficiently effective to provide reasonable assurance that the objectives of our disclosure control system were met.
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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1A.
RISK FACTORS
Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks described below, together with all of the other information included in this Quarterly Report, before deciding whether to invest in shares of our common stock. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial also may impair our business operations. The occurrence of any of the following risks could harm our business, financial condition or results of operations. In such case, the trading price of our common stock could decline, and you may lose all or part of your investment.
Risks Relating to Our Business
We have a history of net losses. We expect to continue to incur substantial and increasing net losses for the foreseeable future, and we may never achieve or maintain profitability.
We are not profitable and have incurred significant net losses in each year since our inception, including net losses of $6.9 million, $77.0 million, $55.9 million, and $43.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009, and the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. As of March 31, 2009, we had a deficit accumulated during development stage of $224.3 million. We expect our expenses to decrease in 2009 compared to 2008 levels as a result of our reduction in force, which we effected in January 2009; however, we expect to incur substantial net losses and negative cash flow for the foreseeable future. These losses and negative cash flows have had, and will continue to have, an adverse effect on our stockholders’ equity (deficit) and working capital.
Because of the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with pharmaceutical product development and commercialization, we are unable to accurately predict the timing or amount of future expenses or when, or if, we will be able to achieve or maintain profitability. Currently, we have no products approved for commercial sale, and to date we have not generated any product revenue. We have financed our operations primarily through the sale of equity securities, capital lease and equipment financing and government grants. The size of our future net losses will depend, in part, on the rate of growth of our expenses and the level and rate of growth, if any, of our revenues. Revenues from strategic partnerships are uncertain because we may not enter into any additional strategic partnerships. We began to recognize revenues from our partnership with Endo in the third quarter of 2008, and we recognized approximately $9.5 million in revenue in the three months ended March 31, 2009 as a result of termination of the Endo license agreement in January 2009. However we do not expect to recognize any additional revenues in 2009. If we are unable to develop and commercialize one or more of our product candidates or if sales revenue from any other product candidate that receives marketing approval is insufficient, we will not achieve profitability. Even if we do achieve profitability, we may not be able to sustain or increase profitability.
We are a development stage company. Our success depends substantially on our lead product candidates. If we do not develop commercially successful products, we may be forced to cease operations.
You must evaluate us in light of the uncertainties and complexities affecting a development stage pharmaceutical company. We have not completed clinical development for any of our product candidates. Our lead product candidate is in Phase 3 development, and each of our other product candidates is at an earlier stage of development. Each of our product candidates will be unsuccessful if it:
| • | | does not demonstrate acceptable safety and efficacy in preclinical studies and clinical trials or otherwise does not meet applicable regulatory standards for approval; |
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| • | | does not offer therapeutic or other improvements over existing or future drugs used to treat the same or similar conditions; |
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| • | | is not capable of being produced in commercial quantities at an acceptable cost, or at all; or |
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| • | | is not accepted by patients, the medical community or third party payors. |
Our ability to generate product revenue in the future is dependent on the successful development and commercialization of our product candidates. We have not proven our ability to develop and commercialize
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products. Problems frequently encountered in connection with the development and utilization of new and unproven technologies and the competitive environment in which we operate might limit our ability to develop commercially successful products. We do not expect any of our current product candidates to be commercially available before 2011, if at all. If we are unable to make our product candidates commercially available, we will not generate product revenues, and we will not be successful.
We will need substantial additional capital in the future. If additional capital is not available, we will have to delay, reduce or cease operations.
We will need to raise additional capital to fund our operations, to develop our product candidates and to develop our manufacturing capabilities. Our future capital requirements will be substantial and will depend on many factors including:
| • | | the scope, rate of progress, results and costs of our preclinical studies, clinical trials and other research and development activities, and our manufacturing development and commercial manufacturing activities; |
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| • | | the amount and timing of payments from Symphony Allegro related to the development ofStaccatoalprazolam andStaccatoloxapine; |
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| • | | the amount and timing of any payments to Symphony Allegro related to the repurchase of rights toStaccatoalprazolam andStaccatoloxapine; |
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| • | | our ability to draw on our equity line of credit with Azimuth; |
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| • | | the cost, timing and outcomes of regulatory proceedings; |
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| • | | the cost and timing of developing sales and marketing capabilities prior to receipt of any regulatory approval of our product candidates; |
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| • | | the cost and timing of developing manufacturing capacity; |
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| • | | revenues received from any future products; |
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| • | | payments received under any future strategic partnerships; |
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| • | | the filing, prosecution and enforcement of patent claims; and |
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| • | | the costs associated with commercializing our product candidates, if they receive regulatory approval. |
We believe that with current cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities along with interest earned thereon, expected payments from Symphony Allegro, the proceeds from option exercises, and purchases of common stock pursuant to our Employee Stock Purchase Plan, we will be able to maintain our currently planned operations through the first quarter of 2010. Changing circumstances may cause us to consume capital significantly faster or slower than we currently anticipate. We have based these estimates on assumptions that may prove to be wrong, and we could utilize our available financial resources sooner than we currently expect. The key assumptions underlying these estimates include:
| • | | we do not use our currently available funds to repurchase rights from Symphony Allegro; |
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| • | | expenditures related to continued preclinical and clinical development of our lead product candidates during this period within budgeted levels; |
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| • | | the timing and amount of payments from Symphony Allegro; |
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| • | | no unexpected costs related to the development of our manufacturing capability; and |
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| • | | no growth in the number of our employees during this period. |
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We may never be able to generate a sufficient amount of product revenue to cover our expenses. Until we do, we expect to finance our future cash needs through public or private equity offerings, debt financings, strategic partnerships or licensing arrangements, as well as interest income earned on cash and marketable securities balances and proceeds from stock option exercises and purchases under our Employee Stock Purchase Plan. Any financing transaction may contain unfavorable terms. As a result of the late filing of a current report on Form 8-K, we are currently ineligible to use Form S-3 to register securities for sale by us or for resale by other security holders until we have timely filed all required reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for at least 12 calendar months (at the earliest April 2010). In the meantime, for capital raising transactions, we would need to use Form S-1 to register securities with the SEC, or issue such securities in a private placement, which could increase the costs and adversely impact our ability to raise capital in a timely manner during this period. If we raise additional funds by issuing equity securities, our stockholders’ equity will be diluted. If we raise additional funds through strategic partnerships, we may be required to relinquish rights to our product candidates or technologies, or to grant licenses on terms that are not favorable to us.
Unstable market conditions may have serious adverse consequences on our business.
The recent economic downturn and market instability has made the business climate more volatile and more costly. Our general business strategy may be adversely affected by unpredictable and unstable market conditions. If the current equity and credit markets deteriorate further, or do not improve, it may make any necessary debt or equity financing more difficult, more costly, and more dilutive. While we believe we have adequate capital resources to meet current working capital and capital expenditure requirements through the first quarter of 2010, a radical economic downturn or increase in our expenses could require additional financing on less than attractive rates or on terms that are excessively dilutive to existing stockholders. Failure to secure any necessary financing in a timely manner and on favorable terms could have a material adverse effect on our growth strategy, financial performance and stock price and could require us to delay or abandon clinical development plans. There is a risk that one or more of our current service providers, manufacturers and other partners may encounter difficulties during challenging economic times, which would directly affect our ability to attain our operating goals on schedule and on budget.
Unless our preclinical studies demonstrate the safety of our product candidates, we will not be able to commercialize our product candidates.
To obtain regulatory approval to market and sell any of our product candidates, we must satisfy the FDA and other regulatory authorities abroad, through extensive preclinical studies, that our product candidates are safe. OurStaccatosystem creates condensation aerosol from drug compounds, and there currently are no approved products that use a similar method of drug delivery. Companies developing other inhalation products have not defined or successfully completed the types of preclinical studies we believe will be required for submission to regulatory authorities as we seek approval to conduct our clinical trials. We may not conduct the types of preclinical testing eventually required by regulatory authorities, or the preclinical tests may indicate that our product candidates are not safe for use in humans. Preclinical testing is expensive, can take many years and have an uncertain outcome. In addition, success in initial preclinical testing does not ensure that later preclinical testing will be successful. We may experience numerous unforeseen events during, or as a result of, the preclinical testing process, which could delay or prevent our ability to develop or commercialize our product candidates, including:
| • | | our preclinical testing may produce inconclusive or negative safety results, which may require us to conduct additional preclinical testing or to abandon product candidates that we believed to be promising; |
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| • | | our product candidates may have unfavorable pharmacology, toxicology or carcinogenicity; and |
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| • | | our product candidates may cause undesirable side effects. |
Any such events would increase our costs and could delay or prevent our ability to commercialize our product candidates, which could adversely impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Preclinical studies indicated possible adverse impact of pulmonary delivery of AZ-001.
In our daily dosing animal toxicology studies of prochlorperazine, the active pharmaceutical ingredient, or API, in AZ-001, we detected changes to, and increases of, the cells in the upper airway of the test animals. The terms for these changes and increases are “squamous metaplasia” and “hyperplasia,” respectively. We also observed lung inflammation in some animals. These findings occurred in daily dosing studies at doses that were proportionately substantially greater than any dose we expect to continue to develop or
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commercialize. In subsequent toxicology studies of AZ-001 involving intermittent dosing consistent with its intended use, we detected lower incidence and severity of the changes to, and increases of, the cells in the upper airway of the test animals compared to the daily dosing results. We did not observe any lung inflammation with intermittent dosing. During the second quarter of 2008, we completed a 28-day repeat dose inhalation study in dogs. Consistent with previous findings in shorter-term and higher dose studies, we observed dose-related minimal to slight squamous metaplasia in the upper respiratory tract, primarily in the lining of the nasal passages, in all treated groups. No lower respiratory tract or lung findings were reported. These findings suggest that the delivery of the pure drug compound of AZ-001 at the proportionately higher doses used in daily dosing toxicology studies may cause adverse consequences if we were to administer prochlorperazine chronically for prolonged periods of time. If we observe these findings in our clinical trials of AZ-001, it could prevent further development or commercialization of AZ-001.
Failure or delay in commencing or completing clinical trials for our product candidates could harm our business.
To date, we have not completed all the clinical trials necessary to support an application with the FDA for approval to market any of our product candidates. Current and planned clinical trials may be delayed or terminated as a result of many factors, including:
| • | | delays or failure in reaching agreement on acceptable clinical trial contracts or clinical trial protocols with prospective sites; |
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| • | | regulators or institutional review boards may not authorize us to commence a clinical trial; |
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| • | | regulators or institutional review boards may suspend or terminate clinical research for various reasons, including noncompliance with regulatory requirements or concerns about patient safety; |
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| • | | we may suspend or terminate our clinical trials if we believe that they expose the participating patients to unacceptable health risks; |
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| • | | we may experience slower than expected patient enrollment or lack of a sufficient number of patients that meet the enrollment criteria for our clinical trials; |
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| • | | patients may not complete clinical trials due to safety issues, side effects, dissatisfaction with the product candidate, or other reasons; |
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| • | | we may have difficulty in maintaining contact with patients after treatment, preventing us from collecting the data required by our study protocol; |
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| • | | product candidates may demonstrate a lack of efficacy during clinical trials; |
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| • | | we may experience governmental or regulatory delays, failure to obtain regulatory approval or changes in regulatory requirements, policy and guidelines; and |
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| • | | we may experience delays in our ability to manufacture clinical trial materials in a timely manner as a result of ongoing process and design enhancements to ourStaccato system. |
Any delay in commencing or completing clinical trials for our product candidates would delay commercialization of our product candidates and harm our business, financial condition and results of operations. It is possible that none of our product candidates will successfully complete clinical trials or receive regulatory approval, which would severely harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Continuing development of our single dose version device may delay regulatory submissions and marketing approval for AZ-004
Our clinical studies to date for our AZ-004, AZ-001, AZ-104, AZ-002 and AZ-007 product candidates have been completed using a version of our single doseStaccatodevice we refer to as the chemical single dose, or CSD, device. We are developing a version of the CSD which is intended to cost less to manufacture and is more scalable than the current version of CSD. We refer to the newer version of this single dose device
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as the commercial production device, or CPD, version. The CPD incorporates the same basic chemical heat package and electronics as the CSD. We have conducted a bioequivalence study in normal volunteers using the CSD and the CPD versions of the device to determine if the drug dose dispensed by the two devices is bioequivalent. The FDA is reviewing the results of this study. If the FDA determines that the results of the bioequivalence study and the available analytical data do not support the bioequivalency, or if the FDA or foreign regulatory authorities determine the CPD is unacceptable for any other reason, we may be required to conduct additional clinical research for AZ-004 with the CPD version of the device. Conducting an additional Phase 3 clinical trial could delay the filing of an NDA which could also delay any potential marketing approval in the United States.
If our product candidates do not meet safety and efficacy endpoints in clinical trials, they will not receive regulatory approval, and we will be unable to market them.
Our product candidates are in preclinical and clinical development and have not received regulatory approval from the FDA or any foreign regulatory authority. The clinical development and regulatory approval process is extremely expensive and takes many years. The timing of any approval cannot be accurately predicted. If we fail to obtain regulatory approval for our current or future product candidates, we will be unable to market and sell them and therefore we may never be profitable.
As part of the regulatory process, we must conduct clinical trials for each product candidate to demonstrate safety and efficacy to the satisfaction of the FDA and other regulatory authorities abroad. The number and design of clinical trials that will be required varies depending on the product candidate, the condition being evaluated, the trial results and regulations applicable to any particular product candidate. In June 2008, we announced that on our Phase 2a proof-of-concept clinical trial of AZ-002 (StaccatoAlprazolam) did not meet either of its two primary endpoints.
Prior clinical trial program designs and results are not necessarily predictive of future clinical trial designs or results. Initial results may not be confirmed upon full analysis of the detailed results of a trial. Product candidates in later stage clinical trials may fail to show the desired safety and efficacy despite having progressed through initial clinical trials with acceptable endpoints.
If our product candidates fail to show a clinically significant benefit compared to placebo, they will not be approved for marketing.
Device failure rates higher than we anticipate may result in clinical trials that do not meet their specific efficacy endpoints. Device failures or improper device use by patients may impact the results of future trials. The design of our clinical trials is based on many assumptions about the expected effect of our product candidates, and if those assumptions prove incorrect, the clinical trials may not produce statistically significant results. OurStaccatosystem is not similar to other approved drug delivery methods, there is no clear precedent for the application of detailed regulatory requirements to our product candidates. We cannot assure you that the design of, or data collected from, the clinical trials of our product candidates will be sufficient to support the FDA and foreign regulatory approvals.
Regulatory authorities may not approve our product candidates even if they meet safety and efficacy endpoints in clinical trials.
The FDA and other foreign regulatory agencies can delay, limit or deny marketing approval for many reasons, including:
| • | | a product candidate may not be considered safe or effective; |
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| • | | the manufacturing processes or facilities we have selected may not meet the applicable requirements; and |
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| • | | changes in their approval policies or adoption of new regulations may require additional work on our part. |
Any delay in, or failure to receive or maintain, approval for any of our product candidates could prevent us from ever generating meaningful revenues or achieving profitability.
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Our product candidates may not be approved even if they achieve their endpoints in clinical trials. Regulatory agencies, including the FDA, or their advisors may disagree with our trial design and our interpretations of data from preclinical studies and clinical trials. Regulatory agencies may change requirements for approval even after a clinical trial design has been approved. Regulatory agencies also may approve a product candidate for fewer or more limited indications than requested or may grant approval subject to the performance of post-marketing studies. In addition, regulatory agencies may not approve the labeling claims that are necessary or desirable for the successful commercialization of our product candidates.
Our product candidates will remain subject to ongoing regulatory review even if they receive marketing approval. If we fail to comply with continuing regulations, we could lose these approvals, and the sale of any future products could be suspended.
Even if we receive regulatory approval to market a particular product candidate, the FDA or a foreign regulatory authority could condition approval on conducting additional costly post-approval studies or could limit the scope of our approved labeling. Moreover, the product may later cause adverse effects that limit or prevent its widespread use, force us to withdraw it from the market or impede or delay our ability to obtain regulatory approvals in additional countries. In addition, we will continue to be subject to FDA review and periodic inspections to ensure adherence to applicable regulations. After receiving marketing approval, the FDA imposes extensive regulatory requirements on the manufacturing, labeling, packaging, adverse event reporting, storage, advertising, promotion and record keeping related to the product.
If we fail to comply with the regulatory requirements of the FDA and other applicable U.S. and foreign regulatory authorities or previously unknown problems with any future products, suppliers or manufacturing processes are discovered, we could be subject to administrative or judicially imposed sanctions, including:
| • | | restrictions on the products, suppliers or manufacturing processes; |
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| • | | warning letters or untitled letters; |
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| • | | civil or criminal penalties or fines; |
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| • | | injunctions; |
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| • | | product seizures, detentions or import bans; |
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| • | | voluntary or mandatory product recalls and publicity requirements; |
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| • | | suspension or withdrawal of regulatory approvals; |
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| • | | total or partial suspension of production; and |
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| • | | refusal to approve pending applications for marketing approval of new drugs or supplements to approved applications. |
If we do not produce our devices cost effectively, we will never be profitable.
OurStaccatosystem based product candidates contain electronic and other components in addition to the active pharmaceutical ingredients. As a result of the cost of developing and producing these components, the cost to produce our product candidates, and any approved products, will likely be higher per dose than the cost to produce intravenous or oral tablet products. This increased cost of goods may prevent us from ever selling any products at a profit. In addition, we are developing single dose and multiple dose versions of ourStaccatosystem. Developing multiple versions of ourStaccatosystem may reduce or eliminate our ability to achieve manufacturing economies of scale. In addition, developing multiple versions of ourStaccatosystem reduces our ability to focus development resources on each version, potentially reducing our ability to effectively develop any particular version. We expect to continue to modify each of our product candidates throughout their clinical development to improve their performance, dependability, manufacturability and quality. Some of these modifications may require additional regulatory review and approval, which may delay or prevent us from conducting clinical trials. The development and production
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of our technology entail a number of technical challenges, including achieving adequate dependability, that may be expensive or time consuming to solve. Any delay in or failure to develop and manufacture any future products in a cost effective way could prevent us from generating any meaningful revenues and prevent us from becoming profitable.
We rely on third parties to conduct our preclinical studies and our clinical trials. If these third parties do not perform as contractually required or expected, we may not be able to obtain regulatory approval for our product candidates, or we may be delayed in doing so.
We do not have the ability to conduct preclinical studies or clinical trials independently for our product candidates. We must rely on third parties, such as contract research organizations, medical institutions, academic institutions, clinical investigators and contract laboratories, to conduct our preclinical studies and clinical trials. We are responsible for confirming that our preclinical studies are conducted in accordance with applicable regulations and that each of our clinical trials is conducted in accordance with its general investigational plan and protocol. The FDA requires us to comply with regulations and standards, commonly referred to as good laboratory practices, or GLP, for conducting and recording the results of our preclinical studies and good clinical practices for conducting, monitoring, recording and reporting the results of clinical trials, to assure that data and reported results are accurate and that the clinical trial participants are adequately protected. Our reliance on third parties does not relieve us of these responsibilities. If the third parties conducting our clinical trials do not perform their contractual duties or obligations, do not meet expected deadlines, fail to comply with the FDA’s good clinical practice regulations, do not adhere to our clinical trial protocols or otherwise fail to generate reliable clinical data, we may need to enter into new arrangements with alternative third parties and our clinical trials may be extended, delayed or terminated or may need to be repeated, and we may not be able to obtain regulatory approval for or commercialize the product candidate being tested in such trials.
Problems with the third parties that manufacture the active pharmaceutical ingredients in our product candidates may delay our clinical trials or subject us to liability.
We do not currently own or operate manufacturing facilities for clinical or commercial production of the API used in any of our product candidates. We have no experience in drug manufacturing, and we lack the resources and the capability to manufacture any of the APIs used in our product candidates, on either a clinical or commercial scale. As a result, we rely on third parties to supply the API used in each of our product candidates. We expect to continue to depend on third parties to supply the API for our lead product candidates and any additional product candidates we develop in the foreseeable future.
An API manufacturer must meet high precision and quality standards for that API to meet regulatory specifications and comply with regulatory requirements. A contract manufacturer is subject to ongoing periodic unannounced inspection by the FDA and corresponding state and foreign authorities to ensure strict compliance with current good manufacturing practice, or cGMP, and other applicable government regulations and corresponding foreign standards. Additionally, a contract manufacturer must pass a pre-approval inspection by the FDA to ensure strict compliance with cGMP prior to the FDA’s approval of any product candidate for marketing. A contract manufacturer’s failure to conform with cGMP could result in the FDA’s refusal to approve or a delay in the FDA’s approval of a product candidate for marketing. We are ultimately responsible for confirming that the APIs used in our product candidates are manufactured in accordance with applicable regulations.
Our third party suppliers may not carry out their contractual obligations or meet our deadlines. In addition, the API they supply to us may not meet our specifications and quality policies and procedures. If we need to find alternative suppliers of the API used in any of our product candidates, we may not be able to contract for such supplies on acceptable terms, if at all. Any such failure to supply or delay caused by such contract manufacturers would have an adverse effect on our ability to continue clinical development of our product candidates or commercialize any future products.
If our third party drug suppliers fail to achieve and maintain high manufacturing standards in compliance with cGMP regulations, we could be subject to certain product liability claims in the event such failure to comply resulted in defective products that caused injury or harm.
If we experience problems with the manufacturers of components of our product candidates, our development programs may be delayed or we may be subject to liability.
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We outsource the manufacturing of some of the components of ourStaccatosystem, including the printed circuit boards and the plastic airways, and we will outsource the manufacturing of the chemical heat packages to be used in our commercial single dose device. We have no experience in the manufacturing of components (other than our current chemical heat packages), and we currently lack the resources and the capability to manufacture them, on either a clinical or commercial scale. As a result, we rely on third parties to supply these components. We expect to continue to depend on third parties to supply these components for our current product candidates and any devices based on the Staccato system we develop in the foreseeable future.
The third party suppliers of the components of our Staccato system must meet high precision and quality standards for those components to comply with regulatory requirements. A contract manufacturer is subject to ongoing periodic unannounced inspection by the FDA and corresponding state and foreign authorities to ensure strict compliance with the FDA’s Quality System Regulation, or QSR, which sets forth the FDA’s current good manufacturing practice requirements for medical devices and their components, and other applicable government regulations and corresponding foreign standards. We are ultimately responsible for confirming that the components used in the Staccato system are manufactured in accordance with the QSR or other applicable regulations.
Our third party suppliers may not comply with their contractual obligations or meet our deadlines, or the components they supply to us may not meet our specifications and quality policies and procedures. If we need to find alternative suppliers of the components used in the Staccato system, we may not be able to contract for such components on acceptable terms, if at all. Any such failure to supply or delay caused by such contract manufacturers would have an adverse affect on our ability to continue clinical development of our product candidates or commercialize any future products.
In addition, the heat packages used in the single dose version of ourStaccatosystem are manufactured using certain energetic, or highly combustible, materials that are used to generate the rapid heating necessary for vaporizing the drug compound while avoiding degradation. Manufacture of products containing these types of materials is regulated by the U.S. government. We currently manufacture the heat packages that are being used in the devices used in our clinical trials. We have entered into a supply agreement with Autoliv for the manufacture of the heat packages in the commercial design of our single dose version of ourStaccatosystem. If we are unable to manufacture the heat packages used in our ongoing clinical trials or if in the future Autoliv is unable to manufacture the heat packages to our specifications, or does not carry out its contractual obligations to supply our heat packages to us, our clinical trials may be delayed, suspended or terminated while we seek additional suitable manufacturers of our heat packages, which may prevent us from commercializing our product candidates that utilize the single dose version of theStaccatosystem.
If we do not establish additional strategic partnerships, we will have to undertake development and commercialization efforts on our own, which would be costly and delay our ability to commercialize any future products.
A key element of our business strategy is our intent to selectively partner with pharmaceutical, biotechnology and other companies to obtain assistance for the development and potential commercialization of our product candidates. In December 2006, we entered into such a development relationship with Symphony Allegro, and in December 2007 we entered into a strategic relationship with Endo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. for the development of AZ-003. In January 2009, we mutually agreed with Endo to terminate our agreement. We intend to enter into additional strategic partnerships with third parties to develop and commercialize our product candidates that are intended for larger markets, and we may enter into strategic partnerships for product candidates that are targeted toward specialty markets. To date, other than Symphony Allegro and Endo, we have not entered into any strategic partnerships for any of our product candidates. We face significant competition in seeking appropriate strategic partners, and these strategic partnerships can be intricate and time consuming to negotiate and document. We may not be able to negotiate strategic partnerships on acceptable terms, or at all. We are unable to predict when, if ever, we will enter into any additional strategic partnerships because of the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with establishing strategic partnerships. If we are unable to negotiate additional strategic partnerships for our product candidates we may be forced to curtail the development of a particular candidate, reduce or delay its development program or one or more of our other development programs, delay its potential commercialization, reduce the scope of our sales or marketing activities or undertake
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development or commercialization activities at our own expense. In addition, we will bear all the risk related to the development of that product candidate. If we elect to increase our expenditures to fund development or commercialization activities on our own, we may need to obtain additional capital, which may not be available to us on acceptable terms, or at all. If we do not have sufficient funds, we will not be able to bring our product candidates to market and generate product revenue.
If we enter into additional strategic partnerships, we may be required to relinquish important rights to and control over the development of our product candidates or otherwise be subject to terms unfavorable to us.
Due to our relationship with Symphony Allegro we are, and for any additional strategic partnerships with pharmaceutical or biotechnology companies we will be, subject to a number of risks, including:
| • | | we may not be able to control the amount and timing of resources that our strategic partners devote to the development or commercialization of product candidates; |
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| • | | strategic partners may delay clinical trials, provide insufficient funding, terminate a clinical trial or abandon a product candidate, repeat or conduct new clinical trials or require a new version of a product candidate for clinical testing; |
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| • | | strategic partners may not pursue further development and commercialization of products resulting from the strategic partnering arrangement or may elect to discontinue research and development programs; |
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| • | | strategic partners may not commit adequate resources to the marketing and distribution of any future products, limiting our potential revenues from these products; |
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| • | | disputes may arise between us and our strategic partners that result in the delay or termination of the research, development or commercialization of our product candidates or that result in costly litigation or arbitration that diverts management’s attention and consumes resources; |
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| • | | strategic partners may experience financial difficulties; |
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| • | | strategic partners may not properly maintain or defend our intellectual property rights or may use our proprietary information in a manner that could jeopardize or invalidate our proprietary information or expose us to potential litigation; |
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| • | | business combinations or significant changes in a strategic partner’s business strategy may also adversely affect a strategic partner’s willingness or ability to complete its obligations under any arrangement; |
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| • | | strategic partners could independently move forward with a competing product candidate developed either independently or in collaboration with others, including our competitors; and |
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| • | | strategic partners could terminate the arrangement or allow it to expire, which would delay the development and may increase the cost of developing our product candidates. |
We have exclusively licensed certain intellectual property rights to Staccato alprazolam and Staccato loxapine in connection with our Symphony Allegro arrangement and will not receive material future royalties or revenues with respect to this intellectual property unless we exercise an option to repurchase the rights to the programs in the future through the acquisition of Symphony Allegro. We may not obtain sufficient clinical data in order to determine whether we should exercise this option prior to the expiration of the development period, and even if we decide to exercise the option, we may not have the financial resources to exercise it in a timely manner.
In December 2006, we entered into a transaction involving a series of related agreements providing for the financing of additional clinical and nonclinical development ofStaccatoalprazolam, our AZ-002 program, andStaccatoloxapine, our AZ-004 and AZ-104 programs. Pursuant to the agreements, Symphony Capital LLC and its investors have invested $50 million to form Symphony Allegro, to fund additional clinical and nonclinical development ofStaccatoalprazolam andStaccatoloxapine. We have exclusively licensed to
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Symphony Allegro certain intellectual property rights related toStaccatoalprazolam andStaccato loxapine. We have retained manufacturing rights to these product candidates. As part of the arrangement, we received an option granting us the exclusive right, but not the obligation, to acquire the licensed programs at specified points in time at specified prices during the term of the development period through the acquisition of Symphony Allegro. The development programs under the arrangement are jointly managed by Symphony Allegro and us, and there can be no assurance that we will agree on various decisions that will enable us to successfully develop the potential products, or even if we are in agreement on the development plans, that the development efforts will result in sufficient clinical data to make a fully informed decision with respect to the exercise of our option. If we do not exercise our purchase option by December 1, 2010, then Symphony Allegro will retain its exclusive license to develop and commercializeStaccatoalprazolam andStaccatoloxapine for all indications, and we will maintain exclusive rights to manufacture and sellStaccatoalprazolam andStaccatoloxapine to Symphony Allegro or its sublicensee for those purposes.
If we elect to exercise the purchase option, we will be required to make a payment estimated to be between $92.5 million at March 31, 2009 and $122.5 million at December 1, 2010, which at our election may be paid partially in shares of our common stock. As a result, in order to exercise the option, we will be required to make a substantial payment of cash and possibly issue a substantial number of shares of our common stock. We do not currently have the resources to exercise the option, and we may be required to enter into a financing arrangement or license arrangement with one or more third parties, or some combination of these, in order to exercise the option, even if we paid a portion of the purchase price with our common stock. There can be no assurance that any financing or licensing arrangement will be available or even if available, that the terms would be favorable to us and our stockholders. In addition, the exercise of the purchase option may require us to record a significant charge to earnings and may adversely impact future operating results.
If we fail to gain market acceptance among physicians, patients, third-party payors and the medical community, we will not become profitable.
TheStaccatosystem is a fundamentally new method of drug delivery. Any future product based on ourStaccatosystem may not gain market acceptance among physicians, patients, third-party payors and the medical community. If these products do not achieve an adequate level of acceptance, we will not generate sufficient product revenues to become profitable. The degree of market acceptance of any of our product candidates, if approved for commercial sale, will depend on a number of factors, including:
| • | | demonstration of efficacy and safety in clinical trials; |
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| • | | the existence, prevalence and severity of any side effects; |
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| • | | potential or perceived advantages or disadvantages compared to alternative treatments; |
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| • | | perceptions about the relationship or similarity between our product candidates and the parent drug compound upon which each product candidate is based; |
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| • | | the timing of market entry relative to competitive treatments; |
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| • | | the ability to offer any future products for sale at competitive prices; |
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| • | | relative convenience, product dependability and ease of administration; |
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| • | | the strength of marketing and distribution support; |
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| • | | the sufficiency of coverage and reimbursement of our product candidates by governmental and other third-party payors; and |
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| • | | the product labeling or product insert required by the FDA or regulatory authorities in other countries. |
Our pipeline may be limited by the number of drug compounds suitable for use with the Staccato system.
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The current versions of theStaccatosystem cannot deliver large molecule drugs, such as peptides and proteins. In addition, the physical size of the metal substrates in the single dose and multiple dose versions of theStaccatosystem limits their use to drugs that require dose amounts less than 10 to 15 milligrams and 100 to 200 micrograms, respectively. Further, approximately 200 of the 400 small molecule compounds we have screened for initial vaporization feasibility did not form drug aerosols with the 97% purity we use as an internal standard for further development. There are also many drug compounds that are covered by composition of matter patents that prevent us from developing the compound in theStaccatosystem without a license from the patent owner, which may not be available on acceptable terms, if at all. If we are not able to identify additional drug compounds that can be developed with theStaccatosystem, we may not develop enough products to develop a sustainable business.
AZ-001 and other product candidates that we may develop may require expensive carcinogenicity tests.
The API in AZ-001, prochlorperazine, was approved by the FDA in 1956 for the treatment of severe nausea and vomiting. At that time, the FDA did not require the carcinogenicity testing that is now generally required for marketing approval. It is unclear whether we will be required to perform such testing prior to filing our application for marketing approval of AZ-001 or whether we will be allowed to perform such testing after we file an application. Such carcinogenicity testing will be expensive and require significant additional resources to complete and may delay approval to market AZ-001. We may encounter similar requirements with other product candidates incorporating drugs that have not undergone carcinogenicity testing. Any carcinogenicity testing we are required to complete will increase the costs to develop a particular product candidate and may delay or halt the development of such product candidate.
If some or all of our patents expire, are invalidated or are unenforceable, or if some or all of our patent applications do not yield issued patents or yield patents with narrow claims, competitors may develop competing products using our or similar intellectual property and our business will suffer.
Our success will depend in part on our ability to obtain and maintain patent and trade secret protection for our technologies and product candidates both in the United States and other countries. We do not know whether any patents will issue from any of our pending or future patent applications. In addition, a third party may successfully circumvent our patents. Our rights under any issued patents may not provide us with sufficient protection against competitive products or otherwise cover commercially valuable products or processes.
The degree of protection for our proprietary technologies and product candidates is uncertain because legal means afford only limited protection and may not adequately protect our rights or permit us to gain or keep our competitive advantage. For example:
| • | | we might not have been the first to make the inventions covered by each of our pending patent applications and issued patents; |
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| • | | we might not have been the first to file patent applications for these inventions; |
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| • | | others may independently develop similar or alternative technologies or duplicate any of our technologies; |
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| • | | it is possible that none of our pending patent applications will result in issued patents; |
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| • | | the claims of our issued patents may be narrower than as filed and not sufficiently broad to prevent third parties from circumventing them; |
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| • | | we may not develop additional proprietary technologies or drug candidates that are patentable; |
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| • | | our patent applications or patents may be subject to interference, opposition or similar administrative proceedings; |
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| • | | any patents issued to us or our potential strategic partners may not provide a basis for commercially viable products or may be challenged by third parties in the course of litigation or administrative proceedings such as reexaminations or interferences; and |
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| • | | the patents of others may have an adverse effect on our ability to do business. |
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Even if valid and enforceable patents cover our product candidates and technologies, the patents will provide protection only for a limited amount of time.
Our and our potential strategic partners’ ability to obtain patents is uncertain because, to date, some legal principles remain unresolved, there has not been a consistent policy regarding the breadth or interpretation of claims allowed in patents in the United States, and the specific content of patents and patent applications that are necessary to support and interpret patent claims is highly uncertain due to the complex nature of the relevant legal, scientific and factual issues. Furthermore, the policies governing pharmaceutical and medical device patents outside the United States may be even more uncertain. Changes in either patent laws or interpretations of patent laws in the United States and other countries may diminish the value of our intellectual property or narrow the scope of our patent protection.
Even if patents are issued regarding our product candidates or methods of using them, those patents can be challenged by our competitors who can argue that our patents are invalid and/or unenforceable. Third parties may challenge our rights to, or the scope or validity of, our patents. Patents also may not protect our product candidates if competitors devise ways of making these or similar product candidates without legally infringing our patents. The Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act and the FDA regulations and policies provide incentives to manufacturers to challenge patent validity or create modified, non-infringing versions of a drug or device in order to facilitate the approval of generic substitutes. These same types of incentives encourage manufacturers to submit new drug applications that rely on literature and clinical data not prepared for or by the drug sponsor.
We also rely on trade secrets to protect our technology, especially where we do not believe that patent protection is appropriate or obtainable. However, trade secrets are difficult to protect. The employees, consultants, contractors, outside scientific collaborators and other advisors of our company and our strategic partners may unintentionally or willfully disclose our confidential information to competitors. Enforcing a claim that a third party illegally obtained and is using our trade secrets is expensive and time consuming and the outcome is unpredictable. Failure to protect or maintain trade secret protection could adversely affect our competitive business position.
Our research and development collaborators may have rights to publish data and other information in which we have rights. In addition, we sometimes engage individuals or entities to conduct research that may be relevant to our business. The ability of these individuals or entities to publish or otherwise publicly disclose data and other information generated during the course of their research is subject to certain contractual limitations. These contractual provisions may be insufficient or inadequate to protect our trade secrets and may impair our patent rights. If we do not apply for patent protection prior to such publication or if we cannot otherwise maintain the confidentiality of our technology and other confidential information, then our ability to receive patent protection or protect our proprietary information may be jeopardized.
Litigation or other proceedings or third party claims of intellectual property infringement could require us to spend time and money and could shut down some of our operations.
Our commercial success depends in part on not infringing patents and proprietary rights of third parties. Others have filed, and in the future are likely to file, patent applications covering products that are similar to our product candidates, as well as methods of making or using similar or identical products. If these patent applications result in issued patents and we wish to use the claimed technology, we would need to obtain a license from the third party. We may not be able to obtain these licenses at a reasonable cost, if at all.
In addition, administrative proceedings, such as interferences and reexaminations before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, could limit the scope of our patent rights. We may incur substantial costs and diversion of management and technical personnel as a result of our involvement in such proceedings. In particular, our patents and patent applications may be subject to interferences in which the priority of invention may be awarded to a third party. We do not know whether our patents and patent applications would be entitled to priority over patents or patent applications held by such a third party. Our issued patents may also be subject to reexamination proceedings. We do not know whether our patents would survive reexamination in light of new questions of patentability that may be raised following their issuance.
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Third parties may assert that we are employing their proprietary technology or their proprietary products without authorization. In addition, third parties may already have or may obtain patents in the future and claim that use of our technologies or our products infringes these patents. We could incur substantial costs and diversion of management and technical personnel in defending our self against any of these claims. Furthermore, parties making claims against us may be able to obtain injunctive or other equitable relief, which could effectively block our ability to further develop, commercialize and sell any future products and could result in the award of substantial damages against us. In the event of a successful claim of infringement against us, we may be required to pay damages and obtain one or more licenses from third parties. We may not be able to obtain these licenses at a reasonable cost, if at all. In that event, we could encounter delays in product introductions while we attempt to develop alternative methods or products. In the event we cannot develop alternative methods or products, we may be effectively blocked from developing, commercializing or selling any future products. Defense of any lawsuit or failure to obtain any of these licenses would be expensive and could prevent us from commercializing any future products.
We review from time to time publicly available information concerning the technological development efforts of other companies in our industry. If we determine that these efforts violate our intellectual property or other rights, we intend to take appropriate action, which could include litigation. Any action we take could result in substantial costs and diversion of management and technical personnel in enforcing our patents or other intellectual property rights against others. Furthermore, the outcome of any action we take to protect our rights may not be resolved in our favor.
Competition in the pharmaceutical industry is intense. If our competitors are able to develop and market products that are more effective, safer or less costly than any future products that we may develop, our commercial opportunity will be reduced or eliminated.
We face competition from established as well as emerging pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, as well as from academic institutions, government agencies and private and public research institutions. Our commercial opportunity will be reduced or eliminated if our competitors develop and commercialize products that are safer, more effective, have fewer side effects or are less expensive than any future products that we may develop and commercialize. In addition, significant delays in the development of our product candidates could allow our competitors to bring products to market before us and impair our ability to commercialize our product candidates.
We anticipate that, if approved, AZ-004 would compete with the available intramuscular, or IM, injectable form and oral forms of loxapine and other forms of available antipsychotic drugs for the treatment of agitation.
We anticipate that, if approved, AZ-001 and AZ-104 would compete with currently marketed triptan drugs and with other migraine headache treatments, including intravenous, or IV, delivery of prochlorperazine, the API in AZ-001. In addition, we are aware of at least 15 product candidates in development for the treatment of migraines, including triptan products.
We anticipate that, if approved, AZ-003 would compete with some of the available forms of fentanyl, including injectable fentanyl, oral transmucosal fentanyl formulations and ionophoretic transdermal delivery of fentanyl. We are also aware of three fentanyl products under review by regulatory agencies either in the United States or abroad, and at least 19 products in Phase 3 clinical trial development for acute pain, seven of which are fentanyl products. There are two inhaled forms of fentanyl products that are in Phase 2 development. In addition, if approved, AZ-003 would compete with various generic opioid drugs, such as oxycodone, hydrocodone and morphine, or combination products including one or more of such drugs.
We anticipate that, if approved, AZ-007 would compete with non-benzodiazepine GABA-A receptor agonists, which include Ambien® (immediate release and controlled-release tablets), Sonata®, and Lunesta®. We are also aware of more than 10 generic versions of zolpidem (brand Ambien) oral tablets and one zaleplon (brand Sonata) that have been tentatively approved by the FDA, as well as at least five insomnia products that are under review by the FDA. Additionally, we are aware of three products in Phase 3 development for the treatment of insomnia.
We anticipate that, if approved, AZ-002 would compete with the oral tablet form of alprazolam and possibly intravenous and oral forms of other benzodiazepines.
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Many of our competitors have significantly greater financial resources and expertise in research and development, manufacturing, preclinical testing, conducting clinical trials, obtaining regulatory approvals and marketing approved products than we do. Established pharmaceutical companies may invest heavily to discover quickly and develop novel compounds or drug delivery technology that could make our product candidates obsolete. Smaller or early stage companies may also prove to be significant competitors, particularly through strategic partnerships with large and established companies. In addition, these third parties compete with us in recruiting and retaining qualified scientific and management personnel, establishing clinical trial sites and patient registration for clinical trials, as well as in acquiring technologies and technology licenses complementary to our programs or advantageous to our business. Accordingly, our competitors may succeed in obtaining patent protection, receiving FDA approval or discovering, developing and commercializing products before we do. If we are not able to compete effectively against our current and future competitors, our business will not grow and our financial condition will suffer.
If we are unable to establish sales and marketing capabilities or enter into agreements with third parties to market and sell our product candidates, we may be unable to generate significant product revenue.
We have conducted a comprehensive strategic marketing review and developed our initial launch strategy for our lead product candidate, AZ-004. We do not have a sales organization and have no experience in the sales and distribution of pharmaceutical products. There are risks involved with establishing our own sales capabilities and increasing our marketing capabilities, as well as entering into arrangements with third parties to perform these services. Developing an internal sales force is expensive and time consuming and could delay any product launch. On the other hand, if we enter into arrangements with third parties to perform sales, marketing and distribution services, our product revenues or the profitability of these product revenues are likely to be lower than if we market and sell any products that we develop ourselves.
We may establish our own specialty sales force and/or engage pharmaceutical or other healthcare companies with an existing sales and marketing organization and distribution systems to sell, market and distribute any future products. We may not be able to establish a specialty sales force or establish sales and distribution relationships on acceptable terms. Factors that may inhibit our efforts to commercialize any future products without strategic partners or licensees include:
| • | | our inability to recruit and retain adequate numbers of effective sales and marketing personnel; |
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| • | | the inability of sales personnel to obtain access to or persuade adequate numbers of physicians to prescribe any future products; |
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| • | | 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 |
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| • | | unforeseen costs and expenses associated with creating an independent sales and marketing organization. |
Because the establishment of sales and marketing capabilities depends on the progress towards commercialization of our product candidates and because of the numerous risks and uncertainties involved with establishing our own sales and marketing capabilities, we are unable to predict when, if ever, we will establish our own sales and marketing capabilities. If we are not able to partner with a third party and are unsuccessful in recruiting sales and marketing personnel or in building a sales and marketing infrastructure, we will have difficulty commercializing our product candidates, which would adversely affect our business and financial condition.
If we lose our key personnel or are unable to attract and retain additional personnel, we may be unable to develop or commercialize our product candidates.
We are highly dependent on our President and Chief Executive Officer, Thomas B. King, the loss of whose services might adversely impact the achievement of our objectives. In addition, recruiting and retaining qualified clinical, scientific and engineering personnel to manage clinical trials of our product candidates and to perform future research and development work will be critical to our success. There is currently a shortage of skilled executives in our industry, which is likely to continue. As a result, competition for skilled personnel is intense and the turnover rate can be high. Although we believe we will be successful in
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attracting and retaining qualified personnel, competition for experienced management and clinical, scientific and engineering personnel from numerous companies and academic and other research institutions may limit our ability to do so on acceptable terms. In addition, we do not have employment agreements with any of our employees, and they could leave our employment at will. We have change of control agreements with our executive officers and vice presidents that provide for certain benefits upon termination or a change in role or responsibility in connection with a change of control of our company. We do not maintain life insurance policies on any employees. Failure to attract and retain personnel would prevent us from developing and commercializing our product candidates.
If plaintiffs bring product liability lawsuits against us, we may incur substantial liabilities and may be required to limit commercialization of the product candidates that we may develop.
We face an inherent risk of product liability as a result of the clinical testing of our product candidates in clinical trials and will face an even greater risk if we commercialize any products. We may be held liable if any product we develop causes injury or is found otherwise unsuitable during product testing, manufacturing, marketing or sale. Regardless of merit or eventual outcome, liability claims may result in decreased demand for any product candidates or products that we may develop, injury to our reputation, withdrawal of clinical trials, costs to defend litigation, substantial monetary awards to clinical trial participants or patients, loss of revenue and the inability to commercialize any products that we develop. We have product liability insurance that covers our clinical trials up to a $10 million aggregate annual limit. We intend to expand product liability insurance coverage to include the sale of commercial products if we obtain marketing approval for any products that we may develop. However, this insurance may be prohibitively expensive, or may not fully cover our potential liabilities. Inability to obtain sufficient insurance coverage at an acceptable cost or otherwise to protect against potential product liability claims could prevent or delay the commercialization of our product candidates. If we are sued for any injury caused by any future products, our liability could exceed our total assets.
Our product candidates AZ-002, AZ-003 and AZ-007 contain drug substances which are regulated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Failure to comply with applicable regulations could harm our business.
The Controlled Substances Act imposes various registration, recordkeeping and reporting requirements, procurement and manufacturing quotas, labeling and packaging requirements, security controls and a restriction on prescription refills on certain pharmaceutical products. A principal factor in determining the particular requirements, if any, applicable to a product is its actual or potential abuse profile. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, or DEA, regulates chemical compounds as Schedule I, II, III, IV or V substances, with Schedule I substances considered to present the highest risk of substance abuse and Schedule V substances the lowest risk. Alprazolam, the API in AZ-002, is regulated as a Schedule IV substance, fentanyl, the API in AZ-003, is regulated as a Schedule II substance, and zaleplon, the API in AZ-007, is regulated as a Schedule IV substance. Each of these product candidates is subject to DEA regulations relating to manufacture, storage, distribution and physician prescription procedures, and the DEA regulates the amount of the scheduled substance that would be available for clinical trials and commercial distribution. As a Schedule II substance, fentanyl is subject to more stringent controls, including quotas on the amount of product that can be manufactured as well as a prohibition on the refilling of prescriptions without a new prescription from the physician. The DEA periodically inspects facilities for compliance with its rules and regulations. Failure to comply with current and future regulations of the DEA could lead to a variety of sanctions, including revocation, or denial of renewal, or of DEA registrations, injunctions, or civil or criminal penalties and could harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.
The single dose version of our Staccato system contains materials that are regulated by the U.S. government, and failure to comply with applicable regulations could harm our business.
The single dose version of ourStaccatosystem uses energetic materials to generate the rapid heating necessary for vaporizing the drug, while avoiding degradation. Manufacture of products containing energetic materials is controlled by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, or ATF. Technically, the energetic materials used in ourStaccatosystem are classified as “low explosives,” and the ATF has granted us a license/permit for the manufacture of such low explosives. Additionally, due to inclusion of the energetic materials in ourStaccatosystem, the Department of Transportation, or DOT, regulates shipments of the single dose version of ourStaccatosystem. The DOT has granted the single dose
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version of ourStaccatosystem “Not Regulated as an Explosive” status. Failure to comply with the current and future regulations of the ATF or DOT could subject us to future liabilities and could harm our business, financial condition and results of operations. Furthermore, these regulations could restrict our ability to expand our facilities or construct new facilities or could require us to incur other significant expenses in order to maintain compliance.
We use hazardous chemicals and highly combustible materials in our business. Any claims relating to improper handling, storage or disposal of these materials could be time consuming and costly.
Our research and development processes involve the controlled use of hazardous materials, including chemicals. We also use energetic materials in the manufacture of the chemical heat packages that are used in our single dose devices. Our operations produce hazardous waste products. We cannot eliminate the risk of accidental contamination or discharge or injury from these materials. Federal, state and local laws and regulations govern the use, manufacture, storage, handling and disposal of these materials. We could be subject to civil damages in the event of an improper or unauthorized release of, or exposure of individuals to, hazardous materials. In addition, claimants may sue us for injury or contamination that results from our use or the use by third parties of these materials and our liability may exceed our total assets. We maintain insurance for the use of hazardous materials in the aggregate amount of $1 million, which may not be adequate to cover any claims. Compliance with environmental and other laws and regulations may be expensive, and current or future regulations may impair our research, development or production efforts.
Certain of our suppliers are working with these types of hazardous and highly combustible materials in connection with our component manufacturing agreements. In the event of a lawsuit or investigation, we could be held responsible for any injury caused to persons or property by exposure to, or release of, these hazardous and highly combustible materials. Further, under certain circumstances, we have agreed to indemnify our suppliers against damages and other liabilities arising out of development activities or products produced in connection with these agreements.
We will need to implement additional finance and accounting systems, procedures and controls in the future as we grow and to satisfy new reporting requirements.
The laws and regulations affecting public companies, including the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or Sarbanes-Oxley, and rules enacted and proposed by the SEC and by the Nasdaq Global Market, will result in increased costs to us as we continue to undertake efforts to comply with rules and respond to the requirements applicable to public companies. The rules make it more difficult and costly for us to obtain certain types of insurance, including director and officer liability insurance, and we may be forced to accept reduced policy limits and coverage or incur substantially higher costs to obtain the same or similar coverage as compared to the polices previously available to public companies. The impact of these events could also make it more difficult for us to attract and retain qualified persons to serve on our board of directors or our board committees or as executive officers.
As a public company, we need to comply with Sarbanes-Oxley and the related rules and regulations of the SEC, including expanded disclosure, accelerated reporting requirements and more complex accounting rules. Compliance with Section 404 of Sarbanes-Oxley and other requirements will continue to increase our costs and require additional management resources. We have been upgrading our finance and accounting systems, procedures and controls and will need to continue to implement additional finance and accounting systems, procedures and controls as we grow to satisfy new reporting requirements. We currently do not have an internal audit group. In addition, we may need to hire additional legal and accounting staff with appropriate experience and technical knowledge, and we cannot assure you that if additional staffing is necessary that we will be able to do so in a timely fashion.
Our facilities are located near known earthquake fault zones, and the occurrence of an earthquake or other catastrophic disaster could damage our facilities and equipment, which could cause us to curtail or cease operations.
Our facilities are located in the San Francisco Bay Area near known earthquake fault zones and, therefore, are vulnerable to damage from earthquakes. We are also vulnerable to damage from other types of disasters, such as power loss, fire, floods and similar events. If any disaster were to occur, our ability to operate our business could be seriously impaired. We currently may not have adequate insurance to cover our losses resulting from disasters or other similar significant business interruptions, and we do not plan to
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purchase additional insurance to cover such losses due to the cost of obtaining such coverage. Any significant losses that are not recoverable under our insurance policies could seriously impair our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Risks Relating to Owning Our Common Stock
Our stock price has been and may continue to be extremely volatile.
Our common stock price has experienced large fluctuations since our initial public offering in March 2006. In addition, the trading prices of life science and biotechnology company stocks in general have experienced extreme price fluctuations in recent years. The valuations of many life science companies without consistent product revenues and earnings are extraordinarily high based on conventional valuation standards, such as price to revenue ratios. These trading prices and valuations may not be sustained. Any negative change in the public’s perception of the prospects of life science or biotechnology companies could depress our stock price regardless of our results of operations. Other broad market and industry factors may decrease the trading price of our common stock, regardless of our performance. Market fluctuations, as well as general political and economic conditions such as terrorism, military conflict, recession or interest rate or currency rate fluctuations, also may decrease the trading price of our common stock. In addition, our stock price could be subject to wide fluctuations in response to various factors, including:
| • | | actual or anticipated results and timing of our clinical trials; |
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| • | | actual or anticipated regulatory approvals of our product candidates or competing products; |
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| • | | changes in laws or regulations applicable to our product candidates; |
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| • | | changes in the expected or actual timing of our development programs, including delays or cancellations of clinical trials for our product candidates; |
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| • | | period to period fluctuations in our operating results; |
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| • | | announcements of new technological innovations or new products by us or our competitors; |
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| • | | changes in financial estimates or recommendations by securities analysts; |
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| • | | conditions or trends in the life science and biotechnology industries; |
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| • | | changes in the market valuations of other life science or biotechnology companies; |
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| • | | developments in domestic and international governmental policy or regulations; |
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| • | | announcements by us or our competitors of significant acquisitions, strategic partnerships, joint ventures or capital commitments; |
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| • | | additions or departures of key personnel; |
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| • | | disputes or other developments relating to proprietary rights, including patents, litigation matters and our ability to obtain patent protection for our technologies; |
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| • | | sales of our common stock (or other securities) by us, including sales under our equity line of credit arrangement with Azimuth; and |
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| • | | sales and distributions of our common stock by our stockholders. |
In the past, stockholders have often instituted securities class action litigation after periods of volatility in the market price of a company’s securities. If a stockholder files a securities class action suit against us, we would incur substantial legal fees, and our management’s attention and resources would be diverted from operating our business in order to respond to the litigation.
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If we sell shares of our common stock under our equity line of credit or in other future financings, existing common stock holders will experience immediate dilution and, as a result, our stock price may go down.
We will need to raise additional capital to fund our operations, to develop our product candidates, to develop our manufacturing capabilities and to repurchase rights from Symphony Allegro. We may obtain such financing through the sale of our equity securities from time to time. As a result, our existing common stockholders will experience immediate dilution upon any such issuance. For example, in March 2008, we entered into a common stock purchase agreement with Azimuth, or the purchase agreement, which provides that, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the purchase agreement, Azimuth is committed to purchase up to $50 million of our common stock at times and in amounts determined by us. Our existing common stockholders will experience immediate dilution upon the purchase of any shares of our common stock by Azimuth pursuant to the purchase agreement.
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Item 1. Legal Proceedings
None.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
Recent Sales of Unregistered Equity Securities
None
Use of Proceeds from the Sale of Registered Securities
None
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
None.
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
None
Item 5. Other Information
None.
Item 6. Exhibits
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3.5 | | Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation. (1) |
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3.6 | | Amended and Restated Bylaws. (1) |
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3.7 | | Amendment to Amended and Restated Bylaws. (2) |
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4.1 | | Specimen Common Stock Certificate. (1) |
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4.2 | | Second Amended and Restated Investors’ Right Agreement dated November 5, 2004, by and between Alexza and certain holders of Preferred Stock. (1) |
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10.39 | | Stock and Warrant Purchase Agreement between Alexza Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Biomedical Scinces investment Fund PTE Ltd, dated March 26, 2008 (3) |
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10.40 | | Form of Common Stock Purchase Warrant (3) |
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10.41 | | Common Stock Purchase Agreement between the Company and Azimuth Opportunity Ltd. dated March 31, 2008 (4) |
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10.46 | | Severance Agreement and Release Agreement between the Registrant and Anthony Tebbutt, dated February 6, 2009 and February 17, 2009, respectively. |
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31.1 | | Certification required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a). |
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31.2 | | Certification required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a). |
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32.1 | | Certifications required by Rule 13a-14(b) or Rule 15d-14(b) and Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code (18 U.S.C. 1350). |
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(1) | | Incorporated by reference to exhibits to our Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed on December 22, 2005, as amended (File No. 333-130644). |
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(2) | | Incorporated by reference to exhibit to our Annual Report on Form 10-K/A filed on April 10, 2007. |
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(3) | | Incorporated by reference to exhibit to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 26, 2008. |
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(4) | | Incorporated by reference to exhibit to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 31, 2008. |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
| | | | |
| Alexza Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Registrant) | |
May 11, 2009 | /s/ Thomas B. King | |
| Thomas B. King | |
| President and Chief Executive Officer | |
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May 11, 2009 | /s/ August J. Moretti | |
| August J. Moretti | |
| Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary (principal financial and accounting officer) | |
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